Digital Commons Network^™

Necessity To Integrate Operational Business During M&A: The Effect Of Employees’ Vision And Cultural Openness, Ralf Bebenroth, Robert A. Goehlich

Publications

This research investigates the impact of target-firm employees’ vision and cultural openness to integrate their operational business into a bidder firm. Our empirical analyses are performed on a sample of 176 employees of a medium-sized German engineering firm in the waste power plant industry taken over by a Japanese steelmaker. The questionnaire results show that, not the vision of German employees but their cultural openness positively correlates to the perceived need of integration. However, culturally open employees with a clear, articulated vision perceive less need to integrate their operational business into the Japanese bidder firm. This research contributes to understanding …

Learning-To-Dispatch: Reinforcement Learning Based Flight Planning Under Emergency, Kai Zhang, Yupeng Yang, Chengtao Xu, Dahai Liu, Houbing Song

Publications

The effectiveness of resource allocation under emergencies especially hurricane disasters is crucial. However, most researchers focus on emergency resource allocation in a ground transportation system. In this paper, we propose Learning-to- Dispatch (L2D), a reinforcement learning (RL) based air route dispatching system, that aims to add additional flights for hurricane evacuation while minimizing the airspace’s complexity and air traffic controller’s workload. Given a bipartite graph with weights that are learned from the historical flight data using RL in consideration of short- and long-term gains, we formulate the flight dispatch as an online maximum weight matching problem. Different from the conventional …

Connected Design Rationale: A Model For Measuring Design Learning Using Epistemic Network Analysis, Golnaz Arastoopour Irgens

Publications

Virtual learning environments have the potential to support students’ development of design skills in engineering education. However, few approaches exist for modeling and measuring design learning as it emerges in authentic practices, which often includes collaboration. This study merges learning sciences research with engineering design education to develop an approach for modeling and measuring design thinking. I propose a connected design rationale model which identifies relationships among design moves and rationale. Results from a qualitative examination of how professional engineers make connections among moves and rationales were used as the foundation to examine students in virtual internships. Using digital collaborative …

The “Magic” Of Density - A Unique Take On The 5e Lesson, Jacquelyn J. Mosely, Brooke A. Whitworth

Publications

No abstract provided.

Safety Of Vulnerable Road Users (Vru's) In Light-Rail Transit (Lrt) Environment, Samir Ahmed, Rifat Bulut

Publications

Light-rail transit (LRT), which includes modern streetcars, trolleys, and heritage trolleys, is one of the fastest growing modes of public transportation in the United States. To reduce the cost and complexity of construction, most LRT systems have their tracks placed on city streets, in medians, or in separate at-grade rights-of-way with at-grade crossings. Operating light-rail vehicles (LRVs) along these alignments introduces new conflicts and increases the risk of collisions with vulnerable road users (VRUs) including pedestrians, bicyclists, and electric scooter riders. This study has two main objectives: (1) to review and evaluate the existing body of knowledge and the state …

Going Viral- Using Technology In The Classroom To Show The Spreading Of Viruses, Laura C. Todd, Brooke A. Whitworth

Publications

No abstract provided.

Age’S Influence On Workplace Safety, Kelly Muhammad, Cheryl Marcham

Publications

According to the National Safety Council (NSC, n.d.), the total cost of work injuries in 2019 was an estimated $171 billion. This estimate includes wage and productivity losses, medical expenses, administrative expenses and employers’ uninsured costs. In that same year, an estimated 105 million workdays were lost due to injuries (NSC, n.d.). This report does not provide any specific details or any characteristics about the injured. However, knowledge of certain characteristics of the injured such as age can be critical information. This type of information could be useful in the development of workplace hazard prevention and mitigation programs.

