Digital Commons Network^™

A Low Noise Amplifier For An Ultra Wideband Receiver, Tomasz Waliwander

Theses

The Ultra Wideband Technology, although derives from the early works on time-domain electromagnetics, only recently attracted the attention of the research and industrial institutions, mainly thanks to establishing a proper frequency mask by Federal Communication Commission. The FCC regulations allocate the immense 3.1 - 10.6 GHz microwave band that has never been accessible in a one segment before.

The intrinsic features of the UWB radio such as low power, immunity to multipath fading and eavesdropping, high 3D resolution capability and ability of'seeing' through the solid obstacles with addition to achievable very high data rates, makes it very attractive for many …

Dynamic Route Management Strategies For Mobile Ad Hoc Networks., Susan Rea

Theses

A Mobile ad hoc network is a collection of wireless mobile nodes forming a dynamic autonomous network without the aid of a fixed infrastructure. Due to the unpredictable nature of node movement the network topology changes frequently. As a consequence of the limited transmission range of the wireless network interfaces, multiple hops may be necessary for data trafficking between nodes in the network, thus requiring nodes to act as both a router and a host. Ad hoc networks when compared with traditional wireless networks have advantages such as, independence of fixed infrastructure such as access points and base stations, ease …

Linux Based Pda Gateway For Wireless Sensor Networks, Áine Mccarthy

Theses

Recent years have seen a dramatic increase in the development and deployment of intelligent sensors and their use with a plethora of networking protocol technologies. Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) can be used to monitor the environment, objects in the environment and the interaction of these objects with each other. Examples include environment and habitat monitoring, structural monitoring, disaster management and emergency response. The deployment of such large-scale WSN possess many challenges, the most important being scalability, portability, fault tolerance, adaptability and ubiquitous connectivity. There also exist many challenges when trying to establish communication with WSN. WSN can function as a …

Feasibility Of A Guided Interceptor, Philip Hahn

Theses

This research examines the feasibility of a gun-launched projectile to intercept rocket, artillery and mortar threats. The interceptor is a 40mm, spin-stabilized squib-guided projectile guided by a model predictive controller. The six-degree-of-freedom model and guidance system were developed in C++. The linearized guidance model predicts the interceptor trajectory periodically during flight. The control system utilizes the linearized guidance model and a target prediction model to determine the nearest intercept. A guidance algorithm then sequences the firing of lateral squibs to remove the projected miss distance. Monte Carlo simulations that employed statistical variations in gun launch angle, projectile rotation bias, and …

Introduction Of Control Pins In The Vicinity Of Missile Fins For Roll And Yaw Control, Jing Pei

Theses

No abstract provided.

Development Of An Automated Template Selection And Alignment Tool For Protein Structure Homology Modeling, David R. Riley

Theses

DNA and protein sequence data sets have exploded in size over the past several years and have stimulated the development of new methods for closing the sequence/structure gap. Bench laboratory methods, while being the most accurate, are still far too time consuming and limited to breech this gap. Thus computational methods have become the standard. The work described here details the development of a system to automatically select a structural template, align the template and query sequence and model the query. The system was implemented fully for antibodies but maintains a modular design that can accommodate a wider variety of …

Print Process Identification For Forensic Document Examiners, Roxanne Stevens

Theses

The advent of current digital print technology has resulted in a drastic increase in the accessibility of counterfeiting currency and secure documents. In response, organizations such as the CIA, Secret Service and FBI must continually train and educate their employees and staff. To meet the increasing demands of these groups, the Rochester Institute of Technology has developed the Marking Engine Characterization (MEC) target to train and assist forensic document examiners in identifying print processes.

