Digital Commons Network^™

A Rapid Acquisition Technique For Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum Systems By A Pn Phase Multiplexed Correlator, Greg S. Rawlins

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

With the proliferation of direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) systems in the communications arena, synchronization techniques that offer improved performance and higher speed are of great value to the spread spectrum designer and user. Matched filter approaches have gained momentum in recent years due to SAW filter technology, while sliding correlators have experienced slower development. This paper introduces a unique multi-phase correlator intended to decrease the mean time to acquire synchronization by exploiting properties of Gold codes and other pseudo-noise (PN) sequences. These properties are used to create a novel signal structure for the local correlator. A brief explanation of …

Extending The Power Bandwidth Of A Piezoelectric Bender Actuator, Jerrold Pavlinko

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Scanning mirrors are a control element used in electrooptical systems. A scanning mirror system is a position control system that directs an image to an optical receiver or projects the output of an optical source to a target. A scanning mirror, as part of an infrared image generation system, could be used to scan an array of infrared detectors with a television camera to produce a raster image. Conversely, a scanning mirror could be part of a laser engraving system where the mirror moves the laser beam across the surface of a material to engrave characters, drawings in the material.

Implementing Path Control, English Motion Commands And Off Line Programming On Minimover-5 Robot, Mark S. Chen

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

According to Alan L. Porter and Frederick A. Rossini (1987), 50,000 robots are expected to be installed by year 2000. This increasing number of robots to be used in industry has lead to the need for skilled robot operators and programmers. However, to train this specific class of personnel using an industrial robot as a training tool can be expensive and dangerous due to the possibility of robot accidents. Therefore, in order to provide a safe, inexpensive, and effective training tool, the use of the Mini-Mover-5 educational robot is proposed. The MiniMover-5 has only a primitive programming capability. A use-friendly …

Analysis Of Flexible Pavement On The Basis Of Deflection Basins, Dinesh M. Kamath

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The pavement at research park called Research Parkway and Discovery Drive was found Deteriorated within two years of the construction. The need to evaluate the extent of the damage and the estimate of remaining life of pavement initiate the research study. The analysis presented in this report is based on the measurements of the surface deflections and the layered elastic theory. The life expectancy of the pavement can be estimated by the amount of pavement deflection developed within the pavement system. The parameters used in the analysis are the applied load, material of the pavement components and environmental effects. Trial …

Forced, Non-Linear Vibration Of Integral Shroud Turbine Blades, Michael K. Brown

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the forced, non-linear vibration of integral shroud turbine blades. The shroud of this type of blade is integral with the foil and root. During turbine operation small gaps are generally present between adjacent shrouds. If the amplitude of blade vibration is sufficient, adjacent shrouds will contact. This contact creates a dynamic non-linearity. A complete row of blades is considered in the analysis. The Ritz averaging method is used to develop an approximate displacement solution. Frequency response curves for a representative turbine blade are presented in the usual format.

Applications Of Artificial Intelligence In Military Training Simulation, Igor V. Golovcsenko

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This report is a survey of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology contributions to military training. It provides an overview of military training simulation and a review of instructional problems and challenges which can be addressed by AI. The survey includes current as well as potential applications of AI, with particular emphasis on design and system integration issues. Applications include knowledge and skills training in strategic planning and decision making, tactical warfare operations, electronics maintenance and repair, as well as computer-aided design of training systems. The report describes research contributions in the application of AI technology to the training world, and it …

Selling The Stereotype: Sexist, Ageist, And Racist Typecasting In Network Television Advertising In 1986, Helen S. Becker

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of A Freshman Orientation Course On Academic Achievement And Retention, Daniel J. Kelly

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Freshman business administration students were placed into an extended orientation course during their first semester of enrollment at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. The 60 course participants met twice a week for fifteen weeks in a 55-minute class spending approximately 20% of class time in each of the following: (a) lecture; (b) skill exercises; (c) group discussion; (d) guest speaker presentations; and (e) a combination of reviews, quizzes, previews, and assignments. The purpose of the course was to provide students with information and the opportunity to acquire skills to help them to be more successful in college.

