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Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

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Java Challenge Software Project, Karuna Annavajjala Dec 1999

Java Challenge Software Project, Karuna Annavajjala

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Programming contests are a means of exploiting the problem solving capabilities of developers and they provide a forum for display of extraordinary programming skills. The Java Challenge (JC) Software Project is the saga of creating an automated, secure and responsive programming contest system for deployment on the Internet and to collect information about programming practices, habits, and trends in coding in such restricted environment. The methodology followed to design, implement, and evaluate such a system uses new technologies such as the WWW, mail filtering and sandboxing techniques. The current Java Challenge implementation runs the Java Challenge on a Solaris 2.6 …

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Designing And Modeling A Torque And Speed Control Transmission (Tsct), John Allen Anderson Dec 1999

Designing And Modeling A Torque And Speed Control Transmission (Tsct), John Allen Anderson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Near term Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) generally employ current automotive transmissions. These automatic and manual transmissions are based on designs that are many years old. These older transmission designs do not allow multiple power inputs/outputs to be connected to the transmission. These types of designs significantly limit the flexibility in terms of overall function and component packaging for hybrid vehicles. This study was conducted to determine the feasibility of creating a transmission for hybrid vehicle applications with multiple power inputs/outputs.;The Torque and Speed Control Transmission (TSCT) is a combination of a planetary geartrain and a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). By …

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Development Of A Method For Calculation Of Cardiac Output Using Doppler Ultrasound, Amit Diggikar Dec 1999

Development Of A Method For Calculation Of Cardiac Output Using Doppler Ultrasound, Amit Diggikar

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Cardiac output is the amount of blood pumped by the heart in one minute. The Doppler effect can be used to measure cardiac output by measuring the peak frequency, which is directly proportional to the velocity of blood flowing in the aorta, associated with the Doppler shift signal when an ultrasound beam is incident on the aorta. Stroke volume is the product of the cross sectional area of the aorta and the integration of peak velocity over time. Stroke volume times the heart rate is the cardiac output. This project attempts to develop an algorithm that would automatically calculates the …

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Modeling And Simulation Of Selected Distributed Generation Sources And Their Assessment, Ju-Chirl Park Dec 1999

Modeling And Simulation Of Selected Distributed Generation Sources And Their Assessment, Ju-Chirl Park

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The models of small turbine generators (i.e. a combustion turbine, a diesel engine, etc), that are used for distributed generation will be obtained as dynamic. Also, the detailed synchronous machine and the excitation system model are obtained for the standard simulation. The simulation will be performed with an infinite bus system model. The synchronous machine is connected with a local load in order to develop the terminal voltage, avoiding the differentiation.;In order to use fuel cells and solar cells, which are new forms of technology, have the potential to reduce costs, and can be used for the DG in the …

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Study Of The Kalman Filter For Arrhythmia Detection With Intracardiac Electrograms, Pisut Raphisak Dec 1999

Study Of The Kalman Filter For Arrhythmia Detection With Intracardiac Electrograms, Pisut Raphisak

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Third generation implantable antitachycardia devices offer tiered-therapy to reverse ventricular fibrillation (VF) by defibrillation and ventricular tachycardia (VT) by low-energy cardioversion or antitachycardia pacing. The schemes for detecting cardiac arrhythmias often realize nonpathologic tachycardia as serious arrhythmias and deliver false shocks. In this study, an arrhythmia classification technique has been developed with the use of Kalman filter applied on cyclostationary autoregressive model. This new algorithm was developed with a training set of 24 arrhythmia passages and tested on a different data set of 29 arrhythmia passages. The algorithm provides 100% detection of VF on the test set. 77.8% of VTs …

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Response Time To Batted Balls, Tracie L. Stechly Seivertson Dec 1999

Response Time To Batted Balls, Tracie L. Stechly Seivertson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Traditional wooden bats are being replaced by metal bats. These metal bats can increase the exit ball speed. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of the exit ball speed off of a bat on a recreational baseball player's ability to react to the ball.;Ten male subjects, ages 18 to 30, participated in this study. A pitching machine projected balls toward each participant. Each subject was placed behind a safety net and asked to react to the ball as if he was going to field the ball. A radar gun, video cameras, and video editing equipment were used to …

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Field Analysis And Design Of A Moving Iron Linear Alternator For Use With Linear Engine, Dulpichet Rerkpreedapong Dec 1999

