Digital Commons Network^™

Microstructure Densification In Cement Pastes Enabled By Novel Graphene Types, Sahil Surehali, Taihao Han, Ranjith Divigalpitiya, Aditya Kumar, Narayanan Neithalath

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The primary barriers hindering graphene's widespread adoption as a performance-enhancing additive in cement-based systems have traditionally been its prohibitive cost and the sustainability concerns associated with conventional manufacturing processes. However, these impediments have recently been mitigated by advancements in detonation synthesis techniques, enabling scalable, cost-effective, and environmentally favorable production of novel graphene types—specifically fractal graphene (FG) and reactive graphene (RG). This paper explores the influence of ultra-low dosages of FG and RG (≤ 0.04 % by mass of cement, which results in ∼20 % increase in compressive strengths) on the pore-structure features of cement pastes. Compared to the control paste, …

Polymorphism Crystal Structure Prediction With Adaptive Space Group Diversity Control, Sadman Saadeed Omee, Lai Wei, Jianjun Hu

Faculty Publications

Crystalline materials can form different structural arrangements (i.e., polymorphs) with the same chemical composition, exhibiting distinct physical properties depending on how they are synthesized or the conditions under which they operate. For example, carbon can exist as graphite (soft, conductive) or diamond (hard, insulating). Computational methods that can predict these polymorphs are vital in materials science, which help understand stability relationships, guide synthesis efforts, and discover new materials with desired properties without extensive trial-and-error experimentation. However, effective crystal structure prediction (CSP) algorithms for inorganic polymorph structures remain limited. ParetoCSP2 is proposed, a multi-objective genetic algorithm for polymorphism CSP that incorporates …

Bachelor's Degrees And Earnings In The Mountain West, 2022, Anthony Arroyo, Sydney Mitchell, Lara Karaalp, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Higher Education

This fact sheet presents 2022 data on the median annual earnings of bachelor's degree holders for specific fields of degrees (FODs) across the five Mountain West states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. This fact sheet also examines the share and earnings of individuals with less than a bachelor’s degree compared to bachelor’s degree holders in the three Mountain West metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) appearing among the 30 largest MSAs in the United States: Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ; Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO; and Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV. The “Field of Bachelor's Degree in the United States: 2022” report from the U.S. Census Bureau …

A New Genesis Method-Based Methodology For Helium Resource Evaluation: Application To The Jinzhong Basin And Its Geological Implications, Zhang Qiao, Zhou Junlin, Ma Shangwei, Guo Wang, Li Yuhong, Zhang Yunpeng, Zhang Yuxuan, Xu Haihong, Wang Jiawei

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background Helium, a strategic resource in short supply, primarily occurs in natural gas. In China, helium resource assessment remains in its nascent stage, and limited helium exploration and exploitation have been conducted in general. Most especially, for regions experiencing no natural gas exploration and basins where helium reserves remain unproven, it is essential to develop reliable methods for helium resource evaluation. Among various approaches, genesis methods, based on models of helium generation, migration, and enrichment processes, offer advantages including simple models, accessible parameters, and rapid assessment. However, existing genesis methods focus primarily on the estimation of the total amount of …

A Collocation Point Sampling Method For Solving The Helmholtz Equation Using Physics-Informed Neural Networks, Shan Lianpu, Yu Caixia, Wang Yanfei

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background In the field of seismic wavefield simulation, physics-informed neural networks (PINNs) have emerged as a new method for efficiently solving the Helmholtz equation due to their characteristic of grid-free computation. However, for the forward modeling of complex medium models using the Helmholtz equation, traditional uniform grid-based methods for collocation point sampling are insufficient to efficiently provide gradient information, leading to prolonged training time and high resource consumption. Objective and Method To improve the forward modeling efficiency and accuracy based on PINNs and overcome the anomalous concentration of collocation points in the seismic source during dynamic sampling, this study proposed …

Chacahoula 2025, Volume 92, Alayna Pellegrin

Chacahoula

The 2025 issue of Chacahoula includes December 2024 and May 2025 graduating classes, as well as stunning photography student life on the banks of Bayou Desiard. With features covering students, faculty, and staff, this year's time capsule preserves an academic year in the life of the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

