Digital Commons Network^™

City Of Milpitas Trash Capture Device Program: An Evaluation Of System Performance And Compliance With The Municipal Regional Permit, Joseph Aguilera

Master's Projects

Water pollution negatively impacts the environment and human population. The problem persists despite various mitigation efforts, strategies, and the implementation of regulatory requirements. It is estimated that Californians dispose of approximately 40 million tons of consumer items and waste materials annually (California Department of Resource Recycling and Recovery, 2019). As the population increases, it is expected that negative impacts of trash on the environment will be exacerbated. To address this, municipalities in California apply various methods to reduce trash before it enters ocean waters.

The primary vehicle for urban trash pollutants to reach ocean waters is through storm water conveyance …

Hard Real-Time Linux On A Raspberry Pi For 3d Printing, Alvin Nguyen

Master's Projects

The project presents how a Raspberry Pi with hard real-time enabled Linux can control stepper motors to operate the kinematics of a 3D (three-dimensional) printer. The consistent performance of the Raspberry Pi with the PREEMPT-RT (real-time) patch can satisfy real hard-time requirements for 3D printing kinematics, without introducing dedicated microcontrollers. The Klipper 3D printer firmware enables one of the Raspberry Pi processors to act as the Klipper MCU, the primary controller for the hardware components. This project introduces a software implementation of the control logic for controlling the stepper motors, which utilizes the PCA9685 pwm driver and TB6612 motor drivers …

Canvas Autoquiz, Archit Jain

Master's Projects

Online learning management platforms such as Canvas are thriving and quickly replacing traditional classrooms, especially during these pandemic-struck times. As more and more quizzes are administered online, we need tools that make the quiz creation process easier and faster. Canvas Autoquiz is a command-line tool that allows instructors to automatically create and upload quizzes of varying difficulty levels. It also allows instructors to export quizzes from one LMS platform to another. This project explores the need, design, and implementation of the tool, and prospective future work.

Gesture Recognition Using Neural Networks, Ashwini Kurady

Master's Projects

The advances in technology have brought in a lot of changes in the way humans go about their lives. This has enhanced the significance of Artificial Neural Networks and Computer Vision- based interactions with the world. Gesture Recognition is one of the major focus areas in Computer Vision. This involves Human Computer Interfaces (HCI) that would capture and understand human actions. In this project, we will explore how Neural Network concepts can be applied in this challenging field of Computer Vision. By leveraging the latest research for Gesture Recognition, we researched on how to capture the movement across different frames …

Poriferal Vision: Deep Transfer Learning-Based Sponge Spicules Identification & Taxonomic Classification, Sudhin Domala

Master's Projects

The phylum Porifera includes the aquatic organisms known as sponges. Sponges are classified into four classes: Calcarea, Hexactinellida, Demospongiae, and Homoscleromorpha. Within Demospongiae and Hexactinellida, sponges’ skeletons are needle-like spicules made of silica. With a wide variety of shapes and sizes, these siliceous spicules’ morphology plays a pivotal role in assessing and understanding sponges' taxonomic diversity and evolution. In marine ecosystems, when sponges die their bodies disintegrate over time, but their spicules remain in the sediments as fossilized records that bear ample taxonomic information to reconstruct the evolution of sponge communities and sponge phylogeny.

Traditional methods of identifying spicules from …

Predicting Externally Visible Traits From A Dna Sample For Law Enforcement Applications, Niraj Pandkar

Master's Projects

A large majority of crimes such as homicides, sexual assaults and missing person cases are not solved within a reasonable timeframe and become cold cases. The ability to predict visual appearance and ancestry from a DNA sample will provide an unprecedented advancement in such criminal investigations. DNA based prediction of craniofacial features, phenotypes and ancestry can be used to reduce the pool of candidates onto which to perform further investigations. To achieve the above goal, it is first essential to substantiate, model and measure the intrinsic relationship between the genomic markers and phenotypic features. The first step is to standardize …

