Remembering Lessons Learned: knowledge management techniques for building generational memory

A presentation made at the CAUT Librarians Conference in Ottawa, Ontario in October 2005.

Exchange rate management techniques

This briefing note addresses the question: What revisions of financial regulation and financial governance in Brazil are necessary to support Brazilian development? What’s in place and what’s missing? The focus here is a dimension of financial regulation and governance: the regulation of capital flows and of exchange rate operations. The arguments are organized in the following manner. In the next section, we summarize the impacts of th crisis on the emerging-market economies and on the regulation of the international monetary and financial system. The third section discusses the post-crisis dilemmas faced by these economies. Finally, the fourth section presents some policy recommendations for Brazil.

Risk management in software projects through Knowledge Management techniques: Cases in Brazilian Incubated Technology-Based Firms

In businesses such as the software industry, which uses knowledge as a resource, activities are knowledge intensive, requiring constant adoption of new technologies and practices. Another feature of this environment is that the industry is particularly susceptible to failure; with this in mind, the objective of this research is to analyze the integration of Knowledge Management techniques into the activity of risk management as it applies to software development projects of micro and small Brazilian incubated technology-based firms. Research methods chosen were the Multiple Case Study. The main risk factor for managers and developers is that scope or goals are often unclear or misinterpreted. For risk management, firms have found that Knowledge Management techniques of conversion combination would be the most applicable for use; however, those most commonly used refer to the conversion mode as internalization.. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. APM and IPMA.

Code synchronization and interference management techniques for satellite navigation and communications

This thesis collects the outcomes of a Ph.D. course in Telecommunications engineering and it is focused on enabling techniques for Spread Spectrum (SS) navigation and communication satellite systems. It provides innovations for both interference management and code synchronization techniques. These two aspects are critical for modern navigation and communication systems and constitute the common denominator of the work. The thesis is organized in two parts: the former deals with interference management. We have proposed a novel technique for the enhancement of the sensitivity level of an advanced interference detection and localization system operating in the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) bands, which allows the identification of interfering signals received with power even lower than the GNSS signals. Moreover, we have introduced an effective cancellation technique for signals transmitted by jammers, exploiting their repetitive characteristics, which strongly reduces the interference level at the receiver. The second part, deals with code synchronization. More in detail, we have designed the code synchronization circuit for a Telemetry, Tracking and Control system operating during the Launch and Early Orbit Phase; the proposed solution allows to cope with the very large frequency uncertainty and dynamics characterizing this scenario, and performs the estimation of the code epoch, of the carrier frequency and of the carrier frequency variation rate. Furthermore, considering a generic pair of circuits performing code acquisition, we have proposed a comprehensive framework for the design and the analysis of the optimal cooperation procedure, which minimizes the time required to accomplish synchronization. The study results particularly interesting since it enables the reduction of the code acquisition time without increasing the computational complexity. Finally, considering a network of collaborating navigation receivers, we have proposed an innovative cooperative code acquisition scheme, which allows exploit the shared code epoch information between neighbor nodes, according to the Peer-to-Peer paradigm.

GNSS interference management techniques against malicious attacks

This thesis collects the outcomes of a Ph.D. course in Telecommunications Engineering and it is focused on the study and design of possible techniques able to counteract interference signal in Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) systems. The subject is the jamming threat in navigation systems, that has become a very increasingly important topic in recent years, due to the wide diffusion of GNSS-based civil applications. Detection and mitigation techniques are developed in order to fight out jamming signals, tested in different scenarios and including sophisticated signals. The thesis is organized in two main parts, which deal with management of GNSS intentional counterfeit signals. The first part deals with the interference management, focusing on the intentional interfering signal. In particular, a technique for the detection and localization of the interfering signal level in the GNSS bands in frequency domain has been proposed. In addition, an effective mitigation technique which exploits the periodic characteristics of the common jamming signals reducing interfering effects at the receiver side has been introduced. Moreover, this technique has been also tested in a different and more complicated scenario resulting still effective in mitigation and cancellation of the interfering signal, without high complexity. The second part still deals with the problem of interference management, but regarding with more sophisticated signal. The attention is focused on the detection of spoofing signal, which is the most complex among the jamming signal types. Due to this highly difficulty in detect and mitigate this kind of signal, spoofing threat is considered the most dangerous. In this work, a possible techniques able to detect this sophisticated signal has been proposed, observing and exploiting jointly the outputs of several operational block measurements of the GNSS receiver operating chain.

