Digital Commons Network^™

Assessing The Impact Of Multi-Physics Effects On Photovoltaic Module Degradation Using Computational Modeling, James Yuan Hartley

Mechanical Engineering ETDs

This dissertation describes research to develop and apply multi-physics simulation capabilities using finite element methods to analyze photovoltaic module damage mechanisms. Analyses of full-scale solar modules under mechanical load are presented, including experimental validation against measurements of external deflection and internal strain. Module damage by solar cell breakage and interconnection fatigue are discussed, and the applicability of simplifying analyses using mathematical plate theory is assessed. Detailed sub-module component models undergoing thermal-mechanical stressors are also presented, to identify the design features and materials most influential to stress generation and to assess the representativeness of using sub-module assemblies in accelerated testing. Finally, …

Mapping Homogeneous Configuration States For Learning Based Motion Planners, Yazied Hasan

Computer Science ETDs

Reinforcement learning (RL) excels at solving complex tasks, but training times can become prohibitively large for challenging motion-planning problems. Methods that address this cost often require additional training or tuning, counteracting the goal of reducing training time. A more effective approach is to exploit inherent task equivalences: many elements of the state space, dynamics, or structure are functionally interchangeable, enabling simplification or knowledge reuse. We present learning solutions that leverage these equivalences to enhance the RL process. First, we leverage the symmetry of homogeneous multi-agent teams to simplify the task to a single strategy. Second, we map correspondences between distinct …

Investigating Workforce Development Gaps In Tribal Transportation Agencies, Benson Long Jr

Civil Engineering ETDs

Tribal transportation programs face challenges in recruiting and retaining qualified staff, prompting reliance on external consultants for key responsibilities. This study explores how workforce constraints and organizational structures influence tribal outsourcing decisions. Survey data from 57 tribes informed a logistic regression model examining how geographic isolation, population size, training access, and the presence of a transportation department affect preferences for internal work, actual task completion, and instances where tribes intended to perform tasks in-house but outsourced instead. Findings indicate that outsourcing is driven by limited internal capacity, including staffing shortages, lack of certified personnel, and training opportunities. Geography also plays …

Development Of A Lead-Lithium Eutectic Magnetohydrodynamic Loop For Corrosion Studies, Xavier S. Angus

Nuclear Engineering ETDs

Lead–lithium eutectic (LLE) is a leading candidate coolant and tritium breeder for fusion reactor blankets due to its favorable heat transfer properties and high tritium breeding ratio. However, LLE is highly corrosive and, in the strong magnetic fields present in fusion reactors, experiences magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) effects that can produce significant pressure drops and flow instabilities. Understanding corrosion behavior in these extreme environments is essential for assessing the viability of LLE blanket systems. This work presents the design and construction of a forced-convection LLE corrosion loop to study corrosion behavior at temperatures up to 425 °C and flow velocities up to …

Sensitivity-Informed Resonance Parameter Cross Section Adjustments, Matthew Juan Lazaric

Nuclear Engineering ETDs

This work details the process of developing several new features into the MCNP6.3 Monte Carlo code for use in uncertainty quantification and reduction. These new capabilities, which include the CLUTCH method of calculating k-eigenvalue cross section sensitivities and the Windowed Multipole method of calculating cross sections, are implemented and verified against previous implementations and existing cross section data, respectively. These capabilities are then combined to produce sensitivities of k-eigenvalue to resonance parameters, which are verified against direct perturbation sensitivity estimates. The resonance parameters are calibrated using linear Bayesian methods and the accuracy of the resulting cross section is evaluated via …

The Role Of Cumulative Usage In Language Learning And Language Variation: Evidence From Spanish Voiced Stops, Sarah Lease

Linguistics ETDs

This dissertation investigates the cumulative repercussions of a word’s typical context of use on lexical representations and speech production, both in cases of language learning and language variation, through the lens of Usage-Based Linguistics. The data come from sociolinguistic interviews with Spanish-speaking children and adults of Mexican heritage living and working in the Pacific Northwestern United States. Each study examines Spanish word-initial /bdɡ/ productions using a myriad of statistical approaches. The dissertation adds to our understanding of the long-term storage of variation in lexical representations, as well as its nuanced impact on children’s and adults’ speech production. The dissertation also …

From Sparse To Precise: Modeling Beam Profiles Using Wavelet-Based Implicit Neural Network (Winn) For Linear Accelerator Commissioning And Quality Assurance, Maryam Ali Albuainin

Computer Science ETDs

Commissioning and routine quality assurance (QA) in radiotherapy require extensive measurements using bulky water tank systems, making the process time-consuming and costly. This research proposes an efficient framework for radiotherapy commissioning and QA by generating complete LINAC physics data from sparse measurements and developing a portable solid-water detector with embedded diodes for high-resolution dosimetry.