Generative Adversarial Networks For Image-Based Malware Classification, Huy Nguyen

Master's Projects

Malware detection and analysis are important topics in cybersecurity. For efficient malware removal, determination of malware threat levels, and damage estimation, malware family classification plays a critical role. With the rise in computing power and the advent of cloud computing, deep learning models for malware analysis has gained in popularity. In this paper, we extract features from malware executable files and represent them as images using various approaches. We then focus on Generative Adversarial Networks (GAN) for multiclass classification and compare our GAN results to other popular machine learning techniques, including Support Vector Machine

(SVM), XGBoost, and Restricted Boltzmann Machines …

Contextualized Vector Embeddings For Malware Detection, Vinay Pandya

Master's Projects

Malware classification is a technique to classify different types of malware which form an integral part of system security. The aim of this project is to use context dependant word embeddings to classify malware. Tansformers is a novel architecture which utilizes self attention to handle long range dependencies. They are particularly effective in many complex natural language processing tasks such as Masked Lan- guage Modelling(MLM) and Next Sentence Prediction(NSP). Different transfomer architectures such as BERT, DistilBert, Albert, and Roberta are used to generate context dependant word embeddings. These embeddings would help in classifying different malware samples based on their similarity …

Adversarial Attacks On Speech Separation Systems, Kendrick Trinh

Master's Projects

Speech separation is a special form of blind source separation in which the objective is to decouple two or more sources such that they are distinct. The need for such an ability grows as speech activated device usage increases in our every day life. These systems, however, are susceptible to malicious actors. In this work, we repurpose proven adversarial attacks and leverage them against a combination speech separation and speech recognition system. The attack adds adversarial noise to a mixture of two voices such that the two outputs of the speech separation system are similarly transcribed by the speech recognition …

Faking Sensor Noise Information, Justin Chang

Master's Projects

Noise residue detection in digital images has recently been used as a method to classify images based on source camera model type. The meteoric rise in the popularity of using Neural Network models has also been used in conjunction with the concept of noise residuals to classify source camera models. However, many papers gloss over the details on the methods of obtaining noise residuals and instead rely on the self- learning aspect of deep neural networks to implicitly discover this themselves. For this project I propose a method of obtaining noise residuals (“noiseprints”) and denoising an image, as well as …

Modeling Sequencing Artifacts For Next Generation Sequencing, Yvonna Leung

Master's Projects

Advancements in Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) have enabled detection of genetic alterations at large scales with high throughputs. NGS offers advantages over the established sequencing method, Sanger sequencing, by processing large sections of the genome simultaneously at a lower cost with higher accuracy. However, recent research has shown that sequencing artifacts are introduced at various steps in the NGS workflow. These artifacts are the result of an accumulation of errors from multiple steps, such as library preparation and downstream processes, and can result in variants being identified that aren’t actually present in the sequenced genome. Therefore, there is a need …

Investigating Lattice-Based Cryptography, Michaela Molina

Master's Projects

Cryptography is important for data confidentiality, integrity, and authentication. Public key cryptosystems allow for the encryption and decryption of data using two different keys, one that is public and one that is private. This is beneficial because there is no need to securely distribute a secret key. However, the development of quantum computers implies that many public-key cryptosystems for which security depends on the hardness of solving math problems will no longer be secure. It is important to develop systems that have harder math problems which cannot be solved by a quantum computer.

