The aim of this work was to analyze the influence of the body frame of dairy Czech fleckvieh cattle on the birth weight of calves. It contains breeding of dairy cattle in the world, production and consumption of milk in the world and in the European Union, description of the breed Czech fleckvieh, linear description and reproduction of cattle. For this purpose were measured and weighted 123 dairy cows and 139 calves. The measurement took place during one calendar year from December 2017 to November 2018 (12 months). These parameters were measured in dairy cows: by using a measuring stick was measured hight at cross (in cm), hip widht (in cm), rump lenght (in cm), body depth (in cm); by using an animeter (tape measure for watching the weight increase in cattle) was measured the body circumference (in cm). In calves were recorded birth weight (in kg), hight at cross (in cm), oblique lenght of the body (in cm), the sex and type of the cattle births (1, 2, 3). It can be stated that a very prominent effect of the body frame of dairy cows on the birth weight of calves was found (p < 0,01). The results show that calves from dairy cows with the largest body frame (146 ≤ cm), respectively with the smallest body frame (≤ 135 cm) had the greatest average birth weight (42.6 kg, respectively 42.8 kg,) and the greatest height in the cross (79.2 cm, respectively 80.6 cm). The significant effect on the birth weight of calves had body weight of dairy cows (p < 0,05). The results show that calves from dairy cows with a weight ≤ 649 kg, respectively with a weight of 951 ≤ kg had an greatest average birth weight (43.8 kg, respectively 43.1 kg). Also there was a significant effect of multiple births on the birth weight of calves, where twin calves had an average birth weight 33.1 kg, while calves from single births had an average birth weight 42.4 kg. The influence of the sex of calves and the influence of the order of lactation on the birth weight of calves were statistically inconclusive.

Distansarbete har berört många under Covid-19-pandemin. Sedan början av pandemin har företag och organisationer tvingats fortsätta sin verksamhet under nya former. De flesta arbetsplatser har på ett eller annat sätt fått ställa om helt eller delvis till distansarbete, från att tidigare ha utfört verksamheten i en kontorsmiljö. I denna studie undersöks denna omställning genom att identifiera hur arbetstagare upplever det förändrade arbetssättet utifrån olika perspektiv. Studien avgränsas till perspektiven om kommunikation och arbetsstyrning. Data samlades in från intervjuer av anställda på ett antal olika verksamheter.  Studiens resultat visar att då saker och ting fått ställas på sin spets har personers omställnings- och förändringsförmåga visat sig. Kommunikationssätt, kommmunikationsvägar och behovet av tydlighet har förändrats och en annan typ av sätt att planera har växt fram. Den hastiga övergången till distansarbete har medfört flera utmaningar varav vissa visat sig svåra att övervinna. Den har dock också medfört vissa vinster, i form av ökad frihet att planera, som arbetstagare tycks värdesätta starkt. Slutsatsen av studien är att omställningen kräver stora anpassningar av verksamheter men också att det kan finnas vissa vinster med att till viss del behålla arbetsformen även framöver.

Telesurgery relies on fast and reliable data transmission between the surgeon and tele-operator side over lossy and delay constrained networks. Medical data involves audio, video, ECG and Force Feedback data. When these media streams are transmitted through best effort networks, the temporal information gets affected due to network constraints. Major network degradation is due to the Force Feedback device with rendering rate of 1 KHz, hence data is generated every millisecond. In our proposal we concentrate on improving the synchronization of force feedback device on varying networking conditions. Force feedback data is generated by operating a source (surgical) device which controls the movement of remote device. It has a great potential in improving telemedicine facilities, when included with the support of different multimedia services. The channel imposes delay and packet loss constraints for such devices which require unique solutions, unlike audio or video media, due to its high rendering rate. Current research supports Force Feedback in fiber optic communication, packet switched networks. However, such schemes are not feasible in supporting surgical telepresence system. While efforts are made to support force feedback media in wireless medium, few works have addressed delay synchronization and loss of data. There exists no previous work which has attempted to provide an efficient integrated solution where video and force feedback information have been supported by the same network. This thesis focuses in providing an integrated architecture that supports the force feedback data over a collaborative network and improves the data synchronization and packet loss prediction in the remote side over a varying network link. The goal will be to evaluate the support of such data types. We have implemented a Linear Packet Predictor Algorithm which predicts the missing packet value. Data generated from the source device are sent as UDP packets. UDP transmission is unreliable and hence we use an RTP over UDP to make it reliable. Each packet will have the current position of the device and force applied. We use a Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback joystick. The handle of the joystick is located at the center of the base. So we record the position of the device on both positive and negative axis moving in a two dimensional space. This device provides rotational movement and hence drastic change in position occurs within milliseconds. Once the packet arrives at the receiver side, the control unit checks for the sequence number of the packet. If continuity is missing then, the control unit passes the packet to the predictor algorithm which predicts the packet else it directly updates the packet to the Virtual Time Rendering Algorithm Another major issue is the delay jitter. On the source (server) side the intra time difference between two packets will be 1msec. But due to varying delay in the network the data packets arrive at the receiver with fluctuating intra time difference. In order to counter the delay jitter effect, we implement the Virtual Time Rendering algorithm which reads the time stamp value at which the packet was generated at the source and modifies the update time at the receiver side. In our work we do not control another device on the remote side, rather an applet which was developed using a Virtual Reality Markup Language in Matlab. Another challenge which is imposed when other multimedia is introduced with force feedback is the intra media synchronization. Real time video is captured from the applet side and given as feedback to the server side to improve the interactivity of the application. At every instant in time, different multimedia data produce data to be updated at the remote end. Since all the information are inter dependent with other media in time, efficient intra media synchronization is required. This thesis also focuses in providing an architecture which not only supports force feedback data but have a multiplexed model which allows an efficient transmission of all surgical information in real time. Each data occupies significant part of bandwidth in the network and the effect of multiplexing might affect the synchronization scheme of the force feedback device. Our architecture supports the efficient transmission of all types of multimedia information and also maintain the synchronization of the scheme. This method is unique with its methodical approach to support different multimedia information.

