Digital Commons Network^™

Coupled Adjoint-Based Perturbation Theory For Dynamics And Heat Transfer Multiphysics For Nuclear Transients, Alexis Maldonado

Nuclear Engineering ETDs

Nuclear reactor multiphysics modeling and simulation (M&S) enable advanced reactor design by analyzing how systems will react over time to various configurations, scenarios, and perturbations. However, high-fidelity coupled transient M&S for reactor cores are computationally expensive, making robust analyses challenging. This work develops a Coupled Adjoint-based Perturbation Theory for dynAmIcs and heat traNsfer (CAPTAIN) framework to rapidly quantify the impact of uncertainty to overall transient responses by generating sensitivity coefficients for temperature, power, and delayed neutron precursor concentrations using forward and adjoint solutions. This work presents an initial proof of principle, verified with direct perturbations to several inputs. Furthermore, this …

A Risk-Informed Approach To Performing The Pre-Closure Safety Analysis For The Deep Borehole Disposal Of Radioactive Waste, Jennifer Elizabeth Leute

Nuclear Engineering ETDs

Deep borehole disposal is an emerging concept which involves disposing of radioactive

waste in boreholes several kilometers deep then backfilling to minimize radionuclide

transport and distribute weight. Unfortunately, little documentation exists on borehole

safety case development, especially for pre-closure operations. This study aims to close

this gap by proposing a graded approach matrix based on consequence, maturity, and

complexity. Two case studies are used to demonstrate this application: Hanford CsCl

capsules and spent PWR assemblies. Simulations are used to predict potential for dose

exposure, revealing CsCl capsules have a much higher potential for being above the 5

rem public dose …

Kakeya Sets Over The Heisenberg Group, Gabriel Jacob Gress

Mathematics & Statistics ETDs

The Hausdorff dimension of Kakeya sets is an interesting problem where the two-dimensional case can be proven directly, but even obtaining bounds on the higher dimension analogues can require highly technical machinery. The difficulty of the general case has inspired analysts to look at Kakeya sets from non-Euclidean viewpoints.

In this paper, we explore a construction of the Kakeya set in the first Heisenberg group H^1. By utilizing the sub-Riemannian manifold of H^1 we can apply tools in geometric measure theory which at this time cannot be applied in R^3. We restate and provide a detailed proof for a sharp …

On Sharpest Tail Bounds For Functions Of Tail Bounded Random Variables, Stephen Harrison

Mathematics & Statistics ETDs

Consider n real/complex, independent/dependent random variables with respective tail bounds and g a measurable function of the r.v.’s. Consider f the “sharpest” tail bound of g (sharpest in the sense, if f were any less, then for some X1, ..., Xn satisfying the conditions, g(X1, ..., Xn) would not satisfy the tail f). Significant research has been done to approximate f often with high accuracy. These results are often of the form, for g in this family, and tail bounds of Xk in this family, f is bounded by some f′ with high accuracy. However, the question “what would it …

Modeling Mineral Redistribution In Biological Tissue Using Apple As An In Vitro Analogue, Daler Djuraev, Ali Algemsh, Halima Alazeb, Zeenia Ahmed

Publications and Research

This project aims to model mineral (ion) redistribution that occurs in human soft tissue after injury or mechanical/thermal stress. Because direct, repeatable in vivo measurements are difficult, we use apples as an in vitro analogue: their mineral content is relatively uniform and the tissue can be cut, dried, and repeatedly imaged under controlled conditions. Using X-ray imaging, we tracked how minerals in apple tissue move toward damaged regions immediately after cutting, and how subsequent drying at room temperature drives a redistribution toward the central core. We also observed that biological degradation (decay) alters mineral density over time, indicating that even …

