Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Efficient Denoising Of High Resolution Color Digital Images Utilizing Krylov Subspace Spectral Methods, Eva Lynn Greenman

Dissertations

The solution to a parabolic nonlinear diffusion equation using a Krylov Subspace Spectral method is applied to high resolution color digital images with parallel processing for efficient denoising. The evolution of digital image technology, processing power, and numerical methods must evolve to increase efficiency in order to meet current usage requirements. Much work has been done to perfect the edge detector in Perona-Malik equation variants, while minimizing the effects of artifacts. It is demonstrated that this implementation of a regularized partial differential equation model controls backward diffusion, achieves strong denoising, and minimizes blurring and other ancillary effects. By adaptively tuning …

Microplankton Dynamics In The River-Dominated Mississippi Bight, Adam D. Boyette

Dissertations

The Mississippi Bight (MSB) is a river-dominated continental margin influenced by multiple large river systems, including the Mississippi River, Alabama and Tombigbee rivers via Mobile Bay, and numerous smaller rivers, creeks, and bayous. This is part of a biologically-rich ecosystem that supports the second largest fishery industry by volume in the United States. Despite our understanding of the linkages between primary production with higher trophic levels, there remains limited studies quantifying these trophic interactions in this system. Microplankton (µm) community dynamics and trophic connectivity between primary producers and heterotrophic protists represent a critical nexus influencing overall biological productivity in this …

Design And Modeling Of Bioinspired Polyelectrolytes With Controlled Architectures For Gene Delivery Applications, Kelli Stockmal

Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on the development of a range of bioinspired polyelectrolytes with controlled architectures for gene and drug delivery applications. Glycans are ubiquitous in biological systems, and understanding the role of saccharide stereochemistry, as well as cationic charge, on polymer behavior in aqueous solution and the interactions with nucleic acids can provide insight into how synthetic polyelectrolytes can be used for non-viral gene delivery and other biological applications. The first chapter provides an introductory overview on how cationic polyelectrolytes can be used to aid the delivery of RNA for controlling gene expression in a variety of cell types, how …

Atomic Oxygen Resistant Low Earth Orbit Stable Polymer Matrix Composites Employing Phenylphosphine Oxide Epoxy-Amines, Witold Fuchs

Dissertations

Atomic oxygen (AO) attacks polymer matrix composites (PMC’s) on the surfaces of spacecraft in low earth orbit (LEO) and threatens safe spacecraft operation and service life. Incorporating phenylphosphine oxide (PPO) groups into polymer chains offers a self-regenerating method of protection from AO but remains poorly understood. Herein, epoxies containing PPO groups were synthesized with increasing concentrations of phosphorus [P] from 0 to 8 wt % to investigate their AO resistance. Measurements confirmed the exposure of these materials to AO produces a passivation phosphate (POx) layer on the surface of the sample and the efficacy of the resultant layer was directly …

Water Elites’ Perceptions Of Water Security In The Middle East And North Africa Region, Ghaleb Akari

Dissertations

The Middle East and North African region continues to face significant water security challenges. The purpose of this dissertation is to gain a deeper understanding of water elites’ perceptions of water security in the MENA region. It is not meant to generalize the findings. Instead, the intention for the research is to identify, explain, and analyze by national elites' contrasting perceptions in Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, and Tunisia.

The study examines water elites’ perceptions in four areas: current knowledge level of water security, water resource management, water service delivery, and water-related risk mitigation. These elites’ perceptions of water security will help …

Vignette 01: The Salish Sea Estuary System, Bert Webber

Institute Publications

The Salish Sea is an estuarine ecosystem. Freshwater from land drainages mixes with the waters of the Pacific Ocean and results in water with a measurable, although sometimes small amount of freshwater. The Salish Sea is among the preeminent estuaries of North America. Estuarine circulation and flow are central to the high biological productivity in the Salish Sea.

