Digital Commons Network^™

The Unindexed Marginalia Of Historical American Cookery Books Digital Public History Project: Domestic Technical Communication Labor Contributions, Alessandra Zinicola Lopez

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This dissertation includes a traditional written portion, and a non-traditional digital humanities public history online digital archive project created through Omeka which showcases examples of hand-written recipes found within commercial cookbooks, called marginalia. The understanding of modern technical communication is affected by the perceived history of the field and currently, that history is biased toward non-domestic pursuits. The project explores what collecting, digitizing, and archiving examples of historical hand-written marginalia found within commercially printed American receipt books indicate about the presence, participatory nature, value, and contributions of domestic technical communications and their user-authors in the 19th century. The examples collected …

Multidimensional Approaches In Bug Detection For Parallel Programming And Text-To-Code Semantic Parsing, May Alsofyani

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This dissertation applies deep learning and large language models to two domains: parallel programming fault detection and text-to-code translation, aiming to enhance software reliability and natural language-driven code generation. Due to their unpredictable nature, concurrency bugs-particularly data race bugs— present significant challenges in fault detection for parallel programming. We investigate deep learning and LLM-based approaches for detecting data race bugs in OpenMP programs. Our proposed methods include a transformer encoder and GPT-4 through prompt engineering and fine-tuning. Experimental results demonstrate that the transformer encoder achieves competitive accuracy compared to LLMs, highlighting its effectiveness in understanding complex OpenMP directives. Expanding this …

Improving Smart Home Access Control Mechanisms To Account For Community-Based Sharing Beyond The Home, Leena Alghamdi

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The rapid proliferation of smart home devices has reshaped daily living, offering convenience and enhanced security. However, extending access to these devices beyond household boundaries introduces significant challenges, including balancing privacy, security, and usability. Through three studies, this dissertation investigates these challenges and proposes solutions to improve access control mechanisms for sharing smart home devices with external individuals. First, we conducted 26 co-design interviews with 50 smart home device owners to understand their perspectives on co-monitoring in emergencies with trusted external contacts. Participants emphasized benefits such as enhanced safety, reduced material loss, and peace of mind through swift responses and …

Weakly-Supervised Scaling For Open-Vocabulary Action Detection, Zhen Hao Sia

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

In this work, we focus on scaling open-vocabulary action detection. Existing approaches for action detection are predominantly limited to closed-set scenarios and rely on complex, parameter-heavy architectures. Extending these models to the open-vocabulary setting poses two key challenges: (1) the lack of large-scale datasets with many action classes for robust training, and (2) parameter-heavy adaptations to a pretrained vision-language contrastive model to convert it for detection, risking overfitting the additional non-pretrained parameters to base action classes.

Firstly, we introduce an encoder-only multimodal model for video action detection, reducing the reliance on parameter-heavy additions for video action detection. Secondly, we introduce …

In Depth Analytics Of Vehicle-Vehicle And Vehicle-Pedestrian Conflicts Across Various Conditions, Qianqian Jin

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This study explores key traffic safety challenges by analyzing threshold discrepancies in rear-end conflicts under different weather conditions, conflict likelihood and severity at interconnected intersections, and interaction patterns between right-turning vehicles and pedestrians at signalized intersections. First, using CitySim trajectory data, the study examines the impact of weather conditions on surrogate safety measure (SSMs) thresholds for Modified Time to Collision (MTTC), Deceleration Rate to Avoid a Crash (DRAC), and Single-step Probabilistic Driving Risk Field (S-PDRF). Results indicate that MTTC and DRAC thresholds vary significantly under clear (2.3s v.s 3.0 m/s²) and rainy (4s v.s. 2.4 m/s²) conditions, whereas S-PDRF remains …

Advancing Temporal Safety Performance Functions: A Comprehensive Evaluation Of Express Lanes, Ramps, And Ramp Metering Effects On Freeway Safety, Abdulrahman Khalid Faden