A Bump Hunting Approach To Finding Interpretable Data Pockets, Tushar Ojha

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

This dissertation approaches the problem of extracting simple interpretations from local regions of data. This is sometimes called bump hunting because the local regions of interest have a high concentration of a particular output value. This work develops a bump hunting method for discrete-valued tabular data where each bump is modeled by a rectangular region of the input data space so its rule-based description admits a simple logical interpretation that can inform decisions. This method is designed for labeled data where each input feature has a distinct meaning that may or may not be related to the output, and the …

Investigating The Fatigue Behavior Of Inconel 939 And Inconel 718 Through Micromechanical Testing, Mohammad Hossein Shahini

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

A detailed evaluation of fatigue crack growth (FCG) in a silicon-modified Inconel 939 alloy, fabricated via laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing (L-PBF AM), was performed using cyclic bending tests on pre-notched microscale cantilevers with a cross-sectional dimension of 25 µm × 25 µm. To our knowledge, this study is the first to demonstrate that such microscale cantilever tests can effectively capture both the threshold and Paris-law regimes of FCG, despite the limited specimen size. The precise fabrication of these small-scale specimens allows for controlled fatigue crack propagation relative to the microstructure while minimizing the presence of volumetric defects. Notably, …

Fedchae: Federated Learning With Client Clustering And Hybrid Adaptive Engagement, Chaeeun Park

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

As machine learning adoption expands, data privacy concerns have grown significantly. Federated Learning (FL) addresses this challenge by allowing clients to train locally and share only their model parameters with the server. However, conventional FL methods such as FedAvg suffer from high communication overhead, as all clients must participate in every global round.

This paper proposes FedChae (Federated Learning with Client Clustering and Hybrid Adaptive Engagement) to balance communication efficiency and model accuracy. FedChae alternates between Grouping Rounds, where all clients perform clustering, and Conventional Rounds, where one client per cluster updates the model.

Simulations with 100 clients using Multi-class …

Improvising Across Abilities: Pauline Oliveros And The Adaptive Use Musical Instrument [Book Review], Maria A. Souliotis

Disability in LIS (DisLIS)

This book reviews how the AUMI movement has evolved in the years since its inception, with the people involved in it most closely detailing its impact on music education and disability activism. Narratives, case studies, and personal reflections highlight Oliveros’ philosophical and realized contributions to the AUMI movement, which until this book’s publication has received little attention.

Becoming Steve Bright, Robert L. Tsai

Kentucky Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Like Balance On Ice: Towards A New Approach To The Open And Obvious Doctrine Under Kentucky Law, Hayden T. Crosby

Kentucky Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Just A Place Or A Just Place?: Domestic Violence, Urban-Rural Differences, And Access To Justice, Cassie Chambers Armstrong

Kentucky Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Prosecutorial Discretion And Digital Democracy, Erin Sheley

Kentucky Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Steady Flow Over A Plate With Variable Fluid Properties In The Presence Of Magnetic Fields And Thermal Radiation, Jonas A. James, Makungu J. Ng'oga, Augustino I. Msigwa, Ahmada O. Ali

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The study examines a steady convective boundary layer flow model influenced by magnetic fields and variable fluid properties over the inclined plate. The governing model system of non-linear partial differential equations is transformed into a system of coupled non-linear ordinary differential equations through similarity transformations. These transformed equations are then solved numerically using the fourth-order Runge-Kutta method combined with the shooting techniques using MATLAB package because it is efficiency, stable and converge to the expected solutions compared with other methods. The numerical results detail the fluid velocity, temperature, concentration, and the local Sherwood number, Nusselt number, and skin friction coefficient …

Affordability And Usability Of Digital Learning Resources In Higher Education: A Case Of Online Mathematics Tutorials For Engineering Students At The University Of Dar Es Salaam, Fatuma S. Ikuja, Idrissa S. Amour, Abdi T. Abdalla

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Effective learning requires engagements with both learning contents and instructor’s personalized support. Large class sizes often limit opportunities for personalized instruction and timely feedback. Digital resources offer a viable solution to enhanced engagement and independent learning. This study investigated the affordability and usability of online digital learning resources for mathematics tutorials, specifically targeting engineering students at the University of Dar es Salaam. A quasi-experimental research design was adopted, focusing on digitization of undergraduate course: Matrices and Basic Calculus for Non-Majors (MT161). The course was delivered through the Moodle Learning Management System integrating STACK to support Mathematics questions. Data was collected …