Section 5: Cumulative Ecosystem Effects, Kathryn L. Sobocinski, Jennifer Boldt, Todd Sandell, Jaclyn Cleary, Michael Schmidt, Isobel Pearsall, Iris Kemp, Brian Riddell, Lynda V. Mapes

Institute Publications

Section 5 introduces cumulative effects and brings in brief case discussions focused on herring, salmon, and orcas. Understanding the layers of stressors the ecosystem faces is integral to gaining a full picture of declines in ecosystem function.

Vignette 03: Birds Of The Salish Sea, Rob Butler

Institute Publications

The significance of the Salish Sea comes into focus when we look at the diversity and abundance of its birds and mammals, some of which are globally, continentally, and nationally important. Of particular importance is the diversity and abundance of species on the Fraser River Delta. There are more species of birds on the delta than any comparable area in Canada, and nearly half of all 550 species of birds reported for British Columbia have been seen on the delta. Despite all that has been learned about marine birds and mammals, large areas of the Salish Sea in Canada have …

Vignette 07: Stormwater Effluent Exerts A Key Pressure On The Salish Sea, Emily Howe

Institute Publications

One of the primary terrestrial pressures on the Salish Sea estuarine and marine environment is urban stormwater runoff. When rainfall runs across hard, impervious surfaces, rather than soaking into the soil, it picks up and delivers toxic contaminants directly to nearby streams, rivers, and eventually the Salish Sea. In fact, for most toxic substances, surface runoff is the largest contributing source of loading to Puget Sound. Unfortunately, the Salish Sea’s relationship with stormwater effluent is no outlier; stormwater is the fastest growing cause of surface water impairment in the United States as urbanization transitions forested and other natural landscapes to …

Vignette 17: Salish Sea Jellyfish, Correigh Greene

Institute Publications

The Salish Sea is home to a diverse community of gelatinous zooplankton (or "jellies"). In their adult forms, jellies comprise a relatively large proportion of biomass in the Salish Sea. Questions regarding jellyfish abundance and climate variation in the Salish Sea have been difficult to address, in part because of a lack of consistent monitoring. Research presented in this vignette suggests that jellyfish are sensitive to climate signals like marine water temperatures, but do not appear to be systematically increasing in abundance over time. Due to advances in modeling, we may gain a better perspective on the roles jellies play …

Vignette 20: Fraser River Estuary In Need Of Urgent Intensive Care, Laura Kehoe, Tara G. Martin

Institute Publications

The Fraser River is the lifeline of the Salish Sea, influencing its stratification, circulation, and primary productivity. If we do not take strong action to conserve the Fraser River estuary, two-thirds of the species at risk in this region are predicted to have a less than 50% chance of survival. Many of the region's most iconic species could disappear. Conservation action combined with environmental governance is a pathway for a brighter future for the Fraser River and other highly contested regions.

Vignette 21: How Ecological Time-Series Inform Response To Stressors, Jackson W.F. Chu

Institute Publications

An important part of biodiversity monitoring includes assessing the differences in vulnerability across parts of an ecosystem. Hypoxia is one of the big three climate- related stressors causing biodiversity loss in the oceans. As the ocean warms, its capacity to hold oxygen becomes reduced. At the same time, concurrent shifts in circulation result in changes to how oxygen gets transported from the surface (where oxygen dissolves into the ocean) to the seafloor and from offshore to inshore areas. When a habitat experiences a substantial drop in oxygen, below the point needed to sustain everyday life, animals respond by migrating away, …

Designing Cryogenic Strain Device For 2d Materials, Jake Carter

Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

The Churchill lab working within the Physics Department at the University of Arkansas is working to create important quantum states including weak topological insulators (TIs) through the use of symmetry engineering and topological electronic states in two-dimensional (2D) crystals of WHM materials. Experimental results of these topological states have been obstructed due to the difficulty to perform controlled in situ strain. This project strives to create a mount to utilize a piezoelectric nanopositioner within cryostats achieving an in situ strain that creates the quantum states the lab is looking to observe. This report also examines the necessary equations to determine …

Cointegration And Statistical Arbitrage Of Precious Metals, Judge Van Horn

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

When talking about financial instruments correlation is often thrown around as a measure of the relation between two securities. An often more useful or tradeable measure is cointegration. Cointegration is the measure of two securities tendency to revert to an average price over time. In other words, cointegration ignores directionality and only cares about the distance between two securities. For a mean reversion strategy such as statistical arbitrage cointegration proves to be a far more reliable statistical measure of mean reversion, and while it is more reliable than correlation it still has its own problems. One thing to consider is …

