Digital Commons Network^™

Toward Sustainable 3d Printable Cementitious Materials: Low-Carbon Design With Fiber Reinforcement, Nima Mahmoudzadeh Vaziri

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

3D printing of cementitious materials, as an emerging construction technology, faces challenges in both mechanical performance and sustainability. Conventional mixture designs rely on high cement contents, leading to increased CO2 emissions, while printed elements often exhibit brittle behavior with limited crack resistance and reduced post-cracking performance. This study investigates the development of low-carbon 3D printed cementitious composites using environmentally friendly supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) and fillers, combined with fiber reinforcement to enhance mechanical performance. Locally available SCMs and fillers were incorporated to significantly reduce cement content (>40%) and improve sustainability. Fiber reinforcement was introduced to mitigate brittleness and enhance …

Breath-Based Detection Of Liver Cancer Biomarkers Using An Swcnt-Fet Nanobiosensor: Quantumatk, Mohamed Mohieb Rashdan

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

There are still no tests to detect liver cancer in the early stages because it is a slow-growing and invasive type.

This study describes the use of a single-walled carbon nanotube-based field-effect transistor (SWCNT-FET) whose ability to detect hexanal, a volatile organic compound (VOC) found to be elevated in liver cancer, has been demonstrated through direct measurements from exhaled breath. The device is designed using QuantumATK with the semi-empirical Extended Hückel Hamiltonian framework in non-equilibrium Green’s function (NEGF) which shows realistic contact physics by using metallic SWCNT electrodes instead of common metal films. Through the analysis of two zigzag channels …

Application Of The Tridiagonal Representation Approach And The J Matrix Method Of Scattering In Theoretical Physics, Tunde Joseph Osunmusanmi

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

This dissertation investigates the application of the Tridiagonal Representation Approach (TRA) to linear systems and introduces, for the first time, an extension of the J-matrix method of scattering to nonlinear phenomena. The TRA provides an algebraic framework for solving second-order linear ordinary differential equations by combining algebraic structure with the analytical properties of orthogonal polynomials and special functions. Computationally, the method benefits from efficient numerical techniques for tridiagonal matrices. Within the TRA, solutions of differential equations, including the Schrödinger equation, are expressed as convergent expansions in square-integrable basis functions chosen to yield a tridiagonal representation of the differential operator. This …

Scenario-Based Pareto Analysis For Multi-Objective Optimization Of Process Parameters To Improve Life Cycle Impacts: Case Study Of Ge Production, Dennis Dadzie

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

Growing demand for critical minerals increases the need for clear evidence on the environmental burdens of their production. Life‑cycle assessment (LCA) quantifies impacts, but it does not by itself show how to navigate competing environmental performance improvement goals. We examine 63 process configurations for single‑crystal germanium made via chlorinated distillation using five indicators: global warming potential (GWP), water consumption (WC), fine particulate matter (FPM), terrestrial acidification (TA), and cumulative energy demand (CED). Across scenarios, WC is negatively correlated with GWP, weakly related to FPM, TA, and CED, while the other four indicators are strongly positively correlated. Pareto analysis highlights a …

Assessing Radon And Radon Progeny Deposition On Simulated Lung Filter System: Effects Of Cigarette And E-Cigarette Use Based On The Icrp Model, Manuela Isabel Arenas Alvarez

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

This project investigates the potential interaction between radon exposure and e-cigarette aerosols, focusing on how radon progeny deposit in the lungs under combined conditions. An experimental system was developed to simulate regional lung deposition based on the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) model. The setup uses a filter-based design and a custom modular atomizer to generate stable aerosols, with four commercial plastic filters evaluated. Initial results demonstrate reproducible filtration behavior and a total deposition pattern matching ICRP predictions within 21% error. Ongoing work aims to improve agreement with regional deposition curves and enable combined radon–aerosol exposure experiments. This platform …

Measuring The Influence Of Ai Decision Support On Organ Procurement Coordinators’ Workflow, Amaneh Babaee

