Digital Commons Network^™

Development Of A Multispectral Collagen Detection Dermatology Device For Delineation Of Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers, Anmol Jarang

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

To diagnose and manage skin disease, clinicians primarily use visual inspection aided with dermatoscopes, which are cross-polarized magnifiers. In recent years, digital cross polarized multispectral imaging systems have been developed to quantitatively assess skin disease. For example, systems like the one developed by Yaroslavsky et al., which utilize red and blue filters, can non-invasively assess the collagen network in the dermis(Yaroslavsky et al., 2003). Visualization of collagen network disruption can make it easier to visualize the boundaries of skin cancers like keratinocyte carcinoma, and therefore easier to excise completely. Current systems use external bandpass filters in front of cameras to …

Trustworthy Ai: Prohibited Practices, Ethical Principles, And The Identification Of Problems, Anna Karmańska

Journal of Global Awareness

The following considerations arise from the study of texts of documents of a legal nature and from the author’s judgments. They do not present the results of the author’s own empirical research; however, they constitute a factual study that is important for their undertaking in the next step. Having given concern but also hopes for AI, the author focuses her attention on issues that, not only in her opinion, have a strong bearing on the preservation of humanity in a digital environment and at the same time with technocratic features. These issues (prohibited practices, high-risk systems, and ethics) related to …

Object Tracking Based On Quantum Particle Swarm Optimization, Rajesh Misra, Kumar Ray

Journal of Global Awareness

In Computer Vision domain, moving Object Tracking is considered as one of the toughest problems. As there are so many factors associated like illumination of light, noise, occlusion, sudden start and stop of moving object, shading which makes tracking even harder problem not only for dynamic background but also for static background. In this paper we present a new object tracking algorithm based on Dominant points on tracked object using Quantum particle swarm optimization (QPSO) which is a new different version of PSO based on Quantum theory. The novelty in our approach is that it can be successfully applicable in …

Programing Ai With Ethics, Conor Anderson

Best Integrated Writing

As artificial intelligence grows increasingly ubiquitous, it’s pertinent to examine its fundamentals as well as its greater implications. Anderson discusses the ethical implications of AI.

View captioned video at https://youtu.be/LBTVEMm_C70

Return Of Ospree: In Situ Spectroscopic Measurements During Atmospheric Reentry, Ashwin P. Rao, Jack D. Crespo, Paolo Valentini, Vanessa J. Murray, Erin I. Vaughan, Zach Davis, Robert Alviani, Marat Kulakhmetov

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

Optical emission spectroscopy (OES) measurements of the reentry shock layer can provide invaluable information about the dynamic aerothermal chemistry during atmospheric reentry and yield critical data needed to improve fluid dynamics modeling of reentry systems. On 28 February 2025, the Air Force Research Laboratory successfully executed the Optical Sensing of Plasmas in the ReEntry Environment (OSPREE) experiment using Varda Space Industries’ W-2 hypersonic test-bed vehicle, obtaining in situ shock-layer radiative emission measurements during reentry from an altitude of 105 km down through 50 km, encompassing a range of Mach numbers between 29.5 and 15.0. We present a summary of the …

Cavitation On Superhydrophobic Propellers, John Tyson Danby

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the impact of superhydrophobic (SH) surface treatments on the cavitation behavior of small-scale marine propellers. Cavitation, the formation of vapor cavities in liquid due to local pressure reductions, can lead to efficiency losses, noise, and structural damage in marine propulsion systems. Although SH surfaces have shown promise in reducing drag and altering nucleation behavior in static or low-speed flow contexts, their effect on cavitation onset in rapidly rotating propellers remains underexplored. To address this, eight 1-inch aluminum propellers were tested, including variations in pitch, solidity, and blade number. Each design was produced in two versions: one treated …

Validation Of A Mesh-Based Computational Fluid Dynamics Model, The Generataion Of Reference Wake Mixing Data, And A Preliminary Comparison To A Lagrangian Vortex Based Model, Justin Don Hawkins

Theses and Dissertations

Three things are accomplished in this work. First, a verified wind turbine model is developed for both turbulent and non-turbulent flows. The verified model is created using AMR-Wind, a mesh-based CFD solver which uses an actuator line model to represent the turbine blades. Second, a database of turbine forces and wake data is compiled using the verified wake model. This data is collected for simulations of two turbines operating in close proximity to one another in various configurations. When the wake of one turbine interacts with another, wake mixing occurs. Wake mixing affects turbine performance and is important for predicting …

