Digital Commons Network^™

Solving Nonlinear Boundary Value Problems Using The Homotopy Analysis Method, Ghada Ayed Janem Ayed Janem

Theses

Analytical solutions of differential equations are very important for all researchers from different discipline. Obtaining such solutions is difficult in most cases, especially if the differential equation is nonlinear. One of the mostly used methods are the series methods, where the solution is represented as an infinite series. Different methods are available to evaluate the terms of this series. These methods include the well-known Taylor series method, the Adomian decomposition method, the Homotopy iteration method, and the Homotopy analysis method. In this thesis we give a survey of the different series methods available to solve initial and boundary value problems. …

Dominican Women: Their Perception As Leaders By The Dominican Population, Jorge Canaán, Glenda Corcino

Theses

In the Dominican Republic, women have traditionally been molded to be housewives, obey men, and not to interfere with men's issues/matters (Duarte, 2009). As in other countries, this has changed over the years as more women succeed and achieve many accomplishments in society, but it still is present to some level in different places and circumstances across the Dominican Republic (Press, 2010). This study was conducted with the objective of gathering information of the Dominicans' perception about the profile of Dominican women as leaders and their roles in society. Based on the interviews inMujeres Extraordinarias: Mujeres en el tiempo, mujeres …

Robust Recognition Using L1-Principal Component Analysis, Matthew Johnson

Theses

The wide availability of visual data via social media and the internet, coupled with the demands of the security community have led to an increased interest in visual recognition. Recent research has focused on improving the accuracy of recognition techniques in environments where variability is well controlled. However, applications such as identity verification often operate in unconstrained environments. Therefore there is a need for more robust recognition techniques that can operate on data with considerable noise.

Many statistical recognition techniques rely on principal component analysis (PCA). However, PCA suffers from the presence of outliers due to occlusions and noise often …

Propencity, Alissa Barbato

Theses

I am interested in developing ceramic sculpture that explores the dynamics of group behavior and how the perception of an individual drastically changes if there are a thousand versus one. Thematically, I am equally interested in exploring how and why people come together. Another topic I will investigate is how the environment affects their interaction. Finally, I will consider the affect on an individual when encountering a large mass of individuals.

I will establish a visual vocabulary of ceramic forms to abstractly represent individuals in the groups. These sculptures will range in size but will mostly be on a small, …

Architecture As Communication: A Study Of The Role Of Form, Function And Context In Evoking Meaning, Priyanka Sondhi

Theses

The aim of this thesis is to understand and design an architecture that includes as part of its program, the function of communication of a certain encoded idea(s) through the public's everyday interaction with it. This thesis is divided into two parts - exploration and design project. The exploration part studies the methods and history of communicating meaning through architecture. Based on this study a design project was defined which included picking an appropriate site, identifying the meaning to be communicated for the site context, studying the context for such communication and designing a building program and form.

Rochester, being …

Continuity And Change In The History Of Police Technology: The Case Of Contemporary Crime Analysis, Alysia C. Mason

Theses

A series of police practices and technology make up what today is known as crime analysis. Crime analysis can broadly be defined as the use of police knowledge and data to combat and solve crime. The current study seeks to illuminate the current status of crime analysis, and the measures being taken to gain legitimacy and recognition in the field of law enforcement. First, the historical backdrop of technology and police history will be established. Next, three inter-related research projects are used to frame patterns and practices of contemporary crime analysis. The first project examines police organizations’ adoption of community …

Numerical Investigation Of Interfacial Mass Transport Resistance And Two-Phase Flow In Pem Fuel Cell Air Channels, Mustafa Koz

Theses

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are efficient and environmentally friendly electrochemical engines. The performance of a PEMFC is adversely affected by oxygen (O2) concentration loss from the air flow channel to the cathode catalyst layer (CL). Oxygen transport resistance at the gas diffusion layer (GDL) and air channel interface is a non-negligible component of the O2 concentration loss. Simplified PEMFC performance models in the available literature incorporate the O2 resistance at the GDL-channel interface as an input parameter. However, this parameter has been taken as a constant so far in the available literature and does not reflect variable PEMFC …

Discovering Galapagos: A Children’S Website, Jing Yan

Theses

Information technology is changing people's lives. It changes the way people communicate with others, how people search for information, and how people study and learn new knowledge. According to several studies and reports, more and more parents are using computers and mobile devices to teach their children. However, with the exception of games, there are only a few fun educational websites are created for children.

