Digital Commons Network^™

Security Practices: A Mixed Approach, Sourabh Dass

Theses

Consistency of information is ideally maintained by adhering to the best practices and policies. However, statistics show trends of rising threats in information security in global landscape. It leads us to believe that there may be scope for improvement in transforming a good policy on paper into a better practice. This thesis research identifies various points of failure that arise out of improper implementation of a good policy. This research provides basic guidelines for implementation of usable security policies.

Control Of Self-Reconfigurable Robot Teams For Sensor Placement, Jacob Hays

Theses

"Self Reconfigurable Robots (SRRs) are a system of many simple modules that can rearrange themselves to work together and better perform complicated tasks. They are in theory more extensible then traditional robotics. We investigate the particular problem of using SRRs to both explore and survey an unknown environment. The environment is explored by using the Robots internal sensors, and surveyed by placing a limited number of static sensors at ideal locations. The advantage of SRRs is that they can adapt to terrain difficulty by adjusting the number of individual robots on the field by reorganizing its modules. We test a …

Efficient Object Tracking In Waas Data Streams, Trevor Clarke

Theses

Wide area airborne surveillance (WAAS) systems are a new class of remote sensing imagers which have many military and civilian applications. These systems are characterized by long loiter times (extended imaging time over fixed target areas) and large footprint target areas. These characteristics complicate moving object detection and tracking due to the large image size and high number of moving objects. This thesis evaluates existing object detection and tracking algorithms with WAAS data and provides enhancements to the processing chain which decrease processing time and increase tracking accuracy. Decreases in processing time are needed to perform real-time or near real-time …

Investigating Attributes - From Technologist To Business Leader, Christopher Kronenthal

Theses

As technology matures, its proliferation within an organization is ever more evident, providing a myriad of opportunities for career advancement and visibility for those specialized in the field. Taking advantage of this environment requires certain skill sets and personality traits. This thesis attempts to synthesize two disparate categories of professional aptitude (technologist and executive/business leader) by utilizing the common psychological profile platform known as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), and then, apply that synthesis to an analysis of whether or not a correlation exists between the two groups. The key denoting factor amongst the two demographics in the supporting studies …

Threshold Interval Indexing Techniques For Complicated Uncertain Data, Andrew Knight

Theses

Uncertain data is an increasingly prevalent topic in database research, given the advance of instruments which inherently generate uncertainty in their data. In particular, the problem of indexing uncertain data for range queries has received considerable attention. To efficiently process range queries, existing approaches mainly focus on reducing the number of disk I/Os. However, due to the inherent complexity of uncertain data, processing a range query may incur high computational cost in addition to the I/O cost. In this paper, I present a novel indexing strategy focusing on one-dimensional uncertain continuous data, called threshold interval indexing. Threshold interval indexing is …

Developing A Taxonomy For Office Email: A Case Study, Larry Conrow

Theses

Email is the most successful computer application invented yet. As email communication continues to thrive professionals are running into similar problems time and time again. Email overload has been estimated to be costing a loss of productivity in the U.S. of millions or even billions of dollars due to time spent reading, organizing and saving emails. As stated in New York Times in 2007 by Steve Lohr, "$650 billion figure is an estimate of the cost of unnecessary interruptions in terms of lost productivity and innovation". These interruptions which add to the information overload problems is a total of several …

The Relationships Between Obesity, Obstructive Sleep Apnea And Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Performance, Jennifer Ann O'Neil

Theses

Obesity and Obstructive Sleep Apnea will impair Commercial Motor Vehicle operator performance. Obesity will increase the risk of developing serious medical conditions that may cause harm to human health and wellbeing. One condition that can be associated with obesity is known as Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Various symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea will impair a commercial motor vehicle operator's ability to safely maneuver a vehicle. Many commercial motor vehicle collisions have been caused by operator fatigue and have resulted in serious injury and death. Due to unhealthy lifestyles, commercial motor vehicle operators are at a high risk of being obese. Obesity …