Enhancing Fuel Performance Of Molten Salt Reactors Through Improved Thermophysical Property Data, High-Fidelity Simulation, And Advanced Control Strategies, Jackson Seth Ivory

Theses and Dissertations

The deployment of molten salt reactors (MSRs) as next-generation nuclear technology requires accurate thermophysical property data, validated system models, and advanced control strategies to ensure safe and economically competitive operation. This dissertation, Enhancing Fuel Performance of Molten Salt Reactors Through Improved Thermophysical Property Data, High-Fidelity Simulation, and Advanced Control Strategies, integrates experimental measurements, thermal hydraulic simulation, and model predictive control (MPC) to enhance understanding of MSR fuel behavior under steady state and transient conditions. New density and heat capacity measurements of UF4-FLiNaK molten salts were obtained using Archimedean and differential scanning calorimetry methods, respectively, to address critical gaps for fueled …

Three-Dimensional Printing Of Calcium Phosphate-Mesoporous Bioactive Glass Scaffolds For Bone Tissue Engineering, Ana Beatriz Gomes De Carvalho, Lais Medeiros Cardoso, Igor Paulino Mendes Soares, Joyce Rodrigues De Souza, Arpita Roy, Prabaha Sikder, Et. Al.

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Calcium phosphate cements (CPCs) and biomaterials, such as mesoporous bioactive glass (MBG), are critical for bone tissue engineering. This study aimed to 3D-print CPC scaffolds modified with MBG to enhance their osteogenic potential and regenerative ability. MBG powder was synthesized and characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and nitrogen adsorption-desorption techniques. A commercial CPC ink (hydroxyapatite/alpha-tricalcium phosphate) was mixed with 5% MBG (w/w; CPC/MBG), and, after rheological assessment, the mixture was used to obtain scaffolds via 3D printing. These scaffolds were then tested for chemical, morphological, and mechanical properties, as well as ion release analysis. Unmodified CPC …

Utah Lake From Space: Analysis Of Sentinel 2 And Modis Data Shows Spatiotemporal Trends And Patterns In Chlorophyll-A, Turbidity, And Temperature, Kaylee Brook Tanner

Theses and Dissertations

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are a serious and growing risk to waterbodies around the world. Excessive algal growth, especially when it involves cyanobacteria, impairs the functioning of aquatic ecosystems and threatens the health of humans and animals using the water. There is currently great interest in developing effective prevention and mitigation strategies for these blooms, particularly in ecologically and economically vital freshwater lakes. Such development, however, requires detailed understanding of HAB drivers and dynamics, which can be highly complex and difficult to characterize. High-frequency, high-resolution imagery from earth observation satellites provides spatially and temporally comprehensive data on global lakes--data which …

Methods For The Discovery Of Antibodies Toward Junin Virus Utilizing Yeast Surface Display, Jonathon E. Corral

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The importance of this study is to perform antibody discovery as a means to derive novel preventative and therapeutic antibody countermeasures against the Junín virus, to alleviate the potential risk of a global pandemic. The purpose of this methodological study was to develop a protocol that utilizes yeast surface display to discover antibodies, from naïve human antibody libraries, that can bind the Junín Virus antigen. The methodology of yeast surface display employs the galactose-inducible GAL1 promoter to synthesize and express antibody proteins bound to the Aga2p and Aga1p and anchored to the cell wall by glycosyl phosphatidylinositol motif (GPI). The …

Leveraging High-Performance Cloud Computing To Model Underwater Acoustic Propagation And Scattering From Time-Evolving Rough Sea-Surfaces Using The Finite-Difference Time-Domain Method, James Alexander Higgins

Dissertations and Theses

This dissertation presents a two-dimensional (2D) Finite-difference Time-domain (FDTD) model for simulating underwater acoustic propagation and scattering from a one-dimensional (1D) time-evolving rough sea-surface. The techniques discussed are extendable to three spatial dimensions. Traditional acoustic modeling techniques often rely on a "frozen" sea-surface assumption, which proves inadequate for long-duration signals interacting with the time-evolving boundary at many different wave height displacements during its transit. To address this, a new FDTD update equation incorporating a variable subgrid is developed, significantly enhancing spatial accuracy at the boundary without increasing computational cost or compromising stability.

