Digital Commons Network^™

A Deep Learning Ensemble Framework For Multi-Subtype Renal Tumor Classification Using Contrast-Enhanced Ct, Hisham Abdeltawab, Ahmed Alksas, Mohamed Ghazal, Ashraf Khalil, Norah Saleh Alghamdi, Rasha T. Abouelkheir, Ahmed Elmahdy, Mohamed Abou El-Ghar, Sohail Contractor, Ayman El–Baz

All Works

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is considered the most aggressive and common form of renal cancer. Therefore, early detection is crucial to ensure appropriate and effective treatment planning. In our study, we propose a novel computer-aided diagnostic (CAD) approach which incorporates a deep learning ensemble to differentiate between five renal tumor subtypes, utilising the modality of contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT). The addressed renal lesions are malignant tumors (chromophobe RCC (chRCC), papillary RCC (pRCC), and clear cell RCC (ccRCC)) and benign tumors (renal oncocytoma (RO) and angiomyolipoma (AML)). Our study includes 280 patients who underwent renal biopsy, 112 patients were diagnosed with …

Integrating Machine Learning And Explainable Ai For Employee Attrition Prediction In Hr Analytics, Maytha Al-Ali, Majed Alwateer, Shatha Abed Alsaedi, Hossam Magdy Balaha, Mahmoud Badawy, Mostafa A. Elhosseini

All Works

Employee attrition poses significant challenges to organizations, impacting productivity, morale, and financial stability. Predicting attrition and understanding its underlying drivers are critical for implementing effective retention strategies. In this study, we propose a comprehensive framework that utilizes advanced machine learning techniques to predict employee attrition and job change likelihood. The framework integrates robust preprocessing pipelines, state-of-the-art predictive models, and explainability tools such as SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) to ensure transparency and fairness in HR analytics. By addressing key challenges such as class imbalance, feature selection, and model interpretability, our approach provides actionable insights for proactive talent management. We evaluate the …

A Robust Approach For Olive Leaf Disease Detection In Uncontrolled Environments, Rima Grati, Khouloud Boukadi, Emna Ben Abdallah, Ahmed Seffah

All Works

Detecting diseases in olive leaves is crucial for maintaining tree health and ensuring stable olive production. Early signs of infection often appear on the leaves, making them a key indicator for timely disease detection and intervention. Traditionally, farmers rely on visual inspection or laboratory tests to diagnose plant diseases. However, recent advancements in deep learning (DL) have significantly improved the accuracy and efficiency of olive leaf disease diagnosis. Numerous studies in the literature have explored this task using CNN-based architectures and, more recently, Vision Transformers. While these models have shown promising performance on benchmark datasets, they are often trained and …

Ai-Driven Collision Risk Prediction And Debris Optimization In Low Earth Orbit, Emad Alkhazraji, Mohamed E. Yahia, R. E. Tolba, N. S. Alharthi

All Works

Debris congestion and collision in low Earth orbit have become a major point of concern due to the rapid expansion of activities in that region. In this work, an AI-driven framework is developed and deployed to predict, analyze, and optimize collision risk across the altitude inclination space. Local debris object population, mass density distribution, and conjunction derived risk are computed. Then, an AI surrogate model, viz., gradient-boosted decision trees, was trained to predict collision conjunction relative probabilities and risk. Thereafter, data analysis and explain ability techniques are utilized to uncover underlying risk drivers and reveal how altitude, inclination, mass loading, …

Utilizing The Invasive Fruitwood Pyrus Calleryana As Substrate For Mushroom Cultivation, An Experimental Study In Practical Sustainability, Matthew D. Helton

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This study evaluated the feasibility of using woodchips from the invasive Pyrus calleryana (Callery pear) as substrate for mushroom cultivation. Pleurotus ostreatus, Hericium erinaceus, and Ganoderma lucidum were grown on a pear wood substrate and on a conventional oak substrate to compare, yield, sensory attributes, and metabolite production. P. ostreatus showed no significant differences in yield or biological efficiency (p > 0.05), only sweetness (p = 0.022) differed significantly. H. erinaceus yield and efficiency were similar (p > 0.05), with greater second-flush yields in oak controls (p = 0.034) but no sensory differences (p > 0.05). G. lucidum performance was comparable across treatments …

