Digital Commons Network^™

Dynamic Segmental Kinematics Of The Lumbar Spine During Diagnostic Movements, Paul Mcmullin

Theses and Dissertations

While lumbar kinematics can be measured in vivo, most measurements are invasive (such as percutaneous bone pins), provide high doses of radiation (such as biplane fluoroscopy), or are taken with the patient in a static position (such as MRIs). Recent work suggests that lumbar kinematics can be determined by dynamic measurements of epidermal strain in the lower back. This work aims to develop and examine a method of examining lumbar kinematics via optoelectronic motion capture utilizing skin-mounted markers in the lumbar region. Two studies were performed. One study examined lumbar epidermal strain in 28 asymptomatic subjects during diagnostic movements, while …

Superhyperfunction, Superhyperstructure, Neutrosophic Superhyperfunction And Neutrosophic Superhyperstructure: Current Understanding And Future Directions, Florentin Smarandache

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

The n-th PowerSet of a Set {or Pn(S)} better describes our real world, because a system S (which may be a company, institution, association, country, society, set of objects/plants/animals/beings, set of concepts/ideas/propositions, etc.) is formed by sub-systems, which in their turn by sub-sub-systems, and so on. We prove that the SuperHyperFunction is a generalization of classical Function, SuperFunction, and HyperFunction. And the SuperHyperAlgebra, SuperHyperGraph are part of the SuperHyperStructure. Almost all structures in our real world are Neutrosophic SuperHyperStructures since they have indeterminate/incomplete/uncertain/conflicting data.

Ncmpy: A Modelling Software For Neutrosophic Cognitive Maps Based On Python Package, Ilanthenral Kandasamy, Divakar Arumugam, Aryan Rathore, Ateeth Arun, Manan Jain, Vasantha .W.B, Florentin Smarandache

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

Cognitive maps are a vital tool that can be used for knowledge representation and reasoning. Fuzzy Cognitive Maps (FCMs) are popular soft computing techniques used to model large and complex systems, and they can aid in explainable artificial intelligence (AI). FCMs, however, cannot model the indeterminacy that arises in a system due to various uncertainties. Neutrosophic Cognitive Maps (NCMs), upgraded FCMs that could model indeterminacy, were introduced to address this issue. NCMs are a generalization of FCMs, a field of cognitive science firmly based on neural networks. NCMs have been used to solve a wide range of problems. NCMs were …

On B-Anti-Open Sets: A Formal Definition, Proofs, And Examples, Sudeep Dey, Priyanka Paul, Gautam Chandra Ray

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

The concepts of open sets, closed sets, the interior of a set, and the exterior of a set are the most basic concepts in the study of topological spaces in any setting. When we turn our attention to the concept of anti-topological spaces, we encounter analogous fundamental concepts, such as the definition of anti-open sets, anti-closed sets, anti-interior, anti-exterior, etc. These concepts have already been introduced and studied by mathematicians worldwide. In this article, we introduce and study the concepts of b-anti-open set, b-anti-closed set, anti-b-interior, and anti-b-closure in the context of anti-topological spaces and investigate some of their basic …

Some Special Refined Neutrosophic Ideals In Refined Neutrosophic Rings: A Proof-Of-Concept Study, Murhaf Riad Alabdullah

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

In this research, we created notions of a refined neutrosophic prime (completely prime, semiprime, and completely semiprime) ideal in a refined neutrosophic ring. If R(I1, I2) is a refined neutrosophic ring, then each ideal of R(I1, I2) has the form J+KI1+LI2 are ideals of the classical ring R. The objective of this work is to find the necessary and sufficient condition on classical ideals J, L and K that makes J+KI1+LI2 a prime (completely prime, semiprime, and completely semiprime) ideal in R(I1, I2). We studied some of the elementary properties of these concepts and the most important properties that link …

Adaptive Social Distancing Strategies For Controlling Infection Inequality In Emerging Infectious Diseases, Asma Azizi, Caner Kazanci, Sunmi Lee

