Engineering Commons^™

The Significance Of Snow In Hydrometeorological Extremes, Sinan Rasiya Koya

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Snow is the largest natural reservoir on Earth. It accumulates water during the cold and dry months and releases it during warm and dry months. Societies, especially in the extratropical zone, heavily depend on snow as their freshwater resources, resulting in the massive economic value of snow. The recent changes in snowpacks and associated processes are concerning. We are susceptible to disruptions in snow processes, which can have disastrous implications. Yet the importance of snow is often not realized by a wider population. There are limited studies quantifying snow-related extremes, partly stemming from the limitations of existing methodologies.

This dissertation …

Mass Effects On Energy Transfer Paths In Nonlinear Vibrating Systems, Manal Mustafa

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This dissertation examines the role of mass in nonlinear systems, uncovering its role in enabling passive energy redistribution and robust vibration control in both idealized and real-world structures. Focusing on a strongly nonlinear two-degree-of-freedom system, it investigates how changes in mass ratio influence the dynamics of energy transfer, nonlinear normal modes (NNMs), and dissipation behavior.

A number of significant contributions are introduced in this work beginning with the introduction of the frequency-energy-peaks (FE-pks) plot, a novel tool that visualizes how energy flows through the system, revealing transient resonance orbits, internal resonance effects, and effectively capturing the different nonlinear phenomena with …

Study Of Ai Applications In Biomedical Data Acquisition, Communication, And Analysis: Cest Mri Acceleration And Ecg Transmissions, Adarsha Bhattarai

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This dissertation investigates the application of artificial intelligence in biomedical data acquisition, communication, and analysis to advance neurological research and to enable the early detection of cardiovascular conditions. Despite significant advances in imaging and physiological modalities, challenges persist. Imaging modalities, such as the chemical exchange saturation transfer magnetic resonance imaging (CEST MRI) technique are challenged by a prolonged data acquisition time and high operational costs. In addition, physiological modalities such as electrocardiogram (ECG) sensors face constraints in providing uninterrupted signal monitoring which is crucial for the timely detection of premature cardiac abnormalities. The primary goal of this work is to …

How Developers Use Type-System Related Programming Language Features, Samuel W. Flint

School of Computing: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Optional type annotations are a popular feature of programming languages that allow developers to omit explicit type information in code while, in some cases, retaining many of the benefits of static typing, such as in-code documentation, improved detection of type errors, or enforcement of code properties. However, how developers use and understand optional type annotations is not clear. The focus of this dissertation is to understand the use and comprehension of optional type annotations.

Optional type annotations are examined through four lenses: first, by examining the evolution of usage in a statically typed programming language (Kotlin, the default language for …

Stabilization Of Cr³⁺ Using Iron Rich Slag-Derived Phosphate Cement: An Integrated Solution For Heavy Metals And Hazardous Solid Wastes, Ting Huang, Hongyan Ma, Zhongqiu Luo, Xintao Zhou, Zhengqing He, Peiwen Lv, Xiunan Cai, Pingyan Wang

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A novel iron-based phosphate cement (IPC), derived from iron-rich smelting slag (ISS), was developed as a sustainable and efficient binder for the stabilization/solidification of trivalent chromium (Cr³⁺). The mechanical properties, hydration behavior, microstructure, leaching toxicity, chromium chemical forms, and environmental safety of chromium-stabilized iron phosphate cement (CIPC) were thoroughly evaluated. The results showed that, with a mass ratio of ISS to ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (ADP) of 2.0, and even with the addition of 20 % chromium nitrate nonahydrate (CN), the compressive strength of CIPC reached 4.2 MPa after curing for 28 d. Furthermore, chromium leaching was well below …

Localized Multivariate Statistical Assessment Of United States Construction Labor Shortages, Ahmed Shiha, Islam H. El-Adaway

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Craft labor shortage is a persistent challenge facing the construction industry across various markets. The historically low geographic mobility of construction labor exacerbates and localizes labor shortages. Several research efforts relied on subjective evaluations to quantify the existence of labor shortages on a national level. As such, there is a lack of empirical quantification of labor shortages at different geospatial levels. This paper fills this knowledge gap. To this end, the authors adopted a methodology that encompassed: (1) conducting a literature review to identify and collect national-level and subnational indicators that explain the changes in labor supply and demand; (2) …

