Digital Commons Network^™

A Scalable Approach To Internet Of Things And Industrial Internet Of Things Security: Evaluating Adaptive Self-Adjusting Memory K-Nearest Neighbor For Zero-Day Attack Detection, Promise Ricardo Agbedanu, Shanchieh Jay Yang, Richard Musabe, Ignace Gatare, James Rwigema

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

The Internet of Things (IoT) and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) have drastically transformed industries by enhancing efficiency and flexibility but have also introduced substantial cybersecurity risks. The rise of zero-day attacks, which exploit unknown vulnerabilities, poses significant threats to these interconnected systems. Traditional signaturebased intrusion detection systems (IDSs) are insufficient for detecting such attacks due to their reliance on pre-defined attack signatures. This study investigates the effectiveness of Adaptive SAMKNN, an adaptive k-nearest neighbor with self-adjusting memory (SAM), in detecting and responding to various attack types in Internet of Things (IoT) environments. Through extensive testing, our proposed method demonstrates …

Predicting Rock Mass Strength From Drilling Data Using Synergistic Unsupervised And Supervised Machine Learning Approaches, Gbétoglo Charles Komadja, Erik Westman, Aditya Rana, Anye Vitalis

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Extracting rock mass strength properties from existing data like Measurement While Drilling (MWD) is important to reduce the cost of additional geological and geotechnical surveys. This study presents an approach that combines clustering (unsupervised learning) and classification algorithms to identify similar rock groups for their prediction. The dataset comprises 272,272 MWD from 2,790 drill holes, split into 215,401 data points (2,332 drill holes) for cross-validation, and another 215,401 data points, from 558 previously unseen drill holes for testing. Principal component analysis (PCA) and clustering algorithms such as K-means, Gaussian mixture, C Fuzy, and hierarchical clustering were employed to group rocks …

Antibiotic Use And Antimicrobial Resistance: Knowledge, Attitudes, And Practices Among Smallholder Chicken Farmers In Southern Mozambique, Noemia Andre Mugabe, Jamal Kussaga, Abdulsudi Issa-Zacharia

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Intensive production systems face challenges in treating individual chickens due to the large number of animals, resulting in the indiscriminate use of antibiotics as the only alternative. The use of antibiotics in poultry production has adverse effects on humans, as prolonged consumption of contaminated meat can lead to the development of antibiotic resistance in intestinal bacteria. A cross-sectional survey involving 395 smallholder farmers was conducted through face-to-face interviews to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding antibiotic use in urban and peri-urban areas of Southern Mozambique. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27. The findings revealed that 60% of respondents …

Clinical Application Of Chambo Tilapia Fish Skin Xenograft For Skin Tissue Regeneration: A Case Report In A Partial-Thickness Burns Pediatric Patient, Bhahat Lawlley Zimba, Dennis Mtunduwatha, David Hara, Mukondwedi Mchazime, Aaron Stima, Mwemezi Rwiza, Elingarami Sauli

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

WHO reports that burns account for more than 180,000 deaths annually with the majority of cases coming from low and middle-income countries due to limited resources in the management of burns. Currently, burns are being treated using silver sulphadiazine and gauze dressings, but this method has demonstrated to have some shortfalls. Alternative methods are being researched to find a better treatment modality with a faster healing duration. This case report describes the novel application of Chambo tilapia (Oreochromis lidole) fish skin xenograft in the treatment of partial thickness burns in a patient. The research was conducted on a 5-year-old female …

Climate Change And Variability As Drivers Of Vegetation Dynamics In Bontioli Natural Reserve, West African Drylands, Issaka Abdou Razakou Kiribou, Theodore Nikiema