No description available.

The United States Army has moved into the 21st century with the intent of redesigning not only the force structure but also the methods by which we will fight and win our nation's wars. Fundamental in this restructuring is the development of the Future Combat Systems (FCS). In an effort to minimize exposure of front line soldiers the future Army will utilize unmanned assets for both information gathering and when necessary engagements. Yet this must be done judiciously, as the bandwidth for net-centric warfare is limited. The implication is that the FCS must be designed to leverage bandwidth in a manner that does not overtax computational resources. In this study alternatives for improving human performance during operation of teleoperated and semi-autonomous robots were examined. It was predicted that when operating both types of robots, frame delay of the semi-autonomous robot would improve performance because it would allow operators to concentrate on the constant workload imposed by the teleoperated while only allocating resources to the semi-autonomous during critical tasks. An additional prediction was that operators with high spatial ability would perform better than those with low spatial ability, especially when operating an aerial vehicle. The results can not confirm that frame delay has a positive effect on operator performance, though power may have been an issue, but clearly show that spatial ability is a strong predictor of performance on robotic asset control, particularly with aerial vehicles. In operating the UAV, the high spatial group was, on average, 30% faster, lazed 12% more targets, and made 43% more location reports than the low spatial group. The implications of this study indicate that system design should judiciously manage workload and capitalize on individual ability to improve performance and are relevant to system designers, especially in the military community.

There is a growing population of individuals using Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) in need of evidence-based intervention from highly qualified personnel. However, not all speech pathology programs offer AAC coursework and/or practicum opportunities, and practicing speech-language pathologists (SLPs) report low levels of confidence and expertise in working with individuals using AAC. Therefore, there is a need to develop more innovative pre-professional training programs to better equip the next generation of SLPs with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide high-quality, evidence-based AAC interventions. Telepractice is emerging as an inventive way to provide both direct and indirect intervention services, and could theoretically be used to support pre-professional training by providing clinicians the opportunity to engage in direct services with individuals using AAC concurrently while receiving supervision from a skilled mentor. A thorough review of the literature revealed limited information and data regarding tele-AAC for direct and indirect service delivery. This investigation examined the feasibility and effectiveness of utilizing telepractice to train pre-professional clinicians regarding AAC interventions while in the context of service delivery both on-site and via telepractice. A single-subject, multiple baseline design was employed to examine the impact of real-time supervisory guidance offered via telepractice to pre-professional clinicians (Active Consultation) on the performance of the clinicians and the clients in each service delivery condition. Data was gathered on the number of target language acts modeled by the clinicians and generated by the clients when Active Consultation was provided. The results supported the use of telepractice for supervision, and as a service delivery method for AAC users.

This study examines the phenomena of (tele)presence in the distinct mediated environment of an online Christian worship service. A quantitative field experiment involving 48 participants who had just viewed a religious Internet broadcast was undertaken. Individual differences in personality and religiosity are examined in tandem with (tele)presence as predictors of a number of outcome variables, including memory, enjoyment of the online worship service and behavioral intention to be more active with the church. The results showed no significant relationship between religiosity and the experience of (tele)presence, but that users who experienced greater (tele)presence enjoyed the service more, had a greater ability to recognize information from the service, and had a greater intention to attend in the future. The implications for online worship services, along with the limitations of this study, are discussed.

