Digital Commons Network^™

Fast Point Pattern Matching By Heuristic And Stochastic Optimization Techniques, Ashish Agrawal

Theses

This work is concerned with one of the methodologies used in the final stages of machine vision: the matching of model point patterns to observed point patterns. Conventional search methods not only fail to arrive at the optimal match, but are also computationally expensive and time consuming. To arrive at the optimal pattern match, stochastic and heuristic optimization as the search technique, exploiting Simulated Annealing (SA), Evolutionary Programming (EP) and Mean Field Annealing (MFA), are explored in detail. A comparison of results obtained using SA versus "hill-climbing" and "exhaustive search" techniques, and results of EP are presented. The relative effectiveness …

Fabrication Of Micron-Sized Mirror/Cantilever Silicon Devices For Crosspoint Switching Arrays, Yasser A. Abdel-Aziez

Theses

This thesis describes the fabrication of micron-sized vertical mirrors at the end of horizontal cantilevers, that are electrostatically controlled. The mirrors, 40x 40 μm with thicknesses of 1.5-6 μm, were made by using the etch resistance to 40% KOH etchant of <111> planes and oxide stripes. The cantilever beams, 100 to 350 μm long and 0.44 to 0.81 μm thick, were fabricated using the etch resistance of heavily doped boron layers to 10% KOH at 50 °C. Two technologies to introduce the boron layers were investigated. The ion implantation approach was based on thick oxide/photoresist masking. A maximum doping of 2.5 …

A Layout Algorithm For Hierarchical Graphs With Constraints, Michael Slade

Theses

A new method is developed for reducing edge crossings in the layout of directed graphs for display. The method will reduce edge crossings in graphs which have constraints on the location or movement of some of the nodes. This has not been available in previously published methods. An analysis of the strategies used to choose rank pairs for edge crossing reduction shows that this choice will dramatically affect the amount of crossings eliminated. This method is directly applicable to the reduction of edge crossings in the general graph.

Response Of U.S.A. Owned Hotels To The Drug-Free Workplace Act Of 1988: A Case Study, Yun-Min Ha

Theses

Alcohol and drug abuse has been causing tremendous problems in American workforces everyday. The misuse of alcohol and drug finally lead the government to react to the problems. In March 1989, Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 went into effect, establishing the goal of a drug-free workplace. The purpose of this study is to find out how 14 major U.S. owned hotels are responding to Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988. In order to find out, a 10 item questionnaire was developed and used to interview human resources executives. From the sample of 14 hotels, 11 hotels (78.5%) responded. The survey results …

A Decision Model: Contract Vs. In-House Foodservice A Case Study: Rochester Riverside Convention Center, Mark Poole

Theses

Not listed.

Strategic Planning For A Private School: A Case Study, Kathleen Vollmers

Theses

Park Christian School is a private interdenominational Evangelical Christian School located in Moorhead, Minnesota. During the 1993-94 school year, 321 students were enrolled in grades K through 8 with the majority from Moorhead or Fargo, North Dakota. These children represent about 206 families and 39 area churches. In the fall of 1993, the School Board authorized a strategic planning process using professional planning facilitators to lead the planning team which would include teachers, members of the School Board, members of the Finance Committee, and parents.

The Impact Of Certification On Meeting Professionals Who Are Members Of Meeting Planners International, Donna Winkley

Theses

The impact of certification on meeting professionals who are members of Meeting Planners International is the focus of this project. Research is conducted by studying articles in refered and industrial journals as well as current publications. A questionnaire is sent to randomly selected Certified Meeting Professionals. The study uses three key indicators which are skill level, span of control, and salary level to determine if there is a direct impact on the certification of meeting planners. A time span of six months within receiving the Certified Meeting Professional designation is exercised to examine the outcomes of certification.