At the core of the framework is a Wavelet-based Implicit Neural Network (WINN) that reconstructs full measurement datasets from limited inputs while maintaining clinical accuracy. The model achieves gamma passing rates above 95% (1%/1 mm) and mean absolute errors below 0.5%, while reducing parameters by 99.46% …

Heavy Metal And Metalloid Accumulation In The Gallinas River Following The Hermit's Peak / Calf Canyon Wildfire, Olivia A. Kelly

Geography ETDs

This study evaluates the persistence and bioavailability of heavy metals and metalloids in the Gallinas River three years after the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Wildfire of 2022 using a multicompartment sampling framework that includes water, sediment, and benthic macroinvertebrate tissue analysis via inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results indicate that the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire continues to influence the hydrogeochemical condition of the Gallinas River. Sediments contain elevated concentrations of several metals and metalloids, and these same elements are detectable in macroinvertebrate tissues, linking sediment contamination to biological uptake. Zinc (Zn), silicon …

Statistical And Spectral Theory For Spatially Correlated Random Aperiodic Antenna Arrays, Thomas Edward Christian Jr

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

Aperiodic phased arrays enable beam steering, interference suppression, and spectrum efficiency for 6G, radar, biomedical imaging, and distributed sensing. Minimum inter-element spacing and keep out zones induce spatial correlation, violating the i.i.d. element-position assumption behind classical probabilistic random array theory. This dissertation develops a unified probabilistic spectral framework for correlated (non-i.i.d.) arrays. Second moment power pattern analysis incorporates the pair-correlation function  and structure factor , recovering the i.i.d. limit when  and accommodating unequal excitations. Side lobe and main lobe fields deviate from Rayleigh/Exponential and are modeled by weighted Nakagami and Gamma-mixture distributions, parameterized via Monte Carlo. The blue noise spectral …

Realizing The Long Wavelength Array Swarm, Craig Anthony Taylor

Physics & Astronomy ETDs

Sensitive modern radio interferometers are costly to build and operate at the university level. The `swarm telescope' concept addresses this challenge by enabling the collaborative use of individual telescope systems, overseen by separate institutions, that come together to form a more powerful and manageable facility. This dissertation focuses on demonstrating this concept using the Long Wavelength Array (LWA) by commissioning an aperture synthesis telescope consisting of interconnected LWA stations, called the LWA Swarm. The presented work details building a cost-efficient prototype LWA platform -- the LWA--North Arm station -- to enable synthesis imaging using the 3-element interferometer comprised of LWA1, …

A Multi-Frequency Investigation Of Compact Symmetric Objects, Evan E. Sheldahl

Physics & Astronomy ETDs

Some of the brightest objects in the radio sky are jetted active galactic nuclei (AGN), supermassive black holes in the centers of galaxies that accelerate relativistic electrons into twin radio jets. One of the biggest questions surrounding AGN is how they produce radio jets in the first place. We search for an answer to this question by exploring a class of AGN that have uniquely well-constrained physical properties and are thought to be in an early stage of AGN development: compact symmetric objects (CSOs). Throughout our journey with these remarkable sources, we quantify their efficacy as calibrator sources for radio …

Hierarchical Safe Reinforcement-Learning Framework For Mission-Aware, Edge-Enabled Multi-Uav Iot Networks, Abee F. Alazzwi

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

This Ph.D. dissertation presents a unified Hierarchical Safe Reinforcement Learning (HSRL) framework for mission-aware, edge-enabled multi-UAV Internet of Things (IoT) networks. The work addresses the need for autonomous aerial infrastructures capable of delivering low-latency communication, scalable edge computation, and provably safe operation in dynamic environments. The dissertation develops three primary contributions. First, it formulates longhorizon drone base station placement and load balancing as a strategic actor–critic learning problem, enabling proactive adaptation to spatiotemporal demand variations. Second, it introduces a mission-aware multi-agent reinforcement learning controller for coordinated mobility, sensing, and computation offloading under latency and energy constraints. Third, it integrates a …

