Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Implementation and test of a digital quasi-random modulated SFAVM PWM in a high performance drive system

The authors propose a modulation scheme for reducing the acoustic noise effect from an AC machine which can be implemented digitally. The scheme is based on a stator flux asynchronous vector modulation (SFAVM) imposed by a digital bandlimited white noise generator. The modulation strategy is tested in a 1 kVA high-performance 16 b microprocessor controlled AC drive system. Fast Fourier transform spectra on the line-line voltage and the acoustic noise are presented, and it is shown that the new modulation strategy can decrease the noise effect. The stator flux polygon and the line current are measured, and the random modulation strategy is demonstrated. The total sound pressure level from the AC machine is investigated with fixed switching frequencies and with different random modulated frequency spans. It is concluded that a properly chosen fixed switching frequency has the lowest total sound pressure level. However, the random modulation strategy distributes the noise frequencies, and the noise is much more comfortable and less annoying. <<ETX>>
Analysis of the Workspace of Tendon-based Stewart Platforms

Tendon-based Stewart platforms are a concept for innovative manipulators where the load to move almost coincides with the payload. After an overview over the state of research and some concepts of kinematics (singularity and redundancy), the thesis discusses aspects of the technically usable workspace (positive tendon forces, limits of tension, singularity, stiffness, collisions between tendens). A representation of the controllablwe workspace by means of polynomial inequalities is developed. Optimal solutions are provided to the problem of finding appropriate force distributions in the tendons. These solutions can be discontinuous in time, but they can be approximated with continuous ones. An algorithm is given for this. From these results, a quality measure for workspace is derived and used to state design rules which help achieving good workspaces. For some systems, sample trajectories are simulated.
OFDM SYSTEMS BASED ON INTER CARRIER INTERFERENCE WITH ASB

In this paper Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing based wireless systems are spectrally efficient and it is being increasingly used in high data rate wireless communication systems, but they are vulnerable to inter carrier interference (ICI). The signal strength varies due to different individual path loss and also due to different amount of Doppler spread because of their independent velocities. Therefore, the ICI among to combat ICI are towards using synchronization and interference cancellation. In this paper we use adaptive sub carrier bandwidth(ASB) along with adaptive bit loading to mitigate ICI in such conditions, which will keep receiver design very simple and it keeps maximum throughput and minimum BER in each situation. Results show that ASB can provide higher throughput than fixed sub carrier bandwidth.
A non-feedback congestion control framework for high-speed data networks

All congestion control schemes for non-real-time data traffic are based on feedback control. But continuing bandwidth increases with the emergence of high-speed networking makes feedback control increasingly inappropriate, because of large relative propagation delay, and the stability requirement of delayed feedback control dictates that congestion control schemes will stay conservative in high-speed networks, prohibiting a source from exploiting large bandwidth aggressively. This inefficiency and poor scalability of feedback control in high-speed networking demands the congestion control paradigm be fundamentally shifted from feedback control to non-feedback control. In this dissertation we propose a non-feedback congestion control scheme for data traffic, named Blitz, which enables the network to exercise dynamic control needed for bursty and unpredictable data traffic. We show the feasibility of Blitz by providing a strategy to incrementally deploy it in TCP/IP networks, and by comparing its performance with that of TCP Reno. Simulation results show that Blitz outperforms Reno under large bandwidth-delay product, small data size, and small MTU size, which are the features we believe many internetworks in the future will have.
Professional development for the online teacher

While telecommunications and telematics have been available in schools and universities for decades, the speed of adoption of the Internet into general use has been unprecedented. This has placed a great deal of pressure on university teachers to re-evaluate their roles in the light of new teaching and learning opportunities. The Internet has opened up possibilities beyond the simple acquisition of information, and has created teaching and learning challenges that many teachers feel ill-equipped to meet. This chapter examines the impact of the Internet on the teacher’s role and explores the types of skills and strategies that teachers will need to be effective and efficient in online learning environments. The professional development needs for the new role of online teacher will be discussed within the context of a Graduate Certificate in Online Teaching and Learning designed to encapsulate authentic approaches to learning.
Lamb and SH wave transducer arrays for the inspection of large areas of thick plates

