Software defined antenna testing

Microstrip patch directional antennas are an attractive solution for modern wireless systems due to their high gain and directivity. Being an attractive solution creates the need to design such devices for various application scenarios. We have addressed that need by designing, simulating, and testing a rectangular microstrip patch directional antenna at 5GHz. Antenna patch and ground plane were designed with the well-known guided wavelength equation. The antenna performance, in terms of return loss at -10dB, gain, bandwidth, and the radiation pattern was analyzed with a simulation model. The proposed antenna achieved an impedance bandwidth of 77.8MHz (from 4.9662GHz to 5.0440GHz) and a gain of 6.26dBi at 5GHz. The antenna performance was verified with a software defined radio platform. We found that the software radio measurements confirmed the key simulation results. Furthermore, the extensive use of simulation enabled us to develop both antenna and digital baseband algorithms in parallel

Academic Capitalism and the Public Good in Public and Private U.S. Higher Education: A Grounded Theory Study of Internationalization

Within the context of U.S. higher education, market forces inform institutional strategies at public and private universities alike (Rhoades & Slaughter, 2006). Despite existing studies on market-driven forces in the internationalization and transnationalization of U.S. higher education (Knight, 2004; Marginson, 2012; Rhoades, Lee and Maldonado-Maldonado, 2005; Stromquist, 2007), there is a relative lack of theoretical or methodological engagement with how the theory of academic capitalism informs our understanding of the dominance of market-driven strategies in internationalization and how those strategies and practices blur the boundaries between the market and the public good. Furthermore, no studies have explored how the intersection and coexistence of the public good and academic capitalism shapes universities’ internationalization strategies and approaches. Using social constructivist grounded theory methodology, this study considered how the “public” and “private” nature of two U.S. higher education institutions shaped their conceptualization of internationalization, and how academic capitalism and the public good rationales intersect in internationalization strategies. The study revealed that institutional strategies are shaped by both conflictual coexistence and complementary coexistence of public good- and market-driven rationales in the areas of market-driven approaches in internationalization as well as transnational applied research, community engagement, and emerging critical perspectives in internationalization. Conflictual coexistence produced several consequences and risks, including unequal access, cultures of exclusion, and lack of evaluation and assessment. This study also suggests that complementary coexistence strategies produce several unconventional and non-normative strategies, such as critical transnational pedagogies, the democratization of internationalization, multisector partnerships, and better collaboration and cooperation between organizational units. Drawing on these findings, this study informed a grounded theory of intersectional internationalization. Intersectional internationalization builds upon the theory of academic capitalism by positing internationalization as a site of intersection that blurs the boundaries between the public and private, market- and public good-driven approaches, and the local and global through complementary and conflictual coexisting public good-driven and market-shaped strategies. This framework of intersectional internationalization as a contested, conditional site of intersection comprised of conflictual coexistence and complementary coexistence can inform more critical educational, social, and policy strategic choices and outcomes among U.S. higher education leaders engaged in internationalization

Analysis of dryer performance for the improvement of small-scale litchi processing

Litchi is a significant cash crop in Thailand, but marketing is constrained by the perishable nature of the fruit. Drying can extend the shelf life of the fruit; however, in Thailand drying technology is still in its early stages of development. With the aim of improving locally available small-scale drying equipment, the performance of a litchi batch-dryer by a farmers' cooperative near Chiang Mai was studied. Drying conditions, energy consumption and product quality were monitored over three trials. Energy performance was analysed using instantaneous indices, leading to suggestions for possible design-modifications. About 29.8% of the heat input was used for moisture evaporation, 38.4% was lost via unsaturated exhaust air and 17.6% was lost to the ambient environment. An optimum air flow rate, one that minimises exhaust heat losses without increasing the drying time, was calculated. Temperature and air flow within the drying chamber varied, resulting in a non-uniform batch. To improve performance, a new design for the drying chamber air inlet is recommended

Impact of Computer Simulation Instructional Package on Physical Education Pupils’ Motor Skills Development in Individualized Learning Settings in Niger State, Nigeria

The study examined the impact of a computer simulation instructional package on physical education pupils’ motor skills development in an individualized learning setting in Niger State. The experimental research design was used and two research questions and two corresponding null hypotheses guided the study. Computer simulation instructional package and motor skills assessment and rating scale were used as research instruments. The instruments were subjected to experts’ validation and reliability checks. Data collected were analyzed using Mean, Standard Deviation, and Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) in Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS Version 20). Findings revealed that pupils' motor skills development when exposed to computer simulation instructional packages in individualized learning setting better than the demonstration method. Also, the motor skills of male pupils were better to enhance than that of their female counterparts. Based on the findings, it was recommended that teachers should adopt a computer simulation instructional package to replace the traditional means of teaching physical education

