Soldiers in the Unites States Army operate under uniquely demanding conditions with increasingly high performance expectations. Modern missions, including counter-insurgency operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, are complex operations. The Army expects this complexity to continue to increase. These conditions affect Soldier performance in combat. Despite spending billions of dollars to provide Soldiers with better equipment to meet the demands of the modern battlefield, the U.S. Army has dedicated comparatively little resources to measuring and improving individual Soldier performance in real-time. As a result, the Army does not objectively measure a Soldier’s performance at any point in their active duty career. The objective of this report is to demonstrate the utility and feasibility of monitoring Soldier performance in real-time by means of visual 3D performance maps supported by a Bayesian network model of Soldier performance. This work draws on techniques developed at the University of Texas’ Robotics Research Group for increasing performance in electro-mechanical systems. Humans and electro-mechanical systems are both complex and demonstrate non-linear performance trends which are often ignored by simplified analytical models. Therefore, application of empirical Bayesian models with visual presentation of data in 3D performance maps enables rapid understanding of important performance parameters for a specific Soldier. The performance maps can easily portray areas of non-linear performance that should be avoided or exploited, while presenting levels of uncertainty regarding the assessments, thus empowering the individual to make informed decisions regarding control and allocation of resources. The present work demonstrates the utility of visual performance maps by structuring 19 relatively mature 3D performance maps based on published empirical research data and analytical models related to human performance. Based on a broad review of the literature, the present research evaluated 10 potential physiological indicators, termed biomarkers that correlate with human responses to a select set of stressors, referred to as impact parameters. The 10 evaluated impact parameters affect various components of Soldier performance. The present research evaluated the documentation of these relationships in the existing literature with regard to 9 general Soldier performance measures. Identifying the research supported relationships from biomarkers to impact parameters to Soldier performance measures resulted in a preliminary Bayesian Soldier Performance Model, from which it is possible to create 70 distinct 3D performance maps. Based on the quality of the relationships identified in the reviewed literature, and a contemporary evaluation of existing sensor technology for the related biomarkers, the present research assessed 26 of the potential 70 performance maps as being achievable in the near-term. Continuing development of the Soldier Performance Model (SPM) as proposed in this report has the potential to increase Soldier performance while simultaneously improving Soldier well-being, reducing risk of physical and mental injury, and reducing downstream treatment cost. / text

Changes in external forcing having traditionally been the main area of interest in trying to understand paleo-depositional environments in sedimentary systems; however, autogenic variability has been rising in importance, while autogenic behavior has been thought of as a “noise” generator. Recently, autogenic variability has been rising in attention because decoupling allogenic signatures (externally driven) from the stratigraphic record requires robust understanding of autogenic variations (internally generated). This study aims to quantitatively measure autogenic processes under a range of flux conditions and to show that autogenic processes generate distinct signatures rather than random noise. We present data from a matrix of nine different tank experiments in order to systematically evaluate the effects of sediment flux and water discharge variations on the autogenic timescale of fluvial sediment storage and release processes and the implications of this data to the stratigraphic record. The sediment flux tow ater discharge ratio and the absolute values of these two discharges control the autogenic timescale. Variations in sediment supply yield two competing effects on the autogenic timescale. The primary sediment flux control causes a reduction in the autogenic timescale as an increase in sediment supply yields an increased rate of filling the “fluvial envelope” (the space between the maximum and minimum fluvial slopes obtained during storage and release events). In contrast, the secondary sediment flux control increases the size of the fluvial envelope and works against the primary sediment flux control. Increasing the water discharge increases the autogenic timescale by widening the fluvial envelope during the organization of the fluvial system and more importantly, diminishes the functionality of the secondary sediment control. A competition exists between these factors, causing a non-linear range of autogenic timescales for a given sediment flux to water discharge ratio. In the nine experiments here, as the ratio decreases, the secondary effects of variations in sediment supply are suppressed by the relatively high water discharge, and the timescale is more predictable using the primary sediment control. As the ratio increases, the secondary effects from sediment supply are enhanced by a poorly organized fluvial system, and the timescale converges to a narrow range. This suggests significant implications for autogenic sediment delivery and stratigraphic development in a wide range of discharge conditions in field cases. / text

