A Real-Time Laboratory Testbed For Evaluating Localization Performance Of WIFI RFID Technologies

A realistic comparative performance evaluation of indoor Geolocation systems is a complex and challenging problem facing the research community. This is due to the fact that performance of these systems depends on the statistical variations of the fading multipath characteristics of the wireless channel, the density and distribution of the access points in the area, and the number of the training points used by the positioning algorithm. This problem, in particular, becomes more challenging when we address RFID devices, because the RFID tags and the positioning algorithm are implemented in two separate devices. In this thesis, we have designed and implemented a testbed for comparative performance evaluation of RFID localization systems in a controlled and repeatable laboratory environment. The testbed consists of a real-time RF channel simulator, several WiFi 802.11 access points, commercial RFID tags, and a laptop loaded with the positioning algorithm and its associated user interface. In the real-time channel simulator the fading multipath characteristics of the wireless channel between the access points and the RFID tags is modeled by a modified site-specific IEEE 802.11 channel model which combines this model with the correlation model of shadow fading existing in the literature. The testbed is first used to compare the performance of the modified IEEE 802.11 channel model and the Ray Tracing channel model previously reported in the literature. Then, the testbed with the new channel model is used for comparative performance evaluation of two different WiFi RFID devices

Requirement Validation for Embedded Systems in Automotive Industry Through Modeling

Requirement validation contributes significantly toward the success of software projects. Validating requirements is also essential to ensure the correctness of embedded systems in the auto industry. The auto industry emphasizes a lot on the verification of car designs and shapes. Invalid or erroneous requirements lead to inappropriate designs and degraded product quality. Considering the required expertise and time for requirement validation, significant attention is not devoted to verification and validation of requirements in the industry. Currently, the failure ratio of software projects is significantly higher and the key reason for that appears to be the inappropriate and invalidated requirements at the early stages in the projects. To that end, we propose a model-based approach that uses the existing V&V model. Through virtual prototyping, the proposed approach eliminates the need to validate the requirements after each stage of the project. Consequently, the model is validated after the design phase and the errors in requirements are detected at the earliest stage. In this research, we performed two different case studies for requirement validation in the auto industry by using a modeling-based approach and formal technique using Petri nets. A benefit of the proposed modeling-based approach is that the projects in the auto industry domain can be completed in less time due to effective requirements validation. Moreover, the modeling-based approach minimizes the development time, cost and increases productivity because the majority of the code is automatically generated using the approach

Simulation-based thermal analysis and validation of clothed thermal manikin

Human thermal comfort within various environmental conditions is of paramount importance in a wide range of industries, including clothing design, indoor climate control, and occupational safety. Researchers are always in search the sophisticated tools and techniques that simulate the thermal regulation of human body under different environmental conditions. The present research aims to present a precise methodology for the simulation of clothed thermal manikin in controlled environmental conditions. A comprehensive method is recommended that consists of the use of 3D body scanning technology, different 2D and 3D CAD as well as thermal simulation software. The results of the simulations are very satisfactory, which are later validated with the wear trials with the help of the same clothed thermal manikin and under the same environmental conditions. The comparative analysis shows some deviations that are discussed thoroughly and the need for further research is highlighted in the papers as well. Furthermore, the present research gives us a digital platform to understand the clothing's thermal comfort and the parameters that affect it with the consideration of the draping behavior of the clothing, microclimate, thermal properties, and surrounding environmental conditions

Electric Supply Substation Simulation using ETAP Software

Electric supply substations are vital component of electrical power system that delivers electrical power from generating stations to consumers. Electric supply substation generally deals with high voltage and current ratings, proper analysis and protection is essential for safety of operating staff lives and electrical equipment installed in the vicinity. Malfunctioning of electric supply substation has two drastic effects; one is cost for the replacement of equipment and second is the cost of entire down-time. Analysis and protection of electric supply substation using “Electrical Transient Analyzer Program (ETAP)” is presented in this paper. A 132kV electric supply substation was simulated; fault analysis, load flow study and protection scheme was designed that can enhance the performance of Pakistan’s electrical power system

Prediction of Opioid-Induced Respiratory Depression on Inpatient Wards Using Continuous Capnography and Oximetry: An International Prospective, Observational Trial.