Faculty Articles

People fare in outbreaks of emerging infections based on social factors shaping their exposure and vulnerability to the virus. This different exposure cause a disproportionate share of prevalence among people with various socioeconomic statuses. Therefore, socioeconomic-based control strategies are needed to control the discrepancy in prevalence among socioeconomic groups. We propose and analyze a SIR mathematical model that is grouped based on individuals' income level (representing socioeconomic status). For the model's parameter, we use properties of a real-world social network of individuals residing in New Orleans, Louisiana. We then distribute the social distancing practice among different groups to minimize a …

Strategies For Employee Retention In The U.S. Fast-Food Industry, Veronica Mason

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Determining The Potential Of Sonic Bloom In Inducing Rice Resistance (Oryza Sativa) Against The Attack Of Bacterial Leaf Blight Disease Caused By Xanthomonas Oryzae, Azka Algina, Syifaa Yunita Yulianti, Rohimatus Syamsyiah, Veadora Yasminingrum, Bergas Frenli Nur Vendi, Vira Kusuma Dewi

Jurnal Kultivasi

Xanthomonas oryzae which causes bacterial leaf blight disease is one of the main pathogens that attack rice crops. The threat of losing rice yields due to X. oryzae needs to be avoided by implementing appropriate control strategies. Sonic bloom has the potential to induce plant immunity against diseases. Hence, this study aimed to examine the potential of sonic bloom in inducing rice resistance to bacterial leaf blight. The experiment was arranged in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with five treatments and three replications. The treatments consisted of several frequencies, namely PR (0.5 - 1 kHz and inoculated with X. oryzae), …

The Application Of Florpyrauxifen-Benzyl 25 G/L, A New Auxin Synthetic Herbicide, To Control And Inhibit The Growth Of Water Hyacinth Weed (Eichhornia Crassipes (Mart). Solms), Nita Nur Rezkia, Denny Kurniadie, Dedi Widayat

Jurnal Kultivasi

Water hyacinth is an invasive species that spreads rapidly and causes several issues in aquatic habitats; therefore, efforts are required to eradicate weeds in aquatic ecosystems. Aquatic weed control in Indonesia using herbicide is very limited, so it can be an alternative for aquatic weed control management. This research goal was to examine the effectiveness of the herbicide with active agent Florpyrauxifen-benzyl 25 g/L in controlling and inhibiting the rapid growth of (E. crassipes). This research was carried out at the Ciparanje Greenhouse and Weed Science Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture Universitas Padjadjaran, West Java, Indonesia, from August to October 2022. …

A Finite-State Morphological Analyzer For Q'Eqchi' Using Helsinki Finite-State Technology (Hfst) And The Giellatekno Infrastructure, Cody Scott Christopherson

Theses and Dissertations

Finite-state morphological modeling has been used in natural language processing for many years particularly when dealing with lower resource languages. The present study details the development of an open-source finite-state morphological model for the Q'eqchi' Maya language using Helsinki Finite-State Technology (HFST) and the Giellatekno infrastructure. This project represents the first comprehensive morphological analyzer for Q'eqchi' and sets a foundation for future work in data annotation for this language. The resulting transducer consists of 4,439 lexemes, 2,610 states and 9,558 transitions and covers between 75% and 85% of tokens in a Q'eqchi' corpus. The success of this project lays the …

Soft Robot Trajectory Generation: Enabling Soft Robot Arms To Reliably And Effectively Perform Real World Tasks Through Optimization, Haley P. Sanders

Theses and Dissertations

The robotic platform presented in this thesis is underdamped with high inertia and can store potential energy in its compliant joints, making it ideal for many different types of real-world tasks for which traditional rigid-robots are ill-suited. Some real-world tasks suited to soft robots include high impact tasks like hammering a nail into a wall or moving heavy objects with other robot or human teammates while using relatively little power. Some of the same characteristics which make soft robots useful, such as their underdamped, highly compliant joints, also make motion planning and control for soft robots difficult. In this thesis, …

Analysis Of Vulnerability And Risk Of Maize (Zea Mays L.) Production Decrease On Rainfed Land In Garut Regency Due To Climate Change And Its Strategic Adaptation Options, Ruminta, Yassa Sabilla, Fiky Yulianto Wicaksono, Agus Wahyudin

Jurnal Kultivasi

Climate change, especially air temperature and rainfall, impacts the agricultural sector, one of which is the reduction of maize production. As an anticipatory effort to reduce maize production due to climate change, a study is needed to identify the possible hazard, vulnerability, and risk of maize yield reduction at the sub-district level in the largest maize-producing center in West Java, Garut Regency. After identifying areas with high or very high levels of potential yield reduction risk, a strategic adaptation that can be applied to deal with climate change can be identified. The method used in this research is descriptive quantitative. …

