Digital Commons Network^™

Identity Verification Through The Fusion Of Face And Speaker Recognition, John G. Keller

Theses and Dissertations

In this research, face recognition and speaker identification systems are each converted into verification systems. The two verification systems are then fused to form a single identity verification system. Finally, the use of the Karhunen-Loeve Transform (KLT) for dimensional reduction is examined for suitability in the verification task. The base face recognition system used the KLT for feature reduction and a back-propagation neural net for classification. Verification involved training a net for each individual in the database for two classes of outputs, 'Joe' or 'not Joe.' The base speaker identification system used Cepstral analysis for feature extraction and a distortion …

Predicting Nonlinear Time Series, James C. Gainey Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

Predicting future values of a time series has many practical uses in real-time signal processing and understanding. This thesis implements an Adaptive Time Delay Neural Network ATNN capable of user-defined degeneration to the more common Time Delay Neural Network TDNN. Time delays along axons or at the synapses, which vary in biological systems, motivate this research. The ATNNTDNN test results and time series prediction capabilities are compared to those of the Real-Time Recurrent Learning RTRL algorithm. To show the advantages and disadvantages of using TDNN and ATNN for prediction versus the RTRL, the networks were applied to two problems incommensurate …

Handwritten Word Recognition Based On Fourier Coefficients, Gary F. Shartle

Theses and Dissertations

A machine which can read unconstrained words remains an unsolved problem. For example, automatic entry o handwritten documents into a computer is yet to be accomplished. Most systems attempt to segment letters o a word and read words one character at a time. Segmenting a handwritten word is very difficult and often, the confidence of the results is low. Another method which avoids segmentation altogether is to treat each word as a whole. This research investigates the use of Fourier Transform coefficients, computed from the whole word, for the recognition of handwritten words. To test this concept, the particular pattern …

Localization And Quantitation Of Maillard Reaction Products In Bovine Anterior Lens Capsules And Descemet's Membranes By Immunoelectron Microscopy., Mary Susan Marion

Theses and Dissertations

The basis of this study was the prediction that bovine anterior lens capsules (LCs) and Descemet's membranes (DMs) would accumulate Maillard reaction products with age and that these products could be detected by immunoelectron microscopy. In addition, it was predicted that Maillard reaction product content could be related to alterations in basement membrane (BM) morphology. Antiglucitollysine and antipyrraline antibodies were used to detect early and advanced Maillard reaction products in intact glucose-treated and untreated bovine anterior LCs and DMs. Light microscopy revealed that old LCs and DMs were significantly thicker than young LCs and DMs. The distribution and content of …

Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Modelling Of Percutaneously Absorbed Dibromomethane Utilizing Multiple Dermal Sub-Compartments, Christopher R. Mcdaniel

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this study was to develop a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model that predicts mammalian blood concentrations of dibromomethane following exposure by dermal absorption more accurately than a previously developed Homogeneous Dermal Model. The Homogeneous Dermal Model contains a dermal compartment with no dermal sub-compartments. The 1:1 Dermal Model developed in this research contains a dermal compartment with a stratum corneum and a composite dermal sub-compartment of equal volume. This model yields predictions which are 21.4 percent more accurate than the original homogeneous model. In order to represent skin anatomy more accurately, the 1:10 Dermal Model variation was …

Development Of Standardized S Curves For The Evaluation Of Major Department Of Defense Purchases, Richard E. Knepp, Michael E. Stroble

Theses and Dissertations

The increasing cost of Department of Defense acquisitions combined with the shrinking Defense budget puts a premium on continuing the funding of only those programs that are practical and affordable. This emphasizes a need for good methods of monitoring the progress of programs. Current methods of controlling and evaluating cost performance are limited. It is our belief that the generation of S-curves using current Cost and Schedule Control Systems Criteria (C/SCSC) data will provide a mathematical and/or graphical approach to assist in the control of program costs. This thesis attempted to plot the percentage of time for a contract's completion …

A Refinement Of Risk Analysis Procedures For Trichloroethylene Through The Use Of Monte Carlo Method In Conjunction With Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Modeling, William J. Cronin Iv, Eric J. Oswald

Theses and Dissertations

This study refines risk analysis procedures for trichloroethylene (TCE) using a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model in conjunction with the Monte Carlo method. The Monte Carlo method is used to generate random sets of model parameters, based on the mean, variance, and distribution types. The procedure generates a range of exposure values for human excess lifetime cancer risk of lxl0 (exp-6), based on the upper and lower bounds and the mean of a 95% confidence interval. Risk ranges were produced for both ingestion and inhalation exposures. Results are presented in a graphical format to reduce reliance on qualitative discussions of …

Analysis And Development Of An F-5 Pollution Prevention Management Program With Recommendations For Creation Of Similar Programs For Other Aircraft, Janice M. Gavern

