A Ku-band active transmit-array module with a horn or patch array as a signal launching/receiving device

This paper is concerned with the design of a Ku-band active transmit-array module of transistor amplifiers excited by either a pyramidal horn or a patch array Optimal distances between the active transmit array and the signal-launching:receiving device, which is either a passive corporate-fed array or a horn, are determined to maximise the power gain at a design frequency: Having established these conditions, the complete structure is investigated in terms of operational bandwidth and near-field and far-field distributions measured at the output side of the transmit array, The experimental results show that the use of a corporate-fed array as an illuminating/receiving device gives higher gain and significantly larger operational bandwidth, An explanation for this behavior is sought.

Spontaneous and reflexive eye activity measures of mental workload

Measures of eye activity, such as blink rate and scanning patterns, have been used extensively as psychophysiological indices of mental workload. In a review of measures derived from spontaneous eye activity it is shown that different measures are differentially sensitive to specific aspects of mental workload. A less well-known measure of non-spontaneous eye activity, the blink reflex, is also reviewed. Experiments using discrete punctuate stimuli and continuous tasks analogous to real-world systems show that blink reflexes are modulated by attention and that this modulation reflects modality-specific attentional engagement. Future research should examine the utility of the blink reflex according to the desirable properties of sensitivity, diagnosticity, validity, reliability, ease of use, unobtrusiveness, and operator acceptance.

Self-optimization module for scheduling using case-based reasoning

Metaheuristics performance is highly dependent of the respective parameters which need to be tuned. Parameter tuning may allow a larger flexibility and robustness but requires a careful initialization. The process of defining which parameters setting should be used is not obvious. The values for parameters depend mainly on the problem, the instance to be solved, the search time available to spend in solving the problem, and the required quality of solution. This paper presents a learning module proposal for an autonomous parameterization of Metaheuristics, integrated on a Multi-Agent System for the resolution of Dynamic Scheduling problems. The proposed learning module is inspired on Autonomic Computing Self-Optimization concept, defining that systems must continuously and proactively improve their performance. For the learning implementation it is used Case-based Reasoning, which uses previous similar data to solve new cases. In the use of Case-based Reasoning it is assumed that similar cases have similar solutions. After a literature review on topics used, both AutoDynAgents system and Self-Optimization module are described. Finally, a computational study is presented where the proposed module is evaluated, obtained results are compared with previous ones, some conclusions are reached, and some future work is referred. It is expected that this proposal can be a great contribution for the self-parameterization of Metaheuristics and for the resolution of scheduling problems on dynamic environments.

Contextual intelligent load management with ANN adaptive learning module

With the current increase of energy resources prices and environmental concerns intelligent load management systems are gaining more and more importance. This paper concerns a SCADA House Intelligent Management (SHIM) system that includes an optimization module using deterministic and genetic algorithm approaches. SHIM undertakes contextual load management based on the characterization of each situation. SHIM considers available generation resources, load demand, supplier/market electricity price, and consumers’ constraints and preferences. The paper focus on the recently developed learning module which is based on artificial neural networks (ANN). The learning module allows the adjustment of users’ profiles along SHIM lifetime. A case study considering a system with fourteen discrete and four variable loads managed by a SHIM system during five consecutive similar weekends is presented.

Development and validation of the Portuguese version of the WHOQOL-OLD module

OBJECTIVE: The increasing proportion of older adults in the general population and the specific characteristics of this age group show the need for the development of specific instruments to measure quality of life in older adults. The study aimed at describing the development and validation of the Portuguese version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life for Older Persons (WHOQOL-OLD) module. METHODS: The WHOQOL-OLD instrument was administered in a sample of 424 older adults in the city of Porto Alegre, Southern Brazil, in 2005. The questionnaire comprises 24 items divided into six facets: sensory abilities; autonomy; past, present and future activities; social participation; death and dying; and intimacy. Besides the WHOQOL-OLD module, the WHOQOL-BREF, BDI and BHS instruments were also applied. The instrument's internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. RESULTS: The instrument showed adequate internal consistency (Cronbach's coefficients ranging from 0.71 to 0.88), discriminant validity (p<0.01), concurrent validity (correlation coefficients ranging from -0.61 to -0.50) and test-retest reliability (correlation coefficients ranging from 0.58 to 0.82). Findings concerning criterion validity need further studies. CONCLUSIONS: The WHOQOL-Old module is a useful alternative with good psychometric performance in the investigation of quality of life in older adults.

