Digital Commons Network^™

An Experiment In The Complexity Of Load Balancing Algorithms, Charles Carlino

Theses

Not provided.

Development Of A Selection Model For Package Structural Designs Which Optimize Flexible Manufacturing, Luke Faulstick

Theses

The purpose of this study was to develop a selection model to be used in the design of packages for flexible manufacturing. The model was developed by utilizing the concepts and philosophies of Just-In-Time (JIT), Total Quality Control (TQC), and Design For Assembly (DFA). A case study was used to demonstrate the model. The case study involved the design of a new package for an existing product utilizing the concepts as previously outlined. Reduced part count, use of standard materials, configurations and process, and process flow charting were all key components of the selection model. As flexible manufacturing becomes a …

Computer Classification Of Stop Consonants In A Speaker Independent Continuous Speech Environment, Michael R. Campanelli

Theses

In the English language there are six stop consonants, /b,d,g,p,t,k/. They account for over 17% of all phonemic occurrences. In continuous speech, phonetic recognition of stop consonants requires the ability to explicitly characterize the acoustic signal. Prior work has shown that high classification accuracy of discrete syllables and words can be achieved by characterizing the shape of the spectrally transformed acoustic signal. This thesis extends this concept to include a multispeaker continuous speech database and statistical moments of a distribution to characterize shape. A multivariate maximum likelihood classifier was used to discriminate classes. To reduce the number of features used …

Electrostatic Discharge - Understanding And Controlling The Phenomenon: A Handbook For Packaging Professionals, Deanna Jacobs

Theses

This thesis is designed to be a handbook on the phenomenon of electrostatic discharge (ESD) and its deleterious effects on electrically-sensitive electronic devices. Packaging and handling of sensitive devices occurs at every step in the assembly of such devices. Once the hardware is designed (and this may include some ESD-protective mechanisms) , it is the packaging of ESD-sensitive devices that determines their ultimate fate: being 100% reliable, being among the "walking wounded," or being completely useless. Electrostatic discharge is a phenomenon experienced in many industries from foods to pharmaceuticals, aerospace to communications, medical packaging to explosives, military to optics, and …

Astronauts And Xingu: An Exhibition Of Cultural Ideograms, Edward Mineck

Theses

The intention of my thesis is to alter some of American culture's prevailing sentiments on the relationship between: masculine and feminine; visceral and cognitive; natural and technological; as well as altering perceptions of the loci of power in our culture. The thesis exhibition was composed of seventeen gum bichromate assemblages composed of elementary images appropriated from popular media. Each composite piece is a recontextualization of extant representations. I have taken things from their typical or original context and re-presented them in a context that I have selected and directed. The new relationships established among the appropriated component images and the …

Algorithm Animation And Its Application To Artificial Neural Network Learning, Walter Bubie C.

Theses

Algorithm animation is a means of exploring the dynamic behavior of algorithms using computer-generated graphics to represent algorithm data and operations. Research in this field has focused on the architecture of flexible environments for exploring small, complex algorithms for data structure manipulation. This thesis describes a project examining two relatively unexplored aspects of algorithm animation: issues of view design effectiveness and its application to a different type of algorithm, namely back-propagation artificial neural network learning. The work entailed developing a framework for profiling views according to attributes such as symmetry, regularity, complexity, etc. This framework was based on current research …

Transition Through Resonance In Linear And Nonlinear Systems, Mantrala Anand

Theses

In this work an asymptotic method known as the Krylov- Bogol iubov-Mit ropolsky (KBM) method is used to analyze linear and nonlinear systems. A system of first order equations for amplitude and phase is deduced. Using these first order equations the amplitude-response is approximated. The amplitude-response is then compared with the displacement response obtained by the Runge-Kutta method. Also, a comparative study is made between the stationary and nonstat ionary resonances in linear and nonlinear systems. The effect of linear variation of forcing frequency on the amplitude of the systems is closely examined. The consequence of different sweep rates on …

The Transportation Of Hazardous Materials, Songsamorn Kongboonma

Theses

Effective January 1, 1991, both international and domestic hazardous materials must be transported according to the shipment required by the United Nation Recommendations (UN Recommendations). This mandate to follow the UN Recommendations has caused a lot of confusions for packers, shippers and shipping agents. Due to the confusion surrounding the use of this document, this thesis provides a basic guideline and complete instructions on how to handle hazardous materials smartly and safely. Not understanding the regulations involved in hazardous material movement could result in much confusion in dealing with these type of materials. These analysis will clarify such areas as …

