Digital Commons Network^™

Safe Optimal Control Of Quadrotor Formations Using Multilayer Neural Networks And Continual Learning, Ehsan Soleimani, Irfan Ahmad Ganie, S. Jagannathan

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This article presents an integral reinforcement learning-based optimal formation tracking scheme for multiple quadrotors unmanned aerial vehicles (QUAVs) experiencing nonlinear coupled dynamics and subject to constraints. We use multilayer neural networks (MNN) within an actor-critic framework where the MNN weights are tuned using singular value decomposition (SVD) of the activation function gradient to approximate optimal control policy via backstepping. Additionally, barrier Lyapunov functions (BLF) are introduced to ensure set invariance, thereby maintaining the quadrotors within a defined safety space due to constraints. A novel weight update law for each layer is derived using the HJB approximation error and control input …

Prescribed-Time Nash Equilibrium Seeking For Pursuit-Evasion Game Under Intermittent Control With Undirected/Directed Graph, Lei Xue, Jianfeng Ye, Yongbao Wu, Jian Liu, D. C. Wunsch

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper studies the prescribed-time Nash equilibrium (PTNE) seeking problem of the pursuit-evasion game (PEG) with second-order dynamics under the intermittent control (IC) strategy. To achieve Nash equilibrium (NE) in a user-defined prescribed-time, a time-varying high-gain function is incorporated into the design. The core challenge lies in applying IC to NE seeking, which complicates the convergence analysis and control design. To address this sticking point, we construct an auxiliary function and propose a Lyapunov function considering second-order dynamics to solve the PTNE seeking problem of PEG. Building upon the results for undirected graphs, we further extend our findings to directed …

Enhancing Measurement Accuracy In Industrial Applications: The Impact Of Sensor Data Imputation On Model Parameter Estimation, Steven Thompson, Michkath Omanda Bouraima, Maciej Jan Zawodniok

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Digital twins are meant to revolutionize the manufacturing industry by enabling advanced condition monitoring and predictive maintenance processes. However, disruptions within the manufacturing process, such as sensor malfunctions or connectivity issues are inevitable and will cripple these advanced analysis methods if not properly addressed. Therefore, efficient data management and analysis practices are key to advancing this technology. This work examines the impact of missing data imputation on model parameter estimation, a crucial task in developing models for digital twins. We theoretically derive the Cramer-Rao Lower Bound (CRLB) for a DC signal with an unknown scalar parameter in the presence of …

Distributed Sapphire Fiber Bragg Grating-Based Thermal Profiling Of Submerged Entry Nozzles, Farhan Mumtaz, Hanok W. Tekle, Bohong Zhang, Xiaodong Li, Sunday Abraham, Bryant Mathis, Jeffrey D. Smith, Ronald J. O'Malley, Jie Huang

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This article focuses on the application of sapphire fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) for instrumentation in submerged entry nozzles (SENs) within the steelmaking industry. The SEN is pivotal for transferring molten steel from a tundish to a mold, while preventing the infiltration of oxygen and nitrogen from the surrounding environment. Maintaining optimal flow conditions in the mold is crucial for ensuring casting process stability and maintaining high-quality steel. Sapphire FBG sensors have been instrumented in SENs to enable distributed thermal mapping for monitoring the health of the SEN. The optical sensor comprises three cascaded sapphire FBGs inscribed using femtosecond (FS) laser …

Performance Evaluation Of Newsql Databases In A Distributed Architecture, Zhiyao Zhang, Alan @ Ali Madjelisi Megargel, Lingxiao Jiang

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

In the last decade, application architectures have evolved drastically, moving from monolithic architectures to distributed architectures where deployment has shifted from dedicated on-premises servers to the cloud. Distributed architectures and cloud computing has enabled businesses to scale their application components across different geographical locations. While it is easy to scale the application layer, scaling its database layer that relies on traditional SQL databases is challenging and often is a common source of bottlenecks when it comes to application performance. This paper evaluates the performance characteristics between two NewSQL databases solutions, MySQL NDB Cluster vs. TIBCO ActiveSpaces IMDG. Serving as an …

Endodontic Management Of Dens Invaginatus Using Dynamic Navigation System In Pediatric Patient: A Case Report, Ayesha Fathima, Sahana Selvaganesh, Ganesh Jeevanandan, Pradeep Solete, Prabahdevi Maganur, Ather Syed Ahmed, Satish Vishwanathaiah

