Digital Commons Network^™

Political Turbulence And Aviation Safety: A Cross-National Analysis Of Political Stability's Effects On Aviation Accidents, Léa Faure, Lilliam Maria Cáceres Malachowski

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

To what extent does political stability affect aviation safety? This research aims to link domestic political conditions and public safety through the consideration of aviation accident frequency. Political instability can indeed have profound effects on reducing overall public safety in a variety of domains through its influence on public policies. Reduced regulations and governance efforts can appear in contentious contexts for less-prioritized fields. This could influence the reemergence of technical aviation risk factors like crew training and performance, maintenance issues, infrastructure problems, human errors, etc. This would highlight a correlation between such political instability and weaker aviation safety regulations, investments …

Teaching Machine Learning To Undergraduate Electrical Engineering Students, Gerald L. Fudge, Anika Rimu, William Zorn, July Ringle, Cody Barnet

Faculty Publications

Proficiency in machine learning (ML) and the associated computational math foundations have become critical skills for engineers. Required areas of proficiency include the ability to use available ML tools and the ability to develop new tools to solve engineering problems. Engineers also need to be proficient in using generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools in a variety of contexts, including as an aid to learning, research, writing, and code generation. Using these tools properly requires a solid understanding of the associated computational math foundation. Without this foundation, engineers will struggle with developing new tools and can easily misuse available ML/AI tools, …

Awe Amtm Geolocation Algorithms, Eric Mckinney, Keith Blonquist, Zack Hatfield, Connor Waite, Pedro Sevilla, Ludger Scherliess, Harri Latvakoski, Greg Cantwell

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

Mission Introduction

The AWE instrument images atmospheric gravity waves from the ISS, quantifying energy and momentum fluxes into the ionosphere-thermosphere system to better understand how tropospheric weather influences space weather.

Mission of Opportunity for the NASA Science Mission Directorate, Heliophysics Division.

Process-Driven Manufacturability Constraints In Design For Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing, Monsuru Ramoni, Sampson Gholston, Albert E. Patterson

Manufacturing & Industrial Engineering Faculty Publications

Wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) has emerged as a useful option for large-scale metal additive manufacturing. It has gained widespread use in the aerospace industry and other applications that require large and complex custom parts. The process is a combination of a precise control system and a welding process, typically GTAW or MIG welding. It is a member of the directed energy deposition (DED) family of AM processes. Compared with many metal AM processes, it is relatively simple and cost-effective but almost always requires a significant amount of postprocessing before parts can be used. The AM-based nature of the process …

A Radiation-Hardened 4-Bit Flash Adc With Compact Fault-Tolerant Logic For Seu Mitigation, Fnu Naveed, Jeff Dix

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

This paper presents a radiation-hardened 4-bit flash analog-to-digital converter (ADC) implemented in a 22 nm fully depleted silicon-on-insulator (FD-SOI) process for high-reliability applications in radiation environments. To improve single-event upsets (SEU) tolerance, the design introduces a compact fault-tolerant logic scheme based on Dual Modular Redundancy (DMR), offering reliability comparable to Triple Modular Redundancy (TMR) while using two storage nodes instead of three, and a simple XOR-based check in place of a majority voter. A distributed sampling architecture mitigates SEU vulnerabilities in the input path, while thin-oxide devices are used in analog-critical circuits to enhance total ionizing dose (TID) resilience. Post-layout …

International Conference On Civil Engineering And Infrastructure, University For Business And Technology (Ubt) In Kosovo

UBT International Conference

UBT Annual International Conference is the 14th international interdisciplinary peer reviewed conference which publishes works of the scientists as well as practitioners in the area where UBT is active in Education, Research and Development. The UBT aims to implement an integrated strategy to establish itself as an internationally competitive, research-intensive university, committed to the transfer of knowledge and the provision of a world-class education to the most talented students from all background. The main perspective of the conference is to connect the scientists and practitioners from different disciplines in the same place and make them be aware of the recent …

Dasisedu’ Program For Seismic Response History Analysis Of 2d Frame Structures With Different Seismic Protection Systems, Isak Idrizi