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Climate change significantly impacts vegetation dynamics and plant productivity by affecting temperature, rainfall and seasonal patterns. In dryland ecosystems such as the West African savanna, these changes accelerate biodiversity loss, and reduces carbon sequestration capacity. This study examines vegetation response to climate variability in the Bontioli Natural Reserve (BNR), within the West African savanna. Using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) retrieved from Landsat imagery via the Google Earth Engine platform, coupled with high-resolution bioclimatic data from the climatologies at high resolution for the earth’s land surface areas (CHELSA) we analysed the vegetation changes over the past three decades (1993 …

Characteristics Of A V-Shaped Rectenna For 28.3 Thz Energy Harvesting., Aboubacar Savadogo, Thomas Nyachoti Nyangonda, Bernard Odhiambo Aduda, Uli Lemmer Mohamed Hussein

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

A rectenna structure based on a potentially printable V-shaped nanoantenna (VSNA) design is introduced and numerically analyzed. The characteristics of the VSNA structure have been investigated through the electric field enhancement and radiation efficiency used as figures of merit to evaluate its performance. A comparative study has been performed between the VSNA and a conventional dipole THz antenna based on the same dimension constraints. Therefore, the VSNA has shown better and more localized field enhancement at the arm tips. Furthermore, an optimization process has been carried out to maximize the electric field at the resonance frequency (28.3 THz). The suggested …

Optimizing Gasification In Downdraft Fixed-Bed Gasifier Through Experimental And Kinetic Modeling, Hamado Ouedraogo, Sayon Dit Sadio Sidibe, Yohan Richardson

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Gasification is an effective way of converting biomass into electricity. However, determining optimal conditions to reach higher temperature gradients and ensure thermal stability of the reactors for syngas production is challenging. This paper presents a hybrid static and dynamic model for optimizing fixed-bed biomass gasification using experimental data. A reduction-model has been developed and simulated using MATLAB to optimize the reduction process, which involves the most important reactions in syngas production. The analytical results show significant improvements, with the volume fractions of CO increasing from the initial value of 15.10 % to the simulated value of 30.77 % between 650 …

Improving Optical Efficiency Of Linear Fresnel Collectors In The Sahel Via Position And Length Adjustment, Souwera Stan Lionnel Somda, Kokouvi Edem N’Tsoukpoe

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Linear Fresnel concentrators are promising technologies for solar thermal applications, but their performance is often hindered by end losses and inefficiencies related to receiver design and placement. This study aimed to enhance LFC optical performance under the specific solar conditions of the Sahel region by exploring dynamic receiver displacement and tailored receiver length extension. The methodology involved calculating the maximum non-illuminated receiver length analytically for each solar condition and simulating various displacement frequencies (weekly, biweekly, and monthly) using the Tonatiuh ray-tracing tool. The combined strategies of dynamic receiver adjustment and analytically optimised receiver length were evaluated in terms of annual …

Identification Of Potential Vectors And Detection Of Rift Valley Fever Virus In Mosquitoes Collected Before And During The 2022 Outbreak In Rwanda, Isidore Nsengimana, Emmanuel Hakizimana, Jackie Mupfasoni, Jean Nepomuscene Hakizimana, Augustino A. Chengula, Christopher J. Kasanga, Gillian Eastwood

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is an emerging mosquito-borne arbovirus of One Health importance that caused two large outbreaks in Rwanda in 2018 and 2022. Information on vector species with a role in RVFV eco-epidemiology in Rwanda is scarce. Here we sought to identify potential mosquito vectors of RVFV in Rwanda, their distribution and abundance, as well as their infection status. Since an outbreak of RVF occurred during the study period, data were obtained both during an interepidemic period and during the 2022 Rwanda RVF outbreak. Five districts of the eastern province of Rwanda were prospected using a combination of …

Advancing Sustainable Practices: Integrated Pedological Characterization And Suitability Assessment For Enhanced Irish Potato Production In Tsangano And Angónia Districts Of Tete Province, Mozambique., Tamara Jose Sande, Balthazar Michael Msanya, Hamisi Juma Tindwa, Alessandra Mayumi Tokura Alovisi, Johnson M. Semoka, Mawazo Shitindi

