Lau Tsz-ming. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 57-[61]). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Integrated Services Architecture --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2 --- Cross-path Switch --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Path Switching --- p.5 / Chapter 1.3 --- Organization of Thesis --- p.9 / Chapter 2 --- Module Architecture --- p.10 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.10 / Chapter 2.2 --- Notable Features --- p.11 / Chapter 3 --- Connection Admission Control and Resource Allocation --- p.14 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.14 / Chapter 3.2 --- Connection Admission Control --- p.15 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Guaranteed Service --- p.15 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Controlled-Load Service --- p.18 / Chapter 3.3 --- Resource Allocation --- p.27 / Chapter 4 --- Resource Management --- p.31 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.31 / Chapter 4.2 --- Scheduling Algorithm --- p.32 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Input and Output Module --- p.32 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Central Module --- p.34 / Chapter 4.3 --- Buffer Management --- p.39 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Buffer Partitioning --- p.40 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Dicard Policy --- p.40 / Chapter 5 --- Design Issue of Cross-path Switch --- p.43 / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.43 / Chapter 5.2 --- Stability Condition --- p.44 / Chapter 5.3 --- Supplementary Admission Control Scheme --- p.46 / Chapter 5.4 --- Simulation --- p.50 / Chapter 6 --- Conclusion --- p.55 / Bibliography --- p.57

Hua Cunqing. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 53-56). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Congestion Control in the IP Network --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Quality of Service in the IP network --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3 --- Structure of Thesis --- p.3 / Chapter 2 --- Background --- p.4 / Chapter 2.1 --- TCP and Congestion Control --- p.4 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Slow Start --- p.4 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Congestion Avoidance --- p.5 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- "Fast Retransmit, Fast Recovery and Timeout" --- p.5 / Chapter 2.2 --- Active Queue Management --- p.7 / Chapter 2.3 --- Integrated Services and Differentiated Services --- p.8 / Chapter 3 --- The Fairness of TCP Vegas in Networks with Multiple Congested Gate- ways --- p.10 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.10 / Chapter 3.2 --- TCP Vegas and related works --- p.11 / Chapter 3.3 --- Analysis --- p.13 / Chapter 3.4 --- Simulation Results --- p.15 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Throughput for different number of active cross connections --- p.16 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Throughput for different number of flows in each connection --- p.17 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Multiple congestion vs Single congestion --- p.17 / Chapter 3.5 --- Summary --- p.19 / Chapter 4 --- The Joint Congestion Control for TCP/IP Networks --- p.21 / Chapter 4.1 --- Background --- p.21 / Chapter 4.2 --- The Joint Congestion Control --- p.23 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Path Load Reduction Factor --- p.23 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- The Congestion Control Algorithm --- p.24 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Probing Interval --- p.26 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Parameter Setting --- p.26 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- Encoding of R --- p.27 / Chapter 4.3 --- Simulation Results --- p.28 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Congestion Window Behavior --- p.28 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Throughput Stability --- p.31 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Packet Loss Ratio --- p.31 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Fairness Index --- p.32 / Chapter 4.3.5 --- Fairness in Multiple-hop Network --- p.32 / Chapter 4.3.6 --- Parameter Sensitivity --- p.33 / Chapter 4.3.7 --- Interaction between JCC and Reno flows --- p.35 / Chapter 4.4 --- Summary --- p.35 / Chapter 5 --- S-WTP : Shifted Waiting Time Priority Scheduling for Delay Differ- entiated Services --- p.37 / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.37 / Chapter 5.2 --- Scheduling Algorithms for Delay Differentiated Services --- p.38 / Chapter 5.3 --- Shifted Waiting Time Priority Scheduling --- p.41 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Local Update --- p.42 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Global Update --- p.42 / Chapter 5.3.3 --- Computational overhead --- p.42 / Chapter 5.4 --- Simulation Results --- p.43 / Chapter 5.4.1 --- Microscopic View of Individual Packet Delay of S-WTP and WTP --- p.43 / Chapter 5.4.2 --- Delay Ratios in Different Timescales --- p.44 / Chapter 5.4.3 --- Effects of aggregate traffic and class load distribution on delay ratio --- p.44 / Chapter 5.4.4 --- Delay Ratios with More Classes --- p.48 / Chapter 5.5 --- Summary --- p.48 / Chapter 6 --- Conclusions --- p.50 / Chapter 6.1 --- Congestion Control --- p.50 / Chapter 6.2 --- Quality of Service Provision --- p.51 / Chapter 6.3 --- Final Remarks --- p.51