Microbial Ecology Of Alpine Snows: Novel Approaches To Assess Spatial And Temporal Dynamics, Avery Ezra Tucker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Snow algae blooms and associated microbial communities play large roles in snow ecosystem processes. Patterns and mechanisms underpinning snow algae bloom spatial distribution and associated microbial community assembly dynamics are poorly understood. To bridge these gaps in knowledge, this dissertation focused on two broad areas: (1) mapping associations of microbial communities and environmental measures between/within snow algae blooms across diverse substrate categories and identifying significant associations between them; (2) metagenome sequencing, offering the first partial genome of Sanguina nivaloides, along with identification of putative functional pathways. Although snow algae are an enigmatic domain in microbial community research, due to the …

Influence Of Periodic Stitching On The In-Plane And Out-Of-Plane Mechanical Properties Of Polymer Composites, Radwa Alaziz

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to investigate the influence of stitching architectures by using different stitching periodic patterns on the in-plane and out-of-plane mechanical properties. By using the inherent periodic architecture of these composites, their mechanical properties may be tailored for specific applications. Composite structures are extensively used in several industries such as aerospace, automotive, sports, and construction due to their many advantages, which include tailorable mechanical properties, high strength-to-weight ratios, and high specific stiffness. However, due to their low interlaminar tensile strength, composites are prone to delaminations, which can degrade the overall mechanical performance of the structure. Through-thickness …

Adaptive Traction, Power And Torque Control Strategies And Optimization In An All-Electric Powertrain, Aymane Hidara

Theses and Dissertations

Electric and hybrid-electric vehicles lean heavily on intricate control algorithms to provide smooth, reliable, and secure operations under any driving conditions. Three distinct supervisory control strategies have been developed, each aiming to improve reliability and vehicle performance of a dual-motor electric vehicle equipped with an all-wheel-drive, fully electric powertrain. These algorithms are adept at dynamically modulating and constraining the torque provided to the wheels, leveraging two autonomous permanent magnet electric drive units. This study utilizes a vehicle model jointly provided by MathWorks and General Motors in partnership with industry sponsors. The these strategies were implemented in the model and enhanced …

Quantum Computers For Nuclear Physics, Muhammad F. Yusf

Theses and Dissertations

We explore the paradigm shift in quantum computing and quantum information science, emphasizing the synergy between hardware advancements and algorithm development. Only now have the recent advances in quantum computing hardware, despite a century of quantum mechanics, unveiled untapped potential, requiring innovative algorithms for full utilization. Project 1 addresses quantum applications in radiative reactions, overcoming challenges in many-fermion physics due to imaginary time evolution, stochastic methods like Monte Carlo simulations, and the associated sign problem. The methodology introduces the Electromagnetic Transition System and a general two-level system for computing radiative capture reactions. Project 2 utilizes Variational Quantum Eigensolver (VQE) to …

Investigation And Control Of Görtler Vortices In High-Speed Flows, Omar Es-Sahli

Theses and Dissertations

High-amplitude freestream turbulence and surface roughness elements can excite a laminar boundary-layer flow sufficiently enough to cause streamwise-oriented vortices to develop. These vortices resemble elongated streaks having alternate spanwise variations of the streamwise velocity. Following the transient growth phase, the fully developed vortex structures downstream undergo an inviscid secondary instability mechanism and, ultimately, transition to turbulence. This mechanism becomes much more complicated in high-speed boundary layer flows due to compressibility and thermal effects, which become more significant for higher Mach numbers. In this research, we formulate and test an optimal control algorithm to suppress the growth rate of the aforementioned …

Flood Inundation Mapping Of The Catalpa Creek Watershed, Subodh Poudel

Theses and Dissertations

This study addresses flood risk assessment in the Catalpa Creek watershed, located in northeast Mississippi, USA. Employing the Hydrological Modeling System (HEC-HMS) and the River Analysis System (HEC-RAS), integrated models were developed and calibrated, to predict flood behavior within the watershed. The study conducted flood frequency analyses for return periods ranging from 2 to 100 years and generated flood inundation maps, pinpointing flood-prone areas. Mitigation measures for flood risk management were recommended. The results underscore the effectiveness of the integrated modeling approach for simulating and understanding the complex dynamics of flood events. The research identified critical flood-prone zones, emphasizing the …

