Computer Sciences Commons^™

Intelligent Systems For Industry Using Reinforcement Learning Technique, Lirandë Pira

Theses and Dissertations

The rise of Intelligent Systems has happened gradually, then suddenly. They are gradual because we are aware that this field of computing has come a long way along with the history of computers. Yet, the sudden astonishing changes that affect mankind seem to take everyone in surprise. Their occurrence is reshaping the real world and our interaction with our digital life is changing in profound ways. Can computers think? We don’t have evidence on that, whatever the answer to that question is. But what we know is that computers do learn. Indeed, the whole process of computer evolution revolves around …

Bootstrap Vs Foundation, Leandrit Ferizi

Theses and Dissertations

Në kohën tonë teknologjia po ecën me hapa shumë të shpejtë, sidomos në fushën e paisjeve elektronike si: kompjuterë, telefona të menqur, televizorë të menqur, etj. Numri i përdorueseve të internetit dhe këtyre paisjeve ështe në rritje të vazhdueshme. Platformat dhe madhësit e ndryshme të këtyre paisjeve na deyrojnë që gjatë zhvillimit të web faqeve të mendojmë për secilin përdorues duke orientuar zhvillimin që të jetë kompatibil me shfletuesit dhe të gjitha paisjet. Pamja e web faqeve dallon varësisht nga paisja e përdorur. Web faqeve, tek të cilat ky ndryshim ndodh varësisht nga paisja, ju referohemi si “Responsive Websites”. Krijimi …

Aplikimi I Decision Tree Në Kompanitë E Sigurimeve, Shpend Sadiku

Theses and Dissertations

Data mining është lëmi ku shkencat kompjuterike bashkëveprojnë fuqishëm me shkencat statistikore dhe qëllimi kryesor është identifikimi i marrëdhënieve dhe trendëve të fshehura në të dhënat e mbledhura dhe parashikimi i trendëve/ngjarjeve te ardhshme. Duke e ditur se sot shumica e aktiviteteve tona janë të lidhura ngushtë me përdorim të teknologjisë informative, sasia e të dhënave të mbledhura nga ana e kompanive dhe institucioneve të ndryshme është e jashtëzakonisht e madhe. Prandaj, edhe dobitë që mund të përfitohen nga këto të dhëna janë të mëdha dhe atë në të gjitha segmentet e jetës. Duke përdorur metoda të ndryshme për analizimin …

Wordpress Vs. Joomla, Rinor Bivolaku

Theses and Dissertations

Ekzistojnë probleme të ndryshme të asociuara me një uebsajt statik, si për shembull përditësimi i menaxhimit dhe përmbajtjes(management and content update). Për të adresuar këto probleme, një alternativë është përdorimi i Content Management Systems(CMS), siç janë WordPress dhe Joomla. Ky punim përshkruan procesin e përdorimit të këtyre CMS-ëve në një uebsajt statik (proces i njohur si migrimi i sajtit statik në CMS), duke shtuar funksionalitetet të cilat vijnë duke i adresuar kërkesat që vijnë nga një kompani apo klient i caktuar. Në ndërkohë, themes përdoren për të kustomizuar uebsajtin bazuar në po ato kërkesa; pluginsat specifik të WordPress apo …

The Quest To Secure Email: A Usability Analysis Of Key Management Alternatives, Jeffrey Thomas Andersen

Theses and Dissertations

The current state of email security is lacking, and the need for end-to-end encryption of email is clear. Recent research has begun to make progress towards usable, secure email for the masses (i.e., novice users without IT support). In this paper, we evaluate the usability implications of three different key management approaches: PGP, IBE, and passwords. Our work is the first formal A/B evaluation of the usability of different key management schemes, and the largest formal evaluation of secure email ever performed. Our results reveal interesting inherent usability trade-offs for each approach to secure email. Furthermore, our research results in …

A Step Towards An Intelligent Digital Training Management System (I-Dtms), Andrew Dugger

