Digital Commons Network^™

A Policy-Based Resource Brokering Environment For Computational Grids, Ahmed Hamdan Al-Theneyan

Computer Science Theses & Dissertations

With the advances in networking infrastructure in general, and the Internet in particular, we can build grid environments that allow users to utilize a diverse set of distributed and heterogeneous resources. Since the focus of such environments is the efficient usage of the underlying resources, a critical component is the resource brokering environment that mediates the discovery, access and usage of these resources. With the consumer's constraints, provider's rules, distributed heterogeneous resources and the large number of scheduling choices, the resource brokering environment needs to decide where to place the user's jobs and when to start their execution in a …

Geometric Integrators For Hamiltonian Pdes, Dmitry Karpeev

Computer Science Theses & Dissertations

We consider methods for systematic construction of algorithms for a class of time-dependent PDEs with Hamiltonian structure. These systems possess phase space geometry and constants of the motion that need to be preserved by the integration algorithm to reflect the qualitative features of the system.

We exploit the structure of Hamiltonian systems, in particular their variational formulation based on a Lagrangian, and the dual covariant formulation, to expose the geometric features of the system that have natural analogs when discretized. We emphasize the local space-time approach to the constructions, making them amenable to parallelization and preconditioning using domain decomposition methods, …

Federating Heterogeneous Digital Libraries By Metadata Harvesting, Xiaoming Liu

Computer Science Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation studies the challenges and issues faced in federating heterogeneous digital libraries (DLs) by metadata harvesting. The objective of federation is to provide high-level services (e.g. transparent search across all DLs) on the collective metadata from different digital libraries. There are two main approaches to federate DLs: distributed searching approach and harvesting approach. As the distributed searching approach replies on executing queries to digital libraries in real time, it has problems with scalability. The difficulty of creating a distributed searching service for a large federation is the motivation behind Open Archives Initiatives Protocols for Metadata Harvesting (OAI-PMH). OAI-PMH supports …

Video Indexing And Retrieval Techniques Using Novel Approaches To Video Segmentation, Characterization, And Similarity Matching, Waleed Ezzat Farag

Computer Science Theses & Dissertations

Multimedia applications are rapidly spread at an ever-increasing rate introducing a number of challenging problems at the hands of the research community, The most significant and influential problem, among them, is the effective access to stored data. In spite of the popularity of keyword-based search technique in alphanumeric databases, it is inadequate for use with multimedia data due to their unstructured nature. On the other hand, a number of content-based access techniques have been developed in the context of image indexing and retrieval; meanwhile video retrieval systems start to gain wide attention, This work proposes a number of techniques constituting …

Modeling The Biogeochemical Cycle Of Selenium In The San Francisco Bay, Shannon L. Meseck

OES Theses and Dissertations

Due to recent concerns about selenium toxicity in the San Francisco Bay and the roles of refinery and San Joaquin River inputs on the selenium cycle, the model ECoS 3 (distributed from Plymouth Marine Laboratory, United Kingdom) was modified to simulate the biogeochemical cycle of selenium in the Northern Reach. The model is designed to simulate salinity, total suspended material, phytoplankton concentrations, dissolved selenium and its speciation (selenite, selenate, and organic selenide), and particulate selenium and its speciation (selenite + selenate, elemental selenium, and organic selenide). Actual data from 1999 were used to calibrate the model, while data from other …

Mass Transfer Reactions And Decay Sinks For Disinfectants In Water Distribution Systems, Jeremy B. Jones

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Treatment plants utilize chlorine and chloramine both as a primary disinfectant for water purification and a secondary disinfectant for distribution system protection. The treatment goal is that the disinfectant residual be present throughout the distribution system until it reaches the customer's tap. Maintaining a residual throughout the system is critical for providing pathogen-free water and protecting human health. Therefore, water utility authorities are very interested in how disinfectants such as chlorine and chloramine decay as they travel through a water distribution system.