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Irish potato (Solanum tuberosum) is a critical crop for food security and economic growth in Tsangano and Angónia Districts, Central Mozambique. Challenges like inconsistent yields and variable quality are often linked to suboptimal soil conditions, which limit production. This study aimed to classify and evaluate the suitability of soils for potato cultivation in Tete Province, where detailed soil assessments remain limited. Four pedons—TSA-P01 and TSA-P02 in Tsangano and ANGO-P01 and ANGO-P02 in Angónia—were examined for bulk density, texture, pH, organic carbon, and nutrient content using a combination of pedological methods and laboratory soil analysis. To determine each site’s potential for …

Fermentation, Handling And Claimed Therapeutic Effects Of Dhanaan: An Ethiopian Fermented Camel Milk, Tiruha Habte Karssa, Jamal B. Kussaga, Teresa Lemsaddek Lemsaddek, Jovin K. Mugula

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Dhanaan is a spontaneously fermented camel milk that is popular in the Somali regional state of Ethiopia and plays a sig- nificant role in the livelihoods of pastoral communities. This study aimed to investigate traditional fermentation methods of dhanaan in these communities. Four districts, namely, Gursum, Shabelle, Degehabur, and Birqot, were purposively selected on the basis of camel rearing, camel milk production, and consumption. A cross-sectional survey of traditional fermentation methods, handling, utilization, and the claimed therapeutic effects of dhanaan was conducted using both open- and closed- ended questions in the districts. The traditional preparation of dhanaan involves spontaneous fermentation …

Similarity May Be Safer: The Effect Of Similarity Between Speech-Based Takeover Request Style And Driver Personality On Self-Driving Takeover Performance, Keer Ma, Jianfeng Wu, Yanxi Lin, Zihan Li, Songyang Guo, Dongfang Jiao, Shihan Yu

Psychology Faculty Publications

In Level 3 automated driving, it is critical that drivers can rapidly and effectively shift from non-driving related tasks (NDRT) back to the driving task. While previous research has examined the modality, timing, and vocal characteristics of takeover requests (TORs), little is known about how the style of speech-based TORs interacts with drivers’ personality traits. This study conducted a driving simulator experiment with 49 participants using a 2 × 2 within-subjects design. Drawing on the dominant-submissive dimension of personality, we examined the similarity of personality tendencies between speech-based TORs and drivers under takeover scenarios of varying urgency (low: road construction; …

Coastal Flooding And Housing Market Liquidity: Policy Implications For Eastern U. S. Communities, Wai Yan Siu, Rex Sitti

ODU Articles

Coastal flooding poses an escalating threat to communities across the U.S East Coast, where rising sea levels and intensifying storms increasingly overwhelm existing infrastructure and natural defenses. These events generate complex economic consequences that extend beyond immediate property damage to affect community stability and long-term development patterns. The real estate industry in particular, faces increasing levels of flood risk. Existing research on climate risk and real estate markets focuses predominantly on price capitalization effects, overlooking the critical dimension of housing market liquidity. This study examines the causal impact of coastal flooding on days-on-market (DOM), a metric of liquidity in the …

Landslide At River's Edge: Alum Bluff, Apalachicola River, Florida, Joann Mossa, Yin-Hsuen Chen

Center for Geospatial Science, Education & Analytics Faculty Publications

When rivers impinge on the steep bluffs of valley walls, dynamic changes stem from a combination of fluvial and mass wasting processes. This study identifies the geomorphic changes, drivers, and timing of a landslide adjacent to the Apalachicola River at Alum Bluff, the tallest natural geological exposure in Florida at similar to 40 m, comprising horizontal sediments of mixed lithology. We used hydrographic surveys from 1960 and 2010, two sets of LiDAR from 2007 and 2018, historical aerial, drone, and ground photography, and satellite imagery to interpret changes at this bluff and river bottom. Evidence of slope failure includes a …

