Engineering Commons^™

Links Of Intensification Chemical Weathering And Nickel Enrichment With Volcanism In The North China Plate Around The Permian-Triassic Boundary, Wang Ye, Ye Chengzhuo, Zhang Tong, Yang Minfang, Zhou Kai, Zhang Peixin, Yang Yuzhu, Zhang Chu, Lu Jing

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective The North China Plate serves as a pivotal region for deciphering the mechanisms underlying the links of volcanism and paleoenvironmental-climatic upheavals around the Permian-Triassic Boundary (PTB). The dramatic environmental perturbations during this period are closely linked to large-scale volcanic eruptions of the Siberian Traps Large Igneous Province (STLIP). These eruptions triggered global warming, extreme chemical weathering events, and mass extinctions, marking a significant turning point in the evolution of the Earth system.Methods This study investigated the Sunjiagou and Liujiagou formations in the WY-U-01H borehole in the Qinshui Basin, North China Plate. Using the chemical index of alteration (CIA), …

Mechanisms Underlying The Impacts Of Reservoir Pore Structures On Near-Well Salt Precipitation In Co2 Geological Storage, Deng Chenguang, Sun Xiaolong, Liu Keyu, An Senyou, Yuan Guanghui, Wang Yuxiang

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective and Method High CO₂ injectivity in reservoirs is essential for high-quality sites of CO₂ geological storage (CGS). Salt precipitation in the vicinity of injection wells due to brine dissolution in CO₂ emerges as a critical factor impairing CO₂ injectivity. To explore the differences in the mechanisms behind salt precipitation and damage degree across various reservoirs, this study conducted salt precipitation simulation experiments on sandstone samples with distinct pore structures using a high-temperature and high-pressure fluid displacement system. By combining methods such as cast thin section observations, scanning electron microscopy and resulting spectra, micro-X-ray fluorescence (micro-XRF) …

A Method For Detecting Weathered And Oxidized Zones In Shallowly Buried Coal Seams Integrating Logging And Dense Microtremor Array Technology, Ma Zhi, He Weisheng, Hu Qiuping, Guo Zhengxue, Zhou Jinju, Chen Tongjun, Yang Le, Yuan Zhichao

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective The central and western regions of China hold abundant shallowly buried coal resources. However, the accurate exploration and safe, efficient development of coal seams in these regions are confronted with serious challenges due to weathering and oxidation. To achieve the cost-effective delineation of weathered and oxidized zones in shallowly buried coal seams, this study proposed a novel exploration method that integrated logging and dense microtremor array technology based on differences in physical properties and geophysical responses between weathered and oxidized zones and normal strata. Methods Initially, based on the analysis of the laws of variations in the physical properties …

Global Representative Metallogenic Models And Geophysical Exploration Methods Of Sylvite: Current Research Status And Prospects, Qu Ping, Yue Hangyu, Huang Xiaobing, Song Jiong

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background Sylvite serves as a strategic mineral resource that plays a significant role in ensuring food safety and sustainable agricultural development, with approximately 90% of global potash resources used for potassium fertilizer production. However, developing countries such as China have long faced the challenges of heavy dependence on potash imports and insufficient potash resource continuity. Such a supply and demand framework causes China to speed up research on potash metallogenic patterns and technical innovations in potash exploration. This will help overcome resource bottlenecks. Objective This study presented a systematic summary of global potash metallogenic models and investigated the approaches of …

Neutrosophic Set Model For Effective Earthquake Disaster Risk Management: Results And Discussion, Emadaldeen Hassan Alomar, Abdullah Ali Salamai

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

Secondary effects including landslides, tsunamis, and fires can cause significant damage and fatalities following an earthquake. Effective disaster risk management has been predicted to be built on regional fire-following earthquake (FFE) risk. Specifically, a target region’s building and geographical factors might impact the fire danger and spread. The percentage of fire-resistant building types as building characteristics and the distribution of building densities as regional characteristics were the primary factors used in this study to determine FFE risk. This study develops a decision-making methodology for risk management in the FFE. We use the single valued neutrosophic set (SVNS) to overcome uncertainty. …