Current mathematical models typically divide the decay into two distinct phases. There is (1) decay occurring in the …

Finite Element Modal Formulation For Panel Flutter At Hypersonic Speeds And Elevated Temperatures, Guangfeng Cheng

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

A finite element time domain modal formulation for analyzing flutter behavior of aircraft surface panels in hypersonic airflow has been developed and presented for the first time. Von Karman large deflection plate theory is used for description of the structural nonlinearity and third order piston theory is employed to account for the aerodynamic nonlinearity. The thermal loadings of uniformly distributed temperature and temperature gradients across the panel thickness are incorporated into the finite element formulation. By applying the modal reduction technique, the number of governing equations of motion is reduced dramatically so that the computational time of direct numerical integration …

Active And Adaptive Flow Control Of Twin-Tail Buffet And Applications, Zhi Yang

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Modern fighter aircraft with dual vertical tails are operated at high angles of attack. The vortex generated by leading edge extension (LEX) breaks down before reaching the two vertical tails. The wake of highly unsteady, turbulent flow causes unbalanced broadband aerodynamic loading on the tails and may produce severe buffet on the tails and lead to tail fatigue failure.

Flow suction along the vortex cores (FSVC) is investigated as an active control method for tail-buffet alleviation. Suction tubes have been tilted at different angles to study the control effectiveness of suction tubes orientation. Flow field response, aerodynamic loading and aeroelastic …

Calculation For The Parameter "Deflection" In A New Theory Of The Earth's Magnetic Field, Annraoi De Paor, Ted Burke

Articles

In a recent paper on the theory of the Earth’s magnetic field and key features of Sunspot activity (de Paor, 2001), a central role in the calculation of secular variations of the geomagnetic field was played by a newly-introduced parameter called the deflection (abbreviated def ). In this note, the significance of def is elucidated and the method used to calculate it is explained

Integrating Concept Mapping Across The Accounting Curriculum -A Technology Solution, Jayne D. Maas

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The purpose of this applied dissertation proposal was to integrate concept mapping into the accounting curriculum at Towson University. The problem was the need for innovative teaching pedagogies and learning tools that explicitly support the development of accounting students' complex thinking skills. These issues were perceived as essential elements for future accounting education and critical needs for future accounting professionals.

A technology solution was proposed, using the visual learning tool Inspiration 6.0®. A qualitative evaluation methodology was be used to collect and analyze data on the course content and topics essential to develop accounting students' complex thinking skills. The results …

Dune Morphology Response To Water Level Change, Pinery Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, Michael C.A. Bitton

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This thesis describes the geomorphological changes to a trough blowout in Pinery Provincial Park's sand dunes. The Park is located on Lake Huron’s southeastern shore where, due to rapid changes in Lake Huron water levels, a study could be completed examining the changes to blowout morphology based on the change in beach sediment supply. The study took place during relative low Lake Huron levels (1999-2000) and was compared to data collected during a period of relative high Lake Huron levels (1994-1995). Field research included erosion pin measurement to monitor and verify morphological change through the throat of the blowout, aeolian …

The Development Of A Survey Insttument To Identify The Perceived Needs For Professional Development Of Credentialed Ministers Of The Assemblies Of God In Australia, Victoria, Brendan Roach

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The problem under investigation was that it is unknown what are the perceived needs for professional development of credentialed ministers of the Assemblies of God in Australia, Victoria. The purpose of the study was to develop a survey instrument to measure what are those perceived needs. The research question was, "What should be contained in a needs assessment survey to identify the perceived needs for professional development of credentialed ministers of the Assemblies of God in Australia, Victoria?"

A literature review was conducted to identify the competencies required by credentialed ministers to develop in their ministry function. The findings of …

Evaluation Of The Vocational Curriculum For At-Risk Students At Westinghouse Career Academy, Burchell Love

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The problem under investigation was whether or not the curriculum model and/or delivery methods used at Westinghouse Career Academy has an effect on at-risk students completing a four year vocational program. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the vocational curriculum at Westinghouse Career Academy. There were two research questions addressed in the study. First, "What were the specific factors that contributed to at-risk students being unable to successfully complete a four-year program." Second, "What were the changes that could be made to improve upon the effectiveness of the vocational curriculum for at-risk students at Westinghouse …

A Comparison Of The Grade Point Averages And Attendance Of Octorara Area High School Students After Attending The Center For Arts And Technology-Brandywine For One Year, David B. Rutledge

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The Center for Arts and Technology-Brandywine (CAT-B) is a vocational-technical school, where high school students spend part of a school day learning skills in career and technical education areas. The problem addressed by this research study 2 was that the grade point averages in academic subjects and school attendance had never been researched on students who had attended the vocational-technical school.