The motivation for this work is to develop a rapid inspection system for large steel plates, such as those which the floors and walls of oil storage tanks are constructed from. One approach to inspecting plates using guided ultrasonic waves, is to design a transduction system which uses monolithic devices such as wedge transducers, inter-digital transducers or meander coil electro-magnetic acoustic transducers (EMATs). Unfortunately, in order to achieve a given level of performance at a particular operating point on the dispersion curves, the physical dimensions of a monolithic transducer must be scaled in proportion to the thickness of plate under inspection. This renders the use of monolithic devices on thicker plates increasingly impractical for several reasons, not least because of the cost and difficulties involved in manufacturing large devices. Also, particular monolithic devices are limited to a small range of applications since they are generally designed to be sensitive to a particular wavelength and to be either unfocused or have a fixed focal length. A more attractive solution is to use an array device containing a number of elements which behave individually as point transducers. By controlling the elements individually, wavelength selection, beam steering and focusing can all be performed by post processing the same set of test data. Encouraging experimental results obtained using this technique will be shown for several array designs which operate on 5–10 mm thick plates.
Effect of parental depression on asthmatic children’s problem behavior and academic performance: using actor and partner interdependence model of parental variables

Background The health issues of children with asthma is emerging to be a social problem because in many cases it is a disease that requires repetitive and long-term treatment, and the financial burden of parents raising children with asthma is relatively greater than parents raising normal children. It is necessary for health care providers to approach the mental health of parents in addition to managing the health of asthmatic children so that asthmatic children recover, smoothly adjust to school life like other normal children. This study attempts to determine the factors on the problem behavior and academic performance of the children with asthma.Methods The data of 236 pairs of children and parents from the 10th Panel Study on Korean Children were used and analysis was performed using SPSS 20.0 and AMOS 20.0. Results Parental depression had actor and partner effects on marital conflict, and marital conflict perceived by the father had actor and partner effects on parent-child interactions, while marital conflict perceived by the mother had actor effect on parent-child interactions. Parent-child interaction perceived by the father was found to affect the problem behavior of children, and parent-child interaction perceived by the mother was seen to affect the problem behavior of children. The problem behavior of children affects academic performance.Discussion This study is significant since it prepares basic data for improving the academic performance of children with asthma. We suggest research that longitudinally confirms the influence using variables presented in this study is necessary.
The influence of total domestic outsourcing on the role of the IT function : a case study of the BBC

The prominent themes of the research are total domestic outsourcing and the role of the IT function. The latter has been an issue for researchers and practitioners since the early days of information systems. The role of IT has changed considerably over the years, from basic administrative data processing to the central focus of enabling strategic processes. The literature reveals the considerable changes that have taken place over the last 30 years in the role of the IT function. The IT department over the years has moved from a traditional manufacturing role, where the department would be involved in software development and maintenance, computer operations, and technical services, to a more services orientated role. In addition, IT outsourcing has grown over the past thirty years to become a major industry. It usually involves some transfer of assets and staff to the vendor. The concept of IT outsourcing has changed over the years from a tactical option for the IT function to, in some cases, a significant part of a long-term strategy to structure and manage organisations. As such, it has often had a considerable influence on the role of the IT function. Although much has been written about IT sourcing strategy, there is a gap in the literature regarding in-depth case studies of the impact of IT outsourcing on the IT function, seen within various levels of the organisation, from senior management down to operations, and everyday users. Similarly, there are few studies that consider IT outsourcing in the context of other competitive and industrial forces that are affecting the management and operation of large organisations. This research comprises a detailed case study of the implementation of large-scale domestic IT outsourcing within the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). It utilises Activity Theory as a lens to examine the implementation from the perspective of various stakeholder groups at different levels within the organisation in order to address the research question: “What is the influence of total domestic IT outsourcing on the role of the IT function? ” The central contributions of the thesis are within the methodological and theoretical areas. The in-depth case study of a large organisation with a rich culture draws out interesting data, and the use of Activity Theory analyses the data in a novel way. The total domestic outsourcing affects not only the role of the IT function, but the entire organisation. It leads to huge transfers of staff and assets, restructures, redundancies and changes to everyday processes
Towards a Global Market-Based Measure for the Aviation Industry

