Digital Commons Network^™

Y-Chromosome Polymorphism In United Arab Emirates, Safa Yaqoub Yousif Alkhayyat Al Hammadi

Theses

Human Y chromosome is a specific male marker and it consists of the largest non-recombining segment in human genome that is the hallmark of Y chromosome population-based studies.This stud establishes an extensive Y poly-morph ism profile of the U A E Population and to our knowledge, this is the largest study carried out in the UAE.

DNA samples were for 1 7 polymorphic STR from 345 unrelated Emirate male. In UAE population, the analysis of the allele frequency clearly shows that each u ha a predominant allele. It is also apparent that alleles for most loci are clustered over a …

Saudi L2 Learners' Knowledge And Perceptions Of Academic English Slang, Anood Sarai Albalawi

Theses

This study investigated the extent to which Saudi students were interested in American academic slang terms and expressions. The goal of this study was to examine their knowledge and perceptions of academic slang as L2 learners living in the US. In this study, both qualitative and quantitative methodologies were employed. The data were retrieved via an online survey. A written questionnaire was completed by 50 undergraduate SIUC students from Saudi Arabia. The vocabulary task results showed that Saudi L2 learners do not have sufficient knowledge of American academic slang. Saudi students, especially females, revealed a positive attitude towards learning American …

Processing Trauma: Reading Art In 9/11 Novels, Karen Kruse Heinemann

Theses

While the negative effects of the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001 are still permeating throughout the United States, a few novelists have taken on the extreme task of writing about this historic event. Richard Gray describes the failure of language after the attack took place, yet novelists wanted to write about this tragedy anyway. Reading trauma in 9/11 is inevitable as it is important. In looking at three novels that deal with the events during and the aftermath of 9/11, I hope to consider the way art is used in these texts. In doing so, my thesis will look …

Regulation Of Glucose Metabolism By Alox8, Rabindra Karki

Theses

Type II diabetes is one of the leading cause of morbidity in the U.S. and other parts of the world. Insulin resistance which precedes Type II diabetes is a complex state of the body where the body fails to respond to insulin. Its complexity lies in its multifactorial origin that is to say various environmental and polygenic components come into play. Here we try to dissect one of these components - `Alox8' in transgenic mice and try to see if it affects blood glucose homeostasis. Comparison of glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity among sixteen mice comprising of six wild type, …

Pollution, Purification, And The Scapegoat: Religion And Violence In The Trial Of Socrates, Philip Brewer

Theses

Despite its wide and unfortunate neglect (if it is even noticed at all), the fact that the date of Socrates' trial coincided with Athens's annual sacrificial festival (Thargelia) is of paramount significance for an interpretation not only of Plato's Apology but also of the historical trial itself. The argument presented here is that Socrates' prosecution and execution was, quite so, an expression of a sacrificial logic, which holds, mistakenly, that a single individual can be held responsible for a social crisis. The sacrificial narrative, then--a narrative implicitly put into play by that ominous trial date--would have located Socrates as the …

The Undertow, Rachel Foley

Theses

The Undertow is the story of Jessa, an ambitious girl with a wry sense of humor, who is living with her single mother. She is a 17-year-old high school swimmer with the potential for a career as a professional swimmer. As the film opens Jessa discovers that she is pregnant. As a young woman and a star athlete, this is one of the worst personal circumstances that Jessa can find herself in. She quickly learns that she has been accepted to a great school on a swimming scholarship, and the decision about whether to keep the baby weighs heavily upon …

Managing End-Of-Life Lithium-Ion Batteries: An Environmental And Economic Assessment, Xue Wang

Theses

The growing market for lithium-ion batteries raises concerns about sustainable management of those batteries at end of life. Launching relevant policies requires a comprehensive understanding of potential economic values as well as environmental performance of end-of-life lithium-ion batteries. However, both recyclers and policymakers are facing a number of unanswered questions, including 1) how battery technology trajectory would affect the incentives for recycling? 2) what strategies are available to improve material recovery efficiency? and 3) what is the potential for nanoparticle release during end-of-life processing, particularly for next-generation lithium-ion batteries who contain nano-scale cathode materials? This dissertation aims to fill these …

A Multivariate Analysis Of The Human Factors And Preferences Towards Digital Publishing Platforms For The Ipad, Anton Ninkov

