Digital Commons Network^™

A Faster Way: A Recommendation To Machinery And Equipment Appraisers, Gerald L. Huether

Theses

Unavailable.

Building Knowledge Systems For The Manufacturing Support Environment: A User's Approach, Vernon Joseph Tracy Jr.

Theses

Knowledge systems provide a largely untapped resource for accomplishing productivity gains in the manufacturing support disciplines. Major corporations, usually under the guidance of newly formed Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) departments, are rushing to develop large knowledge systems. These large systems offer the promise of a considerable payback and therefore deserve their current attention. There also exists a wealth of smaller projects that if identified and developed, could contribute to improved corporate performance. The shortage of knowledge engineers has been the major reason why small knowledge system applications in the manufacturing support areas are not being vigorously pursued. This paper presents an …

Management Stress And Its Impact On Marital Dysfunction, Thomas J. Kemper

Theses

The purpose of this investigation is to examine the occupational and life stressors suffered by managers and the relationship between this stress and the marital dysfunction of these managers.

The relationship between employee's work lives and their nonwork lives has undergone a number of investigations over the years . One area that has received particular attention is the area of occupational stress, its causes and effects. Occupational stress is something that is no longer suffered by air traffic controllers and top executives Lower level managers are becoming distressed because of the pressures placed on them by corporations to perform, and …

Cview, A Graphical Program Generator For The C Programming Language, Walter E. Martin

Theses

The electronics industry has long been a user of graphical design aids. Graphical design tools for VLSI circuits are used to lay out the design, generate data structures for the simulation of the circuit and eventually produce the photomasks for the production of the chip. As such these tools form a working environment that allows an engineer to design, debug and produce a final product. Software design, in general, is still done by writing individual lines of code. At best a macro language or a meta-language will be available to ease the pain of detail coding. While these tools are …

B-Spline Surface Techniques For Solid Modeling An Application To Computer-Aided Geometric Design, Chi-Ming Tang

Theses

One important area of Computer-Aided Geometric Design (CAGD) is concerned with the approximation and representation of the surfaces of solid objects. Accurately describing the shape of an object so that the description is useful to designers who must decide how to manipulate it is an important problem. B-spline techniques promise greater versatility in describing complex surfaces than other techniques, thus the B-spline surface is highlighted in the field of constructive solid geometric modeling. A method for drawing complex surfaces by using B-spline techniques is presented. The tensor product surface scheme is developed for constructing sculptured surfaces. Also, the basic principle …

A Timing Simulator, Kathryn D. Heintz

Theses

A timing simulator, called TIMSIM, has been developed which performs gate level simulation of simple digital logic circuits. TIMSIM has a library of twelve standard TTL gate elements and memory elements. These elements incorporate various features including single outputs, multiple outputs, non-symmetric inputs, and memory states. TIMSIM uses a rise-fall delay model and three values to represent a signal's logic level.

A Synthesized Approach For Data Base Life Cycle Design, Philip J. Morales

Theses

This thesis examines the human and technological issues that are often encountered during the application-driven system design and recommends a synthesized life cycle approach to data base design. The aerospace industry is emphasized due to the highly competitive and regulatory operating environment. Special attention is given to the strategic business planning and end-user involvement in the requirements definition phase of system development. The research consists of reviewing of current literature concerning tools, techniques, and available Information Engineering (IE) methodologies that are the basis for managing data as a resource. The benefits offered by these methodologies along with the experience gained …

Computer Aided Design Of Multiple Pulley Timing Belt Drives, Gary Matson

Theses

The design of timing belt drive systems involves determining the belt width and belt length. The length of the belt is a geometry problem which requires summing the tangent lines and the arcs comprising the pitch line. The width of the belt is determined by the required loads. A computer program is developed in this project to automate the timing belt design process. The program comes in three versions. Each version chooses a target belt length, moves a specified pulley to achieve that length, then calculates the minimum belt width. The three versions of the program are the batch version, …

