Engineering Commons^™

Advancing Computational Analysis Of Fluorescence Imaging For Head And Neck Cancer Surgical Guidance, Yao Chen

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

The main goal of surgery for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is to remove the tumor completely while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible to enhance patient survival and reduce complications. However, achieving clear surgical margins is difficult due to the complex anatomy of the head and neck and the reliance on a surgeon’s visual and tactile assessments. Recently, near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence molecular imaging has shown potential for better tumor visualization during surgery, using targeted imaging agents like epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) probes. This has led to the development of fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS), which helps surgeons …

Acoustic Levitation At Sub-Atmospheric Pressures And Reduced Temperatures: An Approach To Study Ice Crystal And Hypersonic Shockwave Interaction, Imteaz Osmani, David J. Delene, Hallie Boyer Chelmo

Graduate Research Achievement Day Posters

Micrometer-sized atmospheric ice crystals are commonly observed in high-altitude clouds. Inside clouds, they attach in different orientations, producing varied geometries, yet their formation mechanisms remain poorly understood. Their behavior under shock wave conditions remains underexplored due to lack of laboratory techniques capable of producing atmospherically realistic ice in controlled conditions. No experimental data and laboratory techniques exist to date on the interaction between atmospheric ice crystal aggregates and hypersonic shockwaves. To explore realistic atmospheric ice crystals’ thermodynamic and mechanical changes in hypersonic environments, we investigate the formation and behavior of ice crystal aggregates using acoustic levitation that avoids physical contact …

Demonstration Of Coherent Optical Phase-Shift Keying With A Watt-Class 1550 Nm Tapered Diode Laser Amplifier For Free-Space Optical Communication Applications, Charlotte K. Duda, Aaron Cross, Chadwick Lindstrom, Julie Smith

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

High-power semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) are a promising alternative to erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs), which typically amplify the weak signals used in free-space optical (FSO) communications. In this work, we demonstrate that an Aura TM SOA operating with 1 W output power can be used to transmit phase-shift key (PSK) protocols required of next-generation FSO communication networks. Firstly, we demonstrate successful transmission of binary phase-shift keying (BPSK) for bit rates up to 50 Gbps. Secondly, we demonstrate successful transmission of quadrature phase-shift keying (QPSK) for bit rates up to 100 Gbps. For both PSK protocols, we demonstrate comparable constellation error-vector …

Aiw26s: Github, Sireesha Kuchimanchi

Paul English Applied Artificial Intelligence (AI) Institute Publications

This workshop was part of the PEAAII and SAC AI Workshop Series at the University of Massachusetts Boston. The session introduced students to Git and GitHub as essential tools for software development and collaboration. Participants learned the fundamentals of version control, including repositories, commits, branching, push and pull operations, and pull requests. The workshop also covered best practices for creating strong GitHub portfolios, writing effective README files, contributing to open-source projects, and using GitHub to support professional development and career growth.

Fiber Optic Polarimetric Stress Sensor Improvements, Maxwell R. Richter, Max Randall, Mark C. Harrison

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

The progression of diseases such as cancer has been correlated with tissue stiffness. For example, breast cancer tissue has been found to be stiffer than healthy mammary tissue. At present, stiffness measurement devices are not suitable for nondestructive, high-resolution measurements on small, delicate samples. We report a compact, portable, and sensitive fiber optic stress sensor that overcomes many of these limitations and is suitable for soft materials such as tissue. We demonstrate several improvements to a previous fiber stress sensor in physical hardware, software, and data analysis. We have designed and fabricated a custom enclosure to shield the sensitive setup …

Using Facial Landmarks For Lip Motion Interpretation Applications, Kimi S. Wright

Theses and Dissertations

Facial motion, particularly lip movement, carries rich information about human speech that can be leveraged for a variety of computer vision and speech-processing tasks. Unlike other pixel-based methods, this work investigates the use of facial landmarks as a compact, privacy- preserving, and computationally efficient representation for lip-motion analysis. We evaluate landmark-based models across multiple tasks, including visual voice activity detection (VVAD), lip–audio synchroniza- tion, and visual speech recognition (VSR) for liveness detection. Using LRS3-VVAD1 and LRS22 datasets, we demonstrate that landmark-only models can achieve performance comparable to pixel-based systems for VVAD and synchronization, while significantly reducing parameter counts and inference …

Osha’S Knocking! A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Analysis Of Inspections At Private Universities In Florida., Acuna Gonzalez Santiago

