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Doctoral Degree Programs School Of Computer And Information Science 1997, Nova Southeastern University

College of Engineering and Computing Course Catalogs

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The Agent Test, Michael N. Huhns, Munindar P. Singh

Faculty Publications

The authors consider agents on the World Wide Web, including information retrieval agents. They propose a test for agenthood, involving communication in multi-agent systems.

Ontologies For Agents, Michael N. Huhns, Munindar P. Singh

Faculty Publications

An ontology is a computational model of some portion of the world. It is often captured in some form of a semantic network-a graph whose nodes are concepts or individual objects and whose arcs represent relationships or associations among the concepts. This network is augmented by properties and attributes, constraints, functions, and rules that govern the behavior of the concepts. Formally, an ontology is an agreement about a shared conceptualization, which includes frameworks for modeling domain knowledge and agreements about the representation of particular domain theories. Definitions associate the names of entities in a universe of discourse (for example, classes, …

Mobile Agents, Michael N. Huhns, Munindar P. Singh

Faculty Publications

A lot of agents are executing on the Web, and some of them are starting to move around. While most agents are static (existing as a single process or thread on one host), others can pick up and move their code and data to a new host where they resume executing.

Internet-Based Agents: Applications And Infrastructure, Munindar P. Singh, Michael N. Huhns

Faculty Publications

Software agents are mitigating the complexity of modern information systems—technically by providing a locus for managing information subsets, and psychologically by providing an abstraction for human interaction with them.

Hierarchical Classification As An Aid To Browsing, John R. Rose, Caroline M. Eastman

Faculty Publications

An approach to browsing large chemical reaction databases is presented. The method that is described builds on earlier work in which unsupervised hierarchical classification was used to extract generalizations of reaction classes from reaction databases for use in reaction knowledge bases. The method described in this paper involves classification based on both semantic and topological features. It supports the creation of deep hierarchies in which succeeding levels represent increasing degrees of abstraction. The creation of a hierarchy allows the user to quickly locate interesting items or classes of items by performing a tree traversal as opposed to sequentially scanning a …

Physical Media Independence: System Support For Dynamically Available Network Interfaces, Jon Inouye, Jim Binkley, Jonathan Walpole

Computer Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Advances in hardware technology has fueled the proliferation of dynamically configurable network interface cards. This empowers mobile laptop users to select the most appropriate interface for their current environment. Unfortunately, the majority of system software remains "customized" for a particular network configuration, and assumes many network characteristics remain invariant over the runtime of the software. Physical Media Independence (PMI) is the concept of making assumptions about a particular device explicit, detecting events which invalidate these assumptions, and recovering once events are detected. This paper presents a model supporting PMI. Based on device availablilty, the model identifies implicit device-related assumptions made …

Finding The Way : Navigation In Hypermedia, Janet Marsh Pine

Graduate Research Papers

If navigation is recognized as a fundamental problem experienced by hypermedia users, then navigation merits further investigation. This review will identify observed navigational problems, suspected causes, and proposed solutions. To investigate the problem, it is necessary to examine methods used to sequence hypermedia components and to identify the various schemes used for navigation.

Information resulting from the review of literature will serve as the basis for a project evaluating current multimedia software packages designed to develop reading skills. The findings will also provide the media specialist or professional educator with a framework for evaluation and subsequent utilization of multimedia learning …

Conversational Agents, Michael N. Huhns, Munindar P. Singh

Faculty Publications

When you build or buy an agent for the Web, you want it to perform as well as possible. Increasingly, this means your agent should take advantage not only of the Web's information resources, but also of all the other agents that might be operating there.

Agents Are Everywhere!, Michael N. Huhns, Munindar P. Singh

Faculty Publications

A decade ago this claim would have evoked images from the Cold War—and probably gotten this column classified! Today, it describes one of the hottest technical areas on the Internet.

Measurement Of The Spectral Functions Of Vector Current Hadronic Tau Decays, R. Barate, M. Thulasidas

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

A measurement of the spectral functions of non-strange τ vector current final states is presented, using 124 358 τ pairs recorded by the ALEPH detector at LEP during the years 1991 to 1994. The spectral functions of the dominant two- and four-pion τ decay channels are compared to published results of e + e - annihilation experiments via isospin rotation. A combined fit of the pion form factor from τ decays and e + e - data is performed using different parametrizations. The mass and the width of the ρ ±(770) and the ρ 0(770) are separately determined in order …

Assessment Methods For Virtual Laboratories In Civil Engineering Technology, Carol L. Considine, Vernon W. Lewis Jr.

