Digital Commons Network^™

Cycling Network Planning Through Urban Form Analysis: A Contextual Gis Model, Nora Osama Ahmed, Rania Adham Sayed, Mona Mahrous Abdel Wahed

HBRC Journal

Promoting cycling as a sustainable mode of urban mobility requires a deep understanding of how urban form influences cyclists’ route choices. This study investigates the influence of urban form on cyclists’ route selection in an attempt to enhance context-sensitive cycling network planning. Five factors of urban form density, transportation infrastructure, housing/building type, land use, and street layout are examined to determine if any of them have a contributing factor to route selection. Based on an extensive review of the literature, the research develops an Urban Form–Cyclist Route Priority Matrix (UF-CRP Matrix) that categorizes urban conditions into three levels of desirability …

Investigating Affordability Of Eco Housing With Ceb And Clustered Urban Form, Mohammad Fahmy, Ayman Ibrahim, Omar Galal

HBRC Journal

This study examines the affordability of eco-housing through the integration of Compressed Earth Blocks (CEB) and clustered urban form. It hypothesizes that the combined approach of sustainable building materials and climate-responsive neighbourhood planning enhances cost and energy efficiency while maintaining social housing accessibility. By assessing economic feasibility alongside environmental and urban design strategies, the research aims to provide insights into sustainable solutions towards future urban developments and a 5th generation for Egyptian cities. Computational simulations utilizing ENVI-met for urban microclimate assessment and Design Builder for indoor environment evaluation demonstrated improved results for outdoor and indoor environments. For outdoor assessment, design …

The Squeezed Middle: Housing Affordability Challenges, Nazli Dongez, Almula Koksal

HBRC Journal

Neoliberalism has deepened economic inequality, which is now spreading globally. Even though this economic inequality affects mostly lower-income households, international reports show that inequality has spread to the middle-income group. The decline in the purchasing power of the middle-income group has led to the issue of housing affordability, referred to as the squeezed middle-income group. Despite the global scope of this problem, only a limited number of academic studies have conducted a comprehensive assessment. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the problem of housing affordability for the middle-income group. The study employed the systematic literature review method. The Web of …

Factors Affecting The Cost Of Dynamic Architecture During The Execution Phase, Lamiaa Mohamed Said Elsherif, Eman N. Shaqour, Abdullah Badawy Mohammed, Sherif Mohamed Sabry El Attar

HBRC Journal

This study is part of a larger study on the factors affecting the cost of dynamic architecture during three phases (design, execution and operation), A research paper on the design phase has been published. and we will specialize in this research by studying the execution phase.

This research study is based on identifying the main factors affecting the cost of dynamic, buildings by conducting a questionnaire and analyzing it statistically by using IBM SPSS Statistics 25. To get to the definition of dynamic architecture and Types of movement directions in dynamic buildings.

By studying each of the principles of movement …

Assessment Of Urban Resiliance By Using (Ahp) In Relation With (Anp), Sara Mahmood Al-Jawari

HBRC Journal

Urban resilience is an important part of the sustainable urban development agenda, providing a proactive approach to the growing challenges within cities and making them more responsive and safer for the future. Therefore, the research problem was to ask: How can the integration of the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Analytical Network Process (ANP) be used to determine which cities have the most resilient systems in the event of an emergency? It is assumed that the use of integration between the AHP and ANP will facilitate the initial assessment of the resilience of city systems and the development of policies …

Users’ Expectations Of The Water Element As A Recreational Feature On University Campuses, Zubaidah Nadhem Mahmood Alzubaidi, Gökçen Firdevs Yücel Caymaz

HBRC Journal

Water is an important element in campus landscaping. Hence the importance of the lake opposite the Department of Architecture at the University of Mosul. However, the lake and its surroundings are currently neglected and in need of development. But any development must consider the expectations of the users, as the lake is there for them. Therefore, the research aims to identify users’ expectations of the lake as a recreational element on the campus, which can be used in any development of the lake. To this end, the literature review identified several characteristics related to the lake, such as size, movement, …

A Classification Framework For Egyptian Governorates According To Strategic Plan Implementation Requirements, Noor El Hoda Hamdy, Sammy Amin Ammer, Walid Nabil Bayomi

