Deploying public surface transit to forward messages in DTN

Delay Tolerant Network (DTN) is a communication architecture enabling connectivity in a topology with unregular end-to-end network connection. DTN enables communication in environments with cross-connectivity, large delays and delivery time variations, and a high error rate. DTN can be used in vehicular networks where public transport get involved. This research aims to analyze the role of public transit as a DTN routing infrastructure. The impact of using public transit as a relay router is investigated by referencing the network performance, defined by its delivery ratio, average delay and overhead. The results show that public transit can be used as a backbone for DTN in an urban scenario using existing protocols. This opens insights for future researches on routing algorithm and protocol design.

Implementation and comparison of different switching techniques for shunt active power filters

This paper presents a comparison between three switching techniques that can be used in three-phase four-wire Shunt Active Power Filters (SAPFs). The implemented switching techniques are: Periodic-Sampling (PS), Triangular Carrier Pulse-Width Modulation (TC-PWM) and Space Vector PWM (SVPWM). The comparison between them is made in terms of the compensated currents THD%, implementation complexity, necessary CPU time and SAPF efficiency. To perform this comparison are presented and analyzed several experimental results, obtained with a 20 kVA Shunt Active Power Filter prototype, specially developed for this purpose. The control system of the developed SAPF is based in the p-q Theory with a grid synchronization algorithm p-PLL.

Renewable energy system for an isolated micro grid

This paper presents the development of the power electronics needed for the interaction between the electrical generator of a wind turbine and an isolated ac micro grid. In this system there are basically two types of receptors for the energy produced by the wind turbine, which are the loads connected to the isolated micro grid and the batteries used to store energy. There are basically two states in which the system will work. One of the states is when there is enough wind power to supply the loads and the extra energy is used to charge the batteries. The other state is when there is low wind power and the batteries have to compensate the lack of power, so that the isolated micro grid has enough power to supply at least the priority loads. In this paper are presented the hardware and the control algorithm for the developed system. The topology was previously tested in computer simulations, using the software PSIM 9.0, and then validated with the implementation of a laboratory prototype.

Bidirectional battery charger with grid-to-vehicle, vehicle-to-grid and vehicle-to-home technologies

This paper presents the development of na on-board bidirectional battery charger for Electric Vehicles (EVs) targeting Grid-to-Vehicle (G2V), Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G), and Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) technologies. During the G2V operation mode the batteries are charged from the power grid with sinusoidal current and unitary power factor. During the V2G operation mode the energy stored in the batteries can be delivered back to the power grid contributing to the power system stability. In the V2H operation mode the energy stored in the batteries can be used to supply home loads during power outages, or to supply loads in places without connection to the power grid. Along the paper the hardware topology of the bidirectional battery charger is presented and the control algorithms are explained. Some considerations about the sizing of the AC side passive filter are taken into account in order to improve the performance in the three operation modes. The adopted topology and control algorithms are accessed through computer simulations and validated by experimental results achieved with a developed laboratory prototype operating in the different scenarios.

Experimental validation of a proposed single-phase five-level active rectifier operating with model predictive current control

This paper presents a model predictive current control applied to a proposed single-phase five-level active rectifier (FLAR). This current control strategy uses the discrete-time nature of the active rectifier to define its state in each sampling interval. Although the switching frequency is not constant, this current control strategy allows to follow the reference with low total harmonic distortion (THDF). The implementation of the active rectifier that was used to obtain the experimental results is described in detail along the paper, presenting the circuit topology, the principle of operation, the power theory, and the current control strategy. The experimental results confirm the robustness and good performance (with low current THDF and controlled output voltage) of the proposed single-phase FLAR operating with model predictive current control.

Gestión colaborativa de la cadena de abastecimiento.

