SMOTEC: An Edge Computing Testbed for Adaptive Smart Mobility Experimentation

Smart mobility becomes paramount for meeting net-zero targets. However, autonomous, self-driving and electric vehicles require more than ever before an efficient, resilient and trustworthy computational offloading backbone that expands throughout the edge-to-cloud continuum. Utilizing on-demand heterogeneous computational resources for smart mobility is challenging and often cost-ineffective. This paper introduces SMOTEC, a novel open-source testbed for adaptive smart mobility experimentation with edge computing. SMOTEC provides for the first time a modular end-to-end instrumentation for prototyping and optimizing placement of intelligence services on edge devices such as augmented reality and real-time traffic monitoring. SMOTEC supports a plug-and-play Docker container integration of the SUMO simulator for urban mobility, Raspberry Pi edge devices communicating via ZeroMQ and EPOS for an AI-based decentralized load balancing across edge-to-cloud. All components are orchestrated by the K3s lightweight Kubernetes. A proof-of-concept of self-optimized service placements for traffic monitoring from Munich demonstrates in practice the applicability and cost-effectiveness of SMOTEC.Comment: 6 pages and 6 figure

Experimental studies on cyclic behaviour of steel base plate connections considering anchor bolts post tensioning

This paper presents the experimental tests on cyclic behaviour of the base plate connections that are connected to the foundation with and without fully post tensioned anchor rods. The main aim is to evaluate these connections that are designed with available design procedures from the low damage aspect. Also, the effect of post tensioning on the seismic performance of this type of connection is presented. To characterize the base plate connection damageability, each column base was designed for a particular major inelastic deformation mode such as anchor rod yielding, yielding of the column, or column and base plate yielding. It is shown that considered joints are not able to be categorized as “a low damage”. Also, post tensioning of the base plate increases the rotational stiffness of the base, and results in more ductility of the column with low axial forc

SMOTEC: An Edge Computing Testbed for Adaptive Smart Mobility Experimentation

Smart mobility becomes paramount for meeting net-zero targets. However, autonomous, self-driving and electric vehicles require more than ever before an efficient, resilient and trustworthy computational offloading backbone that expands throughout the edge-to-cloud continuum. Utilizing on-demand heterogeneous computational resources for smart mobility is challenging and often cost-ineffective. This paper introduces SMOTEC, a novel open-source testbed for adaptive smart mobility experimentation with edge computing. SMOTEC provides for the first time a modular end-to-end instrumentation for prototyping and optimizing placement of intelligence services on edge devices such as augmented reality and real-time traffic monitoring. SMOTEC supports a plug-and-play Docker container integration of the SUMO simulator for urban mobility, Raspberry Pi edge devices communicating via ZeroMQ and EPOS for an AI-based decentralized load balancing across edge-to-cloud. All components are orchestrated by the K3s lightweight Kubernetes. A proof-of-concept of self-optimized service placements for traffic monitoring from Munich demonstrates in practice the applicability and cost-effectiveness of SMOTEC

Low damage steel base connections

Base connections link column to ground and essentially provide a building fixation to the foundation to the foundation. Seismic damage to these connections can significantly raise repair cost and the risk of demolition if costs are too high. This thesis explores the experimental and analytical studies on performance of steel column base connections under seismic demands to develop low damage base connections. Tested base connections include exposed base plate connections with and without anchor rod preloading, bases with different patterns of asymmetric friction connections, and bases with yielding angles. Analytical studies are used to quantify the effect of base flexibility on structural demands. The overall goal is to develop low damage base connections. The experimental results indicate that the proposed details for base connections with friction connections provide repeatable cycles without strength degradation or any requirements for repair or replacement following an earthquake. However, some stiffness degradation was observed, particularly after cycles on axially loaded specimens in the weak axis direction. In addition, the construction details of these connections are practical for construction and can be easily detailed by engineers. Comparing the performance of tested base connections shows that if low strength loss is important, then bases with friction connections are rational selections. If simple detailing and construction is a top priority, then bases with yielding angles are potentially better choice. Finally, exposed base plate connections provide more stiffness for connections expected to have lower rotational demands. Initial rotational stiffness can be set for all connection types by changing the design and detailing parameters for the specific connection, making them customizable for design. Macro models of these base connections were developed or modified to enable design of these base connections by practitioners. These models are critical as they enable the translation of this research into industries and direct practices. Thus, they are a final link between the experimental results, new designs and potential new construction

