Digital Commons Network^™

Genetic Algorithms With Psychological Tension Analysis For Music (Gaptam), Andrew Bowman

Theses

This work investigates a structurally grounded approach to algorithmic music composition using a stochastic Context Free Grammar (CFG) evolved through a genetic algorithm. While existing systems such as live-coding environments, DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations), and statistical models generate musical material, they typically lack explicit hierarchical organization, despite evidence that listeners perceive music sequentially and structurally. In this framework, derivation trees generated from an CFG serve as compositional candidates, which are evolved using subtree-based crossover and mutation. Fitness evaluation combines prior melodic heuristics with tension-based insights from music cognition research, introducing musically informed structure into the evolutionary process. A genetic system …

Analysis Toolkit For Potential Lunar Landing Zones, Jacobo Matallana

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A thesis presented to the faculty of the College of Science and Engineering Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree Master of Science by Jacobo Matallana on April 24, 2026.

How Additive Manufacturing Is Changing The Automotive Industry, Gavin B. Schumacher

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Caregiving For Older Adults: How The Child And Dependent Care Credit Could Help, Gabrielle Pepin, Yulya Truskinovsky

Upjohn Institute Policy and Research Briefs

No abstract provided.

Supply Chain And Analytics Students Help Business Tackle Ai And Operations Challenges, Aaron Sanborn

UNH Today Archive

No abstract provided.

Florida Tech Botanical Gardens Improvement: Raised Bridged Walkway Design, Peter Abdou, Logan Allen, Severiano Cartagena, Brennan Lackey, Miranda Schwartz

Mechanical and Civil Engineering Student Publications

Design a flood-resilient pedestrian system using hydrologic and hydraulic modeling to improve safety, accessibility, and environmental performance within the Botanical Gardens.

Lockheed Martin & U.S. Navy Air Pallet For Materials Handling, Samantha Ryan, Ryan Zerneke, Joshua Bible, Justin Conner, Brycen Haner, Nevan Juteram, Alexander Lacy, Gavin Lanka, Henry Lewis

Mechanical and Civil Engineering Student Publications

The purpose of this project is to design, manufacture, and deliver an Air Pallet capable of lifting heavy loads and positively engaging with the Drive Tractor for movement. This project was developed to address current maintenance hazards and difficulty, structural integrity concerns, and increase system reliability for our customers Lockheed Martin and the United States Navy.

3d Filament Recycler, Connor Easley, Stephan Jean-Baptiste, Armando Loynaz, Brody Paulk, Meagan Prouty, Tai Roberts, Jack Salcedo, Vanessa Tohorton, Alex Tremblay, Ruhaan Zaveri

Mechanical and Civil Engineering Student Publications

The purpose of the project is to design and manufacture an integrated system for the L3HSDC that can recycle 3D filament waste by shredding, heating, extruding, and spooling it.

Psi Epsilon Station, Ember Clark, Zac Hardin, Jasper Stevens, Cole Capawana, Carter Tomasky

Mechanical and Civil Engineering Student Publications

Thermodynamics is one of the first classes an engineer will take, where you no longer learn practical ideas; instead, the concepts become theoretical. All of thermodynamics culminates in one of the most important cycles, the Rankine Cycle. This can be very overwhelming for students as everything they've learned throughout the semester is now being put into one cycle. The primary goal is to design and build an operational Rankine cycle to demonstrate to students how it works and what each component does.

Variable Arm Reach Extender (Vare), Matthew Gorton, Adam Johnson, Kaleem Bocus, Quin Fredrickson, Vaughn Havins, James Koethe, Leira Maynard, David Mierzejewski, James Moore, Joonhyung Si

Mechanical and Civil Engineering Student Publications

Approximately 6.7% of the US population suffer from physical disabilities, producing the need for assistive devices. Amongst assistive equipment, reach-extenders have a 64% dissatisfaction rate..

The Matear System, Kylie Strong, Adel Siraeva, Julianna Bartus, Lilly Davies, Cameron Deen, Rayna Doty, Amiana Mata, Jack Minners, Matthew Skwiot

Mechanical and Civil Engineering Student Publications

The MATEAR attachment collects regolith simulant and uses compression and heat to form brick-like building blocks for sustainable infrastructure. It mounts to the Clearpath Robotics Husky A200 rover provided by the team’s faculty advisor.