Facilitating The Move Towards A Wellbeing Economy Through Supporting Infrastructure: A Review Of Frontrunner Countries, Henry Bartelet, Vincent De Gooyert

Quantitative Methods and Information Technology Faculty Publications

As more governments seek to shift beyond gross domestic product (GDP) as the dominant measure of progress, the concept of a “wellbeing economy” has gained traction. This approach prioritizes human and environmental wellbeing through broader, more holistic policy frameworks. A central question in this transition is what the implications of shifts to a wellbeing economy are for infrastructure investments. In this study, we identify four frontrunner governments, Bhutan, Scotland, New Zealand, and Wales, that have formally adopted wellbeing economy principles. We analyse how each operationalizes the concept and assess the resulting implications for infrastructure planning and investment. Despite shared goals, …

Cyberbullying Defensive Strategy In Social Media Sessions Via Machine Learning And Cyber Deception, Mohammad Shafiqul Islam

Masters Theses

Cyberbullying poses a significant challenge on social media, where traditional detection systems struggle with the nuanced and dynamic nature of online abuse. This thesis proposes an integrated framework that combines large language model (LLM)-based detection with generative decoy responses to enable real-time protection for victims on platforms like Instagram and WhatsApp. Using models such as Mistral 7B, GPT-3.5 Turbo, and Phi-3 Mini, prompt-based one-shot learning achieved 87% detection accuracy and a 5% F1-score improvement over zero-shot approaches, demonstrating robust identification of text-based bullying. A novel synthetic dataset of 98 multi-turn conversations, designed with diverse subtypes and evaluated for realism, addressed …

Evaluation Of Robotic Swabbing And Fluorescent Sensing To Monitor The Hygiene Of Food Contact Surfaces, Siavash Mahmoudi, Clark Griscom, Pouya Sohrabipour, Yang Tian, Chaitanya Palleria, Philip G. Crandall, Dongyi Wang

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Effective environmental monitoring is critical for preventing microbial and allergenic cross-contamination. However, manual swabbing methods, commonly used to verify hygienic conditions, are prone to inconsistent results because of variability in pressure, coverage, and techniques. Two novel solutions will be explored to address these challenges: a robotic swabbing system with tactile sensing control, and a fluorescence/absorbance spectrometer for non-contact, protein-based residue detection. The robotic system was evaluated against trained and untrained humans, measuring water pickup, surface coverage, and pressure consistency. Concurrently, the fluorescence system analyzed model poultry protein soil to correlate spectral patterns with contamination levels. The robotic system demonstrated statistically …

Seismic Fragility Analysis Of Above-Ground Liquid Storage Tanks, Pooyan Khajeh Shahzanian

Dissertations and Theses

Liquid storage tanks are critical infrastructure, serving as key storage facilities for various products. As the contents in these tanks are usually highly toxic and flammable, damage to these structures under earthquakes can cause severe consequences, including energy shortage, fire and explosion, and spilling and long-term environmental damages.

Although new liquid storage tanks are designed according to the updated seismic design codes, large numbers of existing storage tanks were built before modern seismic design codes and did not undergo necessary seismic retrofitting. Observations and reports from past earthquakes demonstrate that these older tanks can be highly vulnerable to seismic excitation. …

Effect Of Clays On The Spontaneous Imbibition Behavior Of Surfactant Solutions In Shale Oil Reservoirs, Ning Xu, Yanling Wang, Baojun Bai, Chuanbao Zhang, Shizhang Cui, Yu Zhang, Di Li, Wenjing Shi, Wenhui Ding

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Surfactant-enhanced spontaneous imbibition is a proven method of enhancing oil recovery from shale reservoirs. However, a significant knowledge gap concerning the impact of clay minerals on surfactant-enhanced imbibition in shale reservoirs remains. Therefore, this study first analyzed the mineral composition and pore structure of the shale reservoirs. Subsequently, three surfactants were selected for spontaneous imbibition experiments. The influence of various clay minerals on the surfactant imbibition was assessed by considering various properties of the imbibition system. The results showed that the shale pores primarily consisted of macropores (44.03%) and mesopores (43.94%). Surfactants enhance the imbibition recovery by altering the wettability …

Designing For Shalom: Deepening Faith Integration In Engineering And Technology, Fred Haan

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

Presented on 9/22/2025 at the event, Integration of Faith and Learning in the Disciplines at the University Pelita Harapan in Jakarta, Indonesia