As a designer and young mother who wants to find good educational resources for children, I think this would be a good opportunity for me to design a website for our tiny thinkers. Because children …

Mining And Integration Of Structured And Unstructured Electronic Clinical Data For Dementia Detection, Joseph Bullard

Theses

Dementia is an increasing problem for the aging population that incurs high medical costs, in part due to the lack of available treatment options. Accordingly, early detection is critical to potentially postpone symptoms and to prepare both healthcare providers and families for a patient's management needs. Current detection methods are typically costly or unreliable, and could greatly benefit from improved recognition of early dementia markers. Identification of such markers may be possible through computational analysis of patients' electronic clinical records. Prior work on has focused on structured data (e.g. test results), but these records often also contain natural language (text) …

Carveol And Related Monoterpenes Inhibit The Function Of The Human Α7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor, Yosra Adnan Lozon Adnan Lozon

Theses

Plants and phytochemicals have been used for centuries for therapeutic purposes. Essential oils from these plants are complex mixtures and may possess a large spectrum of biological activities many of them of clinical interest. Among the active constituents of essential oils, monoterpenes, demonstrated valuable antioxidant, antiviral, antimicrobial, anticancer, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. In recent years, actions of monoterpenes on the function of ion channels have been investigated. In the present study, effects of different monoterpenes including carvacrol, carveol, d-carvone, eugenol, (+)-pulegone, thymol, thymoquinone, menthome and limonene, on the function of the cloned α7 subunit of human nicotinic acetylcholine (nACh) receptor …

Altared Object, Erin Jameson Brown

Theses

The thesis exhibition Altared Object seeks to undermine and expose the established religious and patriarchal practices that cause harm to women in contemporary society. In my art, I attempt to expose the latent sexist oppression that exists in society and in the church; how fundamental and foundational it is to our societal norms; and how this oppression is still widely accepted and adhered to, but not necessarily acknowledged today. Through the use of massproduced objects which I have purchased from thrift stores or found online, seemingly innocuous objects will be repurposed through a process of appropriation and reintroduced in a …

Finding Place: Chaos, Control, & I, Brandi Rackers

Theses

This thesis and accompanying exhibition seeks to investigate through visualization the role of individual units within a system through personal association with those individual units. The art forms in the exhibition are artifacts of the pseudo-scientific process that I have developed. Through scientific research and interpretations of personal experiences, the process seeks to explore system construction, functionality and degree of success regarding each. The role of the individual unit within systems and the manner in which it exercises a potent influence is elucidated. As a consequence, the exhibition provides self-reflective information and an environment for viewers to consider the effects …

Visual Guidance: A Universal Wayfinding Symbol System Prototype For Art Museums, Rui Ma

Theses

Wayfinding is very important for travelers. One example is, communicative symbol systems used at international airports. Art museums also need to employ visual guidance to help people effectively navigate the space.This prototype project involved designing a universal wayfinding symbol system for art museums based on art movements and geographic regions. The objective of the project is to make wayfinding easier for international museum visitors using visual guidance.

The subject was selected through research and discussion with the thesis advisors. The refinements were made based on feedback from diverse audience of users and students at Imagine RIT.

The project has two …

Stuff: The Abandoned Land An Interactive Sustainable Role-Playing Game, Chien-Ju Peng

Theses

Stuff: The Abandoned Land is an interactive role-playing game web application

designed to help teenagers and young adults understand environmental

destruction and the importance of recycling and reducing waste. We are part

of the production and consumption cycle but we can instead change our

consumptive behavior in order to create a better future. This web application

is designed for teenagers and young adults, ages 15 to 24. By developing

an engaging interactive game application, we intended to focus the target

audience's attention on serious environmental topics.

The story begins with the main character, Kevin, who questions the worth of

life …

Gluten-Free Products And Zagreb’S Bakeries, Maja Vukoja

Theses

While a capital of Croatia, with a population of over one million, offers a limited number of different gluten-free products, Zagreb’s bakeries do not offer gluten-free products at all.

The purpose of this study was to identify the existence of a non-medically motivated demand for gluten-free products in Zagreb’s bakeries and find out what are the motivators driving this demand. This study used an explanatory sequential mixed methods design. Quantitative data collection (through a survey) was followed with a qualitative data collection and analysis (through interviews) which led to the interpretation of results.

