Digital Commons Network^™

A Comparative Study Of Four Major Knowledge Representation Techniques Used In Expert Systems With An Implementation In Prolog, Joann T. Hudgick

Theses

Knowledge representation is a central issue in Artifical Intelligence (AI) research. In order to solve the diverse and complex problems encountered, one needs both a large amount of knowledge and some mechanism for the management and skillful utilization of that knowledge. The basic problem in knowledge representation is the development of an adequate formalism to represent that knowledge. In this thesis I will discuss four of the major techniques for representing knowledge in expert systems: first order logic, production rules, semantic networks, and frames. Using Prolog as the implementation language, I will demonstrate that all of the above mentioned representation …

Animator: An Object-Oriented Approach, Stephen Kurtz

Theses

Object-oriented programming is presented as a paradigm for developing interactive systems for computer animation. Object types, evolved conceptually from graphics turtles, are implemented to provide the animator with familiar metaphors for the specification of motion in three-dimensional space. The intention is to create objects that can represent actors, cameras, and decor that the user can direct and animate in a relatively intuitive manner. Vector and turtle objects support the actors, which respond to messages to orient, accelerate and draw themselves on the screen. The MacApp object libraries are used to implement the standard Macintosh user interface and a unit is …

How A Printer's Marketing Strategy Affects Capital-Equipment Purchasing Decisions, Lisa S. Horwich

Theses

Marketing is a concept that is commonly believed to be the key to achieving organizational goals. This is accomplished through the determination of the needs and wants of potential customers and the deliverance of the product or service that meets this need more effectively and efficiently than any of the company's competitors.

The survey of San Francisco printers demonstrated that while the companies do employ persons in a marketing or pricing capacity, that these individuals do not play a significant role in capital equipment purchasing. Each phase in the procurement process was handled by top management almost exclusively.

The two …

Fric: An Expert System To Recognize Fricatives, Karen A. Atkinson

Theses

In building a speaker independent continuous speech understanding sys tem, a method is needed to translate the speech signal to a phoneme string. Current recognition attempts based on statistical methods are not as accurate as desired and require vast numbers of templates for comparison. On the other hand, human experts can transcribe phoneme strings from spectrograms with a high degree of accuracy, without needing to match unidentified seg ments against identified templates. This paper discusses the development of Fric, an expert system for identifying fricative phonemes, intended to func tion as part of a phoneme identification knowledge source. Fric attempts …

Countywide Police Simulation System Cops, Craig J. Mcdonald

Theses

COuntywide Police Simulation System (COPS) is a model which simulates the receipt of police, fire, and emergency medical calls at a public safety communications center, with subsequent dispatch of law enforcement officers to police events. The model examines the interaction of exogenous variables, including the type of call, the frequency of calls, the number of telecommunicators on duty, the number of police cars in service, the deployment pattern of the officers, the number of cars to be dispatched, and the dispatch plan. By modifying the values that these variables can hold, the distribution of workload among police officers can be …

On The Proposed Integrated Services Digital Network, Robert Johnson

Theses

The ultimate aim of this dissertation is neither to increase the state of the art in networking technology nor to predict the future structure of telecommunications networks. It is an attempt to raise the awareness of both the author and the reader as to the evolutionary forces driving vast changes in the telecommunications field. The impact of these changes will significantly alter the way we live and conduct business in the Information Age. For those involved with the communications field, the ability to make sound business decisions will require an in-depth knowledge of the technology and services that compose ISDN. …

An Introduction Of The Theory Of Nonlinear Error-Correcting Codes, Robert B. Nenno

Theses

Nonlinear error-correcting codes are the topic of this thesis. As a class of codes, it has been investigated far less than the class of linear error-correcting codes. While the latter have many practical advantages, it the former that contain the optimal error-correcting codes. In this project the theory (with illustrative examples) of currently known nonlinear codes is presented. Many definitions and theorems (often with their proofs) are presented thus providing the reader with the opportunity to experience the necessary level of mathematical rigor for good understanding of the subject. Also, the examples will give the reader the additional benefit of …

Integrated Voice/Data Through A Digital Pbx, Ian Schofield

Theses

The digital voice/data PBX is finally reaching its anticipated potential and becoming a major factor when considering the total communications picture for many businesses today. The digital PBX has always been the choice for voice communications but has lagged behind the LAN industry when it comes to data transfers. The pendulum has begun to swing with the enhanced data capabilities of third and fourth generation PBXs. The battle for the total communication market is quite fierce between the LAN and PBX vendors now. This research thesis looks at the history, evolution, and architecture of voice/data PBXs. It traces development of …

A Toolkit For Uncertainty Reasoning And Representation Using Fuzzy Set Theory In Prolog Expert Systems, Marcelle M. Bicker