Engineering And Technology, Fred Haan

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

9/21/2025 for the event, Integration of Faith and Learning, at University Pelita Harapan in Jakarta, Indonesia

Figure Data For "Investigation Of A Stable And Saturated Reference Electrode Using Metal Chlorides And Oxides In Eutectic Licl-Kcl Molten Salts", Carlos Meija, Devin Rappleye

ScholarsArchive Data

This data set provide machine readable .csv files for the figures in the publication entitled "Investigation of a stable and saturated reference electrode using metal chlorides and oxides in eutectic LiCl-KCl molten salts" in Nuclear Engineering and Technology (Volume 58, Issue 1, January 2026, 103875).

An Improved Method To Calculate Stripping Inflection Point (Sip) And Its Application In Evaluating Moisture Susceptibility Of Asphalt Mixtures, Ping Jiang, Bo Lin, Yizhuang David Wang, Jenny Liu, Seyed Alireza Ghanoon

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Accurately assessing asphalt mixtures' moisture susceptibility is critical because moisture damage can significantly reduce pavement durability, leading to premature failure and structural integrity of the pavement. The stripping inflection point (SIP), a moisture susceptibility index derived from the Hamburg Wheel Track (HWT) test, has practical merits in evaluating moisture susceptibility. However, current methods for determining the SIP showed low accuracy and high variability due to poor regression quality. Hence, this study aims to propose an improved method for calculating the SIP by modifying existing approaches to better capture the characteristics of rutting curves. Typical asphalt mixtures were used to conduct …

Machine-Learning-Assisted Discovery Of Lattice Dynamics Signatures Of Sodium Superionic Conductors, Ogheneyoma Aghoghovbia, Riccardo Rurali, Mohammed Al-Fahdi, Joshua Ojih, De-En Jiang, Ming Hu

Faculty Publications

Sodium superionic conductors are key to the development of all-solid-state sodium batteries. Discovery of new superionic conductors has traditionally relied on insights from material defect chemistry and the transition/hopping theory, while the role of lattice vibrations, i.e., phonons, remains underexplored. We identify key lattice dynamics signatures that govern ionic conductivity by analyzing the phonon mean squared displacement (MSD) of Na+ ions. By high-throughput screening of a dataset of 3903 Na-containing structures, we establish a strong positive correlation between phonon MSD and diffusion coefficients, providing a quantitative correlation between lattice dynamics and ion transport. To accelerate this discovery, we incorporate …

Fluorinated Electrolytes For Lithium–Sulfur And Beyond-Lithium Metal–Sulfur Batteries, Avinash Raulo, Saheed Lateef, Hunter Mcray, Kaushek Rahul Ilancheran, Fabio Albano, Golareh Jalilvand

Faculty Publications

Metal–sulfur batteries, particularly lithium–sulfur (Li–S) systems, have attracted significant attention due to their high theoretical energy densities, low cost, and sustainability benefits arising from sulfur’s abundance and non-toxicity. Despite extensive research, their practical deployment remains limited by persistent challenges such as polysulfide shuttling and metal anode degradation, which collectively lead to poor coulombic efficiency and limited cycle life. These issues are further intensified in emerging systems employing sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and siliconbased anodes. Fluorinated electrolytes have emerged as a promising approach to address these limitations. Fluorination enhances oxidative stability, suppresses polysulfide dissolution, promotes stable solid–electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation, and …

Ontology Features-Based Arabic Text Augmentation Using Word2vec, Enas Tariq Khudair, Onsa Lazzez, Mourad Zaied, Tarek M. Hamdani, Ahmed T. Sadiq, Habib Chabchoub, Adel M. Alimi

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

Text augmentation plays a major role when data is scarce. In this context, there are few Arabic news texts for specific purposes, and hence, there is a dire need to generate Arabic text, especially news. This paper presents an enhanced approach to Arabic text augmentation based on Arabic ontology features. The Arabic part of speech, particularly adjectives, verbs, and prepositions, and the ontology properties regarding such parts to create new texts, make up the first stage of the system, which has multiple stages. Word2Vector (Word2Vec) plays a pivotal role in giving Arabic ontology features to the specific Arabic Part of …

