101,992 research outputs found
Probabilistic DCS: An RFID reader-to-reader anti-collision protocol
No full textThe wide adoption of radio frequency identification (RFID) for applications requiring a large number of tags and readers makes critical the reader-to-reader collision problem. Various anti-collision protocols have been proposed, but the majority require considerable additional resources and costs. Distributed color system (DCS) is a state-of-the-art protocol based on time division, without noteworthy additional requirements. This paper presents the probabilistic DCS (PDCS) reader-to-reader anti-collision protocol which employs probabilistic collision resolution. Differently from previous time division protocols, PDCS allows multichannel transmissions, according to international RFID regulations. A theoretical analysis is provided in order to clearly identify the behavior of the additional parameter representing the probability. The proposed protocol maintains the features of DCS, achieving more efficiency. Theoretical analysis demonstrates that the number of reader-to-reader collisions after a slot change is decreased by over 30%. The simulation analysis validates the theoretical results, and shows that PDCS reaches better performance than state-of-the-art reader-to-reader anti-collision protocol
The Reader: an exploration of the history and present place of Reader ministry in the Church of England
No full textA substantial part of the Church of England ministry is provided by Readers, but little information is available about their past or present position in the church. This thesis addresses this absence of knowledge by the exploration of Reader history and its contemporary expression.
History is examined using primary and secondary sources. The contemporary place of the Reader is researched through a survey of diocesan Reader Officers and by a longitudinal study of student Readers. Interviews with Readers and clergy from varied backgrounds provide a check on my findings.
Reader ministry is identified as a resource used primarily in crises. When there is no obvious need, the church, unclear as to how to use Reader ministry, is ambivalent and expresses this in the uncertain place it accords to the Reader.
I suggest that living in uncertainty is the natural environment for the church. From this I argue that the ambivalence of the church to Reader ministry may be a symptom of this uncertainty. The Reader therefore has to be trained for and function in an unpredictable context and the Reader’s effective actualization of this role provided and provides an essential contribution to the ministry of the Church of England.
I conclude that the Reader represents a trained and available ministerial resource able to work and live with uncertainty and to respond when specific needs arise. Consequently the Reader may be described as holding a unique and vital place in the Church of England, essential for its wellbeing and for its future ministry.
This fresh understanding of Reader ministry provides an opportunity for a reassessment within the church of the place at present ascribed to Readers, together with the identification of appropriate education and training patterns
RFID reader synchronization
No full textRadio frequency identification (RFID) has received much attention recently as it is widely believed that RFID can revolutionize supply chain management, complementing bar codes as the main object-tracking system. Several major supply chain operators and retailers, such as Wal-Mart in the United States, have deployed RFID systems in some of their supply chains (Roberti, 2004). Initial test runs of RFID deployment show encouraging results (Rendon, 2005), and hence large-scale RFID deployment is planned. However, before any successful deployment can be achieved, some RFID issues have to be resolved. One of them is the RFID reader collision problem, which is the focus of this chapter. The term “reader collision(s)” is discussed extensively in Engels and Sarma (2002) and Carbunar et al. (2005). In this chapter, reader collision is simply defined as the phenomenon where an interrogation signal from a certain reader disrupts the communication between a tag and another reader, and this reader collision problem is potentially magnified in a dense reader environment such as in a warehouse. To visualize a simple reader collision situation, we can imagine a situation as shown in Figure 7.1. In addition, the band RFID is using is an industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) band. Normally, there is other electronic equipment, intentional or nonintentional radiators that are operating in this band. Unlike some of the other signaling equipment permitted to use the band, RFID antennas use comparatively intense RF power to energize passive tags within their interrogating zones and hence can interfere with nearby electronic equipment operating in the band of interest. Due to this reason, RFID is subjected to very strict regulations around the world. Various regulatory and standardization bodies have tried to regulate the operations of RFID readers. There are mainly two different standards on the spectrum management adopted. One is the EN 302 208-1 v1.1.2: electromagnetic compatibility and radio spectrum matters (ERM); RFID equipment operating in the band 865-868 MHz with power levels up to 2 W as introduced by the European regulatory body (ETSI, 2006) and the Title 47, telecommunication, chapter 1, Part 15, radio frequency devices as introduced by Federal Communications Commission (FCC, 2001). The air interface and command sets between an RFID reader and an RFID tag are standardized by the “EPC radio-frequency identity protocols class-1 generation-2 UHF RFID protocol for communications at 860 MHz-960 MHz version 1.0.9” as recommended by EPCglobal. As will be discussed in more detail in the later part of this chapter, the restrictions from ETSI 302 208 that are put on the operation of RFID readers are very strict, making it quite impossible to have an uncoordinated large-scale deployment of RFID readers. Hence, this chapter introduces the idea of RFID reader synchronization to enable good RFID performance in a dense reader environment while adhering to strict regulations. The next section introduces the ETSI 302 208, FCC Part 15, and RFID UHF Protocol standards and their impact on RFID reader deployment, especially in the Europe. Section 7.3 explains the concept of RFID reader synchronization and how it adheres to strict regulations. Section 7.4 suggests possible ways in implementing an RFID synchronization system. A case study on RFID reader synchronization is presented in Section 7.5. Ways of fine-tuning RFID reader positioning are discussed in Section 7.6. Variations of possible reader synchronization schemes are presented in Section 7.7. Sections 7.8 and 7.9 offer views.Kin Seong Leong, Mun Leng Ng, Alfio R. Grasso, and Peter H. Col
Dr. Glendon Swarthout
