Digital Commons Network^™

A Data Mining Approach To Library New Book Recommendations, San-Yih Hwang, Ee Peng Lim

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

In this paper, we propose a data mining approach to recommending new library books that have never been rated or borrowed by users. In our problem context, users are characterized by their demographic attributes, and concept hierarchies can be defined for some of these demographic attributes. Books are assigned to the base categories of a taxonomy. Our goal is therefore to identify the type of users interested in some specific type of books. We call such knowledge generalized profile association rules. In this paper, we propose a new definition of rule interestingness to prune away rules that are redundant and …

The Catalyst, December 2002, Illinois State University, Center For The Advancement Of Teaching

The CATalyst

Newsletter of the Center for the Advancement of Teaching (CAT) at Illinois State University

Motion Retrieval By Temporal Slices Analysis, Chong-Wah Ngo, Chong-Wah Ngo, Hong-Jiang Zhang

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

In this papel; we investigate video shots retrieval based on the analysis of temporal slice images. Temporal slices are a set of2D images extracted along the time dimension of image sequences. They encode rich set of motion clues for shot similarity measure. Because motion is depicted as texture orientation in temporal slices, we utilize various texture features such as tensor histogram, Gabor feature, and the statistical feature of co-occurrence matrix extracted directly from slices for motion description and retrieval. In this way, motion retrieval can be treated in a similar way as texture retrieval problem. Experimental results indicate that the …

Semantic Exploration Of Lecture Videos, Edward Altman, Yu Chen, Wai Chong Low

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

E-Learning is rapidly changing the way that universities and corporations offer education and training. In recent years, the acquisition and distribution of rich media content has been largely automated, However, existing applications are functionally and visually static and remain organized around the delivery media, rather than the knowledge representation and learning tasks of the student. The innovative approach of this system is the extraction of semantically meaningful structures in the lecture combined with text analysis to support task based queries. In this demonstration we will show this combination of pedagogical and content descriptions leads to novel forms of visualization and …

Interactive Learning Tools: Animating Statics, Nancy Hubing, David B. Oglesby, Timothy A. Philpot, Vikas Yellamraju, Richard H. Hall, Ralph E. Flori

Business and Information Technology Faculty Research & Creative Works

Computer-Based Modules for Engineering Instruction Must Be Concise, Flexible, Educational and Engaging in Order to Effectively Supplement Traditional Classroom Teaching Tools. a Computer Example that Takes More Time Than a Chalkboard Presentation is Not Likely to Be Useful in Today's Engineering Classroom. Flexible Navigation is Necessary So that the Instructor Can Quickly and Easily Respond to Student Questions. Useful Modules Must Also Improve Problem-Solving Skills or Clarify Troublesome Concepts in Order to Be Considered Worthy of Inclusion in the Limited Class Time Available. Finally, and Perhaps Most Importantly, Effective Computer-Based Modules Must Meet the Challenge of Holding the Student's Attention. …

Load-Sensitive Transmission Power Control In Wireless Ad-Hoc Networks, Seung Jong Park, Raghupathy Sivakumar

Computer Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

Transmission power control in ad-hoc networks has hitherto been used only for achieving connectivity of networks. It has been implicitly assumed that the optimal throughput performance in ad-hoc networks can be achieved when using the minimum transmission power required to keep the network connected. However, in this paper we argue that such an assumption remains valid only under high node densities, which is not the characteristic of typical ad-hoc networks. Using both throughput and throughput per unit energy as the optimization criteria, we demonstrate that the optimal transmission power depends on several network characteristics such as the number of stations, …

Electronic Structure Of Thallium Filled Skutterudites Studied By X-Ray Absorption And Mössbauer Spectroscopy, Gary J. Long, Bernard M. Mahieu, Brian C. Sales, Raphäel P. Hermann, Fernande Grandjean

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

The electronic structure of the three sites in the thallium filled skutterudites was studied. Two series of thallium filled skutterudites were formed because thallium has a formal valence of +1 and iron or tin must replace some of the cobalt or antimony respectively, to maintain charge neutrality. Large atomic mean-square displacements were observed for the thallium filling atoms and it helps to produce the large thermal resistivity observed for these skutterudites.

