Digital Commons Network^™

Developing Circular Economy Through Implementing Advanced Technologies In Dubai, Hana Alsuwaidi

Theses

The UAE and Dubai have made several strides towards sustainability and in recent years Circular Economy started to be recognised in the region. It is crucial to understand that Circular Economy is not only connected to recycling municipal waste. Circular Economy is a strategy that intends to be implemented as a business model across all industries through technological advancements. First, a conceptual and theoretical framework is developed through data analytics to indicates what are the barriers that slows any economy form implementing Circular Economy, how can Circular Economy strategy be developed in Dubai through implementing technological advancements. Secondly, a wide …

Development Of Frenet-Serret Frame And The Apollonian Window, Syeda Fareeza Karimushan

Theses

The present study focuses on developing a Frenet-Serret frame and the Apollonian Window. In the first part of the study Apollonian disks are generated for first four generations by developing visual basic codes in excel. For the second part of the study, three orthonormal basis vectors, namely, tangent, normal, and binormal vectors have been calculated for the tangent points of Apollonian discs for the first three generations. Equations of the Normal, Osculating and Rectifying planes and Taylor Series approximation have been calculated for specific theta. Because Apollonian Window consists of planar curves with constant curvature, torsion is nowhere present. The …

Effective Activation Functions For Homomorphic Evaluation Of Deep Neural Networks, Srinath Obla

Theses

CryptoNets and subsequent work have demonstrated the capability of homomorphic encryption (HE) in the applications of private artificial intelligence (AI). While convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are primarily composed of linear functions which can be homomorphically evaluated, layers such as the activation layer are non-linear and cannot be homomorphically evaluated. One of the most commonly used alternatives is approximating these non-linear functions using low-degree polynomials. However, it is difficult to generate efficient approximations and often, dataset specific improvements are required. This thesis presents a systematic method to construct HE-friendly activation functions for CNNs. We first determine the key properties in a …

Energy Efficient Neocortex-Inspired Systems With On-Device Learning, Abdullah M. Zyarah

Theses

Shifting the compute workloads from cloud toward edge devices can significantly improve the overall latency for inference and learning. On the contrary this paradigm shift exacerbates the resource constraints on the edge devices. Neuromorphic computing architectures, inspired by the neural processes, are natural substrates for edge devices. They offer co-located memory, in-situ training, energy efficiency, high memory density, and compute capacity in a small form factor. Owing to these features, in the recent past, there has been a rapid proliferation of hybrid CMOS/Memristor neuromorphic computing systems. However, most of these systems offer limited plasticity, target either spatial or temporal input …

The Use Of Deep Learning Methods To Assist In The Classification Of Seismically Vulnerable Dwellings, Salman Khan

Theses

Exciting research is being conducted using Google's Street View imagery. Researchers can have access to training data that allows CNN training for topics ranging from assessing neighborhood environments to estimating the age of a building. However, due to the uncontrolled nature of imagery available via Google's Street View API, data collection can be lengthy and tedious. In an effort to help researchers gather address specific dwelling images efficiently, we developed an innovative and novel way of automatically performing this task. It was accomplished by exploiting Google's publicly available platform with a combination of 3 separate network types and post-processing techniques. …

The Effect Of Phytoplankton Properties On The Ingestion Of Marine Snow By Calanus Pacificus, Grace Cawley

Theses

The aggregation of phytoplankton into marine snow provides a mechanism by which smaller particles can coagulate to form larger particles, which can be consumed at various depths or readily transported to the deep ocean and sequestered from the atmosphere on time scales of a thousand years or more. Zooplankton interacting with these large carbon-rich aggregates can obtain nutrition in environments where the phytoplankton size spectrum is small and not directly available, enhancing the possibility of obtaining adequate nutrition in environments dominated by small cells. In addition, interactions between zooplankton and marine snow can result in fragmentation, thus affecting the particle …

Comparison Of Longitudinal Changes In Resting State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Between Alzheimer’S And Healthy Controls, Berk Can Yilmaz

Theses

Resting State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (rs-fMRI) is a technique that is widely used for analyzing brain function using different approaches and methods. This study involves rs-fMRI analysis of Blood Oxygenation Level Dependent (BOLD) signals acquired from Alzheimer’s disease (AD) Patients and Healthy Controls (HC). Each subject in the study had both functional and anatomical images with at least one rs-fMRI scan with their Anatomical (T1) scans. Previous rs-fMRI studies have demonstrated that AD shows differences in Amplitude of Low Frequency (<0.1 Hz) Fluctuations (ALFF), and Regional Homogeneity (ReHo) measures according to HCs.

