Controlling norovirus transmission in units with immunocompromised patients is challenging. We present a cluster of norovirus cases that occurred on a stem-cell transplant unit and the prevention efforts that were implemented to limit the outbreak. Protocols developed to control this cluster may provide a model for other facilities. / National Institutes of Health / Revisión por pares

This thesis presents the rate distortion analysis of conditional motion estimation, a process in which motion computation is restricted to only active pixels in the video. We model active pixels as independent and identically distributed Gaussian process and inactive pixels as Gaussian-Markov process and derive the rate distortion function based on conditional motion estimation. Rate-Distortion curves for the conditional motion estimation scheme are also presented. In addition this thesis also presents the hardware implementation of a block based motion estimation algorithm. Block matching algorithms are difficult to implement on FPGA chip due to its complexity. We implement 2D-Logarithmic search algorithm to estimate the motion vectors for the image. The matching criterion used in the algorithm is Sum of Absolute Differences (SAD). VHDL code for the motion estimation algorithm is verified using ISim and is implemented using Xilinx ISE Design tool. Synthesis results for the algorithm are also presented.

Recent increases in hard fault rates in modern chip multi-processors have led to a variety of approaches to try and save manufacturing yield. Among these are: fine-grain fault tolerance (such as error correction coding, redundant cache lines, and redundant functional units), and large-grain fault tolerance (such as disabling of faulty cores, adding extra cores, and core salvaging techniques). This paper considers the case of core salvaging techniques and the heterogeneous per- formance introduced when these techniques have some salvaged and some non-faulty cores. It proposes a hypervisor-based hardware thread scheduler, triggered by detection of spin locks and thread imbalance, that mitigates the loss of throughput resulting from this het- erogeneity. Specifically, a new algorithm, called Most ProgressMade algorithm, reduces the number of synchronization locks held on a salvaged core and balances the time each thread in an application spends running on that core. For some benchmarks, the results show as much as a 2.68x increase in performance over a salvaged chip multi-processor without this technique.

Synthetic biological designers are demanding tools to help with the design and verifica- tion process of new biological models. Some of the most common tools available aggregate multiple simulation results into one “clean” trajectory that hopefully is representative of the system’s behavior. However, for systems exhibiting multiple stable states, these techniques fail to show all the possible trajectories of the system. This work introduces a method capable of detecting the presence of more than one “typical” trajectory in a system, which can also be integrated with other available simulation tools.

Network-on-Chip (NoC) architectures have emerged as a better replacement of the traditional bus-based communication in the many-core era. However, continuous technology scaling has made aging mechanisms, such as Negative Bias Temperature Instability (NBTI) and electromigration, primary concerns in NoC design. In this work, a novel system-level aging model is proposed to model the effects of aging in NoCs, caused due to (a) asymmetric communication patterns between the network nodes, and (b) runtime traffic variations due to routing policies. This work observes a critical need of a holistic aging analysis, which when combined with power-performance optimization, poses a multi-objective design challenge. To solve this problem, two different aging-aware routing algorithms are proposed: (a) congestion-oblivious Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP)-based routing algorithm, and (b) congestion-aware adaptive routing algorithm and router micro-architecture. After extensive experimental evaluations, proposed routing algorithms reduce aging-induced power-performance overheads while also improving the system robustness.

With the evolution of spacecraft systems, we see the growing need for smaller, more affordable, and robust spacecrafts that can be jettisoned with ease and sent to sites to perform a myriad of operations that a larger craft would prohibit, or that can be quickly manipulated from performing one task into another. The developing requirements have led to the creation of Nano-Satellites, or CubeSats. The question then remains, how to navigate the expanse of space with such a minute spacecraft? A solution to this is using the stars themselves as a means of navigation. This can be accomplished by measuring the distance between stars in a camera image and determining the stars' identities. Once identified, the spacecraft can obtain its position and facing. A series of star identification algorithms called Lost in Space Algorithms (LISAs) are used to recognize the stars in an image and assess the accuracy and error associated with each algorithm. This is done by creating various images from a simulated camera, using a program called MATLAB, along with images of actual stars with uncompensated errors. It is shown how suitable these algorithms are for use in space navigation, what constraints and impediments each have, and if low quality cameras using these algorithms can solve the Lost in Space problem.

This paper gives a brief description of several well known fuzzy objective function clustering algorithms, and discusses the convergence properties of this type of algorithm. The Shape Seeker algorithm, an adaptive norm algorithm, is then described in detail, and convergence established. It is compared to the other algorithms by examining the clusterings it produces on several data sets.

Efficiency of current cell cultures producing biological products is limited due to accumulation of the product and waste on the cells. A previous work aims at assisting bioengineers in solving this problem by introducing a new set of cells which possess the ability to connect to one another and thus form a network. Once created, the network of cells can help the initial cellules by removing their waste and product as well as nourishing them. Our project explores a technique to be able to create the best network of such cells; hence maximizing the amount of metabolic product in the cell culture.