Theses

Tablet computers have been widely adopted in America today, with 34% of American adults ages 18+ owning this type of digital device (PEW, 2013). With the emergence of new portable computer technology, reading on digital devices has become more popular than ever before. In particular, tablet computers have enabled users to read enhanced e-book material that, while still text-driven, incorporates all facets of multimedia and technology. With many different digital publishing solutions available for publishers to deploy their content, the goal of this research study was to determine whether there are significant differences in user preferences and comprehension for a …

Application Of Visual Imaging Correlation-2d To Strain Measurement, Hui Xu

Theses

The Visual imaging correlation-2D is an innovative software application that can be used for strain measurement of different packaging materials. In recent years, Vic-2D has been increasingly utilized in packaging industry. It is able to break through certain technical limitations of traditional strain testing method and provide a comprehensive strain map that can be suitable for any case of mechanical testing and obtaining the most desired results in the shortest period of time.

In this study, tensile tests are conducted to compare operational performance and functional completeness of conventional mechanical analyzes software, BLUEHILL, with VIC-2D technique. Tensile test is a …

Transformation Or Revival: St. Louis Culture Before And After The Great Fire Of 1849, Daron Patrick Dierkes

Theses

It is commonly accepted that Antebellum St. Louis was reborn in the wake of fire and disease. A boom in cultural activities during the 1850s has allowed the Great Fire of 1849 to serve as a historical landmark separating an older fur trading town from a new cosmopolitan city. This study examines that transformation hypothesis from a broader frame of reference and concludes that the Great Fire merely coincided with the end of a temporary lull in cultural activities that had begun much earlier in the 1830s. By following the ebb and flow of museums, panoramic paintings, and public lectures …

Mr. Perfect, Ruosi Han

Theses

This graduate thesis film, Mr. Perfect is a 21-minute feature film. As the progress of economic, science and education in modern society, women's lives are changing. Their become to be more ambitious in career; they started to try different ways of division of work in family; they get higher vision for life, especially for marriage. However, in such a fast-paced, multi-tasked, high-pressure, and high-energy environment, successful businesswomen become very tired and begin to lose themselves in the life of substance and money unconsciously. Under certain situations, a great number of them still remain single to an old age after achieving …

Accelerated Object Tracking With Local Binary Features, Breton Lawrence Minnehan

Theses

Multi-object tracking is a problem with wide application in modern computing. Object tracking is leveraged in areas such as human computer interaction, autonomous vehicle navigation, panorama generation, as well as countless other robotic applications. Several trackers have demonstrated favorable results for tracking of single objects. However, modern object trackers must make significant tradeoffs in order to accommodate multiple objects while maintaining real-time performance. These tradeoffs include sacrifices in robustness and accuracy that adversely affect the results.

This thesis details the design and multiple implementations of an object tracker that is focused on computational efficiency. The computational efficiency of the tracker …

Energetics Of An Inertia Coupled And Simple Rimless Wheel, Saloni Motichandra Vardhan

Theses

It has been shown by others that it is theoretically possible for a walking robot to achieve a perfectly efficient gait. The simplest model capable of highly efficient walking motions is the Inertial Coupled Rimless (ICR) Wheel. To examine the dynamics of the ICR wheel, two related studies were done.

To determine the lowest energy cost for the ICR wheel we examined one mechanism of energy loss, non-elastic deformation of the elastic elements. Quasi-static experimental tension tests determined that the minimal energy loss for our system was 8:4x10�4 Joules per cycle. A more realistic, high frequency test, showed that the …

Optimal Strategies For Sustainable Household Organic Material Management In The City Of Rochester, Ny, Joseph Cameron Hebda

Theses

The purpose of this research was to explore the benefits and challenges of implementing a sustainable system for managing household organic material (HHOM) in the city of Rochester, NY. Elsewhere in the United States and the world, HHOM (i.e. excess food, yard matter, and compostable paper) has been increasingly diverted from landfills to organic waste-to-energy and composting pathways (European Environment Agency 2013a; Skumatz and Freeman 2006). Landfill diversion is enabled by municipal projects that support source separation of HHOM out of the municipal solid waste (MSW) stream, thereby extracting valuable organic resources for higher-value processing (NYSDEC 2010). This has been …

Deforestation And The Islamic Stewardship Ethic, Misbah Alghamdi

Theses

Forests throughout the world continue to be in danger as a result of human activity. Although the average rate of deforestation has recently slowed, in some countries the rate of forest degradation remains high. Currently, numerous management efforts are underway to address this environmental crisis. In some cases the achievement of forest preservation has been related to ethical choices. One moral posture, anthropocentrism, which views human beings as central and the most significant species on the planet, is believed to be a primary cause of environmental degradation includes deforestation.