Modal Analysis Of A Computer Disk Drive, Michael G. Thurston

Theses

The normal (real) modes of a Winchester type hard disk drive were determined in the frequency range 0-2200hz. Two methods of analysis were used in order to allow cross-correlation of the results. Experimental modal analysis was performed using Structural Measurement Systems' (SMS) Modal 3.0 analysis system and the requisite experimental hardware. A finite element analysis was also performed using MSC/NASTRAN; the NASTRAN model was created using the PATRAN pre-processing program. In order to alleviate the complications associated with matching the structural mounting conditions, a free-free analysis was performed using NASTRAN, and a light string was used to free mount the …

Developing A Procedure To Reduce Thermal Shock Influence In A Steam Turbine Due To Cold Start, Ching-Po Liu

Theses

An improved procedure is developed to reduce the thermal shock influence in a steam turbine due to a cold start operation. Thermal shock, a term used to describe the sudden imposition of a large heat flux and temperature gradient on a material surface, is a potential damage mechanism if its intensity is sufficiently high. For the case of a turbine cold start, the thermal shock intensity depends on the film coefficient and the initial temperature difference between the steam and the rotor surface. Reduction of thermal shock intensity can be achieved in several ways, such as lengthening the transit time. …

An 8085 Microprocessor Based Monitor System For A 750 Cc Honda Motorcycle, Robert H. Leet

Theses

This system replaces the analog speedometer and tachometer gauge cluster of a 750 cc Honda motorcycle with a computerized monitor system based on the INTEL 8085A microprocessor and family of peripherals. The system adds the enhanced functionality of engine temperature, battery charging, fuel level, turn signal, and kick stand monitoring and status display. A security function is also employed as a guard against unauthorized use or theft. The speedometer and tachometer functions utilize phototransistor sensors generating pulses derived from stock cable connections to the engine block and front wheel. The engine temperature, fuel level, and battery charging functions are implemented …

Namer: A Distributed Name Server For A Connected Unix Environment, Thomas Tatakis

Theses

A naming or identification scheme is crucial to the design of any computer system. One must be able to access and perform operations on resources and data in order to complete a given task. In a distributed system the problem is compounded by the geographical separation of resources. Moreover, the underlying network of computers should be transparent to the users. A user should simply be able to request that an operation be performed and the system should locate the necessary resources. This function of locating a named resource is performed by a special service called a name service. This thesis …

Class - A Study Of Methods For Coarse Phonetic Classification, James Delmege

Theses

The objective of this thesis was to examine computer techniques for classifying speech signals into four coarse phonetic classes: vowel-like, strong fricative, weak fricative and silence. The study compared classification results from the K-means clustering algorithm using Euclidian distance measurements with classification using a multivariate maximum likelihood distance measure. In addition to the comparison of statistical methods, this study compared classification using several tree-structured decision making processes. The system was trained on ten speakers using 98 utterances with both known and unknown speakers. Results showed very little difference between the Euclidian distance and maximum likelihood; however, the introduction of the …

A Knowledge Acquisition Assistant For The Expert System Shell Nexpert-Object, Florence Perot

Theses

This study addresses the problems of knowledge acquisition in expert system development examines programs whose goal is to solve part of these problems. Among them are knowledge acquisition tools, which provide the knowledge engineer with a set of Artificial Intelligence primitives, knowledge acquisition aids, which offer to the knowledge engineer a guidance in knowledge elicitation, and finally, automated systems, which try to replace the human interviewer with a machine interface. We propose an alternative technique to these approaches: an interactive syntactic analyzer of an emerging knowledge base written with the expert system shell called Nexpert Object. This program intends to …

Binary Image Compression Using Run Length Encoding And Multiple Scanning Techniques, Frank J. Merkl

Theses

While run length encoding is a popular technique for binary image compression, a raster (line by line) scanning technique is almost always assumed and scant attention has been given to the possibilities of using other techniques to scan an image as it is encoded. This thesis looks at five different image scanning techniques and how their relation ship to image features and scanning density (resolution) affects the overall compression that can be achieved with run length encoding. This thesis also compares the performance of run length encoding with an application of Huffman coding for binary image compression. To realize these …

