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 …

The Design And Implementation Of A System For Processing Documents Described In Generalized Markup Languages, Frank Cost

Theses

This thesis proposes an architecture for a system capable of transforming the work of an author into printed form, and builds a partial implementation based upon that architecture. It allows an author to describe a document as a hierarchical structure and remain unconcerned about how his work will ultimately appear in printed form. The author is provided with a special markup language which can be used to tag the various logical parts of a document. The author must also be aware of how the various tagged parts fit together. The system is able to read the author's manuscript as input, …

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 …

Signature File Access Methodologies For Text Retrieval: A Literature Review With Additional Test Cases, Karen Caviglia

Theses

Signature files are extremely compressed versions of text files which can be used as access or index files to facilitate searching documents for text strings. These access files, or signatures, are generated by storing "hashed" codes for individual words. Given the possible generation of similar codes in the hashing or storing process, the primary concern in researching signature files is to determine the accuracy of retrieving information. Inaccuracy is always represented by the false signaling of the presence of a text string. Two suggested ways to alter false drop rates are: 1) to determine if either of the two methologies …

Development Of A Mathematical Model To Determine The Temperature Distribution In The Metal Layer And Hearth Of An Electrical Resistance Smelter, Kurt B. Carlson

Theses

A steady-state finite-difference heat transfer mathematical model was derived to determine the temperature distribution in the metal layer and the hearth of a cylindrical electrical-resistance smelter. The temperature distribution is required for the redesign of the refractory materials and their positions in the hearth to insure that the metal layer is kept molten at normal smelting temperatures and that mechanical and structural integrity of the hearth is maintained. An extensive literature search revealed that no previously defined model of this type existed and that consideration of a three-dimensional model was beyond the scope of this work. The literature search also …

A Multipurpose Test Mask For Exposure Tool Characterization, Brian Benamati

Theses

Of the many facets of integrated circuit fabrication, photolithography may very well be the most important due to the number of levels required for the fabrication of sophisticated devices. Therefore it is imperative to understand the performance capabilities of an exposure tool and identify its inherent limitations. Many methods have been developed which concentrate specifically on evaluating resolution, critical dimensions or registration. Often test patterns exist which vary widely for applications with respect to steppers, IX scanning projection aligners and other IX exposure equipment. The following work is focused on the requirements of evaluating and optimizing all aspects of performance …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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.

Investigation Of Steady Incompressible Flows In The Vicinity Of An Airfoil, Sivaraj Kailasapathy

Theses

O-type body-fitted coordinate systems are numerically generated about NACA0012 and NACA4412 airfoils. These coordinate systems are used to effect a coordinate transformation from the physical plane to a rectangular transformed plane. The software developed also has a coordinate contraction capability. Plots of uncontracted and contracted coordinate systems are presented.

The nonconservative, velocity-pressure formulation of the two-dimensional, steady-state Euler equations are transformed to the rectangular plane. The boundary conditions at the airfoil are determined by the source-panel method, following which, the explicit finite difference form of the transformed Euler equations are solved using a space-marching scheme. Non-lifting potential flow solutions are …

Adaptive Statistical Recognition Of Hand-Printed Telugu Characters, Murthy Lakshmana Mantha

Theses

A brief description of statistical and syntactic pattern matching techniques is presented with an emphasis on statistical techniques. The characteristics of the Telugu script are described. A subset of 16 characters, which are both easy and hard to recognize, is selected for the dictionary of standard characters. A weighted linear difference polynomial of features is used to recognize Telugu characters. The features were Fourier descriptors of projection profiles and cross sections taken in various directions. Algorithms for obtaining the projection profiles cross sections and adaptive learning method are presented. The system was trained and tested with a set of 8 …

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.

Development Of A Composite Material With Enhanced Electromagnetic Power Dissipation Characteristics, Lawrence R. Egan

Theses

The present work was undertaken to enhance the productivity of manufacturing operations that involve heating materials by increasing the possibilities for electromagnetic heat processing of materials. The approach taken was to design a composite material with suitable mixture formulae to have prescribed electromagnetic loss characteristics.

Investigation began by surveying industrial uses of electro-magnetic energy in heat processing of materials. From applications, the survey shifted to electromagnetic properties of materials with focus upon dielectric properties of materials. Several techniques were considered for altering the dielectric properties of a lossless plastic and the approach chosen was to dilute the base plastic with …

A Study Of The Application Of Paper Spread Function Data To The Prediction Of Physical Dot Areas For Offset Lithography, Paul Lewis

Theses

This investigation was aimed at establishing a relationship between the optical spread function of four common printing stocks (cast coat, enamel gloss, enamel dull and ledger) and a Yule - Neilsen n value in predicting physical dot Area, for offset lithographic printing. Using an offset press each paper stock was printed with a test target containing common screen frequencies at percent dot areas from 5-90"/. and solid ink patches adjacent to each tint. Using planimetry and macrodensitometry, exact n values were calculated for comparison with the measured spread function of that same paper stock. No relationship between the optical spread …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Biorhythms And Industrial Injuries, James Vincent Detitta

Theses

The purpose of this study is to determine whether or not a relationship exists between the time of an industrial injury and a specific position on the biorhythm scale known as a critical day.