Denoising Low Dose Ct Images Using Enhanced Autoencoder Deep Learning Model: A Phantom Study, Ali O. Masoud, Khamis O. Amour, Ahmed M. Jusabani, Adithya Rajnaryanan, Manoj Kumar, Yasir M. Haji, Mwingereza J. Kumwenda

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Reducing radiation dose in Computed Tomography (CT) inherently leads to increased image noise, which can compromise clinical interpretation. To address this limitation in Low Dose CT images (LDCT), numerous computational techniques particularly convolutional neural networks (CNN) have been explored for CT image enhancement. Various CNN architectures with different convolutional layer designs have been developed to improve image quality. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a developed CNN-based autoencoder for denoising LDCT images while preserving diagnostic integrity. An end-to-end CNN autoencoder with information bottleneck (IB) pipeline was designed and trained using CT phantom images with varying noise levels, aiming to suppress …

Dynamic-Based Assessment Of Shear Connectors In Composite Bridges With Data Taken From The Surface Of The Deck Slab, Emmanuel S. Leo

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Most bridge management systems generally rely on visual inspections for condition assessment; this means that damage in inaccessible parts of the structure, such as shear connectors in concrete composite bridges, can remain undetected until failure occurs. Localised non-destructive techniques are limited to small areas, time-consuming, and require prior knowledge of the damaged zone. These limitations can be overcome by using dynamic-based techniques. This study aims to investigate experimentally the efficiency of dynamic-based techniques in assessing the condition of shear connectors based on measurements taken from the surface of the deck slab. The study involved the construction of five composite beam …

Estimation Of Crop Water Requirements And Irrigation Demand For Maize And Rice In Morogoro, Tanzania Using The Cropwat 8.0 Model, Regina Pasiani, Johnson Mangesho, Paul Ts Limbu

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

This study assessed the crop water requirements (CWR) and irrigation demands of maize and rice in Mvomero District, Morogoro Region in Tanzania, under varying seasonal rainfall and soil conditions. Using the CROPWAT 8.0 model, agrometeorological parameters such as temperature, rainfall, evapotranspiration, and effective rainfall were integrated with crop-specific characteristics and soil properties to simulate irrigation demands and quantify water needs across different crop phenological stages. The analysis employed decadal climatic data and crop coefficients (K_c) to simulate both the net and gross irrigation requirements. The findings revealed that maize, cultivated predominantly on red loamy soils, had a seasonal …

Impacts Of Climate Variability On Hydrological Response And Water Resources: Case Of Little Ruaha Catchment -Tanzania Using Ground And Chirps Data, Florence H. Mahay, Patrick C. Valimba, Madaka H. Tumbo, Fides J. Izdori, Leonard Maketa

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The Little Ruaha River catchment in Tanzania is increasingly affected by climate variability, with implications for agriculture, hydropower, and water supply. This study evaluates the effects of climate variability on rainfall and streamflow and assesses the usefulness of satellite-based rainfall data for hydrological modeling. Thirty-year records (1991–2020) of rain gauge and river flow data were analyzed using the Mann–Kendall test, and the HBV rainfall–runoff model was run with both gauge and CHIRPS satellite rainfall inputs. Annual rainfall exhibited no significant trends at most stations (p > 0.05), except for a notable decline at one eastern site. Seasonal rainfall and streamflow showed …

In-Depth Review Of Animal Anatomy In Veterinary Medicine, Fatima Ayad Hasan, Sarah Kamal Naser

Al-Bahir

This review explores the significance of animal anatomy across different fields, emphasizing both microscopic and macroscopic structures. The text covers teaching methods in veterinary medicine, with a focus on diagnostics and surgery. It also delves into various anatomical and moral issues, alongside contemporary teaching approaches. The importance of anatomy in both biological and clinical contexts continues to be central in advancing veterinary education, even with the presence of various digital tools and cutting-edge imaging technologies.

