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Enhancing The Bearing Capacity And Settlement Performance Of Soft Clay Using Geocell Reinforcement: A 3d Numerical Parametric Study, Alaa Ata, Engy E. Elbasuny, Ayman Metodiev El-Zohairy, Marwa Nabil

Faculty Publications

Problematic soils pose a risk to structures due to excessive or uneven settlement, swelling, and limited bearing capacity. To address some of these issues, mechanical reinforcement using geosynthetic products such as geocells can be employed, given their ease and speed of implementation. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of geocells on the behavior of soft clay soil in Port Said, Egypt, using a three-dimensional finite element model, namely, the PLAXIS 3D software. The results show that replacing the top 1.5 m of the soft clay with sand significantly reduced settlement. This improvement was further enhanced by …

A Resilience Early Warning Assessment Of The Maritime Supply Chain: A Case Study Of China’S New Energy Vehicle Exports, Xiuqian Chen, Liangyong Chu, Mengyao Wang, Jiayin Du, Yiming Zhang, Xiyao Xu

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

Enhancing resilience through early warning is a critical strategy for mitigating disruption risks in the maritime supply chain (MSC). This study proposes a novel early warning assessment framework to determine the resilience of the MSC. It is referred to as a resilience early warning system. An evaluation index system for shipping enterprises is developed based on four dimensions: withstand capacity, adaptive capacity, learning capability, and the external environment. A resilience assessment model that uses the Bayesian best-worst method (BBWM) and the extension cloud model (ECM) is established to quantify MSC resilience. An early warning evaluation model based on a Bayesian …

Public-Port Throughput As An Activity Proxy For Near-Port Air Quality And Health: A Transferable Two-Scale Framework (Kaohsiung, 2017–2024), Ping-Jen Wang, Ying-Lin Hsu, Shih-Hao Chang, Bao-Tzung Wu

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

We developed a two-scale time series framework using monthly container throughput (20-foot equivalent units, TEU) as a port activity indicator. Applied to Kaohsiung, Taiwan (2017–2024), we related TEU to near-port NO₂ and PM₂.₅ (monthly) and air quality to outpatient respiratory diagnoses (weekly) across the 2019–2020 sulfur rules and the COVID-19 pandemic. Transfer-function models indicate TEU tends to lead near-port NO₂ by 6–9 months. Structural break tests at policy dates indicate nonsignificant changes in levels and slopes, suggesting gradual rather than abrupt shifts in the activity–pollution linkage. Weekly two-pollutant distributed-lag Poisson models estimated relative risks (lags 0–8) per interquartile range (IQR) …

Physical Modeling To Represent Molten-Slag Entrapment Behavior Into Molten-Steel Under Simultaneous Similitude Condition Of Multiple Dimensionless Numbers, Yuichi Tsukaguchi, Sho Nakano

Progress in Scale Modeling, an International Journal

Physical model construction and experiment are essential for scientific investigations of flow phenomena such as high temperature two phase flow of molten metal and inert gas. It has been a common method to construct a physical model with a convenient scale then proceed experiments under similitude condition of one or two dimensionless number(s) of dominant forces to represent. It is an ideal experimental method to satisfy the simultaneous similitude condition of multiple dimensionless numbers concerned with the objective flow phenomena but has been considered difficult or impossible to realize for many years. Contrarily, the concept of the simultaneous similitude of …

Recent Advances In Bioethanol Production From Water Hyacinth: A Critical Review, Umuamina A. Matola, Mahir Mohammed Said, Olga-Ioanna Kalantzi, Abraham K. Temu

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Water hyacinth (WH) is a highly invasive tropical aquatic weed with high holocellulose and low lignin content, making it a promising lignocellulosic feedstock for second-generation bioethanol production. Producing bioethanol from WH offers a sustainable approach to simultaneously managing invasive biomass and producing renewable energy. This review critically evaluates recent advancements in bioethanol production from WH by examining pretreatment, hydrolysis, and fermentation technologies reported between 2014 and 2024. A PRISMA-guided literature search was conducted using the Scopus and Web of Science databases, and fifty-nine original research articles were selected for analysis. The reviewed studies were comparatively assessed based on pretreatment strategies, …

