Digital Commons Network^™

Temperature Determination And Scene Change Artifact Mitigation When Using Fourier-Transform Spectroscopy On Targets With Time-Varying Temperature, Kode A. Wilson, Michael L. Dexter, Benjamin F. Akers, Anthony L. Franz

Faculty Publications

Fourier-transform spectroscopy is a widely used technique for determining the spectral and thermal properties of a target. However, target temperature variations during measurement can compromise the spectral accuracy. Temperature fluctuations induce oscillations superimposed on the target spectrum. These oscillations, referred to as scene-change artifacts, degrade the spectral accuracy. The literature is divided, with theoretical predictions suggesting negligible artifacts and growing experimental evidence reporting significant artifacts. This paper presents a theory and experimental validation of scene-change artifacts originating from target temperature variations. Traditionally, the interferogram offset is assumed to be constant, an invalid assumption for a changing scene. The error is …

Silicon Dioxide Multimode Interferometer Spectrometers, James Harkness

Theses and Dissertations

Multi-mode interferometer (MMI) spectrometers are a type of reconstructive micro-spectrometer based on imaging light propagation patterns in MMI waveguides. This dissertation describes how the MMI spectrometer was implemented for the first time using a silicon dioxide core. This approach showed a 6 dB improvement in SNR over SU-8 core devices. To implement the silicon dioxide MMI spectrometer, a fabrication technique for selectively roughening the surface of the waveguide needed to be developed. SU-8, a photosensitive polymer, was etched with oxygen plasma to create grass-like nanostructures. SU-8 grass can then be used as a transfer mask to plasma etch a surface. …

Optimization Of Vehicle Mix For Three-And Four-Wheel Passenger Transportation System In Nigeria, Omotunde A. Muyiwa, Hamid A. Jimoh, Kolawole T. Oriolowo

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Efficient transportation systems are essential for reducing passengers waiting times in densely populated areas. However, there is a dearth of information on the optimization of vehicle mix for three-and four-wheel transportation systems in Nigeria. The present study was designed to optimize the vehicle mix for three-and four-wheel passenger transportation to improve transportation efficiency. Twenty purposively selected vehicles were observed, while a queuing model (M/M/s) was used to determine passenger arrival rates during different periods (morning, afternoon, and evening). An integer linear programming model was developed to minimize passenger waiting times. Data on vehicle types, capacities, travel cycles, and average passenger …

Implementation Of The Fourth Industrial Revolution Technologies In Tanzania’S Downstream Oil And Gas Industries, Vitalis John Mwinyi

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The advent of the fourth industrial revolution (IR4.0) has resulted in the digital transformation of multiple sectors of the economy due to the disruptive nature of the technologies driving the revolution. The technologies have already found their way into the oil and gas industries across the globe, especially in upstream, midstream, and downstream operations. However, the degree of implementation is not the same for these operations, considering the complexities involved, integrated process, the associated risk and investment cost, among others. This study aimed to establish the implementation level of IR4.0 technologies in the downstream operations. A survey method was employed …

Analysis Of Factors Enabling Organisational Governance Maturity For The Technical Audit Function In Tanzania, George C. Haule

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The study aimed to identify key factors contributing to Organisational Governance Maturity (OGM) of the Technical Audit Functions (TAF) in Tanzania.  The study employed a sequential approach as a research design.  The first step was to collect and analyse literature studies to identify factors enabling the OGM of the TAF.  Next, a questionnaire was administered to one hundred twenty-eight (128) respondents from seven (7) TAFs to rank the key enabling factors that were identified from the literature that influence the OGM of TAF in Tanzania.  Using data from a questionnaire administered to 128 respondents, a two-step strategy was employed to …

Leveraging Convolutional Neural Networks For Through-The-Wall Radar Imaging: Challenges, Impacts, And Future Directions, Tumaini Edgar, Abdulla F. Ally, Abdi T. Abdalla

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Through-the-wall radar imaging (TWRI) is an essential technology for military and rescue applications; however, its performance in detecting and visualizing high-quality images of targets behind walls is significantly degraded by multipath reflections and signal attenuation. This paper reviews the current state of TWRI and its challenges, and explores the transformative potential of deep learning, particularly convolutional neural networks (CNNs), in addressing these challenges. Peer-reviewed articles published from 2018 to 2024 were analysed to examine CNN applications in addressing TWRI challenges. The analysis reveals that using CNNs, TWRI systems can be more effective by filtering wall distortions, reducing noise, lowering computational …

A Review Of Energy Storage Technologies With Hydro Energy System Design For Off-Grid Electricity, Daniel H. Ngoma, Banet L. Masenga

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Many renewable energy sources such hydropower—particularly small-scale run-of-river and micro-hydro—offers reliable, low-cost generation. However, their inherent intermittency (due to seasonal flow variations) and inability to instantly match demand necessitate integrated energy storage to ensure a stable, continuous power supply. This review synthesizes contemporary energy storage technologies in the context of their integration with off-grid hydro energy system design.