Profile Of The Scuba Diving Vacationer To The Island Of Bonaire, Paul William Howe

Theses

The island of Bonaire, part of the Netherland Antilles in the Caribbean, is percieved to be experiencing a decline in their tourism arrivals of scuba diving vacationers from the United States. Tourism is an important export for the economic stability of Bonaire, with the scuba vacationing market accounting for up to 53% of total arrivals to the island (Tourism Corporation Bonaire). Economic impacts are filtering down to the working class, affecting the socio-economic climate of the island. Bonaire has enjoyed being one of the premier scuba diving destinations on the Caribbean for many years. Its clear waters, tropical climate, abundant …

A Feasibility Study: The Conversion Of The Krenzer House Into A Bed And Breakfast, Eric Sherrard

Theses

The Krenzer House is an old farm house located at 3000 East River Road in Rochester, New York. The feasibility of the conversion of the Krenzer House into a bed and breakfast is the focus of this project. This report consists of four major sections. The first focuses on the costs associated with the conversion. The second area examines the marketing that is needed to develop the bed and breakfast. The third focus researches the licenses and codes needed. While the final area develops an operational plan.

The Feasibility Of A Market For A Puerto Rican/ Caribbean Restaurant In Rochester, New York: A Pilot Study, Yvonne Battistini

Theses

The purpose of the study was to find out if there was a market for a Puerto Rican / Caribbean restaurant in the targeted areas. The surveys were gathered in a SPSS format (Statistical Package for the Social Science) in order to obtain objective analysis from the food consumer on their knowledge of Puerto Rican / Caribbean food. The findings of the study were based upon primary research conducted through a questionnaire. The sample was randomly selected from the white pages of the 1993 Rochester phone book. The questionnaire was mailed out targeting the higher income residential areas. Six hundred …

A Statistical Analysis Of Student And Employer Coop Evaluation Forms, Amynah Virani

Theses

This study developed a computer program from the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), in order to obtain an objective analysis of information received from student and employer evaluation forms presently in use by the School of Food, Hotel and Travel Management and the Coop and Placement Office at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). The purpose for doing this study is for giving the Coop and Placement Office a means for collecting, monitoring and tracking pertinent information from students and employers involved in cooperative education (coop). An analysis is given for the 1993 data inputted into the SPSS program. …

An Assessment Of Residential Attitudes And Perceptions Towards Tourism In Ontario County, New York, Edwin Gomez

Theses

This study measured residential attitudes and perceptions in Ontario County, New York. The purpose for the study is to better understand residential concerns so that they may be incorporated into the planning process for future tourism development endeavors. These residential attitudes need to be identified with respect to preferences for more or less tourism. Planners can avoid residential road blocks to development if they know what concerns residents have towards tourism development. A brief history of modern travel was provided for the reader as a framework for understanding what developments led to potentials and problems in tourism today. The shift …

Ara Guide To Opening A New Cafeteria, Cynthia R. Hay

Theses

In 1992 ARA had 39 business dining cafeterias open. In 1993 38 new cafeterias opened. These numbers not only represent openings, but new pieces of business for ARA. The opening is the first impression the customer gets of ARA; this makes it essential that the opening be a success. A successful opening is the beginning to a successful new piece of business. To assure a successful, organized opening, a standard manual is needed to guide the ARA operator. A successful opening is the mark of a successful future. If the appropriate policies and procedures are implemented from the start, the …

Harlem Of The West: The Douglas Hotel & Creole Palace Nite Club, Micheal L. Austin

Theses

The purpose of the Master's thesis is to display the ability to do in depth research and present that information in a manner in which it will be of service. This project has been designed to preserve the memory of the Douglas Hotel and Creole Palace Night Club, the most remarkable hotel and night club ever to grace the city of San Diego. Located south of Broadway, the hotel and night club provided the only place of quality lodging and entertainment for Black visitors to the city of San Diego during a period of intense segregation in the United States. …

Ebenezer Don Carlos Bassett: A Biographical Sketch Of America's First African-American Diplomat, Wilma Dockett-Mcleod