Exploring Consultancy-Related Variations In Public Building Projects: A Review Towards A Management Framework, Grayson Bambaza, Ismail W. R. Taifa, George S, Mwaluko

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Consultancy-related variations remain one of the leading causes of cost overruns, schedule delays, quality deficiencies, and contractual disputes in public building projects. Although various studies have been undertaken to document the causes of variations in construction works, the same level of interest has not been shown for consulting services variations across the consulting services spectrum and their consequences for effective management. This study explores variations in consulting services for public works by systematically reviewing the existing literature using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta Analyses) guidelines. Relevant articles published from 2020 to 2026 were retrieved from …

Urban Spatial Development Control In Tanzania: Analysis Of Factors Influencing Gis Application Using Structural Equation Modelling (Sem)., Happiness Protas Mmanda, Nestory Yamungu

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Rapid urbanization in developing countries has intensified urban expansion, creating challenges for sustainable development. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) enhance spatial planning, but empirical evidence on factors influencing their effectiveness remains limited. This study examines determinants of GIS application in Urban Spatial Development Control (USDC). The objectives are to (1) identify and categorize factors affecting GIS use, (2) assess relative strength, and (3) develop a validated structural model explaining GIS adoption in USDC. Data were collected from 103 LGAs by a mixed sampling method. Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis classified influencing factors into technology-related (α = 0.869, CR = 0.881), process-related …

Decision Support Tool For The Maintenance Of Meter Gauge Railway Permanent-Way Infrastructures: A Concept Paper, Hamisi J. Maulid, Beatus A.T Kundi, Juma M. Matindana, Ismail W. R. Taifa Dr

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

A Decision Support Tool (DST) represents a transformative way of modernising maintenance practice on the permanent-way infrastructure of Meter Gauge Railway (MGR). Maintenance practice remains largely reactive, as the MGR plays a strategic role in transporting both freight and passengers, resulting in inefficient resource allocation, high operational risk, and growing Lifecycle expenses. This concept paper explores the potential and the design challenges for a DST that combines fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (Fuzzy-AHP) modelling, multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA), Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and predictive machine learning (ML) analytics for evidence-based, future-oriented maintenance management. The paper draws on peer-reviewed studies from …

Between Blockchain And Black Markets: South Africa's Legal Readiness For Crypto-Driven Cyberfraud, Sagwadi Mabunda, Yassin Chande

Communications of the IIMA

This paper examines whether the proliferation of cryptocurrency-facilitated fraud warrants a reclassification of the terrestrial crime of fraud into the distinct statutory offence of cyberfraud under South African law. Engaging with established fraud typologies — exit scams, Initial Coin Offering (ICO) scams, Ponzi schemes, pump-and-dump schemes, and market manipulation — the article tests their definitional fit against both the common law of fraud and section 8 of the Cybercrimes Act 19 of 2020. Through a hypothetical composite scenario combining multiple fraud typologies, the article demonstrates that whilst cryptocurrency significantly amplifies the reach and complexity of fraudulent schemes, it functions primarily …

Hydrothermal Alteration Mapping Of The Northern Coongan Greenstone Belt Using Remote Sensing Imagery, Meaza Bogale, Elias Woldeyohanis

Journal of Sustainable Mining

Archean greenstone belts are well known for their ore deposits, diverse lithostratigraphy, and well-preserved evidence from the early Earth. The Northern Coongan Greenstone Belt is an Archean greenstone belt that is part of the Eastern Pilbara Craton of Western Australia. The rock units of this area have the potential to be sources of valuable mineral deposits, which could be economically beneficial for extraction. Studies have been conducted in the northern Coongan greenstone belt, mostly using geological field methods and geophysical interpretations, excluding remote sensing methods for mapping mineral indices. Therefore, this study aims at providing surface mineral distribution maps and …

