Digital Commons Network^™

Isotropic Shrinkage Of Patterned Vacancies Enables Three-Dimensional Nanoprecise Metastructures For Visible Light Applications, Quansan Yang, Gaojie Yang, Takahiro Nambara, Hiroyuki Kusaka, Yuichiro Kunai, Alex C. Matlock, Corban Swain, Brett Pryor, Yannick Salamin, Daniel Oran, Hasindu Kariyawasam, Ramith Hettiarachchi, Dushan Wadduwage, Marin Soljačić, Peter T. C. Soflaei, Edward S. Boyden

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Three-dimensional metastructures with nanoscale feature sizes exhibit unique properties compared with structures with larger feature sizes, but are difficult to fabricate. Here we introduce implosion carving (ImpCarv), a method for photopatterning vacancies of complex geometry throughout materials, followed by isotropic shrinkage (>10-fold). ImpCarv works by photoactivating sensitizers to generate reactive oxygen species that cleave a swollen hydrogel at defined points, followed by controlled shrinkage via dehydration. ImpCarv creates three-dimensional metastructures where the refractive index of each point throughout a material can be specified with nanoscale precision via material presence or absence. By leveraging refractive index programmability for precise phase …

Application Paths Of Semantic Modeling In Financial Fraud Detection And Risk Identification, Victor P. Gauthier, Daniel S. Wu

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Financial fraud and risk pose significant threats to economic stability and individual well-being. Traditional detection methods often struggle to keep pace with increasingly sophisticated fraudulent schemes. Semantic modeling, which focuses on understanding the meaning and relationships within data, offers a promising avenue for enhancing fraud detection and risk identification. This review paper explores the application paths of semantic modeling in this domain. We begin with a historical overview of fraud detection techniques, highlighting the limitations of traditional approaches. Subsequently, we delve into core themes, including knowledge graph-based fraud detection and semantic rule-based inference for risk assessment. We then compare and …

Susceptibility To High-Fidelity Misinformation: An Eye-Tracking Analysis, Yasasi Abeysinghe, Gavindya Jayawardena, Enkelejda Kasneci, Sampath Jayarathna

Computer Science Faculty Publications

With the rise of online misinformation and AI-generated text, understanding human perception of news truthfulness is critical. In this study, we examine visual attention and cognitive processing using eye-tracking measures as individuals read fake and real news articles sharing nearly identical structure and imagery, differing only in subtle textual changes. Using the public FakeNewsPerception dataset, we analyze advanced gaze measures, including scanpaths, AOI transitions, and luminance-corrected pupil measures, beyond basic gaze features, in relation to news truthfulness and perceived believability. Results show that, given the high fidelity of the fake news, readers exhibited comparable visual scanning patterns, attention allocation across …

Memebuddy: Dialog-Style Audio Representations For Engaging Non-Visual Meme Experiences, Chirag Bhansali, Vikas Ashok, Hae-Na Lee

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Image memes are a pervasive form of online communication, widely used to convey humor, opinions, and cultural references. Prior work has explored making memes accessible to blind users, primarily through auto-generated descriptive captions. While these approaches improve comprehensibility and sometimes incorporate prosodic or emotional cues, they often fail to capture the humor, narrative structure, and contextual nuances that make memes engaging. We present MemeBuddy, a system that models memes as dialog, generating structured, multi-turn audio representations using role-based speakers. MemeBuddy reinterprets a meme as a conversation between two speakers, integrating extracted meme text with contextual knowledge implicitly inferred by a …

Machine Learning Acceleration Of Micro-Credentialing, Knowledge Gap Remediation, And Micro-Recruiting Of Stem Assessments: From Learner Data To Hardware, Paul Amoruso

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

The growing demand for a skilled STEM workforce calls for adaptive, data-driven education that personalizes learning while aligning competencies with industry needs. This work introduces a multi-layered framework that integrates artificial intelligence (AI), data mining and hardware-aware optimization to support this goal. At its core, the AchieveUp system applies generative AI-assisted skill tagging to digitized assessments, enabling multi-semester tracking of student progress. Analysis across 14 semesters shows that underperforming students were found to benefit most from attending score clarification sessions, a relationship validated by an R² value of 0.83, indicating strong predictive validity between attendance and skill acquisition. To remediate …

