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Depaul Digest

DePaul Magazine

College of Communication faculty Matthew Ragas and Ron Culp mentor students on gaining access to executive-level administration. News briefs on exciting developments at DePaul University’s 10 colleges and schools, from nursing students studying public health protocols in Prague to a new DePaul-hosted conference exploring AI in filmmaking. DePaul alumni volunteers share their experiences spreading the Vincentian mission nationwide.

Early Detection Of Oak Wilt Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (Uav) & Computer Vision, Muttaki I. Bismoy

Masters Theses

Forests are critical ecosystems, delivering services such as biodiversity conservation, climate regulation, timber production, and recreation. However, they face increasing threats from pathogens like Bretziella fagacearum, which causes Oak Wilt, a lethal disease that disrupts water transport in oak trees, leading to canopy dieback and eventual death. Traditional detection methods rely on manual ground surveys, which are labor-intensive, time-consuming, and prone to error, particularly in early disease stages.

This research presents an automated, scalable, high-precision Oak Wilt detection system using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) combined with deep learning-based computer vision. Expanding on earlier work with a lightweight CNN achieving an …

Re-Engaging Driver Attention Using Chatgpt: A Multimodal Study On Stress Impact And Driving Performance, Alaa Zaki Elfiqi

Theses and Dissertations

Driving is considered a complex task that requires continuous focus and attention from the driver. Driving performance can also be impacted by changes in the driver’s stress level. However, limited research explores methods to address this challenge. With the current advances in Large Language Models (LLMs) and their ability to engage in human-like interaction, this study investigates the potential of using ChatGPT, designed to speak Egyptian Arabic, in re-engaging driver attention under different driving scenarios for low-stress and high-stress conditions within a virtual reality (VR) environment driving simulator. Drivers were asked to follow a leading car into two scenarios with …

Planning And Policy For Safer Roads With Autonomous Vehicles: Moral Decision Making Behavior In Dilemma-Inducing Situations, Fatemeh Nazari, Mohamadhossein Noruzoliaee

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

This study develops a Dynamic Bayesian Network (DBN) framework to examine how public confidence in autonomous vehicle (AV) safety and willingness-to-ride respond to policy interventions in crash-imminent pedestrian–passenger prioritization scenarios. Using stated preferences survey data from San Francisco (SF) and San Antonio (SA), the model integrates baseline attitudes, socio-demographic factors, and policy conditions to simulate both intra-slice and inter-slice dependencies. Results from empirical-mix simulations indicate that SF respondents, despite having higher baseline confidence and willingness-to-ride, exhibit greater sensitivity to policies prioritizing pedestrians, with significant declines across all scenarios. By contrast, SA respondents show comparatively stable and modestly positive shifts, particularly …

Investigation Of A Divergent Triangle Construct For Internal Fixation Of Vertical Femoral Neck Fractures Using Experimental And Finite Element Analysis Methods, Hannah Rainey

Masters Theses

Hip fractures are a significant public health issue as they are a commonly encountered problem and have a high rate of mortality. The fracture of the femoral neck is difficult to treat due to the geometry of the proximal femur and the weight-bearing capacity that the structure must comply with. Internal fixation of the femoral neck is often accomplished with three screws inserted along the axis of the femoral neck. The optimal configuration and number of these screws is not agreed upon in the literature. The purpose of this study was to conduct a pilot investigation on the biomechanical performance …

Ceramic Waste As Sustainable Material In Self-Compacting Concrete: Experimental Study And Ann Predictive Modeling, Abderrezak Bouziane, Houssam Slimanou, Mohamed Amin Bouzidi, Nedjima Bouzidi

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

Recycling of ceramic waste in the construction sector is a promising option for reducing the environmental impacts of the concrete industry. The main objective of this study is the elaboration of a solid predictive model for ceramic waste based self-compacting (SCC) concrete properties, using artificial neural networks (ANN). This further, reduces its environmental impact without compromising satisfactory performance. An experimental approach was adopted with different substitution ratios: 0 to 30 wt% and particle sizes ranging from 3-8 mm and 8-15 mm. Tested properties of modified SCC as compressive strength at 7 and 28 days (fc7, fc28), spread (L), sieve stability …

Comparative Study On The Performance Of Ggbs, Uggbs, And Rha-Incorporated Cement Mortar Mixes, Devansh Goel, Sudarshan D. Kore

