Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Wireless Network Evolution: 2G to 3G

From the Publisher: 3G networks: architecture, planning, migration, management, and optimization. Network architectures, planning, management, and optimization 3G air interfaces: UTRA/W-CDMA and cdma2000 3G data services: UTRA/W-CDMA, cdma2000, GPRS, and EDGE Evolutionary paths for 2G networks WLL, WAP, and more New 3G systems will trigger an explosion in wireless Internet and data applications by delivering far higher data rates than have ever been possible in wireless systems before. In Wireless Network Evolution: 2G to 3G, renowned wireless expert Vijay K. Garg covers key 3G standard and every technical issue associated with planning, management, and optimization of 3G systems. Garg reviews the fundamental principles underlying existing 2G systems, then offers specific, practical guidance on migration to 3G. Coverage includes: 3G standards activities 3G European and North American systems 3G data services for UTRA/W-CDMA, cdma2000, GPRS, and EDGE networks Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) and 3G systems Major 3G enhancements for WLL applications New RF optimization techniques for 3G systems Wireless Network Evolution: 2G to 3G will be an invaluable resource for every practicing telecommunications engineer and technical decision maker involved in 3G planning, deployment, or management.
Production and Purification of Novel Hypocholesterolemic Peptides from Lactic Fermented Spirulina platensis through High Hydrostatic Pressure-Assisted Protease Hydrolysis

This research focuses on the proteolytic capacity of Spirulina platensis and their hypocholesterolemic activity via the 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGR) inhibitory activity. To select suitable proteases for releasing peptides with high HMGR-inhibiting activity from S. platensis, eight commonly used commercial proteases were used in protease hydrolysis under high hydrostatic pressure (HHP, 100 MPa or 0.1 MPa) at 50 °C for 24 h. The Peptidase R group had the highest inhibitory capacity (67%). First, S. platensis was fermented with seven mixed lactic acid bacteria for 5 h at 42 °C. This was followed by the addition of Peptidase R under high hydrostatic pressure (100 MPa at 50 °C) for 0–6 h of enzymatic hydrolysis (HHP-FH-PR6) to determine the hydrolytic capacity of S. platensis protein. As the hydrolysis time extended to 6 h, the peptide content increased from 96.8 mg/mL to 339.8 mg/mL, and the free amino acid content increased from 24 mg/mL to 115.2 mg/mL, while inhibition of HMGR increased from 67.0% to 78.4%. In an experimental simulation of in vitro gastrointestinal digestion, the IC50 of HHP-FH-PR6G on HMGR was 3.5 μg peptide/mL. Peptides with inhibitory activity on HMGR were purified, and their sequences were identified as Arg-Cys-Asp and Ser-Asn-Val (IC50: 6.9 and 20.1 μM, respectively).
Large-Scale Variability Characterization and Robust Design Techniques for Nanoscale SRAM

Author(s): Guo, Zheng | Advisor(s): Nikolic, Borivoje | Abstract: Continued increase in the process variability is perceived to be a major roadblock for future technology scaling. Its impact is particularly pronounced in large memory arrays due to both the utilization of minimum sized transistors and their extremely large data capacity. In order to enable the continued scaling of the next-generation embedded SRAM, the ability to monitor and characterize, on-chip, the variations in SRAM functionality and performance becomes critical for both gaining a deeper understanding of the sources of variability and for developing more robust circuits and topologies. This work presents a methodology to characterize, directly, the impact of process variability on the functionality of large SRAM-based cache memories - capable of collecting massive silicon data at little hardware and/or design overhead. In addition, a thorough investigation of various SRAM read stability and writeability metrics, including the proposed large-scale design metrics, is conducted to further understand the utility of each metric for SRAM yield prediction. The large-scale characterization methodology is validated on two different test chips, fabricated in an early commercial low-power 45nm CMOS process. This method can be easily extended to capture more than 6 standard deviations of parameter variations by increasing the SRAM array size, and therefore can serve as a valuable addition to the next-generation SRAM development vehicle.The enablement of future SRAM scaling will require technology and circuit co-design. The FinFET technology is particularly attractive for nanoscale SRAM design not only for its reduced σVTH and better control of the short channel effects (SCE), but also for the architectural flexibility enabled by its unique independently-gated (IG) operation. New bitcell designs are presented to take advantage of this IG operation in the form of a dynamic pass-gate feedback (PGFB). It is shown that the IG FinFET design using dynamic PGFB can both dramatically enhance the read stability of a 6-T SRAM cell and enable the practical design of a 4-T SRAM cell. While increased variability presents a formidable challenge for future SRAM scaling, the presented methodologies, both in testing and design, can facilitate its continuation.
Adoption of intended strategic initiatives in MNCs: role of piloting