Using Deep Learning For Children Brain Image Analysis, Rafael Toche Pizano

Computer Science and Computer Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Analyzing the correlation between brain volumetric/morphometry features and cognition/behavior in children is important in the field of pediatrics as identifying such relationships can help identify children who may be at risk for illnesses. Understanding these relationships can not only help identify children who may be at risk of illnesses, but it can also help evaluate strategies that promote brain development in children. Currently, one way to do this is to use traditional statistical methods such as a correlation analysis, but such an approach does not make it easy to generalize and predict how brain volumetric/morphometry will impact cognition/behavior. One of …

Data Forgery Detection In Automatic Generation Control: Exploration Of Automated Parameter Generation And Low-Rate Attacks, Yatish R. Dubasi

Computer Science and Computer Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Automatic Generation Control (AGC) is a key control system utilized in electric power systems. AGC uses frequency and tie-line power flow measurements to determine the Area Control Error (ACE). ACE is then used by the AGC to adjust power generation and maintain an acceptable power system frequency. Attackers might inject false frequency and/or tie-line power flow measurements to mislead AGC into falsely adjusting power generation, which can harm power system operations. Various data forgery detection models are studied in this thesis. First, to make the use of predictive detection models easier for users, we propose a method for automated generation …

Using Large Pre-Trained Language Models To Track Emotions Of Cancer Patients On Twitter, Will Baker

Computer Science and Computer Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Twitter is a microblogging website where any user can publicly release a message, called a tweet, expressing their feelings about current events or their own lives. This candid, unfiltered feedback is valuable in the spaces of healthcare and public health communications, where it may be difficult for cancer patients to divulge personal information to healthcare teams, and randomly selected patients may decline participation in surveys about their experiences. In this thesis, BERTweet, a state-of-the-art natural language processing (NLP) model, was used to predict sentiment and emotion labels for cancer-related tweets collected in 2019 and 2020. In longitudinal plots, trends in …

Trunctrimmer: A First Step Towards Automating Standard Bioinformatic Analysis, Z. Gunner Lawless, Dana Dittoe, Dale R. Thompson, Steven C. Ricke

Computer Science and Computer Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Bioinformatic analysis is a time-consuming process for labs performing research on various microbiomes. Researchers use tools like Qiime2 to help standardize the bioinformatic analysis methods, but even large, extensible platforms like Qiime2 have drawbacks due to the attention required by researchers. In this project, we propose to automate additional standard lab bioinformatic procedures by eliminating the existing manual process of determining the trim and truncate locations for paired end 2 sequences. We introduce a new Qiime2 plugin called TruncTrimmer to automate the process that usually requires the researcher to make a decision on where to trim and truncate manually after …

City Goers: An Exploration Into Creating Seemingly Intelligent A.I. Systems, Matthew Brooke

Computer Science and Computer Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Artificial Intelligence systems have come a long way over the years. One particular application of A.I. is its incorporation in video games. A key goal of creating an A.I. system in a video game is to convey a level of intellect to the player. During playtests for Halo: Combat Evolved, the developers at Bungie noticed that players deemed tougher enemies as more intelligent than weaker ones, despite the fact that there were no differences in behavior in the enemies. The tougher enemies provided a greater illusion of intelligence to the players. Inspired by this, I set out to create a …

Exploration Of N-Heterocyclic Carbenes For The Functionalization Of Gold Surfaces And Their Metal Complexes, Shelby L. Strausser

Doctoral Dissertations

Gold surface chemistry has progressed considerably towards many applications in medicine. Due to the non-toxic nature of gold in the human body, gold surfaces have been investigated for biometric sensors and targeted drug therapy agents. While gold is relatively unreactive in its elemental form, gold surfaces (such as films or nanoparticles) require a ligand for stability and improved functionality. The typical ligand is thiols for self-assembled monolayers on gold surfaces. While thiol self-assembly on surfaces is well understood, thiols are known to degrade or leach under a wide variety of conditions, including both thermal and chemical, which is toxic in …

