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Influence Of Agrochemical Mixtures On Nitrogen Transformations In Floating Treatment Wetlands, Matthew Russell

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Controlling losses of nitrate-N from agricultural fields to ground and surface water environments is one of the most pressing water resources problems today. Increasing levels of nitrate-N pollution in surface and groundwater is a critical threat to human and environmental health across the globe. To mediate nitrate-N losses, natural and constructed wetlands have been increasingly used as nutrient mitigation technologies and strategies. The use of wetlands as a treatment approach for nitrogen in runoff is a common practice in agroecosystems, however, nitrate-N is not the sole constituent present in agricultural runoff, and other biologically active contaminants have the potential to …

Nanopesticide Fate And Transport In Agroecosystems: A Field Study, John C. Stickney

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Nanopesticides are an emerging class of pesticides associated with engineered nanoparticles that provide agricultural and environmental benefits. However, nanopesticide fate, transport, and persistence remain poorly understood. As do their potential impacts on the health of agroecosystems and influence on nutrient release. Therefore, this project investigated the fate, transport, and persistence of two widely available nanopesticides, an insecticide, nano-imidacloprid, and a fungicide, nano-copper hydroxide. The fate and transport in runoff water and soils of these nanopesticides, as well as their impacts on nutrients retention, were assessed through a field plot study over 2 growing seasons. Runoff from rainfall events and soil …

Safety Monitoring & Intelligent Power Distribution Systems For Compact Agricultural Equipment, Mason O. Bradley

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

The agricultural industry continues to be one of the most dangerous career fields in the United States of America with compact agricultural equipment being a common source for casualties in the industry. The primary focus of this work is to develop new technology that improves operational safety of compact agricultural equipment through the use of low-cost embedded electronics. This work presents the design of three systems in alignment with this goal.

The first system aims to integrate electrical intelligence and passive safety monitoring into the power distribution system of a small piece of agricultural equipment. The system known as the …

Development Of Non-Destructive Methods For The Detection And Quantification Of Gluten Sources In Foods, Adewale Abiola Oloyede

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Cross-contamination of food with gluten-rich grains such as wheat, barley, and rye remains a significant challenge in gluten-free food production, posing health risks to individuals with gluten-related disorders. Traditional detection methods are often time-consuming and labor-intensive, highlighting the need for rapid and reliable alternatives. This study investigates the use of hyperspectral imaging (HSI) combined with machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) techniques for the detection and quantification of gluten contamination in grain-based foods through three main approaches: (i) classification of gluten source contaminants in gluten-free flour, (ii) quantification of gluten content from wheat, rye, and barley flours, and …

Fabricating Silver-Ceria Polymer Nanocomposite Scaffolds For Biomedical Therapeutic Applications, Shreya S. Pawar

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Improper healing of bone fractures and limited regeneration of bone following bone tumor resection remain a prevalent complication worldwide. Long-term effects of this include joint instability, limited movement, and arthritis. Bone infections (osteomyelitis), reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation via excessive inflammation, and underlying conditions such as osteoporosis can contribute to suboptimal bone tissue regeneration. ROS accumulation stimulates osteoblast apoptosis, while promoting osteoclast differentiation. These processes inhibit mineralization and osteogenesis. Conventional therapeutics involve the utilization of drugs and bone grafts. However, these approaches pose limitations and can result in subsequent complications. Microbial infections, ROS accumulation, and excessive inflammations are factors that …

Novel Nanomaterial-Based Platforms For Bio-Electrochemical Sensing And Photocatalytic Treatment Of Contaminants Of Emerging Concern In Water, Jonghyun Baik

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This dissertation presents the development of novel nanomaterial-based platforms for bio-electrochemical sensing and photocatalytic treatment of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in water, including heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and microcystin toxins. Conventional detection and remediation methods are often costly, time-consuming, and impractical for field use. To overcome these limitations, in this dissertation, five distinct platforms were designed, developed, and evaluated under various water conditions.

