In this thesis the theory of both linear differential equations with periodic coefficients and linear differential equations with random coefficients is applied to investigate the stability and accuracy of parameter adaptation of sinusoidal perturbation and model reference adaptive control systems. Throughout dimensional analysis applied so that all the results are presented in a non-dimensional form. The first part of the thesis t s devoted to investigating the stability of such differential equations. In chapter 1 a system of linear homogeneous differential equations with periodic coefficients is considered and a numerical procedure, based on Floquet theory and well suited for use on a digital computer, is presented for obtaining necessary and sufficient conditions for asymptotic stability of the null solution. Also considered in this chapter is the so called infinite determinant method of obtaining the stability boundaries for a restricted class of linear differential equations with periodic coefficients. Chapter 2 is devoted to reviewing the current state of the stability theory of linear differential equations with random coefficients. In chapter 3 a theoretical analysis of the stability and accuracy of parameter adaptation of a single input, sinusoidal perturbation, extremum control system with output lag is considered. Using the principle of harmonic balance it is shown that various stable harmonic and sub-harmonic steady state solutions are possible in certain regions of the parameter space. By examining the domains of attraction, corresponding to the stable solutions, regions in three dimensional space are obtained within .which initial conditions will lead to a given steady state stable oscillation. It is also shown that the subharmonic steady state solutions do not correspond to the optimum solution, so that, for certain initial conditions and parameter values, it is possible for the system to reach a steady state solution which is not the optimum solution. All the theoretical results are verified by direct analogue computer simulation of the system. The remainder of the thesis is devoted to investigating the stability and accuracy of parameter adapt.at ion of model reference adaptive control systems. In order to develop a mathematical analysis, and to illustrate the difficulties involved, a stability analysis of a first order M.I.T. type system with controllable gain, when the input varies with time in both a periodic and random manner, is first carried out. Also considered are the effects of (a) random disturbances at the system output (b) and (b) periodic and random variations, with time, of the controlled process environmental parameters, on the stability of the system and the accuracy of its parameter adaptation. When the input varies sinusoidally with time stability boundaries are obtained using both a numerical implementation of Floquet theory and the infinite determinant method; the relative merits of the two methods is discussed. The theoretical results are compared with stability boundaries obtained by analogue computer simulation of the system. It is shown that the stability boundaries are complex in nature and that some knowledge of such boundaries is desirable before embarking on an analogue computer investigation of the system. When the input varies randomly with time the stability problem reduces to one of investigating the stability of a system of linear differential equations with random coefficients. Both the theory of Markov processes, involving use of the Fokker-Planck equation, and the second method of Liapunov are used to investigate the problem; limitations and difficulty of applications of the theory is discussed. The theoretical results obtained are compared with those obtained by digital simulation of the system. If the controlled process environmental parameter is allowed to become time varying then it is shown that this effects both the stability of the system and the accuracy of its parameter adaptation. Theoretical results are obtained for the cases of the parameter varying both sinusoidally and randomly with time; some of the results are compared with those obtained by digital simulation of the system. It is also shown that noise disturbance at the system output has no effect on the system stability but does effect the accuracy of the parameter adaptation. The doubts concerning the stability and the difficulty of analysis of the M.I.T. , type system have led.:researchers to think about redesigning the model reference system from the point of view of stability. In particular we have the Liapunov synthesis method where the resulting system is guaranteed stable for all possible inputs. However, in designing such systems the controlled process environmental parameters are assumed constant and, by considering the Liapunov redesign scheme of the first order M.I.T. system previously discussed, it will be shown that the effect of making such parameters time varying is to introduce a stability problem. In chapter 6 the methods developed for analysing the first order system are extended to examine the stability of a higher order M.I.T. type system. The system considered has a third order process and a second order model and a stability analysis is presented for both sinusoidal and random input. Steady state values of the adapting parameters are first obtained and the linearized variational equations , for small disturbances about such steady states, examined to answer the stability problem. Theoretical results are compared with those obtained by direct analogue computer simulation of the system. The effect, on the mathematical analysis , of replacing the system multipliers by diode switching units is also considered in this chapter. The chapter concludes by presenting a method of obtaining a Liapunov redesign scheme for the system under discussion.

