Digital Commons Network^™

Parametric Study Of Infrared Imaging Based Breast Cancer Detection Program, Carlos B. Gutierrez

Theses

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women and is responsible for over 41,000 lives every year in the US according to The American Cancer Society. Current screening and imaging methods such as mammography, breast magnetic resonance imaging, and breast ultrasound imaging have helped in improving survival rate when the cancer is detected at an early stage. The problems with these techniques include: low sensitivity, patient discomfort, invasiveness, and cost. Due to current advancements in infrared and computational technologies, infrared thermography has been utilized as a noninvasive adjunctive screening modality. A computerized approach using infrared imaging (IRI) …

Context Sensitive Image Denoising And Enhancement Using U-Nets, Sahaj Tushar Gandhi

Theses

Noise in images gets introduced at almost every stage of the camera image signal processing pipeline (ISP). Camera companies provide software that cleans most of the noise added at each stage. Even after noise removal is done by the camera software, different noise patterns with different intensities remain in the image. With advances in deep learning, the algorithms are archi- tectured end-to-end. In the present time, machine learning and deep learning models work as end-to-end systems with a special-purpose feature extraction phase. This thesis focuses on the removal of any residual noise in images as performed during the feature extraction …

Mixed Signals In Pulsar Timing Arrays - Discerning Red Spin Noise From Gravitational Waves, Brendan Drachler

Theses

The detection of gravitational waves (GWs) with ground-based interferometers like the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) revolutionized our view of the Universe. Pulsar timing arrays (PTAs) like observed by the North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves (NANOGrav) will provide the community with an avenue for exploring the GW spectrum beyond what is capable with ground-based interferometers. Unlike LIGO, pulsars do not exist in an ideal environment where clever engineering can mitigate sources of noise. With that being said, many of the dominant sources of noise in PTAs have been well modeled within NANOGrav. The impact of red spin …

Implementing And Testing Vlans In Meshed Tree Protocol, Ankush Kaul

Theses

Meshed Tree Protocol (MTP)[1][2] is being developed to overcome the performance challenges faced with older loop avoidance layer 2 protocols like Spanning Tree Protocol (STP)[3] and Rapid STP (RSTP)[5] which have high convergence time, causing a significant delay during initial convergence and subsequent re-convergence in the event of topology change or link failure. This slow convergence is not suitable for the modern high speed and dynamic networks and is being addressed with better performing protocols like MTP which uses Meshed Tree Algorithm (MTA) to form multiple overlapping trees[1]. In this thesis we will implement Virtual Local Area Network(VLAN)[4] for MTP …

Music Note Learning Card Game Design, Ying You

Theses

Within the past several decades, Chinese people's living conditions are getting better because of the quick development in the Chinese economy. People are now paying more and more attention to children's artistic accomplishments in China. Therefore, more and more parents choose to let their children start learning musical instruments when they are young. However, the first step to learn an instrument is learning how to read and understand different note values and basic rhythm patterns. For example, in China, the traditional way of teaching basic rhythmic patterns is that the teacher demonstrates the basic rhythm pattern to a group of …

Conceptual Interstellar Map And Status Panel Design, Yingshan Wu

Theses

This conceptual map and status panel based on interstellar travel with exploring the universe as a theme. Normally, the cockpit of the rocket is matched to the space station by rotating in a weightless state, which is not appropriate when the spacecraft simulates the earth's gravity in the future. In the visual effects of the science fiction movie area, most studies are using at the control panel for controlling spaceship. Differences in galactic rotation also increasing difficulty in the spaceship is finding the right angle and match to one planet or international station. The astronaut cannot easily know the ship's …

Durable Hydrophobic Polymer Surfaces, Matthew Seitz

Theses

Highly hydrophobic materials and surfaces are useful for a wide range of applications such as waterproof clothing, self-cleaning windows, reducing drag on watercraft, preventing ice buildup, and designing oil/water separators. However, the hydrophobicity of these materials decreases over time though surface wear, presenting a significant drawback. In this work, we demonstrate a solution to this poor durability through surfaces which are renewed with wear, continually exposing a new hydrophobic surface. Materials can be made more hydrophobic through the addition of surface texture or microstructure. Typically, as this texture is worn smooth through use and abrasion, the material steadily loses its …

Galaxies As Probes Of The Universe: From Dynamical Models To The Inference Of Cosmological Parameters, Peter A. Craig

