Digital Commons Network^™

Towards A Cross-Layer Coupled Design Framework For Big Data Workflows, Qianwen Ye

Dissertations

The processing and analysis of big data increasingly rely on workflow technologies for knowledge discovery and scientific innovation. The execution of such workflows goes far beyond the capability and capacity of single computers and is now commonly supported on reliable and scalable data storage and analysis platforms in distributed environments, such as the Hadoop ecosystem. Workflow performance largely depends on how big data systems are configured and used. For example, the makespan of a big data workflow is affected by multiple layers of big data systems, including the parallel computing engine it runs on, the resource manager that orchestrates various …

Graph Enabled Cross-Domain Knowledge Transfer, Shibo Yao

Dissertations

The world has never been more connected, led by the information technology revolution in the past decades that has fundamentally changed the way people interact with each other using social networks. Consequently, enormous human activity data are collected from the business world and machine learning techniques are widely adopted to aid our decision processes. Despite of the success of machine learning in various application scenarios, there are still many questions that need to be well answered, such as optimizing machine learning outcomes when desired knowledge cannot be extracted from the available data. This naturally drives us to ponder if one …

Reactive Iron Mineral Coatings In Redox Transition Zones Of A Site With Historical Contamination: Abiotic Attenuation, Xin Yin

Dissertations

Reactive iron mineral coatings are found throughout reduction-oxidation (redox) transition zones and play a significant role in contaminant transformation processes. In this study, an 18.3-meter core is collected, subsampled, and preserved under anoxic conditions to maintain its original redox state. Screening analyses are conducted at sampling increments of 5.08 cm in depth for the following: elemental concentrations with X-ray fluorescence (XRF), sediment pH, sediment oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), total volatile organic carbon (TVOC) in the sample headspace, and abundant bacteria (16S rRNA sequencing). Using the Fe and S gradients correlated with microbial data, five RTZs are delineated. To characterize iron mineral …

Development Of Novel Mass Spectrometric Methods For Reaction Screening, Oligosaccharide Detection, And Nitrosamine Quantitation, Qi Wang

Dissertations

Benefitting from its high detection sensitivity and specificity, mass spectrometry (MS) has become a powerful technique in academia and industry. The aim of this dissertation study is to develop new mass spectrometric methods for organic reaction screening, detection of oligosaccharide/glycan in complex matrices, and nitrosamine absolute quantitation.

First, an electrochemistry/mass spectrometry (EC/MS) platform is built to generate an N-cyclopropylaniline radical cation electrochemically and to monitor its reactivity toward alkenes, which leads to the discovery of a new redox neutral reaction of intermolecular [3 + 2] annulation of N-cyclopropylanilines and alkenes. Net redox neutral electrosynthesis is quite rare in synthetic organic …

Adversarially Robust And Accurate Machine Learning For Image Classification, Yanan Yang

Dissertations

Machine learning techniques in medical imaging systems are accurate, but minor perturbations in the data known as adversarial attacks can fool them. These attacks make the systems vulnerable to fraud and deception, and thus a significant challenge has been posed in practice. This dissertation presents the gradient-free trained sign activation networks to detect and deter adversarial attacks on medical imaging AI (Artificial Intelligence) systems. Experimental results show a higher distortion value is required to attack the proposed model than other state-of-the-art models on brain MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging), Chest X-ray, and histopathology image datasets. Moreover, the proposed models outperform the …

Private Information Retrieval And Function Computation For Noncolluding Coded Databases, Sarah A. Obead

Dissertations

The rapid development of information and communication technologies has motivated many data-centric paradigms such as big data and cloud computing. The resulting paradigmatic shift to cloud/network-centric applications and the accessibility of information over public networking platforms has brought information privacy to the focal point of current research challenges. Motivated by the emerging privacy concerns, the problem of private information retrieval (PIR), a standard problem of information privacy that originated in theoretical computer science, has recently attracted much attention in the information theory and coding communities. The goal of PIR is to allow a user to download a message from a …

Bodipy-Based Light-Responsive Materials, Zhaoxiong Wan

Dissertations

The energy required for life on our planet is provided by light. In science, light is an important and powerful tool for measuring and modifying substances. For example, under the effect of illumination, light-responsive materials can change their physical and chemical properties. Photochemistry is a branch of research to study the effects of light irradiation on chemical structures and reactions. Some photochemical changes could lead to chemical bond dissociation (such as in photosynthesis) and structure isomerization (such as in the retina). Photochemistry has a strong relationship with human lives and it is essential in many ways. Among photophysics, fluorescence emission …

Type I Error Rate Controlling Procedures For Multiple Hypotheses Testing, Beibei Li

Dissertations

This dissertation addresses several different but related topics arising in the field of multiple testing, including weighted procedures and graphical approaches for controlling the familywise error rate (FWER), and stepwise procedures with control of the false discovery rate (FDR) for discrete data. It consists of three major parts.