First, a microbial fuel cell (MFC)-based biosensor was developed for detecting heavy metals (Cu²⁺ and Hg²⁺) and PAHs (benzene and xylene). The system exhibited rapid, linear …

Chondrogenic And Chondroprotective Response Of Composite Collagen I/Ii-Hyaluronic Acid Scaffolds Within An Inflammatory Osteoarthritic Environment, Carly M. Battistoni, Javier Munoz Briones, Douglas K. Brubaker, Alyssa Panitch, Julie C. Liu

School of Chemical Engineering Faculty Publications

Inflammation plays a key role in cartilage damage that occurs in osteoarthritis (OA). However, in vitro assessments of tissue-engineered constructs for cartilage regeneration generally do not consider their performance in the presence of inflammation. In this work, the chondrogenic differentiation potential of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) was evaluated in the presence of both chondrogenic factors and inflammatory cytokines, and cartilage formation, degradative response, and inflammatory response were characterized. The addition of cytokines reduced cartilage production, increased cell proliferation, and resulted in an increase in inflammatory markers. Incorporation of hyaluronic acid (HA) had little impact on both collagen fibril microstructure and …

Zero Trust Architecture As A Risk Countermeasure In Small-Medium Enterprises And Advanced Technology Systems, Ahmed M. Abdelmagid, Rafael Diaz

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

The growing sophistication of cyberattacks exposes small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to a widening range of security risks. As these threats evolve in complexity, the need for advanced security measures becomes increasingly pressing. This necessitates a proactive approach to defending against potential cyber intrusions. Emerging technologies, such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, and Zero Trust security framework, offer crucial tools for strengthening the digital infrastructure of SMBs. The Zero Trust architecture (ZTA) holds significant promise as a critical strategy for protecting SMBs. While existing literature explores the implementation of ZTA in various business settings, discussions specifically addressing the financial, human resource, …

Ai-Generated Messaging For Life Events Using Structured Prompts: A Comparative Study Of Gpt With Human Experts And Machine Learning, Christopher Lynch, Erik Jensen, Ross Gore, Virginia Zamponi, Kevin O'Brien, Brandon Feldhaus, Katherine Smith, Joseph Martínez, Madison H. Munro, Timur E. Ozkose, Tugce B. Gundogdu, Ann Marie Reinhold, Hamdi Kavak, Barry Ezell

VMASC Publications

Large Language Models (LLMs) play an increasingly integrated and pivotal role in generating diverse types of texts, such as social media messages, emails, narratives, and technical reports, among other textual communication forms. As AI-generated messaging filters into human communication, a systematic exploration of their effectiveness for mimicking human-like communication of life events is needed. In this study, we employ a zero-shot structured narrative prompt to generate 24,000 life event messages for birth, death, hiring, and firing events using OpenAI's GPT-4. From this dataset, we manually classify 2880 messages and evaluate their validity in conveying these life events through the form …

Focused Feature Extraction For Driver Drowsiness Detection Using An Enhanced Attention-Based Resnet Model, Nada Ayman Atia, Rawan Sameh

The Undergraduate Research Journal

In the context of increasing road safety concerns, particularly in Egypt, this paper addresses the critical issue of driver drowsiness, a significant contributor to road accidents worldwide. With alarming statistics from the World Health Organization citing human error, chiefly drowsiness, as the cause for a majority of road accidents in Egypt, there is a compelling need for an effective drowsiness detection system. This research introduces a novel, vision-based driver drowsiness detection system leveraging a multi-dimensional approach with a Residual Neural Network (ResNet) architecture and attention layers. This system aims to accurately identify drowsiness by analyzing key facial features. The paper …

The Role Of Gis In Promoting The 15-Minute City Concept For Sustainable Urban Using Network Analysis (Case Study: El Rehab City), Eman Metwally, Yara Menshway, Farag Mohamed Zaki

Mansoura Engineering Journal

The 15-minute city concept emphasizes the importance of urban planning where essential services and amenities are accessible within a 15-minute walk or bike ride. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) provide powerful tools to evaluate and enhance this concept. This study applies a theoretical framework combined with quantitative methods, utilizing GIS-based network analysis to evaluate the accessibility of key services within a 15-minute walking and cycling distance. The goal is to identify critical amenities that support urban sustainability and mobility. In this case, GIS is used to model El Rehab’s Road network, pedestrian paths, and bike lanes. Network analysis techniques calculate the …

Placemaking For Revitalizing Neglected Urban Open Spaces To Act Sustainable, The Third Settlement, New Cairo, Egypt, Reham Othman El Sayed, Rania Badawy Shokry

Mansoura Engineering Journal

A key approach to creating resilient cities is to scrutinize the existing urban fabric, redesign and placemaking unused urban spaces as multi-purpose spaces capable to improve Community-Based Urban Design. The study aims to investigates highlights the importance of possibility to increasing value of existing NUOS as an essential entry point for placemaking. IN addition, it is urging considering the unused spaces as a basis for formulating an urban greening policy and strategy in Cairo. To reach that the study identifies with co-operate with the city administrative apparatus a NUOS in area is considered relatively new in Egypt, and specifically in …

