Digital Commons Network^™

Performance Analysis Of Modern Communication System In Realistic Environment, Jamil Hussain

Digitized Theses

Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) technique is one of the effective techniques to combat against fading in wireless communication system. In this thesis, based upon that, performance is evaluated for MIMO system while considering some prac­ tical scenario which was ignored for simplicity in previous works. Apart from that it is well known now a days that co-operative communication has created a new class of communication technique in wireless communication arena. It is also investigated in this thesis work how the system performs while implementing co-operative commu­nication system in an industrial application where the environment is much different from the …

Optimizing Voxel Scale Graph Theoretical Analysis Of Fmri-Derived Resting State Functional Connectivity, Mark Joseph Daley

Digitized Theses

The analysis of neural functional connectivity from resting-state MRI data using tech­ niques derived form graph theoretical foundations has recently attracted a significant amount of research interest. The bulk of such work done to date focuses on relatively small graphs, derived by partitioning the brain into regions of interest.

In this thesis we develop tools leveraging high-performance computing and meth­ ods for analyzing “whole brain” graphs in which we consider each grey-matter voxel in the brain to be an individual graph vertex. Based on 26 resting-state fMRI datasets we then empirically determine optimal sets of graph metrics for large graphs …

Psychological And School Adjustment Of Migrant Children In Beijing: The Interactive Contributions Of Child Aggression And Parenting Styles, Siman Zhao

Digitized Theses

This study examined both the concurrent and longitudinal relations of child aggression and parenting styles to psychological and school adjustment in migrant children in China. Of particular interest was the mitigating effect of good parenting on the relation between aggression and maladaptation. The sample consisted of 544 migrant children at Time 1and 200 migrant children at Time 2. Children’s aggression was assessed by peer nominations. Data on children’s academic achievement and psychological adjustment were collected from self reports, peer reports and school records. Parenting styles were measured through mother’s self-reports. Hierarchical regression models revealed that concurrently, aggressive children with mothers …

Porous Nanomaterials As Controlled Drug Delivery Systems, Jeffrey Kenneth Gordon

Digitized Theses

MIL-53(Fe) was synthesized by conventional electric (CE) heating, and by ultrasound (UTS) and microwave (MW) irradiation to develop rapid and energy efficient synthesis techniques. MW and UTS conditions rapidly produced small and highly crystalline materials in 10 and 7 minutes, respectively. The energy consumption of UTS and MW irradiation were less than CE heating, confirming that these two technologies are quicker, more efficient and greener alternatives to conventional synthesis methods. The use of MIL-53(Fe), MIL-101, and SBA-15 as matrices for the adsorption and in vitro drug delivery of acetaminophen, progesterone, and stavudine was studied. An initial burst release from both …

Quantifying Inhibitory Effects Of Lignocellulosic Feedstocks On Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Vivek Nagendra

Digitized Theses

This thesis studied the toxic effects of model inhibitory compounds present in lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysate on the maximum specific growth rate (pmax), biomass yield co-efficient (Yx/s) and total growth time (Tt) on S.cerevisiae DSM 1334. These toxic compounds are formed or released during pre-treatment of lignocellulosic biomass, which is a renewable source of energy for biofuel production. The main and interaction effects of furfural, furfuryl alcohol, ferulic acid and p-coumaric acid were quantified using a fractional factorial design in combination with a high-throughput assay based on automated online optical density measurements. Furfural had the largest effect on all the three …

Pressure Driven Wall Jet Flow Near Channel Exit At Moderate Reynolds Number, Md. Abul Kalam Azad

Digitized Theses

The wall jet flow driven by a pressure gradient near channel exit at Reynolds Number ranging from the order of 10 to 100, emerging from a two-dimensional channel is examined theoretically in this study. Poiseuille flow conditions are assumed to prevail far upstream from the exit. The problem is solved using the method of matched asymptotic expansions. The small parameter involved in the expansions is the inverse Reynolds number. The flow and pressure fields are obtained as composite expansions by matching the flow in the boundary-layer region near the free surface, flow in the outer layer region near the stationary …

Numerical Investigation Of The Undrained Pullout Capacity Of Anchors Embedded In Clay, Ahmed M. Fahmy