<p> Project success has multiple definitions in the scholarly literature. Research has shown that some scholars and practitioners define project success as the completion of a project within schedule and within budget. Others consider a successful project as one in which the customer is satisfied with the product. This quantitative study was conducted to test the relationship between communications of agile teams and project success. The research also tested the relationship between software process improvement and project success. The researcher presented three different characterizations of project success (time, budget and customer satisfaction). Through correlation testing, the study examined the results of the relationship between communications, software process improvement, and project success. The customer satisfaction definition of project success was more closely correlated with projects in which communications was effective. Projects characterized as having a formal software process improvement process in place were more closely correlated with the cost and schedule definitions of project success. Implications of the study include conducting further research with ordinal data in the regression testing of the independent and dependent variables. Future work should concentrate upon risk and change management in an agile project management project environment. This work furthers the ideas contained in the Project Management Second Order (PM-2) framework.</p>

<p> A company or government is only as good as its most qualified employees. This qualitative interpretative phenomenological study sought to understand what skills are needed to supervise government information technology (IT) project managers through their lived experience. Fifteen participants in the field of government IT were interviewed. They included five senior managers, five supervisors, and five project managers who worked as IT government contractors or employees were interviewed. The participants&rsquo; responses revealed that different groups disagreed as to what skill sets were essential in supervising government IT project managers. The findings of the research highlighted that the senior managers and supervisors valued skills from a macro-level perspective, while project managers valued skills from a micro-level perspective. The results of the study indicated that the different groups of IT employees&mdash;senior management, project managers, and supervisors&mdash;deemed different skill sets as essential. There was a consensus regarding the importance of communication skills as all groups included aspects of communication in the top-five essential skills. However, the rating number allocated to these skills and the definition of the terms differed between the participants and across the groups. The results of the study brings to light the importance of developing appropriate position training for government IT supervisory positions.</p>

<p> The purpose of this study was to examine Kuwaiti mathematical elementary teachers&rsquo; perceptions about their ability to integrate M-learning (mobile learning) into their current teaching practices and the major barriers hindering teachers&rsquo; ability to create an M-learning environment. Furthermore, this study sought to understand teachers&rsquo; perceptions about their ability to create a collaborative cloud-computing learning environment that corresponds with the 21st century skills and possibly explain their readiness for future reformation of education in Kuwait. </p><p> Using an Internet-based format to this study quantitative and qualitative data, the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) and barriers survey gleaned quantitative information about how mathematics teachers and a head of a mathematics department (n = 562) viewed use of technology as well as the barriers they faced in integrating it into the classroom. Also, qualitative data were collected using a survey of open-ended questions to provide context to survey answers and better understand the barriers and affordance experienced by the participants. Moreover, a 21st century open-ended questionnaire was employed to collect qualitative information from mathematics teachers and head of the departments (n = 21) in regard the their ability to construct a 21st century learning environment based on collaboration and constructivist perspective utilizing a cloud-computing technology. </p><p> Quantitative analysis was utilized to examine elementary mathematics teachers&rsquo; perceptions using the TPACK survey, and the validity and reliability of the TPACK subscales were computed by administering the confirmatory factor analysis. Factors that were elicited were specified as: all seven subscales encompassed in the TPACK survey significantly fit model of factor structures, and the TPACK survey was reliable and valid. In addition, descriptive analysis such as the TPACK subscale means and standard deviations were computed via the SPSS software. </p><p> Qualitative content analysis was used to understand teachers&rsquo; perceptions about their ability to integrate mobile technology, perceptions of the primary barriers and affordance that limited their ability, and their perceptions of their ability to integrate collaborative cloud computing and create a 21st century learning environment based on the constructivist perspective. When analyzed, the self-reported open-ended survey yielded the following specific themes: (a) teachers perceived themselves high in their ability to integrate mobile technology; (b) the primary barriers based on teachers&rsquo; perceptions were budget constraints, IT limitations, time constraints, and administrative support; and (c) teachers perceived themselves high in their ability to integrate collaborative cloud computing to construct a 21st century learning environment based on the constructivist perspective. This study finding could be implemented to create a new modern mathematics elementary curriculum that resolves the current curriculum issues. Future research is recommended in the direction of creating a new mathematical curriculum based on administrators&rsquo;, parents&rsquo;, and students&rsquo; perspectives.</p>

No description available.

As states adopt the common core state standards and next generation assessments for the 2014 - 2015 school year, the importance of students' technology literacy will increase Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium. The next generation assessments will require students to complete technology performance tasks. For the first time in mandatory testing, students' technology literacy will directly impact a school's Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) rating. Technology literacy is defined as the ability to operate hardware and software (computer literacy), conduct effective research for and then evaluate digital content for accuracy and merit (internet and information literacy), and digitally communicate effectively(digital media literacy). Research has shown students are not technology literate. Michigan has lacked a consistent implementation of an educational technology integrated curriculum and assessment of 8th grade students' technology literacy skills. The central focus of this descriptive case study was the investigation of whether the consistent implementation of the Using Technology in Career Education (UTCE) curriculum could positively effect students' technology literacy skills. The study explored the charter school environment, teacher and student technology literacy, and UTCE implementation. Participants were two 8th grade classes at an urban charter school enrolled in the UTCE course and a Creative Writing course. Data tri-angulation was achieved through classroom observations, student surveys, teacher archival documents and student performance tests. First, category construction examined the data for each single case (vignette). Second, the research questions guided the cross-case data analysis to discover patterns and themes. Vignette 1 answered Research Question #1 and addressed the most effective implementation of UTCE using data from classroom observations to determine the level of technology integration. Vignette 2 answered Research Question #2 and investigated the relationship between teacher and student technology literacy, classroom instruction and the effect on UTCE implementation. Vignette 3 answered Research Questions #3 and #4 and focused on measuring student technology performance and the effect the UTCE curriculum had on student technology literacy. An initial impression was the inability to type could potentially negatively impact students' performance on the next generation assessments. Overall data analysis supported the theoretical proposition that consistent delivery of a comprehensive educational technology curriculum improved students' technology literacy skills.

