Communication between Virtual Emulation System and PLC MODBUS/TCP Protocol

A thesis presented to the faculty of the College of Science and Technology at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science by Huang (Benjamin) Huang on November 20, 2015

EC-GSM-IoT Network Synchronization with Support for Large Frequency Offsets

EDGE-based EC-GSM-IoT is a promising candidate for the billion-device cellular IoT (cIoT), providing similar coverage and battery life as NB-IoT. The goal of 20 dB coverage extension compared to EDGE poses significant challenges for the initial network synchronization, which has to be performed well below the thermal noise floor, down to an SNR of -8.5 dB. We present a low-complexity synchronization algorithm supporting up to 50 kHz initial frequency offset, thus enabling the use of a low-cost +/-25 ppm oscillator. The proposed algorithm does not only fulfill the 3GPP requirements, but surpasses them by 3 dB, enabling communication with an SNR of -11.5 dB or a maximum coupling loss of up to 170.5 dB.Comment: Wireless Communications and Networking Conference (WCNC), 201

THz generation using a reflective stair-step echelon

We present a novel method for THz generation in lithium niobate using a reflective stair-step echelon structure. The echelon produces a discretely tilted pulse front with less angular dispersion compared to a high groove-density grating. The THz output was characterized using both a 1-lens and 3-lens imaging system to set the tilt angle at room and cryogenic temperatures. Using broadband 800 nm pulses with a pulse energy of 0.95 mJ and a pulse duration of 70 fs (24 nm FWHM bandwidth, 39 fs transform limited width), we produced THz pulses with field strengths as high as 500 kV/cm and pulse energies as high as 3.1 $\mu$J. The highest conversion efficiency we obtained was 0.33%. In addition, we find that the echelon is easily implemented into an experimental setup for quick alignment and optimization.Comment: 19 pages, 4 figure

The Impact of the Goods and Services Tax on Mortgage Costs: Evidence from Australian Mortgage Corporations

so, which corresponds with the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in July 2000. To what extent the GST has impacted mortgage costs is the research question. This study investigates the GST impact on the mortgage costs of Australian mortgage corporations. Using data of mortgage corporations operating in Australia, we perform t-tests and multivariate regression analysis to examine the GST effects on mortgage yield spreads. The empirical results clearly indicate that mortgage corporations increased their mortgage charges in the post-GST periods significantly beyond the magnitude of the GST. Furthermore, the lenders started to increase the yield spreads before and continued to increase the spreads after the implementation of the GST, indicating the rise in mortgage costs was not a one-off surge. The findings offer insights into mortgage costs and have significant policy implications and wider economic relevance.Griffith Business School, Department of Accounting, Finance and EconomicsFull Tex

Tug of War between the Retailers and Consumers: The Phenomenon of Group Purchase in China

Retailing shops are the contact points between customers and supply chain. On one hand, the retailers need to satisfy the customers by providing the right and enough products to ensure the service level; on the other hand, the retailers also need to minimize the costs while satisfying the customers. This paper uses a case study of GOME is to illustrate Tuangou, a relatively new phenonmenon that has spread rapidly in China, and to show how the company responded to the group purchasing shoppers. The case presents a tug of war happening between the retailers and consumers. The implications of Tuangou to the stakeholders in group purchase are also discussed

Retailer Acceptance of Consumer Led Group Buying from A Stakeholder Influence Strategy Perspective

The Internet has brought a new way of collaboration among consumers to the door steps of retailers. Existing studies have assumed that retailers play an active role and focused on discussing how retailers can make good use of Web 2.0 to develop new business models, however little has been done to address what retailers should do if being forced to cope with changes. This paper, based on a stakeholder influence strategy perspective, studies how the structural relationship factors have influenced retailers’ strategic decisions on whether or not to accommodate a consumer led group buying behaviour in China, Tuangou. Tuangou refers to the phenomenon that a group of web users are organized using the Internet and physically approach the retailers together to negotiate for a discount for a particular product or service by using their collective bargaining power. This paper provides a useful initial roadmap to understanding how the pressures from different stakeholders might influence a retailer’s decision-making at the Web2.0 age. It also develops propositions to conceptualise the relationship between structural factors and decision outcomes. This paper offers an explanation of why retailers make different decisions to cope with Tuangou activities and concludes with a plan for future studies