Bitseat: Reimagining The Financing For Airliners Using Nonfungible Tokens (Blockchain Technology), Edwin S. Ongola

Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering

This essay describes how blockchain technology, particularly nonfungible tokens, can be used to raise funding for airliners. The essay begins with a brief overview on the costs, categories, and acquisition methods of airliners. After that, the essay introduces concepts on blockchain technology, tokens, and smart contracts. The essay then touches on how nonfungible tokens can be used to facilitate fractional ownership of airliners. From there, the essay discusses Bitseat, a conceptual nonfungible token for fractional ownership of airliners, covering its overall design, appeal, marketplace alternatives, and challenges. Finally, in the discussion, the essay summarizes the overall concept and outlines its …

Saas As The Backbone Of Digital Transformation: How Ai Turned Cloud Software Into Intelligent Enterprise Infrastructure, Amar Fejzić

Communications of the IIMA

Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) has become one of the most consequential infrastructures of digital transformation because it lowers the cost, time, and complexity of adopting enterprise capabilities. At the same time, artificial intelligence (AI), especially generative and conversational AI, is changing SaaS from a delivery model into an intelligent operating layer that automates workflows, personalizes customer interactions, and supports data-driven decisions. This paper develops a conceptual synthesis of academic literature and public organizational cases to examine how SaaS shaped digital transformation and how AI is reshaping SaaS itself. The analysis shows that SaaS enables scalable experimentation, faster deployment, and modular integration, while …

Aerodynamic Effects Optimisation Of Water-Powered Funicular Car Body Exposed To Headwind And Crosswind, Theodorus Agung Wicaksono, Bagus Wahyudi, Syamsul Hadi, Wirawan Wirawan, Hangga Wicaksono

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

Water-powered funicular railways are an environmentally friendly mode of transport whose efficiency heavily depends on the principle of gravity. However, their operation is vulnerable to natural wind disturbances that can hinder speed or cause a risk of overturning on steep, curved tracks. This study aims to analyse the influence of funicular car model design on the rolling moment exerted on the rails as the car turns to enter a track branch. The research methodology involves aerodynamic simulations using SolidWorks flow simulation, comparing three body models: WAHYUDI, FUNAERO, and AEROFUN. Simulations were conducted with variations in turn angles (10° to 30°) …

Parametric Study On The Plastic Hinge Length Of Precast Concrete Columns With Grouted Sleeve Connections, Rizky Tri Amalia, Harun Alrasyid

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

The use of precast concrete structures with grouted sleeve (GS) connections has gained significant traction in the acceleration of bridge construction. The plastic hinge length (Lp) is a critical parameter for assessing the seismic performance and deformation capacity of such structural members. The previous study has proposed empirical equations for Lp in monolithic columns; however, a comprehensive understanding of the influential parameters on Lp in precast concrete columns with GS connections remains limited. This study presents a detailed parametric investigation to evaluate the effects of key design parameters on the plastic hinge length of a precast concrete columns with GS …

Designing Classifact: Towards A Transparent And Secure Platform For Stakeholder-In-The-Loop Data Annotation, Philippine Waisvisz

Communications of the IIMA

AI systems depend on human judgment, yet many annotation workflows are either designed for data-science specialists or managed through external commercial platforms. The first approach may demand more technical skills than relevant stakeholders possess. The second can require organizations to transfer data, expertise, and governance to an outside provider. Both can limit the involvement of people who understand what data means in its real-world context. Human-in-the-loop approaches introduce human judgment. Stakeholder-in-the-loop annotation focuses on selecting and organizing people whose contextual knowledge fits the AI application.

