Academic literature on the topic 'Array theory'

Using a fast 2-D inverse solution, we examined the resolution of different resistivity/IP arrays using noisy synthetic data subject to minimum structure inversion. We compared estimated models from inversions of data from the dipole‐dipole, pole‐dipole, and pole‐pole arrays over (1) a dipping, polarizable conductor, (2) two proximate conductive, polarizable bodies, (3) a polarizable conductor beneath conductive overburden, and (4) a thin, resistive, polarizable dike. The estimated resistivity and polarizability models obtained from inversion of the dipole‐dipole data were usually similar to the pole‐dipole estimated models. In the cases examined, the estimated models from the pole‐pole data were more poorly resolved than the models from the other arrays. If pole‐pole resistivity data contain even a fraction of a percent of Gaussian noise, the transformation of such data through superposition to equivalent data of other array types may be considerably distorted, and significant information can be lost using the pole‐pole array. Though the gradient array is reputed to be more sensitive to dip than other arrays, it evidently contains little information on dip that does not also appear in dipole‐dipole data, for joint inversion of dipole‐dipole and gradient array data yields models virtually identical to those obtained from inversion of dipole‐dipole data alone.

Phased array radar systems have a wide variety of applications in engineering and physics research. Phased array design usually requires numerical modeling with expensive commercial computational packages. Using the open-source MIT Electrogmagnetic Equation Propagation (MEEP) package, a set of phased array designs is presented. Specifically, one and two-dimensional arrays of Yagi-Uda and horn antennas were modeled in the bandwidth [0.1–5] GHz, and compared to theoretical expectations in the far-field. Precise matches between MEEP simulation and radiation pattern predictions at different frequencies and beam angles are demonstrated. Given that the computations match the theory, the effect of embedding a phased array within a medium of varying index of refraction is then computed. Understanding the effect of varying index on phased arrays is critical for proposed ultra-high energy neutrino observatories which rely on phased array detectors embedded in natural ice. Future work will develop the phased array concepts with parallel MEEP, in order to increase the detail, complexity, and speed of the computations.

An ultrasonic phased array consists of multiple ultrasonic probes arranged in a certain regular order, and the delay time of the excitation signal sent to each array element is controlled electronically. The testing system model based on ultrasonic propagation theory is established to obtain a controllable and focused sound field, which has theoretical and engineering guiding significance for the calculation and analysis of ultrasonic array sound fields. Perfecting array theory and exploring array imaging methods can obtain rich acoustic information, provide more intuitive and reliable research results, and further the development of ultrasonic phased-array systems. This paper reviews the progress of research on the application of ultrasound arrays for non-destructive testing (NDT) and brings together the most relevant published work on the application of simulation methods and popular imaging techniques for ultrasonic arrays. It mainly reviews the modeling approaches, including the angular spectrum method (ASM), multi-Gaussian beam method (MGB), ray tracing method, finite element method (FEM), finite difference method (FDM), and distributed point source method (DPSM), which have been used to assess the performance and inspection modality of a given array. In addition, the array of imaging approaches, including the total focusing method (TFM), compression sensing imaging (CSI), and acoustic nonlinearity imaging (ANI), are discussed. This paper is expected to provide strong technical support in related areas such as ultrasonic array testing theory and imaging methods.

General mathematical expressions for a marine source array’s (1) far‐field pulse spectrum, (2) radiated energy density, and (3) directivity are developed for both a source in an infinite homogeneous medium and a source operating near the ocean surface. These results, intended to assist the analysis and design of marine source arrays, apply to any marine source array when (1) individual elements radiate isotropically, (2) their individual waveforms are specified, and (3) the array geometry is specified. Arbitrary geometry and arbitrary isotropic waveforms are allowed. The theory assumes linear superposition of the individually specified waveforms, and is consistent with the “square law effect” for identical elements. For an array of small elements, expended energy agrees with the array’s radiated energy found using far‐field methods. Also, the energy radiated from an array with large element spacing is equal to the sum of the independently radiated energies. Two closely spaced identical elements radiate four times the energy contained in a single outgoing waveform over all space. The appropriate directivity definition for marine seismic sources is the ratio of the radiated energy density per unit solid angle in a particular direction to the average radiated energy density per unit solid angle. This definition allows directivity to be expressed explicitly in terms of the individual frequency spectra and geometry.