Is Our World Becoming Less Quantum?, Lidice Castro, Vladik Kreinovich

Departmental Technical Reports (CS)

According to the general idea of quantization, all physical dependencies are only approximately deterministic, and all physical "constants" are actually varying. A natural conclusion -- that some physicists made -- is that Planck's constant (that determines the magnitude of quantum effects) can also vary. In this paper, we use another general physics idea -- the second law of thermodynamics -- to conclude that with time, this constant can only decrease. Thus, with time (we are talking cosmological scales, of course), our world is becoming less quantum.

Express.Js Kundrejt Nest.Js: Krahaisimi I Dy Node.Js Framework-Ave Të Dedikuar Për Server, Blendi Misini

Theses and Dissertations

Qëllimi i këtij hulumtimi është krahasimi i dy framework të Node js përkatësisht NestJS dhe ExpressJS të cilat përdoren për ndërtimin e aplikacioneve efiqiente dhë të zgjerueshm e nga ana e serverit. Node.js e (njohur edhe si Node) është një përmbledhje e paketuar e motorit JavaScript V8 të Google, për ndërtimin e lehtë të aplikacioneve të

shpejta,të shkallëzueshme dhe të lehta sa i përket hapsiërs memorike që këto framework alokojnë për nevojat e tyre. Node.js është një tekonologji e cila është ndërtuar duke u përqëndruar në performancën e lartë si dhe konsumin e ulët të memories kompjuterike. Në këtë punimë, …

Cloud Computing And Security Of Data, Elbekir Krasniqi

Theses and Dissertations

Cloud computing presents a new model for IT services and delivery and it usually involves over-a-network, on-demand, self-service access, which is dynamically scalable and elastic, utilizing pools of often virtualized resources. Through these features, cloud computing has the potential to improve the way businesses and IT operate by offering fast start-up, flexibility, scalability and cost efficiency. Even though cloud computing provides compelling benefits and cost-effective options for IT hosting and expansion, new risks and opportunities for security exploits are introduced. Security standards, policies and controls are therefore of the essence to assist management in protecting and safeguarding systems and data. …

Zhvillimi I Aplikacionit Per Detektim Te Akullit Ne Rruge Te Automobilave, Fatbardha Muriqi

Theses and Dissertations

Ky punim diplome paraqet zhvillimin e aplikacionit për detektimin e akullit në rrugë të automobilave në platformën Android. Më saktsisht ky punim do të trajtoj dizajnimin dhe zhvillimin e një aplikacioni për detektim dhe raportim të akullit në rrugë të automobilave. Gjate stinës së dimrit problemi kryesor i vozitësve të automobilave është vozitja gjatë dhe pas reshjeve të borës, për shkak të formimit të akullit në rrugë. Për të mbajtur rrugët gjithmonë të pastruara gjatë dimrit është një gjë sfiduese, sepse moti i keq degradon gjendjen e rrugëve për një periudhë të shkurtër kohore. Gjëja më e rëndësishme është që …

Gjenerata E Pestë E Rrjetave Mobile – 5g, Rijad Sekiraça

Theses and Dissertations

Teknologjia 5G është teknologji që karakterizohet me shpejtësi relativisht të shpejtë të të dhënave,vonesë tepër të ulët, ngritje të konsiderueshme të efikasitetit të stacioneve bazë dhe ndryshime të mëdha në kualitetin e shërbimeve (QoS) për klientët në raport me rrjetet ekzistuese LTE. Gjenerata e pestë e rrjetave mobile do ta zgjerojë përdorimin e Internetit dhe do të krijojë një ekosistem masiv të lidhur me Internetin e gjërave. Avantazhi kryesor ndaj 4G dhe 4.5G (LTE i avancuar) është se, përveç shpejtësive të mëdha të transferimit të të dhënave, kjo mund të lidhet edhe me Internet of Things. Përmes rrjetit 5G, do …