This paper presents Classifact, a transparent and secure platform for stakeholder-in-the-loop data annotation and validation. …

Separation Of Ferric Ions From Waste Aqueous Solution Using Solvent Extraction/Precipitation Process With Deep Eutectic Solvents And Resonant Accoustic Mixing, Frank Agyemang

Honors Theses

The problem of ferric ions (Fe³⁺) in industrial wastewater is a critical issue for several sectors, such as mining, electronic plating, and metal finishing, due to both its environmental and economic impact. Traditional treatment methods using energy-intensive procedures and unsafe organic solvents are not in compliance with sustainability, but can succeed in achieving a valid metal recycling. By utilizing deep eutectic solvents (DES) and resonant vibratory mixing technology, an environmental friendly method is developed to selectively extract/precipitate ferric ions from waste aqueous solutions. Deep eutectic solvents (DES) have been developed to replace common organic solvents, representing environmental friendly alternatives with …

Understanding Mental Wellness In Collegiate Pilots: The Interplay Of Fatigue, Sleep, And Health-Promoting Behaviors, Flavio Antonio Coimbra Mendonca, Samantha Bowyer, Carolina Anderson, Bill Deng Pan

Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering

This study investigates patterns of fatigue severity, sleep hygiene, daytime sleepiness, and health-promoting lifestyle behaviors and examine the interrelationships among these factors in collegiate aviation students. Participants included undergraduate professional pilot students enrolled in a Code of Federal Regulations Part 141 four-year aviation degree program in the southeastern United States (N = 82).

Participants completed four validated self-report instruments: the Fatigue Severity Scale, the Sleep Hygiene Index, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II. Descriptive analyses were conducted to characterize the results of each assessment, and Pearson correlations and multiple regression analyses were performed to examine intervariable …

Techno-Economic Assessment Of Residential Prosumer Systems Using Real Household Consumption Data: A Case Study From Bosnia And Herzegovina, Alen Selmanović, Mehrija Hasičić

Communications of the IIMA

This paper evaluates the technical, economic, and environmental feasibility of residential prosumer implementation in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, through the integration of photovoltaic (PV) generation and battery energy storage. A simulation‑based assessment was performed in HOMER Pro using a measured 12‑month household load profile with an average daily consumption of 11.25 kWh and a peak demand of 2.85 kW. Six system configurations were investigated, consisting of 3 kW, 4 kW, and 5 kW PV installations, each analyzed with and without a 5.04 kWh lithium‑ion battery, over a 25‑year project lifetime under a zero‑credit export scheme. Among the analyzed configurations, the …

Ai-Based Displacement Forecasting For Real-Time Landslide Risk Assessment In The Danube Region, Amina Čehaja, Asja Muharemović, Jasmin Kevrić, Dejan Jokić, Mirza Ponjavić

Communications of the IIMA

This paper presents a dual-layered AI framework for real-time landslide risk assessment developed under the GeoNetSee project within the Interreg Danube Region Programme. The first layer employs a fuzzy logic model, inspired by the Slovenian MASPREM system, which integrates Landslide Susceptibility Maps (LSS) with high-resolution precipitation forecasts from the Open-Meteo API to generate a Predicted Landslide Hazard (PLSH) score on a 0–5 scale, updated every 6–12 hours. The second layer focuses on real-time ground displacement detection by fusing low-cost dual-frequency GNSS receivers with MEMS accelerometers and applying machine learning regression algorithms, including Support Vector Regression (SVR), Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), …

From Disaster To Resilience: Developing Smart Settlements In The Himalayas, Keshav Bhattarai, Ambika P. Adhikari

Himalayan Research Papers Archive

Nepal’s catastrophic 26 August 2026 Bhote Koshi–Trishuli flood should be understood not only as a humanitarian tragedy but also as a potentially major turning point in updating national settlement and reconstruction policy. Engineers and scientists have described the floods as a glacier–bedrock collapse that triggered an ice-rock avalanche and debris flow. As per the live updates on September 7, 2026, the total death toll was 1,355, and 4,996 people were missing (The Hindu, 2026). Indian and Nepali rescuers worked urgently to locate and rescue people buried under hydropower tunnels, buildings, mud, and landslide debris.

