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Summer/Autumn 2025 Full Issue, The U.S. Naval War College

Naval War College Review

No abstract provided.

Lipscomb University Parking Garage Analysis, Morgan Hayes, Reagan Maxwell, Daniel Diaz Tortolero, Dominick Dingus, Michael Ent

Student Scholar Symposium

Many students struggle to easily find parking during the school day at Lipscomb University, and this problem will only be emphasized with the potential removal of the nearby Stokes parking lot (containing 255 spaces). To combat this need and help provide additional room for university growth, we propose the addition of a parking garage west of the Fields engineering building, between Belmont Boulevard and Grandview Drive. This garage would be separated from the current garage behind Fields and be slightly larger, containing about 500 spaces over five levels. We evaluate the current number of parking spaces needed at Lipscomb based …

Wind Tunnel Instrumentation And Testing, Nicholas Marek, Abraham Mezera, Laura Jin, Hayden Smith, Curtis Cook

Student Scholar Symposium

The Raymond B. Jones College of Engineering was contacted by an automotive engineering firm seeking to use the college’s wind tunnel for gathering data on the aerodynamic performance of a proprietary prototype automotive door. Specifically, the client requested the quantification of the drag coefficient of the model at extreme wind speeds. The drag coefficient, a dimensionless number that quantifies the resistance of a specific geometric shape to airflow, will be a valuable datapoint for the client’s design iteration. Due to the sensitive nature of their work, the client has wished to remain anonymous. RBJCOE professors tasked a senior design team …

Mathematical Developments In American Spacecraft Technology, Tylah Grace Lynn, Lauren Reece Terry

Student Scholar Symposium

No abstract provided.

Traffic Study, Kennedy Case, Koryn Harms, Min Kaung, Abel Assefa, Eli Lockert, Dj Church

Student Scholar Symposium

No abstract provided.

Nashville Bus System Efficiency, Koryn Harms

Student Scholar Symposium

Nashville’s recently approved “Choose How You Move” plan creates a dedicated funding source for transportation improvements in the city. A key component of the plan is to increase transit service throughout Nashville to make it more accessible and reliable. In order to optimize the use of the funding, an analysis of existing conditions would allow officials to locate and target specific areas in need of improvement. The aim of this research is to determine the efficiency of different bus routes in Nashville based on ridership and on-time rates. The analysis will focus on the eight primary bus routes in the …

Gaylord Opryland Congestion Reduction, Kennedy Case

Student Scholar Symposium

Lipscomb University’s College of Engineering is working collaboratively with Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center to explore potential solutions to its traffic congestion problem, particularly during peak times such as the holiday season. This research aims to identify strategies that can alleviate congestion in the resort area. With over one million visitors during the holiday season each year and limited parking capacity, the traffic congestion poses a significant challenge to both operational efficiency and visitor experience. The primary objective of this research is to identify strategies that optimize parking usage, reduce congestion, and improve the overall visitor experience. Beginning with …

Green Roof, Elizabeth Fulton

Student Scholar Symposium

Green roofs, a concept dating back over 100 years, offer a sustainable solution to urban environmental challenges such as poor air quality, the urban heat island effect, and increased stormwater runoff. This study focuses on green roofs as an effective way to address these issues in cities like Nashville, which are experiencing rapid urbanization. By transforming rooftops into green spaces, green roofs can improve air quality, manage stormwater, and reduce urban heat, while also enhancing the aesthetic value of urban environments. The research explores the integration of green roofs, considering factors like substrate composition, plant selection, and environmental conditions. Key …

Smart Traffic Lights, Roa Ghanem

Student Scholar Symposium

Nashville is quickly growing, and as a result, traffic congestion is becoming a bigger challenge for commuters. Longer travel times and increased vehicle emissions are major concerns. This research examines how smart traffic lights can improve traffic flow and reduce congestion in the city. By analyzing peer-reviewed journal articles, this study explores how AI, IoT, and machine learning can optimize traffic signal timing in real time. In particular, simulation models illustrate how these technologies adapt dynamically to changing traffic patterns in cities similar to Nashville. Furthermore, this research compares the cost-effectiveness of smart traffic lights with other solutions, such as …

Ai In Construction, Samuel Gilbert

Student Scholar Symposium

No abstract provided.

