Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modeling and control of a magnetic fluid deformable mirror for ophthalmic adaptive optics systems.

MODELING AND CONTROL OF A MAGNETIC FLUID DEFORMABLE MIRROR FOR OPHTHALMIC ADAPTIVE OPTICS SYSTEMS Azhar Iqbal Doctor of Philosophy Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering University of Toronto 2009 Adaptive optics (AO) systems make use of active optical elements, namely wavefront correctors, to improve the resolution of imaging systems by compensating for complex optical aberrations. Recently, magnetic fluid deformable mirrors (MFDM) were proposed as a novel type of wavefront correctors that offer cost and performance advantages over existing wavefront correctors. These mirrors are developed by coating the free surface of a magnetic fluid with a thin reflective film of nano-particles. The reflective surface of the mirrors can be deformed using a locally applied magnetic field and thus serves as a wavefront corrector. MFDMs have been found particularly suitable for ophthalmic imaging systems where they can be used to compensate for the complex aberrations in the eye that blur the images of the internal parts of the eye. However, their practical implementation in clinical devices is hampered by the lack of effective methods to control the shape of their deformable surface. The research work reported in this thesis presents solutions to the surface shape control problem in a MFDM that will make it possible for such devices to become integral components of retinal imaging AO systems. The first major contribution of this research is the development of an accurate analytical model of the dynamics of the mirror surface shape. The model is developed by analytically solving the coupled system of fluid-magnetic equations that govern the dynamics of the surface shape. The model is presented in state-space form and can be readily used in the development of surface shape control algorithms. The second major contribution of the research work is a novel,
Predictors of Work Stress among Psychiatric Nursing Staff in Rural and Urban Settings in Taiwan

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the work stress of nursing staff in urban and rural areas of Taiwan and to explore the predictors of work stress in nurses in Taiwan. Method: In this cross-sectional study, purposive sampling was adopted to select 271 nursing staff members from 2 psychiatric teaching hospitals. The Emotional Quotient Inventory (Sun, 2004) and the Nurse Stress Checklist (Tsai & Chen, 1996) were used to perform this study. A hierarchical multivariate regression model was used to examine significant predictors of work stress. Results: The work stress of nursing staff in urban hospitals was lower than that of nursing staff in rural hospitals. Compared with the urban nursing staff who participated in the EQ and stress classes, the rural nursing staff, regardless of whether they had attended the classes, experienced more work stress; and hospital types, employment patterns, years of work experience, and emotional intelligence were predictors of work stress. Conclusion: Overall, the findings demonstrate that administration managers must provide effective career advancement measures (eg, offering full-time jobs) or increase salaries to recruit sufficient nursing staff. In addition, managers could avoid unfair treatment experienced by part-time nursing staff by placing additional emphasis on the basic welfares and salaries of nursing staff to effectively mitigate the stress that they experience.
Research on the Enterprise Performance Management Information System Development and Robustness Optimization based on Data Regression Analysis and Mathematical Optimization Theory

Performance management is core part of enterprise human resources management, for any organization or enterprise a good, the secret to its success lies in the effective performance management. Through the enterprise performance management, it can motivate employees, improve employee satisfaction, will help the staff's personal goals combined with enterprise strategy, realize the goal of the enterprise and the balance of personal development, promote enterprise realize sustainable development. In this paper, we conduct research on enterprise performance management information system development and the robustness optimization based on data regression analysis and mathematical optimization theory. We firstly review the modern regression analysis approaches for large-scale data with the introduction of our proposed revised regression model for enterprises. Later, we summarize the state-of-the-art mathematical optimization models to select the most feasible one to serve as the tool for our system. Then, we analyze the performance of the current existing performance management information system and adopt the prior knowledge to optimize the system. The experimental result proves the feasibility and effectiveness of our system. The performance evaluation accuracy is enhanced from 86.7% to 93.5% and the system robustness is enhanced as well.
Co-designed solutions for overhead removal in dynamically typed languages

Dynamically typed languages are ubiquitous in today's applications. These languages ease the task of programmers but introduce significant runtime overheads since variables are neither declared nor bound to a particular type. For efficiency reasons, the code generated at runtime is specialized for certain data types, so the types of variables require to be constantly validated. However, these specialization techniques still carry important overheads, which can adopt different forms depending on the kind of applications. This thesis proposes three hybrid HW/SW mechanisms that reduce these different forms of overhead. The first two mechanisms target the overhead produced during the execution of the specialized code, which is characterized by the frequent execution of checking operations that are used to verify some assumptions about the object types. The first technique improves the performance by reducing the number of instructions used to perform these checks. The second technique is based on a novel dynamic type-profiling scheme that removes most of these checks. The third technique targets the overhead due to the execution of the non-optimized code, which performs an important amount of profiling for future optimizations. We present a hybrid HW/SW mechanism that reduces the cost of computing the addresses of object properties in a very efficient manner. This is an innovative approach that significantly improves the speculative strategy currently adopted by state-of-the-art dynamic compilers.
Optimal design methodology of a three phase Rotary transformer for a brushless doubly fed induction generator