Fault Location In Dc Microgrids Using Traveling Waves, Sajay Krishnan Paruthiyil

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

In DC power systems, rapid fault location is crucial for maintaining reliable operation, particularly with the prevalence of DC-DC converters. This study investigates fault location techniques in DC systems utilizing Traveling Waves (TWs). Following data normalization, multi-resolution analysis employs discrete wavelet transform to capture high-frequency patterns of TW's wavelet coefficients. Parseval's theorem is utilized to quantify the energy of these coefficients. First, a curve-fitting technique is employed to estimate fault locations in DC microgrids. Then, two transfer learning approaches are proposed: first approach integrates Parseval energy curves into a Gaussian process estimator, while second employs feedforward neural network for fault …

The Role Of Gender And Salient Social Identities In Producing Vulnerability And Maladptation To Flooding In Koraso, Berekum, Ghana, Kingsley Damoah Oppong

Geography ETDs

This paper highlights how social identities like polygamy, illiteracy, and ethnicity hinder rural women farmers in Ghana from adapting to climate change. It advocates for an intersectional approach to address these challenges, moving beyond simplistic gender binaries. Using qualitative interviews (n=49) in a flood-prone village in Berekum, Ghana, the study reveals how these identities intersect with gender roles and colonial legacies, exacerbating vulnerability. It bridges Black feminist thought with climate change, an underexplored area, offering insights into climate change and environmental studies, as well as Black feminist scholarship. This research urges a reevaluation of how we understand climate change in …

Advancing Neutrosophic Topology Through Gamma Generalized Alpha Closed Sets, B. Kalaiselvi, K. Sivakumar, S. Chandrasekar, P. Kalarani, A. Kesavan

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This paper introduces a new class of Neutrosophic closed sets, termed Neutrosophic γ-generalized α-closed sets (Ne.(γGα)CS), together with their corresponding open sets (Ne.(γGα)OS), within the framework of Neutrosophic Topological Spaces (NTS). The study is motivated by limitations in existing classes of Neutrosophic closed sets, including α-closed, semi-closed, and γ-closed sets, which often lack sufficient flexibility for modeling hybrid structures characterized by partial membership, indeterminacy, and uncertainty. To overcome these limitations, the proposed Ne.(γGα)CS are defined using β-closure operators and α-open supersets, providing a more comprehensive framework that extends and unifies several previously established concepts. The properties of these sets are …

Advancing Common Fixed Point Theorems In Bipolar Fuzzy-2 Metric Space And Applications In Nonlinear Analysis, Rajesh Kumar Saini, Mukesh Kushwaha

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This study advances common fixed point theorems (CFPT) in bipolar fuzzy-2 metric space (BF2MS) and explores their applications in nonlinear analysis. BF2MS generalizes traditional metric and fuzzy metric spaces (FMS) by incorporating dualistic relationships, allowing the representation of both attraction and repulsion effects. We extend classical fixed point theorems (FPTs) to BF2MS, establishing conditions for the existence of common fixed points (CFPs). The study's applications span nonlinear analysis, stability analysis, control theory, and multi-criteria decision-making under uncertainty. Our findings refine existing results and provide practical real-world applications, supported by numerical examples, enhancing fuzzy mathematics and nonlinear systems modeling.

Complex Neutrosophic Aczel-Alsina Aggregation-Based Hybrid Decision Framework For Machine Learning Encryption In Banking, Muhammad Kamran, Muhammad Shazib Hameed, Muhammad Tahir, Said Broumi, Nurullayev Mirolim Nosirovich

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

Advanced uncertainty modeling tools have emerged due to the growing complexity of real-world decision environments. Complex Single-Valued Neutrosophic Sets (CSV-NSs) use special functions to represent truth, uncertainty, and falsehood, making it easier to show unclear, conflicting, and vague information. CSV NSs, which consider both size and direction of uncertainty, let one more precisely combine and make decisions by using complex numbers. This work presents robust approaches for combining information, which rely on the Aczel-Alsina (A-A) operator and power-weighted strategies specifically designed for CSV-NS. These are included in a used to design hybrid decision-making framework and in the context of a …

Neutrosophic Sets And Systems, Vol. 98, 2026, Florentin Smarandache, Muhammad Abdel-Baset, Maikel Leyva-Vázquez