Thermal radiation has diffusive and broad emission characteristics. Controlling emission spectrum and direction is essential for various applications. Nanoparticle arrays, supporting collective lattice resonances, can be employed for controlling optical properties. However, thermal emission characteristics remain unexplored due to the lack of a theoretical model. Here, we develop an analytical model to predict thermal radiation from a nanoparticle array using fluctuation–dissipation theorem and lattice Green's functions. Our findings reveal that the periodicity and particle size of the particle array are main parameters to control both emission spectrum and direction. The derived simple expression for thermal emission enables insightful interpretation of physics. This model will lay a foundation for analytical derivation of thermal radiation from metasurfaces. Our study can be useful in engineering infrared thermal sources and radiative cooling applications.

Abstract With the advent of the 5G era, more and more technologies in life are applied to the technological development and theory of antennas. Waveform constraints. These basic applications are obtained due to the natural seismic source and the continuous arrangement and combination of arrays. In this article, we first discuss the spherically symmetric electric field distribution of antenna elements in space, and then discuss the influence of a circular array on the electromagnetic intensity of the space radiated field. At the same time, the basic characteristics of waveform restraint, array radar and array telescope are discussed. Afterwards, from a theoretical point of view, the physical properties and radiation characteristics of the near-field induction field and radiation field of the factory around the vibrator were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. Later, I discussed the relationship between an annular array and the eddy current. Through theoretical derivation and excitation factors, we used the original radiation equation to derive the Bessel function, and used a computer to make a simulation to explore the factors that can affect the array radiation.

This thesis presents a novel concept of beam scanning and forming by employing frequency diversity in an array antenna. It is shown that by applying a linear frequency shift to the CW signals across the elements, a periodically scanning beam pattern is generated and the main beam direction is a function of time and range. Moreover, when transmitting a pulse signal, the frequency diversity array (FDA) can be used for beam forming in radar applications. These properties offer a more flexible beam scanning and forming option over traditional phase shifter implementations. The thesis begins with the discussion on FDA’s array factor. It is mathematically proven that the array factor is a periodic function of time and range and the scanning period itself is a function of the linear frequency shift. Then further discussion is made when a pulsed signal is transmitted by an FDA. The requirement on the pulse width for a certain linear frequency shift is specified and corresponding signal processing technique is provided for the frequency diverse signal receiver. The thesis subsequently goes on to an electromagnetic simulation of FDA. The CST Microwave Studio is utilized to model the FDA and simulate its transient field, which allows one to verify the relationship between the scanning period and the linear frequency shift. Finally, the implementation of FDA is considered with the focus laid on the generation of the required frequency diverse signals complying with the two basic assumptions. The PLL frequency synthesis technique is introduced as an effective approach of generating the frequency diverse signals. One low cost and profile design of integer-N frequency synthesizer is presented to illustrate the basic design considerations and guidelines. For comparison, a Σ − Δ fractional-N frequency synthesizer produced by Analog Device is introduced for designs where more budget is available.