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Dens invaginatus, also known as dens in dente, is a dental anomaly resulting from infolding the enamel organ into the dental papilla. Dynamic Navigation Systems (DNS) like Navident, offer real-time guidance during endodontic procedures, proving especially useful in complex cases, such as calcified canals or pulp obliteration. This case report presents a 13-year-old female, who reported the chief complaint of continuous pain in the upper left front tooth region. Based on the clinical and radiographical findings, a diagnosis of pulp necrosis and chronic periapical abscess in relation to maxillary canine (23) was established with dens invaginated palatal canal ( Oehler’s …

Identifying Potential Risk Areas Close To The Oil And Gas Pipelines Due To Subsidence In Qazvin Plain, Mahmoud Rajabi, Sanaz Vajedian, Ryan Smith, Neil Grigg, Hossein Nahavandchi, Mehdi Goli

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Surface displacement caused by natural and anthropogenic activities poses a significant risk to subsurface pipelines, particularly in areas experiencing subsidence. Stress and strain induced by deformation can lead to pipeline buckling and potential vulnerability. This study applies a multidisciplinary approach integrating interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) deformation analysis, well data, and geological context to assess the risk to oil and gas pipelines in Iran's Qazvin plain. The focus is on evaluating the impact of an unconfined aquifer, which has a lower risk of subsidence compared to a confined aquifer, on pipeline infrastructure. We analyzed multitemporal Sentinel-1 data collected between 2014 …

Leveraging Intrinsic Properties For Classification Of Coal Seams Towards Spontaneous Combustion Proclivity And Predicting Susceptibility Using Machine Learning: Smart And Sustainable Mining Approach, Siddhartha Agarwal, Pradeep K. Gautam, Yuhao Zou, Rishabh Dwivedi, Durga C. Panigrahi, Cihan H. Dagli, A. Singh

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Mine fires and other hazards caused by spontaneous coal combustion are a pervasive and longstanding issue in Jharia coalfields, India. This study proposes a novel approach to classify coal seams based on their propensity to spontaneous combustion using the intrinsic properties of 30 coal samples from different seams. This method eliminates the need for expensive and time-consuming experimental determinations of susceptibility indices (SI) such as crossing point temperature (CPT), critical air blast (CAB), and differential thermal analysis (DTA). All clustering models, viz. hierarchical, k-means, and multidimensional scaling, aptly classify coal seams into three categories: highly risky, medium risky, and low …

Echoes Of Play: Traditional Outdoor Games Of Chitral`S Mountain Communities, Rubina Nawab, Fozia Parveen

Institute for Educational Development Pakistan (IED-PK) Archives

No abstract provided.

Encapsulating Student Perspectives: Investigating Students’ Voice In Urban Secondary Education, Treyvon L. Harlin

Wayne State University Dissertations

ABSTRACTEncapsulating Student Perspectives: Investigating Students’ Voice in Urban Secondary Education by Treyvon L. Harlin February 2025 Advisor: Ben Pogodzinski, Ph.D. Major: Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Degree: Doctor of Philosophy The research in this dissertation focuses on the implication of student voice in historically marginalized secondary schools throughout the metropolitan area of Detroit, Michigan. Research initiatives conducted by Delpit (2006), Holmes & Crossley (2004), and Levitan (2018) have shown that students, especially those of marginalized populations, must have a sense of safety, feel valued and that their opinions matter to have buy-in with academic objectives and a school’s vision. Unfortunately, …

Usability Testing Of A Bystander Bullying Intervention For Rural Middle Schools: Mixed Methods Study, Aidan Midgett, Diana M. Doumas, Claudia Peralta, Matthew Peck, Blaine Reilly, K.B. Butler

Counseling, Leadership, and Research Methods Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background: Targets of bullying are at high risk of negative socioemotional outcomes. Bullying programming in rural schools is important as bullying is more prevalent in those schools compared to urban schools. Comprehensive, school-wide bullying programs require resources that create significant barriers to implementation for rural schools. Because technology-based programs can reduce implementation barriers, the development of a technology-based program increases access to bullying prevention in rural settings. Objective: We aimed to conduct usability testing of a bystander bullying intervention (STAC-T). We assessed usability and acceptability of the STAC-T application and differences in usability between school personnel and students. We were …

Evaluating Empathy And Understanding In Caregivers: Pre And Post Dementia Simulation Participation, Lukas Wenz