Membrane Fabrication And Functionalization For Improved Removal Of Monovalent Ions From Water Using Electrodialysis, Matthew P. Sheorn

Theses and Dissertations

Electrodialysis is a membrane separation process that uses an electrical potential to drive the separation. The performance of these systems is largely based on the performance of their ion exchange membranes (IEMs). This research focused on enhancing the performance of IEMs for electrodialysis through surface modification techniques involving chitosan bonded to the surface of commercially available cation exchange membranes (CEMs). The surface functionalization techniques resulted in membranes with improved electrodialysis performance. This research also explored the processing framework to produce functionalized sulfonated PEEK (sPEEK) nanofibers for future consideration as cation exchange membranes.

Chitin was deacetylated to form the functionalized biopolymer …

Visual Acquisition And Detection Of Manned Fixed-Wing Aircraft And Rotorcraft: An Analysis Of Pilots' Perception And Performance, Rania Bassou

Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, the rapid advancement of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) has led to an increasingly complex National Airspace System (NAS), necessitating a comprehensive understanding of factors that impact pilot visual acquisition and detection of other aircraft (including manned fixed-wing, rotorcraft, and UAS). The objective of this study is to investigate factors that affect pilot performance in visually acquiring and detecting other manned-fixed wing aircraft and manned rotorcraft using a multi-method approach, incorporating qualitative and quantitative data analysis. A diverse sample of pilots with varying flight experience participated in the study. Participants were exposed to a series of flight test …

“I Tell It Like It Is, Then How It Could Be”: Public Discourse And Public Administration In Popular American Music Since The 1990s, Kristen Dechert

Theses and Dissertations

This study is an analysis of lyrics from popular American music albums since the 1990s to understand public discourse about and experience with public administration. Albums included in the study came from two prominent sources: Billboard and Pitchfork decade-end lists. The study is framed by critical, postmodern, and responsiveness theories, methodologically grounded in critical discourse analysis, and technically approached using standard qualitative methods, including especially qualitative content analysis and iterative, inductive coding techniques. Findings from the qualitative study demonstrate public discourse on the themes of institutional and systemic racism and violence within and perpetuated by public administration and public institutions. …

Assessing The Relationship Between Soil Health/Quality And Water Quality In The Mississippi Delta, Laura Andrea Sarmiento Rodriguez

Theses and Dissertations

Several studies have reported agronomic benefits by improving soil health/quality, but uncertain knowledge remains when determining specific impacts on water quality off-field. This study investigated the links between runoff water quality and soil health/quality in agricultural fields of the Mississippi delta under three land management scenarios: Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), vegetative buffer (VB), and row crops (RC). Using the Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF), a Soil Quality Index (SQI) was obtained based on ten soil health/quality indicators from 2008 and 2012 datasets. The SMAF identified significant differences in soil health/quality improvements among scenarios over a four-year period. Varied relationships between …

Probing The Biophysical Interactions Between Autolysin Proteins And Polystyrene Surfaces, Radha Paramee Wadduwage

Theses and Dissertations

Biofilms formed on medical devices pose significant challenges, compromising device efficiency and serving as sources of infection. Staphylococcus epidermidis, an opportunistic pathogen, relies on the autolysin protein, notably its R2ab and amidase domains, to attach to polystyrene surfaces and initiate biofilm formation. Despite their pivotal role, the structural intricacies of these proteins’ interactions with surfaces remain elusive. In this dissertation, the multifaceted aspects of protein interactions with polystyrene surfaces and the implications of these interactions for biofilm control are studied. Over the course of this study, it is found how the R2ab and amidase domains influence biofilm formation on polystyrene …

Study Of Augmentations On Historical Manuscripts Using Trocr, Erez Meoded

Theses and Dissertations

Historical manuscripts are an essential source of original content. For many reasons, it is hard to recognize these manuscripts as text. This thesis used a state-of-the-art Handwritten Text Recognizer, TrOCR, to recognize a 16^th-century manuscript. TrOCR uses a vision transformer to encode the input images and a language transformer to decode them back to text. We showed that carefully preprocessed images and designed augmentations can improve the performance of TrOCR. We suggest an ensemble of augmented models to achieve an even better performance.

