Artificial intelligence and networking in integrated building management systems

In recent years the emphasis has moved towards integrating all a building's systems via centralised building management systems (BMS). To provide a more intelligent approach to the facility management, safety and energy control in building management systems (IBMS), this paper proposes a methodology for integrating the data within a BMS via a single multi-media networking technology and providing the BMS with artificial intelligence (AI) through the use of knowledge-based systems (KBS) technology. By means of artificial intelligence, the system is capable of assessing, diagnosing and suggesting the best solution. This paper outlines how AI techniques can enhance the control of HVAC systems for occupant comfort and efficient running costs based on occupancy prediction. Also load control and load balancing are investigated. Instead of just using pre-programmed load priorities, this work has investigated the use of a dynamic system of priorities which are based on many factors such as area usage, occupancy, time of day and real time environmental conditions. This control strategy which is based on a set of rules running on the central control system, makes use of information gathered from outstations throughout the building and communicated via the building's data-bus.     

Trace element changes in hair during pregnancy: preliminary study

Using neutrons activation analysis, the changes in concentrations of Cu, Zn and Mn in hair during pregnancy are studied. Scalp and pubic hair samples from both non-pregnant and pregnant female subjects were analysed. The results of this preliminary study are presented. Cu, Zn and Mn levels in scalp hair obtained from pregnant subjects were not significantly different from those of non-pregnant subjects. However, pubic hair samples obtained from subjects in the ninth month of pregnancy showed significantly lower Zn levels whereas Cu and Mn levels remained normal. Studies on two subjects in the last trimester showed a steady fall in Cu and Zn levels in pubic hair with advancement of pregnancy; Mn level did not, however, show any change. The reliability of analysis was checked using standard reference materials, such as Bovine Liver and Orchard Leaves (U.S. NBS).     

Effect of in-line electron beam treatment on the electrical performance of Cu/organic low-k damascene interconnects

The interface quality and reliability issues have shown significant importance in Cu/organic low-k damascene integration. In this letter, a post-etch in-line electron beam (E-beam) treatment was used to modify the interface properties of sidewall barrier/organic low-k dielectric without impairing either the film properties or the dielectric constant. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis indicated that oxygen content at the low-k surface, which mostly came from oxygen/moisture intake from ambient during process, was eliminated by E-beam exposure and subsequent rapid thermal annealing. As a result, Cu/organic low-k interconnects exhibited a lower line-to-line leakage current and a higher breakdown strength. The interconnect structures, after this in-line E-beam treatment process, also showed a good reliability performance against thermal stress, with good leakage current characteristics after a 500-h burn-in at 200/spl deg/C.     

New Research on AC–AC Converters without Intermediate Storage and Their Applications in Power-Electronic Transformers and AC Drives

AC-AC converters (e.g. matrix converters) are mostly semiconductor solutions for applications where intermediate energy storage is eliminated. This paper summarizes the research done and being carried out at the University of Minnesota for applications in motor drives and power-electronic transformers with advanced features. This paper presents a carrier-based modulation method for matrix converters and its application during for both input unbalance and output over-modulation. Various topologies of matrix converter are described for both drives and power-electronic transformers. These topologies have some inherent benefits like common-mode voltage elimination across the bearings of the motor/generator and controllable power factor at the input side. Some of the described technologies require open-ended machines as load and thereby some advantages like enhanced output voltage (1.5 times the output of normal three terminal load) are achieved. Copyright © 2009 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Regeneration and reuse of magnesium oxide (MgO) nanocrystallites

The study focuses on regeneration and reuse of in-house synthesized MgO nanocrystallites used as an adsorbent for the removal of Acid Orange 7 dye from wastewater. The dye-adsorbed MgO were regenerated by two major steps: drying and combustion. The used MgO were dried at room temperature of 35°C ± 5°C, at an optimized time of 8–10 h time and the dried MgO were combusted at an optimized temperature of 500°C in muffle furnace for 25 min. The regeneration and reuse of MgO could be effectively carried out for five adsorption-combustion cycles. In every cycle of regeneration, 8–10% by weight of MgO was lost. The X-ray diffraction analysis showed the phase purity and the calculated crystallite size of synthesized, first, second, third, fourth and fifth regenerated MgO were noted as 21.67, 21.67, 21.67, 24.74, 24.74 and 24.74 nm, respectively. The scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that agglomeration of regenerated MgO particles increased with the increase in number of adsorption-combustion cycles.     

Effect of induced shape anisotropy on magnetic properties of ferromagnetic cobalt nanocubes

We report on the synthesis of ferromagnetic cobalt nanocubes of various sizes using thermal pyrolysis method and the effect of shape anisotropy on the static and dynamic magnetic properties were studied. Shape anisotropy of approximately 10% was introduced in nanocubes by making nanodiscs using a linear chain amine surfactant during synthesis process. It has been observed that, ferromagnetism persisted above room temperature and a sharp drop in magnetic moment at low temperatures in zero-field cooled magnetization may be associated with the spin disorder due to the effective anisotropy present in the system. Dynamic magnetic properties were studied using RF transverse susceptibility measurements at different temperatures and the singularities due to anisotropy fields were probed at low temperatures. Symmetrically located broad peaks are observed in the frozen state at the effective anisotropy fields and the peak structure is strongly affected by shape anisotropy and temperature. Irrespective of size the shape anisotropy gave rise to higher coercive fields and larger transverse susceptibility ratio at all temperatures. The role of shape anisotropy and the size of the particles on the observed magnetic behaviour were discussed.     

Pictures and words: Spanish and English vocabulary in classrooms.

The current study evaluated the relation between Spanish and English vocabulary. Whereas previously reported correlations have revealed strong differences among types of vocabulary measures used and the ages of the students tested, no prior study had used a multilevel model to control for classroom-level differences. The current study used multiple measures of vocabulary—picture vocabulary and narrative production tasks—in multilevel models of 1,300 Spanish-speaking students in 247 kindergarten and 1st-grade classrooms in English immersion and bilingual transitional programs. The current results highlight the need to separate classroom effects from student effects, since for vocabulary measures, student-level correlations were strongly biased toward zero when classroom-level correlations were opposite in direction from student-level correlations. Most important, the current results support a strong distinction between types of vocabulary measure (e.g., picture vs. narrative) and suggest sizable influence of instruction for questions of bilingual performance. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)