Following the end of their …

The Beginning Teacher Program: How Administrative Or Peer Teacher Attitude And Peer Teacher Assignment Affect Its Success, Elaine C. Henris

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Florida's Beginning Teacher Program was evaluated to determine if there were significant differences in administrative attitude and perception of success between Orange County and Seminole County. Further evaluation was conducted to determine if the four possible gender-pairings of beginning teachers and peer teachers/mentors resulted in differing success rates. Finally, the program was examined to determine if administrative or peer teacher/mentor attitude was related to the success of the program. Beginning teachers, their peer teachers/mentors and administrators in Orange County and Seminole County were surveyed to accomplish these evaluations, using the Administrative Attitude Scale and the Beginning Teacher Success Scale developed …

An Evaluation Of The Orientation And Training Programs Of A Fast Food Franchise, Cheryl M. Donahey

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Very few attempts have been made to adequately evaluate training programs. The research reported here is an attempt to evaluate the effects of the revised orientation and training programs of a fast food franchise. Subjects consisted of 676 hourly employees of a Central Florida fast food franchise who completed questionnaires soliciting measures of the following perceptions: managements' consideration and structure levels and the effectiveness of the revised orientation and training programs. Modest support was found for the prediction that the revised programs would increase the employees' perception of managements' consideration. No evidence was found to support the hypotheses that employees …

Design Of A Lens System For A Structured Light Projector, Rick Joe Johnson

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Code V, an optical design program, was used to design a lens for a three-dimensional mapping application. The purpose of the lens system is to project an array of spots of light onto the object of interest. The size of the projected spots can be used to determine the distance from the lens to the object. The design criterion for this system was a 2% accuracy of position with a two lens system. The use of anamorphic and aspheric surfaces was also investigated as a means to improve the design performance.

Analysis Of Immune Enhancing Effects Of Interleukin-2, Sharareh Sazesh

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The effectiveness of IL-2 in the enhancement of immune responses in B6-AKR and normal B6 mice was investigated. In vivo treatment of chimeras with murine IL-2 partially restored PFC responses of their splenocytes to SRBC. This treatment suppressed splenocytes IL-2 production in chimeras. In vivo treatment of chimeras with rhIL-2 resulted in a slight enhancement of mitogenic responses to Con-A. This treatment had no significant effect on mitogenic responses to PHA. The rhIL-2 treatment did not result in suppression of IL-2 production by chimeric splenocytes. Recombinant human IL-2 enhanced mitogenic responses of normal B6 and chimeric mice to PHA in …

Real Time Signal Processing Using Systolic Arrays, Jack Boulay

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This thesis discusses and presents the design of systolic arrays used in modern real time signal processing. A methodology to map a given algorithm into a systolized VLSI implementation is described. The architectural alternatives for a given signal processing algorithm are discussed and investigated at a function level using a simulation package that has been developed using the “C” programming language. The similarities and differences between wavefront array processors and systolic array processors are presented.

Versatile Gasdynamics Computer Program For One-Dimensional Isentropic Rayleigh And Fanno Flows, Robert Kenneth Smith

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research report is to discuss the development and results of a computer program (GASDYNAMICS) that solves a variety of compressible one-dimensional (1-D) steady gas dynamics problems utilizing the algebraic equations that result from the governing differential equations assuming perfect gas condition. This report shows how the governing differential equations that are derived from the ideal gas law, the definition of Mach number and the fundamental conservation laws of mass, energy, and momentum can be developed into their algebraic forms when additional simplifying assumptions are made.

GASDYNAMICS solves problems for either a converging or a converging –diverging …

Motion And Intrusion Detection Using A Pyroelectric Detector, Randy R. Fields

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this paper is to describe a device that passively detects the presence of a warm-bodied object in a specified area. The detecting device used is a pyroelectric detector with an integral optical filter. By focusing infrared radiation generated by the object onto the detector, the resulting temperature change is converted to a voltage and then amplified. Modulation of the incoming radiation is accomplished by a rotating disk whose speed of rotation is dynamically controlled by a microprocessor. The resulting detector response is filtered and converted to a DC level. The signal is then passed through an analog-to-digital …

Diffraction Modelling For Saw Devices On Anisotropic Substrates, Melanie A. Roberts