UBT International Conference

Over the past decades, a lot of effort has been put in studying the mechanical behavior of various base isolation and energy dissipation devices subjected to a range of extreme design situations. This led to the development of validated theories that can describe the dynamic behavior of various seismic base isolators (with the lead-rubber and friction pendulum isolators being amongst the most prominent types used in USA). The authors of this paper took these developed theories as basis for developing the so called ‘DASISedu’ computer program for interactive simulation of the dynamic behavior of typical planar structures (both multistory building …

Analytical Design Of Continuous Prestressed Concrete Beams – Methodology, Example, And Comparison With A Simply Supported Beam, Xhemshir Mulliqi

UBT International Conference

This paper presents a complete analytical procedure for continuous prestressed concrete beams (two spans 15 + 15 m). The analysis covers moment distribution, loadbalancing method, prestress losses, thrust-line geometry, and shear verification in accordance with Eurocode 2. Continuity reduces positive bending moments in the spans to approximately wL²/24 while introducing negative moments over the internal support of about wL²/12 , compared to wL²/8 for a simply supported beam. An affine correction of the tendon profile allows fine adjustment of the thrust line without altering the equivalent load wₚ. A practical design example and comparison with numerical FEM results are provided.

Prime Numbers Through The Ages: Implementing The Sieve Of Eratosthenes In Java, Vesë Vrellaku, Hizer Leka, Alma Novoberdaliu

UBT International Conference

The Sieve of Eratosthenes is one of the oldest yet most efficient algorithms for finding prime numbers up to a given limit. This paper presents an analytical and practical implementation of the sieve, focusing on its mathematical foundations and optimized algorithmic behavior using the Java programming language. The aim is to demonstrate how ancient mathematical logic continues to be applicable in modern computational practices. The study outlines the basic sieve method, explores three critical optimizations that reduce time complexity, and evaluates the algorithm's performance in different scenarios. Moreover, this work contrasts the classical approach with similar prime-finding algorithms and emphasizes …

Green Data Pipelines: Ai-Driven Energy Optimization For Sustainable Cloud Workloads, Erina Salihu, Anduena Syla

UBT International Conference

The rapid proliferation of cloud computing workloads has intensified concerns about the high energy demand and environmental impact of large-scale data processing. As infrastructures expand, data centers now account for a growing share of global electricity consumption and carbon emissions. This study presents a green data-pipeline architecture that integrates AI-driven scheduling with advanced resource-management techniques to reduce energy use in cloud-native environments. The architecture combines modern data-engineering platforms, including Apache Airflow for workflow orchestration, Databricks (Spark) for computation, PostgreSQL as an analytical warehouse, and dbt for data transformation. It is coordinated by a reinforcement-learning agent that dynamically optimizes workload placement …

International Conference On Computer Science And Communication Engineering, University For Business And Technology (Ubt) In Kosovo

UBT International Conference

UBT Annual International Conference is the 14th international interdisciplinary peer reviewed conference which publishes works of the scientists as well as practitioners in the area where UBT is active in Education, Research and Development. The UBT aims to implement an integrated strategy to establish itself as an internationally competitive, research-intensive university, committed to the transfer of knowledge and the provision of a world-class education to the most talented students from all background. The main perspective of the conference is to connect the scientists and practitioners from different disciplines in the same place and make them be aware of the recent …

Development Of Advanced Algorithms For Autonomous Vehicle Navigation, Liridon Hoti, Besnik Qehaja, Jeton Sllamniku

UBT International Conference

This paper addresses the development of advanced algorithms for autonomous vehicle navigation, focusing on the creation of an intelligent platform capable of safely planning and managing vehicle movement without human intervention. The main objective is to design a functional and reliable system by applying modern artificial intelligence techniques, optimization methods, and sensor data processing (sensor fusion). The study begins with a review of the existing literature on autonomous navigation, identifying key approaches such as Machine Learning, Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM), and Path Planning. It then presents the development methods for the autonomous navigation system using machine learning through simulation, …

High-Performance Sha-256-Based Request Signing: A Comparative Study Of Standard And Custom Implementations, Gentrit Halimi, Rigon Pira, Argjend Azizi

UBT International Conference

Ensuring data integrity in modern software integrations with third-party providers is critical for secure communication and reliable transaction processing. This study focuses on implementing SHA-256 hashing for verifying the authenticity and integrity of HTTP requests. Two approaches are analyzed: the built-in .NET SHA-256 implementation and a fully custom SHA-256 algorithm implemented from first principles. Both methods are evaluated for correctness, security, and performance. Experimental results demonstrate that the custom implementation achieves comparable security guarantees while offering improved execution speed and minimal memory usage. The findings highlight the relevance of SHA-256 in protecting data against tampering and its suitability for high-performance, …