Restored Wetlands Show Rapid Vegetation Recovery And Substantial Surface-Water Expansion, Thilina D. Surasinghe, Yin-Hsuen Chen, Kunwar K. Singh

Center for Geospatial Science, Education & Analytics Faculty Publications

Ecological restoration is essential for improving the ecological integrity of degraded ecosystems to enhance ecosystem services and biodiversity. In this study, we assessed the effectiveness of wetland restoration on retired cranberry farms by analyzing vegetation recovery and surface-water dynamics using the enhanced vegetation index (EVI) and normalized difference water index (NDWI) derived from Sentinel-2 satellite imagery. To quantify temporal dynamics of both vegetation recovery and surface-water cover, we identified the spectral distinctions among restored wetland plant communities. Our results indicated the emergence of distinct plant communities upon restoration. Restored wetlands in general showed significant and progressive vegetation recovery and expanding …

Admiring Ukrainian Authors, Paul B. Mojzes

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

"These personal stories, filled with such profound suffering and yet also extraordinary resilience, reflect the reality that many of our Ukrainian colleagues live with daily. Despite the constant threat to their lives, many Ukrainian scholars continue to write and contribute to academic discourse. Their commitment to their work and their unwavering dedication to knowledge in the face of such adversity is a testament to the power of the human spirit."

Digital Orthodoxy And Political Populism In Eastern Europe: How Orthodox Media Facilitate Political Mobilization, Dmytro Garaschuk, Oleh Sokolovskyi

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article examines the intersection of Orthodox digital media and political populism in Eastern Europe, focusing on how religious institutions utilize digital platforms to facilitate political mobilization, reinforce nationalistic narratives, and undermine democratic institutions. Drawing on a comparative analysis of six countries–Russia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Georgia, and Montenegro–the study identifies a shared ideological matrix that fuses populist rhetoric with theological motifs. The research highlights the strategic use of digital media by Orthodox actors to construct moral binaries, sacralize political resistance, and disseminate disinformation framed in religious language. Particular attention is given to the role of the Russian Orthodox Church and …

Integration Of Agile Approach Into The Implementation Of The Iso/Sae 21434 On Top Of The V-Model To Enable Continuous Secure-By-Design Automotive Cybersecurity Development, Pooja Patil

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The rapid evolution of technology is revolutionizing the automotive industry, with connected and autonomous vehicles at the forefront. These vehicles rely on complex digital ecosystems to enhance safety and efficiency but are increasingly vulnerable to cybersecurity threats. Addressing these challenges requires following robust development methodologies, while complying with cybersecurity standards. This study introduces a framework that merges the widely used agile methodology practices with the ISO/SAE 21434 standard to support secure-by-design automotive product development. Traditional development approaches like the V-model provide structured and linear project phases, but they often lack the flexibility and the ability to adapt to evolving security …

Detection Of Data Leakage And Disruption Of Covert Timing Channel In Secure Drone Communication Using Machine And Deep Learning, Jonathan Walatkiewicz

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The utilization of recreational drones has experienced a substantial increase in both the United States and globally. However, it is noteworthy that most drones, classified as Internet of Things devices, are produced with a limited security lifecycle. This study's findings are of paramount importance, as traditional computing exploits can be applied to drones, designating them as high- value targets. This study examines the detectability and disruptability of covert timing channel traffic in secure drones. The investigation aims to ascertain the effects of multiple interarrival times, distances ranging from 1 to 330 feet, various detection algorithms, and stream sizes between 32-bit …

Life Is Just A Classroom: Student Perceptions Of Courses Incorporating Popular Culture, Virginia Clinton-Lisell

