Digital Commons Network^™

Quantitative Evaluation Of Tunnel Rock Mass Integrity Based On Mwd Technology, Zhang Kunmu, Peng Hao, Liang Ming, Han Yu, Song Guanxian

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

In tunnel construction,the quantitative evaluation of rock mass integrity heavily relies on information from the exposed face,and there are challenges when drilling data is used for integrity evaluation.To this end,this study introduced a novel method for quantitative evaluation of rock mass integrity during drilling,integrating numerical statistics with machine learning.A substantial dataset of digital drilling data was collected,covering three common types of rock mass integrity:relatively intact,relatively fractured,and fractured.Subsequently,a high-performance random forest model for the classification of rock mass integrity was developed through data preprocessing and hyperparameter optimization.The interpretability of the model ’s predictive results was enhanced using Shapley additive explanations (SHAP …

Computationally Efficient Methods For Calculation Of Light-Matter Interaction In Large Semiconductor Quantum Dots, Chandler Martin

Dissertations - ALL

Quantum dots are a class of materials in the nanometer scale that have unique optical and electronic properties due to the quantum confinement effect. Traditional electronic structure computational techniques used for calculating these properties fall to scalability issues as the size of the quantum dot increases, or introduce significant errors into the final result. This makes using computational methods to predict new materials, or verify properties of existing materials, challenging to use for experimental applications of quantum dots. This gap between experiment and computation is due to large basis sets, expensive integrals, and storage and manipulation of tensors that grow …

Implementation Of A Carbon-Neutral Pv+Bess System - A Case Study Of Knauf Gypsum Tanzania, Santos Kihwele

Tanzania Journal of Science

This study presents a decarbonization pathway for Tanzania’s industrial sector by integrating a 2.966 MWp solar photovoltaic (PV) system with a 2 MW/8 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) at KNAUF Gypsum Tanzania. A comprehensive techno- economic analysis was conducted using PVSyst simulations software. The simulation integrated site-specific meteorological data, component specifications and the factory’s electricity load profile to model annual generation patterns, system losses and battery charging and discharging cycles. The model accounted for system degradation to ensure realistic long-term performance projections. The PV+BESS solution reduces the energy-related carbon footprint to 64% and cuts annual energy costs by 65%, …

Aquifer Distribution In Lukobe Ward, Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania: Mapped Resources For Sustainable Water Access, Kelvin K. Kayuni

Tanzania Journal of Science

In response to the ongoing challenges posed by the scarcity of reliable fresh-water sources in Lukobe Ward, Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania, this study applied an integrated approach that combines geospatial and geophysical datasets to identify previously undocumented aquifers. The datasets utilized include an apparent density map generated from high-resolution GGMPlus satellite gravity data, a geological map (Quarter Degree Sheet 183), a water drainage map, and a slope map created from a digital elevation model (DEM). The analysis successfully identified four unconfined, saprolitic aquifers in the study area, designated as aquifers A, B, C, and D. These aquifers span areas of 12.2 …

Synergistic Use Of Sentinel-1 And Sentinel-2 Data For Mapping Of Degradation In Coastal Forests And Miombo Woodlands Of Tanzania, Daria C. Kimaro

Tanzania Journal of Science

Forest degradation is one of the leading sources of carbon emission globally. In Africa, particularly in Tanzania, forest degradation is driven by selective logging and forest fires. Monitoring degradation over large areas is very challenging due to the lack of accurate and reliable methods. This study assessed degradation in miombo woodlands and coastal forests using a synergy of remotely sensed data acquired from sentinel-1 and sentinel-2 achieved by integrating their complementary strength where sentinel-1 enhanced detection of structural changes and sentinel-2 provided spectral insight into vegetation. The 3I3D, unsupervised algorithm analysing trends for three vegetation indices (3I) in a three-dimensional …

Performance Comparison Of Kriging Models Used For Estimation Of Rainfall Variability In The Northern Coast Of Tanzania, Salma Suleiman, Clement Mromba

