Digital Commons Network^™

Flow In Porous Media And Environmental Impact, Noujoud M Jawhar

Theses

No abstract provided.

Assessment Of Marine Pollution Along Qatar’S Coasts, Mariam Saud Sadoon Al-Adba

Theses

In 2006 a study was carried out to evaluate organic and petroleum pollutants including: Total Organic Carbon (TOC), Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH), Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN), Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and PolyChlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in coastal bottom sediments of Qatar, as well to determine the source of petroleum pollutant in the environment.

The study included 15 stations along the coastline, at a 100 m distance from the shoreline. The average TOC % analyzed in the study area is 0.262 % which is less than other regional studies. The average TPH in Qatar sediment is around 133.46 mg/kg; this is lower …

Assessment Of Noise Impact Of Air Traffic At Dubai International Airport, Maryam Ali Ahmad Al Balooshi

Theses

The aviation industry in UAE has experienced rapid expansion over the past decade due to increase in economic growth and technological advancements. UAE’s total fiscal investment on airport development over the coming 20 years is estimated to exceed Dh 71 billion (US$19.35 billion). Civil aviation now a day is considered one of the greatest environmental concerns which lead to many different environmental problems. The International Aviation Organization (ICAO) secretariat considered aircraft noise as the most significant cause of adverse community reaction relating to the operation and expansion of airports. This is expected to remain the case in most regions of …

Preparation And Characterization Of (Gesbte)) Semiconductors For Phase-Change Optical Storage, Hessa Ali Humeid Al-Shamisi

Theses

In the last decade, the phase change optical recording based upon chalcogenide glasses has advanced remarkably at full-scale commercial applications in the form of rewritable compact disks (CD-RWs). The principle of phase-change optical recording is based on a thermally induced reversible transformation between amorphous and crystalline phases. The search for recording materials possessing fast crystallization rate and long data retention has been pursued. Research results have revealed that Ge-Sb-Te compounds exhibit fast crystallization, which has been explained in terms of their single-phase structure.

In the present work, electrical properties of Ge-Sb-Te thin films using Impedance Spectroscopy, Current-Voltage, and Capacitance-Voltage techniques …

Transfer And The Fuzzy-Trace Theory, Michael Ryan Massey

Theses

Transfer occurs when something is learned under particular circumstances and is applied in a new, somehow different, situation. This paper will argue that fuzzy-trace theory can be used to explain the process of transfer. The advantage of fuzzy-trace theory is found in a dual-process theory of memory. Fuzzy-trace theory explains a broad range of phenomena and has the strength to conquer the elusive problem of transfer. Trace-cue compatibility theory is a theory of memory retrieval. By combining the trace-cue compatibility theory with fuzzy-trace theory, we get a method for treating both memory storage and memory retrieval. This combination provides a …

Power Reduction Techniques For Memory Elements, Srikanth Katrue

Theses

High performance and computational capability in the current generation processors are made possible by small feature sizes and high device density. To maintain the current drive strength and control the dynamic power in these processors, simultaneous scaling down of supply and threshold voltages is performed. High device density and low threshold voltages result in an increase in the leakage current dissipation. Large on chip caches are integrated onto the current generation processors which are becoming a major contributor to total leakage power. In this work, a novel methodology is proposed to minimize the leakage power and dynamic power. The proposed …

L’Dor Vador: Remembering The Cleveland Jewish Immigration Experience, Roxanne Feldman

Theses

Jewish people heavily contributed to the growth and development of the city of Cleveland. Their impact extended from creating major businesses to influence in education and culture. Jewish immigration, an integral piece of Cleveland’s history, offers many memories that constitute an interactive, educational, and engaging exhibit. The goal of this interactive project is to inform users about what life was like as a Jewish immigrant or resident in Cleveland by sharing stories of individuals in the community and in my family. Through exploration of photographs, videos, and an interactive map, users will be able to identify noteworthy businesses, organizations, and …

Detection And Removal Of Eyeblink Artifacts From Eeg Using Wavelet Analysis And Independent Component Analysis, Jimy Pesin

Theses

Electrical signals generated by brain activity that are measured by the electroencephalogram can be distorted by electrical activity originating from eyeblinks and eye movements. This thesis proposes a new technique to identify and remove eyeblink artifacts from EEG data. An algorithm using a combination of wavelet analysis and independent component analysis (ICA) is implemented to detect the temporal location of the eyeblink artifact and eliminate it without compromising the integrity of the primary EEG data. The discrete wavelet transform is performed on 10 second epochs of data to detect the occurrence of ocular artifact. ICA is used to separate out …