Implications Between Uav And Atm Systems In Commercial Airspace Incorporation, Linda Vee Weiland

Publications

The integration of sUAS in commercial airspace is complicated and faces many challenges to ensure a safe and secure incorporation into the National Airspace System (NAS). This research analyzes the interconnectedness between the air traffic controller and the sUAS through HF implications when sUAS enter the NAS. To mitigate negative consequences in the integration, it examined the human performance of the controllers, the sUAS operators, commercial pilots, and the equipment. This study used a quantitative research approach from both the Software Hardware Environment, Liveware, and Liveware (SHELL), and the Swiss Cheese models (SCM) for analysis of UAS sightings that are …

Getting Started In Sotl Research: Working As A Team, Emily Faulconer

Publications

Getting started in SoTL research can seem daunting. Working with a team can increase support and productivity. This article explores roles in SoTL research teams, how to identify research projects, and pacing projects to maintain a pipeline. Teamwork will divide the workload and develop a community for support in navigating hurdles and celebrating successes.

Implications Between Uav And Atm Systems In Commercial Airspace Incorporation: Dissertation Defense, Linda Vee Weiland

Publications

Dissertation Defense:

• Human Factors associated with sUAS operations come in an assortment of characteristics, and they are inadequately represented in literature that focuses on the perspective of the air traffic controller as the center of the HITL environment.
• This may impact the safe integration of civilian sUAS as they continue to integrate in the NAS.
• Leads to concern for safety, efficiency, and workload optimization for controllers.
• Shows gaps in related knowledge

Risks To Student Achievement In Higher Education, Angela Atwell, Bettina Mrusek, James Solti, Keith Wilson

Publications

A university system sets out to deliver educational experiences that meet set goals such as the achievement of learning outcomes for individual courses and program outcomes for degree programs. There are many factors that impact the successful achievement of student learning outcomes and there-fore successful program design and implementation. If courses are not effec-tively designed with assessments properly aligned to learning outcomes, student achievement is challenging to measure. If faculty do not consistently adhere to college and/or university policies regarding submission of assignments, student behavior and perceptions of expectations in future courses may be skewed. In addition, students may, for …

Linking Personal Experience To Global Concern: How Zoo Visits Affect Sustainability Behavior And Views Of Climate Change, Leslie A. Duram, Josie Taylor A.

Publications

Globally, many species are threatened by habitat loss and are impacted by climate change due to human activities. According to the IUCN Red List, nearly 9000 animal species are now endangered or critically endangered. Yet, humans are largely ignorant to the impact they have on the environment due to lack of effective sustainability education. Currently, one of the most practical ways to connect with our global natural world is by visiting a local zoo. Zoos engage people with numerous species that they would otherwise never have the opportunity to see. Environmental education at zoos has come to address issues such …

Towards Semantic Integration Of Machine Vision Systems To Aid Manufacturing Event Understanding, Kaishu Xia, Clint Saidy, Max Kirkpatrick, Noble Anumbe, Amit Sheth, Ramy Harik

Publications

A manufacturing paradigm shift from conventional control pyramids to decentralized, service-oriented, and cyber-physical systems (CPSs) is taking place in today’s 4th industrial revolution. Generally accepted roles and implementation recipes of cyber systems are expected to be standardized in the future of manufacturing industry. The authors intend to develop a novel CPS-enabled control architecture that accommodates: (1) intelligent information systems involving domain knowledge, empirical model, and simulation; (2) fast and secured industrial communication networks; (3) cognitive automation by rapid signal analytics and machine learning (ML) based feature extraction; (4) interoperability between machine and human. Semantic integration of process indicators is fundamental …

Auroral Heating Of Plasma Patches Due To High-Latitude Reconnection, Joaquin Diaz Pena, Joshua Semeter, Yukitoshi Nishimura, Roger Varney, Ashton Reimer, Marc Hairston, Matthew Zettergren, Michael Hirsch, Olga Verkhoglyadova, Keisuke Hosokawa, Kazuo Shiokawa