Tanzania Journal of Science

Accurate rainfall estimation underpins effective disaster preparedness and sustainable socioeconomic planning. The performance of Ordinary Kriging (OK), Universal Kriging (UK), and Simple Kriging (SK) in estimation of rainfall variability were assessed across eight stations in the northern coast of Tanzania for the period from 1960 to 2020. Using ArcGIS 10.3, each method was evaluated and cross-validated using six performance metrics, namely; Mean Error (ME), Mean Square Error (MSE), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Root Mean Standardized Square Error (RMSSE), Average Standardized Error (ASE), and the Coefficient of Determination (R²). Performance comparison results indicate OK to have achieved the lowest bias, …

Simulation Based Model For Canine Distemper Virus In Prey-Predator Dynamics, Mussa A. Stephano

Tanzania Journal of Science

This study investigates the dynamic interactions of a prey-predator ecosystem infected with Canine Distemper Virus (CDV), focusing on predation and disease transmission. A deterministic model, coupled with Monte Carlo simulations (MCS), employed to capture both stochastic variability and environmental fluctuations. The findings indicate that classical prey-predator cycles provide the baseline for population dynamics, but the introduction of CDV and environmental noise fundamentally alters system behavior. Initially, populations exhibit oscillations that gradually stabilize into dynamic equilibria. However, the disease persists within both prey and predator populations, suggesting endemicity rather than extinction. Predation plays a dual role in disease dynamics, while it …

Mathematical Modeling Of Awareness-Driven Interventions For Gender-Based Violence Control In A Closed Population, Furaha M. Chuma, Edward K. Ngailo, Zubeda S. Mussa

Tanzania Journal of Science

Gender-based violence (GBV) remains a critical global health issue with profound social, economic, and psychological implications. Despite concerted efforts to address this challenge, traditional intervention approaches often fall short of effectively mitigating its prevalence. In recent years, there has been growing recognition of the potential impact of awareness-based interventions in addressing various social and health crises. This paper introduces a modeling framework to explore the efficacy of awareness-based interventions in influencing the dynamics of the GBV epidemic within a closed population. A detailed sensitivity analysis, utilizing a normalized sensitivity index method, reveals that the violence transfer rate between perpetrators and …

Modeling And Forecasting Wholesale Gasoline Prices In Tanzania Using Arima And Neural Network Autoregressive Models, Thadei D. Sagamiko, Edward K. Ngailo

Tanzania Journal of Science

Fluctuations in wholesale gasoline prices significantly impact the economy of import-dependent countries like Tanzania, making accurate forecasting essential for policymakers and market participants. This study forecasts monthly wholesale gasoline prices in Dar es Salaam by comparing the Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model with a Neural Network Autoregressive (NNAR) model. Using data from January 2015 to December 2024 from the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA), the models were evaluated. The ARIMA(1,1,1) model was identified as the best-fitting linear model, but the NNAR(11,7) model demonstrated superior accuracy. On the holdout test set, the NNAR model achieved a lower Mean …

Variations In Physicochemical Properties, Microbiological Profiles, And Nutrient Dynamics In The Temi River, Arusha, Tanzania: Sources And Implications, Aldo J. Kitalika

Tanzania Journal of Science

This study thoroughly investigates the physicochemical properties, microbiological profiles, and nutrient dynamics of the Temi River in Tanzania. The sources and implications of fluctuations in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nutrients during the wet and dry seasons are carefully analysed. Water samples were collected from various geographically referenced points along the river, and analyses were performed using the APHA Standard Methods for Water and Wastewater Testing. The results show that most parameters increased downstream in both seasons, with the highest DOC levels reaching 352.11 mg/L in the wet season, followed by a significant decrease to 126.00 mg/L during the dry …

Geographic And Sociodemographic Disparities In Early Hearing Detection And Intervention Adherence, Amanda Pavan, Anton Kvit, Michael Van Skiba, Analise Ristic, Kirsten R. Coverstone

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Early identification and intervention are crucial to minimizing impacts of congenital hearing loss. Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programs recommend newborn hearing screening before one month of age and a diagnostic audiologic evaluation before three months for infants who do not pass the screening. However, not all infants meet these benchmarks, as geographic and sociodemographic factors may influence adherence.