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents two approaches to solving the diffraction problem for SAW devices on anisotropic substrates. Diffraction is a nonlinear second-order effect which alters SAW performance, and some of the difficulty in predicting the actual effect is the anisotropy of acoustic materials, which makes the Fresnel Integral solution non-trivial. An accurate model for diffraction effects will allow compensation to be made without iterations in expensive and time consuming fabrication and testing processes, especially since it is difficult to isolate diffraction from other second-order effects. Of the two methods of modelling, one is a Fresnel Integral evaluation approach, and the other …

Remote Data Acquisition And Error Analysis Of The Scattering Parameters Of Quartz Crystal Devices, Sallie Layton Douglas

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

A two-port device can be described by the incident and reflected voltages at each port. The parameters used in this description are known as scattering parameters. Accurate measurement of the values are thus important in device evaluation and network design. Limitations arise with the measurement capability of the equipment. In order to reduce these limitations, the data acquisition is controlled remotely by a computer program. The program also offers an error correction analysis of the measurement results. The measurement setup and basic approach are discussed as well as the techniques of normalization and calibration of each scattering parameter. The computer …

Design And Analysis Of A Voice Band Qpsk Modem, John F. Doud

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this paper is to design and construct a modem using the Quadrature Phase Shift Key digital modulation technique. The modem is designed to transmit information over a telephone line at the rate of 1200 bits per second subject to noise and imperfect channel response in the form of magnitude and delay distortion. The device is constructed using CMOS logic to minimize power consumption. To analyze the design with respect to the above constraints, it was necessary to build a pseudorandom bit sequence generator and correlator, a variable magnitude white noise generator and a digital error detector/indicator.

Two Point Resolution Of A Defocused Multi-Aperture System Eyelet, Steven A. Marlow

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Multi-aperture optical systems based on the insect eye offer an alternative to the common optical system based on the human eye. Some of the advantages of a multi - aperture system include the ability to perform parallel processing, have super resolution and have available large amounts of system redundancy.

An individual eyelet of a multi-aperture system consists of a gradient index lens coupled to optical fibers which transfer the incident light on the lens to individual detectors.

A mathematical model of an individual eyelet was developed. It is a flexible model allowing various system parameters to vary. Computer based algorithms …

The Design And Implementation Of An Interdigitated Directional Coupler For Use In Microwave Mixers, Golnaz Pourparviz

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis is to present a design for a balanced microwave mixer, operating in the X-band region(S-12 GHZ). The major emphasis of this work is on the coupling structure of the mixer. A 3-db interdigitated Lange coupler is designed, fabricated, and tested. The design obtained through numerical procedures is compared with that obtained with the TOUCHSTONE CAD package. A brief comparison between this coupler and other commonly used couplers is also presented. The diode circuitry of the mixer is discussed in detail, focusing mainly on the operation of the Schottky barrier diode, and finally a total layout …

Validity Of Student Evaluations: A Comparison Of Student Ratings To Instructor Self-Evaluations, Rebecca A. Hopson

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Ada Tools For The Description And Simulation Of Digital Signal Processing Systems, Mark D. Happel

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

While specialized hardware description languages allow for maximum capability and efficiency in a design automation system, the use of a general purpose language in the same role can make the system more available or more available or more practical for a larger set of users. This project demonstrates the use of ADA* for the description and simulation of small digital signal processing systems. Building on conventions and primitives proposed by Denyer and Renshaw, a simple subsystem was described in ADA and then tested with a small simulator also written in ADA.

* ADA is a trademark of the United States …

Promoting The Department Within The Institution, Thomas M. Scheidel

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This article outlines effective strategies for departmental leadership and institutional advocacy based on a case study from the University of Washington’s Department of Speech Communication. Emphasizing the chair’s central role in promoting departmental visibility and influence, the discussion identifies two essential requirements: active advocacy and evidence-based representation. The chair must serve as a visible and persuasive representative of the department through continual institutional engagement, cultivating relationships across administrative levels, and contributing to governance through service on committees. Equally important is the use of demonstrable evidence—teaching excellence, curricular strength, scholarly productivity, and faculty service—to substantiate departmental claims of quality. Drawing on …