Publications

This study exploits the volumetric sampling capabilities of the Resolute Bay Incoherent Scatter Radar (RISR-N) in collaboration with all-sky imagery and in-situ measurements (DMSP) to examine the interplay between cold plasma transport and auroral precipitation during a high-latitude lobe reconnection event on the dawn side. The IMF had an impulsive negative excursion in B$_z$ embedded within a prolonged period of B$_z>0$ and B$_y

Artificial Intelligence (Ai) And Augmented Reality (Ar): Disambiguated In The Telemedicine / Telehealth Sphere, Sharon L. Burton

Publications

The world is navigating through unfamiliar and incomprehensible times – COVID-19, international economic crisis, and crumbling healthcare systems. The United States (US) healthcare industry is grappling with an increased workload and advancing digitization technological concerns. The failure of organizations to offer suitable cybersecurity controls within the critical infrastructure leads to advanced persistent threat (APT) that could have incapacitating effects on organizations. A keen understanding of cybersecurity is vital for leaders and the need is referenced in US policy that advances a national unity of effort to strengthen and maintain secure, functioning, and resilient critical infrastructure. Akin to the Presidential Policy …

Personalized Digital Phenotype Score, Healthcare Management And Intervention Strategies Using Knowledge Enabled Digital Health Framework For Pediatric Asthma, Utkarshani Jaimini, Amit Sheth

Publications

Asthma is a personalized, and multi-trigger respiratory condition which requires continuous monitoring and management of symptoms and medication adherence. We developed kHealth: Knowledge-enabled Digital Healthcare Framework to monitor and manage the asthma symptoms, medication adherence, lung function, daily activity, sleep quality, indoor, and outdoor environmental triggers of pediatric asthma patients. The kHealth framework collects up to 1852 data points per patient per day. It is practically impossible for the clinicians, parents, and the patient to analyze this vast amount of multimodal data collected from the kHealth framework. In this chapter, we describe the personalized scores, clinically relevant asthma categorization using …

Optimization Of Organizational Design, Dyin Mabe, Guilherme Esmael, Manoel Burg, Patricia Soares, Leila Halawi

Publications

This study aims to present new techniques that airlines can use to gain efficiency through human resources allocation and keep up on track with the aviation industry’s challenging and constant- moving environment. The classical hierarchical structure that dominates most airlines today is not a prone environment for the proposed changes. The authors explore human resources optimization using the optimization software Lindo, mixed with Agile Methodology concepts and techniques. The authors also utilize evaluation score and talent mapping to develop a model for the best match between a Brazilian airline’s employees and tasks. The model considers productivity and cost.

The Impact Of Human Factors And Maintenance Documentation On Aviation Safety: An Analysis Of 15 Years Of Accident Data Through The Pear Framework, Flavio A. C. Mendonca, Natalie Zimmermann

Publications

Regardless of the type of maintenance performed on aircraft, instructions are to be used to provide the aviation technicians completing the maintenance activities with guidance on, and an outline of, the maintenance items to be performed and completed. However, the use of instructions does not guarantee the correct and proper completion of the maintenance activities as the instructions may be erroneous and/or maintenance personnel can misunderstand, misinterpret, or improperly follow the procedures outlined. Resulting maintenance errors can potentially result in aircraft accidents, as illustrated by Air Midwest Flight 5481. With the purpose of understanding how human factors associated with written …

Viscoelastic Model To Capture Residual Stresses In Heat Cured Dissimilar Adhesive Bonded Joints, Akshat Agha, Fadi Abu-Farha

Publications

The thermal loading during the curing process of an adhesive-bonded joint induces residual stresses in the joint, thereby affecting its performance. The problem becomes worse in the case of a multi-material joint involving varying coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) for different parts. A novel approach was developed to model the properties of automotive grade structural adhesives during the heat curing process. The material model was divided into two components: curing kinetics model and viscoelastic mechanical model. The models were calibrated using experimental data from Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) tests performed on an epoxy-based single-component adhesive. …

