Digital Commons Network^™

Scientific Characterization Of Historic Mortars Dating From The 15th-Century Of A Historical Building In Algeria: A Case Study, M. E. Belgacem, N. Rabahi-Touloum, R. Neves, Y. Ouldkhaoua

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

This research investigates the historic mortars (Aggregate/Binder (A/B) ratio) of a historical patrimony building, dating from the 15th century, in Algeria, for restoration purposes. It is well known that thorough characterization is essential for successful restoration. To this end, several techniques, including Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), optical microscope were used to characterize the historic mortars. A mechanical test was used to characterize the compressive strength of a historic mortar. For a comprehensive characterization, A/B ratios were estimated using both Digital Image Analyses (DIA) and chemical analyses. The results obtained provided clear information on …

Encapsulation Of Corrosion Inhibitors: Methods, Preparation, And Emerging Applications, Mahdi M. Hanoon, Baha. S. Mahdi

AUIQ Technical Engineering Science

Corrosion remains a critical global challenge, imposing substantial economic, safety, and environmental burdens across infrastructure, transportation, marine, and energy sectors. Traditional corrosion inhibitors, while effective, suffer from rapid depletion, uncontrolled release, environmental risks, and limited long-term stability. Encapsulation of corrosion inhibitors has emerged as a transformative strategy, enabling controlled and stimuli-responsive release, improved stability, and self-healing capabilities. This mini review provides a comprehensive overview of encapsulation technologies, including polymeric microcapsules, inorganic carriers, hybrid systems, and advanced nanoengineering approaches. Preparation methods, ranging from physical and chemical routes to emerging microfluidic and electrospinning techniques, are critically examined. Furthermore, the article highlights state-of-the-art …

Gaming Chronicles: Nintendo Part 2 (2005-2025), Ashley S. Mcguire

Patent Coloring Books

Patent coloring book

Resonant Body Communication For Neurodivergent Contexts: A Multimodal, Temporally Elastic Blueprint For Inclusive Biometric Systems, Piper Hutson, James Hutson

Faculty Scholarship

Prevailing emotion-sensing systems privilege a facial-and-gaze paradigm that encodes neurotypical tempo, channel priority, and expression classes, thereby mischaracterizing or erasing neurodivergent communication. This article advances a design-oriented framework for biometric sensing that centers resonant body communication: temporally extended, multimodal, and environmentally situated patterns of posture, gesture, rhythm, and interoception that carry affective meaning. Through an integrative methodology that synthesizes cognitive neuroscience, embodied arts practices, and human–computer interaction, the study formalizes a theoretical model with four pillars: temporal elasticity, multimodal sensory hierarchies, resonant gestures and rhythmic entrainment, and environmental attunement. Building on this model, the article specifies technical requirements for next-generation …

A Convolutional Neural Network Approach To Breast Cancer Tumor Boundary Detection, James Leah Matlosz

Master's Theses

Breast cancer is the second most common form of cancer and often goes undetected in its initial stages due to its subtle symptoms. As the tumors grow, they become more difficult to surgically remove with clean borders. To minimize the chance of recurrence, a 2D convolutional neural network is developed in this work for delineating tumor boundaries. Specifically, the U-shaped network model is trained, validated, and tested with longitudinal MRI scans of patients diagnosed with breast cancer and undergoing neoadjuvant therapy. For training, image masks were generated as ground truths using signal enhancement ratio segmentation, thresholding, and contour detection. The …

Energy-Harvesting Concurrent Lora Mesh With Timing Offsets For Underground Mine Emergency Communications, Hilary Kelechi Anabi, Samuel Frimpong, Sanjay Madria

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Underground mine emergencies destroy communication infrastructure when situational awareness is most critical. Current systems rely on centralized network infrastructure, which fails during emergencies when miners are trapped and require rescue coordination. This paper proposes an energy-harvesting LoRa mesh network that addresses self-powered operation, interference management, and adaptive physical layer optimization under severe underground propagation conditions. A dual-antenna architecture separates RF energy harvesting (860 MHz) from LoRa communication (915 MHz), enabling continuous operation with supercapacitor storage. The core contribution is a decentralized scheduler that derives optimal timing offsets by modeling concurrent transmissions as a Poisson collision process, exploiting LoRa's capture effect …

Collaborative Opportunity: Growing A Community Around Integrated Engineering, Rebecca Bates, Emanuela Tilley, Jenna Carpenter, Susan Lord

Integrated Engineering Department Publications

Integrated Engineering is emerging across the world. One commonality among programs is a desire to innovate in ways not seen as possible within traditional engineering disciplines. The inclusive pedagogical approaches seen in integrated engineering programs offer promise for truly transforming engineering education. These student-centered approaches align with caring pedagogies and provide sustainable infrastructure for supporting diverse student experiences. Innovation in engineering education can be challenging to implement and can be challenging to sustain. Community support can make a positive difference. Building on a series of community conversations at multiple international conferences as well as an international symposium in London during …