The aviation industry is vital for economic growth, world trade, and is a major employer. Nearly $2.4 trillion in global GDP, 35% of world trade by value and 58.1 million jobs are supported by the industry. However, with these benefits comes an impact on the environment. In 2013, aviation produced 705 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, approximately 2% of anthropogenic CO2-emissions. With air traffic projected to grow by 4-5% per annum in the coming decades, this raises the question of how sustainable growth can be achieved in the aviation sector and the need for regulatory measures. In 2013 the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) adopted a Resolution in which it was decided to develop a global market-based measure (MBM). From 2020 onwards this measure - a global levy, global emissions trading, or global mandatory offsetting - would regulate carbon dioxide emissions from international aviation. However whether the measure will in fact be implemented depends for a large share on ICAO’s next General Assembly in 2016, where the 191 Member States will vote on adopting the measure. Their decision will greatly depend upon whether the global market-based measure matches their interests and agenda. Therefore the design of the global MBM is crucial in ensuring adoption and implementation. In order to reach political consensus by 2016, this thesis has focused on how a robust global market-based measure can be designed by showing the design process to arrive at the robust global market-based measure, and applying this design process. The following four principles of robust design were defined: (i) legal feasibility, (ii) political viability, (iii) purposefulness, and (iv) sturdiness.
Steady-state analysis and design of a switched-capacitor DC-DC converter

A switched capacitor DC-DC power converter topology which consists of n stages of semiconductor switches and capacitors is described. The switches connect the capacitors across the input source during the charging phase and then across the load during the discharge phase to step down the input voltage by a nominal ratio n. Further control of the output voltage is possible via current, resistive, or duty-ratio control. Based on the observation that the ripple on the capacitor voltages is generally linear in practice, state-space averaging is used to derive the average state-space equations for a generalized n-stage switched capacitor converter circuit. Both exact and approximate equations which are useful for design are derived for the practical performance parameters. A design procedure based on these equations is described. The analytical results have been verified by extensive simulation by PSPICE. <<ETX>>
94 GHz subharmonically pumped MMIC mixer

A 94-GHz subharmonically pumped antiparallel diode pair MMIC (monolithic microwave integrated circuit) mixer with a short-circuit sum frequency termination is described. Advantages of the mixer configuration include (1) reduced conversion loss, (2) elimination of the need for an area-consuming hybrid junction while retaining the separation of local oscillator (LO), RF, and intermediate frequency ports, (3) inherent LO noise sideband suppression, and (4) very small size and cost. <<ETX>>
Suhuai suckling piglet ionomic-metabolome responses to different dietary copper level in antibiotic free creep feed

Background: High levels of dietary copper may enhance co-selection in favor of antibiotic resistant bacteria and promote the spread of antibiotic resistance. This possibility necessitates further assessment of the safety and utility of supplementing feed with copper. Methods: Eighteen Suhuai sows at second parity were divided into 3 experimental groups in which their 180 suckling piglets had access to antibiotic free creep feed with different levels of copper supplementation: low copper diet (LC, 6 mg·kg -1 ), control diet (CON, 20 mg·kg -1 ), and high copper diet (HC, 300 mg·kg -1 ), which was offered ad libitum from day 14 until weaning at day 40. The growth performance, serum biochemical parameters, ionomic profiles (hair, serum, and feces), fecal significant metabolites of suckling piglets, and the correlations were analyzed. Results: In HC group, the average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) increased during d 14 to 28 ( P < 0.05), but ADG was decreased with extension of feeding time (d 29 to 40) ( P < 0.01). Compared with the CON group, the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) ( P < 0.05) was decreased while total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) ( P < 0.05) was increased in HC group. The hair Na ( P < 0.01) and K ( P < 0.01) concentrations were increased in HC group than CON group; hair Cu ( P < 0.01), fecal Cu ( P < 0.01) increased in the HC group than LC group. The hair Na and K were negatively correlated with serum TNF-α and fecal inosine ( P < 0.05), while positively correlated with serum insulin-like growth factors-1 (IGF-1) and T-AOC ( P < 0.05); the hair Cu was negatively correlated with serum malondialdehyde (MDA), total bile acid (TBA) and fecal putrescine, glucose-6-phosphate, fumaric acid ( P < 0.05); the fecal Cu was positively correlated with serum growth hormone ( P < 0.05), negatively correlated with fecal methionine, pantothenic acid, and uracil ( P < 0.05). Further metabolic pathway enrichment analysis showed that the hair Cu was negatively correlated with phenylalanine and tyrosine metabolism, and mitochondrial electron transport chain pathways; fecal Cu was negatively correlated with betaine metabolism, and pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis pathways. Conclusions: Dietary 300 mg·kg -1 copper altered the ion balance and further affected the body’s redox balance state and metabolic homeostasis, which adverse to the health of piglets; dietary 20 mg·kg -1 copper maintain ion homeostasis and suitable to meet the nutritional needs of suckling piglets than 6 mg·kg -1 dietary copper.
INVESTIGATION OF PROCESSES OF DEFORMATION OF PLASTIC MATERIALS WITH THE HELP OF DIGITAL IMAGE PROCESSING