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

The environmental footprint of cement production has accelerated the pursuit of sustainable alternatives in the construction industry. Supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), particularly those derived from industrial and agricultural waste, offer a promising approach to reducing cement consumption while maintaining performance. This study evaluates the fresh and mechanical behavior of binary, ternary, and quaternary cementitious mortar blends incorporating ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS), ultrafine GGBS (UGGBS), and rice husk ash (RHA) as partial replacements for cement. A total of 32 mortar mixes were designed with water-to-binder (w/b) ratios ranging from 0.3 to 0.5 and varied replacement levels of RHA (0-20%), GGBS …

Correlations Between Hemodynamics And Radiomic Features In Thrombosed Intracranial Aneurysms, Zonghan Lyu, Andres Gudino, Navami Shenoy, Carlos Dier, Elena Sagues, Jingfeng Jiang, Edgar A. Samaniego

Michigan Tech Publications

Purpose: Evaluating intracranial aneurysm (IA) rupture risk is essential for guiding management. Although intrasaccular thrombosis (IST) is less common, it can contribute to aneurysm growth, mass effect, and rupture. Aneurysm wall enhancement (AWE) on high-resolution MRI (HR-MRI) offers valuable insight into IST and IA progression. Using radiomics, we extracted spatial information of the aneurysm wall to characterize AWE. This study aimed to explore correlations between radiomics-based AWE profiles and gross hemodynamic parameters, integrating imaging and flow dynamics to better understand IST. Methods: Radiomic analysis was conducted on a cohort of 3T HR-MRI scans from IA with IST. Three-dimensional vascular reconstructions …

Palpation Characteristics Of An Instrumented Virtual Cricothyroidotomy Simulator, Melih Turkseven, Trudi Di Qi, Ganesh Sankaranarayanan, Suvranu De

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

Cricothyroidotomy (CCT) is a critical, life-saving procedure requiring the identification of key neck landmarks through palpation. Interactive virtual simulation offers a promising, cost-effective approach to CCT training with high visual realism. However, developing the palpation skills necessary for CCT requires a haptic interface with tactile sensitivity comparable to human fingers. Such interfaces are often represented by plastic partial mannequins, which require further adaptation to integrate into virtual environments. This study introduces an instrumented physical palpation interface for CCT, integrated into a virtual surgical simulator, and tested on 10 surgeons who practiced the procedure over a training period. Data on haptic …

Impact Analysis On Silicone Breast Implants Using In Vitro Experiments And Finite Element Analysis, Brenna Marie Tiernan

Masters Theses

Silicone breast implants are commonly used in breast augmentation and reconstruction procedures. Mentor introduced two newer models of silicone gel-filled implants, the MemoryGel^TM Xtra and MemoryGel^TM Boost, designed to increase the gel fill and projection of the implants while reducing wrinkling and rippling of the shell. Modifications to the shape and fill of these implants may result in different mechanical responses under compressive or impact loading conditions. To investigate whether these structural differences influence implant behavior, in vitro drop testing and finite element analysis (FEA) simulations were conducted, focusing on impact forces, internal stresses, and deformation patterns experienced …

Performance Analysis Of Multivariable Control Structures Applied To A Neutral Point Clamped Converter In Pv Systems, Renato Santana Ribeiro Junior, Eubis Pereira Machado, Damásio Fernandes Júnior, Tárcio André Dos Santos Barros, Flavio Bezerra Costa

Michigan Tech Publications

This paper addresses the challenges encountered by grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) systems, including the stochastic behavior of the system, harmonic distortion, and variations in grid impedance. To this end, an in-depth technical and pedagogical analysis of three linear multivariable current control strategies is performed: proportional-integral (PI), proportional-resonant (PR), and deadbeat (DB). The study contributes to theoretical formulations, detailed system modeling, and controller tuning procedures, promoting a comprehensive understanding of their structures and performance. The strategies are investigated and compared in both the rotating ((Formula presented.)) and stationary ((Formula presented.)) reference frames, offering a broad perspective on system behavior under various operating …

08.18.2025 Ored Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

ORED on-demand training, Tableau training, Research Reception 2025

Design And Evaluation Of An Electromagnetic Band Gap Structure For Self-Interference Reduction In Mmwave Full-Duplex Systems, Adewale Kehinde Oladeinde