No full textHosted by Roger M. Busfield, MSU Assistant Professor of Speech and Theater, Meet the Author is designed to introduce a general audience to a contemporary author and their work through in-depth interviews. This episode features a conversation between Dr. Glendon Swarthout, prolific author and English professor at MSU, and assistant professors Sam S. Baskett and Theodore B. Strandness
The Eternal Images from World Literature in M. M. Kheraskov‟s Poem «Pilgrims»
No full textВ статье рассматривается роль вечных образов литературы (конкретнее – образов-персонажей) в поэме М.М. Хераскова «Пилигримы, или Искатели щастия». Выделяются особенности использования отсылок к этим образам в повествовании, в обращении к читателю. Обсуждаются особенности интерпретации у Хераскова образа Нарцисса.In this paper we look at the role of eternal images (eternal characters) of world literature in M.M. Kheraskov‟s poem «Pilgrims». We mark the differences in author‟s usage of these characters during narration and in addressing the reader, and describe Kheraskov‟s interpretation of the character Narcissus
Assessing the intra- and inter-reader reliability of dynamic ultrasound images in power Doppler ultrasonography
No full textOBJECTIVE: To assess the intra-reader and inter-reader reliabilities of interpreting ultrasonography by several experts using video clips. METHOD: 99 video clips of healthy and rheumatic joints were recorded and delivered to 17 physician sonographers in two rounds. The intra-reader and inter-reader reliabilities of interpreting the ultrasound results were calculated using a dichotomous system (normal/abnormal) and a graded semiquantitative scoring system. RESULTS: The video reading method worked well. 70% of the readers could classify at least 70% of the cases correctly as normal or abnormal. The distribution of readers answering correctly was wide. The most difficult joints to assess were the elbow, wrist, metacarpophalangeal (MCP) and knee joints. The intra-reader and inter-reader agreements on interpreting dynamic ultrasound images as normal or abnormal, as well as detecting and scoring a Doppler signal were moderate to good (kappa = 0.52-0.82). CONCLUSIONS: Dynamic image assessment (video clips) can be used as an alternative method in ultrasonography reliability studies. The intra-reader and inter-reader reliabilities of ultrasonography in dynamic image reading are acceptable, but more definitions and training are needed to improve sonographic reproducibility
Simulation of thermal plant optimization and hydraulic aspects of thermal distribution loops for large campuses
No full textFollowing an introduction, the author describes Texas A&M University and its utilities system. After that, the author presents how to construct simulation models for chilled water and heating hot water distribution systems. The simulation model was used in a $2.3 million Ross Street chilled water pipe replacement project at Texas A&M University. A second project conducted at the University of Texas at San Antonio was used as an example to demonstrate how to identify and design an optimal distribution system by using a simulation model. The author found that the minor losses of these closed loop thermal distribution systems are significantly higher than potable water distribution systems. In the second part of the report, the author presents the latest development of software called the Plant Optimization Program, which can simulate cogeneration plant operation, estimate its operation cost and provide optimized operation suggestions. The author also developed detailed simulation models for a gas turbine and heat recovery steam generator and identified significant potential savings. Finally, the author also used a steam turbine as an example to present a multi-regression method on constructing simulation models by using basic statistics and optimization algorithms. This report presents a survey of the author??s working experience at the Energy Systems Laboratory (ESL) at Texas A&M University during the period of January 2002 through March 2004. The purpose of the above work was to allow the author to become familiar with the practice of engineering. The result is that the author knows how to complete a project from start to finish and understands how both technical and nontechnical aspects of a project need to be considered in order to ensure a quality deliverable and bring a project to successful completion. This report concludes that the objectives of the internship were successfully accomplished and that the requirements for the degree of Degree of Engineering have been satisfied
The construction of Karen Karnak: The multi-author-function
No full textThis thesis is situated within the comparatively recent developments of Web 2.0 and the emergence of interactive WikiMedia, and explores the mode of authorship within a Read/Write culture compared to that of a Read/Only tradition. The hypothesis of this study is that the role of the audience has become merged with the author, and as such, represents new functions and attributes, distinct from a more conventional concept of authorship, in which the roles of audience and author are more separate. Read/Write and participatory culture, as defined by this study, is focused on collaboration, and includes the influences of D.I.Y. culture, Open-Source practices and the production of text by multiple authors. Multi-authorship presents a re-thinking of several concepts which support the notion of the individual author, since the focus of multi-authorship is not on attribution and ownership of a finished text, but on the continued malleability of a text. Modes of multi-authorship, demonstrated in the use of the pseudonyms Alan Smithee and Karen Eliot, represent declarative authors whose names signify multiple origins, whilst concurrently indicating a distinct body of work. The function of these names form an important context to this study, since primary research involves the construction of an experimental mode of multi-authorship utilising WikiMedia technology and the interaction of thirty nine participants, who are invited to create a body of work under the collective pseudonym Karen Karnak. The data generated by this experiment is analysed using aspects of Michel Foucault's author-function to identify and determine power structures inherent in the WikiMedia context. The interplay of power structures, including concepts such as identity, ownership and the body of work, affect the resulting mode of authorship and contribute to the construction of Karen Karnak, suggesting further areas of research into the emerging multi-author
Performance of a micro-engineered ultrasonic particle manipulator
No full textAn ultrasonic microfluidic particle manipulator has been modeled and its experimentally measured separation performance has been compared with the modeled results for 1 µm latex particles, and yeast particles in water
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