Digital Commons Network^™

Responsible Ai Practices In Engineering Programming, Mohamed Elfaham

AI Assignment Library

This project demonstrates how responsible AI tools can be integrated into engineering programming assignments to support learning, debugging, verification, and critical evaluation while maintaining student accountability and independent problem-solving skills.

The Regionalization Of The North American Auto Industry: A Comparative Analysis Of Automotive And White Goods Trade Under Nafta And The Usmca, 1990-2024, Helen Alexandra Helfgott

Master in Public Policy Theses

This research examines whether the auto-specific provisions introduced under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) have had a measurable regionalizing effect on North American export flows. The USMCA's auto-specific provisions, established in the rules of origin requirements (ROOs), increase regional value content requirements (RVC) while imposing new requirements for labor value content (LVC), steel and aluminum sourcing, and core parts. This research assesses whether these provisions are associated with a distinctive pattern of intra-regional export concentration not present in other sectors.

The study employs a descriptive comparative framework using data from UN Comtrade, spanning …

Applicability Of Machine Learning For Shear-Wave Velocity Prediction From Conventional Well Logs: The Lsboost Approach, Rahmat Catur Wibowo, Fadsyah Muhammad Arby, Bagus Sapto Mulyatno, Ordas Dewanto, Isti Nur Kumalasari, Muh Sarkowi

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

Shear-wave velocity (Vs) is one of the most critical parameters for determining geomechanical properties and basin overpressure. However, assessing Vs via techniques like core analysis requires considerable effort and expense. This study predicts Vs using several approaches and compares the accuracy levels of all models. For this objective, the multiple linear regression, multiple linear stepwise regression, support vector machine, and least-squares boost (LSBoost) methodologies were selected. The six well-logging data inputs of density (RHOB), gamma-ray (GR), deep resistivity (ILD), acoustic wave velocity (Vp), shale volume (VCL), and water saturation (SW) were selected as effective variables, whereas Vs was regarded as …

Geoelectrical Signatures Of The Giant Karaburun Pelitic-Mafic-Type Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide Mineralization In The Central Pontides (Türkiye), Kurtuluş Günay, Türker Yas, Buğra Çavdar, Ertan Pekşen

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

The Karaburun deposit, hosted in greenschist facies metamorphic rocks, is a newly discovered giant volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposit in Anatolia and provides an exceptional natural laboratory for geophysical monitoring. The main ore body is less affected by metamorphism than the surrounding wall-rocks, where metamorphic and metasomatic processes formed pyritemagnetite- sericite-quartz assemblages that significantly influence geoelectrical properties. In this study, the geometry and extent of mineralization within geologically defined target zones were investigated using direct current resistivity and two-dimensional timedomain induced polarization (2D-TDIP) methods and the results were compared with the geology. A pole–dipole electrode array was employed in the …

Electoral Threshold: Pros-Cons And Political Party Consensus In Indonesia, Azka Abdi Amrurobbi, Donis Daviska, Alam Mahadika

Jurnal Wacana Politik

The debates surrounding the parliamentary threshold and presidential threshold have become a recurring phenomenon, particularly in the period leading up to general elections in Indonesia. This paper aims to examine the pros and cons of the implementation and determination processes of both thresholds. Employing a qualitative research method and library research as the primary data collection technique, to validate the data then this research used data triangulation technique. In the Indonesian context, the thresholds applied constitute a form of formal threshold, namely thresholds determined through political and legislative processes in parliament. Consequently, threshold policies are heavily influenced by the configuration …

Techno-Economic Assessment And Life Cycle Analysis Of Electrocatalytic Reduction Of Co2 To Ethanol., Omotolani Elizabeth Oduyebo

LSU Master's Theses

This study presents a techno-economic analysis (TEA) and life cycle assessment (LCA) of the electrocatalytic reduction of CO₂ to ethanol, a multi-carbon (C₂) product with significant market value. Prior TEA studies have relied on simplified lump-sum separation cost estimates, and prior LCA studies have rarely examined the combined effect of CO₂ source and electricity supply on carbon intensity gaps that this work addresses through process-simulation-grounded analysis. An Aspen Plus process simulation was developed for an anion-exchange membrane (AEM) electrolyzer system coupled with an extractive distillation separation train using ethylene glycol as the entrainer, achieving 99.9 wt.% ethanol purity …

Beyond Pedagogical Inertia: Understanding And Overcoming The Barriers To Effective Faculty Work In Higher Education, Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Learning, Teaching, & Researching Optimization