The aim of the study is to investigate individual and group level differences using ReHo and mALFF related …

Team Formation Using Recommendation Systems, Shreyas Patil

Theses

The importance of team formation has been realized since ages, but finding the most effective team out of the available human resources is a problem that persists to the date. Having members with complementary skills, along with a few must-have behavioral traits, such as trust and collaborativeness among the team members are the key ingredients behind team synergy and performance. This thesis designs and implements two different algorithms for the team formation problem using ideas adapted from the recommender systems literature. One of the proposed solutions uses the Glicko-2 rating system to rate the employees’ skills which can easily separate …

Path Loss Model For 2.4ghz Indoor Wireless Networks With Application To Drones, Rahul Gulia

Theses

Indoor wireless communication using Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) is becoming a major need for the success of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud robotics in both developed and developing countries. With different operating conditions, interference, obstacles and type of building materials used, it is difficult to predict the path loss components in an indoor environment, which are crucial for the network design. It has been observed that the proposed indoor path loss models cannot be used for UAV operations due to variations in building materials utilized, floor plans, scattering on both ends, etc. In this work, we …

Convex Object Detection, Abhisek Dey

Theses

Scene understanding has become a fundamental research area in computer vision. To achieve this task, localizing and recognizing different objects in space is paramount. From the seminal work of face detection by Viola-Jones using cascaded Haar features to the state-of-the-art deep neural networks, object detection has evolved from just being used in limited cases to be being used extensively for detecting common and custom objects. Algorithm and hardware improvements currently allow for real time object detection on a smartphone. Typically, for each detected object, the object top-left co-ordinate along with bottom-right coordinate or width and height are returned. While this …

Open Set Classification For Deep Learning In Large-Scale And Continual Learning Models, Ryne Roady

Theses

Supervised classification methods often assume the train and test data distributions are the same and that all classes in the test set are present in the training set. However, deployed classifiers require the ability to recognize inputs from outside the training set as unknowns and update representations in near real-time to account for novel concepts unknown during offline training. This problem has been studied under multiple paradigms including out-of-distribution detection and open set recognition; however, for convolutional neural networks, there have been two major approaches: 1) inference methods to separate known inputs from unknown inputs and 2) feature space regularization …

Query-Driven Global Graph Attention Model For Visual Parsing: Recognizing Handwritten And Typeset Math Formulas, Mahshad Mahdavi

Theses

We present a new visual parsing method based on standard Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) for handwritten and typeset mathematical formulas. The Query-Driven Global Graph Attention (QD-GGA) parser employs multi-task learning, using a single feature representation for locating, classifying, and relating symbols. QD-GGA parses formulas by first constructing a Line-Of-Sight (LOS) graph over the input primitives (e.g handwritten strokes or connected components in images). Second, class distributions for LOS nodes and edges are obtained using query-specific feature filters (i.e., attention) in a single feed-forward pass. This allows end-to-end structure learning using a joint loss over primitive node and edge class distributions. …

Smarter Simulation Placement Of Kilonova Light Curve Models For Computationally Inexpensive Surrogate Model Creation, Marko Ristic

Theses

The first detected binary neutron star merger GW170817 allowed for the simultaneous detection of gravitational and electromagnetic waves which started the era of multi-messenger astrophysics. The existence of an electromagnetic counterpart to a compact object merger allowed for a significantly deeper analysis of the merger event and much tighter resultant constraints on existing physical models of neutron stars, nuclear physics, and the Universe itself.

Multi-messenger analysis requires sophisticated source modeling. For the foreseeable future, demanding computational resource costs will result in a sparse availability of state-of-the-art neutron star merger light curve simulations. Astrophysical inference can proceed using an alternate approach …

Interactions Of Photosensitizers With Model Membranes And Their Applications In Photodynamic Therapy, Poornima Kalyanram

Theses

Cancer is caused by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells resulting in 1 in 6 deaths every day. The most common treatment methods include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. These techniques are invasive, aggressive, and non-specific to cancer cells. Therefore, alternative therapies which are both potent and does not interfere with the quality of living are on a rise. Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is an approved alternative remedy in the treatment of cancer. The efficacy of PDT depends on the penetration power of the photosensitizer (PS) when injected into to the site of tumor. However, due to complexity involved in …

Visual Structure Editing Of Math Formulas, Gavin Nishizawa

Theses

Math formulas can be large and complex resulting in correspondingly large and complex LaTeX math strings for expressing them. We design operations to visually edit the typeset LaTeX formulas. The operations are invoked via the formula's control points, which are created as a way to specify an operation associated with the point's location relative to a symbol in the formula. At the control points, formulas can be extended in multiple ways, LaTeX can be inserted locally by typing, an existing formula can be inserted, or part of the formula itself can be moved to that point. Parts of formulas can …