Field Analysis And Design Of A Moving Iron Linear Alternator For Use With Linear Engine, Dulpichet Rerkpreedapong

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The previous research at West Virginia University has developed a permanent magnet linear alternator and linear combustion engine for testing and studying the performance. In this prototype, magnets are part of the moving part.;This research will present a new type of linear alternator with permanent magnets installed on stationary called Moving Iron Linear Alternator (MILA). MILA offers several advantages over other types such as rugged structure, and low cost production. First, MILA will be designed for use with the existing linear engine. An optimization methodology will be applied to obtain optimal design parameters. Next, a MILA model will be created …

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Tissue Thickness Measurement Tool For Craniofacial Reconstruction, Hari Kinan Gopal Boddupalli Dec 1999

Tissue Thickness Measurement Tool For Craniofacial Reconstruction, Hari Kinan Gopal Boddupalli

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Craniofacial Reconstruction is a method of recreating the appearance of the face on the skull of a deceased individual for identification purposes. Older clay methods of reconstruction are inaccurate, time consuming and inflexible. The tremendous increase in the processing power of the computers and rapid strides in visualization can be used to perform the reconstruction, saving time and providing greater accuracy and flexibility, without the necessity for a skillful modeler.;This thesis introduces our approach to computerized 3D craniofacial reconstruction. Three phases have been identified. The first phase of the project is to generate a facial tissue thickness database. In the …

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Verification And Validation In Software Product Line Engineering, Edward Alton Addy Dec 1999

Verification And Validation In Software Product Line Engineering, Edward Alton Addy

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Verification and Validation (V&V) is currently performed during application development for many systems, especially safety-critical and mission-critical systems. However, the V&V process has been limited to single system development. This dissertation describes the extension of V&V from an individual application system to a product line of systems that are developed within an architecture-based software engineering environment.;In traditional V&V, the system provides the context under which the software will be evaluated, and V&V activities occur during all phases of the system development lifecycle. The transition to a product line approach to development removes the individual system as the context for evaluation, …

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Performance Evaluation Of Exhaust Aftertreatment Devices Used For Emissions Control On Diesel Engines Employed In Underground Coal Mines, Daniel K. Carder Dec 1999

Performance Evaluation Of Exhaust Aftertreatment Devices Used For Emissions Control On Diesel Engines Employed In Underground Coal Mines, Daniel K. Carder

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study was initiated to assist the WV Diesel Equipment Commission in its promulgation of initial rules, requirements, and standards governing the operation of diesel-powered equipment in underground coal mines. Four different engines and various exhaust after treatment devices that represent current levels of in-use technology were selected for performance evaluation. Both eddy-current and water-brake dynamometers were used to load the engines according to an ISO 8-Mode test cycle. Experimental emissions data, sampled from a full-flow dilution tunnel, suggests that particulate traps can reduce the mass emission rates of particulate matter (DPM) by nearly 90%, while reductions in fuel sulfur …

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Optimal Power Flow Using A Genetic Algorithm And Linear Algebra, Reid S. Maust Dec 1999

Optimal Power Flow Using A Genetic Algorithm And Linear Algebra, Reid S. Maust

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Artificial intelligence is used to help a hypothetical electric utility meet is electric load economically. The optimal power flow problem (OPF) problem is an optimization problem, in which the utility strives to minimize its costs while satisfying all of its constraints. A genetic algorithm (GA)---a specific type of artificial intelligence-is employed to perform this optimization. To speed convergence, some theory from linear algebra is incorporated into the algorithm.;A GA provides several advantages over more traditional OPF algorithms. For instance, a GA does not constrain the shape of the generators' cost curves and is flexible enough to incorporate control devices such …

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Development Of Decision Support System For Reliability, Mitesh Bhupendra Parekh Dec 1999

Development Of Decision Support System For Reliability, Mitesh Bhupendra Parekh

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Reliability analysis is now an essential part of any product development. In the field of Electrical Engineering, reliability models are developed and analyzed for every component before it comes to market. The complexity of the product can range from a simple transistor to an integrated circuit chip, from a simple communication link to a complex network, and from a small generator to a large powerhouse.;Over the period, several techniques have been developed to systematically model real systems and then analyze them. These techniques are constantly being enhanced to improve the modeling process and to reduce the time required for the …

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Decision Support Tool For Costing Of The Pultrusion Process, Taher Badrudin Patrawala Dec 1999

Decision Support Tool For Costing Of The Pultrusion Process, Taher Badrudin Patrawala

