Digital Commons Network^™

Modeling Of Objects Using Planar Facets In Noisy Range Images, Girish Phansalkar

Theses

Products designed and manufactured before the advent of Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) technology have not been documented electronically. To avoid the laborious procedure of redesigning the parts, a reverse engineering approach can be adopted. This approach involves, taking a picture of the object and constructing a solid model from the image data.

Range image is a three dimensional image of an object or a scene. This image can be obtained from special cameras, called range image cameras, or can be constructed from the Coordinate Measuring Machine's (CMM) output data. Adaptive Fuzzy c-Elliptotype (AFC) clustering algorithm …

Size-Frequency Distribution Of Palaemonetes Pugio In Two New Jersey Estuaries And Predator-Prey Interactions With Fundulus Heterocolitus, Celine Santiago

Theses

Predation by Fundulus heteroclitus is known to be an important factor regulating the abundance and size distribution of Palaemonetes pugio in the salt marsh habitat.

A preliminary study showed that P. pugio from a polluted estuary, Piles Creek, were relatively larger than those found in a more pristine estuary, Little Sheepshead Creek. Possible causes could be differences in competition, inherent environmental components, reproductive effort, or predation. To investigate the differences in size frequency, data on relative abundances of both species and size frequency distribution of P. pugio were collected for comparison from the two estuaries.

It was determined that P. …

The Implementation Of A Recycling Program By The Westin Hotel Ottawa Canada, Dean Zervos

Theses

Not listed.

Verifying The Economic Impact Of Convention Attendees On The Local Economy In The Republic Of China On Taiwan, Pei-Ling Huang

Theses

Convention travel has been growing rapidly throughout the world in recent years and becoming a critical component of the hospitality and travel industry. Hosting of conventions, especially international conventions, can be used by host countries as part of a strategic marketing plan to publicize modern development, traditional culture, and tourism resources. It also stimulates economic growth in the hosting country. The purpose of this study is to analyze the differences between the expenditures of delegates staying in hotels and delegates not staying in hotels in each category. It was expected that most of delegates staying in hotels were foreigners and …

Decision Making In A Nonprofit Organization: A Case Study, Mary J. Petersen

Theses

Nonprofit organizations which are guided by volunteer boards generally do not apply business practices to decisions which have long range consequences for their organization or even for the industry they represent. The purpose of this study was to apply feasibility study guidelines to a decision facing the American Culinary Federation to expand its scope of accrediting activities to include culinary arts programs at the secondary level. A Task Force was assembled and guided through three meetings using methods of brainstorming, problem stating, analysis, and feedback mechanisms (both internally and externally). The study was concluded prior to final recommendations by the …

Mystery Shopping As A Service Quality Improvement Tool: Developing A Comprehensive Program For An Economy Motel Chain, Robyn L. Schultz

Theses

Organizations in all industries have discovered the importance of understanding customer needs and meeting or exceeding those needs through superior customer service. The hospitality industry, as the predominant service industry, has a particular responsibility to maintain high levels of customer satisfaction. An evaluation tool which all allows organizations to see their performance from the customer's perspective is mystery shopping. This project explores the systematic development and implementation of a mystery shopping program which is based on operational objectives and points to training needs in an economy motel group. While almost always a useful evaluation tool, the power of mystery shopping, …

Benchmarking Cross-Functional Teams In The Car Rental Industry, Iris Wolfson

Theses

The focus of this study is on the benchmarking of the use of cross-functional teams within the car rental industry. An in-depth look at the use of cross-functional teams in the car rental industry to determine if (1) cross-functional teams are present and (2) which car rental agency, if any, is the best in class. Focus is placed upon the identification of quality customer service in this industry through the use of four scenarios. A questionnaire was designed to determine the usage of cross-functional teams in the car rental industry. Five car rental agencies were studied. They are Alamo, Avis, …

The Effects Of Tourism On A Third World Country: A Case Study - Guyana, Monetta Edwards

Theses

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of tourism revitalization on a developing country's (Guyana) economy.

