Computer Engineering Commons^™

A Microsoft Vba Application For Generating Heat Maps, Mark Polczynski, Michael Polczynski

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

A choropleth map is a form of thematic map used to portray the structural characteristics of some particular geographical distribution not apparent in data presented in tabular form. Preparation of a choropleth map starts with the assignment of map features to classes based on the value of a specific feature attribute followed by the association of classes of features with appropriate map colors or symbols. Map features are often geographical regions with naturally or artificially defined boundaries, but choropleth maps can also be prepared by segmenting the area to be mapped into a regular grid of regions. Maps prepared with …

Discretized Agent-Based Model Of Infectious Disease Spread That Uses Contact Probability, Tyrell L. Gardner

Computational Modeling & Simulation Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This study uses contact probability in an agent-based model to simulate the spread of an infectious disease. In order to perform the study, the agent-based model must first be discretized into events. Each agent in the model is given its own infectious disease state machine taken from the Susceptible-Exposed-Infected-Recovered (SEIR) model. The agents move between squares in a grid environment where each square represents a group. Groups have a contact probability as an attribute that is used to predict whether an agent comes in close contact with another agent. The transitions between the states in the SEIR model are easily …

2014 (Fall) Ensi Informer Magazine, Morehead State University. Engineering Sciences Department

ENSI Informer Magazine Archive

The ENSI Informer Magazine published in the fall of 2014.

Automating Deployment Of Several Gbrowse Instances, Neil Moore, Jerzy W. Jaromczyk, Christopher L. Schardl, Joedocei Hill, Devin Wright

Computer Science Presentations

Background

As part of the fungal endophyte genomes project, we maintain genome browsers for several dozen strains of fungi from the Clavicipitaceae and related families. These genome browsers are based on the GBrowse software, with a large collection of in-house software for visualization, analysis, and searching of genome features.

Although GBrowse supports serving multiple data sources, such as distinct genome assemblies, from a single GBrowse instance, there are advantages to maintaining separate instances for each genome. Besides permitting per-genome customizations of the software, page layout, and database schemas, our use of separate instances also allows us to maintain different security …

A Hybrid Privacy-Preserving Mechanism For Participatory Sensing Systems, Idalides Jose Vergara

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Participatory Sensing (PS) is a new data collection paradigm in which people use their cellular phone resources to sense and transmit data of interest to address a collective problem that would have been very difficult to assess otherwise. Although many PS-based applications can be foreseen to solve interesting and useful problems, many of them have not been fully implemented due to privacy concerns. As a result, several privacy-preserving mechanisms have been proposed. This dissertation presents the state-of-the-art of privacy-preserving mechanisms for PS systems. It includes a new taxonomy and describes the most important issues in the design, implementation, and evaluation …

A Complex Social Network Analyses Of Online Finanical Communties In Times Of Geopolitcal Military And Terrorist Events, James Usher

Dissertations

Given the advances in technology the field of social network analysis has very much hit the forefront in recent years. The information age harnesses the use of social network analysis for multiple industries and for solving complex problems. Social network analysis is an important tool in the world of the military and counter intelligence, whether it’s the capture of Osama Bin Laden or uncovering hidden Al Qaeda terrorist networks, the world around us is built on networks, be that hidden or otherwise. Online social networks give new information in the world of intelligence agencies similarly online financial communities such as …

A Paper-Based Calorimetric Microfluidics Platform For Bio-Chemical Sensing, Benyamin Davaji, Chung Hoon Lee

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

In this report, a paper-based micro-calorimetric biochemical detection method is presented. Calorimetric detection of biochemical reactions is demonstrated as an extension of current colorimetric and electrochemical detection mechanisms of paper-based biochemical analytical systems. Reaction and/or binding temperature of glucose/glucose oxidase, DNA/hydrogen peroxide, and biotin/streptavidin, are measured by the paper-based micro-calorimeter. Commercially available glucose calibration samples of 0.05, 0.15 and 0.3% wt/vol concentration are used for comparing the device performance with a commercially available glucose meter (electrochemical detection). The calorimetric glucose detection demonstrates a measurement error less than 2%. The calorimetric detection results of DNA concentrations from 0.9 to 7.3 mg/mL …

Applying Data Mining Tools To Archaeological "Big Data", Michael Polczynski, Mark Polczynski

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Application Of Information And Communication Technologies For Historical Research, Michael Polczynski, Mark Polczynski

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

An Autonomous Robotic Indoor Environment Surveillance System, Andrew Gunnerson, Bogdan Olar, Haodong Wang