The Development Of A Model Program For The Effective Management Of Biomedical Waste In The Caribbean. A Review Of Barriers Within Public Hospitals In The Caribbean., Andrea Spence

Theses

When biomedical waste is improperly managed it poses a health hazard and risk to healthcare workers, sanitation workers and the general public in contracting infectious/dangerous diseases. Biomedical waste is also generated from individuals in their homes from the use of syringes or diagnostic lancets that are not properly managed. Biomedical waste is considered special waste and has a health and environmental hazard that can result in infections and diseases such as HIV/AIDs. Discarded sharps pose a health risk to the public particularly solid waste workers who may suffer a needle stick injury if they are not properly packaged for disposal. …

Investigation And Modeling Of Viscoelastic Moduli For Multilayered Polymeric Systems Using High Frequency Ultrasonic Waves, Todd Mathew Fernandez

Theses

Mechanical characterization of both the bulk and individual layer properties of layered polymer stacks provides important information for their use in novel applications. A single technique to measure both the bulk and layer properties is atempted. Ultrasonic testing provides an opportunity to determine the mechanical characteristics for layered samples in the form of the complex mechanical moduli. These moduli express the viscoelastic properties of the materials. Using ultrasound, this can be done for the bulk and the layers in a single test. With ultrasound, the ability to determine the complex moduli in single layers has been demonstrated. The moduli were …

Analysis Of Compression Strength Of Corrugated Shipping Containers With Different Designed Hand Holes, Wonho Kwak

Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the compression strength of the corrugated shipping containers having the conventional purpose hand holes and the arc top hand holes. Generally, the arc top hand hole has stronger tear strength than the conventional purpose hand hole, but the arc top hand hole has a larger opening area than the conventional purpose hand hole, and the larger opening area needs more space of a dispersion of compression stress to increase compression resistance. However, when a hand hole has enough space to distribute compression stress, the only one variable is the width of the …

Benefits Of A Supplier Packaging Guideline, Kristin Waxmonsky

Theses

The purpose of this study was to record and analyze the benefits a company can gain by developing and implementing a Supplier Packaging Guideline. Many of the examples published online are available for evaluation, however there are no recorded results or development methodology for these. Fifty-nine industry professionals were surveyed regarding their current use of Supplier Packaging Guidelines. The following conclusions were made based on all applicable research: 1. Supplier Packaging Guidelines are in use by many companies in the United States. a. Survey shows 73 percent of the population uses this type of reference document. b. Of the documents …

Development Of A Platform For Simulating And Optimizing Thermoelectric Energy Systems, John Kreuder

Theses

Thermoelectrics are solid state devices that can convert thermal energy directly into electrical energy. They have historically been used only in niche applications because of their relatively low efficiencies. With the advent of nanotechnology and improved manufacturing processes thermoelectric materials have become less costly and more efficient As next generation thermoelectric materials become available there is a need for industries to quickly and cost effectively seek out feasible applications for thermoelectric heat recovery platforms. Determining the technical and economic feasibility of such systems requires a model that predicts performance at the system level. Current models focus on specific system applications …

The Effect Of Induction Sealing And Time On Removal Torque Of Continuous-Thread And Child Resistant Plastic Closures, Hoong Say Su

Theses

This thesis investigated the effect of an induction sealing process and time on the removal torque of continuous thread and child resistant plastic closures. An application torque of 19 in-lb was applied to the high density polyethylene (HDPE) bottle/closure systems. After passing the bottle/closures through the induction sealer, the immediate removal torque values were measured and recorded. Additionally, sampled bottles/closures were set aside and removal torques were measured over time.

