The cellular networks are evolving to meet the future requirements of data rate,coverage and capacity. The fourth generation mobile communication system, LTEhas been developed to meet these goals. LTE uses multiple antenna features andlarger bandwidths in order to accomplish this task. These features will furtherextend the requirements of data rate, coverage, latency and flexibility. LTE also utilizes the varying quality of the radio channel and the interferencefrom other transmitters by adapting the data rate to the instantaneous channelquality at all the time. This is typically referred to as Link Adaptation. Thelink adaptation fails from time to time due to the varying channel quality as wellas the interference from other transmitters. In order to counteract these failures,retransmission methods are employed. These methods detect the errors on thereceiver side and signals the transmitter for the retransmission of the erroneousdata. The efficiency of link adaptation increases if combined with a properly designedretransmission scheme at the expense of delays due to retransmissions. This master thesis focuses on the study of the retransmission schemes with fasterfeedback, resulting in a reduction in delay. The feedback is generated by makingan early estimate of the decoding outcome and sending it early to the transmitterresulting in faster retransmission. This is important in certain applications wherethe data transmission is intolerant to delays.The thesis work shows by system performance simulations that fast packet retransmission,precisely called Early HARQ Feedback, significantly affects the systemperformance together with the utilization of the link adaptation. The study alsoshows that the link adaptation, in certain scenarios, can be optimized to improvethe system performance. In that respect, it is also possible to increase the numberof retransmissions within the same resource utilization. That optimization is basicallycalled aggressive link adaptation. Consequently, Early HARQ Feedback incombination with aggressive link adaptation provides a large improvement in thedownlink performance of the studied cases.

Flexible link manipulators (FLM) are well-known for their light mass and small energy consumption compared to rigid link manipulators (RLM). These advantages of FLM are even of greater importance in applications where energy efficiency is crucial, such as in space applications. However, RLM are still preferred over FLM for industrial applications. This is due to the fact that the reliability and predictability of the performance of FLM are not yet as good as those of RLM. The major cause for these drawbacks is link flexibility, which not only makes the dynamic modeling of FLM very challenging, but also turns its end-effector trajectory tracking (EETT) into a complicated control problem. <p>The major objectives of the research undertaken in this project were to develop a dynamic model for a FLM and model-based controllers for the EETT. Therefore, the dynamic model of FLM was first derived. This dynamic model was then used to develop the EETT controllers. <p>A dynamic model of a FLM was derived by means of a novel method using the dynamic model of a single flexible link manipulator on a moving base (SFLMB). The computational efficiency of this method is among its novelties. To obtain the dynamic model, the Lagrange method was adopted. Derivation of the kinetic energy and the calculation of the corresponding derivatives, which are required in the Lagrange method, are complex for the FLM. The new method introduced in this thesis alleviated these complexities by calculating the kinetic energy and the required derivatives only for a SFLMB, which were much simpler than those of the FLM. To verify the derived dynamic model the simulation results for a two-link manipulator, with both links being flexible, were compared with those of full nonlinear finite element analysis. These comparisons showed sound agreement. <p>A new controller for EETT of FLM, which used the singularly perturbed form of the dynamic model and the integral manifold concept, was developed. By using the integral manifold concept the links lateral deflections were approximately represented in terms of the rotations of the links and input torques. Therefore the end-effector displacement, which was composed of the rotations of the links and links lateral deflections, was expressed in terms of the rotations of the links and input torques. The input torques were then selected to reduce the EETT error. The originalities of this controller, which was based on the singularly perturbed form of the dynamic model of FLM, are: (1) it is easy and computationally efficient to implement, and (2) it does not require the time derivative of links lateral deflections, which are impractical to measure. The ease and computational efficiency of the new controller were due to the use of the several properties of the dynamic model of the FLM. This controller was first employed for the EETT of a single flexible link manipulator (SFLM) with a linear model. The novel controller was then extended for the EETT of a class of flexible link manipulators, which were composed of a chain of rigid links with only a flexible end-link (CRFE). Finally it was used for the EETT of a FLM with all links being flexible. The simulation results showed the effectiveness of the new controller. These simulations were conducted on a SFLM, a CRFE (with the first link being rigid and second link being flexible) and finally a two-link manipulator, with both links being flexible. Moreover, the feasibility of the new controller proposed in this thesis was verified by experimental studies carried out using the equipment available in the newly established Robotic Laboratory at the University of Saskatchewan. The experimental verifications were performed on a SFLM and a two-link manipulator, with first link being rigid and second link being flexible.<p>Another new controller was also introduced in this thesis for the EETT of single flexible link manipulators with the linear dynamic model. This controller combined the feedforward torque, which was required to move the end-effector along the desired path, with a feedback controller. The novelty of this EETT controller was in developing a new method for the derivation of the feedforward torque. The feedforward torque was obtained by redefining the desired end-effector trajectory. For the end-effector trajectory redefinition, the summation of the stable exponential functions was used. Simulation studies showed the effectiveness of this new controller. Its feasibility was also proven by experimental verification carried out in the Robotic Laboratory at the University of Saskatchewan.