An Analysis Of Customer Service Orientation In A New York State Qsr Chain: A Case Study, Ram Nabar

Theses

This is a case study about a fast food company whose aggressive growth in the past has left it vulnerable and unable to cope with the results of its expansion. This quickservice restaurant chain has been lauded by many business gurus for its innovation, efficiency and its focus on customer service. In the areas with Team Managed Units in place, customer satisfaction went up, and crew turnover went down. The hectic pace of change within the organization, however, is creating uncertainty and insecurity, making it impossible to function without true leadership taking over at the helm of the organization. The …

A Naturalistic Inquiry Into The Experience Of Job Loss, Kathryn Desai

Theses

This research paper is the result of a "naturalistic inquiry" to explore job loss, as experienced by displaced senior managers of the Long Term Care System in Ontario, in 1997. The purpose of the study is to describe the experiences of a group of downsized Home Care and Placement Coordination managers, who lost their jobs in the transition to Community Care Access Centres. The methodology included the use of focus groups and in-depth interviews (which were tape recorded), to collect the data from a sample of volunteers across the province. This qualitative study validated other research, which has demonstrated that …

Comparative Analysis Of Marketing Software Programs: A Case Study, Judy Y. Lin

Theses

This study is a comparative analysis of 2 different marketing and sales software programs. An economy hotel located in Albany, New York is used for the case study. The purpose of this study is to determine whether or not either of the software programs can properly market the hotel taking into consideration the components the managers at the hotel want to see in a marketing program. Each of the programs is tested one by one using the data from the hotel and surrounding area. Once the programs are completely analyzed, a recommendation is made on which program is used for …

Changes In Employee Turnover In Housekeeping Department Of Rochester Hotels: 1991 Vs 1996 Case Study, Hsiang-Mei Chien

Theses

As employee turnover is still one of the most critical issues facing the hospitality industry, the study is done to find out if reasons for employee turnover in housekeeping department among Rochester hotels have changed from Monica Tembi's 1991 study to 1996. A convenience sample was selected for this study. The survey population was 12 hotels and motels that are members of the Rochester Hotel and Motel Association. The questionnaire was designed by Monica Tembi and later approved by the Rochester Hotel and Motel Association. It is a four-page questionnaire. The data gathered and analyzed are used the Statistical Package …

Overnight Accommodation Operation Feasibility Study For The University Club Of Rochester: A Study Of The Potential Market And Its Service Expectations, Karen Boilesen

Theses

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of renovating and profitably operating overnight accommodations at the University Club of Rochester. This was accomplished by developing a comprehensive survey to analyze the overnight accommodation operations of university clubs sharing reciprocal arrangements with the University Club of Rochester. Customer base, occupancy rates, room amenities, club services, and overnight staffing requirements were addressed. The results revealed minimum in-room amenity and club services expectations of a guest from a reciprocal club. Additionally, the number of non-resident club members and the number of guests whose travel purpose was business positively affected occupancy …

Marketing Of Bed And Breakfasts: A Study In Advertising And Promotions, Marc Lubetkin

Theses

The purpose of this study is to identify and scale advertising and promotional characteristics used most frequently by Bed & Breakfasts (B&B's). The study involved 2 surveys that questioned both Managers and Guests of B&B's from Professional Association of Innkeepers International member properties. The surveys were conducted 9/96-4/97 for the preceding calendar year. Advertising and promotional characteristics were cross-tabulated with B&B qualifiers such as the size of the property and occupancy rates. The study found that the following characteristics were used most frequently: Word of mouth, B&B guide books, Mobil & AAA, the Internet, chambers of commerce, travel agencies, and …

Korean Conglomerates' Service Recovery Platform: A Rating, Hae-Jeong Kim

Theses

This is a research study rating ten major Korean Conglomerates' Service Recovery Platform. The study used self-administered test from Performance Research Associates to rate the platforms. The demographics indicate that the areas of business these conglomerates involve in are: Electronics, Machinery, Automobiles, Heavy Industry, & Shipping, Construction, Telecommunications, Information and Communication, Trading, Finance, Insurance, Hotels & Leisure, and other integrated businesses. The test consists of five categories; 1) Systems, Policies, & Procedures, 2) Evaluating Service Performance, 3) Customer Focus & Commitment, 4) Recognizing & Rewarding Service, and 5) Training & Support. The results are reported using scoring master sheet provided …

Fragments: Of Nature, Of Myself, Jan Groenemann

Theses

Unavailable.