The model's accuracy is rigorously validated against established …

Characterizing Temperature-Dependent Properties Of Fat For Improving High Intensity Focused Ultrasound Simulations, Brian Easthope

Theses and Dissertations

High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a non-invasive therapeutic technique that relies on the precise delivery of acoustic energy to ablate diseased tissue. The presence of subcutaneous fat can significantly alter focal accuracy and treatment efficiency due to its distinct thermal and acoustic behavior. This study characterized the temperature-dependent thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, specific heat capacity, acoustic attenuation, and acoustic velocity of human subcutaneous fat to improve pretreatment modeling for HIFU therapies. Measurements were performed using a dual needle probe for thermal conductivity and diffusivity, differential scanning calorimetry for specific heat capacity, radiation force balance for attenuation, and through-transmission methods for …

Information Management / Bim Adoption Plan, Robert Moore

Tools

This adoption plan translates the Information Management and BIM adoption strategy into a clear, actionable programme of work. It sets out the specific activities, responsibilities, and sequencing required to build capability across people, processes, and technology, supporting consistent implementation in line with ISO 19650 and organisational objectives. The plan enables progress to be managed, monitored, and reviewed over time, ensuring adoption is proportionate, achievable, and aligned with project and business needs. Overall, it provides a practical mechanism for moving from intent to delivery, embedding Information Management and BIM as standard practice within the organisation.

Uniclass Irish Bim Mandate Guide, Robert Moore

Tools

This guidance document provides practical direction on implementing Uniclass within Irish public sector projects to support the Capital Works Management Framework (CWMF) BIM mandate. It explains how Uniclass, used alongside ISO 19650, IFC, and ICMS, enables consistent classification of information across the asset lifecycle, supporting the creation of a reliable golden thread of data from design through to operation. The document sets out how Uniclass works in practice, clarifying roles and responsibilities, common challenges, and mitigation measures, and includes a worked examples to support consistent application. Overall, the guide positions Uniclass as a key enabler of structured information management, improved …

Inelastic Behavior Of Three-Story Buildings With Concrete-Filled Composite Plate Shear Walls Subjected To Wind Loads, Joshua John Blom

Theses and Dissertations

Although elastic design of the main wind force resisting system in a building is the conventional approach it is not always desirable. In this study, nonlinear static and dynamic analyses are used to predict the inelastic behavior of a three-story building with concrete-filled composite plate shear walls subjected to wind loads. To explore the potential for inelastic design, two types of planar composite shear wall buildings are examined: individual shear walls designed using an elastic approach, and coupled shear wall pairs designed using an inelastic approach adopted from seismic design provisions. Nonlinear static "pushover" analyses are run using an assumed …

Fundamental Hydraulics Principles For Agricultural Systems Management And Technology, Robert M. Stwalley Iii, Roger Tormoehlen

Purdue University Press Books

Hydraulic systems have spread throughout modern technology, particularly in mobile equipment. The exercises presented in Fundamental Hydraulic Principles for Agricultural Systems Management and Technology are designed for the second-generation Parker Hydraulic Trainer to provide a basic understanding of hydraulic components and systems for technology and engineering students. Readers will learn how hydraulic pumps function, how linear actuators and their control circuits work, and how hydraulic motors operate and are controlled. Readers are also provided with the opportunity to attempt more advanced exercises. Aligned with beginning technology-based experiential hydraulics courses, this book emphasizes familiarity with common hydraulic components and circuit diagrams, …

Ankimedbench: Evaluating Hierarchical Medical Knowledge In Language Model Embeddings, Neel Patel

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Despite achieving over 90% accuracy on medical benchmarks, recent studies show physicians cannot effectively leverage language models to improve clinical reasoning. Current benchmarks test isolated factual recall, but clinical practice requires hierarchical navigation through diagnostic categories—starting broad and narrowing systematically from chest pain to cardiovascular pathology to myocardial infarction to specific STEMI types. Existing evaluations cannot measure whether models preserve this taxonomic structure essential for clinical reasoning.

We introduce AnkiMedBench, built from 16,512 medical flashcards used by students preparing for licensing exams. Cards are organized across six hierarchy levels spanning 16 broad medical specialties to 672 specific diseases and conditions. …

Quantifying Biocrust Evaporation In Arid Lands By Combining Thermal Imaging And Lysimeter Measurements, Rebekah C. Magness

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) are miniature ecosystems of living organisms incorporated within the soil matrix and established in the topmost millimeters of the soil surface. Biocrust plays a critical role in the hydrologic processes in arid lands, yet the extent to which it increases or decreases evaporation remains unclear. To gain a better understanding of the impact of biocrust on evaporation compared to bare soil, I studied a cyanobacteria-dominated biocrust patch surrounded by bare soil atop a lysimeter in the Mojave Desert near Las Vegas, Nevada. Using high-resolution thermal imaging, and the known latent heat flux from the lysimeter, I …