An Expert System In School Psychology For Pmhp, Jacqueline K. Joslyn

Theses

Primary Mental Health Project (PMHP) is a program for early detection and prevention of problems with school adjustment. PMHP identifies young children that have the potential for school problems early in their school careers, and uses trained paraprof essionals as child associates to work preventively with these children. To implement this program, several evaluation forms must be filled out for each student, to determine which children should, or should not, be referred to the program. Unfortunately, a limited number of PMHP professionals are available to evaluate students. Due to this limitation, it was the desire of the author to create …

The Relationship Between Computer Interaction And Individual User Characteristics, Kathleen Lambert

Theses

Development of effective human computer interaction is being approached independently by two disciplines -- user interface design and computer aided instruction. The lack of communication between the two fields has left each separately pursuing different paths toward the same goals. This thesis attempts to bridge the gap between these two disciplines. An exploratory study was conducted to analyze whether user choices in a computer aided instruction environment and personality types as defined by the Myers-Briggs type indicator are related strongly enough to provide the basis for future user models. The results demonstrated that no single instructional strategy was preferred, implying …

Aids And The Foodservice Industry: Operators, Employees, Patrons, And ... Problems, Cheri Ann Young

Theses

Not Included

A User Interface Management System For Voice I/O Applications, Brian A. Nadworny

Theses

With the use of voice technology increasing, a need for proper end-user interfacing is necessary. To deal with voice I/O applications, a user interface management system (UIMS) is suggested. This will alleviate the frustrations of poorly designed interfacing. It will also remove the burden from the systems designer of implementing the end-user interface and allow him/her to concentrate on the application. The end-user interface will then be designed by an expert in dialogue design with the assistance from the UIMS. This thesis presents a UIMS model to be used with voice applications.

Adaptive Arithmetic Data Compression: An Implementation Suitable For Noiseless Communication Channel Use, James E. Robinson

Theses

Noiseless data compression can provide important benefits in speed improvements and cost savings to computer communication. To be most effective, the compression process should be off-loaded from any processing CPU and be placed into a communication device. To operate transparently, It also should be adaptable to the data, operate in a single pass, and be able to perform at the communication link's speed. Compression methods are surveyed with emphasis given to how well they meet these criteria. In this thesis, a string matching statistical unit paired with arithmetic coding, is investigated in detail. It is implemented and optimized so that …

A Writable Programmable Logic Array, Yuan Iee Hwang

Theses

This thesis contains the analysis, design, and implementation of a writable programmable logic array integrated circuit. The WPLA is able to be reprogrammed any number of times as needed. A content addressable scheme is proposed to conduct READ, WRITE, and SEARCH operations in the WPLA. The WPLA is programmed by writing binary data into storage cells associated with each node in the AND/OR planes of the array; the binary data then form the personalities of the PLA. The layout of the WPLA will be implemented using Mentor Graphic's CHIPGRAPH layout editor with 2 µm NMOS technology and MOSIS design rules. …

Measurement Of The Thermal Conductivity Of Thin Solid Films With A Thermal Comparator, Charles A. Amsden

Theses

A direct-reading thermal comparator was used to measure the thermal conductivities of several thin solid films. This new application of the thermal comparator was based on heat flow modelling using the thermal constriction resistance, generalized here for the case of a film on the surface of an infinite half-space.

Four dielectric optical coating materials were tested, and found to have thermal conductivities significantly lower than those for the same material in bulk form.

The finite element method was used to estimate the minimum sample dimensions required for accurate results, and the variation of the thermal constriction resistance with the assumed …

Graphical Programming System For Dataflow Language, Jyun-Jier Roland Jehng

Theses

Dataflow languages are languages that support the notion of data flowing from one operation to another. The flow concept gives dataflow languages the advantage of representing dataflow programs in graphical forms. This thesis presents a graphical programming system that supports the editing and simulating of dataflow programs. The system is implemented on an AT&T Unix^TM PC.

