Digital Commons Network^™

Triple-Valued Neutrosophic Set, Quadruple-Valued Neutrosophic Set, Quintuple-Valued Neutrosophic Set, And Double-Valued Indetermsoft Set, Takaaki Fujita

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

Concepts such as Fuzzy Sets, Neutrosophic Sets, Rough Sets, and Plithogenic Sets have been extensively studied to address uncertainty, finding diverse applications across various fields. A Double-Valued Neutrosophic Set (DVNS) extends traditional neutrosophic sets by introducing two distinct indeterminacy components: one leaning towards truth and the other towards falsity. In this paper, we explore Triple-Valued Neutrosophic Sets, Quadruple-Valued Neutrosophic Sets, and Quintuple-Valued Neutrosophic Sets, as well as an extension of the Indetermsoft Set, termed the Double-Valued Indetermsoft Set. Note that related concepts such as the Multi-Valued Neutrosophic Set and the n-Valued Refined Neutrosophic Set have already been established.

Kinetic Growth Rate Analysis Of Coelastrella Sp. In Aquaculture Wastewater., Rob Skarvan

Master of Engineering Theses

The demand for sustainable food and energy production continues to rapidly rise. Utilizing aquaculture wastewater as microalgae growth medium is a potential opportunity for nutrient recycling and industrial symbiosis, but more research is required to understand how best to design and scale-up a dual-purpose facility. This study investigates the growth of Coelastrella sp. in aquaculture wastewater compared to industry-standard growth medium BG-11 and modified tap water as controls. Though cell size and pigment density varied throughout media, aquaculture wastewater performed very comparably to BG-11 as a microalgae culture broth.

The Monod equation can model Coelastrella sp. growth based …

Minimizing Secondary Spinal Cord Injuries With Hypertonic Saline., Francisco A. Cortez-Thomas

Master of Engineering Theses

Spinal cord injury (SCI) disrupts white matter, causing periaxonal swelling, axonal degeneration, and impaired function. To examine vascular edema’s role, we developed a 3Dprinted dual-compartment imaging chamber to mimic and manipulate interstitial and vascular fluid dynamics in real time. We hypothesized that hypertonic saline (HTS) in the "vascular" chamber would osmotically shift fluid from the periaxonal space and preserve myelinated fibers after SCI. Using two-photon excitation microscopy, we imaged myelin and axons ex vivo in Thy1^YFP+ transgenic mice following C5 contusive SCI and assessed three clinically relevant HTS concentrations versus normal saline for their effectiveness in mitigating periaxonal swelling …

More Concerns About Atmospheric Methane Removal Efforts, Joshua Luczak

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported record-high global atmospheric carbon dioxide levels (419.3 ppm) in 2023, alongside atmospheric methane levels (1922.6 ppb) now over 160% above pre-industrial levels. The World Meteorological Organization predicts 2024 could surpass 2023 as the warmest year on record, with more frequent and severe extreme weather events. Meeting the Paris Climate goal of limiting global warming to well below 2°C—or ideally 1.5°C—above pre-industrial levels is becoming increasingly difficult. To address these challenges, efforts are expanding beyond reducing greenhouse gas emissions. While carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies have been the focus, attention is now turning to …

Sensors And Sensibilities: Exploring Interactions For Habitat Comfort With An Environmental-Physiological Sensing Eyewear In The Wild, Sailin Zhong, Patrick Chwalek, Nathan Perry, David Ramsay, Clayton Miller, Denis Lalanne, S. Hamed Alavi, A. Joseph Paradiso

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

Buildings increasingly incorporate sensing and actuation techniques to automate the regulation of temperature, lighting, ventilation, and more. This trend seeks to minimize human intervention, justified by the promise of enhancing energy optimization. However, it has been widely acknowledged that loss of control over environmental conditions can lead to a diminished perception of comfort and compromised long-term user awareness and satisfaction. How can we envision building systems that can interact with building inhabitants and engage them at the “right” time and place? In this work, we address this challenge through three key contributions: 1) AirSpecs, a novel smart glasses-based system that …