Evaluating The Controversial Issue Of The Value-Added Tax, Jacqueline Ferrin

Theses

The purpose of this study was to introduce the value-added tax to many of us who have never heard these words. This study also encourages the United States to change the tax laws to introduce a value-added tax into the United States. Proposals of the value-added tax include: reducing the federal deficit, achieving global competitiveness, and to fund a national health care program. All of these issues are of top concerns of the federal government. By introducing the growing industry of Travel and Tourism, it is demonstrated how this industry could help the federal government achieve some of the proposed …

A Catalogue Of Mayan Glyphs: A Study In Information Design, Timothy J. Wood

Theses

Not provided.

Father Involvement And Preschool Behavior: Do Involved Dads Make A Difference?, Lorraine Bonati

Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not father involvement in child care has an effect on preschool behavior. Data were provided by a kindergarten readiness study conducted by the Primary Mental Health Project (PMHP) in Rochester, New York. Participants voluntarily completed background questionnaires including an item regarding the degree of father involvement in care of the children. A randomly-selected sample of 121 four- and five-year-old urban preschool children (61 males, 60 females) with low to high father involvement were rated on five behaviors and five social competencies by their teachers using the Teacher-Child Rating Scale, the …

The Justification Of A Packaging Line Based On Capacity Issues, Chin Ho

Theses

Due to the phenomenal increase in the long range marketing forecast for the products manufactured at the Garden City site of DuPont Merck Pharmaceuticals, a capacity problem was identified. This paper evaluates the impact of the increased forecast and demands on the packaging operations, and also the justification of a packaging line to support the expected capacity overload. It addresses different alternatives available to the company to support the demand and evaluate these options based on cash flow analysis. In addition, the study allows the general reader outside the company to understand the methodology involved in the justification of a …

Expert System For The Generation Of A Work Breakdown Structure, Bernard O'Callaghan

Theses

This thesis outlines research work carried out in the Mechanical & Manufacturing Department in Cork Regional Technical College, Ireland. With computers now having an increasingly dominant role in all areas of business, it was inevitable that computer-based project management packages would become more popular. To date however, these packages have concentrated on monitoring and controlling projects. The definition and brainstorming phases required to generate a project plan are still largely manual tasks. Planning a project initially involves generating a complete and organised list of all the tasks needing to be completed in order to achieve a project’s goal. This list …

Anatomy Of A Case Manager, Barbara J. Quick

Theses

Case management is "a collaborative process which assesses, plans, implements, coordinates, monitors and evaluates options and services to meet an individual's health needs through communication and available resources to promote quality, cost-effective outcomes" (Case Management Society of America). In order to perform case management, case managers require not only appropriate clinical skills, but also specific personality traits.

This thesis will include data on the personality traits of case managers who are satisfied with their jobs. The personality traits to be measured and analyzed were determined following extensive evaluation of literature and previous research regarding personality traits.

The specific personality traits …

Changes In Telecommunications Due To The 1996 Telecommunications Act, Eugene A. Demers

Theses

Telecommunications has gone through various stages of development since its conception in the late l 800's. The most current event and the basis for this thesis, is the legislation that passed Congress titled the ''Telecommunications Act of 1996". It is the purpose of this document to research the impact of this legislation to the user and the businesses involved in this industry.