Dissertations and Theses

Full-duplex (FD) wireless is a new technology that allows a device to transmit and receive at the same time and on the same frequency band. It has the potential to double the capacity and spectral efficiency of a wireless link compared to the family of conventional half-duplex wireless systems. The key challenge in implementing FD wireless communication is self-interference (SI): a node's transmitting signal generates significant interference to its receiver. Several previous studies have demonstrated the potential to reduce SI and develop FD radios; however, these studies are mostly limited to sub-6 GHz systems. Previous and on-going research explored various …

Development Of Turbulence Models For Prediction Of Hypersonic Flows Using Compressibility Corrections And Uncertainty Quantification With Emphasis On The Wray-Agarwal Model, Aidan Robert Murphy

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Accurate prediction of high-speed compressible turbulent flows remains one of the most significant challenges in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), especially in the realm of hypersonic vehicle design. These flow regimes involve significant aerodynamic heating and shock-wave boundary layer interactions (SBLI) which remain a significant challenge for the current CFD prediction capabilities. While Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) and Large-Eddy Simulation (LES) provide high-fidelity solutions, their computational demands limit their usability, making the Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations an efficient alternative for many industrial aerodynamic applications. Traditional RANS techniques, while computationally efficient, often provide limited accuracy in high-speed flows due to the presence …

Photolysis Of Emerging Agricultural Applications Under Environmental Conditions, Kun-Pu Ho

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Novel agricultural applications are rapidly emerging to protect crops from weeds or pests in the US and worldwide. Isoxaflutole is a proherbicide considered agriculturally significant because it controls weeds that have developed resistance to other commonly used herbicides. In addition, RNA interference (RNAi) technology is regarded as a next-generation biopesticide because the technology has less toxicity to humans and more specificity to pests than traditional pesticides, which pose risks to the environment and the health of humans and livestock. However, we cannot disregard the possible risks of the emerging proherbicides and biopesticides to humans or non-target organisms. Therefore, the study …

Multi-Layer Support For Component-Based Cyber-Physical Systems Applications, Oren Bell

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Component-based design is a paradigm meant to aid in development of software applications by modularizing different functionalities of a system. This building-block approach is used extensively in cyber–physical and robotic systems. Common and established solutions to specific problems, such as perception nodes, state estimators, and motion planners, can be developed, verified, and reused as off-the-shelf modules. These modules may be integrated atop today’s heterogeneous hardware platforms, where an application can be distributed across GPUs, FPGAs, and CPU cores. When heterogeneous computational devices share the workload of a collection of components, the very act of integration may inject timing uncertainty. For …

Moment Ensemble Approaches For Estimation And Robust Quantum Control, Andre Luiz Paes De Lima

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Large-scale population dynamics governed by ensemble systems present significant challenges due to their inherently high dimensionality. Recent advances have demonstrated the effectiveness of moment-based methods (particularly those employing polynomial bases such as Legendre and Chebyshev polynomials) when integrated with optimization techniques for control design in ensemble systems. However, these methods have not been extensively explored for enhancing robustness against systematic noise, nor have they been widely applied to complex quantum systems involving multi-parameter configurations and entanglement phenomena. In this work, we extend the application of moment methods in ensemble systems through two projects. Initially by developing a Kalman filter analogue, …

Developing Aerosol Representation In Atmospheric Modeling, Inderjeet Singh

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Ambient aerosols affect climate and air quality in the Earth system. Global chemical transport models used to study these impacts require an accurate representation of aerosols in terms of shape, composition, and vertical distribution. For example, despite having a complex morphology, mineral dust is often treated as spherical particles in these models. This can lead to errors in optical properties calculations, trace gas retrievals, and heterogeneous chemistry. Similarly, inaccurate representation of the vertical distribution of smoke particles in these models can lead to uncertainties in air quality assessments. Aerosol composition also plays a critical role in determining radiative forcing and …

Development, Numerical Simulation, And Optimization Of Quiet Supersonic Transport Aircraft And Extension Of The Wray-Agarwal Algebraic Transition Model To Include Compressibility And Crossflow Effects, Dean Ryan-Simmons

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

In the first part of this thesis, the goal of the research is to implement and extend multi fidelity methods for conceptual design and optimization of a commercial supersonic transport (SST). Most modern commercial aircraft operate at a cruise condition between Mach 0.7 and 0.9, as this is the optimal trade-off of flight efficiency, operational cost, and adherence of noise regulations for overland travel. Advancements in aviation propulsion fuel efficiency and design materials suggests a primary restraint on commercial supersonic transport is noise regulations. At speeds above Mach 1, the shock waves generated by the airframe are strong enough to …

