Digital Commons Network^™

Economical Acquisition Of Intersection Data To Facilitate Cav Operations Phase Ii – Implementation, Manish Gowda, Walt Fehr, Andrew Balmos, Richard Ajagu, David Hong, James Krogmeier, Montasir Abbas, Samuel Labi

Center for Connected and Automated Transportation

Cost-effective collection and distribution of intersection data are needed to facilitate traffic operations at intersections in the HDV era and particularly, in the prospective era of CAVs. Existing methods are time consuming and costly. Phase I of this research (executed under CCAT Project Nr. 71) developed a cost-effective intersection data collection and distribution device for this purpose. In Phase II of this research, the device prototype was bench tested in Lansing and field tested at Owosso. It was confirmed that the device successfully facilitates SPaT and MAP data collection and dissimulation to mobile devices. These deployments provided evidence that the …

Cutting Mechanisms And Control Systems Required For Precision Cutting With An Autonomous Lettuce Harvester, Aidan V. Fischer

Master's Theses

43% of California’s vast land is consumed for agricultural production to feed the United States and other nations Lettuce production alone brought in over $3 billion in 2022 in California. Most of the lettuce today is still harvested by hand using large groups of seasonal laborers; however, this has become increasingly difficult with an immigrant labor shortage. The objective of this study was to design a low-cost autonomous lettuce harvester prototype and evaluate the performance of the harvester capable of harvesting romaine lettuce preciously on a raised bed.

The harvester is equipped with an electrohydraulic control system that is used …

Understanding Ai Literacy: Implications For Practice, Sara Westall, Janet Anderson, Devon Olson

Librarian Publications

A presentation developed for the fall 2024 University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences Medical Curriculum Advance, exploring the connections between information literacy, artificial intelligence literacy, and algorithmic literacy and their relevance to health education from the perspective of research and instruction librarians.

Geochemical Evidence Of Drying During The 4.2 Ka Event In Sediment Cores From The Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico, Derek K. Gibson, Jonathan Obrist-Farner, Alex Correa-Metrio, Alejandra Rodriguez-Abaunza, Carlos Castañeda-Posadas

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Tropical hydroclimate variability during the Middle and Late Holocene was investigated using geochemical indicators of local-scale precipitation and evaporation preserved in sediment cores from two sites in the Mexican Yucatán Peninsula. Scanning X-Ray fluorescence spectroscopy data show generally decreasing precipitation trends during the Early and Middle Holocene. During the transition between the Middle and Late Holocene, geochemical evidence of reduced watershed erosion and increased evaporation indicate that a centennial-scale drying event impacted the region between 4.3 and 4.0 ka (kilo-anum; thousand years before present). These findings suggest that the 4.2 ka drying event, which has been previously recorded in Europe, …

Decoding Emotions: Unveiling Facial Expressions Through Acoustic Sensing With Contrastive Attention, Guangjing Wang, Juexing Wang, Ce Zhou, Weikang Ding, Huacheng Zeng, Tianxing Li, Qiben Yan

Computer Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

Expression recognition holds great promise for applications such as content recommendation and mental healthcare by accurately detecting users’ emotional states. Traditional methods often rely on cameras or wearable sensors, which raise privacy concerns and add extra device burdens. In addition, existing acoustic-based methods struggle to maintain satisfactory performance when there is a distribution shift between the training dataset and the inference dataset. In this paper, we introduce FacER+, an active acoustic facial expression recognition system, which eliminates the requirement for external microphone arrays. FacER+ extracts facial expression features by analyzing the echoes of near-ultrasound signals emitted between the 3D facial …

Adan: Adaptive Nesterov Momentum Algorithm For Faster Optimizing Deep Models, Xingyu Xie, Pan Zhou, Huan Li, Zhouchen Lin, Shuicheng Yan

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

In deep learning, different kinds of deep networks typically need different optimizers, which have to be chosen after multiple trials, making the training process inefficient. To relieve this issue and consistently improve the model training speed across deep networks, we propose the ADAptive Nesterov momentum algorithm, Adan for short. Adan first reformulates the vanilla Nesterov acceleration to develop a new Nesterov momentum estimation (NME) method, which avoids the extra overhead of computing gradient at the extrapolation point. Then Adan adopts NME to estimate the gradient's first- and second-order moments in adaptive gradient algorithms for convergence acceleration. Besides, we prove that …

