Digital Commons Network^™

Gci Invention #258-B: Whirlybird V3.0 – High-Wind Autorotating Fire Suppression & Nutrient Delivery System, Michael Victor Caldwell Mr.

Defensive Publications Series

GCI Invention #258-B describes WHIRLYBIRD v3.0, a passive boundary-layer controlled (PBLC) autorotating samara-wing system for ballistic delivery of fire suppressants and precision nutrients in 70+ mph crosswind conditions.

Aerodynamics: Asymmetric high-camber samara wing with spanwise-zoned vortex-grate perforations (root/mid/tip density gradient), geometric twist, and tip micro-tabs for stable LEV, TSR ≈2.2, and 550-650 RPM autorotation. Chordwise stiffness gradient enables passive gust-load shedding (FoS ≥2.5 ultimate, ≥1.5 fatigue). Central high-inertia core provides gyroscopic stability.

Dispersal: RPM-altitude dual-trigger centrifugal release (550-650 RPM + 15m AGL) with internal vanes for 15m uniform ground coverage. Hybrid pellets (outer Purple-K for flame knockdown + inner MAP/polyphosphate …

The Vortex–Acoustic Bio‑Refinery (Vabr): A Modular Low‑Pressure System For Converting Sewage Sludge Into Astm‑Compliant Biodiesel, Michael Victor Caldwell Mr.

Defensive Publications Series

The Vortex–Acoustic Bio‑Refinery (VABR) is a conceptual modular system designed to convert municipal sewage sludge into ASTM‑compliant biodiesel using a combination of vortex‑based solids concentration, dual‑frequency acoustic processing, and catalyst‑assisted chemical transformation. The invention proposes a low‑pressure, low‑temperature alternative to high‑pressure hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL), with the goal of reducing mechanical complexity, improving operator safety, and enabling decentralized deployment at wastewater treatment facilities. The VABR concept integrates fluid‑dynamic separation, acoustic disruption of organic structures, and catalyst‑supported biodiesel‑compatible reactions. This disclosure outlines the scientific principles, conceptual system architecture, and potential advantages of the VABR compared to existing waste‑to‑fuel technologies. It is released …

Dynamic Memory Management System For Distributed Data Processing Environments, Katyayani Kiranmayee Kolluru, Shivam Mohan, Ravi Shanker Kumar Sinha, Hardik Jain

Defensive Publications Series

The present disclosure relates to a system and method for dynamically managing memory allocation in a distributed data processing platform. The system includes a plurality of workers executing tasks with varying memory requirements, each equipped with a memory sentinel monitoring runtime parameters. A risk engine computes a risk score from telemetry data received from the memory sentinels to anticipate out-of-memory conditions and adjust resource profiles accordingly. When a high risk is detected, the system requests larger resource profiles from a resource manager, provisions new larger workers, and reallocates memory-intensive tasks while preserving their state through a state transfer plane. This …

Method And System For Optimizing Memory Utilization In Computing Environments, Satyam Raj, Shivam Mohan, Ravi Shanker Kumar Sinha, Pradeep Choube

Defensive Publications Series

The present disclosure relates to a system and method for optimizing memory utilization using a reinforcement-learning-driven, bidding-based page-replacement algorithm in computing environments. The method involves monitoring memory usage patterns from multiple processes through a memory management unit, calculating an affinity score for each page in a buffer cache based on access characteristics (including recency, frequency, tenure, working-set membership), page-fetch/IO cost, job-submission timestamps, and physical block identifiers, and determining page-eviction decisions via a bidding process in which pages with lower affinity scores are selected for eviction. The system comprises a buffer cache for rapid data access, an affinity calculator for assigning …

Synchronized Synthetic Global-Shutter And Rolling-Shutter Camera Images, Zheng Huai, Sazzadur Rahman, Chao Guo