Real-Time Intelligent Parking Management In Smart Cities Using Internet Of Things, Genetic Algorithms, And Machine Learning, Mohammed Abo-Zahhad, Mohammed M. Abo-Zahhad

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Smart city parking systems face significant challenges related to real-time availability updates, security vulnerabilities in RFID-based access, and connectivity issues. To address these limitations, this paper proposes a comprehensive two-stage intelligent parking system that integrates Internet of Things (IoT), Genetic Algorithms (GAs), and Machine Learning (ML) techniques. The system utilizes sensor technologies, such as infrared sensors and ESP8266 controllers, combined with a mobile application to monitor and manage parking space occupancy in real-time efficiently. In the first stage, real-time parking availability is detected through sensor data transmitted to a cloud infrastructure that updates the user interfaces. The second stage employs …

Polymeric Nanocomposites-Based Advanced Coatings For Antimicrobial And Antiviral Applications: A Comprehensive Overview, Rachid Amrhar, Jaspal Singh, Mostafa Eesaee, Pascal Carrière, Alireza Saidi, Phuong Nguyen-Tri

Revues de littérature, synthèses de connaissances

The rise in microbial infections and viral outbreaks has accelerated the development of advanced antibacterial and antiviral coating that effectively minimize infection risks. Amidst rising global health concerns due to infectious diseases, these coatings have emerged as vital solutions for surface protection across various settings. This review focuses on the recent development and in-depth analysis includes synthesis process, inactivation mechanism in photoreactive antimicrobial and antiviral bio-coatings. This review comprehensively explores the development of different nanocomposite materials, including polymers based on metal oxide nanoparticles, metal nanoparticles, graphene-based materials, and organic-inorganic composites. Their practicality and compatibility with diverse surfaces such as ceramics, …

Time Series Forecasting With Lstm: An Extensive Content Analysis, Andri Pranolo, Xiaofeng Zhou, Yingchi Mao

Knowledge Engineering and Data Science

This paper presents a comprehensive bibliometric and content review of the trend, architecture, and application of long short-term memory (LSTM) models for time series forecasting. The study aims to provide insights into the overall statistics and distribution of papers focused on LSTM for forecasting. Additionally, the research questions address the most highly cited papers based on LSTM approaches in forecasting, the most productive journals in this field, and identifying trends, gaps, summary tasks and their performance, datasets availability, and future research directions for LSTM in forecasting. This paper is a comprehensive review of LSTM for forecasting from 2017 to 2023 …

Cognitive Eeg Differentiation With Hypnosis-Based Noise Reduction And K-Harmonic Means For Personalized Brainwave Modeling, Ahmad Azhari, Dimas Chaerul Ekty Saputra

Knowledge Engineering and Data Science

This study investigates the integration of hypnosis-based noise reduction and K-Harmonic Means (KHM) clustering for personalized brainwave modeling using Electroencephalography (EEG) data. EEG signals were collected from 100 participants using a Neurosky Mindset sensor at the FP1 (prefrontal) location, with each subject performing nine standardized cognitive tasks such as breathing, memory recall, and mathematical problem-solving. Hypnosis was applied not as a filtering method but as a behavioral protocol to standardize subject conditions and minimize physiological and environmental noise. The EEG signals were sampled at 128 Hz and analyzed using KHM clustering with K=4K = 4K=4, resulting in a Silhouette Score …

Ahp–Python Framework For Multicriteria Modeling Of Rice Production In Asean, Mayang Anglingsari Putri, Risqy Siwi Pradini, Anuraga Jayanegara, Alexander Dimas Yonanta Putra

Knowledge Engineering and Data Science

Rice production is a key indicator of food security and agricultural stability in Southeast Asia, especially among Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries. Despite shared regional goals, disparities in rice production remain, and previous studies mainly rely on descriptive statistics, lacking structured multicriteria decision-making frameworks and computational tools for cross-country comparisons. This study addresses these gaps by proposing an integrated Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP)–Python framework to evaluate and rank ASEAN rice production from 2013 to 2022. Three criteria are used: Total Production Volume (K1), Production Growth Trend (K2), and Recent Year Performance (K3), capturing both long-term consistency and short-term …

Unwritten Rules And Oral Transmission In Architectural Proportion Systems: Case Study Of Bubungan Tinggi House, Huzairin. Muhammad Deddy, Dila Nadya Andini, Rudi Hartono, Anna Oktaviana, Dahliani Dahliani