Research Honors

Abstract Background: The prevalence of dementia is rising globally. Individuals with dementia rely on informal caregivers for long-term support. Research supports that empathy enhances caregiver well-being. Significance: Caregiver burden can lead to burnout, negatively affecting care quality. Enhanced cognitive empathy reduces burnout and improves caregiver relationships. Investigating interventions that enhance caregivers’ empathy is essential. Purpose: This study evaluates the Virtual Dementia Tour® (VDT), an immersive simulation program, in increasing empathy and understanding among dementia caregivers. Methods: A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design was used. Participants were recruited via online advertisements and word of mouth. Participants completed a demographic survey and the Empathy …

Inge Viermetz, Woman Acquitted At Nuremberg, Diane Marie Amann

FIU Law Review

Conventional narratives tend to represent the post-World War II international criminal proceedings as a men’s project, thus obscuring the many women who participated, as lawyers, journalists, analysts, interpreters, witnesses, and defendants. Indeed, two women stood trial before Nuremberg Military Tribunals. This article examines the case of the only woman found not-guilty: Inge Viermetz, who had been an administrator at Lebensborn, the Nazi SS adoption and placement agency. The article outlines the prosecution’s child-taking case against Viermetz, as well as her successful gendered self-portrayal as a conventionally feminine caregiver. With references to Professor Megan A. Fairlie, at whose memorial symposium it …

Diabetes Care Disparities In Deaf/Hard Of Hearing And Blind/Low Vision Populations, Allyson S. Hughes, Karissa Mirus, Nazanin M. Heydarian, Michelle L. Litchman

School of Social Work Faculty Publications

Purpose of Review

Describe the connection between Deaf/hard of hearing (DHH) and diabetes, explain the bidirectional relationship of blind/low vision (BLV) and diabetes, characterize challenges DHH and BLV populations face when seeking healthcare regarding their diabetes management. Highlight the inaccessibility of diabetes technology in these populations. Provide best practices when communicating with DHH and BLV people in the clinical setting.

Recent Findings

Diabetes disparities exist in DHH and BLV populations due to systemic barriers to health equity related to access and communication. Structural barriers, risk factors, social determinants of health, and the U.S. healthcare system do not support the DHH …

A Historic Case Of Relapsing-Remitting Alzheimer's Disease In An Adolescent Attributed To Scarlet Fever., Richard Lathe, Brian J. Balin

PCOM Scholarly Works

We draw attention to a historic case of a boy who suffered from scarlet fever (typically caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes) at age 7 years and went on to develop the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD). His physicians believed that the subsequent dementia was related to the infection. After death at 24 years of age, postmortem brain examination revealed abundant AD-type senile plaques and fibrils, formally confirming AD. Other potential causes of early-onset dementia are discussed, but these are distinct from patient E.H. This case is pertinent regarding the current debate about the potential role of infection in …

A Case Study Using The Transparency Framework And Artificial Intelligence To Promote Effective Writing And Student Success In A Writing-Intensive Course, Elizabeth A. Brown, Maria Kronenburg, Ashlee Steeley, Diana Tagbor

Health Behavior, Policy & Management Faculty Publications

Program evaluation data suggest that undergraduate students struggle with writing in a clear and concise manner and appropriately citing. Faculty implemented the plan-do study-act cycle to pilot the Transparency in Learning and Teaching (TILT) project framework and to explore the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and discuss approaches to using AI, along with the TILT framework, in a writing-intensive course to identify the pros and cons of using ChatGPT in an online classroom. The TILT framework reinforces adult learning by helping students clearly understand the assignment's purpose and establish a clear relationship between assignment and students' professional lives. Faculty encouraged …

Impact Of Volume-Based Procurement Policy On Coronary Stent Use In Tianjin: Interrupted Time Series Analysis, Zhao Yang, Liangyu Ni, Wei Zhao, Yuxi Li, Yongyi Wu, Qiyun Zhu, Linlin Da, Weijia Liu, Qi Zhang, Jianping Li, Bin Jiang

Health Behavior, Policy & Management Faculty Publications

Objectives

This study aimed to analyze the impact of China’s centralized volume-based procurement policy on the procurement and utilization of coronary stents in Tianjin from 2019 to 2021.

Methods

An interrupted time-series design was used to assess monthly procurement data of coronary stents and balloons in Tianjin from January 2019 to December 2021.