Theses

Presented here are a number of projects on topics relating to the dynamics and properties of the Milky Way (MW) and measuring the Hubble constant. First is a project studying the possibility of dwarf galaxy interactions forming moving groups in the solar neighborhood. This is done using several simulations of the MW with dwarf galaxies on different orbits, and searching for velocity substructures in these simulations. The resulting structures are often similar to those observed in the MW, while such structures appear much less frequently in simulations without a perturber. The second project uses a different set of simulations to …

The Influence Of Hr On Desired Company Culture, Dino Lučan

Theses

Company culture is an integral part of all business organizations. It has a strong influence on organizational success and it directly affects organizations’ work environment and business processes. As company culture is experienced and created by the employees, the HR function tends to be responsible with defining and implementing the appropriate company culture. This study analyzes the connection between HR and company’s culture by evaluating manager and HR personnel opinions on the influence of HR in developing and sustaining the desired company culture. A quantitative, non-experimental, design is applied via an online survey that was sent to a sample of …

Model-Free Control Of An Unmanned Aircraft Quadcopter Type System, Christian Monti

Theses

A model-free control algorithm based on the sliding mode control method for unmanned aircraft systems is proposed. The mathematical model of the dynamic system is not required to derive the sliding mode control law for this proposed method. The knowledge of the system’s order, state measurements and control input gain matrix shape and bounds are assumed to derive the control law to track the required trajectories. Lyapunov’s Stability criteria is used to ensure closed-loop asymptotic stability and the error estimate between previous control inputs is used to stabilize the system. A smoothing boundary layer is introduced into the system to …

Application Of Thermal And Ultraviolet Sensors In Remote Sensing Of Upland Ducks, Matthew W. Helvey

Theses

Detection, mapping, and monitoring of wildlife populations can provide significant insight into the health and trajectory of the ecosystems they rely on. In fact, it was not until recently that the benefits of wetland ecosystems were fully understood. Unfortunately, by that point, the United States had removed more than 50% of its native wetlands. The Prairie Pothole Region in North America is the premier breeding location for ducks; responsible for producing more than 50% of the North American ducks annually. The current survey methods for obtaining duck population counts are accomplished primarily using manned flights with observers manually identifying and …

Blockchain And Smart Contracts: The Need For Better Education, Ali Alkhajeh

Theses

The study aims at understanding the current scenario of blockchain education and whether it is meeting the increasing demand of blockchain professionals in the job market. In addition, it also provided a comparison between Ethereum and Hyperledger and analyzed the one best suited for better academic curriculum design. By drawing from various sources of data, including journals, articles, reports, the study provided critical insights into the various aspects of a blockchain education. It assesses the existing curriculum on the blockchain that includes courses and programs from various renowned universities and business schools. The study reveals that although the courses are …

Building Simulation, Solar Potential And Consumption Analysis Of Residential Dwellings, In Dubai, Aysha Alremeithi, Hasan Kamal, Marwa Alraeesi

Theses

City sustainability analysis is overly broad, and people with diverse mindsets look at cities from different perspectives. As part of the city’s fabric, buildings are an integral component and hence require attention. Although the electricity consumed in buildings varies from country to country, it is equal to 30–40% of the total electricity consumption all over the world. [1]. This research targeted studying residential building simulation in Dubai, using various Green Building Codes, assessing energy consumption trends, designing solar systems with respective sizing along with conducting detailed load profile analysis and developing statistical model to directly estimate the HVAC consumption. The …

Critical Material Supply Risks And Mitigation Strategies In Clean Energy Technologies, Alexandra Leader

Theses

The pressing global issue of climate change has driven the development of clean energy technologies. The clean energy technologies addressed in this dissertation include those used to produce energy and provide mobility with reduced emissions, as well as technologies outside the energy and transportation sectors which utilize energy in a more efficient way. Many of these technologies rely on materials that are considered critical due to their importance to the technology’s functionality and their potential vulnerability to supply disruption. Supply disruptions can stem from a variety of factors such as geographical supply concentration, production in unstable areas, low ore grades, …

Current State And Development Potential Of Luxury Heritage Hospitality In Old City Center Of Split, Croatia, Lucia Koprčina

Theses

Tourism is one of the main lines of profit for Split; however there is no unified strategy reflected in one line of tourism. In order to protect that UNESCO heritage site and assure long-term industry success it is proposed to take a shift to building a luxury brand that connects all business located in the site in a unified manner. The purpose of this study is to gain an understanding of the current state and context of the luxury tourism industry, specifically considering the accommodation and dining services in the old city center are of Split, Croatia. The objective is …