Coupling Effect Of Abrasion And Erosion On Ultrahigh-Performance Seawater-Sea Sand Concrete, Dawei Ding, Wei Zhang, Lanqin Wang, Hongyan Ma, Biqin Dong, Song Han, Hongjian Xu, Dongshuai Hou

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Preparing ultrahigh-performance seawater-sea sand concrete (UHPSSC) to mitigate the scarcity of freshwater and river sand resources has generated considerable recent research interest. However, the deterioration mechanisms of UHPSSC under the effect of abrasion and erosion remain unstudied. In this paper, the underwater steel ball method was conducted to evaluate the impact of seawater, sea sand, steel fiber, and seawater abrasion on the abrasion resistance of UHPSSC. Then the stress erosion models of calcium-silicate-hydrate (C-S-H) were constructed to investigate the degradation mechanisms of UHPSSC under the effect of external stress and seawater erosion. The results show that the application of seawater …

Bike/Ped Data Collection And Model Calibration, Eirini Stavropoulou, Dionysios Tzamakos, Nikiforos Stamatiadis, Reginald Souleyrette, Teng Wang

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Motivated by an uptick in pedestrian and bicycle traffic, as well as the inclusion of pedestrian and bicyclist weights in the Strategic Highway Investment Formula For Tomorrow, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) has made significant investments in transportation facilities for nonmotorized users. Despite an intensified focus on the needs of nonmotorized users, KYTC has not yet established a formal program to track the number of people walking, biking, skateboarding, and using micromobility devices statewide. Based on a review of methods and technologies for counting nonmotorized users; analysis of counting programs established by local, state, and regional transportation agencies; and a …

Optimization And Simulation Models For Integrating Social Determinants In Assessing And Optimizing The Accessibility And Efficiency Of Community Pharmacy Networks., Md Morshedul Alam

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Community pharmacies are essential components of the healthcare system, serving not only as points of medication access but also as providers of health consultations and preventive care. However, disparities in pharmacy access persist due to a combination of geographic, socioeconomic, and behavioral factors. This dissertation develops a comprehensive methodological framework to evaluate and improve accessibility to community pharmacies, integrating optimization, choice modeling, and discrete event simulation. First, we develop an Optimal Community-Pharmacy Assignment (OCPA) model to quantify geographic accessibility across a regional population network. The model minimizes risk-adjusted travel distances between population centers and pharmacies, incorporating social determinants of health …

Trauma Network Design Considering Patient Safety And Cost., Lin Lin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Trauma, as the leading cause of mortality and morbidity for those under the age of 45 in the US, incurs trillions in annual economic costs. The time-sensitive nature of trauma treatment necessitates an effective, coordinated regional trauma system to optimize patient safety. However, the financial burden associated with trauma care, especially due to low-insured population, presents a significant challenge to the financial health of trauma centers (TCs). To address critical challenges in this domain and provide much-needed insights to trauma decision-makers regarding their trauma system cost, network design, and subsidy policy, this dissertation proposes 3 contributions. First, we introduce an …

Linearized Rigid-Body Dynamics Of Asymmetric Aircraft, Troy A. Abraham

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Most aircraft are symmetric about their mid-plane, which permits simplifying assumptions when modeling their aerodynamic and mass properties, as well as estimating their dynamic modes. This work considers methods for modeling asymmetric aircraft, including capturing the dynamic mode characteristics that result from their asymmetric properties. While the primary focus of this work is on the dynamic mode properties of these aircraft, a significant portion of the dissertation is dedicated to modeling their aerodynamic, mass, and trimmed flight characteristics. The linearized rigid-body aircraft equations of motion used for dynamic mode estimates are developed to include the effects of asymmetries in both …

Precision Agriculture Applications In Tart Cherries: Yield Mapping Technologies And Remote Sensing For Water Stress Estimation, Anderson Luiz Dos Santos Safre