Online Cake Instructor, Jen-Chun Tseng

Theses

This thesis will be an e-learning website about making cakes. Users will learn how to make a cake in a virtual environment by following the instructions and interacting with the surroundings, instead of learning from text statements. “Simulation” will be a focus in this thesis. Users will go through the cooking process by using virtual tools and a virtual oven. The final goal of the online courses is that users should use those virtual materials and tools correctly without a cue. Still images, videos, 3D models, and animations will be used to simulate the whole process. As an e-learning material, …

Table Driven Prediction For Recursive Descent Ll(K) Parsers, William M. Leiserson

Theses

Programming languages are typically described in BNF or some extension of BNF, and the process of converting these descriptions into parsers is performed by parser generators. Some of the parser generators that convert LL grammars into parsers construct them to use recursive descent that gives them context during execution. The context is provided by the execution stack as the parser descends into the grammar and this is what allows the full expressiveness of LL grammars. Table driven parsers can be generated instead but restrictions are placed on the LL grammars that can be accepted. The benefit of tables is that …

An Investigation On The Corrosion Resistance And Stress Corrosion Cracking Of Ductile Ni-Resist Cast Irons In Desalination Plants., Yahya Abdulla Alzafin

Theses

Two cases of stress corrosion cracking failures of brine pumps casings have been reported. These pumps are installed in two desalination plants located on the coast of Arabian Gulf in UAE. The materials of construction of failed parts are Ni-Resist Ductile Irons (NDI) and the environment is brine, which is concentrated seawater. Two brands of pumps had different lives to total failure; one lived 18 years while the other lasted only 5 years. The failed parts of former pumps were made out of NDI material as per American standard ASTM A439 D2 (designated D material) whereas those of latter pumps …

Using Gis To Optimize The Design And Implementation Of The Rtk Reference Network In Abu Dhabi, Mustafa Abdulla Almusawa

Theses

Several challenging applications and construction works demand real-time measurements for positioning at the centimeter-level accuracy. This positioning accuracy can be obtained by using a Global Positioning System (GPS) roving unit and employing a single reference station (base-station) or through utilizing the service of multiple reference stations forming a Real-Time Kinematics (RTK) Reference Network.

The limitation of the single reference approach is that measurement errors are distance dependent and good accuracy can be only obtained when distances are less than 10 kms. In addition, this method requires a nearby Geodetic Control Point (GCP). Recently, RTK reference networks are widely established in …

Gis Analysis For Abu Dhabi Schools, Shaima Hassan Hammadi

Theses

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have become an indispensable tool in many fields of study and research. GIS is useful for choosing sites, targeting market segments, planning infrastructure facilities and responding to emergencies. GIS is internationally used for the educational sector in different aspects such as planning schools allocation and managing educational resources. This thesis investigated the spatial distribution of schools in Abu Dhabi with respect to population density and service areas, generated prospective locations for constructing new schools based on the current and future demand using multi-criteria decision rules, developed a road network system that helps in finding shortest and …

Characterization Of Putative Magnesium Transport Systems In Yeast, Andrew James Franklin

Theses

Magnesium (Mg2+) is essential for all life, and is utilized for many important biological processes. Despite the fundamental importance of Mg2+ homeostasis to life, relatively little is known about Mg2+ homeostasis in eukaryotes. The goal of this work was to identify proteins required for the active transport of Mg2+, which are essential to prevent the overaccumulation of cytosolic Mg2+, but have not been identified from any organism. In yeast, a vacuolar Mg2+/H+ exchange activity has been described but the molecular identify of this protein is unknown. To try and identify this activity, a candidate gene approach was used. Four yeast …

Prefrontal Cortex Asymmetry And The Regulation Of Communication: A Meta-Analytic Study, Michelle Elaine Pence

Theses

A rapidly growing body of research indicates that individual differences in the ability to regulate emotions depends on symmetric functioning in the prefrontal cortex. When prefrontal functioning is asymmetrical- especially when the right side is more active than the left- a lack of emotional control is more likely. This lack of emotional regulation has consequences for affective social interaction and, therefore, communication. Although a great deal of theoretical speculation abounds regarding the research literature, conclusions have been based on narrative literature reviews. In the present study, a psychometric meta-analysis of studies that examined the relationship between prefrontal asymmetry and variables …