Improved energy efficiency of farmers' cooperative litchi drying operation in Northern Thailand

In 2007, Hmong farmers growing litchi in the mountainous region of Northern Thailand started to dry the fruit in response to its declining market price. However, the locally available dryer, although affordable and of a size appropriate for smallholder farmers' cooperatives, showed excessive gas consumption, and this, along with rising fuel costs, imposed a threat to the drying operation. The objective of this study was to test low-cost, easy-to-implement modifications to a locally available convection dryer, to improve its energy efficiency. Experiments were conducted in cooperation with a Hmong farmers' cooperative in Northern Thailand. Insulation of the air ducts and control of the air recirculation rate led to energy cost savings of US$2.45 per dryer-load. With the modifications required being simple, the investment needed was recovered after only approximately 20 loads, while the energy efficiency of the dryer increased from 33% to 39%

Factors affecting greenhouse microclimate and its regulating techniques: a review

This paper reviews factors affecting greenhouse microclimate and its regulating techniques towards upgrading the greenhouse applications in the area of southeast China which have little or very basic technology integration. The microclimate of greenhouse is apparently influenced by the shape and its orientation, the wind direction, the property of covering material, and the use of insect-proof screen as they eventually affect the total solar radiation, the thermal characterises, and the flow pattern inside. The natural ventilation and sun block are the most common method to cool the greenhouse, but more efficient evaporative cooling such as pad-fan system, misting/fogging system and roof sprinkler are required with extreme temperatures. The earth to air heat exchanger and the heat storage using phase change material may be used for heating or cooling throughout the year which are more economic and energy-saving than other traditional thermal technologies. The reviewed knowledge provides insights into upgrading greenhouse applications in Ningbo area towards more sustainable and efficient greenhouse farming

Do construction companies need to match employees' expectations?

Commitment of employees is relatively low in construction. This problem is exasperated by companies inability to attract, motivate, and retain talent that is then often channelled into other more attractive industrial sectors where the prospects, conditions and rewards are perceived to be much higher. The purpose of this study is thus primarily to develop a generic model to maximise employees' engagement, improve their motivation and increase the retention levels. To achieve this aim, the investigation looks into how perceived employment obligations and expectations impact commitment and through that organisational performance. The study is based on the postulations of Luhmann's theory of social systems with communication viewed as a constitutive element of a social system. Consequently expectations of a particular party in an employment relationship are represented in a communicative space requiring the other party's understanding in order to align expectations of both sides in the relationship. Explicitly, alignment of by an employee perceived manager's expectations determines his/ her commitment to fulfil obligations towards the manager. The result of this first stage of research is a conceptual model developed following the substantial supporting evidence in the literature and it forms the framework for mitigation of low commitment, motivation and retention of employees. The model particularly focuses on factors affecting employees' perceived expectations like reneging, incongruence and the process of communication. In the future the model will be validated using empirical data from a combination of observational and enquiry-based research. Once completed, the model will provide a framework for informing Human Resource Management policies with the aim to improve commitment of employees, increase the levels of retention and consequently improve the performance of construction organisations

Devlopment and Analysis of Natural Banana Fiber Composite

This present work evaluated the effect of fiber orientation on mechanical properties of banana Fiber /epoxy composites. In this work banana fiber is used as reinforcement and epoxy is used as matrix material. Samples of different orientations of banana fiber reinforced composites were fabricated by Hand lay-up technique and investigated their mechanical properties like tensile strength and flexural Strength. The work of this experimental study has been carried out to determine the mechanical properties due to the effect of banana fiber orientations such as0degree, 45degree, 90degree orientation and volume fraction such as 30%, 40%, 50% .The results of this study indicate the orientation 0 and 40% Volume fraction shows the better mechanical properties compare than45&90 degree &30%&50% fiber volume fractio

Administrative Constraint’s on Teachers’ Effectiveness in Government Secondary Schools in Kebbi State, Nigeria.

This paper focuses on the administrative constrain of teacher effectiveness of secondary schools in kebbi state, where it tries to discuss on the curriculum implementation, community relation and motivational factors which are part of the contributing factors that stem as a constrain to teacher effectiveness; with the following objectives: to examine the relationship between administrative constrain and teacher effectiveness and to measure the level of teacher effectiveness and administrative constrains.The instrument used for the collection of data is questionnaire, where by descriptive approach was used as the design for the study. The concept of teacher effectiveness was elaborated. The findings reveal that 85% of teachers are not motivated by their administrators which affect their effectiveness. Finally this paper gave recommendation that will help to improve the teacher effectiveness in secondary schools of kebbi state