Thesis (Ph. D.)--Columbia University. / Vita.

Rev. version of the author's PH. D. thesis, University of London, 1963. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S. in Software Engineering)--Naval Postgraduate School, March 2010. / Thesis Advisor(s): Horner, Douglas. Second Reader: Michael James B. "March 2010." Description based on title screen as viewed on April 27, 2010. Author(s) subject terms: Rapid application development, quadrotor helicopter, quadcopter, inertial measurement unit, digital signal processing, Nintendo Wii Motionplus, dsPIC. Includes bibliographical references (p. 65-66). Also available in print.

Rev. version of the author's PH. D. thesis, University of London, 1963. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Columbia University. / Vita.

No description available.

As software complexity increases, well defined managerial methods of organising software production become increasingly crucial to the success of software projects. As the investigation into the field of software process methodology continues, two approaches to process modelling have emerged as tools with which to model such processes. Graphical notations provide a clear, intuitive method of describing processes, whilst process modelling languages offer the ability to execute those processes. However, many existing process modelling languages are derived from programming languages, and, as such, inherit the low-level, syntactically complex attributes of these languages. The main goal of this thesis is to provide a process modelling language based on a well-known and practised graphical approach to modelling processes, the Role Activity Diagram (RAD). To ensure a high level of applicability, we emphasise the importance of ensuring that the language is readily accessible to those without a technical background. To this end, as well as being a linguistic approach with origins firmly in the process modelling field, models defined in this language are intended to exhibit a high level of abstraction and intuitiveness. This thesis proposes the Romula process modelling language as a complementary approach to Role Activity Diagrams, and describes a tool developed for animating processes modelled in this language. A discussion is presented which highlights the problems of animating Romula models derived from RADs which had to be overcome when developing Romula. Evaluation of the Romula language was achieved by validation and specification. For validation, the Romula approach was used to represent and execute two complex example process models. The first of these, named ProcMod, is a process model of a hypothetical software development process, itself validated by enacting it on a simple software development scenario. The second example process model is an implementation in Romula of a requirements-oriented process framework, presented as a method for representing the organisation of large software projects across multiple contributing entities. Examples of how this framework can be utilised are implemented in Romula. A method of translating Romula models into the formal specification notation CSP is also provided, demonstrated by example translations. This method enables Romula-derived CSP models to be checked for formal properties such as deadlock, livelock, and reachability, as well as providing a formal specification of the core semantics of the language.

The North York Moors National Park was designated in 1952 to conserve the extensive area of open dry upland heath dominated by Calluna vulgaris. However, problems of moorland management have occurred with the loss of open moorland to agriculture, and forestry. Bracken encroachment, over-aging of heather, and soil erosion are further problems. In attempts to solve these problems, it is necessary to produce vegetation and land cover maps which can be achieved by using remote sensing techniques. This thesis examines the use of Landsat TM data and remote sensing techniques to produce an upland vegetation distribution map which may be useful as a data input for management planning. Landsat TM data acquired on 31st May 1985 were used to discriminate the upland vegetation communities in five sample areas: Blakey, Egton, Farndale, Glaisdale, and Whitby. A supervised box and maximum likelihood classification from the R-CHIPS image processing system is used to determine the distribution of vegetation classes. Spectral coincident plots and scatter diagrams of the training data were examined to produce classmaps. The Habitat maps, used as a guide during computer training stages were also used for assessing the accuracy of classification results. It is shown that the average accuracy of box classification result is about 77% whilst using maximum likelihood classification, overall accuracy of 85% has been achieved. It is shown that bracken, mature Calluna, young Calluna, coniferous plantation, improved grassland, and bryophytes were better discriminated whilst acid flush, acid grassland, and semi-improved acid grassland were less successfully identified. The potential and problems of the techniques are discussed and alternatives strategies to achieved better results are suggested. Using high spatial resolution data such as SPOT imagery, multi-temporal data acquisition, and image filtering may increase the classification accuracies. The combined use of image masking and maximum likelihood classification will reduce generalisation giving high classification accuracy.

A laboratory scale fermenter control system, based on a Z80 microprocessor operating at 4 MHz, has been developed. The system has the following features: 1 -" 8 Kbytes of RAM and 4 Kbytes of EPROM (with extra space for another 4 Kbytes); 2 -" Two serial links (RS232c);3-" An analog/digital converter with an 8 channel multiplexer and an opto-triac system for switching control devices (heater, peristaltic pumps); 4 -" Four interface cards to connect the parameter sensors. This system has the advantage that it is based on well established (though not state-of-the-art) microelectronic technology (Z80 chips) widely available in the world at reasonable prices. This, plus the fact that both hardware and software were locally designed, means that it is truly 'portable' in the sense that, with limited resources, copies can easily be constructed in developing countries (the idea is that Mark-II will be built in North East Brazil to support research into yeast fermentation technology). The control system was evaluated in batch and chemostatic growth modes. Both modes were used to investigate the growth kinetics of a genetically engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain (BC55) carrying the plasmid pCYG4 which directs 10 fold more NADP-GDH activity than wild type cells. Batch culture experiments showed that the presence of plasmid increased ammonia uptake by the cells but did not improve biomass or ethanol yield compared to wild type cells. Under carbon-limitation NADP-GDH activity was in phase with GOGAT and penicillinase activity. NADP-GDH and GOGAT activities were inversely proportional to intracellular ammonia concentration and proportional to intracellular L-glutamate concentration. Under nitrogen limitation (using ammonia as limiting substrate) GOGAT activity increased, but NADP-GDH and penicillinase activity remained at the same level as under carbon limitation. Using L-glutamate as nitrogen source NADP-GDH activity was very low and GOGAT and penicillinase activities were undetectables with an increase in NAD-GDH activity. Oscillations found in enzyme activities and intracellular metabolite concentration under carbon and nitrogen limitation experiments are a consequence of a mixed culture (the presence of cells with plasmid GDH (gdh+ cells) and cells without plasmid GDH (gdh- cells)) with changing concentrations of the 2 populations.

M.A. (Social Work) / The focus of the research of this dissertation was to study the movement away from the use of the medical model in social work. To facilitate the study of this movement, it was necessary for the candidate to familiarize herself with the technology and terminology associated with the medical model originally formulated by Mary Richmond (1922) and later developed by authors like Aptekar (1936), Hollis (1951), Maas (1958) and others as discussed in chapter two. As social work practice moved away from a medical procedure, substitute technology and terminology developed. From an investigation into recent publications on the subject the candidate found that the more recent models for social work practice accommodate the use of substitute technology which includes professional procedures such as assessment, gathering of base line information, the drawing up of contracts, the use of measurement scales and goal orientated helping processes. Examples of such models are included in this dissertation are the models based on life task centeredness, crisis intervention and competency. In these models, assessment is regarded as the appropriate professional activity and a substitute for diagnosis as prescribed in the medical model. As a result of technological changes in social work practice, the candidate became aware of the development of substitute terminology to endorse the technology peculiar to the profession. Medical terms like pathology, problem, symptoms, diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, therapist, remediation and patient are replaced by development, dysfunction, indicators, assessment, pre-estimation, intervention or helping, counsellor, and client. The empirical investigation for this dissertation indicates that there is a movement away from medical technology an terminology in the training of undergraduate social work students.