HBRC Journal

The implementation of strategic plans varies across regions based on their developmental typologies and the distribution of economic, natural, and human resources. This study explores differentiated approaches to strategic plan implementation by identifying typologies of development management, their mechanisms, and criteria for application. Drawing upon theoretical frameworks and global experiences, the research employs a comparative methodology to align the requirements of each development management model with the socio-economic and administrative characteristics of various Egyptian governorates. It further examines the prerequisites and success factors of each model, highlighting the suitability of each region. Key findings include the development of a novel …

Assessment Of The Relationship Between Performance Attributes And The Social Sustainability Framework Of Construction Projects, Van Luy Tong, Truong Van Luu

HBRC Journal

The study addresses the missing aspect of assessing social sustainability in construction project performance evaluation. While environmental and economic aspects have been widely considered, social sustainability remains largely unexplored. The study seeks to analyze whether 11 performance attributes (including 5 short-term project performance attributes and 6 long-term project performance attributes) in the construction project performance model being implemented in Vietnam reflect social sustainability in construction projects. The study applies structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine the relationship between these 11 performance attributes and the social sustainability criteria framework. A questionnaire was designed to collect data from stakeholders involved in construction …

High User Perception Of The Social Housing Of The State Intervenor In The South Suburban Zone, Tamaulipas, Mexico, Laura Del Carmen Moreno-Chimely, Yolanda Guadalupe Aranda-Jiménez, Carlos Alberto Fuentes-Pérez

HBRC Journal

Uninhabited social housing in the Southern Conurbation Zone of the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico (Tampico, Altamira) reflects 21.19%. Currently 11.32% is located in Altamira in subdivisions built by the private sector during the facilitator state. The social housing of the public sector of the intervenor state by governmental institutions such as INFONAVIT and FOVISSSTE, located in Tampico with more than 50 years old are almost entirely inhabited even with deteriorated constructive characteristics and economic depreciation. The objective of the research is to analyze the perception of the users of the housing state intervenor prior to 1992 and state facilitator 1993–2010 …

Retrieval Augmented Framework For Deepfake Audio Detection, Avinash Saxena

Master's Theses

The widespread use of AI-based audio deepfakes threatens severely to undermine media integrity and public trust. Speech synthesis techniques have improved dramatically in voice conversion (VC) and text-to-speech (TTS) in recent years, making forgeries sound highly realistic, and concerns are raised about possible malevolent uses. Existing state-of-the-art techniques for identifying fake speech have proven to be effective in some cases but are still limited in application and robustness when faced with novel attacking strategies, different acoustic conditions, or alternative linguistic domains. To address some of these limitations, the current research presents a novel deepfake audio detection system based on personalized …

Development Of A Digestion Procedure Using Fe2+ Ions For Electrochemical Detection Of Mno2 Particles In Drinking Water, Kayla Elliott, Sarah Jane Payne, Zhe She

Journal of Electrochemistry

Developing methods for detection contaminants in drinking water is essential to ensuring that safe and acceptable quality drinking water is delivered to consumers. While manganese (Mn) was previously known only as a mere aesthetic issue, recent epidemiological data has shown to have negative neurological effects on humans, especially on children, prompting new health-based guidelines by Health Canada and the World Health Organization. In drinking water, Mn exists predominantly as Mn(II) and Mn(IV), and is regulated based on total Mn levels. Interestingly, measurement of Mn particulate using electroanalytical methods has not yet been reported in the literature. Herein, a digestion procedure …

Biocompatible And Antibacterial Pcl-Tio2@Ag/Γ-Cd Mof Nanocomposite Coating For Corrosion Resistance Of Magnesium Alloy In Simulated Body Fluid, Sara Dehghan-Chenar, Hamid R. Zare, Zahra Mohammadpour, Maryam Sadat Mirbagheri-Firoozabad

Journal of Electrochemistry

Magnesium alloys are promising candidates for bio-implant applications due to their biodegradability and biocompatibility. However, their rapid corrosion remains a critical limitation. This study presents the development of a multifunctional nanocomposite coating designed to enhance the corrosion resistance and antibacterial properties of magnesium alloy implants. The coating comprised γ-cyclodextrin metal-organic frameworks (γ-CD MOFs) decorated with TiO₂@Ag core-shell nanoparticles, embedded in a polycaprolactone (PCL) matrix. Immersion tests in a simulated body fluid (SBF) revealed an initially higher corrosion rate for the PCL-TiO₂@Ag/γ-CD MOF coating compared to the coating without TiO₂@Ag nanoparticles; however, it demonstrated significant …