Friends Recommendation In Dynamic Social Networks Using Breadth-First Search Algorithm, Rigon Pira, Jeta Domi, Besnik Qehaja, Edmond Hajrizi

UBT International Conference

Social networks are constantly evolving, and recommending new con- nections is essential for improving user engagement. This paper proposes a friend recommendation system using the Breadth-First Search (BFS) algorithm on dy- namic graphs, offering a simple, scalable, and efficient solution. The network is modeled as an undirected graph, where users are vertices and friendships are edges. BFS explores the graph level by level, identifying potential friends through mutual connections while excluding existing friends. An adjacency list representation ensures memory efficiency and supports real-time updates. Can- didate friends are ranked by the number of shared mutual connections, with higher counts indicating …

Digital Technologies For Modernizing Coal-Based Power Systems In Kosovo, Agron Bislimi, Arbesa Nikaj

UBT International Conference

Kosovo continues to rely heavily on lignite for its electricity generation, making coal a dominant and unavoidable part of its energy landscape for the foreseeable future. Rather than pursuing an abrupt replacement, this paper advocates for the modernization of existing coal infrastructure through digital technologies that enhance efficiency, reduce emissions, and improve operational transparency. Smart monitoring, predictive maintenance, and real-time control systems are emphasized as cost-effective solutions to improve the performance of current power plants. At the same time, these digital upgrades lay the foundation for the gradual integration of renewable energy sources, particularly solar and wind, into the power …

Retracted: Analysis Of Energy Sector Co2 Emanations Using Wavelet-Based Numerical Technique, Yeshwanth R., Kumbinarasaiah S.

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

This study aims to present the modified Chebyshev wavelet collocation method (CWCM) to investigate and obtain the numerical approximation of $CO_2$ emissions from the energy sector utilizing the fractional mathematical model. The need for energy rises as the population grows. Burning fossil fuels produces a significant portion of the world's energy, which raises the atmospheric concentration of $CO_2$ and causes global warming. The combination of mathematical modeling studies and numerical simulations allows us to understand the $CO_2$ emissions from the energy sector. Our objective is to build an operational matrix of integration (OMI) based on Chebyshev wavelets and use it …

Overview And Prospects Of Plain Reservoir Construction And Utilization In Coal Mining-Induced Subsidence Areas With High Water Tables In The Lower Reaches Of The Yellow River, Chen Shaojie, Jiang Ning, Zhang Genwang, Jiang Chunlin, Gao Qun

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background Coal mining-induced subsidence areas with high water tables in the lower reaches of the Yellow River are encountered with pronounced contradictions between large-area water accumulation and issues including urban water scarcity, groundwater contamination, ecological degradation, and low farmland reclamation rates. These contradictions severely restrict the green, low-carbon transformation of cities with coal mines and hinder the high-quality development of the Yellow River basin. This study aims to explore the construction of plain reservoirs in these subsidence areas as a critical approach to the intensive utilization of water and land resources in the subsidence areas, as well as the ecological …

Visible Image-Based Machine Learning For Identifying Abiotic Stress In Sugar Beet Crops, Seyed Reza Haddadi, Masoumeh Hashemi, Richard C. Peralta, Masoud Soltani

Plants, Soils and Climate Student Research

Previous researches have proved that the synchronized use of inexpensive RGB images, image processing, and machine learning (ML) can accurately identify crop stress. Four Machine Learning Image Modules (MLIMs) were developed to enable the rapid and cost-effective identification of sugar beet stresses caused by water and/or nitrogen deficiencies. RGB images representing stressed and non-stressed crops were used in the analysis. To improve robustness, data augmentation was applied, generating six variations on each image and expanding the dataset from 150 to 900 images for training and testing. Each MLIM was trained and tested using 54 combinations derived from nine canopy and …

A Rock Engineering System Model For Predicting Fragment Size Of Muck-Pile Using Geometric Parameters And Rock Mass Properties, Patrick Adeniyi Adesida, Victor Abioye Akinbinu, Babatunde Adebayo