Results

The volume-based procurement policy significantly reduced coronary stents prices, with an average price reduction of 92.67% for ten selected stents, and the lowest price dropped to 469 CNY. Following policy implementation, annual procurement in Tianjin increased by 59.55%, and tertiary hospitals demonstrated a significant monthly level …

Collaborative Leadership, Elizabeth Burns

STEMPS Faculty Publications

The article focuses on the importance of collaborative leadership among school librarians to enhance their effectiveness in various roles, including as instructional partners and information specialists. It emphasizes that school librarians often struggle with their leadership identity, but adopting a collaborative approach can facilitate shared responsibility and empower teamwork. The text highlights successful initiatives, such as partnerships between school and public librarians in Napa Valley, which ensure equitable access to library resources for all students, and collaborations between school librarians and administrators that underscore the impact of libraries on student success. Additionally, it discusses the global perspective on school librarianship, …

Examining Low-Income Caregivers' Knowledge And Comprehension Of The Dental Caries Process, Melissa Sullivan, Denise C. Mckinney, Deanne Shuman, Qi Zhang

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

Purpose Dental caries among young children remains a public health concern in the United States (US). Children of caregivers with low oral health literacy (OHL) tend to have greater unmet dental needs and poorer oral health status. The purpose of this study was to examine the understanding of pediatric dental terms associated with the dental caries process among low-income caregivers.

Methods This study included 14 caregivers with children enrolled in a Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) in the Southeastern US. Through structured phone interviews, the validated Oral Health Literacy Inventory for Parents (OH-LIP) was used …

Designing Tpack-Driven Mobile Learning With Digital Citizenship For Biology Education: Insights From Ngt And Ism Approaches, Cik Jamaliah Abd Manaf, Shakinaz Desa, Muhamad Ikhwan Mat Saad, Helen Crompton

STEMPS Faculty Publications

The rapid digitization of education and the complexity of scientific content demand the integration of digital citizenship in TPACK-based mobile learning for Biology. This study aimed to identify and prioritize relevant digital citizenship practices using a Design and Development Research approach. In Phase One, the Nominal Group Technique with 10 experts evaluated eight proposed practices. Phase Two employed Interpretive Structural Modeling with nine experts to structure hierarchical relationships. Seven practices were retained, with Ethical Use of Digital Resources as the top-level driver. The resulting framework supports ethical and discipline-specific mobile learning models, promoting responsible digital engagement in Biology education.

A Bibliometric Analysis Of Ai-Driven Healthcare Literature Containing Kos Keywords: Trends, Themes, And Gaps, Julaine Clunis, Eric Asare

STEMPS Faculty Publications

As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly embedded in healthcare applications, concerns have emerged around the trustworthiness, interpretability, and context-awareness of these systems. Knowledge Organization Systems (KOS) hold considerable potential to address these challenges by supporting semantic standardization, explainability, and domain alignment. This study presents a bibliometric analysis of scholarly publications referencing both AI and healthcare concepts to examine how KOS are positioned within this evolving discourse. The findings indicate that while early literature frequently and explicitly referenced KOS—such as ontologies, controlled vocabularies, and classification systems—their visibility has declined relative to newer paradigms such as machine learning and large language models. …

Examining The Presence And Effects Of Coherence And Fragmentation In The Gulf Of Maine Fishery Management Network, Derek A. Katznelson, Antonia Sohns, Dongkyu Kim, Evelyn Roozee, William Donner, Andrew M. Song, Jasper R. De Vries, Owen Temby, Gordon M. Hickey

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Natural resource management networks cohere due to mutual dependencies and fragment, in part, due to the perceived risks of interaction. However, research on these networks has tended to accept coherence a priori rather than problematizing dependence, and few studies exist on interorganizational risk perception. This article presents the results of a study operationalizing these concepts and measuring the distribution of three types of dependence (capital, legitimacy, and regulatory) and two types of perceived risk (performance and sanction) among nearly fifty stakeholder groups and organizations participating in the management of fisheries in the binational Gulf of Maine. The analysis reveals an …

A "New" New Departure, Paula A. Monopoli

Faculty Scholarship

In the wake of enactment of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments, women’s rights activists embarked on an exercise in popular constitutionalism known as “the New Departure.” Frustrated by the failure of Congress to include women in the Reconstruction Amendments, suffragists turned to a strategy based, in part, upon republican theory. They argued that women had an inherent right to vote grounded in natural law and in their status as citizens of the United States under the Fourteenth Amendment. They operationalized that theory by engaging in mass-voting events and were prosecuted for illegal voting. These activist efforts came to an end …

The Phenomenon Of Collaborative Leadership At Gensler: Work-Life Balance Of Co-Leaders, Chidimma Abuka

