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A Study of Measurement Using Open Quantum Systems
(2024-04-15) Patwa, Hamza
Open quantum systems are quantum systems that are exposed to the environment. As a consequence, these systems do not obey the Schrödinger equation; and this gives rise to a
phenomenon known as decoherence. My Thesis Proposal will be on using the formalism of open quantum systems to shed light on some foundational questions of quantum theory, specifically,
the measurement problem. I model the measuring apparatus as an external environment, characterized by a set of Lindblad operators, acting on a quantum system of interest through via
the Lindblad equation. I derive the general solution for the Lindblad equation with a general two level Hamiltonian and one Hermitian Lindblad operator. I then investigate which conditions the
Lindblad operator and the Hamiltonian must satisfy in order to represent a measurement. This analytical solution could be useful in describing real-life experiments described by two-level
systems, and it sets the stage for a more general calculation using a non-Hermitian Lindblad operator.
An STM Study of Nickel Carbide and Copper Carbide Surfaces
(UTSA Graduate School, 2024-04-02) Sutherland, Kevin; Sanchez, Jennifer; Xu, Fang
Transition metal carbides and nitrides (TMCs and TMNs) have shown unique properties for strongly binding reaction intermediates and d-block transition metals and have been used as heterogeneous catalysts. Due to the predicted strong binding with metals, TMCs and TMNs are also very promising support for single atom catalysts (SACs), which possess high atomic efficiency and high catalytic performance compared to traditional catalysts yet face a common challenge of thermal instability. Elucidating the structures of TMCs and TMNs at an atomic level and the interactions between the surface and adsorbate is a crucial fundamental question to address. Herein, well-defined transition metal carbide and nitride films are prepared on Cu(111) and Ni(111) surfaces as model catalyst supports for SACs (Figure 2). The insights gained from the model catalyst surfaces will be used to promote the development of catalytic reactions, such as aqueous phase methanol reforming (APRM).
Creating Healing Space Through Plática: Processing the Overturning of Affirmative Action
(UTSA Graduate School, 2024-04-02) Benavidez, Melina; Rivera, Brenda; Victor, Jasmine; García-Louis, Claudia
Affirmative Action in Higher Education:
Within higher education, affirmation action, which stemmed from the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, is "the practice of considering student background characteristics such as race as a factor in deciding whether to admit an applicant" (Wood, 2023)
In June 2023, the Supreme Court banned affirmative action in higher education spaces and prohibited all colleges in the country from using race as a consideration in admissions (Jones & Zinshteyn, 2023)
"By disregarding the significance of race, these approaches risk creating a wider divide between equal opportunity and communities of color" (Maye, 2023)
[...]
Tail of the Striatum's Activity in Aversive Conditioning
(UTSA Graduate School, 2024-04-02) Timmons, Sara; Bertero, Alice; Apicella, Alfonso J.
Averse conditioning, also known as fear conditioning, is a form of associative learning in which a mouse learns to associate a conditioned stimulus (an auditory stimulus) with an unconditioned stimulus (foot shock).The striatum is the main input source of the basal ganglia, a collection of subcortical nuclei that mediate learning, memory and decision making, and its role in aversive conditioning remains to be fully elucidated. Here, we seek to better understand the involvement of the tail of the striatum (TS) in auditory aversive conditioning by utilizing c-FOS immunohistochemistry to examine changes in its expression as a measure of neuronal activity following conditioning. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the neural circuitry underlying aversive and learning behaviors.
Motivation and Identity
(UTSA Graduate School, 2024-04-02) Summerville, Bryce; Brown, Denver M. Y.
Background:
• Physical inactivity is a major public health concern for adolescents in the US, even more so for Hispanic youth
• Evidence indicates self-determined motivation and physical activity (PA) identity are robust predictors of adolescent PA behavior, but no studies have examined links between these variables and their interactive influence on PA
Aim: Examine relationships between self-determined motivation and PA identity, and how these constructs interact to influence PA behavior in Hispanic adolescents