Digital Commons Network^™

A Review Of The United States' Long Term War Support Capabilities In The Indo-Pacific Command Region, Brian J. Mullin Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines U.S. maritime transportation readiness in the Indo-Pacific, highlighting fleet age, mariner shortages, shipyard decline, and port vulnerabilities. It also considers contested logistics and technological threats. Recommendations include fleet recapitalization, mariner pipeline growth, port diversification, and defensive upgrades. The study concludes that secure sea line assumptions are outdated and calls for greater resilience, with follow-on efficiency analysis proposed for ports and ships.

Formation Of A Prism-Focused Working Group To Address Mcrs Issues And Expanded Prism Requirements, Brian Howell, Robin Baskette, Jennifer Walton

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This study, sponsored by the International Registration Plan (IRP), Inc. in partnership with the Kentucky Transportation Center (KTC), examined systemic challenges and opportunities to strengthen two critical safety oversight mechanisms in U.S. commercial vehicle operations—the Motor Carrier Responsible for Safety (MCRS) and the Expanded Performance and Registration Information Systems Management (PRISM) program. The research traced the evolution of federal and state data systems used to identify and monitor carriers, emphasizing the modernization role of the IRP Data Repository (IDR). The IDR now provides a secure, centralized platform for daily vehicle registration data and financial transactions, facilitating the exchange of carrier …

Data-Driven Shear Capacity Prediction Of Studs Embedded In Uhpc For Steel-Uhpc Composite Structures, Yanping Zhu, Woubishet Zewdu Taffese, Genda Chen

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This study employs ensemble learning algorithms to accurately predict the shear capacity of studs embedded in ultrahigh performance concrete (UHPC), a critical aspect of structural engineering. Using a comprehensive data set featuring six UHPC slab features, seven stud features, and one shear pocket feature, 35 ensemble models are developed across five cases and seven algorithms (bagging, random forest, AdaBoost, gradient boosting, XGBoost, CatBoost, and LightGBM). The Shapley additive explanations (SHAP) analysis is conducted on the top-performing models to gain insights into their decision-making mechanisms. Results indicate that transforming UHPC slab geometry parameters into a volume, alongside different diameter ratios, proves …

Labor Productivity Losses Across Construction Trades: A Machine Learning Approach, Tamima Elbashbishy, Islam H. El-Adaway

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Labor productivity is a major concern in the construction industry. Existing research on construction labor productivity (CLP) within specific trades has produced inconsistent findings due to differences in the factors analyzed. This lack of consistency makes it difficult to identify the most critical drivers of productivity losses across trades. To address this gap, this study adopts a cross-trade analytical approach to systematically identify and evaluate the inefficiencies impacting labor productivity in multiple construction trades. Specifically, the study (1) identified common organizational and project-level inefficiencies that influence labor performance; (2) conducted an expert-based survey to measure the frequency and perceived impact …

Kentucky Model Minimum Uniform Crash Criteria (Mmucc) Sixth Edition Report Card, William Staats, Nikiforos Stamatiadis, Eric Green, Nathaniel Swallom

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration published the Model Minimum Uniform Crash Criteria (6th Edition) (MMUCC) in 2024. This updated version of the MMUCC contains recommendations for improving and standardizing electronic crash data. Its guidelines address the collection and presentation of 105 data elements and 1,056 data attributes. To facilitate a possible redesign of Kentucky’s crash reporting process, Kentucky Transportation Center (KTC) researchers reviewed the updated criteria and evaluated the degree to which the state complies with its recommended methods of gathering, storing, and presenting crash data. At the level of data elements, Kentucky is 25 percent compliant; for data …

Storage Location Optimization In Automated Storage And Retrieval Systems: A Deep Reinforcement Learning Approach, Lingjun Wang, Aldy Gunawan, Pieter Vansteenwegen

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

This study investigates the optimization of storage location in automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS). We introduce an optimization approach based on the Deep Q-Network (DQN) algorithm to enhance warehouse task efficiency and minimize stacker travel during storage and retrieval. To accelerate the algorithm training process, we integrate a prioritized experience replay mechanism. Furthermore, we decouple action selection from value estimation within the DQN framework to address the issue of value overestimation. The proposed model is evaluated against three heuristic methods. The experimental results demonstrate that our approach significantly outperforms these baselines.

