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Adaptive Time-Varying Brain Source Localization
No full textA Master of Science thesis in Biomedical Engineering by Sajedah A. Al-Momani entitled, “Adaptive Time-Varying Brain Source Localization”, submitted in November 2019. Thesis advisor is Dr. Hasan Mir and thesis co-advisor is Dr. Hasan Al-Nashash. Soft copy is available (Thesis, Approval Signatures, Completion Certificate, and AUS Archives Consent Form).According to the most recent statistics provided by the World Health Organization, 50 million individuals around the world are diagnosed with epilepsy with 2.5 million new cases diagnosed annually. One-third of this large population are refractory epileptic patients who resist the antiepileptic drugs. Accordingly, the recommended solution is to surgically resect the seizure onset zone (SOZ). To ensure favourable surgical outcomes in terms of being seizure free and avoiding undesirable consequences, a precise identification of the SOZ is a critical factor. Electroencephalograph (EEG) is usually used along with advanced imaging techniques to localize and identify the SOZ. The high temporal resolution of EEG makes it a convenient tool to study the dynamic and rapid propagating nature of epileptic spikes. Incorporating the spatiotemporal propagating characteristic of epileptic spikes in the formulation of the EEG source localization problem enhances the identification of SOZs corresponding to both fixed and moving sources. Therefore, the main objective of this thesis is to localize and track, with acceptable computational time and localization error, the spatiotemporal dynamics of epileptic sources. To do so, the time-varying source localization problem is solved using two methods, namely the Source Affine Image Reconstruction (SAFFIRE) algorithm and a proposed Steepest Descent algorithm. The derivation of these methods is based on finding filter weights that minimize the mean squared error cost function. The main reason behind proposing the Steepest Descent method is to obtain a new estimation of the source vector with each newly received data sample. The performance of these methods is investigated on simulated data mimicking two scenarios: a spatially fixed source and a spatially moving source. For the moving source scenario, the results showed that the SAFFIRE algorithm had a 0.9±0.05 localization error compared to a 1.69±0.06 for the Steepest Descent. The execution time of the SAFFIRE algorithm was 9-folds higher compared to Steepest Descent. Finally, the two algorithms are applied on a high-density simulated epileptic spike originated from a fixed source. Results showed that both algorithms provided similar localization error. This suggests that both algorithms may perform similar to each other at higher number of electrodes.College of EngineeringMultidisciplinary ProgramsMaster of Science in Biomedical Engineering (MSBME
Stage-discharge relationship in two-stage channels
No full textA Master of Science thesis in Civil Engineering by Mahsa Hashemi entitled, “Stage-discharge relationship in two-stage channels”, submitted in July 2019. Thesis advisor is Dr. Serter Atabay. Soft and hard copy available.Predicting the stage-discharge relationship in a flood event is an important concern. Once the flow exceeds the bank level in a two-stage channel, there is a momentum transfer that occurs at the interface between the main channel and its floodplain, which makes the problem more complicated. Several methods predict the stage-discharge relationship in two-stage channels; single-channel method (SCM), divided channel method (DCM), coherence method (COHM), weighted divided channel method (WDCM) and exchange discharge model (EDM). For analysis, all these methods were applied to the 18 m flume data collected in a symmetric smooth compound channel and the four cases of the symmetric rough compound channel. The SCM overestimated the stage for a given flow, whereas the DCM underestimated it. Although the WDCM is simple to use, it neglects the momentum transfer while calculating the stage-discharge, and it requires defining an appropriate weighing factor ξ to determine the stage-discharge relationship. On the other hand, the COHM and the EDM consider the momentum transfer; hence, showed better stage-discharge results. However, both COHM and EDM are very complex to use. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop a simple method that can predict the stage-discharge relationship in symmetric compound channels accurately during flood events. In this study, the new method is proposed by improving the WDCM, and it is called improved weighted divided channel method (IWDCM), which includes the apparent shear force (ASF), wetted perimeters and B/b ratio. It was concluded that IWDCM is limited to all rigid symmetric compound channels with B/b ratios greater than or equal to 3. The IWDCM for smooth, symmetric compound channel led to percentage errors of 5.59%, 6.01% and 4.91% for total, main channel and floodplain discharges, respectively. On the other hand, for the rough symmetric compound channel, the results showed 1.85%, 7.74%, 10.75%, and 5.91% for total discharges for cases 1, 2, 3, and 4 respectively. Lastly, the IWDCM was applied to two datasets for validation purposes, and similar results were obtained. Therefore, the IWDCM can be used to predict the stage-discharge relationship in compound channels during flood events.College of EngineeringDepartment of Civil EngineeringMaster of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE
Planning and Operation of Smart EV Parking Lots
No full textA Master of Science thesis in Electrical Engineering by Osama Magdy Abdelwahab entitled, “Planning and Operation of Smart EV Parking Lots”, submitted in May 2019. Thesis advisor is Dr. Mostafa Farouk Shaaban. Soft and hard copy available.Aiming to reduce Green House Gas (GHG) emissions and to increase resources security, renewable resources and electric vehicles (EVs) are gaining a lot of global interest. Promoting the use of EVs for consumers requires proper charging infrastructure adding a considerable amount of load on the grid. Aiming to accommodate this extra load economically, proper planning and operation studies have to be implemented avoiding grid overloading severe consequences. The smart coordination of EV charging via the demand side management and local generation from Photovoltaic panels can efficiently reshape the EV charging load to ensure seamless integration with the grid. Therefore, this research focuses on the development of new methodologies to facilitate accommodating high penetration of EVs. The research work will be achieved through two main stages, namely the planning stage and the operation stage. One of the main pillars of smart grids is the implementation of twoway communication with customers. Therefore, in both research stages, it is assumed that smart signals can be exchanged between the EV and the dispatch center. Planning stage starts with the development of new models to describe the effects of EVs charging as an electric load. The output of the proposed planning scheme will include several implementation decisions such as configuration of the charging stations, types, and number of EV chargers, the local generation by phtovoltic units and the expected profit, among other information. The operation stage proposes an innovative approach for day ahead load scheduling for smart charging/discharging management for EV charging stations. The main target of this approach is to maximize both customer satisfaction and stakeholder's profitCollege of EngineeringDepartment of Electrical EngineeringMaster of Science in Electrical Engineering (MSEE
Recognizing Plastic Threats in Baggage X-Rays Using Deep Networks
No full textA Master of Science thesis in Electrical Engineering by Mohammad Suhail Abdulwahid Abdulrahman Alawar entitled, “Recognizing Plastic Threats in Baggage X-Rays Using Deep Networks”, submitted in December 2019. Thesis advisor is Dr. Usman Tariq and thesis co-advisors are Dr. Nasser Qaddoumi and Dr. Hasan Mir. Soft copy is available (Thesis, Approval Signatures, Completion Certificate, and AUS Archives Consent Form).Transportation authorities are faced with the challenge of detecting contraband items, particularly firearms. In most cases, security personnel can reliably perform this task. However, these tasks require strong focus, which causes the operators to become stressed out in a short amount of time. During baggage inspections, some bags can be very difficult to classify due to the superimposing effect that can occur in cluttered bags. Additionally, officials desire enhanced passenger throughput in order to boost the profitability of the airport. This implies a need to increase the rate of passengers going through the X-ray detection machine. These challenges motivate the urgent need for an automated X-ray recognition system that can classify various types of objects, thus enhancing the accuracy of the X-ray machine operators’ final decision through the use of computer vision aided software. In this research, we propose new methods as well as modifications of existing methods that can be used to automatically classify hard-torecognize threats. In particular, we focus on detecting plastic threats instead of the easyto-recognize metal threats. The main contribution of this work is the development of a novel paradigm to classify 3D-printed plastic threats (such as a gun) in baggage, including a method for systematic data collection and an approach for Threat Image Projection. We also prove the effectiveness of our assumptions and approaches by generalizing our system to recognize new threats that the system has not been trained for.College of EngineeringDepartment of Electrical EngineeringMaster of Science in Electrical Engineering (MSEE
Use of Aluminum Alloy Plates as Externally Bonded Shear Reinforcement for R/C Beams