Theses and Dissertations

This study developed a pollution prevention program for the F-5 aircraft, and described its utility and applicability as a generic framework for similar programs. A representative set of F-5 technical orders was analyzed by hand, and the identified chemicals, materials, and processes were loaded into a spreadsheet data base for additional analysis. The Environmental Protection Agency EPA 17 chemical list, and lists of ozone depleting chemicals (ODCs) were used as criteria to identify, for minimization, reduction, or elimination from use on the F-5, a hazardous material (hazmat) subset of those chemicals and materials which had already been identified. The identified …

Pollution Prevention Incentives For Major Weapon System Programs, Donna C. Heinz, Dudley C. Wireman

Theses and Dissertations

This research was undertaken to identify positive incentives that would motivate both government personnel and contractors to incorporate pollution prevention into the early design phases of weapon system acquisitions. The adoption and implementation of such incentives would allow the Air Force to reach pollution prevention objectives more efficiently. A literature search revealed little information on the pollution prevention program in the military. In contrast much information was found concerning military cleanup activities. As a result, in-depth personal interviewing was used to measure pollution prevention awareness in Aeronautical Systems Center program offices. Interviews, analysis, and comparisons were made between three groups …

A Study Of Investigation-Derived Waste Management Options, Barry C. Mountain

Theses and Dissertations

USAF is dedicated to the clean up of past releases of hazardous substances at its bases under the Installation Restoration Program (IRP) . Clean up decisions are based upon data produced from investigations. Large amounts of waste may be derived from investigations. Investigation-derived waste (IDW), especially that with a hazardous component, may pose significant health protection and regulatory compliance problems if neglected. This study identifies the status and the need for improvement of IDW management to avoid those problems. Information on the background of IDW management was collected through a review of environmental laws, waste management regulations, and existing guidance. …

An Analysis Of Site Parameters Affecting Natural Attenuation In Saturated Soil, William H. Potts

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the natural attenuation mechanisms and some of the parameters affecting those mechanisms in the saturated zone. A literature search revealed numerous studies of various attenuation and the associated parameters. Much of the literature emphasized biodegradation as the most promising attenuation mechanism. BIOPLUME II(TM), a fate and transport model, was used to simulate the fate and transport of contaminant plume. The effects of the model parameters were investigated by observing the distance a contaminant plume was expected to migrate over a fifty year period. The investigation was limited by the model which excludes chemical reactions and some physical …

Analysis Of Best Management Practices For Storm Water Compliance At Air Force Airfields, Peter A. Ridilla, Bradley T. Hoagland

Theses and Dissertations

This research analyzed storm water best management practices (BMPs) that may a Base Civil Engineers/Environmental Managers in complying with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) storm water discharge requirements for Air Force airfield pavements. As a result of recent storm water regulations issued by the Environmental Protection Agency, increased emphasis has been placed on preventing and controlling the discharge of pollutants into surface waters of the United States. Based on the results of an American Association of Airport Executives' survey of civilian airports, the types and levels of airfield pollutants were identified. Typical NPDES storm water permit standards were then …

A Guide To Implementing Reclamation Processes At Department Of Defense Municipal Solid Waste And Construction Debris Landfills, Gregory L. Tures

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis serves as a guide for implementing landfill reclamation techniques on municipal solid waste or construction debris landfills owned, operated, or used by the DoD. The research describes historical and current methods for disposing of solid waste including open dumping, sanitary landfilling, and the development of state-of-the-art sanitary landfill cell technology. The thesis also identifies the factors which have led to the need for new methods of managing municipal solid waste. The vast majority of the study is devoted to identifying actions which should be taken before, during, and after implementation of a landfill reclamation project. These actions include …

Guidance For The Development Of Air Force Storm Water Sampling Programs, Jerry K. Weldon Iii, Roy T. Willis

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to develop sampling guidance that will enable Air Force (AF) installations to conduct cost effective storm water sampling in accordance with current storm water regulations. Data on the techniques used by AF bases to obtain storm water samples for the AF group storm water permit application were collected and analyzed. This information was used to outline management and resource requirements associated with the implementation of NPDES storm water regulations. The use of in-house personnel, automatic sampling equipment, or a contractor to perform the field data collection was examined. An in-house manual approach to storm …

Analytical Modeling Of Aquifer Decontamination By Pulsed Pumping When Contaminant Transport Is Affected By Rate-Limited Sorption And Desorption, Thomas A. Adams, Robert C. Viramontes

Theses and Dissertations

This research explores radially convergent contaminated transport in an aquifer towards an extraction well. This thesis presents the equations governing the transport of a contaminant during aquifer remediation by pulsed pumping. Contaminant transport is assumed to be affected by radial advection, dispersion, and sorption/desorption. Sorption is assumed to be either equilibrium or rate-limited, with the rate-limitation described by either a first-order law, or by Fickian diffusion of contaminant through layered, cylindrical, or spherical immobile water regions. The equations are derived using an arbitrary initial distribution of contaminant in both the mobile and immobile regions, and they are analytically solved in …

