Computer Engineering Commons^™

Discretized Agent-Based Model Of Infectious Disease Spread That Uses Contact Probability, Tyrell L. Gardner

Computational Modeling & Simulation Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This study uses contact probability in an agent-based model to simulate the spread of an infectious disease. In order to perform the study, the agent-based model must first be discretized into events. Each agent in the model is given its own infectious disease state machine taken from the Susceptible-Exposed-Infected-Recovered (SEIR) model. The agents move between squares in a grid environment where each square represents a group. Groups have a contact probability as an attribute that is used to predict whether an agent comes in close contact with another agent. The transitions between the states in the SEIR model are easily …

Camera Viewpoint Invariant Vehicular Traffic Segmentation And Classification, Jeffrey B. Flora

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The goal of this intelligent transportation systems work is to develop a computer vision method that is view angle independent for segmenting and classifying vehicular traffic on highway systems. In order to achieve this goal, this work implements an algorithm for vehicle segmentation, feature extraction, and classification using the existing Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) infrastructure on networked traffic cameras. The VDOT traffic video is analyzed for vehicle detection and segmentation using an adaptive Gaussian mixture model algorithm. Speed estimation is performed using a single camera calibration. Size and shape features from morphological properties and texture features from histogram of …

A Microsoft Vba Application For Generating Heat Maps, Mark Polczynski, Michael Polczynski

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

A choropleth map is a form of thematic map used to portray the structural characteristics of some particular geographical distribution not apparent in data presented in tabular form. Preparation of a choropleth map starts with the assignment of map features to classes based on the value of a specific feature attribute followed by the association of classes of features with appropriate map colors or symbols. Map features are often geographical regions with naturally or artificially defined boundaries, but choropleth maps can also be prepared by segmenting the area to be mapped into a regular grid of regions. Maps prepared with …

Distributed Event Detection In Sensor Networks Under Random Spatial Deployment, P. Zhang, G. Peters, I. Nevat, G. Xiao, Hwee-Pink Tan

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

We present a novel event detection algorithm in sensor networks for the case where the sensors are randomly deployed in space. In particular we consider a random sensors deployment according to a Homogeneous Finite Binomial Point Process. We first derive the optimal event detection decision rule. We then develop a novel algorithm to evaluate the intractable marginal likelihood based on the Gram-Charlier series expansion. We evaluate our algorithms through extensive Monte Carlo simulations. Simulation results present the detection and false alarm rates for different system parameters such as number of sensors deployed, deployment region size etc.

Automating Deployment Of Several Gbrowse Instances, Neil Moore, Jerzy W. Jaromczyk, Christopher L. Schardl, Joedocei Hill, Devin Wright

Computer Science Presentations

Background

As part of the fungal endophyte genomes project, we maintain genome browsers for several dozen strains of fungi from the Clavicipitaceae and related families. These genome browsers are based on the GBrowse software, with a large collection of in-house software for visualization, analysis, and searching of genome features.

Although GBrowse supports serving multiple data sources, such as distinct genome assemblies, from a single GBrowse instance, there are advantages to maintaining separate instances for each genome. Besides permitting per-genome customizations of the software, page layout, and database schemas, our use of separate instances also allows us to maintain different security …

A Hybrid Privacy-Preserving Mechanism For Participatory Sensing Systems, Idalides Jose Vergara

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Participatory Sensing (PS) is a new data collection paradigm in which people use their cellular phone resources to sense and transmit data of interest to address a collective problem that would have been very difficult to assess otherwise. Although many PS-based applications can be foreseen to solve interesting and useful problems, many of them have not been fully implemented due to privacy concerns. As a result, several privacy-preserving mechanisms have been proposed. This dissertation presents the state-of-the-art of privacy-preserving mechanisms for PS systems. It includes a new taxonomy and describes the most important issues in the design, implementation, and evaluation …

A Complex Social Network Analyses Of Online Finanical Communties In Times Of Geopolitcal Military And Terrorist Events, James Usher

