Relational Research between China’s Marine S&T and Economy Based on RPGRA Model

To make up the defect of the existing model, an improved grey relational model based on radian perspective (RPGRA) is put forward. According to the similarity of the relative change trend of time series translating traditional grey relational degree into radian algorithm within different piecewise functions, it greatly improves the accuracy and validity of the research results by making full use of the poor information in time series. Meanwhile, the properties of the RPGRA were discussed. The relationship between China’s marine S&T and marine economy is researched using the new model, so the validity and creditability of RPGRA are illustrated. The empirical results show that marine scientific and technological research projects, marine scientific and technological patents granted, and research funds receipts of the marine scientific research institutions have greater relationship with GOP, which indicates that they have more impact on China’s marine economy

Optimization Based Hybrid Congestion Alleviation for 6LoWPAN Networks

The IPv6 over Low-Power Wireless Personal Area Network (6LoWPAN) protocol stack is a key part of the Internet of Things (IoT) where the 6LoWPAN motes will account for the majority of the IoT ‘things’. In 6LoWPAN networks, heavy network traffic causes congestion which significantly effects the network performance and the quality of service (QoS) metrics. Generally, two main strategies are used to control and alleviate congestion in 6LoWPAN networks: resource control and traffic control. All the existing work of congestion control in 6LoWPAN networks use one of these. In this paper, we propose a novel congestion control algorithm called optimization based hybrid congestion alleviation (OHCA) which combines both strategies into a hybrid solution. OHCA utilizes the positive aspects of each strategy and efficiently uses the network resources. The proposed algorithm uses a multi-attribute optimization methodology called grey relational analysis for resource control by combining three routing metrics (buffer occupancy, expected transmission count and queuing delay) and forwarding packets through non-congested parents. Also, OHCA uses optimization theory and Network Utility Maximization (NUM) framework to achieve traffic control when the non-congested parent is not available where the optimal nodes’ sending rate are computed by using Lagrange multipliers and KKT conditions. The proposed algorithm is aware of node priorities and application priorities to support the IoT application requirements where the applications’ sending rate allocation is modelled as a constrained optimization problem. OHCA has been tested and evaluated through simulation by using Contiki OS and compared with comparative algorithms. Simulation results show that OHCA improves performance in the presence of congestion by an overall average of 28.36%, 28.02%, 48.07%, 31.97% and 90.35% in terms of throughput, weighted fairness index, end-to-end delay, energy consumption and buffer dropped packets as compared to DCCC6 and QU-RPL

Titanium-Based Microreactors for Water Purification

A new era of space exploration is on the horizon. Over the past decade interest in crewed missions to Mars and beyond has rapidly developed in the private sector. Innovation in spaceflight has taken center stage but to achieve these ambitious goals improvements to the Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS) will be a necessity as well. The system aboard the International Space Station (ISS) can be viewed as a model to assess the demands for sustaining a long-term crew on deep space voyages. Currently, as part of the Water Recovery System (WRS), a thermal catalytic reactor is used to eliminate dissolved low molecular weight volatile organic compounds (VOC). This catalytic reactor uses high temperature and oxygen to oxidize VOCs into harmless by-products. However, components used to maintain the high temperature and pressure fail for more frequently that would be feasible for eventual use in deep space missions. We propose that by replacing the catalytic reactor with photocatalytic microfluidic reactors, which operate at standard temperature and pressure, reliability can be greatly improved. Herein, we present a multi-faceted study to develop a high-density photocatalytic microfluidic reactor with design enhancements to mitigate common limitations associated with this technology. The first aim was to apply a design of experiments (DOE) approach to optimize nanoporous titania (NPT) for use within the microfluidic reactor concept. NPT is a unique form of titanium dioxide (TiO2) that directly forms on titanium (Ti) surfaces through a hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) based oxidation process. The Taguchi method and grey relational analysis (GRA) were applied to the oxidation conditions (H2O2 concentration, temperature, and time) to maximize the reaction rate constant, k, and NPT film quality. The second aim applied Ti microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) fabrication techniques to create the first, high-density microfluidic reactor system utilizing a high aspect ratio Ti micropillar array for enhanced catalyst loading and reduced diffusion distance. The micropillar reactors outperformed conventional flat planar reactors and achieved 2-fold or greater photocatalytic activity than all other devices reported in the literature thus far. These results demonstrate the significant performance enhancements of the micropillar array and identify future directions for further validating the concept for use in ECLSS applications