This Dissertation addresses the signal acquisition problem using antenna arrays in the general framework of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) receivers. The term GNSS classi es those navigation systems based on a constellation of satellites, which emit ranging signals useful for positioning. Although the American GPS is already available, which coexists with the renewed Russian Glonass, the forthcoming European contribution (Galileo) along with the Chinese Compass will be operative soon. Therefore, a variety of satellite constellations and signals will be available in the next years. GNSSs provide the necessary infrastructures for a myriad of applications and services that demand a robust and accurate positioning service. The positioning availability must be guaranteed all the time, specially in safety-critical and mission-critical services. Examining the threats against the service availability, it is important to take into account that all the present and the forthcoming GNSSs make use of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) techniques. The ranging signals are received with very low precorrelation signal-to-noise ratio (in the order of 􀀀���22 dB for a receiver operating at the Earth surface). Despite that the GNSS CDMA processing gain o ers limited protection against Radio Frequency interferences (RFI), an interference with a interference-to-signal power ratio that exceeds the processing gain can easily degrade receivers' performance or even deny completely the GNSS service, specially conventional receivers equipped with minimal or basic level of protection towards RFIs. As a consequence, RFIs (either intentional or unintentional) remain as the most important cause of performance degradation. A growing concern of this problem has appeared in recent times. Focusing our attention on the GNSS receiver, it is known that signal acquisition has the lowest sensitivity of the whole receiver operation, and, consequently, it becomes the performance bottleneck in the presence of interfering signals. A single-antenna receiver can make use of time and frequency diversity to mitigate interferences, even though the performance of these techniques is compromised in low SNR scenarios or in the presence of wideband interferences. On the other hand, antenna arrays receivers can bene t from spatial-domain processing, and thus mitigate the e ects of interfering signals. Spatial diversity has been traditionally applied to the signal tracking operation of GNSS receivers. However, initial tracking conditions depend on signal acquisition, and there are a number of scenarios in which the acquisition process can fail as stated before. Surprisingly, to the best of our knowledge, the application of antenna arrays to GNSS signal acquisition has not received much attention. This Thesis pursues a twofold objective: on the one hand, it proposes novel arraybased acquisition algorithms using a well-established statistical detection theory framework, and on the other hand demonstrates both their real-time implementation feasibility and their performance in realistic scenarios. The Dissertation starts with a brief introduction to GNSS receivers fundamentals, providing some details about the navigation signals structure and the receiver's architecture of both GPS and Galileo systems. It follows with an analysis of GNSS signal acquisition as a detection problem, using the Neyman-Pearson (NP) detection theory framework and the single-antenna acquisition signal model. The NP approach is used here to derive both the optimum detector (known as clairvoyant detector ) and the sov called Generalized Likelihood Ratio Test (GLRT) detector, which is the basis of almost all of the current state-of-the-art acquisition algorithms. Going further, a novel detector test statistic intended to jointly acquire a set of GNSS satellites is obtained, thus reducing both the acquisition time and the required computational resources. The eff ects of the front-end bandwidth in the acquisition are also taken into account. Then, the GLRT is extended to the array signal model to obtain an original detector which is able to mitigate temporally uncorrelated interferences even if the array is unstructured and moderately uncalibrated, thus becoming one of the main contributions of this Dissertation. The key statistical feature is the assumption of an arbitrary and unknown covariance noise matrix, which attempts to capture the statistical behavior of the interferences and other non-desirable signals, while exploiting the spatial dimension provided by antenna arrays. Closed form expressions for the detection and false alarm probabilities are provided. Performance and interference rejection capability are modeled and compared both to their theoretical bound. The proposed array-based acquisition algorithm is also compared to conventional acquisition techniques performed after blind null-steering beamformer approaches, such as the power minimization algorithm. Furthermore, the detector is analyzed under realistic conditions, accounting for the presence of errors in the covariance matrix estimation, residual Doppler and delay errors, and signal quantization e ects. Theoretical results are supported by Monte Carlo simulations. As another main contribution of this Dissertation, the second part of the work deals with the design and the implementation of a novel Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)-based GNSS real-time antenna-array receiver platform. The platform is intended to be used as a research tool tightly coupled with software de ned GNSS receivers. A complete signal reception chain including the antenna array and the multichannel phase-coherent RF front-end for the GPS L1/ Galileo E1 was designed, implemented and tested. The details of the digital processing section of the platform, such as the array signal statistics extraction modules, are also provided. The design trade-o s and the implementation complexities were carefully analyzed and taken into account. As