Tumor-Specific Surface Marker–Independent Targeting Of Tumors Through Nanotechnology And Bioorthogonal Glycochemistry, Hyesun Hyun, Bo Sun, Mostafa Yazdimamaghani, Albert Wielgus, Yue Wang, Stephanie Ann Montgomery, Tian Zhang, Jianjun Cheng, Jonathan S. Serody, Andrew Z. Wang

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Biological targeting is crucial for effective cancer treatment with reduced toxicity but is limited by the availability of tumor surface markers. To overcome this, we developed a nanoparticle-based (NP-based), tumor-specific surface marker–independent (TRACER) targeting approach. Utilizing the unique biodistribution properties of NPs, we encapsulated Ac4ManNAz (Maz) to selectively label tumors with azide-reactive groups. Surprisingly, while NP-delivered Maz was cleared by the liver, it did not label macrophages, potentially reducing off-target effects. To exploit this tumor-specific labeling, we functionalized anti–4-1BB Abs with dibenzo cyclooctyne to target azide-labeled tumor cells and activate the immune response. In syngeneic B16F10 melanoma and orthotopic 4T1 …

May 2025 Cafe Newsletter, Center For Advancing Faculty Excellence

CAFE Faculty Newsletters

No abstract provided.

Bridging America: Reclaiming Rail For People, Planet, And Progress, Emma Clark

Architecture Theses

Bridging America presents a long-term, phased strategy to reestablish passenger rail as the most viable mode of transportation in the United States within the next 50 years. Through an analysis of historical patterns, environmental urgency, and societal well-being, the thesis proposes a national rail network centered on modular train design and human-centered station architecture. Three phased sites beginning in Nashville and expanding regionally demonstrate how infrastructure can reconnect communities, reduce carbon emissions, and foster regional identity. While challenges remain in fully resolving modular train functionality and long-distance adaptability, the work opens pathways for future research in AI integration, operational logistics, …

Beyond The Game: A Holistic Design Approach To High School Athletic Environments, Haddey Zastrow

Architecture Theses

This thesis investigates the critical role of architectural design in supporting the well-being, mental health, and academic performance of high school student-athletes as they navigate the complex intersection of academic and athletic responsibilities. Recognizing the unique challenges faced during the transition between student and athlete roles, the research explores how thoughtfully designed sports recreation and rehabilitation centers can foster holistic development. The study emphasizes the importance of integrating mental health resources, sustainable practices, and user-centered design elements-such as natural lighting, open spaces, and calming colors-to create environments that enhance both physical and psychological well-being. Through a comprehensive analysis of existing …

The Next Stride: Improving Athletic Performance Within The Indoor Track In Temperate Climates, Koate Wisdom Deebom

Architecture Theses

This thesis investigates how indoor track and field facilities in temperate climates can be optimized to enhance athletic performance and well-being for student-athletes. While indoor tracks were originally developed to offer year-round training in colder regions, many current designs fail to address the dynamic needs of athletes affected by seasonal and climatic variations. Through analysis of climate’s physiological effects on performance—such as heat acclimation, cold-induced injury risks, and seasonal affective impacts—this research identifies key environmental conditions that influence success in track and field. Case studies, performance data, and interviews with colligate coaches inform a design framework that incorporates climate-responsive architecture, …

The Methodology Of Cost Estimation And Construction Scheduling: Analyzing The Five Dimensions Of Architecture, Lilly Saarela

Architecture Theses

Architecture involves more than just form and function; the products and the architectural process also involve time and cost. Time and cost, which are very real-life factors, are not addressed extensively during our time at the university. To bridge that gap of not understanding those two dimensions, a methodology has been created. The methodology, or step-by-step, of cost estimation has been developed and explored, so that an inexperienced person may utilize cost estimation for their own benefits. This thesis explores the process of developing this methodology, in a simplified manner, to create an easier task rather than a burdensome project. …

