Digital Commons Network^™

Near-Lossless Bitonal Image Compression System, Jeremy Pyle

Theses

The main purpose of this thesis is to develop an efficient near-lossless bitonal compression algorithm and to implement that algorithm on a hardware platform. The current methods for compression of bitonal images include the JBIG and JBIG2 algorithms, however both JBIG and JBIG2 have their disadvantages. Both of these algorithms are covered by patents filed by IBM, making them costly to implement commercially. Also, JBIG only provides means for lossless compression while JBIG2 provides lossy methods only for document-type images. For these reasons a new method for introducing loss and controlling this loss to sustain quality is developed. The lossless …

Cultural Sensitivity In Visual Communication, Yih-Chi Wang

Theses

Not Included

Loathing, Jessica Rose Monsour

Theses

This thesis project explores an artist's struggle with self in relationship to environment and society. Specifically, the artist examines loathing, as a shadow that is representative of one's unacceptable attributes that are labeled by society's expectations, through the combination of three processes: photography, sculpture and installations.

Concept, Design, Simulation, And Fabrication Of An Ultra-Scalable Vertical Mosfet, Keith H. Tabakman

Theses

A new orientation to the conventional MOSFET is proposed. Processing issues, as well as short channel effects have been making planar MOSFET scaling increasingly difficult. It is predicted by the 2001 International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS) that non-planar devices will be needed for production as early as 2007. The device proposed in this thesis is similar in operation to the planar MOSFET, however the current transport from source to drain, normally in the same plane as the wafer surface, is oriented perpendicular to the die surface. The proposed device has successfully been simulated, showing a proof of concept. Fabrication …

The Assessment Of Language Delays In Preschoolers With The Differential Abilities Scales, Tracey Walenta

Theses

Language-delayed preschoolers are a heterogeneous population with diverse language skills and needs. Research has demonstrated the need for more psychometrically sound assessment instruments to accurately identify preschoolers with language delays and their specific subtypes in the general preschool population. Research has also demonstrated the Differential Ability Scales to be an effective and psychometrically sound assessment measure for differentiating among preschoolers across a broad range of skills and abilities. The purpose of this study was to examine the utility of the Differential Ability Scales in distinguishing language-delayed preschoolers and specific subtypes of language delays in the general preschool population. It was …

Assessment Of Groundwater Resources In Selected Areas Of Al Ain In The U.A.E., Fatma Abdullatif Al Shahi

Theses

The sustainable development of any region depends on the availability of water resources. In arid and semi-arid regions, the shortage in freshwater resources constitutes the major constraint against the expansion in agricultural and industrial activities. Therefore, every possible effort should be made to assess, develop and sustain the limited freshwater water resource in such regions.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is located in an arid region, where the climate is harsh and the renewable freshwater resources are very limited. Despite the severe shortage in water resources, water is misused and sometimes wasted. The per capita daily consumption in the UAE …

Effect On Participation In High School Extracurricular Activities On Grade Point Average, Nancy J. Aberasturi

Theses

Historically, studies have debated the relationship between student grade point average and student involvement in extracurricular activities. The present study investigated that relationship. A group of 47 high school sophomores and juniors voluntarily completed and returned a questionnaire designed by the researcher, which gathered data on involvement in all-inclusive extracurricular activities, plans for attending a college or university, gender, age, and date of birth. The sample included 22 females, 24 males, and I subject who did not indicate gender. Cumulative grade point average was determined by student records. A correlation analysis indicated that a significant, positive relationship existed between grade …

An Investigation Of Trace Cache Organizations For Superscalar Processors, Edward Mulrane Jr

Theses

Techniques such as out-of-order issue and speculative execution aggressively exploit instruction level parallelism in modem superscalar processor architectures. The front end of such pipelined machines is concerned with providing a stream of schedulable instructions at a bandwidth that meets or exceeds the rate of instructions being issued and executed. As superscalar machines become increasingly wide, it is inevitable that the large set of instructions to be fetched every cycle will span multiple noncontiguous basic blocks. The mechanism to fetch, align, and pass this set of instructions down the pipeline must do so as efficiendy as possible, occupying a minimal number …

Aisimam - An Artificial Immune System Based Intelligent Multiangent Model, Srividhya Sathyanath

Theses

The goal of this thesis is to develop a biological model for multiagent systems. This thesis explores artificial immune systems, a novel evolutionary paradigm based on the immunological principles. Artificial Immune systems (AIS) are found to be powerful to solve complex computational tasks. The main focus of the thesis is to develop a generic mathematical model that uses the principles of the human immune system in multiagent systems (MAS). The components and properties of the human immune system are studied. On understanding the concepts of A/5, a literature survey of multiagent systems is performed to understand and compare the multiagent …

Absent, Shu-Jin Huang

Theses

Inspired by the Romantic Movement, many artists have studied 'selfexploration' as I am doing now. Being uprooted from home and moving to a completely different culture can really influence a person. I am lucky to be exposed to a different culture and this leads me to examine myself in a different light. Who am I really and what makes me unique? In this thesis, I explore the concept of my work, 'Absent', its development, characteristics and the themes of the movements which influenced me.