a proof-of-concept, the problem of GNSS vulnerability to interferences was addressed using the presented platform. The array-based acquisition algorithms introduced in this Dissertation were implemented and tested under realistic conditions. The performance of the algorithms were compared to single antenna acquisition techniques, measured under strong in-band interference scenarios, including narrow/wide band interferers and communication signals. The platform was designed to demonstrate the implementation feasibility of novel array-based acquisition algorithms, leaving the rest of the receiver operations (mainly, tracking, navigation message decoding, code and phase observables, and basic Position, Velocity and Time (PVT) solution) to a Software De ned Radio (SDR) receiver running in a personal computer, processing in real-time the spatially- ltered signal sample stream coming from the platform using a Gigabit Ethernet bus data link. In the last part of this Dissertation, we close the loop by designing and implementing such software receiver. The proposed software receiver targets multi-constellation/multi-frequency architectures, pursuing the goals of e ciency, modularity, interoperability, and exibility demanded by user domains that require non-standard features, such as intermediate signals or data extraction and algorithms interchangeability. In this context, we introduce an open-source, real-time GNSS software de ned receiver (so-named GNSS-SDR) that contributes with several novel features such as the use of software design patterns and shared memory techniques to manage e ciently the data ow between receiver blocks, the use of hardware-accelerated instructions for time-consuming vector operations like carrier wipe-o and code correlation, and the availability to compile and run on multiple software platforms and hardware architectures. At this time of writing (April 2012), the receiver enjoys of a 2-dimensional Distance Root Mean Square (DRMS) error lower than 2 meters for a GPS L1 C/A scenario with 8 satellites in lock and a Horizontal Dilution Of Precision (HDOP) of 1.2.
Esta tesis aborda el problema de la adquisición de la señal usando arrays de antenas en el marco general de los receptores de Sistemas Globales de Navegación por Satélite (GNSS). El término GNSS engloba aquellos sistemas de navegación basados en una constelación de satélites que emiten señales útiles para el posicionamiento. Aunque el GPS americano ya está disponible, coexistiendo con el renovado sistema ruso GLONASS, actualmente se está realizando un gran esfuerzo para que la contribución europea (Galileo), junto con el nuevo sistema chino Compass, estén operativos en breve. Por lo tanto, una gran variedad de constelaciones de satélites y señales estarán disponibles en los próximos años. Estos sistemas proporcionan las infraestructuras necesarias para una multitud de aplicaciones y servicios que demandan un servicio de posicionamiento confiable y preciso. La disponibilidad de posicionamiento se debe garantizar en todo momento, especialmente en los servicios críticos para la seguridad de las personas y los bienes. Cuando examinamos las amenazas de la disponibilidad del servicio que ofrecen los GNSSs, es importante tener en cuenta que todos los sistemas presentes y los sistemas futuros ya planificados hacen uso de técnicas de multiplexación por división de código (CDMA). Las señales transmitidas por los satélites son recibidas con una relación señal-ruido (SNR) muy baja, medida antes de la correlación (del orden de -22 dB para un receptor ubicado en la superficie de la tierra). A pesar de que la ganancia de procesado CDMA ofrece una protección inherente contra las interferencias de radiofrecuencia (RFI), esta protección es limitada. Una interferencia con una relación de potencia de interferencia a potencia de la señal que excede la ganancia de procesado puede degradar el rendimiento de los receptores o incluso negar por completo el servicio GNSS. Este riesgo es especialmente importante en receptores convencionales equipados con un nivel mínimo o básico de protección frente las RFIs. Como consecuencia, las RFIs (ya sean intencionadas o no intencionadas), se identifican como la causa más importante de la degradación del rendimiento en GNSS. El problema esta causando una preocupación creciente en los últimos tiempos, ya que cada vez hay más servicios que dependen de los GNSSs Si centramos la atención en el receptor GNSS, es conocido que la adquisición de la señal tiene la menor sensibilidad de todas las operaciones del receptor, y, en consecuencia, se convierte en el factor limitador en la presencia de señales interferentes. Un receptor de una sola antena puede hacer uso de la diversidad en tiempo y frecuencia para mitigar las interferencias, aunque el rendimiento de estas técnicas se ve comprometido en escenarios con baja SNR o en presencia de interferencias de banda ancha. Por otro lado, los receptores basados en múltiples antenas se pueden beneficiar del procesado espacial, y por lo tanto mitigar los efectos de las señales interferentes. La diversidad espacial se ha aplicado tradicionalmente a la operación de tracking de la señal en receptores GNSS. Sin embargo, las condiciones iniciales del tracking dependen del resultado de la adquisición de la señal, y como hemos visto antes, hay un número de situaciones en las que el proceso de adquisición puede fallar. En base a nuestro grado de conocimiento, la aplicación de los arrays de antenas a la adquisición de la señal GNSS no ha recibido mucha atención, sorprendentemente. El objetivo de esta tesis doctoral es doble: por un lado, proponer nuevos algoritmos para la adquisición basados en arrays de antenas, usando como marco la teoría de la detección de señal estadística, y por otro lado, demostrar la viabilidad de su implementación y ejecución en tiempo real, así como su medir su rendimiento en escenarios realistas. La tesis comienza con una breve introducción a los fundamentos de los receptores GNSS, proporcionando algunos