Academic faculty are among the most educated professionals in the world. Yet a striking body of empirical research demonstrates that they face profound, systematic barriers to performing their own work effectively—barriers that are cognitive, institutional, cultural, and structural in origin. This paper extends the analysis of “pedagogical inertia” beyond the classroom to the full scope of faculty professional life: research, writing, service, advising, and self-directed learning. Drawing on evidence from organizational psychology, cognitive neuroscience, higher education research, and behavioral science, we identify six classes of barriers that consistently impede effective faculty work, and we analyze—with reference to documented successful cases—the …

The Echo: May 18, 2026, Taylor University

2025-2026 (Volume 113)

No abstract provided.

Depth-Dependent Suppression Of Bipolar Degradation In 4h-Sic Diodes Via Proton Implantation And Evaluation Of Safe Operating Current Density Range, Atsushi Shimbori, Ryota Wada, Nobuhiro Tokoro, Takashi Kuroi, Hiu Yung Wong, Alex Q. Huang

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

This work explores the role of implantation depth in suppressing bipolar degradation of 4H-SiC PiN diodes through proton implantation. Targeting depths aligned with active basal plane dislocations (BPDs) effectively reduces stacking-fault expansion, as confirmed by electroluminescence imaging [1,2]. From these observations, we quantified the effective range of suppression in both depth and safe operating current density. Room-temperature proton implantation (170keV, 1×10¹⁶ cm^-2) into the buffer reduced forward-voltage drift ΔVF by 97% at 600A/cm² . The implanted diode extended the safe operating current range to 1300A/cm², ~200A/cm² higher than the reference, confirming effective suppression …

The Impact Of Tgfβ Conditioning And Socs3 Expression On Cytokine Signal Transduction And Inflammatory Gene Expression In Fibroblasts, Morgan Anderson-Crannage

NYMC Student Theses and Dissertations

Inflammation is a major driver in many aspects of recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) pathology, including impaired wound healing, fibrosis, and potentially cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma development. Fibroblasts, as key stromal cells in the dermis, are responsible for orchestrating inflammatory responses through the secretion of cytokines and chemokines upon stimulation with IL-1α or IL-6. Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 (SOCS3) functions as a negative feedback regulator of cytokine signaling and has emerged as a key modulator of inflammatory responses in immune cells and fibroblasts. Transforming Growth Factor Beta (TGFβ), a known driver of fibrosis in RDEB, has been implicated in …

Uneven Ranks: Geographic Deepening Of The All-Volunteer Force, Christine Hogestyn

Master in Public Policy Theses

Who is enlisting in Fiscal Year 2025, and what state-level characteristics are associated with military enlistment rates, service selection, and recruit quality? This study documents the geographic landscape of U.S. military accessions during a period of recruiting recovery, filling a gap in the literature by providing a current, empirical description of who enlists and from where in today’s All-Volunteer Force. Drawing on personnel data from the Department of War, the U.S. Census and Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates, and a federal dataset of military installations, I analyze 203,987 new accessions across the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps from …

The Digital Rentier State: Saudi Arabia, George Ngoh

Master in Public Policy Theses

As artificial intelligence reshapes Great Power Competition, control over digital infrastructure has become a key measure of global hegemony. In this context, Saudi Arabia is using its Vision 2030 strategy to pivot from traditional hydrocarbon reliance toward diversification into the AI and emerging technology sector, seeking to secure a position of power in an increasingly multipolar world.

This thesis analyzes whether Saudi Arabia’s AI investments signal a transition away from traditional resource rentierism or the creation of a new digital rentier model. Through primary and secondary research, this study argues that the Kingdom is establishing a sustainable pathway toward a …

Design And Analysis Of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Powered Aircraft Using Wuads Design Code, Baiming Zhang, Duyen Nguyen, Mike Kiely, Ramesh Agarwal

Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science Independent Study

This report presents the application and validation of the Washington University Aircraft Design Software (WUADS) using the Dornier 228 as a representative short- to mediumrange aircraft case study. The objective of this work is to improve the reliability of the WUADS model by testing its ability to reproduce the geometry, weight, aerodynamic performance, stability characteristics, and mission behavior of an existing aircraft with known design and performance data. The Dornier 228 was selected because of its regional aircraft configuration and its relevance to future hydrogen fuel-cell aircraft studies. In this work, key aircraft parameters, including fuselage dimensions, wing geometry, passenger …