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

Approximately 30% of deceased-donor kidneys remain unused, representing missed opportunities for transplantation. One potential solution is identifying hard-to-place kidneys earlier in the allocation process to reduce late-stage reassessment and allocation inefficiencies. Over a four-year project, our team developed an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm that provides Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) coordinators with an AI score indicating the likelihood that a kidney will be transplanted. This study evaluates the impact of this AI score on kidney placement decisions. Using a pre–post experimental design, participants will first evaluate four donor kidneys without AI support. After watching a training video explaining the AI score, …

Preventive Maintenance Scheduling Using Artificial Intelligence And Decision Support Agent, Samiksha Aryal

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

Preventive Maintenance models have traditionally relied on a time-based maintenance model, which uses fixed statistical distribution to represent the time-to-failure (TTF). The requirement of data-driven models and automated decision-making systems have become essential for modern manufacturing systems. The use of fixed statistical distribution limits the ability of existing models in producing solutions in real-time. Our model overcomes these limitations by implementing an empirical distribution to represent TTF. The empirical distribution is generated using a neural network which eliminates noise from the raw maintenance log. Renewal Reward Theorem (RRT) is implemented to efficiently provide maintenance threshold in real time. The use …

Robustness Of Fuzzy Artmap To Adversarial Attacks And Progressive Adversarial Training For Streaming Learning, Shane Cairns

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

Incremental learners deployed on streaming data must remain robust to evolving adversarial perturbations, yet most adversarial-robustness studies assume offline multi-epoch training with repeated access to historical data. We investigate adversarial robustness in Fuzzy ARTMAP, a prototype-based Adaptive Resonance Theory model that supports single-pass learning without replay. We propose WB-Softmax, a differentiable relaxation that aggregates category-level activations into class-level scores for gradient-based attacks. WB-Softmax PGD achieves 89–100% attack success on vanilla models, exceeding transfer and query-based baselines. We then study adversarial training under true streaming constraints by comparing offline versus online adversarial example generation and standard versus selective updates. Offline adversarial …

2nd Annual Miners Solving For Tomorrow Research Conference - Graduate Schedule, Antai Dong, Connor Bell, Dennis Dadzie, Joshua Gary, Adebayo Olayinka Oke, Deeshani Mitra, Yejun Kim, Josiah Mcdermott, Samiksha Aryal, Nicholas Benner, Timothy Ennis, Maryam Sharifi Paroushi, Sujan Maharjan, Md Saiduzzaman, Hari Dhital, Manuela Isabel Arenas Alvarez, Eyuel A Getahun, Lucas Greiner, Amaneh Babaee, Shane Cairns, Nazish Khalid, Joseph Walton, Jie Shi, Ehsan Asheghianamiri, Mariam Elazhary, Makuach James Makeny Panther Athach, Rasman Mubtasim Swargo, Shiva Kumar Goud Kasani, Pablo Jara, Sara Mccauley, Hartzell Weston, Al Mojahid Afridi, Matik Heskin, Nima Mahmoudzadeh, Effat Eskandari, Amitav Sen, Rabin Pandey, Amirhossein Habibi, Nuzaer Omar, Mizanur Rahman Jewel, Nathan Tibbetts, Manoj Twarakavi, Farhana Bristy, Akhrorbek Narmatov, Mahnaz Asgari Sooran, Yafang Hei, Nathan Roberts, Khosro Ghorbani Zadeh

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Assessing The Effects Of Scale-Dependent Representation Of River Networks On Hydrologic Prediction, Hari Dhital

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

Accurate hydrologic prediction at relevant spatial scales is essential for flood risk management. This study explores how spatial scale affects model parameters and simulation outcomes in the Hillslope Link Model (HLM). This was motivated by HLM implementation within the Next Generation Water Resources Modeling (NextGen) framework for the U.S. National Water Model. Since NextGen alters HLM's spatial scale from hillslopes to catchments, we assess how this change affects runoff generation and routing. We implement HLM at both scales using identical, predetermined parameters without calibration to isolate spatial discretization effects. Using approximately ten years of precipitation and streamflow data from watersheds …