Theses and Dissertations

The U.S. Army Digital Training Management System (DTMS) is a web-based system designed to create a single point of entry for units to schedule unit training, manage training resources, and create schedules and master calendars for training. Currently, the U.S. Army uses DTMS to manage unit training and help commanders at each step of the training management process from planning and preparing to execute and assessing the training plans. This research aims to add intelligent features to DTMS through augmenting it with an intelligent decision support system (ITPSS) that utilizes artificial intelligence techniques (case-based reasoning, in particular) to determine if …

Usable, Secure Content-Based Encryption On The Web, Scott Ruoti

Theses and Dissertations

Users share private information on the web through a variety of applications, such as email, instant messaging, social media, and document sharing. Unfortunately, recent revelations have shown that not only is users' data at risk from hackers and malicious insiders, but also from government surveillance. This state of affairs motivates the need for users to be able to encrypt their online data.In this dissertation, we explore how to help users encrypt their online data, with a special focus on securing email. First, we explore the design principles that are necessary to create usable, secure email. As part of this exploration, …

A Multi-Objective Approach To Tactical Maneuvering Within Real Time Strategy Games, Christopher D. Ball

Theses and Dissertations

The real time strategy (RTS) environment is a strong platform for simulating complex tactical problems. The overall research goal is to develop artificial intelligence (AI) RTS planning agents for military critical decision making education. These agents should have the ability to perform at an expert level as well as to assess a players critical decision-making ability or skill-level. The nature of the time sensitivity within the RTS environment creates very complex situations. Each situation must be analyzed and orders must be given to each tactical unit before the scenario on the battlefield changes and makes the decisions no longer relevant. …

Synaptic Annealing: Anisotropic Simulated Annealing And Its Application To Neural Network Synaptic Weight Selection, Justin R. Fletcher

Theses and Dissertations

Machine learning algorithms have become a ubiquitous, indispensable part of modern life. Neural networks are one of the most successful classes of machine learning algorithms, and have been applied to solve problems previously considered to be the exclusive domain of human intellect. Several methods for selecting neural network configurations exist. The most common such method is error back-propagation. Backpropagation often produces neural networks that perform well, but do not achieve an optimal solution. This research explores the effectiveness of an alternative feed-forward neural network weight selection procedure called synaptic annealing. Synaptic annealing is the application of the simulated annealing algorithm …

Dallimi Mes Agile Dhe Plan Driven, Dea Macula

Theses and Dissertations

Softueri ka qenë pjesë e tregut modern për shumë vite. Kemi disa metodologji të zhvillimit që përdoren në ditët e sotme. Burimet e pakta, konkurenca e ashpër si dhe kërkesat gjithnjë e në ndryshim të biznesit kërkojnë modele të zhvillimit të softuerit që janë sa më efikase dhe fleksibile. Edhe pse disa prej kompanive kanë metodologjinë e tyre përshtatëse të zhvillimit, pjesa më e madhe përodrin dy prej llojeve më të njohur siq janë: Plan Drvien dhe Agile metodologjitë. Plan Driven metodologjitë konsiderohen si formë tradicionale e zhvillimit të softuerit që përkrahin planifikimin e plotë, dokumentacion të detajuar dhe dizjan …

The Asynchronous T-Step Approximation For Scheduling Batch Flow Systems, David R. Grimsman

Theses and Dissertations

Heap models in the max-plus algebra are interesting dynamical systems that can be used to model a variety of tetris-like systems, such as batch flow shops for manufacturing models. Each heap in the model can be identified with a single product to manufacture. The objective is to manufacture a group of products in such an order so as to minimize the total manufacturing time. Because this scheduling problem reduces to a variation of the Traveling Salesman Problem (known to be NP-complete), the optimal solution is computationally infeasible for many real-world systems. Thus, a feasible approximation method is needed. This work …

Application Of Computer Modeling And Simulation Techniques For Optimization Of Factory Floor Operations In Small To Medium- Sized Businesses, Brian P. Romano