detalles sobre la estructura de las señales de navegación y la arquitectura del receptor aplicada a los sistemas GPS y Galileo. Continua con el análisis de la adquisición GNSS como un problema de detección, aplicando la teoría del detector Neyman-Pearson (NP) y el modelo de señal de una única antena. El marco teórico del detector NP se utiliza aquí para derivar tanto el detector óptimo (conocido como detector clarividente) como la denominada Prueba Generalizada de la Razón de Verosimilitud (en inglés, Generalized Likelihood Ratio Test (GLRT)), que forma la base de prácticamente todos los algoritmos de adquisición del estado del arte actual. Yendo más lejos, proponemos un nuevo detector diseñado para adquirir simultáneamente un conjunto de satélites, por lo tanto, obtiene una reducción del tiempo de adquisición y de los recursos computacionales necesarios en el proceso, respecto a las técnicas convencionales. El efecto del ancho de banda del receptor también se ha tenido en cuenta en los análisis. A continuación, el detector GLRT se extiende al modelo de señal de array de antenas para obtener un detector nuevo que es capaz de mitigar interferencias no correladas temporalmente, incluso utilizando arrays no estructurados y moderadamente descalibrados, convirtiéndose así en una de las principales aportaciones de esta tesis. La clave del detector es asumir una matriz de covarianza de ruido arbitraria y desconocida en el modelo de señal, que trata de captar el comportamiento estadístico de las interferencias y otras señales no deseadas, mientras que utiliza la dimensión espacial proporcionada por los arrays de antenas. Se han derivado las expresiones que modelan las probabilidades teóricas de detección y falsa alarma. El rendimiento del detector y su capacidad de rechazo a interferencias se han modelado y comparado con su límite teórico. El algoritmo propuesto también ha sido comparado con técnicas de adquisición convencionales, ejecutadas utilizando la salida de conformadores de haz que utilizan algoritmos de filtrado de interferencias, como el algoritmo de minimización de la potencia. Además, el detector se ha analizado bajo condiciones realistas, representadas con la presencia de errores en la estimación de covarianzas, errores residuales en la estimación del Doppler y el retardo de señal, y los efectos de la cuantificación. Los resultados teóricos se apoyan en simulaciones de Monte Carlo. Como otra contribución principal de esta tesis, la segunda parte del trabajo trata sobre el diseño y la implementación de una nueva plataforma para receptores GNSS en tiempo real basados en array de antenas que utiliza la tecnología de matriz programable de puertas lógicas (en ingles Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)). La plataforma está destinada a ser utilizada como una herramienta de investigación estrechamente acoplada con receptores GNSS definidos por software. Se ha diseñado, implementado y verificado la cadena completa de recepción, incluyendo el array de antenas y el front-end multi-canal para las señales GPS L1 y Galileo E1. El documento explica en detalle el procesado de señal que se realiza, como por ejemplo, la implementación del módulo de extracción de estadísticas de la señal. Los compromisos de diseño y las complejidades derivadas han sido cuidadosamente analizadas y tenidas en cuenta. La plataforma ha sido utilizada como prueba de concepto para solucionar el problema presentado de la vulnerabilidad del GNSS a las interferencias. Los algoritmos de adquisición introducidos en esta tesis se han implementado y probado en condiciones realistas. El rendimiento de los algoritmos se comparó con las técnicas de adquisición basadas en una sola antena. Se han realizado pruebas en escenarios que contienen interferencias dentro de la banda GNSS, incluyendo interferencias de banda estrecha y banda ancha y señales de comunicación. La plataforma fue diseñada para demostrar la viabilidad de la implementación de nuevos algoritmos de adquisición basados en array de antenas, dejando el resto de las operaciones del receptor (principalmente, los módulos de tracking, decodificación del mensaje de navegación, los observables de código y fase, y la solución básica de Posición, Velocidad y Tiempo (PVT)) a un receptor basado en el concepto de Radio Definida por Software (SDR), el cual se ejecuta en un ordenador personal. El receptor procesa en tiempo real las muestras de la señal filltradas espacialmente, transmitidas usando el bus de datos Gigabit Ethernet. En la última parte de esta Tesis, cerramos ciclo diseñando e implementando completamente este receptor basado en software. El receptor propuesto está dirigido a las arquitecturas de multi-constalación GNSS y multi-frecuencia, persiguiendo los objetivos de eficiencia, modularidad, interoperabilidad y flexibilidad demandada por los usuarios que requieren características no estándar, tales como la extracción de señales intermedias o de datos y intercambio de algoritmos. En este contexto, se presenta un receptor de código abierto que puede trabajar en tiempo real, llamado GNSS-SDR, que contribuye con varias características nuevas. Entre ellas destacan el uso de patrones de diseño de software y técnicas de memoria compartida para administrar de manera eficiente el uso de datos entre los bloques del receptor, el uso de la aceleración por hardware para las operaciones vectoriales más costosas, como la eliminación de la frecuencia Doppler y la correlación de código, y la disponibilidad para compilar y ejecutar el receptor en múltiples plataformas de software y arquitecturas de hardware. A fecha de la escritura de esta Tesis (abril de 2012), el receptor obtiene un rendimiento basado en la medida de la raíz cuadrada del error cuadrático medio en la distancia bidimensional (en inglés, 2-dimensional Distance Root Mean Square (DRMS) error) menor de 2 metros para un escenario GPS L1 C/A con 8 satélites visibles y una dilución de la precisión horizontal (en inglés, Horizontal Dilution Of Precision (HDOP)) de 1.2.