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Freeway safety remains a critical concern, especially in high-risk areas such as ramps, merges, and managed lane segments, where complex traffic interactions significantly elevate crash risks. This dissertation advances crash frequency prediction by developing short-term Safety Performance Functions (SPFs) that address the limitations of traditional long-term SPFs models and real-time safety analysis. By leveraging high-resolution microscopic traffic detector data from multiple states, the dissertation introduces innovative methodologies and delivers actionable insights into freeway safety dynamics. The dissertation pioneers the application of Multivariate Poisson-Lognormal (MVPLN) models to identify interdependencies between crashes at ramp and merge segments. To address challenges like data …

The Spray And Atomization Characteristics Of An Lrdre Injector, Samuel J. Schuetz

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The Ongoing effort to advance the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of Rotating Detonation Engines (RDEs) has faced significant challenges with respect to the development of accurate analytical models for the performance of liquid fueled detonations. A key issue lies in the lack of comprehensive experimental data to validate and refine these models. To address this gap, the present study seeks to provide detailed characterization data on a specific Liquid Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (LRDRE) injector, which can be leveraged to improve simulation accuracy and predictive capabilities. This investigation is divided into two primary phases. The first phase focuses on the …

Grid-Forming Inverters: Comprehensive Review, Design, And Implementation Of Advanced Control Methods, Yousef H. Abudyak

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The growing integration of renewable energy (RE) resources into power systems requires urgent measures by system operators to address stability challenges caused by the intermittency of such resources. GridForming (GFM) inverters have emerged as a promising solution to mitigate such grid instabilities. Their ability to establish and regulate voltage and frequency under various load and grid conditions makes them a potential alternative to Grid-Following (GFL) inverters, which are highly susceptible to loss of synchronism in grid conditions with low Short Circuit Ratios (SCRs). Numerous GFM control methods have been proposed in the literature, each addressing specific research gaps, however, several …

Developing Real-Time Crash Prediction System Using Ai-Based Methods On Interstate Incorporating Express Lanes, Samgyu Yang

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This research develops a real-time crash prediction system that integrates machine learning techniques and real-time data to forecast crash likelihood across various road segments. The system particularly addresses newly constructed Interstate 4 Express managed lanes, modeling them separately due to their unique challenges, such as limited crash data and new road designs. By treating these segments individually, the system ensures more accurate predictions that account for their distinct traffic behaviors. By leveraging anomaly detection learning (ADL), the system identifies rare crash events by detecting deviations from normal traffic behavior, even with imbalanced data. ADL is applied specifically to the influenced …

Statistical Analysis Of Interstitial Impacts On Shock-Driven Fuel Droplet Atomization, Miguel L. Moran

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Understanding the deformation and aerobreakup of liquid droplets is critical for designing fuel injectors for pressure gain combustion systems. Previous literature has observed the morphology and timescales of individual liquid droplets exposed to the convective flow fields behind moving shocks propagating between Mach 1 and Mach 10. However, the liquid droplets produced by an injection system are not isolated and have many close neighbor droplets of similar diameter. Understanding interactions between these droplets is necessary to reconcile existing theory with droplet behavior observed in liquid jets and droplet clouds. The present study uses a simple injector to create vertically oriented …

Wetting Dynamics On Ultrasoft Materials: Effects Of Surface Chemistry And Elasticity On The Maximum Speed Of Wetting, Damian Hundley

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The study of wetting dynamics on ultrasoft materials has gained significant attention due to its critical implications for flexible technologies, thermal management systems, and advanced coatings. This research explores the effects of surface chemistry and elasticity on the maximum speed of wetting, with a focus on the unique viscoelastic properties of Ecoflex 00-30. Using high-speed imaging and controlled experiments, the links between surface energy, material stiffness, and thickness are analyzed to uncover key mechanisms controlling wetting behavior.