Theses and Dissertations

The rationale and motive for this thesis was to prove that no matter the size of a company and its particular value stream, the application of applied computer science principles with a reliance on computer modeling and simulation onto the factory floor process improves efficiencies and throughput through the reduction of downtime and/or process waiting. This thesis research specifically emphasized small businesses of between $2 and $20 million and was purposely limited to factory floor production processes and utilized standardized applied computer science techniques including simulation and modeling, microprocessor based factory floor intelligence devices. The results of this applied technology …

Analysis Tools And Defense Mechanisms For Dos Hash Attacks, Pratick Henry Bakhtiani

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis focuses on creating tools for the gathering and management of data for analyzing Denial of Service attacks on the advertisement-based synchronization mechanism used in the DirectDemocracyP2P application. In this report we present two tools that were developed as part of this eort: AttackerClient and Decoding and Distribution. These tools are used to perform the attack and analyze the captured network packets of the attack data, storing them in a database. The Decoding and Distribution tool can distinguish between dierent types of messages. It can also assemble fragmented messages from UDP chunks. The created tools help to manage a …

A Distributed Control Algorithm For Small Swarms In Cordon And Patrol, C Kristopher Alder

Theses and Dissertations

Distributed teams of air and ground robots have the potential to be very useful in a variety of application domains, and much work is being done to design distributed algorithms that produce useful behaviors. This thesis presents a set of distributed algorithms that operate under minimal human input for patrol and cordon tasks. The algorithms allow the team to surround and travel between objects of interest. Empirical analyses indicate that the surrounding behaviors are robust to variations on the shape of the object of interest, communication loss, and robot failures.

Using Perceptually Grounded Semantic Models To Autonomously Convey Meaning Through Visual Art, Derrall L. Heath

Theses and Dissertations

Developing advanced semantic models is important in building computational systems that can not only understand language but also convey ideas and concepts to others. Semantic models can allow a creative image-producing-agent to autonomously produce artifacts that communicate an intended meaning. This notion of communicating meaning through art is often considered a necessary part of eliciting an aesthetic experience in the viewer and can thus enhance the (perceived) creativity of the agent. Computational creativity, a subfield of artificial intelligence, deals with designing computational systems and algorithms that either automatically create original and functional products, or that augment the ability of humans …

Exploring Data Mining Techniques For Tree Species Classification Using Co-Registered Lidar And Hyperspectral Data, Julia K. Marrs

Theses and Dissertations

NASA Goddard’s LiDAR, Hyperspectral, and Thermal imager provides co-registered remote sensing data on experimental forests. Data mining methods were used to achieve a final tree species classification accuracy of 68% using a combined LiDAR and hyperspectral dataset, and show promise for addressing deforestation and carbon sequestration on a species-specific level.

Decoding Of Non-Binary Multiple Insertion/Deletion Error Correcting Codes, Tuan Anh Le

Theses and Dissertations

Data that is either transmitted over a communication channel or stored in memory is not always completely error free. Many communication channels are subject to noise, and thus errors may occur during transmission from transmitter to receiver. For example, DRAM memory cell contents can change spuriously due to electromagnetic interference while magnetic flux can cause one or more bits to flip in magnetic storage devices. To combat these errors, codes capable of correcting insertion/deletion errors have been investigated.

Levenshtein codes are the foundation of this thesis. His codes, first constructed by Varshamov-Tenengol’ts, are capable of correcting one insertion/deletion error. Helberg …

Krahasimi I Funksioneve Dhe Procedurave Në Ms Sql Dhe Oracle, Besart Jashari

Theses and Dissertations

Që në fillet e para të zhvillimit softuerik, është paraqitur nevoja e ruajtës së të dhënave. Përgjatë viteve janë provuar mënyra të ndryshme të ruajtjes dhe manipulimit të tyre. Një nga mënyrat e para të krijimit të bazave të të dhënave, ishte ruajtja e të dhënave në sistemet e bazuara në fajll. Ruajtja dhe manipulimi i të dhënave në fajll, kishte probleme të shumta si: vështirësia e qasjes, formatet e ndryshme të të dhënave, shumëfishimi i të dhënave të njëjta. Me kalimin e kohës si dhe me zhvillimin e mëtutjeshëm të teknologjisë, në vazhdimësi është paraqitur nevoja e përmirësimit të …

