AC-coupled GaAs microstrip detectors with a new type of integrated bias resistors

Full size single-sided GaAs microstrip detectors with integrated coupling capacitors and bias resistors have been fabricated on 3'' substrate wafers. PECVD deposited SiO_2 and SiO_2/Si_3N_4 layers were used to provide coupling capacitaces of 32.5 pF/cm and 61.6 pF/cm, respectively. The resistors are made of sputtered CERMET using simple lift of technique. The sheet resistivity of 78 kOhm/sq. and the thermal coefficient of resistance of less than 4x10^-3 / degree C satisfy the demands of small area biasing resistors, working on a wide temperature range.Comment: 20 pages, 9 figures, to be published in NIM

Autonomic management of software defined networks : DAIM can provide the environment for building autonomy in distributed electronic environments - using OpenFlow networks as the case study

University of Technology Sydney. Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology.Next generation networks need to support a broad range of services and functionalities with capabilities such as autonomy, scalability, and adaptability for managing networks complexity. In present days, network infrastructures are becoming increasingly complex and challenging to administer due to scale and heterogeneous nature of the infrastructures. Furthermore, among various vendors, services, and platforms, managing networks require expert operators who have expertise in all different fields. This research relied on distributed active information model (DAIM) to establish a foundation which will meet future network management requirements. The DAIM is an information model for network solutions which considers challenges of autonomic functionalities, where the network devices can make local and overall network decisions by collected information. The DAIM model can facilitate networks management by introducing autonomic behaviours. The autonomic behaviours for communication networks lead networks to be self-managed and emerge as promising solutions to manage networks complexity. Autonomic networks management aims at reducing the workload on network operators from low-level tasks. Over the years, researchers have proposed a number of models for developing self-managed network solutions. One such example is the common information model (CIM), which is described as the managed environment that attempts to merge and extend the existing conventional management and also uses object-oriented constructs for overall network representation. However, the CIM has limitations coping in complex distributed electronic environments with multiple disciplines. The goal of this research is defined as development of a network architecture or a solution based on the DAIM model, which is effectively distribute and automate network’s functions to various network devices. The research first looks into the possibilities of local decision-making and programmability of network elements for distributed electronic environments with an intention to simplify network management by providing abstracted network infrastructures. After investigating and implementing different elements of the DAIM model in network forwarding devices by utilising virtual network switches, it discovers that a common high-level interface and framework for network devices are essential for the development of network solutions which will meet future network requirements. The outcome of this research is the development of (DAIM OS) specification. The DAIM OS is a network forwarding device operating system which is compliant with the DAIM model when it comes to network infrastructure management and provides a high-level abstracted application programming interface (DAIM OS API) for creating network service applications. Through the DAIM OS, network elements will be able to adapt to ever changing environments to meet the goals of service providers, vendors, and end users. Furthermore, the DAIM OS API aims to reduce complexity and time of network service applications development. If the developed DAIM OS specification is implemented and if it functions as predicted in the design analyses; that will result in a significant milestone in the development of distributed network management. This dissertation has an introduction in chapter 1 followed by five parts in order to draw a blueprint for information model as a distributed independent computing environment for autonomic network management. The five parts include lending weight to the proposition, gaining confidence in the proposition, drawing conclusions, supporting work and lastly is appendices. The introduction in chapter 1 includes motivations for the research, main challenges of the research, overall objectives, and review of research contributions. After that, to lend weight to the proposition as the first part of the dissertation, there is chapter 2 which presents the background and literature review, and chapter 3 which has a theoretical foundation for the proposed model. The foundation consists of a generic architecture for complex network management and agents to aggregate distributed network information. Moreover, chapter 3 is probably more about a state of the art in software engineering than about real implementation to engineer autonomic network management. The second part of the dissertation is to gain confidence in the proposition which includes attempting to implement the DAIM model in chapter 4 with some tests to report good performance regarding convergence and robustness for the service configuration process of network management. Also, the second part has a specification of true abstraction layers in chapter 5. The specification of true abstraction layers proposes a high-level abstraction for forwarding networking devices and provides an application program interface for network service applications developed by network operators and service providers. The implementation in chapter 4 is supported by the fourth part of the dissertation in chapter 10 which supports the theoretical foundation, designing, modelling, and developing the distributed active information model via simulation, emulation and real environments. The third part of this dissertation provides the way to draw conclusions as shown in chapter 7 which has the overall research summary, validation of the propositions, contributions and discussion, limitations and finally recommendations for future works. Finally are the appendices in Appendix A, Appendix B, Appendix C and Appendix D which provide a developing code of the core DAIM model and show different setting up for testbed environments

