Red Brick Tavern. Plainwell, MI. Built in 1849

2 scans with same hs# - one as print actually looks, one somewhat color corrected. 2nd has suffix -ALT

Marshall, MI house built in 1860 by Judge Abner Pratt on his return from the Sandwich Islands where he held the position of U.S. Consul

2 scans with same hs# - one as print actually looks, one somewhat color corrected. 2nd has suffix -ALT

An embedded 1149.4 extension to support mixed-signal debugging

Debugging electronic circuits is traditionally done with bench equipment directly connected to the circuit under debug. In the digital domain, the difficulties associated with the direct physical access to circuit nodes led to the inclusion of resources providing support to that activity, first at the printed circuit level, and then at the integrated circuit level. The experience acquired with those solutions led to the emergence of dedicated infrastructures for debugging cores at the system-on-chip level. However, all these developments had a small impact in the analog and mixed-signal domain, where debugging still depends, to a large extent, on direct physical access to circuit nodes. As a consequence, when analog and mixed-signal circuits are integrated as cores inside a system-on-chip, the difficulties associated with debugging increase, which cause the time-to-market and the prototype verification costs to also increase. The present work considers the IEEE1149.4 infrastructure as a means to support the debugging of mixed-signal circuits, namely to access the circuit nodes and also an embedded debug mechanism named mixed-signal condition detector, necessary for watch-/breakpoints and real-time analysis operations. One of the main advantages associated with the proposed solution is the seamless migration to the system-on-chip level, as the access is done through electronic means, thus easing debugging operations at different hierarchical levels.

Implementación de un entorno de mantenimiento centralizado para el diagnóstico y aislamiento de fallos en plataformas de sistemas modulares

En la actualidad gran parte de las industrias utilizan o desarrollan plataformas, las cuales integran un número cada vez más elevado de sistemas complejos. El mantenimiento centralizado permite optimizar el mantenimiento de estas plataformas, por medio de la integración de un sistema encargado de gestionar el mantenimiento de todos los sistemas de la plataforma. Este Trabajo Fin de Máster (TFM) desarrolla el concepto de mantenimiento centralizado para sistemas complejos, aplicable a plataformas formadas por sistemas modulares. Está basado en la creciente demanda de las diferentes industrias en las que se utilizan este tipo de plataformas, como por ejemplo la industria aeronáutica, del ferrocarril y del automóvil. Para ello este TFM analiza el Estado del Arte de los sistemas de mantenimiento centralizados en diferentes industrias, además desarrolla los diferentes tipos de arquitecturas de sistemas, las técnicas de mantenimiento aplicables, así como los sistemas y técnicas de mantenimiento basados en funciones de monitorización y auto diagnóstico denominadas Built-In-Test Equipment (BITE). Adicionalmente, este TFM incluye el desarrollo e implementación de un modelo de un Entorno de Mantenimiento Centralizado en LabVIEW. Este entorno está formado por el modelo de un Sistema Patrón, así como el modelo del Sistema de Mantenimiento Centralizado y la interfaces entre ellos. El modelo del Sistema de Mantenimiento Centralizado integra diferentes funciones para el diagnóstico y aislamiento de los fallos. Así mismo, incluye una función para el análisis estadístico de los datos de fallos almacenados por el propio sistema, con el objetivo de proporcionar capacidades de mantenimiento predictivo a los sistemas del entorno. Para la implementación del modelo del Entorno de Mantenimiento Centralizado se han utilizado recursos de comunicaciones vía TCP/IP, modelización y almacenamiento de datos en ficheros XML y generación automática de informes en HTML. ABSTRACT. Currently several industries are developing or are making use of multi system platforms. These platforms are composed by many complex systems. The centralized maintenance allows the maintenance optimization, integrating a maintenance management system. This system is in charge of managing the maintenance dialog with the different and multiple platforms. This Master Final Project (TFM) develops the centralized maintenance concept for platforms integrated by modular and complex systems. This TFM is based on the demand of the industry that uses or develops multi system platforms, as aeronautic, railway, and automotive industries. In this way, this TFM covers and analyzes several aspects of the centralized maintenance systems like the State of the Art, for several industries. Besides this work develops different systems architecture types, maintenance techniques, and techniques and systems based on Built-in-test Equipment functions. Additionally, this TFM includes a LabVIEW Centralized System Environment model. This model is composed by a Standard System, the Centralized Maintenance System and the corresponding interfaces. Several diagnostic and fault isolation functions are integrated on the Centralized Maintenance Systems, as well a statistic analysis function, that provides with predictive maintenance capacity, based on the failure data stored by the system. Among others, the following resources have been used for the Centralized System Environment model development: TCP/IP communications, XML file data modelization and storing, and also automatic HTML reports generation.

