Not Enough of a Minority?: Arab Americans and the Language Assistance Provisions (Section 203) of the Voting Rights Act

With the Voting Rights Act set to expire in 2007, debate has ensued regarding the protections it provides for minority groups. Section 203 of the Act protects language minorities, but under these protections, only four minority groups are afforded bilingual access to voting materials. This Note argues that the Act is imperative to the protection of minority voters, especially those belonging to a language minority group. This Note further argues that not only should the Voting Rights Act be renewed, but § 203 should be revised to include Arab Americans. The Note focuses on the Arab American community because it is one language minority group that is not protected under the Voting Rights Act. Furthermore, there are several barriers to bilingual access under § 203. This Note explores these barriers and advocates revision of § 203 so that all language minorities may be afforded the full protections of the Voting Rights Act

Extended Kappa Distribution in the Presence of Censored Data

In this study, we introduce a new extension of three-parameter Kappa distribution using the Topp-Leone family of distributions, called Topp-Leone Kappa distribution which offers distribution with more flexible and applicable study of the highly-skewed data. Some statistical properties of the proposed distribution are studied. Based on censoring schemes, the maximum likelihood estimation is considered for the new model parameters. A simulation study is carried out to evaluate the performance of the maximum likelihood estimates based on their biases and mean square errors. The new model is fitted to a real data set and it is shown that the distribution is better fits than some other competitive distributions

Developing Novel Criteria to Classify ARDS Severity using a Machine Learning Approach

Davant de les dificultats mèdiques per abordar correctament els problemes del ARDS, tal com es reporten en múltiples publicacions especialitzades, en aquesta tesi hem plantejat la hipòtesi que l'ús de tecnologies modernes d'aprenentatge automàtic (ML) podria millorar el nostre coneixement i la nostra capacitat per predir i abordar aquests ARDS. qüestions. Per assolir aquests objectius (i) vam proposar una fórmula nova [PaO2/(FiO2xPEEP) or P/FPE] per a PEEP≥5 i els valors de tall corresponents per abordar la bretxa de definició de Berlín per a la gravetat de l'ARDS mitjançant enfocaments ML. Es van examinar els valors de P/FPE que delimiten els límits de l'ARDS lleu, moderat i greu. Hem aplicat ML per predir la gravetat del ARDS després de l'aparició al llarg del temps comparant els criteris actuals de PaO2/FiO2 de Berlín amb P/FPE en tres escenaris diferents, (ii) vam tenir com a objectiu caracteritzar el millor escenari precoç durant els dos primers dies a la unitat de cures intensives (ICU) per predir la durada de la MV després de l'inici de l'ARDS mitjançant enfocaments de ML, i (iii) vam validar P/FPE com a predictor de la mortalitat de la ICU més enllà de l'estat actual de la tècnica mitjançant llindars de classificació intuïtius basats en ML.Frente a las dificultades médicas para abordar adecuadamente los problemas de ARDS, tal como se reportan en múltiples publicaciones especializadas, en esta tesis planteamos la hipótesis de que el uso de tecnologías modernas de aprendizaje automático (ML) podría mejorar nuestro conocimiento y nuestra capacidad para predecir y abordar estos ARDS. cuestiones. Para lograr estos objetivos (i), propusimos una fórmula novedosa [PaO2/(FiO2xPEEP) or P/FPE] para PEEP≥5 y los valores de corte correspondientes para abordar la brecha de definición de Berlín para la gravedad del ARDS mediante el uso de enfoques ML. Examinamos los valores de P/FPE que delimitan los límites del ARDS leve, moderado y grave. Aplicamos ML para predecir la gravedad del ARDS después del inicio a lo largo del tiempo comparando los criterios actuales de PaO2/FiO2 de Berlín con P/FPE en tres escenarios diferentes, (ii) apuntamos a caracterizar el mejor escenario temprano durante los dos primeros días en la unidad de cuidados intensivos (ICU) para predecir la duración de la MV después del inicio del ARDS utilizando enfoques de ML, y (iii) validamos P/FPE como predictor de mortalidad en la ICU más allá del estado actual del arte utilizando umbrales de clasificación intuitivos basados en ML.In front of the medical difficulties to properly address ARDS issues, as they are reported in multiple specialized publications, in this thesis we hypothesized that the use of modern machine learning (ML) technologies could improve our knowledge and our capacity to predict and address these ARDS issues. In order to achieve these objectives (i) we proposed a novel formula [PaO2/(FiO2xPEEP) or P/FPE] for PEEP≥5 and corresponding cut-off values to address Berlin’s definition gap for ARDS severity by using ML approaches. We examined P/FPE values delimiting the boundaries of mild, moderate, and severe ARDS. We applied ML to predict ARDS severity after onset over time by comparing current Berlin PaO2/FiO2 criteria with P/FPE under three different scenarios, (ii) we aimed at characterizing the best early scenario during the first two days in the intensive care unit (ICU) to predict MV duration after ARDS onset using ML approaches, and (iii) we validated P/FPE as a predictor of ICU mortality beyond the current state of the art using intuitive classification thresholds based on ML