Undergraduate Research Posters 2014

We developed an autonomous mobile robot platform capable of following a path and gather environmental data, including temperature, humidity, light intensity, etc. The robot is capable of detecting the path using its camera and correct most navigational errors, while the sensors support a limited set of instructions regarding which sensor data to collect and how often. Our experiment consisted of having the robot follow a looped path we set up in BU004 Lab. The robot was able to complete the loop and gather sensor data for light intensity, humidity and temperature at a frequency of once per second, and also …

An Analysis Of (Bad) Behavior In Online Video Games, Jeremy Blackburn

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation studies bad behavior at large-scale using data traces from online video games. Video games provide a natural laboratory for exploring bad behavior due to their popularity, explicitly defined (programmed) rules, and a competitive nature that provides motivation for bad behavior. More specifically, we look at two forms of bad behavior: cheating and toxic behavior.

Cheating is most simply defined as breaking the rules of the game to give one player an edge over another. In video games, cheating is most often accomplished using programs, or "hacks," that circumvent the rules implemented by game code. Cheating is a threat …

Verifying And Validating Multirobot Missions, Damian M. Lyons, Ronald C. Arkin, Shu Jiang, Dagon Harrington, Tsung-Ming Liu

Faculty Publications

We have developed an approach that can be used by mission designers to determine whether or not a performance guarantee for their mission software, when carried out under the uncertain conditions of a real-world environment, will hold within a threshold probability. In this paper we demonstrate its utility for verifying multirobot missions, in particular a bounding overwatch mission.

A Catalog Of While Loop Specification Patterns, Aditi Barua, Yoonsik Cheon

Departmental Technical Reports (CS)

This document provides a catalog of while loop patterns along with their skeletal specifications. The specifications are written in a functional form known as intended functions. The catalog can be used to derive specifications of while loops by first matching the loops to the cataloged patterns and then instantiating the skeletal specifications of the matched patterns. Once their specifications are formulated and written, the correctness of while loops can be proved rigorously or formally using the functional program verification technique in which a program is viewed as a mathematical function from one program state to another.

Name-Face Association In Web Videos: A Large-Scale Dataset, Baselines, And Open Issues, Zhi-Neng Chen, Chong-Wah Ngo, Wei Zhang, Juan Cao, Yu-Gang Jiang

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Associating faces appearing in Web videos with names presented in the surrounding context is an important task in many applications. However, the problem is not well investigated particularly under large-scale realistic scenario, mainly due to the scarcity of dataset constructed in such circumstance. In this paper, we introduce a Web video dataset of celebrities, named WebV-Cele, for name-face association. The dataset consists of 75 073 Internet videos of over 4 000 hours, covering 2 427 celebrities and 649 001 faces. This is, to our knowledge, the most comprehensive dataset for this problem. We describe the details of dataset construction, discuss …

Generalized Approach Of Stator Shifting In Interior Permanent-Magnet Machines Equipped With Fractional-Slot Concentrated Windings, Patel B. Reddy, Kum-Kang Huh, Ayman M. El-Refaie

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Electrical drive systems, which include electrical machines and power electronics, are a key enabling technology for advanced vehicle propulsion systems that reduce the petroleum dependence of the ground transportation sector. To have significant effect, electric drive technologies must be economical in terms of cost, weight, and size while meeting performance and reliability expectations. Interior permanent magnet machines with fractional-slot concentrated windings have been shown to be good candidates for hybrid traction applications. One of the key challenges is the additional stator magnetomotive force sub- and superharmonic components that lead to higher losses in the rotor as well as saturation effects. …

Multi-Objective Tradeoffs In The Design Optimization Of A Brushless Permanent-Magnet Machine With Fractional-Slot Concentrated Windings, Peng Zhang, Gennadi Y. Sizov, Muyang Li, Dan M. Ionel, Nabeel Demerdash, Steven J. Stretz, Alan W. Yeadon

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

In this paper, a robust parametric model of a brushless permanent magnet machine with fractional-slot concentrated windings, which was developed for automated design optimization is presented. A computationally efficient finite-element analysis method was employed to estimate the dq-axes inductances, the induced voltage and torque ripple waveforms, and losses of the machine. A method for minimum effort calculation of the torque angle corresponding to the maximum torque per ampere load condition was developed. A differential evolution algorithm was implemented for the global design optimization with two concurrent objectives of minimum losses and minimum material cost. An engineering decision process based on …