La búsqueda de mejoras de costo dentro de las empresas se basa en lograr eficiencias dentro del campo de gestión de la propia empresa, muy rara vez estos estudios y acciones se enfocan en integrar acciones entre diferentes empresas. De este modo dentro de lo que denominamos “cadena de valor” existen recursos utilizados en forma ineficiente en diferentes grados. La intención de la investigación es analizar en qué grado existe la oportunidad de integrar recursos de diferentes actores de la vida económica, de modo que bajo la visión que los recursos ineficientes se pueden compartir, se detecten oportunidades de mejora, que exceden lo únicamente empresario, ya que abarcan incluso al conjunto de la sociedad. Esta visión es conocida como “Gestión Colaborativa de las Cadenas de Abastecimiento” (CSCM, por sus siglas en inglés) y si bien ya está en aplicación en economías más desarrolladas, aún es poco implementada en Argentina como visión estratégica de negocios.

Proline- and acidic amino acid-rich basic leucine zipper proteins modulate peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR alpha) activity.

In mammals, many aspects of metabolism are under circadian control. At least in part, this regulation is achieved by core-clock or clock-controlled transcription factors whose abundance and/or activity oscillate during the day. The clock-controlled proline- and acidic amino acid-rich domain basic leucine zipper proteins D-site-binding protein, thyrotroph embryonic factor, and hepatic leukemia factor have previously been shown to participate in the circadian control of xenobiotic detoxification in liver and other peripheral organs. Here we present genetic and biochemical evidence that the three proline- and acidic amino acid-rich basic leucine zipper proteins also play a key role in circadian lipid metabolism by influencing the rhythmic expression and activity of the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα). Our results suggest that, in liver, D-site-binding protein, hepatic leukemia factor, and thyrotroph embryonic factor contribute to the circadian transcription of genes specifying acyl-CoA thioesterases, leading to a cyclic release of fatty acids from thioesters. In turn, the fatty acids act as ligands for PPARα, and the activated PPARα receptor then stimulates the transcription of genes encoding proteins involved in the uptake and/or metabolism of lipids, cholesterol, and glucose metabolism.

Audit report on O’Brien County, Iowa for the year ended June 30, 2006.

Audit report on O’Brien County, Iowa for the year ended June 30, 2006.

Do institutional changes affect business cycles? Evidence from Europe

We study the effects that the Maastricht treaty, the creation of the ECB, andthe Euro changeover had on the dynamics of European business cycles using a panelVAR and data from ten European countries - seven from the Euro area and threeoutside of it. There are changes in the features of European business cycles and in thetransmission of shocks. They precede the three events of interest and are more linkedto a general process of European convergence and synchronization.

GESTÃO ESTRATÉGICA E MELHORIA DO DESEMPENHO DO BALANCED SCORECARD ESTUDO DE CASO NUMA EMPRESA DE VESTUARIO

A gestão estratégica procura dar destaque sistemático às suas funções para determinar o equilíbrio entre o ambiente interno e externo da organização, bem como a integração de todos os setores envolventes, com os objetivos principais de maximizar os lucros e concretizar os objetivos definidos. O Balanced Scorecard (BSC), que tem evoluído nos últimos anos, é hoje um dos instrumentos de gestão estratégica mais difundido nas empresas, pois mede o desempenho apoiado em indicadores financeiros e não financeiros. Algumas pesquisas têm sido conduzidas para estudar a influência da utilização da abordagem BSC na performance empresarial. Os resultados obtidos, em algumas dessas pesquisas, sugerem que a adoção do BSC tem um impacto positivo na sua performance empresarial. Por outro lado, outras pesquisas revelaram efeitos negativos do BSC, pois não encontraram um impacto considerável na implementação da abordagem BSC no desempenho, o que leva a querer que os seus gestores não entenderam os princípios fundamentais e, consequentemente, a sua implementação não foi bem-sucedida. Neste sentido, aproveitando a implementação deste instrumento numa empresa do setor do vestuário, levantou-se a questão os gestores compreenderiam os princípios da abordagem do BSC e se estaria a ser adequadamente concebido, desenvolvido e utilizado. Para responder as estas questões, recorreu-se a um estudo empírico, analisando as incumbências e aspetos críticos relacionados com os deveres das fases do ciclo de vida do BSC. Os principais resultados deste estudo revelaram que, apesar das dificuldades encontradas mas que foram ultrapassadas, a empresa otimizou os processos produtivos e assegurou ter orgulho na implementação da estratégia, porque contribuiu para o crescimento, volume de negócios e outros benefícios. Recorrendo à recolha de informação junto da empresa, no seu sítio da internet e a uma entrevista, validou-se o mapa estratégico proposto, ao identificarem-se relações entre as quatro perspetivas consideradas pelo BSC: financeira, clientes, processos internos e aprendizagem e crescimento.

