Digital Commons Network^™

Pumping Potential Of A Fmc Structure With Negative Effective Poisson’S Ratio, Zhen Yin

Theses

The pumping potential (PP) of a structure is defined as the ratio of the relative volume change to a relative input stroke. It is introduced to evaluate the volumetric efficiency of a pump. The value of the PP is related to the geometric characteristics and the material properties of the pump structure. A single-layer hyperbolic shell-of-revolution flexible matrix composite (FMC) structure was investigated by Ghoneim and Noor. When under torsion, the rotation of the hyperbolic shell structure causes the throat diameter and the characteristic length to simultaneously decrease, rendering a substantial volumetric decrease and consequently a high PP. Some fibrous …

Hydrogeologic Setting And Characterization Of The Aquifer System In Al Wagan Area, South Al Ain, Uae, Mohamed Ali Khalifa

Theses

AI Wagan area lies to the south of AI Ain City of the eastern region of Abu Dhabi Emirate

along the Sultanate of Oman-United Arab Emirates borders. AI Wagan area is important

for agriculture in the eastern region of Abu Dhabi. Ground water is the primary source of

irTigation in the area. The main source of recharge to the ground-water-flow system of the

entire eastern region of Abu Dhabi Emirate is rainfall on the Oman Mountains. Ground

water flows in an east-west direction because most of the recharge at higher elevations is or

near the Oman Mountains.

The ground-water-flow system …

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 …

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.

Hydrodynamic Cfd Modeling Of A Pharmaceutical Reactor Vessel Provided With A Retreat-Blade Impeller Under Different Baffling Conditions, Christopher G. Foehner

Theses

In the pharmaceutical industry, glass-lined reactors and vessels are often utilized to carry out a variety of different unit operations. Within these systems, both the vessel and impellers are typically glass-lined in order to provide superior corrosion resistance, prevent product contamination, and enhance cleanability. This approach, in turn, often requires the use of different, and sometimes sub-optimal, baffling conditions, which affect the hydrodynamics of the vessels and the reactor performance.

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is a computational tool that employs numerical methods and algorithms to discretize and numerically solve partial differential equations (PDEs) representing mass, energy, and momentum conservation equations …

Risk Prediction With Genomic Data, Bharati Jadhav

Theses

Genome wide association study (GWAS) is widely used with various machine learning algorithms to predict disease risk. This thesis investigates this widely used approach of GWAS using Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) genotype data and a novel approach of disease risk prediction with whole exome sequencing data, namely Whole Exome Wide Association Study (WEWAS). It further applies a discriminating machine learning algorithm, namely a Support Vector Machine (SVM) with different Kernel functions. For this study, only SNPs generated using genotyping technology, which focuses more on common variants, are used initially for disease prediction. Later, the whole exome data generated using Next …

Evaluation Of Methods To Account For Release From Nanofiber Scaffolds, Jennifer Moy

Theses

Electrospinning is a common technique utilized to form fibers from the micro- to nanometer range. Nanofibers form through electrospinning can be utilized as scaffolds since the fiber structures are similar to the structures within the extracellular matrix. Researchers use additives, such as growth factors, to help facilitate cell proliferation and function. Also, researchers are attempting to use electrospun fibers for drug delivery and as wound dressings since the electrospun fibers have high surface area to volume ratio. In both situations, the release of either the additive or the drug needs to be controlled so that the fibers would release the …

An Approach For Applying Data Assimilation Techniques For Studying Cardiac Arrhythmias, Stephen T. Scorse

Theses

Cardiac electrical waves are responsible for coordinating functionality in the heart muscle. When these waves are disrupted, it is referred to as a cardiac arrhythmia, which can be life threatening. Over the last two decades, experimental techniques to study electrical waves in the heart have been improved. Nevertheless, methods for observing electrical waves in the heart still do not provide enough data to draw conclusions about wave propagation. Observations about wave propagation can be made on the surface of the heart, but to collect data on the interior, the methods currently available either do not provide high enough spatial resolution …

Using Least Variance For Robust Extraction Of Systolic Time Intervals, Cody R. Cziesler

Theses

Systolic time intervals (STI) are clinically used as non-invasive predictor of cardiovascular disease. However, algorithm accuracy generally suffers across subjects and physiological states, requiring parameter tuning for robust STI extraction. To address this challenge, an automated methodology of processing with varying tuning parameters was explored. In this work, two STIs were examined: the R-wave pulse transit time to the PPG foot at the ear (rPTT) and the left ventricular ejection time (LVET).