Comparative Assessment Of Diverse Strategies For Malaria Vector Population Control Based On Measured Rates At Which Mosquitoes Utilize Targeted Resource Subsets, Gerry F. Killeen, Samson Sifael Kiware, Aklilu Seyoum, John E. Gimnig, George Corliss, Jennifer Stevenson, Christopher J. Drakeley, Nakul Chitnis

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Background

Eliminating malaria requires vector control interventions that dramatically reduce adult mosquito population densities and survival rates. Indoor applications of insecticidal nets and sprays are effective against an important minority of mosquito species that rely heavily upon human blood and habitations for survival. However, complementary approaches are needed to tackle a broader diversity of less human-specialized vectors by killing them at other resource targets.

Methods

Impacts of strategies that target insecticides to humans or animals can be rationalized in terms of biological coverage of blood resources, quantified as proportional coverage of all blood resources mosquito vectors utilize. Here, this concept …

Designing An Articulation-Agreement Database For The College Of Science And Engineering And Technology Advising Center, Stephanie Fasen, Susan Hendley, Tim Pham, Danish Zaman

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

During their academic careers, some college students transfer to different universities. To allow students to transfer seamlessly to other colleges, advisors at Minnesota universities create articulation agreements that list the classes that transfer between two universities. To use these documents, students and advisors must search through binders to find the correct articulation agreement and then manually review it. This is a time-consuming process for both students and advisors. To make this information more accessible, we created a web-based database that instantly produces a list of equivalent classes for majors offered at Minnesota St ate University, Mankato (MSU) and other Minnesota …

Analysis And Detection Of Heap-Based Malwares Using Introspection In A Virtualized Environment, Salman Javaid

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Malware detection and analysis is a major part of computer security. There is an arm race between security experts and malware developers to develop various techniques to secure computer systems and to find ways to circumvent these security methods. In recent years process heap-based attacks have increased significantly. These attacks exploit the system under attack via the heap, typically by using a heap spraying attack. The main drawback with existing techniques is that they either consume too many resources or are complicated to implement. Our work in this thesis focuses on new methods which offloads process heap analysis for guest …

Efficient Fpga Architectures For Separable Filters And Logarithmic Multipliers And Automation Of Fish Feature Extraction Using Gabor Filters, Arjun Kumar Joginipelly

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Convolution and multiplication operations in the filtering process can be optimized by minimizing the resource utilization using Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) and separable filter kernels. An FPGA architecture for separable convolution is proposed to achieve reduction of on-chip resource utilization and external memory bandwidth for a given processing rate of the convolution unit.

Multiplication in integer number system can be optimized in terms of resources, operation time and power consumption by converting to logarithmic domain. To achieve this, a method altering the filter weights is proposed and implemented for error reduction. The results obtained depict significant error reduction when …

Verification Of Costless Merge Pairing Heaps, Joshua Vander Hook

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

Most algorithms’ performance is limited by the data structures they use. Internal algorithms then decide the performance of the data structure. This cycle continues until fundamental results, verified by analysis and experiment, prevent further improvement. In this paper I examine one specific example of this. The focus of this work is primarily on a new variant of the pairing heap. I will review the new implementation, compare its theoretical performance, and discuss my original contribution: the first preliminary data on its experimental performance. It is instructive to provide some background information, followed by a formal definition of heaps in 1.1. …

Lost In The Middle Kingdom: Teaching New Languages Using Serious Games And Language Learning Methodologies, Renaldo Justin Doe

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis focuses on the design and development of a serious video game for language learning entitled Lost in the Middle Kingdom. Our game utilizes several language learning methodologies including second language acquisition theory, content-based instruction, and task-based language teaching. This thesis examines previous language learning games and their drawbacks in order to create a more effective experience. Lost in the Middle Kingdom seeks to balance language learning with fun and intuitive gameplay in order to deliver a form of interactive media that is accepted by both the gaming and research communities. Our test data illustrates the strengths and weaknesses …

Vocab4me: A Tool That Provides Vocabulary Recommendations For Publishing Linked Data, Srikar Nadipally

Theses and Dissertations

The web before linked data was a database of html documents. These documents were meant for human consumption and it was hard for machines to make sense of data in html documents. The linked data was introduced with the aim of making the web a global database of data that is machine processable. Linked Data describes a method of publishing structured data so that it can be interlinked and become more useful. Realizing the promise of linked data a lot of people started publishing linked data. But the process of publishing the huge amount of existing data is cumbersome and …

Document Image Analysis Techniques For Handwritten Text Segmentation, Document Image Rectification And Digital Collation, Dhaval Salvi

Theses and Dissertations

Document image analysis comprises all the algorithms and techniques that are utilized to convert an image of a document to a computer readable description. In this work we focus on three such techniques, namely (1) Handwritten text segmentation (2) Document image rectification and (3) Digital Collation.