Development Of A Multicriteria Decision Model For Prioritizing Air Force Environmental Restoration Program Projects, Thomas E. Ellingson, T. G. Gallogly

Theses and Dissertations

Cleaning up hazardous and toxic wastes left from past activities has become one of the major goals of the Department of Defense. Within the Air Force, individual major commands (MAJCOMs) annually review numerous projects submitted under the Defense Environmental Restoration Program (DERP) and forward these projects to HQ USAF/CEVR for funding. Until recently, adequate resources have been available to fully fund all projects. However, within the last two years, funding shortfalls have been experienced, and projects have received only partial funding. The Air Force needs a decision support system that will assist in determining funding priorities for these projects. This …

Capabilities Of Air Force Wastewater Treatment Plants In Complying With Projected Regulatory Requirements, Steven R. Ford

Theses and Dissertations

One of the major environmental regulations that directly affects the Air Force is the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA). The 1972 FWPCA amendments set forth a series of national goals regarding water quality. The main mechanism for achieving these goals was the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). NPDES is a program requiring dischargers to limit the quantity of pollutants discharged into the receiving waters. This research effort predicts changes in future NPDES permit requirements, and evaluated the capabilities of Air Force wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in meeting those future requirements. It was found that future permit requirements will …

Economic Analysis Of Costs Incurred From Chemical Exposures In The Workplace Resulting In Non-Carcinogenic Responses As Additional Justification For Pollution Prevention Projects, Michael L. Forcht, Timothy D. Neu

Theses and Dissertations

This research determines the applicability of using costs associated with chemical exposures in the workplace for financial justification of pollution prevention projects. Specifically, this thesis looks at costs incurred due to noncarcinogenic effects caused by chemical exposures. Average costs are determined through researching applicable statistical cost data. Acute effects are analyzed using an analysis of available statistical accident data from multiple sources. Expected values are then calculated based upon the projected cost of an accident and the probability of having an accident. Chronic effects are analyzed using an empirical analysis. A risk assessment is used to determine the likelihood of …

Incubation Temperature Affects Body Size, Energy Reserves, And Sex Of Hatchling Alligators, John Allsteadt

Theses and Dissertations

I investigated the effects of incubation temperature, clutch, and sex on the morphometries, mass, and energy reserves of hatchling alligators. The effect of incubation temperature on hatchling genitalia was also studied. I evaluated and tested a method for determining the sex of hatchling alligators. Large scale incubation of alligator eggs allowed a study of inter-clutch variation in sex ratio of hatchlings incubated at the same temperature.

Aingator eggs were collected within several days of laying in June, 1991, at Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge, southwestern Louisiana, USA. Three clutches of eggs were incubated over the viable range of temperatures and the resulting …

The Representation Of Female Authors And Male Minority Authors In Selected Secondary School American Literature Anthologies Between 1958 And 1993, Julee Ann Hauff Russell

Theses and Dissertations

Although elementary and secondary school textbooks from many subject areas have been studied with regard to issues of gender and ethnic equity, no substantive studies have been conducted which examine the diversity of authors included in American liter3 5ure anthologies commonly used in high schools at the eleventh grade level. This study examined 17 selected American literature anthologies published by nine companies between 1958 and 1993 in terms of their representation/ inclusion of selections by female authors and male minority authors during this 35-year period. Anthologies from the following publishing companies were included: Harcourt, Brace, & World; Scott, Foresman; L. …

Effects Of Pre- And Post- Trial Caffeine Treatment On Memory For Prose, Malva F. Walters

Theses and Dissertations

Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant which is considered part of the normal diet. One approach to understanding whether ingestion of caffeine influences human cognition is to examine the effects of caffeine on memory.

This study examined the effects of caffeine ingested both before and after a prose learning task. Two hundred-forty-five subjects (121 males, 124 females) were divided into two groups. One group received 0, 2, or 4 mg/kg of caffeine before hearing three narrative prose passages. The second group received 0, 2, or 4 mg/kg of caffeine after hearing the prose passages. All subjects returned 24 hours …

Photochemical And Spectroscopic Studies Of Citric Acid And Selected Alphahydroxydi- And Tricarboxylic Acid Complexes Of Iron(Iii)., Ahmad Rezvani

Theses and Dissertations

The overall objective of this work was: (1) to determine the chemistry of organic acids formic, acetic, succinic, malic, tartaric, isocitric, and citric acid in the photoinduced-reduction of iron(III) to iron(II), and (2) to determine some of the factors influencing the quantum yield for production of iron(II) from iron(III) in the presence of citric acid.It was shown that the quantum yields for photoreduction of iron(III) to iron(II) in the presence of the selected organic acids acid depends on the structure and concentration of the carboxylate ligand as well as the pH of the solution. The quantum yields for the photoreduction …

Use Of Chlorine For Removal Of Fish Pathogens From Garrison Diversion Water, David Bruschwein

Theses and Dissertations

Chlorination is a water treatment process that involves the addition of chlorine to water to kill potentially disease causing organisms. This process is referred to as disinfection.