The study contained two research questions. They were, "Does school attendance improve after one year of attending CATB?" and "Does the GPA of academic courses improve for students after attending CAT-B for one year?"

A literature review was conducted …

Development Of An Accounting Curriculum For The Devry Institute Of Technology, Arthur A. Gillis

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The problem is that the DeVry Institute of Technology (DeVry) has been unable to market its accounting program effectively since its curriculum is not current and lacks computer applications. The purpose of the project is to develop an accounting curriculum that is professionally current and includes computer applications.

There were six research questions that needed to be answered in this study. First, what learning objectives should be included in each of the six core accounting classes; second, what will constitute valid measurements as to the learning objectives; third, what recommendations should be included in the applicable curriculum guides for the …

Development Of A Seamless Transition Program For Inmate Students At The Community College Of Southern Nevada, Theo A. Byrns

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The prison education program at the Community College of Southern Nevada (CCSN) has been in place since 1988. The Department of Prison Education offers a five-semester Associate of General Studies at facilities of incarceration in Southern Nevada. The purpose of the project was to develop a seamless transition program from a prison-based course of study to a course of study outside of the prison for community college inmate students and an implementation and evaluation plan. The seamless transition program would provide students with an opportunity to continue their higher education when released from prison.

There were six research questions in …

Improving Student Achievement And Attitude In Middle Grade Social Studies Classes Through Learning Style Instruction And Design, Jennifer D. Vincent

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to improve student achievement and attitude in a middle school social studies class. Students were not performing well on tests and exams after experiencing traditional visual and auditory instructional methods. The Jack of diversity and creativity in delivery of instruction resulted in limited academic achievement and poor attitude towards social studies learning. Furthermore, long-term memory was also negatively affected because the traditional teaching approaches did not emphasize higher level thinking that promotes greater retention. The study integrates theoretical research concerning how students learn to the development of a strong historical rationale for implementing learning styles …

Ameliorating The Cycle Of Teenage Pregnancy Among Minority Families, Gloria H. Myrick

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This report describ.es a program to ameliorate the cycle of teenage pregnancy among Black females in a suburban high school, thereby decreasing the dropout rate of these at-risk students. The younger siblings of childbearing teens were the targeted population for the pregnancy prevention program. Twenty at-risk siblings in Grades 9 through 12 participated in this program. An analysis of a survey conducted by the guidance department and the teenage parenting program indicated that 31% of the students at the targeted high school became teenage parents and eventually dropped out of school before graduating.

A major goal of this program was …

Using Metacognitive Instructional Strategies To Improve Fourth Graders’ Writing Performance, Gary F. Mazzola

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The intent of this applied dissertation was to improve the writing skills of fourth graders in a suburban school district. The composition scores from the last three administrations of a state assessment have been the lowest scores, with little or no increase in performance. A possible cause was inconsistent instructional practice resulting . in the need for teachers to focus on and provide a system of consistent metacognitive strategies, as a possible remedy.

Teachers received four sessions of LINKS,. training. LINKS,,. is a system of metacognitive instructional strategies designed for teaching writing and thinking skills. The ·focus of this training …

Mechanical Response Of Nets Of Graphical Objects, Rakesh Kumar Bajaj

Masters Theses

"This research produces networks of graphical objects that respond to human manipulation in a fashion that would be deemed physically reasonable. That is, a graphical network is given a mechanics-like behavior in the presence of the human interaction. In this approach, nonlinear models replace commonly used linear models to mimic physical reality better. Software solutions are provided via a class library useful for such interactive visual modeling"--Abstract, page iii.