A cloud-based path-finding framework: Improving the performance of real-time navigation in games

This paper reviews current research in Cloud utilisation within games and finds that there is little beyond Cloud gaming and Cloud MMOs. To this end, a proof-of-concept Cloud-based Path-finding framework is introduced. This was developed to determine the practicality of relocating the computation for navigation problems from consumer-grade clients to powerful business-grade servers, with the aim of improving performance. The results gathered suggest that the solution might be impractical. However, because of the poor quality of the data, the results are largely inconclusive. Thus recommendations and questions for future research are posed.N/

Stochastic MCDM Framework Over Converged Infrastructure

AbstractService unification and application integration have brought about vendors, network operators, service providers, car- riers, businesses and infrastructures over a platform while offering the business plans, presenting solution packages, proposing virtualization strategies and outsourcing the resources whereas promising an all Internet Protocol (IP) setup. Diverse business goals from distinctive providers alongside the technology merger and service unification in addition to dynamic border traffic management issues introduce more complexity over such platforms. A decision-making frame- work for handling the border traffic management issues at private public network with multi homing support is presented. Augmented Multi Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) theory addresses the qualitative entities while constructing the structural hierarchy of goals, criteria, sub criteria and alternatives. Inter/Intra-domain knowledge over different planes (service, control and transport) is modeled by using ontology. Blending ontology with Bayesian captures uncertainty over the planes. A simple use-case is presented over the test-bed to validate the proposed solution. The system offers higher throughput with lower call/session/request drop at the cost of an add-on delay

Diffusion or War? Foucault as a Reader of Tarde

The objective of this chapter is to clarify the social theory underlying in Foucault’s genealogy of power/knowledge thanks to a comparison with Tarde’s microsociology. Nietzsche is often identified as the direct (and unique) predecessor of this genealogy, and the habitual criticisms are worried about the intricate relations between Foucault and Marx. These perspectives omit to point to another – and more direct – antecedent of Foucault`s microphysics: the microsociology of Gabriel Tarde. Bio-power technologies must be read as Tardian inventions that, by propagation, have reconfigured pre-existing social spaces, building modern societies. We will see how the Tardean source in Foucault’s genealogy sheds new clarity about the micro-socio-logic involved in it, enabling us to identify some of its aporiae and to imagine some solutions in this respect as well

Investigation on quantitative assessment of energy consumption and the associated sustainability performance of CNC milling machines

This thesis was submitted for the degree of Master of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University.The increasing trend of energy prices increment and more and tighter environmental legislation, has led to manufacturing industry and enterprises paying more attention to investigation of more prominent energy/resource efficient production methods, quantitative analysis on energy consumption in manufacturing systems and corresponding timely decision makings. This is further evidenced and supported by the development of latest ISO standards such as ISO 14000, ISO 20140, ISO/TC 39/SC 2, N1760 and ISO 14955 for this cause. Therefore, developing a comprehensive methodological approach for quantitative analysis of energy consumptions and the associated sustainability aspects of CNC machines and operations is the key driver for this research, albeit incorporating its implementation and application perspectives on shopfloor machining operations is the predominant goal as well. The research presented consists of two inter-related parts. The first part discusses the development of the systematic integrated ERWC approach used for the modelling and simulation tenacities in CNC machines and machining operations by taking account of energy consumption (E), resource utilization (R) and waste resulted in production (W), and collectively the resultant carbon footprint (C). The ERWC modelling and analysis is explored in details with support of the MATLAB-based simulations developed and relevant case carried out. The second part of the research is focused on evaluation of the methodological approach by design of a special testing workpiece and the well-designed CNC machining experiments. The experiments are carried out on the Bridgeport 3-axis CNC milling machine, so the maximum output power of the machine can be determined using the designed testing workpiece and appropriate testing procedures. In the experiments, the milling machine is opted with the clamped power logger for power data-acquisition. The results are used to further validate the model, approach and simulations developed. The contributions to knowledge are largely raised from developing the integrated ERWC modelling approach, innovative design of the testing workpiece, and their implementation perspectives on the 3-axis CNC milling machine, as supported with original research thoughts and exploration