Theses

This thesis examines the issue of uncertainty reasoning and representation in expert systems. Uncertainty and expert systems are defined. The value of uncertainty in expert systems as an approximation of human reasoning is stressed. Five alternative methods of dealing with uncertainty are explored. These include Bayesian probabilities, Mycin confirmation theory, fuzzy set theory, Dempster-Shafer's theory of evidence and a theory of endorsements. A toolkit to apply uncertainty processing in PROLOG expert systems is developed using fuzzy set theory as the basis for uncertainty reasoning and representation. The concepts of fuzzy logic and approximate reasoning are utilized in the implementation. The …

Teraphim: A Domain-Independent Framework For Constructing Blackboard-Controlled, Blackboard-Based Expert Systems In Prolog, Bruce Lyon

Theses

The blackboard architecture, in which a set of independent knowledge sources communicate by means of a global data base known as a blackboard, has been suggested as a generally useful design for knowledge-based systems. Teraphim is a domain-independent frame work for writing blackboard-based expert systems in Prolog. It implements concepts common to a range of previous blackboard architecture programs, such as HEARSAY-III and BB1. Teraphim includes as its basic elements a partitioned blackboard, a simple blackboard-controlled scheduler, a set of general-purpose scheduling heuristics to control the scheduler, a generic knowledge source with the ability to ask the user questions about …

A Simulation Of A Distributed File System, Alan Stanley

Theses

This thesis presents a simulation of a distributed file system. It is a simplified version of the distributed file system found in the LOCUS distributed operating system. The simulation models a network of multiuser computers of any configuration. The number of sites in the network can range from a minimum of three sites to a maximum of twenty. A simple database management system is supported that allows the creation of an indexed database for reading and updating records. The distributed file system supports a transaction mechanism, record level locking, file replication and update propagation, and network transparency. To test the …

Implementing Intersection Calculations Of The Ray Tracing Algorithm With Systolic Arrays, Andrea Stankus

Theses

Ray tracing is one technique that has been used to synthesize realistic images with a computer. Unfortunately, this technique, when implemented in software, is slow and expensive. The trend in computer graphics has been toward the use of special purpose hardware, to speed up the calculations, and, hence, the generation of the synthesized image. This paper describes the design and the operation of a systolic based architecture, tailored to speed up the intersection calculations, that must be performed as a part of the ray tracing algorithm.

Display Of Molecular Models With Interactive Computer Graphics, Steve Wuter Yang

Theses

Computer graphics devices offer a way to present images of three-dimensional objects with enough detail to aid human understanding of the structure of molecules. In this thesis, the Computer Aided Molecular Design system (CAMD system) will illustrate this idea. The CAMD system is an educational package designed for students in high school. The user of the CAMD system can create different molecules and store these molecules into a relational data base for future display. A Relational Data Base Management system was implicitly implemented for the CAMD system.

The Ubiquitous B-Tree: Volume Ii, Sally E. Fischbeck

Theses

Major developments relating to the B-tree from early 1979 through the fall of 1986 are presented. This updates the well-known article, "The Ubiquitous B-Tree" by Douglas Comer (Computing Surveys, June 1979). After a basic overview of B and B⁺ trees, recent research is cited as well as descriptions of nine B-tree variants developed since Comer's article. The advantages and disadvantages of each variant over the basic B-tree are emphasized. Also included are a discussion of concurrency control issues in B-trees and a speculation on the future of B-trees.

A Cost And Performance Analysis Of The Three Electronic Communication Systems Currently In Use In The Printing And Publishing Industry, Susan Richards

Theses

This study describes and evaluates the three electronic graphic communication systems presently used by the printing and publishing industry. The author has selected generic system names for each of the systems. These are: System 1: Page Facsimile System 2: Character-Encoding System 3: Pixel Density-Map Page Facsimile systems are primarily used by newspaper publishers. The Character-Encoding and Pixel Density-Map systems are alternate methods primarily used by newsweekly magazine publishers. All three communication systems offer the user a means of transmitting editorial, and in some cases advertising pages, to remote printing facilities for manufacturing and distribution. Each electronic graphic communication system is …

An Exploration Of Triarylmethane Leucohydroxides, Mahin Sadrai

Theses

To explore the possibilities of the potential use of photochromism of triarylmethane leucohydroxides and leucobisulfites , five leucohydroxides (see Table [5]) and five leucobisulfites were synthesized and two leucohydroxides and one leucobisulfite were investigated in a variety of solvents with different Brownstein Coefficients. Malachite green leucohydroxide and crystal violet leucohydroxide showed opposite behavior in the same basic solutions, while both of them were dramati cally affected by the change in solutions basicity. Photodegradation induced by repeated exposure (fatigue) manifested itself in the form of lower photo -induced optical density, with a constant halflife in malachite green leucohydroxide and in the …

Robotic Work Cell For Packing Canisters, Robert J. Makar

Theses

The purpose of this project is to reduce the manufacturing cost of the special order 2500cc truck canisters produced at Rochester Products' Lee Road facility. This was accomplished by designing and developing a robotic work cell to pack the canisters into baskets at the injection mold machine. A literature search was conducted to gain a broader understanding of robotic applications and end-effector design. In developing this cell, the layout of the work cell components was determined, a suitable robot was selected, and an end-effector was designed, built and tested.

