Digital Commons Network^™

The Study Of Contrast, Ku-Ho Han

Theses

The purpose of this MFA thesis is to investigate contrast within the material glass. Issues to be investigated include: transparence in contrast to the opaque, architectonic structure in contrast to organic surface and cold working methods in contrast to hot glass technique.

A Multipurpose Mri Phantom Based On A Reverse Micelle Solution, Jo Roe

Theses

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) phantoms are anthroprogenic objects used for system performance testing of an MR imager. Current phantoms used today contain aqueous solutions of paramagnetic salts. When imaged, these phantoms produce a standing wave artifact. The presence of this artifact make it difficult to distinguish between inhomogeneities in the B] transmit and receive field of an imaging coil and the imaging phantom. This thesis describes a reverse micelle (RM) solution and its applicability for use in an MR imaging phantom. The RM solution consists of three components: H20, which is surrounded by the surfactant, AOT, to form a droplet, …

Synergistic Qualities Of Form And Space, Catherine Dicesare Smith

Theses

None provided.

Optimization Of Slice Thickness In Multispectral Mri Tissue Classification Of Brain Tissues, Nagesh Narendranath

Theses

In recent years, magnetic resonance imaging has proven to be an important imaging modality for diagnosing and locating pathology. Recent studies have shown that multispectral tissue classification (MTC) may segment pathology from healthy tissues. Several studies have been done to classify brain tissues such as white matter (WM), gray matter (GM) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) using MTC with slice thicknesses ranging from 5 to 10 mm (Kohn, 1991; Fletcher, 1993; Kao, 1994). In one of the previous studies (Fletcher, 1993) MTC has been used to classify brain tissues such as WM, GM, CSF, adipose tissue (AD), muscle (MS) and skin …

The Name That Can Be Named, Anthony Bissell Rizzolo

Theses

None provided.

A Three-Dimensional Model Of Pulsatile Flow At An Arterial Bifurcation, Andrew Hayes

Theses

Atherosclerosis in known to form at sites of predilection. These sites are typically areas of reduced pressure or shear stress. In the thesis a link between hemodynamics and atherosclerosis formation will be investigated. In the study three-dimensional pulsatile flow at a simplified carotid artery bifurcation has been modeled with computational fluid dynamics (CFD). A flow visualization experiment has also been performed on a glass replica of the bifurcation to verify the CFD results. An intense literature review has been included in the thesis to assimilate all of the published work in the area.

Extraction, Recovery And Separation Of Some Organic And Inorganic Pollutants By Polyurethane Foams And Other Extracting Agents, Mahboob Hassan Saleh

Theses

Many substances pollute the marine and air environments but non-biodegradable compounds are the most dangerous. Heavy metals and most of the pesticides are known for their high toxicity. Mercury and lead in particular tend to accumulate in liver and kidney and inhibit the biosynthesis of heme protein because of their affinity for thiol and phosphate containing ligands. Thus, it affects the permeability of the membranes of kidney, liver and brain cells. Soluble inorganic mercury (II) species can be transformed into methylmercury under aerobic conditions by the actions of microorganisms. The target organ of methylmercury in humans is the brain where …

Museum Of Formosan Aborigines, Yuan-Feng Cheng

Theses

In the beginning, the purpose of this thesis was to explore the feasibility of creating a computer-based visual museum. I wanted to experiment with 3-D interactivity, such as how to set up the cursor movement in a 3-D world and how to use 3-D animation in interactive multimedia. I wanted to use Native Americans as the subject of this 3-D museum project. After I sent my thesis proposal to our department, I found my classmate's project was about Native Americans also. Therefore, I decided on another topic. In July 1995, 1 went back to Taiwan to visit my friends. I …

Thermotropic Liquid Crystalline Poly(Amide-Imide)S: Preperation And Characterization, Bidan Zhang

Theses

None provided.

Lyme Disease, Carolyn Nichols

Theses

None provided.

See Through The Dark -- Reincarnation, Su-Chin Wang

Theses

None provided.

Pink, Melissa Grillo

Theses

None provided.

The Life Of Mariano Payeras: A Study In Church/State Relations, Douglas Anthony Cutter

Theses

To understand the role of Mariano Payeras as Father President of the California Franciscan Missions, it is necessary to place the historiography of the mission in its perspective. Literature abounds regarding California's Franciscan missionaries and their charges--the missions and Indian neophytes. Few historical arenas can claim such easily traceable roots as California and its mission period. In many ways the early Franciscans emerge as the creators of a new civilization, largely because the aborigines kept no written records and because centuries of cultural change, disease, persecution and censure have limited what anthropologists and historians can create of the native past.

Implementation Of Computer Technology For More Efficient Industrial Design Processes, Kwang-Chul Ha

Theses

None provided.

Communication Devices For The Hearing Impaired, Yu-Chun Hsu

Theses

None provided.

A Designer's Guide To The Evaluation Of Digital Proofs, Eric Lopatin

Theses

Digital color proofs and pre-proofs are used by graphic artists and commercial printers throughout the prepress process. However the prepress process has undergone radical changes over the past decade due to the introduction of desk top publishing and desktop prepress. Alongside of the desktop publishing revo lution has come a multitude of new digital proofing technologies for use in this ever changing environment. Technologies including, but not limited to, liquid inkjet, dye sublimation, continuous inkjet, color laser, and thermal wax transfer printers have provided an entire range of color accuracy and price suitability to many of their users. However one …

A Directorial Experience: Noises Off, Jennifer Lynn Forrest

Theses

Over the years I have been exposed to hundreds of shows, some excellent and other's not quite as good. Few shows that I have read, seen, or been involved with seem to have the appeal to both audiences and theatre groups as that of Michael Frayn's modem farce Noises Off. There are several strong reasons for its appeal.