Sustainable Lodge: How To Enhance Local Economy Through Eco-Tourism In The Mountain Regions Of Ecuador, Giuliana Galindo-Mata

Architecture Theses

This thesis explores the potential of sustainable tourism infrastructure to generate meaningful economic and social change in the mountain regions of Ecuador. Centered on the design of Condor Lodge, a sustainable eco-lodge located in Alpamalag de Acurios, Pujilí, the project addresses four core objectives: environmental sustainability, social and cultural preservation, economic revitalization, and innovative design. Through passive systems, local materials, and community engagement, the lodge demonstrates how architecture can strengthen cultural identity, promote local employment, and support regenerative tourism. This thesis integrates precedent analysis, site-specific strategies, and projected economic impacts to propose a model for responsible tourism development in the …

Wuelbefannen: Architecture Of Perception, Enya Weinandt

Architecture Theses

This thesis explores how architectural design can positively challenge human and user perception to promote mindfulness and relaxation. Set in Luxembourg City, the study explores the intersection of the phenomenology of perception, metaphysics, and architecture, specifically space and time. It examines how sensory and spatial elements can be manipulated to create environments that transcend conventional experiences. The research includes theories of perception and metaphysics, as well as research about sensory design as a framework for designing spaces that engage with existential and experiential dimensions beyond the five senses. The project's design project will be a spiritual retreat, applying these concepts …

A Fragile New World: An Analysis Of The History, Present, And Future Of The U.S. Global Fragility Act, Declan F. Coakley

International Studies (MA) Theses

In 2019, the U.S. Congress passed the Global Fragility Act with bipartisan support. (GFA). The act aimed to reform U.S. foreign aid and development, focusing on stabilization initiatives that proactively address the root causes of conflict before they escalate into full-blown violence. Despite the significant implications of the GFA for both domestic and international foreign policy, extant research examining the novel legislation remains limited and disjointed in its examination. This paper builds on previous studies by combining content analysis and qualitative interviews with a diverse group of professionals within the foreign aid sector to offer a comprehensive analysis of the …

The World Cup As A Racial Rebuilt Project, Khaled A. Beydoun

Utah Law Review

Scholars, particularly Critical Race Theorists, have written trenchantly about the law’s role in racial formation. Yet, while instrumental in this process, the law does not stand alone as a conduit of making race. Particularly for misrepresented groups, like Arabs, who struggle to find existential self-determination between imperial identity impositions, ethnic cleansing, and clashing racial ascriptions, the law fails to create racial categories that reflect their lived realities.

Beyond the asymmetrical landscape of legal ordering, sport stands as a powerful site of racial formation. Sport is where racialization can unfold indigenously, rebelliously, and “from the bottom.” Particularly soccer, a game of …

Sometimes Is Not Enough: A Legislative Solution To The Failures Of The Federal Government In Compensating Civilians Harmed By U.S. Military Action, Olivia Mcquarrie

Utah Law Review

The United States has a large military presence abroad. With that presence has come instances of human rights abuses. This Note highlights the issues of civilian deaths and poisoning at the hands of the U.S. military, focusing specifically on the U.S.’s Middle Eastern theater of operations. It advocates for a comprehensive statutory scheme that requires uniform compensation to civilians while also requiring public disclosures to ensure government accountability. Previous research has focused on the cause of the U.S. military’s human rights violations abroad and methods of addressing physical and environmental harms separately. This Note proposes an approach that encompasses both …

Overview Of Reference Managers, Phillip Elam

AFIT Library Knowledge Base

No abstract provided.

Research Skills: Search Strategies, Elizabeth Irvine

AFIT Library Knowledge Base

No abstract provided.

