Digital Commons Network^™

Mining Frequent Patterns From Sequences: Theory, Algorithm, Implementation, And Performance, Markus Petteri Turkia

Theses and Dissertations

Mining frequent patterns from sequences is an important data mining problem which has direct applications in many areas. In this thesis, we make three contributions to the state-of-the-art of the sequential frequent pattern mining. First of all, we propose a fast pattern-growth mining algorithm using a novel sequence database representation called First-Occurrence Linked WAP-tree (FLWAP-tree). The pattern-growth mining algorithm using the Pre-Order Linked WAP-tree (PLWAP-tree) was reported in the literature to be faster than other algorithms. We show that our pattern-growth using our FLWAP-tree outperforms the PLWAP-tree mining significantly and consistently. Secondly, we extend the pattern-growth algorithm with partial enumeration …

Short-Term Reliability Of A Thin Film Resistance Temperature Detector (Rtd), Julian W. Post, Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

The primary focus of this dissertation was on the short term reliability of a thin film resistance temperature detector (RTD). As a first step, the transient and steady state temperature response of an encapsulated, thin-film RTD, which was used as a micro heater, have been characterized for a range of pressures and applied voltages, while placed on thermally insulating and conductive platforms. A user-friendly model was used to capture the three major mechanisms of heat transfer from the device (i.e. conduction, convection, and radiation). The calibration parameters of the model allowed the different modes of heat transfer to be quantified. …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Highly Conductive Polypyrrole And Polypyrrole/Lignosulfonate/Graphite Composites, Aopeau Imvittaya

Theses and Dissertations

Polypyrrole (PPy) is one of the conductive polymers frequently used in commercial applications, mainly due to its long-term stability and the possibility of forming homopolymers or composites with optimal properties. Polypyrroles were prepared by the chemical polymerization of pyrrole using various methods. The effects of several parameters such as oxidant, dopant type, additives and reaction conditions on the properties of PPy were investigated. In addition, PPy/graphite composites were prepared because graphite is highly conductive and effectively incorporated into the polymer matrix during the polymerization. The amount of graphite in the composite was varied to determine the maximimum conductivity achievable in …

History Lessons For A General Theory Of Law And Technology, Gregory N. Mandel

Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology

No abstract provided.

Nova Quarterly: The University Of Texas At El Paso, The University Of Texas At El Paso University Communications

NOVA

Winter 2007, Vol. 45, No. 4; No. 172

Competition And Market Integration : The Case Of China's Auto Industry, Xi Tian

Lingnan Theses

The “special treatments” of automobile industry in China, especially in the forms of local protectionism, have been criticized as evidences of domestic market fragmentation for long. Whether these “special treatments” have stunted the integration of a national auto market in China remains a question.

This paper seeks to examine the degree of market integration in the automobile markets in China by using tests of cointegration between prices of spatial markets. Several econometric approaches for spatial price analysis, including the ADF unit root test, Maddala-Wu’s Fisher type panel unit root test and more restrictive Dufour-Torres panel unit root test are applied …

Two-Dimensional Guided Mode Resonant Structures For Spectral Filtering Applications, Sakoolkan Boonruang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Guided mode resonant (GMR) structures are optical devices that consist of a planar waveguide with a periodic structure either imbedded in or on the surface of the structure. The resonance anomaly in GMR structures has many applications as dielectric mirrors, tunable devices, sensors,and narrow spectral band reflection filters. A desirable response from a resonant grating filter normally includes a nearly 100% narrowband resonant spectral reflection (transmission), and a broad angular acceptance at either normal incidence or an oblique angle of incidence. This dissertation is a detailed study of the unique nature of the resonance anomaly in GMR structures with two-dimensional …

The Popular Images Of John Brown And Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, Sarah Clark

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the evolution of the popular images of John Brown and Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. It begins by analyzing the historiography of each man. The second and third chapters are biographies of each man. The fourth, fifth, and sixth chapters examine the popular images of the two men in print media, visual media, and monuments. This thesis concludes with appendices which contain reproductions of songs, photographs, and paintings referred to in the chapters. This study finds that the myth of the Lost Cause has kept Thomas Jackson's popular image consistently positive and heroic since his death in 1863. At …

Scanning Fabry-Perot Spectrometer For Terahertz And Gigahertz Spectroscopy Using Dielectric Bragg Mirrors, Justin Cleary

