The sustainability of land use and problems of the soil environment as a result of rice cultivation in the Red River Delta. Abstract only

Land useSustainabilityRiceSoil propertiesSoil degradationIndustrializationVillages

Non-destructive testing techniques for the observation of healing effects in cementitious materials: an introduction

To develop an appropriate method of self-healing for cementitious materials including the right composition and amount of suitable healing agents it is required to investigate the healing efficiency for certain material mixtures. While some researchers evaluate the regain in compressive strength by means of destructive load tests, this method is obviously second best in particular for field applications. In a large EU project the best candidates among the non-destructive testing methods are investigated to be applied in small and large laboratory experiments as well as at real structures in-situ. The paper is giving an introduction to these techniques and addresses also issues of structural health monitoring used for example to monitor the healing effects on a long term basis and to assess the condition of the structure, where self-healing techniques are applied

Automatic Generation of School Bus Routes in Los Angeles

The goal of our project is to automatically generate school bus routes for the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). We examined four algorithms, including two from the existing literature and two new ones that we developed. A major focus of our work was the construction of “mixed-load routes,” which transport students from multiple schools. Based on our measurements (whose imperfections we discuss), three of the four algorithms perform at least as well as the existing route plan, and one of those three performs better than the existing route plan. We also delivered a user-friendly routing program to LAUSD that uses one of these algorithms, and we have made our software publicly available. Our insights and results are also applicable to other school districts that permit mixed-load routing

El impacto de la escuela de procedencia del nivel medio superior en el desempeño de los alumnos en el nivel universitario

En este artículo se comparte un estudio basado en la pedagogía freireana de acción y reflexión para la preparación de maestros en escuelas con estudiantes diversos. Esto tiene lugar en un programa El trabajo de investigación se realizó en la Universidad Autónoma de Campeche, México y se tomaron en consideración los siguientes aspectos tales como: trayectoria previa, perfil escolar de los alumnos, trayectoria escolar en el nivel universitario. La población de estudio fueron las generaciones 1994-1995,1995-1996 y 1997 de las carreras de Ingeniero Bioquímico en Alimentos. Las causas posibles de bajo rendimiento escolar de los alumnos y su impacto en el nivel universitario en los dos primeros semestres fueron: Falta de Orientación Vocacional; Falta de motivación de los educandos respecto a la carrera; Bajos conocimientos adquiridos en el Nivel Medio Superior..

HR approximation of FIR filters via discrete-time hybrid-domain vector fitting

We present a discrete-time hybrid-domain vector fitting algorithm, called HD-VFz, for the HR approximation of FIR filters with an arbitrary combination of time- and frequency-sampled responses. The core routine involves a two-step pole refinement process based on a linear least-squares solve and an eigenvalue problem. Through hybrid-domain data approximation and digital partial fraction basis with relative stability consideration, HD-VFz exhibits fast computation and remarkable fitting accuracy in both time and frequency domains. © 2009 IEEE.published_or_final_versio

VISA: Versatile impulse structure approximation for time-domain linear macromodeling

We develop a rational function macromodeling algorithm named VISA (Versatile Impulse Structure Approximation) for macromodeling of system responses with (discrete) time-sampled data. The ideas of Walsh theorem and complementary signal are introduced to convert the macromodeling problem into a non-pole-based Steiglitz-McBride (SM) iteration (a class of first- and second-order interpolations) without initial guess and eigenvalue computation. We demonstrate the fast convergence and the versatile macromodeling requirement adoption through a P-norm approximation expansion, using examples from practical data.published_or_final_versionThe 15th Asia and South Pacific Design Automation Conference (ASP-DAC 2009), Taipei, Taiwan, 18-21 January 2010. In Asia and South Pacific Design Automation Conference Proceedings, 2010, p. 37-4

Applying the problem-based learning approach in teaching digital integrated circuit design

The Conference proceedings' website is located at http://www.cetl.hku.hk/conference2010/conf_proc.htmConference Theme: Enhancing Learning Experiences in Higher EducationThe problem-based learning (PBL) method has been applied to curriculum development in some areas of electrical engineering. The overall result has been a positive learning experience for students. However, PBL has not, as yet, been used in the area of digital integrated circuit (IC) design. IC design is in a revolutionary phase at present. It could even be said that IC design is at the beginning of a new epoch. Design is moving toward nano-size. Thus, design techniques are advancing so rapidly that existing design knowledge quickly becomes obsolete. The IC design industry needs engineers with an integrated design perspective, real hands-on experience and well developed skills in problem solving, communications and continuous self-learn…postprin