Sensor Data Fusion For Air Quality Monitoring, Mirna Hesham

Theses and Dissertations

Since traditional air quality monitoring methods often rely on geographically sparse and costly air quality monitoring stations, image-based air quality method- ologies are recently offering a compelling alternative that utilizes images from sources like satellites, traffic cameras, and even smartphones to monitor pollution levels by using estimation models, image-processing techniques, and deep-learning models. In this thesis, we first conduct a systematic review, in which we categorize and discuss the existing literature work. Moreover, we introduce a novel, multi- modal dataset designed to address the limitations of existing datasets, which are restricted in size, geographical coverage, and fixed-scene imagery, impeding the …

Comparing Mentored Research Experiences For Undergraduates Across Institutional Contexts, Jazzmine K. Waugh, Sanya M. Surya, Mackenzie Gray, Thomas E. Keller

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background: Mentored undergraduate research experiences (UREs) can play a critical role in developing science identity and skills, especially for students from historically underrepresented backgrounds. This study investigates science identity and responsibility for scientific roles among scholars in a program aiming to diversify the biomedical workforce. Scholars were placed in UREs at either their home institution (a minority-serving institution [MSI]) or at a research-intensive medical institution with a Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA). Methods: We analyze data from surveys administered annually to the scholars. We first compare changes in science identity for scholars placed at the MSI and the CTSA …

Robust Distributed Learning Against Both Distributional Shifts And Byzantine Attacks, Guanqiang Zhou, Ping Xu, Yue Wang, Zhi Tian

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

In distributed learning systems, robustness threat may arise from two major sources. On the one hand, due to distributional shifts between training data and test data, the trained model could exhibit poor out-of-sample performance. On the other hand, a portion of working nodes might be subject to Byzantine attacks, which could invalidate the learning result. In this article, we propose a new research direction that jointly considers distributional shifts and Byzantine attacks. We illuminate the major challenges in addressing these two issues simultaneously. Accordingly, we design a new algorithm that equips distributed learning with both distributional robustness and Byzantine robustness. …

The Impact Of On-Campus And Off-Campus Employment On College Students' Leadership Development, Juliet Eckert

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This study examines the impact of on-campus and off-campus employment on college students’ leadership development, focusing on three proximal indices: leader self-efficacy (LSE), motivation to lead (MTL), and leader identity. Drawing from the Hexagon Theory of leadership, the study utilized secondary longitudinal data from a sample of students enrolled in leadership development programs across five universities, tracked over six years from freshman year through two years post-college. A series of two-step linear regressions were conducted to assess the predictive value of employment type on each leadership construct. Results revealed that neither on-campus nor off-campus employment significantly predicted LSE, MTL, or …

Advancing Drug-Drug Interaction Prediction Using Multi-Modal Feature Integration With Graph Neural Networks, Ernest C. Chianumba

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Pharmaceutical treatments are essential for managing medical conditions, but drug-drug interactions (DDIs) pose significant risks to patient safety and healthcare outcomes. This research integrates Knowledge Graphs and Graph Neural Networks to predict DDIs by exploring complex drug relationships. We construct a comprehensive knowledge graph using DrugBank data (1,000 drugs, 155,774 interactions) enriched with molecular features from PubChem. Our methodology introduces a novel multi-modal approach by integrating transformer-based embeddings (ChemBERTa, SPECTER, and SBERT) to create 1152-dimensional feature vectors that capture structural, biomedical literature, and semantic properties of drugs. Formulating DDI prediction as a link prediction task, we compare three Graph Neural …

Life Cycle Analysis Of Cosmetic Products -- Assessing Environmental Sustainability And Potential Impacts, Karina Magro Machado

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

The cosmetic industry has a significant environmental footprint due to its reliance on water, energy, petrochemical-derived ingredients, and plastic-based packaging. This study performs a cradle-to-grave Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) to evaluate the environmental impacts of three cosmetic products: CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion, bareMinerals Gen Nude Powder Blush, and Gillette Foamy Regular Shave Cream. The analysis was conducted using OpenLCA software and free databases, modeling each product across raw materials, packaging, manufacturing, transportation, use and end-of-life phases. The results showed that the shave cream had the highest environmental burden to three out of the four categories, especially in consumption and carbon …

Don't Let Lead Lead On Environmental Justice: A Simulative Approach To Lead Remediation In The Big Data Era, Charles C. Knoble Ii