Student Support In Civil And Environmental Engineering, Heather Marie Rice

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Many student support services target first-year engineering students to help improve their transition from high school to college and to reach first-year retention goals. These opportunities are communicated to students through a variety of ways. The objectives of this work are to evaluate student perspectives of student services support factors in a civil and environmental engineering program and investigate how student support services and opportunities are communicated to students in a civil and environmental engineering program. The media identified for student support service outreach were the fundamentals of engineering program newsletters, academic advising newsletters, Statler eNews newsletters, and the bulletin …

Process Optimization And Quality Control In Manufacturing Of Frp Composites By Vartm, Mohamed Emadeldin Omar Abdelhadi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Railroad tank cars, being one of the most used means of transportation of hazardous material across the country, have not been structurally upgraded for a long time. Thus, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), a United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) agency, released a rule for safer transportation of highly hazardous and flammable liquids by railroad to enhance the design specifications of both the new and existing tank cars in May 2015. A multifunctional composite jacket is proposed as a new material to structurally enhance the railroad tank cars to withstand any accidents that could happen en route. …

Psychological Impact Of Cultural Heritage Vr Experience Using Well-Mind Framework. (Case Study: Mahmoud Sami Palace In Mansoura)., Sara Ahmed El-Bayoumi, Hager Ahmed El-Sayed El-Ayouti, Mohamed Mohamed Shawki Abo Leila

Mansoura Engineering Journal

This study examines the psychological effects of immersive virtual reality (VR) experiences designed to preserve and disseminate intangible cultural heritage. It addresses the growing challenge of declining cultural engagement and the need for innovative tools that support psychological well-being, emotional engagement, and cultural connection. A VR-based reconstruction was developed within the historic Mahmoud Sami Al-Baroudi Palace in Mansoura, Egypt, focusing on traditional Egyptian practices and oral storytelling. The evaluation employed the WELL-MIND framework alongside participant feedback to assess both structured well-being indicators and subjective user experiences. The WELL-MIND-based assessment indicated improvements in cognitive stimulation, emotional engagement, and environmental perception. In …

Pin-Plane Electrical Discharge Driven By A Mosfet Dc Current Source, Myles Perry, Sidmar Holoman, Daniel Wozniak, Shirshak Kumar Dhali

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

The generation of atmospheric pressure nonequilibrium plasma using electrical discharges is an active area of research due to its significance in a wide spectrum of applications including medicine, combustion, and manufacturing. In our attempt to create a helium plasma jet in a pin-plane discharge with a constant current source, we observed self-pulsating behavior. We present the results of the electrical, optical, and spectroscopic measurements carried out to characterize the discharge. The duration of the discharge is a few tens of nanoseconds, and the repetition rate is in the few tens of kHz. The effect of the gap distance and gas …

A Comprehensive Survey Of Prompt Engineering Techniques In Large Language Models, Tonmoy Debnath, Md Nurul Absar Siddiky, Muhammad Enayetur Rahman, Prosenjit Das, Antu Kumar Guha, Muhammad Rezaur Rahman, H. M. Dipu Kabir

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Prompt engineering has arisen as a pivotal discipline in optimizing the performance of Large Language Models (LLMs) by structuring inputs to enhance coherence, accuracy, and task alignment. This paper comprehensively surveys various prompting techniques, systematically categorizing them according to their application domains and methodological foundations. Fundamental approaches like zero-shot and few-shot prompting are examined along with advanced strategies, including chain-of-thought reasoning, retrieval-augmented generation, and self-consistency mechanisms. A rigorous qualitative analysis is conducted to evaluate each technique's strengths, limitations, and optimal use cases, offering a structured framework for selecting the most effective prompting strategies. Theoretical insights and empirical findings are consolidated …

Scalar Source Localization Using Multi-Sensor Domains Of Dependence In Turbulent Channel Fow, Zejian You, Xiaowei Zhu, Qi Wang

Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Tracking hazardous events such as wildfire smoke, coastal oil spills, or chemical releases in natural environments is complicated by turbulent dispersion and molecular diffusion. This study presents a method to localize pollutant sources rapidly and accurately using infinite time-averaged measurements from a multi-sensor network, leveraging the duality between mean forward and adjoint scalar fields. The forward-adjoint duality states that measurements at the sensor (forward feld) are equal to the adjoint field at the source, providing crucial spatial information about the source. Consequently, the adjoint scalar fields can be interpreted as the domain of dependence for the sensor observations [1, 2]. …

Public Preferences And Trade-Offs In Critical Mineral Mining Development In The United States, Bamidele Joseph Ajiga

Masters Theses

Rising demand for battery-critical minerals has increased U.S. mining efforts, but projects often face public opposition. There is limited work on how individuals in affected regions evaluate trade-offs between economic and environmental risks.