Dna Strand Breaks By Small Molecules: From Genomic Hazard To Therapeutic Strategy, Clerin John

Honors Scholar Theses

DNA strand breaks are among the most critical forms of genomic damage, arising from endogenous metabolic activity, environmental stress, radiation, and diverse chemical agents. Single-strand breaks and double-strand breaks contribute to genome instability, mutagenesis, carcinogenesis, and neurodegenerative disorders. Cells rely on DNA repair pathways to detect these breaks and initiate repair. In this review, we conducted a comprehensive literature review to systematically compile and examine the mechanisms underlying small-molecule-induced DNA strand breaks. This review highlights the underlying mechanisms by which these molecules interact with DNA and trigger damage. We further discussed the current methods used for detection and quantification of …

Design And Implementation Of Error Estimators For Finite Element Eigenvalue Problems, Gabriel Esteban Pinochet Soto

Dissertations and Theses

We present three publications, all encompassed under the umbrella of a posteriori error estimation theory for eigenvalue problems for finite element discretizations. The central objective of the research is the development of a general framework for the study of reliable estimation of eigenvalues and eigenspaces. We introduce applications to problems of theoretical interest as well as problems arising in real-life scenarios, such as optical fibers. The first paper focuses on the implementation of a dual-weighted residual error estimator for a nonselfadjoint eigenvalue problems arising from the study of leaky modes in optical fibers---Maxwell's equations, Perfectly Matched Layers, and a conforming …

Eruptive Flux Drives Atmospheric Lightning Rates And Submarine Hydroacoustic Signals During The 2021 Fukutoku-Oka-No-Ba Eruption, Kathleen F. Mckee, Kristen E. Fauria, Jackie Caplan-Auerbach, Jelle D. Assink, Mikkel Louis, Tushar Mittal, Fukashi Maeno, Mie Ichihara, Dirk Metz, Chris Vagasky

Michigan Tech Publications

The August 2021 eruption of Fukutoku-Oka-no-Ba (FOB) volcano in Japan was a remarkable VEI 4 shallow submarine eruption, partly because it generated a 16-km water-rich atmospheric plume, new islands, and a large pumice raft. Recent studies provide complementary summaries of the atmospheric and oceanic surface expressions of the 2021 FOB eruption, including analyses of regional infrasound and Himawari-8 geostationary satellite data. The hydroacoustic record has also been published. Following these studies, we examine how the processes occurring beneath the sea surface correlate with the intensity of the atmospheric portion of the 2021 FOB eruption. We compare multiple data sets, specifically …

Pfas Toxicity: What’S True, What’S Not, And What Really Matters, Jamie C. Dewitt, Ian T. Cousins, Gretta Goldenman, Dorte Herzke, Rainer Lohmann, Mark Miller, Carla A. Ng, Martin Scheringer, Xenia Trier, Zhanyun Wang

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

A substantial body of evidence exists demonstrating that exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) poses a risk to human health. Data from epidemiological studies of those exposed occupationally or environmentally demonstrate adverse health risks, and these health effects are concordant with data from toxicological studies. Systematic reviews, conducted by agencies, organizations, and independent scientists that synthesize and integrate these data streams, have concluded that a range of health risks arise from PFAS exposure, including different types of cancer, especially kidney and testicular cancer, metabolic alterations such as increased liver enzymes and increased cholesterol, immune dysfunction such as reduced vaccination …

Optimization And Energy Efficiency Analysis Of An Automatic Feed Mixer With A Rotating Drum Mechanism, Kris Witono, Talifatim Machfuroh, Nurlia Pramita Sari, Lisa Agustriyana, Aini Lostari

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

Energy-efficient feed mixer machines are important for improving the productivity and sustainability of small and medium-scale livestock farms. Previous studies primarily focused on either structural performance or mixing efficiency, with limited studies integrating both aspects. Therefore, this study evaluated an automatic rotating-drum feed mixer by combining Finite Element Method (FEM) analysis and energy modeling. The study used FEM simulations for different materials, namely A36 steel alloy, stainless steel 304, aluminium 6061, and galvanized steel, with thicknesses of 3 mm and 4 mm, as well as different drum systems. The FEM results showed that all evaluated materials met the minimum safety …

Assessment Of The Bioremediation Potentials Of Biosurfactant-Producing Bacterial Strains Recovered From Spent Engine Oil-Contaminated Environments In Southwest Nigeria, Nafisa Mohammed Babayola, Nasiru Bright Lecky, Chinweizu Obioma Onumaegbu, Olufunmiso Olusola Olajuyigbe, Martins Ajibade Adefisoye

