Engineering Commons^™

Detection Of Cancer-Associated Gene Mutations In Urinary Cell-Free Dna Among Prostate Cancer Patients In South Africa, Dada Oluwaseyi Temilola, Martha Wium, Juliano Paccez, Azola Samkele Salukazana, Solomon O. Rotimi, Hasan H. Otu, Giuseppina M. Carbone, Lisa Kaestner, Stefano Cacciatore, Luiz Fernando Zerbini

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common cause of cancer death among African men. The presence of tumor-specific variations in cell-free DNA (cfDNA), such as mutations, microsatellite instability, and DNA methylation, has been explored as a source of biomarkers for cancer diagnosis. In this study, we investigated the diagnostic role of cfDNA among South African PCa patients. We performed whole exome sequencing (WES) of urinary cfDNA. We identified a novel panel of 31 significantly deregulated somatic mutated genes between PCa and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Additionally, we performed whole-genome sequencing (WGS) on matching PCa and normal prostate tissue in an …

Collegiate Aviation Students’ Perceptions Towards The Integration Of Diversity And Inclusion Training: A Qualitative Case Study, Jorge L. D. Albelo, Nicola M. O'Toole, Eugene Kim

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

Multiple industries have become more supportive and engaging places to work by embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion within their institutional processes. Institutions of higher education have seen the educational benefits of integrating diversity and inclusion principles within their program outcomes. Notably, the aviation industry has seen an increase in diversity, equity, and inclusion practices to attract more customers and increase the number of potential applicants. Yet, there is scant literature on how aviation students at collegiate flight institutions perceive the integration of diversity and inclusion training within the airline industry as part of their career development. This study aimed to …

Sustainability Matchmaking: Exploration Into Using Excess Renewable Energy To Deliver ‘Free’ Energy To Fuel Poor Homes – A Preliminary Case Study In Ireland, Ciara Ahern, Ronan Oliver

Articles

The aggregated fuel cost of domestic hot water (DHW) generation in Ireland, in 2022, was €529M with associated emissions/load of 1.3MtCO₂/289GWh. The shadow price of carbon monetises the negative impact of emissions, rising with time; DHW generation has an associated shadow carbon cost of €13M in 2022, rising to €42M in 2030 and €335M in 2050.

In 2020, c12%/€441M of wind was curtailed or wasted as inter alia, there was no demand at times of high wind. Meanwhile, a ‘silent crisis’ is occurring in Ireland wherein one-in-two dwellings were considered in fuel poverty in 2022. Households in …

Exploring Science And Engineering Practices In Children’S Picture Books, Derrick A. Nero, Kathleen Everts Danielson

Michigan Reading Journal

This article features an annotated bibliography of children’s books that illustrate engineering concepts tied to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Science and Engineering Practices for K-2 students (National Science Teaching Association -NSTA, n.d., see Appendix A) and NGSS K-2 Engineering Design performance expectations (NSTA, n.d., see Appendix B). The selected children’s books encourage discussion and model the process of inquiry and problem solving that may inspire young children to explore STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) questions of their own.

Barriers To Bim Implementation For Cost Management In The Irish Construction Industry, Uchenna Sampson Igwe Dr, Alan Hore Dr, Dermot Kehily Dr., David Colmenero Lechuga

Conference Papers

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is the foundation of digital transformation in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry that enables efficient collaboration and information sharing among stakeholders in the industry. It has been identified as a powerful tool for construction cost management because it provides accurate and timely information about the cost implications of design decisions. BIM development in Ireland is expected to continue growing in the coming years, driven by the proposed 2024 government mandate, continued state supports and the benefits that BIM brings to the construction industry, including improved collaboration, reduced errors and waste, and increased efficiency. Notable …

Design And Development Of Clinical Decision Support System For Breast Cancer Diagnosis Using Artificial Intelligence, Karthiga R

Theses and Dissertations

The prevalence of breast cancer in women worldwide is far higher than that of cancers of the lungs, brain, or liver. Increasing ageing populations and poor lifestyle habits among the general public, primarily in industrialized nations, are significant factors contributing to the rise in cancer-related mortality rates worldwide. Approximately one woman in every three will develop breast cancer. This research proposes several advanced computer methods for analyzing breast cancer images. This work analyses breast cancer in four imaging modalities: mammography, thermography, ultrasonography and histopathology.

