Digital Commons Network^™

A Critical Review On Parameters Affecting The Feasibility Of Underground Hydrogen Storage, Chiradip Bagchi, Samarth D. Patwardhan, Stefan Iglauer, Hisham Ben Mahmud, Muhammad Fazil Jaffar Ali

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The need and demand for energy are ever increasing with the rapid urbanization of the global population. Near-future economic development and consequent expected industrialization are the strongest indicators of the rising energy requirement. Though fossil fuel and coal are catering toward a major chunk of energy demand, their negative or adverse impact in terms of emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and carbon dioxide (CO2) is causing global warming and imbalance in environmental conditions, leading to a search for commercially viable alternate energy types. As renewable energies like solar and wind are weather-dependent, the search for an alternate energy supply needs …

Smart And Sustainable Regeneration Of Fouled Desalination Membranes Using Artificial Intelligence, Muhammad Mubashir, Mustakeem Mustakeem, Ammar Alnumani, Abdulrahman Abutaleb, Ali Hamoud Naji Sumayli, Tausif Ahmad, Muhammad Rizwan Azhar

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

During the desalination process, scaling, fouling, and degradation are associated issues that lead to a drop in the separation performance of membranes. Membrane regeneration emerges as a critical technology in which upcycling and downcycling can offer a promising avenue for promoting sustainable membrane lifecycle management. Multiple research papers and reviews have critically analyzed the regeneration of membranes, which explains the end-of-cycle assessment and cost analysis of membrane recycling. However, challenges associated with the conventional and innovative regeneration processes are not yet analyzed. The potential impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on membrane regeneration is not explained in the literature. This review …

Modulation Techniques For Underwater Acoustic Communication: A Comprehensive Survey, Muhammad Haziq, Quoc Viet Phung, Stefan Lachowicz, Daryoush Habibi, Iftekhar Ahmad

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The underwater acoustic channel poses a significant challenge among communication mediums due to its time-varying dynamics, long multipath propagation, and severe Doppler shifts. Ensuring reliable data transmission under these conditions demands advanced modulation techniques, sophisticated signal processing algorithms, and high energy consumption. Moreover, underwater communication nodes typically have limited battery reserves, making them difficult and costly to replace or recharge. Additionally, as underwater communication networks expand, the risk of security threats that could compromise the system has increased, necessitating robust security measures that add further computational overhead. This comprehensive survey reviews the state-of-the-art modulation techniques for underwater acoustic communication, concentrating …

Improved Strength And Corrosion Resistance Of Ti–50zr Alloy Through Heat Treatment, Yuhua Li, Qian Zhang, Rong Zhao, Haojie Wang, Yujing Liu, Zibo Zhao, Chengliang Yang, Lai Chang Zhang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This work systematically analyzes the effects of heat treatment on the mechanical properties and corrosion behavior of Ti-50Zr alloy produced via vacuum arc melting. Microstructural characterization demonstrates that the microstructure of Ti–50Zr transforms from coarse lamellar α phase in as-cast condition to fine and uniformly distributes acicular α′ phase in heat-treatment state. The tensile strength, yield strength, and microhardness are significantly improved. This strengthening effect can be attributed to grain refinement and increase in dislocation density induced by heat treatment. Furthermore, the heat-treated Ti–50Zr exhibits lower corrosion current density and higher passive film resistance, suggesting a notable improvement in corrosion …

Zirconium-Based Amphoteric Metal–Organic Framework Membrane For Blue Energy Harvesting, Rockson Kwesi Tonnah, Milton Chai, Mohammad Khedri, Milad Razbin, Yasaman Boroumand, Reza Maleki, Huan Xiao, Amir Razmjou, Mohsen Asadnia

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Salination of solutions of salinity gradient releases large-scale clean and renewable energy, which can be directly and efficiently transformed into electrical energy using ion-selective nanofluidic channel membranes. However, conventional ion-selective membranes are typically either cation- or anion-selective. A pH-switchable system capable of dual cation and anion transport along with salt gradient energy harvesting properties has not been demonstrated in ion-selective membranes. Here, we constructed an amphoteric heterolayer metal–organic framework (MOF) membrane with subnanochannels modified with carboxylic and amino functional groups. The amphoteric MOF-composite membrane, AAO/aUiO-66-(COOH)2/UiO-66-NH2, exhibits pH-tuneable ion conduction and achieves osmotic energy conversion of 7.4 and 5.7 W/m^{2 …}