Addresses of primary contacts and audiology clinics were geocoded to calculate drive times to the nearest clinic in 10-minute intervals for infants born in Minnesota between 2019 and 2021. Birth location, NICU admittance, and sociodemographic characteristics were also analyzed. Random …

Draft Final Quarterly Operations And Maintenance Report: Butte Treatment Lagoon System – Third Quarter 2025, Pioneer Technical Services, Inc.

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship, Pharmacokinetics, Drug-Likeness, Toxicity, And Molecular Docking Studies Of 4-N-(Methyl)-4-Aminoquinoline Derivatives As Antimalarial Compounds, Muhamad Jalil Baari, Devi Hardiyanti

Makara Journal of Science

Antimalarial drug resistance has encouraged various innovations to develop novel drug compounds that are effective, feasible, and safe, adhering to health standards. One way to do that is by observing and predicting the biological activity of drug compounds using quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) analysis. In this study, QSAR analysis was conducted on the 4-N-(methyl)-4-aminoquinoline derivatives, which effectively inhibit the growth of Plasmodium falciparum as a source of malaria. The research stages involved molecular structure modeling, molecular geometry optimization using the AM1 semi-empirical method, and QSAR descriptor calculations, including electronic (atomic charges (q), HOMO and LUMO energies, polarizability (α), …

Microplastic Degradation Using Laccase Enzyme From Trametes Hirsuta: In The Silico Study, Hanzhola Gusman Riyanto, Diana Sylvia

Makara Journal of Science

Microplastics are a serious global problem that arises worldwide because of their widespread use. Exposure to microplastics can negatively affect human and environmental health. In this study, we used molecular docking methods with MOE software (version 2014.0901) to investigate the interaction between the laccase enzyme and several microplastic compounds as a preliminary study of microplastic degradation using enzymes. The Quantitative Structure Analysis Relationship (QSAR) analysis revealed that all microplastic ligands had higher Pa values than Pi, indicating that the laccase enzyme may be biologically active. The findings of the present study show that polyamide (PA) has the lowest binding energy …

Enzyme-Free Colorimetric Sensing Of Glucose Using Silver Nanoparticles With A Green Stabilizing Agent From Capsicum Chinense Jacq Extract, Boyfannie Ivan Putra, Hermin Sulistyarti, Muhammad Mashuri Utama, Aura Ananda Haryanto, Rurini Retnowati, Mohamad Rafi, Akhmad Sabarudin

Makara Journal of Science

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a significant global health issue characterized by abnormal glucose levels in the human body. DM diagnostics are often based on invasive sampling from blood, which poses a potential risk of infection and tissue damage. Therefore, a non-enzymatic and non-invasive method for glucose monitoring is demanded as a simple alternative to glucose detection in urine samples. In this work, enzyme-free glucose determination is based on the formation of silver nanoparticles stabilized by Capsicum chinense Jacq extract (CCJ-AgNPs). Under alkaline conditions, glucose functions as a reducing agent for silver ions, and the extract acts as a stabilizer to …

Suitability Of Mobile Phase Recycling For Methylxanthine Quantification In Coffee Samples Using Hplc, Kaitlin O’Keeffe, Marcos Mariano, Brian Murphy

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

Caffeine, theobromine and theophylline fall under a drug class known as methylxanthines. These three compounds are of major interest in the food industry due to their presence in popular foods and beverages such as tea, coffee, and chocolate. As these compounds can cause physical and mental stress at high dosages, their quantification is essential to ensure product safety and quality. Here, we describe an eco-friendly HPLC method developed to quantify the amount of these analytes in coffee samples sourced across the SETU Waterford, Cork Road campus. Using an isocratic mixture of water and methanol, a mobile phase recycling approach was …

Developing A Tool To Measure Resistance To Sustainable Food Choices: A Pilot Study In Ireland And The Netherlands, Kate Flanagan, Bart Sinteur, Patricia J. Bulsing, John M. Kearney

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

Consumer uptake of a sustainable diet is critical for addressing environmental challenges and promoting public health. Understanding why consumers resist adopting sustainable eating habits can inform targeted interventions and policies. This pilot study examines whether a newly developed scale can effectively detect consumer resistance to a sustainable diet. Currently, there is a lack of research on a tool to measure consumer resistance to a sustainable diet, highlighting the need for a reliable instrument.