In this project, two public-key cryptosystems which …

School Library Resources For Inclusive Online English Language Learning: Teachers’ Perspectives About Differentiating Instruction In The Context Of English As Second Language, Angela Eze, Charity N. Onyishi

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Abstract

In an inclusive education setting, learners with and without disabilities are guided to study in the same classrooms with adaptable facilities and equipments. With this arrangement in place, assistive technology becomes an absolute requirement, and the school library is a medium for providing and using inclusive resources. In the current education system where online learning is speedily overtaking face-to-face learning modalities, school Library resources are indispensable for the effective inclusion of all learners through differentiated instruction. Such is critically essential for English language learning, especially in Nigeria, where English is learned as a Second Language. However, little is known …

A Scientometric Studies On Library And Information Science In India As Reflected In Digital Databases: A Review Using R, Ravindranath Wodeyar, K R. Mulla

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The scientometric research productivity and scholarly communication on library and information science papers indexed in the Web of Science and Scopus database from 2002 to 2021 are explored in this article.The main focus of scientometric research in the field of library science was on the range of research production over time.This paper presents a scientometric analysis to know the academic overview of LIS in India in terms of annual growth of publications, most prominent authors, most preferred journals, country and Institute collaboration etc.

Utilization Of Bibliotherapy Among Public Primary School English Language Teachers: Implications For Teaching Library Reading Skills, Gloria Chikasiemobi Ugwu Phd, Cajetan Ikechukwu Egbe Phd, Clara Odozi Ifelunni Phd

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The study was conducted to find out the extent to which guidance counsellors are aware of bibliotherapy as a library reading skills intervention service, and the extent they utilize it in public primary schools in Nsukka Local Government Education Authority of Enugu State, Nigeria. Four research questions and two null hypotheses guided the study in line with the specific purposes of the study. Descriptive survey design was adopted for the study and population of 101 school guidance counsellors in the public primary schools were used for the study. The instrument for data collection was a questionnaire of 28 items which …

30-Year Bibliometric Analysis Of Digital Library Studies, Muhammad Muhajir Aminy

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The purpose of this study is to analyse and map the metadata and keywords associated with existing research publications in digital library studies during the last 30 years. This is a quantitative descriptive study that employs bibliometric analysis approaches namely co-authorship analysis, citation analysis, and text data mapping with a help of VOSviewer computer application. The dimensions.ai, an international article indexing service, was used as the source to collect samples in this study. A total of 1,185 documents discussing digital library studies were analysed during 1991 – 2021.

The analysis discovered that Edward A. Fox is the most prolific author …

Adoption And Use Of New Learning Web Technologies: Massive Open Online Courses (Moocs), Eyitayo Oladimeji Yemi-Peters, Bolaji David Oladokun

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The study examined the adoption and use of new learning web technologies such as Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). Most significantly, MOOCs build on the engagement of learners who self-organized their participation according to learning goals, prior knowledge and skills, and common interests. MOOC is an online course with the option of free and open registration, a publicly shared curriculum, and open-ended outcomes. MOOCs integrate social networking, accessible online resources, and are facilitated by leading practitioners in the field of study. The paper discussed the importance of MOOCs to learning process, roles of MOOC in facilitating learning process, MOOCs as …

Digital Literacy Inclusion: The Role Of Librarians In Higher Education In The New Normal, Oluwatoyin Oyeyemi Obinyan Mrs, Linus Ikechukwu Ugwuanyi Mr

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Higher education in recent years has witnessed dynamic changes due to the Coronavirus pandemic to the extent that a new term, 'new normal,' originated. In this regard, teaching and learning processes have significantly become dependent on digital technologies to warrant emphasis being laid on digital literacy skills, which many learners lack. In order words, the growing prominence of the Internet and other digital environments as educational tools requires research regarding learners' digital literacy and the role of librarians in supporting learning in the new normal. Digital literacy is the learners’ ability to locate, organise, understand, evaluate, and create information using …

Application Of Information Technologies In Libraries: A Bibliometric Analysis As Indexed By Scopus Between 2011-2021, Clement Lutaaya

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The intention of the study is to understand the literature available on ICT application in libraries between 2011-2021 as indexed by Scopus. The recovered bibliographic facts and literature distributed were gathered from Scopus database (https://scopus.com). All the essential bibliographical facts were recovered by means of advanced exploration method through keywords such as ‘ICT and library’. The principal emphasis was on ICT in the library giving the investigator a chance to develop a more organized and comprehensive understanding of the ideas and new developments in the area. The outcomes of the study will support related investigators in fostering their investigation in …

