Engineering Commons^™

Cs 142-01: Computer Programming Ii, John P. Herzog

Computer Science & Engineering Syllabi

Concepts introduced in CS 141 are developed in greater detail and depth. Emphasis on verification and testing of programs. Three hours of lecture, two hours lab.

Ceg 434/634: Concurrent Software Design, Soon M. Chung

Computer Science & Engineering Syllabi

Classical problems of synchronization and concurrency and their solutions are examined through course projects and through readings on operating system design.

Ceg 720: Computer Architecture I, Soon M. Chung

Computer Science & Engineering Syllabi

Review of sequential computer architecture and study of parallel computers. Topics include memory hierarchy, reduced instruction set computer, pipeline processing, multiprocessing, various parallel computers, and interconnection networks.

Ceg 320/520: Computer Organization, Michael L. Raymer

Computer Science & Engineering Syllabi

No abstract provided.

Cs 206-01: Computer Software Productivity Tools, John P. Herzog

Computer Science & Engineering Syllabi

Focus on learning MS Office software applications including advanced topics in spreadsheets, database and presentation graphics, using a case study approach where critical thinking and problem solving skills are required. Computer concepts are integrated throughout the course to provide an understanding of advanced computing, the latest technological advances and how they are used in industry. Ethics and issues encountered in business are discussed to challenge students on societal impact of technology.

Cs 499/699-01: Logic For Computer Scientists, Pascal Hitzler

Computer Science & Engineering Syllabi

Logic is often called the Calculus of Computer Science. Indeed, logic permeates most areas of Computer Science in one way or the other, sometimes more prominently, and sometimes as motivational or formal underpinning. Examples are database schema, program verification, semantics of programming languages, computer security, artificial intelligence, cognitive robotics, Web information systems, computer hardware circuitry, or modeling in software engineering.

Towards Evolving More Brain-Like Artificial Neural Networks, Sebastian Risi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

An ambitious long-term goal for neuroevolution, which studies how artificial evolutionary processes can be driven to produce brain-like structures, is to evolve neurocontrollers with a high density of neurons and connections that can adapt and learn from past experience. Yet while neuroevolution has produced successful results in a variety of domains, the scale of natural brains remains far beyond reach. In this dissertation two extensions to the recently introduced Hypercube-based NeuroEvolution of Augmenting Topologies (HyperNEAT) approach are presented that are a step towards more brain-like artificial neural networks (ANNs). First, HyperNEAT is extended to evolve plastic ANNs that can learn …

Setpad: A Sketch-Based Tool For Exploring Discrete Math Set Problems, Travis Cossairt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

We present SetPad, a new application prototype that lets computer science students explore discrete math problems by sketching set expressions using pen-based input. Students can manipulate the expressions interactively with the tool via pen or multi-touch interface. Likewise, discrete mathematics instructors can use SetPad to display and work through set problems via a projector to better demonstrate the solutions to the students. We discuss the implementation and feature set of the application, as well as results from both an informal perceived usefulness evaluation for students taking a computer science foundation exam in addition to a formal user study measuring the …

Networking And Security Solutions For Vanet Initial Deployment Stage, Baber Aslam

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Vehicular ad hoc network (VANET) is a special case of mobile networks, where vehicles equipped with computing/communicating devices (called "smart vehicles") are the mobile wireless nodes. However, the movement pattern of these mobile wireless nodes is no more random, as in case of mobile networks, rather it is restricted to roads and streets. Vehicular networks have hybrid architecture; it is a combination of both infrastructure and infrastructure-less architectures. The direct vehicle to vehicle (V2V) communication is infrastructure-less or ad hoc in nature. Here the vehicles traveling within communication range of each other form an ad hoc network. On the other …

Algorithms For Rendering Optimization, Jared Johnson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores algorithms for rendering optimization realizable within a modern, complex rendering engine. The first part contains optimized rendering algorithms for ray tracing. Ray tracing algorithms typically provide properties of simplicity and robustness that are highly desirable in computer graphics. We offer several novel contributions to the problem of interactive ray tracing of complex lighting environments. We focus on the problem of maintaining interactivity as both geometric and lighting complexity grows without effecting the simplicity or robustness of ray tracing. First, we present a new algorithm called occlusion caching for accelerating the calculation of direct lighting from many light …

