Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Fundamental Limits On End-To-End Throughput Of Network Coding In Multi-Rate And Multicast Wireless Networks, Luiz Felipe Viera, Mario Gerla, Archan Misra

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

This paper investigates the interaction between network coding and link-layer transmission rate diversity in multi-hop wireless networks. By appropriately mixing data packets at intermediate nodes, network coding allows a single multicast flow to achieve higher throughput to a set of receivers. Broadcast applications can also exploit link-layer rate diversity, whereby individual nodes can transmit at faster rates at the expense of corresponding smaller coverage area. We first demonstrate how combining rate-diversity with network coding can provide a larger capacity for data dissemination of a single multicast flow, and how consideration of rate diversity is critical for maximizing system throughput. Next …

Two Formulas For Success In Social Media: Social Learning And Network Effects, Liangfei Qiu, Qian Tang, Andrew B. Whinston

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

This paper examines social learning and network effects that are particularly important for online videos, considering the limited marketing campaigns of user-generated content. Rather than combining both social learning and network effects under the umbrella of social contagion or peer influence, we develop a theoretical model and empirically identify social learning and network effects separately. Using a unique data set from YouTube, we find that both mechanisms have statistically and economically significant effects on video views, and which mechanism dominates depends on the specific video type.

Query-Document-Dependent Fusion: A Case Study Of Multimodal Music Retrieval, Zhonghua Li, Bingjun Zhang, Yi Yu, Jialie Shen, Ye Wang

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

In recent years, multimodal fusion has emerged as a promising technology for effective multimedia retrieval. Developing the optimal fusion strategy for different modality (e.g. content, metadata) has been the subject of intensive research. Given a query, existing methods derive a unified fusion strategy for all documents with the underlying assumption that the relative significance of a modality remains the same across all documents. However, this assumption is often invalid. We thus propose a general multimodal fusion framework, query-document-dependent fusion (QDDF), which derives the optimal fusion strategy for each query-document pair via intelligent content analysis of both queries and documents. By …

Morphology And Conformation Of Polythiophene Derivatives In Anisotropic Core-Shell Nanocomposites And Solution, Neil Redeker

Master's Theses

Conjugated semiconducting polymers have garnered substantial interest in recent years due to the potential for use in various applications, particularly in the field of electronic devices such as photovoltaic cells and light emitting diodes. Conjugated polymers offer numerous advantages in these applications, including low cost and high flexibility, but electronic devices based on these materials are currently limited by poor performance. Because of these limitations, increased focus has been placed on improving conjugated polymers for use in commercially viable products. Here, a novel core shell hybrid nanocomposite based on anisotropic zinc oxide nanowires and a side-chain functionalized polythiophene is reported. …

Geophysical Investigations Of The Seattle Fault Zone In Western Washington And A Geothermal System At Mount Princeton, Colorado, Andrew Patrick Lamb

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

We use an array of existing and modified geophysical techniques to investigate the active Seattle thrust fault zone in western Washington and a geothermal system at Mt. Princeton Colorado. Through the integration of different geophysical methods, we can extend our observations of the surface geology to beneath the subsurface, thereby giving us a greater understanding of the structures and their kinematic interplay.

We find geophysical evidence through the use of potential field and seismic data for the Seattle fault zone extending further to the west than previously thought. We also find evidence that the Seattle fault zone may be linked …

Integrated Geophysical Exploration Of A Known Geothermal Resource: Neal Hot Springs, Clinton Ryan Colwell

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

I present an integrated geophysical characterization of the Neal Hot Springs geothermal system in eastern Oregon. This newly established 23 MW geothermal production site is located in a region of complex geology and intersecting faults associated with two major extensional systems; the Oregon-Idaho Graben and the western Snake River Plain. The intersection of two dominant fault orientations, coupled with a high geothermal gradient from relatively thin continental crust and radioactive decay from a shallow granitic body, produces the pathways and heat needed for deep water circulation at Neal Hot Springs. New geologic mapping, geochemistry, and measurements from several boreholes in …

Synthesizing Measurement, Modeling And Remote Sensing Techniques To Study Spatiotemporal Variability Of Seasonal Snow, Andrew R. Hedrick

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Mountain snowpacks vary drastically over length scales as small as 1—2 meters in complex terrain and require high resolution measurements to accurately quantify the spatial distribution of snow. This thesis explores this spatial distribution using remote sensing, modeling and ground-based observations. Snow depth estimates from airborne LiDAR at 5 m resolution over 750 km² was compared to in situ observations and results from physically-based snow and wind redistribution models, and a new low cost method for continuous depth measurements at the slope scale was developed.

