Remote aerial data acquisition and capture project (RADAC)

The RADAC Project encompasses the design and prototype implementation of a system for low-cost aerial data sensor acquisition. It includes a Ground Transponder Unit (GTU), and Aerial Interrogation System (AIS) mounted under an aircraft. The GTU captures and transmits water-meter readings; the AIS initiates’ measurements and processes and displays the results. The proposed system is based on RF devices in association with a small low-cost single chip camera and microcontrollers. During a consultancy to a large Queensland government authority which has approximately 8000 water meters in regional and remote parts of the state. It was realised that considerable savings could be made in the management of water resources and human resources needed to read these at three month intervals. This project will calculate the RF subsystem performance in terms of gain, beamwidth, return loss, bandwidth, and matching of the antenna into the RF transceiver device Design Executive Data Acquisition System and Design and implement Interrogation Microcontrollerand Design PCB for RF Transceiver and Design and calculate power usage and Power Supply design and calculate High-Gain Helical Antenna. The solution based on using RF devices based on IEEE802.15.4 (IEEE 2006) in association with a small low cost single chip camera andmicrocontroller. Figure 1 shows the Block Diagram of the Ground Transponder Unit and symbolic AIS. The potential saving in maintenance costs to industry by remotely taking measurements is significant enough to warrant furtherinvestigation with industry. There is the potential for its adaption in other resource sector

Statistically assessing forward-wise and inverse uncertainties in outdoor acoustics

Predicting outdoor sound in uncertain conditions is a difficult task and there are limited data and statistical research which enable us to relate accurately the variations in the conditions in the propagation path to the fluctuations in the received acoustical signal. This research aimed to create better understanding of the propagation of uncertainty, using both forward and inverse case studies, in varied conditions with widely accepted engineering models, so further improvements could be made in our academic understanding and to industrial practices. The separation of the direction of uncertainty allows for more focus to be focused on each given condition. Firstly, the forward problem is approached by simplifying the model used and conditions in present, to better understand the statistical behaviour across evolving parameter uncertainties. A further study, inspired by current acoustical standards, evaluated whether improvements to data capture could be made by manipulating the physical way the data was obtained, in the presence of varying parameter uncertainties. The inverse problem was investigated for a very specific application of small arms fire, yet the methodology was expanded to show how powerful computationally cheap statistical methods can be used in investigating parameter interactions under given uncertainties, while also accurately inverting the desired parameters. Investigations have proved successful in characterising, in general and for specific scenarios, the foundational uncertainties in outdoor sound propagation. Methods have been presented that allow for simple yet powerful study into the statistical behaviours of a wide range of outdoor sound propagation problems. Characterising uncertain acoustic data using statistical representations serves to be extremely beneficial, while a physical two-microphone method is shown to be theoretically efficient in negating a large proportion of the uncertainty present, while capturing acoustical data known to be useful for source localisation and characterisation. It is also shown in which direction research should be established in relation to military applications, after showing efficient ways in which computational models be applied to invert important parameters from readily obtainable data

Chemical Vapor Detecting Passive RFID Tag

A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Tag is designed for threshold detection of certain chemical vapors. The vapor presence is signaled to the reader by a digital alert and communication between the tag and reader is not interrupted. The detection mechanism comprises an inkjet printed conducting track on an elastomer that swells in response to vapor exposure. The expanded track breaks and triggers a tamper detection circuit integrated into the RFID tag transponder chi

Galaxy and Mass Assembly (GAMA): merging galaxies and their properties

We derive the close pair fractions and volume merger rates for galaxies in the Galaxy and Mass Assembly (GAMA) survey with −23 < Mr < −17 (ΩM = 0.27, ΩΛ = 0.73, H0 = 100 km s−1 Mpc−1) at 0.01 < z < 0.22 (look-back time of <2 Gyr). The merger fraction is approximately 1.5 per cent Gyr−1 at all luminosities (assuming 50 per cent of pairs merge) and the volume merger rate is ≈3.5 × 10−4 Mpc−3 Gyr−1. We examine how the merger rate varies by luminosity and morphology. Dry mergers (between red/spheroidal galaxies) are found to be uncommon and to decrease with decreasing luminosity. Fainter mergers are wet, between blue/discy galaxies. Damp mergers (one of each type) follow the average of dry and wet mergers. In the brighter luminosity bin (−23 < Mr < −20), the merger rate evolution is flat, irrespective of colour or morphology, out to z ∼ 0.2. The makeup of the merging population does not appear to change over this redshift range. Galaxy growth by major mergers appears comparatively unimportant and dry mergers are unlikely to be significant in the buildup of the red sequence over the past 2 Gyr. We compare the colour, morphology, environmental density and degree of activity (BPT class, Baldwin, Phillips & Terlevich) of galaxies in pairs to those of more isolated objects in the same volume. Galaxies in close pairs tend to be both redder and slightly more spheroid dominated than the comparison sample. We suggest that this may be due to ‘harassment’ in multiple previous passes prior to the current close interaction. Galaxy pairs do not appear to prefer significantly denser environments. There is no evidence of an enhancement in the AGN fraction in pairs, compared to other galaxies in the same volume

Attitudes toward and Uptake of H1N1 Vaccine among Health Care Workers during the 2009 H1N1 Pandemic

BACKGROUND: Though recommended by many and mandated by some, influenza vaccination rates among health care workers, even in pandemics, remain below optimal levels. The objective of this study was to assess vaccination uptake, attitudes, and distinguishing characteristics (including doctor-nurse differences) of health care workers who did and did not receive the pandemic H1N1 influenza vaccine in late 2009. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In early 2010 we mailed a self-administered survey to 800 physicians and 800 nurses currently licensed and practicing in Minnesota. 1,073 individuals responded (cooperation rate: 69%). 85% and 62% of Minnesota physicians and nurses, respectively, reported being vaccinated. Accurately estimating the risk of vaccine side effects (OR 2.0; 95% CI 1.5-2.7), agreeing with a professional obligation to be vaccinated (OR 10.1; 95% CI 7.1-14.2), an ethical obligation to follow public health authorities' recommendations (OR 9.9; 95% CI 6.6-14.9), and laws mandating pandemic vaccination (OR 3.1; 95% CI 2.3-4.1) were all independently associated with receiving the H1N1 influenza vaccine. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: While a majority of health care workers in one midwestern state reported receiving the pandemic H1N1 vaccine, physicians and nurses differed significantly in vaccination uptake. Several key attitudes and perceptions may influence health care workers' decisions regarding vaccination. These data inform how states might optimally enlist health care workers' support in achieving vaccination goals during a pandemic