Flexfl: Heterogeneous Federated Learning Via Apoz-Guided Flexible Pruning In Uncertain Scenarios, Zekai Chen, Chentao Jia, Ming Hu, Xiaofei Xie, Anran Li, Mingsong Chen

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Along with the increasing popularity of Deep Learning (DL) techniques, more and more Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) systems are adopting federated learning (FL) to enable privacy-aware collaborative learning among AIoT devices. However, due to the inherent data and device heterogeneity issues, existing FL-based AIoT systems suffer from the model selection problem. Although various heterogeneous FL methods have been investigated to enable collaborative training among heterogeneous models, there is still a lack of i) wise heterogeneous model generation methods for devices, ii) consideration of uncertain factors, and iii) performance guarantee for large models, thus strongly limiting the overall FL performance. …

Converting Vocal Performances Into Sheet Music Leveraging Large Language Models, Jinjing Jiang, Nicole Teo, Haibo Pen, Seng-Beng Ho, Zhaoxia Wang

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Advanced natural language processing (NLP) models are increasingly applied in music composition and performance, particularly for generating vocal melodies and simulating singing voices. While NLP techniques have been effective in analyzing vocal performance data to assess quality and style, the automatic transcription of vocal performances into sheet music remains a significant challenge. Manual transcription tools often fall short due to the intricate dynamics of vocal expression. This study tackles the automation of vocal performance transcription into sheet music using innovative techniques, including large language models (LLMs). We propose a method to translate vocal audio input into display-ready sheet music effectively. …

A Strategic Insight Into The Market For Carbon Management Capacity, Mahelet G. Fikru, Ting Shen, Jennifer Brodmann, Hongyan Ma

Economics Faculty Research & Creative Works

This study presents the market for carbon management capacity via carbon capture, utilization, and storage technologies, identifying demand and supply forces, as well as clarifying the potential impact of market and non-market-based shocks on technology developers versus adopters. The paper addresses a prevailing gap in market analysis, introducing a microeconomic framework and unique dataset to identify key players, market forces, and policy incentives shaping the carbon capture, utilization, and storage landscape. The analysis equips industry stakeholders, policymakers, and investors with valuable insights regarding (1) leaders in the design, development, and manufacture of carbon capture, utilization, and storage technologies (supply), (2) …

Examining Primary Teachers' Concerns, Self-Efficacy, Attitudes, Intentions, And Challenges Of Implementing Inclusive Pedagogy In English Literacy Classrooms For Bilingual Dyslexic Students In The Uae, Robin Ogdol, Jose Roan Adorna, Romee Capate, Aisha Alteneiji

All Works

The United Arab Emirates has embraced inclusive education across all academic levels since 2006. However, the degree of teacher acceptance of inclusive practice varies. This mixed-methods case study investigated 48 primary school teachers’ concerns, self-efficacy, attitudes, and intentions regarding inclusive pedagogy in English literacy for bilingual dyslexic students aged 5-11. It also identified challenges faced by teachers in mainstream classes. Using correlation analysis, results showed negative associations between teachers’ concerns and efficacy, attitudes, and intentions for inclusive practices. On the other hand, positive associations were found between teacher efficacy, attitude, and intentions for inclusive practices. Challenges included reconciling the bilingual …

Understanding The Equality Of Parties In Arbitration: A Case Comment On International Seaport Dredging Private Limited V Kamarajar Port Limited, Sahana Ramesh

National Law School Journal

While the Supreme Court of India has emphasised the equality of arbitrating parties in several decisions, the court often had to use various tools to assert this. It is a question of policy as to whether statutory undertakings—that perform public functions by entering commercial transactions—must be given preferential treatment in certain aspects of the dispute settlement process, including when they choose to challenge an arbitral award. This case comment considers the decision of the Supreme Court of India in International Seaport Dredging Private Limited v Kamarajar Port Limited to highlight the nuances involved in the court’s conclusion that all …

The Role Of Christianity In Shaping Agrarian Policies And Environmental Interactions: A Comparative Analysis Of The Uk And The Netherlands, Grace N. Brimble