Column Base Weak Axis Aligned Asymmetric Friction Connection Cyclic Performance

Recent low damage studies have been made on beam-to-column joints and braces. However, if there is significant yielding damage at the column bases, even with no upper structure damage, then the whole structure may need replacement. Therefore, there is a need to develop low damage base connections. This paper presents experimental tests of columns connected to base plate by weak axis aligned asymmetric friction connection (WAFC base) to evaluate if it performs as a low damage connection. Cyclic tests are conducted in-plane about the strong axis, and out-of-plane with and without applied axial force to drift ratios as high as 4%. Observations from the experimental tests demonstrate that this type of base connection can tolerate high levels of drift without any significant damage at the base. Some flange compressive yielding occurs especially when the column was subjected to axial force. Generally, no major damage happened which interrupt the performance of the column and the base connection, and it can be categorized as a low-damage connection. Also, the presented analytical model for estimation of WAFC performance provides a reasonable estimation of the experimental results

The stem cell session of the 7th Yazd International Congress and Student Award in Reproductive Medicine held at Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences

This paper summarizes the proceedings of the stem cell session of the “7th Yazd International Congress and Student Award in Reproductive Medicine” held at Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran, on 28-30 April 2017. Here, we collected the papers of the session entitled: “Stem Cells, Good manufacturing practice, and tissue engineering”, that presented and discussed at this meeting by the international and national experts of the overlaps of the fields of stem cells and reproductive medicine, and the translation of these efforts towards practical application in regenerative medicine

Developing an anchoring method to reinforce the structure of centre pivot irrigators in windstorms

The September and October (2013) wind storms in Canterbury, New Zealand, caused the highest reported windstorm damage on center pivot irrigation systems worldwide. Around 800 center pivots were damaged and it cost farmers millions of dollars, both directly and indirectly. It was very difficult to find engineering-validated recommendations for farmers to protect their irrigation systems during future windstorms. Many farmers used different things improve the stability of irrigators during the wind storm such as filling the wheels with water or deflating the tires. This study has developed an anchoring method to protect center pivot irrigation systems in wind storms. Different scenarios, based on the New Zealand environment, were investigated to find the most practical protection method for the different parts of center pivot irrigation systems using anchoring systems. The results of this study show a very simple anchoring system can protect center pivots during windstorms

Changes in Tight Junction Protein Expression Levels but Not Distribution in Commercial White and Brown Laying Hens Supplemented with <i>Chondrus crispus</i> or <i>Ascophyllum nodosum</i> Seaweed

It is proposed that prebiotic diet supplements improve intestinal function, in part by improving the barrier function of the intestinal epithelium with an associated increase in the expression of tight junction proteins, including occludin and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1). We examined the expression of these proteins in two strains of laying hens (Lohman LSL-lite (White) and Lohman Brown-lite (Brown)) who were supplemented or not with 3% Chondrus crispus or 0.5% Ascophyllum nodosum seaweeds from 31 to 72 weeks of age. Occludin was localized to the lateral surfaces and across the intestinal epithelium in all animals. Reactivity for ZO-1 was concentrated at the apicolateral epithelial cell membrane border. Mood’s median test indicated that White hens may express more occludin in villus epithelium (median intensity 3.5 vs. 2.5 in Brown hens, p = 0.06) but less ZO-1 in the deep cryptal epithelium (median intensity 1.5 vs. 2.5 in Brown hens, p = 0.06). Western blotting also showed higher levels of occludin in White than Brown hens (p Chondrus crispus supplementation in comparison to controls (p Ascophyllum nodosum supplementation (p > 0.05). In conclusion, genetic strain and dietary seaweed supplements affect tight junction regulatory protein expression levels but do not impact the anatomical distribution, as seen in cryosections