Digital Commons Network^™

Characterization Of Sleep Eeg, Seetharamiah Sateesh

Theses

The physiological relationship between the various components of sleep and its variation due to drug administration has been used as one of the primary tools to analyze the performance of drug. A number of studies have been performed in recent years in this direction. Electroencephalogram (EEG) has been characterized with the help of variables ranging from measurements of the duration of different sleep stages to the activities that define the stages themselves. Advances in computer hardware and software have improved the methods of data acquisition and storage. Analysis of long stretch of data has always been a problem considering the …

A Distributed Network Architecture For Video-On-Demand, Ge Dai

Theses

The objective of this thesis is to design a distributed network architecture that provides video - on - demand services to public subscribers. This architecture is proposed as an alternative to a centralized video service system. The latter system is currently being developed by Oracle Corporation and NCube Corporation.

A simulator is developed to compare the performance of both the distributed and centralized video server architectures. Moreover, an estimate of the cost of both systems is derived using current price data.

It is shown that the distributed video server architecture offers a better cost / performance trade-off than the centralized …

A Gis Based Multi-Modal Multiple Optimal Path Transit Advanced Traveler Information System, Nicholas A. Koncz

Theses

A method for the design and use of a Transit Advanced Traveler Information System (TATIS) using an off-the-shelf Geographic Information System (GIS) is developed in this thesis. The research design included: 1) representing multi-modal transit networks in a digital form with schedule databases; 2) development of a multiple "optimal" path algorithm that takes into account walking transfers using published time schedules; 3) incorporating user preferences and penalties in the algorithm; 4) development of a user-interface with suitable output capabilities; 5) using the prototype for sample inquiries giving performance measures.

This prototype was developed using the Arc/Info GIS developed by ESRI, …

Influences Of Cardiac And Respiratory Parameters On Heart Rate Variability, Melissa Leifer

Theses

Heart rate variability is a result of variation in the activity of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. Methods have been developed to determine the level of parasympathetic activity by observing the heart rate variability spectrum. Most of the previously published research uses only level of parasympathetic activity and respiratory rate to draw conclusions about the interactions of the autonomic nervous system with physiological parameters. In order to gain a complete understanding of the autonomic nervous system and the mechanisms responsible for heart rate variability, respiratory volume, cardiac variables and pulmonary variables need to be considered. In addition, amount of …

Computerized Scoring Of Sleep Stage Data, Subbarao Narayana

Theses

Sleep is a non-uniform biological state which has been subdivided into different stages. The basic criteria behind staging are the amplitude and frequency variations of sleep data. The sleep analysis is carried out by considering the characteristic variation of all three EEG, EOG and EMG signals. The polygraphic recording of nocturnal sleep is a method of research widely used in neurophysiology laboratories, both for the clinical study of sleep and for the evaluation of the therapeutic effectiveness of drugs acting on sleep. The analysis of this method is carried out by an expert individual whose depth of knowledge regarding the …

The Use And Evaluation Of Cleaner Wicks To Accelerate In Situ Bioremediation Of Organically Contaminated Groundwater And Soil, Brian Michael Sielski

Theses

The adaptation of Cleaner Wicks to accelerate in situ bioremediation of organically contaminated ground water and soil can be accomplished by making minor modifications to the Cleaner Wick design.

Once these changes in the Cleaner Wick design have been made the two primary ingredients necessary for aerobic microorganisms, nutrients and oxygen, can be delivered via the Cleaner Wick to the subsurface environment both above and below the water table to stimulate microbial growth and activity. Therefore, the microbial population will be able to biodegrade the target contaminants, rendering them harmless products such as carbon dioxide and water.

An adequate understanding …

Cityscapes: Solitude And Introspection, Fred G. Monti

Theses

The paintings, in this series, deal with the psychology of the urban landscape. Sky lines, night scenes, and the human figure were examined. City structures, inhabitants, and the elements which make them up, become symbolic: catalysts for contemplation. The commonplace becomes metaphysical. The city is a foreign vacuum; a spiritual nomads land. Buildings, bus shelters, steel and glass become a compositional prison. Like an enigmatic halfway house, we have entered urban limbo. This group of paintings is a commentary on such imagery. Specifically, they are visual impressions of its numbing effect on the human psyche.

Memories In Nature, Keng Nio Ong

Theses

Not Included

Form As Symbol: Allure And Defense, Alexandra Hart

Theses

In my thesis, I explore some recurrent ideas which I have become aware of in my work. The central idea of the work is to explore my fascination with the beauty that I find in organic form, specifically forms in nature which have a defensive function. Though the function of my work is not to defend, I explore the form itself in terms of its visual impact on the viewer. Another component of the work is my attempt to reconcile my respect and admiration for the jewelry that has been done in the past with the contemporary emphasis on creating …

Facts And Treatment Options For Patients With Endometriosis, Adrienne Reaves

Theses

None provided.

