Digital Commons Network^™

Unified Evaluation Of Real-World Iot-Based Federated Learning, Yi Gu

Master's Theses

Federated learning (FL) is a novel paradigm that enables the training of a global machine learning (ML) model across distributed devices by exchanging model parameters instead of raw data in the training process. Internet of Things (IoT) devices typically operate with limited resources, have weaker security protections, and are more vulnerable to potential thermal stress (TS). Current evaluations of FL are mostly conducted through simulations of multiple clients on a single device. However, there remains a gap in understanding how FL performs under TS in real-world, low-power IoT environments. Conformal prediction (CP) is an effective method for quantifying uncertainty in …

Transgressive Fiction And The Problem Of Negative Affect: A Case Study Of Samuel Delany’S Hogg, Brian Thornton

Master's Theses

Samuel Delany began drafting Hogg in March of 1969 and worked on it intermittently before completing the novel in October of 1973.1 Yet Hogg remained unpublished until 1995 before finally seeing the light of day “during the ‘transgressive turn’ in American literature” (Mitchell 1). As such, the novel is historically situated along what Jonathan Mitchell calls a “dual temporality,” which “allows the novel to be located as an intervention in two key moments in America’s LGBT+ history: first, the developments in identity politics coming out of the socio-political cultural shifts of the 1960s; and, second, the post-AIDS awareness 1990s”.

Optimizing And Training An Svm-Based Breast Cancer Tumor Classifier, Kevin Lopatka

Master's Theses

With advancements in technology, turning to machine learning has become a popular choice for aiding clinicians in the diagnoses of breast cancer malignancies. While the neural networking approach has been vetted thoroughly, this work aims to take advantage of traditional machine learning techniques; mainly support vector machine learning and the optimizing of feature extraction. The discrete-wavelet transform is used in the feature extraction stage of machine learning. Previous works that use this feature extraction technique are analyzed and expanded upon by utilizing a variety of different wavelets as well as other color-spaces with the goal of achieving higher result metrics …

Modeling And Analysis Of A Hybrid Ac/Dc Green Seaport Power System With Photovoltaic Generation And Battery Energy Storage Systems, Corey Zaas

Master's Theses

This thesis investigates the modeling, simulation, and analysis of a Green Seaport power system integrating photovoltaic (PV) generation, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and coordinated protection within a hybrid AC/DC framework. The work improves a previously established model, enhancing it with detailed protection studies and simultaneous AC/DC power flow analysis using EasyPower software. The system was evaluated under a wide range of operating conditions, including varying solar irradiance, battery charge and discharge states, and both full and zero load conditions. Key performance indicators included voltage regulation, power factor behavior, equipment loading, protection device coordination, and total system power losses. Simulation …

Optimizing Growth Conditions Of Chlorella Algae For Enhanced Biomass And Oxygen Production, Supreme Ogheneovo Oghenerhoro

Master's Theses

Increasing Earth's carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels contribute immensely to global warming. At the same time, future Mars colonization requires innovative systems for oxygen production. This study explores how Chlorella algae can help control environmental challenges on Earth, support life on Mars, and produce biomass as an alternative to renewable energy. Chlorella is known for its high photosynthetic efficiency in capturing CO2 for growth, producing O2 and biomass used for biofuel production. It was studied under varying CO₂ concentrations and pressure conditions. Each experiment was performed using a photobioreactor setup and optimized algae growth conditions. These were assessed to understand its …

Design And Analysis Of An Isolated Resonant Pulsed Dc-Dc Buck-Boost Converter, Edgar Arturo Mora Tena

Master's Theses

This thesis entails the design, modeling, simulation, construction, and analysis of a new isolated DC-DC buck-boost converter with Zero-Current-Switching (ZCS) operation, continuous input current, and a low-side switch to simplify driving requirements. The proposed converter was designed to regulate a 5V output from an input range of 15V-18V, at a rated output power of 20W, and a switching frequency range of 90kHz-500kHz. Software simulations are performed to develop a mathematical model that describes the converter’s modes of operation, as well as the current and voltage waveforms of the resonant power components. Results from hardware experimentation confirm that the converter effectively …

