The MORPHEUS Heterogeneous Dynamically Reconfigurable Platform

Reconfigurable computing offers a wide range of low cost and efficient solutions for embedded systems. The proper choice of the reconfigurable device, the granularity of its processing elements and its memory architecture highly depend on the type of application and their data flow. Existing solutions either offer fine grain FPGAs, which rely on a hardware synthesis flow and offer the maximum degree of flexibility, or coarser grain solutions, which are usually more suitable for a particular type of data flow and applications. In this paper, we present the MORPHEUS architecture, a versatile reconfigurable heterogeneous System-on-Chip targeting streaming applications. The presented architecture exploits different reconfigurable technologies at several computation granularities that efficiently address the different applications needs. In order to efficiently exploit the presented architecture, we implemented a complete software solution to map C applications to the reconfigurable architecture. In this paper, we describe the complete toolset and provide concrete use cases of the architecture.     

Nonlinear ceramics for tunable microwave devices

The research on materials and systems for tunable microwave devices has gained attraction within the last years. The radio frequency characterization and the component design of tunable microwave components based on dielectric ceramics especially barium-strontium-titanate (BST) are presented in this second part, whereas the basic material properties are discussed in detail in the first part. After a short introduction to the processing technology used for the fabrication of tunable components based on a BST thick film, the relations between microwave properties and material properties as well as the microstructure are presented in detail. The design process for tunable microwave components based on BST thick films is described. Especially the considerations related to micro- and macrostructure and their connection are highlighted. The paper closes with two different application examples: a reconfigurable array antenna for satellite communication and varactors for high power applications.     

Nanoparticles in polymer-matrix composites

Regarding the development of nanoparticles for polymer matrix composites the particle/agglomerate size and particle/agglomerate distribution in the composites, respectively, is often crucial. This is exemplarily shown for, e.g. optical applications with measurements of refractive index and transmittance. Classical blending techniques, where nanoparticles are dispersed in polymers or resins, are compared to a combination of a special gas-phase synthesis method with subsequent in-situ deposition of nanoparticles in high-boiling liquids. The particles/agglomerates were characterized regarding particle size and particle size distribution using transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. Additionally, important material properties like mechanical properties, relevant for application, or like viscosity, relevant for processing, are determined. It is shown, that with in-situ dispersed nanoparticles synthesized in a microwave plasma process composites with finely dispersed particles/agglomerates are attainable.     

An unfitted hp-adaptive finite element method based on hierarchical B-splines for interface problems of complex geometry

Generating finite element discretizations with direct interface parameterizations constitutes a considerable computational expense in case of complex interface geometries. The paper at hand introduces a B-spline finite element method, which circumvents parameterization of interfaces and offers fast and easy meshing irrespective of the geometric complexity involved. Its core idea is the adaptive approximation of discontinuities by hierarchical grid refinement, which adds several levels of local basis functions in the close vicinity of interfaces, but unfitted to their exact location, so that a simple regular grid of knot span elements can be maintained. Numerical experiments show that an hp-refinement strategy, which simultaneously increases the polynomial degree of the B-spline basis and the levels of refinement around interfaces, achieves exponential rates of convergence despite the presence of discontinuities. It is also demonstrated that the hierarchical B-spline FEM can be used to transfer the recently introduced Finite Cell concept to geometrically nonlinear problems. Its computational performance, imposition of unfitted boundary conditions and fast hierarchical grid generation are illustrated for a set of benchmark problems in one, two and three dimensions, and the advantages of the regular grid approach for complex geometries are demonstrated by the geometrically nonlinear simulation of a voxel based foam composite.     

Efficient Sequence Alignment with Side-Constraints by Cluster Tree Elimination

Aligning DNA and protein sequences is a core technique in molecular biology. Often, it is desirable to include partial prior knowledge and conditions in an alignment. Going beyond prior work, we aim at the integration of such side constraints in free combination into alignment algorithms. The most common and successful technique for efficient alignment algorithms is dynamic programming (DP). However, a weakness of DP is that one cannot include additional constraints without specifically tailoring a new DP algorithm. Here, we discuss a declarative approach that is based on constraint techniques and show how it can be extended by formulating additional knowledge as constraints. We take special care to obtain the efficiency of DP for sequence alignment. This is achieved by careful modeling and applying proper solving strategies. Finally, we apply our method to the scanning for RNA motifs in large sequences. This case study demonstrates how the new approach can be used in real biological problems. A prototypic implementation of the method is available at .     