Hydrogen-Induced Transformations In Dolomite: Unlocking Natural Hydrogen Exploration And Subsurface Storage In Carbonates, Krista Davies, Lionel Esteban, Joel Sarout, Alireza Keshavarz, Stefan Iglauer

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Large-scale subsurface geological storage of hydrogen can significantly contribute to the energy transition to low-carbon fuels by addressing the intermittency of renewable energy systems. Dolomite formations are abundant and well-suited for hydrogen storage due to their favorable reservoir properties. Natural hydrogen has also been discovered within dolomite reservoirs globally. Despite their potential, interactions between hydrogen and dolomitic formations under subsurface conditions remain poorly understood, particularly regarding mineralogical transformations and reaction kinetics to assess potential risk for reservoir quality for long-term storage and key indicators for natural hydrogen exploration. This study examined physicochemical changes in dolomitic samples during high-pressure hydrogen ageing …

Advances, Limitations, And Future Perspectives In 3d Printing Of Porous Glasses: A Technical Note, Hamed Bakhtiari, Mostafa Omidi Bidgoli, Mohammad Hosseini

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

In this study, the latest developments in 3D printing of porous glasses are discussed. Current challenges in 3D printing of porous-based microfluidic devices mostly include the printing resolution which is correlated with the processing time, post treating, and developing tailored materials for porous glasses. Although the latter issue has been resolved to some extent recently, the former has remained a challenge. Currently, the smallest 3D printed feature in a microfluidic structure is 200µm while higher resolutions are required in some applications. On the other hand, previous reports have shown intensive printing time for higher resolutions. To achieve an optimal compromise, …

Methylene Blue Adsorption On Y-Zeolite As A Nano-Porous Adsorbent: Equilibrium And Kinetic Studies, Mehdi Narimani, Maryam Gonbadi, Mohammad Mahdi Zerafat

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The elimination of dye pollutants from industrial wastewaters, notably from sectors such as textiles and dyeing, remains a pivotal aspect of pollution mitigation endeavours. This research introduces an innovative strategy employing Y zeolite as a nano-porous adsorbent for eliminating methylene blue (MB), a prevalent cationic dye. Y zeolite was synthesised via hydrothermal technique. Through methodical experimentation, the impact of temperature, contact time, concentration, pH and adsorbent quantity on removal efficiency were examined with optimal conditions achieving 93.83% MB removal. The synthesised Y zeolite underwent characterisation utilising diverse techniques, including SEM, TEM, XRD, BET, and FTIR, which elucidated the structural and …

Molecular Simulation Studies Of Protein Interactions Associated With Aging, Charlotte Jenna Thomas

Honors Theses and Capstones

No abstract provided.

Biological Computing From Microscopic To Macroscopic Evolution, Xiaofeng Ding

Masters Theses

A unified theory from microscopic to macroscopic DNA-based biological systems is explained in terms of the rule components used when the system size is increased. Even though the eight female rules in each ruleset are provided with an equal probability of the computation-state outcomes, the initial ensemble of the computation states will exponentially settle into one dominant rule that supports the nutrition needed for growth. The remaining seven rules form into two minority groups to provide the biological characteristics of the system's growth from a micro to macroscopic evolution. The object of this study is to prove that such a …

The Strengthening Mechanisms And Incipient Plasticity Of Additively Manufactured Biomedical Refractory High Entropy Alloys, Changxi Liu, Liqiang Wang, Miao Luo, Kuaishe Wang, Marco De Battista, Ling Zhang, Weijie Lu, Lai Chang Zhang, Di Zhang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Owing to the cellular structure that limits dislocation motion upon stress loading, additively manufactured (AM) refractory high-entropy alloys (HEAs) exhibit an excellent strength-plasticity synergy. This work integrates micro/nano-mechanical experiments with statistical physics modeling to examine dislocation nucleation and slip in AM-fabricated TiNbTaZrMo HEA. Computational results indicated that the activation volume for initial dislocation nucleation is about one atomic volume, facilitating dislocation initiation. Nanoindentation and in-situ micro-pillar compression reveal no significant pop-in events, indicating that the cellular structure impedes dislocation slip and thus prevents plasticity reduction from dislocation slipping near grain boundaries. This work provides a thorough investigation into the interplay …