Ninety-six employees who worked at the E. I. du Pont de Nemours Plant in Parlin, New Jersey served as a test group during 1980. In order to determine if a relationship did exist, the subjects' biorhythmic cycles for 1980 were charted and then their injury performance was monitored during that year to see if the injury date corresponded with a critical day. An additional test was …

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

Effect Of Center Of Gravity Location On Optimum Performance Of Random Vibratory Vehicle Suspension, Daniel Mahar

Theses

This study provides the analysis for the optimal design of a conventional vehicle suspension system, consisting of a sprung mass (vehicle body) and two unsprung masses (wheel frame), accentuated by the implementation of a damped absorber to the unsprung masses. Further, the effect of the c.g. (center of gravity) location of the vehicle body is investigated. A two dimensional, four degrees of freedom linear model is chosen. Randomly profiled terrain is assumed to impart hyperbolically distributed stationary vertical random displacements to the front and rear wheels. For generalization, nondimensional design parameters are selected. Criteria for optimization include the tire-terrain normal …

An Investigation Of The Applicability Of Walker And Fetsko Ink Transfer Equation On And The Influence Of Ink Viscosity On Heat Set Ink Used On The Web Offset Process, Dein Wang

Theses

The Walker and Fetsko ink transfer equation is the most used ink transfer equation to predict the ink and paper behavior on the ink transfer step in the printing process. All previous studies have shown that this equation is mostly applicable in the three major printing processes, letterpress, lithography and gravure. A study by Schaeffer, Fisch and Zettlemoyer reported extensive measurements for several oil-base ink and paper combination over a range of proof-press printing conditions. Yuri Bery did a series of studies for modifying the Walker and Fetsko equation in gravure inks for Weyerhaeuser Company. All the studies showed that …

The Effect Of The Relief Plate Shoulder Angle On Flexographic Dot Gain, Bruce Brier

Theses

The mechanism of image-formation in photopolymer flexographic relief printing plates is reviewed. In addition to the identified factors, it was hypothesized that the level of exposure could influence the plate shoulder angle. It was further hypothesized that an optimization of shoulder angle with respect to halftone dot area may reduce the dot gain of the printing process. An experiment was conducted using a novel method of plate exposure. Continuous-tone masks were placed in contact with the plate back and the halftone negative used on the plate face. The resulting shoulder angles were measured and analyzed for significant fit to a …

Measurement Of The Spectral And Spatial Responses Of The Human Eye's Blue Sensitive System And The Effects Of Lateral Inhibition By The Red And Green Sensitive Systems, Paul Berg

Theses

A study was conducted to measure the change in spatial modulation sensitivity of the human eye's blue sensitive system at low light levels due to color shift, intensity change, and accommodation of red and green sensitive systems with yellow light. A testing device was designed which allowed a wide range of variation in viewing conditions for targets of several spatial frequencies. IV Results indicate that the ability to resolve gratings by the blue cones is depressed by lowering grating intensities but does not depend on wavelength within the blue cone sensitivity envelope to any extent greater than that explained by …

Analyze3d, A Structural Analysis Program Employing Membrane And Solid Finite Elements, James Mendham Gathercole

Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to describe the addition of an 8 and 20-node isoparametric brick element to the finite element program ANALYZE, permitting three-dimensional analysis. The reason for the addition is that even though Analyze is a relatively simple program, its simplicity makes it a good educational tool for finite element courses. The added brick element expands the use of the program for educational purposes.

In its original form, Analyze is a finite element package for static structural analysis developed at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. The program consists of four finite elements: (1) bar, (2) membrane triangle, …

The Effect Of Systemic Arterial Pressure On Microvascular Flow And Transcapillary Exchange Of Macromolecules In The Hamster Cheek Pouc, Govind Mohanlal Gawdi

Theses

Microvascular flow velocities and transport of macromolecules were studied in the hamster cheek pouch under control and acute high arterial pressure conditions, with or without topical (local) application of the vasodilating agent, bradykinin. Mean arterial pressures of 130-160% control were attained by intravenous renin infusion. The microcirculation of the cheek pouch was studied using intravital microscopy. Areas with arterioles and venules were recorded on a videotape for later analysis of red cell velocity, using an RBC tracking correlator, and vessel diameter using a video shearing monitor.

In addition, vascular permeability to macromolecules was studied in the hamster cheek pouch vascular …

Investigation Of Water-Binding Properties Of Industrial Sludges Using Thermal Analysis As A Monitoring Tool, Ron Josephson

Theses

As part of a program to develop new and more cost-effective dewatering approaches for industrial hazardous wastes, sludges and synthetic "model" materials were analyzed by thermal methods in an attempt to comprehend their water-binding qualities and differentiate free and bound water. These thermal methods included Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TG), and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). Industrial sludges and laboratory models were compared using both standard heating techniques and subambient cooling (to -60°C). This latter technique provides direct indication of the amount of free water. This information can be very useful in evaluating and improving dewatering techniques for industrial …

An Enrollment Projection Simulation, Dianne Bills

Theses

This thesis applies current computer science technology to the simulation of student behavior, called Student Flow, in higher education. Data Flow Diagrams were modified for Student Flow analysis and used to help select parameters relevant to the simulation. A longitudinal database of enrollment activity was retrieved and analyzed to generate simulation statistics. The simulation was implemented using an electronic spreadsheet. The model thus developed was then used to project future student enrollments.

Combined Query Language (Cql): An Interactive Query Language With Procedural Features, Ilia Levi

Theses

Interactive query languages provide easy to use interfaces to database systems. However, they lack the power of the host languages to perform manipulations on data. This thesis presents an interactive query language Combined Query Language (CQL) that has some features of procedural languages. CQL allows users to interactively manipulate databases and perform calculations on data. CQL is a self contained interactive query language that combines the computational power of a host language (like FORTRAN) with the convenience and flexibility of the common interactive query languages. Users of CQL would not have to use a host language for most of the …