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Dominance of the Permanent among Immanants: A Study of Lieb's Conjecture and Related Inequalities
No full textThis thesis investigates a conjecture attributed to Lieb asserting that the permanent dominatesall normalized immanants over the cone of positive semidefinite Hermitian matrices. Beginning
with the definition of immanants via irreducible characters of the symmetric group Sn, the work
reviews and synthesizes key results that support the conjecture in special cases. Building upon
the foundational work of G.D. James and M.W. Liebeck, and P. Heyfron, we examine character-
based inequalities involving the permanent and determinant, and present a detailed exposition
of class functions constructed using the Lieb inequality.
Utilizing techniques from the representation theory of symmetric groups, including the induction
and restriction of characters, the Littlewood–Richardson Rule, and the construction of permu-
tation characters ξij , we demonstrate how these functions can be used to establish inequalities
between various immanants. Special attention is given to the structure of partitions with two
parts and hook-shaped partitions, culminating in a verification of Lieb’s Permanent Dominance
Conjecture in those cases.
This thesis also proposes a rigorous framework for representing the irreducible characters of the
symmetric group Sn by means of non-negative class functions. It highlights the limitations of the
methods developed by James and Liebeck, and Heyfron when applied to the immanent-ordering
problem for two-part partitions. By addressing these shortcomings, the study establishes several
new results, most notably Theorems 4.8 and 4.9.
Overall, the thesis advances the understanding of immanant inequalities and demonstrates the
power of representation-theoretic approaches in matrix analysis
Research Resources: The Point of View Database
No full textAn instructional sheet about how to use the Point of View Database at the University of Nevada, Reno
Noble Metal-Based Nanocomposites and Their Bioapplications
No full textThe development of noble metal-based nanomaterials has significantly advanced both gas sensing and biosensing technologies, offering highly sensitive, selective, and rapid detection capabilities. This study explores the synthesis, characterization, and application of palladium-halloysite nanotube (Pd-HNT) composites for hydrogen (H2) gas sensing and carbon nitride-platinum (CN-Pt) nanozymes for immunoassay-based disease diagnostics. The Pd-HNT sensor demonstrates exceptional sensitivity and selectivity toward hydrogen detection, with rapid response and recovery times, attributed to the enhanced dispersion and surface reactivity of Pd nanoparticles on halloysite nanotubes. Its high stability and reproducibility make it a strong candidate for industrial and safety monitoring applications. Simultaneously, the CN-Pt nanozyme-based immunoassay leverages the superior catalytic activity of platinum-modified carbon nitride, mimicking peroxidase enzymes for colorimetric disease biomarker detection. The bioconjugation of CN-Pt nanozymes with specific antibodies enables highly sensitive and selective detection, surpassing traditional enzyme-based assays in terms of sensitivity and efficiency. Optimizing key experimental parameters, such as nanozyme loading, pH, temperature, and substrate concentrations, enhances assay performance and reproducibility. The findings highlight the versatility and effectiveness of noble metal-based nanomaterials in next-generation sensing and diagnostic technologies. The advancements in this study pave the way for high-performance nanomaterial-based sensors and diagnostics, with significant implications for environmental monitoring, industrial safety, and healthcare applications
Modeling, Analysis, and Experimentation of Shape-Morphing Plates
No full textThis thesis covers the exploration of numerical modeling, analysis, and experimentation of shape-morphing plates. The work is separated into three main sections to discuss three complementary topics. The first section investigates the analytical and numerical modeling of a nonlinear equation of motion with the addition of global and local optimization. Machine learning and parameter exploration is covered in the second section of this work. Finally, the third section describes and analyzes novel experimentation of physical moment-actuated plates employing modal excitation and actuation via Macro Fiber Composites (MFC). In the first section, an equivalent Duffing oscillator was proposed to interpret Finite Element Analysis (FEA) frequency response simulations of a shape-morphing plate. The equivalent oscillator parameters were identified using least squares and an analytical treatment of the Duffing equation through numerical optimization. In the second section, to devise a robust parameter identification framework, a methodology for determining the best machine learning model was explored. “Bagged Trees”, a form of ensemble machine learning, was quantitatively found to be the best method for the investigation. After this, randomized parameter data was generated, a machine-learning model was made, and comparisons to simulated FEA data were explored.