Multiscale 3d Whole Joint Cellular And Molecular Mapping Reveals Disease-Specific Neurovascular Plasticity Underlying The Structure-Pain Relationship, Peng Chen, Jiaxin Chai, Abirami Soundararajan, R. Glenn Hepfer, Benjamin Kheyfets, Jiaxin Hu, Ishraq Alshanqiti, Swarnalakshmi Raman, Ikue Tosa, Jun Tae Huh, Matthew Yee, Brooke J. Damon, Shangping Wang, Yu Shin Kim, Man-Kyo Chung, Mildred C. Embree, Janice S. Lee, Tong Ye, Hai Yao

Publications

Understanding musculoskeletal joints from a 3D multiscale perspective, from molecular to anatomical levels, is essential for resolving the confounding relationships between structure and pain, elucidating mechanisms regulating joint health and diseases, and developing new treatment strategies. Here, a musculoskeletal joint immunostaining and clearing (MUSIC) method specifically developed to overcome key challenges of immunostaining and optical clearing of intact joints are introduced. Coupled with large-field light sheet microscopy, this approach achieves 3D high-resolution, microscale neurovascular mapping within the context of whole-joint anatomy without the need for image coregistration across various joints, including temporomandibular joints, knees, and spines, and multiple species, including …

Harnessing Electrochemical Hydrogen Evolution In Α-Fe2o3/2h–Mos2 Heterojunction: A Theoretical And Experimental Study On Electronic Modulation And Basal Plane Activation, Mohamed Sayed, Ossama Metwalli, Sameh O. Abdellatif, Kai Yin, Mohamed Saber, Ahmed Khalil, Hossam Abdelwahan

Electrical Engineering

Hydrogen production through water electrolysis is a promising method for storing renewable energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, the efficiency and stability of hydrogen production electrodes remain challenging issues. In this study, we present a rationally designed α-Fe2O3/2H–MoS2 heterojunction that unlocks the electrocatalytic potential of the inert basal plane of the semiconducting 2H–MoS2 phase. The heterostructure, synthesized via a facile hydrothermal method, features α-Fe2O3 nanocubes anchored onto flowerlike 2H–MoS2 nanosheets. The electrochemical performance of the α-Fe2O3/2H–MoS2 heterojunction electrode was evaluated by linear sweep voltammetry, Tafel polarization, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The results showed that the α-Fe2O3/2H–MoS2 electrode exhibited lower …

Photochemical And Electrochemical Assessment Of Uio-66-Nh₂/G-C₃N₄ Thin-Film Heterostructures As Potential Candidates For Hydrogen Evolution: An Experimental Study Augmented By Dft Insights, Nour Abouseada, Maryam Galal, Sameh O. Abdellatif, Khaled Kirah

Electrical Engineering

The global shift towards carbon-neutral energy systems has catalyzed an intensified focus on sustainable hydrogen production, with photo and electrochemical water splitting emerging as a particularly promising pathway. This study elucidates the design, simulation, and synthesis of advanced photo and electrocatalytic materials tailored for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), concentrating on heterostructures formed by zirconium-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs)— specifically, UiO-66 and its amine-functionalized derivative, UiO-66-NH₂—in conjunction with graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄). Employing density functional theory (DFT) simulations, we pre-screened the electronic properties of the MOFs, revealing that amine functionalization significantly narrows the bandgap and optimizes band alignment, thereby enhancing photocatalytic …

Truck Drivers And Autonomous Trucks: A Topic Modeling Analysis Of Truck Driver Posts, Noah Britt, Amy M. Schuster, Shubham Agrawal, Chu-Hsiang Chang, Jenna A. Van Fossen, Elizabeth A. Mack, Sheila R. Cotten

Publications

Social media provides a rich, alternative data source to interviews or survey-based research to study hard-to-reach populations (e.g., truck drivers, because of their transient work structure and unique subculture). This study uses public social media posts from the largest trucking forum in the United States to examine truck drivers’ views on autonomous trucks (ATs), which are poised to transform the trucking industry. We expand on traditional qualitative strategies of analyzing social media data by combining newer methods, including BERT-based topic modeling, sentiment analysis, stance detection, emotion analysis, topic similarity, and location analysis through a social interaction network, to analyze a …

Analysis And Simulation Of The Effect Of Voids In Dually Reinforced Particle And Short Fiber Composites, Matthew Mckinley Luci