Offline handwritten text recognition is a very challenging problem. Aside from the large variation of different handwriting styles, neighboring characters within a word are usually connected, and we may need to segment a word into individual characters for accurate character recognition. Many existing methods achieve text segmentation by evaluating the local stroke geometry and …

Ghosts Of The Horseshoe: A Mobilization Of A Critical Interactive, Richard Lee Walker

Theses and Dissertations

Critical Interactives (CIs) are designed to harness the voluntary, reality-bending excitement of discovery as afforded by play, but to do so in the context of rules that mobilize procedural rhetoric to instantiate critical awareness. Critical interactives are not just about improving lives through code or education; rather, they establish a methodology for generating more aesthetic and reflective interactive experiences. To grasp more fully the logic underpinning CIs, we need to understand the powerful nature of interactivity and outline how such interactivity involves a notion of ethics, i.e., a way of living, in and through media practice.

Ghosts of the Horseshoe …

Growth, Fabrication And Characterization Of Cu2Znsn(SXSe1-X)4 Photovoltaic Absorber And Thin-Film Heterojunction Solar Cells, Sandip Das

Theses and Dissertations

Current thin-film solar cell technologies based on CuIn_xGa1_-xSe₂ (CIGS) and CdTe photo-absorber materials use rare and expensive elements, such as In, Te, Ga, and toxic Cd which severely limit the mass production and deployment of these solar cells. Thus, a major research effort is focused toward the development of new photovoltaic (PV) absorber materials comprising of earth-abundant, low-cost, and environmentally benign constituent elements that can support terawatt (TW)-scale PV generation in the near future and be economically sustainable. Cu-based I₂-II-IV-VI₄ quaternary kesterite compound Cu₂ZnSn(S_xSe_1-x)4 (CZTSS_{e …}

Using Genetic Algorithm To Solve Median Problem And Phylogenetic Inference, Nan Gao

Theses and Dissertations

Genome rearrangement analysis has attracted a lot of attentions in phylogenetic com- putation and comparative genomics. Solving the median problems based on various distance definitions has been a focus as it provides the building blocks for maximum parsimony analysis of phylogeny and ancestral genomes. The Median Problem (MP) has been proved to be NP-hard and although there are several exact or heuristic al- gorithms available, these methods all are difficulty to compute distant three genomes containing high evolution events. Such as current approaches, MGR[1] and GRAPPA [2], are restricted on small collections of genomes and low-resolution gene order data of …

Memory Interface Synthesis For Fpga-Based Computing, Zheming Jin

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation describes a methodology for the generation of a custom memory interface and associated direct memory access (DMA) controller for FPGA-based kernels that have a regular access pattern. The interface provides explicit support for the following features: (1) memory latency hiding, (2) static access scheduling, and (3) data reuse. The target platform is a multi-FPGA platform, the Convey HC-1, which has an advanced memory system that presents the user logic with three critical design challenges: the memory system itself does not perform caching or prefetching, memory operations are arbitrarily reordered, and the memory performance depends on the access order …

Research On Approximate Bayesian Computation, Jiting Xu

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents the development of a new numerical algorithm for statistical inference problems that require sampling from distributions which are intractable. We propose to develop our sampling algorithm based on a class of Monte Carlo methods, Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC), which are specifically designed to deal with this type of likelihood-free inference. ABC has become a fundamental tool for the analysis of complex models when the likelihood function is computationally intractable or challenging to mathematically specify. The central theme of our approach is to enhance the current ABC algorithms by exploiting the structure of the mathematical models via derivative …

A User Study On Route Evaluation, Renjun Zheng, Jieqiong Zhao, David Ebert

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Currently existing route direction representation like arrow on the route is vastly used and intuitive however it is not guaranteed to meet the requirement of application level use. With many routes overlapping with each other on a map, directions become vague and ambiguous for user to recognize. Route visualization is a vital part of map-related application. We developed several route direction representations to investigate which one performs best when user view the routes on actual map. The shapes we chose for these representations respectively are curve, arrow, triangle, right triangle, and taper. We established a complete mechanism to test route …