Lung Injury Risk Curves From Behind Armor Blunt Trauma Using A Live Swine Model, Narayan Yoganandan, Lewis Somberg, Danielle Wilson, Alok Shah, Jared Michael Koser, Brian D. Stemper, Valeta Carol Chancey, Joseph Mcentire

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Introduction

From structural, anatomical, and functional perspectives, components of the thoracoabdominal region are heterogeneous and physiologically and functionally different. Although their tolerances to injury are expected to be different, the current Roma Plastilina No. 1 clay penetration criterion for behind armor blunt trauma (BABT) is not specific to the body region. It is important to develop regional injury criteria to ensure its specificity. The objective of the study is to conduct impact tests on the lung region using a live animal model and develop injury risk curves using velocity and deflection metrics via parametric survival analysis.

Materials and Methods

Live …

Wind Turbine Rotor Design Using High-Fidelity Aerostructural Optimization, Marco Mangano, Sicheng He, Yingqian Liao, Denis-Gabriel Caprace, Andrew Ning, Joaquim R. R. A. Martins

Faculty Publications

Large wind turbines yield more energy but demand careful aeroelastic blade design. Coupled multiphysics design strategies can reduce wind energy costs exploiting fluid-structure interactions. This work presents the first high-fidelity aerostructural optimization study of a large wind turbine rotor.We use blade-resolved fluid dynamics and structural solvers in a monolithic gradient-based optimization framework to explore steady-state torque and blade mass trade-offs. The coupled-adjoint approach computes gradients efficiently, enabling the optimization of over 100 structural and geometric parameters simultaneously. Our optimization study modifies a DTU 10 MW benchmark with a simplified structure and isotropic material properties. The tightly coupled optimizations increase torque …

Toward A Generalizable Perceptual Hashing Framework For Image Manipulation Detection, Priyanka Samanta

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This thesis contributes to research in adversarial image manipulation detection. The primary motivation is the increasing need to verify digital images, especially for legal evidence, journalistic proof, or social media content—where manipulated or fabricated images can mislead, defame, or distort reality. A key application and contribution of this work is the development of eWitness, a blockchain application that generates and registers image provenance at capture time to enable independent verification of authenticity. The secret sauce behind the system is SmartHash, a novel and efficient perceptual hashing algorithm designed for real-world deployment in systems like eWitness. Unlike existing algorithms, SmartHash targets …

Investigating The Impact Of Forest Vegetation On Nuclear Weapon Prompt Radiation Energy Deposition, Paul A. Clement

Theses and Dissertations

This work seeks to answer the unstudied questions “Does a layer of vegetation impact the prompt radiation energy deposition in the soil from an atmospheric nuclear detonation?” and “If yes, by how much?” A new methodology was developed to repeatably automate and streamline a process of generating a three-dimensional geometry for subsequent radiation transport simulations and statistical analysis. The methodology streamlined three diverse applications: a three-dimensional mesh generator, a radiation transport simulation code, and a sensitivity analysis & uncertainty quantification software. The methodology was tested by simulating the quantitative influence that vegetation has on changing the energy deposition into the …

Automation Of Lcmc Logistics Processes: A Delphi Approach, Kline M. Alt

Theses and Dissertations

As the U.S. Air Force confronts growing complexity in system acquisition, the implementation of digital models in system design and logistics process management allows the incorporation of digital tools and the possibility for automation of portions of logistics processes. This thesis investigates where these technologies can be most effectively integrated within the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center logistics enterprise (AFLCMC). Using a three round Delphi study, AFLCMC logistics subject matter expert (SME) opinions were solicited from program-level senior logisticians, program managers to identify high-need areas, key success factors, and potential barriers to adoption. Quantitative consensus from Likert-scale and ordinal …

Text-Based Propaganda Detection, Vivek Sharma

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

In the digital age, the swift consumption of news and the widespread dissemination of propaganda significantly threaten democratic principles and informed decision-making. News organizations, often aligned politically, tailor their content to appeal to specific audiences, thereby perpetuating biases. Despite advancements in detecting propaganda through various computational techniques, including Large Language Models(LLM) and BERT-based approaches, significant challenges persist concerning data availability and the effectiveness of detection tools. This thesis explores the landscape of text-based propaganda and reviews related research in textual analysis. It introduces a novel method for collecting a social-media based dataset, which includes analysis of journalists' tweets to discern …

Design Of Robust Adaptive Nonlinear Backstepping Controller Enhanced By Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient Algorithm For Efficient Power Converter Regulation, Seyyed Morteza Ghamari, Asma Aziz, Mehrdad Ghahramani