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This edition of “Neutrosophic Sets and Systems” presents a diverse collection of studies that contribute to the theoretical development and practical application of neutrosophic, fuzzy, hypersoft, and generalized algebraic systems in complex decision-making and information analysis environments. The published works explore innovative mathematical structures, including generalized neutrosophic topological spaces, neutrosophic algebraic systems, hypersoft and dual hesitant frameworks, multi-valued and n-fold algebraic models, and advanced decision-making methodologies designed to address indeterminacy, inconsistency, vagueness, and multidimensional uncertainty. Several contributions introduce new classes of neutrosophic closed sets, contra continuous mappings, and generalized algebraic operators, extending existing theories in topology, algebra, and set theory. …

Neutrosophic Hyper Ku-Ideals, Ramesh D. Kumar, M. Vasu

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This paper introduces the concepts of neutrosophic hyper KU-ideals, including strong, weak, and strong-weak neutrosophic hyper KU-ideals, as well as reflexive neutrosophic hyper KU-ideals within the framework of hyper KU-algebras. Fundamental properties of these structures and the relationships among them are investigated in detail. Special attention is given to the study of neutrosophic weak hyper KU-ideals and the conditions under which a neutrosophic set qualifies as a neutrosophic strong hyper KU-ideal (NSHKUI) or a reflexive neutrosophic hyper KU-ideal. The paper further establishes necessary conditions for a neutrosophic weak hyper KU-ideal (NWHKUI) to become a neutrosophic strong-weak hyper KU-ideal (NsWHKUI), as …

Linguistic Dual Hesitant Hypersoft Set And Their Application With Decision Making In Medical Diagnosis And Treatment, B. Sathiyapriya, V. Pankajam

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This study presents Linguistic Dual Hesitant Hypersoft Set (LDHHS) for Analysing Medical Diagnose. In LDHHS, linguistic terms are combined with Dual Hesitant logic to handle uncertainty and vagueness in Decision-Making. The Hypersoft Set extend traditional soft sets by handling multi-attributes and interdependent parameters in Decision-Making. In the context of LDHHS can be used to categorize and assess different aspects of Aggregation and using Decision-Making in Medical Diagnose. In this study the development of this framework, its application and its potential impact using a Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) case study to illustrate its effectiveness.

Neutrosophic Πgγ* Closed Sets In Neutrosophic Topological Spaces, K. Sakthivel, A. Gomathi

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This paper introduces and investigate the notion of Neutrosophic πgγ* closed sets within the framework of Neutrosophic topological spaces. The study begins defining Neutrosophic πgγ* closed sets and proceeds to investigate their fundamental properties and characterizations. Special attention is given to examining how these sets interrelate with and extend existing classes of Neutrosophic closed sets. By establishing inclusion relations and comparative hierarchies, the paper highlights the significance of Neutrosophic πgγ* closed sets in broadening the structural understanding of Neutrosophic topologies. Furthermore, several illustrative examples are provided to demonstrate the distinctive features of these sets and to clarify their role in …

Neutrosophic Quadruple Metric Spaces And Neutrosophic Quadruple Normed Spaces, Memet Şahin, Arif Sarıoğlan, Amanzholova Alina Bolatkyzy

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This study establishes fundamental results in the emerging domains of neutrosophic quadruple metric spaces and neutrosophic quadruple normed spaces. Building upon the recent definition of neutrosophic quadruple metric spaces, the first primary contribution is the development of fixed-point theory within this generalized framework. Specifically, we formulate and rigorously prove an analogue of the Banach contraction principle tailored for neutrosophic quadruple metric spaces. Furthermore, we establish additional fixed-point theorems applicable in this context, extending foundational results from classical metric spaces and simpler neutrosophic structures to handle the increased complexity and uncertainty modeled by quadruple-valued neutrosophic sets. The second major contribution involves …

Comparisons Of Infinitesimally Punctured Wave With Copenhagen And De Broglie-Bohm Interpretations, Neutrosophic Quantum Mechanics, And Non-Linear Electromagnetics, Florentin Smarandache

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

The article’s goal is to compare the "infinitesimally punctured wave" with the major interpretations of the fundamental philosophical differences in how physicists view reality at the quantum level.

Role Of Clans In The Proximities Of Neutrosophic Sets, R. Subasree, K. Basari Kodi, Giorgio Nordo, K. Subramanian, N. Nagamani

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

In this study, the terms filters, grills, clans, and proximities of neutrophic sets are defined. Further some of its properties are investigated and the results are provided.