This paper aims to address deforestation with the reconfiguration of an …

Investigating Digital Publishing Trends Within The Consumer Magazine Industry, Sarah E. Lawrence

Theses

The introduction of the tablet is changing the consumer magazine industry. This research investigates new and developing trends within digital publishing, specifically the addition of a digital edition published on the Apple iPad. The industry is currently lacking consensus regarding digital strategy to implement these editions. This research aims to identify any existing trends, or lack thereof, through survey and interview responses. Firstly, sample magazines were analyzed to determine topics for examination in a survey and subsequent interview. Secondly, a survey was designed and conducted. The survey sample consisted of creative management of consumer magazines currently offered in Apple Newsstand. …

Treatment Of Industrial Wastewater Using Electrocoagulation, Shereen W. Hasan

Theses

The aim of this thesis was to evaluate the potential use of electrocoagulation in the treatment of carbide slurry, which is wastewater generated during the production of acetylene. Several experiments using an electrochemical batch reactor were carried out at different current densities, ranging between 140-290 A/m². Pure air (EA system) and 10% of carbon dioxide in air (CA system) were supplied to ensure good mixing and solution homogeneity. Aluminum plates were used as electrodes, spaced apart and connected to a DC power supply. After 3 hours, samples from treated effluent and waste slurry were collected and analyzed for …

Object Detection Using Dimensionality Reduction On Image Descriptors, Riti Sharma

Theses

The aim of object detection is to recognize objects in a visual scene. Performing reliable object detection is becoming increasingly important in the fields of computer vision and robotics. Various applications of object detection include video surveillance, traffic monitoring, digital libraries, navigation, human computer interaction, etc. The challenges involved with detecting real world objects include the multitude of colors, textures, sizes, and cluttered or complex backgrounds making objects difficult to detect.

This thesis contributes to the exploration of various dimensionality reduction techniques on descriptors for establishing an object detection system that achieves the best trade-offs between performance and speed. Histogram …

Assessment Of Groundwater Recharge From The Dam Of Wadi Al-Jizzi, Sultanate Of Oman, Rashid Said Al-Kindi

Theses

Water is the most precious resource in arid and semi-arid countries including the Sultanate of Oman. In such countries, groundwater is regarded a major source of water. However, the long-term yield of aquifers should be evaluated. Annual recharge of groundwater resources, in such areas, is generally small but groundwater levels may also recover dramatically during wet years.

Due to the increase in population and the associated increase in agricultural and industrial activities groundwater abstraction from the different aquifers in Oman has increased tremendously since the mid-1970s. This over exploitation of the groundwater resources has led to a considerable decline in …

Bacteriophage Therapies As Alternatives To Antibiotics In Chicken Feed In The United Arab Emirates, Wafa Awad Al Shamsi

Theses

No abstract provided.

Development Of A Process For Producing Biodiesel From Microalgae Lipids With Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Extraction And Enzyme-Catalyzed Transesterification, Hanifa Easa Taher Al Belooshi

Theses

Lipids were extracted from microalgae using supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2), and used for enzymatic biodiesel production in SC-CO2. The growth of several fresh water and marine strains was tested under aeration with different CO2 enrichments. The highest growth found was for Chlorella sp. grown at 27 oC, 1 % CO2 enrichment and 460 mM NaCl concentration, at which carbon fixation rate was 1.7 g L-1 d-1. The highest enhancement of lipids content by nitrogen starvation was found with Scenedesmus sp., but with a lower growth rate. Two step cultivation of Scenedesmus sp. was carried out in a 5 L internally-illuminated …

Containing The Facade, Tatara Anne Siegel

Theses

What do we choose to see? Do we see what others tell us to see? If I were to tell you that something is what it isn't, would you believe me? Would your level of belief be based on our level of acquaintance? It appears that we, human beings, have developed a highly acute set of skills, which enable us to believe what we choose, whether based on fact or fiction. Our perception is dictated by what we learn and what we experience. When what we learn is controlled or influenced by others around us, and we loose sight of …

This Is Bouyon: An Exploration Of Dominica’S Own Genre Of Music, Garford Alexander

Theses

Bouyon music is a mixture of rhythms, melodies, and musical styles from

genres, such as Soca, Zouk, and traditional genres native to Dominica, a

small island nation located in the Caribbean Sea. The music is one of the

most popular musical genres in Dominica, and one of the Caribbean's

best-kept secrets. As Dominica is one of the lesser-known islands, this

genre of music is unknown to much of the world outside of the West Indies.