University Honors Theses

This thesis explores the enduring influence of Protestant Christianity on agrarian practices and environmental policies in the UK and the Netherlands, focusing on how historical religious values shape modern ecological and political landscapes. Despite increasing secularism, Protestant ethics--emphasising stewardship, diligence, and moral responsibility--persist culturally, influencing debates on sustainability, rural identity, and land use. Using case studies such as nitrogen policy protests in the Netherlands and post-Brexit agricultural transitions in the UK, this analysis highlights the symbolic role of Christian values in framing resistance and adaptation to contemporary challenges. The research combines discourse analysis and ethnographic perspectives to uncover the interplay …

An Exploration Of The Experiences That Influenced Black Males To Become Information Technology Professionals, Ronnie Mcmillian

Dissertations

Historically, the United States (U.S.) has led the world in the development of innovative high-tech solutions that increased employment opportunities, wages, productivity, and the economic growth of our nation. However, STEM workers are in great need to fill the millions of vacancies in the STEM workforce. Despite the increasing demand for STEM professionals, racial minorities, especially Blacks, continue to be disproportionately underrepresented in STEM. In order to adequately address the STEM workforce problem and remain competitive globally, the U.S. must motivate a much larger cross-section of its population to enter STEM fields. Since Blacks are disproportionately underrepresented in STEM, they …

Northeastern United States Urban High Schools’ Preparation Of Black Student-Athletes Seeking Initial Academic Eligibility In Ncaa Divisions I And Ii Institutions: A Phenomenological Analysis, Olinka Crusoe

Education Doctoral

This phenological study explored a total of 11 participants who were employed as either high school principals, guidance counselors, or athletic directors by Northeastern United States urban school districts. The participants were interviewed regarding their knowledge of the NCAA initial academic eligibility standards for Divisions I and II student-athletes and the support they provided to prepare their Black student-athletes to succeed academically in high school and throughout college. The findings revealed significant organizational knowledge gaps regarding NCAA requirements, with only one school aligning its course programming to with NCAA standards while the other schools focused primarily on local graduation requirements. …

Comparison Of Statistical And Machine Learning Genomic Prediction Methods In Plant Breeding: Case Studies In Maize And Soybean, Igor Kuivjogi Fernandes

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Plant breeding is essential to increase genetic gain and food production worldwide. This study was conducted to evaluate new ways to use machine learning (ML) to tackle plant breeding challenges, where two ideas were tested — the first chapter focuses on how to combine genetic and environmental data using ML to improve the prediction of maize grain yield in multi-environment trials, while the second chapter centers on how to couple feature selection of molecular markers with ML to enhance prediction of yield in soybean, and, in both cases, ML approaches were compared to well-established statistical methods greatly adopted by the …

Establishing A Robust Decision Framework To Support Transportation Planning Decisions And Accommodate Connected And Autonomous Transportation Alternatives, Bobby Cottam

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Transportation planning involves complex decisions to provide high-quality transportation systems involving multiple stakeholders with numerous competing interests, on top of that they are trying to improve the quality and reliability of those systems on shrinking budgets. This decision is further complicated by the advent of new transportation methods e.g., ride-hailing and the promise of connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs). While the actual short-term impact of these technologies is uncertain, they will most certainly have a significant impact within the 20-year planning horizon that transportation planners typically consider. These technologies are also blurring the lines between traditionally separate modes of transportation; …

Feasibility And Safety Of A Cable Transmission Magnetically Controlled Capsule Endoscopy System For Examination Of The Human Upper Digestive Tract, Hang Yu, Yuan Tian, Long Rong, Yunlong Cai, Guanyi Liu, Yan He, Xinyue Guo

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of the cable-transmitted, magnetically controlled capsule endoscopy (CT-MCCE) system for examining the esophagus and stomach. Methods: A pilot study was carried out at the endoscopy facility of Peking University First Hospital; 30 volunteers were enrolled between September and November 2022. All participants were instructed to swallow the CT-MCCE capsule. An external magnetic robot arm was utilized to manipulate the capsule endoscope with string-facilitated control of the endoscope. This study assessed gastric preparation, safety, maneuverability, and mucosal visualization. Results: The participants exhibited favorable reactions to the gastric preparation and examination, with no reported adverse …

Enhancing Mathematical Models For Covid-19 Pandemic Response: A Philippine Study, Timothy Robin Teng, Elvira De Lara-Tuprio, Ma. Regina Justina Estuar, Christian Pulmano, Lu Christian S. Ong, Zachary Pangan, Lenard Paulo V. Tamayo, Jasper John V. Segismundo, Mark Anthony C. Tolentino, Alyssa Nicole N. Ty