The quality of construction documents is perceived to have decreased over the last few years according to professionals in the construction industry. Many feel that this decrease is due to the use of computer technology. This thesis strove to answer the question "Have construction documents improved with the introduction of computers or have they simply added to an already existing problem?" Through literature research, a survey, and follow-up interviews, the study concluded that communication was the main problem surrounding the quality of construction documents. Computers were also implicated as part of the problem yet also as a way to solve it in the future.

Data quality, which refers to correctness, uncertainty, completeness and other aspects of data, has became more and more prevalent and has been addressed across multiple disciplines. Data quality could be introduced and presented in any of the data manipulation processes such as data collection, transformation, and visualization. Data visualization is a process of data mining and analysis using graphical presentation and interpretation. The correctness and completeness of the visualization discoveries to a large extent depend on the quality of the original data. Without the integration of quality information with data presentation, the analysis of data using visualization is incomplete at best and can lead to inaccurate or incorrect conclusions at worst. This thesis addresses the issue of data quality visualization. Incorporating data quality measures into the data displays is challenging in that the display is apt to be cluttered when faced with multiple dimensions and data records. We investigate both the incorporation of data quality information in traditional multivariate data display techniques as well as develop novel visualization and interaction tools that operate in data quality space. We validate our results using several data sets that have variable quality associated with dimensions, records, and data values.

Food quality control is a mandatory task in the food industry, and for coffee manufacturers, one of the key target compounds is caffeine, because of its well-known biological effects and currently expensive analytical methods are employed for caffeine quantification. This project was thought with the aim of developing a cost-effective caffeine sensor for application in industrial environments. Two main approaches were investigated: i) the use of imprinted polymers; ii) electrochemical using bare carbon electrodes. Chapter 1 is the main introduction, it focuses on the importance of food quality control, the limitation of the methodologies currently employed and it presents the advantages of using imprinted polymers recognition and electrochemistry signal transduction. Chapter 2 presents data related to studies of self-association of caffeine in water using a novel computational approach. The wider applicability of the method was assessed by studying self-association of paraxanthine and the results were validated via a collaboration with Miss R. Anastasiadi who employed isothermal titration calorimetry. Chapter 3 describes the synthesis of MIPs in water, starting with the selection of the functional monomers: HPTS (8-hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonic acid, trisodium salt). The polymerisation conditions were optimised in terms of solvent to be used, initiator content, temperature and total monomer concentration. Afterwards, the polymers were synthesised, characterised, and preliminary data on the rebinding ability towards caffeine were presented. Chapter 4 focuses on electrochemical methods for the detection of caffeine using bare carbon electrodes. A voltammetric method for accurate determination of caffeine in beverages was developed. Based on the encouraging results obtained, further studies on the applicability of electrochemical methods for coffee quality analysis were done. A second method was developed for simultaneous detection of caffeine and polyphenols and an amperometric chemosensor for sucrose determination was acquired and its applicability for the analysis of green coffee beans was evaluated.