Leed Certified Building Remodel And Addition, Ruth Fessehaye, Elizabeth Fulton, Roa Ghanem, Samuel C. Gilbert, Juan Henriquez-Hernandez, Jackson Stephens

Student Scholar Symposium

Engineering practices are increasingly adopting sustainable methods, with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) being a widely recognized standard. LEED ensures environmental health and efficiency in building projects. This project focuses on renovating an existing building and adding a warehouse for the PENCIL Foundation, a local non-profit. The design includes structural, mechanical, and HVAC drawings along with stormwater and indoor water use evaluations, and EPSC (Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control) plans. This project allowed Lipscomb University students to gain hands-on experience in client-based design while adhering to site regulations and ASHRAE standards. The project aims to achieve a Gold …

P.L.O.P.S. — An Automatic Latte Art Machine, Gracelyn Grant, Aidan Lovelace, Nate Mclain, Kris Pesnell, Caleb Pilafas

Student Scholar Symposium

engineering, latte, art, machine, prototype

Ai Photography-Based Gradation Feasibility Study For Streams And Rivers In Davidson County, Tn, Nolen Ritzel, Lauren Baker

Student Scholar Symposium

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has demonstrated significant potential in engineering applications, specifically in soil gradation analysis using two-dimensional imagery. While studies have shown experimental success, AI-based soil gradation methods are not widely used in industry due to the lack of field research performed. Moreover, the current methodology is suitable but lacks advancement. The motivation behind the research was to aid in bridging this gap between experimental research and industry application by determining whether existing AI tools can and/or should be applied to bank soil in streams and rivers in the Greater Nashville Area. Several locations next to streams and rivers distributed …

Exoskeleton Senior Design Project, Joel Isaacson, Josh Brake, Barre Seguin, Lydia Tollerson, Rachel Mayhugh, Richard Pearce

Student Scholar Symposium

In recent years, the demand for wearable technology has grown significantly, driven by advancements that allow electronics to become increasingly compact. Among these innovations are exoskeleton suits, which enhance user strength, reduce fatigue, and help prevent injuries. This project explores the capabilities of exoskeletons in augmenting human strength. Specifically, we developed an exoskeleton arm designed to rotate a valve 360 degrees using a torque wrench set to 150 ft-lbs.

Xibalbay, Guatemala Water Distribution System Design, Nolen Ritzel, Lauren Baker, Robert Trey Owen, Jessamine Reckard, Joelle Noble, Sara Berry-Brown

Student Scholar Symposium

This study presents the design and validation of a water distribution system for Xibalbay, Guatemala, in collaboration with the Peugeot Center and a local Guatemalan engineering firm, ADICAY. The project aimed to ensure reliable water access while maintaining residual pressures to the US standard, between 20 to 120 psi. The proposed design was a two pressure-zone system with pumps in series. A comprehensive hydraulic model was developed using WaterGEMS to analyze system pressures, pump performance, and tank levels under various conditions. Limited on-site testing was performed by this team due to construction delays and electricity issues at the time of …

Investigating The Impact Of Humanitarian Engineering Projects Across Demographic Groups, René Marius, Ruth Fessehaye

Student Scholar Symposium

This poster presents a statistical analysis of a research project studying the impact of humanitarian engineering projects (HEPs) on the views of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). The authors aim to investigate the deeper effects of HEPs across engineering students, alumni, and professionals. Data from participants were gathered through a survey, using both qualitative and quantitative methods, to assess participants’ attitudes toward DEI in engineering.

The survey included two instruments: the Engineering Professional Responsibility Assessment (EPRA) and the Views on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Engineering (VDEIE). The EPRA measured participants’ perspectives on professional responsibility, while the VDEIE focused on …

Blast Resistant Structure, Juan Henriquez-Hernandez

Student Scholar Symposium

No abstract provided.

Hybrid Multicast Transport Support, Anonymous

Defensive Publications Series

RFC 6513 and RFC 6514 define NG-MVPN procedures in which PEs use BGP MCAST-VPN routes (e.g., RT-1 I-PMSI A-D) to auto-discover participation and to bind multicast delivery to a provider tunnel (P-tunnel) identified by the PMSI Tunnel attribute (Tunnel Type plus identifiers/labels). In practice, a single PMSI binding typically forces a single transport choice across all leaves (e.g., mLDP P2MP for core-efficient replication or ingress replication for simplified edge requirements), limiting mixed-capability deployments. This document describes techniques that allow heterogeneous P-tunnel transports within one NG-MVPN instance by having an ingress PE concurrently support multiple tunnel types and admit egress PEs …

Automated Multi-Engine Text-To-Speech System With Self-Assessment Quality Control For Long-Form Audio Production, David R P Chiesa

Defensive Publications Series

Current automated text-to-speech systems for long-form audio production suffer from inconsistent quality, limited emotional range, and inability to self-correct output deficiencies. Professional audiobook and radio drama production requires human narrators specifically because automated systems cannot achieve the performance quality, character consistency, and emotional nuance necessary for extended listening experiences. This creates a significant cost barrier for independent authors and small publishers, where professional narration costs £200-500 per finished hour.