Education, Health & Behavior Studies Faculty Publications

Some faculty design and teach college courses that incorporate popular culture, presumably to engage and spark interest in students. The purpose of this study is to examine student perceptions of courses that incorporate popular culture. College students (N = 464) were randomly assigned to read a course description and learning objectives that incorporated popular culture in general, the specific popular cultural celebrity Taylor Swift, or no mention of popular culture (control). Incorporating popular culture generally or specific to Taylor Swift had no overall effects on topic interest in the course or likelihood to enroll. However, students with greater interest in …

A Multi-Center Comparative Analysis Of The G8-Score And Charlson Comorbidity Index As General Health Assessment Tools In Older Patients With Prostate Cancer, Brecht Chys, Philip R. Debruyne, Lore Decoster, Cindy Kenis, Hans Wildiers, Diederik Ponette, Steven Joniau

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Introduction Frail and older patients who develop prostate cancer (PCa), are at risk of overtreatment. Multiple general health assessment (GHA) tools have been validated in oncology. we aim to validate and compare the performance of the G8 screening tool, age and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) as a predictor of overall survival (OS) in men older than 70 years with a newly diagnosed prostate cancer. Is it possible to identify a CCI cut-off indicative for frailty? Patients and methods Between 2009 and 2015, a national multicenter initiative on geriatric screening and GHA’s took place in Belgium. Baseline characteristics were collected on …

A Hybrid Transformer Architecture For Multiclass Mental Illness Prediction Using Social Media Text, Adnan Karamat, Muhammad Imran, Muhammad Usman Yaseen, Rasool Bukhsh, Sheraz Aslam, Nouman Ashraf

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Mental illness prediction through text involves employing natural language processing (NLP) techniques and deep learning algorithms to analyze textual data for the identification of mental disorders. Therefore, machine learning and deep learning algorithms have been utilized in the existing literature for the detection of mental illness. However, current systems exhibit suboptimal performance primarily due to their reliance on traditional embedding techniques and generic language models to generate text embeddings. To address this limitation, there is a requirement for domain-specific pretrained language models that comprehensively understand the context found in posts of person with a psychiatric disability patients. Posts from individuals …

A High Balance-Ratio Dipole With Low Passive Intermodulation Distortion, Kok Loon Wong, Max J. Ammann

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

A wideband grid dipole with low passive intermodulation (PIM) distortion, low profile, and low cost is proposed for multi-input multi-output (MIMO) cellular base station applications. The proposed dipole with a high ratio of unbalanced to balanced current can be achieved by introducing a circular loop at the center of a dipole arm to suppress the unwanted current traveling from the dipole arm to outer coaxial shield. As a result, the profile can be reduced from 0.25λ 0to 0.19 λ 0 due to a 6-dB improvement in PIM performance. The third-order PIM distortion <-151 dBc (at 2 × 43 dBm carriers) is obtained over the operating bandwidth. The 14-dB impedance bandwidth is 43% over the frequency range of 639-989 MHz.

Accreditation Considerations In Engineering Ethics Education: Bridging Global Standards And Local Practices: Bridging Global Standards And Local Practices, Louise O'Gorman, Alison Gwynne-Evan, Leah Ridgeway, Marek Rebow, Shannon Chance

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Accreditation can drive curricular innovation and change in engineering and can have a role in encouraging students' development of ethics-related competencies. Despite engineering educators' competence in the technical aspects of design and research, there can be an element of discomfort in planning and delivering lessons relating to ethics that span social justice, diversity and inclusion, environmental sustainability, and ethical theories. Because engineering accreditation can encourage and/or require the inclusion of ethical content in accredited engineering courses, the recently published Routledge Handbook of Engineering Ethics Education dedicated an entire section to the topic. This paper critically assesses the handbook's accreditation section …

Developing A Modular Circular Wall Over-Clad System For Facade Thermal Upgrade In Deep Energy Retrofit Developing A Modular–Circular, Advanced Design For Disassembly, Wall Over-Clad System, For Facade Thermal Upgrade In The Deep Energy Retrofit Of Social Housing As An Accelerated Decarbonisation Pathway, Patrick Daly

