Digital Commons Network^™

A Unified Framework For Embedding-Based Synthetic Data Generation With High Cardinality Categorical Features, Cesar Iram Vazquez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

High-cardinality categorical variables remain difficult to model in tabular data, where classical encoders encounter sparsity, susceptibility to leakage, and the loss of meaningful relational structure. This dissertation develops a unified framework for learning, evaluating, and synthesizing representations of such variables using both traditional encoders and modern embedding methods, including Word2Vec, FastText, Node2Vec, TF–IDF/SVD, and supervised entity embeddings. The framework is applied across three benchmark datasets (Adult, PetFinder, Breast Cancer) and a hierarchical educational case study (IPEDS/CIP). Embedding quality is examined through both downstream predictive performance and structure-focused diagnostics that quantify neighborhood behavior and geometric coherence. To assess whether synthetic data …

Algebraic Approach To Data Processing: Techniques And Applications, Julio Urenda

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

In many areas of human knowledge, symmetries and invariances play an important role. In fundamental physics, starting with Relativity Theory, new physical theories have been formulated in terms of invariances and of the corresponding transformation groups – i.e., in terms what a mathematician would call an algebraic approach. In engineering, devices like wind tunnels, which are based on scale-invariance, enable us to test smaller-scale models of the actual designs. In biological sciences, symmetries and invariances are extremely important in analyzing the shape and functioning of living beings, from mammals to viruses. Invariance and symmetry – in the form of fairness …

Understanding Outer Solar System Ice Composition Through Impact Processes: Simulations And Hydrates, Jill Rebecca Mcdonald

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This work concerns solar system ices, particularly water ice and clathrate hydrates. Water ice is abundant as a mineral in the outer parts of the solar system, providing source material for the formation of clathrates. We explored constituents through a combination of numerical modeling and laboratory experiments. Understanding the differences and similarities between these materials can shed light on planetary habitability, composition, and evolution. Chapter one contains relevant background information. This chapter introduces the ices that will be studied and gives insight into the locations of interest within our solar system. It also explains the mechanics of impact cratering processes …

Privacy Protection In Cloud-Based Biometric Systems, Yatish Reddy Dubasi

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The widespread adoption of server-based biometric authentication systems, often hosted in the cloud, has introduced significant privacy risks. While these systems offer convenience, they require storing sensitive biometric templates on remote servers, creating a high-value target for adversaries. Unlike passwords, compromised biometric data is immutable and cannot be reissued, leading to an irreversible loss of privacy. This threat is exacerbated by template inversion attacks, which can reconstruct a user's original biometric trait (e.g., a face image) from its stored feature vector. This dissertation addresses these critical privacy challenges by designing, implementing, and evaluating a suite of novel frameworks for privacy-preserving …

Impact Of Polystyrene Nanoplastics On Oncogenic Signaling Pathways In Prostate Cells, Luis Alfonso Adel-Alvarez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Prostate cancer (PC) remains the most prevalent malignant disease among the male population worldwide, with a dramatic increase observed in the European Union from the 1980s to the 2000s. The etiology of PC is attributed to both hereditary factors and environmental pollutants. Among these, endocrine disruptors and polystyrene nanoparticles (PSNPs) interact with the prostate gland via the circulatory system, inducing intense oxidative stress. This study aims to characterize, for the first time, the pathobiological effects of PSNPs in both non-malignant (RWPE1) and malignant (22RV1) prostate cell lines. The objective was to elucidate the mechanisms by which environmental pollutants, such as …

Machine Learning And First-Principle Approach To The Stability And Properties Of Iron-Based Materials Under Extreme Conditions., Blaise Awola Ayirizia

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the stability and physical properties of iron-based materials under extreme conditions, utilizing a combination of machine learning techniques and first principles calculations. In the first study, we employ Gaussian Process Regression (GPR) with a Marginalized Graph Kernel to analyze the mechanical stability of non-magnetic body-centered cubic (BCC) iron at high temperatures and pressures, similar to those found in Earth’s core. Our model, trained on data derived from ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations, predicts the energy landscape, atomic forces, and potential pathways for instability in BCC iron. The findings suggest that BCC iron remains stable in extreme …

Effect Of Build Parameters On Mechanical Properties And Residual Stresses Of Lp-Ded Inconel 718 Overhanging Structures, Angel Fernando Bravo

