Along with the growth and popularity of mobile networks, users enjoy more convenient connection and communication. However, exposure of user presence in mobile networks is becoming a major concern and motivated a plethora of LPPM Location Privacy Protection Mechanisms (LPPMs) have been proposed and analysed, notably considering powerful adversaries with rich data at their disposal, e.g., mobile network service providers or Location Based Services (LBS). In this thesis, we consider a complementary challenge: exposure of users to their peers or other nearby devices. In other words, we are concerned with devices in the vicinity that happen to eavesdrop (or learn in the context of a peer-to-peer protocol execution) MAC/IP addresses or Bluetooth device names, to link user activities over a large area (e.g., a city), and especially when a small subset of the mobile network devices parasitically logged such encounters, even scattered in space and time, and collaboratively breach user privacy. The eavesdroppers can be honest-but-curious network infrastructures such as wireless routers, base stations, or adversaries equipped with Bluetooth or WiFi sniffers. The goal of this thesis is to simulate location privacy attacks for mobile network and measure the location privacy exposure under these attacks. We consider adversaries with varying capabilities, e.g., number of deployable eavesdroppers in the network and coverage of eavesdropper, and evaluate the effect of such adversarial capabilities on privacy exposure of mobile users. We evaluate privacy exposure with two different metrics, i.e., Exposure Degree and Average Displacement Error (ADE).We use Exposure Degree as a preliminary metric to measure the general coverage of deployed eavesdroppers in the considered area. ADE is used to measure the average distance between user’s actual trace points and user’s trajectory predictions. We simulate three attack cases in our scheme. In the first case, we assume the attacker only acquires the collected data from users. We vary the number of receivers to test attack capacity. Exposure Degree is used to evaluate location privacy in this case. For the second and third cases, we assume the attacker also has some knowledge about users’ history traces. Thus, the attacker can utilize machine learning models to make prediction about user’s trace. We leverage Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) neural network and Hidden Markov Model (HMM) to conduct real-time prediction and Heuristic LSTM to reconstruct more precise user trajectories. ADE is used to evaluate the degree of location privacy exposure in this cases. The experiment results show that LSTM performs better than HMM on trace prediction in our scheme. Higher number of eavesdroppers would decrease the ADE of LSTM model (increase user location privacy exposure). The increase of communication range of receiver can decrease ADE but will incur ADE increase if communication range successively increases. The Heuristic LSTM model performs better than LSTM to abuse user location privacy under the situation that the attacker reconstructs more precise users trajectories based on the in-complete observed trace sequence. / Tillsammans med mobilnätens tillväxt och popularitet, njuter användarna av bekvämare anslutning och kommunikation. Exponering av användarnas närvaro i mobilnät blir emellertid ett stort bekymmer och motiverade en uppsjö av Location Privacy Protection Mechanisms (LPPM) har föreslagits och analyserats, särskilt med tanke på kraftfulla motståndare med rik data till sitt förfogande, t.ex. mobila nätverksleverantörer eller Platsbaserade tjänster (LBS). I denna avhandling betraktar vi en kompletterande utmaning: exponering av användare för sina kamrater eller andra närliggande enheter. Med andra ord, vi är bekymrade över enheter i närheten som råkar avlyssna (eller lära sig i samband med exekvering av peer-to-peer-protokoll) MAC/IP-adresser eller Bluetooth-enhetsnamn, för att länka användaraktiviteter över ett stort område ( t.ex. en stad), och särskilt när en liten delmängd av mobilnätverksenheterna parasitiskt loggar sådana möten, till och med spridda i rymden och tiden, och tillsammans kränker användarnas integritet. Avlyssningarna kan vara ärliga men nyfikna nätverksinfrastrukturer som trådlösa routrar, basstationer eller motståndare utrustade med Bluetooth eller WiFi-sniffare. Målet med denna avhandling är att simulera platssekretessattacker för mobilnät och mäta platsens integritetsexponering under dessa attacker. Vi betraktar motståndare med varierande kapacitet, t.ex. antalet utplacerbara avlyssnare i nätverket och täckning av avlyssning, och utvärderar effekten av sådana motståndaregenskaper på mobilanvändares integritetsexponering. Vi utvärderar integritetsexponering med två olika mått, dvs. exponeringsgrad och genomsnittligt förskjutningsfel (ADE). Vi använder exponeringsgrad som ett preliminärt mått för att mäta den allmänna täckningen av utplacerade avlyssnare i det aktuella området. ADE används för att mäta det genomsnittliga avståndet mellan användarens faktiska spårpunkter och användarens banprognoser. Vi simulerar tre attackfall i vårt schema. I det första fallet antar vi att angriparen bara hämtar insamlad data från användare. Vi varierar antalet mottagare för att testa attackkapacitet. Exponeringsgrad används i detta fall för att utvärdera sekretess på plats. För det andra och tredje fallet antar vi att angriparen också har viss kunskap om användares historikspår. Således kan angriparen använda maskininlärningsmodeller för att förutsäga användarens spår. Vi utnyttjar Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) neuralt nätverk och Hidden Markov Model (HMM) för att genomföra förutsägelser i realtid och Heuristic LSTM för att rekonstruera mer exakta användarbanor. ADE används för att utvärdera graden av platsexponering i detta fall. Experimentresultaten visar att LSTM presterar bättre än HMM på spårprognoser i vårt schema. Ett högre antal avlyssnare skulle minska ADE för LSTM -modellen (öka användarplatsens integritetsexponering). Ökningen av mottagarens kommunikationsområde kan minska ADE men kommer att medföra ADE -ökning om kommunikationsområdet successivt ökar. Den heuristiska LSTM-modellen fungerar bättre än LSTM för att missbruka användarplatsens integritet under situationen att angriparen rekonstruerar mer exakta användarbanor baserat på den fullständigt observerade spårningssekvensen.