Brazilian WHOQOL-OLD Module version: a Rasch analysis of a new instrument

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the Brazilian version of WHOQOL-OLD Module and to test potential changes to the instrument to increase its psychometric adequacy. METHODS: A total of 424 older adults living in a city in Southern Brazil completed the WHOQOL-OLD instrument, in 2005. Rasch analysis was used to explore the psychometric performance of the scale, as implemented by the RUMM2020 software. Item-trait interaction, threshold disorders, presence of differential item functioning and item fit, were analyzed. RESULTS: Two ("death and dying" and "sensory abilities") out of six domains showed inadequate item-trait interactions. Rescoring the response scale and deleting the most misperforming items led to scale improvement. The evaluation of domains and items individually showed that the "intimacy" domain does perform well in contrast to the findings using the classical approach. In addition, the "sensory abilities" domain does not derive an interval measure in its current format. CONCLUSIONS: Unidimensionality and local independence were seen in all domains. Changes in the response scale and deletion of problematic items improved the scale's performance.

Análise psicométrica inicial da versão brasileira do DISABKIDS Atopic Dermatitis Module

OBJETIVO: Analisar as propriedades psicométricas iniciais da versão brasileira de instrumento de avaliação da qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde de crianças e adolescentes com dermatite atópica. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal realizado com amostra de 52 crianças e adolescentes, com idades entre oito e 18 anos, diagnosticados com dermatite atópica, e seus responsáveis, recrutados em serviço de dermatologia de hospital universitário na cidade de São Paulo, SP, em 2009. Foram avaliadas a validade de construto, a confiabilidade de consistência interna e a correlação entre as respostas de crianças e adolescentes e seus responsáveis da versão brasileira do Atopic Dermatitis Module (DISABKIDS-ADM). RESULTADOS: A confiabilidade de consistência interna foi satisfatória, com coeficiente alfa de Cronbach aceitável para as dimensões constantes no instrumento (0,7024/0,8124 e 0,7239/0,8604). A análise multitraço-multimétodo para validade convergente mostrou valores maiores que 0,30 para todos os itens. Quanto à validade discriminante, a análise revelou resultados satisfatórios. A concordância entre as versões self e proxy foi avaliada pelo coeficiente de correlação intra-classe, com valores de 0,8173 para impacto e 0,7629 para estigma. CONCLUSÕES: Diante dos resultados encontrados, considera-se que o instrumento DISABKIDS-ADM pode ser utilizado por pesquisadores brasileiros depois de finalizado seu processo de validação, por seus resultados iniciais apontarem propriedades psicométricas satisfatórias, que permitem considerá-lo um instrumento válido e confiável.

Diagnosis of an EPS module

Dissertação apresentada na Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia Electrotécnica e Computadores

A module for the FTT-SE protocol in ns-3

Demo in Workshop on ns-3 (WNS3 2015). 13 to 14, May, 2015. Castelldefels, Spain.

A module for Data Centric Storage in ns-3

Demo in Workshop on ns-3 (WNS3 2015). 13 to 14, May, 2015. Castelldefels, Spain.

A module for the XDense architecture in ns-3

Demo in Workshop on ns-3 (WNS3 2015). 13 to 14, May, 2015. Castelldefels, Spain.

PV inverters for module level applications

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Energias Renováveis – Conversão Eléctrica e Utilização Sustentáveis

Adapter module for self-learning production systems

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia Electrotécnica, Sistemas e Computadores

Proposion pour un module de cours d'anthropologie de l'espace

Présentation de la thématique: identités locales, régionales et nationales. Définition d’un objet d’étude: les représentations de l’espace. Questions relatives aux transformations qui proviennent de l’augmentation progressive de la mobilité spatiale. Nécessité de repenser les échelles d’approche anthropologique.