Each modality has some limitations in diagnosing tumors in the breast region. Heavy dose in mammogram …

Perception Of Crisis Management, Service Quality, And Loyalty Programs On Airline Travel Intention: What Roles Do Fear Of Covid-19 And Risk Attitude Play?, Sohel M. Imroz, Tamilla Curtis, Scott C. Ambrose

Publications

This research investigates the antecedents of airline travel intention, including the effects of crisis management, service quality perceptions, and loyalty programs, along with the fear of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and risk attitude among individuals from different parts of the world during the peak of the pandemic. Its main objective is to assess how these variables impact passenger airline travel intention. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to assess the measurement model and test the hypothesized relationships on the sample of 944 travelers. Results indicated strong positive associations between fear of COVID-19, risk-averse attitudes, and service quality with respect …

Internet Of Things Affordance For Open Educational Resources In A Comprehensive Open Distance E-Learning, Lancelord Mncube

African Conference on Information Systems and Technology

The Internet of Things (IoT) space has dual dimensions of affordance to support open educational resources (OER). The duality of affordance has little or not been well articulated in relation to OER, particularly in a Comprehensive open distance e-learning (CODEL) institution. Such an institution is a mega open distance in South Africa and beyond the continent to accommodate students globally and rely on information and communication technology (ICT) in the provision of tuition. In the CODEL institution, there is a recognizable shift as the institution encourages the appropriation of OER and phasing out the prescription of the prescribed textbooks. The …

A Social Profile-Based E-Learning Model, Xola Ntlangula

African Conference on Information Systems and Technology

Many High Education Institutions (HEIs) have migrated to blended or complete online learning to cater for less interruption with learning. As such, there is a growing demand for personalized e-learning to accommodate the diversity of students' needs. Personalization can be achieved using recommendation systems powered by artificial intelligence. Although using student data to personalize learning is not a new concept, collecting and identifying appropriate data is necessary to determine the best recommendations for students. By reviewing the existing data collection capabilities of the e-learning platforms deployed by public universities in South Africa, we were able to establish the readiness of …

Experiences Of African Women In Stem Careers: A Systematic Literature Review., Kaluwa Siwale, Gwamaka Mwalemba, Ulrike Rivett

African Conference on Information Systems and Technology

The discourse on women's underrepresentation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) mainly centres on the global north, leaving a gap in understanding the perspectives of African women in STEM. To address this, a systematic literature review was conducted to explore African women's experiences in STEM careers and education. After applying inclusion and criteria, 18 published articles were analysed. 8 key issues emerge: work environment, education system, work-life balance, gender-based stereotypes, racial bias, sexual harassment, inadequate support/mentorship, and self-imposed limits. These themes intertwine, with some aspects influencing others. Grasping the complexities and interactions of these factors provides insights into challenges …

Predictive Maintenance Of Base Transceiver Station Power System Using Xgboost Algorithm: A Case Study Of Econet Wireless, Zimbabwe, Tavengwa Masamha

African Conference on Information Systems and Technology

Faults incurred by Base Transceiver Stations pose challenges to telecommunication organisations. Mostly the faults are due to BTS failures. BTS power system failures can have a significant impact on organizational performance in the telecommunications industry. These failures can cause disruptions in mobile network coverage, leading to dropped calls, slow data speeds, and difficulty connecting to the network. ECONET Zimbabwe has been experiencing unprecedented BTS power system failures for the past five years. Team Data Science Process was the pillar of the study methodology. The XGBoost algorithm was employed to develop a predictive model for the maintenance of Base Transceiver Station …

E-Wild Life Alert: Tackling The Human-Wildlife Conflict Problem, Eliel Kundai Zhuwankinyu, Sibonile Moyo, Catherine Chivasa, Smart Ncube

African Conference on Information Systems and Technology

Depletion of resources meant for both human and animal survival leads to competition for these. Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) occurs when these two parties compete for resources such as space, water, and food. If not properly managed, HWC can lead to loss of livelihoods and even loss of life. This paper discusses the design and development of an E-Wildlife Alert application that uses machine learning to detect dangerous animals. Using the Design Science Research method, a convolutional neural network is trained to build an artifact that detects five dangerous animals from an African context. The artifact is mounted on a robot …

A Customized Artificial Intelligence Based Career Choice Recommender System For A Rural University, Nosipho Carol Mavuso, Nobert Jere, Darelle Vangreunen