Health Implications Of Heavy Metal Contamination In Commercially Available Deodorant And Antiperspirant Products Sold In Benghazi, Libya, Maysson Yaghi, Khaled Elsherif

Al-Bahir

The extensive usage of deodorants and antiperspirants raises concerns about the potential health risks posed by heavy metal content. This study quantified the levels of five heavy metals: Aluminum, Zirconium, Lead, Cadmium, and Chromium in 22 commercial products widely used in Benghazi, Libya, and assessed the associated health risks. Samples, categorized into gel, stick, and roll-on formulations, were analyzed using iCAP TQ ICP-MS. Al and Zr showed the widest concentration ranges, reflecting their intentional use as active ingredients. Al levels ranged from trace amounts (0.032 mg/kg) up to a maximum of 99.10 mg/kg, while Zr was found exclusively in gel …

Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy In A 55-Year-Old Female With Atypical Chest Pain And A History Of Autoimmune Disease, Carrie Greene, Dana Mathew

Florida Journal of Emergency Medicine (FJEM)

A 55-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis and supraventricular tachycardia presented with acute chest pain radiating to the back/left shoulder, with nausea and lightheadedness. Initial ECG showed inferior–lateral ST-segment elevation with reciprocal depressions; within 90 minutes the STE resolved with new incomplete RBBB and diffuse low voltage. High-sensitivity troponin rose (delta ~270 ng/L). Point-of-care and formal echocardiography revealed LV wall-motion abnormalities. Emergent catheterization showed no obstructive CAD (<30% distal OM) with apical ballooning and EF 40–45%, consistent with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy; cardiac MRI confirmed myocardial edema. She was managed with anticoagulation initially, telemetry, and supportive care, and recovered uneventfully with normalization of function on follow-up.

ED Takeaways

• TTC can mimic STEMI with transient STE and conduction changes.

• Troponin rise + non-obstructive coronaries should prompt consideration of TTC.

• Consider TTC in post-menopausal women and those with autoimmune disease; use …

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Meningococcemia In Boy With Dense Deposit Disease Receiving C5 Complement Inhibitor Ravulizumab, Andrew Gonedes, Alexandra Martinez, Allan M. Greissman, Hanan Atia, Eric Boccio

Florida Journal of Emergency Medicine (FJEM)

No abstract provided.

Unexpected Companions: Appendicitis And Bilateral Testicular Torsion, Jc Alvarenga, Melissa Kirk, Michelle Osorio-Rodriguez

Florida Journal of Emergency Medicine (FJEM)

Abdominal pain is a frequent chief complaint in the emergency department (ED), responsible for 5% of all visits yearly. Despite emergency room work ups, 25% of these cases go undiagnosed. In the pediatric population, abdominal pain can be even harder to differentiate with causes ranging from low acuity constipation to emergent surgical emergencies like torsion or appendicitis. During these visits, the likelihood of two emergent surgical diagnoses occurring concurrently is a rare and often overlooked occurrence.

This case describes a 15-year-old male with a chief complaint of nausea and vomiting starting several hours prior to arrival. In the ED, history, …

Building Resilience One Connection At A Time: A Guide To Developing Retention Programming On College Campuses, Stephanie Sibley, Rachel Daltry

Journal of Access, Retention, and Inclusion in Higher Education

Despite college students having the potential to be more socially connected than ever before thanks to technology and social media, many students still struggle with isolation, loneliness, and a lack of belongingness and community. These feelings and experiences not only increase the risk for suicidal behavior and diminish resilience, but they can also negatively impact student retention. Outreach programming that targets social connectedness will be described. Specific guidelines developed from first-hand experiences with implementing such programming will be highlighted, and readers will be encouraged to consider how similar programming could be implemented by various offices or personnel at their own …