Search Engine Optimization, Gentiana Sheholli Berisha

Theses and Dissertations

Lulëzimi i teknologjisë kohëve të fundit ka krijuar epokën digjitale. Rritja shpërthyese në teknologjitë kompjuterëve, të informacionit dhe të teknologjive të tjera digjitale ka një ndikim të madh në mënyrat se si kompanitë i sjellin vlerat te klientët e tyre. Epoka digjitale u ka siguruar specialistëve të marketingut mënyrat të reja ngacmuese për të mësuar rreth klientëve dhe për t`i ndjekur ata, me synime për të krijuar produkte dhe shërbime në përputhje individuale të tyre. Prandaj, ky trend çdo ditë e më shumë po bëhet e domosdoshme për çdo veprimtari. Marketingu digjital i trendit të cilin do ta diskutojmë u …

Roli I Forenzikës Kompjuterike Në Hetimin E Rasteve Me Krime Kibernetike, Amir Hyseni

Theses and Dissertations

Interneti është duke u rritur me hapa të shpejtë, ashtu siç është duke u rritur edhe numri i krimeve kibernetike të kryera kundër përdorimit të kompjuterëve. Gjurmët e letrës janë bërë gjurmë elektronike. Si përgjigje ndaj rritjes së krimit kibernetik, është shfaq fusha e forenzikës kompjuterike. Forenzika Kompjuterike përfshin mbledhjen dhe ekzaminimin e provave digjitale, që jo vetëm që e vlerësojne dëmin në një kompjuter si rezultat i një krimi apo sulmi kibernetik, por gjithashtu bën ri-kthimin (ri-marrjen) e të dhënave të humbura apo të fshehura nga një sistem i tillë për të ndjekur penalisht një kriminel kibernetik apo një …

Testimi I Sigurisë Së Web Aplikacionit “Slack” Bazuar Në Standardin Owasp, Florid Canolli

Theses and Dissertations

Ueb aplikacionet janë duke u përdorur çdo ditë e më shumë dhe modernizimi, shfrytëzimi i shpeshtë i tyre si rrjedhojë ka shkaktuar rritjen e vëmendjes së personave keqbërës të cilët tentojnë në mënyra të ndryshme të ndërhyjnë në këto ueb aplikacione apo interferojnë në funksionimin adekuat të tij dhe pastaj të shkaktojnë dëme të riparueshme. .

Shpejtimi i proceseve ndërtuese të ueb aplikacioneve dhe përdorimi i teknologjive të gatshme, shkakton gabime më të shpeshta gjatë ndërtimit të ueb aplikacioneve, e të cilat individët e caktuar edhe mos qofshin profesional, të kenë mundësi ti gjejnë ato e të arrijnë deri në …

Komunikimi I Rrjetave Pa Tela Dhe Siguria, Dokleat Veseli

Theses and Dissertations

Sistemet e komunikimit mund të jenë me tel ose me valë (pa tela) dhe mediumi i përdorur për komunikim mund të jetë ‘guided’ ose ‘unguided’. Në komunikimin me tela, mediumi është një rrugë fizike si kabllot co-axial, kabllot me çiftore të përdredhur dhe kabllot me fibrave optike etj. Termi “wireless” i referohet komunikimit ose transmetimit të informacionit në një distancë pa pranin fizike të telave, kabllo ose ndonjë mediumi tjetër përcjellës elektrik. Komunikimi pa tel është një nga mediumet e rëndësishme të transmetimit të të dhënave ose informacionit në pajisjet e tjera. Tel komunikimi pa tela informacioni transmetohet përmes ajrit, …

Post Covid-19 Water And Waste Water Management To Protect Public Health And Geoenvironment, Ken Cornell, Arvin Farid

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has posed severe threats to humans and the geoenvironment. The findings of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (Sars-CoV-2) traces in waste water and the practice of disinfecting outdoor spaces in several cities in the world, which can result into the entry of disinfectants and their by-products into storm drainage systems and their subsequent discharge into rivers and coastal waters, raise the issue of environmental, ecological and public health effects. The aims of the current paper are to investigate the potential of water and waste water to operate as transmission routes for Sars-CoV-2 and the …