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

Old Dominion University has developed an extensive distance learning system that includes 40 remote sites. A majority of the sites are located at community colleges. There are 30 sites in Virginia, three sites in North Carolina, one site in Washington State and one site in Arizona. In addition, there are four sites at Higher Education Centers in Virginia and one site at a local industrial facility. The Civil Engineering Technology curriculum requires three laboratory courses, which are a challenge in the distance learning environment because of the lack of laboratory equipment and computers at the broadcast sites. The three courses …

A Self-Consistent Power Relation For An Inverse Compton Scattering Theory, Robert A. Schill Jr.

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Research

In a self-consistent manner, the total power for linear inverse Compton scattering between a Gaussian electron beam colliding head on with a Gaussian laser beam is obtained. The theory is shown to agree with well-known limiting cases. Coupling among harmonic modes is explicitly shown in the resultant power relation. Even so, for the parameters of interest, harmonic modes are negligible compared to the fundamental mode. Total power calculations are of importance in detector calibration. The theory is applied using practical linear accelerator and laser parameters.

Lyceum: A Multi-Protocol Digital Library Gateway, Ming-Hokng Maa, Michael L. Nelson, Sandra L. Esler

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Lyceum is a prototype scalable query gateway that provides a logically central interface to multi-protocol and physically distributed, digital libraries of scientific and technical information. Lyceum processes queries to multiple syntactically distinct search engines used by various distributed information servers from a single logically central interface without modification of the remote search engines. A working prototype (http://www.larc.nasa.gov/lyceum/) demonstrates the capabilities, potentials, and advantages of this type of meta-search engine by providing access to over 50 servers covering over 20 disciplines.

An Intercomparison Of Two Tunable Diode Laser Spectrometers Used For Eddy Correlation Measurements Of Methane Flux In A Prairie Wetland, David P. Billesbach, Joon Kim, R.J. Clement, S.B Verman, F.G. Ullman

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications

An intercomparison was made between two tunable diode laser spectrometers used to measure methane fluxes by the eddy correlation technique at a prairie wetland site. The spectrometers were built by Unisearch Associates Inc. of Concord, Ontario, Canada, and Campbell Scientific Inc. of Logan, Utah, and were models EMS-50 and TGA-100, respectively. The fluxes were found to agree very well with each other in the range of 0 to 42 mg 􏰑 m-2 h-1.

The TGA-100 was observed to exhibit offset drifts. Most of the time, when the offset was only slowly changing (as compared to the eddy correlation averaging time), …

A Method To Partially Suppress Is1 And Ma1 For Ds Ss Cdma Wireless Networks, Beata J. Wysocki, Tadeusz A. Wysocki

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications (to 2015)

We propose a method to partially suppress ISI and MAI for US SS CDMA schemes in wireless LANs. The method can be regarded as an alternative approach to combat ISI and in particular MAI by the use of advanced multiuser detection. Instead of using very sophisticated detectors, we propose introduction of a simple modification to the carrier waveform which results in very substaiitial reduction in cross-correlation belween users and an off-peak auto-correlation. The method can be applied to any DS SS CDMA scheme, but should be particularly useful in the case of short spreading signatures, as is the case of …

A Study Of Τ Decays Involving Η And Ω Mesons, D. Buskulic, M. Thulasidas

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

The 132 pbt - 1 of data collected by ALEPH from 1991 to 1994 have been used to analyze η and ω production in τ decays. The following branching fractions have been measured: B(τ−→ντωh−)=(1.91±0.07±0.06)×10−2,B(τ−→ντωh−)=(1.91±0.07±0.06)×10−2, B(τ−→ντωh−π0)=(4.3±0.6±0.5)×10−3,B(τ−→ντωh−π0)=(4.3±0.6±0.5)×10−3, B(τ−→ντηK−)=(2.9+1.3−1.2±0.7)×10−4,B(τ−→ντηK−)=(2.9−1.2+1.3±0.7)×10−4, B(τ−→ντηh−π0)=(1.8±0.4±0.2)×10−3B(τ−→ντηh−π0)=(1.8±0.4±0.2)×10−3 and the 95% C.L. limit B(τ− → ντηπt -) t - 4 has been obtained. The ωπt- and ηπt -π0 rates and dynamics are found in agreement with the predictions made from e+e∼ - annihilation data with the help of isospin invariance (CVC).