Sources Of Library Information Needs For Climate Change Adaptation Among Rural Farmers In South Eastern Nigeria, Abaobi David Agbo Phd, Christian Sunday Ugwuanyi Phd, Onyinye Regina Ekere Mrs

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

There is a dearth of research on the library information needs of farmers for climate change adaptation to improve agricultural products among the rural farmers. Thus, this study explored the sources of library information needs for climate change adaption among rural farmers. Descriptive survey research was adopted for the study using a sample of 510 registered rural farmers in South Eastern Nigeria. A well validated and trial tested instrument was used to collect the data. The internal consistency reliability index of the instrument was 0.97 using Cronbach alpha method. Data collected were analysed using mean as a descriptive statistic to …

Evaluating Preschool Librarians’ Information And Communication Technology Competency Level For Online Teaching, Christian S. Ugwuanyi Ph.D, Chinedu I.O. Okeke Prof

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

For adequate teaching and learning, twenty-first-century classrooms, combined with the needs of the new normal in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, have mandated the effective use of online education platforms. This begs the question of how well-versed in information and communication technologies Nigerian Preschool Librarians are (ICT). Because there is a scarcity of studies on the subject, this is the case. As a result, the researchers were in a good position to determine or measure the level of ICT expertise of Preschool Librarians in order to embrace online education during and after the Covid-19 pandemic. The descriptive survey research …

A Content Analysis Based Review On The Application Of Document Similarity Measures On E-Resource Retrieval In Agriculture And Allied Fields, Nitumika Gogoi, Uma Kanjilal

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

From observations made by Robson (1993) who states that “the success of data collection should be assessed in relation to the specific research question”, it is felt necessary to study the aim as well as the fact that the most suitable unit of analysis will be sufficiently large to be considered as a whole but small enough to be referred as a relevant meaning unit during the analysis process (Graneheim & Lundman, 2004). Based on these criteria, the researcher tries to investigate that the study is carried out in the right direction which rest upon the credibility and essentiality of …

Gender Differences In Information Literacy Self-Efficacy Among Academic Librarians In Federal University Libraries In South-East Nigeria, Osita Victor Ossai Dr

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The study investigated gender differences in information literacy self-efficacy among academic librarians working in federal university libraries in South-east Nigeria. The descriptive survey research design was used in this study. Using purposive sampling, twenty academic librarians were selected for the study. The Information Literacy Self-Efficacy Scale (ILSES) was used to obtain the data. In total, there are 28 items on the scale, which has a high Cronbach Alpha reliability score of 0.91. In this scale, seven sub-dimensions are measured extensively. To analyze the data, percentages, means, standard deviations, t-tests, and Lavene's tests were used. In terms of mean ratings, male …

Managing Smart Campus And Smart Libraries: A Look At Challenges And The Way Forward For Libraries In Developing Countries, Justina Ngozi Ekere Ph.D, Oyemike Victor Benson, Ph.D, Catherine Chinyere Eke, Blessing N. Emuchay

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The paper focused on the challenges faced in creating and managing smart libraries in developing countries. The highlight of the paper are an overview of smart campuses and smart libraries; the justification for smart campuses and smart libraries. The key points for driving a smart campus and smart libraries include deep understanding of smart technological architecture; availability of smart devices and availability of smart platforms; The related technologies for smart libraries in smart campus include but not limited to cloud computing, radio frequency identification (RFID), mobile technology applications, internet of things (IoT) and wireless technology. Several challenges were identified such …

Evaluating The Use Of Electronic Resources At Selected Iims In India, Sanjeev Kumar Jha Mr., Praveen Babel Dr.