BACKGROUND: Opioid-related adverse events are a serious problem in hospitalized patients. Little is known about patients who are likely to experience opioid-induced respiratory depression events on the general care floor and may benefit from improved monitoring and early intervention. The trial objective was to derive and validate a risk prediction tool for respiratory depression in patients receiving opioids, as detected by continuous pulse oximetry and capnography monitoring. METHODS: PRediction of Opioid-induced respiratory Depression In patients monitored by capnoGraphY (PRODIGY) was a prospective, observational trial of blinded continuous capnography and oximetry conducted at 16 sites in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Vital signs were intermittently monitored per standard of care. A total of 1335 patients receiving parenteral opioids and continuously monitored on the general care floor were included in the analysis. A respiratory depression episode was defined as respiratory rate ≤5 breaths/min (bpm), oxygen saturation ≤85%, or end-tidal carbon dioxide ≤15 or ≥60 mm Hg for ≥3 minutes; apnea episode lasting \u3e30 seconds; or any respiratory opioid-related adverse event. A risk prediction tool was derived using a multivariable logistic regression model of 46 a priori defined risk factors with stepwise selection and was internally validated by bootstrapping. RESULTS: One or more respiratory depression episodes were detected in 614 (46%) of 1335 general care floor patients (43% male; mean age, 58 ± 14 years) continuously monitored for a median of 24 hours (interquartile range [IQR], 17-26). A multivariable respiratory depression prediction model with area under the curve of 0.740 was developed using 5 independent variables: age ≥60 (in decades), sex, opioid naivety, sleep disorders, and chronic heart failure. The PRODIGY risk prediction tool showed significant separation between patients with and without respiratory depression (P \u3c .001) and an odds ratio of 6.07 (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.44-8.30; P \u3c .001) between the high- and low-risk groups. Compared to patients without respiratory depression episodes, mean hospital length of stay was 3 days longer in patients with ≥1 respiratory depression episode (10.5 ± 10.8 vs 7.7 ± 7.8 days; P \u3c .0001) identified using continuous oximetry and capnography monitoring. CONCLUSIONS: A PRODIGY risk prediction model, derived from continuous oximetry and capnography, accurately predicts respiratory depression episodes in patients receiving opioids on the general care floor. Implementation of the PRODIGY score to determine the need for continuous monitoring may be a first step to reduce the incidence and consequences of respiratory compromise in patients receiving opioids on the general care floor

PANSAT communications system for a low-earth-orbit satellite

The objective of this project was to design, implement, and test a robust, digital, end-to-end data communications system that can transmit commands to and receive experiment and spacecraft status data from the PANSAT low earth orbit satellite. A link budget and other evaluations of the designed link were performed to ensure the link\u27s viability. A prototype was designed and tested successfully. This project was part of WPI\u27s participation in the University Nanosat-3 program sponsored by AFOSR, AIAA, and NASA GSFC

Urdu as an Official Language: A Constitutional Mandate Compliance and Challenges Prospectives

Though Urdu language has no religious background, it is inspired by Arabic a mother-tongue of Islam. However, after its development, Urdu was exclusively attributed to be the language of Muslims of the Sub-continent. They faced many challenges for the survival of Urdu during the Movement of Independence. For the same reason, after independence, Urdu was declared to be the National Language of Pakistan. Afterward, certain bodies were established for its proper implementation as official language of the country. This aspect is recognized as constitutional obligation in term of Article 251 of Constitution, 1973. Though, the government was given sufficient time for the compliance of the same, this task could not have been accomplished despite of lapse of almost fifty years. Even, the judicial verdicts could not make the concerned institutions mindful. Instead, English is the official language of Pakistan since independence. Of course, there is difference of opinion on the matter of Official Language. Among others, the medium of education and legislation including policy papers are the major issues which are on English pattern. However, if these issues are addressed, the constitutional obligation of implementing Urdu as official language may be ensured

Numerical Analysis of Pressure Profiles and Energy Dissipation across Stepped Spillways Having Curved Risers

In this study, curved risers stepped spillways models based on the increasing angle of suspension were tested to check for improvement in energy dissipation and pressure distributions. Four fourteen-steps stepped spillway models with a slope 1:0.84 were selected, using Froude’s number non-dimensional similarity. The risers of steps were made curved, based on three angles of suspensions, i.e., 30°, 60°, and 90°. The simulations were performed by FLOW 3D software and by the turbulence model Renormalization Group (RNG) for discharges between 0.020 and 0.068 m3/s followed by the model calibration. The 3D Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations were solved, which included sub-grid models for air entrainment, density evaluation, and drift–flux, to capture free-surface flow over the stepped spillway. It was estimated that curving the risers increases the energy dissipation up to three percent for lower flow rates, whereas it has no significant impact on energy dissipation for higher flow rates. It was found that in simply stepped spillway lower steps dissipate more energy as compared to curved risers stepped where energy dissipation is shifted to higher steps. On the other hand, curved risers stepped spillways showed lower values of negative pressures as compared to the simply stepped spillway. It was seen that a higher energy dissipating step as experienced more negative pressures as compared to the lower energy dissipating step

Effects of electromagnetic fields on implantable medical devices.

The purpose of this project was to determine the effects of electromagnetic fields on implantable medical devices. This was accomplished through correspondence with manufacturers of these devices, physicians, medical experts, and engineers. It was found that electromagnetic fields can cause dislodgment, heating, and malfunction in certain implantable medical devices. To avoid these effects, certain active and passive implantable medical devices should not be exposed to more than 1.0 Gauss and 1.0 Tesla?? fields respectively