Invisible Force, Sharon Lockwood

Theses

None provided.

Fuzzy Approach For Arabic Character Recognition, Adnan El-Nasan

Theses

Pattern recognition/classification is increasingly drawing the attention of scientific research because of its important roll in automation and human-machine communication. Even though many models have been introduced to deal with classification, because of the inherited imprecision and ambiguity, these models did not tackle the problem in an efficient way. Traditional models deal only with statistical uncertainty (randomness) but not with the non-statistical uncertainty (vagueness). Fuzzy set theory allows us to better understand imprecision in both of its categories: vagueness and randomness. The incorporation of fuzzy set theory in existing algorithms helped in many cases to improve the performance and increase …

Herbert Feuerhake: Hand-Letterer, Nicholas Dibiase

Theses

The life of Herbert Feuerhake as a designer and hand-letterer was researched and recorded. A summary of hand-lettering in the twentieth-century was provided to help connect the style and methodology of Feuerhake to his time. A brief biography was assembled, and an illustrated catalog of designs was compiled in two parts. The first part being a collection of Feuerhake alphabet designs. The second part is a catalog of graphic designs, ads, and logos. In addition to research inspired by the Feuerhake Archive, the archive itself was organized, labeled, and placed in protective folders as part of this thesis. Research on …

Wee Deliver Interactive, Kimberly Demetree

Theses

None provided.

Talk To Me, Frances Drew

Theses

None provided.

Aging Archetypes In Latter Life: Mythic Characterizations Of Six Psychosocial Microstages, Bernadette Carol Randle

Theses

The use of myth to examine and explain the human condition is axiomatic in most cultures and traditions. One reason is myth and folklore frequently provide illuminating metaphors for the universal life themes of human experience. In western culture, literature is one of the more powerful transmitters of attitudes toward aging and psychological issues that confront the aged (e.g., mental and emotional declension, human interaction with the environment., and the impact of the environment on the aging individual). The purpose of this research is to examine popular and classical literature for representative archetypes that correspond to the predictable life stages …

The Making Of "The Letter", Richard Simms

Theses

None provided.

Injury And Repair Of The Anterior Cruciate Ligament, Catherine Chenot

Theses

None provided.

Sentinel: Monumental Sculpture, Charles Jerome Washburn

Theses

None provided.

Plugged-In: 40 Years Of Digital Imaging, Carol Christy Brown

Theses

To create an interactive piece that will provide to the user a feel for the rapid development of digital imaging, the key players involved and its impact on the way we create visual media today. This interactive presentation will seek to establish how this new medium emerged from the collaboration of many creative minds in the scientific and art worlds.

Modelling Of Groundwater Flow And Pollutants Affecting Concrete Foundations, Jamil A. Gharsan Moqbil

Theses

This thesis presents a finite difference model and its associated computer program. The model has been developed for simulating the pumpage and predicting the water table fluctuations corresponding to different boundary conditions. The mathematical model solves the partial differential equation of groundwater flow by using the finite different techniques.

The model has been verified against known field measurements taken from existing wells in Al-Ain area. Water samples from these existing wells have been collected and tested in the UAE university laboratories to determine their chemical characteristics. All field data have given close results to those predicted by the model and …

Collective Interpretation Of Seismic Reflection, Gravity, Magnetic, And Resistivity Data In The Salalah Plain, Oman, For Hydrogeologic Purposes, Slyam Bin Saeed Bin Salim Ba-Awain

Theses

An interpretive geophysical study in the growing Salalah Plain, Dhofar Governate, Sultanate of Oman, was made during 1993 and part of 1994.

This investigation stems from the need to develop the main and the only water resource in this region. It is aimed to make use of the combined geophysical tools (seismic rflection, gravity, magnetics and resistivity) and available surface and borehole data to assess the environmental impact of the geophysical results.

Several seismic reflection lines were picked and interpreted; one on a horizon near the Taqah limestone (main aquifer), and the other on a horizon near the Mesozoic- Cenozoic …

An In-Scene Parameter Estimation Method For Quantitative Analysis, William C. Snyder

Theses

This thesis describes the development of a general in-scene parameter estimation method for quantitative image evaluation. The Maximum Likelihood Ratio (MLR) estimator uses samples from a selected population of known objects in the image to estimate one or more unknown parameters. The estimate is based on statistically matching the population sample residuals to their simulated distribution. The match is characterized by the likelihood ratio function. To compute the likelihood ratio, stochastic simulation is employed to estimate the density of the residuals. The likelihood ratio of the actual residuals and this simulated density is a surface that is then numerically maximized …

A Study Of The Biofiltration Process Under Shock-Loading Conditions, Helen Androutsopoulou

Theses

Biofiltration is a new technology for treating airstreams contaminated with emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). It employs porous particles which are placed in reactors, in packed-bed configurations, after appropriate microorganisms have been immobilized on the solid support.