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Tart cherry is an important specialty crop in the United States, particularly in Utah where the area dedicated to tart cherry cultivation is larger than any other fruit grown in the state. However, growers face increasing challenges due to rising land prices, limited water availability, and extreme weather events. These factors make it essential to adopt new technologies that improve efficiency and sustainability. Precision agriculture, which uses data-driven tools to manage crops more effectively, can help address these challenges. However, most tart cherry orchards still rely on traditional practices due to a lack of specialized technologies for this crop. This …

Operationalizing Camera-Based Hydrologic Monitoring With Ai And Edge Computing: Towards Real-Time Water Level And Discharge Measurements, Razin Bin Issa

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Monitoring river water levels and flows is critical for managing water supplies, protecting against floods, supporting ecosystems, and informing infrastructure planning. However, traditional methods rely on sensors installed directly in rivers, which can be expensive, difficult to maintain, and vulnerable to damage—particularly in remote or hazardous locations. In many regions, limited budgets and access challenges result in large gaps in river monitoring networks.

This research explores an innovative alternative: using fixed cameras and artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor rivers from a distance. The approach allows for non-contact observation of water levels and flows by analyzing images captured by cameras installed …

Building Services Engineering July/August 2025

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Mathematical Modeling Of Effects Of Tumor Location On Lung Function., Lamargaret Temukisa Johnson

Master of Engineering Theses

Lung cancer has the highest rates of incidence and mortality of all cancers. Most lung cancer tumors are Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). NSCLC patients with lesions in the upper lobes are found to have better prognosis compared to those with lesions in the middle and lower lobes. Previous studies have suggested various causes for this discrepancy at both the organ-scale and tissue-scale. To model NSCLC growth in different locations within the lung, an organ scale lung model and tissue scale tumor model were coupled through the tissue pressure, and oxygen and carbon dioxide partial pressures. The coupling was used …

Feasibility Study On Using Blue Clay As A Supplementary Cementitious Material (Scm)., Clark Lemon

Master of Engineering Theses

An effective strategy for reducing CO₂ emissions in the global cement industry is replacing a percentage of cement with supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs). As the availability of conventional SCMs such as fly ash and slag is decreasing, alternative SCMs such as calcined clays have been studied for their use as effective pozzolans. The present work investigates the feasibility of using a waste product from the quarrying industry known as blue clay as a viable SCM. It is composed of multiple clay minerals, predominantly muscovite. Raw and calcined at four temperatures (500, 650, 800, and 950°C), blue clay was analyzed …

Low-Level Memory Attacks On Edge Assisted Robotic Applications, William Arnold

Master of Engineering Theses

This thesis investigates how low-level memory faults can undermine edge-assisted robotic systems that rely on memory optimization. As robots are utilized in real world applications, the ability to operate safely and successfully in mission critical deployment becomes important. To help achieve these goals, developers are increasingly starting to place computation nodes at network edges to meet latency and reliability requirements. Edge nodes, however, are resource-constrained and resources conservation techniques such as Kernel Same-page Merging (KSM) are enabled to deduplicate identical pages across processes or virtual machines. This thesis shows that this optimization technique quietly widens the attack surface and can …

Revealing Building Operating Carbon Dynamics For Multiple Cities, Winston Yap, Abraham Noah Wu, Clayton Miller, Filip Biljecki

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

Achieving carbon neutrality is a critical yet elusive goal for many cities, hindered by limited understanding of the relationship between building emissions and their surroundings. To address this challenge, we present a generalizable open science framework that integrates building energy-consumption data, multi-modal geospatial inputs and graph deep learning to quantify building operating emissions and their links to urban form and socio-economic factors. Applying this approach to five cities with diverse climates and planning contexts—Melbourne, New York City (Manhattan), Seattle, Singapore and Washington DC—we demonstrate that our models explain 78.4% of the variation in building operating carbon emissions across cities, achieving …

International Comparison Of Weather And Emission Predictive Building Control, Christian Hepf, Ben Gottkehaskamp, Clayton Miller, Thomas Auer

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

Building operational energy alone accounts for 28% of global carbon emissions. A sustainable building operation promises enormous savings, especially under the increasing concern of climate change and the rising trends of the digitalization and electrification of buildings. Intelligent control strategies play a crucial role in building systems and electrical energy grids to reach the EU goal of carbon neutrality in 2050 and to manage the rising availability of regenerative energy. This study aims to prove that one can create energy and emission savings with simple weather and emission predictive control (WEPC). Furthermore, this should prove that the simplicity of this …