Groundwater Quality And Health Risk Assessment In The Fujairah Region Using Hydrogeochemical, Statistical, And Spatial Approaches, Mohammed Khaled Alawlaqi

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Groundwater is a valuable resource in the arid climate of the United Arab Emirates, where growing population, agricultural, and industrial activities are putting increasing pressure on limited groundwater reserves. This study investigates the hydrogeochemical characteristics of groundwater in the Fujairah region, with a particular focus on major ions and trace metals, to assess water quality and potential health risks. A total of 64 groundwater samples were collected from the Eastern Shallow Aquifer (ESA) and the Ophiolite aquifer in the study area and were analyzed for physicochemical parameters, major ions, and trace metals. Hydrogeochemical interpretation was conducted using Piper, Gibbs, Chadha, …

Thermo-Chemical Recycling Of Waste Plastics Containing Halogenated Polymers (Br−, Cl−, F−) Using Potential Additives, Mohamed Shafi

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Plastic waste handling is a daunting task due to the presence of halogenated polymers, specifically those cluttered with bromine (Br), chlorine (Cl), and fluorine (F). Halogenated plastics can be mixed with other polymers in the general plastic waste, particularly in the recycling stream. Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are mainly present in e-waste and from the use of flame retardants in household items, textiles, and furniture. Plastics from discarded electronics often contain significant levels of bromine and chlorine, predominantly from flame retardants and plasticizers. Being the most deployed thermoplastic worldwide, waste polyvinyl chloride (PVC) generation is expected to increase by about …

Transdisciplinary Perspectives On Ai: The Fourth Annual Conference Of The European Culture And Technology Laboratory, Connell Vaughan, Ioana Madalina Moldovan, Silivan Moldovan, Noel Fitzpatrick

Books/Book Chapters

The fourth annual conference of the ECT Lab+ was hosted by Technical University of Cluj-Napoca over two days in October 2024 at the Cluj Innovation Park. The conference brought together experts from the Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Technology, and other fields to discuss and reflect on the advent of Artificial Intelligence and how the associated technologies are transforming how we live, work and study. Under the title Transdisciplinary perspectives on AI: Alternative Histories, Current Practices and Possible Futures the conference moved beyond simplistic technophila and technophobia to consider whether we can co-evolve with these new technologies which combine machine learning …

Railway Track Condition Monitoring Based On Sensor Data And Artificial Neural Networks, Ivan Kots, Alina Isaeva, Mark Denisenko, Alexander Sinyukin, Andrey Kovalev

Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

Monitoring the condition of engineering objects is one of the urgent tasks of industry, construction, and transport infrastructure. This article describes a system for condition monitoring and diagnostics of rail tracks in real time. Compared with other similar studies, the proposed system has the advantages of compactness, usability, scalability and versatility of application. The proposed monitoring system is based on an Nvidia Jetson Nano embedded computing board and also includes inertial sensor modules, a microphone, a geolocation module, communication modules, an SSD storage device, and a battery. The prototype of the diagnostic module is a portable device that can be …

Modeling And Simulation Of Dynamic Energy Management Systems For Smart Buildings, Onur Özel, Ali̇ Rifat Boynueğri̇, Hayri̇ Yi̇ği̇t, Burak Tekgün

Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

This study presents a dynamic energy management system tailored for smart residential buildings, integrating thermal and electrical models to achieve both natural gas and electricity bill cost reduction. By harnessing wind and solar energy sources, the system aims to meet the diverse energy needs of modern homes. Through load shifting and thermal storage strategies, known as power-to-heat (P2H) approaches, the system ensures efficient renewable energy utilization while maintaining resident comfort. Validation of the proposed system was conducted using real-world data from the Yıldız Technical University Smart Home Laboratory, demonstrating its practical applicability and effectiveness. Results indicate significant reductions in both …

Towards A Generalized And Optimized Apriori Approach, Artem Abdikov

Master's Theses

Apriori is a machine learning algorithm developed in 1994 by R. Agrawal and R. Srikant for association rule mining purposes. This family of algorithms takes transactional data and analyzes relationships between variables in large datasets. The typical output of such algorithms is a prediction that if users choose item X, it is highly likely that they will also choose item Y. Apriori is known to be a robust algorithm and is used by many large companies in order to analyze user tendencies and even make recommendations. Although Apriori is a powerful algorithm, its original implementation is known to have limitations, …