Mulungu (Erythrina verna Vell.- Fabaceae) é uma espécie arbórea nativa do Brasil, conhecida popularmente por amansa-senhor, árvore-de-coral, corticeira, suiná-suinã, dentre outros. Quimicamente é caracterizada principalmente pela presença de flavonóides, pterocarpanos, alcalóides e outros. Dentre os alcalóides isolados, pode-se citar hipaforina, eritravina, erisotrina, eritrartina e seus derivados. Inúmeros artigos científicos descrevem atividades biológicas tais como ansiolítica, anticonvulsivante, antinociceptiva e antibacteriana, além de efeitos tóxicos frente a larvas de camarão Artemia salina. O presente trabalho visa estabelecer parâmetros para o controle de qualidade da droga vegetal, casca de Erythrina verna, bem como comparar o perfil cromatográfico do extrato alcaloídico de suas diferentes partes e confrontar os dados com outras espécies do mesmo gênero. A descrição botânica macro e microscópica das cascas foi realizada, assim como o estabelecimento dos parâmetros de controle de qualidade, tais como cinzas totais (6,47±0,58%) e insolúveis (1,08±0,43%), teor de extrativos (12,03±0,81%) teor de alcalóides totais (0,081±0,0081%) e perda por dessecação, tanto pelo método gravimétrico (10,54±0,009%) quanto por balança de infravermelho (10,39±0.07%). Também foi estabelecido que as condições mais favoráveis para a produção de extrato bruto de E. Verna é a decocção do pó das cascas em solvente hidroalcoólico. Com base no perfil cromatográfico dos alcalóides de E. verna, foi possível identificar a presença de eritravina por meio de co-injeção com o produto isolado/identificado, bem como comparar o perfil das diferentes partes da planta e ainda confrontar os dados de E. verna a outras espécies do gênero. / Mulungu (Erythrina verna vell. - Fabaceae) is an arboreal species native of the Brazil, and popularly known as amansa-senhor, árvore-de-coral, corticeira, suiná-suinã, tiricero, among others. Chemically, it is mainly characterized by the presence of, flavonoids, alkaloids and pterocarpans. Hypaphorine, erythravine, erysothrine, erythrartine and its derivatives, are the main isolated alkaloids. Some scientific articles describe biological activities such as anxiolytic, antibacterial, anticonvulsant and antinociceptive. Toxicity against shrimp Artemia salina is also described. This work aims to establish parameters for the quality control of raw vegetable bark of E. verna, as well as compare the chromatographic profile of the alkaloidic extract obtained from defferent parts of the plant and compare the data to other related species of the same genus. The macro and microscopic description of the barks was performed, as well as the establishment of quality control parameters such as the total ash (6.47 ± 0.58%) and insoluble ash (1.08 ± 0.43%), water-soluble extractives (12.03 ± 0.81%), total alkaloids content (0.081 ± 0.0081%) and loss on drying by gravimetric method (10.54 ± 0.009%) and infrared balance (10,39±0.07%).It was established that the more favourable condition for the production of crude extract of E. verna is the decoction of powered bark in hydroalcoholic solvent. Based on the chromatographic profile of alkaloids of E. verna, it was possible to identify the presence of erythravine through isolated/identified coinjection product, as well as to compare the profile of the different parts of the plant and still confronting data E. verna to other species of the genus.