Living Next Door To Mcdonald’S: A Qualitative Study Of Community Submissions And Resident Realities Pre- And Post Development, Roslyn Giglia, Jacinta Francis, Jana Buckle, Clare Whitton, Ros Sambell, Frith Klug, Lukar Thornton, Siobhan Hickling, Katherine Kent, Gina Trapp

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: The proliferation of fast-food outlets (FFOs) in residential areas has raised growing concerns about their impact on community health, safety, and wellbeing. This qualitative study examined both pre-development community consultation submissions and post-development resident experiences surrounding the development of a McDonald’s outlet in a newly established suburb on the urban fringe of Perth, Western Australia (WA). Methods: Using a qualitative descriptive design, the study analyzed 183 community submissions lodged with the local council prior to development and conducted semi-structured interviews with 11 residents living within 300 m of the outlet after construction. Results: Content analysis revealed strong opposition, with …

Historical Piccolo Concerti And Works By Women Composers, Repertoire Catalogue, And A New Concerto For Piccolo And Orchestra, Mikaela Storm

Doctoral Scholarly Projects & Capstones

The following document is an overview of historical piccolo concerti with an emphasis on works by women, a repertoire catalogue of the piccolo concerti, and an analysis/performance guide for my own Concerto for Piccolo and Orchestra: The Dreamer. The primary goal of this document and subsequent score is to provide a resource for future composers, music theorists, conductors, and performers. The piccolo has limited repertoire in comparison to many of the standard instruments in our modern Western musical canon, and the number of piccolo concertos (particularly by women) is even smaller. The concerto that I have written, subtitled “The Dreamer,” …

The Hidden Heatwave: Thermal Hazards In The New York City Subway System, Abdou Rachid Bah, Maimuna Muntaha, Lenny L. Metlitsky, Cesar Pascal Vasquez, Tyler Ayala, Isaac Morel Lopez, Shaquan A. Larose, Kingston Ditsch, Kip Nielsen, Shaunak Sharma, Reginald U. Avila-Ortega Blake, Hamidreza I. Norouzi

Publications and Research

Underground transit systems (Subway) are susceptible to frequent heat waves, which pose serious health and safety risks to commuters and transit workers. Yet, the patterns and extent of temperature changes within the subway system remain insufficiently understood. To address this gap, we conducted a study of thermal variability across 112 subway stations in New York City. Temperature and relative humidity were measured at both platform and street levels. Results show that during the summer, 70% of subway stations had platform heat index higher than street level heat index. We also developed a machine learning forecasting model to predict platform-level temperatures. …

Team-On-Team Negotiation: How Internal Structure Shapes What Teams Can Do At The Table, Leyi Holly Shi, Tianyu He, Robert B. Lount Jr., Michael Schaerer, Roderick I. Swaab

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Team negotiation research presents a paradox: teams sometimes achieve more integrative outcomes than solo negotiators, yet in other cases they escalate competitiveness and harm relational outcomes. Existing theory has not resolved this inconsistency, in part because it treats negotiating teams as if they could change positions as easily as individual negotiators. We argue this assumption overlooks a central constraint of team-on-team negotiation: before any adaptive external exchange can occur, teams must internally authorize revisions to their positions as new information emerges. Drawing on evidence from research on team negotiation, multiparty negotiation, and team design, we identify this internal capacity as …

Reducing Water Absorption Of Cement Mortar By Using Modified Clay Brick Waste, Nuntaporn Kongkajun, Somyote Kongkarat, Wannasa Phukutnam, Warittha Sujaritpanich, Edward A. Laitila, Parinya Chakartnarodom