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Additive manufacturing of Inconel 718 via laser powder direct energy deposition (LP-DED) offers design flexibility for repair and fabrication of large components. However, mechanical properties remain sensitive to process parameters and geometric constraints, which impact the consistency of material properties. This study investigates the effect of different build angles (0°, 20°, 30°, and 35°) at different laser powers (1070W and 2000W) on the mechanical properties and residual stresses. Eight overhanging structures were fabricated using Inconel 718 and subjected to various heat treatments (SR + HIP + SOL + Aging). Numerical simulations were developed to predict residual stresses in the samples, …

Study Of Fatigue Endurance Of Alsi10mg Post Heat Treatments And Subsequently Aged At Service Temperature, Luis Alfredo Barrera

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LBPF) AlSi10Mg is used in the aerospace and automotive industries for its refined microstructure and ductility compared to cast alloys. However, LPBF processes can inherently lead to defects that may act as fatigue crack initiators, such as lack of fusion, balling, and keyhole porosity. This work focuses on the analysis of high-cycle fatigue (HCF) endurance of AlSi10Mg under expected service conditions. For this study, AlSi10Mg specimens were printed on an EOS M290 LPBF system and heat-treated by stress relief (SR1), Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP), and Hot Isostatic Pressing + T6 (HIP+T6), as per ASTM 3318. Specimens …

3d Face Modeling From 2d Images Using Deep Neural Networks, Mario Alberto De La Cruz Armendariz

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Applications of 3D face reconstruction include biometric authentication, personalized avatars and digital identity, medical visualization, forensic analysis, and broader human-computer interaction. We propose an approach to 3D face reconstruction that can generate a fully textured 3D facial model using only two grayscale images: a front view and a profile view of the subject. Once trained, the system can perform the reconstruction autonomously without manual intervention. Unlike traditional methods requiring multi-camera setups, depth sensors, or cloud-based processing, the proposed approach runs fully offline on a standard CPU, supporting dynamic execution across CPU cores and eliminating the need for a dedicated GPU. …

Design And Validation Of Model Predictive Controllers For Lateral Vehicle Control, Keren Flores

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This thesis develops, implements, and evaluates a Model Predictive Control (MPC) framework for lateral vehicle guidance using a linearized bicycle model. The complete control architecture is formulated from first principles, beginning with the derivation of the continuous-time planar dynamics and their conversion into a discrete-time state-space representation suitable for real-time control. The MPC problem is constructed explicitly through the development of prediction models, output selection matrices, and quadratic cost formulations. The controller is evaluated through a Python simulation environment that includes reference trajectory generation, nonlinear vehicle propagation, and constraint handling. Robustness is examined using systematic perturbations to vehicle mass, tire …

Microgrid Assessment And Ml-Based Power System Faults Detection Leveraging Real-Time Co-Simulation, Diego Normando Gandara Mendez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The rapid growth of distributed energy resources (DERs) and the increasing reliance on data-driven decision making have reshaped the operational challenges of modern electric power systems. As microgrids become more prominent in distribution networks, utilities require methods that unify planning, control, and real-time situational awareness to ensure resilient operation under faulted or uncertain conditions. The goal of this MSEE thesis is to design and validate a latency-aware ML framework for rapid, reliable fault detection in distribution grids. To achieve the goal of the thesis, there are three specific objectives. Objective 1 evaluates optimized microgrid configurations under varying DER levels and …

Exploring The Impact Of Stem Degree Attainment On Intragenerational Social Mobility Among Hispanic Students And Graduates In Two Texas-Mexico Border Universities, Pilar Gonzalez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This research employed a two-phase, sequential, explanatory, mixed-methods design to answer the research questions. The first research question examined how obtaining a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) higher education degree affects the socioeconomic advancement of current Hispanic students and alumni of the Louise Stokes Alliance for Minorities in Participation (LSAMP) within the context of two higher education institutions located along the Texas-Mexico border. The second research question explored the determinants shaping the professional pathways of Hispanic STEM students and graduates in the geographic vicinity of the Texas-Mexico border. For this study, STEM degrees refer to those recognized by the …

Lamda: A Longitudinal Android Malware Dataset For Benchmarking Concept Drift Detection And Adaptation, Md Ahsanul Haque