The first part investigates weighted procedures for controlling the FWER. In many statistical applications, hypotheses may be differentially weighted according to their different importance. Many weighted multiple testing procedures (wMTPs) have been developed for controlling the FWER. Among these procedures, two weighted Holm procedures are commonly used in practice: one is based …

Un-Fair Trojan: Targeted Backdoor Attacks Against Model Fairness, Nicholas Furth

Theses

Machine learning models have been shown to be vulnerable against various backdoor and data poisoning attacks that adversely affect model behavior. Additionally, these attacks have been shown to make unfair predictions with respect to certain protected features. In federated learning, multiple local models contribute to a single global model communicating only using local gradients, the issue of attacks become more prevalent and complex. Previously published works revolve around solving these issues both individually and jointly. However, there has been little study on the effects of attacks against model fairness. Demonstrated in this work, a flexible attack, which we call Un-Fair …

Experimental And Theoretical Studies Of Flows Driven By Soluto- And Thermo-Capillary Forces, Islam Benouaguef

Dissertations

This dissertation aims to study the flow induced in a water body due to the presence of a solute or heat source on its surface. The flow arises because of a change in the local solute concentration or the temperature, which modify the local surface tension, giving rise to a surface tension gradient that drives the flow. These surface tension-driven flows are referred to as Marangoni flows. The following three induced-flows are investigated experimentally and theoretically: (i) Flow induced by a solute source present on a waterbody; (ii) Flow induced due to the impingement of a freshwater drop on a …

Constitutive Modeling And Numerical Simulations Related To Dual And Triple Shape Memory Polymers, Aayush Prasad

Dissertations

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) are a class of soft active materials that have the ability to retain one or multiple temporary shapes and exhibit deformation as a response to stimuli. The temporary shapes involved can be very complex, but SMPs can recover large amounts of strains compared to other smart materials. They have a wide range of applications, and their mechanism can be easily altered. Hence, there is an increasing need to model their behavior.

This study discusses the behavior of a thermally activated subclass of SMPs in which the temporary shape is fixed by a crystalline phase and the …

Synthesis Of Polynitrogen With Radio Frequency Plasma, Haizheng Zhuang

Dissertations

Cubic gauche polynitrogen (cgPN) has been very attractive due to its high energy density that is 2.5 times higher than that of TNT. In the literature, cgPN has been investigated theoretically in detail, but few experimental works have been reported. In 2004, cgPN was first synthesized from nitrogen gas under extremely high temperature and high pressure (HTHP) conditions and the trace amount of cgPN in the high-pressure vessel decomposed once the pressure was released. Until recently, our group was the first to synthesize cgPN from NaN₃ precursor under ambient conditions with radio frequency (RF) plasma. In this study, the …

A Detailed Parameter Study Into The Dermal Absorption Of Chemical Warfare Agents And The Effects Of Pharmacokinetics, Koko Lear

Theses

Chemical warfare agents (CWAs) are substances of varying toxicity profiles. These chemicals exhibit complex dynamics and pose a serious health risk when released into the environment. A mathematical model based on Fick’s second law of diffusion was developed to comprehend how these compounds were absorbed into the skin. The analysis applied to both small and large doses and, successfully, predicted experimental results. This work also includes the effects of CWA physicochemical properties on evaporation and dermal absorption through the stratum corneum. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess the impacts of small variations in the initial dose, environmental conditions, and …

The Interconnection Of The Vestibular And Oculomotor Systems Analyzed In Healthy Young Adults By Examining Postural Sway, Cassandra Martin

Theses

In order to study the human brain in a non-invasive way, the vestibular and oculomotor systems have been analyzed simultaneously. To achieve this, an eye movement and balance assessment was conducted for 29 (23 male; 21.6 ± 3.8 years) healthy participants with no history of concussions, brain injuries, vertigo, migraines, brain surgeries, eye surgeries, or amblyopia. The tasks consisted of eyes open, eyes closed, horizontal saccades, vertical saccades, vergence jumps, horizontal vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR), and vertical VOR. Each task was completed in two stances: feet shoulder width apart and feet together. Distance, velocity, sway area, center of pressure (COP) frequency, …

Integration Of Customer Preference To Smart Locker Location Planning For Last Mile Delivery Optimization, Colette Malyack

Dissertations

Understanding customer preference associated with delivery solutions, such as the use of smart lockers, is an area of increasing interest for package delivery companies. Applications of this data could result in cost savings through vehicle route decisions, cross-docking and fleet size optimization, and increased placement of smart locker technology for stop reduction. However, there has been little effort applied to gathering information related to public preference solutions to last mile package delivery. Therefore, preference data is gathered and analyzed related to smart lockers, and apply the results to delivery route and cross-docking optimization through package locker location planning within the …

Phys 102-011: General Physics, George Georgiou

Physics Syllabi

No abstract provided.