Digitized Theses

Two dimensional plane strain finite element analysis has been conducted to simulate the pullout behavior of vertical anchors of different shapes when embedded in clay. These shapes include plate anchors, anchors with irregular base shapes, and plate anchors with rectangular openings. For the first two types, the effects on the pullout behavior of embedment depth, overburden pressure, soil-anchor interface strength, anchor thickness, base shape and size, rate of clay strength increase, anchor and load inclination, point of load application and soil disturbance due to anchor installation were all studied. The anchor pullout capacity is shown to be strongly affected by …

Profiling Arabidopsisarogenate Dehydratases: Dimerization And Subcellular Localization Patterns, Danielle Marie Styranko

Digitized Theses

In Arabidopsis, a family of six arogenate dehydratases (ADTs) has been identified which catalyze the terminal step of phenylalanine biosynthesis. ADTs share considerable sequence similarity to bacterial prephenate dehydratases, which form homodimers. The protein-protein interaction profiles of Arabidopsis ADTs were characterized using Yeast-2-Hybrid and Bi-molecular Fluorescence Complementation approaches. Results show that ADT1, but not ADT2, is able to form homo- and heterodimers with all other ADTs in yeast. In contrast, all six ADTs form all possible homo- and heterodimer combinations in ptanta, where they display two different subcellular localization patterns. Most ADT dimers localize to the chloroplast in a stromule-like …

Recording And Evaluating Industry Black Box Coverage Measures, Tatiana Tokareva

Digitized Theses

Software testing is an indispensable part of software development process. The main goal of a test engineer is to choose a subset of test cases which reveal most of the faults in a program. Coverage measure could be used to evaluate how good the selected subset of test cases is. Test case coverage for a program was traditionally calculated from the white box (internal structure) perspective. However, test cases are usually constructed to test particular functionality of a program, therefore having a technique to calculate coverage from the functionality (black box) perspective will be beneficial for a test engineer. In …

Reflection Mode 2-Dimensional Photonic Crystal Slab Waveguide Based Micro-Pressure Sensor, Yi Wang

Digitized Theses

Photonic crystals (PhCs) have recently been the focus for the developing micro- and nano-optical sensors, due to its capability to control and manipulate light on planar devices. This paper presents a novel design of micro-optical pressure sensor based on 2- dimensional PhC slab suspended on Si substrate. A line defect was introduced to the PhC slab to guide and reflect light with frequency in the photonic bandgap in the plane of the slab. The structure, with certain surface treatment, can be used in micro-scale pressure catheters in heart ablation surgeries and other biomedical applications. The working principle of the device …

Resistance Factors For Eccentrically Braced Steel Frames Proportioned Using Capacity Design, Jaya Prakash Vemuri

Digitized Theses

Components proportioned using Capacity-Based Design have resistances that exceed the forces that can be generated by adjacent elements, particularly ductile elements in seismic-load- resisting systems. This thesis investigates the reliability indices for compression braces in Eccentrically Braced Frames (EBF) proportioned using Capacity-Based Design. The primary research objectives are: (1) to develop statistical models for link overstrength due to strain hardening and probable yield strengths; (2) to examine, using these models, the reliability indices obtained using the current Capacity-Based Design provisions for EBFs in CSA SI6-09 (CSA, 2009); and (3) to calibrate the resistance factor for a proposed new overstrength model …

Studies On Biomedical Engineering Applications Of Fine Powder Technology, Wen Shi

Digitized Theses

Powder coating is a coating process that applies the coating materials to a target substrate in dry powder form. As an alternative coating technique to liquid coating technique, powder coating has many advantages, such as environmental friendly, low cost, high efficiency in materials usage. However, problems such as unable to handle ultrafine cohesive powders limit the application of powder coating technology in industry. With a new invention that can effectively fluidize ultrafine powders by enhancing their flowability, a novel electrostatic ultrafine powder coating technique has been developed by our group. Based on this novel technique, many functionalized powder coatings have …

Reporting Quality Of Oncology Rcts & Compliance With Consort, Ian H. Arra

Digitized Theses

Introduction: The Consolidated Standards for Reporting Trials (CONSORT) checklist has been formulated to improve the reporting of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The purpose of this investigation is to determine predictors of CONSORT checklist compliance in the oncology literature over the past two decades.

