Digital Commons Network^™

Modeling Ventricular-Vascular Coupling In The Developing Embryo, Michael Bauman

Theses

Congenital cardiovascular malformations are one of the major contributors to infant mortality in the United States today. Defects in the cardiovascular system are evident at very early stages in the developing embryo, yet there exists no substantial diagnostic tool(s) for recognizing defects at these early stages. Cardiac morphogensis occurs throughout the pre-innervated period of embryonic development. It is speculated that the flow of blood during the early embryonic stages plays an important role in the development of the cardiovascular system. Blood flow is a possible mechanism for communication between the heart and vasculature, contributing to cardiac development. The objective of …

An Image Fusion Algorithm For Spatially Enhancing Spectral Mixture Maps, Harry Gross

Theses

An image fusion algorithm, based upon spectral mixture analysis, is presented. The algorithm combines low spatial resolution multi/hyperspectral data with high spatial resolution sharpening image(s) to create high resolution material maps. Spectral (un)mixing estimates the percentage of each material (called endmembers) within each low resolution pixel. The outputs of unmixing are endmember fraction images (material maps) at the spatial resolution of the multispectral system. This research includes developing an improved unmixing algorithm based upon stepwise regression. In the second stage of the process, the unmixing solution is sharpened with data from another sensor to generate high resolution material maps. Sharpening …

Almost True Stories, Paul Porell

Theses

None provided.

Only In The Earth, Miran Lee

Theses

In only a few short years, multimedia has become powerful and accepted enough to begin taking its rightful place in the changing the way we communicate. Communication in the '90s must accomplish two fundamental tasks: satiating the demanding aesthetic tastes and expectations of today's sophisticated viewing audiences, and navigating the vast amount of knowledge, facts, and statistics that comprise the "Information Age." Multimedia allows us to use the best combination of media to present com pelling information suited to specific situations. It allows user-control over how and when that information is accessed. "Only In The Earth" is the ultimate multimedia …

Computational Analysis And Revision Of The Nayatani Et Al. Appearence Model, John Rahill

Theses

A literature search showed Nayatani 's color appearance model to be inferior to Hunt's model. The goal of this research was to determine what modifications could be made to improve Nayatani's model. The coefficients' (xi), (eta), and (zeta), in Nayatani's model represent the chromaticity coordinates of the illuminant in the fundamental primary system. These coefficients were used in calculating the effective adapting level for each cone and act as normalizing factors i n the calculation of Nayatani color space. The CSAJ data set was used to determine a baseline for Nayatani's model, and results from modifications were compared relative to …

Space Adventure, David Seah

Theses

None provided.

Hepatic Cytochromes P450 Enzyme Activities Of Uae Coastal Rabbit Safi Fish Siganus Canaliculatus, Amna Mana Al-Otaiba

Theses

The cytochrome P450 dependent metabolism of benzo(a)pyrene and other xenobiotics has been investigated in liver microsomes prepared from a local marine Safi fish Siganus canaliculatus caught from the Arabian Gulf of United Arab Emirates. The Safi fish was found to have a well developed liver microsomal monooxygenase system consisting of cytochrome P450, cytochrome b5 and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase. The fish microsomal enzyme system was able to metabolise benzo(a)pyrene, 7-ethoxycoumarin and 7- ethoxyresorufin. Male fish were found to exhibit a higher monooxygenase activity than female fish. Treatment of fish with β-naphthoflavone was found to induce (2-4 fold) the activities of aryl …

Environmental Study Indoor And Outdoor Of The Abu Dhabi Compost Plant, Jaber Eidha S. Aljabri

Theses

The transformation of municipal solid waste into compost is of double interest: on the one hand, it helps to avoid the deficiencies of natural manure, and on the other it eliminates this major polluting agent which is increasing progressively as a consequence of rising populations.

Domestic waste produced per person per annum amounts to 730 kg in Abu Dhabi city. Based on a population in 1992 of 574,745, this gives a current daily refuse collection that amounts to 1120 tons. Refuse is reported to contain a high proportion of organic materials and therefore to be suitable for recycling to produce …

Fluorescent Labeling Technique And Dna Amplification By The Polymerase Chain Reaction For The Detection Of Human Malaria Parasites., Maryam Mohd Ai-Shaikh Omer Ai-Ameri

Theses

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and fluorescence staining based diagnosis of Malaria infection was attempted. 187 samples in two groups: 135 and 52 patients Attending the Malaria Clinic (preventive Medicine and Al-Ain Hospital, UAE) were Collected Two PCR systems; using small subunit ribosomal RNA (ssrRNA) based primers And merozoite surface antigen (MSP) based primers were assessed, taking the Giemsa Stain as the reference test.