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

Environmental pollution from hydrocarbons and their derivatives is predominantly of anthropogenic origin, occurring mainly during mining, transportation, and storage. This often in an annual release of substantial amounts of pollutants into the environment. The effective restoration of petroleum-contaminated environments requires a series of interventions to remediate soil to its natural state. This study aimed to isolate and characterize biosurfactant-producing bacterial strains with potential bioremediation capabilities to assess the potential application for remediating soils polluted with spent engine oil in the Remo district, Ogun State. Bacterial isolates were recovered from soil samples collected from spent engine oil contaminated sites, using standard …

Unquaint Pigs’ Stakeholder Perspectives On Wild Swine In Central Western Florida, Tyler Koerner

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The Anthropocene presents important questions for how to address the continuous transferal of new species into new spaces and the cascading impacts of environmental transformations. Novel ecosystems present one such outline for conservation that acknowledges the modification of historic ecosystems and the social entanglements that arrive with new species. I argue that novel ecosystems can benefit from further anthropological integrations that aid in describing the entanglements of introduced species and the pursuit of best managerial outcomes. For wild swine in Florida, the adoption of a novel approach is especially relevant because of entanglements with historic and modern Floridian stakeholders and …

The Heterogeneous Response Of Astrocytes In Different Brain Regions Under Metabolic Stress, Pawan Kumar Thapaliya

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Astrocytes play a central role in maintaining ionic homeostasis, neurotransmitter clearance, and brain en-ergy metabolism. Their excitability, reflected in activity-evoked intracellular sodium (Na+, [Na+]i) and calcium (Ca2+,[Ca+]i) dynamics, is increasingly recognized as a critical determinant of neuronal function and vulnerability, particularly under metabolic stress. Despite their importance, the mechanisms underlying astrocytic ionic signaling and its regional heterogeneity remain incompletely understood. In this thesis, I developed detailed computational and biophysical models to investigate astrocytic Na+ and Ca2+ dynamics, their bioenergetic consequences, and the roles of key ion transporters under physiological and metabolically stressed conditions, validating the models against experi- mental data. …

A Systematic Literature Review On Data-Efficient And Adaptive Learning Techniques For Encrypted Traffic Classification Under Modern Protocols, Muntakimur Rahaman, Azwan Mahmud, Azlan Abd Aziz, Osama M. S. Abujawa, Ji-Jian Chin

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Recent studies suggest that few-shot and zero-shot learning methods, drawing on meta-learning, self-supervised approaches and metric-learning ideas, can classify encrypted traffic (TLS 1.3 and QUIC) with competitive accuracy across different protocol conditions. This systematic literature review (SLR) investigates 22 studies selected from an initial pool of 500 papers using PRISMA 2020, focusing on current methodologies for non-stationary network traffic classification, with particular attention to few-shot, zero-shot, and meta-learning approaches. The research addresses four questions: (1) Which approaches have been employed for non-stationary network traffic classification and threat detection? (2) How do hybrid or cross-domain models improve adaptation, detection and overall …

Gci-312 — Adaptive Agricultural Microclimate Conditioning System For Arid Environments, Michael Victor Caldwell Mr.

Defensive Publications Series

GCI‑312 is an open‑source, prototype‑ready adaptive agricultural microclimate conditioning system integrating electrostatic‑assisted droplet deposition, vortex atomization, pulsed evaporative cooling, environmental telemetry, and root‑zone thermal stabilization to experimentally reduce convective moisture loss and crop heat stress in arid environments. This disclosure provides full build and test specifications so a reader can assemble a 10×10 ft test cell and begin staged experiments immediately. The project targets substantial irrigation demand reductions under arid heat‑stress conditions (experimental targets: 20–30% irrigation reduction; exploratory upper target if all subsystems validate: up to 30–50% reduction) and documents clear hypotheses, test metrics, kill criteria, pivot paths, energy accounting, …

Paired-Satellite Coordinated Laser Ablation For Torque-Cancelled Deorbit Of Uncontrolled Orbital Debris, Daniel Austin Harbison

Defensive Publications Series

A method is disclosed for active orbital debris removal in which two satellites operate in coordinated formation on opposite sides of a target debris object and direct continuous-wave or pulsed laser ablation beams onto opposing faces of the target. The bilateral geometry provides three simultaneous effects: (1) surface ablation gradually weakens the structural integrity of degraded fasteners, adhesives, and thermal blankets on the debris exterior; (2) symmetric ablation plumes produce opposing reaction-torque components that cancel each other, suppressing the spin-up that would otherwise destabilize a single-beam ablation push; and (3) the combined photon pressure and plume-thrust components add as decelerating …