As of now, many investigations are performed in order to develop methods of correlation with the help of relevant algorithms. This is especially helpfull for plotting vectors of displacements in order to estimate deformation of various materials, as well as to determine correspondence between sections of two images through calculation of the cross-correlating functions and to ensure seeking of the extremum. The aim of this study was to develop relevant method to estimate mechanism of fracture of materials in accordance with the data of analysis of a photographic image in respect of the parameter of the image intensity. In addition, this method is to be used with the help of the multivariate analysis (multi-factor analysis) of the interrelationship between image intensity, surface roughness, and possibility to determination the geometrical parameters of the deformation area/deformation volume under different conditions of operation. Digital method of processing of photographs/video frames has been used in order to investigate microstructure and surface of materials in respect of criterion of the image intensity in the course of mechanical tests in accordance with deformations. Quantitative parameters of the image intensity were compared to the structure of material, as well as to the surface roughness before and after destruction of samples. The images used were obtained during mechanical testing of aluminium samples. To ensure the validity of the test results, six specimens of the same type were tested. A stress-strain diagram was drawn up for each specimen. Stress-strain diagrams from the mechanical tests were compared with those from the photo analysis using the method described above. The results correlate well with each other, but unlike the experiment, where the strain is measured only at the strain gauge location, the photo analysis provides a complete picture of the strain distribution over the entire specimen area. In addition, a multivariate analysis has been carried out to evaluate the geometric dimensions and shapes of the structure elements.
Instantaneous mean frequency estimation using adaptive time-frequency distributions

Analysis of non-stationary signals is a challenging task. True non-stationary signal analysis involves monitoring the frequency changes of the signal over time (i.e., monitoring the instantaneous frequency (IF) changes). The IF of a signal is traditionally obtained by taking the first derivative of the phase of the signal with respect to time. This poses some difficulties because the derivative of the phase of the signal may take negative values thus misleading the interpretation of instantaneous frequency. In this paper, a novel approach to extract the IF from its adaptive time-frequency distribution is proposed. The adaptive time-frequency distribution of a signal is obtained by decomposing the signal into components with good time-frequency localization and by combining the Wigner distribution of the components. The adaptive time-frequency distribution thus obtained is free of cross-terms and is a positive time-frequency distribution with good time and frequency localization. The IF may be obtained as the first central moment of the adaptive time-frequency distribution. The proposed method of IF estimation is very powerful for applications with low SNR. The proposed technique was tested with synthetic signals of known IF dynamics, and the method successfully extracted the IF of the signals.
Mathematical Modelling of Evacuation Problems: A State of Art

This paper details models and algorithms which can be applied to evacuation problems. While it concentrates on building evacuation many of the results are applicable also to regional evacuation. All models consider the time as main parameter, where the travel time between components of the building is part of the input and the overall evacuation time is the output. The paper distinguishes between macroscopic and microscopic evacuation models both of which are able to capture the evacuees' movement over time. Macroscopic models are mainly used to produce good lower bounds for the evacuation time and do not consider any individual behavior during the emergency situation. These bounds can be used to analyze existing buildings or help in the design phase of planning a building. Macroscopic approaches which are based on dynamic network flow models (minimum cost dynamic flow, maximum dynamic flow, universal maximum flow, quickest path and quickest flow) are described. A special feature of the presented approach is the fact, that travel times of evacuees are not restricted to be constant, but may be density dependent. Using multicriteria optimization priority regions and blockage due to fire or smoke may be considered. It is shown how the modelling can be done using time parameter either as discrete or continuous parameter. Microscopic models are able to model the individual evacuee's characteristics and the interaction among evacuees which influence their movement. Due to the corresponding huge amount of data one uses simulation approaches. Some probabilistic laws for individual evacuee's movement are presented. Moreover ideas to model the evacuee's movement using cellular automata (CA) and resulting software are presented. In this paper we will focus on macroscopic models and only summarize some of the results of the microscopic approach. While most of the results are applicable to general evacuation situations, we concentrate on building evacuation.