Harding University Catalog 2002-2003, Harding University

Harding Academic Catalogs

Academic catalog for the undergraduate programs at Harding University.

Using Authentic Learning To Teach Basic Technology Skills, Steven Burken

Graduate Research Papers

During the past decade, most school districts have been required to write technology plans that have included the goal that students will become technologically literate. Teachers and administrators have been challenged to teach technology skills that will help student solve problems in the work place. What has been commonplace is for schools to offer courses or units in which students acquire skills without applying them to real world problems. This paper takes a look at the literature and research surrounding the use of technology, and the learning of technology skills, in the framework of authentic learning.

Illinois State Scholar, Vol. 12 (2002), Office Of The Provost, Illinois State University

Redbird Scholar

No abstract provided.

Chicano Educational Leaders: Some Reflections On The Southwest, Henry T. Trueba

Teaching and Learning Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Applications Of Bismuth(Iii) Compounds In Organic Synthesis, Ram Mohan, Nicholas Leonard, Laura Wieland

Scholarship

No abstract provided.

The Use Of A Genetic Algorithm To Evolve Networks For A Natural Language Processing Task, Alexander E. Dimov '02

Honors Projects

In this project a novel approach was taken for performing a natural language task. The task requires a neural network to predict the grammatical category of the next word in a stream of sentences. There are two main reasons why this task is interesting. In natural language processing, it is sometimes very difficult to determine the grammatical category of a word in a sentence when that word could belong to different grammatical categories depending on the context. For example, the word "run" can either be a noun or a verb in a certain sentence. The ability to correctly determine the …

Digital Millennium Copyright Act: Can It Take Down Internet Infringers?, David L. Clark

Computer Law Review and Technology Journal

In response to the growing digital age, Congress enacted the Digital Millennium Copyright Act ("DMCA") on October 28, 1998. Unlike traditional copyright statutes, the DMCA does not address the act of infringement but instead focuses on the technology that makes infringement easier. Copyright holders have begun to develop encryption technology to prevent unauthorized use of their works, and the DMCA assists those efforts by prohibiting any person from circumventing those security provisions or selling decryption devices. The DMCA also encourages Internet Service Providers ("ISPs") to disable websites that are accused of copyright infringement; it protects the ISPs with a safe …

A Case Study Of A Child Presenting Academic And On Task Difficulties, Eric Stephen Weichers

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The current study examines a 4th grade, African-American male referred for special education eligibility evaluation. Specific academic difficulties cited on the referred included reading, writing, spelling, and math. A behavioral concern included the student's off task behavior and how it might contribute to his academic difficulties. A special education evaluation was conducted that included the procedures of reviewing the student's records, interviewing those of consequence to the evaluation, classroom observations of the student's behavior, and testing of skills. The testing procedures included nationally normed standardized tests, curriculum based assessment, permanent product review, informal reading inventory scores, and an intelligence test. …

Illinois State: For Alumni Of Illinois State University, Winter 2002-2003, Illinois State University, University Marketing And Communications

State: The Magazine of Illinois State University (1999-present)

Illinois State University alumni magazine

Boundary Effects On Multiplication Noise In Thin Heterostructure Avalanche Photodiodes: Theory And Experiment [Al/Sub 0.6/Ga/Sub 0.4/As/Gaas], Majeed M. Hayat, Oh-Hyun Kwon, Shuling Wang, Joe C. Campbell, Bahaa E.A. Saleh, Malvin Carl Teich

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

The history-dependent recurrence theory for multiplication noise in avalanche photodiodes (APDs), developed by Hayat et al., is generalized to include inter-layer boundary effects in heterostructure APDs with multilayer multiplication regions. These boundary effects include the initial energy of injected carriers as well as bandgap-transition effects within a multilayer multiplication region. It is shown that the excess noise factor can be significantly reduced if the avalanche process is initiated with an energetic carrier, in which case the initial energy serves to reduce the initial dead space associated with the injected carrier. An excess noise factor reduction up to 40% below the …