A statistically significant (P

Learning To Fly: How We Finally Got Our Documentaries Off The Ground, Rehema Trimiew

Theses

This paper chronicles the four years that I worked on my thesis film "Learning To Fly," which I screened at the RIT May 2010 screenings. Much of this process included significant obstacles that I was thankfully able to overcome due to the support of friends and family. I have tried to include many of the details of this journey, however this has created a lengthy account. For me it's important to include many of the traumatic moments that I experienced so that I can move on and create more, hopefully less distressing productions. Because I retained so many emails and …

Fragments Of Time, Jaclyn Didas

Theses

Reminiscing upon my childhood in the countryside, I strive to find a visual resting place for these thoughts. By reinterpreting past moments through metal, my work becomes a tangible artifact of a personal history. I use metal to shape these abstract views into the past; often referring to the energy and feeling of a moment rather than a literal representation. It is my aim to immortalize special symbolic memories like this, giving them tangible form. This thesis reveals a collection of important moments in my life interacting with the natural world. These instances are not the so-called momentous occasions, but …

Interactive Natural User Interfaces, Sean Patrick Janis

Theses

For many years, science fiction entertainment has showcased holographic technology and futuristic user interfaces that have stimulated the world's imagination. Movies such as Star Wars and Minority Report portray characters interacting with free-floating 3D displays and manipulating virtual objects as though they were tangible. While these futuristic concepts are intriguing, it's difficult to locate a commercial, interactive holographic video solution in an everyday electronics store. As used in this work, it should be noted that the term holography refers to artificially created, free-floating objects whereas the traditional term refers to the recording and reconstruction of 3D image data from 2D …

Interactive Display Of Complex Political Data In An Effort To Promote Social Change, Tyler Travitz

Theses

Despite the fact that hard and fast data on politicians, such as voting records and campaign funding, is readily available on the Internet it is under-utilized in decision-making during the voting process. This may be due to how the data is presented. This project explores ways to make that data accessible and interactive through a Flash application/website, in a way that truly engages the user.

Design And Analysis Of An Fpga-Based, Multi-Processor Hw-Sw System For Scc Applications, Andrew Fitzgerald

Theses

The last 30 years have seen an increase in the complexity of embedded systems from a collection of simple circuits to systems consisting of multiple processors managing a wide variety of devices. This ever increasing complexity frequently requires that high assurance, fail-safe and secure design techniques be applied to protect against possible failures and breaches. To facilitate the implementation of these embedded systems in an efficient way, the FPGA industry recently created new families of devices. New features added to these devices include anti-tamper monitoring, bit stream encryption, and optimized routing architectures for physical and functional logic partition isolation. These …

Qualifying Foreign Corks For Domestic Sales, James J. Gross

Theses

This study was conducted to qualify potential synthetic cork vendors for sale within the United States. Saxco International, a leading supplier of packaging to the Wine, Spirits, and Brewing industry, has noticed a recent increase in demand for an alternative to natural cork. As with other packaging products, introducing a new synthetic cork requires due diligence on the part of the supplier to ensure the product meets the safety and functional requirements of the industry.

Strategic Planning For Creating Effective Joint Dwelling Associations In Kosovo : [Presentation Given October 2010], Drita Shabani

Theses

Not provided.

Strongest, Michael Auritt

Theses

"Strongest" is a short film, produced in the School of Film and Animation at RIT. It is a science-fiction film noir about a woman, Rose, who is searching for her husband. In the process of searching for him, she uncovers his dark secrets and strange scientific experiments. The film was shot almost exclusively using a greenscreen with backgrounds and other effects being placed in post-production. This manuscript examines the filmmaking process from script writing to shooting to completed film. During the stages of preproduction, production, and post-production many challenges were faced. Some of these challenges were overcome to produce quality …

The Role And Future Challenges Of The Kosovo Security Council (Ksc) : [Presentation Given October 2010], Visar Rushti

Theses

Not provided.

Improve Stability Operations In Kosovo's Electrical Energy Distribution Network: A Case Study Of Northern Prishtina : [Presentation Given May 18, 2010], Lutfije Dervishi

Theses

Not provided.