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

Section 8 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) empowers OSHA to conduct inspections and enforce standards prescribed in Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations; however, limited literature and lack of descriptive statistics exist regarding oversight and inspection patterns across Higher Education Institutions (HEI) in Florida. Assessing these patterns is paramount for aiding higher education stakeholders in evaluating their hazard identification and control techniques. This descriptive cross-sectional study examined OSHA's inspection database — January 1, 2015 to October 20, 2025 — indexed by NAICS code 611310, analyzing all 32 four-year non-profit HEI with at least 1,000 …

What Is Passive And Active Release Retrofitting Rainwater Harvesting Systems?, Sarah E. Waickowski, Amy E. Scaroni, Beatriss H. Calhoun

Forestry and Natural Resources

Rainwater harvesting is the collection and temporary storage of rainwater for non-potable applications and stormwater management. Rainwater harvesting systems can be retrofitted with passive or active release to improve how well the systems manage stormwater runoff. This publication contains information that may be useful to municipalities, stormwater professionals, rainwater harvesting system owners and/or managers, homeowner associations, and stormwater educators, among others, on what is passive and active release, including their benefits and where to find more information.

Evaluating The Response Of Ageing Rc Bridge Piers To The 2023 Kahramanmaraş Earthquake Using Bouc-Wen Hysteretic Models, Negin Fayaz, S. Kocakaplan Sezgin, E. Ahmadi, M. M. Kashani, M. Zaker Esteghamati

Civil and Environmental Engineering Student Research

This study examines the seismic response of reinforced concrete (RC) bridge piers subjected to ground motion (GM) records from the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake by comparing the impact of pulse-like versus no-pulse records. A suite of 300 nonlinear Bouc-Wen hysteretic models was developed to represent piers with varying nonlinear behavior. Each Bouc-Wen model was assessed under 24 pulse-like and 28 no-pulse GMs, resulting in 15,600 nonlinear time-history simulations. Subsequently, the relationship between Bouc-Wen parameters (i.e., period and yield displacement) and seismic responses (i.e., maximum displacement, residual displacement, and maximum acceleration) was analyzed. The results show that pulse-like records produce 5 times …

When The Student Surpasses The Teacher: Better Generalization In Ai-Based Seismic Waveform Quality Assessment Using Knowledge Distillation, Ali Namin, F. Jalaeifar, A. Kottke, M. Zaker Esteghamati

Civil and Environmental Engineering Student Research

This paper presents a knowledge distillation (KD)-based approach to reduce computational expenses and improve the generalizability of deep learning-based models for quality assessment of seismic waveforms. Using two different waveform datasets, teacher models are distilled into lightweight student models from two families of time-series-based and image-based models. Models from both student families are trained on a development dataset and evaluated on the testing portion of the development dataset, as well as on an entirely different external testing dataset. Results indicate that KD can provide student models with substantially reduced size (5%-10% of the teacher model's size) and latency while preserving, …

Sensing Negative-Cone Rotational Diffusion Of Dipole-Like Emitters, Yuanxin Qiu, Kaizhi A. Nie, Matthew D. Lew

Electrical & Systems Engineering Publications and Presentations

Fluorescence anisotropy and single-molecule orientation-localization microscopy (SMOLM) are powerful techniques that quantify the rotational diffusion of dipole-like emitters, which is important for sensing molecular interactions and chemical environments at the nanoscale. Numerous theoretical and experimental studies have thoroughly characterized single-molecule rotations even when those rotations are much faster than the detector integration time. Here, we extend the theory of measuring rotational diffusion to situations where a single dipole rotates uniformly everywhere outside of an isotropic cone of a certain size, termed a negative cone. This scenario corresponds to negative fluorescence anisotropy 𝑟 and has been observed in emitters exhibiting strong …

Dual-Function Plasmonic Structure For Logic Operations And Circular Polarization Detection, Marjan Bazian, Mark C. Harrison

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

Many integrated photonic devices have a high potential for dual applications, making them more versatile components in photonic integrated circuits. In this study, we show that a plasmonic XOR gate structure, originally designed to perform logic operations, can also be used as a circular polarization detector. This multi-purpose capability stems from the phase-encoded input mechanism that controls the output response of the structure. We adapted this mechanism to select the output based on the polarization state of light. The design of this structure, utilizing the subwavelength field confinement of plasmonic waveguides, enables the integration of logic and detection functions into …