Amelia Earhart: Myth And Memory, Amy Lutz

Theses

There are a range of theories about Amelia Earhart's disappearance. This thesis considers one of the most long-running theories - The Japanese Capture Theory. This theory posits that Earhart was captured and/or executed by the Japanese upon her disappearance in 1937. The Japanese Capture Theory, from its inception in 1942 to its continued existence today, has considerably impacted the historical memory of Amelia Earhart. A woman who was so beloved and celebrated in life is largely more famous for her death. Her story was retold in hindsight, without her voice. The emergence of theories about her disappearance and popular fascination …

Domestic Food Waste Reduction System In The U.A.E., Eman Alsuwaidi, Nawar Al Sammarraie, Vilas Vijaykumar, Zaid Nayaz Syed

Theses

The emerging need for a domestic food waste management system in UAE has opened the door for innovations in managing food activities to minimizing waste. At present, there are no specific strategies or solutions effective enough to considerably reduce domestic food waste. This project mainly covers objective, methodology, waste identification tools and techniques, and strategy creation for system improvement. The results obtained from several surveys conducted to study the food habits of the people were used in this project to develop a strategy to reduce food waste. Smart systems are gaining high demand in various fields of the markets as …

Domestic Food Waste Reduction System In The U.A.E., Eman Alsuwaidi, Nawar Al Sammarraie, Vilas Vijaykumar, Zaid Nayaz Syed

Theses

The emerging need for a domestic food waste management system in UAE has opened the door for innovations in managing food activities to minimizing waste. At present, there are no specific strategies or solutions effective enough to considerably reduce domestic food waste. This project mainly covers objective, methodology, waste identification tools and techniques, and strategy creation for system improvement. The results obtained from several surveys conducted to study the food habits of the people were used in this project to develop a strategy to reduce food waste. Smart systems are gaining high demand in various fields of the markets as …

Domestic Food Waste Reduction System In The U.A.E., Eman Alsuwaidi, Nawar Al Sammarraie, Vilas Vijaykumar, Zaid Nayaz Syed

Theses

The emerging need for a domestic food waste management system in UAE has opened the door for innovations in managing food activities to minimizing waste. At present, there are no specific strategies or solutions effective enough to considerably reduce domestic food waste. This project mainly covers objective, methodology, waste identification tools and techniques, and strategy creation for system improvement. The results obtained from several surveys conducted to study the food habits of the people were used in this project to develop a strategy to reduce food waste. Smart systems are gaining high demand in various fields of the markets as …

Pal: Building Trust In High Stakes Service Provider Relationships, Belinda Chang

Theses

The rise of on-demand economies has forced consumers to increasingly rely on evaluating service providers through a digital medium. Research has found that Americans’ trust in others has declined over the past several decades, while their trust in strangers from on-demand sharing economies is contrastingly high. In many cases however, the trust goes too far, resulting in negative or even dangerous experiences for both the service provider and customer.

One area where digital trust is being widely implemented is in online marketplaces for pet care services. Popular sites and mobile applications like Rover and Wag provide on-demand dog walking and …

Experimental Investigation Of Pressure-Swirl Atomizer Spray Stability With Addition Of A Pre-Filming Surface, Ethan Hanson

Theses

In a combustion environment, system instabilities and dynamic responses of components can have a major influence on performance, emissions, and product life. One of the key components in a combustion system are the fuel injectors which utilize instabilities to generate a well atomized fuel spray. In this work, a pressure-swirl atomizer was studied under steady state operation and oscillating pressure differential conditions to simulate a dynamic system input to the atomizer. Atomizer spray with and without the addition of a pre-filming surface was evaluated to determine the influence that a pre-filming surface has on the dynamic response of the liquid …

Vascular Surgery: Physician And Patient Education On Novel Procedures, Ashlyn Kelley

Theses

Carotid artery disease accounts for 20-30% of all strokes in the western world, and while several surgical procedures have been developed and utilized for decades as a means of treatment, each method comes with its own set of drawbacks (Saw et. al., 2007). A novel procedure, known as transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR), seeks to mitigate the shortcomings of these previous surgical approaches.