Projektimi Dhe Dimenzionimi I Rrjetës Wan Në Qytetin E Gjakovës, Besar Kurshumlia

Theses and Dissertations

Sot shërbimet e internetit kanë arritur po thuajse në çdo kënd të globit, dhe përdorimi i tij është bërë i domosdoshëm, duke iu qasur nga pajisje të ndryshme si p.sh.: telefonat, tablatet dhe kompjuterë të ndryshëm. Pra internetin mund të shfrytëzojmë përmes pajisjeve të ndryshme duke u qasur në rrjet në dy mënyra: me tela, dhe pa tela (wireless). Shërbimet e internetit mund të ofrohet nga ISP të ndryshëm në qytete dhe fshatra, duke implementuar rrjeta WAN. Pothuajse në të gjithë zonat e banuara të Republikës së Kosovës janë implementuar rrjeta ku ofrohet shërbimi i internetit, por ka zona tjera …

Barriers To Initiation Of Open Source Software Projects In Research Libraries, Jason Curtis Thacker

Theses and Dissertations

Libraries share a number of core values with the Open Source Software (OSS) movement, suggesting there should be a natural tendency toward library participation in OSS projects. However, Dale Askey's 2008 Code4Lib column entitled We Love Open Source Software. No, You Can't Have Our Code, claims that while libraries are strong proponents of OSS, they are unlikely to actually contribute to OSS projects. He identifies, but does not empirically substantiate, six barriers that he believes contribute to this apparent inconsistency. The goal of this thesis is to empirically investigate not only Askey's central claim but also the six barriers he …

Intelligent Pen: A Least Cost Search Approach To Stroke Extraction In Historical Documents, Kevin L. Bauer

Theses and Dissertations

Extracting strokes from handwriting in historical documents provides high-level features for the challenging problem of handwriting recognition. Such handwriting often contains noise, faint or incomplete strokes, strokes with gaps, overlapping ascenders and descenders and competing lines when embedded in a table or form, making it unsuitable for local line following algorithms or associated binarization schemes. We introduce Intelligent Pen for piece-wise optimal stroke extraction. Extracted strokes are stitched together to provide a complete trace of the handwriting. Intelligent Pen formulates stroke extraction as a set of piece-wise optimal paths, extracted and assembled in cost order. As such, Intelligent Pen is …

An Analyzer For Message Passing Programs, Yu Huang

Theses and Dissertations

Asynchronous message passing systems are fast becoming a common means for communication between devices. Two problems existing in message passing programs are difficult to solve. The first problem, intended or otherwise, is message-race where a receive may match with more than one send in the runtime system. This non-determinism often leads to intermittent and unexpected behavior depending on the resolution of the race. Another problem is deadlock, which is a situation in that each member process of the group is waiting for some member process to communicate with it, but no member is attempting to communicate with it. Detecting if …

Graphical Narrative Interfaces: Representing Spatiotemporal Information For A Human-Robot Team With A Highly Autonomous Robot, Hiroaki Nakano

Theses and Dissertations

Having a well-developed Graphical User Interface (GUI) is often necessary for a human-robot team, especially when the human and the robot are not in close proximity to each other or when the human does not interact with the robot in real time. Most current GUIs process and display information in real time, but the time to interact with these systems does not scale well when the complexity of the displayed information increases or when information must be fused to support decision-making. We propose a new interface concept, a Graphical Narrative Interface (GNI), which presents story-based summaries driven by accumulated data. …

A Comparative Approach To Question Answering Systems, Josue Balandrano Coronel

Theses and Dissertations

In this paper I will analyze three different algorithms and approaches to implement Question Answering Systems (QA-Systems). I will analyze the efficiency, strengths, and weaknesses of multiple algorithms by explaining them in detail and comparing them with each other. The overarching aim of this thesis is to explore ideas that can be used to create a truly open context QA-System. Open context QA-Systems remain an open problem.

