Swallowing accelerometry may provide a portable and cost-effective bedside alternative to currently available instrumentation. In this study, dual-axis accelerometry signals were collected simultaneous to videofluoroscopic records from 29 pediatric participants (age 6.8 $\pm$ 4.8 years; 20 males) previously diagnosed with neurogenic dysphagia. Videofluoroscopic records were reviewed by a clinical expert to extract swallow timings and ratings. The dual-axis accelerometry signals corresponding to each identified swallow were pre-processed, segmented and trimmed prior to feature extraction from time, frequency, time-frequency and information theoretic domains. Feature space dimensionality was reduced via principal components. Using 8-fold cross-validation, 16-18 dimensions and a support vector machine classifier with an RBF kernel, an adjusted accuracy of 89.6\% $\pm$ 0.9 was achieved for the discrimination between swallows with and without airway entry. Our results suggest that dual-axis accelerometry has merit in the non-invasive detection of unsafe swallows in children and deserves further consideration as a pediatric medical device.

Swallowing accelerometry may provide a portable and cost-effective bedside alternative to currently available instrumentation. In this study, dual-axis accelerometry signals were collected simultaneous to videofluoroscopic records from 29 pediatric participants (age 6.8 $\pm$ 4.8 years; 20 males) previously diagnosed with neurogenic dysphagia. Videofluoroscopic records were reviewed by a clinical expert to extract swallow timings and ratings. The dual-axis accelerometry signals corresponding to each identified swallow were pre-processed, segmented and trimmed prior to feature extraction from time, frequency, time-frequency and information theoretic domains. Feature space dimensionality was reduced via principal components. Using 8-fold cross-validation, 16-18 dimensions and a support vector machine classifier with an RBF kernel, an adjusted accuracy of 89.6\% $\pm$ 0.9 was achieved for the discrimination between swallows with and without airway entry. Our results suggest that dual-axis accelerometry has merit in the non-invasive detection of unsafe swallows in children and deserves further consideration as a pediatric medical device.

A cross-border listing occurs when an individual company establishes a secondary listing on a stock exchange abroad. In this paper, we analyze and compare the arbitrage proportions (through violation of put-call parity) of publicly traded cross-listed Canadian stocks, and those of industry and performance matched US domestically-listed shares. The cross-listed Canadian stocks are listed on both of the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and either the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) or the American Stock Exchange (AMEX).<p> Arbitrage opportunities exist when put-call parity is violated. Our empirical results show that in most circumstances, both domestic put-call parity and cross-border put-call parity hold well in the two countries. However, in Canadian market, a high proportion of arbitrage op-portunities could be detected in closing prices on the particular date of March 14, 2007.<p> On March 14th 2007, many of the observations in the Canadian market contained arbi-trage opportunities. Both domestic and cross-border put-call parity was violated. However, we fail to find the same phenomenon in the US market. In the US market, opportunities for arbitrage occur rarely and sporadically. We also find that the option trading volume in the Canadian market is lower than that in the US market, and during dramatic market price drops, the option trading volume remains at a low level.

The purpose of the study is to better understand the extent to which dual credit contributes to increased access and participation in college. As an initiative to facilitate the transition from high school to college for many students, dual credit has grown in scale and popularity in Ontario in recent years. By giving participating students credit towards both secondary school and college, dual credit is seen as a particularly effective mechanism in assisting disengaged students and groups under-represented in postsecondary education achieve success in high school and college. Still at an early stage of implementation in Ontario, little formal research has been conducted to explore the elements contributing to the program’s success and the benefits and outcomes for participants. Through the use of mixed methods of research, the study explores from a case study perspective the experience of dual credit at a single Ontario college in collaboration with its local partner school boards. Research methods include examination of student grades, policy and program documentation; student and parent surveys; and interviews with staff involved in planning and delivery. The analysis is informed by conceptual frameworks of student change allowing for consideration of a broad range of variables. Results of the study revealed that dual credit was deemed to be a success by students, parents and staff involved with the programs. Dual credit was viewed as particularly effective in terms of academic benefits and creating a greater awareness of college, contributing to student confidence and leading to increased likelihood of college participation. Dual credit participants were found to be primarily middle achievers academically, tended to perform better in dual credit courses than in high school, and obtained slightly higher grades than college peers in the same courses. Given the program delivery models studied, it was concluded that middle achievers were likely to benefit most. The study also concluded that student characteristics including pre-existing confidence and motivation should be considered an important element of success along with program elements and institutional factors. As an innovative program demonstrating positive results, more research should be done to assist in developing dual credit further.