The replication of templates, which are working examples of organizational practices, plays an important role in intraorganzational knowledge transfer. However, remarkably little is known about how templates are created. This exploratory mixed methods research seeks to open up the black box of template creation. Firstly, to understand the characteristics of templates that influence the early adoption of organizational practices. Secondly, to reveal the multi-level processes involved in template formation that impact the introduction of new organizational routines. The chosen context is MNCs where the corporate center first employs pilots to create templates before subsidiary by subsidiary rollout. This research contributes to knowledge transfer theory by illustrating how pilots reduce the degree of stickiness of future knowledge transfer. In addition, the study contributes to institutional theory by showing that pilots can be viewed as frames that mobilize subsidiaries to take action under situations of uncertainty and conflicting institutional pressures.
A novel design optimization of a fault-tolerant ac permanent magnet machine-drive system

A NOVEL DESIGN OPTIMIZATION OF A FAULT-TOLERANT AC PERMANENT MAGNET MACHINE-DRIVE SYSTEM Peng Zhang, B.S., M.S. Marquette University, 2013 In this dissertation, fault-tolerant capabilities of permanent magnet (PM) machines were investigated. The 12-slot 10-pole PM machines with V-type and spoketype PM layouts were selected as candidate topologies for fault-tolerant PM machine design optimization problems. The combination of 12-slot and 10-pole configuration for PM machines requires a fractional-slot concentrated winding (FSCW) layout, which can lead to especially significant PM losses in such machines. Thus, a hybrid method to compute the PM losses was investigated, which combines computationally efficient finite-element analysis (CE-FEA) with a new analytical formulation for PM eddy-current loss computation in sine-wave current regulated synchronous PM machines. These algorithms were applied to two FSCW PM machines with different circumferential and axial PM block segmentation arrangements. The accuracy of this method was validated by results from 2D and 3D time-stepping FEA. The CE-FEA approach has the capabilities of calculating torque profiles, induced voltage waveforms, d and q-axes inductances, torque angle for maximum torque per ampere load condition, and stator core losses. The implementation techniques for such a method are presented. A combined design optimization method employing design of experiments (DOE) and differential evolution (DE) algorithms was developed. The DOE approaches were used to perform a sensitivity study from which significant independent design variables were selected for the DE design optimization procedure. Two optimization objectives are concurrently considered for minimizing material cost and power losses. The optimization results enabled the systematic comparison of four PM motor topologies: two different V-shape, flat bar-type and spoke-type, respectively. A study of the relative merits of each topology was determined. An automated design optimization method using the CE-FEA and DE algorithms was utilized in the case study of a 12-slot 10-pole PM machine with V-type PM layout. An engineering decision process based on the Pareto-optimal front for two objectives, material cost and losses, is presented together with discussions on the tradeoffs between cost and performance. One optimal design was finally selected and prototyped. A set of experimental tests, including open circuit tests at various speeds and on-load tests under various load and speed conditions, were performed successfully, which validated the findings of this work.
Electronic Textbooks: A Pilot Study of Student E-Reading Habits

The day when students can trade their 30-pound book bags for lightweight portable reading devices no longer seems far in the future. Several companies are now marketing appliances that may be suitable for use in education and textbook publishers are cautiously converting some of their print titles into ebook formats. While few doubt the willingness of students to trade atoms for bits, little is known about how they might use e-books and the value digital technologies might add to the reading and learning experience. A few enterprising educators have begun conducting pilot studies to address these questions. The author shares the results of one e-textbook study.
Green buildings for greying people : a case study of aretirement village in Australia

Purpose With an increasingly ageing population and widespread acceptance of the need for sustainable development in Australia, the demand for green retirement villages is increasing. This paper aims to identify the critical issues to be considered by developers and practitioners when embarking on their first green residential retirement project in Australia. Design/methodology/approach In view of the lack of adequate historical data for quantitative analysis, a case study approach is employed to examine the successful delivery of green retirement villages. Face-to-face interviews and document analysis were conducted for data collection. Findings The findings of the study indicate that one of the major obstacles to the provision of affordable green retirement villages is the higher initial costs involved. However, positive aspects were identified, the most significant of which relate to: the innovative design of site and floor plans; adoption of thermally efficient building materials; orientation of windows; installation of water harvesting and recycling systems, water conservation fittings and appliances; and waste management during the construction stage. With the adoption of these measures, it is believed that sustainable retirement development can be achieved without significant additional capital costs. Practical implications The research findings serve as a guide for developers in decision making throughout the project life-cycle when introducing green features into the provision of affordable retirement accommodation. Originality/value This paper provides insights into the means by which affordable green residential retirement projects for aged people can be successfully completed.
Security and Performance Considerations in Wireless Networks