African Conference on Information Systems and Technology

Rapid technological developments have enabled users to be supported and guided in decision-making. An example of this is the ability of tertiary students to use technology to explore different career options and make informed decisions about their future. Notwithstanding the increasing use of technology in general, the technology for career guidance and personalized career recommendations in South Africa is still limited. There are some limiting factors such as the ever-looming challenge of limited access to technology, language barriers and cultural differences that are prevalent in rural areas. With this premise, this study collected quantitative data from students at an Eastern …

Review Paper: Low Salinity Water Injection For Enhanced Oil Recovery, Mahmoud Ali, Moamen Talaat, Abd El-Rahman Rashwan

The Undergraduate Research Journal

Low salinity water injection (LSWI) is one of the leading techniques in terms of enhancing oil recovery in sandstone and carbonate formations. Many studies and lab experiments were performed on the LSWI applications. Some studies have pointed out multiple negative observations, while other studies have shown the positive potential of using LSWI in enhancing oil recovery. However, the technology used in LSWI applications is still considered new and more studies need to be performed to figure out new technologies that are low-cost and more efficient. This review paper examines LSWI by analyzing the benefits and drawbacks of employing LSWI in …

Fixed Point Results In Neutrosophic Rectangular Extended B-Metric Spaces, Naeem Saleem, Umar Ishtiaq, Khaleel Ahmad, Salvatore Sessa, Ferdinando Di Martino

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

In this manuscript, we establish the notion of neutrosophic rectangular extended b-metric spaces and derive some fixed point results for contraction mappings. Also, we provide several non-trivial examples. Our results are more generalized with respect to the existing ones in the literature. At the end of the paper, we provide an application to non-linear fractional differential equations to test the validity of the results.

Water-Energy-Food Linkages In Community Smallholder Irrigation Schemes: Center Pivot Irrigation In Rwanda, Ankit Chandra, Derek M. Heeren, Lameck O. Odhiambo, N. Brozovic

Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute: Faculty Publications

Water, energy, and food are linked in intricate ways in irrigated agriculture and understanding the interplay of these components is crucial for sustainable and profitable crop production, particularly in smallholder setting such as in sub-Saharan Africa. This study evaluates water-energy-food linkages, engineering and economic performance, irrigation decision making, and challenges faced around water management in a community-based mechanized irrigation scheme in Rwanda. The research is the first to analyze such as scheme, which uses technology typically used by large farmers in a smallholder setting. The study investigates the variation in water requirements and the relationship and impacts of this variability …

Analysis Of Factors Affecting Construction And Demolition Waste Reduction In Egypt, Ayman Ahmed Ezzat Othman, Ahmed Osama Daoud, Obas John Ebohon, Ali Bayyati

Architectural Engineering

Construction projects are associated with construction and demolition waste (CDW) generated at different stages. In Egypt’s case, the CDW problem has become a significant challenge, and the need to find sustainable solutions is overwhelming. Based on recent investigations in the literature, it was found that six main factors are affecting CDW reduction (CDWR) as follows: (1) waste-efficient materials procurement measures; (2) waste-efficient materials procurement models; (3) green materials procurement approach; (4) legislation; (5) culture & behaviour; and (6) awareness. In this study, a representative sample of Egyptian construction firms was screened to (1) investigate the applicability and effectiveness of CDWR …

Comparison Of A Bottom-Up Gnss Radio Occultation Method To Measure D- And E-Region Electron Densities With Ionosondes And Firi, Dylan J. Shaver, Dong L. Wu, Nimalan Swarnalingam, Anthony L. Franz, Eugene V. Dao, Daniel J. Emmons

Faculty Publications

High-frequency skywave propagation can be heavily impacted by D- and E-region dynamics requiring accurate global measurements to optimize performance. A standard measurement technique is to use ionosondes, but they are unable to measure below 1 MHz and are only available at a limited number of land-locked sites around the globe. In contrast, the Global Navigation Satellite System radio occultation (GNSS-RO) bottom-up method is a new approach specifically designed to generate electron density profiles in the D- and E- region ionosphere. It takes advantage of satellite constellations that currently provide over 20,000 daily measurements and global coverage. In this paper, GNSS-RO …

Forecasting Economic Growth And Movements With Wavelet Transform And Arima Model, Omar Alsinglawi, Omar Alsinglawi, Mohammad Aladwan, Mohammad Aladwan, Saddam Alwadi, Saddam Alwadi