Survey was conducted on a random sample …

The Neoliberal Privatization In Kosovë: A Deconstructed Myth, Edison Jakurti

Theses

This paper describes and analyzes the process of neoliberal privatization in Kosovë, mainly focusing on the privatization of Kosovo Energy Distribution and Supply (KEDS) and the attempt to privatize Post and Telecommunications of Kosovo (PTK). The methodology used to obtain the results includes both primary and secondary data collection. Initially, we examine privatization as a concept and neoliberalism as an ideology that promotes privatization. To contextualize how neoliberal privatization has worked, we look at a brief history of privatization in Kosovë.. We come to the conclusion then that what was promised before privatization was not accomplished once privatization took place, …

The Law Of The Protection Of Personal Data: A Qualitative And Quantitative Analysis, Endrine Rafuna

Theses

This study’s main topic is Kosovo’s Law on the Protection of Personal Data. It aims to prove that the Law is incomplete and needs to add more articles regarding the protection of digitalized computer data, and that the enforcing institution of this Law, so the National Agency for Personal Data Protection has not been able to inform the citizens of Kosovo about it.

The study has tried to prove this by doing a comparative analysis of Kosovo and Albania’s Law on the Protection of Personal Data to find out the differences and see if there are any places that Kosovo …

Issue Of Non-Addressed Recommendations From The Auditor General In Kosovo, Lule Bahtiri

Theses

This project considered the problem of disregard of recommendations from the Auditor General. It included a lack of Parliamentary Oversight to deal with this issue.

From interviews conducted with the former Auditor General, it was revealed that the institution he directed took several reforms which helped reduce the problem. These reforms included proposing realistic recommendations, and including a follow up step in the audit process. The latter informed public institutions how they were progressing with regards to his recommendations throughout the year. Nevertheless, a considerable number of recommendations are still being ignored rather than addressed.

Adding Internet Safety And Financial Education For Children As New Courses In Elementary School Curriculum, Gresa Statovci

Theses

Internet Safety and Financial Education for children are the new necessary courses to be added in the school curriculum given the importance of these two topics in today’s society. Children face detrimental online risks while using the internet and there is lack of proper information provided to them upon cyber security. The same scenario is with Financial Education – children barely have access to any kind of educative materials in regards to finances while they are at school. Considering the necessity of having online and financial knowledge, children should be provided with this information through their teachers in primary schools. …

Fostering Economic Growth: The Establishment Of The Free Economic Zone In Gjakova, Bleta Polloshka

Theses

Kosova is a developing country which has a huge trade imbalance. In order to decrease the trade imbalance of Kosova, the Ministry of Trade and Industry has decided to establish free economic zones in the cities of Gjakova, Mitrovica and later Prizren. These economic zones were established under the Law Nr. 04/L-159 – on economic zones. This project will be specifically focused on the free economic zone of Gjakova.

Gjakova is a city in south-west of Kosovo with a very rich history in industrialization in the times of ex-Yugoslavia. Its previous industrialization and its geographical position have made it possible …

Career Development Center Reformation: Enhancing The Employability Of Up Students, Blendrit Elezaj

Theses

Kosovo’s youth is facing immense challenges in finding jobs and be an active part of the labor force. With a more than 60% young population (Kosovo Statistical Agency), it is certainly the country with the youngest population in Europe. Out of the ones already part of the labor force, 55.9% are unemployed (KSA) – a percentage that is increasing annually, with more and more students graduating and entering the labor force. The University of Prishtina, as an institution of higher education and a major channel of Kosovar youth towards the labor force, has a significant role in preparing them to …

Fighting Informal Economy: Informal Labor, Lumbardh Zagragja

Theses

The first and main goal of project is to find how much does the budget of the government of Kosovo lose and how much pension contributions are forgone as a result of labor informality. Secondary goals of the project to find out the challenges of fighting labor informality and implications that arise from undeclared labor.

Losses from the government budget were calculated by using three different approaches. First approach takes into consideration the total number of workers that is generated by the Labor Force Survey and the total number of declared workers at the Kosovo Saving Pensions Fund. It was …

Pool Boiling Heat Transfer Surface Enhancement Using Electrodeposition With Non-Electrolyte Bath, Valentina Mejia

Theses

The use of pool boiling for heat transfer cooling has been widely researched and implemented. A number of different modes of enhancement currently exist that improve the heat transfer properties of a boiling surface. Electrochemical deposition is a simple method that can be used to alter the chemical and geometrical composition of a surface, these alterations can be used to enhance the surface’s heat transfer properties with relative ease. It also provides the ability to deposit coatings onto a substrate that may be of different composition and morphology. This study sought to develop a simple electrochemical deposition process for depositing …