Flexible link manipulators (FLM) are well-known for their light mass and small energy consumption compared to rigid link manipulators (RLM). These advantages of FLM are even of greater importance in applications where energy efficiency is crucial, such as in space applications. However, RLM are still preferred over FLM for industrial applications. This is due to the fact that the reliability and predictability of the performance of FLM are not yet as good as those of RLM. The major cause for these drawbacks is link flexibility, which not only makes the dynamic modeling of FLM very challenging, but also turns its end-effector trajectory tracking (EETT) into a complicated control problem. <p>The major objectives of the research undertaken in this project were to develop a dynamic model for a FLM and model-based controllers for the EETT. Therefore, the dynamic model of FLM was first derived. This dynamic model was then used to develop the EETT controllers. <p>A dynamic model of a FLM was derived by means of a novel method using the dynamic model of a single flexible link manipulator on a moving base (SFLMB). The computational efficiency of this method is among its novelties. To obtain the dynamic model, the Lagrange method was adopted. Derivation of the kinetic energy and the calculation of the corresponding derivatives, which are required in the Lagrange method, are complex for the FLM. The new method introduced in this thesis alleviated these complexities by calculating the kinetic energy and the required derivatives only for a SFLMB, which were much simpler than those of the FLM. To verify the derived dynamic model the simulation results for a two-link manipulator, with both links being flexible, were compared with those of full nonlinear finite element analysis. These comparisons showed sound agreement. <p>A new controller for EETT of FLM, which used the singularly perturbed form of the dynamic model and the integral manifold concept, was developed. By using the integral manifold concept the links lateral deflections were approximately represented in terms of the rotations of the links and input torques. Therefore the end-effector displacement, which was composed of the rotations of the links and links lateral deflections, was expressed in terms of the rotations of the links and input torques. The input torques were then selected to reduce the EETT error. The originalities of this controller, which was based on the singularly perturbed form of the dynamic model of FLM, are: (1) it is easy and computationally efficient to implement, and (2) it does not require the time derivative of links lateral deflections, which are impractical to measure. The ease and computational efficiency of the new controller were due to the use of the several properties of the dynamic model of the FLM. This controller was first employed for the EETT of a single flexible link manipulator (SFLM) with a linear model. The novel controller was then extended for the EETT of a class of flexible link manipulators, which were composed of a chain of rigid links with only a flexible end-link (CRFE). Finally it was used for the EETT of a FLM with all links being flexible. The simulation results showed the effectiveness of the new controller. These simulations were conducted on a SFLM, a CRFE (with the first link being rigid and second link being flexible) and finally a two-link manipulator, with both links being flexible. Moreover, the feasibility of the new controller proposed in this thesis was verified by experimental studies carried out using the equipment available in the newly established Robotic Laboratory at the University of Saskatchewan. The experimental verifications were performed on a SFLM and a two-link manipulator, with first link being rigid and second link being flexible.<p>Another new controller was also introduced in this thesis for the EETT of single flexible link manipulators with the linear dynamic model. This controller combined the feedforward torque, which was required to move the end-effector along the desired path, with a feedback controller. The novelty of this EETT controller was in developing a new method for the derivation of the feedforward torque. The feedforward torque was obtained by redefining the desired end-effector trajectory. For the end-effector trajectory redefinition, the summation of the stable exponential functions was used. Simulation studies showed the effectiveness of this new controller. Its feasibility was also proven by experimental verification carried out in the Robotic Laboratory at the University of Saskatchewan.

The aim of this thesis is to design a controllable DC-link output voltage for isolated slotless tubular linear generators (STLG), which is capable of directly harnessing wave and solar thermal energies. For supplying stable DC-link voltage to load, a suitable voltage regulation circuit is designed based on the integrate system performance assessment. Electrical and mechanical parameters in this refined STLG design are involved to analyze the operational behaviors through magnetic equivalent circuit analysis at different operating modes. From the theoretical modeling and experimental results, both the AC-side and DC-side properties of generator outputs can then be thoroughly investigated. Finally, based on the performance of controllable rectifier model, a three-phase PWM rectifier has been established, and then the regulated DC-link voltage can be implemented using a DSP-based controller combined with required peripheral circuits.