From Model To Behavior: Methodological Challenges In Using Fuzzy Cognitive Maps To Represent Mental Models, Catherine Elizabeth Moore

Dissertations and Theses

This dissertation examines the use of Fuzzy cognitive maps (FCMs) as representations of mental models and how these representations connect to individual behavior. Fuzzy cognitive maps (FCMs) are semi-quantitative models that encode cause-and-effect structures as directed graphs. They are frequently used to represent individuals' knowledge structures/mental models and should in theory correlate to actions and decisions of individuals; however, this correlation has yet to be explored in a systematic manner. This dissertation represents the first step in experimental research on the connection between FCMs and individual behavior. It examines two theories of how humans use mental models, one based on …

Developing Workflows For Passive Acoustic Detection Of Bedload Transport, Quinn Morgan

Dissertations and Theses

Bedload transport is defined as the amount of sediment, including gravel and rocks, traveling down stream. Monitoring bedload transport is important for river safety, hydrological studies and conservation efforts. Existing methods of directly measuring bedload transport (or bedload flux) involve lowering a collection device into a river and measuring the sediment collected; which can be expensive and time consuming. Hydroacoustic sensors, such as hydrophones, have had success tracking bedload flux remotely. This works by measuring the relatively high frequency of sediment impacts to map onto total bedload transported. No perfected method for detection of sediment generated noise (SGN) currently exists. …

Activity Design Principles To Support Engineering Engagement For Families With Preschool-Age Children From Low-Income English-And Spanish-Speaking Communities, Scott A. Pattison, Smirla Ramos Montañez, Viviana López Burgos, Gina Svarovsky, María Quijano, Amy Corbett, Catherine Wagner, Diana Contreras

Journal of Pre-College Engineering Education Research (J-PEER)

Existing evidence highlights the significance of family STEM learning experiences during early childhood. However, there is a lack of research specific to early childhood family-based learning in the field of engineering, especially with preschool-age children (three to five years old). To address this gap and inform engineering education programs for young children, we conducted a design-based research study in collaboration with 15 Spanish-and English-speaking families with preschool-age children from low-income communities. Our study aimed to develop and test a series of family-based engineering design activities while also identifying underlying design principles. Guided by an asset-based family learning framework, which acknowledges …

A Framework For Test Planning Of A Vision System Supporting Aerial Refueling, Jonathon K. Parry, Donald H. Costello, Michael D. M. Kutzer, Charles J. Doherty, Sarah M. Hubbard

Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering

This essay presents a framework for evaluating a computer vision system providing perception for an uncrewed aircraft completing the automated air-to-air refueling (A3R) task. As the Department of Defense acquires capabilities that exhibit increasing levels of autonomy, the test and evaluation community must adapt the current framework to provide airworthiness officials the information required to accurately access the risks associated with the system underdoing testing. Following a brief introduction to A3R, this essay lays out a testing framework that leverages dendritic analysis and effectively deconstructs the critical issue into measurable data elements that can be used to support test and …

Building Multimodal Knowledge Graphs: Automation For Enterprise Integration, Ritvik Garimella, Hong Yung Yip, Revathy Venkataramanan, Amit P. Sheth

Publications

As enterprises increasingly aim to incorporate artificial intelligence into their workflows to tackle complex, multimodal tasks, the demand for intelligent, robust, and trustworthy systems is paramount. While multimodal large language models offer initial capabilities for processing diverse data streams, their dependence on embedding-based representations limit their effectiveness in delivering semantically grounded explanations and reasoning, as well as qualities essential for enterprise-grade applications. Neurosymbolic approaches provide a promising alternative by enabling traceable, context-aware decision making. However, constructing enterprise-level multimodal knowledge graphs (MMKGs) that enable neurosymbolic approaches remains largely impractical. Although prior efforts have explored MMKG construction, they fall short in addressing …

Optimizing Beer Fermentation Through Intelligent Control, Azizbek Nodirbekovich Yusupbekov, Mirjalol Yusupov

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

This paper presents an intelligent control approach for optimizing the beer fermentation process using fuzzy logic and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference systems. By incorporating multivariable inputs—temperature error and pH deviation—the proposed system effectively handles the nonlinear dynamics and biological variability inherent in fermentation. Simulation results demonstrate improved control accuracy, responsiveness, and robustness compared to conventional methods, making the approach suitable for integration in modern brewery automation systems.

