Inductorless LNA and Harmonic-rejection Mixer for Wideband Direct-conversion Receiver

In this master thesis, combinations of noise-canceling LNA and harmonic-rejection mixers are investigated and compared to find an optimal inductorless receiver front-end for low-band (600-960MHz) FDD LTE-A network. The work was carried out in a modem development project at Ericsson Modems, Lund. Three receiver versions with different harmonic rejection techniques are compared in terms of noise figure (NF) and power consumption and the receiver with 6 LO phases is selected for optimization. The LNA combines noise cancellation for matching stage and nonlinearity cancellation for output stages so both low noise figure and high linearity are achieved. The final circuit show great potential for FDD LTE-A system with support up to 3 aggregated carriers for higher bandwidth. Low NF at 1.62 dB after the LNA and 1.75 dB after the mixer are observed from 0.4-1GHz. The LNA IIP2 is above 12 dBm and robust with process and temperature. Gain switching with possible reduction of 6 and 12 dB is integrated and the LNA linearity is not significantly suffered by low gain. Input return loss (S11) is better than -12dB regardless of gain, number of carriers and temperature (-30 – 110°C). Inductorless operation saves a lot of chip area and avoid dead package area, which then save cost and make the solution competitive.This master’s thesis done at Ericsson Modem aimed to investigate an inductorless receiver front-end for low-band LTE-A user terminals. The circuit combined noise-canceling technique and push-pull stage for LNA and harmonic-rejection technique for mixer, so three main issues of inductorless operation are solved. The issues include LNA noise and linearity, and noise folding effect caused by 3rd harmonics of LO signals

A Value-Momentum Trading Strategy Using Selective Equity Screening Criteria

Investors and money managers are constantly looking for a trading strategy that can help them outperform the market. These strategies usually are constructed from fundamental analysis that help money managers select the best value stocks for their portfolios. Hence, the task of finding common features of winning stocks is highly important. These common features are usually represented in terms of fundamental data. The purpose of this paper is to reexamine Yu (2009)\u27s four-factor trading strategy, which is based on Reinganum (1988)\u27s original four-factor strategy, on the S&P 500 stocks, and to develop a new profitable trading strategy based on updated value and momentum factors

Optimization of Design Procedure for Column-base Connections according to EN 1993-1-8:2006

The stiffness and the strength of a column-base connection have significant impacts on the behavior of a steel frame. The paper develops an interaction curve between moment and axial force for the column-base connections according to EN 1993-1-8:2006 with the variation of the base plate thickness and the bolt diameter. This is the fundamental base to determine the ultimate strength of a column-base plate that allows the designers to estimate the strength of column-base connections. This research investigates the relationship between the base plate thickness, the bolt diameter, and the moment strength of the column-base plate with a specific axial force to select an optimum solution. Also, the initial rotational stiffness is determined under a specific axial load and varied moments that satisfy the ultimate limit state. The relationship between moment–rotation is subsequently performed with the variation of the base plate thickness or the bolt diameter. The design procedure is proposed based on moment-axial force interaction curves and moment-rotation curves. This allows for optimizing the column-base connection from proper selections of base plate dimensions and bolt diameters

Kinematic and dynamic analysis of a serial manipulator with local closed loop mechanisms

This paper addresses the kinematic and dynamic modelling and analysis for a robot arm consisting of two hydraulic cylinders driving two revolute joints of the arm. The two cylinders and relevant links of the robot constitute two local closed kinematic chains added to the main robot mechanism. Therefore, the number of the generalized coordinates of the mechanical system is increased, and the mathematical modelling is more complex that requires a formulation of constraint equations with respect to the local closed chains. By using the Lagrangian formulation with Lagrangian Multipliers, the dynamic equations are first derived with respect to all extended generalized coordinates. Then a compact form of the dynamic equations is yielded by canceling the Multipliers. Since the obtained dynamic equations are expressed in terms of independent generalized coordinates which are selected according to active joint variables of the arm, the equations could be best suitable for control law design and implementation. The simulation of the forward and inverse kinematics and dynamics of the arm demonstrates the motion behavior of the robot system

Inverse kinematics of a serial-parallel robot used in hot forging process

In hot extrusion forging process, the use of  robot arm for transferring heavy billets can reduce downtime, improve  productivity, reduce worker fatigue and optimize the use of~energy and  manpower. To increase the stiffness of the robot and force the end-effector  move in directions parallel with the ground surface, two parallel links are  added to a standard serial manipulator. This modification of the structure  could make it a bit of challenge in the system modelling and controlling.  This paper addresses the inverse kinematics analysis that is the central  issue for developing autonomous control modes of the robot application