The MEC target's effectiveness in identifying print processes was tested by printing the target on a variety of marking engines and processes. These marking engines included: …

Tandi: Threat Assessment Of Network Data And Information, Jared D. Holsopple

Theses

Current practice for combating cyber attacks typically use Intrusion Detection Sensors (IDSs) to passively detect and block multi-stage attacks. This work leverages Level-2 fu sion that correlates IDS alerts belonging to the same attacker, and proposes a threat assess ment algorithm to predict potential future attacker actions. The algorithm, TANDI, reduces the problem complexity by separating the models of the attacker's capability and opportu nity, and fuse the two to determine the attacker's intent. Unlike traditional Bayesian-based approaches, which require assigning a large number of edge probabilities, the proposed Level-3 fusion procedure uses only 4 parameters. TANDI has been implemented …

School Climate: Comparing Student To Teacher Perceptions, Catherine S. Curione

Theses

The purpose of this study was to compare student and teacher perceptions of school climate. The participants included 51 junior and senior high school staff members, 256 senior high school students, and 109 junior high school students. It was found that teachers have strong positive views on the following school climate factors; school building, equity and fairness, and staff dedication to student learning. There is more disagreement among staff members on the following school climate factors; order and discipline, school/parent/community involvement, collaborative decision-making, and leadership. High School students do not take on a controlling role as far as school climate …

Diversifying A Tourist Destination Through Experiences: The Case Of Long Lake, The Adirondack Park, New York, Bozana Zekan

Theses

Demand for experiences is a major trend in the tourism industry that came as a response to commoditization of services. As many destinations have similar (or same) services in place, it became difficult for travelers to diversify one destination from another. What is nowadays happening is that travelers are no longer satisfied with traditional services only and instead seek something that they did not have a chance to experience elsewhere. Challenge that destinations consequently face is to answer travelers' demand for diversified experiences and at the same time to differentiate themselves from their competition. Hence, this study addresses how destinations …

Character Education: Efficacy Of Character Development Initiatives In High School Settings, Susanne M. Nowatzki

Theses

An outcome study of a character education program (CEP) was conducted in a high school setting, in order to illustrate efficacy of high school character development initiatives. This study measured character education performance outcomes by comparing the survey results and record reviews of high school students before and after the implementation of a CEP. Over 300 students in grades 9-12 completed the presurvey, and over 300 participants completed the follow-up character education profile. Follow-up participants have taken part in a CEP for two years, prior to completion of the School as a Caring Community Profile. Performance outcomes were measured based …

Dynamic Object Tracking By Partial Shape Matching For Video Surveillance Applications, Mustafa Husain

Theses

In this thesis, an algorithm for object tracking through frames of video using a fast partial shape matching technique is proposed. The tracking is divided into two modules: 1) moving object extraction followed by color/edge segmentation, and 2) tracking through frames using partial shape matching. The major challenges of object tracking, such as occlusions, splitting of one object and appearance and disappearance of objects, are effectively resolved. The proposed algorithm is tested on several synthetic and real life video sequences and is shown to be very effective in identifying and tracking moving objects independent of translations, rotations, scale variations and …

The Relationship Of Scores On Dynamic Indicators Of Basic Early Literacy Skills, Word Use Fluency To Word Knowledge And Shyness, Janette M. Keyser

Theses

Limited research has been conducted to determine the link between the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DD3ELS); Word Use Fluency, and reading ability. In addition, a link between the personality trait of shyness and lower performance on language tests has been established. The purpose of the present study was two fold. First this study aimed to determine how well the DIBELS Word Use Fluency indicator measures vocabulary knowledge. Second, the strength of the relationship between scores on the DIBELS measure and shyness was established. This helped to understand if Word Use Fluency underestimated the vocabulary knowledge of students …

Uv And Vuv Photo-Oxidation Of Fluoropolymer And Carbon Nanotube Surfaces, Bhavin Parekh

Theses

Three surface modification techniques: (1) atmospheric oxygen pressure using low-pressure Hg lamps, (2) low oxygen pressure with emission downstream from an Ar microwave plasma, and (3) high pressures of He in a rotating D.C. arc, that was designed to produce a spectral continuum from He excimers ( λ = 58 - 110 nm), were employed to photo-oxidize multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT) powder [1], single walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) paper [2], Teflon® polyfluorinated ethylene-propylene (FEP) [3] and Teflon® poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-perfluropropyl vinyl ether) (PFA) [4]. Results from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, FT-IR, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Contact angle measurements of …

Exploring The Topology Of Small-World Networks, Min Hu

Theses

Complex networks have been studied for a long time in order to understand various real-world complex systems around us. Complex systems, such as the WWW, the movie-actor network, social networks and neural networks, are systems made of many non-identical elements connected by diverse interactions. The study of the network topology is one of important issues on the way of exploring such systems, because the structure always affects the system function. Traditionally, these systems have been modeled as either completely ordered graphs or completely random graphs. Until recently, some surprising empirical results in the field of complex networks, like 19 clicks …

Project: Epiphany-Fluid Motion, A Floatation Video Exploration, Jason Williams Hughs

Theses

Educational videos have the tendency to be sterile, uninteresting productions that fail in their attempts to stimulate knowledge in young minds because they themselves are not stimulating. The focus of this culminating project is the production of an effective educational video for middle and high school science students. This work will also provide a process analysis text discussing the production process and providing statistical evidence supporting the effectiveness of the video production.