Computational Methods For Analyzing Rna Folding Landscapes And Its Applications, Yuan Li

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Non-protein-coding RNAs play critical regulatory roles in cellular life. Many ncRNAs fold into specific structures in order to perform their biological functions. Some of the RNAs, such as riboswitches, can even fold into alternative structural conformations in order to participate in different biological processes. In addition, these RNAs can transit dynamically between different functional structures along folding pathways on their energy landscapes. These alternative functional structures are usually energetically favored and are stable in their local energy landscapes. Moreover, conformational transitions between any pair of alternate structures usually involve high energy barriers, such that RNAs can become kinetically trapped by …

Detecting, Tracking, And Recognizing Activities In Aerial Video, Vladimir Reilly

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this dissertation, we address the problem of detecting humans and vehicles, tracking them in crowded scenes, and finally determining their activities in aerial video. Even though this is a well explored problem in the field of computer vision, many challenges still remain when one is presented with realistic data. These challenges include large camera motion, strong scene parallax, fast object motion, large object density, strong shadows, and insufficiently large action datasets. Therefore, we propose a number of novel methods based on exploiting scene constraints from the imagery itself to aid in the detection and tracking of objects. We show, …

Multihierarchical Documents And Fine-Grained Access Control, Neil Moore

Theses and Dissertations--Computer Science

This work presents new models and algorithms for creating, modifying, and controlling access to complex text. The digitization of texts opens new opportunities for preservation, access, and analysis, but at the same time raises questions regarding how to represent and collaboratively edit such texts. Two issues of particular interest are modelling the relationships of markup (annotations) in complex texts, and controlling the creation and modification of those texts. This work addresses and connects these issues, with emphasis on data modelling, algorithms, and computational complexity; and contributes new results in these areas of research.

Although hierarchical models of text and markup …

Evolved Design Of A Nonlinear Proportional Integral Derivative (Npid) Controller, Shubham Chopra

Dissertations and Theses

This research presents a solution to the problem of tuning a PID controller for a nonlinear system. Many systems in industrial applications use a PID controller to control a plant or the process. Conventional PID controllers work in linear systems but are less effective when the plant or the process is nonlinear because PID controllers cannot adapt the gain parameters as needed. In this research we design a Nonlinear PID (NPID) controller using a fuzzy logic system based on the Mamdani type Fuzzy Inference System to control three different DC motor systems. This fuzzy system is responsible for adapting the …

Scale Invariant Object Recognition Using Cortical Computational Models And A Robotic Platform, Danny Voils

Dissertations and Theses

This paper proposes an end-to-end, scale invariant, visual object recognition system, composed of computational components that mimic the cortex in the brain. The system uses a two stage process. The first stage is a filter that extracts scale invariant features from the visual field. The second stage uses inference based spacio-temporal analysis of these features to identify objects in the visual field. The proposed model combines Numenta's Hierarchical Temporal Memory (HTM), with HMAX developed by MIT's Brain and Cognitive Science Department. While these two biologically inspired paradigms are based on what is known about the visual cortex, HTM and HMAX …

Optimization Of Pilot Tones Using Differential Evolution Algorithm In Mimo-Ofdm Systems, Muhammet Nuri̇ Seyman, Necmi̇ Taşpinar

Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

In this paper, we propose a differential evolution (DE) algorithm for optimizing the placement and power of the pilot tones that are utilized by a least square (LS) algorithm for channel estimation in multiple-input and multiple-output orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (MIMO-OFDM) systems. Computer simulations demonstrated that the performance of the LS algorithm was increased by optimizing the pilot tones with the DE algorithm instead of locating them orthogonally. We used the upper bound of the mean square error (MSE) as a fitness function of the DE algorithm for optimization tasks. With the use of an upper bound, it is not necessary …

A Modified Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm And Its Application To The Multiobjective Fet Modeling Problem, Ufuk Özkaya, Fi̇li̇z Güneş

Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

This paper introduces a modified particle swarm algorithm to handle multiobjective optimization problems. In multiobjective PSO algorithms, the determination of Pareto optimal solutions depends directly on the strategy of assigning a best local guide to each particle. In this work, the PSO algorithm is modified to assign a best local guide to each particle by using minimum angular distance information. This algorithm is implemented to determine field-effect transistor (FET) model elements subject to the Pareto domination between the scattering parameters and operation bandwidth. Furthermore, the results are compared with those obtained by the nondominated sorting genetic algorithm-II. FET models are …

Healthface: A Web-Based Remote Monitoring Interface For Medical Healthcare Systems Based On A Wireless Body Area Sensor Network, İsmai̇l Kirbaş, Cüneyt Bayilmiş

Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

The wireless body area sensor network (WBASN) is a type of wireless sensor network. The wireless sensor nodes in a WBASN are placed on, near, or within a human body. In a medical healthcare system, WBASNs continuously provide healthcare monitoring, especially of elderly or ill people, wherever the patient goes. Wireless nodes sense and process human vital signs such as heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and respiration. They then send collected data to a medical center via a base station in order for medical professionals to monitor the patient's health. In the medical center, doctors and caregivers need monitoring …

Analysis, Nonlinear Control, And Chaos Generator Circuit Of Another Strange Chaotic System, İhsan Pehli̇van, Zhouchao Wei

Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

In this paper, we introduce a new 3-dimensional quadratic continuous autonomous chaotic system. This system can generate strange and interesting attractors. Some basic dynamical properties, such as bifurcations, and chaotic behaviors of the new chaotic system are investigated analytically and numerically. We propose a nonlinear control scheme to discuss codimension 1 and 2 Hopf bifurcations. In addition, a new circuit implementation of the chaotic attractor is reported and examined in PSpice. The new system is suitable for purposefully generating chaos in chaos-based engineering applications.

Considering Transmission Loss For An Economic Dispatch Problem Without Valve-Point Loading Using An Ep-Epso Algorithm, Sevugarathinam Muthu Vijaya Pandian, Keppanagowder Thanushkodi

Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

Economic dispatch (ED) is one of the most important optimization problems in a power system. The objective of ED is sharing the power demand among the online generators while keeping the minimum cost of generation as a constraint. The aim of this paper is to operate an electric power system as economically as possible within its security limits. This paper proposes the following 2 new particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithms to solve a nonconvex economic dispatch problem: an efficient PSO is termed as efficient particle swarm optimization (EPSO), and a hybrid of evolutionary programming (EP) and EPSO is termed as …

Symbolic Regression Of Crop Pest Forecasting Using Genetic Programming, Basim Alhadidi, Alaa Alafeef, Heba Al-Hiari

Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

In this paper, we propose and evaluate a mathematical model that describes the reported data on crop pests to get an accurate prediction of production costs, food safety, and the protection of the environment. Meteorological factors are not the only things that affect a bumper harvest; it is also affected by crop plant diseases and insect pests. Studies show that relying solely on the naked-eye observations of experts to forecast well-planned agriculture is not always sufficient to achieve effective control. Providing fast, automatic, cheap, and accurate artificial intelligence-based solutions for that task can be of great realistic significance. The proposed …

Three-Dimensional Numerical Simulation Of Crystal And Crucible Rotations During Czochralski Growth Of Ge_Xsi_{1-X} Single Crystals, Serkan Abbasoğlu

Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

The influence of crystal and crucible rotations on the flow field and the radial segregation of silicon are predicted during the growth of Ge_xSi_{1-x} crystals by the Czochralski method under microgravity conditions. Time-dependent 3-dimensional numerical simulations are carried out to present the influence of several rotation rates on the radial segregation and flow fields during the growth of Ge_xSi_{1-x}. Thermal and solutal Marangoni convection are also considered during this study. Different crystal rotation rates varying between 0 and 30 rpm and stationary or -2 rpm crucible rotation rates are considered. The results show that the crystal and crucible rotation rates …

Basal Graph Structures For Geometry Based Organization Of Wide-Baseline Image Collections, Aveek Shankar Brahmachari

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

We propose algorithms for organization of images in wide-area sparse-view datasets. In such datasets, if the images overlap in scene content, they are related by wide-baseline geometric transformations. The challenge is to identify these relations even if the images sparingly overlap in their content. The images in a dataset are then grouped into sets of related images with the relations captured in each set as a basal (minimal and foundational) graph structures. Images form the vertices in the graph structure and the edges define the geometric relations between the images. We use these basal graphs for geometric walkthroughs and detection …

Column: The Physics Of Digital Information-Part 2, Fred Cohen

Journal of Digital Forensics, Security and Law

In part 1 of this series (Cohen, 2011a), we discussed some of the basics of building a physics of digital information. Assuming, as we have, that science is about causality and that a scientific theory should require that cause(C) produces effect (E) via mechanism M (written C→ME), we explore that general theory of digital systems from the perspective of attributing effects (i.e., traces of activities in digital systems) to their causes. Full details of the current version of this physics are available online2 , and in this article, we explore a few more of them.

