Digital Commons Network^™

Application Of Neural Networks To Data Mining, Zlatinka Svetoslavova Kovacheva

Sultan Qaboos University Journal For Science

Data Mining accomplishes nontrivial extraction of implicit, previously unknown, and potentially useful information of data. The aim of data mining is to discover knowledge out of data and present it in a form that is easily comprehensible to humans. Neural Networks are analytic techniques capable of predicting new observations from other observations after executing a process of so-called learning from existing data. Neural Network techniques can also be used as a component of analyses designed to build explanatory models. Now there is neural network software that uses sophisticated algorithms directly contributing to the model building process. The latest developments in …

A Knowledge-Induced Operator Model, M.A. Choudhury, S.I. Zaman, Yaqoub Al-Nassar

Sultan Qaboos University Journal For Science

Learning systems are in the forefront of analytical investigation in the sciences. In the social sciences they occupy the study of complexity and strongly interactive world-systems. Sometimes they are diversely referred to as symbiotics and semiotics when studied in conjunction with logical expressions. In the mathematical sciences the methodology underlying learning systems with complex behavior is based on formal logic or systems analysis. In this paper relationally learning systems are shown to transcend the space-time domain of scientific investigation into the knowledge dimension. Such a knowledge domain is explained by pervasive interaction leading to integration and followed by continuous evolution …

Harmful Algal Blooms: Physiology, Behavior, Population Dynamics And Global Impacts- A Review, H.M. Al-Ghelani, A.Y.A Alkindi, S. Amer, Y.K Al-Akhzami

Sultan Qaboos University Journal For Science

Harmful, toxic algae are now considered as one of the important players in the newly emerging environmental risk factors. The apparent global increase in harmful algal blooms (HABs) is becoming a serious problem in both aquaculture and fisheries populations. Not only has the magnitude and intensity of public health and economic impacts of these blooms increased in recent years, but the number of geographic locations experiencing toxic algal blooms has also increased dramatically. There are two primary factors causing HABs outbreaks. The natural processes such as upwelling and relaxation, and the anthropogenic loading resulting in eutrophication. However, the influence of …

Xanthotoxin And Other Furanocoumarins As Phytoalexins In Pastinaca Sativa L. Roots, Fatma M. Al-Barwani, Elsadig A. Eltayeb

Sultan Qaboos University Journal For Science

Our results confirm the presence of the furanocoumarins psoralen, xanthotoxin, isopimpinellin, angelicin and bergapten as normal constituents of Pastinaca sativa roots. However, the amounts of these compounds were increased in induced roots. The amount of increase in the induced roots varied depending on the inducing agent and time of incubation. In addition the results show for the first time the presence of pimpinellin and isobergapten as constitutive antifungal compounds in P. sativa roots.

Synchronization And Oscillator Death In Diffusively Coupled Lattice Oscillators, Adu A.M. Wasike

Sultan Qaboos University Journal For Science

We consider the synchronization and cessation of oscillation of a positive even number of planar oscillators that are coupled to their nearest neighbours on one, two, and three dimensional integer lattices via a linear and symmetric diffusion-like path. Each oscillator has a unique periodic solution that is attracting. We show that for certain coupling strength there are both symmetric and antisymmetric synchronization that corresponds to symmetric and antisymmetric non-constant periodic solutions respectively. Symmetric synchronization persists for all coupling strengths while the antisymmetric case exists for only weak coupling strength and disappears to the origin after a certain coupling strength.

Intelligent Techniques For Power Systems Vulnerability Assessment, Mohamed A. El-Sharkawi

Sultan Qaboos University Journal For Science

With power grids considered national security matters, the reliable operation of the system is of top priority to utilities. This concern is amplified by the utility’s deregulation, which increases the system’s openness while simultaneously decreasing the applied degree of control. Vulnerability Assessment (VA) deals with the power system’s ability to continue to provide service in case of an unforeseen catastrophic contingency. Such contingencies may include unauthorized tripping, breaks in communication links, sabotage or intrusion by external agents, human errors, natural calamities and faults. These contingencies could lead to a disruption of service to part or all of the system. The …

Neural-Network-Based Fuzzy Logic Navigation Control For Intelligent Vehicles, Ahcene Farah, Amine Chohra