Neutrosophic Algebraic Structures For Precise Uncertainty Quantification In Outcome-Based Education Systems: A Rigorous Case Study Analysis, Mona Gharib, Imran Siddique, Miin Shen Yang

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

Outcome-Based Education (OBE) emphasizes measurable learning results, yet the evaluation of professional talent training in physical education often involves uncertain, incomplete, or even contradictory indicators. Traditional assessment models are limited in capturing these indeterminacies. To address this challenge, we propose a novel neutrosophic algebraic framework that integrates neutrosophic probability, measure, and algebraic structures with OBE evaluation. This study introduces a neutrosophic evaluation framework that captures both determinate and indeterminate aspects of brand competitiveness. A case study on physical education professional training demonstrates how the proposed model captures hidden uncertainty and provides a more balanced assessment than classical methods. The results …

Sustainable Assessing Cross-Border Renewable Energy Alliances Using Neutrosophic Numbers With Long-Term Energy Transition Planning, Kamal Alieyan, Amr A. Abd El-Mageed

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

This paper proposes a decision-making methodology for Sustainable assessing cross-border renewable energy alliances. We used two decision-making methods such as Entropy and MABAC methods. Entropy method is used to compute the criteria weights. The MABAC method is used to rank the alternatives. Two methods are used under the neutrosophic number to solve uncertainty in the decision making. Three stages of the proposed approach are conducted. In the first stage, we compute the criteria weights. In the second stage, we rank the alternatives. In the third stage, we conducted the sensitivity analysis to show the stability of the ranks. The results …

Neutrosophic Decision Making Methodology For Sustainable Diabetic Diet: Balancing Health And Environment, Rayan Hussein

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

Sustainable diabetic diet for balancing health and environment is a decision-making problem and contain uncertainty affect negatively in different decisions. So, this paper proposes a decision-making methodology with the neutrosophic set to solve uncertainty in this decision-making problem. We use the MOOSRA method to rank the alternatives. The criteria weights are computed using the average method. Case study with nine criteria and 16 alternatives are proposed for sustainable diabetic diet. The sensitivity analysis is conducted in this case study to show the stability of the ranks. Nine cases are proposed in this study. The results show the ranks of alternatives …

Evaluation Of Soil Quality Index For Sugar Beet Cultivation Under Neutrosophic Set Framework, Asiye Yilmaz Adkinson

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

Evaluation of soil quality index for sugar beet cultivation is a decision-making problem. So, we use the decision-making methods to solve this problem. We use the ARAS method is a decision-making method to rank the alternatives. The average method is used to compute the criteria weights. Evaluation this problem contains uncertainty information. So, the neutrosophic set is used to solve this uncertainty information. This study uses ten criteria and 15 alternatives. The sensitivity analysis is conducted to show the stability of the ranks. We change the criteria weights by ten cases. Then we apply the steps of the proposed approach …

Numerical Simulations Of The Overburden Stability In Underfilling Zones During Continuous Mining And Continuous Backfilling Of Coal Mines, Liu Lang, Luo Yixiao, Zhu Mengbo, He Jun, Qu Huisheng, Duan Huaijun, Wei Baoning, Liu Zhizhen

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective and Method Coals serve as a predominant energy source in China. However, coal mining has resulted in increasingly pronounced ecological issues such as ground subsidence and solid waste accumulation. Although the continuous mining and continuous backfilling (CMCB) technology allows for efficient resource recovery and ecological protection through backfilling with coal-based solid waste, the issue of insufficient roof-contact backfilling (termed underfilling) poses a serious threat to the overburden stability during mining. Given the unclear mechanisms behind the influence of coupled multiple factors of underfilling zones in current research, this study constructed three-dimensional numerical models using the 3DEC discrete element software …