<p> Cyber incidents continue to increase across the entire globe. The increase in security threats requires organizations to rethink strategies and policies continually fortifying against known and unknown threats. Cyber incident policies and response plans range from non-existent to hundreds of pages in length. A policy may include sections discussing roles and responsibility, incident detection, escalation, and many additional categories, and often discuss the collection and preservation of forensic evidence. Policies briefly address, in many cases, the proper collection of evidence; however, the written regulation concerning the potential liabilities, the risks associated with current and future litigation, and the legal consequences to a cyber incident remains sparse. The desired outcome of this paper is to enlighten the reader through identification of the risks, the potential pitfalls, and steps to policy development pertaining to the handling of electronic evidence, with a cross examination of overlapping sectors between forensics, electronic discovery, and cyber security.</p>

<p> Using a sample of information and security data breaches the present research examines the public announcement impact between Brick and Mortar firms and E-Commerce firms. The dissertation initially analyzes the effects of publicly announced information and security breaches on abnormal stock returns, abnormal trading volume, and firm risk. The dissertation then analyzes differential impact between Brick and Mortar firms and E-Commerce firm&rsquo;s market value following a data breach. Using a sample size of 38 information security breaches, E-Commerce firms resulted in more negative abnormal stock returns than Brick and Mortar firms. While data breach announcements did not significantly impact retail firms as a whole, they did have a significant impact when broken into the subsets. E-Commerce firms that announced an information security breach experienced abnormal trading volume.</p>

Effective educational agents should accomplish four essential goals during a student's learning process: 1) monitor engagement, 2) re-engage when appropriate, 3) teach novel tasks, and 4) improve retention. In this dissertation, we focus on all of these objectives through use of a teaching device (computer, tablet, or virtual reality game) and a robotic educational agent. We begin by developing and validating an engagement model based on the interactions between the student and the teaching device. This model uses time, performance, and/or eye gaze to determine the student's level of engagement. We then create a framework for implementing verbal and nonverbal, or gestural, behaviors on a humanoid robot and evaluate its perception and effectiveness for social interaction. These verbal and nonverbal behaviors are applied throughout the learning scenario to re-engage the students when the engagement model deems it necessary. Finally, we describe and validate the entire educational system that uses the engagement model to activate the behavioral strategies embedded on the robot when learning a new task. We then follow-up this study to evaluate student retention when using this system. The outcome of this research is the development of an educational system that effectively monitors student engagement, applies behavioral strategies, teaches novel tasks, and improves student retention to achieve individualized learning.

This thesis describes an investigation of polarisation conversion effects in gallium arsenide optical waveguides. The research was carried out with the aims of predicting, preventing and harnessing such effects. Experimental results are presented to demonstrate changes in the polarisation state of light propagating in passive deep-etched waveguides. The results are described by established modelling techniques. The effect due to process-dependent features of waveguide cross-section geometry, in particular asymmetry resulting form non-vertical etching, is investigated. The polarisation angles of hybrid waveguide modes are measured, and a novel technique is presented for the measurement of the differences been the effective indices of orthogonally polarised modes. The measurements obtained are used to analyse the evolution of elliptical polarisation states during propagation, and to provide an account of the physical origin of the polarisation conversion. Details of the nature of the optical modes predicted by rigorous numerical method simulations are demonstrated by the experimental results, while quantitative agreement between the simulated and measured data is shown. A simplified account of the behaviour is provided using a coupled-mode formulation. The influence of the linear electrooptic effect in modifying the polarisation conversion behaviour is explored experimentally, and is described using established theory. Waveguide designs are obtained which prevent unintended polarisation conversion in the presence of identified causes, while maintaining the main waveguide parameters of material composition, optical mode size and shape, electrooptic performance, and fabrication process. The polarisation behaviour in waveguides fabricated to these designs is evaluated, and the expected performance benefits are confirmed. A novel waveguide device which provides electrooptic control and switching of the optical polarisation state is presented. The device is capable of converting any input polarisation state into an arbitrary output state using the linear electrooptic effect. A working design is obtained and the fabrication of devices is described. Experimental results are presented which demonstrate the concept. Further developments of the polarisation controller device are proposed, including the realisation of the potential for switching speeds at frequencies of tens of GHz.