Historic feature detection algorithms were used with a range of tuning parameters over a 60 second interval, with least variance used to select the optimal parameter for robust …

Investigating The Interaction Between Positions And Signals Of Height-Channel Loudspeakers In Reproducing Immersive 3d Sound, Antonios Karampourniotis

Theses

Since transmission capacities have significantly increased over the past few years, researchers are now able to transmit a larger amount of data, namely multichannel audio content, in the consumer applications. What has not been investigated in a systematic way yet is how to deliver the multichannel content. Specifically, researchers' attention is focused on the quest of a standardized immersive reproduction format that incorporates height loudspeakers coupled with the new high-resolution and three-dimensional (3D) media content for a comprehensive 3D experience. To better understand and utilize the immersive audio reproduction, this research focused on the (1) interaction between the positioning of …

Minimum Saturated Subgraphs Of Tripartite Graphs, Eric C. Sullivan

Theses

Let F and H be graphs. A subgraph G of H is an F-saturated subgraph of H if F is not a subgraph of G and F is a subgraph of G+e for any edge e in E(H) E(G). The saturation number of F in H is the minimum number of edges in a F-saturated subgraph of H. We denote the saturation number of F in H as sat(H,F). In this thesis we review the history of saturated subgraphs, and prove new results on saturated subgraphs of tripartite graphs. Let K_a,b,c be a compete tripartite graph, with partite sets …

Anatomically Realistic Structural Modeling Of The Cardiac Purkinje Network: A Basis For Studying Contributions Of The Conduction System To Ventricular Arrhythmias, Benjamin Liu

Theses

A cardiac arrhythmia is a potentially-lethal event in which the normally orderly electrical activity in the heart is disrupted -- it becomes disorganized and compromises effective contraction. To better understand arrhythmia dynamics to develop potential therapies and treatments, experimental, computational, and mathematical tools are required. Simulations of cardiac tissue provide valuable insight into the dynamics of life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias, and though much work has been done in this area, the role of the Purkinje network during ventricular arrhythmias has largely been ignored. The function of the Purkinje network is crucial to normal heart rhythm, so its inclusion into cardiac structural …

Live In The Moment: The Essence Of Life, Ta-Wen Huang

Theses

I have thought about the essence of human life ever since I witnessed the impermanence of people's lives through a near-death experience I had when I was nineteen years old. Life is a given amount of time, space, and memory, and every person, event, and object in the universe is stored up in time, space, and memory. These three factors combine to create the unique experience, character, and life of each individual person.

A number of experts from different fields, as well as international celebrities, have publicly expressed various thoughts on life. However, most of their theories are explained with …

Software/Hardware Tradeoffs In The Speedup Of Color Image Processing Algorithms, James P. Mazza

Theses

Data parallel image processing algorithms have numerous uses in many real time applications. Depending on the complexity of the computations involved, these algorithms may take considerable amounts of time to complete. Since the algorithms are performed in real time, the end user is negatively impacted by the extended execution times. Fortunately, there are many different ways available in hardware and software to improve the speed of these algorithms. This thesis looks at several different methods of improving the speedup of color image processing algorithms and compares the tradeoffs among them.

The methods for increasing the execution time of an algorithm …

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 …

A Conjoint Analysis Of Reader Preference For The Layout Of Tablet Editions Of Magazines, Stephanie Fallon

Theses

The tablet is an emerging channel for content delivery. One industry that is tapping into the potential of tablet content is the magazine industry. Little research has been conducted regarding what readers favor in digital magazines, especially with regards to layout. This thesis aimed to investigate reader preference for the layout of digital editions of magazines in the women's lifestyle genre, designed for the Apple iPad, with a focus on the attributes of image to white space ratio, grid, body typeface, and body text point size.