Exploring The Link Between Emotional States And Coding Task Quality: A Pilot Study, Aquib Reshad, Valentina Nino, Maria Valero, Adriane Randolph, Yang Shi

Faculty Articles

Emotions play a crucial role in shaping cognitive performance, yet their influence on programing remains understudied. This pilot study investigates the relationship between emotional states and coding task quality. Ten participants completed a programing task while their brain activity was recorded using electroencephalography (EEG), with frontal alpha asymmetry (FAI) applied as a neural marker of emotional valence. Emotional self-reports were collected using the Scale of Positive and Negative Experience (SPANE), and coding quality was evaluated through a structured rubric. Preliminary findings indicate a potential association between FAI and coding performance, whereas self-reported affect showed weaker or inconsistent patterns. Given the …

Ai-Driven Optimization Of Wind Energy Distribution In Texas Using Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning, Waleed Amer, Owolabi Oluwadamilola, Bassey Ogbonnaya

SMU Data Science Review

Abstract. The integration of large-scale wind power into modern electrical grids presents persistent challenges due to variability, curtailment, and compliance with operational constraints. This study proposes a multi-agent reinforcement learning (MARL) framework for optimizing wind energy distribution within the Texas power grid. The system employs three specialized agents—managing wind curtailment, storage utilization, and load adjustments—to collaboratively balance supply and demand under dynamic grid conditions. Using historical operational data from the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), the framework was trained and evaluated on a range of scenarios encompassing both typical and extreme operating conditions. Results demonstrate substantial performance improvements compared …

Assessment Of Traffic Related Air Pollution Effects On Indoor Air Quality In Educational Buildings, Ahmed Gouda Mohamed, Mohamed Sherif Dr., Fahad Alqahtani Dr., Yousif Deeb Eng.

Civil Engineering

This study assesses the impact of traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) on indoor air quality (IAQ) within a Riyadh school. The main objectives are to pinpoint factors influencing IAQ and to evaluate the effectiveness of existing ventilation and filtration systems. Air quality Egg sensors monitored nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter (PM1.0, PM2.5, PM10) levels both indoors and outdoors over 30 days. Findings revealed average indoor PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations of 14.09 µg/m3 and 18.15 µg/m3, respectively, while outdoor concentrations averaged 20.63 µg/m3 and 27.88 µg/m3. A strong positive correlation was observed between indoor and outdoor PM levels, …

Energy Management Of Battery Supercapacitor Hybrid Storage In Electric Vehicles With Solar Integration: Review, Islam Sayed, Yousef Mahmoud

Faculty Articles

Hybrid energy storage systems (HESS) integrating batteries and supercapacitors offer a promising solution to overcome the limitations of battery-only architectures in electric vehicles (EVs). By leveraging the high energy density of batteries and the high power density of supercapacitors, HESS can enhance power delivery, improve energy efficiency, and extend battery lifespan. The effectiveness of HESS, however, is largely determined by the energy management system (EMS) that coordinates power flow under dynamic driving conditions. Unlike existing reviews, this work addresses common gaps in the literature, including the lack of industrial energy storage component examples, limited coverage of recently developed EMS strategies, …

2025 - The Sixth Annual Fall Symposium Of Student Scholars

Symposium of Student Scholars Program Books

The full program book from the Fall 2025 Symposium of Student Scholars, held in November 2025. Includes abstracts from the presentations and posters.

Field Canals Improvement Projects Duration Prediction: A Comparative Analysis Of Machine Learning Models, Hania Ghouse, Ukaegbu Chinonso Ishmael, Edgar Dario Obando-Paredes, Hashem Shafik Shakir, Ali Al-Bayaty

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

There are several essential elements in project construction management to be studied appropriately, and priority to these elements, such as cost and duration, is predominantly interesting to be investigated. In this research, the duration of field canal improvement projects (DFCIP) was predicted using two relatively new machine learning (ML) models - the Multivariate Adaptive Regression Spline (MARS) and Extreme Learning Machine (ELM). The targeted DFCIP was calculated using other dependent parameters, such as the length of the pipe, years of construction, the geographical zone of the network, the supplied area with water, and finally the actual cost of the field …