A análise de impurezas é uma etapa importante no controle de qualidade do insumo farmacêutico e do produto final. Provenientes da síntese do medicamento ou dos excipientes, mesmo em pequenas concentrações, as impurezas podem afetar a eficácia e a segurança. No presente trabalho foram desenvolvidos e validados dois métodos empregando cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (CLAE) para a avaliação do besifloxacino e sua impureza de síntese, um com eluição isocrática e outro com eluição gradiente. As análises por CLAE com modo de eluição isocrática foram executadas utilizando coluna Ciano, mantida a 25 °C. A fase móvel foi constituída por 0,5% de trietilamina (pH 3,0) : acetonitrila (88:12 v/v), eluída na vazão de 1,0 mL/min com detecção a 330 nm. O método com eluição gradiente foi conduzido com a mesma coluna e componentes da fase móvel modificando apenas as proporções entre fase orgânica e aquosa durante as análises. Os procedimentos foram validados de acordo com guias aceitos internacionalmente, observando-se resultados dentro dos limites aceitáveis. Os métodos apresentaram-se lineares na faixa de 140 a 260 μg/mL para o besifloxacino e de 0,3 a 2,3 μg/mL para a impureza A. Com volume de injeção de 20 μL, os limites de detecção e quantificação foram, respectivamente, 0,07 e 0,3 μg/mL. A precisão foi alcançada para todas as análises realizadas, obtendo DPR inter-dia igual a 6,47 e 6,36 para a impureza A com eluição isocrática e gradiente, respectivamente. A exatidão foi superior a 99% e a robustez apresentou resultados satisfatórios. No método isocrático obteve-se tempo de análise de 25 min e no gradiente de 15 min. O número de pratos teóricos no modo isocrático foi na ordem de 5000 enquanto no modo gradiente foi na ordem de 45000, ou seja, obteve-se maior eficiência da coluna com alteração da composição da fase móvel durante a eluição. No insumo besifloxacino e no produto farmacêutico utilizados neste trabalho, impurezas relacionadas estavam presentes, mas a impureza A não foi detectada. Os métodos propostos, considerando-se o limite de quantificação, podem ser aplicados na determinação quantitativa da impureza A na análise da matéria prima do besifloxacino, assim como na suspensão oftálmica. / Analysis of impurities is an important step in quality control of pharmaceutical ingredients and final products. From drug synthesis or excipients, even in small concentrations, impurities may affect efficacy and safety. In the present study two chromatographic methods were developed and validated for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for the assessment of besifloxacin and its synthesis impurity, one with isocratic and another with gradient elution. Analyses by HPLC in isocratic elution mode were performed using Cyano column maintained at 25 °C. Mobile phase was composed of 0.5% triethylamine (pH 3.0): acetonitrile (88:12 v/v) eluted at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min with detection at 330 nm. The method with gradient elution was carried out with the same column and mobile phase components modifying only proportion between organic and aqueous phase during analysis. The procedures have been validated according to internationally accepted guidelines, obtaining results within acceptable limits. The methods presented a linear response from 140-260 μg/mL for besifloxacin and from 0.3 to 2.3 mg/mL for impurity. With the injection volume of 20 μL, the limit od detection and limit of quantitation were, respectively, 0.07 and 0.3 μg/mL. Precision was achieved for all analyses, obtaining inter-day RSD equal to 6.47 and 6.36 for impurity A with isocratic and gradient elution, respectively. The accuracy was higher than 99% and robustness exhibited satisfactory results. In the isocratic method was obtained analysis time 25 min and 15 min gradient. The number of theoretical plates in the isocratic mode was of the order of 5000 while in the gradient mode was of the order of 45000, that is, gave greater efficiency of the column by changing the mobile phase composition during elution. In raw material of besifloxacin and pharmaceutical product used in this study, related impurities were present but the impurity A was not detected. The proposed methods, considering the limit of quantitation, can be in quantitative determination of impurity A in the analysis of besifloxacin raw material, as well as in ophthalmic suspension.

This thesis was carried out at the Special Cables group in the Nexans IKO Sweden AB in Grimsås, The company is a worldwide leader in the cable industry, offers an extensive range of cables and cabling systems.The aim with this thesis is to increase mean average of the electrical resistance in cables and accordingly saving the copper as the raw material. In order to achieve such significance the project offers an approach to find and eliminate causes of variation in a manufacturing process.In the beginning, some germane literature for the area was studied to get a deeper understanding of the problem. Some of the literature is summarized in the theory chapter of the thesis. The process was then defined and mapped out. Sources of variation were also chosen, in this case facts inside different machines.Some statistical analysis was accomplished later in the process by applying the theoretical background in the light of the reality of company. Gage R&R was also performed to examine the measurement system in Nexans IKO Sweden.The study concludes with recommendations for Nexans on five areas for implementation; Tracking and recording data, Optimization of the bunching process, Reach to the state of statistical control, More focus on suppliers, Prevention of over adjustment and main activities within these areas are defined. Finally management commitment is introduced as the most important factor for future success.

