In this thesis channel capacity of a special type of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) Rayleigh fading channels is studied, where the transmitters are subject to a finite phase-shift keying (PSK) input alphabet. The constraint on the input alphabet makes an analytical solution for the capacity beyond reach. However we are able to simplify the final expression, which requires a single expectation and thus can be evaluated easily through simulation. To facilitate simulations, analytical expressions are derived for the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of a covariance matrix involved in the simplified capacity expression. The simplified expression is used to provide some good approximations to the capacity at low signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). Involved in derivation of the capacity is the capacity-achieving input distribution. It is proved that a uniform prior distribution is capacity achieving. We also show that it is the only capacity-achieving distribution for our channel model. On top of that we generalize the uniqueness case for an input distribution to a broader range of channels.

Three experimental studies were conducted to quantify the effects of system cycling, evaporator airflow, and condenser coil fouling on the performance of residential air conditioners. For all studies, the indoor dry-bulb (db) temperature was 80°F (26.7°C) db. The cycling study consisted of twelve transient tests conducted with an outdoor temperature of 95°F (35°C) db for cycle times of 6, 10, 15, and 24 minutes. Indoor relative humidities of 40%, 50%, and 60% were also considered. The evaporator airflow study consisted of twenty-four steady-state tests conducted with an indoor condition of 67°F (19.4°C) wet-bulb (wb) for evaporator airflows ranging from 50% below to 37.5% above rated airflow. Outdoor temperatures of 85°F (29.4°C) db, 95°F (35°C) db, and 105°F (40.6°C) db were also considered. The coil fouling study used a total of six condensers that were exposed to an outdoor environment for predetermined amounts of time and tested periodically. Three of the condensers were cleaned and retested during the periodic testing cycles. Testing consisted of thirty-three steady-state tests conducted with an indoor condition of 67°F (19.4°C) wb for outdoor exposure times of 0, 2000, 4000, and 8000 hours. Outdoor temperatures of 82°F (27.8°C) db and 95°F (35°C) db were also considered.

No description available.

Delay is an important quality-of-service measure for the design of next-generation wireless networks. This dissertation considers the problem of delay-limited communication over block-fading channels, where the channel state information is available at the receiver but not at the transmitter. For this communication scenario, the difference between the ergodic capacity and the maximum achievable expected rate (the expected capacity) for coding over a finite number of coherent blocks represents a fundamental measure of the penalty incurred by the delay constraint. This dissertation introduces a notion of worst-case expected-capacity loss. Focusing on the slow-fading scenario (one-block delay), the worst-case additive and multiplicative expected-capacity losses are precisely characterized for the point-to- point fading channel. Extension to the problem of writing on fading paper is also considered, where both the ergodic capacity and the additive expected-capacity loss over one-block delay are characterized to within one bit per channel use. The problem with multiple-block delay is considerably more challenging. This dissertation presents two partial results. First, the expected capacity is precisely characterized for the point-to-point two-state fading channel with two-block delay. Second, the optimality of Gaussian superposition coding with indirect decoding is established for a two-parallel Gaussian broadcast channel with three receivers. Both results reveal some intrinsic complexity in characterizing the expected capacity with multiple-block delay.

The Dual Failure Restorability (DFR) problems involve the design of network topology to be restorable in the event of single and dual failures scenarios. We developed new integer linear programming (ILP) models to optimally design mesh topology networks with various survivability schemes; span restoration, p-cycle, DSP and path restoration to achieve any specified level of dual failure restorability in the networks. The first variation of the ILP models applies specified dual failure restorability limit to each pair of spans in the network, and the second applies the limit to average dual failure restorability in the entire network. We used 137 test-case networks, consisting of four network families; 10-node, 12-node, 15-node, and 18-node network families. The results show that the capacity cost increases as the specified levels of dual failure restorability increases, and the relative increase in capacity cost in sparsely connected networks is much higher compare to densely connected networks. / Engineering Management