The aim of this study is to develop a scale, based on existing literature, to measure consumer resistance to a sustainable diet. Additionally, the study aims to …

Editorial-Sure Journal Volume 7, Issue 2, Geraldine M. Dowling, Eva Campion, Sinead Loughran, Ariane Perez-Gavilan, Josephine Treacy

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

Fine-Tuning Llama2 For Summarizing Discharge Notes: Evaluating The Role Of Highlighted Information, Mahshad Koohi Habibi Dehkordi, Yehoshua Perl, Fadi P. Deek, Hao Liu

School of Computing Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

This study investigates whether incorporating highlighted information in discharge notes improves the quality of the summaries generated by Large Language Models (LLMs). Specifically, it evaluates the effect of using highlighted versus unhighlighted inputs for fine-tuning LLaMA2-13B model for summarization tasks. We fine-tuned LlaMA2-13B in two variants using MIMIC-IV-Ext-BHC dataset: one variant fine-tuned with the highlighted discharge notes (H-LLaMA), and the other on the same set of notes without highlighting (U-LLaMA). Highlighting was performed automatically using a Cardiology Interface Terminology (CIT) presented in our previous work. H-LLaMA and U-LLaMA were evaluated on a randomly selected test set of 100 discharge notes …

Re: Comment Letter For Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Draft 2026 Interim Site-Wide Groundwater Monitoring Quality Assurance Project Plan (Qapp) (Dated November 18, 2025), Emma Rott

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Re: Comment Letter For Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Draft Interim Site-Wide Surface Water Monitoring Quality Assurance Project Plan (Qapp) (Dated November 24, 2025), Emma Rott

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Mixed Linear Equation–Inequality Systems Over The Pura Vida Neutrosophic Algebra, Muhammad Rayyanu Abdullahi, Abdulhadi Aminu

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

This paper proposes a neutrosophic extension of max-plus algebra for solving mixed systems of linear equations and inequalities.Classical max-plus algebra is a powerful tool for modeling synchronization in discrete-event systems LastNatpreClose LastNatClose, but it assumes fully deterministic data.To incorporate uncertainty and indeterminacy, we reformulate the framework so that coefficients and variables are expressed as neutrosophic numbers

γ+λI,γ,λ∈ℝ,I∈[0,1],

where I quantifies the degree of indeterminacy.

We redefine the max-plus semiring in this neutrosophic setting, extend solvability and uniqueness results, and adapt the ONEMLP-EI algorithm LastNatpreClose LastNatClose to handle neutrosophic …

Mapping Sustainability To Cybernetic-Generative Artificial Intelligence-Based Education: An Innovative Neutrosophic Orbifold-Lattice Methodology, Mona Mohamed, Ahmed A. Metwaly

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

The lightning-fast development of artificial intelligence (AI), notably generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) technologies, has intrigued multiple disciplines, particularly education. In this context, Large Language Models (LLMs) serve as beneficial cognitive resources that address knowledge deficits and provide tailored educational support for learners and staff. For learners, LLMs are regarded as knowledgeable educators who offer prompt, focused responses and rationales to tricky queries. Whereby LLMs for staff, Strength enhancer, automating tedious tasks, and creating intelligent resources.Gen AI’s rapid growth offers enormous obstacles for educational systems, compelling them to discover solutions for these obstacles.