Design And Implementation Of High-Radix Arithmetic Systems Based On The Sdnr/Rns Data Representation, Paul Whyte

Theses : Honours

This project involved the design and implementation of high-radix arithmetic systems based on the hybrid SDNRIRNS data representation. Some real-time applications require a real-time arithmetic system. An SDNR/RNS arithmetic system provides parallel, real-time processing. The advantages and disadvantages of high-radix SDNR/RNS arithmetic, and the feasibility of implementing SDNR/RNS arithmetic systems in CMOS VLSI technology, were investigated in this project. A common methodological model, which included the stages of analysis, design, implementation, testing, and simulation, was followed. The combination of the SDNR and RNS transforms potential complex logic networks into simpler logic blocks. It was found that when constructing a SDNRIRNS …

A Design In Interfacing The Mc68hc11 To The Amd Am29f010 Flash Memory Chips, David H. Hands

Theses : Honours

In many environments, motion, vibration and contamination to the Secondary Storage Devices such as hard drives can cause data to become unreadable or even lost. Elimination of these types of magnetic drives, incorporating its replacement with a Solid State Memory Storage Device would provide an invaluable solution for these type of environments. If a secondary storage system could replace these electro-mechanical disk drive systems incorporating a Solid State Secondary Storage Device such as the Flash Memory Integrated Chips, an increase in the speed of reading from milli-seconds to nano-seconds would transpire as well as providing a robust Secondary Storage Device. …

Trade-Off Study And Computer Simulation For Assessing Spacecraft Pointing Accuracy And Stability Capabilities, Marcelo C. Algrain, Richard M. Powers

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications

A case study, written in a tutorial manner, is presented where a comprehensive computer simulation is developed to determine the driving factors contributing to spacecraft pointing accuracy and stability. Models for major system components are described. Among them are spacecraft bus, attitude controller, reaction wheel assembly, star-tracker unit, inertial reference unit, and gyro drift estimators (Kalman filter). The predicted spacecraft performance is analyzed for a variety of input commands and system disturbances. The primary deterministic inputs are the desired attitude angles and rate set points. The stochastic inputs include random torque disturbances acting on the spacecraft, random gyro bias noise, …

An Object-Oriented Discrete-Event Simulation System For Hierarchical Parallel Simulations, Kenneth W. Stauffer

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to design and implement an object-oriented discrete-event simulation system which supports hierarchically constructed players in a parallel or distributed environment. This system design considers modularity and portability so additional modules may be implemented to experiment with new algorithms for both partitioning and synchronization. A simulation system which meets these requirements was partially implemented on an eight-node Intel Hypercube in C. A desired goal was to maintain the functionality of the existing BattleSim application. Test cases used measure the performance and correct operation of the new simulation architecture using a BattleSim subclass. Test results prove …

Ellipsometer/Polarmeterbased Process Monitor And Control System Suitable For Simultaneous Retrofit On Molecular Beam Epitaxy System Rheed/Leed Interface System, And Method Of Use, John A. Woollam, Blaine D. Johs, Peter P. Chow

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications

A method of, and system for applying light beam producing systems, such as ellipsometers, polarimeters, polarized light reflectance and functionally similar systems, such that a beam of light produced thereby is caused to be incident upon a process element at an angle in excess of an associated Brewster angle while enabling the production of a signal sufficiently sensitive to changes in process element parameters, for use in "real-time" process element process monitoring and control, is disclosed. In addition, a process element processing system and electron beam producing system and light beam producing system combination system is taught, wherein the electron …

Ellipsometer/Polarmeter Based Process Monitor And Control System Suitable For Simultaneous Retrofit On Molecular Beam Eptaxy System Rheed/Leed Interface System, And Method Of Use, John A. Woollam, Blaine D. Johs, Peter P. Chow

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications

A method of, and system for, applying light beam producing systems such as ellipsometers, polarimeters, polarized light reflectance and functionally similar systems, such that a beam of light produced thereby is caused to be incident upon a process element at an angle in excess of an associated Brewster angle while enabling the production of a signal sufficiently sensitive to changes in process element parameters, for use in "real-time' process element process monitoring and control, is disclosed. In addition a process element processing system and electron beam producing system and light beam producing system combination system is taught, wherein the electronbeam …

Wright State University College Of Engineering And Computer Science Bits And Pcs Newsletter, Volume 12, Number 10, December 1996, College Of Engineering And Computer Science, Wright State University

BITs and PCs Newsletter

A twelve page newsletter created by the Wright State University College of Engineering and Computer Science that addresses the current affairs of the college.