Computational Modeling Of Enhanced Nonlinear Optical Response In Plasmonic Waveguide Devices With Epsilon-Near-Zero Films, Kevin T. Le, Mark C. Harrison

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

Silicon photonics faces fundamental limitations in nonlinear applications due to weak Kerr nonlinearity, substantial two-photon absorption, and coupling challenges with subwavelength structures. This work investigates epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) materials integrated into plasmonic waveguide architectures for enhanced nonlinear photonic devices. ENZ materials exhibit nonlinear refractive indices several orders of magnitude higher than conventional materials near their zero-permittivity wavelength, enabling giant optical effects over deeply sub-wavelength interaction lengths. We present finite element method simulations of plasmonic ENZ waveguides, investigating layer thickness optimization for nonlinear enhancement while minimizing optical losses. Initial modal analysis confirms superior field confinement in hybrid plasmonic-ENZ structures compared to conventional …

Enhancing Wildlife Strike Risk Assessment Through Large Language Model–Driven Data Analysis, Bill Deng Pan

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

Wildlife strikes remain a persistent safety and economic concern across global aviation operations, highlighting the need for advanced analytical methods to improve risk assessment and mitigation. Traditional statistical approaches to wildlife-strike data, while effective for structured variables such as altitude, phase of flight, or aircraft type, often overlook valuable insights embedded in the unstructured narrative components of strike reports. This study proposes the application of Large Language Models (LLMs) for the automated extraction, classification, and interpretation of information within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Wildlife Strike Database. Using natural language processing (NLP) techniques, LLMs will be utilized to identify key …

Development Of Hypergraph Based Deep Neural Framework For Precise Cancer Subtyping And Meta Visualization, Pooja G Ms

Theses and Dissertations

Accurate Cancer Subtyping is a cornerstone of modern oncology essential for effective diagnosis and guiding personalized treatment. Histopathological Images (HIs) which capture the microscopic structure of tissues are widely used for cancer detection and subtyping. Even though deep learning has made significant advances, existing HI based subtyping methods often focus on specific cancer types, lacking a generic framework.

A unified framework that can classify multiple cancers with high specificity is desperately needed. In response to these limitations, this thesis proposes a robust multi-cancer, multi-class subtyping framework called DSHGNet (Depthwise Separable Hypergraph Convolutional Neural Network) which integrates Depthwise Separable Convolutional Neural …

Dynamic Deep Prompt Optimization For Defending Against Jailbreak Attacks On Llms, Doniyorkhon Obidov, Honggang Yu, Xiaolong Guo, Kaichen Yang

Michigan Tech Publications

Large Language Models (LLMs) demonstrate impressive capabilities across many applications but remain vulnerable to jailbreak attacks, which elicit harmful or unintended content. While model fine-tuning is an option for safety alignment, it is costly and prone to catastrophic forgetting. Prompt optimization has emerged as a promising alternative, yet existing prompt-based defenses typically rely on static modifications (e.g., fixed prefixes or suffixes) that cannot adapt to diverse and evolving attacks.

We propose Dynamic Deep Prompt Optimization (DDPO), the first jailbreak defense based on deep prompt optimization. DDPO uses the target LLM’s own intermediate layers as feature extractors to dynamically generate defensive …

Research Of Logic Elements Based On Complementary Bipolar Transistors, Nodira Batirdjanovna Alimova, Nilufar Baxtiyorovna Gulyamova

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

Important parameters for any type of inverter – a NOT logic gate – are the power consumption during switching and the supply voltage. The proposed connection of complementary (two different types) bipolar transistors reduces the current consumption and supply voltage by simultaneously using the cutoff and saturation modes of the bipolar transistors. It has been theoretically and experimentally established that an inverter using complementary bipolar transistors operates at low supply voltages, approximately 0.7 V. Power consumption is virtually independent of the inverter's static state. A method for calculating the transfer characteristic of an inverter using complementary bipolar transistors is developed, …

Algorithms Of Stable Adaptive Observation Of A Multidimensional Undefinite Object, Tursunova Sadoqat Abdusalom Qizi

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

This article presents an algorithm for simultaneously estimating the parameters and state coordinates of a multidimensional control object when some of its state variables are not directly measured. The inability to measure all state variables (coordinates) of an object is a well-known drawback of identification schemes. Such conditions require the construction of adaptive state observers. This work demonstrates that when identifying the parameters of a mathematical model for an uncertain multidimensional object, the asymptotic stability of the object and the convergence of its parameters to the model parameters are ensured, provided the input vector is sufficiently informative. The construction of …