Discussing the topic of Archimedes' principle of floatation, this educational science video gives an energetic look at why some things float while other things sink. This topic can …

Can Blending Face-To-Face Teaching With E-Learning Support The Development Of Phase 4 Apprentices In Mathematics: A Formative Evaluation Research Study, Peter Hinch

Theses

This thesis is a formative evaluation research study_ Its purpose is to establish if

blending face--to-face and e-leaming delivery methods can support the development of

Phase 4 apprentice plumbers in mathematics in the Department of Construction Skills in

the Technologicl University Dublin. The study also included the design, development

and evaluation of a mathematics web site called Plumatics 4 U which is grounded in

established theoretical criteria for effective blended delivery within third level

education. This web site is currently in use by Phase 4 apprentice plumbers and is

delivered through WebCT. The CD accompanying this thesis contains a short …

"An Analysis Of Fresh Water Rivers As An Alternative Source Of Energy In Remote Areas Of Ireland”, Gerard Brendan Fitzgerald

Theses

Ireland has become overly dependent on oil imports and is now very vulnerable to price increases and oil supply shortages. Coupled with this, demand for electricity has grown rapidly in recent years, the electricity market structure has changed, environment protection is of greater importance, and overall the need for renewable energy powered electricity generation has increased. Wind powered electricity generation facilities play an important role in Ireland’s renewable energy portfolio but other methods of power generation are necessary to complement this variable and unpredictable resource. Hydroelectricity is a well-established method of power generation capable of fulfilling this role. Large-scale hydropower …

Electronic Mathematics, Aidan O'Donoghue

Theses

Recent times have seen an explosion in the use of interactive technologies in the delivery of learning content to students in all educational sectors in Ireland. This expansion has led to the creation of modem day phenomenons such as global and ‘teacherless’ classrooms.

The research study I have undertaken is to determine if students perform to the same standard when learning through an interactive educational software application as opposed to a more traditional setting of learning ’through’ a teacher in a classroom. The application being developed for this study enables students to learn the ordinary level leaving certificate mathematics course …

An Empirical Study Of The Importance Of The American Tourist To Ireland: An Emotional, Connectional, And Motivational Context, Angela Wright

Theses

This study examines the place and importance of the American tourist within the Irish tourism industry. The research explores in detail the many facets of the relationship existing between this client sector and the island of Ireland. This study responds to the expressed concerns of the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, John O’Donoghue, T.D., and relevant industry leaders in Ireland, that the tourism sector is under-researched.

This study affirms that the American tourist contributes more per capita to the Irish tourism industry than any other tourist. The essential importance of tourism to the economy of Ireland is proven by …

Efficient Strategies For Robust Constrained Model Predictive Control, Marcin Tomasz Cychowski

Theses

Practical difficulties associated with the implementation of stabilizing robust model predictive control (MPC) laws are well known. The algorithms typically rely on the solution of the so-called min-max optimization problem. All such algorithms display a large online computational burden and often suffer excessive conservativeness. In this thesis, two original algorithms will be developed that address the conservativeness and complexity issues in min-max MPC.

The first algorithm is a min-max MPC based on the concept of closed-loop prediction. The synthesis procedure is realized using linear matrix inequalities and thus the implementation of the closed-loop min-max MPC control law can be performed …

Digital Filmmaking: Methods And Practices For The Production Of The Library And Traffic Signals, James M. Martin

Theses

The focus of this culminating project was to produce a short film on digital video using the skills and theories learned during the graduate Communication LCIE course of study. This project also utilized specialized equipment introduced during senior level Cinematography, Lighting for Film and Video, and Location Sound courses. The main goal was to have a completed work that held to the traditions of film while also taking advantage of the inherent benefits and dealing with the limitations of digital video.