Theses

History often times reflects the significance of persons only if they have had an impact on the many. These persons include states persons, presidents, Nobel Laureates, writers, artists and others who have left their mark on society. Yet, many persons of note are often times disregarded for reasons unknown. Ebenezer Don Carlos Bassett is one of the discarded people whose significance proved to be a first for people of African-American ancestry. Bassett was the first of his race to be appointed to a diplomatic post by the United States Government. He served as Minister Resident and Consul General to Haiti …

The World University Games Buffalo '93 The Complete Food Service Perspective, Darrin Stern

Theses

The city of Buffalo, New York will not soon forget the summer 1993. After many years of planning, the World University Games finally arrived. With one hundred and forty-five nations appearing to compete in Buffalo, this year's Games was the most successful ever. The food service department was given the task of planning and producing all food and beverage items throughout the Games. A number of different responsibilities were assumed by our department. The first main job of the department was to develop, distribute, and award three different contracts. These contracts were for athlete feeding, concession stands, and Main Street …

Nonlinear System Identification, Edward H. Ziegler

Theses

The prediction of a single observable time series has been achieved with reasonable accuracy and duration for the nonlinear systems developed by Rossler and Lorenz. Based on Takens' Delay-vector Space, an artificial system has been generated using a polynomial least squares technique that includes all possible fifth order combinations of the vectors in the delay space. Furthermore, an optimum shift value has been shown to exist, such that any deviation decreases the accuracy and stability of the prediction. Additionally, an augmented form of the autocorrelation function, similar to the delay vector expansion, has been investigated. The first inflection of this …

Empowerment: An Implementation Formula For Service Quality, Pat Bottiglieri

Theses

The thrust of this study was to determine a plan for the implementation of an empowerment strategy, for resort hotels. The review of the literature failed to reveal a recipe for implementation of an empowerment plan the is comprehensive or designed for long term benefits. However, there are numerous articles and books which discuss components which, may in fact, be critical aspects to an overall strategy - The study analyzed successful empowerment strategies from a corporate department of quality, and three resort hotels regarded as leaders in total quality management. The study used the Delphi Method to obtain consensus of …

Attitudes Toward Giving Quality Service: A Comparison Between Las Vegas & Windsor Casino Employees, Michael A. Altman

Theses

It is the hypothesis of this study that Ontario's first casino in Windsor will not measure up and be as successful as the Las Vegas casinos. One possible reason is the Windsor management may hire personnel who do not have strong, positive attitudes toward giving service. Certainly, as Las Vegas personnel are the very model service providers and while much of their service delivery quality may be related to the culture and norms of the organization, its training and recognition programs, it is also possible the individuals they hire may have different basic attitudes toward service. This study will compare …

The Graphic Design History Archive Project, Catherine Elkin

Theses

Designs a feasibility study regarding a history archive at Rochester Institute of Technology. Involves the development of an image for the archive, research of other archives and other graphic design applications

Analysis Of Deterministic Chaotic Signals, William Robertson

Theses

The prediction of a single observable time series has been achieved with varying degrees of success. The quality and duration of the prediction is dependent on many factors, the two most important being the reconstruction technique and the quantity of data. The goal of this work is to reduce the computational effort required to achieve satisfactory predictions. Without new methods, which are beyond the scope of this work, this requires a reduction in the size of the data set.

This thesis expands on earlier works using the delay vector space method and the autocorrelation function for reconstruction and applies this …

Scrypt: Three Site-Specific Projects Performed On And In The Wallace Memorial Library At The Rochester Institute Of Technology During The Construction Of The Library Extension, January 1990-May 1991, Gordon Bleach

Theses

None provided.

Oxidation Of Cyclohexene With Aqueous Potassium Peroxymonosulfate At Ph < 1.7, Wen-Qing Sun

Theses

Glycols are often used as starting materials for pharmaceuticals. They are currently manufactured by reacting alkenes with organic peroxy acids in organic solutions that contain chlorinated solvents. The aim of this research is to find ways to avoid the use of hazardous organic solvents in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals in order to prevent pollution. Our approach is to find alternative synthetic methods using water as solvent.