Michigan Tech Publications

Cement mortar is inherently hydrophilic due to its porous structure, which allows water penetration and adversely affects its durability and long-term performance. To mitigate this issue, hydrophobic cementitious materials can be developed by incorporating hydrophobic substances during mixing to provide hydrophobic properties throughout the material, achieved by introducing a wet chemical method using stearic acid-modified clay brick waste (MCBW) as a hydrophobic agent. The MCBW is prepared by treating clay brick waste with stearic acid (SA) and subsequently used as a partial replacement for fine aggregates. The effects of the MCBW incorporation on compressive strength and water resistance are investigated. …

Evaluation Of A No-Code Ai Model For Detecting Periapical Radiolucencies: Impact Of Anatomical Region On Diagnostic Performance, Manal Hamdan, Kevin W. Yu, Marguerite Miller, Stephanie J. Sidow, Zaid Badr, Sergio E. Uribe

School of Dentistry Faculty Research and Publications

Background

To develop a no-code artificial intelligence (AI) model for the detection of apical radiolucent lesions and to assess how lesion location influences the model’s diagnostic performance.

Methods

312 periapical radiographs were retrospectively collected, each accompanied by a corresponding cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan obtained within six months and a radiology report authored by board-certified oral and maxillofacial radiologists. These reports served as the reference standard, and all findings were cross-verified by the primary investigator through CBCT review. The dataset included 181 images with at least one apical radiolucent lesion and 131 lesion-free controls. Using the no-code AI platform LandingLens …

Switching Configurations For Reconfigurable Battery Packs: A Review, Kenneth Tetteh Akiti, Quoc Viet Phung, Iftekhar Ahmad, Daryoush Habibi

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Conventional Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are designed with fixed cell topologies, where the electrical connection between cells remains unchanged throughout their life. Although Battery Management Systems (BMS) and conventional cell-balancing techniques are employed to monitor and maintain performance, they often fail to address key challenges such as uneven cell aging, capacity mismatch, and fault isolation that arise especially during the second life of a battery pack. These limitations can result in reduced efficiency, reduced reliability, and shortened battery life. As large-scale battery packs become increasingly common in Electric Vehicles (EVs), smart grids, robotics, and renewable energy systems, the limitations …

Effect Of Preheating Palm Oil Biodiesel Fuel On The Performance And Emissions Of Diesel Engine Common Rail Direct Injection, Nanang Romandoni, Achmad Aminudin, Hari Setiapraja, Bima Randi Wardiasaputra, Kelvin Dwi Wardana, Ahmad Yusril Aminullah, Deni Nur Fauzi, Kholis Nur Faizin, Nur Ihda Farikhatin Nisa

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

Fossil fuel consumption continues to increase while its reserves continue to decrease and produce high emissions that trigger global warming. Therefore, more environmentally friendly alternative energy is needed. Biodiesel is a sustainable choice because it is biodegradable, low in sulphur, and can replace fossil fuels. This study investigates the influence of biodiesel fuel preheating temperature on engine performance, fuel consumption, and emissions in a Common Rail Direct Injection (CRDI) diesel engine. The experimental method was carried out by heating B40 and B50 fuels at temperatures of 40°C to 60°C at intervals of 10 °C. Engine performance was evaluated using a …

Structural And Electrochemical Characterization Of Na2co3/ Γ- Al2o3 Electrodes For Supercapacitor, Wiwin Dwiana, Jeniva Dinta Nanda Fahreza, Anissa Chairani Alfin Nadhira, Fatimatuz Zahra, Erma Surya Yuliana, Muhammad Safwan Abd Aziz, Nandang Mufti

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

The development of electrode materials with suitable structural and surface properties is crucial for improving electrochemical energy storage systems. Gamma alumina (𝛾-Al₂O₃) has attracted considerable interest in electrochemical research due to its unique structural and surface properties. However, its charge-storage capacity is still limited, highlighting the need for structural and compositional modifications to improve its electrochemical performance. In this study, Na₂CO₃ was introduced into 𝛾-Al₂O₃ as a sodium precursor to induce phase modification and enhance the electrochemical activity. The systematic incorporation of Na₂CO₃ also provides an opportunity …