Impacts Of Temperature Acclimation On Swimming Performance And Metabolic Dynamics Of The Amargosa River Pupfish, Cyprinodon Nevadensis Amargosae, Teresa E. Guerre

Master's Theses

Climate change is leading to warmer atmospheric temperatures in many regions of the world, which in turn is raising the temperatures of aquatic habitats and simultaneously shifting the frequency and severity of extreme precipitation events. In fishes, metabolic demands are higher under warmer conditions, while dissolved oxygen levels typically decline in warmer water. This mismatch may limit the ability of fishes to cope with high water flow events like floods that can occur following extreme rainfall. A few species of pupfishes (genus Cyprinodon) in the Death Valley region of California and Nevada, USA, occupy stream or river habitats with …

Structural Vibration Analysis Of The Multi Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (Mmrtg) On The Martian Surface, Christopher Brown

Master's Theses

A Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG) is a radioisotope power system designed for use within both planetary atmospheres and the vacuum of space. A radioisotope power system uses a radioisotope fuel source which generates heat that is then converted into electricity by the system’s thermocouples. These generators are used as a power source on space missions with very long service durations. MMRTGs have a required usage lifespan of roughly fourteen years, therefore the system must withstand stressors without suffering significant structural damage that would affect their functionality.

It is important to take into consideration that MMRTGs house radioactive materials; therefore, …

A Comprehensive Analysis Of The Production Of Biofuels From Nanno 3600 Microalgae And Algae Native To Connecticut Via Greener Alternative Extraction Solvents For Lipid Recovery, Juhkory Najar

Master's Theses

As the world continues to evolve and expand in both technology and population, the energy demand continues to increase as well to keep up with the production of new products and higher production rates. The depletion of fossil fuels and the considerable amount of greenhouse gases from the use of nonrenewable energy sources fuel the demand for renewable energy sources. These renewable energy sources originate from a variety of places, such as wind power, hydroelectric, and solar. Biomass continues to grow in the renewable energy sector due to its versatility in high lipid content and minimal competition with other biomass …

Extraction Of Bioethanol From Seaweed Via Hydrolysis And Fermentation Using Mass-Produced Enzymes And Yeast, Timilehin Esther Oluwole

Master's Theses

The increasing global energy demand, depletion of fossil fuel reserves, and environmental concerns have driven the search for sustainable biofuel alternatives. Seaweeds (macroalgae) are promising feedstocks for bioethanol production due to their high carbohydrate content, rapid growth rates, lack of lignin, and non-competition with arable land. This study investigates the bioethanol production potential of three seaweed species, Codium fragile, Monostroma grevillei, and Fucus distichus, using enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation via Separate Hydrolysis and Fermentation (SHF) and Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation (SSF) processes. Hydrolysis was catalyzed using either α-Amylase or Celluclast 1.5L, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae was employed for fermentation. Out of …

The Adirondack Frontier: Reclaiming A Vital Role In Shaping The Nation, Peter Nelson

Master's Theses

The traditional version of Adirondack history from the revolutionary period to the middle of the nineteenth century, which portrays the region as unexplored primeval wilderness, is nineteenth-century romantic mythology. It ignores thousands of years of Indigenous habitation and misrepresents early Euro-American activity in the region as well. In fact, from the earliest days of colonial exploration of North America until the middle of the 19th-Century, New York's Adirondack region was a dynamic American frontier, as important in shaping the destiny of the nation as the Northwest Territory or, later, the West. Activities in the Adirondack frontier contributed to the decimation …

Dewatering Of Chlorella Algae Using Co2 Gas Hydrate Formation For The Biofuel Production, Sumeet Oak

Master's Theses

When microalgae are processed for producing biofuel, dewatering the algae is an important step, particularly when combined with extracting valuable byproducts like algal oil. Conventional methods like centrifugation and filtration can be harsh on the algae and usually need high-energy inputs. In this work, the new application of CO2 gas hydrates as an algae dewatering agent was investigated. A CO₂ hydrate, CO2-nH2O, where n (n>5.75), is a nonstoichiometric compound where water molecules with hydrogen bonds are structured in an ice-like fashion to form polyhedral cavities. CO₂ gas hydrates are crystalline because gas molecules are trapped in a lattice of …