Methods:

Eight-hundred and fifty parallel two-arm RCTs assessing oncological interventions in adult breast, prostate, colorectal, and lung cancer between 1992-2010 were identified by a systematic search of the medical literature. Exclusion criteria included investigations reporting interim/secondary/long-term update analyses, pilot or phase 2 studies, and studies not employing a parallel design. After full article review, 408 articles were …

Rac1 And Rhoa-Rock Regulation Of Osteoblast Differentiation On Rough And Smooth Titanium Surfaces, Paul David Henry Prowse

Digitized Theses

Modulation of surface topography is an effective way to control cellular response and enhance osseointegration of implants; however it is unclear how surface topography influences osteoblasts at the molecular level. One of the most frequently observed changes in cellular behaviour is the organization of the cytoskeleton and actin polymerization which is regulated by the Rho-family of GTPases. We hypothesized that these GTPases (specifically Racl and RhoA), play a role in osteoblast response to surface topography and affect differentiation and mineralization. Osteoconductive rough topographies and non- osteoconductive smooth topographies were used as models to elucidate the roles of Racl and RhoA. …

Simultaneous Conditioning Of Anticpatory Nausea And Taste Avoidance And The Influence Of Immune System Stimulation, Caylen Joan Cloutier

Digitized Theses

Immune system stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) elicits a specific set of physiological and behavioral responses termed “sickness behavior”. LPS treatment has been found to impair learning and memory in a variety of learning paradigms, including those for anticipatory nausea and conditioned taste avoidance. Traditional conditioning paradigms typically employ a single conditioned stimulus (CS) and unconditioned stimulus (US). This thesis used an intravascular (intraperitoneal) saccharin “taste” cue, together with the toxin LiCl, given immediately prior to anticipatory nausea context conditioning, in order to simultaneously condition responses to both internal (taste) and external (context) conditioning stimuli. The effects of LPS on the …

Regulation Of Pancreatic Pdx1 And Downstream Target Genes After Exposure To Protein Restriction During Different Windows Of Pancreatic Development, Awatif Abuzgaia

Digitized Theses

Protein restriction (low protein, LP) during fetal and neonatal life has been shown in our laboratory to alter the normal development of the pancreas, resulting in predisposition to glucose intolerance and striking gender differences in key insulin signaling molecules. The objectives of this study were to examine the overall expression of Pdxl and its downstream target genes in young and adult rats (d21and d l 30) and to investigate the intrinsic molecular mechanisms that may be involved in the differentiation and function of P-cells when an insult such as dietary protein content is changed during different periods of early development. …

Sirt1 Signalling Promotes Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Tnf-A Expression In Cardiomyocytes, Amina Iftekhar

Digitized Theses

Excessive production of TNF-a cytokine by cardiomyocytes in response to lipopolysaccharides (LPS) contributes to myocardial depression during sepsis. However, the exact mechanism by which TNF-a is produced in cardiomyocytes is partly understood. This study investigated the role of Sirtuinl (SIRT1) in LPS-induced TNF-a expression in cardiomyocytes.

LPS increased SIRT1 activity in cultured mice cardiomyocytes. Knockdown of SIRT1 gene reduced TNF-a synthesis in LPS treated cells. Inhibition of SIRT1 reduced TNF-a mRNA and protein, whereas activation of SIRT1 enhanced TNF-a mRNA and protein in LPS stimulated cells. SIRT1 signalling was also associated with activation of NF-kB transcription factor. Further, in vivo …

The Distribution And Potential Benefits Of Rhizosphere- Associated Bacteria In Corn (Zea Mays L.), Laura Catherine Quigley

Digitized Theses

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are known for their potential use as biofertilizers, which can help to reduce the need and cost for synthetic fertilizers. The distribution and quantification of three PGPR in association with corn (Zea mays L.) was determined by the detection of chaperoninQO genes through real-time quantitative PCR. Sphingobacterium canadense, Azospirillum zeae, and Gluconacetobacter azotocaptans were detected at concentrations approaching 106 CFU/g in root tissues and rhizosphere soils in corn-growing regions of Ontario and Québec. Three additional bacterial isolates were recovered from corn rhizosphere soil and roots then identified via colony PCR. Greenhouse trials of all six bacteria …

Statistical Analysis Of Aftershocks Triggered By Supershear Ruptures, Pathikrit Bhattacharya