Response Characteristics Of Vegetation Ecology And Land Use Changes Tocoal Mining In Semi-Arid Regions, Du Zhen, Zhang Maosheng, Yun Shaoqi, Sun Pingping, Feng Li

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective In semi-arid regions, intensive coal mining is prone to induce vegetation degradation and reshape the land use pattern. To identify the ecological impacts of coal mining and provide support for differential restoration, this study presents a quantitative comparison of changes in vegetation, soil moisture content, and land use types between mining-affected and non-mining areas.Methods Yulin City, Shaanxi Province was investigated in this study. Two parallel baseline frameworks were constructed: mining-affected and non-mining areas, which were compared under the sandy-fluvial terrace and loess hilly-gully landforms. The annual maximum normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) derived from Landsat imagery was used …

Water Immersion-Induced Damage Mechanisms And Enhancement Via Nano-Modification For Artificial Dam Specimens With Vertical Interfaces, Li Yijia, Hao Xianjie, Chen Yuguang, Pang Tian, Yang Huaixiang, Li Hang, Ji Jinyi, Li Xinyu

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective To accelerate ecological protection and high-quality development in the Yellow River basin, the concept of “conductivity, storage, and utilization” has been proposed to achieve the mine water storage and protection by transforming goafs into underground reservoirs and utilizing waterproof concrete dams. However, under the action of long-term water immersion and mining activity, the interfaces of composite concrete dam structures might undergo strength degradation, leading to hidden hazards. Methods By incorporating 0.5% and 1.0% nano-SiO₂, -Al₂O₃, and -TiO₂, this study prepared specimens with one vertical interface each that comprised double semi-cylinders through …

Building And Geological Interpretation Of A 3d Resistivity Model For The Reclamation Area Of The Jiaozhou Bay, Yu Peng, Zhao Mingyue, Yang Haiyan, Li Wenyu, Tian Jian, Yan Houzhen, Zhang Chao

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background With the advancement in smart city construction in China, the development and utilization of urban underground space have become a focal point. Geophysical methods, as a crucial technical means for underground geological structure exploration, face new challenges when applied to complex exploration environments in urban areas. Objectives and Methods To address issues in underground space exploration in the coastal area of Qingdao, this study investigated the reclamation area along the eastern coast of the Jiaozhou Bay. Using a detection technique that combined the transient electromagnetic method (TEM) using a conical source and high-density resistivity method, this study constructed a …

Regional Amphibious Aircraft Preliminary Design, Giovanna Ucles

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

This project presents the preliminary design of a regional amphibious aircraft, aimed at servicing a variety of missions in areas with limited infrastructure. Currently, aircraft options for operations in challenging environments are limited, with most designs relying on float-like structures. This new design reintroduces the flying boat concept, offering reduced drag and improved operational efficiency. Two configurations are proposed: a 19-passenger version with a range of at least 350 nautical miles, and a 10-passenger version with a range of at least 980 nautical miles, both achieving a minimum cruise speed of 150 knots. Hand calculations were employed to assess key …

14th International Conference On Business, Technology And Innovation 2025, University For Business And Technology - Ubt

UBT International Conference

Welcome to IC – UBT 2025

UBT Annual International Conference is the 14th international interdisciplinary peer reviewed conference which publishes works of the scientists as well as practitioners in the area where UBT is active in Education, Research and Development. The UBT aims to implement an integrated strategy to establish itself as an internationally competitive, research-intensive university, committed to the transfer of knowledge and the provision of a world-class education to the most talented students from all background. The main perspective of the conference is to connect the scientists and practitioners from different disciplines in the same place and make …

Macro-Meso Characteristics And Damage Mechanism Of Cement-Stabilized Macadam Under Freeze–Thaw Cycles And Scouring, Hongfu Liu, Sirui Zhou, Ao Kuang, Dongzhao Jin, Xinghai Peng, Songtao Lv