Factors influence customer satisfaction in mobile commerce : a research on Vietnamese mobile users

Mobile commerce – a relative new commerce mode, has become a major topic for many researchers. Along with it, measuring customer satisfaction in m- commerce is important for a wide range of firms, for it is a key element to ensure firms’ success. This thesis seeks to elucidate mobile customer’s perceptions regarding mobile commerce in Vietnam. The thesis provides an explanation on whether these customers are satisfied with m-commerce. In addition, features and challenges of m-commerce are identified, as well as the factors influencing customer satisfaction in m-commerce presented. In order to achieve these objectives, the research was carried out with quantitative methodology with primary data collected from mobile customers in many regions in Vietnam, especially in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The thesis was based on trustworthy sources to develop a theoretical framework, which was a fundamental foundation. Likewise, in order to provide empirical analysis, a questionnaire targeting actual Vietnamese mobile users was conducted. The findings of this thesis reveal that the quality of the service, trust and mobile technology are the main factors that affect Vietnamese customer satisfaction in m-commerce. As to customer satisfaction, Vietnamese mobile users are slightly satisfied with mobile service in the country. The thesis can help the firms and other researchers to understand more the customers and service in a potential Vietnamese m-commerce market

IN VITRO EVALUATION OF ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF GARLIC ALLIUM SATIVUM AGAINST POULTRY PATHOGENS AND EFFECT OF GARLIC SUPPLEMENTATION ON DUCKLING GROWTH PERFORMANCE

ABSTRACT-QMFS2019Poultry production provides source of protein and contributes an important income for Vietnamese farmers. Among the poultry in Vietnam, ducks account for 27.3% of head of poultry and even 55.7% in Mekong Delta region. Along with the development of rearing ducks, bacterial, viral and fungal diseases occurring in the two last decades induced bad effect for poultry producer. Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, Streptococcal or Pasteurella act as major pathogenic bacteria in duck. The aims of this study were to investigate the antibacterial activity of garlic Allium sativum against E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella Typhimurium and to evaluate the effect of garlic on growth performance of duck from 1-28 old-days. The results indicated that fresh garlic and dried garlic powder showed inhibitory effect against pathogenic tested strains from 2% and 4% w/v, respectively. The inhibition zones and the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of garlic extract ranged from 11.3-28.3 mm and 0.02-0.2 g/ml, respectively. After 28 days of diet with garlic supplemented, D3 (2% of fresh garlic in water) showed significantly different in weight gain (WG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), average daily weight (ADW); whereas, D2 (2% of garlic powder in basal diet) only possessed a difference significant in feed consumption (FC) compared to the D1 (control without garlic supplementation). The obtained results demonstrated the potential of garlic application in poultry production

Loss of Mfn2 results in progressive, retrograde degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the nigrostriatal circuit

Mitochondria continually undergo fusion and fission, and these dynamic processes play a major role in regulating mitochondrial function. Studies of several genes associated with familial Parkinson's disease (PD) have implicated aberrant mitochondrial dynamics in the disease pathology, but the importance of these processes in dopaminergic neurons remains poorly understood. Because the mitofusins Mfn1 and Mfn2 are essential for mitochondrial fusion, we deleted these genes from a subset of dopaminergic neurons in mice. Loss of Mfn2 results in a movement defect characterized by reduced activity and rearing. In open field tests, Mfn2 mutants show severe, age-dependent motor deficits that can be rescued with L-3,4 dihydroxyphenylalanine. These motor deficits are preceded by the loss of dopaminergic terminals in the striatum. However, the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the midbrain occurs weeks after the onset of these motor and striatal deficits, suggesting a retrograde mode of neurodegeneration. In our conditional knockout strategy, we incorporated a mitochondrially targeted fluorescent reporter to facilitate tracking of mitochondria in the affected neurons. Using an organotypic slice culture system, we detected fragmented mitochondria in the soma and proximal processes of these neurons. In addition, we found markedly reduced mitochondrial mass and transport, which may contribute to the neuronal loss. These effects are specific for Mfn2, as the loss of Mfn1 yielded no corresponding defects in the nigrostriatal circuit. Our findings indicate that perturbations of mitochondrial dynamics can cause nigrostriatal defects and may be a risk factor for the neurodegeneration in PD