Dissertations

Given the advances in technology the field of social network analysis has very much hit the forefront in recent years. The information age harnesses the use of social network analysis for multiple industries and for solving complex problems. Social network analysis is an important tool in the world of the military and counter intelligence, whether it’s the capture of Osama Bin Laden or uncovering hidden Al Qaeda terrorist networks, the world around us is built on networks, be that hidden or otherwise. Online social networks give new information in the world of intelligence agencies similarly online financial communities such as …

A Paper-Based Calorimetric Microfluidics Platform For Bio-Chemical Sensing, Benyamin Davaji, Chung Hoon Lee

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

In this report, a paper-based micro-calorimetric biochemical detection method is presented. Calorimetric detection of biochemical reactions is demonstrated as an extension of current colorimetric and electrochemical detection mechanisms of paper-based biochemical analytical systems. Reaction and/or binding temperature of glucose/glucose oxidase, DNA/hydrogen peroxide, and biotin/streptavidin, are measured by the paper-based micro-calorimeter. Commercially available glucose calibration samples of 0.05, 0.15 and 0.3% wt/vol concentration are used for comparing the device performance with a commercially available glucose meter (electrochemical detection). The calorimetric glucose detection demonstrates a measurement error less than 2%. The calorimetric detection results of DNA concentrations from 0.9 to 7.3 mg/mL …

Application Of Information And Communication Technologies For Historical Research, Michael Polczynski, Mark Polczynski

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Applying Data Mining Tools To Archaeological "Big Data", Michael Polczynski, Mark Polczynski

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

An Autonomous Robotic Indoor Environment Surveillance System, Andrew Gunnerson, Bogdan Olar, Haodong Wang

Undergraduate Research Posters 2014

We developed an autonomous mobile robot platform capable of following a path and gather environmental data, including temperature, humidity, light intensity, etc. The robot is capable of detecting the path using its camera and correct most navigational errors, while the sensors support a limited set of instructions regarding which sensor data to collect and how often. Our experiment consisted of having the robot follow a looped path we set up in BU004 Lab. The robot was able to complete the loop and gather sensor data for light intensity, humidity and temperature at a frequency of once per second, and also …

An Analysis Of (Bad) Behavior In Online Video Games, Jeremy Blackburn

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation studies bad behavior at large-scale using data traces from online video games. Video games provide a natural laboratory for exploring bad behavior due to their popularity, explicitly defined (programmed) rules, and a competitive nature that provides motivation for bad behavior. More specifically, we look at two forms of bad behavior: cheating and toxic behavior.

Cheating is most simply defined as breaking the rules of the game to give one player an edge over another. In video games, cheating is most often accomplished using programs, or "hacks," that circumvent the rules implemented by game code. Cheating is a threat …

Verifying And Validating Multirobot Missions, Damian M. Lyons, Ronald C. Arkin, Shu Jiang, Dagon Harrington, Tsung-Ming Liu

Faculty Publications

We have developed an approach that can be used by mission designers to determine whether or not a performance guarantee for their mission software, when carried out under the uncertain conditions of a real-world environment, will hold within a threshold probability. In this paper we demonstrate its utility for verifying multirobot missions, in particular a bounding overwatch mission.

A Catalog Of While Loop Specification Patterns, Aditi Barua, Yoonsik Cheon

Departmental Technical Reports (CS)

This document provides a catalog of while loop patterns along with their skeletal specifications. The specifications are written in a functional form known as intended functions. The catalog can be used to derive specifications of while loops by first matching the loops to the cataloged patterns and then instantiating the skeletal specifications of the matched patterns. Once their specifications are formulated and written, the correctness of while loops can be proved rigorously or formally using the functional program verification technique in which a program is viewed as a mathematical function from one program state to another.