Sultan Qaboos University Journal For Science

This paper proposes a Neural-Network-Based Fuzzy logic system for navigation control of intelligent vehicles. First, the use of Neural Networks and Fuzzy Logic to provide intelligent vehicles with more autonomy and intelligence is discussed. Second, the system for the obstacle avoidance behavior is developed. Fuzzy Logic improves Neural Networks (NN) obstacle avoidance approach by handling imprecision and rule-based approximate reasoning. This system must make the vehicle able, after supervised learning, to achieve two tasks: 1- to make one’s way towards its target by a NN, and 2- to avoid static or dynamic obstacles by a Fuzzy NN capturing the behavior …

Problems Of Bacteriological Pollution In Water Wells In Wadi Hadramout Water Project, Salem M. Bin Qadhi, Saeed Y. Bashir, Taha O. Assaggaf

Sultan Qaboos University Journal For Science

This paper presents an existing problem of drinking water pollution for a small project and one of the model projects of drinking water in Yemen, designed to save and preserve good quality water for the present and future generations in the area. The paper gives the details of the project and explains the problem of bacteriological pollution and the steps undertaken to solve the problem. Some of the results for short-term solutions and recommendation for the long-term solutions are also given.

Review Of Omani Aflaj Systems: An Element Of National Water Resources,Technology And Economic Developments, Abulbasher M. Shahalam

Sultan Qaboos University Journal For Science

The paper includes a comprehensive review of the various aspects: agriculture, soil, water resources and socio-economic concerns associated with the aflaj facilities within the Sultanate of Oman. From available literature, the author identified and presented factors that affect the viability and sustainance of this traditional, existing and unique system of water resources management. The system weakness and strength at the advent of modern technology, life-style and wealth were also identified. Technical data on demography, geography, soil, water, irrigation, crop-pattern and activities of organizations related to aflaj systems were summerized and illustrated in figures and tables.

Variation In Seedling Characteristics Of Five Populations Of Acacia Tortilis From The United Arab Emirates In Response To Increasing Sodium Chloride Concentrations, Fatma. M. Al-Ansari, Rashied. S. Modawi

Sultan Qaboos University Journal For Science

Seeds of Acacia tortilis collected from 5 sites around the city of Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates were germinated in 4 concentrations of sodium chloride (0, 20, 90 and 150 mM of NaCl). Percent of germination, rate of germination, seedling moisture content, root and shoot lengths and seedling lengths were all significantly affected by salt stress. Seeds collected from the different sites were significantly different in their response to salinity conditions. Variations in the response of seedlings from different sites to the different salt treatments suggest an underlying genetic variability within the A. tortilis populations, possibly resulting from …

Endocrine, Physiological And Histopathological Responses Of Fish And Their Larvae To Stress With Emphasis On Exposure To Crude Oil And Various Petroleum Hydrocarbons, A. Y. A. Al-Kindi, J.A. Brown, C.P. Waring

Sultan Qaboos University Journal For Science

Various endocrine and physiological responses of fish exposed to forceful physical and chemical stimuli are reviewed with emphasis on the effects of crude oils and their hydrocarbon constituents. The chemistry and toxicity of petroleum hydrocarbons are examined and methods for experimental exposure of fish to crude oil and petroleum hydrocarbons are considered. A variety of blood-borne parameters recognized as reliable tools in determining the relative severity of stress in fish are reviewed. The effects of stress and petroleum hydrocarbons on endocrine responses including changes in plasma catecholamines, corticosteroids, and thyroid hormones are reviewed. The physiological responses: changes in plasma glucose, …

Research Trends : Natural Products As Pest, Microbial Disease An Tumour Control Agents, M.O. Fatope, Salma M. Z. Al-Kindi, Abdulrahman O. Abdulnour

Sultan Qaboos University Journal For Science

The zeal to conquer human, agronomic, and veterinary diseases or pests has always sustained research interests directed at finding new medications from under explored biodiversity. The adoption of bioassay methods, which correlate with prevention, inhibition and reversal of diseases or elimination of pests, in screening natural products for bioactive compounds is critical to the discovery of new medications. This article focuses on areas of natural products chemistry that connect academia with industry. It discusses the technical skills needed to find bioactive compounds from microbes, marine invertebrates, plants and insects, highlighting the mode of action of selected bioactive compounds and bioassay …

Photovoltaic Cells And Systems: Current State And Future Trends, Hadj Bourdoucen, Joseph A. Jervase, Abdullah Al-Badi, Adel Gastli, Arif Malik

Sultan Qaboos University Journal For Science

Photovoltaics is the process of converting solar energy into electrical energy. Any photovoltaic system invariably consists of solar cell arrays and electric power conditioners. Photovoltaic systems are reliable, quiet, safe and both environmentally benign and self-sustaining. In addition, they are cost-effective for applications in remote areas. This paper presents a review of solar system components and integration, manufacturing, applications, and basic research related to photovoltaics. Photovoltaic applications in Oman are also presented. Finally, the existing and the future trends in technologies and materials used for the fabrication of solar cells are summarized.