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

The EU has implemented several policy and legislative initiatives aimed at decarbonisation and circularity transition of the Built Environment including a strategy for large scale renovation of the building/housing stock. Modularised construction solutions are argued to be a potential acceleration pathway toward this objective. Yet there remains issues and challenges in implementing such strategies in a complex and heterogeneous stock and sector. This research investigates this decarbonisation pathway, examining the feasibility and potential of applying a modularised construction over-clad system, based on advanced circularity, in the deep energy retrofit of social housing. The research is based on a grounded case …

Rsif Burkina Faso Country Report 2025 - English, Regional Scholarship And Innovation Fund (Rsif)

Rsif Country Progress Reports

The rationale for Rsif is that Africa requires world class scientists in priority thematic disciplines that are relevant to national economic growth. Highly skilled human capital will advance implementation of Burkina Faso’s sustainable and inclusive development. Burkina Faso is one of the nine African countries that has contributed to the Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (Rsif) of the Partnership for skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (PASET) since 2020. Its contribution of USD 2 million was through the World Bank supported Africa Centres of Excellence for Higher Education for Development Impact (ACE Impact) project and to train Burkinabè PhD …

Academic Stress, Performance, And Satisfaction Among Undergraduate Nursing Students Under The Semester System, Kalyani Sinha, Sangeetha Priyadarshini, Baby S Nayak, Meghna Pandit

Manipal Journal of Nursing and Health Sciences

Introduction: Stress is a key indicator of psychological well being. Various factors contribute to the psychological disturbances among undergraduate students. These issues can affect academic satisfaction and increase stress. Examination-related stress negatively impacts students’ academic performance. Each course determines its assessment methods, content, learning strategies and instructional approaches. Objectives: This study assessed academic stress, performance, and satisfaction among undergraduate nursing students in the semester system at selected nursing colleges in Udupi District, Karnataka and find it’s relationship. Method: A descriptive study was conducted among 210 undergraduate students selected from the second and fourth semesters using a purposive sampling …

Icipe Vision And Strategy 2026-2030, International Centre Of Insect Physiology And Ecology (Icipe)

icipe Vision & Strategy

Vision and Strategy 2026 – 2030

“Impacting Nature and Society with Insect Science Solutions for Food, Health and Climate Resilience”

Engineering Ethics Education Bingo 1.0, Shannon Chance, Mike Murphy, Celina P. Leão, M. Tobosaru, Mary Nolan

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

This paper introduces Engineering Ethics Education (EEE) Bingo 1.0, an active learning tool designed to support ethics education among engineering educators. Drawing inspiration from game-based learning, EEE Bingo provides a playful yet purposeful framework for exploring diverse pedagogical approaches in engineering ethics. The game stimulates discussion and reflection on the alignment between ethical issues and suitable teaching methods, promoting greater pedagogical awareness and collaboration. This paper outlines the motivation behind the game, its structure and rules, and illustrative examples. EEE Bingo encourages critical engagement with teaching strategies, reinforcing the importance of contextualized, interdisciplinary, and reflective ethics education.

Quantum-Enhanced Battery Anomaly Detection In Smart Transportation Systems, Alexander Mutiso Mutua, Ruairí De Fréin

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Ensuring the safety, reliability, and longevity of Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries is crucial for sustainable integration of Electric Vehicles (EVs) within Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITSs). However, thermal stress and degradation-induced anomalies can cause sudden performance failures, posing critical operational and safety risks. Capturing complex, non-linear, and high-dimensional patterns remains challenging for traditional Machine Learning (ML) models. We propose a hybrid anomaly detection method that incorporates a Variational Quantum Neural Network (VQNN), which uses the principles of quantum mechanics, such as superposition, entanglement, and parallelism, to learn complex non-linear patterns. The VQNN is integrated with Isolation Forest (IF) and a Median Absolute …