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Machine learning (ML)-based malware detection systems often fail to account for the dynamic nature of real-world training and test data distributions. In practice, these distributions evolve due to frequent changes in the Android ecosystem, adversarial development of new malware families, and the continuous emergence of both benign and malicious applications. Prior studies have shown that such concept drift—distributional shifts in benign and malicious samples—leads to significant degradation in detection performance over time. Despite the practical importance of this issue, existing datasets are often outdated and limited in temporal scope, diversity of malware families, and sample scale, making them insufficient for …

Comparison Of Ti-6al-4v Powder And Bulk Specimen Properties Across Manufacturers In Laser Powder-Blown Ded, Alejandro Javier Hernandez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The investigation and comparison of 4 different Ti64 powder feedstocks from 3 different manufacturers was done to determine if the quality of the powder had a profound effect on the properties of the bulk specimens despite using the same processing parameters. The characteristics of the powder observed are the atomization process used, particle size distribution, flowability, and its density. The Ti64 printing parameters for directed energy deposition that were kept consistent were the feed rate, scanning speed, and laser power. Coupons with varying build angles (0-30°) were printed to measure the impact of overhangs on bulk specimen properties (ultimate tensile …

Phishibl: A Systematic Evaluation Of Instance-Based Learning Model For Predicting Phishing Susceptibility, Shova Kuikel

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Despite enormous efforts to develop defenses against phishing attacks, humans still struggle to detect phishing emails given the constantly evolving attacker strategies. This thesis aims to test the predictive capabilities of a cognitive model that represents the individual susceptibility to phishing emails. While training programs aim to raise awareness, most remain outdated and ineffective against evolving attack strategies. Recent advances in Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, and Large Language Models (LLMs) offer new defenses, yet understanding human decision processes remains crucial, as effective systems must emulate how people evaluate unfamiliar emails based on prior experience. This research introduces a cognitive model …

The Misadventures Of Popcorn And Zelda, Lori Lynne Kullberg

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The Value of Animal Protagonists for Young Readers in Children’s Literature. This series is about my rescue cat and dog, Popcorn and Zelda, who are brought together at different ages and stages of their life. Witnessing their sweet interaction, mischievous playfulness, and close bond, I am immediately provided the inspiration for the early reader series of my thesis, The Misadventures of Popcorn and Zelda. My animals offer a constant stream of entertainment in watching how they interact with not only one another, but with me, as well. Oftentimes, Popcorn and Zelda’s behavior mirrors how I think a person would act …

Our Trajectories As We Leave The Teaching Profession: Pláticas With Former Bilingual Teachers On The U.S.-Mexico Border In Texas- An Explanatory Sequential Mixed-Methods Study, Carla Medina Jaquez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Teacher attrition has had a negative impact on the educational system for many years. New and experienced teachers have been leaving the classroom. Although the reasons appear repetitive, we know relatively little about what teachers must go through when deciding to leave the profession and what happens to them afterward. A teacher shortage is occurring along the U.S.-Mexico border, as in many other cities across the United States. Despite undergoing a lengthy certification process, teachers continue to leave the classroom. This research employed an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design to explore how new and experienced teachers navigate their transition out of …

Efficient Adaptive Spline-Based Path Planning For In-Space Servicing, Assembly, And Manufacturing Applications, Christian Lozoya

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Autonomous robotic systems operating in cluttered and partially observed environments require trajectory generation methods that produce smooth and dynamically feasible motion while reacting to locally sensed obstacles. This requirement is especially pronounced for free-flyer and in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM) platforms, where onboard sensing is sparse, global environmental information is unavailable, and communication or computational resources are constrained. In such settings, motion plans must be updated online using incomplete and rapidly changing local observations, while avoiding excessive replanning that can lead to oscillatory or unstable behavior. Many existing approaches either rely on dense optimization over extended horizons, which is …

Further Insights Into The Network Link Outlier Factor's (Nlof) Light-Load Penalty, Sunday Oluwaleke Ogundele

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This research investigates the performance of the Network Link Outlier Factor with Most Likely Links (NLOF:MLL), under varying network load conditions. Earlier studies reported that the NLOF:MLL algorithm experienced a noticeable drop in fault-localization accuracy when operating in lightly loaded networks. To further examine this limitation, 240 experiments were carried out to observe how the algorithm responds as overall network load increases. The evaluation focused on the classification performance metrics: precision, recall, and F1-score. The results show that NLOF:MLL’s effectiveness improves as network load increases but that the rate of improvement slows progressively, eventually stabilizing in a pattern consistent with …