The brushless doubly fed induction generator (BDFIG) offers higher reliability over the standard doubly fed induction generator (DFIG), by eliminating the slip ring and brush assembly. The currently employed BDFIG configuration results in a more complex machine. In order to improve reliability while still retaining the simplicity of the DFIG, alternative brushless topologies have been explored. One such solution is to make use of a rotary transformer (RT) to replace the slip rings and brushes. The RT is placed on the same shaft as the generator and provides inductive coupling over the interface. Size and efficiency are important constraints of the RT used in a DFIG application. The purpose of this study is to develop a design methodology that takes into account the unique properties of the RT, while simultaneously minimising size and maximising efficiency. An analytical model, which makes provision for the non-idealities of the RT, is used to improve the analysis. The model is then verified using FEM. Although the improved model offers better correlation to the simulated results than the original model, there is still room for improvement. A prototype RT, is designed using developed procedure, constructed and practically tested. The resultant size is suitably smaller than a prototype built using standard transformer design strategies. Encouraging results are obtained from the tests, indicating that the RT performs well at the rated conditions. However, a number of differences exist between the FEM analysis and the measured operation. The cause of this deviation is discussed and suitable recommendations are made for future work. ii Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za
Catch Me If You Can Privacy-Preserving Dissemination in Micro-Blogging

Online micro-blogging services and social networks, as ex- emplified by Twitter and Facebook, have emerged as an im- portant means of disseminating information quickly and at large scale. A standard mechanism in micro-blogging that allows for interesting content to reach a wider audience is that of reposting (i.e., retweeting in Twitter, or sharing in Facebook) of content initially posted by another user. Moti- vated by recent events in which users were prosecuted merely for reposting anti-government information, we present Ri- poste, a randomized reposting scheme that provides pri- vacy guarantees against such charges. The idea is that if the user likes a post, Riposte will re- post it only with some (carefully chosen) probability; and if the user does not like it, Riposte may still repost it with a slightly smaller probability. These probabilities are com- puted for each user as a function of the number of connec- tions of the user in the network, and the extent to which the post has already reached those connections. The choice of these probabilities is based on results for branching pro- cesses, and ensures that interesting posts (liked by a large fraction of users) are likely to disseminate widely, whereas uninteresting posts (or spam) do not spread. Riposte is ex- ecuted locally at the user, thus the user's opinion on the post is not communicated to the micro-blogging server. We quantify Riposte's ability to protect users in terms of differential privacy and provide analytical bounds on the dissemination of posts. We also report on experimental re- sults based on topologies of real networks, including Twitter, Facebook, Renren, Google+ and LiveJournal.
Research on the Location Selecting Problem of Electric Vehicle Charging Station

Firstly the location selecting principle of electric vehicle charging station are analyzed; and then the problem of electric vehicle charging station location selecting and its evaluation are described in detail. In order to determine the charging station location, a spatial clustering algorithm is put forwarded. The process of the spatial clustering algorithm is analyzed in detail. The example analysis of the charging station location shows the effectiveness of this algorithm. In order to evaluate the charging station location, the location factors of electric vehicle charging station are analyzed. Based on the location factors of electric vehicle charging station, the hierarchical evaluation structure of electric vehicle charging station location is constructed, divided into three levels, including 4 first-class factors of evaluation and 14 second-class factors of evaluation. A multi hierarchy fuzzy method to evaluate electric vehicle charging station based on the hierarchical evaluation structure is proposed. The fuzzy multi-level evaluation model and algorithm and given, analysis results show that the multi-level fuzzy method can reasonably, to complete the electric vehicle charging station location evaluation. Key-Words: electric vehicle; charging station; location selecting; spatial clustering; fuzzy analytic hierarchy process
Modelo de sónar de largo alcance basado en tecnología estéreo