Background Information: Outdoor music festivals (OMFs) are complex events to organise with many exceeding the population of a small city. Minimising public health impacts at these events is important with improved event planning and management seen as the best method to achieve this. Key players in improving public health outcomes include the environmental health practitioners (EHPs) working within local government authorities (LGAs) that regulate OMFs and volunteer organisations with an investment in volunteer staff working at events. In order to have a positive impact there is a need for more evidence and to date there has been limited research undertaken in this area. The research aim: The aim of this research program was to enhance event planning and management at OMFs and add to the body of knowledge on volunteers, crowd safety and quality event planning for OMFs. This aim was formulated by the following objectives. 1.To investigate the capacity of volunteers working at OMFs to successfully contribute to public health and emergency management; 2.To identify the key factors that can be used to improve public health management at OMFs; and 3.To identify priority concerns and influential factors that are most likely to have an impact on crowd behaviour and safety for patrons attending OMFs. Methods: This research program has involved a series of five exploratory research studies exploring two main themes within public health management for OMFs, event planning capacity and volunteer capacity. Four studies used a cross-sectional design and survey methodology to collect self-report data from each cohort while the remaining study utilised case methods. The study participants were recruited from Australian and European OMFs. For volunteer capacity, data have been collected from volunteers at two internationally recognised OMFs. One had formal training for their volunteers and the other did not. For planning capacity, data have been collected on consumer concerns regarding OMFs, priority factors that influence crowd behaviour and safety and leadership in event planning. Results (volunteer capacity): The first studies assessed the public health and emergency management capacity of volunteers working at two OMFs. Volunteer training was provided at one event but not at the other. Comparatively, the participants from the OMF where training was provided reported noticeably better awareness of and involvement in public health and emergency management at that event. Additionally, this awareness was improved with experience volunteering at the study festivals. These studies highlighted the benefits of volunteer training and retention. Results (event planning capacity): The next three studies focused on event planning capacity with the first being a case study on event planning leadership. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate that the event licensing programs managed by LGAs could improve health outcomes for OMFs. A European OMF, the Glastonbury Festival, was chosen for this study. After problems in 2000, it was highly likely that the event would never be held again unless public health and safety was improved. This study documents the progression from that 2000 event through to the 2004 event that was considered the safest event yet. The LGA EHPs working through the event licensing programs had engineered these changes. The next study focused on consumer priority concerns associated with attending OMFs. A wide range of public health issues were identified as high concern including access to drinking water, toilets, safe food and personal protection issues such as females being grabbed or losing valuables. Safety in the mosh pit was a particular concern for almost half of the participants in the study. Also mosh pit safety was identified with other concerns such as females being grabbed, needing first aid, being struck by thrown items, crowd sizes, losing valuables and alcohol-related behaviour. Making safety in the mosh pit the most important public health issue for these study participants. The final study focused on identifying the main influences on crowd behaviour and safety at OMFs, particularly mosh pits. This study follows on from the consumer study. The study participants were skilled event security guards, specialising in OMFs and considered the performers, the music and group mentality as the most common motivators for changes in mosh pit behaviour. They also considered that generally (1) crowd composition, (2) drugs and particularly alcohol, (3) the type of performance, (4) venue configuration, and (5) activities of security staff were highly influential on crowd behaviour and safety at OMFs. Conclusion: Results from this research program have added to the body of evidence on public health management for OMFs. Findings support capacity building and retention for volunteer staff working at OMFs. Also this research has provided evidence on quality event planning, crowd behaviour and safety that can support EHPs working with OMFs. All of these studies have been published in peer-reviewed journals in order to communicate these findings to volunteer organisations and EHPs involved with OMFs. Where to from here? There remains considerable opportunity for research on a variety of topics related to public health management for OMFs. Some specific areas where further work is recommended are: othe development and evaluation of a pilot training program (web-based) for Australian volunteers working at OMFs (this training package is currently under development); othe development of a national code of practice for the event management industry; oresearch into festival patrons' risk perceptions and the impacts of those choices; oevaluation of the planning and management approaches used by specific OMFs; and oadditional detailed investigations of event characteristics such as crowd mood and its impacts on public health safety at OMFs.

Bridges form a vital link in the physical infrastructure and must be maintained in a "safe working order" at all times. It is estimated that there are currently 20,000 timber road bridges in service throughout Australia. Increasing demands on these bridges due to heavier and faster moving loads, together with deterioration are placing these aging structures at a higher risk of collapse. Unfortunately, many local governments and government departments have neglected the benefits of preventative maintenance and have opted for "just in time" repairs. This is especially true for timber bridges. This past neglect has placed bridge stock in a poor state that is only now being recognised as a significant problem. A key component of this research is to develop improvements to this current situation. This research thesis generates detailed knowledge on the load carrying capacities of timber bridges and new non destructive testing techniques that can be substituted for conventional testing procedures. For the first time guidelines have been developed for undertaking capacity assessment on timber bridges by specifying intervention levels for notched timber and limiting maximum allowable strains in timber members. This newly acquired knowledge will enable Asset Managers to more accurately determine the capacity of sniped timber bridge girders to enable appropriate retrofitting and maintenance while also allowing the safe movement of heavy vehicles. The knowledge generated through destructive testing of timber girders and the analysis of the vast amount of experimental data has enabled the first instance of developing specifications for replacement girders. These specifications detail both functional and performance related targets for three different types of replacement girders. Testing of these replacement girders also demonstrates that through some minor modifications that the specification targets can be met. The outcomes of this thesis provide an innovative approach to accessing the condition and capacity of timber girders and to increasing the safety and life of timber bridges in Queensland. By using new techniques such as Non-destructive testing, species identification and limiting maximum allowable strains, as described in this thesis, the road transport network can be safety used by heavy and permit vehicles. It is only through the effective management of timber bridge maintenance and rehabilitation that Australia can have an efficiently running road transportation network.

Thesis (M.H.A.)--University of Michigan, 1957.

Thesis (M.H.A.)--University of Michigan, 1957.

Thesis (Ph. D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering)--University of California, Berkeley, Fall 2004. / "September 2005." Includes bibliographical references (p. 46-47). Also available online via the ITS Berkeley web site (www.its.berkeley.edu).