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

The proportional systems in vernacular architecture often exist without formal written codification, raising questions about their transmission across generations. Bubungan Tinggi House which is a replica of the Banjar Kingdom palace was built by Banjarese merchants and aristocrats from the 16th to the 19th centuries, showing a uniform aesthetic quality, which indicates a regularity in the proportions of its form. However, no historical written manuals detailing these proportions are known to exist. To prove the existence of regularity in the Bubungan Tinggi House proportion system, research was conducted by taking 7 Bubungan Tinggi House samples spread across South Kalimantan province, …

Artificial Intelligence To Transform Lifelong Learning And Workforce Development In Southeast Asia: A Call To Action, Shyh Poh Teo, Khadizah H. Abdul-Mumin

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

No abstract for this article type.

Classification Of Indonesian Sign Language (Sibi) Using Data Mining Algorithms K-Nearest Neighbor And Random Forest, Muhammad Zaki Wirawan, Achmad Afif, Anik Nur Handayani, Imanuel Hitipeuw, Osamu Fukuda

Knowledge Engineering and Data Science

This study aims to address the communication hallenges faced by the Indonesian deaf community by developing an automatic classification model for Sistem Bahasa Isyarat Indonesia (SIBI) using data mining techniques. The main objective is to identify a practical algorithm for recognizing SIBI hand gestures to enhance accessibility and inclusiveness in digital communication. A comprehensive dataset consisting of 32,850 gesture samples representing SIBI alphabet signs was collected and processed through feature extraction, data cleaning, and normalization using Z-Transform and Min-Max methods. Two classification algorithms, K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN) and Random Forest, were implemented and evaluated using metrics such as accuracy, precision, recall, …

Prioritizing Amd Impaired Watersheds For Watershed-Scale Restoration Using Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis, James Nicholas Marino

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) remains a significant environmental challenge in coal-mining and hard rock regions like West Virginia, degrading water quality and ecosystem health. Traditional site-specific remediation efforts often prove inefficient in addressing AMD at large scale. This study explores watershed-scale restoration as a more effective solution, leveraging centralized treatment facilities and multi-source pollution management. This study will follow Multi-criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA), specifically the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), to develop a structured rubric for grading watersheds. The process involves identifying critical criteria, organizing them into a hierarchy, and generating weights for clusters of criteria through collaboration with decision makers. …

Selective Recovery Of Critical Minerals (Ni, Zn, Co, And Mn) From Acid Mine Drainage Utilizing Ion Exchange And Selective Precipitation Processes, Esteban Albeiro Cardenas Restrepo

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Critical minerals (CMs) are essential for U.S. national security and technological development. The U.S. heavily depends on imports of these minerals from other countries, making supply chain disruptions a likely scenario. In consequence, finding alternative sources to conventional mining for these elements has become a topic of interest in recent years. Acid Mine Drainage (AMD), once solely viewed as an environmental problem, has emerged as a potential alternative source for CMs. AMD is a naturally occurring process where surface and underground water interact with sulfur-bearing minerals in the presence of oxygen and microorganisms. This interaction causes the water to become …

Citizen-Centric Building Energy Retrofits: Understanding And Supporting Citizens As Occupants, Participants, Decision-Makers, And Learners In Home Energy Retrofits, Nikhil Singh Yaduvanshi

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Residential building retrofits remain significantly under-adopted despite substantial technological advances, economic incentives, and policy efforts, creating a critical gap between technical potential and actual implementation in achieving climate goals. Assessment of citizen involvement in building retrofit processes plays a critical role in formulating effective home retrofit program designs to ensure maximum adoption rates and avoid energy waste. Although, existing retrofit programs and decision-making models recognize the importance of citizen involvement, the extent of citizen capabilities and the effects of citizen-centered approaches on retrofit adoption and building performance has not been comprehensively examined. The adoption and success of retrofit programs depends …

Assessment Of The Feasibility Of Utilizing Plastic Waste In Infrastructure To Promote Circular Economy In Bangladesh, Md Lutfor Rahman

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

This study presents a comprehensive assessment of municipal solid waste (MSW) and plastic waste characterization across Bangladesh, with a focus on circular economy opportunities and the long-term economic viability of plastic road. Using on-site waste characterization data for 13 major cities from four geographic zones of Bangladesh —Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, and Southeast—the research identifies food waste as the dominant component of the national waste stream (67.3%), followed by plastic (12.4%), textiles (7.8%), and paper (4.7%). Among plastics, low-density polyethylene (LDPE) overwhelmingly dominates (89.7%), highlighting the continued prevalence of single-use flexible plastics.