The results show that maximum wetting speed is primarily influenced by surface chemistry, while elasticity plays a less important role unless coupled with …

Application Of Industry 5.0 Attributes For Successful Implementation: Framework Of Manufacturing Excellence In Aerospace And Defense Industries, Rena Lewis

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

As a novel concept, Industry 5.0 is making its rounds around the academic community and various industries. Despite its introduction over five years ago, definitions and perceptions are still under deliberation. Applications, methods of implementation and values are still in the conceptual phase. This study introduces a framework inclusive of human-centricity, sustainability and resilience, the pillars associated with Industry 5.0. It aims to differentiate the revolution from its predecessor, Industry 4.0, as it dives into the technologies associated with Industry 4.0 including but not limited to the Internet of Things (IoT), autonomous robots, and artificial intelligence. As those technologies evolve …

Patient Transfer Robot (Patro) For Mobility Independence Of Patients In Need Of Assistance, Eric W. Frankle

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This thesis is about the design, assembly, and testing of a prototype Patient Transfer Robot, or PATRO. The purpose of this device is to create and validate a mobile wheeled robot to motorize and automate the patient transfer process for use in home and hospital environments. This device aims to reduce the load and risk of injuries for caregivers during patient transfer process and to increase the autonomy and independence of the patient. While the idea of an automated patient transfer device is not a novel concept, PATRO aims to improve on existing designs by improving the safety, size factor, …

Towards High-Performance, Low-Overhead Integrity Authentication For Secure-Memory In Embedded And Heterogeneous Computing Platforms, Rakin Muhammad Shadab

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The use of secure-memory has been crucial for embedded and heterogeneous computing systems, especially in the light of emerging memory adversaries. The state-of-the-art hardware platforms targeting different sectors such as Internet-of-Things (IoT) and cloud computing require strong protection against memory exploits through different side-channel attacks. Such a tamper-resistant memory system comprises different security techniques such as encryption and integrity protection. Generally, the integrity protection against the adversarial attacks in secure-memory platforms relies on integrity trees such as the Bonsai Merkle Tree (BMT). However, the highly-recursive authentication and update algorithms associated with such tree structures are challenging to implement in heterogeneous …

Mitigation Of Transverse Gusts On Morphing Wings Via Span-Wise Twisting, Alex Ruiz

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Wind gust encounters create a highly unstable and unpredictable environment for air vehicles. Small aircraft are especially susceptible to gust-induced disturbances due to their limited size and weight, leading to significant fluctuations during flight. This study introduces a novel concept involving a twisting mechanism along the wingspan, allowing for span wise variations in pitch. Using a towing tank and a gust generator apparatus, we demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed mechanism. Force data and flow field data obtained from Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) provide insights into the vortex mechanisms at play. A Modified Discrete Vortex Method using the leading-edge separation …

Quality 5.0 Management System Design: A Human-Centric And System Of Systems Approach, Johnson O. Olaitan Sr.

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This dissertation presents the Integrated Human-Techno Quality 5.0 System Management Framework (IHT-Q5.0MSF) as a solution to the fragmented and inflexible structures of Quality 4.0. The framework fosters synergy between human insight and technologies such as AI, IoT, and cloud-native systems, addressing adaptability, ethical governance, and sustainability within Industry 5.0. Using a mixed-methods approach, including the Delphi Method, system modeling, and empirical validation, the study identifies enablers, barriers, and strategic priorities for implementation. The results highlight the effectiveness of modular design, human-AI collaboration, and transparent deployment. IHT-Q5.0MSF offers a validated, scalable, and ethically guided system poised to advance quality management in …

Fundamental Breakup Mechanisms Of Micron-Scale Fuel Droplets Behind Hypersonic Shock Waves, Steven Schroeder

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The enhanced efficiency of pressure-gain combustion through detonation has fueled renewed research towards how liquid droplets atomize within a hypersonic shock-driven flow field. The heightened energy of post-hypersonic-shock flow compared to post-supersonic-shock flow leads to increased heating of the droplet, and faster phase change rate, which could potentially alter dominant breakup modes from mass loss via aerodynamic drag towards evaporation. As such, the displacement, deformation, and breakup timescales of various micron-scale liquid fuel droplets (RP-2, Jet A-1, and dodecane) behind hypersonic shocks were observed via high-speed 5 MHz shadowgraph imaging. The role of aerodynamic drag was quantified by modulating the …

Smart Work Zone Connectivity For Traffic Safety Applications, Mariam Nour

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Work zones play a vital role in the maintenance and upgrading of roads and highways; however, they also pose substantial risks to both drivers and workers. Utilizing technology, such as Smart Work Zones (SWZs), Connected Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs), and data dissemination algorithms, is crucial in improving safety in work zones by providing decision-makers with timely and accurate information. Ensuring safety in these environments is essential for reducing accidents and fatalities and enhancing drivers' sense of security, and protecting the well-being of workers operating in hazardous conditions. In this dissertation, we proposed a methodology based on three complementary approaches to enhance …