As the wireless technology maturing, the wireless systems are evolving towards the development of new applications with broad band access and also the higher data rate. This necessity will give rise to the new WLAN standards as well as minimizing the cost, high QoS and security features of the wireless setup. It will also lift the trends towards the miniaturizination of hand-held devices, high data rates, higher bandwidth and robust performance on present and future WLAN standards, IEEE 802.11a/ 802.11b and 802.11g. A Coplanar waveguide (CPW) fed compact and optimized monopole antenna printed on a substrate of Rogers TMM 4 is studied in this paper. The proposed antenna is fabricated and measured to verify the response for Wireless applications. It is broadband antenna which has dual band characristics and can operate simultaneously both at 2.4 GHz and 5.2 GHz frequency bands for Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) application. Furthermore it is studied in detail that how the antenna performance and operation is affected by changing the parameters of antenna. The antenna has satisfactory return loss characteristics in desired range of frequency. The antenna has acceptable gain and directivity. The proposed antenna has a return loss value S11 &lt; -10 dB. The impedance bandwidth of antenna is high and the radiation pattern of antenna is omnidirectinal which fulfill the WLAN requirements.

A cross-border listing occurs when an individual company establishes a secondary listing on a stock exchange abroad. In this paper, we analyze and compare the arbitrage proportions (through violation of put-call parity) of publicly traded cross-listed Canadian stocks, and those of industry and performance matched US domestically-listed shares. The cross-listed Canadian stocks are listed on both of the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and either the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) or the American Stock Exchange (AMEX).<p> Arbitrage opportunities exist when put-call parity is violated. Our empirical results show that in most circumstances, both domestic put-call parity and cross-border put-call parity hold well in the two countries. However, in Canadian market, a high proportion of arbitrage op-portunities could be detected in closing prices on the particular date of March 14, 2007.<p> On March 14th 2007, many of the observations in the Canadian market contained arbi-trage opportunities. Both domestic and cross-border put-call parity was violated. However, we fail to find the same phenomenon in the US market. In the US market, opportunities for arbitrage occur rarely and sporadically. We also find that the option trading volume in the Canadian market is lower than that in the US market, and during dramatic market price drops, the option trading volume remains at a low level.

Introduction: The part of introduction is presented to help readers give insight into the setting of our thesis. Firstly, we present the background of Volvo CE and Lingong. With the rapid economy growth and large amount of infrastructure construction projects, the large demand for CE push Volvo to accelerate its pace into Chinese market, the situation of the Chinese market and the importance are introduced continuously. We are aimed to analyze the dual - brand strategy implemented by Volvo and Lingong, and what synergies produced. We will also face two major limitations such as limited materials and hard access to interviewees. Lastly, we also have brief introduction for the outlet of the thesis.   Theory Framework: This part includes three related theoretical fields. First one is global strategic marketing, as a MNE, Volvo CE entered China, which is one member of BRICs, and took acquisition of Lingong. The following is cross - boundaries culture and customer behavior, if one company wants to gain success in an overseas market, a good adaption to the local culture is essential. The last one is brand management field, brand is a intangible asset, however, in order to avoid cross - boundaries problems, Volvo CE decide to implement a dual - brand strategy, so we can use brand alliance theories to analyze.   Methodology: Because of the special characteristics, we decide to adopt the quantitative method, case study, because it is impossible for us to gather a large sample of survey on the CE. We analyze two cases, one is " Danone &amp; Wahaha" and the other is "Shanghai Automotive", the current situation of two cases are totally different, Danone and Wahaha got divorce in 2007, because of the brand conflict, while Shanghai have been making it to become the largest motor manufacturer in China, the experiences behind are very precious for us to analyze the brand alliance of Volvo and Lingong.   Complementary cases study and analysis We will have a detailed introduction on how Danone and Wahaha deal with the brand conflicts and the process of a series of arbitrations and lawsuits. Then presenting how successful Shanghai Automotive integrates with VW and GM. Then we use the corresponding theories to analyze the two cases, why brand conflicts happened between Danone and Wahaha, why Shanghai Automotive can successfully integrate with VW and GM   Findings In this part, we use the cases analysis and corresponding theories to form the finding. Finding is focused on the dual - brand strategy implemented by Volvo and Lingong, and we analyze its feasibility and the synergies.   Conclusions In this part, we come out with three conclusions. Firstly, global strategy management helps us to have a macro view over the dual-brand topic in China. Secondly, the dual-brand strategy can make Volvo gain goodwill from the consumers. Thirdly, Lingong and Volvo can benefit each other and get win-win by using dual-brand strategy.