Name-Face Association In Web Videos: A Large-Scale Dataset, Baselines, And Open Issues, Zhi-Neng Chen, Chong-Wah Ngo, Wei Zhang, Juan Cao, Yu-Gang Jiang

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Associating faces appearing in Web videos with names presented in the surrounding context is an important task in many applications. However, the problem is not well investigated particularly under large-scale realistic scenario, mainly due to the scarcity of dataset constructed in such circumstance. In this paper, we introduce a Web video dataset of celebrities, named WebV-Cele, for name-face association. The dataset consists of 75 073 Internet videos of over 4 000 hours, covering 2 427 celebrities and 649 001 faces. This is, to our knowledge, the most comprehensive dataset for this problem. We describe the details of dataset construction, discuss …

Multi-Objective Tradeoffs In The Design Optimization Of A Brushless Permanent-Magnet Machine With Fractional-Slot Concentrated Windings, Peng Zhang, Gennadi Y. Sizov, Muyang Li, Dan M. Ionel, Nabeel Demerdash, Steven J. Stretz, Alan W. Yeadon

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

In this paper, a robust parametric model of a brushless permanent magnet machine with fractional-slot concentrated windings, which was developed for automated design optimization is presented. A computationally efficient finite-element analysis method was employed to estimate the dq-axes inductances, the induced voltage and torque ripple waveforms, and losses of the machine. A method for minimum effort calculation of the torque angle corresponding to the maximum torque per ampere load condition was developed. A differential evolution algorithm was implemented for the global design optimization with two concurrent objectives of minimum losses and minimum material cost. An engineering decision process based on …

Generalized Approach Of Stator Shifting In Interior Permanent-Magnet Machines Equipped With Fractional-Slot Concentrated Windings, Patel B. Reddy, Kum-Kang Huh, Ayman M. El-Refaie

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Electrical drive systems, which include electrical machines and power electronics, are a key enabling technology for advanced vehicle propulsion systems that reduce the petroleum dependence of the ground transportation sector. To have significant effect, electric drive technologies must be economical in terms of cost, weight, and size while meeting performance and reliability expectations. Interior permanent magnet machines with fractional-slot concentrated windings have been shown to be good candidates for hybrid traction applications. One of the key challenges is the additional stator magnetomotive force sub- and superharmonic components that lead to higher losses in the rotor as well as saturation effects. …

Comparative Assessment Of Diverse Strategies For Malaria Vector Population Control Based On Measured Rates At Which Mosquitoes Utilize Targeted Resource Subsets, Gerry F. Killeen, Samson Sifael Kiware, Aklilu Seyoum, John E. Gimnig, George Corliss, Jennifer Stevenson, Christopher J. Drakeley, Nakul Chitnis

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Background

Eliminating malaria requires vector control interventions that dramatically reduce adult mosquito population densities and survival rates. Indoor applications of insecticidal nets and sprays are effective against an important minority of mosquito species that rely heavily upon human blood and habitations for survival. However, complementary approaches are needed to tackle a broader diversity of less human-specialized vectors by killing them at other resource targets.

Methods

Impacts of strategies that target insecticides to humans or animals can be rationalized in terms of biological coverage of blood resources, quantified as proportional coverage of all blood resources mosquito vectors utilize. Here, this concept …

Designing An Articulation-Agreement Database For The College Of Science And Engineering And Technology Advising Center, Stephanie Fasen, Susan Hendley, Tim Pham, Danish Zaman

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

During their academic careers, some college students transfer to different universities. To allow students to transfer seamlessly to other colleges, advisors at Minnesota universities create articulation agreements that list the classes that transfer between two universities. To use these documents, students and advisors must search through binders to find the correct articulation agreement and then manually review it. This is a time-consuming process for both students and advisors. To make this information more accessible, we created a web-based database that instantly produces a list of equivalent classes for majors offered at Minnesota St ate University, Mankato (MSU) and other Minnesota …

Analysis And Detection Of Heap-Based Malwares Using Introspection In A Virtualized Environment, Salman Javaid

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Malware detection and analysis is a major part of computer security. There is an arm race between security experts and malware developers to develop various techniques to secure computer systems and to find ways to circumvent these security methods. In recent years process heap-based attacks have increased significantly. These attacks exploit the system under attack via the heap, typically by using a heap spraying attack. The main drawback with existing techniques is that they either consume too many resources or are complicated to implement. Our work in this thesis focuses on new methods which offloads process heap analysis for guest …