Orientador: Gladys Dorotea Cacsire Barriga / Banca: Manoel Henrique Salgado / Banca: Pedro Carlos Oprime / Resumo: A melhoria da Qualidade é um assunto muito muito discutido no meio industrial. Seu uso tornou-se cada vez mais frequente nos últimos anos, acompanhando o aumento das exigências do mercado. Nesse sentido, o objetivo geral deste trabalho foi propor uma abordagem detalhada de implementação do Ciclo DMAIC para a Melhoraia da Qualidade num dos processos de uma indústria de cosméticos, denotando as dificuldades, problemas e barreiras encontradas na aplicação, utilizando métodos estatísticos como Planejamento de Experimentos e Carta de Controle para o desenvolvimento do estudo, pois a organização não possui uma cultura de utilização destes métodos e não tinha conhecimento do comportamento do processo e dos fatores que influenciaram o principal problema que proporciona altos índices de custos de refugo e retrabalho. Portanto, sugeriu-se a realização de um projeto piloto para aplicação do DMAIC para melhoria da qualidade. Os resultados obtidos inicialmente apontam que a fase 6 do processo de Mistura da Matéria Prima e Moldagem foi a etapa selecionada para estudo piloto. Além disso, na aplicação do Planejamento de Experimentos foi considerada a variável resposta representada pelo peso (g) dos componentes com qualidade aceitável e assim foram identificados cinco possíveis fatores de controle, dos quais apenas três (Temperatura do Cabeçote, Temperatura do Molde e Temperatura de Resfriamento do Molde) influenciaram na característica de qualidade positivamente, ou seja, em termos de otimização quanto maior os valores das temperaturas significativas em questão, melhor a qualidade do componente. Aplicou-se também, a partir do modelo definido no planejamento, uma Carta de Controle verificando a estabilidade do processo para a fase I dfo Controle Estatístico de Processo. Este estudo foi colaborativo para melhorar o conhecimento do comportamento do processo, fazendo com que a organização planeje a aplicação em outros... / Abstract: The Quality Improvement is a hot topic in industry. Its use has become increasingly common in recent years, with the increase of the market demands. In this sense, the objective of this work a detailed implementation approach DMAIC Cycle for Quality Improvement in the processes of a cosmetics industry has been proposed, showing the difficulties, problems and barriers encountered in implementating, using statistical methods such as Design of Experiments and Control Chart for the development of the study because the organization does not have a culture of using these methods and had no knowledge of the process behavior and the factors that influenced the main problem that provides high levels of scrap and rework costs. Therefore, it was suggested to conduct a pilot project for the application of DMAIC to improve quality. The results show that initially the phase 6 of the process of Mix of Raw Material and Molding was selected as a pilot study. Furthermore, the application of Design of Experiments was considered the dependent variable represented bey the weigth (g) of the components of acceptable quality and thus five possible control factors were identified, of which only three (Head Temperature, Hot Mold Temperature and Cold Temperature) influenced posivively in the quality characteristic, that is, in terms of optimization, the larger the values of the significant temperatures in question, the better the quality of the component. Also applied, based on the model defined in planning a Control Chart checking process stability for phase I of statistical Process Control. This collaborative study was to improve the knowledge of the behavior of the process, causing the organization to plan the implementation in order products and processes available / Mestre

Durante seis meses, os laboratórios de saúde localizados em Florianopolis, Santa Catarina, foram submetidos a uma avaliação externa de qualidade. Esta avaliação constou da análise da concordância de resultados de exames executados para o diagnóstico da sífilis, pela técnica do VDRL. Os resultados foram comparados com os padrões, sendo os laboratórios classificados segundo a performance apresentada. Foi também realizado um levantamento em todos os laboratórios e analisados a formação do pessoal, equipamentos e outras condições que poderiam influir, direta ou indiretamente, na qualidade dos exames. A expectativa de que, na avaliação destes laboratórios, fossem encontrados resultados satisfatórios na qualidade dos exames não se concretizou, havendo deficiências a serem corrigidas. Considerando-se a determinação da percentagem de concordância nos exames qualitativos pelo VDRL nestes laboratórios e a análise das variáveis intervenientes nos resultados, sugere-se a implantação de programas de controle de qualidade interno e de avaliação de qualidade externa. / For six consecutive months, the health laboratories in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, have been under an external quality assessment. This assessment was composed of an analysis of the combination of results of other exams previously prepared to diagnose syphylis using the VDRL test. The results were compared with patterns, and the laboratories classified according to their performances. An evaluation was also prepared among all the laboratories where the formation and qualification of personnel were both analysed, as well as, the equipment and any other external condition which might have influenced direct or indirectly on the quality of the exams. There was an expectation that through the evaluation of such labotories the VDRL test results which could be found would be satisfactory; nevertheless this did not come true. Defficiencies were found which need immediate correction. Considering the determination of the percentage of combination in these qualitative exams done by the VDRL test in those laboratories; the analysis of the intervining variables on the results we suggest an immediate implementation of some sort of internai quality control program as well as the external quality assessment.