Quantification of the size-dependent energy gap of individual CdSe quantum dots by valence electron energy-loss spectroscopy

Valence electron energy-loss spectroscopy (VEELS) performed in a monochromated scanning transmission electron microscope was used to measure the energy gaps of individual quantum dots (QDs). The gap energies of a series of CdSe QDs measured by VEELS reveal the expected quantum confinement effect; the gap energy increases with decreasing particle size. However, the values derived from these first VEELS measurements of single QDs are larger than the values commonly measured by optical spectroscopy. As standard optical methods lack the spatial resolution to probe individual nanoparticles, the particle-size distribution influences the optical response. It is suggested that the impact of the particle-size distribution accounts for the discrepancy between the energy-gap values derived from VEELS of single QDs and from optical methods of ensembles of QDs.     

Muscular capabilities and workload of flight attendants for pushing and pulling trolleys aboard aircraft

Increasingly in the recent years, passengers’ services are extended into the ascent and descent flight phases on short distance flights. Trolleys containing the required meal and beverage items are used for these service operations and pushed or pulled along the aisles of the aircraft. Flight attendants reported about increased musculo-skeletal disorders and had been complaining about high physical workload from handling trolleys. In order to ensure acceptable load levels for pushing or pulling operations of trolleys, the physical capabilities of the collective “flight attendants” had been investigated by means of force measurements at maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) level and associated relevant anthropometrical and biometrical data. CEN and ISO standards as well as international and national German methods were used to derive recommended force limits for pushing/pulling operations with respect to the physical capabilities of the target group “flight attendants”. Comparing these recommended limits with the force requirements per shift under various conditions of trolley handlings (inclination of the floor, type and weight of trolley, mode of handling, frequency of operation) showed that especially for higher floor inclinations and trolley weights, flight attendants work (substantially) above recommended limits. It became also apparent that the handling of half-size trolleys is unexpectedly high demanding due to high vertical force components, caused by the unfavorable location of their center of gravity.

Relevance to industry

On short-distance flights, passengers’ services are performed by means of trolleys from the ascent to the descent flight phases. Flight attendants had been complaining about high physical workload. This study offers recommendations on maximum force limits for the handling of trolleys with respect to the muscular capacities and work situations of flight attendants on short-distance flights.     

Physical workload of flight attendants when pushing and pulling trolleys aboard aircraft

The musculoskeletal loads from moving trolleys aboard aircraft were assessed by observation of trolley handling on planes and by physical workload analyses of pushing and pulling of trolleys in a laboratory set up. Trolley handling by a total of 15 female flight attendants was observed on 10 short- and medium-distance flights in different types of aircraft. About 25 selected flight attendants (22 females; 3 males) of five German airlines took part in the laboratory study, which comprised three-dimensional (3D) measurements of posture and hand forces during pushing and pulling of trolleys in a variety of configurations. From the on-flight observations performed, between 150 and 250 trolley movements can be projected for a work shift. The greatest physical workload is to be expected at the beginning of service: The trolleys are fully laden then, and the cabin floor can still be inclined up to 8°, as the aircraft is still climbing, particularly on short-distance flights. The laboratory investigation revealed that the musculoskeletal workload from pushing and pulling depends essentially on the trolley load and on the gradient of the cabin floor. In addition, the degree of stressing depends significantly on the trolley type, mode of handling and personal dexterity. The up/down force component perpendicular to the direction of motion often achieved considerable amplitudes-in some cases equal to or exceeding the force in the direction of movement. The posture analysis demonstrated that pulling forced the flight attendants to adopt ergonomically unfavourable postures such as pronounced flexion of the back, particularly among female subjects. The highest values for flexion of the back occurred while pulling the half-size trolley. The results demonstrate that female flight attendants are likely to overload themselves if they frequently have to move heavily laden trolleys unaided on an inclined cabin floor.

Relevance to industry

On short distance flights, flight attendants have been complaining increasingly of high physical workload from manoeuvring trolleys. On the basis of the presented data airline companies may improve the trolley handling skills of their flight attendances by practical trainings and may ergonomically optimize the general service procedures aboard aircrafts.