Mixed Signals In Pulsar Timing Arrays - Discerning Red Spin Noise From Gravitational Waves, Brendan Drachler

Theses

The detection of gravitational waves (GWs) with ground-based interferometers like the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) revolutionized our view of the Universe. Pulsar timing arrays (PTAs) like observed by the North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves (NANOGrav) will provide the community with an avenue for exploring the GW spectrum beyond what is capable with ground-based interferometers. Unlike LIGO, pulsars do not exist in an ideal environment where clever engineering can mitigate sources of noise. With that being said, many of the dominant sources of noise in PTAs have been well modeled within NANOGrav. The impact of red spin …

Antipodal Robotic Grasping Using Deep Learning, Shirin Joshi

Theses

In this work, we discuss two implementations that predict antipodal grasps for novel objects: A deep Q-learning approach and a Generative Residual Convolutional Neural Network approach. We present a deep reinforcement learning based method to solve the problem of robotic grasping using visio-motor feedback. The use of a deep learning based approach reduces the complexity caused by the use of hand-designed features. Our method uses an off-policy reinforcement learning framework to learn the grasping policy. We use the double deep Q-learning framework along with a novel Grasp-Q-Network to output grasp probabilities used to learn grasps that maximize the pick success. …

A Semi-Empirical Compact Model For Igzo Tft To Assess The Impact Of Parasitic Elements In Active Matrix Pixel Designs, Hector Alejandro Rubio Rivera

Theses

In this work, an empirical off-state model was developed for amorphous IGZO TFTs with the purpose of creating a compact model in conjunction with an existing on-state model. The implementation of the compact model was done in Verilog-A to assess the impact of parasitc elements such as source/drain series resistance, and source/drain-to-gate overlap capacitances in a 2T1C pixel circuit. A novel region of operation was presented defined as a bridge between the subthreshold and the on-state regions. Two approaches were followed to solve for the fitting parameters inside this bridge region; an analytical and an empirical approach.

The analytical solution …

Characterization Of A Single Photon Sensing And Photon Number Resolving Cmos Detector For Astrophysics, Justin P. Gallagher

Theses

Next-generation NASA missions, such as the LUVIOR and HabEx concepts, require single photon counting large-format detectors. Charge Coupled Devices (CCDs) have typically been used for optical applications in similar flagship missions of the past. CCDs have excellent properties in most metrics but have their own challenges for single photon counting applications. First, typical CCDs have a read noise of a few electrons, although recent modifications (EMCCDs) use an on-chip gain to amplify the signal above the read noise. Secondly, the signal is carried by charge that is transferred across the detector array. While CCDs for NASA missions are carefully fabricated …

Parametric Study Of Infrared Imaging Based Breast Cancer Detection Program, Carlos B. Gutierrez

Theses

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women and is responsible for over 41,000 lives every year in the US according to The American Cancer Society. Current screening and imaging methods such as mammography, breast magnetic resonance imaging, and breast ultrasound imaging have helped in improving survival rate when the cancer is detected at an early stage. The problems with these techniques include: low sensitivity, patient discomfort, invasiveness, and cost. Due to current advancements in infrared and computational technologies, infrared thermography has been utilized as a noninvasive adjunctive screening modality. A computerized approach using infrared imaging (IRI) …

Model-Free Control Of An Unmanned Aircraft Quadcopter Type System, Christian Monti

Theses

A model-free control algorithm based on the sliding mode control method for unmanned aircraft systems is proposed. The mathematical model of the dynamic system is not required to derive the sliding mode control law for this proposed method. The knowledge of the system’s order, state measurements and control input gain matrix shape and bounds are assumed to derive the control law to track the required trajectories. Lyapunov’s Stability criteria is used to ensure closed-loop asymptotic stability and the error estimate between previous control inputs is used to stabilize the system. A smoothing boundary layer is introduced into the system to …

Blockchain And Smart Contracts: The Need For Better Education, Ali Alkhajeh

Theses

The study aims at understanding the current scenario of blockchain education and whether it is meeting the increasing demand of blockchain professionals in the job market. In addition, it also provided a comparison between Ethereum and Hyperledger and analyzed the one best suited for better academic curriculum design. By drawing from various sources of data, including journals, articles, reports, the study provided critical insights into the various aspects of a blockchain education. It assesses the existing curriculum on the blockchain that includes courses and programs from various renowned universities and business schools. The study reveals that although the courses are …

Deciduous Broadleaf Bidirectional Scattering Distribution Function (Bsdf): Measurements, Modeling, And Impacts On Waveform Lidar Forest Assessments, Benjamin D. Roth