My project aims to document the history, and create awareness for Bouyon

music. Using firsthand interviews with the creators of the genre, footage of

performances, …

Intimate Sensibility, Aya Oki

Theses

In my thesis body of work, I propose to create glass sculpture and express the nature of glass using the sensuality that comes from my personal process and interaction with the medium. I am stimulated by my five senses, they create a sensorial experience that brings out the lifelike qualities I see in glass. These senses and experiences reveal the glass qualities: puffy, stretchy and squishy. These characteristics of glass are the focus of my thesis exploration and revealed through an intuitive approach.

For me, the sensuality of glass is revealed through an intuitive approach which is stimulated by my …

Adinkra, Claudia Owusu-Sampah

Theses

Watson (n.d) describes Symbols as a representation of something other than what they actually are. Generally, they are based on conventionally agreed upon meanings, but unlike signs, which usually stand for something concrete, symbols usually stand for something less visible or tangible than the symbol itself.

The civilization of Egypt was symbolically oriented to a degree rarely equaled by other cultures. It was through symbols (hieroglyphics) that the Egyptians represented and affirmed many of their ideas, beliefs and attitudes regarding the nature of life, death, the supernatural and reality. (Watson n.d)

Symbols often depict aspects of reality or ideas that …

An Ecological Framework To Assess Sustainability Impacts For An Evolving Consumer Electronic Product System, Erinn G. Ryen

Theses

Consumer electronics have revolutionized the manner in which we work, read, and entertain ourselves. However, this transformation comes at a high cost, with significant energy input and emissions releases across all stages of the electronic product life cycle. The limited success of per product efficiency improvements, often formulated in the field of industrial ecology, does not address the electronic product system as a whole because escalating consumption may actually offset any individual impact reductions. Additionally, existing industrial ecology models fail to effectively capture energy, material, and waste flows associated with real consumption patterns, as consumers purchase, use, and discard a …

Le Couple, Junran Mo

Theses

"LE COUPLE" is an animated graduate thesis film with a total timescale of 6 minutes and 40 seconds. The intent of "LE COUPLE" is to talk about a story of love, but not in a clichéd manner. Since Jieting Chen and I worked together before, we have a very strong personal connection. As usual, we wanted to make the film into a comedy.

The film is a hand-drawn animation that was produced primarily in TVPaint Animation Software.

This paper outlines the entire film creation process from my point of view. It details the very beginning of the story development to …

Effect Of Herbivory On The Growth And Competitive Ability Of Reed Canary Grass (Phalaris Arundinacea), Lisa A. Kratzer

Theses

Herbivory plays an important role in plant community structure in many ecosystems through preferential selection, plant regrowth, and seed transport. Phalaris arundinacea, reed canary grass, is a prevalent wetland invasive species consumed by geese, muskrats, and snails. We lack a clear understanding of how herbivory impacts P. arundinacea's invasion potential. Therefore, I sought to understand the effect of herbivory by generalist macrograzers and micrograzers on the competitive dominance of P. arundinacea in created wetlands, especially the degree to which herbivory alters the competitive relationship between P. arundinacea and Typha latifolia (broadleaf cattail). To address this enclosure/exclosure cages were constructed in …

Digital Chaos: Exploring Relationships Between Technological Advancement And Visual Experience, Kevin Giaquinto

Theses

More so than any other time in history, humans are being exposed to an enormity of digital images every day. The internet, combined with accompanying technological advancements in cellular communication has created an exceptionally chaotic visual experience within the daily lives of millions of people. Through the use of digital photomontage, my artwork attempts to quantify and evaluate the impact that thousands of digital images may have on the emotional and psychological state of human beings. Concurrently, I am in interested exploring the mental repercussions of visual overload, specifically, how chaotic digital experiences may impact the quality of the human …

A Framework For Learning Scene Independent Edge Detection, Aaron J. Wilbee

Theses

In this work, a framework for a system which will intelligently assign an edge detection filter to an image based on features taken from the image is introduced. The framework has four parts: the learning stage, image feature extraction, training filter creation, and filter selection training. Two prototypes systems of this framework are given. The learning stage for these systems is the Berkeley Segmentation Database coupled with the Baddelay Delta Metric. Feature extraction is performed using a GIST methodology which extracts color, intensity, and orientation information. The set of image features are used as the input to a single hidden …