Parametric equations are used to represent the pathway of an object in terms of time or another changing variable. This allows, for example, for equations that are written using two variables to be examined in terms of the passage of time. In this paper the author examines two traditional application problems whose solutions can be enriched through the use of parametric equations. In the first, the falling ladder problem, a ladder is leaned against a wall then pulled away with a constant velocity. Deriving parametric equations for this scenario permits the pathway of the ladder to be plotted. Parametric equations also make it possible for the horizontal and vertical velocities of the ladder to be examined separately. The second problem is that of maximizing the length of a ladder that can fit around a hallway corner. In this problem an envelope algorithm is first developed, then parametrized to further investigate this scenario. Using these two situations, this report ultimately shows how parametric equations can be used to give a more thorough approach to some of today’s most classic calculus problems. / text

No description available.

HIV-1 genetic diversity is a major obstacle for developing an effective vaccine. My hypothesis is that HIV-1 genetic diversity can be characterized and that cross-clade immunogens can be predicted at the population level. I systematically investigated positive selection (PS) pressures on HIV-1 Env and Gag proteins based on the analysis of the sequences collected from the Los Alamos Sequence Database. I identified PS sites, investigated PS patterns, correlated PS with the known functional sites of the two proteins, calculated frequencies of HLA alleles targeting CTL epitopes, and compared PS patterns among major subtypes. The results showed that PS pressure was widely dispersed across the entire regions of both HIV-1 Env and Gag proteins, suggesting the conserved regions are under host immune response pressure. The neutralizing antibody, non-neutralizing antibody, and CTL responses were found to be the major forces driving genetic diversity of HIV-1 env and gag genes at population level. However, PS pressures on both Env and Gag proteins remain stable over time, suggesting genetic diversity of HIV-1 driven by host immune responses changed very little over the last 29 years. Furthermore, the results also demonstrated that up to 70% PS sites were shared among the major HIV-1 clades, implying the existence of cross-clade immunogenicity. A number of potential cross-clades immunogens were predicted to elicit CTL or neutralizing antibody responses from Env and Gag proteins. I also detected a significant correlation between HLA allele frequencies and host CTL responses elicited by Accessory/Regulator’s proteins at population level. Moreover, I detected an association between the frequency of HLA-B7 supertype and the number of identified optimal CTL epitopes. The results suggest HLA class I allele frequencies in a population influence the evolution of HIV-1. I also systematically evaluated the utility of ultra-deep pyrosequencing to characterize genetic diversity of HIV-1 gag genes within quasispecies. The results showed that ultra-deep pyrosequencing of amplified HIV genes is a better method than the traditional Sanger-clone-based method in the comprehensive characterization of genetic diversity of HIV-1 quasispecies, especially in detecting low frequency variations. In conclusion, my thesis provides important information for rational design of an effective HIV-1 vaccine.