Applied Mathematics & Information Sciences

This study uses historical data and modern statistical models to forecast future Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Jordan. The Wavelet Transformation model (WT) and Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model were applied to the time series data and yielded a best-fitting result of (2,1,1) for estimating GDP between 2022-2031. The study concludes that GDP is expected to increase with a positive growth rate of around 3.22%, and recommends government agencies to monitor GDP, strengthen existing policies, and adopt necessary economic reforms to support growth. Additionally, the private sector is encouraged to enhance production tools to achieve economic growth that benefits …

The Effect Of System Quality And User Quality Of Information Technology On Internal Audit Effectiveness In Jordan, And The Moderating Effect Of Management Support, Ahmad Yahiya Ahmad Bani Ahmad (Ayassrah), Anas Ahmad Mahmoud Bani Atta, Hanan Ali Alawawdeh, Nawaf Abdallah Aljundi, Amer Morshed, Saleh Amin Dahbour

Applied Mathematics & Information Sciences

The goal of this study is to ascertain the moderating role that management support has in internal audit effectiveness in Jordan, as well as the impact of system quality and user quality of information technology. There were 172 responders in all, and they were split across Jordanian auditors. In the data analysis process, the quantitative analysis test— which consists of the validity test, reliability test, test of conventional assumptions, and hypothesis test—is applied. Information technology system and user quality are independent variables in this study. The dependent variable in this study is internal audit effectiveness, and the moderating variable is …

Optimal Control Analysis Of The Dynamics Of Covid-19 With Application To Ethiopian Data, Temesgen Duresa Keno, Fekadu Mosisa Legesse, Ebisa Olana Bajira

Applied Mathematics & Information Sciences

In this paper, we proposed an optimal control of the COVID-19 transmission dynamics. First, we investigated system features such as solution boundedness, positivity, disease-free and endemic equilibrium, and the local and global stability of equilibrium points. Besides, a disease-free equilibrium point is globally asymptotically stable if the basic reproduction number is less than one, and an endemic equilibrium point exists otherwise. Secondly, we have shown the sensitivity analysis of the basic reproduction number. Also the model is then fitted using COVID-19 infected reported in Ethiopia from February 1,2023 to March 2,2023. The values of model parameters are then estimated from …

Generalization Of Renyi’S Entropy And Its Application In Source Coding, Ashiq Hussain Bhat, Niyamat Ali Siddiqui, Ismail A Mageed, Shawkat Alkhazaleh, Vidyanand Rabi Das, M. A. K Baig

Applied Mathematics & Information Sciences

In this paper, we introduce a new generalization of Renyis entropy β(P) and the most important feature of this generalized entropy Rαβ (P) is that it derives most important entropies that are well known and influence information theory and applied mathematics. Some significant properties of Rαβ (P) has been undertaken in this article. In addition, we introduce a new generalized exponentiated mean codeword length Lβα (P) in this article then determine how Rβα (P) and Lβα (P) are related in terms of source coding theorem.

Development Of The Computer Model Of The Waste Water Treatment Process Using Ion-Exchange Resins In The Matlab Program, Jaloliddin Abdurazzakovich Eshbobaev, Bakhodir Tajiddinovich Khamidov, Adham Tilovovich Norkobilov, Orifjon Sharipovich Kodirov

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

In this work, a mathematical model of industrial wastewater treatment technology was formed. First, wastewater treatment technologies were analyzed and the technology of ion-exchange resin treatment was selected. A water purification device using ion-exchange resins was made, and tested on the Kungrad soda plant and the results were obtained. According to these results, it was determined that the cleaning coefficient of the device is up to 98-99%. In this article, a mathematical model of a wastewater treatment device using ion-exchange resins was developed using the stoichiometric matrix method. After the mathematical model of the process was found, a graph of …

Reaction Pathways, Kinetic Modelling And Parameter Estimation Of Heterogeneous Catalytic Trans-Esterificationprocess, Owolabi,R. U, Aderinsola A. P

Mansoura Engineering Journal

The kinetics of heterogeneous catalyzed trans-esterification between castor oil and methanol was studied and modeled. Kinetic data was obtained from a perfectly mixed slurry batch reactor. The modeling was conducted via the modified-hattori mechanism to determine the exact rate controlling step for the reaction. A total of five rate expressions were formed, which were as a result of; methanol adsorption, Triglyceride adsorption, Formation of the complex, Surface reaction and Glycerol desorption. Evaluation of best fitting model and parameter estimation was done using the nealder simplex least square optimization algorithm with the aid MATLAB software. The result from the regression analysis …