Contra Continuous And Irresolute Maps Via M-Open Sets In N-Cylindrical Neutrosophic Topological Spaces, S. Anandhi, R. Vijayalakshmi, Shantha K. Lakshmi

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This paper introduces and investigates the concept of n-cylindrical neutrosophic contra M-continuous mappings within the framework of n-cylindrical neutrosophic topological spaces. Motivated by recent advances in neutrosophic contra continuous functions, irresolute mappings, and n-cylindrical fuzzy neutrosophic topological structures, the study establishes several fundamental properties of n-cylindrical neutrosophic contra M-irresolute mappings. The proposed mappings are analyzed in relation to existing classes of neutrosophic contra continuous and contra irresolute functions, highlighting their structural properties and interrelationships. The obtained results extend and generalize earlier studies in neutrosophic topology, thereby contributing to the theoretical development of neutrosophic topological spaces. Furthermore, this work provides a …

Nonagonal Neutrosophic Number: Analytical Aspects And Its Role In Optimization Technique For Transportation Problem, B. Sincy, V. M. Riya

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

Neutrosophic numbers have received increasing attention from researchers and industrialists to address the indeterminacy and uncertainty inherent in real-life decision-making. This study aims to solve the transportation problem where supply, demand and transportation costs are Nonagonal Neutrosophic Numbers (NNNs). In the existing literature, various methods have been introduced to solve transportation problems (TPs) involving neutrosophic parameters. The application of Nonagonal Neutrosophic Numbers to transportation problems is a relatively recent development. NNNs offer a more detailed and adaptable representation of uncertainty by utilizing a nine-parameter structure that captures the degrees of truth, indeterminacy, and falsity. Therefore, in this paper, we solve …

Horizontal And Vertical Generalized N-Fold Algebra: Formal Construction And Applications In Multi-Dimensional Modeling, Florentin Smarandache

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This paper extends the recently developed framework of Neutrosophic Logic-based Two-Fold Algebra (TFA), which was designed to integrate classical algebraic operations with fuzzy and neutrosophic components for modeling uncertainty alongside deterministic structures. Although TFA successfully combines algebraic operations with uncertainty descriptors, its binary structure becomes restrictive in applications requiring the simultaneous integration of multiple independent qualification dimensions, such as risk, sustainability, reliability, and performance assessment. To address this limitation, the paper introduces two generalized frameworks: Horizontal n-Fold Algebra and Vertical n-Fold Algebra, together forming the generalized n-Fold Algebra (n-FA), together with the extension from two-valued to multi-valued operations where m≥2. …

Integral Type Contractive Condition In E-Chainable Neutrosophic Metric Space And Common Fixed Point Theorem, Rajesh Kumar Saini, Mukesh Kushwaha, Moh. Kasim

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

Nonlinear Optimization, Game theory, economics and study of differential equations are just a few of the many domains in which fixed point theory (FPT) is essential. It is possible to construct new forms of infinite products by using continuous triangular norms (TN) and continuous triangular co-norms (TC). Banach contraction principal has been established in the context of neutrosophic metric space (NMS) within the framework through the use of these newly define infinite products. We introduced integral type contractive condition in -chainable NMS and establishes a common fixed point theorems (CFPTs) in the current work. The result acquired in this study …

Operations On Pythagorean Neutrosophic Fuzzy Matrix, V. Surya, Sophia R. Porchelvi

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This article discusses various unique varieties of Pythagorean neutrosophic fuzzy matrices (PNFM). Some fundamental operations such as addition, multiplication, union, intersection, complement, and exponen tial are discussed. This work introduces algebraic operations on PNFM and demonstrates some of its associated theorems, including distributive, commutative, and associative. The purpose of these investigations is to con tribute to a better understanding of PNFM and its use in real-world uncertainty.

The Α-Discounting (Α-Dmcdm) As An Extension Of Ahp, Topsis, Vikor, Promethee, And Weighted Sum, Florentin Smarandache

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This paper presents a comprehensive study of the α-Discounting Multi-Criteria Decision Making (α-D MCDM) method, an extension of the classical Multi-Criteria Decision Making framework designed to address inconsistencies and complex preference structures in decision analysis. Traditional methods such as the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and related MCDM techniques perform effectively when decision makers provide consistent pairwise comparisons; however, real-world decision problems frequently involve inconsistent, n-wise, interval-valued, or non-linear preference relations that exceed the capabilities of classical approaches. The proposed α-D MCDM method introduces a global discounting parameter α, which transforms inconsistent systems of preference equations into solvable algebraic models while …