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Efficient use of resources is critical for development. Electronic resources and Web-based library services (WBLS) in the era of modernization and technological advancement marks a prominent role. Given such importance to these electronic resources and web-based library services, to understand their efficient use and user’s patterns as well as the purpose of utilization, this paper tries to assess the usability, and perception regarding web-based library services and electronic resources. For this purpose, the paper utilizes the primary field data from 300 students of selected IIMs in India. In the course of imparting quality management education by selected institutions, the libraries …

Contributions To The Field Of Library And Information Sciences In Pakistan: A Bio Bibliometric Study Of Dr. Saeed Ullah Jan, Abid Hussain Mr, Nasir Shakoor

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Abstract

Purpose- This paper presents the bio-bibliometric analysis of Dr. Saeed Ullah Jan's contributions to the Library and Information Science (LIS) field in Pakistan. This study includes the following: the year-wise distribution of research produced; authors' collaboration; publications by type; language; geographical preference for research; and coverage of different subject areas.

Methodology/Design- The data for this retrospective study was requested through email from Dr. Saeed Ullah Jan with advance ethical permission and further verified from Scholar Google, the official university website, and departments where required.

Findings- The results of the study indicate that Dr. Saeed Ullah Jan is a prolific …

Race Car Aerodynamics Simulation And Transmitted Tire Reaction Forces, Mark T.J. Lin, Periklis Papadopoulos

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Often in Computational Fluid Dynamics integral forces and restoring moments are calculated, but the location where they should be applied may not always be clear. This is because the location is not intuitive: it is dependent on the vehicle’s velocity and its orientation (e.g. sideslip angle). A technique has been developed to translate the aerodynamic forces to the reaction forces on the vehicle’s tires. In this study, CFD simulation is performed with a 7.5° yaw to look at the effect of cornering. To understand aerodynamic effect on vehicle dynamics one must know the location at which this force is applied. …

Extent Of Provision Of Library Information For Climate Change Adaptation Among Rural Farmers In Nigeria, Abaobi David Agbo Phd, Christian Sunday Ugwuanyi Phd, Onyinye Regina Ekere Mrs, Nkechi Idoko Phd

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

South East Nigeria is a Nigerian region primarily populated by rural farmers. According to the literature, there is a scarcity of research on provision of library information for climate change adaptation among farmers in order to improve agricultural products among rural farmers. As a result, this study looked into the sources of library knowledge needed by rural farmers to adapt to climate change. The study used descriptive survey research with a sample of 510 registered rural farmers in South Eastern Nigeria. The data was collected using a well-validated and trial-tested tool. Using the Cronbach alpha approach, the instrument's internal consistency …

Perceived Impact Of Contemporary Library Technology On Academic Performance Of Distance Education Undergraduates Of Universities In Nigeria, Lucynda Uzoamaka Koledoye Ph.D, Justina Ngozi Igwe Ph.D

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The study looked at the impact of library technology on the academic performance of Nigerian university distance education undergraduates. A descriptive survey design was used in this investigation. The study was based on two research topics. The survey included 698 participants from Nigeria's recognized universities. Because the study's population size can be controlled, there was no need for sampling. The data collection instrument was a 39-item structured questionnaire produced by the researchers titled: Library technology on Academic Performance of Distance Education Questionnaire (TAPDEQ). Three specialists from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka's Faculty of Education verified the instrument. The instrument's internal …

Enhancing Children's Achievement In Basic Science Using Library Electronic Books: A Case Of Simple Repeated Evaluation, Christian Ugwuanyi Phd

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The 21^st century classrooms demand a lot from both the teachers and the learners due to the technological developments and demands in teaching and learning. These days, most parents buy their children (smart/android phones, tablets, or laptops without knowing the educational benefits of these gadgets in accessing online learning materials. The 21^st century technology has made the use of e-books very beneficial to the teaming population of learners who have access to the internet, but it is worrisome that there is a dearth of research on such issues in the Nigerian context. Thus, this research examined the effect …