Lockheed Martin & U.S. Navy Drive Tractor, Nicolas Czincila, Andrew Pestone, Santiago Florez-Tascon, Kalvin Long, Nick Norman, Joseph Phan, Ashlynn Redding, Brandon Ribeiro, Noah Rodriguez, Diana Viherek, Mckenzie Winder

Mechanical and Civil Engineering Student Publications

The purpose of this project is to design and manufacture a manually operated, pneumatic-assisted Drive Tractor system for transporting heavy loads with the Air Pallet. This project was developed to improve maneuverability, reduce operator effort, and increase system reliability within industrial environments for our customers Lockheed Martin and the U.S Navy.

Sparcc – Solar Panel Augmentation Via Regulated Cooling And Cleaning, Zachary Rodgers, Connor Fromme, Mohammed Al Jahwari, Jack Connor, Nicolas Hubley, Adrian Kingdollar, Iain Leroy, Maria Jesus Munoz, Ashton Stringer

Mechanical and Civil Engineering Student Publications

Problem Statement: Solar energy is the fastest-growing source of energy in the world. Solar cells lose efficiency by 0.35-0.7% per degree Celsius and up to 98% from debris build up. The primary objective of SPARCC was to improve cell efficiency through cooling and cleaning. A brush system with water spray was implemented to clean the panels, and a passive cooling system that utilizes a solar chimney, heat sinks, and phase change material to clean and cool.

College Of Business Relocation Project, Genevieve Spitaletto, Nicky Vreeland, Matthew Loudon, Chris Fox

Mechanical and Civil Engineering Student Publications

Construct a modern, six-story College of Business building at Florida Tech that provides functional, accessible, and collaborative learning spaces while meeting all code requirements and supporting long-term campus growth.

Preparation Of Water-Resistant Solid Waste-Based Solidifier And Study On Properties Of Solidified Soil, Yao Yanbo, Zhu Ting, Yang Guowei, Li Menglong

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

Under the background of the “carbon peaking and carbon neutrality ” goals, the improvement and resource utilization of industrial solid waste and waste soil have become increasingly important. High carbon emissions are generated during the production of traditional cement and lime-modified solidifiers, which exhibit poor crack resistance and tensile properties. In contrast, a composite organic-inorganic membrane can be formed by waterborne epoxy resin combined with C‒S‒H gel in cement soil to cement the internal flaky or spherical soil particles, thereby improving the tensile strength and water erosion resistance of the soil. In this paper, slag and desulfurization gypsum were selected …

Study On Effect Of Reinforcement Ratio On Failure Mode Of Y-Shaped Pier Under Vehicle Eccentric Load, Li Xinfeng, Lin Guangyi, Xia Hao, Li Min, Peng Weibing

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

To construct urban three-dimensional transportation systems and reduce space occupation under bridges, the large cantilever-Y-shaped pier system was applied as a substructure of urban viaducts, with its application demand increasing year by year. However, related research on its reinforcement ratio under vehicle eccentric load has been rarely conducted. Based on an engineering case of an expressway construction project in Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province, a 1∶5 scaled finite element model was established using Abaqus. The reinforcement ratios of Y-shaped piers in four models were set to 0. 42%, 1. 17%, 1. 69%, and 2. 29%, respectively. Among them, the reinforcement ratio …

Study On Temperature Field And Temperature Effect Of A Continuous Rigid-Frame Bridge With Horizontal Bottom Cables, Li Guodong, Li Guangmao, Gao Yingjie, Huang Fanglin, Zhou De

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

To study the temperature field and temperature effects of a continuous rigid-frame bridge with horizontal bottom cables, a large-span prestressed concrete continuous rigid-frame bridge with a horizontally arranged bottom cable system was selected as the research object. A Python program was developed to calculate the solar radiation boundary conditions, and the Abaqus software was used to establish a two-dimensional transient heat conduction model of the bridge. The time-dependent temperature field of the bridge during summer and winter was analyzed. Based on this, the temperature effects caused by the vertical temperature gradient, transverse temperature gradient, effective temperature, and various temperature modes …