Assessment Of Groundwater Resources In Selected Areas Of Al Ain In The U.A.E., Fatma Abdullatif Al Shahi

Theses

The sustainable development of any region depends on the availability of water resources. In arid and semi-arid regions, the shortage in freshwater resources constitutes the major constraint against the expansion in agricultural and industrial activities. Therefore, every possible effort should be made to assess, develop and sustain the limited freshwater water resource in such regions.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is located in an arid region, where the climate is harsh and the renewable freshwater resources are very limited. Despite the severe shortage in water resources, water is misused and sometimes wasted. The per capita daily consumption in the UAE …

The Evolution And Implications Of The Concentration Profiles Of An Analyte In Porous Adsorbent Particles Packed In A Capillary Electrochromatography Column Operated In The Analytical Mode, B. A. Grimes, Athanasios I. Liapis

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In this work, a mathematical model is constructed and solved to describe the propagation and dispersion of the mass wave of an analyte in a capillary electrochromatography (CEC) column packed with porous adsorbent particles and operated in the analytical mode. The evolution and dynamic behavior of the isoconcentration contours of the concentration of the analyte in the pores of the particles are presented in order to demonstrate the significant impact that the velocity of the intraparticle electroosmotic flow (EOF) encountered in CEC systems could have in reducing the overall intraparticle mass transfer resistance. It is shown that under both unretained …

Dynamic Yield Analysis And Enhancement Of Fpga Reconfigurable Memory Systems, Minsu Choi, Nohpill Park

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper addresses the issues of field programmable gate arrays (FPGA) reconfigurable memory systems with faulty physical memory cells and proposes yield measurement techniques. Static yield (i.e., the yield which does not take into account the inherited redundancy utilization for repair) and dynamic yield (i.e., the yield which takes into account the inherited redundancy utilization for repair) of FPGA reconfigurable memory systems and their characteristics are extensively analyzed. Yield enhancement of conventional memory systems relies on additional redundancy, but FPGA reconfigurable memory systems have inherited redundancy and customizability. Thus, they can accommodate numerous target memory configurations, and redundant memory cells, …

Properties Of Hadronic Final States In Diffractive Deep Inelastic Ep Scattering At Desy Hera, S. Chekanov, M. Derrick, D. Krakauer, S. Magill, B. Musgrave, A. Pellegrino, J. Repond, R. Yoshida, Margarita C. K. Mattingly, P. Antonioli, G. Bari, M. Basile, L. Bellagamba, D. Boscherini, A. Bruni, G. Bruni, G. Cara Romeo, L. Cifarelli, F. Cindolo, A. Contin, M. Corradi, S. De Pasquale, P. Giusti, G. Iacobucci, G. Levi, A. Margotti, T. Massam, R. Nania, F. Palmonari, A. Pesci, G. Sartorelli

Faculty Publications

Characteristics of the hadronic final state of diffractive deep inelastic scattering events ep→eXp were studied in the kinematic range 4X35GeV, 4

Response Surface Methodology Of Die-Sink-Electro-Discharge Machined Surfaces, Bhairav Mehta

Theses

The performance of most manufacturing processes depends on numerous parameters and their interactions. Most of the time, selection of an appropriate set of machining parameters is done based on experience, trial and error or both. Electro-discharge machining (EDM) process is complicated and random in nature. The large number of parameters and the inherent complexity of removal mechanism taking place in EDM make it even more difficult to select machining conditions for optimal performance. The objective of this study is to provide information on the relationships between the key input variables and resultant surface roughness and to develop a response model …

Upper Spokane River Model: Boundary Conditions And Model Setup, 2001, Spencer Slominski, Robert Leslie Annear, Chris Berger, Scott A. Wells

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The Washington Department of Ecology is interested in a water quality model for the Upper Spokane River system for use in developing Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs). The goals of this modeling effort are to:

• Gather data to construct a computer simulation model of the Spokane River system including Long Lake Reservoir and the pools behind Nine Mile dam, Upper Falls dam and Upriver dam for 2001 based on the calibration conducted for 1991 and 2000 data sets, (Annear et al, 2001).