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The use of advanced composites has grown over the last two decades. These high strength, low weight materials can now be found in many structural applications, including bridges. However, the substitution of plastics for conventional materials, such as steel, is governed by engineering constraints and cost competitiveness. A brief discussion of the process variables and engineering constraints is presented in the first chapter. To analyze the latter and to identify cost centers in production more readily, a computerized cost model was developed. This model estimates the cost of producing components by the pultrusion process.;The technical cost modeling methodology employed involves …

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Evaluation Of Ceramic Candle Filters Degradation And Damage Location Using Four-Point Bending Tests, Wu Tseng Peng Dec 1999

Evaluation Of Ceramic Candle Filters Degradation And Damage Location Using Four-Point Bending Tests, Wu Tseng Peng

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The structural integrity of ceramic candle filters is a key element for hot gas cleanup systems. Ceramic candle filters used in demonstration plants have experienced degradation and fracturing. Preliminary examination of these ceramic filters indicated that damage of the filters may have resulted from strength degradation due to persistent high temperature operation, thermal transient events, excessive ash accumulation and bridging, and pulse cleaning. This study proposes a nondestructive evaluation of the structural properties of these ceramic filters. The ceramic candle filter is a slender structure made of layers of porous materials. The structure has high acoustic attenuation, which has greatly …

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Characterization Of Particulate Matter And Hydrocarbon Emissions From In-Use Heavy-Duty Diesel Engines, Aleksandar Djordje Bugarski Dec 1999

Characterization Of Particulate Matter And Hydrocarbon Emissions From In-Use Heavy-Duty Diesel Engines, Aleksandar Djordje Bugarski

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A continued increase in the use of diesel engines in heavy-duty vehicles, and the uncertainties about the effects of the emissions on human health have focused attention on risk assessments of exposure to the diesel exhaust. The characterization of diesel particulate matter (PM) and hydrocarbon (HC) emissions is the primary objective toward assessing potential health hazard. The dependence of DPM nature on engine/vehicle operating conditions, fuel type, different after treatment processes, and measurement process on the size resolved PM emissions was examined by operating the test engines and vehicles under steady-state and transient conditions. The regional deposition of DPM in …

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Stability Studies Of Coal Liquid Products Using High Performance Liquid Chromatography, Lawrence P. Norcio Dec 1999

Stability Studies Of Coal Liquid Products Using High Performance Liquid Chromatography, Lawrence P. Norcio

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The storage stability of coal liquids is of great importance if coal liquefaction products are to replace petroleum products. It has been reported that gum formation occurs in coal-derived liquids during storage to a level at which it becomes a handling problem. The aging of coal hydropyrolysis liquids has been studied. Coal liquid products were placed in preweighed sample vials and stored under light, in the presence of air, at different storage temperatures (2, 21, and 32°C). The weight of gum formed was determined at specified sampling times. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to monitor the changes in …

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Efficient And Flexible Algorithm For Plant Layout Generation, Li Weng Dec 1999

Efficient And Flexible Algorithm For Plant Layout Generation, Li Weng

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A facilities layout, also called plant layout, consists of the production areas, production related or support areas and personnel areas within the building. Plant layout design is one of the strategic fields that determine the long run efficiency of operation.;This dissertation proposes an efficient and flexible plant layout algorithm to minimize the material handling cost and deal with change in future. A material flow forecasting tool, a scheduling module related to layout design and an evaluation method of flexible layouts are also proposed by this dissertation. A computer-based system will be developed to integrate all of the functions.;The first chapter …

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Encapsulation Of Particles Using Brittle Coatings For Subterranean Applications, Aashish L. Bhatia Dec 1999

Encapsulation Of Particles Using Brittle Coatings For Subterranean Applications, Aashish L. Bhatia

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The production of a brittle and moisture-resistant coating for particles, which reduce or "break" the viscosity of fracturing fluids, was explored.;The viscosity-reducer was ammonium persulfate. Polyurethane and acrylate coatings were investigated. The coated particles were assessed for dissolution in water before and after being subjected to a compression test. Polyurethane-coated particles had a high leach prior to compression and were considered unsuitable. Acrylate coatings gave much better results. The addition of significant quantities of silica in the coat increased significantly its brittleness. The acrylate formed agglomerates during the coating process. These were easier to break than single particles. These agglomerates …

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Determination Of Vitality From A Non-Invasive Biomedical Measurement For Use In Integrated Biometric Devices, Reza Derakhshani Dec 1999