This thesis developed a Rudder Augmented Trajectory Correction (RATC) method for small unmanned aerial vehicles. The goal of this type of controller is to minimize the lateral image errors of body-fixed non-gimbaled cameras. This is achieved through both aggressive trajectory following and elimination of the roll angle present in current aileron only trajectory correction autopilots. The analytical derivation of the rudder augmented trajectory correction controller is presented. Using estimated aerodynamic derivatives of the Aerosonde UAV, RATC, produced a stable and controllable system. This control algorithm was integrated into the AggieAir Minion-class UAV using the Paparazzi open source autopilot. Flight results are presented that show significant reduction in the roll angle present during trajectory correction. This is shown using both inertial measurement nit sensor data as well as payload imagery collected over a selected region of interest. The conclusion of this thesis is that the RATC algorithm is a viable solution to minimize lateral image errors for body-fixed cameras in realm of aerial surveying.

En zone dense, la croissance actuelle du trafic sur les lignes ferroviaires suburbaines conduit les exploitants à déployer des systèmes de contrôle-commande avancés des trains, tels que les systèmes dits « CBTC » (Communication Based Train Control) jusque-là réservés aux systèmes de métro. Les systèmes CBTC mettent en œuvre un pilotage automatique des trains et permettent une amélioration significative des performances. Par ailleurs, ils peuvent inclure un module de supervision de la ligne en charge de réguler la marche des trains en cas d’aléa, améliorant ainsi la robustesse du trafic. Face au problème de régulation, la recherche opérationnelle a produit un certain nombre de méthodes permettant de répondre efficacement aux perturbations, d’une part dans le secteur métro et d’autre part dans le secteur ferroviaire lourd. En tirant profit de l’état de l’art et des avancées faites dans les deux secteurs, les travaux présentés dans ce manuscrit cherchent à contribuer à l’adaptation des fonctions de régulation des systèmes CBTC pour l’exploitation de lignes ferroviaires suburbaines. L’approche du problème débute par la construction de l’architecture fonctionnelle d’un module de supervision pour un système CBTC standard. Nous proposons ensuite une méthode de régulation basée sur une stratégie de commande prédictive et sur une optimisation multi-objectif des consignes des trains automatiques. Afin d’être en mesure d’évaluer précisément les performances d’une ligne ferroviaire suburbaine équipée d’un automatisme CBTC, il est nécessaire de s’équiper d’un outil de simulation microscopique adapté. Nous présentons dans ce manuscrit l’outil SNCF nommé SIMONE qui permet une simulation réaliste du point de vue fonctionnel et dynamique d’un système ferroviaire incluant un système CBTC. Les objectifs des travaux de thèse nous ont naturellement conduits à prendre part, avec l’équipe SNCF, à la spécification, à la conception et à l’implémentation de cet outil. Finalement, grâce à l’outil SIMONE, nous avons pu tester la méthode de régulation proposée sur des scénarios impliquant des perturbations. Afin d’évaluer la qualité des solutions, la méthode multi-objectif proposée a été comparée à une méthode de régulation individuelle basée sur une heuristique simple. La méthode de régulation multi-objectif propose de bonnes solutions au problème, dans la majorité des cas plus satisfaisantes que celles proposées par la régulation individuelle, et avec un temps de calcul jugé acceptable. Le manuscrit se termine par des perspectives de recherche intéressantes. / In high-density area, the demand for railway transportation is continuously increasing. Operating companies turn to new intelligent signaling and control systems, such as Communication Based Train Control (CBTC) systems previously deployed on underground systems only. CBTC systems operate trains in automatic pilot and lead to increase the line capacity without expensive modification of infrastructures. They can also include a supervision module in charge of adapting train behavior according to operating objectives and to disturbances, increasing line robustness. In the literature of real-time traffic management, various methods have been proposed to supervise and reschedule trains, on the one hand for underground systems, on the other hand for railway systems. Making the most of the state-of-the-art in both fields, the presented work intend to contribute to the design of supervision and rescheduling functions of CBTC systems operating suburban railway systems. Our approach starts by designing a supervision module for a standard CBTC system. Then, we propose a rescheduling method based on a model predictive control approach and a multi-objective optimization of automatic train commands. In order to evaluate the performances of a railway system, it is necessary to use a microscopic simulation tool including a CBTC model. In this thesis, we present the tool developed by SNCF and named SIMONE. It allows realistic simulation of a railway system and a CBTC system, in terms of functional architecture and dynamics. The presented work has been directly involved in the design and implementation of the tool. Eventually, the proposed rescheduling method was tested with the tool SIMONE on disturbed scenarios. The proposed method was compared to a simple heuristic strategy intending to recover delays. The proposed multi-objective method is able to provide good solutions to the rescheduling problem and over-performs the simple strategy in most cases, with an acceptable process time. We conclude with interesting perspectives for future work.