This report presents concepts for a planar active electronically scanned antenna(AESA). The goal of the project was to devlop a low-weight, low profile, thin, S-band antenna with wide-scan angle capabilities. In the final concept the service aspects of the T/R-modules was also taken into acount in order to allow easy and fast replacements of these components. The antenna was designed and optimised using the commercial software Ansoft HFSS. A prototype of the antenna was constructed and later measured and verified. The final concept is a 2m×2m antenna with an estimated weight of around 320 kg, around 11 cm thick (where the thickness of the antenna element is 1.76 cm) and has a maximum scan angle range of more than 45 degrees (with <–10dB active reflection) in the frequency band 3–3.5 GHz.

Digital cameras use a single image sensor array with a color filter array (CFA) to measure a color image. Instead of measuring a red, green, and blue value at every pixel, these cameras have a filter built onto each pixel so that only one portion of the visible spectrum is measured. To generate a full-color image, the camera must estimate the missing two values at every pixel. This process is known as color filter array interpolation. The Bayer CFA pattern samples the green image on half of the pixels of the imaging sensor on a quincunx grid. The other half of the pixels measure the red and blue images equally on interleaved rectangular sampling grids. This thesis analyzes this problem with sampling theory. The red and blue images are sampled at half the rate of the green image and therefore have a higher probability of aliasing in the output image. This is apparent when simple interpolation algorithms like bilinear interpolation are used for CFA interpolation. Two reference algorithms, a projections onto convex sets (POCS) algorithm and an edge-directed algorithm by Adams and Hamilton (AH), are studied. Both algorithms address aliasing in the green image. Because of the high correlation among the red, green, and blue images, information from the red and blue images can be used to better interpolate the green image. The reference algorithms are studied to learn how this information is used. This leads to two new interpolation algorithms for the green image. The red and blue interpolation algorithm of AH is also studied to determine how the inter-image correlation is used when interpolating these images. This study shows that because the green image is sampled at a higher rate, it retains much of the high-frequency information in the original image. This information is used to estimate aliasing in the red and blue images. We present a general algorithm based on the AH algorithm to interpolate the red and blue images. This algorithm is able to provide results that are on average, better than both reference algorithms, POCS and AH.