No / The degree of insecurity occasioned by fraudulent practices in Nigeria has been of great concern economically, especially as it relates to overseas transactions. This paper was designed to mitigate this problem for Nigeria and countries with similar dispositions. Based on a survey involving field trip to Nigeria, the paper examines the general security situation in Nigeria and its mutual impacts with computerisation, miniaturisation and Location-Based Authentication (LBA). It was discovered that both computerisation and miniaturisation had some negative effects on cybersecurity, as these were being exploited by fraudsters, especially using ‘advance fee fraud;’ popularly called 419. As a countermeasure, the research examined the possibility of using LBA and further digitisation of the GSM Mobile country codes down to City/Area codes along with GSM Mobile/Global Positioning System (GPS) authentications. Where necessary, these could be combined with the use of a web-based Secret Sharing Scheme for services with very high security demands. The anticipated challenges were also examined and considered to be of negligible impacts; especially roaming. / Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF)

Yes / The state of insecurity occasioned by fraudulent practices in Africa has been of concern economically, both at home and abroad. In this paper, we propose ways to mitigate this problem, using Nigeria as a case study. Based on surveys in West Africa, the paper examines the security situation in the continent and its mutual impacts with computerisation, miniaturisation and Location-Based Authentication (LBA). It was discovered that computerisation and miniaturisation had negative effects on cyber-security, as these were being exploited by fraudsters, using advance fee fraud; called 419. As a countermeasure, the paper examines the possibility of using LBA and digitisation of the GSM Mobile country codes down to city/area codes along with GSM/GPS authentications. These could also be combined with the use of a web-based Secret Sharing Scheme for services with very high security demands. The challenges of roaming were also examined and considered to be of negligible impact. / Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF)

The focus of this dissertation is to improve autonomous navigation in unstructured terrain conditions, with specific application to unmanned casualty extraction in disaster scenarios. Robotic systems are being widely employed for search and rescue applications, especially in disaster scenarios. But a majority of these are focused solely on the search aspect of the problem. This dissertation proposes a conceptual design of a Semi-Autonomous Victim Extraction Robot (SAVER) capable of safe and effective unmanned casualty extraction, thereby reducing the risk to the lives of first responders. In addition, the proposed design addresses the limitations of existing state-of-the-art rescue robots specifically in the aspect of head and neck stabilization as well as fast and safe evacuation. One of the primary capabilities needed for effective casualty extraction is reliable navigation in unstructured terrain conditions. Autonomous navigation in unstructured terrain, particularly for systems with tracked locomotion mode involves unique challenges in path planning and trajectory tracking. The dynamics of robot-terrain interaction, along with additional factors such as slip experienced by the vehicle, slope of the terrain, and actuator limitations of the robotic system, need to be taken into consideration. To realize these capabilities, this dissertation proposes a hybrid navigation architecture that employs a physics engine to perform fast and accurate state expansion inside a graph-based planner. Tracked skid-steer systems experience significant slip, especially while turning. This greatly affects the trajectory tracking accuracy of the robot. In order to enable efficient trajectory tracking in varying terrain conditions, this dissertation proposes the use of an active disturbance rejection controller. The proposed controller is capable of estimating and counter acting the effects of slip in real-time to improve trajectory tracking. As an extension of the above application, this dissertation also proposes the use of support vector machine architecture to perform terrain identification, solely based on the estimated slip parameters. Combining all of the above techniques, an overall architecture is proposed to assist and inform tele-operation of tracked robotic systems in unstructured terrain conditions. All of the above proposed techniques have been validated through simulations and experiments in indoor and simple outdoor terrain conditions. / Doctor of Philosophy / This dissertation explores ways to improve autonomous navigation in unstructured terrain conditions, with specific applications to unmanned casualty extraction in disaster scenarios. Search and rescue applications often put the lives of first responders at risk. Using robotic systems for human rescue in disaster scenarios can keep first responders out of danger. To enable safe robotic casualty extraction, this dissertation proposes a novel rescue robot design concept named SAVER. The proposed design concept consists of several subsystems including a declining stretcher bed, head and neck support system, and robotic arms that conceptually enable safe casualty manipulation and extraction based on high-level commands issued by a remote operator. In order to enable autonomous navigation of the proposed conceptual system in challenging outdoor terrain conditions, this dissertation proposes improvements in planning, trajectory tracking control and terrain estimation. The proposed techniques are able to take into account the dynamic effects of robot-terrain interaction including slip experienced by the vehicle, slope of the terrain and actuator limitations. The proposed techniques have been validated through simulations and experiments in indoor and simple outdoor terrain conditions. The applicability of the above techniques in improving tele-operation of rescue robotic systems in unstructured terrain is also discussed at the end of this dissertation.