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Environmental justice, as both a movement and a theoretical construct, continues to evolve in response to shifting societal, environmental, and technological conditions. This dissertation investigates the integration of big data, such as social media, remote sensing imagery, and internet search frequencies, into the identification, analysis, and remediation of environmental injustices. Framing environmental justice through the lenses of distributive and data justice, the project explores both the promises and pitfalls of using emergent data sources to enhance the spatial and temporal precision of environmental equity investigations. Through a combination of systematic literature review, spatial analysis, system dynamics simulation, and policy evaluation, …

How The Ramapough Turtle Clan Tribe Sustained Their Culture Through Ford's Environmental Exploitation, Tori Sutera

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

The Ramapough Turtle Clan Tribe is an Indigenous community composed of individuals residing mainly in Ringwood, New Jersey and a few surrounding boroughs. This land holds irreplaceable significance among the community, who, after facing colonial diaspora, have ultimately resided in Ringwood. However, due to the vast effects of the Ringwood Superfund site, this community has dealt with the loss of their people and their culture. Beginning in 1967, Ford Motor Company – partial owners of the site at that time – initiated the dumping of heavily toxic materials into Cannon and Peters Mines. This dumping continued until 1971, and the …

Spillover Effects Of Foreign Direct Investment Within Japan's Industries, Kenshi Kawade

Economics Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis investigates the relationship between inward Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Total Factor Productivity (TFP) across Japanese industries to evaluate FDI’s potential for economic revitalization in Japan. Despite policy efforts under Abenomics to attract more FDI, Japan continues to lag behind other developed economies in foreign investment levels, hindered by structural barriers such as keiretsu networks and limited absorptive capacity. Using industry-level panel data from 1994 to 2018, this study applies Granger causality tests and panel regression models to examine the direction and magnitude of FDI spillovers on productivity. The results indicate a one-way causal effect from FDI to …

The Uneven Disruptions Covid-19 Caused To Scholars’ Publication: A Preregistered Study, Marco De Prosperis

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This proposed, preregistered study investigates the uneven impacts of COVID-19 on scholarly productivity among University of Arkansas faculty, focusing on how demographic and professional factors—such as gender, ethnicity, academic rank, tenure status, field of study, and the presence of children—may have moderated productivity during the pandemic. Utilizing a non-experimental, cross-sectional design, this research will collect data from 160 full-time faculty members through an online survey. Grounded in Role Theory, the study will examine role conflict and enrichment as faculty navigated shifting responsibilities in research, teaching, and caregiving during remote work. This study is particularly relevant as many assistant professors who …

Vision-Based Multimodal Frameworks For Human Behavioral Analysis: Applications In Group Activity Understanding And Public Health, Naga Venkata Sai Raviteja Chappa

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Group Activity Recognition (GAR) has emerged as a crucial problem in computer vision, with wide-ranging applications in sports analysis, video surveillance, and social scene understanding. Unlike traditional action recognition focused on individuals, GAR requires understanding complex spatiotemporal relationships between multiple actors, their interactions, and the broader context in which these activities occur. This complexity introduces unique challenges, including the need for accurate actor localization, modeling of inter-actor dependencies, and understanding of temporal evolution in group behaviors. While recent advances have shown promise, existing approaches often rely heavily on extensive annotations such as ground-truth bounding boxes and action labels, creating significant …

In Vitro Investigation Of Macrophage Functional And Metabolic Modulation, Shelby Nicole Bess

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Macrophages are a subset of immune cells with a variety of functions that are abundant in numerous tumor types such as colorectal and breast cancer. It has been suggested that macrophages may serve an important function as immune mediators in tumor behavior; however, macrophage activity is complex and remains not completely understood. The overall goal of this dissertation was to explore and exploit tumor-associated macrophage phagocytic function and the changes in their interactions with cancer cells in an in vitro mouse model and in 2D and 3D in vitro culture models. First, we wanted to better understand macrophage behavior under …