Analysis Of Temperature Field In Negative Temperature Tunnel Based On Material Thermal Parameter Tests, Xin Quanming, Zhang Feng, Zhao Zhongliang, Sun Zhenhua

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

In view of the temperature field problem of Asia ’s first four-season cross-country skiing tunnel reconstructed from an existing tunnel, based on the study of the thermal conductivity of tunnel materials by the HOTDISK method, steady-state heat transfer models under different protection conditions were established by using the finite element method and the multi-layer cylinder heat transfer theory, respectively. The temperature field distribution characteristics of the negative temperature tunnel were analyzed, and the influence laws and sensitivities of various factors were investigated. The results show that the freezing of the tunnel affects the material properties of the tunnel structure;the thermal …

Study On Cause Analysis And Treatment Of Pavement Arching Disease In Highway Tunnels In Water-Rich Soft Rock : A Case Study Of Yunling Tunnel On Shiyan‒Manchuanguan Section Of Fuzhou‒Yinchuan Expressway, Lei Zongjian, Huang Dan, Wu Zheng, Wei Guoyu

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

To explore the mechanism of pavement arching disease in phyllite soft rock tunnels and propose targeted disease treatment measures, based on the Yunling Tunnel in the Shiyan‒Manchuanguan section of the Fuzhou ‒ Yinchuan Expressway, typical tunnel diseases were investigated, and triaxial compression tests of phyllite in natural and saturated states were conducted to study the failure laws of the tunnel under the combined action of fault fracture zones and groundwater. The research results indicate that the compressive strength and elastic modulus of the rock in the saturated state are lower than those in the natural state, which demonstrates that the …

Simulation Study On Smoke Propagation Characteristics At Vault In Urban Bifurcated Tunnel Fire, Guo Xiao, Lyu Jianwei, Tan Xiangjun, Ni Chenyang, Wang Youwei, Li Yuyang

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

To explore the influence of wind speed on the smoke temperature and distribution characteristics of the bifurcated diverging tunnel fire, Hangzhou West Station Tunnel on National Highway G 235 was taken as the engineering background in this paper. The numerical simulation method was used to investigate the influences of different upstream wind speeds and fire source positions on the fire smoke propagation in the diverging expansion section. The results indicate that:① A higher wind speed at the tunnel entrance results in a shorter smoke backflow length in the tunnel, and the rate of smoke backflow in the tunnel decreases accordingly;② …

Research On Intelligent Safety Control Of Deep Water Foundation Of Bridges Based On Digital Twins, Guo Feng, Li Ting, Mao Ali

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

To achieve real-time monitoring data collection, intelligent evaluation and warning of safety risks, and rapid disposal of emergency plans for steel cofferdam structures during the construction process of deep water foundations of bridges. Research on intelligent safety control of steel cofferdams of deep water foundations of bridges was conducted based on digital twins. Firstly, BIM software was used to construct a virtual model of the entire construction process of the steel cofferdam, and IoT devices were used to collect real-time data on the stress, displacement, and construction water level of the steel cofferdam structure. Secondly, by using the Web-GL engine …

Analysis Of Microscopic Crack Propagation In Polyurethane-Cement Stabilized Crushed Stone Based On Discrete Element Method, Yu Xin, Huang Yujie, Chen Chen, Jiang Ziqi, Wang Min, Ling Chenxin

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

To study the effect of polyurethane grouting on the crack repair performance of cement stabilized crushed stone, a microscopic model of cement stabilized crushed stone was established by the discrete element method (DEM) in this paper. SCB fracture simulation tests were conducted on specimens with different initial notch-to-depth ratios to obtain load ‒ displacement curves, and sensitivity analysis of microscopic parameters was performed. Then, by comparing microscopic characteristics such as crack propagation paths, crack types, and particle displacements before and after grouting, the repair effect of polyurethane grouting materials was evaluated. The results indicate that the grouting filler significantly enhances …

April 24, 2026 Minutes, Swosu Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Minutes

No abstract provided.