A home environment test battery for status assessment in patients with motor fluctuations

Background and aims Evaluating status in patients with motor fluctuations is complex and occasional observations/measurements do not give an adequate picture as to the time spent in different states. We developed a test battery to assess advanced Parkinson patients' status consisting of diary assessments and motor tests. This battery was constructed and implemented on a handheld computer with built-in mobile communication. In fluctuating patients, it should typically be used several times daily in the home environment, over periods of about one week. The aim of this battery is to provide status information in order to evaluate treatment effects in clinical practice and research, follow up treatments and disease progression and predict outcome to optimize treatment strategy. Methods Selection of diary questions was based on a previous study with Duodopa® (DIREQT). Tapping tests (with and without visual cueing) and a spiral drawing test were added. Rapid prototyping was used in development of the user interface. An evaluation with two pilot patients was performed before and after receiving new treatments for advanced disease (one received Duodopa® and one received DBS). Speed and proportion missed taps were calculated for the tapping tests and entropy of the radial drawing velocity was calculated for the spiral tests. Test variables were evaluated using non-parametric statistics. Results Post-treatment improvement was detected in both patients in many of the test variables. Conclusions Although validation work remains, preliminary results are promising and the test battery is currently being evaluated in a long-term health economics study with Duodopa® (DAPHNE).

Development of the Simulation Model for the CoSES Laboratory Test Microgrid in Modelica

Evolution of the traditional consumer in a power system to a prosumer has posed many problems in the traditional uni-directional grid. This evolution in the grid model has made it important to study the behaviour of microgrids. This thesis deals with the laboratory microgrid setup at the Munich School of Engineering, built to assist researchers in studying microgrids. The model is built in Dymola which is a tool for the OpenModelica language. Models for the different components were derived, suiting the purpose of this study. The equivalent parameters were derived from data sheets and other simulation programs such as PSCAD. The parameters were entered into the model grid and tested at steady state, firstly. This yielded satisfactory results that were similar to the reference results from MATPOWER power flow. Furthermore, fault conditions at several buses were simulated to observe the behaviour of the grid under these conditions. Recommendations for further developing this model to include more detailed models for components, such as power electronic converters, were made at the end of the thesis.

A New Approach in the Design of Air Stripping Columns for the Treatment of Groundwater Contaminated With Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds are a common source of groundwater contamination that can be easily removed by air stripping in columns with random packing and using a counter-current flow between the phases. This work proposes a new methodology for column design for any type of packing and contaminant which avoids the necessity of an arbitrary chosen diameter. It also avoids the employment of the usual graphical Eckert correlations for pressure drop. The hydraulic features are previously chosen as a project criterion. The design procedure was translated into a convenient algorithm in C++ language. A column was built in order to test the design, the theoretical steady-state and dynamic behaviour. The experiments were conducted using a solution of chloroform in distilled water. The results allowed for a correction in the theoretical global mass transfer coefficient previously estimated by the Onda correlations, which depend on several parameters that are not easy to control in experiments. For best describe the column behaviour in stationary and dynamic conditions, an original mathematical model was developed. It consists in a system of two partial non linear differential equations (distributed parameters). Nevertheless, when flows are steady, the system became linear, although there is not an evident solution in analytical terms. In steady state the resulting ODE can be solved by analytical methods, and in dynamic state the discretization of the PDE by finite differences allows for the overcoming of this difficulty. To estimate the contaminant concentrations in both phases in the column, a numerical algorithm was used. The high number of resulting algebraic equations and the impossibility of generating a recursive procedure did not allow the construction of a generalized programme. But an iterative procedure developed in an electronic worksheet allowed for the simulation. The solution is stable only for similar discretizations values. If different values for time/space discretization parameters are used, the solution easily becomes unstable. The system dynamic behaviour was simulated for the common liquid phase perturbations: step, impulse, rectangular pulse and sinusoidal. The final results do not configure strange or non-predictable behaviours.