Repeated airborne Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR) surveys are capable of recording snow depth …

Assessing Local Snow Variability Using A Network Of Ultrasonic Snow Depth Sensors, Erik Thorsten Boe

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

During the 2009-2010 winter season, 21 inexpensive ultrasonic snow depth (USD) sensors were constructed and installed, in addition to two standard Judd USD sensors, at Treeline and Lower Deer Point sites located within the snow dominated Dry Creek Experimental Watershed, near Boise, Idaho. Six USD sensors, including a single Judd Communications USD sensor, were installed at the Treeline site along a northeast to southwest transect of the small 0.02 km² catchment. Seventeen USD sensors, including a single Judd Communications USD sensor, were installed at Lower Deer Point in a randomized stratified pattern with respect to aspect and vegetation to …

Computing Curvature And Curvature Normals On Smooth Logically Cartesian Surface Meshes, John Thomas Hutchins

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

This thesis describes a new approach to computing mean curvature and mean curvature normals on smooth logically Cartesian surface meshes. We begin by deriving a finite-volume formula for one-dimensional curves embedded in two- or three- dimensional space. We show the exact results on curves for specific cases as well as second-order convergence in numerical experiments. We extend this finite-volume formula to surfaces embedded in three-dimensional space. Exact results are again derived for special cases and second-order convergence is shown numerically for more general cases. We show that our formula for computing curvature is an improvement over using the “cotan” formula …

Estimating Deep Percolation In The Mountain Rain-Snow Transition Zone, Patrick Richard Kormos

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Deep percolation (DP) is estimated from a small study catchment in the semi arid rain-snow transition zone in the foothills north of Boise, ID. A water balance is performed at the catchment soil bedrock interface, where soil drainage is assumed to be partitioned into DP and streamflow. While stream flow is measured, soil drainage must be estimated. We model the snow dynamics and surface water inputs (SWI) to the soil (Chapter 3), and the soil dynamics and soil drainage to the soil-bedrock interface (Chapter 4). The high spatiotemporal dataset used in this modeling effort is presented for the 2011 water …

Electrospinning Polymer Blends For Biomimetic Scaffolds For Acl Tissue Engineering, Vanessa Lizeth Garcia

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture is one of the most common knee injuries. Current ACL reconstructive strategies consist of using an autograft or an allograft to replace the ligament. However, limitations have led researchers to investigate tissue engineered grafts, known as scaffolds, through electrospinning. Scaffolds made of natural and synthetic polymer blends have the potential to promote cell adhesion while having strong mechanical properties. However, enzymes found in the knee are known to degrade tissues and affect the healing of intra-articular injuries. Results suggest that the natural polymers used in this study modify the thermal properties and tensile strength …

Remediation Of Copper(Ii) And Lead(Ii) From Aqueous Solution Using Engineered Iron Oxide And Manganese Oxide Nanomaterials, Carlos Tamez Jr.

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Nano-sized Fe3O4, Fe2O3, Mn3O4, and MnO2 were synthesized by titration/precipitation and characterized using powder XRD. pH assays determined that optimum binding occurred at pH 4 for Fe3O4 and Fe2O3 and pH 3 for Mn3O4 and MnO2. Maximum adsorption of Cu(II) and Pb(II) occurred within 20 min or less of contact with the nanomaterials. The synthesized nanomaterials showed a binding preference for Pb(II) over Cu(II) at concentrations above 50 ppm. Batch studies also showed no significant reduction in the binding of copper and lead to either Fe3O4, Fe2O3, Mn3O4, or MnO2 in the presence of Na+ , K+ , Mg2+ or …