One of the primary reasons for the play's popularity is that it is a reaction against modem theatre's tendency toward preaching at the audience. Contemporary plays tend to teach morality; and while modern playwrights do occasionally use comedy as a vehicle …

Optimization Of Template Selection For Signal Detection Systems With Additive Internal Noise, Shan Xue

Theses

According to studies done by M. I. Trifonov, the form of the optimal detection template for an observer model with additive internal noise depends not only on the signal to be detected, but also on the internal-external noise ratio. The optimal detection template described by Trifonov's theory indeed exhibited superior performance over the conventional "matched filter" template, but the mathematical procedure Trifonov proposed for proving his theory was insufficient. During the course of this thesis project, an extensive research was carried out to study Trifonov's theory and its implications. As a result of this research, a new mathematical technique was …

Group Home Living Versus Individualized Supported Living, Mary A. Scheiner

Theses

This thesis examines the quality of life differences between individuals with developmental disabilities living in group homes versus those in individualized supported living settings. The study was conducted in Sedalia, Missouri, using the Quality of Life Questionnaire developed by Robert Schalock and Kenneth Keith. The questionnaire assessed four key areas: satisfaction, competence and productivity, empowerment and independence, and social belonging and community integration.

Thirty adults participated—15 from group homes and 15 from individualized supported living homes. The findings revealed that individuals in individualized supported living settings reported significantly higher levels of satisfaction, independence, and social integration compared to those in …

Dirsig Digital Imaging And Remote Sensing Imaging Generation Model: Infrared Airborne Validation & Input Parameter Analysis, Todd Kraska

Theses

The civilian and military need for high resolution infrared imagery has dramatically increased in recent times. Regardless of the user or the need, infrared imagery can provide unique information that is not available in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Just as the need for real infrared imagery has increased, so has the need for computer generated infrared imagery, also known as synthetic imagery. Synthetic imagery is created by mathematically modeling the "real world" and the imaging chain, encompassing everything from the target to the sensor characteristics. The amount of faith that can be placed in a synthetic image …

Automatic Train Control Using Neuro-Fuzzy Modeling And Optimal Control Techniques, Michael Natkin

Theses

In rapid transit applications, it is often necessary to optimize the ride of the train for certain parameters based upon time of day, occupant density, and system-wide scheduling. Trade-offs have to be made between energy conservation, time minimization, and ride comfort. Typically the dynamics of the train are not well known (or not initially known at all), change over time, and are non-linear. In the past, a transit control engineer would typically use P-I control but could spend days or weeks on-site adjusting the P-I constants to obtain a ride that felt good and met the design constraints. This process …

A Relationship In 2afc Experiment Descovered Using Monte Carlo Method, Dalei Huang

Theses

None provided.

Passages: Forms For Contemplation, Douglas Hallberg

Theses

None provided.

Color-Appearance Modeling For Cross-Media Image Reproduction, Karen Braun

Theses

Five color-appearance transforms were tested under a variety of conditions to determine which is best for producing CRT reproductions of original printed images. The transforms included: von Kries chromatic adaptation, CIELAB color space, RLAB color appearance model, Hunt's color appearance model, and Nayatani's color appearance model. It was found that RLAB produced the best matches for changes in white point, luminance level, and background changes, but did not accurately predict the effect of surround. The ability of CIELAB color space was equal to that of RLAB in many cases, and performed better for changes in surround. Expert observers generated CRT …

Validation Of The Use Of Sharc Hydrocode To Predict Explosion Effects In Vented Chambers, Gary Bush

Theses

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models were created and analyzed using the commercially available hydrocode SHARC to determine if SHARC can accurately predict the behavior of explosions in enclosed vented chambers. Axisymmetric two-dimensional models were generated using the same physical parameters used in similar model tests performed by the US Army. Three different chamber/vent configurations were investigated with three charge sizes per configuration in order to compare the SHARC results to the data obtained from the model tests. The time of arrival of shocks and the peak over-pressure were compared. The calculations were then analyzed using several graphical tools currently available. …

Modeling The Mtf And Noise Characteristics Of An Image Chain For A Synthetic Image Generation System, Frank Tantalo

Theses

This is an approach for modeling sensor degradation effects using an image chain applied to a synthetic radiance image. The sensor effects are applied in the frequency domain by cascading modulation transfer functions (MTF) and phase transfer functions (PTF) from the different stages in the acquisition portion of the image chain. The sensor simulation is intended to not only degrade an image to make it look real, but to do so in a manner that conserves the image's radiometry. Some common transfer functions steps include; effects from the atmosphere, optical diffraction, detector size, and scanning motion. The chain is modeled …

Portraits In Flight, Jeanne Ungemach Shain

Theses

None provided.

Northwind, Steven Ford

Theses

None provided.

Emotional Content In Gestural Process And Form, Robin Yates

Theses

The sculptures focus on the influences emotional content has in my work, and address processes and forms that feelings inspire. One of the main influences in my art is the spectacular Niagara Gorge; the eroded riverbed, the water, and the cliffs. In the documentation of my thesis investigation, I emphasize ritual of process. I realize that in preparing myself to work I set an aesthetic mode important to the development of form. I describe specifics concerning my process so it seems to the reader that they are directly involved while I am working. In reflection, I now realize that visual …

Remembrance, John Leisenring

Theses

None provided.