In the third section, we focused on the experimental investigation of MFC-actuated shape morphing plates. Several actuation architectures were studied. The architecture comprising a single MFC was found to be significantly less effective than that with two MFC actuators connected by an aluminum substrate, which resulted in an increase of 5.3 times displacement amplitude. Among the studied configurations, a soft plate excited at its third mode was found to produce viable controllable curvature for shape-morphing applications. Many shapes and materials were tested resulting in an optimized A-30 silicone rubber plate in the form of a bioinspired “emarginate tail” with a thickness of 0.25 inches. An embedded MFC was placed in the plate to modulate its stiffness and was found to be able to reduce displacement amplitudes of up to 31%, thereby demonstrating the principle of shape-morphing. Using constructive interference during another test, a 200% increase in displacement amplitude was obtained by matching the phase of the MFC to a base excitation. A 3.125% change in peak frequency at the third mode during a frequency sweep was observed by dynamically controlling the MFC signal. Overall advancements were made in the fields of modeling and physical design of nonlinear shape-morphing plates, with the first experimental demonstration of the system
Advanced Visualizations and User Support for the VISTA Web Portal
No full textThe increasing availability of sensor data presents new challenges in how information is visualized, interpreted, and acted upon. Effective data visualization is essential for ensuring that users can make sense of complex environmental trends and device outputs, especially within platforms that handle large volumes of time-sensitive data. This thesis focuses on enhancing the VISTA platform by developing advanced data visualization tools designed to improve the clarity and usefulness of sensor data for end users. Key features include interactive charts, enhanced selection tools, and a dynamic map view that displays sensor locations in real-time. The new visualization approach introduces new and improved ways to analyze data with expanded filtering capabilities. Alongside these improvements, user support has been expanded through clearer interface design and the integration of responsive features that allow users to interact with data more effectively. Together, these contributions aim to support users in understanding and analyzing sensor data with greater ease and accuracy. The improvements made to VISTA enhance its role as a valuable tool for monitoring and decision-making in sensor-driven environments, with the potential to support future developments in smart agriculture and other related fields
“Performing Professionalism” The Communicative Strategies of Nigerian Women in Global Remote Teams
No full textThis study explores the digital intercultural communication experiences of Nigerian Women Remote Workers (NWRWs) in remote workspaces. It analyzes how culture, gender, language, and technology converge to influence workplace interactions. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with ten Nigerian women who work remotely and interact with colleagues from various cultural backgrounds. Findings reveal that while technology facilitates transnational collaboration, it does not eliminate cultural and communicative challenges. Participants reported navigating cultural differences in communication practices, assumptions of cultural universality, language and accent barriers, and digital impression management as they used technology as their cultural mediator. The study concludes with practical implications for inclusive workplace practices and digital communication training that supports diverse remote teams
Step by Step Research Guide: History 102C
No full textThis guide outlines steps in the research process for writing a paper. The guide was written for a History 102C course
Affective Reading - Student Worksheet
No full textThis worksheet is for students to reflect on their thoughts and emotions while reading
Cervical Cancer in the USA: Prevention, Detection, and Disease Outcomes in Relation to Novel Factors and Disparities
No full textDue to the availability of HPV vaccines and cervical cancer screening services in the United State (USA) cervical cancer has recently become preventable given adequate healthcare infrastructure and women’s ability and willingness to follow health guidelines. Any case of invasive cervical cancer should be viewed as a failure of screening or vaccination. Although the number of cervical cancer cases has been gradually/generally decreasing over the past 20 years, in 2024 alone about 13,000 women were diagnosed with late-stage cervical cancer in the USA and about 4,000 women died from it. Clearly, efforts to improve prevention via the HPV vaccine and adherence to screening/PAP smears guidelines remain important research topics. Moreover, because cervical cancer and treatment outcomes in the USA are well known to suffer from systemic racial and ethnic disparities, research and efforts to alleviate cervical cancer burden in the USA must consider the presence of these disparities. The purpose of this study was to identify the impacts of potentially important novel factors on cervical cancer prevention and disease outcomes. The specific aims were to evaluate (1) childhood sexual abuse (CSA) as a risk factor for non-adherence to cervical cancer screening guidelines, (2) individual and joint impacts of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and obesity on HPV vaccination, and (3) impacts of COVID-19 on cervical cancer outcomes. Women with CSA may find screening procedures to be retraumatizing but impacts of CSA of cervical cancer screening are poorly understood. CSA and other forms of adverse forms of childhood (ACE) also increase the risk for cancer and associated risk behaviors including obesity, smoking, alcohol and drug misuse, high-risk sexual behavior, and may be related to other important factors such as trust/distrust of authority figures.
The results of this dissertation increase knowledge needed to lower cervical cancer burdens in the USA. By considering the influence of childhood trauma on cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination, these findings will help advance cervical cancer prevention research though enhanced understanding of novel risk factors that may be important for cancer risk behaviors and cancer risk. This dissertation also builds upon knowledge of disparities in cervical cancer outcomes by investigating impacts of the novel COVID-19 pandemic and impacts on existing cancer disparities like race/ethnicity
A mosque without a community?: Muslim lives in multicultural Japan
No full textFor many Muslim migrants, Japan presents numerous opportunities for upward social, professional, and economic mobility. But what do those opportunities look like? Research on migrants in Japan often focuses on issues of “race” and culture, yet the role of religion is comparatively less well understood. What does it mean to be a Muslim in a “secular” country that also lacks a strong culturally Christian influence? How is life for Muslim migrants in Japan both similar to and yet different from other parts of the global North? And although Muslim migrants face similar issues living in Japan (e.g., language barriers, “eating halal,” daily prayer), how they navigate those challenges often reflects their individual sensibilities, priorities, resources, and circumstances. Drawing on the anthropology of Islam, migration and Japan, this dissertation examines how Muslim migrants navigate their religious lives alongside personal and professional obligations in a “secular,” non-Western society. In doing so, it demonstrates the value of intersectional analysis in understanding how global and local Japanese perceptions of “race,” culture, and religion shape the opportunities and challenges a small but growing number of “foreigners” encounter in Japanese society