Steam Explores Project Based Assessments, Erica Luvone, Loretta Radulic, Joe Mondanaro, Nicole Acevedo, Erika Dent, Ann Rhodes

STEM Month

This year, our approach to STEAM explores project based assessments in the disciplines of science and social studies. Students work in groups to produce projects that showcase work and proficiency. These projects are presented, displayed, discussed, and revisited or revised at student discretion.

Creative Stem Learning By Third Grade Students, Devon Marques, Jennifer Curry, Rebecca Kreider

STEM Month

At Sandshore School, STEM is infused in students’ week through the engagement of challenges and project based learning activities created and planned by our media specialist. For students, these hands-on learning activities allow time for students to collaborate with peers, express their individual ideas, learn through trial and error, and critically think using problem solving skills. Students thrive in this type of learning environment while learning skills to build self-esteem, confidence and communication. STEM education is not only engaging for all types of learners, it also provides students with real life skills targeted for success.

YouTube Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6edisr7YAc&feature=youtu.be

Students Interest And Thoughts On Stem, Chrisitine Girtain

STEM Month

I am Juan Sebastian Bohorquez Mora, I am a sophomore student at Toms River High School North. I am interested in biofuels because I believe they are a good option to replace fossil fuels. I am also interested in duckweed because biofuels are made out of crops, and people need to eat those crops. That’s when duckweed comes in and it can be used as a feedstock for ethanol production which is a biofuel. Bioethanol is a type of biofuel and it is derived from the corn’s starch. Instead of making ethanol from the corn’s starch, we can use duckweed …

Learning's In Stem, Victoria Arms

STEM Month

Can you share something you have learned related to a STEM topic you feel is important?

Answer: A stem topic I feel is important is math because you can learn many equation’s.

Can you explain why that topic is important to you, their families and communities? Answer: The topic that is important to our families and community is important because you can grow smarter and can learn a lot of things.

Mrs.Arms class.

Has The Time (Finally!) Arrived To Talk About Sustainable Lifestyles?, Maurie J. Cohen

Chemistry Sustainability and the Circular Economy

Presentation at the Princeton American Chemical Society (PACS) event in recognition of the 52nd International Earth Day

Roundtable Ii: Discussion Of Role-Play And Stem, Cristo Leon, Michele Rittenhouse, Louis Wells, Ricardo Morales-Carbajal, Miguel Angel Bastarrachea Magnani, Edgar Meritano

The State of STEM

No abstract provided.

Proceedings State Of Stem 2022: How Does Virtual Hands-On Stem Work?, Cristo Leon, James Lipuma, Michele Rittenhouse, Louis Wells, Edgar Meritano, Ricardo Morales-Carbajal, Miguel Angel Bastarrachea Magnani, Ten80 Education, Llc, New Jersey School Boards Association, International Stem League, Inc (Insl), Red De Investigadores De Juegos De Rol

STEM for Success Resources

Proceedings of the "State of STEM 2022: How does virtual hands-on STEM work?"

Sally Ride: Shooting For The Stars, Cristo Leon, Bruce Bukiet, Kamiya Patel

STEM Month

Today we will be talking about the adventures of Sally Ride and how she shoots for the star when it seems impossible for women to do so.

High School Student Perspective: My Njit Stem For Success Internship Experience, Michael Mora

STEM Month

During the 2020-2021 school year, I was a senior at the Academy for Mathematics, Science, and Engineering (AMSE) in Rockaway, NJ. At AMSE, a STEM-focused four-year magnet high school program hosted at Morris Hills High School, participating in an extended internship senior year is a cornerstone of the learning process. Required to complete a STEM-related internship to graduate, Academy students are encouraged to seek out an internship they’re passionate about in a field of their choice. The internship, which must be conducted under the mentorship of an industry professional, must meet the New Jersey-approved standards for a work-based learning experience …

Framing And Mapping A Project To The Five Elements And Systems Change While Developing A Project Proposal, Cristo Leon, James Lipuma

STEM for Success Resources

Presentation at the “Office Hour Featuring Caitlin Howley and Cristo Leon”

NSF INCLUDES National Network

Design And Implementation Of Photovoltaic Energy Harvesting Automaton, Iskandar Askarov

Theses

Global domestic electricity consumption has been rapidly increasing in the past three decades. In fact, from 1990 to 2020, consumption has more than doubled from 10,120 TWh to 23,177 TWh [1]. Moreover, consumers have been turning more towards clean, renewable energy sources such as Photovoltaic. According to International Energy Agency, global Solar power generation alone in 2019 has reached almost 3% [4] of the electricity supply. Even though the efficiency of photovoltaic panels has been growing, presently, the highest efficiency solar panels available to an average consumer range only from 20%-22% [14]. Many research papers have been published to increase …

Phys 121-006: Physics Ii, Vitaly Shneidman

Physics Syllabi

No abstract provided.

Phys 121-H02: Physics Ii, Vitaly Shneidman

Physics Syllabi

No abstract provided.

Phys 121-008: Physics Ii, Vitaly Shneidman

Physics Syllabi

No abstract provided.