The study examine a spectrum of storage solutions, evaluating their technical characteristics, costs, and suitability for hybrid hydro applications. Pumped Hydro Storage (PHS), while highly efficient and large-scale, is often geographically constrained and capital-intensive for small off-grid projects. Battery Energy Storage Systems …

Green Revolving Fund, Jordan Craft, Kate Mahoney, Brennan Wittler, Hui Min Mak, Logan Vowell

25th Annual A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2026)

Caring for the Earth is an integral part of the Christian calling, encompassing various aspects, one of which is the stewardship of financial and natural resources. One way Hope College embodies this mission is through its buildings and operations. The Hope College Green Revolving Fund (GRF) is a financial mechanism to support sustainability initiatives on our campus. Through the GRF, student interns work alongside college staff and faculty mentors to understand the energy and cost impacts of college operations. The GRF then funds campus investments, which lead to sustainability impacts (such as reduced energy use, lower/less hazardous waste, and more). …

Emergent Dynamics In Multiplex Social Networks: Agent-Based Modeling Of Information Diffusion For Misinformation Control, Harshvardhan Prabhakar Ghongade, Anjali Ashokrao Bhadre, Shivani Agarwal, Harjitkumar Uttamrao Pawar, Harshal Subhash Rane

Northeast Journal of Complex Systems (NEJCS)

Information misrepresentation is widespread in multi-layered social networks which provide multiple avenues to communicate information. As such, it presents significant opportunities for both information integrity and public discourse to be undermined by disinformation. This paper outlines a new agent-based model, developed to capture emergent dynamics of multi-layered social networks and to help identify technical means to mitigate information misrepresentation in complex systems. A key component of this research includes a novel Multi-Layer Information Diffusion Model (MLIDM), integrating both cross-layer communication among agents, as well as heterogeneous agent behaviors and adaptive intervention strategies. Our methods employ a three-stage process to model …

Stack-Based Exploit Development Techniques In Mips Architectures, Justin Applegate

Theses and Dissertations

Memory corruption vulnerabilities in binary executables represent a serious threat to software security, particularly in embedded and IoT (Internet of Things) devices that commonly use the MIPS architecture. While exploit development techniques for x86 are well-documented in academic literature, little systematic work exists on how those techniques translate to other architectures such as MIPS. This research addresses that gap by evaluating thirteen stack-based exploit development techniques and subtechniques, originally designed in the context of the x86 architecture, for their applicability to MIPS architectures. For each technique, vulnerable C code was written and compiled into both x86 and a set of …

Developing Text-To-Video Ai Workflows Through Creative Practice, Nathan S. Jensen

Staff Scholarship - Australia & Dubai

This creative practice project investigates the extent to which Gen-AI text-to-video tools can maintain coherence across a short multi-shot sequence rather than a single generated clip. This includes continuity in recurring characters, visual style, and simple narrative flow. Using a Creative Practice Scholarship framework and practice-based methodology, I developed Bush Friends, a proof-of-concept children’s television intro, as the artefact of experimentation. This  project combined concept development, storyboard planning, iterative prompting, AI video generation, and editorial assembly using ChatGPT (OpenAI, n.d.) for ideation and prompt development, Kling 3.0 Omni (KlingAI, n.d.) for video generation, and DaVinci Resolve 20 (Blackmagic Design, n.d.) …

Conditioned Synthesis Of Spectra Using Matrix Decomposition For Spectral Library Augmentation, Anna Catherine Rollans

Theses and Dissertations

In hyperspectral imaging, identification and detection tasks are often done by comparing the spectrum of an unknown material to labeled spectra in a spectral library. However, it is intractable to populate a spectral library with measurements of all possible materials in all possible conditions. We propose modeling the weights resulting from matrix decomposition as functions of material condition(s) to generate synthetic spectra at unmeasured conditions to augment spectral libraries. Matrix decompositions considered here include principal component analysis (PCA), non-negative matrix factorization (NMF), and independent component analysis (ICA).We demonstrate this method by generating (1) synthetic long-wave infrared (LWIR) emissivity spectra of …

Evaluation Of Polyester Polymer Concrete Overlays On Bridge Decks In Utah, Landon Moore