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A scanning Fabry-Perot transmission filter composed of a pair of dielectric mirrors has been demonstrated at millimeter and sub-millimeter wavelengths. The mirrors are formed by alternating quarter-wave optical thicknesses of silicon and air in the usual Bragg configuration. Detailed theoretical considerations are presented for determining the optimum design including factors that affect achievable finesse. Fundamental loss by lattice and free carrier absorption are considered. High resistivity in the silicon layers was found important for achieving high transmittance and finesse, especially at the longer wavelengths. Also considered are technological factors such as surface roughness, bowing, and misalignment for various proposed manufacturing …

Two-Photon 3d Optical Data Storage Via Fluorescence Modulation Of Fluorene Dyes By Photochromic Diarylethenes, Claudia Corredor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Three-dimensional (3D) optical data storage based on two-photon processes provides highly confined excitation in a recording medium and a mechanism for writing and reading data with less cross talk between multiple memory layers, due to the quadratic dependence of two photon absorption (2PA) on the incident light intensity. The capacity for highly confined excitation and intrinsic 3D resolution affords immense information storage capacity (up to 1012 bits/cm3). Recently, the use of photochromic materials for 3D memory has received intense interest because of several major advantages over current optical systems, including their erasable/rewritable capability, high resolution, and high sensitivity. This work …

Faculty Perceptions Of Alignment Ofadministrative Practices With A University Missionutilizing A Hospitality Model, Duncan Dickson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of a university's faculty as to how the strategies, staffing policies, and systems procedures were aligned with the mission statement. Differences in perceptions were examined by college affiliation, rank, primary teaching assignment and gender. Data were analyzed to determine if there were correlations between faculty members' perceptions of alignment of the university's mission statement with administration's actions, policies, and procedures and their level of organizational commitment, job satisfaction, and overall satisfaction with their job and the organization The population for this study was comprised initially of 1363 teaching faculty members …

Spectroscopic Studies Of Laser Plasmas For Euv Sources, Simi A. George

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With the availability of high reflectivity multilayer mirrors and zone plate lenses, the EUV region (5nm - 40nm) of the electromagnetic spectrum is currently being explored for applications of nanoscale printing and imaging. Advances made in this area have consequences for many areas of science. Research for producing a compact, bright EUV source for laboratory use has gained momentum in recent years. For this study, EUV radiation is produced by irradiating target materials using a focused laser beam. Focused laser beam ionizes the target to create a hot, dense, pulsed plasma source, where emission is a result of the relaxation …

Attitudes Towards Seeking Professional Counseling: The Role Of Outcome Expectations And Emotional Openness In English-Speaking C, Wendy-Lou Greenidge

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: The college environment is documented as a universally stressful period where students face many challenges (Baysden, 2002; Pandit, 2003). In addition to these potential stressors, international students face other unique challenges such as loss of support network, feelings of isolation, economic hardship, coping with oftentimes competing cultures, and anxiety which emanates from unfamiliarity (Kim & Omizo, 2003; Rounds & Kline, 2005). Unsuccessful resolution of these challenges can negatively impact the acculturation process, their mental health, and their academic programs (Roysircar, 2002). Despite these many challenges, research consistently shows that international students are less likely than their US counterparts to …

Physically-Based Visualization Of Residential Building Damage Process In Hurricane, Dezhi Liao

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research provides realistic techniques to visualize the process of damage to residential building caused by hurricane force winds. Three methods are implemented to make the visualization useful for educating the public about mitigation measures for their homes. First, the underline physics uses Quick Collision Response Calculation. This is an iterative method, which can tune the accuracy and the performance to calculate collision response between building components. Secondly, the damage process is designed as a Time-scalable Process. By attaching a damage time tag for each building component, the visualization process is treated as a geometry animation allowing users to navigate …

Real-Time Tree Simulation Using Verlet Integration, Bobak Manavi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

One of the most important challenges in real-time simulation of large trees and vegetation is the vast number of calculations required to simulate the interactions between all the branches in the tree when external forces are applied to it. This paper will propose the use of algorithms employed by applications like cloth and soft body simulations, where objects can be represented by a finite system of particles connected via spring-like constraints, for the structural representation and manipulation of trees in real-time. We will then derive and show the use of Verlet integration and the constraint configuration used for simulating trees …

A Study Of Gender Equality At Private And Public Two-Year And Four-Year Florida Institutions, Stacey Lazenby Malaret