UN News reported on September 3, …

An Interval-Valued Spherical Fuzzy Critic–Waspas Framework For Prioritizing Healthcare Delivery Models To Enhance Patient Satisfaction Under Uncertainty, Mariam Hamada, Ahmed Samy, Mohamed M. Abdelhafeez, Shrouk El-Amir

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

Selecting an appropriate healthcare delivery model is important for improving the quality of healthcare services and enhancing patient satisfaction. However, this decision is complex because it involves several criteria, uncertainty, and different expert opinions. To handle this uncertainty, this paper uses Interval-Valued Spherical Fuzzy Sets (IVSFSs), which allow experts to express their evaluations more flexibly. This paper proposes an integrated interval-valued spherical fuzzy CRITIC-WASPAS approach to prioritize healthcare delivery models. The CRITIC method is used to determine the objective weights of the evaluation criteria, while the WASPAS method is used to rank the healthcare delivery models. Expert evaluations are expressed …

Hyperlattice-Valued And Superhyperlattice-Valued Uncertain Sets With Decision Applications, Takaaki Fujita, Ajoy Kanti Das, Sankar Prasad Mondal, Arif Mehmood, Arkan Ghaib

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

Fuzzy set theory enriches classical sets by assigning to each element a graded membership in [0,1], thereby capturing partial inclusion and uncertainty. The notion of an Uncertain Set further abstracts this idea by allowing membership to take values in a general degree-domain, providing a unified language that subsumes fuzzy, intuitionistic fuzzy, neutrosophic, plithogenic, and related models. On the algebraic side, a hyperlattice replaces one lattice operation by a multivalued hyperoperation, enabling the representation of ambiguous or non-deterministic combinations, while a superhyperlattice iterates this structure through powerset lifting to obtain higher-order layers of interaction. Motivated by these developments, we introduce HyperLattice-valued …

A Unified Framework For Neutrosophic Estimation Using Fractional Power, Exponential, And Logarithmic Functions With Bivariate Auxiliary Information, Anchal Yadav, Anuj Yadav

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

This study develops a generalized neutrosophic ratio-type estimator for estimating the population mean by incorporating information from two auxiliary variables under Simple Random Sampling Without Replacement (SRSWOR). The proposed methodology extends the conventional single-auxiliary-variable approach by jointly incorporating bivariate auxiliary information within the neutrosophic framework, thereby accounting for uncertainty, indeterminacy, and inconsistency in the available information. The bias and mean squared error of the proposed estimator are derived using first-order approximations, and the corresponding efficiency conditions are established through theoretical comparisons with existing neutrosophic estimators. The performance of the proposed estimator is further examined using a real medical dataset represented …

20 Years Of Neutrosophic Statistics: A Bibliometric Analysis, Hammad Khalid, Arshad Hameed

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

Florentin Smarandache introduced neutrosophic statistics (NS), a formalism for representing uncertainty and indeterminacy in observations, parameters and statistics in an extension to classical and interval statistics. Although widespread in various contexts, such as statistical quality control, hypothesis testing, medical diagnosis, and decision science, and increasingly used and developed, the scientific evolution and conceptual framework of the science of decision making remain largely unexamined. To fill this gap, the present study has been conducted with a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of NS research articles published between 2003 to 2025 from Scopus which has been conducted following the SPAR-4-SLR protocol. In all, 501 …

The Evolution Of Reliability Methods For Nondestructive Evaluation (Nde): From Probability Of Detection (Pod) Conception To Contemporary Practices, Christine E. Knott, Jennifer Brown, John Aldrin, Christine M. Schubert Kabban

Faculty Publications

Nondestructive evaluation (NDE) methods are powerful tools for detecting and characterizing flaws in structural components, but their reliability must be evaluated before they can be used in critical applications. For more than 50 years, probabilistic and statistical methods have been used effectively to estimate reliability by describing an NDE system’s Probability of Detection (POD) for flaws of realistic sizes. The POD methods used by the USAF and NASA, like Hit/Miss, Signal-Response (â vs. a), and Point Estimate method (PEM, a.k.a. 29/29) have evolved, alongside newer approaches like Limited Sample POD (LS-POD) method, and Model Assisted Probability of Detection …