The Computation Of Fluid Velocity In A Closed Cavity With A Moving Lid, Daniel A. Montez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

We consider a cavity filled with fluid whose three sides are stationary and the lid at the top is moving at a constant speed. The flow in the cavity is modeled using the conservation of mass and momentum equations with proper boundary conditions. We compute the fluid velocity for the steady state case using the finite element method. We seek the weak formulation and develop a finite element model based on the Galerkin method. Furthermore we use the penalty function method to modify our weak formulation to eliminate the pressure. The Gaussian quadrature method is used to evaluate our integrals …

Biological Compatibility And Cytotoxicity Studies Of Hepa-1c1c7, Hepg2, And Mcf-7 Cancer Cell Lines Upon Exposure To Silver, Palladium, And Gold Nanoparticles, M. Esther Salinas

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The field of nanomedicine has recently explored potential applications for cancer treatment ranging from drug delivery methods to cancer imaging techniques. Due to potential risks of nanomaterials affecting non-cancerous cells in the body, in vitro toxicity studies are being conducted. The nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized from potassium tetrachloroaurate (III) hydrate, potassium tetrabromoaurate (III) dihydrate, potassium tetrachloropalladate (II), and silver nitrate. NPs were synthesized using the Turkevich method or through the sodium borohydride reduction. Particles synthesized using sodium borohydride were stabilized with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). The NPs under investigation were used to treat three cancer cell lines. The treated cells were …

Reduction Of Nitroaromatic Compounds With Sodium Borohydride Using Transition Metal Sulfides, Samuel Pina Jr.

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The following systems: NaBH4/Fe3S4, NaBH4/Co3S4, NaBH4/NiS, NaBH4/CuS, and NaBH4/ZnS, were investigated for their nitro reducing abilities. Quantitative conversions were observed for the reduction of nitrobenzene with NaBH4/Co3S4 and NaBH4/NiS systems as opposed to only 9% conversion without any catalyst, representing a ten-fold increase in the reducing ability of NaBH4. In ethanol, various nitroaromatic compounds were also successfully reduced in moderate to high yields with 3 molar equivalents of NaBH4, demonstrating a mild alternative for the effective reduction of nitroaromatic compounds to their corresponding aryl amines. Screening of catalysts was carried out using gas chromatography. All products were characterized using 1 …

Oxidation Of Dibenzothiophene To Dibenzothiophene Sulfone Using Tungsten (Vi) Oxide, Alejandrina Rivera

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The oxidation of dibenzothiophene (DBT) to dibenzothiophene-sulfone has been considered as an alternate method to remove sulfur from crude oil. This study demonstrates that the oxidative desulfurization (ODS) of DBT to DBT-sulfone occurs using WO3 as a catalyst. WO3 was synthesized and characterized using X-ray diffraction to determine the phase of WO3. Each reaction was refluxed and run for four hours using WO3 as a catalyst, dibenzothiphene, and four different solvents: decahydronapthalene, n-dodecane, decalin, and dodecane. The reactions were performed at temperatures ranging from 120 oC to 150 oC. Aliquots were taken at 30 minutes for up to four hours …

A Survey Of Heavy Metals In Water, Soil And The Surrounding Plants In The Lower Rio Grande Valley, Erving W. Morelius

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Heavy metal pollution of the environment in recent years has become a major issue of importance for both human and environmental health. Samples were investigated for the potential pollution of the area as it is a vital produce producing area. During the study plant, soil and water samples were collected from the Donna Reservoir and Canal System to test the concentration of various heavy metals. The heavy metals tested included both potentially toxic and micronutrients in the samples which included arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, lead, nickel and sulfur. During the study, a sixty day sampling period was used to …

The Relational Algebra Toolkit: A User-Friendly Approach To Presenting And Processing Relational Algebra Queries On The Web, Jeremy J. Miller