Acquired Methemoglobinemia Secondary To Oral Ingestion Of Alkyl Nitrite, Larissa L. Tavares, David Neff, Christopher Didonato, Atul Sofat, Eric Boccio

Florida Journal of Emergency Medicine (FJEM)

Methemoglobinemia is a potentially life-threatening condition in which the ferric state of hemoglobin impairs oxygen transport, leading to refractory hypoxia. While most cases are acquired through exposure to oxidizing agents, this report details a rare case of acquired methemoglobinemia complicated by severe hypotension and pulmonary edema secondary to the oral ingestion of alkyl nitrite, colloquially known as a “popper.”

A 54-year-old male presented to the emergency department after orally ingesting an alkyl nitrite product, believing it would be more effective than inhalation. Shortly after, he developed dizziness, dyspnea, and dusky skin, and was found to be hypotensive and hypoxic. Initial …

Disaster Exercise: Evaluating Mci Triage Training, Michael J. Steflovich Jr, Jodie Stobierski, Alexis Davis, Natasha Pavlinetz, Nela Isic, Nicole Roberson, Earl Best Md

Florida Journal of Emergency Medicine (FJEM)

Abstract

Study Objectives

The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a didactic lecture-based training on mass casualty incident (MCI) triage performance among first- and second-year medical students. Specifically, the study aimed to measure improvements in overall triage accuracy, as well as reductions in over-triage and under-triage rates for both adult and pediatric patients.

Methods

This study employed a pre-test/post-test design involving 31 participants. Participants completed an electronic pre-test consisting of 30 patient scenarios (20 adult and 10 pediatric) before attending a 40-minute didactic lecture on MCI triage principles. The lecture covered the identification of MCI …

Point Of Care Ultrasound For Rapid Identification Of Central Retinal Artery Occlusion And Subsequent Vision Rescue Utilizing Intravenous Alteplase, Joseph Pepe, Karl Kasischke, Calen Hart

Florida Journal of Emergency Medicine (FJEM)

Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is a rare but critical diagnosis to make in patients with acute vision loss. Cases of central retinal artery occlusion historically have a poor prognosis due to delayed presentation, lack of early identification, and limited effective treatment options. Due to these challenges, patients are often left with permanent loss of vision.

We present a case of a male patient in his late 70s with sudden onset of loss of vision to the right eye. Identification of CRAO was made utilizing point of care ultrasound (POCUS). After discussion with neurology, the patient was treated with alteplase …

Metamaterial-Based Microstrip Antenna For Safe Detection Of Tiny Breast Tumors, Shrouk E. El-Sawy, Mohamed G. Abdelfattah, Nihal F.F. Areed, Ahmed Shaban Samra

Mansoura Engineering Journal

This study describes the construction of a compact microstrip patch antenna (MPA) with a triangular-shaped metamaterial layer for the safe detection of tiny breast tumors at 2.4 GHz. The metamaterial considerably improves the antenna's gain and directivity when compared to typical designs that do not include it, resulting in improved detection performance. The radiating patch of proposed antenna measures 29.3 × 38 × 1.6 mm and has been tested through simulations and experimental tests, exhibiting successful tumor identification in a realistic breast phantom. The results of both calculations and testing demonstrate a sensitivity of 6.643 dB/mm, allowing for precise detection …

Hemiballismus Secondary To Acute Cerebrovascular Accident, Benjamin Duppstadt, Andres Vega, Jonathan Hill, David Arbona

Florida Journal of Emergency Medicine (FJEM)

Hemiballismus is a rare hyperkinetic movement disorder characterized by involuntary, large amplitude flinging movements. We present the case of a 61-year-old male with multiple comorbidities who arrived at the emergency department with acute-onset hemiballismus of the left upper extremity, ultimately found to be secondary to a right middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarct. This case underscores the importance of considering stroke in the differential for new-onset movement disorders, even in patients with seemingly psychiatric features and a nondiagnostic initial computed tomography (CT) scan.