Gpu-Based Electromagnetic Microwave Tomography For Brain Imaging And Stroke Detection, Pablo Sotelo Torres

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Each year, an estimated 795,000 people in the U.S. suffer a stroke, with approximately 610,000 being first-time cases. Of these, 87% are ischemic strokes, while the remaining 13% are hemorrhagic. Current imaging methods, such as Computed Tomography (CT), Positron Emission Tomography (PET), and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), provide useful information into brain tissue properties; while each technique has its advantages, they remain expensive, non-portable, and often too slow for emergency bedside or in-ambulance use. Electromagnetic Microwave Tomography (EMT) offers a promising alternative: an affordable, portable, rapid, and safe method for stroke detection. By contrasting dielectric properties between healthy and affected …

Powder Degradation Analysis In Reused Pure Tungsten For Electron Beam Melting (Ebm), Hernan Valenzuela

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Additive manufacturing (AM) enables unparalleled design freedom and geometric complexity, driving its adoption in aerospace and medical fields. A major advantage of metal powder AM technologies, such as Electron Beam Melting (EBM), is its ability to reuse unused metal powder, reducing material waste and costs. However, reusing powder repeatedly alters its properties, affecting the final product. Despite its significance, research on powder degradation remains limited, primarily focusing on alloys like Ti-6Al-4V. This thesis investigates the degradation of pure tungsten powder reused over multiple Electron Beam Melting (EBM) cycles. A literature review revealed general powder-reuse mechanisms across additive manufacturing (AM) technologies …

Advancing Aerospace Materials: 3d Printing Of Fiber Reinforced Cyanate Ester Ipns And Uhtcmcs, Saqlain Zaman

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Additive manufacturing (AM) is rapidly reshaping the landscape of advanced materials for aerospace, hypersonic, and extreme-environment systems. However, AM of high-temperature polymer and ceramic composites, especially those reinforced with continuous or aligned fibers, remains limited by challenges in rheological control, in situ fiber impregnation, curing compatibility, densification, and achieving directional multifunctional properties. This dissertation advances a unified Direct Ink Writing (DIW) framework enabling the processing of architected, high-performance composite materials across polymer and ceramic systems. Three research thrusts collectively establish scalable pathways for fabricating fiber-reinforced cyanate ester interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) and ultra-high-temperature ceramic matrix composites (UHTCMCs). First, a dual-curable …

Now You See It: Evaluating A Small Object Detection Model For Uncrewed Surface Vehicle Operations, Jenna Ehnot

Master's Theses and Capstones

As Uncrewed Surface Vehicle (USV) operations scale in size, distance, and complexity, they increasingly rely on artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to maintain situational awareness, and operators must understand how algorithm performance may change as camera configuration is adjusted to meet operational needs. This thesis proposes distance-based evaluation strategies that characterize object detection performance in terms directly applicable to USV operations. In this research, a YOLOv5s model was trained to detect small maritime obstacles, focusing on aids to navigation, and the lobster pot floats common in the Gulf of Maine. Three test videos were collected, each capturing a buoy approaching the …

Quantifying Contributions Of Sonar Systems On Marine Soundscapes: A Statistical And Machine Learning Analysis, Reilly Jacob Lessard

Master's Theses and Capstones

A variety of elements are used to characterize marine soundscapes, including natural and anthropogenic sound. One anthropogenic activity that potentially contributes to marine soundscapes, but is not sufficiently understood, is the use of different types of ocean-mapping sonar systems. Sonar systems are used abundantly in marine environments for purposes such as ocean floor mapping and military security purposes [Ryu et al., 2023] [Marszal and Salamon, 2013]. The systems used to conduct this research are the Kongsberg TOPAS PS40 sub-bottom profiler and the RESON SeaBat T51-R multibeam echosounder, along with SoundTrap recorders, which were deployed in the Gulf of Maine. Periods …

Optimizing Pv Solar Array Design By Analysis Of The Industrial And Training Assessment Center (Itac) Database, Angel Samuel Fernandez

Theses and Dissertations

Since 2017, the Industrial Training and Assessment Center (ITAC) at UTRGV has included photovoltaic (PV) system evaluations in its industrial energy assessments. A review of these reports showed inconsistencies in PV system design, including variations in sizing methods, performance assumptions, and application of NEC requirements. To address these issues, this thesis develops a standardized and NEC-compliant methodology for designing PV systems, incorporating demand-based sizing, solar-geometry principles, and electrical calculations guided by NEC Articles 690 and 705.