Theses and Dissertations

This mixed methods phenomenological case study investigates the lived experiences of co-leaders operating within a male-female leadership dyad, with a particular focus on how collaborative leadership influences work-life balance. As organizations increasingly explore shared leadership as a strategy for adaptability and innovation, the co-leadership model - defined by the equal sharing of roles and responsibilities - offers a compelling alternative to traditional hierarchical leadership structures. Grounded in shared leadership theory (Pearce & Conger, 2003) and dual leadership theory (Hasija et al., 2017), this study examines the dynamics of co-leadership within a global architecture and design firm, shedding light on the …

Agency, Index & Process: Investigating The Role Of The Artist’S Body In Digital Sculpture Production, Alan Magee

Doctoral

Contemporary Digital Sculpture has emerged out of recent developments in digital art, 3d modelling and virtual modes of production. These advances range from the creation of more powerful software and hardware systems to the to nascent XR sectors, and the potential for materialisation through technologies such as 3d printing, laser-cutting, or CNC1 machining. However, critical discourse remains predominantly focused on the end product, often overlooking the embodied labour processes inherent in its creation. As revealed through indexical traces of the artist’s body, these processes encapsulate the gestures, actions and subjective agency of artistic activity. Consequently, with the limitations of digital …

Public Art Coordination: Shaping The Irish Arts Landscape, Jennifer Haughton

Doctoral

Appointing public art coordinators responsible and accountable for programming and commissioning in the public sphere is a growing trend internationally. My aim in this PhD thesis is to undertake an inquiry into the practice of how public art coordination facilitates artists in producing ambitious public art works. Appropriating Mary Parker Follett’s (1866–1933) concept of multiple leadership in addition to curatorial, rights, and management theory, I argue for an increased accommodation of public art coordination as a public leadership service arising from the construction sector. Adopting Ricoeurian hermeneutics alongside vignettes, my thesis constitutes a deep dive into the habitat and culture …

Mapping Engineering Ethics Education, R Tormey, T Børsen, Shannon Chance, T T Lennerfors, Diana Adela Martin, G Bombaerts

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Writing a handbook implies describing the fundamental information needed by those teaching or researching in a field. This is a challenging task when the field is still maturing. This handbook grew from the idea that we could ‘collaboratively write’ engineering ethics education. In this introduction, we define the field in three dimensions: engineering, ethics, and education. The latter dimension is divided into three parts: the subjects that shape the teaching of engineering ethics education, the understanding of learners and learning that informs the pedagogical choices made, and the fusion of these two in the pedagogical methods used in teaching engineering …

“I Can Do This”: Resilience Of Women Students In Engineering And Technology Courses In Portugal, Bill Williams, Shannon Chance

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

To understand the factors that influenced female students to choose their degree programs and complete them successfully, we gathered data from 11 women undergraduate students in Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology, and Construction Management programs at a Portuguese polytechnic. All participants completed their courses within the two years following the interviews. The two authors analyzed the data gathered via interviews with individual students using thematic analysis and present four generated themes along with their implications.The findings suggest that further research is warranted on the role of short-cycle programs within the Portuguese polytechnic sector in providing routes to help young women overcome obstacles …

Exploring The Mechanisms Of Functional Imagery Training For Sleep Problems: A Single Arm Pilot Study, Ross Allen, Jackie Andrade

School of Psychology Theses

Functional Imagery Training (FIT) is a brief motivational intervention grounded in the Elaborated Intrusion theory of desire. It helps individuals use personalised, emotionally vivid mental imagery to support goal pursuit by drawing on past successes to plan actions, overcome obstacles, and rehearse behavioural strategies. Delivered in the client-centred style of Motivational Interviewing (MI), FIT aims to strengthen motivation for sustained behaviour change. While FIT has shown promise in areas such as weight loss and anxiety, its application to sleep-related behaviour change remains unexplored. This single-arm pilot study examined whether FIT is associated with improvements in sleep quality and motivation to …

What Helps And Hinders Staff Supporting People With Intellectual Disabilities Regarding Sex And Relationships, Laurence Constable, Deanna Gallichan

School of Psychology Theses

Background Studies have suggested that staff experience multiple obstacles to providing effective support around relationships and sexuality. The literature has suggested several potential solutions yet it is not clear what impedes the implementation of these. Understanding these barriers could improve care. Methods Two focus groups were carried out with a total of 13 participants recruited from the Southwest of England. Participants were recruited from client-facing roles across care providers, education provision, and social care provision. The focus groups were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Findings Four themes were drawn from the data. These were ‘Fear hinders care’, ‘Care is led …