Intelligent Systems For Active Program Diagnosis, Haider Ali Ramadhan, Khalil Shihab

Sultan Qaboos University Journal For Science

Intelligent program diagnosis systems are computer programs capable of analyzing logical and design-level errors and misconceptions in programs. Upon discovering the errors, these systems provide intelligent feedback and thus guide the users in the problem-solving process. Intelligent program diagnosis systems are classified by their primary means of program analysis. The most distinct split is between those systems that are unable to analyze partial code segments as they are provided by the user and must wait until the entire solution code is completed before attempting any diagnosis, and those that are capable of analyzing partial solutions and providing proper guidance whenever …

Earthquake Response Of A Historical Castle, Mohammed Qamaruddin, Ali Salim Al-Harthy

Sultan Qaboos University Journal For Science

The earthquake hazard potential in the Sultanate of Oman is considered real as there are several reports of felt earthquakes in the Sultanate of Oman during the period from years 977 to 1998, although no damage to the existing structures has been reported due to earthquakes. In Oman, seismic zoning map and other basic data are required for the development of a standard code for seismic design of structures. In this paper, seismic response of a historical Nizwa castle in Oman is assessed employing the methodology of Uniform Building Code (UBC, 1994). Also, in the absence of data pertaining to …

Electromagnetic Modeling Of The Propagation Characteristics Of Satellite Communications Through Composite Precipitation Layers, Part Ii: Results Of Computer Simulations, H.M. Al-Rizzo, H.T. Al-Hafid, J.M. Tranquilla

Sultan Qaboos University Journal For Science

A versatile Propagation Simulation Program (PSP) is developed to assess the degrading effects caused by the concurrent occurrences of an arbitrary mixture of ice plates and needles, melting snow and raindrops which may impede the reliability of dual-polarized satellite communications systems carrying independent channels on a single radio path. Specifically, results are presented for the Cross Polarization Discrimination (XPD) due to ice and rain, differential attenuation, Da, and differential phase shift, Df, due to rain and average specific attenuation, a, and phase shift, f , due to the melting layer at hitherto unconsidered frequencies. The inclusion of an ice-cloud medium …

Flow Past A Rotating Circular Cylinder And A Rotlet Using The Finite-Difference Method, T. B. A. El Bashir

Sultan Qaboos University Journal For Science

In this paper the flow generated by a rotlet in the presence of a circular cylinder is considered. We introduce a transformation which simplifies the equations and boundary conditions. We use the finite-difference method to obtain results in excellent agreement with all the available analytical results. Results are presented for Reynolds numbers, based on the diameter of the cylinder, in the range 0 ≤ Re ≤ 20 and the rotational parameter, α , in the range 0 ≤α ≤ 3 and strength of rotlet, β , in the range 0 ≤ β ≤ 3 . The results are found to …

Data-Driven D Region Model (D3r) Svdd: Software Version Description Document (Svdd), James Vincent Eccles

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

This is the Software Version Description Document of the Data-Driven D Region (D3R) model. There are 2 main distributions: (a) D3R designed for containerized deployments (D3Rc) and (b) D3R designed for testing and development. These two distributions are maintained in parallel, and this document describes both. The D3R for containerization is typically provided to customers. The D3R model is a physics-based model for calculating electron density profiles across the D Region ionosphere altitudes (50 km to 95 km) and E Region altitudes (95 km to 120 km) for any given geolocation. The model has two main programs: one to solve …

The Effects Of Financial Giants In The Housing Market: A Study Of The Impact Of Private Equity And Institutional Investors During The 2008 Crisis, Kathryn Vaden Hughes

Harriet L Wilkes Honors College Theses 2020 - Present

The 2008 financial crisis revealed substantial vulnerabilities in the housing market and financial sector, in which private equity firms and institutional investors played an important role. This thesis analyzes the impact of Blackstone, KKR, Bain Capital, and Apollo Global Management on the housing bubble, speculative investments, and post-crisis strategies. Results suggest that systemic risks were enabled by leveraged acquisitions, subprime mortgage investments, and large-scale real estate speculation, and post-crisis asset acquisition enabled these firms to profit from market downturns. Although regulatory responses, such as the Dodd-Frank Act and the Volcker Rule, were enacted to help mitigate future crises, institutional investors …