Variable Bit Rate Video Time-Series And Scene Modeling Using Discrete-Time Statistically Self-Similar Systems, Rajesh Narasimha

Theses

This thesis investigates the application of discrete-time statistically self-similar (DTSS) systems to modeling of variable bit rate (VBR) video traffic data. The work is motivated by the fact that while VBR video has been characterized as self-similar by various researchers, models based on self-similarity considerations have not been previously studied. Given the relationship between self-similarity and long-range dependence the potential for using DTSS model in applications involving modeling of VBR MPEG video traffic data is presented. This thesis initially explores the characteristic properties of the model and then establishes relationships between the discrete-time self-similar model and fractional order transfer function …

Between The Ankle And The Soul, Christine Carlson

Theses

None provided.

Intramural, Collaborative Learning Systems, Robert S. Friedman

Theses

This thesis focuses on three related concepts: problem-based collaborative learning; the use of multimedia tools in learning systems; and participatory design as a software engineering methodology to create multimedia tools to be used in learning systems. A literature review of the three areas is followed by an overview of the pedagogical, technological, and business trends that affect the direction of innovation in education, including problem-based learning. A discussion of a software engineering project to develop a multimedia application that enhances the learning of geography skills and puts the programming, interface design and multimedia systems capabilities of college students into action …

Protection And Restoration Algorithms For Wdm Optical Networks, Pitipatana Sakarindr

Theses

Currently, Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) optical networks play a major role in supporting the outbreak in demand for high bandwidth networks driven by the Internet. It can be a catastrophe to millions of users if a single optical fiber is somehow cut off from the network, and there is no protection in the design of the logical topology for a restorative mechanism. Many protection and restoration algorithms are needed to prevent, reroute, and/or reconfigure the network from damages in such a situation. In the past few years, many works dealing with these issues have been reported. Those algorithms can be …

On Chip Implement Of Deadlock Avoidance In Wormhole Networks, Kiran K. Gururaj

Theses

This thesis gives a detailed description of the Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) design to avoid deadlocks in Wormhole Networks. Deadlock avoidance is the most critical issue while considering wormhole networks and should be avoided by any routing protocol and algorithm. A novel architecture for the Turn Prohibition Based Routing (TPBR) protocol has been proved to be efficient and was developed as a part of this work. This architecture for implementing the algorithm is divided into three parts. The first part determines the order of selccuon of the nodes, in the network to run the algorithm. The second part deals …

Cortical Response To Facial Expressions Of Young Adult Males With Autism Spectrum Disorders And Controls Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (Fmri), Jagriti Arora

Theses

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is defined by deficits in social and emotional impairments and this study aims to identify specific brain regions involved during facial processing. The simple task of focusing on the face during social interactions for the normal group is found difficult by the autistic group.

In this study, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used as subjects performed two experimental tasks (EXPLICIT and IMPLICIT) in which a series of photographs of nine males and nine females displaying three affective states (6 fear, 6 happy and 6 neutral) and six scrambled- face control stimuli were presented …

A Parallel Implementation Of An Mpeg-2 Encoder Using Message-Passing, Jennifer Zenner

Theses

The days of film are waning as digital cameras and digital video cameras are becoming commonplace. Uncompressed digital video can consume large amounts of space, making it cumbersome to store efficiently. A method of video compression was developed by the Motion Pictures Expert Group (MPEG), and is now an international standard with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). This thesis deals with the MPEG-2 Video standard, ISO/IEC 13818-2 [2]. The goal of this thesis is to explore the applications of MPEG-2 encoding in a parallel processing paradigm. To achieve this, a sequential MPEG-2 software encoder was obtained from the MPEG …

Expressions Of Duality, Daniel White

Theses

For the graduate thesis I will investigate duality, as it exists in the realm of ego and humility. This is an inward investigation to become aware of how it exists in me. Duality has been of special interest in my life through growing up in two culturally different families with one owning ego and the other humility. The dualism experienced resulted in an internal dialogue deciphering between the two. I am convinced that the diffusion of ego through humor towards a more humbled approach to life is an important foundational block for fully becoming aware of who I am. Humor …