This study took a quantitative approach in addressing the proposed research question while incorporating …

Towards 3d Matching Of Point Clouds Derived From Oblique And Nadir Airborne Imagery, Ming Zhang

Theses

Because of the low-expense high-efficient image collection process and the rich 3D and texture information presented in the images, a combined use of 2D airborne nadir and oblique images to reconstruct 3D geometric scene has a promising market for future commercial usage like urban planning or first responders. The methodology introduced in this thesis provides a feasible way towards fully automated 3D city modeling from oblique and nadir airborne imagery.

In this thesis, the difficulty of matching 2D images with large disparity is avoided by grouping the images first and applying the 3D registration afterward. The procedure starts with the …

Predicting The Adoption Of Digital Printing In The Label Printing Industry: A Reasoned Action Study, Trevor S. Schroeder

Theses

The package printing industry is a vibrant and growing industry and digital printing technology is improving quickly--yet the adoption of digital printing has not fully penetrated the label printing market, a subset of packaging, and digital printing has seen slower adoption in its decade-long history in labels than expected. This research attempts to explain why this may be the case by understanding the factors affecting the intention to adopt digital printing. This study utilizes Fishbein and Ajzen's Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) in a cross-sectional survey of individuals in a decision-making role in label printing companies. The study was intended …

Use Of Alkali Metal Salts To Prepare High Purity Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Solutions And Thin Films, Rakan F. Ashour

Theses

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) display interesting electronic and optical properties desired for many advanced thin film applications, such as transparent conductive electrodes or thin-film transistors. Large-scale production of SWCNTs generally results in polydispersed mixtures of nanotube structures. Since SWCNT electronic character (conducting or semiconducting nature) depends on the nanotube structure, application performance is being held back by this inability to discretely control SWCNT synthesis. Although a number of post-production techniques are able to separate SWCNTs based on electronic character, diameter, or chirality, most still suffer from the disadvantage of high costs of materials, equipment, or labor intensity to be relevant …

A Study Of Advanced Modern Control Techniques Applied To A Twin Rotor Mimo System, Andrew E. Phillips

Theses

The twin rotor MIMO system (TRMS) is a helicopter-like system that is restricted to two degrees of freedom, pitch and yaw. It is a complicated nonlinear, coupled, MIMO system used for the verification of control methods and observers. There have been many methods successfully applied to the system ranging from simple proportional integral derivative (PID) controllers, to machine learning algorithms, nonlinear control methods and other less explored methods like deadbeat control and various optimal methodologies. This thesis details the design procedure for two different control methods. The first is a suboptimal tracking controller using a linear quadratic regulator (LQR) with …

My Spot. A New Kind Of Workspace., Bridget Dee Sheehan

Theses

Designed with the creative industry in mind, my spot is a work space that accommodates today's rapidly changing technology and the shifting workforce. The user can create a work space that works best for his or her unique tools and technologies, whether digital or analog. It offers multiple work surfaces, allowing the worker to utilize their space in different ways throughout the day. This modular system is minimal and functional, but it also allows the worker to maintain his or her identity within the office environment. My spot attempts to break down the traditional cubicle wall and encourage collaboration with …

Spatiotemporal Variability: Process-Independent Analysis Of Printing Uniformity, Saleh A. Abdel Motaal

Theses

This work explores printing uniformity from a quality standpoint. The study proposes a conceptual framework, quantitative models and a testing method for the measurement and analysis of printing uniformity independent from the printing process and press design.

The proposed framework encompasses construct and indicators concerning the printing accuracy and printing precision dimensions of uniformity. The proposed models are derived for each of the indicators in the framework comprising a cohesive set of device- and process-independent image quality metrics (IQMs) for benchmarking and evaluating the spatial-temporal uniformity of printing systems relative to standard industry tolerances. The proposed test method builds on …

Reliable And Fault-Resilient Schemes For Efficient Radix-4 Complex Division, Niranjan Manoharan

Theses

Complex division is commonly used in various applications in signal processing and control theory including astronomy and nonlinear RF measurements. Nevertheless, unless reliability and assurance are embedded into the architectures of such structures, the suboptimal (and thus erroneous) results could undermine the objectives of such applications. As such, in this thesis, we present schemes to provide complex number division architectures based on (Sweeney, Robertson, and Tocher) SRT-division with fault diagnosis mechanisms. Different fault resilient architectures are proposed in this thesis which can be tailored based on the eventual objectives of the designs in terms of area and time requirements, among …