The various algorithms and approaches presented in this work will be focused on complex questions. Complex questions are usually verbose and the context of the question is equally important to answer the query …

Global Entropy Based Greedy Algorithm For Discretization, Sai Jyothsna Jonnalagadda

Theses and Dissertations

Discretization algorithm is a crucial step to not only achieve summarization of continuous attributes but also better performance in classification that requires discrete values as input. In this thesis, I propose a supervised discretization method, Global Entropy Based Greedy algorithm, which is based on the Information Entropy Minimization. Experimental results show that the proposed method outperforms state of the art methods with well-known benchmarking datasets. To further improve the proposed method, a new approach for stop criterion that is based on the change rate of entropy was also explored. From the experimental analysis, it is noticed that the threshold based …

Analysis And Simulation Of A Social Network, Twitter: A Case Study, Jonatan Reyes

Theses and Dissertations

The use of online social networks empowers its users to efficiently disseminate information across traditional social networks. Typically, the weight and value of messages are relative to its readers’ culture and interests. Nevertheless, in some instances, messages take the form of viral phenomenon, which circulates around the world in very short periods of time. Therefore, despite the actual content of the message spread over the network, the determination of the effectiveness of message dissemination across the social network becomes an attractive opportunity for scientific study. Since a meticulous analysis of a complete online social network would require the acquisition of …

An Arithmetic-Based Deterministic Centroid Initialization Method For The K-Means Clustering Algorithm, Matthew Michael Mayo

Theses and Dissertations

One of the greatest challenges in k-means clustering is positioning the initial cluster centers, or centroids, as close to optimal as possible, and doing so in an amount of time deemed reasonable. Traditional fc-means utilizes a randomization process for initializing these centroids, and poor initialization can lead to increased numbers of required clustering iterations to reach convergence, and a greater overall runtime. This research proposes a simple, arithmetic-based deterministic centroid initialization method which is much faster than randomized initialization. Preliminary experiments suggest that this collection of methods, referred to herein as the sharding centroid initialization algorithm family, often outperforms random …

An Exploration Of Rule Clustering In Cellular Automata Rule Spaces, Jordon Huffman

Theses and Dissertations

The study of complex systems examines the global behavior of a system and how the individual parts of the system affect that behavior [1]. The study of complex systems spans across many fields of science like biology, physics, engineering, and computer science. One area of complex systems that has not been fully explored is cellular automata. Since its discovery by John von Neumann, there have been no consistent ways of categorizing similarities between cellular automata rules or collecting similar rules for observation. This thesis introduces an approach to identifying clusters of similar rules and extracting rules from that cluster. Several …

Confirm: Clustering Of Noisy Form Images Using Robust Matching, Christopher Alan Tensmeyer

Theses and Dissertations

Identifying the type of a scanned form greatly facilitates processing, including automated field segmentation and field recognition. Contrary to the majority of existing techniques, we focus on unsupervised type identification, where the set of form types are not known apriori, and on noisy collections that contain very similar document types. This work presents a novel algorithm: CONFIRM (Clustering Of Noisy Form Images using Robust Matching), which simultaneously discovers the types in a collection of forms and assigns each form to a type. CONFIRM matches type-set text and rule lines between forms to create domain specific features, which we show outperform …

Hartimi Dhe Zhvillimi I Ueb Aplikacionit Për Përcjellje Përmes Sistemit Global Të Pozicionimit (Gps), Granit Peja

Theses and Dissertations

Sistemet softuerike në veçanti sistemet softuerike në kombinim me pjesët harduerike siç janë pajisjet që mundësojnë identifikimin e pozitës përmes Sistemit Global të Pozicionimit (GPS), janë shndërruar në aset për kompani të ndryshme apo për individë sidomos prindërit që kanë fëmijë dhe dëshirojnë të njoftohen për lokacionin e tyre në çdo kohë.

Këto lloje sisteme për herë të parë janë implementuar në industrinë e dërgesave më vonë filloj implementimi i tyre në industrinë automobilistike ndërsa tani përdorimi i tyre ka marrë përmasa më të gjëra dhe po përdoret për përcjelljen e individëve dhe kafshëve.

Fokusin kryesor në hartimin dhe zhvillimin …