Optimal Linearization Of Anharmonic Oscillators, Jungkun Lee

Theses

This investigation is based on the geometric analysis of phase trajectories and incurred vector fields associated with nonlinear oscillators. Optimal curve fitting techniques are applied in the phase plane, in an effort to generate a so-called "geometric averaging". The results are then compared with those generated by classical techniques such as harmonic balance and equivalent linearization, as well as by numerical integration. The investigation is extended to nonlinear mult iple-degree-of -freedom systems. Frequencies of oscillations and mode shapes are derived based on the optimal equivalent linearization process. The results are also compared with numerical integration for justification. It is shown …

Thermal Evaluation Of An Integrated Circuit Chip Using Infrared Imaging And Finite Element Techniques, Terence Lerch

Theses

Thermal Analysis of a prototype IC chip was performed with the use of an Agema Infrared Thermal Imaging System and the Algor Thermal Supersap Heat Transfer finite elements software package. A preliminary calibration of the Agema Thermal Imaging system demonstrated its accuracy to be within ± 0.5 °C of the actual surface temperature being measured. Computed emissivities were within 6.0% of actual emissivity values of a surface. Qualitative comparison of the IC chip's temperature profiles measured by the Agema system and computed by the Algor finite elements package revealed agreement between the two techniques. Quantitative comparison between the two resulted …

Bidding A Bridge Hand: A Thesis On Knowledge Acquisition And Application, Gregg Silveira

Theses

Computerizing the game of Bridge has not yet met with much success. The efforts to date have fallen short of any reasonable technical proficiency. The game does appear to be perfectly suited for an expert system, however, since the game can be segmented into three contexts (Bidding, Play of the Hand, and Defense), each context can be described by a set of rules, and a series of inferences can be used to fire those rules. Each of the contexts is reviewed, then Bidding is chosen for further research. This thesis claims that the set of all hands subdivides into 1 …

Vowel Recognition Using Kohonen's Self-Organizing Feature Maps, Anand R. K. Sundaram

Theses

An important organizing principle observed in the sensory pathways in the brain is the orderly placement of neurons. Although the neurons are structurally identical, the specialized role played by each unit is determined by its internal parameters that are made to change during early learning processes. In the human auditory system, the nerve cells and fibres are arranged in a manner that would elicit maximum response from the neurons when they are activated. Although most of this organization is genetically determined, some of the high level organization is created due to algorithms that promote self-organization. Kohonen's self-organizing feature map is …

Compiling Gen-X Knowledge Bases Into "C", Paul Cuddihy

Theses

GEN-X is a proprietary expert system shell developed by General Electric. It supports several types of rule-based module types which use sophisticated goal-selection techniques. A compiler for the GERULE modules has been written. The modules are translated to "C" code, which shows considerable improvements in speed and space usage over the traditional interpreted version of GEN-X. This work demonstrates that all of GEN-X could be compiled to “C”, and that even complex rule-based systems can be compiled into efficient code-removing the speed handicap which has characterized many expert system shells. This opens up opportunities for the use of these intuitive …

Genroute: A Genetic Algorithm Printed Wire Board (Printed Wire Board (Pwb) Router), Bob Coward

Theses

The major effort of this thesis was to develop an electronic circuit routing system that utilizes genetic algorithms to perform Printed Wire Board (PWB) routing rather than brute force exhaustive searching methods. This problem can be classified as an NP-Hard optimization problem searching a large solution space. Some desirable characteristics of an electronic routing system are that it: Minimize the number of potential solutions Minimize the number of board layers and tap holes Minimize trace lengths and the number of "jogs" Minimize trace cross-talk and the board capacitance.

Etrans: A English-Thai Translator, Nuntaporn Warote

Theses

ETRANS is an experimental English-Thai machine translation (MT) system that translates a simple English sentence into a grammatically correct Thai sentence. The entire system is written in C-Prolog, and runs on UNIX systems. The MT strategy taken by ETRANS is an interlingual strategy with a parser for English and a generator for Thai. The parser creates a semantic representation equivalent to the meaning of the English sentence. A generator then interprets the semantic representation into Thai. ETRANS employs frames as a means for representing knowledge, and an augmented transition network (ATN) as the linguistic framework for analyzing and generating sentences.