Assessing Multi-Hazard Risks And Impacts Of Compound Climate And Weather Extreme Events For Socio-Economic Risk Management, Javed Ali

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

In recent decades, compound climate and weather extremes, events driven by multiple drivers such as precipitation, storm surge, river discharge, and waves, have increasingly affected coastal regions, causing severe impacts on human life, infrastructure, ecosystems, and economies. Traditional risk assessments often underestimate these compound events by focusing on individual drivers independently. This dissertation provides a systematic assessment of multi-hazard risks and socio-economic consequences associated with compound events in the coastal counties along the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts. It introduces and applies a novel bottom-up impact-based methodology to assess the role of compound events in causing socio-economic losses in the …

Dynamic Ground Response Of Sandy Soils Under Vibratory Roller Compaction, Jorge Eliecer Ballesteros Ortega

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Vibratory roller compaction is a common technique for densifying granular materials in road construction, utilizing a combination of static and dynamic loads for greater efficiency. However, the vibrations generated during compaction activities can cause structural damage and human discomfort. This thesis investigates the dynamic ground response of sandy soils under vibratory roller compaction, aiming to predict the induced ground vibrations and deformations. Field tests were performed at different road construction sites in Central Florida by using geophones and settlement transducers to provide empirical support for the analysis. Finite element and finite difference models, implementing Hypoplasticity Sand and PM4Sand as constitutive …

Emission Spectroscopy Measurements And Post-Processing Methods For Nitromethane And Aluminum In A Post Detonation Enviroment, Hamil Patel

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The doping of conventional liquid fuels has been a topic of interest in the research community due to the potential for increased energy density and improved performance in oxygen-deficient environments. One of these proposed fuels is nitromethane doped with micron-sized aluminum powder. This work is focused on early spectroscopic measurements of each of these constituent fuel parts in a post-detonation environment that aims to mimic the real-world temperatures and pressures seen in explosives that are not typically replicated in experimental facilities. Spectroscopy was chosen as the primary diagnostic technique for these experiments because it can non-invasively probe the relatively harsh …

Time Resolved Shock Tube Speciation Studies Of Solid Fuel Decomposition Products At Ramjet Conditions, Juan Cruz Pellegrini

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Solid fuel Ramjets (SFRJs) are of interest to the navy and other defense applications because of their high specific impulse, ease of fuel transportation, and low relative cost. Hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) is one of the main solid fuels of choice for SFRJs, and there is a need for updated chemical kinetic models for the decomposition products of HTPB which will aid in CFD simulations of SFRJs. This work is focused on collecting experimental data for HTPB decomposition products for SFRJ combustor conditions ranging from temperatures of 1000 – 1600 K, pressures of 5 ± 0.5 atm, and rich equivalence ratios …

Liquid Fuel Cloud Detonation Propagation And Dynamics, Taylor R. Brown

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Detonations are a form of combustion that produce significantly higher work per specific volume than traditional deflagration combustion, thus are an active area of interest for increased combustion efficiency and power generation. However, the highly unsteady nature of detonations complicates the ability to harness their energy in a fieldable technology, prompting the need for a more fundamental understanding of the detonation phenomena. Fundamental detonation research has overwhelmingly focused on gaseous reactants due to ease of experimentation, though liquid fuels are increasingly relevant as their high energy density makes them more suitable for real-world engine applications, and much of the research …

Benchmarking Robustness Of Gait Recognition Models, Reeshoon Sayera

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This study investigates the robustness of gait recognition systems under realistic perturbations, with a focus on both silhouette parsing and gait recognition components. Experiments are conducted on three diverse datasets—CASIA-B, CCPG, and SUSTech1K—using five state-of-the-art parsing models and six gait recognition architectures. To simulate real-world degradations, we introduce 15 types of noise across five severity levels, resulting in 75 distinct corrupted scenarios. Our findings reveal that no parsing model performs optimally under all conditions, and transformer-based gait models exhibit greater resilience than CNN-based counterparts. However, all models remain highly sensitive to digital noise and occlusions. Interestingly, performance under temporal noise …