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Power converters play an important role in incorporating renewable energy sources into power systems. Among different converter designs, Buck and Boost converters are popular, as they use fewer components and deliver cost savings and high efficiency. However, Boost converters are known as non–minimum phase systems, imposing harder constraints for designing a robust converter. Developing an efficient controller for these topologies can be difficult since they exhibit nonlinearity and distortion in high frequency modes. The Lyapunov-based Adaptive Backstepping Control (ABSC) technology is used to regulate suitable outputs for these structures. This approach is an updated version of the technique that uses …

Reduced Order Models Of Hydrodynamically Interacting Flapping Wings, Jose Pabon

Dissertations

Fish schools exhibit a collective behavior and self-organization that is mediated by hydrodynamic interactions between individual fish. However, the long-time evolution of hydrodynamically interacting collectives is challenging to investigate due to the persistent influence of long-lived vortical structures, and the high-resolution requirements of direct numerical simulation at large Reynolds numbers. Reduced-order models have therefore played an important role in theoretical investigations of collectives of swimming bodies. The main results detailed herein are several new reduced-order models of swimmers that self-propel by flapping, i.e., by executing a prescribed periodic rigid body motion. The models are extensions of a discrete-time dynamical system …

Low-Cost Cutaneous Protoporphyrin Ix (Ppix) Detection (Cpd) Device For Follow-Up Monitoring Of Patients After Photodynamic Therapy, Md Asaduzzaman Rasel

Graduate Masters Theses

Background: Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) utilizes specific wavelengths of light to activate photosensitizing chemical compounds, known as photosensitizers, which induce the generation of cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) for the targeted destruction of cancer cells. Among various photosensitizers for PDT, Protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) is widely employed in oncology and dermatology due to its natural in situ generation via the metabolic conversion of 5- aminolevulinic acid (ALA), a non-phototoxic prodrug. Systemic administration of ALA after 3-6 hr drug delay leads to peak PpIX accumulation in tissues, facilitating therapeutic and diagnostic applications. However, PpIX can persist in the skin for 24–48 hours post-treatment, …

Design And Development Of A Standalone Digital Holographic Microscope Employing Phase-Driven Reconstruction And Classification For Biomedical Imaging And Optical Diagnostics, Charlotte Kyeremah

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Access to advanced biomedical imaging technologies remains a significant challenge in resource-limited settings, especially for early disease detection and monitoring of diseases such as malaria, HIV, and other blood-borne diseases. Although point-of-care (POC) devices have gained popularity in global health, many rely on antibody-based tests, lateral flow strips, or optical readouts that often lack quantitative capabilities, sensitivity to early infections, or versatility in different diagnostic targets. In addition, these systems are typically dependent on disposable reagents or manual interpretation, which limits their effectiveness in remote areas. Digital Holographic Microscopy (DHM) presents a promising alternative as a label-free imaging method capable …

Multimodal Learning In Real-World Application: Enhancing Feature Representation And Training Strategies, Nana Lin

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Multimodal learning has emerged as a critical paradigm for developing intelligent systems that can understand and reason across diverse inputs such as images, text, and audio data. Despite significant advances, effective deployment of multimodal models in practice remains a challenging task. This dissertation explores how multimodal learning can be effectively applied to high-stakes, real-world scenarios, with a focus on enhancing feature representation and training efficiency. Specifically, this research investigates multimodal learning strategies in two key domains: healthcare and surveillance.

In the healthcare domain, we explored the data fusion and alignment approaches for cognitive decline diagnoses. First, we propose the LOVEMA …

Determination Of Excess Pore Pressure In Under Consolidating Soil By Using Cptu, Karolina Villa Delfia Ihut, Martin Wijaya, Aswin Lim, Alfrendo Satyanaga, Grisella Aglia, Sharfina Faradiba Syifanaya, Andy Sugianto

Makara Journal of Technology

North Jakarta is predominantly composed of soft soil that is still undergoing consolidation. According to research by Raharjo et al. (2022), excess pore pressure is still present in the soils of Jakarta. The degree of consolidation and excess pore pressure values indicate that consolidation is not yet complete (Raharjo et al., 2022). In this study, the researchers developed two methods to determine excess pore pressure using field testing. The Stress History and Normalized Soil Engineering Properties (SHANSEP) model equation from Ladd and Foot (1974), as well as Finite Element Method (FEM) modeling using the PLAXIS program, were utilized …