Key-Based Authentication Scheme For Evtol Drones Using Chebyshev Chaotic Maps, Eduardo A. Hernandez Escobar

Master's Theses

The development of electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) drones signifies a substantial advancement in urban air mobility, ready to transform transportation models in densely populated regions. These advanced drones, distinguished by their capacity to function in limited spaces and their minimized environmental impact, are set to transform individual, shipping, emergency services, and public safety activities. Nonetheless, like any transformational technology, the implementation of eVTOL systems presents many challenges, especially in the realm of cybersecurity. Adding many devices and entities to an eVTOL network increases the risk of privacy and security attacks. This paper proposes a key-based authentication scheme that …

Those Magnificent Men In Their Fighting Machines: An Investigation Into The Lives Of Wwi Tankmen, Lucas C. Campbell

Master's Theses

This thesis will look at the immense backlog of war diaries, journals, personal letters, government documentation, and oral histories left behind by British tank crewmen of the First World War. The purpose of this investigation is mainly to uncover the reasons that individuals were chosen for transferal into the Royal Tank Regiment, where they were transferred from, what their training consisted of before their deployment, and their combat history once they were sent into the battlefields on the Western Front. The goal of this project is to gauge the reaction to the emergence of this crucially important technology on a …

Mapping The Underthing: Literary Geography And Geographic Education In The Slow Regard Of Silent Things, Colby Mcclain

Master's Theses

This thesis examines the imagined geography of Patrick Rothfuss’ The Slow Regard of Silent Things. Through textual analysis, it investigates how fictional spaces can be mapped, the significance of toponyms (i.e., place-names), and the broader implications for literary and geographic studies. Of the fifty-two (52) toponyms analyzed, thirty-eight (38) were meaningfully identified using the text and the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), revealing deliberate naming schemes associated with function, emotion, or symbolism. These findings provide insight into the main character’s world, and her unique relationship with space and place. This study demonstrates that even wholly imagined settings have an underlying …

A Herpetofaunal Inventory Study Of Two National Wildlife Refuges In The Mississippi Delta And Associated Evaluation Of Trapping Efficacy, Andrew Holzinger

Master's Theses

The objectives of this project were to record the diversity and distribution of amphibian and reptile species present at Panther Swamp and Hillside National Wildlife Refuges (NWR) and to quantify trapping efficacy as a result of various methodologies under different habitat variables. The primary methods employed were two varieties of drift fence trap arrays consisting of 100-foot sections of silt fencing with buried 2.5-gallon buckets as pitfall traps and box traps placed at the end of each fence to capture larger organisms. When conditions permitted, aquatic trapping was also employed across the Refuges. A total of 55 species were documented, …

Movement Ecology And Trophic Dynamics In The Northern Gulf Of Mexico: Implications For Fisheries Management, Calvin Chee

Master's Theses

The northern Gulf of Mexico (nGOM) is a diverse and productive region for living marine resources. The region supports lucrative commercial and recreational fisheries ranging from low-trophic-level species, such as penaeid shrimps and forage fishes, to high-trophic-level predators (e.g. Yellowfin Tuna). This thesis contributes to the region’s ecological knowledge, with the primary aim of enhancing management efforts and providing direct management advice to two important fisheries. In Chapter 1, we develop a traditional per-recruit model for Southern Flounder, as well as a spatiotemporally integrated per-recruit model that incorporates the spatial distribution of fishing effort and the stock’s movement ecology. Fish …

Design Of A Novel Low-Cost Hybrid V-Shape Spoke-Type Ferrite Ipm-Synrm For Ev Traction Using Fem Software, Kenghao Cai

Master's Theses

This paper presents a hybrid V-shape spoke type ferrite Interior Permanent Magnet Synchronous Reluctance Machine (PMA-SynRM) for electric vehicle traction application. Ferrite or ceramic IPM-SynRMs compared to Neodymium (NdFeB) based IPM-SynRMs typically have lower torque, power density, and efficiency overall. Motivated by rising costs and international policies making it increasingly more challenging to obtain rare-earth metals, alternatives should be explored. With the help of finite element method (FEM) software, Ansys Maxwell, this study probes into a novel three-phase ferrite-only hybrid Spoke-type V-shaped IPM-SynRM using Tesla Model 3's neodymium powered V-shape interior permanent magnet machine as a benchmark. The proposed motor …

