Liquid Argon Time Projection Chambers (LArTPCs) represent one of the most widely utilized neutrino detection techniques in neutrino experiments, for instance, in the Short Baseline Neutrino (SBN) program and the future large-scale LArTPC: Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE). The high-end technique, facilitating excellent spatial and calorimetric reconstruction resolution, also enables testing exotic Beyond Standard Model (BSM) theories, such as baryon number violation (BNV) processes (e.g., proton-decay, neutron-antineutron oscillation). At the same time, Machine Learning (ML) techniques have demonstrated their ubiquitous use in recent decades; ML techniques have also become some of the most powerful tools in high-energy physics (HEP) analyses. Furthermore, the development of algorithms to cater to the needs of problems in HEP (i.e., triggering, reconstruction, improving sensitivity, etc.) has also become an active area of research. By developing a combined approach using Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and Boosted Decision Tree (BDT) techniques, the sensitivity of neutron-antineutron oscillation in DUNE is evaluated for a projected exposure of 400kton⋅ years. Additionally, to meet the triggering requirement to select such rare events in DUNE, such a search is only supported with highly efficient self-triggering algorithms. An ML-based self-triggering scheme for large-scale LArTPCs, such as DUNE, is also developed with the intention of implementation on field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). The ML-based approach for searching for neutron-antineutron oscillation can be demonstrated and validated on the current LArTPC MicroBooNE. The analysis in MicroBooNE represents the first-ever search for neutron-antineutron oscillation in a LArTPC. DUNE's projected 90％ C.L. sensitivity to the neutron antineutron oscillation lifetime is 6.45✕10³² years, assuming 1.327✕10³⁵ neutron⋅ years, equivalent to 10 years of DUNE far detector exposure (400kton⋅ years). For MicroBooNE, assuming 372 seconds of exposure (equivalent to 3.13✕10³⁶ neutron⋅ years), the 90% C.L. lifetime sensitivity is found at 3.07✕10²⁵ yrs, after accounting for Monte-Carlo statistical uncertainty and systematic uncertainty from detector effects.

Helices in proteins have substantial permanent dipole moments arising from the nearly perfect alignment of the individual dipole moments of each peptide bond. Interaction with this helix "macrodipole" is thought to perturb the pKa values of basic or acidic residues at the helix termini. The goal of this project is to investigate the effect of the helix confonnation on the proton affinities ofbasic amino acids placed at theN- or Ctenninus of helical model peptides in the gas phase. Several series of model peptides having a basic residue, lysine (K) or 2,3- diaminopropionic acid (Dap ), located at either terminus were synthesized by solid phase peptide synthesis using conventional techniques or the amino acid fluoride approach. Proton affinities were determined for several basic amino acids and peptides using mass spectrometry by applying the extended Cooks' kinetic method. Favorable conformations and theoretical proton affinities were probed using computational chemistry. The proton affinities determined for Na-acetyl-(L)-lysine, Ac-AK, Ac-KA, and Ac-KAA are 236.8 ± 1.9 kcal mol-1 , 249.4 ± 2.0 kcal mol-1 , 241.5 ± 1.9 kcal mol-1 , and 244.4 ± 2.0 kcal mol-1 respectively. The large negative entropy changes for each of the peptides upon protonation ( -11.2 to - 21.7 cal mol-1 K- 1 ) are consistent with globular confmmations adopted by the protonated peptides due to extensive intramolecular hydrogen bonding. The measured proton affinities of the peptides increased with the size of the peptide as expected. However, the measured proton affinity of the peptide with C-terminal lysine, Ac-AK, is substantially higher than that of the con·esponding peptide with N-terrninal lysine, Ac-KA, contrary to expectations. Proton affinities determined for these compounds using computational chemistry are in reasonable agreement with experimental results. Additionally, proton affinities calculated for helical polyalanine and Aib (aaminoisobutytic acid) modified polyalanine peptides with C-terminal basic residues (Ac AnK and Ac-(AibA)n-Dap) are much larger than proton affinities calculated for the corresponding peptides with N-terminal basic residues. These results indicate that the helix dipole has a substantial effect on the basicity of residues at the helix termini.