Mathematics Faculty Publications

Mathematical models supported by a robust automated data pipeline proved to be useful tools for a data-driven and science-based response and policy-making during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines. In the first year of the pandemic, FASSSTER (Feasibility Analysis on Syndromic Surveillance using Spatio-Temporal Epidemiological modeleR) used a compartmental model to generate scenario-based projections of COVID-19 cases. The emergence of the Delta variant, however, and the administration of vaccines over the second half of 2021 caused significant changes in the Philippine pandemic landscape. This necessitated making adjustments to the model to better capture the local disease transmission dynamics and address …

Populations Digitally Excluded From Education: Issues, Factors, Contributions And Actions For Policy, Practice And Research In A Post-Pandemic Era, Don Passey, Jean Gabin Ntebutse, Manal Yazbak Abu Ahmad, Janet Cochrane, Simon Collin, Asmaa Ganayem, Elizabeth Langran, Sadaqat Mulla, Ma. Mercedes T. Rodrigo, Toshinori Saito, Miri Shonfeld, Saunand Somasi

Department of Information Systems & Computer Science Faculty Publications

This conceptual paper draws on a wide range of research and policy literature, providing a contemporary view of issues, factors and practices that affect education for digitally excluded populations. Concern for how education for digitally excluded populations can be supported is focal to this paper, with different sections offering key related perspectives. From an analysis of issues, factors and practices, actions for policy, practice and research are identified. Given a key finding that power issues can have major effects on plans, implementation processes and outcomes when addressing needs of education for digitally excluded populations, the paper concludes by offering frameworks …

Dealing With Divisiveness: Ignatian Principles For Better Relationships, Thomas G. Plante Phd, Abpp

Psychology

Interpersonal and intergroup relationships seem to have steadily deteriorated in recent years, with an increase in the lack of civility and decency along with a greater willingness to attack and cancel anyone who does not agree with one’s cherished perspective on numerous matters. New popular phrases such as cancel culture, public shaming, air rage, and gaslighting have entered the common vernacular. Ignatian spirituality offers several helpful strategies for dealing with these contemporary divisive conflicts in a productive manner. These include (1) seeing God (or the sacred) in all things, (2) striving towards kinship with others through the pathway of civility, …

Primary And Secondary Resonances Of Fringe Effect Electrostatically Actuated Mems Cantilever Resonators, Miguel Armando Martinez

Theses and Dissertations

The nonlinear dynamics of micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) cantilever resonators actuated by the fringe field at parametric and primary resonances are studied. Three models are used based on different descriptions of the system capacitance. In the fringe and capacitance models, the electrostatic force due to the parallel-plate capacitance is neglected due to a hole in the ground plate (removes overlapping area). The SolidWorks model is based on numerical capacitance simulations performed on SolidWorks using EMS. All three models that approximate the fringe field capacitance are compared with one another. The Method of Multiple Scales (MMS) and Reduced Order Model (ROM) up …

Cavernous Distortions, Silas Samuel Quintanilla

Theses and Dissertations

This is a collection of short stories in the style of surreal fiction. They are stories about outsiders, powerlessness, communication, isolation, longing, death, and existentialism. They follow in the tradition of parables, fables, and in the shadow of surrealist masters like Franz Kafka.

Guiding Wildlife: Evaluating Wildlife Exit Designs And Sensor Lights For Safer Highways In South Texas, Rupesh Maharjan

Theses and Dissertations

Roadside exclusionary fencing is more prevalent on highways to prevent wildlife-vehicle collisions. Although it can mitigate wildlife road mortality by limiting their access to the road, it can also create a barrier for wildlife stranded within the right-of-way. In State Highway 100 of Texas, the Texas Department of Transportation installed ten wildlife exits to allow wildlife to escape the fenced roadway, and a pair of sensor lights on 13 wildlife guards (WGs) to scare off target species (bobcats and coyotes) from crossing the guards and accessing the roadway. In this study, the effectiveness of three wildlife exit (WE) designs were …

Proof Of Concept: Simulating Drone Tracking In A Border Security Context, Jose Ruben Espinoza

Theses and Dissertations

Worldwide availability of drone technology has risen to unprecedented levels within the past century due to its commercial availability. While there has been various positive applications of such technology, it has additionally found usage within security critical contexts. Specifically, there have been reports of illegal drug smuggling along the Mexico-United States border in which quadrocopter based drones have been used. Within our research we aim to showcase, as a proof of concept, that autonomous drone technology can be leveraged within a defensive approach via the usage of reinforcement learning and object detection for security critical contexts. To promote the importance …