Determination Of Vitality From A Non-Invasive Biomedical Measurement For Use In Integrated Biometric Devices, Reza Derakhshani

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Personal identification is a very important issue in today's mobile and electronically networked societies. Among the available measures, fingerprints are the oldest and most widely used. Unfortunately, it is usually possible to deceive automatic fingerprint identification systems by presenting a well-duplicated synthetic or dismembered finger. This project is one method to provide fingerprint vitality authentication in order to solve this problem. Using a sensor that is composed of an array of capacitors, this method identifies the vitality of a fingerprint by detecting a specific changing pattern over the human skin. Mapping the two-dimensional images into one-dimensional signals, two ensembles of …

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Integration Of Chicory Components And Chicory Optimization, Avinash Venkatesh Kalgi Dec 1999

Integration Of Chicory Components And Chicory Optimization, Avinash Venkatesh Kalgi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Software is not built as monolithic structure. It is built in blocks by more than one person. This software then has to be put together and made to work. It is also important to ensure that the assembled software is performing optimally.;Chicory(TM) is such a Java(TM) software. It is made of numerous components, made by a lot of different people.;This thesis explores the complications associated with integrating these components. This is achieved by an exhaustive description of the architecture of the components and a detailed description of the design decisions. It explains in detail the interactions between various objects inside …

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Data Mining Oipea Database For Waste And Productivity Enhancements In Manufacturing Units, Jaison John Ipe Dec 1999

Data Mining Oipea Database For Waste And Productivity Enhancements In Manufacturing Units, Jaison John Ipe

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Small and medium-sized manufacturing plants (those with fewer than 500 employees) represent more than 98 percent of the more than 374,000 establishments in the U.S. manufacturing industry, 64 percent of employees in the total manufacturing labor force, and more than 42 percent of total manufacturing energy consumption.;In 1976 the federal government started funding industrial energy audits for small and medium sized manufacturing firms under the auspices of the Industrial Assessment Centers (IAC) that are spread throughout the U.S. The data collected from the hundreds of energy audits that are conducted each year is collected in a database maintained by the …

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Probability Analysis Of Slope Stability, Jennifer Lynn Peterson Dec 1999

Probability Analysis Of Slope Stability, Jennifer Lynn Peterson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The ability of geotechnical engineers to accurately model slope performance is compromised by a variety of factors. The net result of these considerations is that the exact behavior of slopes cannot be accurately predicted. Hence, geotechnical engineers resort to a factor of safety approach to reduce the risk of slope failure. However, the factor of safety approach cannot quantify the probability of failure, or level of risk, associated with a particular design situation.;A probabilistic approach to studying geotechnical issues offers a systematic way to treat uncertainties, especially slope stability. In terms of probability, uncertainties can be related quantitatively to the …

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Design And Development Of Fuzzy Expert System For Handy Board, Aditya Kumar Singh Dec 1999

Design And Development Of Fuzzy Expert System For Handy Board, Aditya Kumar Singh

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The recent trend in global manufacturing scenario has resulted in the emergence of many innovative techniques that have revolutionized the manufacturing industry as a whole. A lot of states of art advances have been associated with the increasing use of microprocessors in advance manufacturing systems. Out of many the one, which has predominantly captured the real time, behavioral use is the Fuzzy Logic.;Fuzzy logic implementation in real time environment involves the integration of multi-disciplinary area like computer engineering, mechanical and electronic systems tailored towards smart systems that enable a very precise control on the process. The fuzzy logic based project …

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Measurement Of Particulate Matter Size, Concentration And Mass Emissions From In-Use Heavy Duty Vehicles, Richard Jason Byers Dec 1999

Measurement Of Particulate Matter Size, Concentration And Mass Emissions From In-Use Heavy Duty Vehicles, Richard Jason Byers

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

As technological advancements lower heavy duty vehicle particulate matter (PM) mass emission rates, there is concern that these improvements are increasing the toxicity of the PM by virtue of a subsequent reduction in particle size. These ultrafine particles are able to better penetrate the alveolar region where they can cause serious lung disorders. Alternative fuels such as compressed and liquefied natural gas (CNG and LNG) and the synthetic diesel fuel Mossgas are attractive in that they reduce the levels of total PM. However, use of natural gas in internal combustion engines may produce a larger number of smaller particles than …