This research applies a discrete choice experiment to examine individual preferences for proposed battery-critical minerals mining projects in Missouri, Minnesota, and Idaho. 1908 respondents evaluated hypothetical mining projects defined by jobs, state tax revenue, the proportion of tailings reprocessed, groundwater impacts, and surface water impacts, under gold and silver versus battery-critical mineral framings.

Conditional and mixed logit models were used to assess the importance of attributes, demographic …

Strontium Titanate For Capacitor And Energy Storage Applications At Cryogenic Temperatures, Hung Trinh

Doctoral Dissertations

This study investigates the dielectric properties of single crystal and ceramic strontium titanate (SrTiO₃) for cryogenic capacitor applications from room temperature to 4 K. Permittivity (k) and loss tangent are dependent on temperature, frequency, mechanical stress, and applied DC electric field. Accordingly, the dielectric constant and loss tangent were measured at various frequencies and DC bias levels. Loss tangent data are also presented as equivalent series resistance (ESR). For single crystal SrTiO₃, an impurity level of ≈500 ppm barium resulted in an increase of the maximum permittivity to approximately 50,000 at 6 K. This relatively high …

Nanostructured Cathode Catalysts For Aem Electrolysis: From Catalyst Design To Degradation And Hydrogen Dynamics, Yamini Kumaran

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE) presents a promising pathway toward cost-effective and sustainable hydrogen production by integrating the chemical robustness of alkaline systems with the compact, zero-gap design of proton exchange membrane electrolyzers. However, the widespread implementation of AEMWE is limited by the availability of highly active and durable platinum-group-metal (PGM)-free catalysts and by an incomplete understanding of their degradation behavior under realistic operating conditions.

This dissertation focuses on the development, characterization, and mechanistic investigation of nanostructured MoNi₄–MoO₂-based electrodes for efficient and stable hydrogen generation under alkaline and membrane-integrated environments. MoNi₄–MoO₂ nanorods …

Scalable Single-Erbium Telecom Qudits With Record Room-Temperature Quantum Coherence In Silicon-Based Nanostructures, Alexander Kaloyeros

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Advancing quantum information science demands solid-state quantum systems that maintain long quantum coherence at elevated temperatures while supporting scalable, CMOS-compatible fabrication and telecom C-band operation. No existing platform has simultaneously achieved these requirements, as state-of-the-art demonstrations of coherent control of erbium ions, with an intrinsic telecom-band optical transition, have been confined to cryogenic temperatures below < 10 K under controlled vacuum conditions. This thesis introduces a new paradigm in which materials science and engineering provides the enabling pathway to quantum coherence.

A foundry-compatible nanofabrication approach, paired with targeted materials engineering, is developed to realize a new class of CMOS-scalable quantum system: arrays of spatially isolated single-erbium-ion qudits (five-level systems) embedded in silicon-based (e.g., silicon carbide (SiC) and SiC_xO_y) hollow nanopillars (HNPs). Non-lithographically …

Workshop Outcomes Report: 2nd International Workshop On Seismic Resilience Of Arctic Infrastructure And Social Systems, Majid Ghayoomi, Daniela Morganti

Faculty Publications

The report provides an overview of the second international workshop on Seismic Resilience of Arctic Infrastructure and Social Systems. The report discusses agenda, workshop activities, interdisciplinary working groups, and results. It ends with several strategic questions and investigation plans that were developed as part of the workshop activities.

Managing Green And Sustainable Construction Projects: A Computational Analysis Of Associated Risks And Challenges For Improved Performance, Bahaa Chammout, Islam H. El-Adaway

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Green and sustainable building practices have emerged as effective strategies to address the environmental challenges posed by the construction industry. This includes unsustainable resource utilization, excessive waste production, greenhouse gas emissions, and high energy consumption. However, the integration of green and sustainable initiatives in construction introduces distinct risks and challenges that affect project management and may lead to claims and disputes. To this end, and while previous research examined dispute causation across various aspects of the construction industry, there is limited investigation of the unique and complex nature of risks and challenges - and consequently conflicts, claims, and disputes - …

Multi-User Collaboration In Augmented Reality For Beyond-Visual-Line-Of-Sight Bridge Inspection, Joel Murithi Runji, Genda Chen