There were three main areas of focus for this research. The first area of study pertained to the current local and long distance companies in the telecommunications industry. The second area related to the users of the telecommunications …

Three-Dimensional Acquisition And Display System For Ultrasonic Imaging, Rajeev Raman

Theses

Three Dimensional biomedical ultrasonic imaging is relatively in its infancy and many areas for application like tumor detection and identification, virtual surgery planning, among others are being explored. These techniques are expected to provide the medical community with improved diagnostic and analysis capabilities. In order to better understand the image capture and processing issues in these environments, it is necessary to design and implement a reference three dimensional image capture and processing system. In a research environment, the most optimal approach to designing such systems is to leverage existing two dimensional capture technologies and enhance their capabilities for three dimensional …

Teamwork In Genetic Programming, Michael Lalena

Theses

This thesis attempts to solve food collection problems using genetic programming. The genetic program will evolve programs that mimic the way ants can collect food and bring it back to a nest. There are two special factors in this genetic program that make the ants work together in order to solve the problem, as opposed to each ant acting on its own. First, there will be a stream in the environment that the ants must cross to get to the food. Although all ants have the same program, some must move into the water and die, building a bridge for …

Development And Analysis Of A Verstile, Reusable, High Speed, Dma Controller For Custom Embedded Applications Using The Pci Bus, Michael Eastman

Theses

This thesis investigates the plausibility of designing and developing a versatile, reusable, high speed interface for custom computing applications, based on the Peripheral Component Interface (PCI) Bus. A PCI I/O board was developed, utilizing mainly Complex Programmable Logic Devices (CPLD's), which included a custom Direct Memory Access (DMA) Controller to take advantage of the unique feature set of the PCI bus. The arbitration mechanisms and performance characteristics of the PCI bus are taken advantage of in order to achieve a maximum burst throughput rate of 66 Megabytes per second. Performance characteristics of the I/O board are analyzed for two separate …

The Impact Of Training Methods And Leadership Skills On The Role Of Empowerment In The Workplace, Rae J. Delaney

Theses

Given the dynamic nature of the business environment, companies must never make the mistake of thinking that strategies that .have been proven successful in the past will be effective for all time. They need flexibility, speed, responsiveness and openness to new technology to deal with uncertainty.

It is imperative the managers create an atmosphere of empowerment. By giving employees the responsibility and the authority to get things done their way, employees will feel as if they are valued and trusted employees. To encourage employee empowerment, management must make available training and leadership seminars that will encourage and stimulate employee empowerment.

An Examination Of Personality Type And Anger Expression, James Brian Carroll

Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a significant difference at the alpha level .05 in the means of the Anger-ln. Anger-Out, and Anger Control scales scores of the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory reported by extraverted and introverted participants. Thirty-nine undergraduate students enrolled in a community living course from a small, private, midwestern college served as participants in the present study. There were 16 males and 23 females who volunteered to participate in the present stud_ (mean age- 18.21 ). Participants completed the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory. Three independent t-tests on …

Spirituality And Counseling In Holistic Health: Toward Integration In Actualizing Full Potential, Mary Ann Kniess

Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between spirituality and counseling in holistic health . Forty clients and forty therapists, both male and female, from varying economic and educational backgrounds completed a one- page self-report attitudinal survey regarding the place of religion and spirituality in their life and therapeutic sessions. Each ranked issues such as forgiveness, prayer, healing in relationships, grief, death, and afterlife as to the frequency with which they arose in therapy . Participants who returned surveys on site or by mail from Missouri and Illinois were volunteers who attended Joseph Zinker ' s Gestalt …

Patient-Focused Care: The Restructuring Of Healthcare, William E. Brown

Theses

This thesis will focus on the study of restructuring or redesigning the current healthcare delivery system. with a primary emphasis on the concept of patient-focused care. Patient-focused care is defined as the redesign of patient care so that hospital resources and personnel are organized around patients. rather than around various specialized departments.

An overview of the healthcare delivery system prior to 1980 pointed out that healthcare expenses were increasing at far too rapid a rate. The number of Americans without healthcare benefits was climbing and medical record management was out of control. Hospital information systems were obsolete and professional territorialism …