This disclosure presents an automated multi-engine text-to-speech system that achieves professional broadcast quality through coordinated engine selection, performance enhancement techniques, and iterative quality refinement. The system employs two specialized synthesis engines: …

"Dual-Ai Orchestration System For Persistent Project Memory In Software Development Environments", David R P Chiesa

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure presents a dual-AI orchestration system that solves the persistent context loss problem in AI-assisted software development. Current AI assistants maintain conversation memory only within individual sessions, requiring developers to repeatedly re-explain project context when resuming work after hours, days, or weeks. This creates significant productivity loss and escalating API costs as complete project context must be reloaded with each session.

The disclosed system coordinates a local AI instance with cloud-based AI services through hierarchical knowledge base integration. The local AI manages a structured vault containing project documentation, code history, and conversational logs organized in hierarchical layers from high-level …

New Quad-Phase Smart Power Stage For Higher Current Density Vertical Power Module, N/A

Defensive Publications Series

The present disclosure is directed to a quad-phase smart power stage (SPS) designed to address the increasing power demands of high-performance computing and machine learning processors such as hardware accelerators, tensor processing units (TPU), graphics processing units (GPUs), and high-performance system on chips (SoCs) in densified data centers. Existing dual-phase power solutions may not meet the rising current density requirements and are limited by a larger physical profile. The present disclosure integrates four power stages into a single, compact package (e.g., 7x7 mm), enabling the creation of a densified vertical power (VPWR) building block. This high-integration architecture can achieve a …

Dynamic Prioritization Of Flight Search Queries To Control Computational Resource Allocation, Christopher Small, Thomas Abraham, Rujith De Silva, Allan Fraser, Jason Letourneau, Kartik Maheshwari, Leonardo Andres Moleiro White, Cedric Poirot, Ramitha Sai Ravishankar

Defensive Publications Series

Systems that utilize real-time offer construction, such as flight search systems, can experience high volumes of computationally expensive queries that may have low conversion rates, potentially leading to inefficient resource allocation. A system for dynamic query prioritization can address this potential inefficiency. The system may intercept an incoming search query and use an analysis engine to assign a real-time priority score. This analysis engine can employ machine learning models trained on historical transaction data to determine the score. Based on this score, the system can apply a set of configurable controls to modulate the computational response. For example, the system …

Optimal Synce Source Selection In Networks Employing Macsec Security, Anonymous

Defensive Publications Series

A timing-distribution technique is described for telecom packet networks that use IEEE 1588 PTP (e.g., ITU-T G.8275.1 full timing support) for phase/time and SyncE for frequency, where SyncE master selection is primarily based on Quality Level (QL) conveyed via ESMC. In networks that simultaneously deploy hop-by-hop MACsec and end-to-end (tunneled) MACsec domains, operational visibility of the true SyncE “trail” can become ambiguous, leading downstream nodes to select a locally acceptable but performance-inferior frequency reference that traverses additional unsecured/opaque intermediate hops and accumulates more jitter/wander. To bias selection toward more deterministic, regenerated hop-by-hop SyncE paths, the disclosure proposes encoding a MACsec-topology …

Fasttree-Guided Genetic Algorithm For Credit Scoring Feature Selection, Rashed Bahlool, Nabil Hewahi Prof., Youssef Harrath Dr.