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Bridge inspection traditionally relies on scaffolds, snooper trucks, and aerial robots for hard-to-reach areas beyond the visual line of sight of inspectors. This study automates the collaborative inspection workflow for multiple users when inspecting hard-to-reach bridge sections by interfacing low-cost multimodal sensors mounted on a magnetically wheeled climbing robot with augmented reality devices in a cyber-physical system. Non-destructive and visual sensors provide near real-time information of automated steel thickness measurements and visual observations of corrosive regions, respectively. The visual sensors also support robot teleoperation. The cyber-physical system is evaluated for its user-friendliness and performance. The system performance is quantified by …

Enhancing Health And Safety Practices In Construction Site In Developing Nations Through Technology Advancement In South Western Nigeria, Mubaraq Lawal, Abba Mahmud, Ismail Gbolahan Dere, Thankgod Agbo Owoicho

CSID Journal of Infrastructure Development

The construction sector plays a critical role in urban development and economic growth, yet it continues to face major challenges that threaten worker health and safety. Traditional safety measures are not always sufficient for the complex conditions found on construction sites, which creates a need for technology‑based solutions. This study investigates the relationship between technology adoption and health and safety practices in the construction industry in Lagos, Nigeria. The study identifies the major causes of site accidents, examines the level of technology use on construction sites, and reviews existing literature through both primary and secondary data. Primary data were collected …

The Ethical Code Of Access And Use, Modeled By Archival Educator Aurora E. Davis, Jennifer A. Walker, Sarah A. Buchanan, Charissa F. Ercolin

Provenance, Journal of the Society of Georgia Archivists

Archival education has a legacy of collective development between professionals, educators, and students of archives. Longitudinal attention to archival pedagogy can greatly inform ongoing curricular directions, so that students always emerge from their archival program ready to manage complex collections in wide-ranging professional settings. One academic archival program’s first archival educator brought to her role relevant experience from both the aviation and newspaper industries that shaped her pedagogical impact on students. This paper considers the origins of archival education at the University of Missouri through the work of Aurora E. Davis, who served as a faculty member at the School …

Impact Of The International Engineering Program (Iep) At The University Of Rhode Island (Uri): What’S In It For Languages And For Engineering?, Sigrid Berka

Journal of International Engineering Education

No abstract provided.

Computational Design Of Nanoporous Materials For The Adsorption Of Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, Daniel D. Mottern

Dissertations

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large family of chemicals that have seen wide usage due to their fluorinated carbon backbone. The presence of strong C-F bonds in the backbone lends PFAS molecules high thermal and chemical stability, as well as strong hydrophobicity and lipophobicity. This combination of properties has led to heavy use of PFAS as surfactants, non-stick coatings, and aqueous foam forming films and flame retardants. However, these properties bring their own consequences. The high chemical and thermal stability of PFAS renders them persistent, with the C-F bonds resisting naturally occurring forms of degradation. Existing forms of …

Ai-Enhanced Heat Transfer Optimization In Magnetic Bio-Nanofluids, Hasan Attyah Shaboot

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Engineering Sciences

This study presents a hybrid Artificial Intelligence–Computational Fluid Dynamics (AI-CFD) framework for optimizing heat transfer in magnetic bio-nanofluids subjected to external magnetic fields. Magnetic bio-nanofluids, composed of biocompatible base fluids containing superparamagnetic nanoparticles, exhibit tunable thermal and flow behavior, making them promising for biomedical and micro-cooling applications. Conventional optimization methods based on experiments or brute-force CFD are computationally expensive and limited in exploring the full design space. To overcome these challenges, an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) surrogate model was developed to predict two key performance indicators, the Nusselt number and the friction factor, with high accuracy (R² > 0.997). The surrogate …

Hybrid Experimental–Computational Study On The Energy Absorption Of Graphene Nanoplatelet-Reinforced Sandwich Structures, Hamdan Yousif Hamdan

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Engineering Sciences

Background: Sandwich composites are widely used in aerospace, automotive, and marine applications because of their lightweight, stiffness, and strength, but they remain prone to out-of-plane impacts and barely visible impact damage (BVID). Graphene Nanoplatelets (GNPs) have shown strong potential to improve fracture toughness and impact resistance. However, hybrid experimental–computational studies applying such reinforcement are still lacking in developing contexts like Iraq, where practical and accessible solutions are essential. Aims: The study investigates the effect of GNP reinforcement on the low-velocity impact behavior and energy absorption of glass fiber/epoxy sandwich panels with PVC foam and balsa wood cores. Objectives include fabricating …