Resumen En este trabajo presentamos un nuevo modelo de sensor basado en tecnología estéreo al que hemos enmarcado dentro de los denominados Sónares de Largo Alcance. El método consiste en reducir la información 3D obtenida por una cámara estereoscópica a un conjunto de lecturas coplanares con la misma naturaleza que un arco de sónares. Por tanto, este modelo se puede utilizar directamente sobre los algoritmos clásicos de navegación. La diferencia radica en el número de lecturas, así como la precisión y alcance de éstas, que es sumamente mayor. Utilizando este modelo, se han implementado distintas conductas básicas con un robot real, obteniendo resultados óptimos.
Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) for Bangladeshi Vehicles

This paper presents Automatic License Plate extraction, character segmentation and recognition method for license plate of Bangladeshi vehicles with chain code and neural network. In Bangladesh, license plate models are not followed strictly. Characters on plate are in Bangla and English languages and also are in one or two lines. Due to dissimilarity in the model of license plates, vehicle license plate extraction, character segmentation and recognition are key issue. Different types of algorithm already applied and the performance is examined for English license plate. We describe the license plate extraction, character segmentation and recognition work, with Bangla characters. License plate extraction is performed using Sobel filter, connected component analysis and morphological operations. Character segmentation is performed in different levels by using scanning the binary image horizontally and vertically and connected component analysis. Character recognition is carried out using chain code generation and stored knowledge of the network.
Quand la Machine devient Bâtiment: Quelle place en IHM pour l’Interaction Homme-Bâtiment?

Cet article propose l'observation de l'interaction Homme-Bâtiment comme un nouveau domaine de recherche en IHM. Celui-ci s'interesse a l'etude des interactions hu-maines a l'interieur des bâtiments, ainsi qu'au develop-pement et a l'evaluation de technologies interactives pour encourager la collaboration utilisateurs-bâtiment amelio-rant le confort, l'efficacite energetique ou le changement de comportement. Cet article decrit les contours de ce domaine, en esquisse une taxonomie et donne une serie d'exemples issus de notre activite de recherche au sein du projet smartlivinglab.
Applications and What Works in the Field

April 2002 lectronic diaries, or EDs, are beginning to replace paper diaries as the method of choice for collecting selfreport data from subjects in the field. Clinical researchers have used paper diaries for that purpose since the 1940s,1 but in an attempt to overcome subject noncompliance and data-quality problems associated with paper diaries,2 they now often use EDs. The application of EDs to clinical research is flourishing thanks to improvements in the reliability of ED hardware and software, the documented success of ED applications, and the release of regulatory guidance for the use of EDs in clinical research. When subjects are the end users of electronic devices in clinical research, however, important issues arise about subject acceptance and compliance, and the regulatory integrity of these systems.3 This review examines the empirical, peerreviewed literature on EDs to help the E reader better understand the various applications of EDs to clinical research and the factors associated with the success and failure of ED use in the field.
Performance analysis of multicast coded relay network with LDPC and convolutional codes

In this paper, we have compared the performance of joint network channel coding (JNCC) for multicast relay network using low density parity check (LDPC) codes and Convolutional codes. Multicast relay transmission is a type of transmission scheme in which two fixed relay nodes contribute in the second hop of end-to-end transmission between BTS and a pair of mobile stations. Assuming no line of sight (LOS) between source and the destination we have considered one way and two way multicast scenarios and evaluated the bit error rate (BER) and throughput performance using LDPC and Convolutional block codes. In the proposed scheme we have implemented Exclusive-OR (XOR) based network coding at the intermediate relays in such a way that both diversity and multiplexing gain is achieved. It is worth notifying that BER and end-to-end throughput achieved for LDPC codes is better than Convolutional codes with JNCC implemented.
Evolução de Estratégias e Controle Inteligente em S istemas Multi-Robóticos Robustos

Este trabalho esta relacionado com a aplicacao de tecnicas de Inteligencia Artificial no desenvolvimento de um Sistema Multi-Agente robotico aplicado ao problema da monitoracao e combate a incendios em areas florestais. O objetivo macro e evoluir estratregias de formacao de equipes de combate a incendio (unidade de controle) e criar metodos robustos de navegacao em agentes roboticos (unidades de combate), considerando um ambiente virtual de simulacao realistica.No sistema proposto, uma equipe de agentes autonomos trabalha cooperativamente a fim de realizar com sucesso a identificacao e o combate a incendios em areas florestais, sem intervencao humana. O ambiente virtual 3D suporta uma serie de caracteristicas fundamentais para a simulacao realistica da operacao, como terrenos irregulares, processos naturais e restricoes fisicas na criacao e uso de robos moveis. Este ambiente foi implementado atraves do uso das bibliotecas OSG, ODE e Demeter. A operacao multi-agente depende essencialmente de duas etapas: p
LQG control over a Markov communication network