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study sought to examine the perception of gender equality from the viewpoint of women administrators at Florida public and private two- and four-year institutions. Potential respondents were chosen from American College Personnel Association and/or National Association of Student Personnel Administrators databases. The data used for this study were obtained from 32 female administrators (50% response rate) who completed a self-administered online questionnaire, distributed to potential respondents in August and September, 2007. Collected data were entered into an SPSS database. Through data analysis, confidence intervals were reported for each survey item. Comparable means were studied for each of the six …

Modeled And Observed N2 Lyman-Birge-Hopfield Band Emissions Earth's Dayglow: A Comparison, Donald Murray

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ultraviolet (UV) spectra obtained from Earth’s dayglow contain important information for understanding the thermosphere, and the N2 Lyman-Birge-Hopfield (LBH) bands are possibly the most useful emission. To be useful, a thorough understanding of how the LBH band emission varies with altitude and latitude is essential to present and future use of this emission by space-based remote sensors. Excited by photoelectron impact on N2 leading to transitions from the a 1Πg state to the ground state, the LBH emissions radiate between 1270 and 2400 Å. In addition to being populated by electron impact excitation, the a 1Πg state is populated by …

High Birefringence Liquid Crystals For Optical Communications, Amanda Jane Parish

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

High birefringence (Δn > 0.4) nematic liquid crystals are particularly attractive for infrared applications because they enable a thinner cell gap to be used for achieving fast response time and improved diffraction efficiency. In this thesis, the mesomorphic and electro‐optic properties of several new fluorinated isothiocyanate (NCS) terphenyl and phenyl tolane single compounds and mixtures are reported. The single compounds demonstrated Δn~0.35‐0.52 in the visible spectral region at room temperature and exhibit relatively low viscosity. It was found that lateral fluorine substitutions and short alkyl chains eliminate smectic phase and lower the melting temperature of the single compounds. However, the consequence …

Visioning The Nation: Classical Images As Allegory During The French Revolution, Kristopher Guy Reed

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the latter half of the Eighteenth Century, France experienced a seismic shift in the nature of political culture. The king gave way to the nation at the center of political life as the location of sovereignty transferred to the people. While the French Revolution changed the structure of France's government, it also changed the allegorical representations of the nation. At the Revolution's onset, the monarchy embodied both the state and nation as equated ideas. During the Revolutionary Decade and through the reign of Napoleon different governments experienced the need to reorient these symbols away from the person of the …

"In The Drowning City" And Other Stories, Malyn Matilde Segarra

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the Drowning City and Other Stories is a collection of fiction written and revised during Malyn Segarra's graduate studies at the University of Central Florida. Most of the collection examines the transient nature and fragility of identity and shifting roles within the family unit. All focus on a particular span of time, the transition into young adulthood. Each character is faced with an obstacle or event that tests his or her beliefs, integrity and sense of self. As each one struggles to make a unique and permanent impression in the world, he or she must come to terms with …

The Impact Of Computer Based Simulation Training On Leadership Development, Stanley Sidor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between measures of emotional intelligence after participation in a simulation based leadership development program as applied to a student cohort at a community college. Additionally, this study was conducted to investigate significant differences in emotional intelligence subscales when compared to the categorical variables of age, race, gender, position type, number of years employed, and time. All 300 students in the introductory management classes in the Bachelors of Applied Science business principles classes in the Business program were invited to participate. A total of 201 questionnaires representing 103 individuals were returned, …

How The Sky Tastes: Eight Stories, Daniel Sinclair

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

How the Sky Tastes is not simply a collection of stories. It is my representation of moments in life, social commentaries, bits of humor, and pure entertainment all in one. Each story, although unique and easily able to stand alone, shares qualities I find important in writing fiction. First, each story features realistically flawed, yet sympathetic characters dealing with difficulties in life. Secondly, the actual moment is important in each story--whether that moment is something shared between two or more characters or simply the time a certain character comes to a serious realization. Finally, the style can make or break …

Broken Open, Taylor Kistler Stannard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Broken Open is a collection of short stories, four of which deal with culpability and the unexpected transformations that occur when blame, either unintended or deliberately invoked, is exposed and finally understood. The remaining two stories concern relationships that turn out to be gifts, as well as painful learning experiences. In "Other Living Creatures," one family contends with post traumatic stress disorder as another implodes following the death of a young soldier in Vietnam. "Hunters" deals with the unconscious motivations that leave a father resentful and unable to forge a relationship with his son. In "Bardenbrook," an accidental death is …