A life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) was conducted comparing …

Implementation And Performance Evaluation Of Plastic Road Mix Design In Parking Lot, Ishraq Faruk

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

The uncontrolled proliferation of plastic waste has emerged as a global environmental crisis, with high-density polyethylene (HDPE) constituting a substantial fraction of the waste stream due to its extensive use in packaging and its resistance to degradation. In parallel, asphalt pavements particularly in urban infrastructure such as parking lots experience accelerated deterioration from raveling, rutting, and cracking as a result of thermal cycling, repetitive loading, and inadequate drainage. These converging challenges present an opportunity for innovative, circular-economy-based sustainable pavement technologies that simultaneously improve surface durability and mitigate plastic waste accumulation.

This research investigates the full-scale implementation and monitoring of HDPE …

Biomedical Applications Of Reactive Oxygen Species From Catechol Oxidation, Zhongtian Zhang

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Catechol, a key functional moiety found in mussel adhesive proteins, undergoes oxidation to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can be leveraged for biomedical and environmental applications. By modifying catechol-based polymers, ROS generation can be controlled and applied toward organic compound degradation, antimicrobial treatments, and polymer crosslinking. This dissertation focuses on the design and application of catechol-based materials that leverage ROS generation for biomedical and environmental applications.

Life Cycle Assessment And Techno-Economic Analysis Of Mine Tailings As A Sustainable Raw Material For Mineral Carbonation And Recovery Of Critical Minerals, Vida Amankwaa

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This study assesses the feasibility of using mine tailings for mineral carbonation and nickel recovery through a comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA). The LCA quantifies greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, and resource consumption, while the TEA evaluates capital investment, operational costs, and process efficiency. The conventional beneficiation process at Eagle Mine serves as a baseline, highlighting its environmental footprint and operational costs. Results indicate that tailings reprocessing incurs higher costs ($34.76 per tonne of tailings processed) compared to conventional ore processing ($25.90 per tonne) due to increased energy consumption and material handling requirements. Additionally, several mineral …

Life Cycle Assessment Of Renewable Hydrocarbon Fuels Produced By The New Cool Gas To Liquid (Cool Gtl) Process, Elochukwu Okoye

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The Cool Gas-to-Liquid (Cool GTL) process converts biogas and captured CO₂ into renewable hydrocarbon fuels, contributing to GHG emissions reduction in transportation. This report explains a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study that was completed to evaluate the environmental impact of different feedstocks, hydrogen sources, and electricity inputs. The analysis considers biogas from food waste, manure, and landfill sources, as well as biogenic, fossil, and direct air capture (DAC) CO₂ feedstocks. Results show that biogas pathways provide the greatest GHG reductions, with the best case (food and manure biogas + solar hydrogen + solar electricity) achieving a net-negative GWP …

Life Cycle Assessment And Life Cycle Cost Assessment Of A Floating Treatment Wetland In A Wastewater Lagoon Located In Copper Harbor, Michigan, Erin Browne

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

A full-scale floating treatment wetland was implemented in a wastewater treatment lagoon in Copper Harbor, Michigan. Copper Harbor is a small, rural community located in a cold climate. Many studies have focused on the performance of floating treatment wetlands in mesocosm studies in warmer climates, but there is not a lot of research conducted on the feasibility and performance of full-scale floating treatment wetlands in wastewater lagoons, specifically in cold climates. The 2024 treatment season was the first season with the floating treatment wetland implemented in the wastewater lagoon. A preliminary assessment of the cost and environmental impacts of a …

Microbial Inactivation And Spray Drying For The Recovery Of Single-Cell Protein From Chemically Deconstructed Polyethylene Terephthalate, Reeba Elizabeth Reji

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is one of the most widely used polymers in plastics packaging. However, the increasing demand for PET has created challenges in waste disposal. Previous research has shown that PET can be deconstructed using ammonium hydroxide (CDPET). Microorganisms capable of utilizing the product as a sole carbon source can be converted to single-cell protein (SCP). A custom microbial inactivation unit was developed to ensure the safety and stability of generated SCP. Our study evaluated the effect of exposure time (45–60 minutes) at 140 °C with the goal of maximizing microbial inactivation. Our findings suggest that microbial inactivation can …