From Himalayan Catastrophe To National Resilience: Lessons From The 2026 Bhote Koshi And Trishuli River Floods In Nepal, Keshav Bhattarai, Ambika P. Adhikari

Himalayan Research Papers Archive

On the morning of 26 August 2026, the mountains above Nepal’s northern frontier delivered a disaster of almost unimaginable speed and scale. A massive mass of ice, rock, and sediment detached in the high Himalayan terrain near the Nepal–Tibet border, descended roughly 1,200 metres, interacted with the Lhende Khola system, and generated a debris-rich flood that surged through the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river corridors, destroying settlements, markets, roads, bridges, hydropower facilities, and an international border crossing and transforming them into fields of mud, boulders, and wreckage within minutes (ICIMOD, 2026b; Reuters, 2026a). Satellite analysis indicates that a substantial section …

Harmonicthreads: A Formative Evaluation Of A Fabric-Based Digital Musical Instrument Toward Inclusive Music-Making, Ellie Nguyen, Franceli L. Cibrian

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

Background:

Inclusive music-making requires instruments that support varied bodies, abilities, musical backgrounds, and forms of participation. Digital musical instruments provide diverse approaches to sound creation, and fabric-based interfaces offer an alternative interaction modality that may support participation for some users and contexts. Their tactile and deformable properties enable forms of interaction that differ from conventional rigid or screen-based controllers and may offer inclusive possibilities in particular settings.

Objective:

This paper presents HarmonicThreads as a formative interaction-design case of a fabric-based digital musical instrument. The prototype explores how tactile cues, fabric deformation, projected visual feedback, and assisted accompaniment can support low-barrier …

Artificial Intelligence In Food Engineering For Food Safety, Quality Assurance, And Human Health, Ayad Abbood Abdulhasan, A. M. Mustafa, F. F. Sayyid, Marwan B. Hussein, Mohanad Muzahem Khalaf

AUIQ Technical Engineering Science

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly reshaping food engineering by providing data-driven tools for safeguarding food safety, ensuring quality assurance, and improving human health outcomes. This review synthesizes current evidence on the application of machine learning, deep learning, computer vision, and the Internet of Things (IoT) across the food production continuum, from raw material inspection to consumer-facing nutrition guidance. We examine how convolutional neural networks, hyperspectral imaging, and sensor-fusion approaches enable rapid, non-destructive detection of contaminants and pathogens, and how predictive models support shelf-life estimation and quality grading. We further discuss AI-enabled traceability systems, including blockchain-integrated supply chains, and the growing …

Edge Computing-Enabled Secure Federated Learning For Anomaly Detection In Industrial Iot Sensor Streams, Wijdan Noaman Marzoog Al Mukhtar

AUIQ Technical Engineering Science

The rise of the Industrial IoT (IIoT) will result in a surge of IIoT devices with high-velocity data streams requiring rapid, real-time analysis of these data streams to power predictive maintenance and assure cybersecurity. Centralized cloud-based approaches to anomaly detection are hindered by their inherent latency and privacy issues while independent or stand-alone approaches to edge-based anomaly detection do not have enough data to effectively detect anomalies. This paper presents a federated learning framework to collaboratively develop an anomaly detection model from multiple edge nodes, without sharing the raw sensor data, so that data sovereignty is preserved. Two major contributions …

Ecofriendly Synthesis Of Silver Nanoparticles As Antimicrobial Active Agents From Its Cationic Precursors, Abdul Haris Watoni Watoni

Chimica et Natura Acta

This review presents a comprehensive survey on the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles from silver nitrate precursor using plant extracts along with their characterization and antimicrobial activity assessment. The synthesis of silver nanoparticles through a green chemistry approach is increasingly in demand because it is environmentally friendly, easy to do, and efficient, especially for the purpose of antimicrobial active ingredients in disinfectant and antiseptic formulas. Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles can be carried out using silver nitrate as a silver precursor and plant extracts as a source of bioreductants and capping agents. The synthesis products are then characterized using UV-Vis …