Good Is Dead, Jayson Bimber

Theses

This thesis focuses on a visual re-representation of tales from the Old Testament, a canon throughout the history of Western art. I place constructed plasticized models within Biblical allegories in order to satirize the representations of the body evident throughout history as well as those present in contemporary media. In the thesis work I seek to bridge a gap between the past and present. I want the images to dwell between the intended moral pedagogy of the Bible and contemporary society’s perceived deviance, by linking historical painting and current digital photography, and between antique ideals of the body and present-day …

Interactivity And Health Communication: Content Analysis Of Interactive Elements On Hiv/Aids Awareness And Prevention Websites, Vikas John

Theses

Individuals increasingly turn to the Internet to satisfy their information needs, including information on health-related issues like HIV/AIDS. Researchers agree that an important characteristic of this medium is interactivity. The concept can be viewed from either a user perspective, focusing on the user’s experience with the medium or a system perspective, analyzing the design of technology. The current study followed the system perspective to analyze the various features on HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention websites. Although all websites were interactive, there was considerable variation in the types of features present. This study attempted to find a relationship, if any, between the …

A Novel Approach To Determine Arsenic Contamination In The Environment, Dean Franklin

Theses

This study examines a novel method to determine heavy metal contamination in the environment. This method will combine the established technique of atomic absorption spectroscopy with terrestrial isopods. The terrestrial isopods bioaccumulate heavy metals. The established forensic analysis by atomic absorption was used to quantify heavy metal poisoning. Spectroscopy determined the presence of arsenic and lead in four study areas. Arsenic contamination was the focus of this study. Lead contamination was done in parallel to verify the method. As part of the controls, three types of lumber were offered the isopods to feed on. Those lumber samples were kiln dried …

Countdown To Hiroshima, David S.R. Bridges

Theses

On August 6th, 1945 at approximately 8: 15 a.m. the United States dropped a uranium-based atomic bomb code named "Little Boy," on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The initial explosion, which was the equivalent of 13,000 tons of TNT, killed 45,000 of the largely civilian population instantly. Hundreds of thousands more would die of radiation-related illnesses in the decades to follow and a conservative estimate puts the death toll from the Hiroshima bombing at 200,000.

Three days later, the United States would drop another atomic bomb composed of plutonium and code named "Fat Boy," on the Japanese city of Nagasaki …

Racial Profiling And The Police: Utilizing The Census Transportation Planning Package To Benchmark Traffic Stops Made By The North Carolina State Highway Patrol, Michael R. Herb

Theses

Racial profiling, or the practice of using race, ethnicity, or other racially based characteristics to decide when to stop, cite, or search drivers, has been studied and analyzed by researchers for decades. Attempts have been made to gain an understanding of why officers commit acts of racial profiling and to identify different evaluation methods that allow for accurate analysis of racial profiling data. This study attempts to create a new method of evaluation by utilizing the Census Transportation Planning Package (CTPP) as a benchmark for racial profiling data. Variables from the CTPP are used to create estimates of the transient …

Turing Instabilities In A S-I-R Model, Hye Yon Yi

Theses

With the increasing threat of biological warfare and the fear of an epidemic outbreak of influenza, smallpox, and other deadly diseases, the field of epidemic modeling is becoming increasingly important in the scientific fields. The focus of this thesis will be to create a model to study the effects of the rates of reaction and the rates of diffusion within a network based on the different parameters used in the modeling of any disease. For this model, the exact parameters of a specific disease are not as crucial as the qualitative behaviors that occur from the changing parameters. The model …

On The Plasma Induced Degradation Of Organosilicate Glass (Osg) As An Interlevel Dielectric For Sub 90 Nm Cmos, Amy Huang

Theses

The fabrication of integrated circuits (ICs) in a semiconductor manufacturing environment is governed by two main categories: Front End of the Line (FEOL) processing and Back End of the Line (BEOL) processing. Transistors are formed in active regions in FEOL while BEOL processing focuses on creation of metal interconnects and interlevel dielectrics (ILDs). These dielectrics patterned in BEOL are required to have low permittivity or k values in order to mitigate parasitic capacitance. This reduction in capacitance between metal layers diminishes dynamic power dissipation, crosstalk noise, and interconnect delay issues as IC technology nodes continue to scale down in size. …

A New Adaptive Edge Enhancement Algorithm For Color Laser Printers, Manoj Kumar Reddy