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Relational algebra is the mathematical basis of tools to express and optimize queries on relational data. However, there exists no convenient way to directly use, express, store, render, visualize, and execute relational algebra over the Web. Educators and practitioners are limited to creating relational algebra expressions using TeX or equation editors which cannot execute them. This work presents a solution to this issue: the Relational Algebra Toolkit (RAT). Relational data and queries are represented using purpose-built XML vocabularies, to be both machine-processable and serializable. Encoded relational algebra expressions can be rendered as parenthetical expressions and as syntax trees, translated to …

Oxidation Of Dibenzothiophene To Dibenzothiophene Sulfone Using Tio2, Juan H. Leal

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The oxidation of dibenzothiophene (DBT) to dibenzothiophene-sulfone has been considered as an alternate method to remove sulfur from crude oil. This study demonstrates that the oxidative desulfurization (ODS) of DBT to DBT-sulfone occurs using rutile TiO2 as a catalyst with the aid of O2. In addition, anatase and brookite were synthesized and tested in the reaction. Particle size of the catalysts was calculated and morphology was explored using SEM. A kinetic study was performed to determine the catalytic effect and activation energy of TiO2. The oxidation reaction was carried out by refluxing TiO2 and DBT in decahydronapthalene while flowing O2 …

Bedrock Geological Map Of The Rockhouse Quadrangle, Carroll And Madison Counties, Arkansas, Douglas Eben Jones

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A digital geologic map of the Rockhouse quadrangle, Carroll and Madison counties, Arkansas, was created on a 1:24,000 scale using ArcMap 10 and Photoshop CS4. The data obtained in the field are digitized onto the United States Geological Survey (USGS) digital raster graphic (DRG) of the Rockhouse quadrangle. The geology in the Rockhouse quadrangle consist entirely of sedimentary rocks that are Paleozoic ranging from Lower Ordovician to Mississippian in age. The Ordovician System is represented by the Cotter, Powell, Everton, and St. Peter Formations. The Cotter and Powell are the prominent bluff forming units throughout the quadrangle and along the …

Synthesis Of A Bifunctional Heterogeneous Catalyst For The Conversion Of Lignocellulosic Biomass Into Precursors For Alternative Fuels And Fine Chemicals, Matthew David Dembo

Masters Theses

The overall goal of the research described here is to develop synthetic routes to bifunctional reagents that can be tethered into silicate matrices derived from the tin functionalized cube, Si₈O₂₀(SnMe₃)₈. The critical functional group required for reaction with cubic silicate building block is a chlorosilane, and we additionally wish to incorporate both acid and ionic liquid groups. Once in hand, a crosslinking metathesis reaction will incorporate these reagents into porous silicate matrices derived from the Si₈O₂₀ cube, creating platforms with both acid and ionic liquid groups tethered to their …

Hydrogeology Of The Little River Animal Agriculture Environmental Research Unit And Impacts Of Dairy Operations On Groundwater, Robert Wesley Hunter

Masters Theses

This thesis describes the development of an integrated hydrogeologic/hydrologic site assessment and groundwater/surface water quality monitoring program at the University of Tennessee – Little River Dairy Farm, located near Townsend, TN. Hydrologic/hydrogeologic investigations of streams and groundwater at the site have been underway for more than 5 years, and these are expected to provide background data for assessing impacts of dairy wastes. The lower half of the ~180 ha site consists of low-relief fields used for row crops, which are underlain by 4 – 9 m of alluvial deposits on top of black shale or limestone that include sinkhole features. …

Mapping Spatial Thematic Accuracy Using Indicator Kriging, Maria I. Martinez

Masters Theses

Thematic maps derived from remote sensing imagery is increasingly being used in environmental and ecological modeling. Spatial information in these maps however is not free of error. Different methodologies such as error matrices are used to assess the accuracy of the spatial information. However, most of the methods commonly used for describing the accuracy assessment of thematic data fail to describe spatial differences of the accuracy across an area of interest. This thesis describes the use of indicator kriging as a geostatistical method for mapping the spatial accuracy of thematic maps. The method is illustrated by constructing accuracy maps for …

The Green's Function Method For Solutions Of Fourth Order Nonlinear Boundary Value Problem., Olga A. Teterina