Theses

Lidar (light detection and ranging) remote sensing has proven high accuracy/precision for quantification of forest biophysical parameters, many of which are needed for operational and ecological management. Although the significant effect of Bidirectional Scattering Distribution Functions (BSDF) on remote sensing of vegetation is well known, current radiative transfer simulations, designed for the development of remote sensing systems for ecological observation, seldom take leaf BSDF into account. Moreover, leaf directional scattering measurements are almost nonexistent, particularly for transmission. Previous studies have been limited in their electromagnetic spectrum extent, lacked validated models to capture all angles beyond measurements, and did not adequately …

A Patient-Specific Infrared Imaging Technique For Adjunctive Breast Cancer Screening: A Clinical And Simulation - Based Approach, Alyssa Owens

Theses

Breast cancer is currently the most prevalent form of cancer in women with over 266,000 new diagnoses every year. The various methods used for breast cancer screening range in accuracy and cost, however there is no easily reproducible, reliable, low-cost screening method currently available for detecting cancer in breasts, especially with dense tissue. Steady-state Infrared Imaging (IRI) is unaffected by tissue density and has the potential to detect tumors in the breast by measuring and capturing the thermal profile on the breast surface induced by increased blood perfusion and metabolic activity in a rapidly growing malignant tumor. The current work …

Gender Based Social Expectations: An Analysis Of The Role Of Textbooks In Primary School, Gerta Ymeri

Theses

This project analyzes the presence of gender stereotypes in the textbooks used in elementary school, with a special focus on the literature used for children in the first up to the fifth grade. This study is mainly focused on gender stereotypical signs in texts and illustrations on areas such as family roles, physical appearance, generic nouns and pronouns, and professions. It further showcases the impact that these textbooks, specifically women and men representation have on children on their future endeavors. The study represents existing evidence in Kosovo, including information on Kosovar education, legal framework, and similar research to this project. …

Women As Entrepreneurs: The Hardships Of Leading In A Patriarchal System. Case Of Kosovo, Aurora Bucaj

Theses

The business sector in Kosovo is dominated by men, while women are seen as an outsider if deciding to be part of it. The number of women business owners is low compared to men business owners. This research paper will present the many factors that affect the low number of women business owners, how they correlate with one another, and how one can move passed those. A number of these factors relate to the mentality of Kosovo’s society, low financial stability of women, low education of women, and the low number of day-care facilities, and the lack of affordable private …

Freelancing As A Tool Of Increasing Women’S Activity Rate In Kosovo, Ema Baraku

Theses

This research project explores the implications of freelancing in the activity rate of women in the labor market in Kosovo. It specifically analyzes the employment barriers that women encounter such as taking care of children/elders, lack of suitable and flexible jobs, and low wage. It further elaborates on the concept of freelancing and the opportunities for Kosovar youth in general and for women in particular. The research includes a review of secondary data, an online survey, and focus group discussions. Findings from the research confirm the potential of freelancing to impact the participation of women in the job market as …

Gaze Estimation Based On Multi-View Geometric Neural Networks, Devarth Parikh

Theses

Gaze and head pose estimation can play essential roles in various applications, such as human attention recognition and behavior analysis. Most of the deep neural network-based gaze estimation techniques use supervised regression techniques where features are extracted from eye images by neural networks and regress 3D gaze vectors. I plan to apply the geometric features of the eyes to determine the gaze vectors of observers relying on the concepts of 3D multiple view geometry. We develop an end to-end CNN framework for gaze estimation using 3D geometric constraints under semi-supervised and unsupervised settings and compare the results. We explore the …

Using Photoplethysmography For Simple Hand Gesture Recognition, Karthik Subramanian

Theses

A new wearable band is developed which uses three Photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors for the purpose of hand gesture recognition (HGR). These sensors are typically used for heart rate estimation and detection of cardiovascular diseases. Heart rate estimates obtained from these sensors are disregarded when the arm is in motion on account of artifacts. This research suggests and demonstrates that these artifacts are repeatable in nature based on the gestures performed. A comparative study is made between the developed band and the Myo Armband which uses surface-Electromyography (s-EMG) for gesture recognition. Based on the results of this paper which employs supervised …

Hardware Intellectual Property Protection Through Obfuscation Methods, Jason Blocklove

Theses

Security is a growing concern in the hardware design world. At all stages of the Integrated Circuit (IC) lifecycle there are attacks which threaten to compromise the integrity of the design through piracy, reverse engineering, hardware Trojan insertion, physical attacks, and other side channel attacks — among other threats. Some of the most notable challenges in this field deal specifically with Intellectual Property (IP) theft and reverse engineering attacks. The IP being attacked can be ICs themselves, circuit designs making up those larger ICs, or configuration information for the devices like Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs). Custom or proprietary cryptographic …