The illustrations depicting the TCAR procedure are intended to assist in the education of surgeons and operating room staff who are responsible for carrying out the procedure. The Vascular Surgery Department at the University of Rochester Medical Center …

Parental Hearing Status And Sign Language Use As Predictors Of English Literacy Outcomes For Deaf Children In A Bilingual Educational Setting, Sarah E. Kimbley

Theses

Deaf children in the United States are not achieving age-appropriate literacy in English. Nearly 90-95% of deaf infants are born to hearing parents who do not know American Sign Language (ASL). These deaf children are experiencing limited access to a spoken language and as a result do not develop skills needed to be prepared for academic learning because language acquisition during the sensitive period in development is crucial for the development of literacy skills. However, 5-10% of deaf children have deaf parents who use ASL. Studies show correlations between higher ASL fluency and higher English literacy scores in deaf children …

Reading Emotion Words In Sentences: Exploring Interactions Between Valence And Arousal, Abby Williams

Theses

Emotional information is treated differently than any other type of information and has a powerful impact on many cognitive processes, particularly attention. As there are currently two opposing theories about how emotion influences attention, the aim of this study was to test both categorical negativity theory and the arousal hypothesis simultaneously. Categorical negativity theory suggests that the valence of a word (how positive or negative it is) is what truly influences how emotional information receives attention, while the arousal hypothesis posits that the arousal level of a word (how stimulating or salient it is) determines the amount of attention it …

Electrical Performance Retention Of Doped Carbon Nanotube Conductors For High Current Applications, Karen J. Soule

Theses

Carbon nanotube (CNT) wires are light-weight and robust alternatives to conventional metal conductors. The weight savings, increased flexure tolerance, and corrosion resistance of CNT conductors make them a viable solution for a variety of space, defense, and power transmission applications. An individual CNT has orders of magnitude greater electrical conductivity than conventional metal conductors, but this has not been realized in bulk CNT networks. Recently, the use of chemical dopants has resulted in bulk CNT wire conductivities approaching 10 MS/m. As the electrical conductivity of CNT wires continues to approach that of conventional metals, deployment of CNT conductors will require …

Fallen Leaves, Bo Gao

Theses

This thesis demonstrates the process of creating my thesis film - FALLEN LEAVES, and it describes how this short film is completed from a simple idea to a finished project. Secondly, the documentation also depicts how my initial thought is shaped, and the background story from the aspects of cultural differences and family relationship. Furthermore, this paper discusses how I used cinematic techniques to help to improve the storytelling of my thesis film. The documentation also includes the research I did for writing the script and making this film.

Design And Production Of 3d Animation Short Film “Relict”, Huzehui Xia

Theses

Relict is a surrealist animation short film expressing satire and self-examination of Beijing's major social issues by depicting the illusion of Beijing’ future. Beijing, as the capital of China, has a lot of social problems that have existed for many years. Among them, the main problems we focused on are the housing price, the population explosion, and air pollution. In this piece, with a series of scenarios including indoor scenes and outdoor landmarks created for Beijing's future based on social problems, Relict will affect the audience's thoughts about our modern life.

Deciduous Broadleaf Bidirectional Scattering Distribution Function (Bsdf): Measurements, Modeling, And Impacts On Waveform Lidar Forest Assessments, Benjamin D. Roth

Theses

Lidar (light detection and ranging) remote sensing has proven high accuracy/precision for quantification of forest biophysical parameters, many of which are needed for operational and ecological management. Although the significant effect of Bidirectional Scattering Distribution Functions (BSDF) on remote sensing of vegetation is well known, current radiative transfer simulations, designed for the development of remote sensing systems for ecological observation, seldom take leaf BSDF into account. Moreover, leaf directional scattering measurements are almost nonexistent, particularly for transmission. Previous studies have been limited in their electromagnetic spectrum extent, lacked validated models to capture all angles beyond measurements, and did not adequately …

Self-Awareness: A Dynamic Poster Design About Self-Awareness Child Development, Shuaiqi Xiong

Theses

Self-awareness is a psychological state in which we see ourselves truthfully and objectively through introspection and reflection. As 90s generation, we are the newest generation of “Chinese-style” individualism, but most of us do not have knowledge of self-awareness. We probably do not acknowledge our strengths and weaknesses, do not accept ourselves, and have no sense of what we do and others think of us. According to our research” says organizational psychologist and researcher Tasha Eurich, “with thousands of people from all around the world, 95 percent of people believe that they’re self-aware, but only about 10 to 15 percent really …

Associations Between Cannabis Use Characteristics, Impulsivity, And Mindfulness, Sam Feck

Theses

Dual-process theories of addiction have suggested that drug use behavior is influenced by the interaction between an automatic system, which uses affective and motivational significance to appraise stimuli rapidly, and a reflective system, which includes conscious emotion regulation and decision making. The current study examined the constructs of impulsivity and mindfulness, selected to approximate the automatic and reflective systems, respectively, and their associations with cannabis use characteristics. Research suggests deficits in impulsivity and mindfulness are hallmark characteristics of substance use. However, evidence supporting this association specific to cannabis use is inconsistent. A community sample of adults (N = 289, 137 …