Exact representation of antenna system diversity performance from input parameter description

A simplc formulation Io compute thc envelope correlation of anantenna divemiry system is dcrired. 11 is shown how to compute theenvelope correlation hom the S-parameter descnplian of the antennasystem. This approach has the advantage that i t does not require thecomputation nor the measurement of the radiation panem of theantenna system. It also offers the advantage of providing a clcaunderstanding ofthe effects ofmutual coupling and input match on thediversity performance of the antcnnii system.

'Good-genes' and 'compatible-genes' effects in an Alpine whitefish and the information content of breeding tubercles over the course of the spawning season.

Some models of sexual selection predict that individuals vary in their genetic quality and reveal some of this variation in their secondary sexual characteristics. Alpine whitefish (Coregonus sp.) develop breeding tubercles shortly before their spawning season. These tubercles are epidermal structures that are distributed regularly along the body sides of both males and females. There is still much unexplained variation in the size of breeding tubercles within both sexes and with much overlap between the sexes. It has been suggested that breeding tubercles function to maintain body contact between the mating partners during spawning, act as weapons for defence of spawning territories, or are sexual signals that reveal aspects of genetic quality. We took two samples of whitefish from their spawning place, one at the beginning and one around the peak of spawning season. We found that females have on average smaller breeding tubercles than males, and that tubercle size partly reveals the stage of gonad maturation. Two independent full-factorial breeding experiments revealed that embryo mortality was significantly influenced by male and female effects. This finding demonstrates that the males differed in their genetic quality (because offspring get nothing but genes from their fathers). Tubercle size was negatively linked to some aspects of embryo mortality in the first breeding experiment but not significantly so in the second. This lack of consistency adds to inconsistent results that were reported before and suggests that (i) some aspects of genetic quality are not revealed in breeding tubercles while others are, or (ii) individuals vary in their signaling strategies and the information content of breeding tubercles is not always reliable. Moreover, the fact that female whitefish have breeding tubercles of significant size while males seem to have few reasons to be choosy suggests that the tubercles might also serve some functions that are not linked to sexual signaling.

Une course [de chevaux attelés] en Suisse : [photographie de presse] / [Agence Rol]

Référence bibliographique : Rol, 57045

Student experiences in a course blended learning

Fascination is a project for design students, developed jointly by the Technical University of Catalonia (UPC) and the University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), which works with two groups of students, one group of participants in Spain and another group in Thailand where, hands-on activities, a range of technologies are used to prepare students for the lessons, through learning activities and content. This research paper presents the test of both a general model and a tool for measuring the participants’ experiences in a course that uses a blended learning methodology, with the aim of collecting empirical evidence to justify the effort of applying this methodology, based on the participants’ satisfaction. The procedure used in the conceptualization of the survey, the generation of topics, the collection of data, and the validation of the scale of various items are described here. The information, provided by the 26 people surveyed about the course and the virtual environment that was used, was analyzed to measure their perceptions and explore possible relations. Finally the conclusions of the research and the future work are presented.

Estudi i guia docent per a modelatge i simulació de sistemes mitjançant l'entron ARENA

Aquest projecte es basa en el modelatge i simulació de sistemes utilitzant un simulador digital, i pretén ser una guia docent com a eina d’ajuda per a una assignatura que, a priori, s’impartirà a la Universitat de Vic. La simulació és una tècnica que permet representar el comportament de processos (físics, productius, de serveis, etc.) sense necessitat d’accedir al sistema real. Per analitzar, estudiar i millorar el comportament d’un sistema mitjançant la tècnica de la simulació digital és necessari primer desenvolupar un model conceptual que descrigui les variables d’interès, i després implementar-lo en un simulador per poder analitzar els resultats. ARENA és el software de simulació que s’estudia en aquest projecte i es presenta com una eina que permet la descripció complerta de l’experiència que una entitat desenvolupa a l’interior del sistema mentre flueix a través d’aquest. En concret s’utilitza la versió ARENA 10.0. Pel que fa a l’estructura del projecte, primerament s’introdueixen conceptes teòrics referents a la simulació, així com avantatges i inconvenients i els camps d’aplicació de la simulació. Seguidament i ja centrats en l’Arena, s’analitza un exemple senzill per començar-ne a veure el funcionament. Posteriorment, es van estudiant varis exemples amb complexitat progressiva. Aquests exemples es desenvolupen pas a pas de manera que es puguin anar provant amb el simulador. En el transcurs del projecte es van estudiant les eines de l’Arena i les seves possibilitats, així com els resultats obtinguts i les interpretacions d’aquests. Aquest projecte pretén, doncs, donar conceptes introductoris en el camp de la simulació en general, i, en particular, descriure eines bàsiques sobre el funcionament de l’Arena.