Evaluation Of National Water Model Long-Range Streamflow Forecasts In Missouri, Sujan Maharjan

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

Long-range river stage forecasts are increasingly used to support barge scheduling along the Missouri and Mississippi River navigation corridor. The reliability of these forecasts over extended lead times remains uncertain, particularly in regulated systems influenced by upstream dam operations. This study evaluates the lead-time-dependent performance of National Water Model long-range forecasts at eleven U.S. Geological Survey stations from Rulo to Thebes during 2019–2024. Results show that forecast skill does not decline smoothly with time but exhibits station-specific dips at lead times corresponding to hydraulic travel from major control structures. These periods coincide withstage bias and dispersion, indicating elevated operational uncertainty. …

Evaluation Of Channel Routing Module In The Nextgen National Water Model, Md Saiduzzaman

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

The Next Generation Water Resources Modeling (NextGen) framework has a modular structure that enables the integration of multiple hydrologic models with channel routing processes. Within NextGen, the T-Route model performs channel routing using vector-based river networks and supports a hybrid routing approach within a single watershed. This study evaluates the hydraulic diffusive wave routing method implemented in T-Route and compares its performance with the operational Muskingum-Cunge routing used in the National Water Model. The primary objective is to assess the operational capability of streamflow data assimilation across different routing methods using an extensive network of streamflow observations. The routing models …

Controlled Gelation Of Co₂-Resistant Polymer Systems For Improved Conformance In Co₂-Eor, Maryam Sharifi Paroushi

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

This presentation introduces a CO₂-resistant hydrogel developed to control fluid movement and improve CO₂ injection performance in subsurface reservoirs for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). Conventional polymer gels often lose strength in CO₂-rich environments, resulting in weak plugging, early breakdown, and ineffective flow control. To address this limitation, a sulfonated HPAM-based gel system crosslinked with chromium was developed. The effects of polymer concentration, molecular weight, crosslinker ratio, ionic strength, and pH were investigated to better understand gelation behavior and performance. The formulation exhibited controlled gelation, strong resistance to temperature and CO₂, and minimal shrinkage over …

Empirical Evaluation Of Policy-Based Reinforcement Learning For Dynamic Service Control In An M/M/1 Queue, Joseph Walton

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

While reinforcement learning has been increasingly applied to stochastic control, limited work examines policy-based methods in queuing environments modeled as semi-Markov decision processes (SMDP). This study investigates how policy-based reinforcement learning (RL) algorithms perform when applied to service rate control in an M/M/1 queue, a common queuing model for manufacturing and service systems. The problem is formulated as an SMDP in which decisions occur at each new service, allowing an agent to select different service rates from a finite set of speeds, aiming to minimize an objective function that manages system congestion and energy costs. Three policy-based reinforcement learning algorithms, …

Structural Analysis On Iron Phosphate Glasses After Dechlorination Of Mixed Chloride Waste Forms, Lucas Greiner

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

Molten salt reactors (MSRs) require durable waste forms for immobilizing halide-rich salts. This study examines iron phosphate glasses derived from a simple salt mixture (SSM), focusing on the effect of Fe₂O₃ additions (2.5–10 wt%) on structure and phase stability. Intermediates were processed at 300–600 °C and vitrified at 1050 °C. Raman spectroscopy and HPLC show that increasing iron content depolymerizes the phosphate network, shifting from Q² toward Q¹ species and reducing chain length. XRD confirms amorphous behavior for ≤7.5 wt% Fe₂O₃, while 10 wt% shows crystallization, with KFeP₂O₇ observed in samples processed at 400 °C. Despite reduced connectivity, iron enhances …

Gis And Assessment - Where Do You Fit?, Linda Foster Pls, Gisp

GIS/ValuationTechnologies Conference 2026

This session will summarize the findings of the "GIS Technology Survey for Assessment Professionals," which was a collaborative effort between IAAO and Esri. Keeping up with the changes in technology in the assessment industry is an important task for all assessment offices and an area IAAO continues to work on to assist members. The first update since 2018, with expanded technology topics relevant to the assessor, the survey results will provide a current picture of how assessors are leveraging geospatial technology in their current operations.