We formulate and solve a control problem where data are sent over a communication network that introduces random time delays. Past time delays are assumed known by the use of time stamps and the probability distribution of future delays are modeled with a Markov chain with continuous observation densities. We generalize previous results on LQG control of jump linear systems to cover this situation.
Exploiting multi-level parallelism in streaming applications for heterogeneous platforms with GPUs

Heterogeneous computing platforms support the traditional types of parallelism, such as e.g., instruction-level, data, task, and pipeline parallelism, and provide the opportunity to exploit a combination of different types of parallelism at different platform levels. The architectural diversity of platform components makes tapping into the platform potential a challenging programming task. This thesis makes an important step in this direction by introducing a novel methodology for automatic generation of structured, multi-level parallel programs from sequential applications. We introduce a novel hierarchical intermediate program representation (HiPRDG) that captures the notions of structure and hierarchy in the polyhedral model used for compile-time program transformation and code generation. Using the HiPRDG as the starting point, we present a novel method for generation of multi-level programs (MLPs) featuring diﬀerent types of parallelism, such as task, data, and pipeline parallelism. Moreover, we introduce concepts and techniques for data parallelism identification, GPU code generation, and asynchronous data-driven execution on heterogeneous platforms with efficient overlapping of host-accelerator communication and computation. By enabling the modular, hybrid parallelization of program model components via HiPRDG, this thesis opens the door for highly eﬃcient tailor-made parallel program generation and auto-tuning for next generations of multi-level heterogeneous platforms with diverse accelerators.
Evaluation of Schedule Characteristics in RCPSP

In this paper, I study the resource-constrained project scheduling problem and describe the novel genetic algorithm GARTH created by Martin Hrub´ y. GARTH is designed to find and eliminate unfavorable characteristics from an individual. This approach is opposing the standard way of thinking about genetic algorithms ‐ to synthesize desirable characteristic in a new individual. To be able to recognize unfavorable characteristics, the algorithm creates a hypothesis about mutual time properties of particular jobs from the given problem instance. This hypothesis is called Run Time Hypothesis because it is created as the algorithm get to know specific problem instance. The topic of my paper is to develop this algorithm and to discover new techniques that could be used in computation of RCPSP.
Graphic interface for numerical commands on the USB port of PC compatible computers

Computers are increasingly used in the present technological processes. Several numerical input/ output electronic modules were designed and made to support computer automated technological process in the wood industry. This paper presents the software for these modules, built in the Delphi language and aimed to obtain numerical commands by using the USB port of a computer. As modern computers are no longer provided with parallel ports, a K8055 USB Experiment Interface Board manufactured by VELLEMAN was used. The board includes a PIC16C745-IP microcontroller, which enables communication via specific software.
Open Programmable Layer-3 Networking Hardware Approach for Full Active Network

This paper discusses high speed (multi-gigabits/second) active networking techniques used to introduce active functionality into layer-3 processing in order to provide wide-ranging flexibility to intemetworking. We propose here StreamCode, a compact object code for layer-3 programming, a StreamCode Processor that achieves a high-speed execution of the object code, and an architecture of StreamCode-based high-speed active networking node. The processor has a unique instruction fetch mechanism to prevail over promiscuous instructions and data flows inside the processor, and has resource management function to execute StreamCode programs safely. Our FPGA based prototype system with sample applications confirmed the feasibility of proposed StreamCode based programmable Layer-3 networking.
An Examining from Data Sourced Deviations in Modelling by use of Variance Analysis Method

Bu calismada bir arastirma surecinde modelleme planlamaya temel olusturan, gozlem degerleri uzerinde meydana gelen ve modellerin yanli olmasina neden olan nedenler incelenmistir. Gozlem yapmak, gozlemleri verilere donusturmek, verilerden modellere ulasmak ve nihayet modelleri kullanarak bilgi elde etmek basli basina onemli sureclerdir. Bu sureclerde karsilasilan en onemli risklerden biri veriler uzerinde meydana gelen degisimlerdir. Bu degisimler dogal yollarla meydana geliyorsa, sorun nispeten basittir. Ancak degisim; kisilerden, aletlerden veya aletlerin yanlis kullanimi ile ortaya cikiyorsa yanlilik mutlaka giderilmelidir. Bu yanliliklarin guncel bir modelleme yontemi olan zaman serisi (ARIMA-Auto Regressive Integrated Moving Average) modellerinde ortaya cikis nedenleri, tespiti ve tespit edilme nedenleri, cok etkenli 3 2 2 3 deney duzeni ile modellenmis ve onem duzeyleri arastirilmistir.