Michigan Tech Publications

This study quantifies the effects of freeze–thaw (FT) cycling and dynamic water scouring, and establishes links between mesoscale pore evolution and macroscale strength degradation in cement-stabilized macadam (CSM) bases. The objective is to provide quantitative indicators for durability design and non-destructive evaluation of CSM bases. First, laboratory tests were conducted to simulate alpine service conditions: CSM cylindrical specimens (Ø150 × 150 mm) with 4.5% cement content, cured for 28 days, were exposed to 0, 5, or 20 FT cycles (−18 °C for 16 h ↔ +25 °C for 8 h), followed by dynamic water scouring (0.5 MPa, 10 Hz) for …

Metabolic Insights Into Cyst Fluid Composition And The Role Of Taurine In Polycystic Kidney Disease, Vineetha Garimella

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is the most common genetic disorder affecting kidneys and the fourth leading cause of kidney failure. It occurs in two major forms, autosomal dominant PKD (ADPKD), and autosomal recessive PKD (ARPKD). ADPKD is typically adult-onset and caused by mutations in the PKD1 and PKD2 genes, and ARPKD generally manifests in utero and is caused by mutations in the PKHD1 gene. Despite the severity of the disease, only one FDA-approved drug, tolvaptan, is currently available for ADPKD and remains under clinical investigation for ARPKD. However, its use is limited by adverse side effects including polyuria, polydipsia, and …

Capacity Of Microbial Strains And Communities To Degrade Sewerage Fats, Oils, And Grease Clog Deposits, Allondra M. Woods, Catherine J. Pettinger, Catherine Harris, Tanya Soule, Garth Farley, Erica L.-W. Majumder

Biological Engineering Student Research

Fats, oils, and grease (FOG) deposits are hardened, sticky, insoluble solids that accumulate in sewage systems globally. These deposits contribute to pipe blockages and sanitary sewer overflows, releasing pathogens and pollutants into the environment, posing significant environmental and public health risks. Current removal methods are labor-intensive and costly, emphasizing the need for alternatives. While biological strategies offer a viable alternative, the microbial breakdown of FOG is poorly understood. In this study, we evaluated the potential of individual microbial strains and synthetic microbial communities to biodegrade wastewater-derived FOG deposit samples. These biological agents were applied to a range of FOG samples, …

Visible Image-Based Machine Learning For Identifying Abiotic Stress In Sugar Beet Crops, Seyed Reza Haddadi, Masoumeh Hashemi, Richard C. Peralta, Masoud Soltani

Plants, Soils and Climate Student Research

Previous researches have proved that the synchronized use of inexpensive RGB images, image processing, and machine learning (ML) can accurately identify crop stress. Four Machine Learning Image Modules (MLIMs) were developed to enable the rapid and cost-effective identification of sugar beet stresses caused by water and/or nitrogen deficiencies. RGB images representing stressed and non-stressed crops were used in the analysis. To improve robustness, data augmentation was applied, generating six variations on each image and expanding the dataset from 150 to 900 images for training and testing. Each MLIM was trained and tested using 54 combinations derived from nine canopy and …

Invisible Aircraft In U.S. Airspace: Regulatory Gaps And Mid-Air Collision Risk For Part 121 Operators, Philip Vandette

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Scheduled air carrier aircraft operate at large and small commercial airports across the U.S. National Airspace System. These turbine-powered aircraft fly at high speeds during departure and approach, yet many commercial airports are not covered by regulations requiring general aviation aircraft to transmit their positions, and some remain exempt from existing requirements. This regulatory gap forces airline pilots to rely on see-and-avoid methods that are impractical at turbine aircraft speeds. This study conducts a quantitative exploratory analysis of three data sources, using a PRISMA-style flow diagram, to examine the frequency of near mid-air collisions involving airline and general aviation aircraft …

A Rock Engineering System Model For Predicting Fragment Size Of Muck-Pile Using Geometric Parameters And Rock Mass Properties, Patrick Adeniyi Adesida, Victor Abioye Akinbinu, Babatunde Adebayo