Automated Spectrum Analysis And Radionuclide Identification For Robot-Based Gamma Probes, Kennedy Ochieng Mengoh Alila

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Gamma spectroscopy is a technique used for the detection and identification of nuclear materials. Gamma-ray emission by radio nuclides is detected using scintillation detectors or semiconductor detectors such as NaI and CZT. Robot-based gamma probes enable radiation measurements in large areas and hard-to-reach cluttered hazardous environments, which significantly reduces radiation risks to personnel. The robotic probes require automated on-board gamma spectrum analysis and capabilities with platforms (unmanned aerial vehicles and unmanned ground vehicle systems) which use Robot Operating System (ROS). The aim of this thesis was to develop a method of an automated spectral analysis and isotope identification for robot-based …

Modeling The Mojave: A Multiphase, Mixed Methods Phenomenological Investigation Of Novice Understanding Of A Complex Ecological System, Nicole Juliana Thomas

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This research explores early college science majors’ conceptions of the Mojave Desert ecosystem as a complex system. A multi-level, explanatory sequential mixed methods design was employed to study college science majors’ understanding of the Mojave Desert ecosystem to better inform science pedagogy. The first level, the quantitative phase of the study, consisted of developing a mathematical representation of twelve ecosystem variables present within the Mojave Desert. The second level, the qualitative phase of the study, consisted of phenomenological semi-structured interviews with 23 early college science majors. The findings of this research suggest that the Mojave Desert operates as a complex, …

Lattice Thermal Transport Beyond The Quasiparticle Approximation: Nontrivial Spectral Competition Between Three- And Four-Phonon Interactions, Yi Xia

Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The breakdown of the quasiparticle approximation (QPA) for phonons in strongly anharmonic materials necessitates advanced first-principles frameworks for accurate lattice dynamics and thermal transport predictions. We develop a comprehensive beyond-quasiparticle approximation (BQPA) approach incorporating both three- (3ph) and four-phonon (4ph) interactions and apply it to investigate lattice thermal conductivity (κL) in MgO, PbTe, and AgCl – materials that span a broad spectrum of anharmonicity, from weak to severe anharmonic regimes with overdamped phonons. We reveal that while BQPA consistently increases κL relative to QPA due to phonon softening when considering only 3ph interactions, the inclusion of additional 4ph interactions hardens …

Puf-Based Digital Money With Propagation-Of-Provenance And Offline Transfers Between Two Parties, Benjamin Bean, Cyrus Minwalla, Eirini Eleni Tsiropoulou, Jim Plusquellic

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

Building on prior concepts of electronic money (eCash), we introduce a digital currency where a physical unclonable function (PUF) engenders devices with the twin properties of being verifiably enrolled as a member of a legitimate set of eCash devices and possessing of a hardware-based root-of-trust. A hardware-obfuscated secure enclave (HOSE) is proposed as a means of enabling a PUF-based propagation-of-provenance (POP) mechanism, which allows eCash tokens (eCt) to be securely signed and validated by recipients without incurring any third party dependencies at transfer time. The POP scheme establishes a chain of custody starting with token creation, extending through multiple bilateral …

Application Of Adversarial Volumetric Cnns To 3d Face Generation Using Latent Space Gaussian Embeddings, Ali Raad Abdulkareem, Marwa Jabberi, Islem Jarraya, Tarek M. Hamdani, Khmaies Ouahada, Adel M. Alimi

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

Although 3D face generation is extensively studied in computer vision, most existing methods prioritize reconstructing 3D geometry from available 2D or 3D inputs rather than generating novel faces directly from latent representations. To bridge this gap, we present the application of Adversarial Volumetric Convolutional Neural Networks (AVCNN), a tailored adaptation of the vanilla 3D Generative Adversarial Network (3D-GAN), to 3D face generation using latent space Gaussian embeddings. We first assemble a custom 3D facial dataset to provide the requisite facial characteristics and to ensure sufficient coverage of geometric variation across identities. The generator, implemented as a decoder, maps latent space …

Comprehensive Risk Assessment For Construction Site Managers In Kosovo: A Mixed-Method Approach, Muhamet Ahmeti, Besian Sinani

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

This study developed and validated a hybrid ISO 31000:2018 Kosovo-compliant risk assessment framework tailored for construction site managers operating within transitional economies. The research employed audits of 20 ISO-certified contractors in Pristina, Kosovo, along with field observations, interviews, and quantitative risk matrices. The findings indicate a critical concentration of risk, with 70% of firms classified as "High" or “Very High” risk. The most prevalent hazards identified were working at height without collective protection, unprotected electrical systems, and manual handling of heavy materials. Regression analysis revealed that firms with a designated safety champion achieved significantly lower risk scores, whereas those with …