• Ensure that the model accurately represents the system hydrodynamics and water quality (flow, temperature, dissolved oxygen …

Active Processor Scheduling Using Evolution Algorithms, David J. Caswell

Theses and Dissertations

The allocation of processes to processors has long been of interest to engineers. The processor allocation problem considered here assigns multiple applications onto a computing system. With this algorithm researchers could more efficiently examine real-time sensor data like that used by United States Air Force digital signal processing efforts or real-time aerosol hazard detection as examined by the Department of Homeland Security. Different choices for the design of a load balancing algorithm are examined in both the problem and algorithm domains. Evolutionary algorithms are used to find near-optimal solutions. These algorithms incorporate multiobjective coevolutionary and parallel principles to create an …

Multi-Level Decomposition Of Probabilistic Relations, Stanislaw Grygiel, Martin Zwick, Marek Perkowski

Complex Systems Faculty Publications and Presentations

Two methods of decomposition of probabilistic relations are presented in this paper. They consist of splitting relations (blocks) into pairs of smaller blocks related to each other by new variables generated in such a way so as to minimize a cost function which depends on the size and structure of the result. The decomposition is repeated iteratively until a stopping criterion is met. Topology and contents of the resulting structure develop dynamically in the decomposition process and reflect relationships hidden in the data.

A Performance Study Of Lam And Mpich On An Smp Cluster, Brian Patrick Kearns

Dissertations and Theses

Many universities and research laboratories have developed low cost clusters, built from Commodity-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) components and running mostly free software. Research has shown that these types of systems are well-equipped to handle many problems requiring parallel processing. The primary components of clusters are hardware, networking, and system software. An important system software consideration for clusters is the choice of the message passing library.

MPI (Message Passing Interface) has arguably become the most widely used message passing library on clusters and other parallel architectures, due in part to its existence as a standard. As a standard, MPI is open for anyone …

Training 4-H Teen Facilitators In Inquiry-Based Science Methods: The Evaluation Of A "Step-Up" Incremental Training Model, Martin H. Smith, Richard P. Enfield

Journal of Extension

A "Step-Up" Incremental Training Model for teen curriculum facilitators implementing inquiry-based science activities was designed and evaluated. This model involves a sequence of three training workshops that alternate with curriculum implementations. The model was evaluated using data from focus group interviews, surveys, and direct observations. Key elements in the model's design include: workshop organization; introductory session; multiple increments; effective modeling and practice; "safe" environment for reflection and review. The teens trained during the development of this model were effective in implementing curriculum activities with young children. The authors believe that this method would be transferable to other teen-led Extension programs.

Design And Evaluation Of Processes For Fuel Fabrication: Quarterly Progress Report #5, Georg F. Mauer

Fuels Campaign (TRP)

The fifth quarter of the project covered the following:

· Literature Search: The process of evaluating the pertinent literature continued.

· Mr. Richard Silva continued the development of a simulation model with a Waelischmiller hot cell robot. Rich will continue to develop detailed 3-D process simulation models as his M.Sc. thesis project.

· Dr. Mauer presented a paper at the ANS Winter annual meeting in Washington, D.C. titled: “Design and Evaluation of Processes for Transmuter Fuel Fabrication.”