Evaluation Of Polymerization Condition Reactions Of Methyl Vinyl Ketone For Hydrogen Storage, Rituborna Ghosh

Theses and Dissertations

Hydrogen is widely regarded as one of the most promising clean alternative fuel sources; however, its widespread adoption has been hindered by significant challenges related to storage and transportation. Various storage methods have been proposed and developed, with continuous advancements being made to address these issues. Among the most effective solutions is the utilization of polymers, which serve as safe and efficient hydrogen storage media. This work investigated the polymerization of methyl vinyl ketone using different ratio of monomer: initiator and monomer: crosslinker using N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as crosslinker and ammonium persulfate (APS) as initiator in a free radical polymerization mechanism. …

Theoretical Insights And Analysis Into Luneburg Lens, Aram Flores

Theses and Dissertations

Advancements in wireless communications necessitate innovative antenna designs for radar systems and satellite communications. The Luneburg lens, theorized by Rudolf Luneburg in 1944, is a gradient-index lens capable of focusing electromagnetic waves onto a point on its surface, offering potential improvements in antenna gain and performance. Access to the lenses, courtesy of Assured Space Access Incorporated, enabled me to research the lenses response, and specific design details remain confidential. Practical assessments of 3D-printed Luneburg lenses of varying sizes are limited, including factors such as lens alignment and focal point offset. This study investigates the performance of 6-inch and 13.25-inch Luneburg …

Study Of Temperature Effects Of Glucose And Microwave Dielectric Dispersion Model, Ethan Grant Boone

Theses and Dissertations

In this study, the temperature effect of dielectric properties in various aqueous solutions containing glucose are examined. A design for a new testing chamber is introduced to provide improved conditions for testing to ensure accurate and precise measurements. A N-SMA Adaptor is used when obtaining dielectric characteristics of glucose solutions ranging 100-300mg/dl. Dielectric parameters are obtained adopting a modified Debye dispersion model. MATLAB is used to confirm coaxial dimensions are suitable fabrication designs using fixed dielectric parameters of air and water. Simulations and design models were implemented utilizing ANSYS High Frequency Structure Simulator and 3-D Modeler software to develop the …

Understanding Social Media As A Communicative Tool To Facilitate Critical Discourse: Using #Blackgirlmagic To Explore How Black Women In Higher Education “Talk Back", Crystal Spruill Carter

Theses and Dissertations

Black women have engaged through social media platforms, as a mechanism to uplift their embodiment, despite being relegated to the margins. The hashtag #BlackGirlMagic (BGM) is linked to narratives of Black women in higher education that are empowering and problematic. The development of the popular social media movement during a time when Black women were being portrayed negatively made engaging in the discourse "talking back" possible. This study explores the lived experiences of Black women college students and recent graduates, using currere as an analytical tool for my own communication journals entries as a data source to structure my reflections …

Leveraging A Community Of Practice To Advance Stem Education Reform And Promote Teacher And Student Self-Efficacy, Ruth Renee Colyer

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examined the impact of the CREST-MECIS community of practice on K-12 STEM teachers and undergraduate and graduate students, addressing the urgent need for innovative approaches in science education to meet the challenges of the 21st century. The study was grounded in response to three primary problem statements: 1) the significant learning losses and socio-emotional challenges stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, 2) the inadequacy of traditional instructional methods in post-pandemic classrooms, and 3) the need for culturally relevant and inclusive teaching practices that acknowledge students’ lived experiences. Data were collected through pre- and post-interviews, survey analyses, and qualitative feedback …

Challenges And Strategies In Science Learning: A Thematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Angelica A. Guanzon

Theses and Dissertations

This study thoroughly explores the relationships between the challenges faced by students and the alternative problem-solving strategies employed. By analyzing these connections, the research aims to offer a comprehensive understanding of how students address difficulties in science learning and the adaptive strategies they apply. Through this research, teachers can gain valuable understanding in adapting learning resources that successfully address diverse needs of students. By identifying specific challenges and correlating effective strategies, targeted interventions are designed to enhance the overall science learning experience. The study emphasizes the importance of a dynamic and adaptable teaching approach that caters to the evolving landscape …