Chemical Composition of Different Varieties of Linseed

The present study was conducted to investigate chemical composition of six varieties of linseed (Chandni, LS-29, LS-49, LS-70, LS-75 and LS-76). Proximate composition, mineral profile and cyanogenic glycosides (linamarin) were determined. Average proximate composition values for linseed i.e. crude protein, ether extract, crude fiber, ash and nitrogen free extract were 24.18, 37.77, 4.78, 3.50 and 25.86%, respectively. Higher values of crude protein, ether extract, crude fiber and nitrogen free extract were observed in varieties LS-49, LS-70, LS-29 and Chandni, respectively. Average mineral contents in linseed i.e. Ca, Mg, K, Na, Cl, P, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn were 0.39, 0.09, 1.41, 0.05, 0.08, 0.89, 4.67, 50.56, 8.29 and 13.55 ppm, respectively. Among micro minerals, varieties LS-29 and LS-70 were higher in Cu contents; LS-75 was higher in Fe content, while LS-49 was higher in Mn and Zn contents. Among macro minerals, level of Ca was higher in LS-70, levels of Mg, K and Na were higher in Chandni, while P was higher in LS-49. Average amount of linamarin in linseed was 31.05mg/100 gm DM. The variety LS-75 had the highest (35.22 mg/100 gm) linamarin content, while variety LS-70 had least (26.22 mg/100 gm) amount of linamarin. In conclusion, there is significant difference in chemical composition among linseed varieties. The varieties LS-49 showed higher crude protein content, LS-70 showed greater oil content, while LS-75 had higher content of linamarin

Temperature and water level measurement of liquid in a tank using fiber Bragg Grating

In this work, measurement of temperature and liquid level were performed simultaneously using fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors. A multi-channel Fibre Interrogator with built-in ASE laser source operating around 1552 to 1568 nm was employed to record a shift in Bragg wavelength due to contribution from both temperature and hydrostatic pressure of liquid weight in the tank. Results show a linear response between liquid level and temperature readings against the shift in Bragg wavelength for liquid level up to 85 cm in height and the temperature range of 27 to 77 ºC. The sensitivity of the sensor head for water level measurement is 10.57 pmcm-1, while the sensitivity for temperature measurement is 11.28 pm/ºC respectively

Blended Learning: How do you optimise undergraduate student engagement?

Background: Blended learning is a combination of online and face-to-face learning and is increasingly of interest for use in undergraduate medical education. It has been used to teach clinical post-graduate students pharmacology but needs evaluation for its use in teaching pharmacology to undergraduate medical students, which represent a different group of students with different learning needs. Methods: An existing BSc-level module on neuropharmacology was redesigned using the Blended Learning Design Tool (BLEnDT), a tool which uses learning domains (psychomotor, cognitive and affective) to classify learning outcomes into those taught best by self-directed learning (online) or by collaborative learning (face-to-face). Two online courses were developed, one on Neurotransmitters and the other on Neurodegenerative Conditions. These were supported with face-to-face tutorials. Undergraduate students’ engagement with blended learning was explored by the means of three focus groups, the data from which were analysed thematically. Results: Five major themes emerged from the data 1) Purpose and Acceptability 2) Structure, Focus and Consolidation 3) Preparation and workload 4) Engagement with e-learning component 5) Future Medical Education. Conclusion: Blended learning was acceptable and of interest to undergraduate students learning this subject. They expressed a desire for more blended learning in their courses, but only if it was highly structured, of high quality and supported by tutorials. Students identified that the ’blend’ was beneficial rather than purely online learning

Performance of NiCrAlY Coatings Deposited by Oxyfuel Thermal Spraying in High Temperature Chlorine Environment

A microcrystalline Ni-22Cr-10Al-1Y (wt.%) coating was deposited on AISI 304 stainless steel by the oxyfuel thermal spray technique. The deposited coating was subjected to heat treatment to improve the microstructure characteristics and its corresponding high-temperature properties. The isothermal high-temperature corrosion behavior at 650 and 700 °C in synthetic air and in the presence of 1% Cl2 was investigated using thermogravimetric analysis, x-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. The results indicated that the deposited NiCrAlY coating possessed acceptable oxidation-corrosion resistance at 650 °C owing to the formation of extensive amounts of the protective oxide of Cr2O3; NiO and a lesser amount of a Cr1.12 Ni2,88 metallic phase are also formed. At 700 °C, the coating lost its protective characteristic because of the excessive consumption of thermodynamically stable phases by oxidation-chlorination process. In this case, the steel base and the coating were attacked by chlorine during the exposure time; the mass gain of the NiCrAlY coating was slightly higher and provided only a limited protection up to 11 h; thereafter, breakdown of the layer of oxides occurred and this is attributed to the formation of non-protective oxides mainly β-Fe2O3 and Fe21.33O32 and the depletion of chromium

INDIGO : better geomagnetic observatories where we need them

The INDIGO project aims to improve the global coverage of digital observatories by deploying digital magnetometer systems in: i) Observatories where existing analog recording equipment is in need of upgrading. ii) Newly established digital observatories. iii) Existing digital observatories for the purpose of quality control and redundancy. In implementing the project and selecting suitable sites, special attention is paid to parts of the Earth devoid of magnetic observatories, increasing the reliability and long-term operation of existing observatories and cost-effective use of local resources. The Poster reviews the current status of the project. We examine the different steps and initiatives taken since the initiation of INDIGO in 2004 and assess their effectiveness in achieving progress towards our aims of improving global coverage and enhanced data quality