· Concepts and Methods for Vision-Based Hot Cell Supervision and control (Ph.D. Student Jae-Kyu Lee )

· Dr. Mauer presented a paper at …

The Polarising Effects In Sintered Kaolin, Fm D'Ujanga, Y Kaahwa, L Atteraas

Tanzania Journal of Science

The polarizing effects in sintered kaolin samples were analysed in terms of the sample density (or porosity) using direct current (dc) techniques. More porous samples exhibited higher polarizing effects than the less porous ones. The conduction carriers in kaolin samples at room temperature were found to be mainly electrons, with ionic conduction being enhanced by the moisture content with the pores. The influence of the uniaxial pressure and particle-size on the compacted and sintered density of the ceramic have been studied, and a density-pressure relationship before- and after-sintering conditions obtained

Optimization Of Edxrf For The Study Of Heavy Metal Pollution Of Lake Victoria, Nk Mahommed, In Makundi

Tanzania Journal of Science

This study reports on the optimisation and calibration of the Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) spectrometer installed in the Department of Physics, University of Dar es Salaam. The spectrometer was subsequently utilized to determine concentrations of heavy metals in water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes (Mart) Solms.) found growing along the shore of Lake Victoria. The optimal conditions and detection limits were determined experimentally by variation of the excitation parameters. The study found that the use of a collimator with two apertures of diameter 4 mm each placed 8 mm apart and made of materials that do not interfere with elements to …

Mobility And Immobility Of Mid-Ocean Ridges And Their Implications To Mantle Dynamics, Me Kamwaya

Tanzania Journal of Science

In the past two decades, the mobility of mid-ocean ridges relative to the mantle (absolute migration) have been correlated with major observable features, such as, spreading asymmetry and asymmetry in the abundance of seamounts. The mobility of mid-ocean ridges is also thought to be an important factor that influences the diversity of ridge-crest basalts. However, the mobility of mid-ocean ridges have not yet been defined and mapped. The absolute migration of global mid-ocean ridges since 85 Ma has been computed and mapped. Global mid-ocean ridges have migrated extensively at varying velocities during that period. Presently, the fast-migrating ridges are the …

Comparison Of Various Methods For Estimating Wave Incident Angles In The Nearshore Zone, As Ngusaru

Tanzania Journal of Science

Five different methods were examined for their suitability in estimating the inshore wave incident angles on a nearshore zone with a complex topography. Visual observation provided preliminary estimates. Two frequency independent methods and one frequency dependent method based on current meter measurements were examined. Another frequency dependent method based on collocated bottom pressure and current meter measurements was also examined. The results from all the methods provided a reasonably consistent estimate of the inshore wave incident angles. The frequency independent methods gave exactly the same results while the frequency dependent methods had a 5% relative error among themselves. Between frequency …

Studies On Benthic Denitrification In The Chwaka Bay Mangrove Sediments, Zanzibar, Sm Mahommed, Rw Johnstone

Tanzania Journal of Science

Denitrification was measured at three sites in a narrow tidal creek in the Chwaka mangrove ecosystem. Denitrification arising from water column nitrate (Dw) was low (< 0.1μM Nm-2h-1) and there was little spatial and seasonal variation in Dw rates in the creek. Coupled nitrification-denitrification (Dn) was found to be low, but within the range measured in other mangrove sediments. Average values ranged from 0.01 to 0.45 μM Nm-2h-1 and showed strong spatial variations. The low denitrifcation rates observed in the creek were possibly as a result of the low availability of NO3 and high C:N values of the organic matter in the sediment. Spatial variations in denitrification rates were due to variations in concentration levels of organic matter and possibly to disproportionate competition for inorganic nitrogen between denitrifiers and benthic autotrophs among sites. There were no seasonal differences in denitrification rates. Results from the present study suggest that sediment denitrification does not play a major role as a sink for N in this ecosystem

Interpretation Of Refelction Seismic Data From The Usangu Basin, East African Rift System, Ei Mbede

Tanzania Journal of Science

Reflection seismic data collected by AMOCO Tanzania Oil Company in the 80s, are herin used to correlate the main Usangu Basin parameters to those estimated from outcrop, gravity and aeromagnetic data. The seismic data are further used to constrain the geometry of crustal extension in this south-western sector of the East African Rift System (EARS) in Tanzania. Three distinct sedimentary packages on top of the basement reflector are interpreted and correlated to the Permo-Carboniferous Karoo rocks, the Jurassic/Cretaceous and Miocene Red Sandstone Group and Miocene to recent Lake Beds in the adjacent Rukwa basin, where the ages of the sedimentary …