Advancing Responsible Ai: Disparity Mitigation Strategies For Human-Centered Ai Systems, Aida Tayebi

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

In recent years, the widespread adoption of machine learning (ML) has driven the expansion of automated decision-making across various real-world applications. While ML models improve efficiency and predictive accuracy in domains such as healthcare, finance, and criminal justice, biases inherited from training data can potentially lead to unintended disparities. Growing awareness of these biases has raised concerns within the human-centered AI and responsible AI communities, highlighting the importance of promoting fairness in AI systems. Aiming for equitable outcomes in automated decisions is not only a technical goal but also an ethical consideration, as models influenced by biases may inadvertently reinforce …

Laminar Burning Speed Of Dme-Hydrocarbon Mixtures, Ahmed F. Safdari

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Fossil fuels, when burned in the air, release large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and greenhouse gases (GHG) into the air, causing significant pollution. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions (CO₂, CO, and NOₓ), alternative fuels such as Dimethyl Ether (DME) are being explored for their potential to offer cleaner combustion solutions. This study investigates the laminar burning speed (LBS) DME blends with several alkanes and alkenes in air at atmospheric pressure (1 atm) across a wide range of equivalence ratios (Φ). LBS is essential for understanding combustion characteristics, including combustion efficiency, heat release rates, and chemical kinetics. Accurate …

Novel Symmetrical Components-Based Methods For Protection Of Systems With High-Level Penetration Of Ibrs, Kwasi Opoku

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The global electric power system is undergoing a transition which has resulted in the proliferation of inverter-based resources (IBRs), mainly renewable energy resources and battery energy storage. These offer the advantage of decarbonization targets in electricity generation while potentially improving resilience and overall efficiency of the electric grid. Furthermore, this has led to the development of inverter-interfaced microgrids at the sub-transmission, and especially, distribution levels.

An effective protection system is a prerequisite for any power system operation. However, the departure of modern power systems, in this regard, from conventional sources and topologies presents new challenges to effective protection from power …

3d Printing Of Ceramics With Masked Stereolithography (Msla) And Volumetric Printing Techniques, Nancy Zheng

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Ceramics have offered a variety of high temperature applications for extreme environments such as power generation, thermal protection systems, aero-prolusion, and space exploration. They possess high strength and modulus at high temperatures and inherent corrosion resistance. Recent advances in 3D printing allow manufacturing of ceramic structures with more intricate designs and multi-functionalities. In this study, the masked stereolithography (mSLA) technique was utilized to fabricate a thin, light weight, and compact counterflow ceramic heat exchanger. The slurry feedstock of alumina was selected for fabrication of the heat exchanger due to high heat resistance and tailorable thermal conductivity. Material characterization including SEM, …

Framework For A Successful Startup Using Lean Startup Methodology Within Ecosystem, Mohamed Elsalamy

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Entrepreneurs want to change the world by converting their business visions to reality. Their dreams are to provide and invent a solution for the society they created to fill a specific market gap that has an opportunity to profit, scale, and grow fast. Startup businesses are booming very progressive due to the boom in technology. However, what is the definition of a startup? What is this business, and what are its business and revenue models? What are the parameters for success and failure? Different thoughts and concepts for a startup are being designated by business professionals and through the media. …

Performance And Operability Of Additively Manufactured Solid Fuels In Airbreathing Propulsion, John P. Patten

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Solid fuels have primarily been investigated in the context of non-airbreathing systems such as hybrid rockets and solid rocket boosters. In both cases, the vehicle must carry an oxidizer— either as gaseous or liquid oxygen in hybrid rockets or embedded within the fuel grain in solid rocket boosters. Airbreathing engines, such as ramjets and scramjets, offer a distinct advantage over these technologies by extracting the necessary oxygen for combustion from the surrounding atmosphere, greatly increasing range. Solid fuels are optimal for many ramjet and scramjet applications due to their high volumetric energy density and long shelf life compared to liquid …