Journal of Sustainable Mining

This study aimed to evaluate rock fragmentation risk indexes and develop a predictive model for the median size of fragment (X₅₀) using the Rock Engineering System (RES). The methodology includes the analysis of 15 significant parameters of rock properties and blast design, which are considered to be important to rock fragmentation from 30 selected blast sites. These parameters include rock type, hardness, blast-hole diameter, charge weight, blast pattern, and others that control fragmentation results. Statistical analysis was performed to validate the RES-based model developed from these parameters. The model exhibited a strong predictive capacity, evidenced by a …

Ai-Assisted Spectral Fingerprinting Of Mg-Doped Zno Tracer Phosphors: Tuning Photoluminescence Emission And Investigating Lifetime Via Sol-Gel Synthesis Parameters, Thomas M. Brandte

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Plastic sorting remains a major driver of recycling costs, and existing infrared (IR) optical identification systems cannot determine material prominence or quality, nor reliably identify dark polymers [1]. This work explores a PVA-stabilized sol–gel and thermal synthesis route for magnesium-doped zinc oxide (Mg:ZnO) as a tunable photoluminescent tracer phosphor.

Lattice-defect control forms the foundation of phosphorescent emission tuning, enabling unique spectral fingerprints to be generated based on synthesis parameters—Mg molar ratio (Mg%), PVA mass (g), and calcination temperature (°C). Photoluminescence (PL) spectra (400–850 nm) were analyzed using Gaussian peak fitting and principal component analysis (PCA), reducing hundreds of spectral features …

Design And Implementation Of A Cross-Platform, Modular Electronic-Nose System, Kaushika Rudraraju

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Electronic noses (e-noses) are a subject of great research. They are useful in multiple platforms and serve a great purpose in both studies and safety. This thesis presents a portable, modular e-nose platform that spans the full pipeline from sensing to visualization, with emphasis on scalability, repeatability, and straightforward integration. The hardware is organized as swappable sensor modules each hosting multiple commercial sensors and local signal-conditioning networked to a master microcontroller via structured communication protocols. High-resolution acquisition, time alignment, and efficient streaming to a host enable reliable logging and analysis. A controlled exposure chamber and a repeatable sampling protocol (baseline-exposure-purge …

Enabling Assembly And Repair Of Dissimilar Thermoplastic Composites For Space Applications Via Ultrasonic Welding, Emily Nicole Friedman

LSU Master's Theses

Interest in the repair and reuse of thermoplastic composites (TPCs) is growing, especially for lightweight space/lunar structures. Ultrasonic welding (USW) is a promising joining technique by which vibration is applied to create heat. An energy director (ED) is used at the joint interface to concentrate heat generation to the desired surface. This work explores the effect of dissimilar ED materials on the disassembly repair of TPCs using USW, to potentially tailor weld properties for specific applications. Single lap joints were created using carbon fiber (CF)/polyether ether ketone (PEEK) adherends with PEEK, polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyetherimide (PEI), and low melt polyaryletherketone …

Graphene Screen-Printed Electrode For Wound-Related Biosensing, Chanyapat Sriviroch

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Monitoring wound healing is critical for improving patient outcomes, especially for chronic wounds, which often have complications like delayed healing and infections. Current methods for monitoring wound healing are invasive and costly. Also, these methods have a limited ability to provide real-time, continuous data. This study seeks to explore a graphene screen-printed electrode (SPE) electrochemical biosensor that is non-invasive and efficient to constantly monitor wound healing in real time. This research study focuses specifically on the electrochemical detection of the Human Neutrophil Elastase (HNE) and Secretory Leukocyte Protease Inhibitor (SLPI), which is one of the most abundant neutral proteinases in …

Utilizing Ensemble Learning Techniques To Enhance Corn Price Prediction: A Case Study On South Dakota, Youssef Harrath, Jihene Kaabi, Ethan Price

Research & Publications

Predicting crop prices is a complex challenge that farmers must navigate each year, but machine learning algorithms can provide valuable insights to support more informed decision making. In recent years, agricultural price prediction models have made significant advances, with architectures achieving varying degrees of success. However, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of these models remains an ongoing challenge. This research explores the use of stacking, an ensemble learning technique, to enhance the performance of base models in predicting corn prices in many regions of the state of South Dakota in the USA. We propose a hybrid architecture that combines Long …