An Expert System To Generate Musical Variations In The Style Of Telemann, Kathy Johnson Merck

Theses

Musical performance practice during the Baroque period (approximately 1600 - 1750) required that a solo performer be adept at adding extemporaneous variations on the composer's original melody during performance. Atypically, George Phillip Telemann, in his "Methodical Sonatas", provided, along with the original melody line, a written-out variation of that line. Using knowledge of the Baroque style in general and that gleaned from an analysis of Telemann's variations in particular, this expert system models a Baroque musician's (expert's) process of creating such variations. The variation process (programmed in Prolog) involves transformations to a list structure which represents the piece. The system …

Hypermanual A Hypermedia Construction And Browsing System In Smalltalk/V Mac, James Tracy Burdick

Theses

The process of locating needed information in a paper document is often frustrating and time consuming. The information may be available but, since the basic access method is often linear, the information is not readily available. Hypermedia systems offer a computer-based mechanism that can simplify the search process and increase the ratio of useful information found to time expended. Such systems also support the creation of alternate views on the same data base of information. This thesis describes some current hypertext systems and the overall structure of the HyperManual system. This system includes both the tools needed to create and …

A Comparison Of Leadership Skills Of Managers Of High Performing Fast Food Units Vs. Managers Of Low Performing Fast Food Units, Jack W. Goodner

Theses

This Culminating Project will examine the difference in supervisory styles used by managers in high performing fast food units and those in low performing fast food units.

While management in its present form has existed only a brief time, countless attempts have been made to explain why some achieve good results and others poor results.

This study attempts to differentiate by demonstrating that managers of high performing units employ more appropriate supervisory styles than do those in low performing units.

In order to prove this assumption, responses were collected from ten fast food managers employed by Foodrnaker, Inc. (Jack-inthe- Box). …

Investigation Of Cell Mapping And Off-Line Programming Within A Flexible Assembly System, Marta Anna Galuga

Theses

This investigation achieves two objectives. The first objective renders every robot on the production floor "alike" via a single robot configuration file. The second objective eliminates the tedious routine of teaching and reteaching robotic locations on-line by an operator or engineer. The functionality of these software solutions is demonstrated using the AdeptOne Scara robot, but the impact of this system is far beyond Adept. The code listings included within this thesis are specific to the AdeptOne controller, but the concepts developed and demonstrated herein may be extended to any sophisticated robot controller and programming language.

Management Decision Making And Political Viability Criteria In Large Corporate Organizations, Kalman J. Kovach

Theses

This thesis focuses on the magnitude of political viability in managerial decision making in large corporate organizations . Political viability ls defined as perpetuating shrewdness to flourish one's career within an organization.

Recent economic conditions and global competitiveness have forced corporations to examine their traditional managerial roles. As a result, many corporations have totally revamped goals and objectives in an attempt to present a clear and unobstructed vision of their mission.

Over the last decade research done by organizational psychologists, consultants, independent ·think· tanks, and decision experts have bombasted corporations with many management philosophies . Decision making is an integral …

Venture Stores: A Case Of Self-Inflicted Labor Shortages, Eugene J. Vargo

Theses

This thesis will focus on the corporate personnel problems that are expected to occur from the babyboom retirement and the babybust.

Research shows that in the last few years major corporations have felt the pinch of regional labor shortages. Facing an eminent labor shortage caused by the babybust, employers are looking into various ways of improving worker productivity and company performance.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Census are forcasting that by the year 2000 the United States will see a significant change in the workforce. The median age will rise. There will be less 16-22 year olds entering …

The Level And Extent Of The Need For Workshops To Be Presented On Alcohol And Substance Abuse From The Black Cultural Prospective, Amelia I.G. Massie

Theses

The purpose of this research was to identify and assess the level of alcohol and substance abuse among the elderly. The primary focus was on the Black Elderly Community. The The secondary purpose was to determine the importance of an alcohol and substance abuse workshop for the Black Elderly Community.

The results suggested that a workshop was indeed needed for the Black Elderly Community. A workshop was designed using the data collected from the research.

The Guilt/Shame Quality: Its Many Forms And Functions For Graphoanalytic Interpretation, Shirley Norfleet

Theses

There was a two-fold purpose for this study: first, to investigate the view held by many graphoanalysts that guilt can be assessed by the identification of the stroke of "self-castigation". The second purpose was to investigate the relationship between the emotions of guilt and shame, and to further suggest to graphoanalysts the various traits to look for when evaluating the presence or absence of guilt and/or shame operating in the personality.