Four studies were conducted to investigate plant-parasitic nematodes (PPN) of corn and soybean in ND. The first study investigated the incidence and abundance of vermiform PPN in ND corn fields in 2015 and 2016. Samples were collected from 300 corn fields across 20 counties. Seventy-two percent of the fields were positive for PPN. The major genera of PPN identified were Helicotylenchus, Tylenchorhynchus, Paratylenchus, Pratylenchus, Heterodera, Xiphinema, Hoplolaimus, and Paratrichodorus. The second study characterized SCN (SCN; Heterodera glycines) virulence phenotypes in ND. A total of 419 soybean fields across 22 counties were sampled during 2015, 2016, and 2017. Among these samples, 73 SCN field populations were successfully virulence phenotyped using the HG type tests. The HG types that were detected and confirmed in ND were HG type 0, 7, 2.5.7, 5.7, 1.2.5.7, and 2.7. The third study developed a new molecular method for detecting and identifying a new Pratylenchus sp. discovered in a soybean field in ND. A species-specific primer set, that can be used in both conventional and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays, was designed from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA. Laboratory experiments confirmed that the primers only amplified DNA of the target nematode species but not the non-target species used in the specificity tests. Practically, DNA from as little as a single nematode could be used to specifically identify the new Pratylenchus sp. using the molecular diagnostic methods developed in this study. The fourth study was conducted to ascertain resistance levels of 20 soybean cultivars to the new Pratylenchus sp. Combined results of four trials indicated that seven of the cultivars were moderately resistant, ten were moderately susceptible, four were susceptible, and none of the cultivars tested were resistant. Analysis of the habitat preference of the new Pratylenchus sp., revealed that above or close to 50% of the nematode population resided in roots at nine weeks after planting for a majority of the cultivars evaluated. Results from these studies will be helpful in improving nematode detection and developing management strategies to control plant-parasitic nematodes in ND corn and soybean fields.

The need to minimize carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions is becoming increasingly important with the total number of vehicles throughout the world exceeding one billion. Carbon dioxide emissions can be reduced by improving vehicle fuel efficiency. While electric transportation is gaining popularity, most passenger vehicles are still powered by gasoline or diesel engines. The main objective of this work was to provide opportunities for studying and improving the fuel efficiency of internal combustion engines (ICE). This was achieved by 1) Designing, building and testing auxiliary systems necessary to run a Cummins 2.8 L engine in a an engine test cell; 2) Creating educational labs for the ICE class; and 3) Measuring the parasitic losses of the vacuum pump and water pump on the installed Cummins 2.8 L diesel engine. All auxiliary systems were completed at a hardware cost of $8100 and are rated to support an engine with the power output capacity of 233 kW (312 hp). The educational laboratories enable future engineers to measure and assess the efficiency of internal combustions engines. The parasitic losses of the vacuum pump and water pump were found to impact the relative brake fuel conversion efficiency by 1.3% and 1.5% respectively over the Federal Test Procedure (FTP) cycle.