Daugiabučių modernizavimo problema nagrinėjama, remiantis Europos Komisijos išleista "Energijos vartojimo efektyvumo pastatuose" direktyva. Darbe atkreipiamas dėmesys į mažų daugiabučių, kurie gyvenamųjų pastatų modernizavimo procese sudaro mažumą, sektorių. Darbe siekiama įvertinti tipinio mažo daugiabučio renovacijos galimybę iki beveik nulinės energijos pastato koncepcijos rodiklių, kuri buvo pateikta kaip reikalavimas visiems ES naujai statomiems pastatams nuo 2020 m. (viešosios paskirties - nuo 2018 m.) Tyrimo metu buvo atlikti eksperimentiniai elementų šiluminių savybių matavimai, kurie vėliau panaudoti pastato energijos balanso skaičiavimams bei energinio modelio sudarymui. Pritaikant dažniausiai naudojamas energijos taupymo priemones, modeliuojami keli mažai energijos vartojančio pastato variantai. Naudojantis programine įranga, sumodeliuotas galimas energijos tiekimas pastatui iš atsinaujinančių energijos šaltinių, siekiant užtikrinti kuo didesnę AEŠ dalį pastato energijos balanse. Atlikti ekonominiai modernizavimo variantų vertinimai. Pagal pasirinktą kriterijų pateiktas labiausiai šalies mastu tinkantis, atsižvelgiant į Lietuvos daugiabučių namų rinką, ekonominius bei energetinius rodiklius, daugiabučio energinis modelis. / The issue of multi-residential building refurbishing is being analyzed reffering to the "Energy performance of building directive", introduces by European Commission. This paper puts attention to the share of buildings that takes the minority by participating in residential building renovation program. Research is made to assess the case study of refurbishing a small scale residential building achieving a performance of nearly zero energy building. In the directive it is stated, that from year 2020 all newly built buildings will have to be nearly zero energy. All new public buildings must have this energy performance from the year 2018. During the research, experimental measurements of thermal characteristics of thermal envelope elements were made. These results were used to stimulate the yearly energy balance and create energy model of the building. With the use of most common renewable energy techniques and energy saving measures, several energy models were analyzed. With the use of sophisticated computer software, possible energy supply schemes with high share of RES were introduced. Energy supply solutions were analyzed on an economic basis. Referring on set criterions, most suitable solution of energy supply scenario is offered, considering the real estate market, economic and energetic indexes of Lithuania.

An explosive growth in demand for broadband mobile wireless services is currently being fuelled by cellular telephone users who, encouraged by service providers, are no longer content with voice transmission only but are demanding real-time video services, including multi-user, interactive games and 'movie' programmes. As these applications develop, expectations mount in other mobile user markets, especially the public safety arena, for comparable user features but with greater emphasis on reliability and robustness of the equipment and supporting network in adverse propagation conditions, remote locations and emergencies. These applications all have in common the requirements for efficient use of wireless bandwidth and of battery power, as well as seamless operation when moving, sometimes at high vehicle speeds, from one type of environment to another in a multi-user scenario. Orthogonal frequency-division multiplexed (OFDM) signals have been found to compare favourably with other modulation systems in these applications, the multi-carrier format being more tolerant of delay spread. It has been used in both code-division (MC-CDMA) and frequency-division (OFDMA) multi-user schemes, the latter having the advantage of maintaining orthogonality among users in fading-signal environments, with consequent simplification of signal processing. The major drawback of OFDM has been the high peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) that is characteristic of signals with multiple sub-carriers. A result of this is that the transmitter requires a linear power amplifier (PA) that generally has to be 'backed off' to accommodate the high PAPR. Additional back-off is required to achieve linearity, as well as sometimes-complex linearisation circuitry. The power usage and cost of such a transmitter is more acceptable in a base station, tending to limit the application of OFDM to downlinks. The potential application to hand-portable terminals has severe constraints of size, cost and battery life, exacerbated by the use of video-capable LCD displays, increasing motivation for the use of MIMO (multi-antenna) technology and the development of mobile ad-hoc networks, the latter being particularly applicable in the public safety arena. Previous efforts to ameliorate the PAPR problem have been principally directed at two areas, the reduction of signal PAPR, by block coding, clipping or other techniques, and methods of achieving PA linearisation with improved power efficiency. The first object of the present research was to establish, as far as practicable, the current state of the art in these areas, to set a performance baseline. The next step was to develop an improved transmitter modulation scheme that would not only be able to take advantage of any existing peak reduction methods but would transmit a signal that would be compatible with existing OFDM receivers. A novel modulation technique is now presented, termed Quadrature Phase-Time Modulation (QPTM), that has been found to meet the requirements for linearity, simplicity and low cost, whilst being able to take advantage of constant-envelope PA technology, with its attendant power efficiency. After final amplification, the signal is restored by a passive narrow-band filter to standard OFDM form, having both phase and amplitude modulation. The QPTM system of modulation relies on a dual baseband pulse-width modulation process, performed at a substantially-higher rate than the upper baseband frequency, followed by direct quadrature modulation of a carrier signal. The work undertaken has been in the nature of a feasibility study, commencing with the theoretical basis of the technique, from which a behavioural system model was designed and simulated. After the system was simulated successfully, in several forms, a model was designed for realisation with available high-frequency integrated circuits. From this design, prototypes were constructed and tested. The prototype circuit boards also included an experimental UHF Class-D PA circuit, excluding the output filter, to facilitate ongoing development of the PA and filter subsystem as a separate project. This type of PA was seen as a potential complement to the QPTM modulator, although the technology was at an early stage of development. The prototype PA has a novel push-pull arrangement of GaAs FETs that employs a broadside-coupled tapered-stripline balun instead of the usual transformer. Preliminary measurements were made on the PA using both a spectrum analyser and a newly-available 8GHz-bandwidth digital oscilloscope to confirm basic operating characteristics. The performance of the QPTM technique at frequencies needed for broadband operation is dependent on its practical implementation, which has therefore been a major focus. The inherent difficulties in realising a highly-linear 40MHz triangle-wave reference generator, with a precise ultra-high-speed comparator and modulator system, have been overcome with the chosen design techniques and attention to several critical aspects. The result has been the successful demonstration of QPTM as an efficient PA modulation technique that is equally applicable to either narrow-band, high-capacity UHF or broadband OFDM microwave systems.