Effect Of Contact Time And Concentration On Adsorption Of Pb2+Metal Ion Utilizing Crab Shell Chitosan And Activated Bentonite Clay Composite, Nia Sasria, Adi Wisaka, Ade Wahyu Yusariarta Putra Parmita, Gusti Umindya Nur Tajalla

Makara Journal of Technology

Indonesia produced 1,508 tons of nonliving crabs in the January–March 2020 period. The number of shells generated can account for 40%–60% of the overall weight. Therefore, using crab shells made into chitosan is expected to increase the economic value and reduce waste from crab shells. Chitosan can be modified with clay previously activated with an acid solution to form a chitosan–clay composite to improve the adsorption capacity. This study aims to analyze the differences in characteristics between chitosan and clay before and after the immobilization process. A comparison of chitosan and clay (1:2) is conducted on the basis of variations …

Human-Machine Communication: Complete Volume. Volume 10

Human-Machine Communication

This is the complete volume of HMC Volume 10.

The Emergence Of Ai Chatbots In Education, Trek Martin

Journal of Graduate Education Research

The recent advent of popular AI applications in educational contexts has sparked renewed interest in the question of AI and guided learning platforms as teaching tools. What are the possibilities for learning? In the attempt to answer that question, limitations of the field must be brought to full attention, as well an understanding of whether or not those limitations will continue into the immediate future; this research examines the technical evolution of artificial intelligence in education, from early symbolic reasoning systems to modern machine-learning-based chatbots. It then examines that evolution in terms of the key challenges it faced throughout, and …

Piezoelectric Dc Generator Through Sequential In-Phase Polarization Variation, Hyun Soo Kim, Sunghoon Hur, In Woo Oh, Chulwan Lim, Huimin Qiao, Hyung Jin Choi, Min Seok Kim, Dae Sol Kong, Jong Hoon Jung, Joonchul Shin, Seung Hyub Baek, Jun Chen, Chong Yun Kang, Jeong Min Baik, Yu U. Wang, Shashank Priya, Seong H. Kim, Yunseok Kim, Hyung Suk Oh, Kyung Hoon Cho, Jungho Ryu, Hyun Cheol Song

Michigan Tech Publications

Energy harvesting has drawn growing interest as a reliable power source for IoT applications, with piezoelectric materials notable for their high sensitivity and straightforward integration. Their robust mechanical-electrical coupling also makes them ideal for harnessing environmental vibrations or mechanical motions. Still, standard piezoelectric harvesters inherently produce alternating current (AC), necessitating complex rectification steps and leading to substantial energy loss. This work introduces a direct current (DC) harvesting method that employs a novel in-phase polarization strategy, enabling a stable, continuous DC output. This approach surpasses prior attempts that offered only low or pulsed DC signals, achieving an open-circuit voltage of 33.44 …

Modeling, Control, And Learning For Whole-Body Manipulation With Large-Scale Soft Robots, Curtis C. Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation addresses the challenge of enabling soft robots to perform contact-rich manipulation tasks by overcoming limitations in hardware, modeling, control, and learning. First, we present hardware advancements with PneuDrive, a pneumatic control system for actuating soft robots. We also introduce Baloo, a hybrid soft-rigid robotic torso which achieves a single-arm payload capacity of 19.3 kg and robust whole-body grasping capabilities. We also develop a full-body tactile sensing system enabling piezoresistive sensor arrays to cover large areas (1 square meter) with over 8000 distributed sensing points. Second, we focus on developing tractable dynamic models based on the Recursive Newton-Euler algorithm …

Pressure And Force Dynamics In Artificial Muscle Actuators: A State-Space And Optimization-Based Approach, Mohammad Elzein

Dissertations and Theses

This two-part investigation explores the dynamic behavior of braided pneumatic actuators (BPAs) under bio-inspired pulse modulation, with the aim of improving their biomimetic force output and control. The first study examines the effect of pulse length and inter-pulse timing on BPA performance, revealing that force output is highly sensitive to the temporal structure of input pulses mirroring biological muscle behavior. Using dual-pulse actuation schemes, the results demonstrate that force responses exceed the additive contributions of individual pulses, with peak amplification occurring consistently at a 27 ms inter-pulse gap. Shorter pulse lengths (10–20 ms) yielded the highest normalized force increases, up …