A Heuristic Approach To Portrait Segmentation And Its Application To Synthetic Bokeh Generation, Charles J. Snead

Master's Theses

Segmentation of portrait images is an important technique used to separate the foreground and background of an image. This separation of layers is useful for selectively applying post-processing techniques to enhance the quality of the image, such as blurring the background. Automatic portrait segmentation is a complex process that can be completed with a high degree of accuracy using deep learning with neural networks, but training and inference are often very computationally expensive. This thesis aims to take a heuristic approach to portrait segmentation by combining classical image processing and computer vision techniques into a solution that can be run …

Enhanced Post-Capture Automatic White Balance For Srgb Images, Eric Huang

Master's Theses

Automatic white balancing (AWB) aims to correct color casts caused by varying illumination conditions, typically assuming access to RAW sensor data. However, many real-world applications involve only sRGB images that have already been processed by in-camera pipelines. In these cases, traditional AWB algorithms often underperform due to the nonlinear transformations done by these pipelines.

This thesis builds upon a data-driven color correction framework introduced by Afifi et al. that relies on RGB-UV histograms and learned color transforms. A revised automatic white balancing (AWB) framework that improves both color accuracy and runtime efficiency is proposed. A fallback routine is implemented to …

Aiops–Driven Adaptive Anomaly Detection In Evolving Cloud Environments Using Transfer Learning, Mayur Shivakumar

Master's Theses

As cloud-based microservice architectures have become the foundation of contempo- rary enterprise solutions, performance interference, wherein co-located services com- pete for shared resources, remains a significant challenge. This phenomenon, often referred to as the noisy neighbor problem, manifests when one workload unexpect- edly increases the CPU, memory, disk I/O, or network consumption, resulting in latency spikes or throughput degradation for other services. While existing isolation mechanisms (e.g., cgroups and QoS policies) provide some mitigation, they rarely prevent contention entirely, particularly in dynamic, rapidly evolving environments with frequent code deployments.

This thesis proposes an AIOps-driven adaptive anomaly detection framework that integrates …

Detecting Software Anomalies In Microservices Using Spectrograms, Scalograms, And Convolutional Neural Networks, Snehith Jonnaikode

Master's Theses

The growing complexity of cloud-native microservices has intensified the need for robust anomaly detection mechanisms, particularly for misconfiguration-induced failures that often manifest subtly and propagate across service boundaries. This thesis proposes a comparative framework for runtime anomaly detection by transforming system metrics into frequency-domain representations—spectrograms using Short-Time Fourier Transform and scalograms using Continuous Wavelet Transform—and classifying them with Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs). Evaluated on DeathStarBench, a production-grade microservices benchmark with injected anomalies in the Reservation and Recommendation services, the framework also includes baseline Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) models trained on raw time-series features. Stratified 5-fold cross-validation shows that CNNs trained …

Peerproxy: A Webrtc Proxy For Http, Nathan Li-En Lee

Master's Theses

Advances in networking technologies have empowered individuals to easily self-host digital services such as websites and smart home systems. However, accessing these services externally often requires port forwarding, which requires manual router configuration, technical expertise in networking, and is sometimes restricted by internet service providers. Proxy-based services such as Ngrok and Cloudflare Tunnels simplify external access by using publicly hosted proxy servers, but introduce increased infrastructure costs and privacy concerns due to reliance on third-party servers that can inspect or store traffic.

