Moshe Sidi and Adrian Segall. / Bibliography: p. 17. / "June, 1981." / Office of Naval Research contract No. ONR/N00014-77-C-0532

Thesis (M.Sc.)--York University, 2003. Graduate Programme in Earth and Space Science & Engineering. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 119-128). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=0&did=913494611&SrchMode=1&sid=1&Fmt=13&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1174573026&clientId=5220

When a network packet is formed by a computer's protocol stack, there are many components (e.g., Memory, CPU, etc.) of the computer that are involved in the process. The objective of this research is to identify, characterize and analyze the effects of the various components of a device (e.g., Memory, CPU, etc.) on the device's network traffic by measuring the changes in its network traffic with changes in its components. We also show how this characterization can be used to effectively perform counterfeit detection of devices which have counterfeit components (e.g., Memory, CPU, etc.). To obtain this characterization, we measure and apply statistical analyses like probability distribution fucntions (PDFs) on the interarrival times (IATs) of the device's network packets (e.g., ICMP, UDP, TCP, etc.). The device is then modified by changing just one component (e.g., Memory, CPU, etc.) at a time while holding the rest constant and acquiring the IATs again. This, over many such iterations provides an understanding of the effect of each component on the overall device IAT statistics. Such statistics are captured for devices (e.g., field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and personal computers (PCs)) of different types. Some of these statistics remain stable across different IAT captures for the same device and differ for different devices (completely different devices or even the same device with its components changed). Hence, these statistical variations can be used to detect changes in a device's composition, which lends itself well to counterfeit detection. Counterfeit devices are abundant in today's world and cause billions of dollars of loss in revenue. Device components are substituted with inferior quality components or are replaced by lower capacity components. Armed with our understanding of the effects of various device components on the device's network traffic, we show how such substitutions or alterations of legitimate device components can be detected and hence perform effective counterfeit detection by statistically analyzing the deviation of the device's IATs from that of the original legitimate device. We perform such counterfeit detection experiments on various types of device configurations (e.g., PC with changed CPU, RAM, etc.) to prove the technique's efficacy. Since this technique is a fully network-based solution, it is also a non-destructive technique which can quickly, inexpensively and easily verify the device's legitimacy. This research also discusses the limitations of network-based counterfeit detection.

When geographical distance poses as a barrier, telepathology is designed to offer pathologists the opportunity to replicate their normal activities by using an alternative means of practice. The rapid progression in technology has greatly influenced the appeal of telepathology and its use in multiple domains. To that point, telepathology systems help to afford teleconsultation services for remote locations, improve the workload distribution in clinical environments, measure quality assurance, and also enhance educational programs. While telepathology is an attractive method to many potential users, the resource requirements for digitizing microscopic specimens have hindered widespread adoption. The use of image compression is extremely critical to help advance the pervasiveness of digital images in pathology. For this research, we characterize two different methods that we use to assess compression of pathology images. Our first method is characterized by the fact that image quality is human-based and completely subjective in terms of interpretation. Our second method is characterized by the fact that image analysis is introduced by using machine-based interpretation to provide objective results. Additionally, the objective outcomes from the image analysis may also be used to help confirm tumor classification. With these two methods in mind, the purpose of this dissertation is to quantify the effects of image compression on data interpretation as seen by human experts and a computerized algorithm for use in telepathology.

Thesis (M.S. in Computer Science)--Naval Postgraduate School, December 2003. / Thesis advisor(s): Neil Rowe, Carlyle Wash. Includes bibliographical references (p. 95). Also available online.

Thesis (M.S. in Meteorology and Physical Oceanography)--Naval Postgraduate School, December 2003. / Thesis advisor(s): Carlyle Wash, Neil Rowe. Includes bibliographical references (p. 47-48). Also available online.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2002. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 127-134).

published_or_final_version / Electrical and Electronic Engineering / Master / Master of Philosophy

This thesis is dedicated to the study of gain transients of discrete fiber Raman amplifiers and to the all-optical gain-clamping technique which is used to mitigate those transients. / First, we study the standing-wave and the traveling-wave gain-clamping techniques when applied to a single discrete fiber Raman amplifier in the context of WDM channel add and drop. We take into account the operational regime of the amplifier and the location of the surviving channel in the amplification band. We demonstrate that the gain-clamped amplifier has to be operated in a regime below the critical regime to ensure that gain-clamping will be in effect. The efficiency of gain-clamping also depends on the feedback level of the lasing signal and on the implementation. / Next, we investigate the dynamic behaviour of a single discrete fiber Raman amplifier fed by multi-channel packet traffic. Our study shows that the efficiency of the gain-clamping technique to reduce the gain transients is dependent upon the operational regime of the amplifier and the packet duration. However, we also demonstrate that gain-clamping is not required to control the gain transients as the gain variations of the unclamped amplifier are small enough to be neglected. / We then theoretically analyse the dynamic response of cascades of discrete fiber Raman amplifiers subject to WDM channel add and drop. We consider cascades of mixed unclamped and gain-clamped amplifiers, varying the number and the position of the gain-clamped amplifiers in the cascade and taking into account the location of the surviving channel and the operational regime of the amplifiers. Our results show that the location of the gain-clamped amplifiers in a mixed cascade affects the transient characteristics and that it is possible to control the transients within tolerable limits. / Finally, we investigate the gain transients that occur in hybrid amplifiers in the presence of channel add and drop. We demonstrate that the gain-clamping technique can be used to mitigate the gain transients in hybrid amplifiers and that the surviving channel location does not influence the transient characteristics, contrary to the case of single and cascaded fiber Raman amplifiers.

The field of restorative dentistry and the problem of ultrasonic airframe corrosion in aerospace are introduced as motivation for the construction of a miniature ultrasonic pulser/receiver. / A broadly applicable ultrasonic pulser and receiver system is developed. Two pulsers, a 5V square and a 100V spike, and a 52dB amplifier with a 57MHz 6dB bandwidth were constructed as a result. These battery powered devices are tailored for compatibility with a custom built wireless data transmission system, also driven by the same voltage. It is demonstrated that the new pulser/receiver is comparable to the commercial system in performance in certain areas. / The new pulsers/receiver and a commercial one are used in this work. The data is acquired and analyzed using LabView and Matlab. It is shown that the ultrasonic technique can be used to follow the reaction in time as well as to gauge the cure of dental composites. The current work in ultrasonic airframe corrosion detection is furthered and the wireless system's functionality is affirmed.