Transformational Leadership And Its Impact On Team Success: A Detailed Chronicle Of Bellarmine University Men's Lacrosse, Ella Beames

Undergraduate Theses

This thesis uses a journalistic approach to explore the intersection between leadership, transformational leadership, in particular, and forms of success through the lens of Kentucky's only NCAA Division 1 Men's Lacrosse program. Interviews, written survey, and observation were utilized to gauge a community-wide perspective about the team and the holistic nature of the student-athlete experience within Bellarmine University Men's Lacrosse. Observation followed the team for three years and engaged players and coaching staff in telling the story of the team's shifting culture and the management process of the team's newfound success. Methods aimed to draw a connection between the change …

Quantifying The Decline In Avian Biodiversity: A Global Crisis And Its Implications For Environmental Education, Canaline Osaka

The International Journal of Ecopsychology (IJE)

People care about what they love—and it’s easy to love--and fall in love, with birds. The

opportunities to promote bird diversity are legion, and applicable throughout K-12 education. For example, the Eastern Bluebird needs to nest in the cavities of dead trees, a habitat drastically denuded by large scale farming—or in specialized nesting boxes. A nationwide effort to build and install these boxes has brought the population back to healthy numbers since its 1970 low point. (Once one knows what they look like, one cannot miss these roadside homes—Western Bluebirds also benefit.) Students can also engineer bird houses and deters, …

In Memoriam: Pope Francis

The International Journal of Ecopsychology (IJE)

No abstract provided.

Tax Trends, Nicholas J. Fiore

Tax Adviser

No abstract provided.

Irs Provides Much Needed Guidance On Welfare Benefit Funds, Labh S. Hira, Paul Perry

Tax Adviser

No abstract provided.

Tax Clinic, John L. Norman Jr.

Tax Adviser

No abstract provided.

Theorizing The Body In The Asl Interpreting Field: Promising Dimensions For Further Research, Taylor L. Woodall-Greene, Lucy E. Bailey

Journal of Interpretation

This paper theorizes body politics in the American Sign Language Interpreting profession. The field is facing problems with burnout and attrition. We focus on the interpreting body and present four themes, including the embodied demands, the limited available scholarship over “the body” in ASL, the fluctuating meaning of the interpreter’s bodily labor, and the educational implications of our analysis. We argue that attention to body politics matters, and more research is needed on the intersections between the body and the ASL interpreting profession. Continuing the research into these theoretical dimensions and interpreters’ self-care given the embodied demands of the profession, …

Academic Freedom In Interpreter Education: Teaching Communication Access In A Culture Of Censorship, Dawn M. Wessling, Mark A. Halley, Brendan Stern

Journal of Interpretation

Abstract

The primary function of signed language interpreters and translators is to foster inclusion and equity by ensuring effective communication access for deaf individuals from diverse linguistic backgrounds in public spaces. The effectiveness of interpreter education depends on the freedom of expression, thought, and behavior. This paper explores the impacts of illiberal legislation on American Sign Language/English interpreter education in Florida. Specifically, we describe how the illiberal attacks on academic freedom that preclude Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives and curricula, such as Florida’s SB266/HB999 (2023) and SB2525/HB7 (2022), present unprecedented challenges for interpreter and translator educators. In conclusion, we …

Shaping A Resilient Future: Perspectives Of Sign Language Interpreters And Deaf Community In Africa, Leonida Tausi Kaula, Washington Opiyo Sati Mr.

Journal of Interpretation

The study sought to explore the state of deaf and interpreter communities of the countries in the African region. It adopted a mixed-method approach consisting of comprehensive document reviews, online collection of data using a questionnaire and key informant discussions at the Conference. The survey approach also deployed both qualitative and quantitative research methods. The Google form was deployed as a platform for data collection and analysis. The findings reveal that despite majority of the countries having ratified the UNCPRD, and several others having existing national policies supporting accessibility for the deaf populations, domestication and implementation still remains a challenge. …

Tax Trends, Nicholas J. Fiore

Tax Adviser

No abstract provided.

Thumbtax, Sandra K. Lewis

Tax Adviser

No abstract provided.