The Department Chair And Merit Salary Increases, Anita Taylor

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This article analyzes the administrative and ethical challenges faced by department chairs in implementing merit-based salary systems within higher education. Drawing on the author’s decade of administrative experience, it examines how varying institutional structures (from unionized, step-based systems to wholly merit-driven allocations) shape the chair’s discretion and accountability. Using the case of George Mason University, the discussion details procedures for goal-setting, annual review, and salary distribution, highlighting tensions between equity, gender parity, and institutional policy. The article critiques both the subjectivity of qualitative evaluations and the rigidity of quantitative point systems, arguing for a balanced, evidence-informed approach to faculty assessment. …

Ideas, Comments, And Suggestions On Theatre Administration, Donald L. Loeffler

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This article offers a comprehensive account of effective departmental management within a university theatre program, emphasizing practical organization, personnel selection, and administrative collaboration. Using the Department of Speech and Theatre Arts at Western Carolina University as a model, the discussion details the chair’s responsibility for building a cohesive administrative environment through the strategic hiring of qualified secretarial staff, faculty cooperation, and student commitment. The paper underscores the importance of accurate bookkeeping, courteous communication, and efficient operations as extensions of the department’s public image. It also addresses recruitment and retention practices, faculty evaluation procedures, and cross-departmental cooperation in theatre, music, and …

Corporate Management Strategies: Applications For Communication Administrators From Iacocca: An Autobiography, Ladonna Mcmurray Geddes

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This article interprets Lee Iacocca’s managerial philosophy for application in academic and communication administration. Framing Iacocca’s principles of motivation, accountability, and leadership within a university context, the discussion explores how participatory management and clear goal articulation can improve departmental performance. The analysis emphasizes Iacocca’s model of “management by wandering around” as a strategy for maintaining visibility and fostering open communication. It also adapts his quarterly review system and “equality of sacrifice” concepts to faculty evaluation and workload distribution. Drawing from administrative experience, the author proposes a Distribution of Effort Agreement to formalize faculty commitments across teaching, research, and service, aligning …

Applications From In Search Of Excellence By Thomas Peters And Robert Waterman, Jr., Robert S. Goyer

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This article interprets Thomas Peters and Robert Waterman’s In Search of Excellence (1982) for application in academic administration, particularly within communication departments. The analysis outlines the authors’ critique of the rational-analytic management model and their advocacy for a value-driven, people-centered approach to organizational effectiveness. Goyer argues that while analogies between corporate and academic contexts are imperfect, two of Peters and Waterman’s eight principles—“productivity through people” and “simultaneous loose-tight properties”—offer meaningful guidance for departmental leadership. The first emphasizes creating an environment in which every faculty member’s contributions are recognized and rewarded through systematic yet flexible evaluation. The second highlights the chair’s …

Hiring Practices At An Independent College, Richard W. Platt

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This article details the hiring process for communication faculty at Marist College, an independent liberal arts institution with a growing communication arts program. It outlines institutional structures, administrative procedures, and decision-making protocols involved in recruitment and selection. Emphasis is placed on the interaction between program-level planning, divisional coordination, and centralized administrative approval. The paper documents each stage of hiring—from needs assessment and position authorization to advertisement, search committee formation, candidate evaluation, interviewing, and appointment. The description highlights the integration of affirmative action compliance, equitable search practices, and procedural transparency. Faculty expectations include teaching, research, and service responsibilities consistent with the …

Aca News

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This issue of ACA News provides organizational updates and reports on leadership transitions, conference activities, and new administrative initiatives within the Association for Communication Administration (ACA). J. Robert Wills of the University of Texas at Austin assumed the ACA presidency, succeeding Robert K. Tiemens, while Robert M. Smith of Wichita State University was named President-Elect. Newly elected Executive Committee members included Robert E. Davis, Martha Nell Hardy, and James Symons. The bulletin also lists referees and paper submission data for the 1986 publication year, reflecting high participation and a 32% acceptance rate. Salary data from national sources are summarized for …

Minutes Of The Executive Committee Meeting Chicago November 12, 1986

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

The annual meeting of the Association for Communication Administration (ACA)'s Executive Committee, held in November 1986 in Chicago, Illinois.