An acceleration technique for a conjugate direction algorithm for nonlinear regression

A linear acceleration technique, LAT, is developed which is applied to three conjugate direction algorithms: (1) Fletcher-Reeves algorithm, (2) Davidon-Fletcher-Powell algorithm and (3) Grey\u27s Orthonormal Optimization Procedure (GOOP). Eight problems are solved by the three algorithms mentioned above and the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm. The addition of the LAT algorithm improves the rate of convergence for the GOOP algorithm in all problems attempted and for some problems using the Fletcher-Reeves algorithm and the Davidon-Fletcher-Powell algorithm. Using the number of operations to perform function and derivative evaluations, the algorithms mentioned above are compared. Although the GOOP algorithm is relatively unknown outside of the optics literature, it was found to be competitive with the other successful algorithms. A proof of convergence of the accelerated GOOP algorithm for nonquadratic problems is also developed --Abstract, page ii

Information System Ethics: Refining the Pedagogy

This article describes an approach to teaching ethics in the information system curriculum that the authors have used successfully in a variety of courses at various levels. The approach is comprised of five steps: 1. Administering to students a questionnaire designed to address ethical and policy issues; 2. Reporting to the students a summary of their responses to the questionnaire and those of previous classes; 3. Using the responses as an entree to pose other ethically ambiguous situations and solicit from student volunteers their solutions to the situations; 4. Furnishing the students with normative solutions to these situation as provided by experts; and 5. Using additional scenarios to develop generic ethical principles that can be applied to other situations as well.. The article proceeds to explain the psychological principles that make this approach effective. Experimental validation of this approach have been reported in a companion article

College Students Believe Piracy is Acceptable

This paper describes a study conducted on college students to determine their attitude toward copying of computer software. This study builds and replicates two earlier studies, by Schuster and by Christoph, et al. In addition to questions used by these two earlier studies, additional questions about experience with computers, use of software and perceptions of the extent of piracy by others were asked. The study was administered to over 300 students from various disciplines and from different levels. The study\u27s findings corroborate the findings of Christoph et al. in failing to find a significant relationship between computer work experience and attitude toward piracy. Questions similar to Schuster\u27s study replicate his earlier results. When asked if they had personally pirated software, 58% of the students who indicated previous work experience with computers responded Yes. The authors recommend several forms of action for colleges and universities to take to reduce such unethical behavior. These actions include (1) formal education concerning the illegitimacy of software piracy in orientation and early courses of the students freshmen year and (2) informal education in the form university policies and demonstration of ethical actions by university employees

Fluency Assistance Device

Currently about 1% of the world population (~70 million people) have a stutter considered a fluency disorder. Some fluency assistance devices are available for this population, but most are highly expensive or unreliable. Fluency Assistance Device (FAD) seeks to assist a niche community of these individuals for whom therapy has been unsuccessful but are currently depending on a device originally known as the Edinburgh Masker. FAD aims to redesign the masker to be more comfortable for the end user. FAD is developing versions 1.1 and 2.0 of the improved masker. Version 1.1 will update the original masker circuitry with surface mount devices. This will allow a slimmer circuitry enclosure, and enable upgrades of the original as requested. Version 2.0 will use Bluetooth technology and a microcontroller to achieve masker functionality with software code. FAD is now finalizing Version 1.1 and beginning Version 2.0.https://mosaic.messiah.edu/engr2020/1008/thumbnail.jp

Coevolution of Plasmids in Bacteria Evolved in Biofilm and Chemostat Cultures

Broad-host range (BHR) plasmids are one of the main vectors of the spread of antibiotic resistance across bacteria, a major health concern today. In well-mixed cultures, BHR plasmids can become more persistent in bacterial populations after a short period of co-evolution under plasmid selection. However, these experimental conditions do not mimic those found in 80% of bacterial infections, wherein bacteria grow in biofilms. Biofilms are known to retain genetic diversity within the bacterial population. We hypothesized that when plasmid-host pairs are coevolved in a biofilm, they will exhibit a broader range of persistence level than when coevolved in a well-mixed culture. A BHR plasmid was coevolved in the host Shewanella oneidensis MR1 for 28 days in biofilm and well-mixed culture environments. The persistence of the coevolved plasmid in their host was assessed for 3 clones isolated from each condition. Preliminary data suggests that when coevolved in a biofilm, the plasmid became more persistent than when coevolved in well-mixed environment. In order to confirm this result, more clones from several independent replicate assays are currently under investigation