Tectonic Setting Of Gabbroic Rocks In The Western Part Of The Lupa Gold Field, South-West Tanzania, Sr Mnali

Tanzania Journal of Science

There is a pronounced occurrence of gabbroic rocks in the western part of the Lupa gold field, SW Tanzania. These rocks occur in the peripheral part around the Saza-Chuya granodiorite with which it makes a gradiational, unchilled contact. The rocks have been altered or metamorphosed to low-grade greenschist facies as indicated by the presence of secondary epidote, penninite, chlorite, sericite and calcite. The majority of major-element oxides show scattered variation trends against immobile elements such as Zr, indicating some degree of element mobility during post-crystallization processes of alteration or metamorphism. Major-trace-element data show that the gabbroic rocks in the study …

Volume 40, Number 14: November 29, 2002, University Of North Dakota

University Letter Archive

No abstract provided.

Theoretical Issues In The Economics Of International Trade And Environment., Meeta Keswani Mehra Dr.

Doctoral Theses

In the wake of substantial trade liberalization in the world economy over the last two decades and growing environmental consciousness, the issues of the impacts of international goods trade and foreign direct investment (FDI) on local and global environment are becoming increasingly contentious. Whilst trade and FDI have been said to bring higher incomes and well-being for all, these are seen to act as "magnifiers" of environmental deterioration - especially in the developing countries. On the other hand, growing environmentalism is perceived to act as an impediment to freer trade and investment flows across countries. Hence, the central issues are …

Lithium Intercalation Performance Of P-Doped Phenolic Resin Pyrolysis Carbon, Bao-Hua Li, Kai-Xi Li, Yonggen Lv, Chun-Xiang Lv, Dong Wu, Li-Cheng Ling

Journal of Electrochemistry

Phosphorus-doped phenolic resin carbon was prepared by low temperature (700 ℃) pyrolysis of thermoplastic phenolic resin containing different amounts of phosphorus pentoxide after curing. X-ray diffraction pattern and the constang-current charge-discharge properties of phenolic resin carbon were studied. The results showed that the phenolic resin carbon microstructure became out of order with increasing of content phosphorus pentoxide, otherwise, the first discharge reversible capacities increased firstly and then decreased. The first discharge reversible capacity of phenolic resin carbon containing 9wt% phosphorus pentoxide was 528 mA·h·g^-1 which was higher than that of non-phosphorus doped phenolic resin carbon(230 mA·h·g^-1) did.

Studies On The Inhibition Of Yki-05 Corrosion Inhibitor To 907a Steel In Different Immersed Environments, Hui Yu, Jian-Hua Wu, Hong-Ren Wang, Jian-Hua Qian, Guang-Zhang Chen

Journal of Electrochemistry

The inhibition of YKI-05 Corrosion inhibitor in different conditions was studied using potentiodynamic polarization technique. The resuled shown that (i) the inhibitor film layer was formed stably on the surface of 907A steel electrode when it was persistently immersed in static seawater and the inhibition efficiency reached 90% or so. The inhibition mechanism is negative catalytic effect. (ii) the inhibitior film layer was not stable when the electrode was periodically immersed in seawater and was destroyed more significantly with the increase of electrode exposing time. The film was only a covered layer on the surface of electrode and it retarded …

Preparation And Performance Of Lifeo2 Coated Nickel Oxide Cathode For Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells, Chun-Ming Wang, Fei Li, Ke-Ao Hu

Journal of Electrochemistry

A novel cathode for molten carbonate fuel cells was prepared by coating LiFeO₂ over the surface of porous NiO cathode by a simple combustion process. The analytical results of X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive analysis of X-ray (EDAX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicated that the LiFeO₂ coating on the surface of NiO particles consisted of nonometer-sized LiFeO₂ grains and sintered tightly with the NiO particles. The LiFeO₂ coating dramatically reduced the contacting area of NiO with the carbonate melts, thus the solubility of NiO in the carbonate melts was decreased. Meanwhile, …