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this research was to evaluate the condition of polyester polymer concrete (PPC) overlays placed on both new and in-service concrete bridge decks in Utah. The procedures for this research included a desktop review of 80 bridges with PPC deck overlays; scanning of nine decks using rapid automated sounding and advanced deck imaging technologies to document delamination, cracking, spalling, and patching; and additional testing of two decks. This research involved evaluations of PPC overlays that were 2 to 8 years old and bridges that were 4 to 40 years old at the time of testing. The primary distresses …

Implementing The Safe System Approach For Speed Management In Utah, Kezia Isabelle Tripp

Theses and Dissertations

Speed management is central to reducing fatal and serious injury crashes. The Safe System Approach, an emerging roadway safety paradigm in the United States, recognizes human error and vulnerability and focuses on minimizing crash severity through coordinated policy, design, and operational strategies. This thesis examines how Safe System Approach principles can be applied to speed management, with a focus on identifying practical countermeasures and implementation strategies relevant to the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT). A compendium of practice was conducted to evaluate speed management countermeasures and document how cities and state Departments of Transportation are implementing Safe System Approach-based strategies. …

Efficient Intrusion Detection For Iomt: Integrating Machine Learning, Feature Selection, And Fuzzy Logic, Ghaida Mansour Balhareth

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

The internet of medical things (IoMT) has transformed healthcare by enabling real-time patient monitoring, remote diagnoses, and effective data exchange among connected medical devices and clinical systems. The increasing reliance on interconnected medical equipment has also intensified cybersecurity risks, as resource-constrained devices and wireless communication channels are vulnerable to attacks such as man-in-the-middle, spoofing, data injection, and ransomware. Intrusion Detection Systems (IDSs) play a critical role in mitigating these threats; however, traditional IDS approaches often struggle with high-dimensional IoMT data, class imbalance, and uncertainty in traffic patterns, which can increase false alarms and reduce reliability in safety-critical environments. This dissertation …

Modeling Flood-Induced Cascading Disruptions In The Indian Electronics Supply Chain Using Influence Network Analysis, Surendra Orupalli, Hiroki Sayama

Northeast Journal of Complex Systems (NEJCS)

This study investigates flood induced disruptions in the Indian electronics supply chain using influence network analysis. Monsoon floods are recurring hazards that significantly impact economic activities, logistics, and industrial productivity. This study integrates district-level rainfall data (2020 to 2025) with supply chain network models to quantify cascading failures. The methodology applies rainfall thresholds (≥ 300 mm/month) to identify flood-prone districts and constructs a stochastic influence matrix representing inter-firm dependencies. Flood propagation dynamics are modeled iteratively with a propagation coefficient (α = 0.6) and convergence threshold (ε = 10⁻⁴). The resulting disruption profiles are mapped onto company-level revenues calibrated to India-specific …

Physics-Based And Data-Driven Low-Order Modeling Of Centrifugal Compressors, Chase Oliphant

Theses and Dissertations

Centrifugal compressors serve as critical components across many applications, yet their design and performance prediction present significant challenges. While computational fluid dynamics provides high-fidelity predictions of compressor behavior, its prohibitive computational cost renders it impractical for preliminary design phases where rapid exploration of the geometric and operating space is essential. Conversely, existing low-order models have enabled efficient performance estimation but suffer from limited accuracy and poor interpretability, particularly when applied to novel geometries or off-design operating conditions. This dissertation addresses these limitations through three complementary contributions that bridge the gap between high-fidelity CFD and preliminary design tools. The first contribution …

Three Degree Of Freedom Wave Energy Converter Design For Resonant Motion, Greg Ballen, David G. Wilson, Rush Robinett, Shangyan Zou, Wayne Weaver

Michigan Tech Publications

As multiple-degree-of-freedom (3-DOF) wave energy converters (WECs) have demonstrated the ability to produce more power than single-degree-of-freedom devices, the challenge of designing buoys for efficient energy harvesting has increased in complexity. In this paper, a cylindrical WEC is designed to naturally resonate in surge, pitch, and heave modes at a specific target frequency of 0.2 Hz. By utilizing a penalty-based optimization method to balance buoyancy requirements with natural resonance, the design achieves minimal control force input, thereby reducing fluctuations in energy output and local energy storage requirements. The performance is evaluated under irregular sea states using a Bretschneider spectrum. Results …

Hypersonic Impact Method For Aerodynamics And Convective Heating (Hi-Mach) With Sensitivities, Jeremiah Goates, Logan Freeman, Nathan Hoch, Douglas Hunsaker

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Student Publications and Presentations