This fact sheet presents three in situ test methods for solar collectors and solar collector arrays, namely In situ Collector Certification (ICC), Performance Check for Collector Arrays (PC) and Dynamic Collector Array Test (D-CAT). A comparison is made regarding their scopes and use cases, methodologies and outcomes, which could serve as a decision-making aid for stakeholders in selecting the procedure that best suits their needs. The analysis shows that the methods do not contradict, but rather complement each other.

Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) is a fiber optic sensing system that is used for vibration monitoring. At a minimum, DAS is composed of a fiber optic cable and an optic analyzer called an interrogator. The oil and gas industry has used DAS for over a decade to monitor infrastructure such as pipelines for leaks, and in recent years changes in DAS performance over time have been observed for DAS arrays that are buried in the ground. This dissertation investigates the effect that soil type, soil temperature, soil moisture, time in-situ, and vehicle loading have on DAS performance for fiber optic cables buried in soil. This was accomplished through a field testing program involving two newly installed DAS arrays. For the first installation, a new portion of DAS array was added to an existing DAS array installed a decade prior. The new portion of the DAS array was installed in four different soil types: native fill, sand, gravel, and an excavatable flowable fill. Soil moisture and temperature sensors were buried adjacent to the fiber optic cable to monitor seasonal environmental changes over time. Periodic impact testing was performed at set locations along the DAS array for over one year. A second, temporary DAS array was installed to test the effect of vehicle loading on DAS performance. Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) of the DAS response was used for all the tests to evaluate the system performance. The results of the impact testing program indicated that the portions of the array in gravel performed more consistently over time. Changes in soil moisture or soil temperature did not appear to affect DAS performance. The results also indicated that time DAS performance does change somewhat over time. Performance variance increased in new portions of array in all material types through time. The SNR in portions of the DAS array in native silty sand material dropped slightly, while the SNR in portions of the array in sand fill and flowable fill material decreased significantly over time. This significant change in performance occurred while testing halted from March 2020 to August 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. These significant changes in performance were observed in the new portion of test bed, while the performance of the prior installation remained consistent. It may be that, after some time in-situ, SNR in a DAS array will reach a steady state. Though it is unfortunate that testing was on pause while changes in DAS performance developed, the observed changes emphasize the potential of DAS to be used for infrastructure change-detection monitoring. In the temporary test bed, increasing vehicle loads were observed to increase DAS performance, although there was considerable variability in the measured SNR. The significant variation in DAS response is likely due to various industrial activities on-site and some disturbance to the array while on-boarding and off-boarding vehicles. The results of this experiment indicated that the presence of load on less than 10% of an array channel length may improve DAS performance. Overall, this dissertation provides guidance that can help inform the civil engineering community with respect to installation design recommendations related to DAS used for infrastructure monitoring.

Currently, to evaluate the dynamic characteristics of objects, quite a large number of devices are used in the form of chronographs, which consist of various optical, thermal and laser sensors. Among the problems of these devices, the following can be distinguished: the lack of recording of the received data; the inaccessibility of taking into account the trajectory of the object flying in the sensor area, as well as taking into consideration the trajectory of the object during the approach to the device frame. The signal received from the infrared sensors is recorded in a separate document in txt format, in the form of a table. When you turn to the document, data is read from the current position of the input data stream in the specified list by an argument in accordance with the given condition. As a result of reading the data, it forms an array that includes N number of columns. The array is constructed in a such way that the first column includes time values, and columns 2...N- the value of voltage . The algorithm uses cycles that perform the function of deleting array rows where there is a fact of exceeding the threshold value in more than two columns, as well as rows where the threshold level was not exceeded. The modified array is converted into two new arrays, each of which includes data from different sensor frames. An array with the coordinates of the centers of the sensor operation zones was created to apply the Pythagorean theorem in three-dimensional space, which is necessary for calculating the exact distance between the zones. The time is determined by the difference in the response of the first and second sensor frames. Knowing the path and time, we are able to calculate the exact speed of the object. For visualization, the oscillograms of each sensor channel were displayed, and a chronograph model was created. The chronograph model highlights in purple the area where the threshold has been exceeded.