Superhydrophilic Porous Coooh Nano-Architecture With Abundant Oxygen Vacancies For Enhanced Urea Electrooxidation At Ampere-Level Current Densities, Wen-Jing Lv, Xiao-Man Tang, Xue-Tong Wang, Wen-Cai Liu, Jian-Wen Zhu, Guo-Jing Wang, Yuan-Zhi Zhu

Journal of Electrochemistry

The conversion of urea-containing wastewater into clean hydrogen energy has gained increasing attention. However, challenges remain, particularly with sluggish catalytic kinetics and limited long-term stability of urea oxidation reaction (UOR). Herein, we report the loosely porous CoOOH nano-architecture (CoOOH LPNAs) with hydrophilic surface and abundant oxygen vacancies (O_v) on carbon fiber paper (CFP) by electrochemical reconstruction of the CoP nanoneedles precursor. The resulting three-dimensional electrode exhibited an impressively low potential of 1.38 V at 1000 mA·cm⁻² and excellent durability for UOR. Furthermore, when tested in an anion exchange membrane (AEM) electrolyzer, it required only 1.53 V at …

First Principles Materials Discovery And Design For Photovoltaic And Solar Thermal Alloys Using High Throughput Methods, Andrew Pike

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Materials selection has been a challenge since the dawn of time. With the advent of computational methods and high throughput databases, materials can be discovered and assessed before they are even synthesized. In this thesis I will discuss my work towards designing new materials for clean energy uses, especially alloys which have been underexplored from computational methods. To begin, I present a case study explaining the synthesis of the Yb₁₄ZnSb₁₁ thermoelectric material. Next, I explore the class of AM₂Pn₂ Zintl materials. From the previously identified BaCd₂P₂, it is suspected that …

Design And Optimization Of Anode Catalysts For Direct Ethanol Fuel Cells: Advances And Challenges In C-C Bond Activation And Selective Modulation Of The C1 Pathway, Kai-Chi Qin, Meng-Tian Huo, Yu Liang, Si-Yuan Zhu, Zi-Hao Xing, Jin-Fa Chang

Journal of Electrochemistry

Direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs) are a promising alternative to conventional energy sources, offering high energy density, environmental sustainability, and operational safety. Compared to methanol fuel cells, DEFCs exhibit lower toxicity and a more mature preparation process. Unlike hydrogen fuel cells, DEFCs provide superior storage and transport feasibility, as well as cost-effectiveness, significantly enhancing their commercial viability. However, the stable C–C bond in ethanol creates a high activation energy barrier, often resulting in incomplete electrooxidation. Current commercial platinum (Pt)- and palladium (Pd)-based catalysts demonstrate low C–C bond cleavage efficiency (

Free-Running Ring Oscillators For Crystal-Free Communication Systems: Design, Simulation Challenges, And Frequency Stability Improvements, Haziq Rohail

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis presents techniques for enhancing the frequency stability of ring oscillators (ROs) for crystal-free wireless communication systems. The first major contribution is a tutorial-style study of frequency stability metrics, providing clear definitions, conversions methods, and comparative analysis of commonly used figures of merit such as phase noise, Allan deviation, and jitter. The second contribution addresses the challenges of simulating phase noise in free-running ROs. Key techniques including Periodic Steady-State Noise (PNoise), Harmonic Balance Noise (HBNoise), and transient noise analysis are evaluated in terms of accuracy, convergence behavior, and simulation runtime. Based on these results, practical guidelines are offered for …

Impact Of Fault Resistance On The Performance Of Ann-Based Faults Classification In The Farm Of Pv Systems, Anwer Mahmood Fadhil, Omar Sharaf Al-Deen Al-Yozbaky

AUIQ Technical Engineering Science

This research provides an analytical study of the effect of fault resistance on the accuracy of fault classification in solar farms, with the aim of evaluating the performance of classification algorithms in realistic environments where the characteristics of electrical signals resulting from faults change. A model of a 290kW photovoltaic farm, consisting of 100 strings each containing 7 solar panels, was adopted, and the simulation was carried out using MATLAB/Simulink software. The study included different scenarios for electrical faults, such as line-to-ground (LG) and line-to-line (LL) failures, with the failure impedance changing from 0 to 500 ohms by a step …

Effects Of Ambient Temperature On Nox Emissions From Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicles Measured In Utah, Amber L. Gurecki Allen, Darrell Sonntag, Gary A. Bishop

FEAT Publications

No abstract provided.