The Role Of The Scenario In Formulating The Contemporary Architectural Text, Rounaq Arif Mohsin, Abbas Ali Hamza, Bashar Shamil Alkhafaji

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Engineering Sciences

In order to create an integrated architectural text, which is a complicated art that blends beauty and practical elements, a rigorous design procedure is necessary. In this situation, the scenario’s role becomes crucial in developing the current architectural text and directing architectural approaches. In order to better understand how the scenario influences the design process and the interactions between various architectural aspects, this project intends to explore and analyze the impact of the scenario in developing and refining architectural text formulation approaches.

The study looks at the idea of a scenario and how it has been used in architecture, as …

The Imaginary In Architecture: The Conceptual Structure Of The Imaginary And Its Manifestations In Architectural Text, Noora Ghadir Hlail, Abbas Ali Hamza Al Greiza

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Engineering Sciences

This study explores the concept of the imaginary as a collective cognitive and cultural structure that shapes symbolic reality through images, myths, and deeply rooted symbols in collective memory. The research applies this concept within the field of architecture, aiming to understand how the imaginary is embodied in architectural texts as symbolic carriers of identity and cultural meaning. Adopting a descriptive-analytical methodology, the study develops a theoretical framework comprising key components—preconditions, mechanisms, and traits of the imaginary—and applies it to two selected case studies: the General Secretariat of the Iraqi Council of Ministers and the Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum. The …

An Entrepreneurial Approach To International Engineering Programs, Mark W. Rectanus

Journal of International Engineering Education

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Foam Type And Thickness On Impact Resistance, Thermal Insulation, And Cost-Effectiveness Of Medical Containers For Drone Delivery, Josh Henry C. Soriano, Eriel V. Fonte, Lambertsus S. Novera, Nicolai Paolo B. Villarin, Joel B. Jalon, Jr.

Sinaya: A Philippine Journal for Senior High School Teachers and Students

Accessible healthcare remains a challenge for rural communities lacking reliable infrastructure for medical supply delivery. Delivery drones have recently emerged as a viable alternative, dropping medical containers during flight. However, the effectiveness of different foam types and thicknesses combined with corrugated cardboard as shock-absorbing materials in a medical container for delivery drones has yet to be tested. Thus, this study designed cost-effective containers using corrugated cardboard and multiple foam types and thicknesses, aiming to preserve the integrity of the contents, withstand impact, and control temperatures. Four foam types—polystyrene, polyurethane, polyethylene, and expanded polystyrene (EPS) —were tested at 1 cm, 2 …

Uji Kelayakan Teknis Dan Performa Auvest: Rompi Pendingin Otomatis Berbasis Wearable Thermoelectric Cooler Untuk Mitigasi Risiko Heat Stress, Muchammad Adam Wildan, Amelia Avril Rayhana, Nadia Hanifan Nabila, Bian Shabri Putri Irwanto

National Journal of Occupational Health and Safety

Heat stress is a serious threat to construction workers that can reduce productivity and even threaten lives. Existing cooling vest innovations still have limitations, such as weight, manual systems, and the risk of leakage. This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of the Automatic Vest (AUVEST), an automatic cooling vest based on Wearable Thermoelectric Cooler and the Internet of Things (IoT), in preventing the risk of heat stress. The method used is experimental with trials on one construction worker in indoor and outdoor environments. AUVEST is equipped with temperature sensors (DS18B20, TMP102) and humidity (DHT11), whose data is processed by …

The Converging Frontiers: 3d Printing Of Polyvinyl Chloride (Pvc) For Environmental Remediation, Hazim F. Abbas, Salam Mohammed, Amamer M. Redwan

Al-Mustaqbal Journal of Sustainability in Engineering Sciences

The global demand for effective environmental cleanup drives the need for innovative materials and techniques. 3D printing, which can produce complex and customized structures, offers promising solutions. PVC, a common, affordable, and durable polymer resistant to chemicals, is increasingly used for environmental applications. This report reviews recent advances in 3D-printed PVC for water purification, air filtration, and waste management. PVC’s strong properties, combined with the flexibility of 3D printing, enable the development of tailored, efficient components such as membranes, adsorbents, and catalytic supports. Technology also encourages a circular economy by recycling PVC waste into new feedstocks and on-demand, eco-friendly infrastructure. …