Cyber Social Threats 2021: Ai, Covid-19 Vaccine, Detection And Countering Strategies, Ugur Kursuncu, Jeremy Blackburn, Yelena Mejova, Megan Squire, Amit Sheth

Publications

In recent years, online platforms have been utilized for promoting harmful content and behavior such as extremism, harassment, mis/disinformation, human trafficking, genderbased violence among others affecting our society, often leading to real-world events. Such content and behaviors are inherently complex, making the recognition of these narratives challenging for researchers as well as social media companies. The Cyber Social Threats (CySoc) Workshop 2021 aimed to facilitate a rich forum for researchers and practitioners from both academia and industry in the areas of computing and social science, to discuss novel avenues for research on interdisciplinary aspects of harmful communications on social media, …

Characterization Of Time-Variant And Time-Invariant Assessment Of Suicidality On Reddit Using C-Ssrs, Manas Gaur, Vamsi Aribandi, Amanuel Alambo, Ugur Kursuncu, Krishnaprasad Thirunarayan, Jonathan Beich, Jyotishman Pathak, Amit Sheth

Publications

Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S (1999-2019). However, predicting when someone will attempt suicide has been nearly impossible. In the modern world, many individuals suffering from mental illness seek emotional support and advice on well-known and easily-accessible social media platforms such as Reddit. While prior artificial intelligence research has demonstrated the ability to extract valuable information from social media on suicidal thoughts and behaviors, these efforts have not considered both severity and temporality of risk. The insights made possible by access to such data have enormous clinical potential - most dramatically envisioned as a trigger …

Ieee Access Special Section Editorial: Software-Defined Networks For Energy Internet And Smart Grid Communication, Mubashir Husain Rehmani, Alan Davy, Brendan Jennings, Zeeshan Kaleem, Akhilesh S. Thyagaturu, Hassnaa Moustafa, Al-Sakib Khan Pathan

Publications

A new network paradigm of software-defined networks (SDNs) is being widely adapted to efficiently monitor and manage the communication networks with a global perspective. SDN has a key networking feature that separates control and data plane. Today, due to its inherent benefits, SDN has been widely applied to various networking domains, including data centers, 5G Access and Core network functions, wide area network (WAN), enterprise, optical networks, underwater sensor networks (UWSNs), energy Internet (EI), and smart grid (SG).

Class-Incremental Learning For Wireless Device Identification In Iot, Yongxin Liu, Jian Wang, Jianqiang Li, Shuteng Niu, Houbing Song

Publications

Deep Learning (DL) has been utilized pervasively in the Internet of Things (IoT). One typical application of DL in IoT is device identification from wireless signals, namely Noncryptographic Device Identification (NDI). However, learning components in NDI systems have to evolve to adapt to operational variations, such a paradigm is termed as Incremental Learning (IL). Various IL algorithms have been proposed and many of them require dedicated space to store the increasing amount of historical data, and therefore, they are not suitable for IoT or mobile applications. However, conventional IL schemes can not provide satisfying performance when historical data are not …

Stand-Alone Direct Current Power Network Based On Photovoltaics And Lithium-Ion Batteries For Reverse Osmosis Desalination Plant, Vishwas Powar, Rajendra Singh

Publications

Plummeting reserves and increasing demand of freshwater resources have culminated into a global water crisis. Desalination is a potential solution to mitigate the freshwater shortage. However, the process of desalination is expensive and energy-intensive. Due to the water-energy-climate nexus, there is an urgent need to provide sustainable low-cost electrical power for desalination that has the lowest impact on climate and related ecosystem challenges. For a large-scale reverse osmosis desalination plant, we have proposed the design and analysis of a photovoltaics and battery-based stand-alone direct current power network. The design methodology focusses on appropriate sizing, optimum tilt and temperature compensation techniques …