This thesis presents PeerProxy, a novel framework that simplifies access to self-hosted web services without manual network configuration, …

Enhancing The Efficiency Of Eaop Degradation Using Ultrasound: A Study With Methylene Blue And Pfoa As Model Pollutants, Jamiu Busayo Ahmed

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Assessing Arterial Compliance: Utilizing A Surrogate Arm Bench Top Model For Oscillometric Blood Pressure Monitoring, Krystal Cardenas

Master's Theses

A study was conducted to evaluate the compliance of artificial artery systems utilizing an adaptation of the Yong-Geddes Surrogate Arm model, composed of a blood pressure cuff, artificial artery, pressure transducers, and flow to replicate physiological conditions to validate oscillometric non-invasive blood pressure measurement methods. The experiment phases included tube, blood pressure cuff, and the surrogate arm compliance tests both in static and dynamic conditions. Tube compliance tests showed that larger diameters resulted in increased compliance, with Sample 1 (smaller inner diameter, ID) resulting in an average compliance of 0.0912 mL/mmHg, and Sample 2 (bigger ID) resulting in 0.1597 mL/mmHg. …

Novel Approach To Traveling-Wave-Based Fault Location In Nonhomogeneous Transmission Lines, John Parker Burrell

Master's Theses

Accurate fault location is a critical aspect of power system protection, ensuring grid reliability and minimizing downtime. Traditional traveling-wave-based fault location methods face limitations when applied to nonhomogeneous transmission lines due to the reliance on precise segment velocities and propagation time data. This thesis addresses these challenges by proposing a novel algorithm that leverages historical fault data to estimate segment velocities and refine these estimates as more faults occur. The algorithm was rigorously tested using the digital model of an 11-segment, 65.694 km real overhead transmission line and validated using both simulations and hardware tests using commercially available time-domain protective …

Circular Restricted Three Body Manifold Trajectories Via Koopman Operator Theory, Lindsey Langton

Master's Theses

There are a multitude of computational techniques capable of modeling the behavior of nonlinear dynamic systems over time. In the field of astrodynamics, the most frequently used tools are numerical integrators, specifically Runge-Kutta algorithms. These algorithms have successfully produced numerous two-body trajectories, as well as an increasing number of three-body trajectories when two-body dynamic models fail to produce Δv values within the realm of mission feasibility. Koopman operator theory is an alternative method for modeling nonlinear dynamic behavior that captures an approximation of a nonlinear dynamic system on a defined basis in the Hilbert space. The Koopman operator is an …

Design, Test, And Comparison Of A Photovoltaic Thermal Hybrid Solar Collector Utilizing A Thermosiphon, And Theory And Analysis Of Related Predictive Computer Model, Lance Brown

Master's Theses

Design, construction and testing of a photovoltaic thermal collector, or PVT, was completed to determine efficiency improvements of this system compared to a conventional solar panel and to find the thermal energy gained through hot water storage. Flow, driven by density changes from solar radiation, creates a thermosiphon, moving water without the use of a pump and ultimately drawing heat away from the solar panel. This is done to create a more efficient solar panel as well as decreasing potential damage due to high temperatures. Evaluation of electrical efficiency, thermal efficiency and flowrate allow for comparison between other PVT systems. …

Development Of Ex-Situ Accelerated Chemical Stress Test Protocol For Common Anionic Exchange Membrane Chemistries, Michael D. Friend, Michael D. Friend

Master's Theses

The development of sustainably produced hydrogen fuel (“green hydrogen”) is key for the transition to clean energy sources. Green hydrogen is produced via water electrolysis. As with many clean energy sources, one of the major barriers for scaling water electrolysis is cost. A newer category of water electrolysis is Anionic Exchange Membrane (AEM) water electrolysis. AEM electrolysis systems have the potential to cost less as they do not require the expensive precious metal catalysts the current high preforming Proton Exchange Membrane water electrolysis technologies do. However, AEM lifetimes must be long enough to be cost competitive and AEM chemical durability …

Efficacy Of Immersive Virtual Reality Gameplay In Environmental Attitude Change: The Case Of Abandoned Offshore Oil Platforms In Santa Barbara, Arun Prasad Srinivasan Manoharan

Master's Theses

Public perception plays an important role in shaping conservation policies and decisions, especially in contested environmental spaces. Offshore oil platforms, historically viewed as environmental hazards, have been found to serve as marine habitats that support diverse marine life. However, public perception remains largely negative, influenced by concerns over pollution from past oil spill accidents. Traditional environmental education methods, such as lectures and documentaries, often fail to engage audiences effectively or shift entrenched opinions. This study explores the efficacy of immersive Virtual Reality (VR) gameplay in changing environmental attitudes, specifically in the context of abandoned offshore oil platforms in Santa Barbara, …