Vi ville med detta arbete ta reda på varför svenska sjöbefälstudenter söker sig till Maersks sjöbefälsutbildning istället för till sjöbefälsutbildningen i Kalmar. Vi ville också ta reda på vilka faktorer som spelar in vid val av sjöbefälsutbildning, hur studenterna kommit i kontakt med utbildningen samt hur de upplever sin studietid på SIMAC.   Under ett studiebesök på SIMAC har vi intervjuat svenska studenter. Vi valde att göra en kvalitativ studie med öppna frågeställningar. Intervjuerna följdes upp med en enkätundersökning. Dessa metoder lämpade sig bra då vi ville få fram studenternas åsikter.   Det resultat vi fick fram var att de studenter som deltog i studien uppfattade sin skola som något ostrukturerad. De hade även svårigheter med det danska språket. Den huvudsakliga anledningen till att studenterna går kvar på skolan är anställningen hos Maersk som ger goda möjligheter till ett välbetalt arbete. / With this thesis we would like to find out why Swedish students at a nautical choose to study at Maersks master programme instead of Kalmar Maritime Academy. We also wanted to find out what factors play a role in the choice of school, how the students come in contact with the school and how they experience their studies at SIMAC. We have interviewed some of the Swedish students during a visit at SIMAC. We chose to perform a qualitative study consisiting of open questions. The interviews were followed up with a questionnaire. These methods were suitable since we were interested in the student´s opinions. Our result is that the students who took part in our study perceived their school sometimes as unstructured and confusing. They also experienced problems with the Danish language. The main reason for staying at the school is the upcomming, remunerative, work at Maersk.

In the thesis, we designed a metamaterial radome to increase the antenna gain. Owing to the need of high-directivity radiation in fix-point communications, antenna array and reflective antenna had been used to increase the directivity of antenna traditionally. Complicated feed and huge antenna size are the disadvantages of these techniques. We proposed a simpler metamaterial radome to increase the antenna gain. We find the subwavelength-hole structure formed by four Jerusalem cross structures can collimate electromagnetic wave originally spreading out from the holes. With the same size, multiple subwavelength holes in metamaterial radome can further enhance the antenna gain. We showed that metamaterial radome with 9 subwavelength holes can improve the gain by about 3.5 dB. In addition, we applied the concept of Fabry-Perot Cavity (FPC) to find the suitable distance between the radome and the antenna. When the resulting electromagnetic waves are in-phase, the radome can increase the antenna gain effectively. Recently, high-directivity radiation in fix-point communications is required and in the meantime multi-mode communication systems have become more and more popular. For practical purposes, we designed a coplanar dual-band metamaterial radome to be operated at 2.5 GHz and 3.5 GHz for WiMAX. This structure allows adjustment of its characteristics independently at each band. This coplanar dual-band radome can enhance the antenna gain by about 1.74 dB and 2.08 dB at 2.5 GHz and 3.5 GHz, respectively.

The traditional AC/DC rectifier usually has the defects of low power factor and serious harmonic distortion and it results in serious pollution to the power system. This thesis proposes active power factor correction technique using a new AC/DC Dual Boost Converter. For power factor correction, inductor current is operated in the continuous conduction mode. First, the converter is analyzed by state space averaging method. Furthermore, we design applicable compensator by frequency analysis to implement a good power factor system. A classical PFC circuit with PI control law has low power factor under light load. In order to overcome problem, the thesis proposes a Dual Boost Converter circuit with robust performance. Comparing with circuits using PFC IC ¡§UC3854¡¨, the proposed system obtains higher power factor under the condition of the same light load.