Digitized Theses

The occurrence of supershear ruptures implies unique pre- and post-seismic stress con­ ditions on and around the host fault segment leading to off-fault aftershocks. This increases seismic hazard even at very large distances away from the main fault. This thesis tries to ascertain whether this leads to anomalous statistical behaviour of the aftershock sequences produced by these events. The aftershock sequences of the known supershear events are studied and, for each sequence, the statistical features of the aftershocks in the supershear zone are compared with those of the rest of the aftershocks. It is observed that the ¿»-value is always …

Sublethal Freezing Effects On Nitrogen Uptake And Growth In Poa Pratensis, Andrey Malyshev

Digitized Theses

In northern temperate regions, climate warming is predicted to increase the

frequency of soil freeze-thaw cycles (FTC) and reduce plant cold acclimation in late fall and early spring. To test if FTC inhibit plant nitrogen (N) uptake, I exposed Poa

pratensis tillers to FTC in late fall, mid winter, and early spring, then used a 15N tracer to assess N uptake from a hydroponic solution. To assess the direct effects of FTC on plant growth, I exposed P. pratensis tillers to FTC on the same dates, then measured plant biomass the following summer. Freezing of short duration at -10 °C …

Study Of Alfalfa Somatic Embryos For Recombinant Protein Production, Guohua Fu

Digitized Theses

Transgenic plants have been explored as a potentially inexpensive expression system for recombinant protein production. However, improvement in protein yield is still the most challenging problem limiting the commercial utilization of plant expression systems. In this study, alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) somatic embryo was evaluated as a tissue for increased recombinant protein expression. Three heterologous genes: fi- glucuronidase (GUS), cholera toxin B subunit (CTB), and human interleukin 13 (hIL-13) were independently introduced into alfalfa via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Induced alfalfa somatic embryos store approximately two-fold more ectopically expressed proteins (as a percentage of total soluble protein) than vegetative organs such as …

Simulation Of Hydrogen Production Through Thermo­ Chemical Water Splitting Process Using Concentrated Solar Energy, Furqan Ahmad Khan

Digitized Theses

The study is aimed to numerically investigate the production of hydrogen through ZnO/Zn thermochemical water splitting cycle. It is a two step process, which reduces zinc oxide in the first step to produce hydrogen in the second step. Commercial CFD software FLUENT 6.B is utilized to numerically model both steps. The parametric study of first step showed considerable effect of zinc oxide particle diameter, and flow rates of argon and zinc oxide on the fractional conversion of zinc oxide. Six different receiver configurations were assessed to find the most feasible configuration. The optimum receiver design allowed zinc oxide conversion of …

Spinophilin Regulation Of Group I Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor Activity, Sandra Fahim

Digitized Theses

Group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRl and mGluR5) are activated by glutamate, the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. mGluRl/5 stimulation causes the release of calcium from intracellular stores thereby activating calcium- regulated downstream effector enzymes that produce long-lasting changes in synaptic activity that are implicated in memory, learning, and neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, understanding the precise molecular mechanisms underlying mGluRl/5 desensitization is important in understanding the physiological response caused by these receptors. Recently, we have discovered a novel Group I mGluR-interacting protein, spinophilin. Spinophilin is a multifunctional protein that regulates the endocytosis of some GPCRs through its interaction with the …

Strength And Elasticity Study Of Carbon Dioxide (Co2) Under High Pressure, Linda Kaci

Digitized Theses

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is one of the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and possibly it can be found the Earth in a solid state form. The strength and elasticity study of carbon dioxide (CO2) under high pressures is important to understand the rheological behavior of CO2 that may be relevant to the CO2 storage issue within the Earth and also explaining the evolution of terrestrial planets. Quantitative measurements of the strength of C02were achieved in a diamond anvil cell using angle dispersive x-ray diffraction (AXDX). The strength of CChis determined using three different methods. At first the shear stress is …

The Effect Of Aerobic And Resistance Exercise On Insulin Sensitivity And Glycemic Control In Type 1 Diabetic Rats, Katherine Hall

Digitized Theses

Type 1 Diabetic Mellitus (T1DM) patients can develop insulin insensitivity partially due to the daily requirement of exogenous insulin. Regular exercise has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity (IS) partially though the increased expression of skeletal muscle GLUT4 and insulin receptor (IR) content. Although exercise is beneficial in increasing IS, exercise presents a problem in the T1DM population, as it leads to uncontrolled fluctuations in blood glucose (BG) concentrations. This study examined the effect of aerobic and resistance training exercises on IS and fluctuations in BG concentrations in T1DM rats. Fifty animals were randomly divided into 5 groups; control (C), …