A Systematic Review Of Alkali-Treated Polylactic Acid Biocomposites Relevant To Pineapple Leaf And Water Hyacinth Hybrid Design, Muhammad Rizky Adrianto Subandi, Tri Hartutuk Ningsih, Hanna Zakiyya

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

The increasing demand for sustainable materials has accelerated the development of biodegradable polymer composites. Polylactic acid (PLA)-based natural fiber composites have attracted significant attention due to their renewable characteristics; however, their performance remains limited by weak fiber–matrix compatibility, moisture sensitivity, and inconsistent interfacial behavior. Alkali treatment has been widely applied to modify lignocellulosic fibers by removing non-cellulosic components and improving surface characteristics, although its effectiveness remains dependent on treatment conditions and fiber properties. This systematic review evaluates the influence of alkali treatment on PLA-based natural fiber composites and assesses the available evidence supporting future pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) and water …

The Benefits And Barriers To Expanding Crna Programs In Michigan, Grace Van Zweden

Honors Theses

The demand for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) and their delivery of safe, high-quality anesthesia care has increased significantly due to nationwide anesthesia provider shortages and the growing reliance on CRNAs to meet healthcare system needs. This demand underscores the importance of expanding nurse anesthesia programs in Michigan and across the United States to support nurses pursuing advanced education and to improve patient access to essential care within their communities. The CRNA profession has evolved over time to meet the changing needs of the healthcare system, and current CRNA programs require applicants to satisfy rigorous and highly specific admission criteria. …

Design Of Automatic Security System Based Internet Of Things At The Museum, Rahmat Ageng Yuwana, Nuryake Fajaryati, Ferry Jie

Elinvo (Electronics, Informatics, and Vocational Education)

This research aims to determine the procedures for developing an Internet of Things (IoT)-based Automatic Security System as a security device for museum objects and to test its feasibility based on user feedback in museums. The Design Thinking model used consists of five stages: Empathize (understanding the user’s perspective), Define (gathering information on the encountered problems), Ideate (generating innovative ideas), Prototype (creating a prototype of the obtained ideas, ensuring the functionality of each device feature, and validating the product through expert judgment for feedback and product revision), and Testing (evaluating the system’s feasibility using Usability standards based on ISO/IEC 9241-11, …

Caribou Migration And Non-Local Hunting In Northwest Alaska: A Gis Analysis Of Hunting Activity And Its Relationship With Caribou Migration Corridors, Brittney L. Jiménezszabo

Geography and the Environment: Graduate Student Capstones

Indigenous Alaskans rely on subsistence hunting for food, with Barren-ground caribou making up approximately 27% of their diet. It is believed by subsistence hunters that non-local hunting is forcing a change in caribou migration behavior. This study examined non-local harvesting records from 2013 – 2025 in the northwest and interior Game Management Units (GMU) and Alaksa’s Western Arctic Caribou Herd (WACH) migration range data to answer the question, is there a spatial relationship between non-local harvests and WACH migration behavior. Mixed methods included spatial autocorrelation and local statistics. Findings led to the rejection of the null hypothesis which will help …

Lithium Titanate-Functionalized Mixed Matrix Polymer Membrane For High-Performance Osmotic Energy Conversion, Rockson Kwesi Tonnah, Yasaman Boroumand, Milad Razbin, Mostafa Vahdani, Amir Razmjou, Mohsen Asadnia

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Reverse electrodialysis (RED) offers a promising route to harvest osmotic energy from salinity gradients, yet practical implementation is hindered by the lack of scalable, high-performance ion-selective membranes that combine efficient ion transport with mechanical robustness and environmental sustainability. Here, we report a mixed matrix membrane composed of polyethersulfone (PES), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and lithium titanium oxide (Li₂TiO₃, LTO) that addresses these challenges through biomimetic ion transport channels. The strategic integration of LTO nanoparticles introduces ion-exchange sites and oxygen-rich PES ether linkages to create preferential cation transport pathways that mimic biological ion channels. This mixed matrix design delivers over three-fold cation conduction, …