Small-scale timber stand management techniques : a case study of woodlots in Isangati, Tanzania

Small-scale village woodlots of less than 0.5ha are the preferred use of land for local farmers with extra land in the village of Isangati, a small community located in the southern highlands of Tanzania. Farmers view woodlots as lucrative investments that do not involve intensive labor or time. The climate is ideal for the types of trees grown and the risks are minimal with no serious threats from insects, fires, thieves, or grazing livestock. It was hypothesized that small-scale village woodlot owners were not maximizing timber outputs with their current timber stand management and harvesting techniques. Personal interviews were conducted over a five month period and field data was collected at each farmer’s woodlots over a seven month period. Woodlot field data included woodlot size, number of trees, tree species, tree height, dbh, age, and spacing. The results indicated that the lack of proper woodlot management techniques results in failure to fully capitalize on the investment of woodlots. While farmers should continue with their current harvesting rotations, some of the reasons for not maximizing tree growth include close spacing (2m x 2m), no tree thinning, extreme pruning (60% of tree), and little to no weeding. Through education and hands-on woodlot management workshops, the farmers could increase their timber output and value of woodlots.

Understanding treatment-related symptoms, symptom management techniques, and symptom management self-efficacy in a sample of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer patients

The current literature available on bladder cancer symptom management from the perspective of the patients themselves is limited. There is also limited psychosocial research specific to bladder cancer patients and no previous studies have developed and validated measures for bladder cancer patients’ symptom management self-efficacy. The purpose of this study was to investigate non-muscle invasive bladder cancer patients’ health related quality of life through two main study objectives: (1) to describe the treatment related symptoms, reported effectiveness of symptom-management techniques, and the advice a sample of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer patients would convey to physicians and future patients; and (2) to evaluate Lepore’s symptom management self-efficacy measure on a sample of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer patients. Methods. A total of twelve (n=12) non-muscle invasive bladder cancer patients participated in an in-depth interview and a sample of 46 (n=4) non-muscle invasive bladder cancer patients participated in the symptom-management self-efficacy survey. Results. A total of five symptom categories emerged for the participants’ 59 reported symptoms. Four symptom management categories emerged out of the 71 reported techniques. A total of 62% of the participants’ treatment related symptom-management techniques were reported as effective in managing their treatment-related symptoms. Five advice categories emerged out of the in-depth interviews: service delivery; medical advice; physician-patient communication; encouragement; and no advice. An exploratory factor analysis indicated a single-factor structure for the total population and a multiple factor structure for three subgroups: all males, married males, and all married participants. Conclusion. These findings can inform physicians and patients of effective symptom-management techniques thus improving patients’ health-related quality of life. The advice these patients’ impart can improve service-delivery and patient education.^

Power management techniques in an FPGA-Based WSN node for high performance application

In this work, the power management techniques implemented in a high-performance node for Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) based on a RAM-based FPGA are presented. This new node custom architecture is intended for high-end WSN applications that include complex sensor management like video cameras, high compute demanding tasks such as image encoding or robust encryption, and/or higher data bandwidth needs. In the case of these complex processing tasks, yet maintaining low power design requirements, it can be shown that the combination of different techniques such as extensive HW algorithm mapping, smart management of power islands to selectively switch on and off components, smart and low-energy partial reconfiguration, an adequate set of save energy modes and wake up options, all combined, may yield energy results that may compete and improve energy usage of typical low power microcontrollers used in many WSN node architectures. Actually, results show that higher complexity tasks are in favor of HW based platforms, while the flexibility achieved by dynamic and partial reconfiguration techniques could be comparable to SW based solutions.

Impact of fire and post-fire management techniques on soil chemical properties

The effects of fire ( Control burned soil) and two emergency stabilisation techniques (grass Seeding and straw Mulching ) on 20 chemical characteristics were evaluated on 0 – 5 cm top-soils sampled 1, 90, 180 and 365 days after an experimental fi re in a steep shrubland of a temperate-humid region (NW Spain). Most part of pH (in H 2 O and KCl) variance was explained by the sampling date. No clear temporal trends were identi fi able for total soil C and N content, likely due to the large SOM pool in these soils; however, changes on soil δ 13 C were explained by the deposition of 13 C-depleted ashes, followed by its progressive erosion, while those on soil δ 15 N were a consequence of fi re induced N outputs. After the fi re, NH 4 + – N, P, Na, K, Mg, Ca, Mn, Cu, Zn and B concentrations increased, while those of NO 3 − – N, Al, Fe and Co did not vary significantly. Despite a significant decline with time, concentrations of Mg, Ca and Mn at the end of the study were still higher than in unburned soil, while those of K, Cu, Zn and B were similar to the pre-fire levels and those of NH 4 + – N, P and Na were below pre-fire values. Mulching and Seeding treatments for burned soil emergency stabilisation had significant effects on soil δ 15 N and extractable K, Mg and Ca, while data were inconclusive for their possible effects on the extractable Al, Fe and Co