Extraits de manuscrits de COLBERT.

Contient : Colb. 1548 [lat. 3858 B] : collection de canons ; Colb. 1562 [lat. 4172] : formulaire de lettres pontificales, XIVe-XVe siècle ; Colb. 1701 [lat. 4863] : catalogue en vers des archevêques de Rouen ; Colb. 1713 [lat. 937] : formulaire de la chancellerie des papes d'Avignon ; Colb. 1995 [lat. 4667] : catalogue des rois goths ; Colb. 2052 [lat. 2259] : bulles et diplômes du XIIIe siècle ; Colb. 2089 [lat. 4241] : traité de Jean Schadlant sur les cardinaux ; Colb. 2104 [lat. 5990] : bulles en faveur des rois de France ; Colb. 2262. [lat. 5244] : martyrologe de l'église du Puy ; Colb. 2275 [lat. 9996] : registre de la sénéchaussée de Carcassonne ; Colb. 2446 [lat. 8567] : Etienne de Saint-Georges ; Colb. 2479 [lat. 1772] : « planctus in obitum Constantii Luxoviensis » ; Colb. 2509 [lat. 5294] : miracles de saint Mansuy ; Colb. 2546 [lat. 5373 A] : procès de canonisation de Philippe, archevêque de Bourges ; Colb. 2576 [lat. 1458] : « Gesta Romanorum pontificum » ; Colb. 2578 [lat. 4955] : catalogues épiscopaux ; Colb. 2607 [lat. 673] : extrait de Guibert de Nogent ; Colb. 2835 [lat. 4991 A] : Aimeri de Peyrat ; Colb. 2958 [lat. 5302] : lettre de Jésus-Christ tombée du ciel ; Colb. 3126 [lat. 5954] : traités entre les rois de France et d'Angleterre ; Colb. 3280 [lat. 1745] : « Herberti, De hereticis » ; Colb. 3352 [lat. 8121 A] : satire de Garnier de Rouen ; Colb. 3969 [lat. 6042] : catalogues épiscopaux de la province de Reims ; Colb. 4001 [lat. 7185] : « Arithmomachia » ; Colb. 4047 [lat. 3881] : recueil de canons ; Colb. 4064 [lat. 1682] : recueil de décrétales ; Colb. 4085 [lat. 2731 A] : lettre d'Alcuin ; Colb. 4305 et 4309 [lat. 4280 AA et 2240] : traité contre les hérétiques ; Colb. 4374 [lat. 4889] : chronique d'Ekkehard ; Colb. 4467 [lat. 4350] : lettres de Boniface VIII ; Colb. 4799 [lat. 3555] : recueil d'Exempla ; Colb. 4822 [lat. 8654] : formulaire de Boncompagni ; Colb. 4967 [fr. 5909] : pièces relatives au règne de Charles III ; Colb. 5016 [lat. 2498] : vie de sainte Hélène ; Colb. 5080 [lat. 11015] : chartes de Narbonne ; Colb. 5222 [lat. 2858] : pièces concernant la marche d'Espagne ; Notes écrites par François Bohier, évêque de Saint-Malo [1535-1569] sur les feuillets blancs d'un pontifical ; Chartes de Philippe-Auguste pour Baudouin, comte de Flandre, 1195 et 1200 [Delisle, nos 447 et 579], d'après les originaux ; Bulle de Jean XXII, 7 juillet 1316, relative à la division du diocèse de Toulouse ; Fragment de synode sénonais de la fin du Xe siècle, d'après l'original ; Lettre d'Alcuin, feuillet mutilé d'un ms. du IXe siècle, avec transcription (cf. Bibl. de l'Ecole des chartes, t. XLII, p. 8-10)