A Control Theoretic Approach To The Stochastic Multi-Armed Bandit Problem With Applications In Hyperparameter Optimization, Jonathan Gornet

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Decision-making under uncertainty is a fundamental problem encountered frequently in many real-world applications. This challenge has been rigorously formulated as the Stochastic Multi-Armed Bandit (SMAB) problem, which consists of a learner interacting with an environment. For each interaction, the learner selects an action and then receives a reward from the environment based on the chosen action. The learner's objective is to maximize the accumulated reward over a set number of rounds. This thesis addresses the SMAB problem by leveraging the field of Control Theory and dynamical systems. We specifically focus on a SMAB environment where the rewards are the output …

Class A Biosolids Production Using Conventional And Low-Cost, Low-Tech Processes At Small Water Resource Recovery Facilities: A Multidimensional Sustainability Assessment, Janna Brown, Robert Handler, Eric Seagren, Jennifer Becker

Michigan Tech Publications

Producing Class A biosolids is a beneficial way to reuse wastewater treatment solids, but most conventional processes are energy-intensive and expensive. There is growing interest in the use of low-cost, low-tech (LCLT) Class A biosolids treatment processes, especially at small water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs). This study used a holistic sustainability assessment to examine the environmental, economic, and social sustainability of conventional and LCLT processes at small WRRFs. The technologies studied were Direct Heat Drying, Composting, Lagoon Storage, Air Drying, and Temperature-Phased Anaerobic Digestion (TPAD). Environmental impacts were determined by conducting life-cycle assessments for all technologies, which is described in …

Origin Of The World-Class Eagle, Eagle East, And Tamarack Ni-Cu-Pge Deposits, Robert Nowak, Chad Deering, Espree Essig

Michigan Tech Publications

The 1.1 Ga Mesoproterozoic Midcontinent rift hosts the Eagle, Eagle East, and Tamarack Ni-Cu-PGE deposits and Embayment Prospect. These deposits are hosted by ultramafic igneous rocks and have some of the highest Ni-Cu grades on Earth. We use new bulk-rock data and published datasets (bulk-rock, mineral chemistry, and isotopic analyses) to examine major, minor, and trace element trends of both Midcontinent rift-related alkaline and tholeiitic intrusions. In addition, we compare the geochemical data to local kimberlite-hosted lower-crustal xenoliths and local igneous (Archean) and sedimentary (Paleoproterozoic) country rocks. We found the peridotite magma compositions dominantly consist of primitive mantle compositions with …

Transition And Instability Characteristics Of The Separated Shear Layer Formed At Low Reynolds Number Over Three-Dimensional Irregular Rough Surface, Ganesh Kt Mr

Theses and Dissertations

The present experimental work investigates the effects of irregularly roughened surfaces and imposed streamwise pressure gradients on the topological, transitional, and instability characteristics of the laminar separated shear layer (SSL). Experiments are conducted in the low-speed wind tunnel for 𝑅𝑒𝑡=30000, based on the thickness of the airfoil model, t, and freestream turbulence intensity, fst = 0.8%. The airfoil model used in this study features a semicircular leading edge followed by a constant-thickness flat portion and a pitchable trailing-edge flap. Test conditions include two rough surfaces: sandblasted (SB) and sand-deposited (SD), and flap deflections: 𝛽=−30° and 𝛽=+30°, imposing adverse (APG) and …

A Contemporary Approach For Exploring The Influence Of Detoxification And Standardization Of Traditional Metallopharmaceutical Product Pharmacological And Toxicological Aspects, Malarvizhi K

Theses and Dissertations

Polyherbomineral formulation possess unique medicinal properties due to the presence of metals and minerals as integral part, as processed in addition to specific herbals. There is an increased interest in metallopharmaceuticals in clinical and research areas, because of their immense therapeutic efficiency towards multiple diseases and evidence for non-toxic claim. Sivanar Amirtham is one of the polyherbomineral Siddha medicine recommended for the treatment of various respiratory diseases and other ailments including antidote therapy for poisonous bites. The present research work attempted for standardization of Sivanar Amirtham preparation as per the traditional standard protocols (including the detoxification process of raw materials) …

Magnetic Molecularly Imprinted Polymers For Quercetin Adsorption: Fabrication, Characterization, And Application, Vinitha Ug

Theses and Dissertations

A highly selective Magnetic Molecularly Imprinted Polymer (MMIP) was developed for the detection and purification of Quercetin. The Density Functional Theory was utilized for the selection of suitable monomers based on binding energy interaction between quercetin and monomers (Acrylamide, Acrylonitrile, Methacrylic Acid). From computational studies, Acrylamide was selected as a suitable monomer for the synthesis of MMIP. Under ultrasound irradiation both quercetin and naringin imprinted materials MMIP-Q and MMIP-N were fabricated.