Journal of Sustainable Mining

This study aimed to evaluate rock fragmentation risk indexes and develop a predictive model for the median size of fragment (X₅₀) using the Rock Engineering System (RES). The methodology includes the analysis of 15 significant parameters of rock properties and blast design, which are considered to be important to rock fragmentation from 30 selected blast sites. These parameters include rock type, hardness, blast-hole diameter, charge weight, blast pattern, and others that control fragmentation results. Statistical analysis was performed to validate the RES-based model developed from these parameters. The model exhibited a strong predictive capacity, evidenced by a …

Melamine-Based Polymer Nanofibers For Supercapacitors, Samar A. Salim, Hani Nasser Abdelhamid

Nanotechnology Research Centre

This investigation describes the synthesis, electrospinning, and characterization of melamine-glutaraldehyde (MAGA) polymer composites with polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) for supercapacitors applications. Electrospun fibers are generated by combining the MAGA polymer with PMMA at varying concentrations (2.5 %, 5 %, and 10 wt%). The synthesis of the polymer, its morphological attributes, and structural features are validated by characterization methods e.g., XRD, TEM, SEM, and FT-IR. In a three-electrode configuration, the electrochemical performances of the prepared electrodes are assessed using cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCDC), and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV). The results suggest that the 5 % MAGA-PMMA composite has a specific …

Fuel Adulteration Detection Using Open-Ended Coaxial Line And Circular Waveguide Techniques, Abdulrahman Alofi, Ahmed Shamseldin, Sharif Iqbal M. Sheikh, Hussein Attia

Faculty Publications

Fuel adulteration, the practice of blending lower-quality substances like kerosene with gasoline, poses significant challenges for ensuring fuel quality and safety. This study investigates two electromagnetic-based methods for detecting such adulteration: the open-ended coaxial line method and the circular waveguide method. The results reveal that the open-ended coaxial line technique is particularly effective in detecting kerosene contamination, identifying levels as low as 10% by measuring changes in the dielectric constant of the gasoline-kerosene mixture. Operating in the frequency range of 0.25–1.25 GHz, this method captures subtle changes in permittivity. In contrast, the circular waveguide method evaluates contamination by monitoring shifts …

Ai-Assisted Spectral Fingerprinting Of Mg-Doped Zno Tracer Phosphors: Tuning Photoluminescence Emission And Investigating Lifetime Via Sol-Gel Synthesis Parameters, Thomas M. Brandte

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Plastic sorting remains a major driver of recycling costs, and existing infrared (IR) optical identification systems cannot determine material prominence or quality, nor reliably identify dark polymers [1]. This work explores a PVA-stabilized sol–gel and thermal synthesis route for magnesium-doped zinc oxide (Mg:ZnO) as a tunable photoluminescent tracer phosphor.

Lattice-defect control forms the foundation of phosphorescent emission tuning, enabling unique spectral fingerprints to be generated based on synthesis parameters—Mg molar ratio (Mg%), PVA mass (g), and calcination temperature (°C). Photoluminescence (PL) spectra (400–850 nm) were analyzed using Gaussian peak fitting and principal component analysis (PCA), reducing hundreds of spectral features …

Design And Implementation Of A Cross-Platform, Modular Electronic-Nose System, Kaushika Rudraraju

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Electronic noses (e-noses) are a subject of great research. They are useful in multiple platforms and serve a great purpose in both studies and safety. This thesis presents a portable, modular e-nose platform that spans the full pipeline from sensing to visualization, with emphasis on scalability, repeatability, and straightforward integration. The hardware is organized as swappable sensor modules each hosting multiple commercial sensors and local signal-conditioning networked to a master microcontroller via structured communication protocols. High-resolution acquisition, time alignment, and efficient streaming to a host enable reliable logging and analysis. A controlled exposure chamber and a repeatable sampling protocol (baseline-exposure-purge …