Online social networks have quickly become the most popular destination on the World Wide Web. These networks are still a fairly new form of online human interaction and have gained wide popularity only recently within the past three to four years. Few models or descriptions of the dynamics of these systems exist. This is largely due to the difficulty in gaining access to the data from these networks which is often viewed as very valuable. In these networks, members maintain list of friends with which they share content with by first uploading it to the social network service provider. The content is then distributed to members by the service provider who generates a feed for each member containing the content shared by all of the member's friends aggregated together. Direct access to dynamic linkage data for these large networks is especially difficult without a special relationship with the service provider. This makes it difficult for researchers to explore and better understand how humans interface with these systems. This dissertation examines an event driven sampling approach to acquire both dynamics link event data and blog content from the site known as LiveJournal. LiveJournal is one of the oldest online social networking sites whose features are very similar to sites such as Facebook and Myspace yet smaller in scale as to be practical for a research setting. The event driven sampling methodology and analysis of the resulting network model provide insights for other researchers interested in acquiring social network dynamics from LiveJournal or insight into what might be expected if an event driven sampling approach was applied to other online social networks. A detailed analysis of both the static structure and network dynamics of the resulting network model was performed. The analysis helped motivated work on a model of link prediction using both topological and content-based metrics. The relationship between topological and content-based metrics was explored. Factored into the link prediction analysis is the open nature of the social network data where new members are constantly joining and current members are leaving. The data used for the analysis spanned approximately two years.

This thesis proposes a link-based approach to identify supporting and opposing groups in a Weblog community. We formulate the interaction behavior as a graph. Bloggers involved in the discussion of one specific issue are formulated as vertices. Semantic orientation is used to construct possible opposite opinion links. Bloggers with opposite stances will form an opposite link. A max-cut algorithm is used latter to obtain the optimal approximation of supporting and opposing groups. The categorization results are compared between semantic orientation classifier and simple link-based categorization. The simple link-based categorization compares then with the enhancement of link-based categorization using hypergraph.

With the extent of the web expanding at an increasing rate, the problems caused by broken links are reaching epidemic proportions. Studies have indicated that a substantial number of links on the Internet are broken. User surveys indicate broken links are considered the third biggest problem faced on the Internet. Currently Walden's Paths Path Manager tool is capable of detecting the degree and type of change within a page in a path. Although it also has the ability to highlight missing pages or broken links, it has no method of correcting them thus leaving the broken link problem unsolved. This thesis proposes a solution to this problem in Walden's Paths. The solution centers on the idea that "significant" keyphrases extracted from the original page can be used to accurately locate the document using a search engine. This thesis proposes an algorithm to extract representative keyphrases to locate exact copies of the original page. In the absence of an exact copy, a similar but separate algorithm is used to extract keyphrases that will help locating similar pages that can be substituted in place of the missing page. Both sets of keyphrases are stored as additions to the page signature in the Path Manager tool and can be used when the original page is removed from its current location on the Web.

Immunoglobulin A¡]IgA¡^, the principal antibody class in secretions that bathe mucosal surfaces, acts as an important first line of defense. However, some pathogenic bacteria such as Haemophilus influenzae can produce IgA1 proteases to impair IgA1, especially in human mucosal immune system. IgA1 proteases are characterized by a polypeptide precursor containing four domains, the signal peptide, protease, linking region and the £]-domain. The function of the protease and the £]-domain (£] core) had been studied extensively, but the linking region is less defined, let alone its function. To complete the project, the DNA fragment for linking region was amplified by PCR from iga gene (Gene Bank DQ683353) spanning from NT3130 to NT4686, and then transferred to pGEX-2T for expression. Recombinant linking region-protein was purified using glutathione-Sepharose column. The proliferation assay showed that purified recombinant protein did not enhance cell growth significantly at the concentration of 1 £gg/ml compared to either the negative control or GST control; but when the concentration of the recombinant protein was increased to 5 £gg/ml or 10 £gg/ml, the cell proliferation was significantly stimulated. These results suggest that recombinant linking region-protein contains special element that stimulates the jurkat cell.

We investigate the information link between Taiwan option and stock markets by using the multimarket sequential trade model developed by Easley, O¡¦Hara and Srinivas (1998). We test the condition if informed traders trade in the Taiwan option market by investigating the information role of TXO trading volume in Taiwan option market. The result shows that traders¡¦ activity in Taiwan option market is informative and TXO trading volumes have information content for future stock index movements. We show that the ¡§positive news¡¨ and ¡§negative news¡¨ option volumes can predict stock index over 45 minutes; what is different from the empirical result of Easley, O¡¦Hara and Srinivas (1998) is that in Taiwan option market even the standard call, put or all option volumes have predictive power for 25 minutes.

ITC/USA 2013 Conference Proceedings / The Forty-Ninth Annual International Telemetering Conference and Technical Exhibition / October 21-24, 2013 / Bally's Hotel & Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV / Telemetry Network System (TmNS) contains a centralized link manager which allows efficient use of the frequency spectrum by dynamically allocating capacity to transmit based on need and priority. To verify the accurate operation of the telemetry system link management algorithm prior to system demonstration, a combination of novel techniques were leveraged in the areas of modeling and simulation, and test bed verification. This paper will cover the process of verifying the link management algorithm from the use of the OPNET iNET simulation to test bed radio simulators along with the developed test bed tools used to capture the results.