Developing an integrated sustainable sanitation system for urban areas: Gaza strip case study

A vertical flow (reed bed) constructed wetland was used for treating bio-solid and gray water. The results present a positive performance in treating the bio-solids and well-stabilized accumulated organic material in the bed formed fertile soil. Moreover, using vertical flow reed bed of liquid waste treatment showed removal of around 70% of organic matter indicator Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD5) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD). The Fecal Coliform (FC) removal was around 2 logs (99.9%) with a retention time of less than two days. The effluent can be used in agriculture or groundwater recharge. A semi-dry toilet followed by anaerobic/aerobic units is in planning to be coupled with an existing system. The system mainly depended on separating of the human excreta from the urine and gray water. The two separated fractions will be treated in vertical flow reed bed to produce organic fertilizer and reclaimed water for reuse. Such systems could be a suitable solution for wastewater problems in Gaza strip and similar regions. The designed and planned system integrated environmental and technical sound approaches with socio-economical aspects. In addition, the designed system implemented the idea of a natural and closed circle of water and nutrients “from food to food”

The role of resource efficiency in engineering education

Part of: Seliger, Günther (Ed.): Innovative solutions : proceedings / 11th Global Conference on Sustainable Manufacturing, Berlin, Germany, 23rd - 25th September, 2013. - Berlin: Universitätsverlag der TU Berlin, 2013. - ISBN 978-3-7983-2609-5 (online). - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:83-opus4-40276. - pp. 90–95.The purpose of this paper is to address various issues of resource efficiency in the perspective of engineering education in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, with particular focus on Occupied Palestinian Territory (Palestine). First, the paper reviews the concept of resource efficiency from several perspectives including energy, electricity and water related challenges, material management and solid waste management. Then the current state of the education and training is discussed along with some details regarding the developed resource accounting perspective for engineering education. Open knowledge platform is foreseen to aid the transition from problem to solution, bringing engineering education up front to tackle the resource efficiency challenges in the MENA region. Finally, capacity building through university graduates is considered as an important mechanism for raising awareness in resource efficiency

A design for affordances framework for product packaging: food packaging case study

Since affordances provided by packaging features play a major role in facilitating user packaging interaction, it is important to integrate the concept of affordances into the packaging design process and to understand the interrelationships between packaging features and affordances. A framework is proposed for linking user requirements to packaging design features utilizing the concept of affordances. The framework is accomplished in two main steps; first, determine the affordances required to facilitate performing packaging-related tasks, and second, link these affordances to packaging features. Previous packaging usability studies were reviewed to elicit requirements in terms of affordance properties such as intuitiveness, responsiveness, and clarity of information. The elicited properties represent the affordances of purchase-ability, store-ability, open-ability, reopen/reclose-ability, handle-ability, unpack-ability, and dispose-ability. An affordance structure matrix (ASM) was built to link user requirements, represented by affordance properties, to packaging features, and to appraise the links between them. To demonstrate its functionality, the framework was applied to assessment of a food packaging design. Further, a usability study conducted with 37 users agreed with the framework outcomes. The framework systematically incorporates user requirements for affordances into the design stage, thereby allowing modifications of packaging features to improve packaging designs based on affordance measures

Experimental and numerical studies of the Rayleigh-Taylor instability for bounded liquid films with injection through the boundary