"Enchanted Spaces: Shelters Of Block Island", Judith Watts

Theses

Not Included

Comparative Study Of Networks Using Packet And Circuit Switching Within A Single Network, Suman Sharma

Theses

During the last couple of years, in addition to voice, other types of communications network services are becoming increasingly important. These are interactive data, facsimile, slow scan image, and bulk data. Typically, these services are delivered by separate networks using various kinds of switching technology, such as packet, circuit, or message switching. Recently, much of the focus has been on the integration of all types of communication services within the same switch or network, especially within the telephony and business industry. Integration of the communication services is being realized by integrating packet and circuit switching within the same switch or …

Evaluation Of A Quantitative Aerial Thermography Method For The Determination Of Roof Top Heat Loss, Joseph Biegel

Theses

A quantitative aerial infrared thermographic method for the determination of residential roof top heat loss is studied utilizing data gathered on over 1000 homes in the city of Plattsburgh, New York. The aerial infrared thermographic technique used as the basis of this study accounts for atmospheric and emissivity effects on the thermogram data as well as convective and radiational losses from the roof surface. The strength of the method is tested on the basis of a multivariate first order linear regression analysis using the aerial heat flow measurements as the dependent variable and parameters derived from ground survey data as …

The Computer As A Fine Art Tool, Edward Kinney

Theses

Not Included

A Detailed Measure Of Apparent Modulation Induced By Cornsweet Edges On A Digital Image Display System, Jeff Pelz

Theses

A digital image display based system was designed and implemented to perform visual measurements of apparent modulation induced by the Cornsweet illusion. The system was used to examine the results reported on previous experiments designed to measure the modulation transfer function of the human visual system. The reported results of experiments performed by Dooley and Greenfield on induced modulation were examined, and data not reported in that work was collected on the range of modulations over which observers perceived linear images. The system developed has the flexibility to be adapted for many different types of experiments. Visual experiments involving human …

A Comparison Of Two Computer Graphic Systems, Andrew L. Mayer

Theses

None provided.

Tcs: A Version Control System, Rosita Caridi Scheible

Theses

Not Included

Jmsl - A Language Derived From Apl, John Mark Smeenk

Theses

A new AFL-derived language called JMSL is presented which rnodifies seven aspects of APL so that many current and potential APL users could benefit from a language which is easier to learn, read, write, and maintain. JMSL uses ASCII tokens instead of APL symbols to remedy interfacing, extensibility, and readability problems with APL. JMSL revises and extends APL built-in capabilities to provide greater expression and improved symbol-meaning correspondence. JMSL includes a new notation for nested arrays (a powerful data structure which combines the array processing of APL with the tree processing of LISP). JMSL provides hierarchical directories (similar to PASCAL …

Gas-Phase Reaction Of 1,2-Dichloroethane With Hydrogen In A Tubular Flow Reactor, Wei-Lian Lee

Theses

We have studied the reaction of 1,2-dichloroethane with H₂ in three tubular flow reactors of different diameters at atmospheric pressure in the temperature range of 550° C to 1000°C. The kinetic parameters and product distribution were experimentally determined for each size reactor. The wall and bulk reaction rate constants were decoupled via analysis of three different surface to volume reaction data.

The experimental reactor was an isothermal tubular flow reactor that operated within the domain of plug flow region. The reaction was found to follow first-order kinetics with respect to 1,2-dichloroethane when in the presence of excess hydrogen. The …

Multi-H Continuous Phase Modulation : Its Properties And Analysis, Jyung-Cheng Chen

Theses

Multi-h CPM, a generalization of CPFSK and also one of the so-called Combined Modulation and Coding schemes, is useful in digital communication systems where both the bandwidth and power are constrained. The increased signal processing complexity, which can be viewed as the third communication resource, is used to trade for both power and bandwidth, and to approach the error-free communication promised by Shannon's theorem.

The transmitted multi-h CPM signal carries a coded sequence of continuous phase changes; the possible phase states form a cylindrical trellis in phase and time, in which the modulation indices are reused in a cyclical fashion. …

A Variant Of Tale-Spin With Independent Data And Rule Bases, Laxmi Gupta

Theses

Not Included

Mythography, Christopher Losee

Theses

Although it was written over a year before this section, the thesis proposal which appends this report still serves as a good introduction to my ideas on myth in general , and in particular to my way of thinking when I began this inquiry into the photographic representation of myth. In exploring the visual and artistic dimensions of myth, I found that my thoughts and feelings on the subject changed vastly as the work progressed; however, the end result of this process of exploration has led me back to the beginnings of the work and allowed me, as T,S. Eliot …

The Challenge Of Functional Art, Janice C. Anthony

Theses

None provided.