Very few recent studies have been done in South Africa on the occurrence or prevalence of parasites in humans. Based on the results of routine examinations for parasitic infections conducted in the Microbiology Laboratory of Ampath in Pretoria, this study focuses on the spectrum of parasites diagnosed in samples from humans in Gauteng, North West and Mpumalanga provinces between 2009 and 2010. Database searches for results of samples in which parasites were positively identified were conducted using the laboratory’s internal software system. Data of the positive results were exported and sorted according to date, specimen type, parasite identified, patient age, gender and geographic locality. Results showed that a total of 24 different species of parasites were identified in the laboratory over the two-year period. The overall numbers of parasites identified, according to the data searches, were 863 and 1061 in 2009 and 2010, respectively. The following parasites were identified: Entamoeba coli, Entamoeba histolytica, Endolimax nana, Acanthamoeba sp, Giardia intestinalis, Trichomonas hominis, Trichomonas vaginalis, Chilomastix mesnili, Blastocystis hominis, Cryptosporidium spp, Cystoisospora belli, Sarcocystis sp, Enterobius vermicularis, Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, ancylostomatids (hookworm), Taenia saginata, Taenia solium, Dipylidium caninum, Inermicapsifer madagascariensis, Bertiella studeri, Schistosoma haematobium, Echinococcus granulosus and Cordylobia anthropophaga. In both years, the majority of cases originated from Gauteng Province followed by North West and Mpumalanga provinces. The data were summarized descriptively and compared with available published records. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2014 / Veterinary Tropical Diseases / unrestricted

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(人間・環境学) / 甲第18605号 / 人博第701号 / 新制||人||167(附属図書館) / 26||人博||701(吉田南総合図書館) / 31505 / 京都大学大学院人間・環境学研究科相関環境学専攻 / (主査)教授 加藤 眞, 教授 市岡 孝朗, 教授 瀬戸口 浩彰, 教授 宮本 嘉久, 教授 新宮 一成 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Human and Environmental Studies / Kyoto University / DGAM

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This dissertation explores the expansion of the Electrically Steerable Parasitic Array Radiator (ESPAR) technology to arrays using microstrip patch elements. Scanning arrays of two and three closely-coupled rectangular patch elements are presented, which incorporate no phase shifters. These arrays achieve directive radiation patterns and scanning of up to 26° with maintained impedance match. The scanning is effected by tunable reactive loads which are used to control the mutual coupling between the elements, as well as additional loads which compensate to maintain the appropriate resonant frequency. The design incorporates theoretical analysis of the system of coupled antennas with full-wave simulation. A prototype of the threeelement array at 1 GHz is fabricated and measured to exhibit a maximum gain of 7.4 dBi with an efficiency of 79.1%. Further, the microstrip ESPAR is thoroughly compared to uniformlyilluminated arrays of similar size. To satisfy the need for higher directivity antennas with inexpensive electronic scanning, the microstrip ESPAR is then integrated as a subarray. The three-element subcell fabrication is simplified to a single layer with an inverted-Y groove in the ground plane, allowing for DC biasing without the need for the radial biasing stubs or tuning stubs found in the two-layer design. The 1 GHz ESPAR array employs a corporate feed network consisting of a Wilkinson power divider with switchable delay line phase shifts, ring hybrid couplers, and achieves a gain of 12.1 dBi at boresight with ±20° scanning and low side lobes. This array successfully illustrates the cost savings associated with ESPAR subarray scanning and the associated reduction in required number of phase shifters in the RF front end.