Statewide Data Sharing: How Kansas Unified 105 Counties For Better Transparency & Efficiency, Ryan Janzen

GIS/ValuationTechnologies Conference 2026

Kansas established a platform combining data from all 105 counties, enabling seamless parcel information sharing, including residential, commercial, and sales data. This powerful tool enhances consistency, transparency, and efficiency, providing a model for improving data sharing and valuation processes across multiple jurisdictions. Learn how to implement, optimize, and benefit from a statewide data-sharing system.

Your Ai Is Bs, Jimmy Williams Msc, Cpe, Cbp, Bindi Shakya Cpe, Alex Raju Cpe

GIS/ValuationTechnologies Conference 2026

The valuation industry, like many others, has become captivated by the language of “innovation.” Terms such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Automation are thrown around at conferences, in white papers, and across vendor pitches as if they’re the magic keys to the future. Yet, too often these buzzwords create confusion rather than clarity—slowing real adoption, misrepresenting what’s actually being done, and inflating expectations beyond reality. This presentation challenges the hype. We argue that much of what is being marketed as “AI” is simply the natural evolution of computer science, data analytics, and Moore’s Law—tools improving in speed and efficiency, …

Photogrammetric Analysis Of Porites Lobata And Pocillopora Spp. Live Coral Cover At Devil's Crown, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, Katherine Whitehouse, Preston Toutant

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Porites lobata and Pocillopora spp. are predominant scleractinian corals at Devil's Crown, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador that have been monitored for 48 years. Fluctuations in colony abundance and live tissue surface area of both taxa are associated with environmental variability driven by El Niño-Southern Oscillation. To better quantify colony number and live tissue cover of the two taxa, photogrammetry was utilized during a research expedition in May 2025. Two GoPro cameras were used during snorkel transects in the northwest (Porites) and northeast (Pocillopora) sectors of the shallow (2-3 m depth), elliptical submerged caldera to produce overlapping digital …

The Hidden Map Of Women's Health: Predictors And Protectors Across Our Lives, Tasfia Howlader

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Women's health has constantly been changing-from public health infrastructure to health policies, and even medical advancements. Yet, the struggles are persistent within the gaps present in women's health. The Socio-Ecological Model (SEM) explains interactions between different levels of relationships, which result in health outcomes that vary from individual factors to environmental factors. Applying the SEM to describe health disparities can help explain how the relationships an individual has influenced their health. This project serves to exemplify these different levels while discussing the tailoring of services to the needs and the importance of populations based on their experiences. Specifically, adhering to …

Judicial Legacy, Presidential Controversy: Ronald Reagan’S Appointment Of Sandra Day O’Connor, Katie Cassady

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

No abstract provided.

The Mission Of America: A Reminder Of Who We Are And Where We Go From Here., Shannon Morlock

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

No abstract provided.

Picking Sides: How Political Polarization Has Impacted The Understanding Of The Judicial Restraint Found In The Dobbs Decision., Ellie Shoemaker

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

No abstract provided.

Concepts Of Nationality And Ethnicity Within America, Katrina Jorquez

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

No abstract provided.

Energy, Computation, And The Nuclear Renaissance: Material Foundations Of The Data Economy, Apolo Fernandez

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

No abstract provided.

Unsc At A Crossroads: Rethinking Power And Representation In A Multipolar World, Paul Aginnah

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

No abstract provided.

Fostering Ubuntu In Countering The Spread Of Terrorist Ideologies In Africa: A Case Study Of The East African Community (Eac), Paul Aginnah

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

No abstract provided.

China's Rise, Alethia Jones

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

No abstract provided.

The Illicit Fentanyl Crisis In The United States: Root Causes, Federal Policy Responses, And State-Level Solutions, Lydia Courie

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

No abstract provided.

Assisted Suicide And The Absolute: Autonomy Or God’S Word?, Venture Ciccarelli

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

No abstract provided.