Classical homological algebra is done in a category of modules beginning with the study of projective and injective modules. This dissertation investigates analogous notions of projectivity and injectivity in a category of filtered modules. This category is similar to one studied by Sjödin, Nǎstǎsescu, and Van Oystaeyen. In particular, projective and injective objects with respect to the restricted class of strict morphisms are defined and characterized. Additionally, an analogue to the injective envelope is discussed with examples showing how this differs from the usual notion of an injective envelope.

In this master’s thesis we study how Model Predictive Control (MPC) can be fitted into an existing control system to handle state constraints. We suggest the use of reference governing based on the predictive control methodology. The platform for the survey is Saabs unmanned helicopter Skeldar. We develop and investigate different Reference Governor(RG) formulations that can be used together with the already existing stabilizing control system. These different setups show various features regarding model predictive control. One setup is complemented with a pre-filter to prevent aggressive actuator control in response to set-point changes, while the other is developed to handle this in the MPC framework. We also show that one of these RGs can be extended to guarantee stability and convergence. Implementation and real time requirements are also considered in this thesis. For this two different QP-solvers have been used for online solving of the optimization problem that arises from the MPC formulations. For evaluation and analysis the solutions are implemented in an advanced simulation environment developed at Saab and in a hardware-in-the-loop avionics test rig for the Skeldar system.

As energy prices skyrocket and the environmental issues become more frequently debated, interest in energy-efficient buildings has increased sharply in the past decade. Because of this, the interest to achieve high air tightness in building envelopes have once again awakened, due to a good air tightness contributes to lower energy consumption in several ways and to a healthier indoor environment. As the regulations for energy consumption and controls of achieved air tightness has tightened considerably in recent years, the work regarding sheets for air tightness changed significantly for construction contractors. This thesis includes a study that aims to detect what kind of manuals, recommendations or instructions contractors working according, and how a number of randomly selected construction companies in Halland, Sweden, are dealing with the matter of high air tightness of the building envelopes. The study also includes a knowledge inventory of supervisors, site managers and skilled workers, and what their opinions and attitudes are like towards work regarding the sheets of air tightness. The results have been compared with a similar survey dated to 2004, conducted by the SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden in collaboration with Chalmers University of Technology. The thesis provides a picture of the industry situation, but shouldn’t be seen as a statistical result due to its limited extent.