The automotive sector finds itself undergoing a significant and substantial transformation, propelled by the pronounced proliferation of electric vehicles (EVs) and autonomous driving technologies. As the industry proactively adapts to embrace this, an increasingly pressing demand becomes evident for higher performance, reliability, sustainability, and speed. Semiconductor packages emerge as primary catalysts within this ongoing revolution, positioned squarely at the forefront to assume a critical and indispensable function in facilitating the realization of these fundamental objectives. Commercial vehicle manufacturers are taking steps to respond to these demands for sustainability and speed, the driving force in facilitating this being the shift from Si IGBTs to SiC MOSFETs. Silicon Carbide is an increasingly popular choice in inverter module fabrication for electric vehicle applications owing to its inherent characteristics such as reduced on resistance, higher blocking voltage, and higher temperature stability that enable high power density, increased efficiency, and speeds. This work focuses on developing and fabricating a high-density 1.7 kV, 300 A SiC MOSFET half-bridge power module tailored for a 280-320 kW, 2-level inverter configuration. Co-designed with the busbar and gate driver, the custom power module stresses efficient heat dissipation, minimized parasitic inductance, and a compact footprint. Key target parameters to achieve optimal performance include a Rdson below 20 mΩ, Rthjc under 0.2 K/W and a switching time below 20 ns. The proposed module features a double-sided cooling sandwiched structure, an integrated thermistor for health and degradation monitoring, and incorporates three Wolfspeed 3rd generation 1.7 kV, 18 mΩ devices per switch position. The simulated power loop inductance is 14.5 nH, the simulated parasitic resistance is 0.265 m, and the simulated junction-to-case thermal resistance is 0.12182 ℃/W. To keep the die temperature below 150 ℃, a cooling coefficient of 5500 W/m2 is necessary. / Master of Science / The automotive sector is in the midst of a major transformation, propelled by the noticeable spread of electric vehicles (EVs) and autonomous driving technologies. As the industry actively evolves to accommodate this, an increasingly pressing demand becomes apparent for higher performance, reliability, sustainability, and speed. Semiconductor packages are at the forefront of this transformation, playing a crucial role in achieving these goals. Commercial vehicle makers are taking steps to respond to these demands for sustainability and speed, the driving force for this being the shift from Si IGBTs to SiC MOSFETs. Silicon Carbide is an increasingly popular choice in inverter module fabrication for electric vehicle applications owing to its inherent characteristics such as reduced resistance, higher blocking voltage, and higher temperature stability that enable high power density, increased efficiency, and speeds. This study focuses on creating a compact and efficient power module for commercial electric vehicle applications. The designed module is capable of handling high power levels while remaining compact, thus prioritizing power density. This is carefully designed to ensure it cools down effectively, minimizes unnecessary energy losses, and has a small footprint. Certain key features, such as its commutation speed, current carrying capacity, and thermal and mechanical limitations, were also studied. A temperature sensor was incorporated to monitor its health and performance over time. Simulations were performed to validate that this module performs well in terms of its resistances in the electrical conduction path and the oath of heat dissipation.

With the advent of wide bandgap (WBG) semiconductor devices, the electromagnetic interference (EMI) emissions are more pronounced due to high slew rates in the form of high dv/dt and high di/dt at higher switching frequencies compared to the traditional silicon technology. To comply with the stringent conducted emission requirements, EMI filters are adopted to attenuate the high frequency common mode (CM) and differential mode (DM) noise through the propagation path. However, self and mutual parasitic components are known to degrade the EMI filter performance. While parasitic cancellation techniques have been discussed at length in prior literature, most of them have focused mainly on single phase applications. As such this work focuses on extending the preexisting concepts to three-phase systems. Novel component placement, winding strategy as well as shielding and grounding techniques were developed to desensitize the influence of the parasitic effects on a three-phase multi-stage filter. The effectiveness of the three-phase filter structure employing the proposed methodologies has been validated via noise measurements at the line impedance stabilization network (LISN) in a 15kW rated motor drive system. Consequently, general design guidelines have been formulated for filter topologies with different inductor and capacitor form-factors. / Master of Science / The adoption of wide bandgap (WBG) semiconductor devices, such as Silicon Carbide (SiC) or Gallium Nitride (GaN) transistors, improves the power density with higher slew rates and switching frequencies compared to the traditional Silicon technology. However, the high switching speeds and high frequencies have generated higher electromagnetic interference (EMI) noise in the surroundings. To comply with the conducted emission requirements at the grid terminal, EMI filter is mandatory to attenuate the high frequency EMI noise that flows into grid. However, near field and the effect of parasitic components are known to degrade the filter performance at the higher end of frequency spectrum where the limit lines are typically stringent. While parasitic cancellation techniques have been discussed at length in prior literature, most of them has focused mainly on single phase applications. Therefore, this thesis aims to extend the pre-existing concepts to compensate the mutual and self-parasitic coupling components in a three-phase multi-stage filter. In this regard, novel component placement, winding strategy as well as shielding and grounding techniques were developed to compensate for the parasitic effects in a three- phase multi-stage filter. The effectiveness of the three-phase filter structure employing the proposed methodologies has been validated in a 15kW rated motor drive system. Consequently, general design guidelines have been formulated for filter design with minimal parasitic effects.

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