Based on literature information, it was decided to determine if the aqueous potassium peroxymonosulfate oxidation of water-immiscible cyclohexene at room temperature can be scaled up to become a new method to manufacture glycols. Acidic …

Pregnancy Loss Support Groups: A Comparison Of Therapeutic Factors For Men And Women, Leslie Williams Beitch

Theses

Parents who experience a miscarriage, stillbirth, or newborn death often find themselves feeling profound grief with limited support or understanding from the community. Support groups for this population have emerged and gained in popularity throughout the country. This research will focus on specifically on the miscarriage, stillbirth, and newborn death experience and how the support group can meet these parents needs.

Parents attending SHARE pregnancy loss support groups participated in the study. Questionnaires were given to SHARE group leaders from all regions of the United States to distribute at their meetings. Fourteen men and twenty women completed questionnaires anonymously that …

Oxygen Permeation Of Virgin Hdpe Films Versus Recycled Hdpe Films, Tareq Al-Ati

Theses

In an attempt to confront consequences of the growing municipal solid waste stream, recycling has become one of the logical, successful, and practical solutions. With the expanding food and plastics industries, the proposition of using post-consumer materials in food-contact applications may be justifiable. However, for the recycling "cause" to succeed, its technologies and products have to fulfill the standards and requirements set forth by the parties involved: food and plastics industries, recyclers, FDA, to name few. In this study, 100% post-consumer HDPE films are found to have the same oxygen permeability as virgin HDPE films. Gas chromatography has been used …

The Development Of A Pollution Prevention Plan, Bruce H. Litzsinger

Theses

This study focuses on the reasons for implementing a pollution prevention program, and the format that such an effort should take . The numerous laws and regulations created by government place a significant burden on the manufacture, handling, and use of hazardous substances, and significant resources are required of industry as a result.

Preventing pollution makes economic sense by increasing operating efficiencies and reducing the costs associated with pollution . Congress and the EPA have made pollution prevention a current priority. The EPA is incorporating pollution prevention into all aspects of the Agency's activities . With regard to industry, the …

The Need For A Specialized Treatment Center For The Elderly Population In St. Charles County, Sandi Klein

Theses

A most recent trend in the field of psychiatric health care has been to provide services for the elderly on highly specialized "geropsychiatric units" located within the confines of a general hospital and operated as a new component of the psychiatric treatment divisions.

Four local hospitals were surveyed regarding their in-patient mental health services for the elderly. The goal was to identify where geropsychiatric services were currently being offered and if their services were located on a special geropsychiatric unit, specific only to those patients over 65 years of age. Each hospital was surveyed as to the types of staff …

Getting Noticed: College Recruiting Using A New Media, Walter John Flick

Theses

Unavailable.

A Study Of The Effects Of A Career Counseling Seminar On Self-Efficacy In Displaced Homemakers, Mary B. Knopf

Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate issues relevant to divorced displaced homemakers and to measure the effects of a career counseling seminar (Seminar for Success) on levels of self-efficacy. The design was Quasi-experimental pretest-post test with a nonequivalent control group. The control group consisted of 30 adult female students attending Lindenwood College (Masters of Counseling Program) in June, 1994. Levels of self-efficacy were tested and re-tested with a one week interval between testings with no intervention. The experimental group included 30 adult females attending "Seminar for Success" at Florissant Valley and Meramac Community Colleges in St.Louis, Missouri in …

Home Health Care, Tracy L. Kustermann

Theses

This thesis will focus on the level of understanding the public has concerning home health care and the utilization of its services.

Home health care is a rapidly growing field and is expanding to include more and more people in the United States. However, there are an alarming number of people who do not understand what home health care is and the services it provides.

With all the changes that might occur in the future concerning health care in the United States, it is important to recognize home health as a major and vital component within this system. Home health …