Magneto-Taurus-Energy, Alexander C. Roszko

Defensive Publications Series

TECHNICAL DISCLOSURE STATEMENT: PRIOR ART RECORD

TITLE OF INVENTION: The Magneto Taurus Energy Engine INVENTOR: Alexander Charles Roszko LEGAL STATUS: Open Source / Public Domain Hardware / Defensive Publication APPLICABLE PATENT EXAMINER SEARCH CLASS: Electric Propulsion; Mechanical Flywheel Energy Storage; Magnetic Levitation Assemblies.

I. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The current industrial paradigm is deeply saturated with and reliant upon toxic petrochemical polymers, fluoropolymer coatings (PFAS), and non-biodegradable synthetic resins. Even inside modern manufacturing and digital fabrication toolsets, users are forced to utilize toxic photopolymer resins or cut plastics that generate dangerous airborne microplastics. Furthermore, conventional electromagnetic propulsion and power-generation systems …

Bilateral Beam-Assisted Rock Fracturing For Low-Gravity And Terrestrial Drilling Operations, Daniel Austin Harbison

Defensive Publications Series

A method is described for pre-fracturing rock using two or more counter-propagating millimeter-wave or microwave beams aimed at the same target volume from opposite sides. Standing-wave interference and overlapping absorption produce interior thermal-stress concentrations that initiate cracks at much lower bulk energy density than vaporization-based drilling, while the symmetric geometry largely cancels the net momentum imparted to the rock face. The architecture is intended primarily for low-gravity surface drilling on the Moon, Mars, and asteroids — where reaction-force budgets are extremely limited — and as a pre-conditioning step for terrestrial mechanical drills. The disclosure covers the baseline two-beam geometry at …

Modular Skid-Mounted Industrial Wastewater Pretreatment, Cavitation Conditioning, And Hazard Stream Isolation System For Variable-Feed Industrial Brines And Contaminated Process Water, Michael Victor Caldwell Mr.

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure presents a modular skid-mounted industrial wastewater treatment system designed for variable and contaminated aqueous industrial streams. The system integrates staged flow equalization, hydrocyclone separation, hydrodynamic cavitation conditioning, electrochemical or precipitation-based treatment, and modular adsorption/ion exchange capture stages, followed by final polishing filtration. Outputs are separated into reusable water, concentrated recovery streams, and a stabilized hazardous residual stream for immobilization. The system is designed for pilot-scale evaluation under real industrial feed conditions with emphasis on fouling reduction, operational stability, and selective contaminant concentration performance.

Municipal Wet-Food Recovery & Supplemental Fertilizer Pellet System, Michael Victor Caldwell Mr.

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure describes a simplified municipal waste-recovery system designed to:

• recover expired canned foods and wet household food waste,

• recycle steel and aluminum food containers,

• reduce landfill methane generation,

• reduce municipal landfill burden,

• and produce supplemental fertilizer pellets intended for blending with conventional agricultural fertilizers.

Unlike conventional composting systems requiring extensive sorting, this architecture intentionally focuses ONLY on:

• wet food waste,

• spoiled food,

• and canned food products.

The system uses:

• sealed household collection bins,

• dedicated sanitary pickup trucks,

• low-shear food recovery processing,

• metal separation,

• thermal sanitization,

• dewatering,

• and conventional pelletization equipment.

Automated Prompt Optimization For Large Language Model Training Data Synthesis, Hui Wu, Yulou Zhou, Rishabh Bhardwaj, Simon Zhao

Defensive Publications Series

The generation of high-fidelity synthetic training data for large language models is often constrained by a reliance on static, manually engineered prompts. A single optimized prompt typically fails to achieve high performance across an entire query distribution, leading to coverage gaps and reduced diversity in the resulting training trajectories. To address these limitations, an automated prompt optimization method is disclosed. An evolutionary process is employed to iteratively refine prompts by leveraging a meta-prompting mechanism that incorporates task-specific chain-of-thought guidelines. Rather than converging on a single global optimum, a set of high-performing prompts is identified. Candidate responses are generated for each …

Hukum Pengadaan Barang (Government Procurement) Dan Pembangunan Ekonomi, Ade Maman Suherman

Jurnal Hukum & Pembangunan

Abstract