Author(s): Pelechrinis, Konstantinos | Advisor(s): Krishnamurthy, Srikanth V | Abstract: The open and shared nature of the wireless medium makes it easy for adversaries to launch simple, yet effective, denial of service attacks (DoS attacks). As an example, jamming attacks, involve the uncoordinated transmission of electromagnetic energy on the medium. In a carrier sensing network (e.g., 802.11), this attack strategy increases the number of collisions at the receiver side and/or blocks the medium access to legitimate nodes at the transmitting side. Both of the above effects degrade the wireless network performance significantly. Frequency hopping (FH) has been traditionally used to overcome jamming attacks. However, we analytically and experimentally show that FH is inadequate to efficiently cope with jamming in today's networks. Later we propose a suite of systems that aim at coping with jamming attacks at various levels (i.e., detection, localization and prevention). We first identify two intelligent and effective jamming attacks that can be launched in 802.11 WLANs and we provide robust detection systems. In particular, we design and implement (i) CMD, a system to detect active jamming attacks that exploit the carrier sensing functionality of 802.11 networks and (ii) FIJI, a cross-layer system for detecting (and mitigating) jamming attacks that exploit the performance anomaly of 802.11 WLANs. Furthermore, given the importance of locating the jamming device in many deployment scenarios (e.g., battlefield), we propose a lightweight jamming localization scheme. Our system utilizies ideas borrowed from the gradient descent optimization method. The system's evaluations, show the potentials and applicability of our localization strategy. The final step for coping with jamming attacks is jamming prevention. Based on our initial measurement driven analysis, we do not rely on a FH scheme, that tries to simply avoid the jammer. On the contrary, we design, implement and evaluate a prevention system, called ARES (Anti-jamming REinforcement System), to fight against the saboteur. ARES is applicable to carrier sensing networks and tunes the parameters of rate adaptation and power control to improve the performance under the presence of an attack while ensuring that operations under benign conditions are unaffected. Our extensive evaluations, show that ARES improves the network throughput across all scenarios by up to 150%.
Selection of a numerical unsaturated flow code for tilted capillary barrier performance evaluation

Capillary barriers consisting of tilted fine-over-coarse layers have been suggested as landfill covers as a means to divert water infiltration away from sensitive underground regions under unsaturated flow conditions, especially for arid and semi-arid regions. Typically, the HELP code is used to evaluate landfill cover performance and design. Unfortunately, due to its simplified treatment of unsaturated flow and its essentially one-dimensional nature, HELP is not adequate to treat the complex multidimensional unsaturated flow processes occurring in a tilted capillary barrier. In order to develop the necessary mechanistic code for the performance evaluation of tilted capillary barriers, an efficient and comprehensive unsaturated flow code needs to be selected for further use and modification. The present study evaluates a number of candidate mechanistic unsaturated flow codes for application to tilted capillary barriers. Factors considered included unsaturated flow modeling, inclusion of evapotranspiration, nodalization flexibility, ease of modification, and numerical efficiency. A number of unsaturated flow codes are available for use with different features and assumptions. The codes chosen for this evaluation are TOUGH2, FEHM, and SWMS{_}2D. All three codes chosen for this evaluation successfully simulated the capillary barrier problem chosen for the code comparison, although FEHM used a reduced grid. The numerical resultsmore » are a strong function of the numerical weighting scheme. For the same weighting scheme, similar results were obtained from the various codes. Based on the CPU time of the various codes and the code capabilities, the TOUGH2 code has been selected as the appropriate code for tilted capillary barrier performance evaluation, possibly in conjunction with the infiltration, runoff, and evapotranspiration models of HELP. 44 refs.« less
Stochastic real-time optimal control: A pseudospectral approach for bearing-only trajectory optimization