Masters Theses

This thesis has demonstrated that Green’s functions have a wide range of applications with regard to boundary value problems. In particular, existence and uniqueness of solutions of a large class of fourth order boundary value problems has been established. In fact, given any fourth order ODE with homogeneous boundary conditions, as long as the corresponding Green’s function exists and f satisfies an appropriate Lipschitz condition, Theorem 2.1 guarantees such a solution under equally mild conditions. Similarly, Theorem 2.2 also guarantees such a solution under equally mild conditions. These theorems are contrasted with classical ODE existence theorems in that they get …

Quantifying Groundwater-Surface Water Interactions To Improve The Outcomes Of Human Activities, Ryan Parish Gordon

Dissertations - ALL

Interactions between surface water and groundwater impact both the quality and quantity of water resources. This dissertation is focused on the interactions between surface water in streams and groundwater in hyporheic zones and shallow fluvial aquifers, and how human beings influence these interactions and are influenced by them. The three chapters of this dissertation span scales from cm to km and locations from Upstate New York to the Peruvian Andes, but are united by the goal to improve the scientific understanding of groundwater-surface water interactions (GWSWI) using novel techniques, in order to improve the outcomes of human activities for people …

Object Detection Using Contrast Enhancement And Dynamic Noise Reduction, Justin Lee Baker

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Edge detection is one of the most important steps a computer must perform to gain understanding of an object in a digital image either from disk or from video feed. Edge detection allows for the computer to describe the shape of the objects in an image and create a pixel boundary defining what is considered part of an object, and what is not. Cannys edge detection algorithm is one of the most robust and accurate of these edge detection algorithms. However, as with many algorithms in image processing, there are many cases where the algorithm does not perform as well …

Temperature Trends And Urban Heat Island Intensity Mapping Of The Las Vegas Valley, Adam Leland Black

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Modified urban climate regions that are warmer than rural areas at night are referred to as Urban Heat Islands or UHI. Islands of warmer air over a city can be 12 degrees Celsius greater than the surrounding cooler air. The exponential growth in Las Vegas for the last two decades provides an opportunity to detect gradual temperature changes influenced by an increasing presence of urban materials. This thesis compares ground based thermometric observations and satellite based remote sensing temperature observations to identify temperature trends and UHI areas caused by urban development.

Analysis of temperature trends between 2000 and 2010 at …

Evaluation Of Alternative Project Delivery Methods In Water And Wastewater Projects, Ruiko Maharjan

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The United States (U.S.) is facing significant challenges in addressing aging water infrastructure. Most of the drinking water infrastructure is reaching the end of their useful lives. The American Water Works Association (AWWA) estimated that it will cost about $1 trillion to repair or replace drinking water pipes. Over the next 20 years, it will cost about $298 billion to fix or expand pipes of the nation's wastewater and storm-water systems (AWWA, 2012). Owners, engineers, and contractors are using Alternative Project Delivery (APD) methods - e.g., Design-Build Construction Management-at-Risk Construction Management/General Contractor- to build water and wastewater projects in order …

Estimation Of Travel Time Based On Vehicle-Tracking Models, Anuj Nayyar

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In this thesis we study the travel time problem based on the known traffic density model. Using the conservation law, we model the travel time function by a boundary value problem of a non homogeneous linear hyperbolic equation. The equation is transformed into an initial value hyperbolic equation, and the well-posedness of the problem is discussed. The mathematical analysis for both density and travel problems are given. We also derive the analytic solutions for several special cases of traffic density. Numerical schemes are proposed for solving for travel time problem. Several numerical examples are presented and error analysis on the …

The Water Wall: A Passive Solar Collection And Thermal Storage Device For Supplementary Radiant Heating, Rhett Roman Noseck

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Through the implementation of passive solar building systems, suburbia could take a fresh new step forward toward a progressively more sustainable direction. Making passive solar strategies a priority, master planned community developments would see opportunity to change the style and design of future suburban residences.

The focus and intention of this body of work is to research, design, fabricate, and test a prototype of a passive solar heating device using water as the medium for thermal storage. The size and shape of the design for the water wall device will be determined by the currently built suburban environment; however, for …