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure describes a method and wearable system for generating synchronized synthetic images from heterogeneous cameras, including a global-shutter (GS) camera and a rolling-shutter (RS) camera, within a simulated environment. GS cameras capture all pixels simultaneously, while RS cameras capture images sequentially row by row, causing different rows to correspond to different capture times and making synchronization difficult. The disclosed method addresses this challenge by reconstructing a rolling-shutter image using multiple global-shutter images generated at calculated timestamps. Using rolling-shutter parameters such as exposure time and readout time, the system computes row-level timestamps relative to a center-of-exposure (COE) reference time associated …

Simulating Custom Environment For Augmented Reality Or Extended Reality System, Vikram Auradkar

Defensive Publications Series

This document describes a framework for simulating immersive computing environments, specifically targeting augmented reality (AR) and extended reality (XR) development. The system utilizes a dual-input architecture comprising a 3D scene file, such as a Graphics Library Transmission Format (glTF) file, and a corresponding scene information file containing semantic metadata. This metadata defines environmental elements including planar surfaces like floors and ceilings, vertical walls, and spatial anchors for immovable or movable objects. By incorporating configurable visibility conditions—including field-of-view (FOV) triggers, distance thresholds, and ambient lighting levels—the framework simulates the dynamic discovery of scene information by virtual hardware sensors that would be …

Terra² System, Vesa Olavi Lius

Defensive Publications Series

This document constitutes a formal Defensive Publication establishing worldwide Prior Art for the ALLFROMAIR® TERRA² Tri-Generation Platform. The system produces three simultaneous utilities from a single hardware unit and a single electrical connection: (1) purified drinking water meeting EU Directive 2020/2184 and WHO Guidelines 2022, (2) district heating at 4th-generation temperatures (35–60°C), and (3) district cooling and server cooling via evaporative vapor-pressure-gradient mechanisms. The core process is a Two-Module Three-Stage Rocket architecture (Charge–Harvest–Cool) operating an internal process temperature of ~50°C, independent of ambient conditions. Spray water applied to heat exchangers HX2, HX3 and HX_B undergoes natural vapour-phase desalination, enabling seawater, …

Method And System For Adaptive Routing Of Machine Learning Inference Requests Based On Health Scores, Hao Qin

Defensive Publications Series

The present disclosure relates to a method and system for adaptive routing of machine learning inference requests using composite health scores. The method involves maintaining a dynamic health score for each inference engine instance based on multiple performance factors including latency, success rate, timeout occurrence, error rate, saturation, and staleness. Instances are organized in a priority queue according to their health scores, with the instance having the lowest score selected for processing requests. A fairness adjustment is applied to prevent overloading any single instance. Instances that meet specific quarantine criteria are isolated and subject to periodic health assessments, while successfully …

Mathematical Play: The Game Of Cycles, Benjamin Gaines

Journal of Math Circles

In the Play chapter of Mathematics for Human Flourishing by  Francis Su, he introduces the Game of Cycles. This is a game played on a graph consisting of vertices, non-overlapping edges connecting those vertices, and the two-dimensional cells enclosed by those edges.  This lesson plan will help organizers use this game to lead an activity touching on the basics of combinatorial game theory, strategizing and think ahead, and how anyone can start exploring uncharted mathematical ground! This activity is suitable for middle school, high school, and undergraduate students, with no specific math background necessary.

Free Vibration Of Sandwich Panels With Re-Entrant Auxetic Core: A Numerical And Analytical Investigations, Nabaa Alaa Aldeen, Sadeq Hussein Bakhy, Mohsin N. Hamzah

Engineering and Technology Journal

In this paper, an analytical study is performed along with a numerical method to analyze free-vibration behavior of sandwich panels composed of aluminum face sheets and a polymer-based re-entrant auxetic core. An analytical model based on Classical Plate Theory (CPT) was formulated using equivalent orthotropic elastic properties derived from the re-entrant unit-cell geometry. Theoretical predictions were validated using three-dimensional finite element simulations in ANSYS 2025 R1, with SOLID186 elements under supported boundary conditions. The results indicate that if the core thickness is increased from 4 mm to 12 mm, there is roughly a 90% increase in the fundamental natural frequency. …