Fault management techniques for systems with SRAM-based FPGAs

Las Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) SRAM se construyen sobre una memoria de configuración de tecnología RAM Estática (SRAM). Presentan múltiples características que las hacen muy interesantes para diseñar sistemas empotrados complejos. En primer lugar presentan un coste no-recurrente de ingeniería (NRE) bajo, ya que los elementos lógicos y de enrutado están pre-implementados (el diseño de usuario define su conexionado). También, a diferencia de otras tecnologías de FPGA, pueden ser reconfiguradas (incluso en campo) un número ilimitado de veces. Es más, las FPGAs SRAM de Xilinx soportan Reconfiguración Parcial Dinámica (DPR), la cual permite reconfigurar la FPGA sin interrumpir la aplicación. Finalmente, presentan una alta densidad de lógica, una alta capacidad de procesamiento y un rico juego de macro-bloques. Sin embargo, un inconveniente de esta tecnología es su susceptibilidad a la radiación ionizante, la cual aumenta con el grado de integración (geometrías más pequeñas, menores tensiones y mayores frecuencias). Esta es una precupación de primer nivel para aplicaciones en entornos altamente radiativos y con requisitos de alta confiabilidad. Este fenómeno conlleva una degradación a largo plazo y también puede inducir fallos instantáneos, los cuales pueden ser reversibles o producir daños irreversibles. En las FPGAs SRAM, los fallos inducidos por radiación pueden aparecer en en dos capas de arquitectura diferentes, que están físicamente superpuestas en el dado de silicio. La Capa de Aplicación (o A-Layer) contiene el hardware definido por el usuario, y la Capa de Configuración contiene la memoria de configuración y la circuitería de soporte. Los fallos en cualquiera de estas capas pueden hacer fracasar el sistema, lo cual puede ser ás o menos tolerable dependiendo de los requisitos de confiabilidad del sistema. En el caso general, estos fallos deben gestionados de alguna manera. Esta tesis trata sobre la gestión de fallos en FPGAs SRAM a nivel de sistema, en el contexto de sistemas empotrados autónomos y confiables operando en un entorno radiativo. La tesis se centra principalmente en aplicaciones espaciales, pero los mismos principios pueden aplicarse a aplicaciones terrenas. Las principales diferencias entre ambas son el nivel de radiación y la posibilidad de mantenimiento. Las diferentes técnicas para la gestión de fallos en A-Layer y C-Layer son clasificados, y sus implicaciones en la confiabilidad del sistema son analizados. Se proponen varias arquitecturas tanto para Gestores de Fallos de una capa como de doble-capa. Para estos últimos se propone una arquitectura novedosa, flexible y versátil. Gestiona las dos capas concurrentemente de manera coordinada, y permite equilibrar el nivel de redundancia y la confiabilidad. Con el objeto de validar técnicas de gestión de fallos dinámicas, se desarrollan dos diferentes soluciones. La primera es un entorno de simulación para Gestores de Fallos de C-Layer, basado en SystemC como lenguaje de modelado y como simulador basado en eventos. Este entorno y su metodología asociada permite explorar el espacio de diseño del Gestor de Fallos, desacoplando su diseño del desarrollo de la FPGA objetivo. El entorno incluye modelos tanto para la C-Layer de la FPGA como para el Gestor de Fallos, los cuales pueden interactuar a diferentes niveles de abstracción (a nivel de configuration frames y a nivel físico JTAG o SelectMAP). El entorno es configurable, escalable y versátil, e incluye capacidades de inyección de fallos. Los resultados de simulación para algunos escenarios son presentados y comentados. La segunda es una plataforma de validación para Gestores de Fallos de FPGAs Xilinx Virtex. La plataforma hardware aloja tres Módulos de FPGA Xilinx Virtex-4 FX12 y dos Módulos de Unidad de Microcontrolador (MCUs) de 32-bits de propósito general. Los Módulos MCU permiten prototipar Gestores de Fallos de C-Layer y A-Layer basados en software. Cada Módulo FPGA implementa un enlace de A-Layer Ethernet (a través de un switch Ethernet) con uno de los Módulos MCU, y un enlace de C-Layer JTAG con el otro. Además, ambos Módulos MCU intercambian comandos y datos a través de un enlace interno tipo UART. Al igual que para el entorno de simulación, se incluyen capacidades de inyección de fallos. Los resultados de pruebas para algunos escenarios son también presentados y comentados. En resumen, esta tesis cubre el proceso completo desde la descripción de los fallos FPGAs SRAM inducidos por radiación, pasando por la identificación y clasificación de técnicas de gestión de fallos, y por la propuesta de arquitecturas de Gestores de Fallos, para finalmente validarlas por simulación y pruebas. El trabajo