Disease And Disaster: Navigating Food Insecurity In A Community Affected By Crises During Covid-19, Andrew S. Pyle, Michelle Eichinger, Barry A. Garst, Catherine Mobley, Sarah F. Griffin, Leslie H. Hossfeld, Mike Mcgirr, Helen R. Saunders

Publications

This exploratory study examines how a community experiencing food insecurity while navigating multiple crises can be a model to inform resources, processes, and systems supporting communities facing similar circumstances. Data for this study were collected from residents of a community in Oconee County, a rural county in the northwest corner of South Carolina experiencing pervasive food insecurity. The community was severely impacted by the onset of COVID-19 and further devastated by a tornado in mid-April. The area of the county that sustained the greatest damage from the tornado was the Utica Mill Hill community, home to the county’s most vulnerable …

Science Portfolios Embedding The Nature Of Science, Lauren Simpson, Brooke A. Whitworth

Publications

No abstract provided.

Improving Hydroacoustic Sampling In Large Rivers: Evaluating Factors Influencing Target Detectability, Michael Glubzinski, David Coulter, David C. Glover, Gregory Whitledge

Publications

Mobile hydroacoustic sampling is increasingly being used to monitor fish populations in large rivers; however, several factors may influence the ability to sample fishes with this gear in these environments. This study sought to address the effects of vessel speed, wind speed, the coefficient of variation (CV) of transducer pitch angle, and beam compensation (BC) on hydroacoustic detectability to advance and inform mobile, horizontally-oriented hydroacoustic sampling in large rivers. A series of four replicate surveys was conducted past 23 artificial targets at three vessel speeds in a large river. Wind speed data during surveys were obtained, and post-processing of hydroacoustic …

Engineering Controls For Bioaerosols In Non-Industrial/Non-Healthcare Settings, David Krause, Cheri Marcham, Bill Mele, Jack Springston, Rob Strode, Donald Weekes, Neil J. Zimmerman

Publications

The list of disease pathogens that can be transmitted in the air is extensive. This list includes the common cold, SARS, measles, Hansen’s disease (leprosy), polio, influenza, Legionella (Legionnaires’ disease and Pontiac fever), and tuberculosis (TB). TB, SARS-CoV-1, avian influenza, varicella, and now SARS-CoV-2 all have received public notice due not only to their known or assumed ability to be transmitted in the air rapidly from one individual to another, but also for their virulence. Other bioaerosols that can be transmitted through the air include bacteria, fungal spores and fragments, dust mites, and pollen. This document was developed to address …

Analysis, Modeling, And Simulation (Ams) Case Studies Of Connected And Automated Vehicle (Cav) Implementations Specific To The South Central Region, Christopher Melson, Jiaqi Ma

Publications

Connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) offer potentially transformative and far-reaching impacts to the transportation system. However, realized benefits will be directly tied to how well agencies prepare for these technologies. This report documents efforts that support CAV preparatory actions in Louisiana and includes: (1) conducting a stakeholder survey to inform engagement activities to develop strategic partnerships in CAV deployment and (2) conducting crash analyses for deployment scenarios of CAV-based queue warning systems (QWSs).

An electronic survey was developed and disseminated to 273 Louisiana organizations. The purpose of the survey was to engage these organizations under the context of CAV planning …

Cross Domain Iw Threats To Sof Maritime Missions: Implications For U.S. Sof, Gary C. Kessler, Diane M. Zorri

Publications

As cyber vulnerabilities proliferate with the expansion of connected devices, wherein security is often forsaken for ease of use, Special Operations Forces (SOF) cannot escape the obvious, massive risk that they are assuming by incorporating emerging technologies into their toolkits. This is especially true in the maritime sector where SOF operates nearshore in littoral zones. As SOF—in support to the U.S. Navy— increasingly operate in these contested maritime environments, they will gradually encounter more hostile actors looking to exploit digital vulnerabilities. As such, this monograph comes at a perfect time as the world becomes more interconnected but also more vulnerable.