No full textFiber Reinforced Polymers (FRP) and steel had proven to be very effective as externally bonded shear strengthening materials However, they both have their shortcomings. Recently developed high strength Aluminum Alloy (AA) plates possess desirable characteristics that may overcome some of the shortcomings of FRP and steel. The aim of this paper is to study the behavior of Reinforced Concrete (RC) beams strengthened with externally bonded AA plates as shear reinforcement. Three RC beams were designed to fail in shear and two of them were strengthened with externally bonded AA plates that were oriented at 90° and at 45°. The beams were tested under four-point bending until failure while magnitudes of loads and mid-span deflections were recorded. The results of the tested beams showed an increase in the load carrying capacity of up to 38% compared to the capacity of un-strengthened control beam. All beams failed in shear with diagonal shear cracks followed by de-lamination/de-bonding of AA plates near the support and near the applied load. This study demonstrated that AA plates can be used as externally bonded material to enhance the shear capacity of RC beams, however, further investigation is needed to further validate these results
Pharmaceutical wastewater treatment using graphene oxide derivatives
No full textA Master of Science thesis in Chemical Engineering by Awais Zaka entitled, “Pharmaceutical wastewater treatment using graphene oxide derivatives”, submitted in December 2019. Thesis advisor is Dr. Taleb H. Ibrahim. Soft copy is available (Thesis, Approval Signatures, Completion Certificate, and AUS Archives Consent Form).The rising problem of pharmaceutical contamination in different water bodies calls for a swift action in the treatment and removal of these emerging pollutants from water using advanced methods. Adsorption is employed as a primary treatment method for treating water containing Diclofenac sodium, Aspirin and Paracetamol (Acetaminophen). Two graphene oxide-based adsorbents namely, reduced graphene oxide magnetite (RGOM) and graphene oxide nickel ferrite (GONF) were used for the adsorption process. Batch experiments were conducted to find the optimum conditions such as contact time, adsorption dosage, pH of the solution, temperature and initial concentration. These optimum values were then used to perform a number of experiments in order to fit isotherm models such as Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin model. Pseudo-first and pseudo-second order kinetic models were also used to fit the kinetic data. Thermodynamic properties such as change in Gibbs free energy, enthalpy and entropy were then calculated to get further insight of the adsorption process. RGOM showed better results with the removal efficiency of more than 90% for the above-mentioned pharmaceuticals. The removal efficiency of GONF to remove Diclofenac sodium, Aspirin and Paracetamol was around 20%, 40% and 65% respectively. Reusability of both RGOM and GONF was studied for economic aspects of their applicability. Based on its better performance, RGOM was also used to study continuous fixed-bed adsorption of all three pharmaceuticals and the effect of flow rate of contaminated water and the bed depth of adsorbent in the column was studied. The adsorption data was fitted using different continuous adsorption models to obtain adsorption parameters.College of EngineeringDepartment of Chemical EngineeringMaster of Science in Chemical Engineering (MSChE
Effects of mechano-electrical feedback on the onset of alternans: A computational study
No full textCardiac alternans is a heart rhythm instability that is associated with cardiac arrhythmias and may lead to sudden cardiac death. The onset of this instability, which is linked to period-doubling bifurcation and may be a route to chaos, is of particular interest. Mechano-electric feedback depicts the effects of tissue deformation on cardiac excitation. The main effect of mechano-electric feedback is delivered via the so-called stretch-activated ion channels and is caused by stretch-activated currents. Mechano-electric feedback, which is believed to have proarrhythmic and antiarrhythmic effects on cardiac electrophysiology, affects the action potential duration in a manner dependent on cycle length, but the mechanisms by which this occurs remain to be elucidated. In this study, a biophysically detailed electromechanical model of cardiac tissue is employed to show how a stretch-activated current can affect the action potential duration at cellular and tissue levels, illustrating its effects on the onset of alternans. Also, using a two-dimensional iterated map that incorporates stretch-activated current effects, we apply linear stability analysis to study the stability of the bifurcation. We show that alternans bifurcation can be prevented depending on the strength of the stretch-activated current.Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)American University of Sharja
Investigation of Energy Storage Batteries in Stability Enforcement of Low Inertia Active Distribution Network
No full textThe inherent intermittency of renewable power generation poses one of the great challenges to the future smart grid.With incentives and subsidies, the penetration level of small-scale renewable energy into power grids is sharply increasing worldwide. Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are used to curtail the extra power during low demand times. These energy storage systems are capable of absorbing and delivering real power to the grid. The increased penetration level of inverter-based distributed generation (DG) reduces the inertia of the grid and thus affects the transient stability of the network. This paper discusses and investigates the impact of BESS on distribution networks’ stability with high penetration levels of inverter based DG. The obtained results show that proper charging and discharging schemes of the BESS can enhance the transient stability of the network. Fast switching between charging and discharging mode would be helpful during transient fault disturbance to keep the system in a balanced condition