One of the most demanding engineering issues in Inertial Fusion Energy (IFE) reactors is the design of a reaction chamber that can withstand the intense photons, neutrons and charged particles due to the fusion event. Rapid pulsed deposition of energy within thin surface layers of the fusion reactor components such as the first wall may cause severe surface erosion due to ablation. One particularly innovative concept for the protection of IFE reactor cavity first walls from the direct energy deposition associated with soft X-rays and target debris is the thin liquid film protection scheme. In this concept, a thin film of molten liquid lead is fed through a silicon carbide first wall to protect it from the incident irradiations. Numerous studies have been reported in the literature on the thermal response of the liquid film to the intermittent photon and ion irradiations, as well as on the fluid dynamics and stability of liquid films on vertical and upward-facing inclined surfaces. However, no investigation has heretofore been reported on the stability of thin liquid films on downward-facing solid surfaces with liquid injection through (i.e. normal to the surface of) the bounding wall. This flow models the injection of molten liquid lead over the upper end cap of the reactor chamber. The hydrodynamics of this flow can be interpreted as a variation of the Rayleigh-Taylor instability due to the effect of the bounding wall which is continuously fed with the heavier fluid. In order to gain additional insight into the thin liquid film protection scheme, experiments have been conducted to investigate the critical issues associated with this concept. To this end, an experimental test facility has been designed and constructed to simulate the hydrodynamics of thin liquid films injected normal to the surface of and through downward-facing flat walls. In this doctoral thesis, the effect of different design parameters (film thickness, liquid injection velocity, liquid properties and inclination angle) on liquid film stability has been examined. The results address the morphology of the film free surface, the frequency of droplet formation and detachment, the size and penetration depth of the detached droplets, and the interface wave number. These experimental data have been used to validate a novel mechanistic numerical code based on a level contour reconstruction front tracking method over a wide range of parameters. The results of this investigation will allow designers of IFE power plants to identify appropriate windows for successful operation of the thin liquid film protection concept for different coolants.Ph.D.Committee Chair: Abdel-Khalik, Sai

Morphological evaluation of the protective role of dark soy sauce against acrylamide induced neurotoxicity in albino rats

Background: Acrylamide (ACR) exposure is associated with neurotoxicity, carcinogenicity, and reproductive toxicity. The use of soy sauce as a condiment is common and it has been found that it possesses high antioxidant activity. The objective of the current study is to evaluate the protective role of dark soy sauce (DSS) against ACR-induced neurotoxicity in rats. Materials and methods: Thirty-five adult male rats were divided into four groups: control, ACR given for 4 weeks, DSS given for 4 weeks before ACR, and DSS given with ACR for 4 weeks. The trigeminal ganglia and cerebellum were dissected and processed for histological staining with haematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemistry for synaptophysin (SYP) and morphometric analysis. Results: In the trigeminal ganglia, ACR group showed central chromatolysis, degeneration and cell loss. DSS before ACR group had less marked changes in the neuronal architecture, while in ACR with DSS group, better preservation was observed. In the cerebellum, ACR group showed shrunken Purkinje cells and nuclear pyknosis. Spacing and dissociation between Purkinje layer and other layers was seen. DSS before ACR group showed few degenerated Purkinje cells with normal pattern of the other layers of cerebellar cortex. ACR with DSS group showed less disturbed cerebellar layers architecture. Cerebellar SYP immunoexpression and its area per cent were decreased in ACR group compared with the control. It increased in both DSS treated groups, specifically DSS concomitantly given with ACR. Conclusions: ACR exerted marked cellular degenerative effects and administration of DSS and ACR at the same time had neuroprotective effect. DSS treatment before ACR exposure gave only marginal improvement

Technology impacts on future urban change in Egypt : Implications for developing countries.

Since the Industrial Revolution, technology achievements, especially in transportation, have introduced significant changes to city structures and urban systems in both the developed and developing countries. Technology advancements of the Post-Industrial era, especially in telecommunications, are expected to introduce a new substantial wave of urban change. This research examines the future urban impacts of technology in developing countries and aims, in the light of these expected changes, to define the necessary approaches for managing the urban future in these countries. Based on the theoretical examination of the relationship between technology and urban change, the urban impacts of different technology forces, the analysis of patterns and problems of urban change in Africa and in Egypt, and the analysis of the main problems of the increasing primacy of Greater Cairo Region, the thesis proposes three necessary approaches for managing the urban future in developing countries. These approaches are: urban decentralisation, small-size settlements, and the incremental planning and development of urban activities.Although the review of current literature demonstrates that these approaches would be effective in managing the urban future in developing countries, and in a further step to confirm the validity of these approaches, the research carried out a forecasting survey of both technology and urban development experts' opinions and expectations. The statistical analysis of the survey results has revealed that the future impacts of technology on developing countries are expected to be substantial and confirmed that the proposed approaches are valid. Also, this analysis has revealed that existing cities, especially large ones, are expected to face considerable changes regarding their future size and function.The research concludes by presenting a summary of research findings, brief recommendations for the application of each these approaches, a critique of methods, and potentials for further future research