Modelling Of Fresh Ultra-High- Performance Slag Concrete Properties Using Response Surface Method, Sana Taha Abdulhussain, Maan S. Hassan, Shatha S. Hasan

Engineering and Technology Journal

The use of large quantities of cement, silica sand, and quartz powder in the production of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) imposes environmental burdens, increases CO₂ emissions, and depletes natural resources. In this concept, there is a need for sustainable UHPC mixtures that reduce clinker and natural aggregate consumption while maintaining ultra-high strength, particularly by utilizing industrial by-products and alternative materials combinations. This study aims to develop sustainable UHPC by incorporating steel slag and utilising accelerated carbonation in the manufacturing of sustainable silica-based binder materials, and to model the resulting fresh properties using response surface methodology (RSM). The investigated variables include …

Probabilistic Analysis Of The Service Life Of Concrete With Recycled Aggregates In Marine Environments, Pietra Guasti Vande Meerssche, Mauro De Vasconcellos Real, Fábio Costa Magalhães, María Noel Pereyra Domínguez, Rita De Cássia Taveira De Oliveira, Gustavo Bosell Wally

Seatific Journal

In marine environments, the main cause of degradation of reinforced concrete structures is corrosion induced by the penetration of chloride ions. Durability design approaches have gradually evolved toward performance-based approaches, which are capable of more accurately assessing the behavior of structures over time and their resistance under specific environmental exposure conditions. Due to the high variability of the parameters affecting the durability of these structures, a probabilistic performance-based approach tends to provide results closer to reality by considering the uncertainties of materials and degradation phenomena as random variables. In this work, a probabilistic service life analysis is carried out for …

Flexible Modeling Of Non-Gaussian Longitudinal Data: Some Approaches Using Copula, Subhajit Chattopadhyay

Doctoral Theses

Longitudinal data are common in medical and biological sciences, where measurements are gathered from subjects over time to explore relationships with explanatory variables (covariates) and to uncover the underlying mechanisms of dependence among these measurements. The responses observed at each instance can be either discrete or continuous. One of the primary challenges in longitudinal data analysis lies in the non-Gaussian nature of the response variables. As a result, there are relatively few multivariate models in the literature that effectively address the specific characteristics observed in such datasets. In this dissertation, we address four problems concerning longitudinal data analysis by developing …

A Review Of Oer Math Homework Systems, Rachel Bailey, Nathan Carter

Open Educational Resources Publications

This report evaluates four leading open educational resource (OER) math homework systems—MyOpenMath, WeBWorK, Ximera, and XYZ Homework—for their suitability in Bentley University’s first-year mathematics courses. The review compares cost, usability, LMS integration, available content, and alignment with Bentley curricula. MyOpenMath emerges as the strongest option due to its usability, robust problem libraries, and fully free access. XYZ Homework offers comparable features but includes student fees. Ximera and WeBWorK provide powerful capabilities but require greater technical expertise. The report concludes with recommendations for implementation and needed faculty support.

Within Sacred Walls: Cloister Architecture And The Virgin Mary As The Hortus Conclusus In 14th- And 15th-Century Italian Art, Catherine Howard

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The practice of cloistering allows women to exist in spaces dedicated to meditation and religious devotion. The physical nature of the cloister, which involves walls separating these religious women from the world, maintains a distinction between the cloister as spiritual and the world as secular.