The purpose of this paper is to present the development of an engineering level code for calculating hypersonic aerodynamics and convective heating, HI-Mach. Novel to this paper are the use of analytic methods for streamline tracing and the direct differentiation of geometric sensitivities for both forces and heat load. Independent panel inclination methods calculate the pressure distribution on the surface of a hypersonic vehicle. Normal shock relations provide the thermodynamic state on each panel. Streamlines are integrated using closed-form streamline equations. Flat plate formulas corrected for compressibility calculate the skin friction coefficient and acreage heat flux on each panel. Formulas …

Public Understanding Of Ai-Enabled Cyber Threats And Its Impact On Cybersecurity Governance In The United States, Charlotte M. Barbrick

LSU Master's Theses

Artificial intelligence is spreading quickly in workplaces and everyday life, and that fast growth is creating cybersecurity and privacy risks that current laws and organizational practices do not fully address. This thesis asks whether AI-specific knowledge shapes public support for cybersecurity governance of AI-enabled systems in the United States. Using nationally representative survey data from the Pew Research Center’s American Trends Panel (ATP) Wave 119, fielded December 12--18, 2022, I estimate weighted regression models to test how objective AI knowledge shapes support for cybersecurity governance. I also test whether concern about data misuse helps explain that relationship and whether AI …

Applied Research In Field Crop Pathology For Indiana, 2020, Darcy E. P. Telenko

Purdue University Press Books

Applied Research in Field Crop Pathology for Indiana, 2020 serves as a summary of the applied field crop pathology research trials conducted in 2020 under the direction of the Purdue Field Crop Pathology program in the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology at Purdue University. In Indiana, there are more than 57,600 farms, 16,000 crop producers, and 900 certified crop advisers, Extension educators, and crop-protection industry representatives who manage more than 11.4 million crop-production acres with a total value of $6.3 billion annually. There are more than twenty diseases affecting corn, soybeans, and wheat that may decrease crop production and …

Rioi: A Microwave-Photonic Rf-Interferometric Interrogation Technique For Enhanced Fiber Optic Sensing, Chen Zhu, Ruimin Jie, Chenxi Huang, Jie Huang

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Fiber optic interferometric (FOI) sensors are widely recognized for their high sensitivity, design flexibility, and multiplexing capabilities, making them ideal for applications ranging from structural health monitoring to biomedical diagnostics. However, conventional optical-domain interrogation techniques are often limited by the performance constraints of spectrometers. In this work, we present a radiofrequency (RF)-interferometric optical interrogation (RIOI) method for FOI sensors. This approach leverages microwave photonic (MWP) processing to encode the optical interference phase into an RF signal, which is then combined with a reference RF signal to produce a microwave-domain interferogram. By tracking spectral shifts in the RF domain, RIOI achieves …

Harnessing Phase Engineered Porous Mxene-Tio2 In Polyamide Reverse Osmosis Membranes For Enhanced Short- And Long Chain Pfas Removal From Water, Roham Ghanbari, Javad Farahbakhsh, Ahmad Najafidoust, Ratish Permala, Stefan Iglauer, Shervin Kabiri, Masoumeh Zargar

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

MXenes (2D transition metal nitrides, oxycarbides, carbonitrides, and carbides) hold promise in water treatment due to tunable surface chemistry and hydrophilic nature but restacking in aqueous environments and susceptibility to oxidation remain challenging. Here, we deliberately exploit partial oxidation of Ti3C2Tx MXene to in situ grow TiO2 nanoparticles on its surface, creating a porous, phase-engineered MXene-TiO2 composite. The anatase:rutile ratio was adjusted through different hydrothermal process time (12, 18, and 24 h), after 18 h composition yielding the best balance of surface charge and structural stability. This composite was incorporated into the polyamide (PA) layer of a thin-film composite reverse …

A Comparative Study Of Plans For Residential Building Construction In The United States And Mexico: Analysis Of Processes, Systems, And Materials, Juan Hernandez

Honors Theses

Residential building construction is an essential part of a country’s economy and development. Finding ways to improve aspects of residential building construction can greatly impact the performance and sustainability of residential buildings. This study analyzes the plans for residential building construction in the United States and Mexico. The processes, systems, and materials in each country were investigated to form comparisons between the two countries. Journals and articles containing data on residential building construction in each country were used to gather information on each area of study. Factors such as climate, economy, and politics were also considered as they have direct …

Sulfate Attack And Microstructural Study Of Self-Compacting Sand Concrete Incorporating Recycled Concrete, S. Boudali, A.M. Soliman, B. Abdulsalam, S. Poncet, Adel Elsafty