Behaviour Of Internally Strengthening Hollow Stainless-Steel Hot-Rolled Circular Columns Filled With Crumb Rubber And Recycled Aggregate Concrete, Wadhah M. Tawfeeq, Mohammed M. Rasheed, Mithaq Kohees, Ahmed W. Al Zandd, Saif Al-Balushi, Hamed Al Abdul Salam

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

Stainless-steel sections are increasingly being utilised in favour of their higher durability. Simultaneously, the use of recycled materials in concrete is aligned with the global concern to encourage sustainable and environmentally friendly construction. The paper examined the behaviour of stainless-steel columns filled with concrete with crumb rubber (CR) and recycled aggregate (RA). It analysed the effect of different percentages of CR (0, 15, and 30) and RA (0, 15, and 50) on the compressive strength of the concrete and the performance of the columns using stainless-steel hollow sections. 20 specimens were manufactured, 18 of which were cast with concrete containing …

Dynamic Admittance Parameterization For Non-Prehensile Multi-Robot Transport With Optimal Coordinated Planning, Calvin J. Stahoviak

Computer Science ETDs

The Dynamic Admittance Parameterization of Non-Prehensile Multi-Robot Trans- port with Optimal Coordinated Planning (DYNAMO) architecture offers a practical framework for cooperative payload transportation using two robots equipped with nonholonomic mobile bases and four-degree-of-freedom manipulators. Coordinated mobile manipulation is a difficult problem in robotics, and the non-prehensile case is even more challenging than its prehensile counterpart because the robot bases and the payload are dynamically coupled. DYNAMO adapts arm motion in response to interaction forces and generates coordinated base trajectories that account for this coupling. Robust payload transport is achieved through the combination of opti- mal planning and adaptive compliant control, …

Irregularities In The Dynamics Of Large Networks: Cases On Social Networks And The Internet, Dheeman Saha, Abdullah Mueen, Shuang Luan, Afsah Anwar, Yangsun Hong

Computer Science ETDs

Dynamic networks capture evolving relationships among entities, and irregularities in their behavior often signal significant events. This dissertation investigates such irregularities across social and infrastructural networks. First, we analyze Twitter (prior to its rebranding to X) to characterize influencers, introducing a follower-overlap similarity measure that identifies micro-influencers beyond content-based methods.

We then examine election-related irregularities by comparing suspended and non-suspended accounts during the 2020 U.S. presidential election, revealing behavioral patterns linked to misinformation and coordinated manipulation.

Next, we develop an algorithm to infer post-specific diffusion networks, reconstructing who-saw-from-whom pathways for tweets at scale. This method uncovers structural differences in diffusion …

Parameter-Efficient Multimodal Adaptation: Ocr-Integrated Lora For Textvqa And Captioning, Karthik Ganesh Malini

Master's Theses

Vision-Language Models (VLMs) have emerged as transformative technologies for multimodal AI, yet they face significant hurdles in processing text-rich images required for enterprise applications like document understanding, medical imaging, and industrial inspection. Current VLMs struggle with accurate text extraction and reasoning, often exhibiting high hallucination rates and poor Optical Character Recognition (OCR) token utilization. To address these limitations, this research presents a comprehensive framework for optimizing parameter-efficient Low-Rank Adaptation (LoRA) fine-tuning strategies on state-of-the-art architectures, including LLaVA-1.5 and BLIVA-FlanT5. Our methodology integrates enhanced OCR token utilization, faithful caption generation, and specific hallucination mitigation techniques. We employ a multi-dimensional evaluation protocol …

Recreating Fiber Recruitment With Fiber Recruitment Using Additive Manufacturing, Natalia D. Mciver

Biomedical Engineering ETDs

Injured ligaments are often repaired with tendon grafts which may over or under constrain the joint; there is a need for an artificial graft option with the mechanical properties of a native ligament. Crimped fibers within ligaments allow for recruitment which means the viscoelastic properties of stress relaxation and creep are not inversely related. A feasibility study using ACLs and large-scale crimp models to study viscoelasticity, led to an in-depth analysis of the scapholunate interosseous ligament. Using the Modified Kelvin spring-dashpot model, for describing viscoelasticity with a variable stiffness property (time dependent fiber recruitment), we defined the relationship between creep …