Graduate Theses - Mechanical Engineering

This thesis investigates dual-reinforced polymer composites tailored for flywheel energy storage, combining short, chopped carbon fibers for load bearing with iron particulates for multifunctionality. A unified experimental–computational workflow was developed: tensile coupons were fabricated and tested, machine compliance was quantified using neat resin and removed from all curves, and elastic moduli were extracted with robust MATLAB routines. Parallel finite-element models in ANSYS 2023R reproduced the dog-bone geometry with standardized meshing, named selections, and displacement-controlled loading. Four material states—neat resin, resin and iron, resin and short carbon fiber, and the iron and fiber hybrid— were evaluated. Results show carbon fibers dominate …

A Comprehensive Overview Of Chronic Wound Infections And Current Treatment Methods, Sarah Fakher, David J. Westenberg

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

Chronic wound infections pose significant healthcare challenges due to persistent biofilms, antibiotic resistance, and impaired healing pathways. These wounds are characterized by prolonged inflammation, microbial colonization, and disrupted tissue regeneration, leading to substantial morbidity and healthcare costs. This article reviews current knowledge on chronic wound types, their pathophysiology, and the mechanisms underlying biofilm formation to examine the latest advancements in antimicrobial-based strategies aimed at addressing these challenges. It highlights how diverse materials and technologies have been engineered to improve infection management, enhance tissue regeneration, and overcome the limitations of traditional treatments as well as advances that leverage innovations such as …

Electromigration In Eutectic Gold-Tin (80au20sn-Wt%) Solder Joints, Whit Vinson, David Huitink

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Eutectic gold-tin solder joints (80Au20Snwt%) with a diameter of 300 mu m diameter were subjected to electromigration (EM) conditions of 10,000-20,000 A/cm2 in the ambient temperature range of 125-215 degrees C. The present work examines a set of 36 experimental test runs using two different test coupons (18 runs with each coupon type and a total of 90 joints tested). Seven of the 36 coupons survived the maximum test duration period of 500 h. One coupon type created a linear electric current pathway through two lengths of 254-mu m-diameter copper wire connected by a single gold-tin joint. The other coupon …

Intelligent Real-Time Flotation Froth Stability Monitoring Using Embedded Computer Vision: Lead (Pb) Processing Case Study, Ahmed Bendaouia, Taha Ismaili, Ismail Najib, Oussama Hasidi, Intissar Benzakour, Jianzhi Li, El Hassan Abdelwahed

Manufacturing & Industrial Engineering Faculty Publications

Froth stability in flotation refers to the ability of the froth layer to remain intact and avoid collapsing during the flotation process. A stable froth layer is crucial to maximizing mineral recovery and ensuring the efficient operation of flotation cells. Several factors influence the stability of the froth, including the depth of the froth, the crowding, the size of the bubbles, and the rate of movement of the froth. In this study, our main objective is to analyze and evaluate froth stability in real time, since it plays a critical role in process optimization for flotation-based mineral processing. We propose …

Few-Layered Conductive Graphene Foams For Electrical Transdifferentiation Of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Into Schwann Cell-Like Phenotypes, Ekin G. Simsar, Peifu Cheng, Tugce Dogruel, Maxsam Donta, Juhyung Jung, Naomi A. Asante, Donald S. Sakaguchi, Surya K. Mallapragada, Piran R. Kidambi, Metin Uz

Chemical & Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

This study investigates the potential of few-layered conductive graphene foams as 3D platforms for the electrical transdifferentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into Schwann cell (SC)-like phenotypes for peripheral nerve injury (PNI) treatment. The 3D graphene foams (3D-GF) are cytocompatible with MSCs and created a favorable microenvironment for the cells to attach, grow, proliferate, and transdifferentiate. We demonstrated that MSCs cultured within 3D-GF can be transdifferentiated into SC-like phenotypes using the synergistic effects of electrical stimulation and 3D porous and conductive structure. Our immunocytochemistry and gene expression analyses showed the expression of Schwann cell markers and enhanced secretion of growth …

A Fragility Framework For Surface Erosion With Application To Earthen Dam Breaching, Ege C. Kurter, Ayman Mokhtar Nemnem, M. Hanif Chaudhry, Jasim Imran

Faculty Publications

Overtopping failures of earthen dams are a growing concern under intensifying extreme rainfall. This study introduces a probabilistic fragility framework that combines hydrologic modeling, hydraulic analysis, and soil erodibility to assess erosion risk under uncertain load and resistance. Fragility curves derived from Monte Carlo simulations quantify erosion initiation and severity as functions of rainfall depth and excess shear stress. Application to multiple dams affected during the 2015 South Carolina floods reproduces observed outcomes ranging from complete breach to no damage. The framework also captures cascading effects, where failure of an upstream structure increases downstream loading and erosion potential. Compared with …

Analysis Of Modern Research In The Field Of Automation And Digitalization Of The Dairy Industry, N.A Kabulov, U.K. Sabirov, A.K. Oqilov