One of the many titles of the Virgin Mary is the hortus conclusus, or “walled garden.” This metaphor is intended to emphasize her spiritual separation from the sins of the world, as well as her perpetual virginity. Artistic depictions of the Virgin in this role, particularly from Italy in the 14th and 15th centuries, often …

The Impact Of The Legalization Of Marijuana On The Under 21 In New Jersey, Sharon Mesmer

Child and Family Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Geochemistry Of The Upper Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous Limestone Of The Bilecik Formation In The Dümrek Area (Eskişehir, Western Central Anatolia): Implications For Depositional Environment And Paleotemperature, Asuman Kahya, Meti̇n Bağci

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

Upper Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous limestones of the Bilecik Formation are exposed near the village of Dümrek (Eskişehir Province) within the Sakarya Zone. Mineralogical analyses reveal that these limestones are predominantly composed of calcite and include intraclasts, fossil shell fragments, ooids, and peloids, cemented by sparry and micritic calcite. The U/Th, Ni/Co, V/(V+Ni), V/Cr, and Ce/Ce* ratios indicate that these carbonates were deposited in an oxic environment. Furthermore, the Mn/Sr ratios imply no diagenetic alteration, indicating preservation of the original geochemical signature. The PAAS-normalized REE+Y patterns of these limestones display depletion in light rare earth elements, a pronounced positive La anomaly (La/La* …

Neotectonics Of The Malatya Basin, Se Türkiye; Implications Of The Reactivations Of The Faults Of The Basin During 6 February 2023 Earthquakes Of The East Anatolian Fault System, Yaşar Ergun Gökten, Doğan Kalafat

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

The Malatya Basin (MB) is a fault-controlled superimposed sedimentary basin situated in the SE of Anatolia, near and to the north of the East Anatolian Fault System (EAFS). The rock units ranging from the Permo–Carboniferous to the Upper Miocene form the basin’s basement. The thickening of the Upper Cretaceous–Upper Miocene sequence toward the Malatya Fault (MF), the basin’s northwestern boundary, indicates a dip-slip-dominated character for the MF and its control on the first-step sedimentation of the basin. The MF changes its character from dip-slip normal to the strike-slip in the Late Pliocene, and today presents a 1700-m left lateral offset, …

Numerical Study Of Porosity Effects On Temperature And Fluid Flow In Black Sea Gas Hydrates, Bahar Güvem, Doğa Doğan

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

Numerical temperature and fluid flow simulations were conducted using ANSYS Fluent to investigate the influence of porosity variations on the temperature distribution within the gas hydrate layer. The study was carried out in the Black Sea region, where the gas hydrate deposits are of particular interest due to their potential for energy resources. The simulations explored various porosity levels within the hydrate layer to observe their effect on thermal behavior and fluid dynamics. The results revealed that porosity plays a significant role in modulating the temperature distribution within the gas hydrate layer, with lower porosity models exhibiting higher temperatures compared …

Short-Term Sleep Restriction In Humans Alters Diurnal Circulating Metabolite Profiles, Including Those Of Microbial Origin., Vanessa A Leone, Katya Frazier, Manpreet Kaur, Evan A Chrisler, Ashley M Sidebottom, Ethan Tai, Vilinh Tran, Shuzhao Li, Eugene B Chang, Dean P Jones, Eve Van Cauter, Erin C Hanlon

Faculty Research 2026

BACKGROUND. Gut microbes and their metabolites contribute to the host circulating metabolome and exhibit diurnal variation influenced by sleep-wake cycles and meal timing. Sleep deprivation alters the rhythmic circulating metabolome, but its impact on microbial metabolites remains unclear. We tested whether 24-hour circulating metabolite profiles, including those of microbial origin, differ under normal (habitual) versus short-term restricted sleep.

METHODS. In a randomized crossover design, 9 healthy adults completed 2 in-lab 24-hour blood sampling sessions (q120): one following 3 nights of normal sleep (8.5 hours/night), the other following 3 nights of sleep restriction (4.5 hours/night). Meal timing and caloric intake were …

Mediation Analysis Investigating The Mechanisms Of Two School-Based Smoking Prevention Interventions In Adolescents From Northern Ireland And Bogotá, Jennifer M. Murray, Sharon C. Sánchez-Franco, Olga L. Sarmiento, Erik O. Kimbrough, Christopher Tate, Shannon C. Montgomery, Rajnish Kumar, Laura Dunne, Allen Thurston, Aideen Gildea, Abhijit Ramalingam, Erin L. Krupka, Felipe Montes, Huiyu Zhou, Laurence Moore, Linda Bauld, Blanca Llorente, Frank Kee, Ruth F. Hunter