3d Engineered Scaffolds Of Conjugated Polymers/Metal Organic Frameworks For Biomedical Applications, Amin Hosseini Sharifabad, Roham Ghanbari, Mohammad Reza Saeb, Ehsan Nazarzadeh Zare, Filippo Rossi, Mehdi Salami-Kalajahi, Pooyan Makvandi

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The extracellular matrix can be replicated by 3D scaffolds, providing a favorable environment for cell growth, proliferation, and differentiation. Despite their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and bioactivity, the poor mechanical strength of 3D scaffolds limits their use for heavy loads. This creates a bottleneck in the supply of scaffolds with enhanced mechanical strength and all the previously mentioned characteristics. Conjugated polymers have emerged as a promising option for 3D scaffold construction due to their electrical conductivity, adjustable surface qualities, and ability to transfer bioactive molecules. Moreover, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a rapidly emerging class of nanomaterials due to their uniform porosity, excellent …

Design Of An Improved Robust Fractional-Order Pid Controller For Buck–Boost Converter Using Snake Optimization Algorithm, Seyyed Morteza Ghamari, Hasan Molaee, Mehrdad Ghahramani, Daryoush Habibi, Asma Aziz

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

With the increasing complexity of modern power systems, effective control of DC–DC converters has become crucial to ensure stability and efficiency. This paper focuses on optimizing the parameters of a known fractional-order proportional–integral–derivative (FOPID) controller for the control of a DC–DC buck–boost converter. The control of a DC–DC buck–boost converter is achieved using aFOPID approach. The gains of this technique have been enhanced utilizing the snake optimization (SO) algorithm. This converter exhibits unfavourable behaviour due to its non-minimum structure, necessitating a well-regulated controller to guarantee stability. The fractional concept is suggested here to enhance the dynamics of the classical PID …

Rare Earth Element Recovery From Acid Mine Drainage Using Ion Exchange And Selective Precipitation Processes, Paubla Andrea Gallego Lopez

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Rare earth elements (REEs) are used in high-tech applications due to their electromagnetic and optical properties. As global demand for REEs surges, the limitation of primary mineral deposits has increased interest in alternative sources. One such source is acid mine drainage (AMD), which, although typically low in REE concentration, offers a promising avenue for recovery. Among the emerging recovery methods, ion exchange has shown promise due to its effectiveness at low concentrations and lower operational cost than conventional techniques such as acid leaching and solvent extraction.

This research focused on developing a recovery process by combining ion exchange with selective …

Parameter Estimation Of A 100 Seater Simulated Passenger Aircraft, Michael James Winston

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Virtual flight test aircraft provide good opportunities to test new parameter estimation methods. However, good estimates for the parameters in VIRTTAC Castor, a virtual test aircraft, are unavailable. This thesis uses two well-established time domain methods, the Output Error Method and the Filter Error Method, to estimate the parameters of VIRTTAC Castor. Three standard maneuvers were used: Elevator 3-2-1-1, Rudder Doublet, and Aileron Multi-Step. The parameters were estimated across three different flight conditions: weight, altitude and air speed, which resulted in 27 tests for each maneuver. All parameters, and standard deviations estimated are included in the appendix as a table.

Expanding The Vibrating Sharp-Edge Spray Ionization Toolkit For Oligonucleotide Characterization, Sultan Mahmud

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A gentle or soft Ionization process is a critical component in native mass spectrometry (MS) to lift the biomolecules from the bulk solution into the gas phase environment of the mass spectrometer preserving their shape, topology and non-covalent interactions. Electrospray ionization (ESI) facilitates structural preservation of proteins, nucleic acids and their complexes and as a result it has been extensively used in native MS. However, in negative ion mode, ESI is somewhat limited in sensitivity due to corona discharge effect resulting from the requirement of a high amount of voltage. This often disrupts the ESI process and may not preserve …

Lunar Payload Logistics: Advancing Autonomous Control For Lunar Surface Transporter Vehicles, Liam Murray

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Development Of Bio-Based Coating Materials For Environmentally Friendly Controlled-Release Nitrogen Fertilizer Applications, Anne Carolyne Mendonca Cidreira