Thirty subjects were administered a guilt measurement test and a standard text model which was duplicated in their handwriting for comparisons and correlation with the stroke of "self-castigation". The …

The Valuation Of Minority Interests In A Closely Held Corporation, Richard Houlihan

Theses

According to the 1990 Statistical Abstract of the United States, approximately 17 million businesses exist in the U.S. They are comprised of over 3.4 million corporations, 1.7 million partnerships, and more than 12 million sole proprietorships. Furthermore, the United Shareholders Association reports that there are approximately 47 million minority shareholders in approximately 10,000 U.S. public companies. It is logical to infer from this data that millions of minority shareholders also exist in closely held companies - that is, non-publicly traded companies.

A minority interest is an interest which has no meaningful control over the day-to-day operations of a business, as …

Art As Therapy And Meditation, Julia Ann Harmon Tilden

Theses

Art as Therapy and Meditation by Julia Ann Harmon Tilden explores the therapeutic and meditative qualities of art through a deeply personal and experimental journey during her graduate studies at Lindenwood College. The thesis documents a year marked by personal loss, during which the author turned to her creative practice as a source of emotional healing and introspection. Through a combination of drawing, painting, mixed media, and three-dimensional work, Tilden investigates how art-making can foster emotional expression, spiritual reflection, and psychological relief.

The body of work presented in this thesis includes pastel drawings, abstract paintings, collages, sculptural canvases, and illuminated …

The Family Dance Model: A Definition And Comparison With The Beavers, Olson, And Mcmaster Models Of Family Functioning, Lyle V. Turnage

Theses

This study explored the hypothesis that married couples have ways of relating to each other which are peculiar to their relationship; and that other couples operate under the same or similar patterns of relating.

"Patterns in family relationships are often referred to as dances." (Lerner, 1990). Dances are determined by the music played, the manner of dress or costume, physical movements, and the tempo or beat (Chujoy & Manchester, 1967). Family dances are also recognized by physical interactions or movements, appearance or dress, and the beat of family messages. The family dance model will use names of dances such as …

An Analysis Of The Consumer's Perception Of Pricing At Save-A-Lot Food Stores, Walter S. Jones

Theses

This study focused on Save-A- Lot retail grocery stores and why consumers shop at these types of stores.

Save- A- Lot stores are limited- assortment retail grocery stores. In todays fast-paced society, with many two-income households, consumers are always on the go. Many shoppers are looking for one- stop shopping capabilities, service departments, and stores that are open late hours. If this is the case, then it would be logical to believe that consumers would not shop at Save-A-Lot stores. Save-A-Lot stores offer very little service, shorter hours than conventional stores, and they claim to only offer the consumer 90% …

Tenant Participation In Management: A Model For Organizing Tenants In Public Housing Toward A Cooperative Home Ownership Program In St. Louis, James C. Robinson

Theses

This thesis will focus on tenant participation in the development of tenant management in St. Louis Missouri's public housing., why the home ownership program occurred, the federal government's plans to utilize tenant management corporations in public housing, to manage and covert to a home ownership program; and how tenant participation in managing public housing has improved the living conditions and the quality of their lives. Without tenant participation in managing and organizing a home ownership program there is little or no chance of the program being successful. Tenant's participation in management is the key ingredient to the successful turn around …

Computational Methods For Contact Stress Problems With Normal And Tangential Loading, Christopher R. Mcgoldrick

Theses

This investigation contains an historical overview of contact stresses including various classifications of the problem and their associated solutions. The solution for the normal loading elliptical contact problem is reviewed, as formulated using classic methods of linear elasticity theory. An efficient computational method is developed to evaluate the elliptic integrals that arise. The limitations of this solution are investigated in detail and it is shown how the method could be extended to the sliding elliptical contact problem. Practical applications of contact stresses are included with an emphasis on mechanical design. Differences between the continuum model and the behavior of real …

Options And Limits In A Woman's World, Teresa A. Davis

Theses

This is a study of women who are ascribed the role of mother, but who would also like to pursue a satisfying career. These women experience multiple demands when trying to fulfill these multiple roles. The study focused on how women integrate motherhood and employment. The methodology employed in this study was qualitative. Information was solicited through the use of informal personal interviews conducted by the researcher. A single hour interview was conducted with each participant in the research project. The sample consisted of 10 full - time working mothers who volunteered to participate in the project.

The purpose of …