Discrete Surface Solitons, Sergiy Suntsov

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Surface waves exist along the interfaces between two different media and are known to display properties that have no analogue in continuous systems. In years past, they have been the subject of many studies in a diverse collection of scientific disciplines. In optics, one of the mechanisms through which optical surface waves can exist is material nonlinearity. Until recently, most of the activity in this area was focused on interfaces between continuous media but no successful experiments have been reported. However, the growing interest that nonlinear discrete optics has attracted in the last two decades has raised the question of …

Design And Demonstration Of Meanderline Retarders At Infrared Frequencies, Jeffrey Scott Tharp

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Meanderline structures are widely used as engineered birefringent materials for waveplates and retarders at radiofrequencies, and have been previously demonstrated at frequencies up to 90 GHz in the millimeter-wave band. In this dissertation, we present results related to the modeling, fabrication, and experimental characterization of meanderlines across the range from 30 to 100 THz, in the long-wave and mid-wave infrared bands. Specific issues addressed in these new designs include spectral dispersion and angular dependence of the retardance, as well as axial ratio and throughput. The impact resulting from the infrared properties of the metals and dielectrics is explicitly included throughout. …

Soliton Solutions Of Nonlinear Partial Differential Equations Using Variational Approximations And Inverse Scattering Techniques, Thomas Vogel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Throughout the last several decades many techniques have been developed in establishing solutions to nonlinear partial differential equations (NPDE). These techniques are characterized by their limited reach in solving large classes of NPDE. This body of work will study the analysis of NPDE using two of the most ubiquitous techniques developed in the last century. In this body of work, the analysis and techniques herein are applied to unsolved physical problems in both the fields of variational approximations and inverse scattering transform. Additionally, a new technique for estimating the error of a variational approximation is established. Note that the material …

After The Moon: A Study Of Governmental Agency Decline And Nasa, Wendy Noel Whitman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The concept of decline has variously been applied to businesses, organizations, groups, and government (Levine 1978; Lorange and Nelson 1987; Whetten 1980). The term decline has also been used to describe various government agencies such as NASA. It is the theory put forth presently that decline in its traditional form in the literature does not apply to government agencies. Decline has been previously characterized as a time of decreasing or restricted resources, conflict, a decrease in innovativeness, a decrease in organizational size, a decrease in income or profits, and an organization's inability to adapt (Cameron, Whetten, and Kim; Weitzel and …

The Effect Of In-Vehicle Warning Systems On Driverresponse In Work Zones, James James Whitmire Ii

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research investigated the effectiveness of in-vehicle information technologies on driver behavior in work zones. In-vehicle information devices can increase driver awareness to an oncoming change in traffic flow and provide specific guidelines for driving speed requirements, lane merging strategies, or unexpected changes in the roadway (e.g., detours and lane shifts). The overall conditional effects for vehicle speed are significant; that is, both the audio and visual groups out performed the control group within the simulated work zone. Participants in audio group did outperform the visual group, not significantly though. The overall conditional effects for total time in violation are …

Time-Optimal Control For One Dimensional Evacuation System, S. Wadoo, Pushkin Kachroo

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Research

This paper presents design of a time-optimal controller for a model representing evacuation dynamics in one dimension. The model presented here is based on the law of conservation of mass. The model is the classical one equation model for a traffic flow based on conservation of mass with a prescribed relationship between density and velocity. The equations of motion are described by nonlinear partial differential equations. We address the optimal control problem for the space discretized dynamics thus making use of nonlinear ordinary differential equations. The objective is to synthesize a nonlinear open loop controller that evacuates people in minimum …

Open-Loop Vehicle Control Using An Abstraction Of Its Model, P. Mellodge, Pushkin Kachroo

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Research

Feedback control design of complex systems can be made easier by working on simpler models of the system that are their abstractions. This paper presents a method to control a car-like robot using abstraction: the car is represented by a uni- cycle. A transformation is provided to calculate car inputs from unicycle inputs so that the car follows the unicycle trajectory whenever proper initial conditions are met. The transformation does not give correct results for the case when the unicycle is rotating. In this case, an open-loop optimal control algorithm is presented to generate car inputs. Simulation results are given …