Economics Faculty Articles and Research

Background:

Reviews have highlighted a lack of evidence on how successful intervention strategies for adolescent smoking prevention can be effectively adapted for low-middle income countries (LMICs). The MECHANISMS study compared behavioral mechanisms between two school-based smoking prevention programs for adolescents in Northern Ireland (NI; a high-income setting) and Bogotá, Colombia (middle-income). ASSIST works via peer education and diffusion. Dead Cool uses conventional classroom pedagogy. Both interventions were previously trialed in the UK and were culturally adapted for Bogotá. We investigated whether changes in smoking/vaping outcomes differed by intervention or setting. Mediation analyses were conducted to test the hypothesized intervention mechanisms. …

Short-Term Sleep Restriction In Humans Alters Diurnal Circulating Metabolite Profiles, Including Those Of Microbial Origin., Vanessa A Leone, Katya Frazier, Manpreet Kaur, Evan A Chrisler, Ashley M Sidebottom, Ethan Tai, Vilinh Tran, Shuzhao Li, Eugene B Chang, Dean P Jones, Eve Van Cauter, Erin C Hanlon

Faculty Research 2026

BACKGROUNDGut microbes and their metabolites contribute to the host circulating metabolome and exhibit diurnal variation influenced by sleep-wake cycles and meal timing. Sleep deprivation alters the rhythmic circulating metabolome, but its impact on microbial metabolites remains unclear. We tested whether 24-hour circulating metabolite profiles, including those of microbial origin, differ under normal (habitual) versus short-term restricted sleep.METHODSIn a randomized crossover design, 9 healthy adults completed 2 in-lab 24-hour blood sampling sessions (q120): one following 3 nights of normal sleep (8.5 hours/night), the other following 3 nights of sleep restriction (4.5 hours/night). Meal timing and caloric intake were held constant. Serum …

"That Others Might Be Free”: Pride, Prejudice, And Paternalism In The Imperial Period, Bridget Goguen

History & Classics Student Scholarship

The goddess of wisdom and war models intellect without complacency, valor without rashness. Claiming this duality—a civilized militancy—from their patron goddess Athena, an ancient Athenian citizenry could rationalize imperial conquest as democratic goodwill. Millennia later, the United States, seeking subtle proclamation of classical succession, crafted their national personification Columbia from the mold of Athena. Amidst the politics of territorial expansion in the aftermath of the 1898 Spanish-American War, the Americans called on Columbia to symbolically marshal and disguise their own imperial ascent. This paper explores the American adaptation of Greco-Roman rhetoric through the mediums of cartoons, sculptures, and paintings in …

Optimizing Sacrificial Core Formation In The Fabrication Of Nanopore Biosensors, Ephraim Ong

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study is part of an ongoing project to create a universal diagnostic tool using nanopore technology. Diagnosis of disease and other conditions of the body can often be linked to biomarkers such as the RNA sequence of a disease-causing virus.

The nanopore method for detecting biomarkers requires a microfluidic device designed to concentrate a large quantity of biomarker carrier beads near the detecting nanopore. Hollow channels which can conduct fluid and small particles are well used in the field of microfluidics. Many methods exist to fabricate microfluidic channels, however the nanopore method requires a channel with a thin solid-state …

The Capitol’S Punishment: A Disability Theory Reading And Analysis Of The Hunger Games Series, Brynne Farnsworth

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This paper analyzes how disability is treated in The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins. Through a close analysis of the variety of perspectives on disability, Collins presents the Capitol as having an othering, dehumanizing approach to disability, while District Thirteen makes some accommodations but ultimately reveals itself to have a similar point of view as the Capitol. While not perfect, the perspective of the Districts prevails through its approach of empathy and connection and implies a hope for a society that draws on those connections over divisions. Collins also overarchingly promotes hope for those with disabilities throughout the series …

Fostering Audiation In Band Through Modeling Videos, Zachary T. Larsen

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Within band classrooms, teachers have a dual responsibility to nurture students’ growth on their primary instrument and cultivate their ability to audiate. While established pedagogical traditions effectively support the teaching of primary instruments, comparable frameworks for cultivating audiation in band settings remain underdeveloped. This project provides band teachers with scaffolded modeling videos designed to bridge this pedagogical gap and support students' development of audiation.