An Injectable, Dual-Curing Hydrogel For Controlled Bioactive Release In Regenerative Endodontics, Meisam Omidi, Daniela S. Masson-Meyers, Jeffrey M. Toth

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Regenerative endodontics seeks to restore the vascularized pulp–dentin complex following conventional root canal therapy, yet reliable neovascularization within the constrained root canal remains a key challenge. This study investigates the development of an injectable, dual-curing hydrogel based on methacrylated decellularized amniotic membrane (dAM-MA) and compares its performance to a conventional gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA). The dAM-MA platform was designed for biphasic release, incorporating both free vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) for an initial burst and matrix-metalloproteinase-cleavable VEGF conjugates for sustained delivery. The dAM-MA hydrogel achieved shape-fidelity via thermal gelation at 37 °C and possessed tunable stiffness (0.5–7.8 kPa) after visible-light irradiation. …

Predictors Of Permanent And Temporary Motor Deficits In Patients Undergoing Glioma Resection: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Brian J. Conway, Stephanie A. Armstrong, Nada Botros, Sergey Tarima, Max O. Krucoff

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Objective

To identify predictors of permanent and temporary motor deficits in patients undergoing glioma resection.

Methods

A literature search accessed the databases Ovid Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature/EBSCO, PsychInfo, Cochrane, and Wiley for studies reporting motor outcomes following surgical resection of glioma. Outcomes were stratified by patient/tumor characteristics, preoperative condition, and intraoperative factors for both permanent and temporary motor deficits. Generalized estimating equations were used to generate odds ratios.

Results

A total of 1332 titles and abstracts were reviewed resulting in the evaluation of 261 full-text articles. Data were extracted from 67 …

Anisotropic Object-Based Shifts Of Attention Arise From Unequal Influences Of Visual Field Meridians On Neural Attention Gradients, David H. Hughes, Adam J. Barnas, Adam S. Greenberg

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Object-based attention prioritizes the processing of information appearing within a selected object. We previously showed an object-based shift direction anisotropy (SDA) whereby horizontal shifts are more efficient than vertical shifts (Barnas AJ, Greenberg AS. Atten Percept Psychophys 78: 1985–1997, 2016; Barnas AJ, Greenberg AS. Vis Cogn 27: 768–791, 2019), an effect modulated by the visual field meridians (Barnas AJ, Greenberg AS. Q J Exp Psychol (Hove) 77: 2516–2532, 2024). Our present aim was to understand how the functional brain mechanisms of attention give rise to the SDA. We hypothesized that the SDA arises from attentional resources being partitioned differently by …

Shape Memory Behavior In Medium To High Entropy Shape Memory Alloys: Design, Prediction, And Experimental Analysis, Hatim Raji

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation provides a data-driven system integrating synthetic data generation and machine learning (ML) techniques to create multicomponent SMA compositions with specific transformation temperatures (TTs). Models were trained to represent the nonlinear dependencies influencing martensitic transformation behavior by using elemental, thermodynamic, and process-related aspects. The capacity of the ML models on medium entropy NiTiHfPd and high entropy NiTiHfZrCu systems accuracy was confirmed by experimental validation showing TTs closely matched with model outputs.

Growth And Characterization Of Thin Film Gase On Si(111) And Sio2/Si(001) Substrates By Molecular Beam Epitaxy, Christopher John Hocevar

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Gallium selenide (GaSe) is a thin-film semiconducting material with promising optoelectronic properties, including a tunable bandgap, high photosensitivity, and atomic-layer scalability. These characteristics make it suitable for devices such as photodiodes, FETs, MOSFETs, Hall effect sensors, and p–n diodes. In this study, GaSe thin films were grown on SiO2 and Si(111)-7×7 substrates using molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) to compare growth behavior across different substrates. The films were characterized using Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, and reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED). RHEED confirmed the 7×7 reconstruction of the Si(111) surface and the amorphous nature …

Synthesis, Structural Characterization And Optical Studies Of Silver-Indium-(Zinc)-Chalcogenide Fluorescent Quantum Dots, Sujal Acharya