HBRC Journal

This study presents an experimental investigation of the microstructure of Self-Compacting Sand Concrete (SCSC) containing recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) and fine recycled concrete powder (FRCP) under a sulfate attack. SCSC specimens were submerged and stored for one year in a sodium sulfate solution. The microstructure of SCSC was investigated using quantitative X-ray diffraction and SEM analysis performed on samples taken from both the core and surface of the specimens. Also, the impact of different percentages and sizes of recycled aggregates (i.e., varying from nano- up to micro-sized aggregates) on the microstructural properties of SCSC exposed to sulfate attack was evaluated. …

Does What Happens In Vegas Increase Pedestrian Safety? A Longitudinal Study On The Effectiveness Of Pedestrian Bridges, Jalen Paulos, Jalen Paulos, Joaquin Del Mundo, Brock Wentz

School of Medicine Research Poster Showcase

Urban populations continue to rise and the frequency that pedestrians are exposed to vehicular traffic continues to increase. The result is an increase in automobile versus pedestrian collisions. This study aims to determine the efficacy of pedestrian bridges in reducing the rates of automobile-pedestrian collisions. Data for all automobile versus pedestrian collisions and injuries from July of 1997 through December of 2023 at four distinct intersections along Las Vegas Boulevard were retrieved from the Nevada Department of Transportation. These sites were chosen because of their historically high rates of automobile versus pedestrian incidents and the construction of pedestrian bridges at …

Democratizing National Water Model Streamflow Forecasts Through Cross-Platform Mobile Application Development, Jerson J. Garcia

Theses and Dissertations

The National Water Model (NWM) provides operational streamflow forecasts for 2.7 million stream reaches across the continental United States, yet technical barriers prevent widespread public access to this hydrological infrastructure. This paper presents RIVR (River Information Visualization and Risk), a cross-platform mobile application that transforms National Water Model forecasts into an accessible interface for non-technical users. Built with Flutter, the application deploys to iOS and Android from a single codebase and integrates NOAA forecast APIs, CIROH return-period thresholds, and interactive vector-tile mapping. Performance evaluation across six metrics: application size, startup time, memory consumption, rendering frame rates, API response times, and …

Hypertext Transfer Protocol Fingerprinting: Techniques For Attacker-In-The-Middle Proxy Detection, Evasion, And Counter-Evasion, Jensen George Wood

Theses and Dissertations

Attacker-in-the-middle (AitM) phishing toolkits have emerged as a critical threat to enterprise and individual security by enabling adversaries to bypass multi-factor authentication (MFA) and compromise cloud-based accounts at scale. Traditional detection techniques--such as IP blocklists or content-based detection methods--are often ineffective against these increasingly sophisticated attacks. We propose a novel method that detects malicious proxies by identifying artifacts they introduce into HTTP request headers. To evaluate our approach, we systematically analyze traffic passed through several open-source AitM toolkits and proxies, identifying distinct modifications to header structures and content, then formalize these features as YARA rules for automated use. To validate …

Further Development Of A Low-Energy Arc-Ignition System For Nytrox/Abs Hybrid Propulsion Systems, Stephen A. Whitmore, Jared S. Coen, Ryan J. Thibaudeau

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Utah State University has developed a high-performance “green” hybrid propulsion technology based on the unique electrical breakdown properties of 3D-printed acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. Using 3D-printed ABS as fuel, typical startup sequences require approximately 5–15 joules and, once started, the system can be sequentially fired with no additional energy inputs required. The number of possible ignitions is limited only by the amount of fuel. The most technologically mature version uses gaseous oxygen (GOX) as oxidizer and 3D-printed ABS as fuel. While GOX is mass-efficient, it lacks volumetric efficiency unless highly pressurized. Nytrox, a blend of GOX and nitrous oxide, improves propellant …

Predictive Analytics In Oncology And Ophthalmology: Machine Learning Applications For Diabetic Retinopathy And Breast Cancer, Ali Abidalkareem

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

The convergence of artificial intelligence and healthcare represents one of the most transformative developments in modern medicine, with deep learning technologies emerging as powerful tools for addressing complex diagnostic challenges. This dissertation develops and validates machine learning frameworks that address critical challenges in medical diagnosis through innovative approaches to data augmentation, feature learning, and classification, focusing on two fundamental problems: Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) severity classification using multi-model convolutional neural networks (CNNs), and breast cancer stage identification using microRNA (miRNA) gene expression biomarkers. For diabetic retinopathy classification, this work proposes an ensemble deep learning framework that integrates Diffusion-based data augmentation for …