Generalized Kruithof approach for traffic matrix estimation

[Abstract]: In this paper, the traffic matrix estimation problem is formulated as an nonlinear optimization problem based on the generalized Kruithof approach which uses the Kullback distance to measure the probabilistic distance between two traffic matrices. In addition, an algorithm using the affine scaling method is provided to solve the constraint optimization problem

Synthesis of The Stereoismomers of DEHP and MEHP from Kinetically Resolved 2-ethyl-1-hexanol

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a known chiral persistent organic pollutant found in many different consumer products, and the toxicities of its stereoisomers and their metabolites are not well known. To determine their adverse health effects, each enantiomer has to be synthesized. Using lipase PS from Burkholderia cepacia in dichloromethane at 0˚C for 48 hours, 2-ethyl-1-hexyl acetate was obtained in 55% yield (75:25 e.r.), while (R)-2-ethyl-1-hexanol (1) was obtained in 29% yield (96:4 e.r.). The acetate was then hydrolyzed to recover the (S) enriched alcohol (82% yield). The enriched alcohol was acylated a second time to yield (S)-(1) in 39% yield (91:9 e.r.). R-(1) and phthalic anhydride were reacted in 1:3 pyridine/toluene at 100˚C for 2 hours to synthesize (R)-mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate ((R)-MEHP) in 50% yield. Difficulty was encountered in separating MEHP from (1) in the reaction mixture, with numerous solvent systems, vacuum distillation, and chemically active extraction attempted without success. The resulting impure (R)-MEHP was reacted with (R)-(1) in the presence of N,N\u27-diisopropylcarbodiimide and 4-dimethylaminopyridine in dichloromethane for 19 hours at room temperature to synthesize(R,R)- DEHP in 36% yield. Future work will synthesize the other isomers of DEHP, further purify (1), and successfully separate MEHP from (1)

Matin Beck; or, The Story of an Australian Settler

https://commons.und.edu/settler-literature/1072/thumbnail.jp

Work in progress: a novel method of creating an academic content repository

This paper outlines a project aimed at addressing the issue of the scalability of online academic support. This project is being run during the Autumn semester at the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) Toowoomba Australia, in conjunction with the Australian Digital Futures Institute. The study attached to the project will use Design-Based Research to evaluate the effectiveness of a simple, but innovative academic content and metadata creation tool referred to as Academic Assist. Academic Assist has been recently developed at USQ as a plug-in block for the moodle-based Learning Management System employed at USQ for its several hundred online subjects. The pilot project and associated study now extends over nine subjects, including three consecutive subjects in computer engineering; and covers faculties of Engineering, Education, Business, Science and Arts. Some preliminary results are presented here. Complete results of the study including acceptance surveys, expert reviews and usage statistics will be presented at FIE 2009

Energy Harvesting and Management for Wireless Autonomous Sensors

Wireless autonomous sensors that harvest ambient energy are attractive solutions, due to their convenience and economic benefits. A number of wireless autonomous sensor platforms which consume less than 100?W under duty-cycled operation are available. Energy harvesting technology (including photovoltaics, vibration harvesters, and thermoelectrics) can be used to power autonomous sensors. A developed system is presented that uses a photovoltaic module to efficiently charge a supercapacitor, which in turn provides energy to a microcontroller-based autonomous sensing platform. The embedded software on the node is structured around a framework in which equal precedent is given to each aspect of the sensor node through the inclusion of distinct software stacks for energy management and sensor processing. This promotes structured and modular design, allowing for efficient code reuse and encourages the standardisation of interchangeable protocols