The Atmospheric Effects On The Extratropical Transition Of Hurricane Sandy, Natalie Paone

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Student Publications

• Hurricane Sandy formed in the Caribbean in late October 2012 and intensified to a Category 3 hurricane before making landfall in Cuba and later New Jersey (Blake et al., 2013). Sandy caused approximately $68.7 billion in damages and over 250 fatalities, making it one of the most impactful storms in U.S. history. 
• During extratropical transition (ET), tropical cyclones interact with midlatitude systems, leading to structural changes such as expansion of the wind field, development of frontal boundaries, and increased baroclinicity (Hart and Evans, 2001). Sandy is a key example of a hybrid cyclone where ET did not weaken impacts but …

Tiny Engineers: How Polycheateworms Can Extend Sedimentary Oxic Layers And Create Better Seagrass Habitats, Natalie Spohn

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Student Publications

The Indian River Lagoon (IRL) is a shallow, well mixed estuary on the East Coast of Florida. Presently, the IRL is suffering eutrophication due to a cycle of harmful algal blooms (HABs) that deplete the water column of oxygen (2,5). Deposition of organic matter from HABs in the sediment leads to reduced sedimentary oxygen, continuing to support the cycle of eutrophication through benthic-pelagic coupling (1,5). Anaerobic sedimentary conditions can increase concentrations of ammonium and sulfide, leading to seagrass loss (3,4,6,7,10). Bioturbation by infauna can extend the oxic layer of sediments, promoting aerobic processes and helping to remove nitrogen and sulfur …

Ontogeny Of Microbial Community Structure In Shoal Grass Grown In Biochar-Amended Sediments, Sajeda Slhoub, Nicole Katz, Joey Ciocher, Jack Denvir, Jenisse Louis, Katelynn Zagami

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Student Publications

The Indian River Lagoon (IRL) is one of the most biologically diverse estuaries in the United States and contributes over $55.4 billion annually to Florida’s economy. Since 2010, more than 52% of the IRL seagrass meadows have been lost, reducing both the ecological and the economic potential of this ecosystem. Biochar, a stable carbon material produced by pyrolysis, added to soil enhance organic productivity perhaps because of increased microbial activity in the soil (Lehmann et al., 2017). Our study evaluates the use of biochar to grow resilient strains of seagrass for ecosystem restoration in the IRL.

N.A.U.T.I.L.U.S.: Natural Aquaculture Using Technology In Living Underwater Systems, Joey Ciocher, Abby Vallejo, Will Marble, Martin Pham, Roger Jiang

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Student Publications

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are small subsets of marine ecosystems with limited to no access to exploitation to promote sustainability and growth of healthy populations of marine organisms. Factors that affect the performance of MPAs include Size, Age, Level of Protection, Enforcement and Compliance, Isolation and Connectivity, and Habitat Quality and Diversity.

Thermoelectric Migraine Cooling Cap, Emily Ralston

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Student Publications

Migraines affect millions of people and can cause serious pain and discomfort. Many people use ice packs or cooling wraps to try to reduce the pain, but these only stay cold for a short amount of time. Because of this, there is a need for a cooling system that can provide longer and more controlled cooling. This project focuses on designing and building a wearable cooling cap that uses thermoelectric cooling technology. The goal is to create a system that can cool the head while moving heat away toward the neck area and help reduce migraine discomfort.

Recycling Spent Brewing Yeast As A Shrimp Feed Supplement, John Denvir

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Student Publications

The aquaculture industry relies heavily on commercial fish feed, which accounts for over 50% of production costs and limits farm profitability worldwide[1]. Breweries generate about 3 gallons of high-strength wastewater per gallon of beer produced, much of it discarded as an oxygen-depleting pollutant from spent yeast[2]. Therefore, this project tests recycling spent brewer's yeast into a sustainable fish feed supplement to cut aquaculture costs and divert brewery waste from waterways, promoting circular food systems.

Factors Contributing To The Intensity Of Two 2022 Lake Effect Snowstorms At Lake Erie, Johnny Murray

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Student Publications

• Lake effect snow (LES) is a weather phenomenon in which cold mass air passes over relatively warm waters, forming localized bands of snowfall. (Niziol, 1987) 
• LES events are common during the winter months in Buffalo, NY due to the city’s location along the northeastern edge of Lake Erie.
• November 17-20 and December 23-27 in 2022 were two prominent LES events.
• Total maximum snowfall for the events were 81.2” in Nov and 51.9” in Dec. 
• High snowfall totals were in part due to the length of these events, being ~60 hours in Nov, and ~120 hours in Dec.