The re sults of PCR using the merozoite surface antigen (MSP) primers specific for Pfalciparum, proved to be specific and accurate. These results were analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE) and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (page) stained …

Application Of Tube Settlers In Secondary Wastewater Treatment, Abdulsalam Mohamed Saleh Kamalpoor

Theses

Secondary sedimentation is one of the most commonly used unit operations in wastewater treatment plants. It is customary designed to achieve solids separation from biologically treated effluent through clarification of biological solids and thickening of sludge. As treatment plants receive increasingly high wastewater flow, conventional sedimentation tanks suffer from overloading problems which result in poor performance. Inclined plate settlers, a form of tube settlers, may have good potential in upgrading sedimentation tanks. This study was conducted to examine the possibility of applying inclined plate settlers in secondary sedimentation in order to upgrade conventional rectangular sedimentation tanks and improve their performance. …

Endovascular Technology: The Palmaz Intravascular Stent And The Auth Rotablator, Thomas Barg

Theses

None provided.

The Reactions Of Nox With Diesel Soot Over Cu-Zsm-5 Catalyst, Shu Sun

Theses

Air pollution from the exhaust of Diesel engines consisting of relatively high concentrations of NO_x and particulates is a difficult problem to overcome because no fully effective technology to control these emission is available. The existing methods to reduce NO_x and soot can not satisfy the provisions of the 1990 CAAA (Clean Air Act Amendment). Cu-ZSM-5, a catalyst in which Cu has been ion-exchanged with H+, can catalyze the decomposition of NO to N₂ and O₂ and reduction to N₂ and O₂ with light hydrocarbons such as propene or Diesel soot in the presence …

Bringing Ideas Back To The Evolution Of Design, Ayca Tuzmen

Theses

This thesis is an exploration into the evolution of design. It attempts to develop an awareness of the effectiveness of what we do as designers and users to improve design. To achieve this purpose, it elaborates on some of the implications of paradigms which have emerged in design evolution. It presents some of the evolutionary theories and their analogies. These theories and analogies develop a view of design evolution - a conception of design as a process which moves from a lower to a higher state. With this conception, concern is directed at the identification of past and current design …

Pollution Prevention In The New Jersey Chemical Industry : Motivations And Barriers To Commitment, Judith A. Thornton

Theses

This study of the New Jersey Chemical Industry identifies the primary elements that lead to or inhibit company commitments to pollution prevention. A direct measure of facility pollution prevention commitment is developed that takes into account: organizational support attributes, past reductions achievements, current methods implementation, process reduction goals, and special environmental initiatives. The "P2 Commitment Index" allows for categorization of facilities so that the needs and interests of varying groups may be differentiated.

Higher level commitments are associated with: establishment of company pollution prevention policy, setting of prioritized facility goals, and measurement and reporting on pollution prevention progress. Facilities at …

Comparison Of Different Signal Processing Algorithms To Extract The Respiration Waveform From The Ecg, David J. Caggiano

Theses

Power spectral analysis of heart rate variability is a powerful tool to measure the activity of the parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system noninvasively. To determine the parasympathetic activity, the frequency of respiration must be known. However, during ambulatory studies, the frequency of respiration is not acquired. To alleviate this problem, methods have been proposed in the past to derive the respiration from the ECG. Unfortunately, these previous methods are unreliable if the subject's breathing rate is uncontrolled. In this study, four methods to derive the respiration waveform from the electrocardiogram (ECG) were developed. Two leads of ECG and …

Stratospheric Ozone Layer Depletion : A Computer Aided Case Study, James M. Lipuma

Theses

In industries today, there is a desire to stop pollution before it starts, through the process of pollution prevention. Unfortunately, many university level students are not exposed to the thinking process involved in environmental problem solving early enough in their academic career, if they are exposed to it at all. The goal of this thesis is to develop and to evaluate an interdisciplinary case-study about the depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). This case-study will be used to teach first year chemistry students about environmental problem solving. The case study was assembled from existing literature according to …

Advanced Characterization And Leaching Behavior Of Hexavalent And Trivalent Chromium From Waste Material, Erik Moerman

Theses

In this thesis we employed advanced characterization techniques such as XRF, XRD, XPS, SEM, and EDS to provide detailed information about the chromium waste _ specifically chromium valence states (Cr(VI) and Cr(III)), and their chemical association with other phases in the waste matrix.

The removal of Cr(VI) was accomplished by leaching with aqueous solutions containing inorganic anions such as Cl^-, SO₄^2-, PO₄^3- and others. Cr(VI) can be released from the waste by a combination of desorption and ion exchange processes. The efficiency and kinetics of displacing CrO₄^2- from the waste by …

Organic Psychology And The Universe, Steven Alles

Theses

None provided.