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Developing a non-toxic, high-performance fluorescent nanomaterial is crucial for overcoming the environmental and health restrictions of current cadmium, and lead based quantum dots (QDs), which limit the application of quantum dots in optoelectronics and bioimaging. In this thesis, we synthesized environmentally friendly AgInS2 QDs by a colloidal method, systematically altering the In/Ag precursor ratio from 2 to 6 to study the impact on their optical and photophysical properties. Our goals were to find the optimal stoichiometry for maximum quantum efficiency and stability. We also investigated further improving optical and photophysical properties through shelling with ZnS. The emission spectra appeared broad, …

Polymer-Enhanced Nanopore Sensing, Eugene Gyasi Agyemang

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The resistive pulse technique characterizes single analytes by detecting fluctuations in the ion current as they pass through a narrow orifice connecting two electrolyte-filled chambers, each containing a single electrode. The amplitude, shape, frequency, and duration of these fluctuations primarily provide information about the analyte’s size, shape, concentration, and net surface charge, respectively. One configuration for resistive pulse measurements is of an electrolyte-filled nanopipette immersed in a bath, where the nanopipette tip acts as the nanoscale orifice. It was previously shown that incorporating the large quantities polymer polyethylene glycol (PEG 8K, 50% w/v) into the external electrolyte bath dramatically enhanced …

Advanced Analytical Biosensing For Cancer Detection And Neural Diagnostics Using Tapered Optical Fiber (Tof), Protonic, And High Throughput Microplate –Based Technologie, Bayan Hassan Alharbi

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the development and application of advanced biosensing technologies to enhance early disease detection, neurological diagnostics, and bioactive compound evaluation. The research spans four key areas. First, it introduces tapered optical fiber (TOF)-based plasmonic biosensors for the non-invasive detection of prostate cancer, demonstrating high sensitivity and specificity compared to conventional diagnostic methods.

Second, it explores the use of fluorescent biosensors to test the Transmembrane Electrostatically Localized Proton (TELP) theory, shedding light on the role of localized protons in neuronal signaling and energy transfer. Third, the work presents a high-throughput, microplate-based biosensing platform for analyzing mitochondrial function under nanosecond …

Seismic Performance Assessment Of Fatigue-Damaged Cantilever Overhead Sign Structures Using Near-Field Ground Motions, Yeasin Ahmed

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Cantilever overhead sign support (COSS) structures are one of the most common features of transportation systems, providing navigational information to motorists. The slender geometry, lightweight design, and welded connection at the base make COSS structure susceptible to fatigue cracking under long term cyclic loading from wind-induced galloping, truck-induced gust pressure and so on. COSS structures are traditionally designed considering nominal wind conditions. However, rising incidents of seismic activity in regions like Dallas-Fort Worth related to industrial injection wells in the Permian Basin have created a serious concern regarding the seismic performance of potentially fatigued-damaged COSS structure. The interaction between already …

Mechanical Characterization Of M Plane (10-10) And C Plane (0001) Gallium Nitride Semiconductors Via Spherical Nanoindentation, Daniela Alejandra Duarte

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Gallium nitride's (GaN) mechanical characterization is essential for evaluating its performance and long-term dependability, especially when subjected to mechanical stress and irradiation. The design and optimization of GaN-based devices, which are extensively employed in high-power electronics and optoelectronics, depend on an understanding of these characteristics. Mechanical characterization allows for the evaluation of key characteristics, including stress distributions, representing the spatial variation of internal stresses under applied loading, and pop-in events, which correspond to abrupt displacements associated with the onset of dislocation nucleation and slip. These features are essential for understanding the anisotropic (direction-dependent) response of the material to external forces …

Cellular And Noncellular Influences On Lipid Nanoparticle Tropism In The Liver, Mario Yomir Mata Corral

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is currently ranked as the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, causing more than 700,000 deaths a year. The liver is important in blood filtration and metabolism, and for this reason is a prime target for drug delivery, with lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) showing promise as carriers due to their natural hepatic tropism. However, LNP efficacy is decreased in HCC due to the limited understanding of liver physiology in cancerous environments. This project proposes to address this gap by using a tissue-clearing technique known as CLARITY along with a chemically tagged LNP for comprehensive visualization of LNPs …