Classification of urban multi-angular image sequences by aligning their manifolds

When dealing with multi-angular image sequences, problems of reflectance changes due either to illumination and acquisition geometry, or to interactions with the atmosphere, naturally arise. These phenomena interplay with the scene and lead to a modification of the measured radiance: for example, according to the angle of acquisition, tall objects may be seen from top or from the side and different light scatterings may affect the surfaces. This results in shifts in the acquired radiance, that make the problem of multi-angular classification harder and might lead to catastrophic results, since surfaces with the same reflectance return significantly different signals. In this paper, rather than performing atmospheric or bi-directional reflection distribution function (BRDF) correction, a non-linear manifold learning approach is used to align data structures. This method maximizes the similarity between the different acquisitions by deforming their manifold, thus enhancing the transferability of classification models among the images of the sequence.

Privacy as a Tradeoff: Introducing the Notion of Privacy Calculus for Context-Aware Mobile Applications

Evidences collected from smartphones users show a growing desire of personalization offered by services for mobile devices. However, the need to accurately identify users' contexts has important implications for user's privacy and it increases the amount of trust, which users are requested to have in the service providers. In this paper, we introduce a model that describes the role of personalization and control in users' assessment of cost and benefits associated to the disclosure of private information. We present an instantiation of such model, a context-aware application for smartphones based on the Android operating system, in which users' private information are protected. Focus group interviews were conducted to examine users' privacy concerns before and after having used our application. Obtained results confirm the utility of our artifact and provide support to our theoretical model, which extends previous literature on privacy calculus and user's acceptance of context-aware technology.

Extension of ultrasound Fourier slice Imaging theory to sectorial acquisition

Ultrasound image reconstruction from the echoes received by an ultrasound probe after the transmission of diverging waves is an active area of research because of its capacity to insonify at ultra-high frame rate with large regions of interest using small phased arrays as the ones used in echocardiography. Current state-of-the-art techniques are based on the emission of diverging waves and the use of delay and sum strategies applied on the received signals to reconstruct the desired image (DW/DAS). Recently, we have introduced the concept of Ultrasound Fourier Slice Imaging (UFSI) theory for the reconstruction of ultrafast imaging for linear acquisition. In this study, we extend this theory to sectorial acquisition thanks to the introduction of an explicit and invertible spatial transform. Starting from a diverging wave, we show that the direct use of UFSI theory along with the application of the proposed spatial transform allows reconstructing the insonified medium in the conventional Cartesian space. Simulations and experiments reveal the capacity of this new approach in obtaining competitive quality of ultrafast imaging when compared with the current reference method.

Characterization of novel genes predominantly expressed in the epididymis – from genome analyses to genetically modified mice

In mammals, post-testicular sperm maturation taking place in the epididymis is required for the spermatozoa to acquire the abilities required to fertilize the egg in vivo. The epididymal epithelial cells secrete proteins and other small molecules into the lumen, where they interact with the spermatozoa and enable necessary maturational changes. In this study different in silico, in vitro and in vivo approaches were utilized in order to find novel genes responsible for the function of the epididymis and post-testicular sperm maturation in the mouse. Available online genomic databases were analyzed to identify genes potentially expressed in the epididymis, gene expression profiling was performed by studying their expression in different mouse tissues, and significance of certain genes to fertility was assessed by generating genetically modified mouse models. A recently discovered Pate (prostate and testis expression) gene family was found to be predominantly expressed in the epididymis. It represents one of the largest known gene families expressed in the epididymis, and the members code for proteins potentially involved in defense against microorganisms. Through genetically modified mouse models CRISP4 (cysteine-rich secretory protein 4) was identified to regulate sperm acrosome reaction, and BMYC to inhibit the expression of the Myc proto-oncogene in the developing testis. A mouse line expressing iCre recombinase specifically in the epididymis was also generated. This model can be used to generate conditional, epididymis-specific knock-out models, and will be a valuable tool in fertility studies.