Sulfur Reduction Using Fcc Additives In Aromatic Gasoline Environment, Yira Yorsirys Aponte Torrealba

Digitized Theses

Venezuelan refineries are going to be dealing in the near future with VGOs (vacuum gas oil) feedstocks having increased amounts of aromatics. There will also be tighter sulfur content specifications in gasoline. This MESc study considers the application of an additive (HIPZ- D) together with a Y zeolite (commercial catalyst) in Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) riser units. The HIPZ-D additive is a technology of PDVSA Intevep (oil research institute of Venezuela). The goal is to establish desirable conditions for using HIPZ-D additive as an effective agent for gasoline sulfur reduction. With this end, an HIPZ-D additive is contacted with blends …

The Hos2p Histone De-Acetylase Promotes The Successful Completion Of Cytokinesis In Schizosaccharomyces Pombe., Charnpal Grewal

Digitized Theses

A cell cycle checkpoint at the G2/M boundary of fission yeast cells ensures that the G2/M transition of daughter cells only occurs after successful cytokinesis in the mother cell. The Lst complex is necessary for proper functioning of this checkpoint and is orthologous to a human histone de-aceylase complex (HDAC3/NCOR2-SMRT), with a known role in cytokinesis. However, the fission yeast orthologue of the human HDAC3 histone de-acetylase, Hos2p, was never previously characterized with respect to the Lst complex. Through a combination of phenotypic analyses on hos2 mutants, live-cell imaging of Hos2p localization, live-cell imaging of cytokinesis dynamics as they relate …

The Detection Of Hepatitis C Viral Ns3-4a Protease And Prostate Specific Antigen Using Electrochemical Techniques, Modupeola A. Sowole

Digitized Theses

This work attempts to detect hepatitis C viral (Hep CV) NS3-4A protease and prostate specific antigen (PSA) proteins using electrochemical methods. The sensing probes used in detecting these biological markers are their inhibitory peptides. The inhibitory peptide for the hepatitis C viral NS3-4A protease is Asp-Glu-Ile-Val-Pro-Nva with an IC50of 7.5 pM and the inhibitory peptide for prostate specific antigen is the peptide Ser-Lys-Ser- Lys-Ser-Lys-Ser-Cys-Val-Phe-Ala-His-Asn-Tyr-Asp-Tyr-Leu-Val-Cys with a K, of 0.8 pM.

The steps involved in the fabrication of the sensor surface include the formation of a self assembled monolayer (SAM) using a thioctic acid modified ferrocene compound. The use of a …

Syntheses And Hydrogen Bonding Studies Of New Ferrocene Diamine Peptide Conjugates, Yunying Shen

Digitized Theses

Ferrocene peptide conjugate foldamers have been extensively studied as models of protein secondary structures. Particularly, disubstituted ferrocene derivatives such as ferrocene dicarboxylic acid (4), ferrocene diamine (5) and 1-aminoferrocene-l’-carboxylic acid (6) are important in the design ofpeptide mimics. The inter-ring spacing between two cyclopentadienyl (Cp) rings in ferrocene is appropriate for forming hydrogen bonding between podant peptide chains attached to the two Cp rings, which is of great importance for the formation of stable supramolecular structures. These bioconjugates may enhance our understanding of peptide and protein folding, which may lead to the design o f new bioactive molecules. Comparing the …

The Characterization Of Ground Ice Deposits Using Ground-Penetrating Radar Techniques, Laura I. Thomson

Digitized Theses

This study explores the capabilities of ground-penetrating radar (GPR) in the task of characterizing ground ice and the role this instrument can play in understanding the geomorphology of the cryosphere. The first article investigates the dielectric permittivity of ground ice using on-ice common-midpoint (CMP) GPR surveys conducted over massive stratified segregation ice, non-stratified segregation ice, and polygon ice wedges located on Ellesmere and Devon Islands, Nunavut. In comparison with ice cores, it was found that the dielectric permittivity of ground ice is most influenced by the volumetric ice content. This

relationship appears to follow a modified complex refractive index (CRIM) …