Browsing Duke Dissertations by Submit Date
Now showing items 1-20 of 3748
-
Algorithms for Allocation Problems in Online Settings
(2018)A fundamental computational challenge that arises in the operation of online systems, services, and platforms is that of resource allocation. Broadly defined, a resource allocation problem is one where set of users generate ... -
Advances in Bayesian Modeling of Protein Structure Evolution
(2018)This thesis contributes to a statistical modeling framework for protein sequence and structure evolution. An existing Bayesian model for protein structure evolution is extended in two unique ways. Each of these model extensions ... -
Metal-Ligand Interactions in Stimuli Responsive Molecules
(2018)The ability to control changes in physical and chemical properties has allowed stimuli responsive molecules to be used in a variety of applications. Incorporating metals into stimuli responsive molecules introduces properties ... -
Essays on Propensity Score Methods for Causal Inference in Observational Studies
(2018)In this dissertation, I present three essays from three different research projects and they involve different usages of propensity scores in drawing causal inferences in observational studies. Chapter 1 talks about the ... -
"Into the Mainstream and Oblivion": Julian Mayfield's Black Radical Tradition, 1948-1984
(2018)“Into the Mainstream and Oblivion” is a study of the intellectual and political biography of the African American writer and political activist Julian Hudson Mayfield. As a member of the black Left, Mayfield’s life of activism ... -
Development of Multimodal Optical System Guided by Optical Coherence Tomography
(2018)The goal of this dissertation is to develop multimodal light scattering techniques using optical coherence tomography (OCT) to improve clinical diagnosis. OCT is a non-invasive optical imaging technique that utilizes low ... -
3D Printable Lithium Ion Batteries and the Effect of Aspect Ratio of CuAg Nanowires on Graphite Anode Performance.
(2018)The majority of consumer electronic devices, electric vehicles, and aerospace electronics are powered by lithium ion batteries because of their high energy and power densities. Commercially available lithium ion batteries ... -
Essays on Delegation and Mechanisms
(2018)This dissertation consists of three theoretical essays on delegation and mechanism design.Chapter 2 is co-authored with Attila Ambrus and Aaron Kolb. We investigate competition in a delegation framework. An uninformedprincipal ... -
Genetically Encoded Albumin Binding Drug Delivery Systems
(2018)Albumin is emerging as a promising and versatile carrier to improve the pharmacokinetic and therapeutic profiles of drugs because of its unique physiological properties. The objective of this dissertation is to develop drug ... -
Finite Sample Bounds and Path Selection for Sequential Monte Carlo
(2018)Sequential Monte Carlo (SMC) samplers have received attention as an alternative to Markov chain Monte Carlo for Bayesian inference problems due to their strong empirical performance on difficult multimodal problems, natural ... -
Fluid Flow and Electromagnetic Fields Modeling for Geophysical Subsurface Sensing
(2018)Crosswell electromagnetic (EM) fields measurement has been widely applied in oil industry which has a reservoir scale detection range. One of the limitation of this technique is that the EM singals are usually too weak to ... -
Leveraging Bioorthogonal Chemistry for Hyperpolarized Magnetic Resonance and Metal Uncaging
(2018)Bioorthogonal chemistry is a burgeoning area of study that has innumerable applications. This dissertation describes applications of bioorthogonal chemistry to solve problems in the fields of imaging and metal uncaging. ... -
Comparing Self-Monitoring Strategies for Weight Loss: Does Developing Mastery Before Diet Tracking Enhance Engagement?
(2018)Self-monitoring of dietary intake is a valuable component of behavioral weight loss treatment but engagement in self-monitoring declines quickly, resulting in suboptimal treatment outcomes. This dissertation examined a novel ... -
Essays on Population, Environment and Development
(2018)Ecological factors and the policy environment are central constraints on population well-being. This dissertation emphasizes the role of shocks to help understand the nature of such constraints, and explores the relationship ... -
The Weight of Hope: Independent Music Production Under Authoritarianism in Egypt
(2018)This dissertation is an ethnographic study of the independent music scene in Cairo, in which music producers and cultural entrepreneurs who came of age during the 2011 revolution and 2013 counterrevolution hope to constitute ... -
Unraveling the in vivo Effect of the AMD-risk Associated CFH H402 Variant
(2018)Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a complex retinal degeneration present in elderly populations of first world countries with limited available therapeutic interventions. Risk for AMD is strongly conferred by advanced ... -
Environmental Fate of Chemical Dispersant Corexit®9500 in Seawater by High-resolution Mass Spectrometry
(2018)Over 7 million liters of Corexit® series dispersants were applied in the Gulf of Mexico during the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill to facilitate the dispersion of crude oil into the water column. At the time of application, ... -
Algorithms for Analyzing Spatio-Temporal Data
(2018)In today's age, huge data sets are becoming ubiquitous. In addition to their size, most of these data sets are often noisy, have outliers, and are incomplete. Hence, analyzing such data is challenging. We look at applying ... -
Transport Mechanisms of Quantum Hall Supercurrents in Graphene Josephson Junctions
(2018)The existence of supercurrent in the quantum Hall regime with periodic magnetic interference patterns, first observed by Amet et al. in 2016, has created new opportunities to access topological superconductivity through ...