Toward An Interoperable And Scalable Iot-Driven Smart City Solution Using Blockchain, Nada Abdulaziz A Alasbali

Student Works (2020-2029)

A smart city is primarily an urban region that makes effective use of contemporary technology to manage its resources, assets, and services. Internet of Things (IoT) devices and sensors are installed throughout the smart city in order to facilitate remote monitoring and data collection in relation to a variety of key infrastructures. The data is then utilised to plan the necessary maintenance tasks to ensure that citizens receive high-quality services. Even though IoT devices make it possible to collect data in real-time in a smart city, most sensors and IoT devices do not have a lot of storage space or …

On Digital Productivity Base Of Policies For Cross-Border Data Flows Between Rcep Parties And Its Influences—Taking Digital Integration Index As A Reference, Gui Huang, Ru Tao

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

This study reviews the newest legislation and policies of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) participating countries on cross-border data flow, and then categorized them according to the ban on data transfer, local storage of data, permission-based regulation, and standards-based regulation. By referring to the indexes in the ASEAN Digital Integration Index, the subject and object factors of digital productivity in RCEP parities are sorted out, as well as the status quo of digital economy. Through the introduction of data value chain theory, the decisive impact of digital productivity factors on the policy formulation of cross-border data flow is expounded; by …

Extreme Cooling Via Sweeping Gas Membrane Distillation, David M. Warsinger

School of Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Thermal desalination processes like membrane distillation (MD) aim to have rapid evaporation rates to provide large quantities of fresh water. These processes, which resemble counterflow-heat exchangers with membranes in the middle, conventionally seek to maximize vapor mass transfer while minimizing all other modes of heat transfer as “thermal losses.” However, we can reverse this fundamental design need to make an exceptionally high throughput heat dissipation device. By using thin thermally conductive membranes and extremely rapid air flow rates, membrane heat exchangers inspired by MD can dissipate heat several times faster than conventional air-cooled heat exchangers. We demonstrate this new approach …

On The Design And Power Output Response Of Hydraulic Wind Turbines, Helber Antonio Esquivel-Puentes, Andrea Vacca, Venkatesh Pulletikurthi, Ali Doosttalab, Jose Garcia-Bravo, David M. Warsinger, Leonardo P. Chamorro, Luciano Castillo

School of Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Standard horizontal axis wind turbines typically use gearboxes for large-scale applications and direct coupling for small-scale designs to connect the rotor to the generator. However, gearboxes pose challenges due to their weight, cost, and exposure to dynamic loads and vibrations within the nacelle. A promising alternative is replacing mechanical transmission with a hydrostatic counterpart, offering advantages such as reduced nacelle mass, generator placement at the tower base, and elimination of the gearbox. It can potentially lead to cost savings of up to 20% in the levelized cost of electricity for offshore wind turbines. This study compares regulated hydrostatic transmission with …

Groundwater Resource Assessment For West Africa Using Earth Observations And Groundwater Modeling, Sergio Armando Barbosa Casas

Theses and Dissertations

Groundwater is a crucial global resource, particularly in semiarid regions where surface water is scarce. As a result, effective groundwater management is essential. However, the challenge lies in a lack of data and information for proper decision-making. This dissertation present studies related to groundwater storage changes and recharge in West Africa, using data from NASA's Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission. In Niger, this research reveals little change in groundwater storage from 2002 to 2010 but a steep rise from 2010 to 2021, attributed partially to increased precipitation. Groundwater resources in Niger are found to be underutilized, with estimated …

Transportation Electrification In Interdependent Power And Transportation Systems - Analysis, Planning, And Operation, Sina Baghali

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Electric vehicles (EVs) are one of the eminent alternatives to decarbonize the transportation sector. However, large-scale EV adoption brings new challenges and opportunities to both transportation and power systems (TPSs). The challenges include the lack of understanding of EV driving behaviors and the associated charging demand (CD) distribution, the complex interaction of the decentralized decision-makers from TPSs, and the insufficient infrastructure from TPSs to accommodate the growing CD of EVs. On the other hand, the opportunities include benefiting the power systems by leveraging vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technologies and improving transportation mobility by incorporating strategic infrastructure planning. The goal of this dissertation …