Theses

This thesis presents a novel algorithm for improving quality of edges in printed text. The algorithm is designed to add pixels at selected edge locations after halftoning. The extent of the correction is proportional to the “strength” of the edge, as determined by comparing the local differences in a four-pixel neighborhood to a dynamically generated threshold. The process is computationally efficient and requires minimal memory resources. The performance of our proposed algorithm is clearly demonstrated on several characters and lines. While the algorithm aims to improve the quality of printed text (edges), it is possible to extend its application to …

Global Character Of The Solutions Of Rational Difference, Halyna Romanyuk

Theses

It is our goal to investigate the global character of the positive solutions of the following rational difference equation:Xn=1+[...] the initial conditions are positive real numbers. We will examine the global stability, periodic nature, boundedness and the monotonicity character of the positives solutions. (Refer to PDF file for exact formulas)

Dynamic Inversion Of Underactuated Systems Via Squaring Transformation Matrix, Ryan Schkoda

Theses

In this thesis, a novel method for control of non-square dynamical systems using a model following approach is developed. Control methodologies such as dynamic inversion and sliding mode control require an inversion of the input influence matrix. However, if the system input influence matrix is non-square direct inversion is not possible. Pseudo inversion of the input influence matrix may be performed for control allocation. However, pseudo inversion limits the control to states where the controller is directly applied. The pseudoinverse method does not permit the engineer to designate a particular state to control or track. When accurate tracking of states …

Finding Yosemite: A Reflection On Conservation, Jennifer Witkowski

Theses

Yosemite National Park has always been a National treasure of natural beauty, making it a popular tourist attraction by providing protection for unique geological formations, wildlife, and land of historic value. The parks mission is to provide recreation while educating and preserving the history and environment in which the park resides on. Recently, the mission of Yosemite National Park has been threatened by an increase in the number of people who visit the park annually and budget cuts that have a direct effect on the amount of resources the park has available to counteract the environmental impact of the rise …

Assessment Of Accuracy And Repeatability Of Verbal Exertion Estimation In The Presence Of Fatigue, Matthew Klosner

Theses

Occupational ergonomics has long focused on physical exertion as a key to the prevention of musculoskeletal injuries. Traditionally, objective measurements of forceful exertion such as electromyography (EMG) and direct force measurement have been used to assess exposure to forceful exertion. However, these measurements are often not practical for occupational settings due to their cumbersome and costly nature. As a result, psychophysical magnitude estimation may be used, in which human subjects verbally estimate the magnitude of an exertion. Despite an abundance of research on verbal estimation, its repeatability and the effects of fatigue on estimation accuracy have not been sufficiently assessed. …

Development Of A Ground Truth Simulator And Application Of A Generalized Multiple-Model Adaptive Estimation Approach To Tune A State Estimation Filter, Kevin Wyffels

Theses

In this thesis, a maritime scenario simulator is developed and a data processing/filtering algorithm is applied to estimate the ground truth of the simulated scenario from noisy measurements and system model for the Hierarchical High Level Information Fusion Technologies (H2LIFT) project. H2LIFT is an adaptable information fusion frame- work which takes as input Levels 0/1 (local) data and performs fusion at Levels two and three (distributed, and network centric) hierarchically, in different stages, to provide real- time situational/impact assessment efficiently while avoiding the overload of information to the human decision maker. First, a simulator is developed that imitates a naval …

Rfid-Assisted Wireless Sensor Networks For Cardiac Tele-Healthcare, Laura J. Celentano

Theses

As the baby boomers head into old age, America will see a dramatic increase in the number of elderly patients admitted to healthcare facilities, such as nursing homes. Due to this rising elderly population, it will be difficult for nursing home personnel to monitor all patients at once. One way to cut down on the amount of supervision by the staff is for patients to administer their own medication. This leads to new problems though, as a patient incorrectly administering one of their many medications could lead to a disastrous end. Technology to wirelessly transmit a patient’s electrocardiogram (ECG) has …

Experimental And Numerical Evaluation Of Single Phase Adiabatic Flows In Plain And Enhanced Microchannels, Akhilesh V. Bapat

Theses

Thermal Dissipation is a critical issue in the performance of semiconductor devices. The current practice is to use forced convection by air over a heat sink which is bonded to the microelectronic device. With increased packing density of the circuits inside a chip, large amounts of heat is generated and air cooling is no longer sufficient. Forced liquid convection using microchannels is considered to be a viable option for cooling of these microprocessor chips. This work deals with the evaluation of the single phase pressure drop in microchannels. There are two types of microchannels under consideration. Plain microchannels which have …