Review Article: Monetary Power And National Security. A 10th Anniversary Review Of Paul R. Viotti’S The Dollar And National Security: The Monetary Component Of Hard Power (Stanford, Ca: Stanford University Press, 2014), Ricardo Crespo

Space and Defense

In this ten-year retrospective, Ricardo A. Crespo reassesses Paul R. Viotti’s The Dollar and National Security (2014) as a foundational text bridging the fields of monetary policy and national security. Viotti’s central thesis—that military power ultimately depends on a stable and privileged monetary foundation—has only grown more relevant amid today’s weaponization of finance and the geopolitics of sanctions. Crespo highlights Viotti’s argument that sustaining the U.S. dollar’s global dominance requires cooperative security and international consensus, noting how historical parallels—from the sterling gold standard to Bretton Woods—illustrate the fragility of monetary hegemony under fiscal mismanagement or political fragmentation. The review situates …

Earth’S Orbital Prison: Codifying Customary Law To Prevent Environmental Catastrophe In Space, Jacob Cook

Space and Defense

This article argues that the accelerating proliferation of space debris in low Earth orbit (LEO) poses an existential threat to the sustainability of the orbital environment—one comparable in strategic gravity to nuclear deterrence during the Cold War. Drawing on liberal internationalist theory and the concept of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD), the paper asserts that deliberate satellite destruction through anti-satellite (ASAT) testing and negligent debris generation risk triggering a self-sustaining cascade of collisions known as the Kessler Syndrome. Existing treaties, including the Outer Space Treaty and the Artemis Accords, lack enforceable mechanisms to prevent such catastrophic harm. To fill this …

Raising Public Awareness On Space Themes: Analysis Of Brazilian Space Policy Using Data From Google Trends, Andrea Felippe Cabello, Michele Melo

Space and Defense

This study examines whether Brazil’s national space policy goal of increasing public awareness of space activities has been met, using Google Trends data as a proxy for public interest. While public perception surveys are scarce outside the United States, web-based data provide a cost-effective and timely alternative for gauging public engagement. The authors analyzed two decades (2004–2024) of Brazilian search activity related to space topics, institutions, technologies, companies, and missions. Results show no clear upward trend in public interest, suggesting that Brazil’s stated policy objectives of raising awareness have not yet translated into measurable outcomes. Although searches related to government …

Mechanisms Of Correlated Neuronal Activity In The Globus Pallidus, Hamza Albawaliz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the mechanisms of correlated neuronal activity in the globus pallidus externus (GPe), a key structure in the basal ganglia. Neuronal activity in the GPe is reportedly decorrelated in healthy subjects but can become highly correlated in Parkinson’s disease. However, high-density neuronal recordings in the GPe of healthy rats reveal a surprising degree of correlated activity. This raises the question of whether intrinsic properties or network connectivity alone can account for such patterns. To explore this, a computational model was developed in which GPe neurons are represented as coupled phase oscillators influenced by experimentally derived phase-response curves and …

Development Of A Non-Faradaic Impedimetric Biosensor Based On Reduced Graphene Oxide For The Detection Of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (Bdnf), Mariana N. Martins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Neurological disorders affect millions of people worldwide. In the case of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the rising number of cases significantly increases global healthcare costs. Therefore, early detection of biomarkers at the onset of the disease is essential for early diagnosis. This study presents an electrochemical biosensor designed for the detection of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) in human plasma, incorporating reduced graphene oxide (rGO) to enhance signal sensitivity. Dielectrophoresis (DEP) was employed to deposit rGO flakes on the electrode surface, improving conductivity and sensor performance. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was used to monitor changes in impedance associated with BDNF binding events, …

Real-Time Ai-Enabled Therapeutic Device For Improving Peripheral Perfusion And Glucose Regulation In Type 2 Diabetes, Torryana Tanis

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is frequently accompanied by peripheral microvascular disease, leading to impaired lower limb perfusion, impaired healing, and vulnerability to ulcers and amputation. The existing medical devices are predominantly aimed at systemic glucose control and do not have local therapeutic intervention to improve circulation or allow muscular glucose delivery. To meet this crucial demand, we have developed a portable, two-in-one biofeedback device that combines non-invasive blood glucose monitoring and Electronic Muscle Stimulation (EMS) therapy for the calf muscle. The glucose monitoring subsystem implements near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to measure skin light absorptance on the index finger. Real-time blood glucose …