Improved Strategies For Anti-Money Laundering In Kosovo : [Presentation Given In Late 2010.], Besart Qerimi

Theses

This capstone project report considers the problem of money laundering globally and in Kosovo specifically. Since 1999 in Kosovo there has been an increase of money laundering. To make sure that this problem was addressed in Kosovo the Financial Intelligence Centre (1) has been mandated to investigate and combat money laundering and the associated terrorism. This project emphasizes the definition, phase, trends, methods phases and effects of money laundering. It also explains the role of the national and international organizations and initiatives in the fight against money laundering. This project will help the Ministry of Finance and the development of …

Applying Energy Efficiency Standards In Kosovo's Residential Buildings : {Presentation Given November 2010], Lirie Berisha

Theses

This Capstone Project addresses the important problem of low energy efficiency in residential buildings in Kosovo. The building sector is one of the biggest energy users and therefore a cause for being a CO₂ emitter. According to the Kosovo Statistical Office of the Ministry of Public Administration, the total number of households in Kosovo is 370,000, of which 10% or approximately 36,400 are apartments. This percentage of the housing stock consists of privatized apartments from the formerly public rental housing and new apartments’ buildings block, and the other 90 % is individual housing. Based on the information of PHE of …

Emission Controls At Kosova’S Thermal Power Plants, Current And Future Capabilities : [Presentation Given February 22, 2010], Skender Isufi

Theses

The operation of Kosova’s Thermal Power Plants (TPP) from the time of their construction had the goal of supplying of Kosova with electricity and also sometimes exporting to parts of old Yugoslavia. This contributed significantly in developing the Kosova’s economy but as with all coal-fired power plants it added to the problem of environmental pollution. This project provides great assistance for promoting environmental protection and assesses the best new power plant technologies available. This capstone project assesses the levels of atmospheric emissions (dust, SO2, CO2 and NOx) from the existing TPP’s in Kosova and the projections of future emissions until …

Actions And Occurrences, Samantha Lee Stumpf

Theses

I am fascinated with the idea of action and reaction throughout the natural environment. I draw inspiration from natural forces that transform landscapes. For example the way a mountain slowly weathers over time, or the way water erodes a streambed creating a sense of construction and deconstruction. My pieces will be metaphorical landscapes. I will be creating these clay pieces by physically acting upon them for example by pushing, pulling, and tearing the material. The actions I create utilize the responsiveness of clay. My process is a physically direct dialogue with the material. The clay responds to my action with …

A Study Of Recent Classification Algorithms And A Novel Approach For Biosignal Data Classification, Eyup Cinar

Theses

Analyzing and understanding human biosignals have been important research areas that have many practical applications in everyday life. For example, Brain Computer Interface is a research area that studies the connection between the human brain and external systems by processing and learning the brain signals called Electroencephalography (EEG) signals. Similarly, various assistive robotics applications are being developed to interpret eye or muscle signals in humans in order to provide control inputs for external devices. The efficiency for all of these applications depends heavily on being able to process and classify human biosignals. Therefore many techniques from Signal Processing and Machine …

Developing Germanium On Nothing (Gon) Nanowire Arrays, Paul Thomas

Theses

Advanced crystal growth techniques enable novel devices and circuit designs to further scale and integrate heterogeneous structures for CMOS, MEMS/NEMS, and optoelectronic applications. In particular, nanowires (NW) are among the promising structures derived from these developments. Research has demonstrated the utility of NWs as a channel material for gate-all-around transistors, high sensitivity biological/chemical sensors, photodetectors, as well as a whole spectrum of LEDs and lasers. However, NW based devices are not without their fabrication challenges. Relatively simple structures for CMOS or MEMS/NEMS processes are difficult to reproduce when many NW based devices rely on a dropcast process. This thesis demonstrates …

Pond Ide: Machine Level Program Development Environment And Register Transfer Level Simulator For A Massively Parallel Computer Architecture, Jesse Muszynski

Theses

As computing architectures are being implemented in late and post silicon technologies, fault tolerance and concurrent operation are becoming increasingly important. It is already common knowledge that manufacturers are putting two, four or even more cores on a single silicon die to improve computing performance. The proposed architecture far exceeds this number by grouping thousands or even millions of simple reduced instruction set computing (RISC) processors, each of which is capable of a single operation at a time, and to communicate with its eight nearest neighbors. In this architecture, if a single core or cluster of cores have defects at …