Impediments To Transforming The Healthcare Delivery System: Shifting The Paradigm From Provider Centric To Patient Centric, Elizabeth A. Regan, Manasa Devi Chinta

Faculty Publications

Introduction: 

Stated aims for digital healthcare transformation frequently cite goals for better coordinated patient-centric systems. However, despite advances in medical science, digital technologies, health policies, and billions of dollars invested over the past 25 years, most healthcare providers are far from fully realizing the demonstrated benefits of today's digital technologies for improving patient care. Sharing information across healthcare systems remains challenging. Problems with fragmentation, quality, inequities, and rising costs of care delivery persist. A recent study of 1,026 U.S. hospital systems found that only 15.8 percent achieved a digital maturity level needed to provide digitally enabled healthcare services to better …

Infrastructural Resiliency Analysis Concerning Extreme Events, Yasaman Norouzi

Theses and Dissertations

Infrastructural resiliency is critical for maintaining functionality during and after extreme events, ensuring minimal service disruptions and supporting rapid recovery. Key resiliency attributes—robustness, redundancy, resourcefulness, and rapidity—enhance infrastructure adaptability and safety. This study investigates significant factors and methods for improving resiliency, with a focus on equity and reliability. A new resiliency metric, incorporating equity as a core element, is developed using probabilistic approaches. This metric integrates structural vulnerability with accessibility, income, cost, and exposure factors to evaluate community impact on infrastructure access. To achieve this, limit state functions are defined to assess how infrastructural vulnerabilities affect diverse communities. Apart From …

Physical And Chemical Study Of Interaction In The Urea–Valine System For The Creation Of Modified Liquid Nitrogen Fertilizers, Suvonkul Erkhanovich Nurmonov, Saydullo Khamidovich Azimov

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

This study reports the results of a comprehensive physicochemical investigation of the urea–L-valine binary system, conducted to validate its potential as a modified base for liquid nitrogen fertilizers.

By utilizing the methods of isomolar series, visual-polythermal analysis, X-ray phase (XRD) and single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SC-XRD), synchronous thermal analysis (TGA/DTA), and FT-IR spectroscopy, it was determined that the interaction between components in both aqueous solutions and the solid phase results in the formation of molecular associates stabilized by hydrogen bonds, without the formation of new stoichiometric compounds.

The concentration and temperature limits of the system's stability were defined, revealing a reduction …

Analysis Of The Carbonization Process Of Ammoniated Brine In Ammonia-Soda Production, Nadirbek Rustambekovich Yusupbekov, Djalolitdin Paxritdinovich Mukhitdinov, Fotima Faxritdinovna Iskhakova

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

The work provides an analytical review of the current state of modeling and controlling the carbonization process of ammoniated brine. It analyzes modern methods of mathematical, simulation, and intelligent modeling of heat and mass transfer, hydrodynamics, carbonation kinetics, and crystallization. The paper considers the potential of using digital twins, neural network models, fuzzy logic devices, and hybrid models to improve forecasting accuracy and the adaptability of process solutions. Modern carbonation process control strategies are also considered. A detailed analysis is provided of predictive control (MPC), neuro-fuzzy controllers, decentralized and multivariate control systems that ensure stable column operation under disturbances, optimize …

Analytical Method For Investigating Nonlinear Magnetic Circuits Of Measuring Transducers With A Standard Parameter Distribution Structure, Javhar Sulton O'G'Li Fayzullayev

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

The article proposes a new analytical method for investigating magnetic circuits with distributed parameters and nonlinear magnetic coupling. The method is based on introducing into the system of nonlinear differential equations of such circuits the condition that the second derivative of the magnetic flux with respect to the circuit length is equal to zero, as well as on assuming that one of the geometric parameters of the studied magnetic circuit – the value of the air gap between ferromagnetic cores, their thickness, width, or the linear value of the number of turns of the distributed excitation winding – is a …

Pid Control For Lower Limb Exoskeletons: A Framework Evaluation, Javlonbek Rakhmatillaev, Vytautas Bučinskas

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

This research provides a detailed guideline for implementing and evaluating Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) control frameworks in lower limb rehabilitation exoskeleton robotics. It examines the role of control systems within rehabilitation robotics, outlines the principles of PID control, describes exoskeleton architecture, explores applications of PID control, reviews optimization strategies, presents experimental validations, and considers future developments in the field. The proposed control framework incorporates aspects of mechanical design, actuator and sensor selection, and PID-based control algorithms, thereby promoting safe, accurate, and individualized rehabilitation support. Recommendations and effective guidance for future work are also presented.