Data-Driven Process Discovery: A Discrete Time Algebra For Relational Signal Analysis, David M. Conrad

Theses and Dissertations

This research presents an autonomous and computationally tractable method for scientific process analysis, combining an iterative algorithmic search and a recognition technique to discover multivariate linear and non-linear relations within experimental data series. These resultant data-driven relations provide researchers with a potentially real-time insight into experimental process phenomena and behavior. This method enables the efficient search of a potentially infinite space of relations within large data series to identify relations that accurately represent process phenomena. Proposed is a time series transformation that encodes and compresses real-valued data into a well-defined, discrete-space of 13 primitive elements where comparative evaluation between variables …

Performance Analysis Of Preemption Algorithms In An Idnx Circuit Switch Communications Network, Eric C. Gumbs

Theses and Dissertations

Access to communication networks is increasing rapidly. The increase access to these networks results in delays and at times loss of data. At times of peak traffic or when trunks or nodes are down, very important customers' communications requirements are not met. One way to combat this problem is to prioritize the network and provide different levels of grade of service (GOS) for each priority. Call preemption provides an effective method of obtaining different levels of GOS. This research seeks to design the best circuit switch communications network preemption model for the DoD by analyzing previously developed preemption algorithms. Four …

Performance Analysis Of Dynamic Routing Protocols In A Low Earth Orbit Satellite Data Network, Richard F. Janoso

Theses and Dissertations

Modern warfare is placing an increasing reliance on global communications. Currently under development are several Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite systems that propose to deliver voice and data traffic to subscribers anywhere on the globe. However, very little is known about the performance of conventional routing protocols under orbital conditions where the topology changes on a scale of minutes rather than days. This thesis compares two routing protocols in a LEO environment. One (Extended Bellman-Ford) is a conventional terrestrial routing protocol, while the other (Darting) is a new protocol which has been proposed as suitable for use in LEO networks. …

A Specialization Toolkit To Increase The Diversity Of Operating Systems, Calton Pu, Andrew P. Black, Crispin Cowan, Jonathan Walpole, Charles Consel

Computer Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Virus and worm attacks that exploit system implementation details can be countered with a diversified set of implementations. Furthermore, immune systems show that attacks from previously unknown organisms require effective dynamic response. In the Synthetix project, we have been developing a specialization toolkit to improve the performance of operating system kernels. The toolkit helps programmers generate and manage diverse specialized implementations of software modules. The Tempo-C specializer tool generates different versions for both compile-time and run-time specialization. We are now adapting the toolkit to improve operating system survivability against implementations attacks.

Detection For A Statistically-Known, Time-Varying Dispersive Channel, David W. Matolak, S. G. Wilson

Faculty Publications

Detection for the statistically known channel (SKC) is aimed at obtaining good performance in situations where our statistical knowledge of a time-varying channel is good, and where other equalization/detection schemes are either too complex to implement, or their performance is limited due to the rapidity of channel fading, or where we are simply unable to perform channel estimation. By using a statistical characterization of the channel, we develop a new detector that performs maximum-likelihood sequence estimation (MLSE) (given the channel model) on blocks of N symbols. Both symbol-spaced and fractionally spaced samples are used, to obtain two different detectors, that …

Controlling Three-Axis Attitude Rates On A Pointing System Using Nonlinear Observer And Two Axis Measurements, Marcelo C. Algrain

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications

A new observer design method that allows for estimating the angular rates along a vehicle’s three principal axes is described. The observer uses measurements from a single two-axis angular rate sensor (gyro) and determines the rates for the third axis using a nonlinear observer. Unlike conventional approaches where the equations governing vehicle motion (Euler’s equations) are linearized and then an observer is constructed based on the linear model, this method does not require linearization of the system. Instead, a pseudo-linear representation is used. The pseudo-linear model is obtained by systematically decomposing a nonlinear system into linear and nonlinear terms. The …