A C++ Library For Turbulent Mixing Simulation Using Hierarchical Parcel Swapping (Hips), Masoomeh Behrang, Tommy Starick, Heiko Schmidt, David O. Lignell

Faculty Publications

Turbulence models are crucial for simulating flows at all scales, capturing both large-scale structures and small-scale mixing. Software libraries that implement such models should support modular integration, customization, and scalability across different simulation frameworks. This paper presents Hierarchical Parcel Swapping (HiPS), a C++ library documented with Doxygen and available on GitHub. HiPS supports both mixing and reactions and can be used as a standalone model or as a subgrid model in CFD simulations. The code includes examples for users to run it as a standalone model. Additionally, considerations for using it as a subgrid model are provided.

Application Of Neural Networks For Intelligent Processing Of Sensor Signals In The Control Of Technological Process Parameters, N.R. Yusupbekov, Yu.Sh. Avazov, G.Kh. Rashidov

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

This scientific article investigates the problem of analyzing technological process parameters in the fields of chemistry, energy, and metallurgy based on sensor data and applying intelligent signal processing methods. The main objective is to evaluate the effectiveness of artificial intelligence and deep learning models for intelligent analysis, forecasting, and anomaly detection of data obtained from sensors. Time-series data collected from industrial sensors were analyzed using LSTM (Long Short-Term Memory) and Autoencoder neural networks, as well as the Kalman filter. At the first stage of the study, sensor signals were denoised and their true state was estimated using the Kalman filter. …

Modeling Of Urea Drying And Granulation Process In Fluidized Bed, Jalolitdin Pakhritdinovich Mukhitdinov, Aleksey Viktorovich Schulz

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

This article is devoted to the mathematical modeling of urea drying and granulation processes in a fluidized bed. A brief description is provided for the functional blocks included in the mathematical model, along with the required parameters that form an integrated representation of the technological process. The SR-POLAR model is used to describe a phase equilibrium between the components involved. The interconnections between functional blocks are shown in the process flow diagram. Block diagrams for modeling a multi-chamber granulation unit and the cooling system for the resulting granules are presented. Granule growth in the fluidized bed is described using a …

Algorithms For Assessing Soil Salinity Levels Based On Remote Sensing Imagery, Bobomurod Mamitjonovich Tojiboev

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

This article investigates methods for assessing soil salinity levels based on satellite (remote sensing) imagery and their calculation algorithms. Determining the degree of salinity plays a crucial role in the rational use of land resources and increasing agricultural efficiency. The study analyzes indices for determining soil salt content using remote sensing technologies, particularly multispectral images obtained from satellite systems such as Landsat and Sentinel (for example, SI - Salinity Index, NDVI - Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, and others). Furthermore, algorithms are developed based on these indices that enable automatic determination of salinity assessments. Artificial intelligence, machine learning, and geographic information …

Research And Development Of Intelligent Measurement Systems, Odil Abdujalilovich Jumaev, Mahmudov Giyosjon Baqoyevich

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

The article discusses modern methods for developing intelligent measuring systems. Intelligent measuring systems are systems based on intelligent technologies that not only accurately measure physical or chemical quantities, but also have the ability to self-analyze, diagnose and make management decisions. The article comprehensively examines the architecture, components of such systems, the organization of their software and hardware, the relationship of sensors and artificial intelligence algorithms. It also analyzes the practical application and prospects of intelligent measuring systems in such areas as industry, medicine, energy, ecology, transport.

Modern Methods Of Self-Monitoring, Diagnostics, And Fault Tolerance In Flow Measurement Systems, Elbek Ortiqov

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

This article investigates various methods and tools for self-monitoring and fault tolerance in flow measurement transducers used in industrial processes. The study focuses on key techniques such as the use of redundancy, generation of reference values, analysis of measurement signals, and control of disturbance variables. These methods allow transducers to detect potential faults, ensure reliable operation, and maintain measurement accuracy even under adverse conditions. The article highlights how self-monitoring contributes to improving system safety, increasing reliability, and reducing downtime. It also discusses the integration of intelligent monitoring systems that support predictive maintenance and real-time diagnostics. Fault-tolerant sensors with self-monitoring capabilities …