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Computation-Efficient Deep Learning Models For Computer Vision And Multimodal Vision-Language Tasks Via Network Pruning, Abir Mohammad Hadi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With the rapid evolution of deep neural networks over the past decade, the demand for efficient, generalizable, and task-adaptable models, especially in computer vision, has increased significantly. To address the computational and deployment challenges posed by overparameterized models, the research community has extensively explored model compression techniques such as pruning, quantization, and distillation. These approaches aim to enhance model efficiency without compromising performance, particularly when adapting to domain-specific tasks under limited resources. This dissertation investigates several underexplored yet critical aspects of task-aware deep learning model compression, spanning both convolutional and vision-language architectures. In the early part of this work, we …

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 …

Using Data Science And Sustainability Assessment Tools To Evaluate Wastewater Treatment Technologies, Haidar Shakuir Aldaach

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Wastewater management in small communities has faced numerous challenges in recent years, including population growth, limited budgets for operation and maintenance, and stringent effluent standards required by environmental regulations. These challenges motivate enhancing wastewater treatment processes to protect water quality. Wastewater treatment performance can be improved in small towns and rural regions by implementing data-driven strategies. Data science, life cycle assessment (LCA), and life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) are three data-driven decision-making tools that require data collection, modeling, computational models, and statistical analysis that could be utilized to improve wastewater treatment efficiencies. In this study, these three tools were adopted …

Revitalizing The Urban Riverfront: Redesigning The West End Bridge In Pittsburgh,Pa For Sustainable Multi-Use Connectivity And Public Space Creation., Mina Kargari Rezapour

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Urban waterfronts are critical assets for cities, offering opportunities for ecological restoration, public engagement, and multi-modal transportation. However, many riverfronts remain underutilized due to infrastructure barriers and lack of accessibility.

Pittsburgh’s riverfront is dynamic asset that supports recreation, cultural expression, and community interaction. The Three River Heritage Trail Loop, a visionary project led by River Life over the past 20 years, seeks to connect diverse neighborhoods and natural assets along the city’s rivers. At the heart of this initiative is the West End Bridge, serving as the bookend and a pivotal gateway to complete the loop and critical link for …

Watershed-Level Survey Of Antimicrobial Resistance From Onsite Wastewater Systems, Trey Franklin Clark

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has quickly become one of the largest global health and development threats. Research related to environmental modes of transmission of AMR has accelerated in recent years, and the US Environmental Protection Agency is particularly interested in this emerging contaminant. Knowledge of how onsite (decentralized) wastewater treatment systems contribute to this issue is lacking, so this research serves to analyze and quantify the environmental dissemination of AMR and fecal contamination from these sources at a watershed level while using statistical analysis to assess relationships between physiochemical, spatial, and sampling parameters. This research surveyed four watersheds …

Dynamically Scaling Biomimetic Robots Through Parallel Viscoelastic Actuators, Foster Olaf Holmquist

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Robots provide a unique proving ground for testing scientists’ understanding of neuromuscular systems. Synergistically, mimicking biological control laws and mechanics could offer robotics the robust and adaptive locomotion of animals. Previous work has utilized the wealth of research on insect biomechanics to develop scaled robotic models but doing so presented a problem: while these robots’ larger scale has simplified manufacturing, the scale has also shifted its mechanics from those of the modeled organisms. While animals walk, forces are generated that describe their mechanics and influence motor control. The musculoskeletal structure and stretch of muscles result in viscous and elastic forces, …

Comparative Analysis Of Electrode Encapsulation Reliability: Planar Vs. Thermoformed Interdigitated Neural Electrodes In Biomedical Engineering, Tatum Peyerl

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Durable dielectric encapsulation is crucial for the long-term function of implantable neural electrodes; however, the reliability of curved, thermoformed coatings remains underexplored. This study addresses that gap by comparing planar (non-thermoformed) and thermoformed interdigitated neural electrodes (IDEs) encapsulated in Polyimide-2611. Both device types underwent accelerated in vitro aging in phosphate‑buffered saline (PBS) at 67 °C for approximately 91 days, simulating two years of physiological exposure. Post-accelerated aging evaluation included electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) from 0.1 Hz to 100 kHz to monitor moisture‑induced leakage, and high‑voltage breakdown testing under saline immersion to assess dielectric strength. After aging, all electrodes maintained impedance …

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 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 …