An Interview With Mac Mcgrew: American Typeface Historian And Typographer, Karin Yvonne Hurlburt

Theses

Mac McGrew gained a reputation within typographic circles as a leading type expert through his work as Type Director with Ketchum, MacLeod and Grove in Pittsburgh, his many articles published in various typographic magazines and newsletters, as well as his membership in several printing guilds. With the publishing of his book, American Metal Typefaces of the Twentieth Century in 1993, his position as the foremost American type historian was established. Mac is one of a select group of people who have detailed knowledge of the transition from metal type to current digital methods. This knowledge must be preserved to educate …

Modeling Of The Radiometric Characteristics Of A Simulated Fluorescent Imager, Alexander Granica

Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine whether changes in stimulated plant fluorescence could be detected by a remote sensing system. By measuring the changes in fluorescent signal the health status of vegetation can be determined. The plant condition can be assessed by viewing the ratio 690 nm/ 730 nm from the fluorescent spectra at the leaf level. The question is whether the change in fluorescent spectra (change in the ratio) can be seen at a remote location. In order to address this question a theoretical scenario was developed and the expected signal at a remote location was determined …

Physical Attractiveness In Learning Disabled And Non Learning Disabled Fourth And Fifth Graders, Kenneth Gerald Solomon

Theses

The differences in subjective perceptions of physical attractiveness of learning disabled (LD) and non learning disabled (NLD) children were investigated. Three hundred and seventy-seven fourth and fifth grade students self-rated their appearance using the Body-Esteem Scales (Mendelson, B. K. & White, D.R., 1982). Thirty-six NLD males and females were randomly selected to match the number of LD children in both grades. (An ANOV A was used to calculate the differences in the means of the two groups.) Although the results did not reveal a statistically significant difference between the groups, a difference did occur indicating more negative perception of attractiveness …

Job Satisfaction In Supported And Sheltered Employment, Dana S. Rowland

Theses

No abstract provided.

Burnout Among Mental Health Workers, Kim Marie Harness

Theses

Burnout is the state of being emotionally and physically fatigued by some aspect of one's work leading to the loss of efficiency and productivity. Those employed in the helping profession are uniquely susceptible to burnout as the trials and tribulations of their clients confront them each day. Presented here is research into the possible causes of burnout. The purpose of this study was to determine if levels of burnout correlated with the number of months an individual had worked at the same agency. Burnout was measured on the three subscales of the Maslach Burnout Inventory: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal …

The Dilemma For American Business Regarding Health Care Reform, Joseph A. Cernik

Theses

Businesses of all sizes will have to work together to adequately address controlling their health care costs. At the present time, large corporations have options available to them to control their health care costs, but these options will not be sufficient in the long-term. Since smaller businesses are increasingly declining to provide health insurance to their employees, the result is the growth of the working uninsured who will become a problem that cannot easily be contained and will affect the ability of large corporations to address their health care costs. The dilemma that American business faces is the need to …

A Three-Dimensional Model Of Pulsatile Flow At An Arterial Bifurcation, Andrew Hayes

Theses

Atherosclerosis in known to form at sites of predilection. These sites are typically areas of reduced pressure or shear stress. In the thesis a link between hemodynamics and atherosclerosis formation will be investigated. In the study three-dimensional pulsatile flow at a simplified carotid artery bifurcation has been modeled with computational fluid dynamics (CFD). A flow visualization experiment has also been performed on a glass replica of the bifurcation to verify the CFD results. An intense literature review has been included in the thesis to assimilate all of the published work in the area.

Extraction, Recovery And Separation Of Some Organic And Inorganic Pollutants By Polyurethane Foams And Other Extracting Agents, Mahboob Hassan Saleh

Theses

Many substances pollute the marine and air environments but non-biodegradable compounds are the most dangerous. Heavy metals and most of the pesticides are known for their high toxicity. Mercury and lead in particular tend to accumulate in liver and kidney and inhibit the biosynthesis of heme protein because of their affinity for thiol and phosphate containing ligands. Thus, it affects the permeability of the membranes of kidney, liver and brain cells. Soluble inorganic mercury (II) species can be transformed into methylmercury under aerobic conditions by the actions of microorganisms. The target organ of methylmercury in humans is the brain where …

Lyme Disease, Carolyn Nichols

Theses

None provided.

The Life Of Mariano Payeras: A Study In Church/State Relations, Douglas Anthony Cutter

Theses

To understand the role of Mariano Payeras as Father President of the California Franciscan Missions, it is necessary to place the historiography of the mission in its perspective. Literature abounds regarding California's Franciscan missionaries and their charges--the missions and Indian neophytes. Few historical arenas can claim such easily traceable roots as California and its mission period. In many ways the early Franciscans emerge as the creators of a new civilization, largely because the aborigines kept no written records and because centuries of cultural change, disease, persecution and censure have limited what anthropologists and historians can create of the native past.

Communication Devices For The Hearing Impaired, Yu-Chun Hsu

Theses

None provided.

Group Home Living Versus Individualized Supported Living, Mary A. Scheiner

Theses

This thesis examines the quality of life differences between individuals with developmental disabilities living in group homes versus those in individualized supported living settings. The study was conducted in Sedalia, Missouri, using the Quality of Life Questionnaire developed by Robert Schalock and Kenneth Keith. The questionnaire assessed four key areas: satisfaction, competence and productivity, empowerment and independence, and social belonging and community integration.

Thirty adults participated—15 from group homes and 15 from individualized supported living homes. The findings revealed that individuals in individualized supported living settings reported significantly higher levels of satisfaction, independence, and social integration compared to those in …