A New Low-Rate Stable Hydrogel Cathode For Aqueous Zn-Ion Batteries, Roya Rajabi, Shichen Sun, Jamil A. Khan, Morgan Stefik, Kevin Huang

Faculty Publications

Aqueous Zn-ion batteries (ZIBs) are attractive candidates for large-scale energy storage owing to the abundance, low cost, and intrinsic safety of Zn metal. However, their practical application is hindered by poor cycle stability, especially at low current densities, due to cathode dissolution and limited electrochemically active sites (EAS). Herein, a hydrogel-based cathode comprising ammonium vanadate, carbon black, and a Zn-ion-conducting carboxymethyl chitosan–acrylamide hydrogel matrix doped with Zn(ClO4)2 is reported. This design establishes a continuous Zn-ion-conducting network, thereby maximizing EAS density throughout the electrode volume. The ZIB with the hydrogel cathode exhibits outstanding cycling stability, with 77% capacity retention after 2000 …

Graphene Screen-Printed Electrode For Wound-Related Biosensing, Chanyapat Sriviroch

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Monitoring wound healing is critical for improving patient outcomes, especially for chronic wounds, which often have complications like delayed healing and infections. Current methods for monitoring wound healing are invasive and costly. Also, these methods have a limited ability to provide real-time, continuous data. This study seeks to explore a graphene screen-printed electrode (SPE) electrochemical biosensor that is non-invasive and efficient to constantly monitor wound healing in real time. This research study focuses specifically on the electrochemical detection of the Human Neutrophil Elastase (HNE) and Secretory Leukocyte Protease Inhibitor (SLPI), which is one of the most abundant neutral proteinases in …

Al-Driven Interfacial Gap Prediction In Overlapped Al/Cu Laser Weld Joint For Battery Applications, Hyeonhee Kim, Sanghoon Kang, Cheolhee Kim, Yong Hoon Jang, Minjung Kang

Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The battery tab-to-busbar welding process forms the primary electrical path in battery packs and is directly linked to both performance and safety. Variations in jig alignment, material tolerance, and forming quality can cause small interfacial gaps that lead to weak welds. An artificial intelligence (AI)-driven method was proposed in this study for predicting interfacial gaps in aluminum-copper overlap joints by integrating deep learning with multi-sensor data. A charge-coupled device (CCD) camera, spectrometer, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) sensors were employed to develop and validate deep learning models under varying gap conditions. The results revealed that the variation in melt-pool dimensions, …

Utilizing Ensemble Learning Techniques To Enhance Corn Price Prediction: A Case Study On South Dakota, Youssef Harrath, Jihene Kaabi, Ethan Price

Research & Publications

Predicting crop prices is a complex challenge that farmers must navigate each year, but machine learning algorithms can provide valuable insights to support more informed decision making. In recent years, agricultural price prediction models have made significant advances, with architectures achieving varying degrees of success. However, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of these models remains an ongoing challenge. This research explores the use of stacking, an ensemble learning technique, to enhance the performance of base models in predicting corn prices in many regions of the state of South Dakota in the USA. We propose a hybrid architecture that combines Long …

Characterizing Surface Waviness Of Aluminum Alloy: An Approach To Minimize Post-Processing In Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (Waam) Production, Shammas Mahmood Shafi, Anis Fatima, Nicholas V. Hendrickson

Michigan Tech Publications

Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) offers high deposition rates and cost-effective production of large metal components but suffers from poor surface quality, particularly surface waviness, which increases post-processing requirements and limits industrial adoption. Since waviness directly impacts structural integrity, resource efficiency, and industrial applicability, understanding how process parameters govern this feature is critical for reducing post-processing requirement. This study systematically investigated the influence of voltage, travel speed, and wire feed speed on surface waviness in aluminum alloy walls fabricated by WAAM. A two-level factorial design with 16 experiments was conducted, and surface waviness was quantified using height gauge measurements relative …