A review of smart homes- present state and future challenges

In the era of information technology, the elderly and disabled can be monitored with numerous intelligent devices. Sensors can be implanted into their home for continuous mobility assistance and non-obtrusive disease prevention. Modern sensor-embedded houses, or smart houses, cannot only assist people with reduced physical functions but help resolve the social isolation they face. They are capable of providing assistance without limiting or disturbing the resident's daily routine, giving him or her greater comfort, pleasure, and well-being. This article presents an international selection of leading smart home projects, as well as the associated technologies of wearable/implantable monitoring systems and assistive robotics. The latter are often designed as components of the larger smart home environment. The paper will conclude by discussing future challenges of the domain.     

非理想功率控制和多用户检测在WCDMA高空平台通信系统中的联合应用

高空平台(HAPS)通信系统是近年来正处于先期研究的新型信息系统。理论分析了非理想功率控制和多用户检测(MUD)对HAPS通信系统上行链路的影响,分析这两种技术的工作原理,探讨在WCDMA应用中结合使用两种技术的可行性和方法。     

Lot streaming for product assembly in job shop environment

Assembly job shop scheduling problem (AJSP) is an extension of classical job shop scheduling problem (JSP). AJSP starts with JSP and appends an assembly stage to the completed jobs. Lot streaming (LS) technique is a process of splitting jobs into smaller sub-jobs such that successive operations can be overlapped. This paper combines, for the first time, LS and AJSP, extending LS applicability to both machining and assembly. To solve this complex problem, an efficient algorithm is proposed using genetic algorithms and simple dispatching rules. Experimental results suggest that equal size LS outperforms varied size LS with respect to the objective function.     

Social network,social trust and shared goals in organizational knowledge sharing

The aim of our study was to further develop an understanding of social capital in organizational-knowledge-sharing. We first developed a measurement tool and then a theoretical framework in which three social capital factors (social network, social trust, and shared goals) were combined with the theory of reasoned action; their relationships were then examined using confirmatory factoring analysis. We then surveyed of 190 managers from Hong Kong firms, we confirm that a social network and shared goals significantly contributed to a person's volition to share knowledge, and directly contributed to the perceived social pressure of the organization. The social trust has however showed no direct effect on the attitude and subjective norm of sharing knowledge.     

基于软件接收机的GPS信号快速捕获算法

针对GPS信号C/A码的捕获,利用多项式拟合估计多普勒频率偏移值,减少了频率搜索范围;将直接求相关值和利用FFT/IFFT变换的算法相结合,用于确定C/A码相位。且在信号处理上利用抽取避免重复采样。仿真结果表明,该算法在同等的定位精度要求下,降低了计算复杂度,提高了C/A码的捕获速度。     

基于多Agent网格资源调度的负载均衡研究

介绍了一种基于多Agent的网格资源调度方法,并提出了一种负载均衡算法设计思想,以改善网格环境中资源分配不均的问题.     

Dynamic Routing with Security Considerations

Security has become one of the major issues for data communication over wired and wireless networks. Different from the past work on the designs of cryptography algorithms and system infrastructures, we aim at the proposing of a dynamic routing algorithm that could randomize delivery paths for data transmission. The algorithm is easy to implement and compatible with popular routing protocols, such as Routing Information Protocol in wired networks and Destination-Sequenced Distance Vector protocol in wireless networks, without introducing extra control messages. An analytic study on the proposed algorithm is presented, and a series of simulation experiments are conducted to verify the analytic results and to show the capability of the proposed algorithm.     

A Randomized Algorithm for Online Unit Clustering

In this paper, we consider the online version of the following problem: partition a set of input points into subsets, each enclosable by a unit ball, so as to minimize the number of subsets used. In the one-dimensional case, we show that surprisingly the naïve upper bound of 2 on the competitive ratio can be beaten: we present a new randomized 15/8-competitive online algorithm. We also provide some lower bounds and an extension to higher dimensions.     

Preparation and characterization of nanoporous polyimide films from triblock copolyimides

Nanoporous polyimide films were prepared from triblock copolyimides. A thermally labile polymer, poly(propylene glycol), was incorporated into polyimides based on 4,4-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphthalic anhydride to obtain triblock copolyimides. Nanofoams were formed by thermolysis of the labile block. The thermal properties of the copolymers were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The nanopores were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).     

Health of female shiftworkers in Singapore

More than 200,000 persons in Singapore work shifts. Over half of these shiftworkers are females. With the continued emphasis on capital-intensive industries and growing demand for "round-the-clock" services, shiftwork is increasingly an economic necessity for more and more industries and a way of life for many Singaporeans. It is generally accepted that about 20% of those who start shiftwork may find it difficult to continue in such work, usually for social rather than medical reasons. For those who continue on shiftwork, concerns have been raised regarding possible health effects, such as increased incidence of digestive disorders and ulcers, chronic fatigue and cardiovascular disorders. In the case of female shiftworkers, there is also the concern that the added responsibilities of looking after the home and young children may further aggravate sleep problems associated with shiftwork, thus adversely affecting their health. So far, our own studies of female electronics workers on 8-hour as well as 12-hour shift schedules indicate no serious long-term health effects. The study subjects had been employed in such work for at least over a year, some as long as 17 years and 6 years, respectively. Except for complaints of sleep problems and tiredness among some rotating shiftworkers, no significant differences in symptom prevalence, blood pressure or sickness absence were found between the shift and day workers. While the findings are reassuring, further studies may be needed to determine if preventive measures can be taken to minimise the common complaints of sleep problems and tiredness, particularly among rotating shiftworkers.