Systems Integration Using Siemens' Pc Based Automation Technology, Adwait Palsule

Theses

Manufacturing Systems Integration is the progressive linking and combination of the various components of the system to merge their functional and technical characteristics into a comprehensive interoperable unit. It requires one to work with different hardware and software. There are a number of vendors providing a large number of products. Integrating these varieties of products provides a greater value than the sum of the value provided by the individual products. What hinders the effective integration of these components is the diversity in the design and the use of these products. Systems Integration is eased by well-established standards in data communication, …

Fiber Reinforced Composites Of A Novel Pendent Polyimide: Optimum Processing And Mechanical Properties, Akshay Kamdar

Theses

A 2-component polyimide [3,4'-ODA + 4,4'-ODPA], a 3-component "parent" polyimide [3,4'-ODA + 4,4'-ODPA + 10 mol % Mellitic acid dianhydride (MADA)] and a 4-component "pendent" polyimide [3,4'-ODA + 4,4'-ODPA + 10 mol % MADA + 10 mol % Zr] were synthesized and characterized using fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) techniques. Since temperature and time are critical factors influencing the thermal and mechanical properties of the final polyimide, it is important to have detailed information on the best time-temperature conditions for imidization and cure in order to optimize the processing and properties of …

Analysis And Hardware Implementation Of Color Map Inversion Algorithms, Michael Martin

Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to investigate several algorithms that are used to compute the inverse of a forward printer map. The forward printer map models the printer by mapping points in the printer's input color space to points in the printer's output color space. The inverse of this forward map is required to convert input color specifications in a device-independent color space to a color in the printer's device-dependent color space before being presented to the print engine. The accuracy of the inverse printer map directly affects the accuracy of the reproduced colors. Therefore, any measured change in …

Passive Amplitude-Modulated Microwave Backscatter Modulation System, Aaron Thompson

Theses

Barcode technology is slowly being replaced with transponder tags that have many benefits over barcodes. Four issues with transponder tags are battery life, power requirement, range of communication, and physical size. Microwave backscatter modulation (MBM) is used throughout industry to reduce the power requirement and size on the transponder tags while compromising range. Researchers and designers of current transponder tags typically utilize a passive carrier-present carrier-absent (CPCA) reflection of the reader's carrier wave, or their transponder design uses an active backscatter system with an amplifier and circular polarization modulation. This research project develops a communication system that mixes a reader's …

Precious, Amy O'Shaughnessy

Theses

Not Included

Masters Thesis, Sarah Laveck

Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to develop a visual language inspired by microscopic organic life forms. I will do this by creating and viewing slides underneath a microscope. From the microscope I will visually record what inspires me from that microscopic world. I will then use those drawings for inspiration and create paintings based on those life forms. Ultimately creating for myself a visual language of forms that I use to communicate artistically. Along with the scientific research of creating and viewing slides on the microscope, I will research abstract expressionists and color field artists like Helen Frankenthaler, Georgia …

Creativity And Renewal A Personal Journey, Tatiana Evanitsky

Theses

None provided.

Polycrystalline Silicon Thermal Actuators Integrated With Photodiode, Kevin Munger

Theses

A thermal actuator (TA) is the thermal compliment of electrostatic actuators. A TA has several advantages over other microactuation methods. They can provide relatively large forces (^N) and large displacements (>10 jam) at CMOS compatible voltages and currents. The main disadvantage of a TA is it large power consumption. A TA can be used in basic building-block MEM devices such as stepper motors, optical-component positioners, and grippers. The TA shown below in Figure 36 converts electrical energy into mechanical via ohmic heating and deflects due to asymmetric heating. The disparity in the widths of the Cold (wide) beam and …

Switching Voltage Of Micro-Beam Actuators - Analysis, Fabrication And Test, Eui-Shin Kim

Theses

This thesis introduces an analysis, fabrication and testing of a //-cantilever. First, the theoretical method used to analyze the deflection of a micro-beam with two supports and switching voltage is introduced. The results are compared to an I-DEAS simulation. Second, the theoretical approach is modified in order to be suitable for the actual //- cantilever beam model because the material, geometry and the type of structure have been changed. The switching voltage of each beam size is predicted using the modified method. Third, a series of single //-cantilever beams are designed according to the MEMS design rules. Using the facilities …

Identifying, Barbara Dimartini

Theses

None provided.

Discovery Of Time - From Abstract Concept To Computer-Generated Visualization, Jui-Ying Chang

Theses

None provided.

Mythological Explorations, Christi Veitch

Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to explore the personal mythological journey through abstract paintings within a psychological, or mythological context.