Abstract : A method is presented to couple and solve the optimal control and the optimal estimation problems simultaneously, allowing systems with bearing-only sensors to maneuver to obtain observability for relative navigation without unnecessarily detracting from a primary mission. A fundamentally new approach to trajectory optimization and the dual control problem is developed, constraining polynomial approximations of the Fisher Information Matrix to provide an information gradient and allow prescription of the level of future estimation certainty required for mission accomplishment. Disturbances, modeling deficiencies, and corrupted measurements are addressed with recursive updating of the target estimate with an Unscented Kalman Filter and the optimal path with Radau pseudospectral collocation methods and sequential quadratic programming. The basic real-time optimal control (RTOC) structure is investigated, specifically addressing limitations of current techniques in this area that lose error integration. The resulting guidance method can be applied to any bearing-only system, such as submarines using passive sonar, anti-radiation missiles, or small UAVs seeking to land on power lines for energy harvesting. Methods and tools required for implementation are developed, including variable calculation timing and tip-tail blending for potential discontinuities. Validation is accomplished with simulation and flight test, autonomously landing a quadrotor helicopter on a wire.
Understanding and improving people’s judgments of synergistic risks

Certain hazard combinations present a risk that is greater than the sum of the risk attributable to each constituent hazard. These ‘synergistic risks’ occur in several domains, can vary in magnitude, and often have life-threatening consequences. However, research concerning the extent to which people understand synergistic risks is in its infancy, and extant studies investigating this topic have encountered problems in identifying valid measures of subjective risk judgments for combined hazards. Consequently, few firm conclusions can be made about the extent to which people understand synergistic risks. This thesis presents four original research papers that aim to provide greater insight into peoples’ judgments of synergistic risks, and investigates how such judgments may be assessed and improved. Each of the studies presented in the four papers employs data obtained via questionnaires specifically designed to address each research question. In the first paper, two studies are presented that examine whether people believe that combined hazards can present synergistic risks. In the second paper, qualitative data is analysed to explore the cognitive reasoning that individuals employ when assessing the risk for combined hazards. The third paper presents a study that assess a new metric for the assessment of risk judgments for combined hazards, and a second study in which domain-experts’ and non-experts’ judgments are compared. The final paper features a study that investigates which message content (i.e., antecedent vs. probabilistic data) most effectively informs people about synergistic risks. The results show that many people can make veridical judgments of synergistic risks. The findings indicate such judgments may depend on factors that include hazard-specific knowledge, judgmental experience and a rudimentary awareness of an xiii underlying causal mechanism for the increased risk. However, many people also make non/less veridical judgments; often underestimating the magnitude of the synergistic risk or employing an additive risk model which corresponds to the notion of ‘adding’ one hazard to another. Furthermore, the findings suggest risk judgments for combined hazards do not vary according to hazard domain but, rather, according to the hazard characteristics. Importantly, the research also identifies both (a) a valid method of assessing peoples’ risk judgments for combined hazards, and (b) risk communications contents that can lead to significant improvement in individuals’ understanding of synergistic risks
Examination of concrete corrosion using a laboratory experimental set up simulating sewer conditions

Corrosion of sewerage system is a significant problem which costs millions of dollars to water industries every year. However, systematic and long-term based studies to identify and quantify the factors controlling this phenomenon are scarcely reported. Most of the laboratory based studies reported are accelerated tests and do not represent the real conditions in sewers. The present study describes an experimental set-up that simulates the major controlling factors influencing the service life of concrete sewer pipes and evaluates the influence of these factors on the corrosion rate of concrete. The overall expected outcome of this study is to establish the relation between key parameters controlling corrosion such as the H2S levels in the gas phase, the relative humidity and the temperature of the gas phase versus the corrosion rate. The conditions have been simulated in laboratory based experimental chambers with the intention of long term exposure (4 years) and analysis of corrosion progression at regular intervals. This paper presents the methodologies used to set up the experimental chambers to simulate various environmental conditions and data on chemical analysis of concrete coupons after six months of exposure.
Securing Social Media: A Network Structure Approach

Due to its democratized nature, online social media (OSM) attracts millions of users to publish and share their content with friends as well as a wider audience at little cost. Such a vast user base and a wealth of content, however, presents its own challenges. First, the amount of user-generated content being uploaded in their repositories makes it non-trivial for users to find relevant content. Second, the ease of creating an account and participating in OSM enables malicious users to spread and promote spam content while degrading the experience for normal users. Third, growing privacy concerns in OSM motivate users to move toward decentralized social networks which are still in a nascent stage. In this thesis, we propose a network structure approach to address these challenges in OSM. We build scalable and effective graph-based algorithms that recommend content personalized to each user. To tackle adversarial environments, we leverage the social network graph as well as negative feedback from normal users to limit the capability of knowledgeable attackers in multiple scenarios. Further, we highlight some of the practical limitations in existing efforts to build decentralized social networks, and explore new design point in this field which motivate practical designs for future social network-based distributed systems.