Delivery of photoassimilate, mainly sucrose (Suc) from photoautotrophic source leaves provides the substrate for the growth and maintenance of sink tissues such as roots, storage tissues, flowers and fruits, juvenile organs, and seeds. Phloem loading is the energized process of accumulating solute in the sieve element/companion cell complex of source leaf phloem to generate the hydrostatic pressure that drives long-distance transport. In many plants this is catalyzed by Suc/Proton (H+) symporters (SUTs) which are energized by the proton motive force (PMF). Overexpression of SUTs was tested as means to enhance phloem transport and plant productivity. Phloem specific overexpression of AtSUC2 in wild type (WT) tobacco resulted in enhanced Suc loading and transport, but against the hypothesis, plants were stunted and accumulated carbohydrates in the leaves, possibly due to lack of sufficient energy to support enhanced phloem transport. The energy for SUT mediated phloem loading is provided from the PMF, which is ultimately supplied by the oxidation of a small proportion of the loaded photoassimilates. It was previously shown that inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi) is necessary for this oxidation and overexpressing a proton-pumping pyrophosphatase (AVP1) enhanced both shoot and root growth, and augmented several energized processes like nutrient acquisition and stress responses. We propose that AVP1 localizes to the PM of phloem cells and uses PMF to synthesize PPi rather than hydrolyze it, and in doing so, maintains PPi levels for efficient Suc oxidation and ATP production. Enhanced ATP production in turn strengthens the PMF via plasma membrane (PM) ATPase, increasing phloem energization and phloem transport. Phloem-specific and constitutive AVP1 overexpressing lines showed increased growth and more efficiently moved carbohydrates to sink organs compared to WT. This suggested changes in metabolic flux but diagnostic metabolites of central metabolism did not show changes in steady state levels. This research focuses on fundamental aspects of carbon utilization and transport, and has a strong applied component, since increased H+-PPase activity enhances plant biomass, nutrient up-take capacities, and stress tolerance for as yet not fully characterized reasons.

The correlation between the carbon-proton and proton-proton coupling constants have been studied in various 13 systems. Isocrotonic acid-carboxyl-3C, crotonic acid- 13 13 carboxyl-3C, and 5-norbornene-2-carboxylic acid-carboxyl-3C- 1,5,6,7,7-hexachloro were synthesized and their carbonproton coupling constants were analyzed. Nmr studies showed the magnitudes of the carbon-proton coupling constants to correlate well with analogous protonproton coupling constants, although the values of the couplings were larger than expected. The geminal olefinic couplings were considerably larger than all other couplings, but they were self-consistent. The signs of the carbon-proton coupling constants also were in agreement without exception with the signs of analogous proton-proton coupling constants.

<p> An expression is obtained for the energy per particle in neutron star matter. The energy per particle is expressed as a function of, y, the ratio of protons to the total number of nucleons in the system. Minimizing the energy with respect to y gives the optimum proton ratio at a given density. Using an effective nuclear force, the results were extrapolated to a density of p = 6pNM. The proton ratio is rather sensitive to the force used, but all forces used indicated a peak in the proton concentration at p (approximately equal to) 2pNM. The expression for the energy as a function of y was also used to interpolate the energy per particle between the nuclear matter and neutron . gas limits. The form of this interpolation is important in determining the stability of neutron-rich nuclei. </p> / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

<p> The possibility of isomeric nuclear spin states existing among the ammonium ions at low temperatures has been investigated for some twenty ammonium salts. Measurements have been made of the proton absorption signals at 4.2°K, and the temperature dependences, where previously unavailable, of the spin-lattice relaxation time.</p> <p> Some of the salts exhibit the normal rigid lattice spectra and second moments characteristic of distinguishable protons, but most exhibit some degree of line narrowing at 4.2°K. The data shows that thermally activated reorientations are effectively frozen out at this temperature and cannot be responsible for such narrowing.</p> <p> It is concluded that the narrow spectra, although indicative of indistinguishability among the protons, are not attributable solely to spin isomerism, but are being modified by a further mechanism, probably tunneling of the ammonium ion through the crystal field barrier.</p> / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The design, construction, and calibration of a precision thermometric titration calorimeter is described. This calorimeter was tested by determining the enthalpy change for ionization of water. The result, 13.34 ±0.03 kcal/mole (standard deviation), is in exact agreement with the best literature values. This standard deviation indicates that, using this calorimeter, ΔH values can be determined with an accuracy of ±0.0.5 kcal/mole. A calorimetric procedure has been developed for the, simultaneous determination of the equilibrium constant, the enthalpy change, and the entropy change for a chemical reaction from a single titration (Entropy Titration). This procedure has been tested by determining pK, ΔH, and ΔS for proton ionization from HPO42- and HSO4-. The method has also been used to determine pK, ΔH, and ΔS values for proton ionization from Adenosine and Ribese. The resultant pK tor each system has an accuracy of about ±0.05 pK unit. Enthalpy and entropy changes for proton ionization have been determined for twenty-six carboxylic acids. The results are discussed in terms of three previous approaches (i.e. inductive, electrostatic, and the linear relation between ΔH° and ΔS°). The results are shown not to fit any of these theories well and reasons for this are proposed. An alternate explanation is proposed based on the observed fit of the carboxylic acid data to a linear ΔG° vs ΔS° plot. The site of proton ionization from adenosine is established to be the ribose moiety. It is also shown that both the 2' and 3' hydroxyl groups are necessary for this acidity to exist in aqueous solution.

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M.S.