Technology Corner: Dating Of Electronic Hardware For Prior Art Investigations, Sellam Ismail

Journal of Digital Forensics, Security and Law

In many legal matters, specifically patent litigation, determining and authenticating the date of computer hardware or other electronic products or components is often key to establishing the item as legitimate evidence of prior art. Such evidence can be used to buttress claims of technologies available or of events transpiring by or at a particular date.

Applying The Acpo Principles In Public Cloud Forensic Investigations, Harjinder S. Lallie, Lee Pimlott

Journal of Digital Forensics, Security and Law

The numerous advantages offered by cloud computing has fuelled its growth and has made it one of the most significant of current computing trends. The same advantages have created complex issues for those conducting digital forensic investigations. Digital forensic investigators rely on the ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers) or similar guidelines when conducting an investigation, however the guidelines make no reference to some of the issues presented by cloud investigations. This study investigates the impact of cloud computing on ACPO’s core principles and asks whether these principles can still be applied in a cloud investigation and the challenges presented …

An Overview Of The Jumplist Configuration File In Windows 7, Harjinder S. Lallie, Parmjit S. Bains

Journal of Digital Forensics, Security and Law

The introduction of Jumplists in Windows 7 was an important feature from a forensic examiners viewpoint. Jumplist configuration files can provide the examiner with a wealth of information relating to file access and in particular: dates/times, Volume GUIDs and unique file object IDs relating to those files. Some of the information in the Jumplist could be used to build a more precise timeline relating to system and file usage. In this article, we analyse the structure of a Jumplist configuration file and in particular a record from a Jumplist configuration file and highlight some of the important entries therein.

Pandora’S Email Box? An Exploratory Study Of Web-Based Email Forgery Detection And Validation., Richard Boddington, Grant Boxall, Jeremy Ardley

Journal of Digital Forensics, Security and Law

Web based email systems may be a source of pristine digital evidence because of the perceived difficulty of client tampering with messages stored inside the email account. We demonstrate that such assumption is wrong in the case of Windows Live Hotmail®1 . Windows Live Mail®1 synchronises message on client-side computers with the Hotmail® server, benefiting users wishing to synchronise their email accounts and personal devices. However, this synchronisation opens an exploit for wrongdoers to tamper with existing email messages and attachments as well as facilitating the insertion of fabricated messages. The exploit process enables persistent storage of tampered and fabricated …

Toward Alignment Between Communities Of Practice And Knowledge-Based Decision Support, Jason Nichols, David Biros, Mark Weiser

Journal of Digital Forensics, Security and Law

The National Repository of Digital Forensics Information (NRDFI) is a knowledge repository for law enforcement digital forensics investigators (LEDFI). Over six years, the NRDFI has undertaken significant design revisions in order to more closely align the architecture of the system with theory addressing motivation to share knowledge and communication within ego-centric groups and communities of practice. These revisions have been met with minimal change in usage patterns by LEDFI community members, calling into question the applicability of relevant theory when the domain for knowledge sharing activities expands beyond the confines of an individual organization to a community of practice. When …

Implementing The Automated Phases Of The Partially-Automated Digital Triage Process Model, Gary Cantrell, David A. Dampier

Journal of Digital Forensics, Security and Law

Digital triage is a pre-digital-forensic phase that sometimes takes place as a way of gathering quick intelligence. Although effort has been undertaken to model the digital forensics process, little has been done to-date to model digital triage. This work discusses the further development of a model that attempts to address digital triage, the Partially-automated Crime Specific Digital Triage Process model. The model itself will be presented along with a description of how its automated functionality was implemented to facilitate model testing.