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

This article presents a systematic analysis of modern research aimed at the advancement of automation and digitalization technologies in the dairy industry, with particular emphasis on the processes of product sorting and quality control. The main directions of digital solution implementation are examined, including the use of robotic sorting lines, computer vision systems, spectral analysis sensors, and artificial intelligence tools for the automatic verification of product compliance with established standards. A comparative analysis of existing approaches to the implementation of intelligent control systems within the technological cycle — from raw material intake to packaging and finished product logistics — is …

Physicochemical Analysis Of Carbon-Containing Materials Obtained From Vulcanized Rubber Waste And Their Application As Filler Pigments, N.S. Baxranova, Sh.T. Jurayev, D.R. Muminova, Jurayev Shohruh Tulqinovich

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

The article presents the results of chemical and scanning electron microscopic analyses of the solid fraction of carbon-containing materials obtained through thermo-oxidative pyrolysis of vulcanized rubber waste. Elemental analysis of the solid product formed during high-temperature pyrolysis of rubber-technical products at 650–700 °C is provided. In addition, the potential use of the carbonaceous material as a pigment is examined. Raman spectroscopic analysis of worn automobile tires showed that their composition consists of approximately 80 wt.% C, 7 wt.% H, 0.4 wt.% N, 1.5 wt.% S, 3 wt.% O, and 8 wt.% inorganic substances.

Modern Significance And Development Trends In The Production Of Vegetable Oils, Umidjon Ruziev, F.O. Qosimov, M.K. Shodiev

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

This article provides a comprehensive analytical review of the current state of the global vegetable oil production market. It describes the diversity of raw materials supplied, which includes both traditional and emerging fat sources. The paper also describes the technological stages of production, emphasizing modern innovations that contribute to more efficient, high-quality, and safe production. The article also covers global trends by comparing production dynamics between countries, highlighting regions with the highest rates of production growth and explaining the reasons for their competitive advantages. Particular attention is paid to environmental and socio-economic aspects, including sustainable land use, certification, carbon footprint, …

Algorithms For The Synthesis Of A Temperature Control System For The Inner Tube Heat Exchanger With A Steam Jacket, H.Z. Igamberdiyev, Jasur Sevinov, U.F. Mamirov, Sh.M. Abdishukurov

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

The synthesis of a feedback propagation control law for an inner tube heat exchanger with a steam jacket is addressed in this text. A controller has been developed that, based on temperature measurements taken at four points. The maintains the output temperature at a specified level by acting on the steam jacket temperature. To determine the parameters of the plant, a linear quadratic optimal (LQ-optimal) algorithm is employed. In the considered case, the optimal controller includes a proportional–integral (PI) component, as well as an additional term that requires storing the control input over the current interval for its computation. The …

Different Brain Network Connectomic Relationships Subserve Hand Dexterity During Task Versus Resting States In People With Brain Tumors, Timothy F. Boerger, Leon Taquet, Kaitlin Goetschel, Sarah Young, Jennifer Connelly, Jeffrey R. Binder, Brian Schmit, Max O. Krucoff

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to explore different brain network connectomic relationships subserving hand dexterity in patients with contrast-enhancing brain tumors during task and resting states.

Method

We measured hand dexterity, resting state functional connectivity, and task-based functional connectivity in 21 participants with newly diagnosed brain tumors. Hand dexterity was measured using the 9-hole peg test (9HPT), and patient-reported outcomes were assessed with the Duroz Hand Index (DHI).

Findings

We discovered the following: (1) The inability to complete dexterous tasks is most associated with low somatomotor-basal ganglia network connectivity during rest but high somatomotor-basal ganglia network connectivity during …

Enhancing Seafarer Competence In Nigeria : Challenges And Opportunities, Alexander Chike Melifonwu

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Examining The Perception Of Maritime Instructors In Upskilling And Reskilling Seafarers Towards Decarbonization, Michelle Margallo

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Environmental Regulations And The Exploitation Of Deep Seabed Minerals : A New Era For The“Mining Code” Of The International Seabed Authority (Isa)?, Mikyla D'Antoinette Frederick-Winter

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Ratification And Implementation Of The International Maritime Organisation (Imo) Instruments : A Social And Policy Persepctive On Maritime Governance In Fiji, Miriama Latianara

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Human Element And Emerging Technologies : Imo Efforts To Address The Impact Of Digitalization In The Context Of Automation On Board, Eduardo Matías Hidalgo Bassi

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Roles And Responsibilities Of Master And Remote Operator In Maritime Autonomous Surface Ship (Mass) Under The Colregs, Yuma Sakamoto

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Towards Zero Emissions Ports In Saudi Arabia : Drivers, Barriers, And Opportunities, Saad Hulil S Alshahrani

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Oil Spill Pollution In The Caspian Sea In Case Of Azerbaijan : Evaluating Spill Patterns And Governance Gaps In Azerbaijan’S Marine Oil Pollution Response, Ulviyya Hasanova

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.