A high level graphical dataflow language, GDF language, is defined in this thesis. In GDF language, all the operators are represented in graphical forms. A graphical dataflow program is formed by drawing the operators and connecting the arcs in the Graphical Editor which …

Effect Of Low Energy Argon Laser And Dihematoporphyrin Ether On The Growth, Viability, And Catecholamine Production Of C1300 Murine Neuroblastoma Cells In Vitro, David William Rogers

Theses

Low power laser induced fluorescence of dihematoporphyrin ether (DHE, photofrin 2) is used to detect cancer. The goal was to determine the effect of low power argon laser light and DHE on C-1300 murine neuroblastoma cells (MNB, NB41A3). The study groups were as follows: Control, untreated cells (C), DHE only at concentrations of 1 (D1) and 5 (D5) µg/ml, Argon laser 2 light only at exposure times of 1 minute (1.8 J/cm² , L1) 2 and 5 minutes (9.0 J/cm² , L5), combined treatment of Light at 1, 5 minutes, and DHE at 1, 5 µg/ml.

Nine replicates …

A Modified Extended Kalman Filter As A Parameter Estimator For Linear Discrete-Time Systems, Bruno Johannes Schnekenburger

Theses

This thesis presents the derivation and implementation of a modified Extended Kalman Filter used for Joint state and parameter estimation of linear discrete-time systems operating in a, stochastic Gaussian environment. A novel derivation for the discrete-time Extended Kalman Filter is also presented. In order to eliminate the main deficiencies of the Extended Kalman Filter, which are divergence and biasedness of its estimates, the filter algorithm has been modified. The primary modifications are due to Ljung, who stated global convergence properties for the modified Extended Kalman Filter, when used as a parameter estimator for linear systems.

Implementation of this filter is …

Implementation Of A Module Implementor For An Activity Based Distributed System, Stewart W. Mayott

Theses

This thesis investigates process environment within a distributed computational network, in particular, an activity-based distributed system. An activity-based distributed system is an object-oriented programming system. Objects are grouped together into logical arrangements called activities as the programmer desires . All program code is contained within objects, and some objects are implementors of object types. Objects in an activity receive activity information related to other objects in the activity and have virtual communication capability with other objects in the same activity. To investigate the feasibility of this environment, a fully functional module implementor was created. Further, other components with limited functionality …

The Representation Of Symmetric Patterns Using The Quadtree Data Structure, Lucia Lodolini

Theses

Hierarchical data structures for image representation have been widely explored in recent years. These data structures are based on the principle of "recursive decomposition" of an image region. The most commonly mentioned picture data structure for two-dimensional data is referred to as a "quadtree". The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the use of a general quadtree scheme as a means of representing symmetric images. Specifically, images are generated according to the rules of selected two-dimensional plane symmetry groups.

An Alternative Language Interface For The Mistress Relational Database Patterned After Ibm's Query-By-Example, Susan C. Vogel

Theses

This thesis effort developed a user-oriented query language interface, patterned after IBM's Query-by-Example, for the Mistress relational database. The interface, Mistress/QBE, is written entirely in C and uses the UNIX curses library of subroutines to allow full screen input and output. Mistress /QBE allows the user to issue commands to draw pictorial representations of tables which exist in the database. The user then enters values and operators into the tables to specify a query by indicating attributes to be used in conditional selections, sort and grouping orders, and output formats. Mistress /QBE decodes the information entered on the screen and …

Ada As A Design Specification Language, Barbara Brunner Gibson

Theses

The primary thesis objective is research into current approaches to design specification languages, emphasizing Ada. Requirements specification is touched upon. Design specification is explored and related to requirements and implementation. The role of language in design is discussed, as well as objectives of the design specification and features that a specification language should provide in order to meet those objectives. Formal language is contrasted with natural language. Some formal specification languages are described, both Ada related and not Ada related. The secondary objective, the thesis project, is to illustrate a design specification in a formal language, Ada. The purpose of …

A System For The Generation Of Tonal Music Based On Transformations, Karl J. Myers

Theses

Most if not all of the approaches being used in the computer study of natural languages also have been applied to the computer study of music. Music theorist Heinrich Schenker (1867 - 1935) developed a system for the study of tonal music that is compatible with the transformational grammars defined by linguist Noam Chomsky for the study of natural languages. Steven Smoliar ( 1980 ) defined transformations, based on Schenker’s theory, for the analysis of musical compositions. This study provides background into the application of grammars in the generation of musical compositions and a full implementation of the transformations defined …