Collaboration: The Key to Successful Business English Course Development
No full textA Master of Arts thesis in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages by Leena Abu-Yousef entitled, “Collaboration: The Key to Successful Business English Course Development”, submitted in December 2019. Thesis advisor is Dr. Tharwat M. El-Sakran. Soft copy is available (Thesis, Approval Signatures, Completion Certificate, and AUS Archives Consent Form).In the dynamic nature of business, effective communication skills are mandatory through all pathways to success. Day by day, more educational institutions are investing in the development of their learners’ communication skills by offering English courses focused on the language used within a specific field. This thesis explores current research on English for Specific Purposes (ESP) with a special focus on English for Business Purposes. The main objective of this study is to evaluate and review a current Business English course currently offered at the American University of Sharjah by researching, gathering data on and understanding the updated needs of business students. This study examines the perceptions of 84 business undergraduates, 76 business graduates, 9 business professors, and 5 English professors of a Business English course through feedback collected via online questionnaires and face-to-face interviews. The study highlights three main findings: the course’s inability to fulfill the educational and professional market needs of learners, the need to refine the course’s contents, and the significance of involving business specialists in the course design. Based on these findings, a multi-skilled syllabus has been developed to bridge the gap between the current course design and the market expectations of business students. The recommended syllabus further aims to holistically address all the weaknesses extracted from the collected data.College of Arts and SciencesDepartment of EnglishMaster of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (MA TESOL
A Framework for Sustainability-Oriented Innovation in Healthcare
No full textA Master of Science thesis in Biomedical Engineering by Salma Sami Elabed entitled, “A Framework for Sustainability-Oriented Innovation in Healthcare”, submitted in December 2019. Thesis advisor is Dr. Abdulrahim Shamayleh. Soft copy is available (Thesis, Approval Signatures, Completion Certificate, and AUS Archives Consent Form).The concept of sustainability in healthcare has received significant attention in the last decade due to the associated progressive impacts on the environment. With the continuous growth and the associated challenges in healthcare, healthcare managers and experts are promoting the integration of sustainability into their supply chains to achieve sustainable healthcare. Embracing a sustainable approach in healthcare supply chains entails improving current organizational practices and processes by adopting sustainable innovations. Studies have shown that going sustainable in the healthcare industry is essential to achieve cost reduction, improved quality, and lower environmental impact. Sustainability-Oriented Innovation (SOI) is the introduction of new products or organizational processes for achieving sustainable improvement. While there have been significant research contributions conducted towards the adoption of innovations in healthcare and the incorporation of sustainability in healthcare supply chains, there has been no evidence of research collectively considering the concepts of sustainability, innovation, and healthcare supply chains. This work fills the gap in research by providing an SOI framework in healthcare with a focus on sustainable supply chain management. The main objective of this research is to propose an SOI driven assessment guide and decision-making framework for healthcare managers to enhance sustainability by getting informed on which criteria to focus on. To demonstrate the applicability of the proposed framework, healthcare experts from seven large known UAE-based hospitals were interviewed to assess the healthcare SOI criteria using a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) method. The results of this study indicate the need to increase knowledge and clarity over the concept of SOI to lead the advancement of the healthcare industry. The SOI framework is used as a guide for administrative managers, and decision-makers in the healthcare industry to assess and enhance sustainability in healthcare by improving existing capabilities, and implementing innovative practices with available resources. The framework provides a direction for future research in SOI practices in the healthcare sector and its supply chains.College of EngineeringMultidisciplinary ProgramsMaster of Science in Biomedical Engineering (MSBME