Biofiltration involves complex processes, and is not yet well understood. In this thesis the response of biofilter units to quantitative and qualitative changes in the inlet airstreams was examined. Steady state data were also analyzed through the use of an existing detailed model.

Experiments were performed with two small-scale biofilters, and with ethanol and butanol as model compounds. Each biofilter was dedicated …

Solvent Sublation Of Toluene From Aqueous Phase, Mei Chen

Theses

Solvent sublation, a surface chemical technique, was used to remove toluene from aqueous solution into a layer of paraffin oil.

Analytical methods for GC determination of toluene in both gas and aqueous phase were set up. The comparison of solvent sublation and conventional air stripping on toluene removal was carried out. It was found that solvent sublation provides significant improvement over air stripping in removing toluene from water, and reduces toluene emission to the atmosphere. The toluene emissions reduction by solvent sublation are 30%-70% under different conditions. The effects of air flowrates and thickness of organic layer were studied. Increased …

Characterization Of Lightning Induced Voltages On Overhead Power Lines, Wen-Ta Hsiao

Theses

The transient voltage surge caused by lightning is the major source contributed to the disturbance on power systems. The calculation of induced voltages, which is the propagated voltage surge on overhead power lines due to indirect lightning strokes, has been the subject of theoretical and experimental studies. The objective of this research is to develop a comprehensive numerical method to study the induced voltages on an overhead power line caused by a lightning return stroke with arbitrary shapes, for examples inclined lightning, zigzag lightning, etc.

A finite-length lightning channel of any direction in 3-D space has been modelled and closed-form …

Remediation Of Contaminated Sites Using Hot Gas Injection, Sanjay Jayabal

Theses

Remediation of contaminated subsurface sites at lower cost and time than currently used technologies are being demonstrated for a systems concept using new technology developed at the Hazardous Substance Management Research Center at New Jersey Institute of Technology. A technique for pneumatic fracture is employed to "open" subsurface passages to enhance vacuum extraction of contaminants. Economical and environmentally sound destruction of these contaminants is then accomplished using catalytic oxidation followed by scrubbing to remove air pollutants. The hot gas from this phase of the process is then injected into the subsurface formation after being used to preheat the fuel/air mixture …

Managing Occupational Hazards Confronting Healthcare Workers, Kiran A. Mody

Theses

The primary goal of this thesis is to identify, evaluate, and control occupational hazards that may exist in health care facilities.

Due to the complex nature of health care facilities, healthcare workers are always challenged by an imposing group of occupational hazards. The magnitude and diversity of these hazards, and the constantly changing nature of government regulations make it difficult to guarantee absolute protection and accuracy of the material contained herein. However, awareness of the risks, compliance with basic preventive measures, and adequate interventions are all essential components to consider in protecting healthcare workers.

Therefore, potential health effects of various …

Narrow-Band Interference Rejection In Spread Spectrum Using An Eigen Analysis Based Approach, Aparna Vadhri

Theses

A new adaptive technique is suggested for rejecting narrow-band interferences in spread spectrum communications. When data is coded using a pseudo-noise code, the received signal consists of a wide-band signal with almost white spectral properties, thermal noise, and correlated narrow-band interferences. A new approach is proposed which exploits the statistical properties of the received signal via eigenanalysis of the received data. While the energy of the wide-band signal is distributed over all the eigenvalues of the signal autocorrelation matrix, the energy of the interference is concentrated in a few large eigenvalues. Hence, the eigenvectors corresponding to the large eigenvalues are …

Programmable Microstrip Dipole Antenna Design, Jing Zhu

Theses

The narrow bandwidth of microstrip dipole antennas is a major limitation for many applications. A method to increase the microstrip dipole antenna bandwidth is illustrated in this thesis. The proposed method utilizes micromechanical actuators to adjust the electrical length of the dipole antenna. The length change is realized by the activities of several microactuators arranged on both arms of the antenna. The radiation pattern and input impedance, as well as the microactuator mechanisms are detailed in this thesis. A programmable microstrip dipole antenna including the microactuators has been designed with the feedline taken into consideration. The fabrication techniques for this …