The objective of this project was to perform a preliminary cost estimate on the disinfection of fish pathogens by chlorination of Garrison Diversion Unit waters. The cost estimate was used to find the most economical chlorination option. The cost estimate used cost curves developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency in 1979 that are updated to current price levels. Because of possible harm to the aquatic environment by chlorine, a cost estimate …

The Effects Of Time Of Testing And Elevated Blood Glucose On Cognitive Performance., Mark Randolph Hill

Theses and Dissertations

Previous findings have suggested that glucose may enhance performance on memory tasks in rats and humans. However, other studies have shown that the effects of carbohydrates may vary by the time of their ingestion. The present investigation examined accuracy and latencies on a semantic task performed in the morning or evening and under two levels of blood glucose. The task consisted of three subtests. In the first subtest, subjects discerned the physical differences between word pairs. In the second subtest, they looked for word matches, regardless of typographical case. On the third subtest, subjects compared words for membership in the …

Potentials To Increase The Supply Of Mathematics And Science Teachers: An Examination Of A Cohort., Richard Dennis Balsley

Theses and Dissertations

This country has a great need for qualified high school mathematics and science teachers. The shortage has been attributed to low pay and low public esteem for teachers among other factors. To meet the need for these teachers, perhaps consideration should be given to students and to former students who majored in mathematics or one of the sciences while in college. A central purpose of the present study was to learn about these cohorts.The study reports the results of a survey of students and alumni from a single, medium-sized, public university--the University of North Dakota--who majored in mathematics or one …

Effects Of Mood Induction On The Visual Attention Of The Dysphoric And The Nondysphoric., Griffith Robert Matthews

Theses and Dissertations

Matthews and Antes (1992) tested the hypothesis that dysphoric people possess a negative attentional bias while the nondysphoric possess a positive attentional bias. They found that both dysphoric and nondysphoric subjects fixated regions of dual-mood pictorial stimuli rated happy more often, longer, and sooner than regions of the stimuli rated sad. It was also found that the dysphoric fixated sad regions more often than did the nondysphoric. The present study was an attempt to replicate and extend these findings by employing the Velten Mood Induction Procedure to induce sad, elated, and neutral mood in dysphoric and nondysphoric subjects. It was …

Anns An X Window Based Version Of The Afit Neural Network Simulator, Ching-Seh Wu

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents an X Window based neural network simulation environment developed at Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) using the techniques of modern software engineering. This artificial neural network simulator is a tool running on Sun SPARCstations and supporting two user modes: end-users and client-programmers. End-users interact with neural network paradigms developed by client-programmers for the purpose of studying and analyzing the execution of a particular Neural Network (NN) paradigm, or class of NN algorithms. Client programmers maintain the system and use this environment for the development of new NN paradigms or algorithms for end-users. The development follows a …

Catholic High School Students: Better Prepared For The Future?, Michael Patrick Depuglio

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Divining Place In The Manawaka Fiction Of Margaret Laurence: A Study Of The Five Female Protagonists, Shirley Vaughn Greves

Theses and Dissertations

The problem to be explored is to discover the reason(s) some of her readers find connections to place in the Manawaka fiction of Margaret Laurence. The problem also includes the determination of the meaning of place to Laurence, her female characters, and her readers, both casual and critical.

This exploration includes the examination of her five Manawaka works of fiction, the review of critical analyses of her work, a consideration of reader-response and feminist theories, and a visit to Neepawa, Manitoba, the physical place after which the fictional Manawaka is modeled.

Laurence defines place by geography and people. The physical …

Use Of Ozone To Remove Pathogens From Garrison Diversion Water, Tia Cruise

Theses and Dissertations

This report summarizes the design of an ozone disinfection system to remove fish pathogens from Lake Sakakawea for the Garrison Diversion Project. Three different flow rates, 50 MGD, 100 MGD, and 500 MGD were considered for the design. To design the system, laboratory tests were performed on filtered and unfiltered (raw) water obtained from Lake Sakakawea at the Snake Creek pumping station in Garrison North Dakota. Laboratory tests indicated a 99. 99 percent bacteria removal occurred with an ozone residual of 0.2 mg/Land a 5 minute contact time. It was also found that the water had an approximate ozone demand …