Characterizing Surface Waviness Of Aluminum Alloy: An Approach To Minimize Post-Processing In Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (Waam) Production, Shammas Mahmood Shafi, Anis Fatima, Nicholas V. Hendrickson

Michigan Tech Publications

Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) offers high deposition rates and cost-effective production of large metal components but suffers from poor surface quality, particularly surface waviness, which increases post-processing requirements and limits industrial adoption. Since waviness directly impacts structural integrity, resource efficiency, and industrial applicability, understanding how process parameters govern this feature is critical for reducing post-processing requirement. This study systematically investigated the influence of voltage, travel speed, and wire feed speed on surface waviness in aluminum alloy walls fabricated by WAAM. A two-level factorial design with 16 experiments was conducted, and surface waviness was quantified using height gauge measurements relative …

Path Planning Of Improved Rrt Algorithm Based On Deep Reinforcement Learning, Xiuman Liang, Ziliang Liu, Zhendong Liu

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: To address the low planning efficiency, poor safety, and limited practicability of the RRT algorithm in global path planning within complex three-dimensional environments, which fail to meet the requirements of planning the safe flight path of UAVs, an improved SAC-RRT algorithm was proposed, which fused SAC deep reinforcement learning algorithm and RRT algorithm. A target point bias strategy and a dynamic step size based on the SAC decision-making network were designed to reduce the blindness of RRT. A random point correction process was designed to optimize the position of random points based on actions from the decision network and …

Path Planning For Mobile Robots Based On Improved Rrt-Connect And Dwa Fusion, Yi Luo, Jia Deng

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: To improve the efficiency and quality of dynamic path planning for mobile robots in complex environments, this paper proposed a path planning algorithm that combined an improved RRT-connect with the DWA. Two expanding random trees were introduced for alternating expansion, and a dynamically restricted sampling area was set to reduce the randomness of the sampling process while ensuring the probability completeness of the algorithm. A target bias adaptive step size strategy was employed to enhance the target orientation of the random tree expansion process. A greedy strategy was adopted to prune redundant nodes in the path and smooth the …

An Integrated Decision Support System For Bim Level 3 Implementation, Lama Abumoeilak, Salwa Beheiry, Serter Atabay

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

The Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) sector accounts for 39% of greenhouse gas emissions, 40% of solid waste, and 12% of potablewater usage globally, underscoring the need for sustainable, efficient practices. Building Information Modeling (BIM) offers a digital framework to address these challenges through lifecycle management, collaboration, and efficiency gains. However, most organizations remain at BIM Level 2 maturity, which limits their potential for full integration. This study proposes a comprehensive Decision Support System (DSS) to facilitate the adoption of BIM Level 3, with an emphasis on collaboration, sustainability, and data interoperability. The DSS integrates Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), Analytical …

Reliability Targeted Snow Loads And Winter Wind Parameters For Locations Outside Of The Conterminous United States, Brennan L. Bean, Nicholas Brimhall, Bikram Bhusal, Marc Maguire, Maha Moussa

Browse all Datasets

The national building standard ASCE 7 moved to reliability-targeted snow loads (RTSLs) in the 2022 version. This necessitates the development of RTSLs for international locations. This repository contains the data and code needed to produce RTSLs and Winter Wind Parameters for locations outside of the Conterminous United States (OCONUS). It relies on annual maximum snow loads provided in a separate data release (see Brimhall et al. 2025).

Tacscope: A Miniaturized Vision-Based Tactile Sensor For Surgical Applications, Md Rakibul Islam Prince, Sheeraz Athar, Pokuang Zhou, Yu She

School of Industrial Engineering Faculty Publications

The lack of tactile feedback in robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery (RMIS) limits surgeons’ ability to palpate tissues, a critical technique for locating abnormalities such as tumors. To address this challenge, we introduce TacScope, a novel, vision-based tactile sensor leveraging the magnification properties of a spherical-surface elastomer to provide tactile feedback for advanced clinical applications. TacScope features a robust, low-cost, and easyly fabricate design, enabling seamless integration into surgical robotic setups. It reconstructs high-resolution 3D geometry from variations in particle-density distribution across its elastomer surface, requiring only a single image for calibration. The curved elastomer membrane alters particle-density distribution under …