The Two Fridas: How The Use Of Semiotics Reflects The Social History Of Mexico In Frida Kahlo’S Work, Raquel Maria Botteon Martins

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera are often credited as having played a crucial role in establishing a Mexican avant-garde. According to the Denver Art Museum’s statement for the exhibition Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and Mexican Modernism, their body of work often incorporated portrayals of mexicanidad, an identity born of Mexico’s ancient cultures and its colonial past that projected a visionary future. The use of mexicanidad imagery started with the efforts to create a new national art, following the Mexican revolution, when the country used public and socially effective art to communicate new ideals of identity.  Through the analysis of …

Peakon Solutions And Analytical Properties For The Camassa–Holm-Type Equations With Quadratic Nonlinearities, Yonghong Chen, Zhijun Qiao, Mingxuan Zhu

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

In this paper, we derive the multi-peakon dynamical system of a class of Camassa-Holm-type equations with quadratic nonlinearities. We also consider the analytical properties for the Cauchy problem. Firstly, we establish local well-posedness of solutions in Besov spaces and then provide the blow-up criteria. Subsequently, we impose appropriate sufficient conditions on the initial data to guarantee that the corresponding solution either exists globally or blows up in a finite time. Finally, we prove the ill-posedness in the Besov space B2,∞^3/2 by utilizing the non-traveling wave solutions.

Application Of Artificial Intelligence (Ai) In Cancer Symptom Management For Adult Cancer Survivors: A Scoping Review, Tao Wang, Haiying Wang, Mengyuan Li, Daniel Bressington, Daniel Terry, Guanjin Wang, Wai Hang Kwok, Jing Yu (Benjamin) Tan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background and aim: Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been increasingly used in cancer survivorship to support symptom management. This scoping review aimed to map existing evidence on AI applications in cancer symptom management for adult cancer survivors, including AI model development, AI-enabled intervention delivery and adoption, symptom targets, key features of the AI approaches used, reported outcomes, influencing factors, and research gaps to inform future priorities.

Method: This scoping review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews. Eight electronic databases were comprehensively searched in November 2025 and updated in March 2026. Empirical studies published in …

Ncf Sensor Coated With Cofe1.96la0.04o4/Lafeo3 Heterostructures For Room-Temperature Detection Of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Concentration, Ziqiang Liu, Fujian Tang, Yufang He, Jie Huang

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is a highly flammable fuel widely used for cooking, heating and transportation, making real-time leak detection essential for preventing fire, explosion, and suffocation hazards. In this study, a room-temperature no-core fiber (NCF) sensor coated with CoFe_1.96La_0.04O₄/LaFeO₃ heterostructures was developed for LPG detection. The heterostructures were characterized using XRD, Raman spectroscopy, SEM, TEM, XPS, PL spectroscopy, and UV–vis spectroscopy. Experimental results showed that La incorporation and heterostructure formation refined the particles size, improved surface accessibility, and modulated the electronic structure and band gap, thereby enhancing LPG adsorption, carrier redistribution, and …

Mechanically Stabilized Porous Aerophilicity Unlocks Ampere-Rate Transport-Limited Co2 Electroreduction To Ethylene, Ahmed Badreldin, Lanxin Guo, Carter Racine, Gabriella Smith, Shaoqin Chen, Shengyao Wang, Baiyu Zhang, Mohammed Majdoub, Ahmed Al-Ostaz, Yun Hang Hu, Qingsheng Wang, Ying Li

Michigan Tech Publications

Gas-fed electrochemical CO2 reduction (CO2R) to multicarbon products is fundamentally constrained by mass-transport limitations that suppress selectivity and stability at industrially relevant current densities. Here, we demonstrate that these bottlenecks can be overcome by engineering a porous aerophilic polymer microenvironment around a simple CuxO electrocatalyst without altering the intrinsic catalyst. By systematically replacing conventional PFSA ionomers with mixed aerophilic binders and applying a mild thermal treatment, we construct mechanically stabilized, gas-accessible overlayers that regulate the local gas-liquid microenvironment balance at the three-phase boundary (TPB). This approach drives a dramatic enhancement in ethylene production, increasing the partial current density from 135 …