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Design And Development Of A Microwave-Enhanced Diesel Soot Oxidation System, Bret Allen Rankin Dec 1999

Design And Development Of A Microwave-Enhanced Diesel Soot Oxidation System, Bret Allen Rankin

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Diesel particulate matter (PM) emissions have created considerable concern because PM is a suspected carcinogen. Up to this point, improved engine and fuel system design and control schemes have made the use of diesel particulate aftertreatment systems unnecessary for most applications in the United States, but the continued decreasing trend of emissions regulations may necessitate the use of PM filters for many applications.;Many methods have been developed to generate a controlled, reliable regeneration event within PM filters, none of which have been proven to be completely successful. These methods include exhaust throttling, fuel catalysis, filter catalysis, electrical heating, and burner …

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Bending Behavior Of Concrete T-Beams Reinforced With Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (Gfrp) Bars, Rajesh Kumar Kalluri Dec 1999

Bending Behavior Of Concrete T-Beams Reinforced With Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (Gfrp) Bars, Rajesh Kumar Kalluri

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Concrete slabs are integrally cast with girders or stringers (stiffening system) resulting in floor slabs, bridge decks, footers, retaining structures and others. A portion of slab between a stiffening system acts as flange and bends in unison with the stiffening system, i.e., classic T-beam action. The emphasis of this study is to determine the effective flange width, failure modes, deformability factors, pre- and post-cracking deflections and crack widths at first crack and at ultimate failure of T-beams.;Eight concrete T-beams with two different flange widths and two reinforcement configurations were tested under four point bending to study the factors cited above. …

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Through-Wafer Interrogation Of Mems Device Motion, Jeremy Michael Dawson Aug 1999

Through-Wafer Interrogation Of Mems Device Motion, Jeremy Michael Dawson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) have been the focus of many research groups because of their wide variety of uses in sensing and actuation applications. A fundamental barrier facing designers of next generation MEMS is the inability to access accurate, real-time microstructure positional information to determine if the device is performing as expected. Previously explored optical and electrical methods of MEMS device monitoring are often only suitable for research environments, or are unable to produce clear and meaningful characterization of device motion. The most desirable MEMS monitoring method would be one that could be implemented at the device level, which would allow …

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Design Of Anechoic Chamber Instrumentation And Data Acquisition Module For Testing And Analysis Of The Ctha, Srikanth Gururajan Aug 1999

Design Of Anechoic Chamber Instrumentation And Data Acquisition Module For Testing And Analysis Of The Ctha, Srikanth Gururajan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The backbone of wireless communication is an antenna, a device that converts electromagnetic energy to electric energy and vice versa, to transmit and receive the signals. The effectiveness of a communication system depends largely on the effectiveness of the antenna used in them. The effectiveness of an antenna is characterized by its electromagnetic field. Methods to characterize the field of an antenna include testing them on outdoor test ranges or in enclosures insulated against electromagnetic radiation, called anechoic chambers. The objective of this work is to design and build an automated data acquisition system to map the field of physically …

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Forecasting Of Work In Process Quality Using Holt-Winters Method For Missing Observations, Sarang Ram Kayande Aug 1999

Forecasting Of Work In Process Quality Using Holt-Winters Method For Missing Observations, Sarang Ram Kayande

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Since the pace of technological change is so great, and since new products and processes may be key to a company's future plans, an increasing number of companies are emphasizing regular and complete technological forecasts affecting their industry. Those companies which have gone far in developing planning premises from their technological forecasts have tended to be high-technology enterprises. What has been done in these instances is to encourage members of their technical staffs to be alert to future developments; to think in terms of the impact of current scientific developments on the future state of technology; and to develop orderly …

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Forecasting Electricity Demand Using Regression And Monte Carlo Simulation Under Conditions Of Insufficient Data, Kathleen Ann Cullen Aug 1999

Forecasting Electricity Demand Using Regression And Monte Carlo Simulation Under Conditions Of Insufficient Data, Kathleen Ann Cullen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The problem studied is that of a summer peak residential energy demand model for Appalachian Power Company's service area in West Virginia. By restricting the forecast to a region smaller than the state, serious data problems result due to insufficient data to obtain reliable forecasts.;Regression analysis and Monte Carlo Simulation are the two methods used to forecast energy demand. Both methods incorporate risk into the analysis in different ways. Regression analysis yields a measure of the reliability of the coefficients of the variables and of the reliability of the forecast. The resulting forecast and confidence limits of the forecast values …

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