Conceptually, cybernetics is leveraged for bridging the …

Unveiling The Anticancer Potential Of Syzygium Cumini: In Silico Insights Into Its Mechanistic Action Against Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Nur Sofiatul Aini, Win Darmanto

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) is the most periodic type of lung cancer and the second most diagnosed cancer globally. Syzygium cumini is plant that extensively used in cuisine and traditional medicine. However, its potential for NSCLC treatment has not yet been elucidated. This study determined the potential of S. cumini as anti-NSCLC using in silico approaches. The in silico study was applied to perform active compound analysis, selection of target candidates, network pharmacology, functional annotation, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulation, respectively. Based on open source databases, S. cumini contained 115 compounds and 14 of them predicted to have …

Exploring Ecological Zonation Of The Yellow River Estuary Coastal Zone Based On Nitrogen And Phosphorus Criteria, Dejuan Jiang, Song Qin, Zhengyi Liu, Ruiteng Sun, Xiaoshuai Hang, Tao Zou, Xiaoguang Li, Lijuan Li, Shichao Tian, Yanfang Li, Yongming Luo, Chuanyuan Wang, Yuan Li

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Estuaries, as ecologically sensitive brackish water mixing zones, face a critical bottleneck in refined management because traditional zonation based on socioeconomic attributes overlooks the ecological heterogeneity driven by salinity gradients and nutrient stoichiometry, leading to a disconnect between management measures and conservation needs. This study proposes a novel approach to coastal zonation using nitrogen and phosphorus nutrient criteria as an ecological benchmark. Overall ecological criteria are established for the Yellow River estuary (dissolved inorganic nitrogen: 0.258 mg/L; phosphate: 0.015 mg/L) and a differentiated management scheme is constructed based on a salinity gradient (26.5 PSU boundary). It is recommended to integrate …

Green Nudging: Psychology Facilitates Environmental Protection And Climate Policy, Fuming Xu, Anning Liu, Xinjing Li

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Environmental pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and global warming are the major realities threatening all mankind today, urging all countries in the world to take immediate actions to protect the environment, save energy, reduce emissions, and curb global warming. In practice, it is difficult to completely solve these urgent problems by relying only on laws and regulations, administrative orders and other coercive means, as well as incentives such as monetary incentives. Hence, it is necessary to use the results of relevant research in psychology and behavioral sciences to facilitate environmental protection, energy conservation, and climate policy, and to play an important …

A Parallel Interval Modeling Framework For Nonlinear Systems: Application To A Modified Duffing Oscillator, Roman Voliansky, Nina Volianska

Northeast Journal of Complex Systems (NEJCS)

The paper presents a mathematical framework for converting nonlinear dynamical systems into parallel forms. This framework replaces the exact system motion equations with interval equations, enabling the representation of nonlinear functions over piecewise linear domains. Such representation enables the description of system motions using linear-like differential equations, which can be analyzed and manipulated using well-known control methods. One such method is eigenvalue analysis, a powerful tool in classical control theory since many techniques rely on the system’s characteristic polynomial and its eigenvalues. We apply this method to define interval system eigenvalues and track their variation during system operation. These eigenvalues …

Nontoxic Paints Using Cornstarch As Binders, Maile Prater

Honors Projects

For this project, paints were created using different metal compounds which interacted with cornstarch and pectin to determine whether the metals would coordinate with these polysaccharides to create new types of watercolor paints. The paints that were created were ran through an RGB analysis to determine how much of each RGB color is present in a solution and then were ran through a rheometer to determine how the viscosity differed between each solution.

Gowanus Faces A Hidden Threat Beneath Its Neighborhood Boom, Emma J. Rosenberg

Capstones

This article investigates urban redevelopment, climate change and environmental contamination in Brooklyn’s Gowanus neighborhood. The Gowanus Canal itself has been a designated EPA Federal Superfund Site since 2010, this designation does not apply to the land surrounding it where legacy industrial contamination still exists. This includes coal tar from former manufactured gas plants which poses a risk to groundwater and indoor air. Under a 2021 rezoning plan, large-scale residential redevelopment is rapidly moving forward, rising groundwater and increased flooding associated with climate change may exacerbate contaminants. Utilizing agency documents, Community Advisory Group meetings, and conversations with residents, advocates, officials and …

Flooding, Not Just A Rain Problem, Annisha Singh

Capstones

This capstone focuses on the Rockaway Peninsula and how high-tide flooding also known as "sunny-day flooding" is not only affecting Rockaway but neighboring areas, such as Jamaica Bay.