This thesis focuses on demand-based PV system sizing and incorporates NEC-guided electrical design to ensure technical compliance and safety. System performance is evaluated using …

Hiring Expectations For New And Future Workers In Animal Genetics Careers, Meghan C. Wulster-Radcliffe, James N. Macleod, Robert J. Coleman, John S. Radcliffe, Rebekah B. Epps, Carol D. Hanley, Cheyenne S. Summers, Steven A. Zinn, Sarah A. Reed

Animal and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

To better align educational outcomes with workforce demands in animal and equine genetics, this study surveyed 65 industry professionals on entry-level competencies, hiring trends, and graduate preparedness of undergraduate students. The survey assessed employer ratings on the importance and perceived proficiency of seven core competencies: critical thinking, communication, teamwork, leadership, professionalism, career/self-development, and equity/inclusion, as well as technical knowledge and broader skills relevant to animal breeding and genetics. Results revealed oral communication, teamwork, and work ethic were rated as the most critical transferable skills, though notable proficiency gaps persist, particularly in leadership and professionalism. Foundational technical knowledge in genetics, molecular …

Integrating Eem Fluorescence Spectroscopy With Machine And Deep Learning Models For Multi-Output Prediction Of Fish Freshness, Yanwei Fan, Zengtao Ji, Chuanheng Sun, Daming Xu, Xinting Yang, Ce Shi, Hongbing Fan

Animal and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

A precise and real-time assessment of the freshness of aquatic products during storage can effectively reduce economic losses and food safety problems. This study developed a novel multi-output freshness monitoring model integrating excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy with two machine learning (ML) and one deep learning (DL) approach to simultaneously predict freshness indices and classify freshness stages. We Utilized bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) andrainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), to predict TVB-N, K value, and TVC freshness indices via PCA-RF regression, achieving R² = 0.85-0.98 and RMSE = 0.23-3.63 significantly outperforming PARAFAC-SVR/RF and PCA-SVR; classify freshness into fresh, sub_fresh, and rot stages …

Career Readiness Competencies Among First-Generation Undecided Students And Their Parents In The United States, Nicole M. Kotlan, Evan W. Faidley

Journal of Global Education and Research

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between first-generation status and the value of career readiness competencies of first-generation undecided students (n = 106) and their parents (n = 178), explored through social cognitive career theory and Bourdieu’s theory of habitus and social and cultural capital. A non-experimental design using a non-random sample revealed, through an independent t-test, statistically significant differences in global/intercultural competency among students based on their first-generation status. The results of a multiple linear regression analysis suggest that parents’ values are associated with students’ values and professionalism/work ethic; however, no relationship was …

Internationalization Of Indian Higher Education: Mapping The Origins And Academic Choices Of International Students, Sanjeev Kumar Jha

Journal of Global Education and Research

This study explores the geographical origins, academic preferences, and key factors influencing the enrollment of international students in Indian higher education institutions. Drawing on primary data from interviews with 25 international students and secondary data from All India Survey on Higher Education reports, it provides an in-depth analysis of student mobility trends and factors shaping their choices. The results indicate that the international student enrollment is significantly below the Indian government’s target of 500,000 by 2024. Students come from Nepal, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bhutan, and Nigeria, with Karnataka and Punjab emerging as the most preferred states within India. Engineering, particularly …

Uncertainty Estimation For Graph-Based Learning In Digital Pathology, Saba Heidari Gheshlaghi, Nasim Yahyasoltani, Masoud Ganji

Computer Science Faculty Research and Publications

High-resolution digital scans of pathology slides, known as whole slide images (WSIs), have detailed spatial and contextual information for diagnosing cancer. However, the classification performance of WSIs by deep learning models is typically compromised by data with a different distribution, known as out-of-distribution (OOD), resulting in unreliable predictions. Therefore, having a reliable predictive uncertainty estimation is crucial for clinical adoption. This article comprehensively studies graph-based uncertainty estimation for WSI classification using two cutting-edge graph neural network (GNN) architectures: 1) graph attention networks (GAT); and 2) GraphSAGE. In this work, we introduce the first unified multihead GNN framework that leverages GraphSAGE …