3,846 research outputs found
Mapping the optical properties of slab-type two-dimensional photonic crystal waveguides
We report on systematic experimental mapping of the transmission properties
of two-dimensional silicon-on-insulator photonic crystal waveguides for a broad
range of hole radii, slab thicknesses and waveguide lengths for both TE and TM
polarizations. Detailed analysis of numerous spectral features allows a direct
comparison of experimental data with 3D plane wave and finite-difference
time-domain calculations. We find, counter-intuitively, that the bandwidth for
low-loss propagation completely vanishes for structural parameters where the
photonic band gap is maximized. Our results demonstrate that, in order to
maximize the bandwidth of low-loss waveguiding, the hole radius must be
significantly reduced. While the photonic band gap considerably narrows, the
bandwidth of low-loss propagation in PhC waveguides is increased up to 125nm
with losses as low as 82dB/cm.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figure
Mode mixing in asymmetric double trench photonic crystal waveguides
e investigate both experimentally and theoretically the waveguiding
properties of a novel double trench waveguide where a conventional single-mode
strip waveguide is embedded in a two dimensional photonic crystal (PhC) slab
formed in silicon on insulator (SOI) wafers. We demonstrate that the bandwidth
for relatively low-loss (50dB/cm) waveguiding is significantly expanded to
250nm covering almost all the photonic band gap owing to nearly linear
dispersion of the TE-like waveguiding mode. The flat transmission spectrum
however is interrupted by numerous narrow stop bands. We found that these stop
bands can be attributed to anti-crossing between TE-like (positive parity) and
TM-like (negative parity) modes. This effect is a direct result of the strong
asymmetry of the waveguides that have an upper cladding of air and lower
cladding of oxide. To our knowledge this is the first demonstration of the
effects of cladding asymmetry on the transmission characteristics of the PhC
slab waveguides.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figure
Latin America and the Debate Over Environmental Protection and National Security
DRMI Working Paper SeriesThe series is intended to convey the preliminary results of [DRMI] ongoing research. The research described in these papers is preliminary and has not completed the usual review process for Institute publications. We welcome feedback from readers and encourage you to convey your comments and criticisms directly to the authors
Designing Emergency Response Dispatch Systems for Better Dispatcher Performance
Emergency response systems are a relatively new and important area of research in the information systems community. While there is a growing body of literature in this research stream, human-computer interaction (HCI) issues concerning the design of emergency response system interfaces have received limited attention. Emergency responders often work in time pressured situations and depend on fast access to key information. One of the problems studied in HCI research is the design of interfaces to improve user information selection and processing performance. Based on cue-summation theory and research findings on parallel processing, associative processing, and hemispheric differences in information processing, this study proposes that information selection of target information in an emergency response dispatch application can be improved by using supplementary cues. Color-coding and sorting are proposed as relevant cues that can improve processing performance by providing prioritization heuristics. An experimental emergency response dispatch application is developed, and user performance is tested under conditions of varying complexity and time pressure. The results suggest that supplementary cues significantly improve performance, with better results often obtained when both cues are used. Additionally, the use of these cues becomes more beneficial as time pressure and task complexity increase
Designing Emergency Response Applications for Better Performance
Emergency responders often work in time pressured situations and depend on fast access to key information. One of the problems studied in human-computer interaction (HCI) research is the design of interfaces to improve user information selection and processing performance. Based on prior research findings this study proposes that information selection of target information in emergency response applications can be improved by using supplementary cues. The research is motivated by cue-summation theory and research findings on parallel and associative processing. Color-coding and location-ordering are proposed as relevant cues that can improve ERS processing performance by providing prioritization heuristics. An experimental ERS is developed usersâ performance is tested under conditions of varying complexity and time pressure. The results suggest that supplementary cues significantly improve performance, with the best results obtained when both cues are used. Additionally, the use of these cues becomes more beneficial as time pressure and complexity increase
Modelling the Hosting Capacity of Orion's Low Voltage Network for EV Charging
Forecasting future electricity demand on low voltage (LV) distribution networks is particularly
challenging in the face of new technologies such as Electric Vehicles (EVs) where the uptake
and charging behaviours are highly uncertain. To support their planning processes, Orion has
undertaken a staged assessment of LV network performance in the face of increasing levels of
EV charging. The first stage of EV modelling involved a high-level deterministic simulation
of all Orionâs LV networks to identify areas that may be more vulnerable to constraints. From