futuro está relacionado sobre todo con la implementación de Gestores de Fallos de Sistema endurecidos para radiación. ABSTRACT SRAM-based Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) are built on Static RAM (SRAM) technology configuration memory. They present a number of features that make them very convenient for building complex embedded systems. First of all, they benefit from low Non-Recurrent Engineering (NRE) costs, as the logic and routing elements are pre-implemented (user design defines their connection). Also, as opposed to other FPGA technologies, they can be reconfigured (even in the field) an unlimited number of times. Moreover, Xilinx SRAM-based FPGAs feature Dynamic Partial Reconfiguration (DPR), which allows to partially reconfigure the FPGA without disrupting de application. Finally, they feature a high logic density, high processing capability and a rich set of hard macros. However, one limitation of this technology is its susceptibility to ionizing radiation, which increases with technology scaling (smaller geometries, lower voltages and higher frequencies). This is a first order concern for applications in harsh radiation environments and requiring high dependability. Ionizing radiation leads to long term degradation as well as instantaneous faults, which can in turn be reversible or produce irreversible damage. In SRAM-based FPGAs, radiation-induced faults can appear at two architectural layers, which are physically overlaid on the silicon die. The Application Layer (or A-Layer) contains the user-defined hardware, and the Configuration Layer (or C-Layer) contains the (volatile) configuration memory and its support circuitry. Faults at either layers can imply a system failure, which may be more ore less tolerated depending on the dependability requirements. In the general case, such faults must be managed in some way. This thesis is about managing SRAM-based FPGA faults at system level, in the context of autonomous and dependable embedded systems operating in a radiative environment. The focus is mainly on space applications, but the same principles can be applied to ground applications. The main differences between them are the radiation level and the possibility for maintenance. The different techniques for A-Layer and C-Layer fault management are classified and their implications in system dependability are assessed. Several architectures are proposed, both for single-layer and dual-layer Fault Managers. For the latter, a novel, flexible and versatile architecture is proposed. It manages both layers concurrently in a coordinated way, and allows balancing redundancy level and dependability. For the purpose of validating dynamic fault management techniques, two different solutions are developed. The first one is a simulation framework for C-Layer Fault Managers, based on SystemC as modeling language and event-driven simulator. This framework and its associated methodology allows exploring the Fault Manager design space, decoupling its design from the target FPGA development. The framework includes models for both the FPGA C-Layer and for the Fault Manager, which can interact at different abstraction levels (at configuration frame level and at JTAG or SelectMAP physical level). The framework is configurable, scalable and versatile, and includes fault injection capabilities. Simulation results for some scenarios are presented and discussed. The second one is a validation platform for Xilinx Virtex FPGA Fault Managers. The platform hosts three Xilinx Virtex-4 FX12 FPGA Modules and two general-purpose 32-bit Microcontroller Unit (MCU) Modules. The MCU Modules allow prototyping software-based CLayer and A-Layer Fault Managers. Each FPGA Module implements one A-Layer Ethernet link (through an Ethernet switch) with one of the MCU Modules, and one C-Layer JTAG link with the other. In addition, both MCU Modules exchange commands and data over an internal UART link. Similarly to the simulation framework, fault injection capabilities are implemented. Test results for some scenarios are also presented and discussed. In summary, this thesis covers the whole process from describing the problem of radiationinduced faults in SRAM-based FPGAs, then identifying and classifying fault management techniques, then proposing Fault Manager architectures and finally validating them by simulation and test. The proposed future work is mainly related to the implementation of radiation-hardened System Fault Managers.

Traffic calming, auto-restricted zones and other traffic management techniques: their effects on bicycling and pedestrians. Case study #19.

Federal Highway Administration, Washington, D.C.

Management techniques for foremen; questions and answers for all supervisors.

Loose-leaf.