Research & Publications

Feature selection is pivotal in enhancing the efficiency of credit scoring predictions, where misclassifications are critical because they can result in financial losses for lenders and exclusion of eligible borrowers. While traditional feature selection methods can improve accuracy and class separation, they often struggle to maintain consistent performance aligned with institutional preferences across datasets of varying size and imbalance. This study introduces a FastTree-Guided Genetic Algorithm (FT-GA) that combines gradient-boosted learning with evolutionary optimization to prioritize class separability and minimize falserisk exposure. In contrast to traditional approaches, FT-GA provides fine-grained search guidance by acknowledging that false positives and false negatives …

Optimal Planning Strategies For Power Grid Topology Steiner Minimum Tree To Enhance Resilience Capability, Yunpeng Zhai, Dongqi Liu, Haolan Liang, Wei Li

Journal of Electric Power Science and Technology

Energy security is related to the overall situation of economic and social development.In recent years, deliberate attacks and disasters against the power grid have occurred frequently, and the power system has become an important target of attacks in international conflicts.In order to enhance the ability of the power grid to resist deliberate attacks and disasters and ensure the safe operation of the national energy infrastructure, a Steiner minimum tree planning method is proposed for the power supply network topology to the improvement of invulnerability.Firstly, the grid structure strength index and operation vulnerability index are designed for the grid planning problem.A …

Multi-Control Parameter Optimization Method For Dc Microgrids Based On Quadratic Index, Jinyuan Liu, Tianjiao Feng, Xiaorong Zhu

Journal of Electric Power Science and Technology

In DC microgrids, there is interaction between different types of converters, which is easy to be affected by disturbance during operation, resulting in decreased power quality.Therefore, the stability of DC microgrids has become a key issue in microgrid research.In this paper, the small signal model of DC microgrid system including voltage source converter （VSC） and buck-boost DC-DC converter is derived, and the eigenvalues and participation factors of the system are calculated.The stability regions of key control parameters such as PI parameter, droop coefficient, and virtual inertia coefficient are compared with and without grid-connected converter.Then, according to the quadratic theory, the …

Geolocation Algorithms And On-Orbit Calibration For Atmospheric Waves Experiment, Eric Mckinney, Keith Blonquist, Zack Hatfield, Connor Waite, Brooke Wursten, Pedro Sevilla, Ludger Scherliess, Harri Latvakoski, Greg Cantwell

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

1 - Overview

• Motivation: Atmospheric gravity waves can degrade navigation, tracking, communications, and geolocation system signals. They can also affect satellite/debris orbit and reentry predictions.
• NASA's Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE) is currently on ISS measuring atmospheric gravity waves in the OH airglow layer at ~87 km altitude
• Impact: Improved space weather understanding, estimation, and forecasting

Linking Shoreline Change, Environmental Forcings, And Sedimentological Resilience In Nourished Beaches Of Cape May And Wildwood, New Jersey, Usa: A Multi-Decadal Synthesis, Divomi Balasuriya, Greg Pope

Department of Earth and Environmental Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Beach nourishment is a widely used strategy to mitigate coastal erosion, yet its long-term geological impacts remain poorly understood. This study provides a multi-decadal synthesis of shoreline change and sedimentological evolution on the nourished beaches of Cape May and Wildwood, New Jersey, USA. Using shoreline positions from 1991 to 2024, we identify contrasting trajectories: Wildwood exhibits ‘persistent transition’ with severe northern erosion (EPR: −10.0 m/yr) feeding southwards accretion, while Cape May demonstrates a ‘managed equilibrium’ with widespread accretion (mean EPR: +1.15 m/yr). Wave energy correlations account for less than 15% of shoreline variability, indicating natural drivers have been superseded by …

Cybernest: A Step Forward For Training Cybersecurity Professionals, Justin Mott

Theses and Dissertations

The growing complexity of cyber threats has exposed a critical gap between academic cybersecurity education and the operational demands of the workforce. This thesis presents a pilot study for a use-case of CyberNEST, a simulation-based training platform that integrates adversary emulation and threat-informed learning to create realistic, hands-on experiences for cybersecurity students.(17) The system was designed to replicate Security Operations Center (SOC) environments and incident response workflows, allowing participants to investigate, analyze, and respond to simulated attacks under authentic conditions. This pilot-study performed training simulations using the CyberNEST platform, developed by Brigham Young University, with students, collecting data from pre- …

Impact Of Gas Supersaturation On The Development Of Gas Bubble Trauma In Paedomorphic Eurycea Salamanders, Trent Furr

Biology Theses

There are eleven species of paedomorphic lungless salamanders endemic to Texas. Of these, eight are considered threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). One of these, the Barton Springs Salamander (Eurycea sosorum), is found only in springs and aquifers in and around Austin, Texas. A large population of this species is found in Barton Springs, located in Austin, TX–where dissolved gas saturation has been measured as high as 134%. Morbidity and mortality events in Barton Springs Salamanders have been documented coinciding with periods of dissolved gas supersaturation. This study seeks to understand what environmental conditions lead to …