Compared to ultrasound-assisted synthesis, Microwave Synthesis provides uniform heat transfer throughout the reaction solution, which enables uniformity in the size of synthesised material, increases the yield of material and …

Design And Development Of Deep Learning Based Generic Platform For Promoting Precision Agriculture, Srilakshmi A

Theses and Dissertations

Precision agriculture also referred as precision farming or smart farming, is an innovative approach to agricultural management that leverages technology and data to optimize various aspects of the farming process. This approach aims to make farming more effective, sustainable, and profitable by affording farmers with the application tools and information they need to make more informed decisions.

Precision agriculture combines elements of agriculture, technology, and data science to enhance crop production, and resource utilization. Precision agriculture techniques can be highly effective in leaf disease detection within crop fields. Machine learning has been developed incredibly across multiple domains and shown it …

Facile Fabrication Of Protein-Polysaccharide Conjugate Multifilament Nerve Guidance Conduit For Peripheral Nerve Regeneration, Preethy Amruthavarshini R

Theses and Dissertations

Long segmental defects in peripheral nerves impair sensory and motor function by disrupting neural impulse transmission. End-to-end autologous grafting with proper fascicular complementation has demonstrated functional recovery per the Medical Research Council Classification (MRCC). However, obtaining donor nerve tissue exceeding 30 mm remains a significant challenge. Artificial hollow conduits serve as an alternative but are limited to defects smaller than 30 mm due to inadequate innervation across the lumen.

Multichannel nerve guidance conduits (mNGCs) have emerged as a promising solution by enhancing fascicular complementation similar to autografts. This study presents a two-step approach for fabricating nerve conduits with precise fascicular …

Structural Response Of Rc Columns Strengthened Using Bfrp Based Bfegc System – Under Fire And Cooling Regime, Ruba P

Theses and Dissertations

Retrofitting fire-damaged columns is essential for restoring structural integrity. This study evaluates the effectiveness of BFRP based Basalt fiber Engineered Geopolymer Composites (BFEGC). The performance of basalt fiber wrapping and BFEGC was tested for fire protection system and retrofitted system. An optimal BFEGC mix achieved a compressive strength of 55.34 MPa, with split tensile strength, flexural strength, and strain hardening behaviour of 15.5 MPa, 5.13 MPa, and 6% respectively.

Microstructural analysis was accessed for the optimum mix. Durability tests include water absorption, sorptivity, and RCPT which confirmed compliance with standards. Thermo gravimetry analysis (TGA) shows the minimal weight loss of …

Encountering And Mitigating Selfish Mining In Bitcoin Mining Pools, Jeyasheela Rakkini M J

Theses and Dissertations

Blockchain, an innovative decentralized distributed, disrupting programming paradigm embodies key principles such as decentralization, data provenance, immutability, and transparency. At its core blockchain begins with the genesis block and progresses with each subsequent block containing the hash of the previous block, Merkle root, timestamp, a coin base transaction address, and a nonce. Miners compete to discover a target hash value (hash value of the previous block and nonce) for the current block, that is less than or equal to the difficulty value set by the system, a process known as mining.

This work encounters selfish mining attacks in bitcoin mining …

Computational Studies On The Major Antioxidant Enzymes Of Wuchereria Bancrofti Towards The Development Of Anti Filarial Leads, Sureshan M

Theses and Dissertations

Lymphatic filariasis (LF), or elephantiasis, is a mosquito-borne parasitic disease affecting the lymphatic system, primarily in tropical and subtropical regions. It is the second leading cause of long-term disability and a neglected tropical disease. According to WHO, LF threatens 882 million people in 44 countries, with over 9 billion treatments administered. The disease is caused by three nematodes: Wuchereria bancrofti (90% of cases worldwide, including India), Brugia malayi (10% in Southeast and Eastern Asia), and Brugia timori (found in Timor and nearby islands). Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is an ancient disease that continues to challenge scientists and physicians. Current treatments include …