VO2 thin films and nanoparticles for energy-saving applications in architectural elements

Vanadium dioxide (VO2) is a promising material with large interest in construction industry and architecture, due to its thermochromic properties. This material may be used to create "smart" coatings that result in improvements in the buildings energy efficiency, by reducing heat exchanges and, consequently, the need for acclimatization. In this work, VO2 thin films and coatings were produced and tested in laboratory, to apply in architectural elements, such as glass, rooftop tiles and exterior paints. Thin films were produced by RF magnetron sputtering and VO2 nanoparticles were obtained through hydrothermal synthesis, aiming to create "smart" windows and tiles, respectively. These coatings have demonstrated the capability to modulate the transmittance of infrared radiation by around 20%. The VO2 nanoparticle coatings were successfully applied on ceramic tiles. The critical temperature was reduced to around 40ºC by tungsten doping. Ultimately, two identical house models were built, in order to test the VO2 coatings, in real atmospheric conditions during one of the hottest months of the year, in Portugal – August.

Virtual Environment: assistance in nursing care for the deaf based on the protocol of Primary Care

Objective: Presenting a Virtual Environment (VE) based on the Protocol of Treatment of Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus type 2, used in Primary Care for evaluation of dietary habits in nursing consultations. Method: An experimental study applied by two nurses and a nurse manager, in a sample of 30 deaf patients aged between 30 and 60 years. The environment was built in Visual Basic NET and offered eight screens about feeding containing food pictures, videos in Libras (Brazilian sign language) and audio. The analysis of the VE was done through questionnaires applied to patients and professionals by the Poisson statistical test. Results: The VE shows the possible diagnostics in red, yellow, green and blue colors, depending on the degree of patients’ need. Conclusion: The environment obtained excellent acceptance by patients and nurses, allowing great interaction between them, even without an interpreter. The time in consultation was reduced to 15 minutes, with the preservation of patient privacy.

A benchmark test for a quantitative assessment of simple neuron models

Several methods and algorithms have recently been proposed that allow for the systematic evaluation of simple neuron models from intracellular or extracellular recordings. Models built in this way generate good quantitative predictions of the future activity of neurons under temporally structured current injection. It is, however, difficult to compare the advantages of various models and algorithms since each model is designed for a different set of data. Here, we report about one of the first attempts to establish a benchmark test that permits a systematic comparison of methods and performances in predicting the activity of rat cortical pyramidal neurons. We present early submissions to the benchmark test and discuss implications for the design of future tests and simple neurons models

Latent tuberculosis: which test in which situation?

Detection of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is a cost-effective procedure in patients at high risk of developing tuberculosis later and who could benefit from preventive treatment. The commonest situation where screening is indicated is the search for infected contacts of an index case with pulmonary tuberculosis. As a screening procedure the current tendency is to replace the time-honoured tuberculin skin test by one of the new blood tests measuring the release of interferon gamma by sensitised T lymphocytes after stimulation by specific peptides from M. tuberculosis. The main advantage of the new tests is the absence of interference with BCG and non-tuberculous mycobacteria, which confers high specificity on the test. This allows a more selective choice of persons for whom preventive treatment is indicated. Some controversial issues remain, such as sensitivity in children and immunocompromised subjects, the predictive value of the blood test and interpretation of possible changes in test results over time. The technical aspects required for performance of the tests must be considered.

Cost-benefit analysis of using test automation in the development of embedded software

The goal of this thesis is to make a case study of test automation’s profitability in the development of embedded software in a real industrial setting. The cost-benefit analysis is done by considering the costs and benefits test automation causes to software development, before the software is released to customers. The potential benefits of test automation regarding software quality after customer release were not estimated. Test automation is a significant investment which often requires dedicated resources. When done accordingly, the investment in test automation can produce major cost savings by reducing the need for manual testing effort, especially if the software is developed with an agile development framework. It can reduce the cost of avoidable rework of software development, as test automation enables the detection of construction time defects in the earliest possible moment. Test automation also has many pitfalls such as test maintainability and testability of the software, and if those areas are neglected, the investment in test automation may become worthless or it may even produce negative results. The results of this thesis suggest that test automation is very profitable at the company under study.