Since the introduction of digital editing and digital video image acquisition, a debate has persisted within the video and …

Growing Into Womanhood, Charlene Engleking

Theses

Unavailable.

Ladies In Waiting: A Collection Of Short Stories, Anne Fox

Theses

The stories in this collection feature female characters, mainly grown women. The exception is "Ruby Begonia'· in which the eponymous main character is a little girl with a gift for seeing and believing in things others cannot see.

In "Homefront;· Peggy decides to leave her daughter with her mother-in-law in order to save herself. She suffers from depression. While leaving a daughter behind is not viewed as good mothering, it is infinitely better to having that daughter suffer the effects of her mother's illness.

In "Lessons Learned " the young teacher learns to work things out for the benefits of …

The Lynching Of The African-American Male Through The Eyes Of African-American Female Playwrights, Kathryn A. Bentley

Theses

By comparing the works of five African-American female playwrights from the 20th century, I will highlight the similarities of the portrayal of the African-American male in each of these dramas. This comparison will explore the lynching of the Black male and how this theme is evident in all five of the works. This study will examine both literal and figurative lynching. The plays of interest are: Rachel by Angelina Weld Grimke, Blue-Eyed Black Boy by Georgia Douglas Johnson, A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, Blood on the Seats by PJ. Gibson and In the Blood by Suzan-Lori Parks. …

Noteworthy Sages: The Men In My Making, Paul B. Steingruby Iii

Theses

This collection of prose, short fiction, and poetry focuses on relationships and observations of select males and their enduring influence on my life. It's a celebration of the good fortune of having been nurtured by many good, strong, and noble males who gave time, shared wisdom, and endured hardships; each leaving a lasting impression on me while doing their part in life. Not all of the men are remembered for their virtues, some are recalled for their misdeeds and the ramifications of their errant or reckless behavior on themselves or others.

The gentlemen I venerate are family members, soldiers, coaches, …

Come Closer, Eli Marco Hall

Theses

This Culminating Project describes the design process from many different perspectives. It includes the designing of a book of poetry enabling me to apply design concepts.

Working as a graphic designer in the early twenty first century has provided opportunities to witness the effect that technology has had on the industry. Through the ongoing research, the change in roles of the modern graphic designer is established. Also during this time, print and digital media aggressively work toward a merger. When choosing to do a book for the Culminating Project, it was taken into consideration what the digital and print world …

Freshman Year English And Other Moments Of Discovery, Cassandra L. Boland

Theses

The following collection of personal memoirs takes place over a timeframe of fifteen years. Each essay is a narrative account of actual life events. Some stories are the typical coming of age accounts, but end with a twist. Al the conclusion of each essay, there is a short summary of how each experience influenced my personal growth. All essays share the common theme of ''self-discovery."

In order to show how these experiences contributed to this theme, the pieces have been arranged chronologically. This way, as you read you can see bow each event affects the next. For example, the story …

Spellmann Documentary Capstone: An Explanative Narrative, Daniel S. Wilhelm

Theses

This documentary is on Dennis C. Spellmann the former President of Lindenwood University. (March 1989-August 2006) The purpose of the documentary is to show Dennis Spellman's influence and dedication in turning Lindenwood College from a failing college into a thriving University. It concentrates on showing what it took for Dennis Spellmann to save the college.

The documentary is comprised of interviews with family members and co-workers and uses pictures without the use of narration to cover such subject matter as Spellman's birth, childhood, journey to Missouri, condition of Lindenwood College, and several significant changes that Dennis Spellmann made at Lindenwood …

An Investigation Into The Factors Affecting The Retention And Achievement Of Computing Students Attending Institutes Of Technology In Ireland, (Volumes 1), Carol O Shea

Theses

This research is a longitudinal case study of a cohort of five hundred and seventy-eight students attending computing courses at seven Institutes of Technology in Ireland. The investigation charts the progress of this cohort of students throughout the four-year duration of their programme from the time they commenced their course in 2001 to their graduation in 2005. The central aim of this research is to investigate the factors contributing to the achievement and retention of these students as they progress through their course. Relationships and patterns of association between attainment on the course and students’ prior educational, socio-economic and demographic …