College Preparedness. Narratives Of Transitions From High School To College., Chelsey Luann Vincent

Theses and Dissertations

Despite many theories on student success as well as many resources to help students make the transition from high school to college, many students do not persist in or graduate from college. The purpose of this dissertation is to provide insight into what takes place when students leave P-12 institutions and enter institutions of higher education by using focused narrative inquiry. This study took place at a large research university in the south. The study included 4 participants at various parts of their transition journey. Participants in the study responded to written prompts. Follow up interviews were conducted, and a …

Electroencephalography And Biomechanics Of The Basketball Throw, Phong Ky Phan

Theses and Dissertations

According to various studies, compared with novice athletes, experts exhibit superior integration of perceptual, cognitive, and motor skills. This superior ability has been associated with the focused and efficient organization of task-related neural networks. Specifically, skilled individuals demonstrate a spatially localized or relatively lower response in brain activity, characterized as ‘neural efficiency’, when performing within their domain of expertise. Previous works also suggested that elite basketball players can predict successful free throws more rapidly and accurately based on cues from body kinematics. These traits are the result of a prolonged training of specific motor skills and focused excitability of the …

High Temperature Materials From Bis-Ortho-Diynylarene (Boda)-Derived Resins And Perfluorocyclobutyl (Pfcb) Aryl Ether Polymers, Ernesto Isaac Borrego

Theses and Dissertations

This work expands the current understanding of materials chemistry and engineering capabilities of two synthetic platforms: 1.) bis-ortho-diynylarenes (BODA) and 2.) trifluorovinylaryl ethers (TFVE). Each platform possesses a unique chemistry which paradoxically enables the development of high-performance materials therefrom while simultaneously retaining exceptional melt and solution processability. Leveraging the apparent dichotomy in properties (performance/processability) obtainable from these two synthetics platforms, we have pursued and achieved a practical approach to high-temperature resistant materials with an immense potential for technology transfer and commercialization:

1.) BODA-derived resins (BDR) constitute a versatile platform of melt-processable resins capable of rapidly producing high performance …

Explainable Intrusion Detection Systems Using White Box Techniques, Jesse Ables

Theses and Dissertations

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has found increasing application in various domains, revolutionizing problem-solving and data analysis. However, in decision-sensitive areas like Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS), trust and reliability are vital, posing challenges for traditional black box AI systems. These black box IDS, while accurate, lack transparency, making it difficult to understand the reasons behind their decisions. This dissertation explores the concept of eXplainable Intrusion Detection Systems (X-IDS), addressing the issue of trust in X-IDS. It explores the limitations of common black box IDS and the complexities of explainability methods, leading to the fundamental question of trusting explanations generated by black box …

Safety-Aware Autonomous Robot Navigation, Mapping And Control By Optimization Techniques, Tingjun Lei

Theses and Dissertations

The realm of autonomous robotics has seen impressive advancements in recent years, with robots taking on essential roles in various sectors, including disaster response, environmental monitoring, agriculture, and healthcare. As these highly intelligent machines continue to integrate into our daily lives, the pressing imperative is to elevate and refine their performance, enabling them to adeptly manage complex tasks with remarkable efficiency, adaptability, and keen decision-making abilities, all while prioritizing safety-aware navigation, mapping, and control systems. Ensuring the safety-awareness of these robotic systems is of paramount importance in their development and deployment. In this research, bio-inspired neural networks, nature-inspired intelligence, deep …

Designing An Artificial Immune Inspired Intrusion Detection System, William Hosier Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

The domain of Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) has witnessed growing interest in recent years due to the escalating threats posed by cyberattacks. As Internet of Things (IoT) becomes increasingly integrated into our every day lives, we widen our attack surface and expose more of our personal lives to risk. In the same way the Human Immune System (HIS) safeguards our physical self, a similar solution is needed to safeguard our digital self. This thesis presents the Artificial Immune inspired Intrusion Detection System (AIS-IDS), an IDS modeled after the HIS. This thesis proposes an architecture for AIS-IDS, instantiates an AIS-IDS model …