Inductive Transducers For Measuring Vibrations, S.F. Amirov, A.Kh. Sulliev, A.A. Shoimkulov

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

A new design of an induction transducer has been developed for measuring linear and torsional vibrations in different directions with high sensitivity by constructing an inertial element consisting of four mutually perpendicular sectors and making the masses of two adjacent sectors different from the masses of the other two adjacent sectors. By constructing an inertial element in the form of a sector with two mutually diametric magnetic cores and different masses, and placing it between the horizontal and vertical axes, a design of an induction transducer has been developed that highly sensitively measures linear and torsional vibrations in different directions, …

The Main Errors Of The Ultrasonic Sensor In Measuring Water Flow In Open Channels, Anvar Urolovich Djalilov

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

This article analyzes the use of ultrasonic sensors in measuring water flow and the main errors that may occur in this process. In the conducted scientific research, a time-pulse ultrasonic sensor was tested. The absolute, relative and repeatability errors of the sensor during water flow measurement were studied. The absolute error represents the largest difference between the value recorded by the sensor and the real value, affecting the overall accuracy of the measurement system. This error can vary depending on environmental factors, the design and operating principles of the sensor. During the experiment, the performance of this sensor was …

Synthesis Of An Adaptive Synergistic Fuzzy Discrete Controller For Nonlinear Systems, Isamidin Xakimovich Sidikov, Gulruxsor Murot Qizi Nashvandova, Feruzakhon Botirxon Qizi Sodiqova

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

The paper considers the issues of synthesizing an adaptive fuzzy synergetic controller with discrete time for nonstationary nonlinear dynamic objects. The proposed approach is based on the integrated use of synergetic control principles and fuzzy logic methods, which ensure the formation of a control law for nonlinear dynamic objects that provides asymptotic stability of the control system. Such a hybrid combination makes it possible to guarantee the asymptotic stability of the closed-loop system and to shape the required dynamic behavior of the object over a wide range of operating modes. In addition, this approach provides the ability to adapt to …

Adaptive-Robust Control Of Dynamic Systems Using Generalized Predictive Methods, Shuxrat Tulyaganov

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

This paper considers an approach to adaptive-robust control of dynamic systems using generalized anticipation, where the object is described by a locally linearized model. Known self-tuning algorithms show insufficient stability to inaccurate selection of delay or model order. A generalized predictive control approach is suggested, with simulation outcomes showing superiority over traditional methods like generalized minimum variance control and pole assignment.This sliding horizon algorithm is based on predicting future system output signals several steps ahead, based on assumptions about subsequent control actions. One effective assumption is the presence of a “control horizon,” beyond which control signal increments are assumed to …

Review Of Modern Methods For Identification, Forecasting, And Intelligent Control Of Wastewater Biological Treatment Processes, Mirkhalil Agzamovich Ismailov, Boburbek Zokirjon O'G'Li Mannobjonov

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

This article presents a comprehensive review of contemporary approaches to the automation and intelligent control of wastewater biological treatment processes. Particular emphasis is placed on the digitalisation of wastewater treatment plants, ranging from the implementation of automated process control systems (APCS/SCADA-based solutions) to the application of predictive algorithms and the development of digital twins of bioreactors.

Special attention is devoted to mathematical models that underpin the control of bioprocesses. The evolution of the most widely used activated sludge models—ASM1, ASM2d, and ASM3—is examined, as these models describe key processes such as microbial community growth, nitrification, denitrification, and phosphorus removal. It …

Investigating Confounding Factors In Shear Wave Speed Measurements Of Fibrotic Liver Tissues: A Computer Simulation Study, Emily J. Miller, Yongmei Jin, Jingfeng Jiang

Michigan Tech Publications

Screening patients with liver fibrosis and identifying those at risk of developing advanced liver fibrosis is of clinical interest. Shear wave elastography (SWE), a promising non-invasive screening tool used to distinguish healthy tissue from diseased tissue, measures tissue shear wave speed (SWS) to describe tissue stiffness and identify liver fibrosis. However, considerable variations in the reported results have been found. We propose that the heterogeneity of the liver tissue background, such as the presence of fatty liver tissue and the preferred local orientation of the scarred fibrotic liver tissues embedded into the liver parenchyma, may contribute to the uncertainty in …