Fates Of Spilt Oil And Factors Affecting The Bio-Degradation Of Oil: A Review, Amogh-Ranganath Chakravarthy

Theses

The usage of crude oil and its products is increasing; in turn, the number of spills is also going up. The inland spills are the more recurrent spills in the U.S today. This review article deals with the weathering of oils, which commences just after oil spills into the environment with various processes such as evaporation, dissolution, photo-oxidation, dispersion, emulsification and bio-degradation along with other possible fates. Biodegradation is one of the most significant processes of weathering which depends on oil physical and chemical characteristics, environmental characteristics, pH, salinity and oil concentration. There is a range of oil concentration for …

An Electrospinning Apparatus For The Production Of Heterogeneous Scaffolds And Their Application In Cartilage Regeneration, Andrew Ryan Hollingsworth

Theses

The human body contains a vast array of soft and hard tissues, each with their own unique set of physical, chemical, mechanical, and electrical properties. It is the combination of these tissues that allows the human body to function as it does. However, these tissues are subject to wear, fatigue, and injury and thus can potentially limit the functions of the body. Therefore, tissue engineering has sought various natural and synthetic materials that can be used for fabrication of cellular scaffolds that have the ability to promote cellular attachment, proliferation, differentiation, and eventual whole tissue formation for replacement and repair …

Fabrication Of Micro Pillar Arrays Via Aerosol Jet Printing, Akanksha Umrani

Theses

Direct write printing is one of the evolving technologies that can be used to fabricate 3D structures such as ceramic micro-pillars. Direct write printing processes can print high resolution structures in the micron or sub-micron range. These structures find their applications in 3D Micro-Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS), ultra-sound and thermal imaging, heat exchangers and solid oxide fuel cells. The present research is focused on fabrication of vertical ceramic micro-pillars using the Aerosol Jet direct write printing process for enhancing the aspect ratio of the pillars. Aerosol Jet printing offers flexibility with respect to ink compositions as compared with fabrication techniques …

Facebook Face-Ism: Perception Of Competency In Social Media Profile Images And Its Relationship To Gender, Marissa Pixley

Theses

This study investigated the impact of facial prominence in Facebook profile images on perceived competency. It also considered the gender of the subject in the profile image and the gender of the respondent. A survey was administered to 177 undergraduate students asking them to rate the level of perceived competency for four Facebook profile images. Results indicated that Facebook profile images with high face-ism levels were rated significantly higher than that of images with low face-ism levels. Contrary to predictions, profile images of females were rated significantly more competent than images of males. Gender of the respondent played a significant …

Business Intelligence: Evolution And Future Trends, Dalal Suliman Bataweel

Theses

Business Intelligence systems play a critical role in the business development process. They help make critical decisions based on meaningful information culled from a huge, complicated database system. Business intelligence also plays a key role in business growth and profitability by capturing real-time information and data pieces for market forecasting. As electronics media advance, companies are looking for the best data integration processes to integrate important information through electronic and computer devices to their business intelligence systems. The real challenge that organizations are facing is how to get real information in real time. In the past, organizations have adopted different …

Micrornas In Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: A Potential Biomarker, S. Godfrey Sherette

Theses

Purpose: The Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) subtype accounts for 15 percent of all breast cancers. It is characterized by cancer cells that lack estrogen, progesterone, and HER2/Neu receptors. TNBC is highly aggressive and deadly, and primarily affects younger African-American women. Identification of microRNAs that can be used as biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and provide drug-able targets is the long-term goal of this study. The objective of this study is to compare and contrast microRNA expression level profiles from microarray (Partek Genomic Suite) and qPCR analysis performed on triple-negative breast cancer versus normal breast tissue cell line in order to find …

Dynamics Of Frequency Swept Sources For Optical Coherence Tomography, Svetlana Slepnava

Theses

This thesis aims to analyse the properties of optical coherence tomography swept sources, using fast real-time intensity and phase characterisation techniques for full electric field reconstruction. In the first part, these techniques are applied to analyse a commercial short cavity laser that exhibits mode hopping, sliding frequency mode locking or chaotic dynamical regime depending on the sweep speed and direction Numerical simulations of time-delayed differential equations display similar features and enable an understanding the underlying physics of the coherence properties of these light sources. In the second part of the thesis, a Fourier Domain Mode Locked (FDML) laser is built …