Tmc Library Newsletter: From Its Past To Present, Alice Sherwood

Library Staff Publications

This presentation describes the early beginnings of our library newsletter, and the progress of its technology changes over time. "The TMC Library Newsletter" started out in 1998 as a quarterly print newsletter, "Library Lines", and evolved into a web-based one, "The Insider," published 6 and then 12 times a year through 2013. Since 2015, its name changed to what it is today and is also available on Digital Commons, an open journal available for the community and beyond. As an open journal using Digital Commons as its platform since April 2025, the items in this journal has grown to more …

Going With The Flow: Peptide Affinity Membranes For High-Throughput, High-Yield Purification Of Adenovirus And Lentiviral Vectors, Yuxuan Wu, Arianna Minzoni, Aishwarya Gangadhar, William Smith, Eduardo Barbieri, Irfan Ismail, Luke Remmler, Michael A. Daniele, Stefano Menegatti

Michigan Tech Publications

Membrane chromatography offers a compelling alternative to packed-bed resins for viral vector purification, as its open porosity and convective mass transport eliminate diffusive mass transfer limitations, enabling processing at substantially shorter residence times. Yet, the translation of affinity ligands from resins to membranes is challenged by the low density of reactive groups, which constrains functional ligand loading and limits binding capacity. Seeking to overcome this limitation, this study presents a method for functionalizing cellulose membranes with peptide affinity ligands and demonstrates its application to the purification of adenovirus serotype 5 (AdV5), VSV-G and Cocal pseudotyped lentiviral vectors (LVVs), and adeno-associated …

Exploring Novel Strategies – From Comics To Consequence Mappings – For Engaging In Discussions About Unprofessional Behavior With Learners, Deborah Simpson, Kristin Ouweneel, Nicole Salvo, Tricia La Fratta, Suzette Caudle, Wilhelm Lehmann, Kathryn Agard, Esmeralda Santana, Hazel Bidwell

Aurora GME

Professionalism discussions in medical education are often difficult. Yet unprofessional behaviors have adverse consequences for patients, teams, and learners. This discussion will explore different graphic medicine strategies used by participants for how we can have productive unprofessional behavior discussion including novel format options (eg, consequence mappings, comic novelette).

A New Species Of Liocheles Sundevall, 1833 (Scorpiones: Hormuridae) From Similipal Tiger Reserve, Odisha, India, Saurabh Kininge, Tejas Thackeray, Prakash C. Gogineni, Akshay Khandekar

Euscorpius

A new species of Liocheles Sundevall, 1833 is described based on male and female specimens collected from Similipal Tiger Reserve, Mayurbhanj district, Odisha, India. The new species can be easily distinguished from all six known congeners by combination of non-overlapping morphological characters such as carinae and granulation morphology of pedipalp and metasomal segments, median eye ratios. The discovery of Liocheles similipalensis sp. n., elevate the total number of species of the genus to seven and represent the fourth species to be described from India. The current study also highlights the need of systematic surveys along with detailed morphological and molecular …

A Mindful Approach To Language Learning: Investigating Attitudes, Self-Efficacy, And Well-Being In The Efl Classroom, Dr. Sharon E. Fayerberger, Professor Anca D. Cehan

Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education

A Mindful Approach to Language Learning: Investigating Attitudes, Self-Efficacy, and Well-Being in the EFL Classroom

This study aimed to explore the effect of a 13-week mindfulness intervention program conducted in English, within the framework of English Foreign Language lessons for 10th-grade students. The aspects researched were attitudes, language self-efficacy, and student well-being, which are essential components for successful foreign language learning. Fifty-seven 10th-grade students were divided into an experimental group and a control group. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining quantitative questionnaires to assess the students' self-efficacy and attitudes pre- and post-stage, and qualitative data collected from semi-structured questionnaires, which …

Artizein Arts And Teaching Journal Volume 11 (1), Darlene St. Georges

Artizein: Arts and Teaching Journal

Full Issue