Task-Based Analysis Of Augmented Reality In Collaborative Robotic Programming For Manufacturing Assembly, Medhavi Kamran, Snehesh Shrestha, Vinh Nguyen

Michigan Tech Publications

Augmented Reality (AR) is often promoted as a solution to the cognitive and physical demands of traditional Teach Pendant (TP) programming for collaborative robots. Although prior work has suggested advantages of the AR interface, many evaluations have been limited in scope and may not fully represent the complexities of real-world manufacturing tasks. This study compares the performance of an AR interface to that of a standard TP interface for manufacturing assembly tasks of varying difficulty. In a between-groups study, one group of operators completed standardized assembly tasks using the TP interface, while a separate group used the AR interface instead. …

Effects Of Seismic Filters On Pretrained Cnn Models For Fault Detection: Application To The Delft 3d Seismic Volume, The Netherlands, Süleyman Alemdar, Ertan Pekşen

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

Accurate mapping of faults from 3D seismic volumes is critical for identifying structural traps, assessing reservoir compartmentalization, and guiding drilling decisions. This study evaluates how common seismic conditioning filters affect both the visual quality of a production Delft 3D poststack time-migrated volume and the outputs of two pretrained 3D CNN fault detectors: UNet3D and FaultNet. Seven filters were applied independently—AJAX, DeSmile, SimpleDenoise, Dip-Steered Median Filter (DSMF), Edge-Preserving Smoother (EPS), Fault Enhancement, and Ridge Enhancement—and results were inspected across inline, crossline, time-slice, and full-cube perspectives. The analysis is image-driven, supported by high-resolution comparison figures and view-specific interpretations.Filters that suppress incoherent noise …

Integrated Dinsar And Hvsr Microtremor Analysis For Understanding Ground Deformation And Site Effects: Case Study Of The Bawean Earthquake (M6.5), Joshua Purba, Muhammad Fikri Hayqal Hiola, Ramadhan Priadi, Riska Yulinda, Iham Ilham, Rosa Amelia

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

This study investigates the seismic hazards of Bawean Island following a recent M6.5 earthquake using an integrated approach combining differential interferometric synthetic aperture radar (DInSAR) and horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) methodologies. The DInSAR analysis revealed ground deformation characterized by subsidence up to 10 cm and uplift up to 8 cm, correlating with the region’s strike-slip fault dynamics. HVSR analysis provided insights into site amplification effects, identifying zones with low Vs30 values (153.77–454.72 m/s), high amplification factors (A0), and elevated seismic vulnerability index values (Kg). The dominant frequency (f0) on Bawean Island ranges from 0.64 to 17.76 Hz, with most areas …

Optimizing High-Density Uas Integration In Tbo Airspace: A Federated Contingency Management Framework For Singapore, Jianxiang Wang

Student Works

In Singapore's high-density urban airspace, integrating Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) into NextGen Trajectory-Based Operations (TBO) faces a significant scalability challenge due to reliance on centralized, legacy Command and Control (C2C) architectures. The problem lies in the latency and inefficiency inherent to centralized Air Traffic Management (ATM) systems when managing heterogeneous, low-altitude traffic. This is particularly true during non-nominal events, such as unpowered ballistic descents. Currently, these events necessitate disruptive airspace segregation, such as Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs). This paper presents a conceptual and architectural framework for federated UAS Traffic Management (UTM), utilizing intent sharing and …