The Export Potential Of Kosovo's Natural Resources And Their Impact On The Kosovo Economy, Arif Hoti

Theses

Kosovo is a young country with many acute problems from a political, economic, and social perspective. Its economy represents one of its many current struggles. Kosovo’s unemployment rate is extremely high (“Assessment of the Employment Strategy: the need for a concrete strategy,” 2013) and its trade deficit is enormous (“External Trade Statistis 2011,” 2012). Accordingly, most of the money in Kosovo leaves the country for imported goods from other countries. Therefore, the country’s economy is unable to benefit from the multiplier effect and thus loses the opportunity of creating new jobs within the country’s borders. Consequently, if the country shall …

Development Of Srade Tool And Analysis Of Quality Scores Of The Reads Of Next-Generation Sequencing Data, Chaitanya Krishna Kotha

Theses

Capillary Electrophoresis (CE) based on Sanger sequencing has given the ability to extract and explain the genetic information among any given biological system. Even though it brought about a major breakthrough in the field of biology, it had limitations like speed, throughput, scaling and resolution that paved the way for the invention of new technology named as Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS). With the invention of NGS technology, there has been a lot of insight into the genomes, transcriptomes and epigenomes of many of the species on earth. As time passed by, a lot of information has been generated using the NGS …

The Effects Of Elevated Co2 On The Growth And Water Conservation Potentials Of Medicago Sativa L. And Chloris Gayana K., Asma Khan Ahmadani

Theses

Atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentrations have been increasing for many decades. The impact of such greenhouse gas has been reported to affect ecosystems at all levels. Elevated atmospheric CO₂ can affect the growth of plants and their response to water intake. But, different plants show different degrees of response depending on whether they have C₃ or C₄ photosynthetic pathway. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of CO₂ enrichment on the growth and microbial activity of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) and also its effect on the water …

Treatment Of Oil Sludge By Supercritical Water Oxidation (Scwo), Alia Ali Mubarak Busamra

Theses

The treatment and disposal of oil sludge represents major challenges for oil industries and municipalities. The oil sludge consumes high portion of oil industries' budget. Several destruction and conventional technologies such as incineration, landfill and biological treatment have been used to treat oil sludge. However, most of these technologies have not been commercially practical due to some limitations including efficiency, ease of operation and cost or not being friendly to the environment.

Supercritical Water Oxidation (SCWO) provides a powerful means to transform toxic organic materials into simple, relatively inert oxides. In this thesis, treatment of oil sludge by using SCWO …

Aerobic Biodegradation Of 2, 4 Dichlorophenol In A Spouted Bed Bio-Reactor (Sbbr), Taghreed Tahseen Al-Khalid

Theses

Chlorinated phenolic compounds represent a major class of hazardous pollutants commonly encountered in wastewater generated by the petroleum and petrochemical industries. In this regard, biological treatment, as an economical and green technology, has been shown to be one of the most promising approaches for the removal of many organic water pollutants such as chlorophenols. Under aerobic conditions, bacteria utilize chlorophenols as a source of carbon and energy. This study aimed at developing an integrated system for biodegradation of 2, 4 dichlorophenol (DCP) in a specially designed spouted bed bioreactor (SBBR), characterized by systematic intense mixing, resulting in enhanced biodegradation rates. …

Nutritional Status, Dietary Habits, Practises And Knowledge And Their Relationship With Performance Among Young Athletes In The United Arab Emirates, Seham Mohammed Al Reesh

Theses

Objectives: The goals of this project are 1) To assess the nutritional status, 2) To describe the nutritional knowledge, 3) To describe Nutritional Practices, Dietary Habits for Athletic individual in the United Arab Emirates, Then to investigate the relations of both Nutritional status and Knowledge with Performance.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was done to conducted in a sample of 59 Athletes recruited from AI Jazeera Academic sports clubs in the UAE in which, Nutrition Knowledge, Practices and Habits was evaluated by questionnaire, different components of the nutritional status (Weight, Body Composition, Skin Fold Thickness, Biochemical Parameters) and the Physical Performance …