Few propositions in economics are as widely accepted as the theory of comparative advantage: If two countries have a comparative advantage in the production of different goods and services, trade can be welfare-enhancing for both. But trade policy has always been controversial in Latin America, as it is not made by academic economists but by politicians who need to gather and maintain the support of constituents who in some cases have much to lose or gain from different trade policies. This book walks the reader through a complex thicket of contending interests and disparate political institutions to analyze why Latin American governments make the trade policies they do. Its chapters show how an array of different governments have attempted to navigate frequently conflicting interests and ideas, and how different institutional arrangements impinge on trade policy design and outcomes. It is to be hoped that the experiences analyzed here can inform the making of future policy and, perhaps, help improve it.

The Cucurbitaceae family includes a broad array of economically and nutritionally important crop species that are consumed as vegetables, staple starches and desserts. Fruit of these species, and types within species, exhibit extensive diversity as evidenced by variation in size, shape, color, flavor, and others. Fruit size and shape are critical quality determinants that delineate uses and market classes and are key traits under selection in breeding programs. However, the underlying genetic bases for variation in fruit size remain to be determined. A few species the Cucurbitaceae family were sequenced during the time of this project (cucumber was already sequenced when the project started watermelon and melon sequence became available during the project) but functional genomic tools are still missing. This research program had three major goals: 1. Develop whole genome cucumber and melon SNP arrays. 2. Develop and characterize cucumber populations segregating for fruit size. 3. Combine genomic tools, segregating populations, and phenotypic characterization to identify loci associated with fruit size. As suggested by the reviewers the work concentrated mostly in cucumber and not both in cucumber and melon. In order to develop a SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) array for cucumber, available and newly generated sequence from two cucumber cultivars with extreme differences in shape and size, pickling GY14 and Chinese long 9930, were analyzed for variation (SNPs). A large set of high quality SNPs was discovered between the two parents of the RILs population (GY14 and 9930) and used to design a custom SNP array with 35000 SNPs using Agilent technology. The array was validated using 9930, Gy14 and F1 progeny of the two parents. Several mapping populations were developed for linkage mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTL) for fruit size These includes 145 F3 families and 150 recombinant inbred line (RILs F7 or F8 (Gy14 X 9930) and third population contained 450 F2 plants from a cross between Gy14 and a wild plant from India. The main population that was used in this study is the RILs population of Gy14 X 9930. Phenotypic and morphological analyses of 9930, Gy14, and their segregating F2 and RIL progeny indicated that several, likely independent, factors influence cucumber fruit size and shape, including factors that act both pre-anthesis and post-pollination. These include: amount, rate, duration, and plane of cell division pre- and post-anthesis and orientation of cell expansion. Analysis of F2 and RIL progeny indicated that factors influencing fruit length were largely determined pre-anthesis, while fruit diameter was more strongly influenced by environment and growth factors post-anthesis. These results suggest involvement of multiple genetically segregating factors expected to map independently onto the cucumber genome. Using the SNP array and the phenotypic data two major QTLs for fruit size of cucumber were mapped in very high accuracy (around 300 Kb) with large set of markers that should facilitate identification and cloning of major genes that contribute to fruit size in cucumber. In addition, a highly accurate haplotype map of all RILS was created to allow fine mapping of other traits segregating in this population. A detailed cucumber genetic map with 6000 markers was also established (currently the most detailed genetic map of cucumber). The integration of genetics physiology and genomic approaches in this project yielded new major infrastructure tools that can be used for understanding fruit size and many other traits of importance in cucumber. The SNP array and genetic population with an ultra-fine map can be used for future breeding efforts, high resolution mapping and cloning of traits of interest that segregate in this population. The genetic map that was developed can be used for other breeding efforts in other populations. The study of fruit development that was done during this project will be important in dissecting function of genes that that contribute to the fruit size QTLs. The SNP array can be used as tool for mapping different traits in cucumber. The development of the tools and knowledge will thus promote genetic improvement of cucumber and related cucurbits.