the results of the first stage, a smaller subset of vulnerable LV networks was selected for further
modelling. This paper focuses on the second stage of the assessment process where 236
selected distribution transformers and their downstream LV networks were modelled using a
probabilistic methodology developed by the EPECentre. This model captures a wide range of
scenarios and encompasses data from New Zealand-centric inputs, including national travel
surveys, household smart meter demand profiles and the current NZ EV fleet composition. In
order to meet the large simulation burden required of a probabilistic methodology, a fast power
flow solver was developed. This paper reports the forecast congestion levels and probabilities
that these selected circuits may face as EV charging increases on Orionâs network. The
learnings and challenges of working with imperfect distribution asset data sets to develop these
models are also shared, such as approximating LV phase imbalance and electricity demand
profiles with only the LV distribution transformerâs Maximum Demand Indicator (MDIs)
measurements
Comparative physiology of Australian quolls (Dasyurus; Marsupialia)
Quolls (Dasyurus) are medium-sized carnivorous dasyurid marsupials. Tiger (3,840 g) and eastern quolls (780 g) are mesic zone species, northern quolls (516 g) are tropical zone, and chuditch (1,385 g) were once widespread through the Australian arid zone. We found that standard physiological variables of these quolls are consistent with allometric expectations for marsupials. Nevertheless, inter-specific patterns amongst the quolls are consistent with their different environments. The lower T ^sub b^ of northern quolls (34°C) may provide scope for adaptive hyperthermia in the tropics, and they use torpor for energy/water conservation, whereas the larger mesic species (eastern and tiger quolls) do not appear to. Thermolability varied from little in eastern (0.035°C °C^sup -1^) and tiger quolls (0.051°C ÂșC^sup -1^) to substantial in northern quolls (0.100°C ÂșC^sup -1^) and chuditch (0.146°C ÂșC^sup -1^), reflecting body mass and environment. Basal metabolic rate was higher for eastern quolls (0.662 ± 0.033 ml O^sub 2^ g^sup -1^ h^sup -1^), presumably reflecting their naturally cool environment. Respiratory ventilation closely matched metabolic demand, except at high ambient temperatures where quolls hyperventilated to facilitate evaporative heat loss; tiger and eastern quolls also salivated. A higher evaporative water loss for eastern quolls (1.43 ± 0.212 mg H^sub 2^O g^sup -1^ h^sup -1^) presumably reflects their more mesic distribution. The point of relative water economy was low for tiger (-1.3°C), eastern (-12.5°C) and northern (+3.3) quolls, and highest for the chuditch (+22.6°C). We suggest that these differences in water economy reflect lower expired air temperatures and hence lower respiratory evaporative water loss for the arid-zone chuditch relative to tropical and mesic quolls
Enterprise architecture driven design of an artefact to support strategic Information Technology decision-making of Small Enterprises in Nigeria and South Africa
Information Technology (IT) is inevitably influencing the way enterprises operate, compete, and grow. The contemporary disruption has not excluded small companies. Small enterprises play a significant role in the growth of every economy but are hindered by limited skills, time, and money. The attributes of small enterprises influence the strategic and day-to-day operations. Small enterprise owners are often the managers who make the strategic decisions in order to solve specific problems. The decision style of small enterprise owner-managers limits the leveraging of IT. To ensure the sustainability of small enterprises in a contemporary business ecosystem, it is pertinent to strategise IT investment decisions. Enterprise architecture is a well-known approach to business and IT alignment. This study aimsto discover and develop how the complex enterprise architecture principles can strategise the IT decisionmaking process in small enterprises with limited resources and informal structures. The pragmatic philosophic stance was the premise for understanding the decision challenges and the development of a roadmap to intervene the problems the researcher identified. The Vaishnavi and Kuechler design science research methodology guided this study. The qualitative research approach was employed to collect verbal data with eleven small enterprise ownermanagers to understand the processes and the challenges of making IT decision in small enterprises. A thematic analysis of the findings revealed that lack of formalisation, limited information, and lack of IT skill created a critical bottleneck of IT investment decisions in small enterprises. An enterprise architecture-driven framework was developed to overcome the bounded rationality approach to IT choices in small enterprises. The framework holistically assesses organisational business-IT capabilities, constraints, and criteria to guide the decisionmaker's choice. The characteristics of small enterprises limit the successful implementation of the enterprise architecture-driven framework as a theoretical guideline for making optimal IT decisions in small enterprises. This study further developed an online IT decision-assistive tool informed by the framework. The instantiation artefact was demonstrated with six small enterprise owners from Nigeria and South Africa. The findings affirmed the prospect, potential, and relevance of an enterprise architecture-driven artefact as a tool to optimise strategic IT decisions in small manufacturing, service, and retail enterprises. The artefact developed in this study provided a practical intervention to the challenges of IT investment decisions in small enterprises
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