Engineering | Open Access Articles | Digital Commons Network™

On Surface Currents In A Polycrystalline Solar Cell Acting As Ground Plane For Microstrip Patch Antennas, Maria Roo Ons, S. Shynu, Max Ammann, Sarah Mccormack, Brian Norton

Conference papers

The integration of communication devices with photovoltaic (PV) technology leads to the development of autonomous communication systems distinguished by immunity to grid breakdowns and eco-friendliness.

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Rfid: An Ideal Technology For Ubiquitous Computing?, Ciaran O'Driscoll, Daniel Maccormac, Mark Deegan, Fredrick Mtenzi, Brendan O'Shea

Conference papers

This paper presents a review of RFID based approaches used for the development of smart spaces and smart objects. We explore approaches that enable RFID technology to make the transition from the recognized applications such as retail to ubiquitous computing, in which computers and technology fade into the background of day to day life. In this paper we present the case for the use of RFID technology as a key technology of ubiquitous computing due to its ability to embed itself in everday objects and spaces. Frameworks to support the operation of RFID-based smart objects and spaces are discussed and …

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Simulation And Parametric Analyses Of A Tubular Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Stack Using Aspen Plus, Wayne Doherty, Anthony Reynolds, David Kennedy

Other resources

In the context of climate change and increasing energy conversion efficiency solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are likely to play an important role in the production of electricity. The tubular SOFC configuration is considered to be the most advanced and is approaching commercialisation. A major advantage of SOFCs over other types of fuel cells is that they can utilise a wide spectrum of fuels (natural gas, coal and biomass syn-gas). This is due to its high operating temperature, which also makes them suitable for integration with gas turbines and for cogeneration. A R&D project is underway to develop a computer …

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Mechanical Engineering Education In Irish Context: On Route To Becoming A Chartered Engineer, David Kennedy, Richard Good

Conference Papers

Engineering Education in Ireland and throughout Europe has changed dramatically over the last few years and the pace of change is ensuring that we, the educators are constantly keeping abreast of new developments and benchmarks. Programmes that were based on inputs from learners are now outcomes based and the onus is on the educators and facilitators to provide evidence that graduates are capable of conducting specific tasks, commonly termed as Programme Outcomes. Similarly, greater onus is now placed on the learner to take greater responsibility for their educational development. The new and current process of meeting the educational requirements of …

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Technology-Aided Participative Methods In Environmental Assessment: An International Perspective, Ainhoa Gonzalez, Alan Gilmer, Ronan Foley, John Sweeney, John Fry

Articles

Provisions for citizen involvement in the assessment of potential environmental effects of certain plans, programmes and projects are present in current legislation. An international survey revealed that public participation is common practice in European and some other countries worldwide. However, a number of issues are observed to affect public involvement in EIA/SEA processes and expert opinion differs when evaluating the effectiveness of existing participative methods. Results suggest that technology-aided methods can improve traditional participation processes. In particular, GIS has the potential to increase community knowledge and enhance involvement by communicating information more effectively. Variable accessibility to technology and data quality …

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Temperature Dependence Of Macrobending Loss In All-Fiber Bend Loss Edge Filter, Pengfei Wang, Yuliya Semenova, Gerald Farrell

Articles

A theoretical model for macrobending-induced temperature dependent loss (TDL) for a standard singlemode fiber (SMF28) with dual coating layers is presented, with good agreement demonstrated between theoretical calculations and experimental results. The impact of temperature on two examples of an all-fiber based edge filter is also investigated theoretically and experimentally and using the developed model, it is shown that it is possible to predict the impact of temperature variations on an all-fiber based edge filter.

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Simulation Of A Circulating Fluidised Bed Biomass Gasifier Using Aspen Plus: A Performance Analysis, Wayne Doherty, Anthony Reynolds, David Kennedy

Conference Papers

In the near future biomass gasification is likely to play an important role in energy production and conversion. Its application has great potential in the context of climate change mitigation, increasing efficiency and energy security. Atmospheric circulating fluidised bed (CFB) technology was selected for the current study. An original computer simulation model of a CFB biomass gasifier was developed using ASPEN Plus (Advanced System for Process ENgineering Plus). It is based on Gibbs free energy minimisation and the restricted equilibrium method was used to calibrate it against experimental data. This was achieved by specifying the temperature approach for the gasification …

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Reduction Of Ground-Plane-Dependent Effects On Microstrip-Fed Printed Rectangular Monopoles, Matthias John, Jonathan Evans, Max Ammann, J. C. Modro, Z. N. Chen

Articles

Methods to mitigate the strong dependence of impedance bandwidth on the ground- plane size for a rectangular printed planar monopole is described. It is shown that the bandwidth limitation may be overcome by introducing feed-line asymmetry, which alters the purity and the Q of the higher frequency modes and by ground-plane augmentation, which effects the lower frequency modes. A method of extending the ground plane without increasing the overall antenna size is shown to improve both the bandwidth and gain and also to enable the use of significantly smaller ground planes. The effects of these techniques on radiation pattern are …

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Violin Timbre Space Features, Jane Charles, Derry Fitzgerald, Eugene Coyle

Conference papers

Signal processing techniques, from which the quality of a violinist's playing can be assessed by a computer are presented in this paper

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A Surface Inspection Machine Vision System That Includes Fractal Texture Analysis, Jonathan Blackledge, Dmitry Dubovitskiy

Articles

The detection, recognition and classification of features in a digital image is an important component of quality control systems in production and process engineering and industrial systems monitoring, in general. In this paper, a new pattern recognition system is presented that has been designed for the specific task of monitoring the quality of sheet-steel production in a rolling mill. The system is based on using both the Euclidean and Fractal geometric properties of an imaged object to develop training data that is used in conjunction with a supervised learning procedure based on the application of a fuzzy inference engine. Thus, …

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Detect: Developing Sustainable Pathways Towards Innovative, Sustainable Collaboration Between Four Engineering, Design And Technology Education Institutions, Michael Dyrenfurth, Mike Murphy, Donal Mchale, Richard Hayes, Robert Herrick, Dhushy Sathianathan, Heinz Schmidt-Walter, Eugene Coyle, Robert Simpson

Conference papers

No abstract provided.

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Philosophy Matters In Engineering Studies, William Grimson, Mike Murphy, Steen Hyldgaard Christensen, Erik Erno-Kjolhede

Conference papers

This article explores the rationale for including in an integrated five-years Masters Engineering programme liberal arts subjects, in particular Philosophy and the History of Science and Technology. We argue that the tools of philosophy should be used to provide additional insight into how engineering was and is 'performed'. We first review the challenge, next we present some results of an empirical case study carried out at AU-IBT in Denmark. The purpose of the case study was to examine a sample of engineering teachers´ attitudes towards the relevance and scope of liberal arts subjects for engineering students. Finally we conclude with …

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Electro-Optic And Dielectric Study Of The De Vries-Type Smectic A* Phase Exhibiting Transitions To Smectic-CA And Smectic-C Phases, U. Manna, Jang-Kun Song, Yuri Panarin, Atsuo Fukuda, J. K. Vij

Articles

Mixtures of different compositions of an antiferroelectric liquid crystal compound that exhibits direct smectic-A*(Sm-A*)-smectic-C*A(Sm-C*A) transition with a ferroelectric liquid crystal compound that exhibits Sm-A*-smectic-C*(Sm-C*) transition are studied using electro-optics and dielectric spectroscopy. The results of optical texture, birefringence, and the tilt angle suggest that a part of the Sm-A* phase is of de Vries type, since an increase in the tilt angle with decreasing temperature results in a reduction in the value of the birefringence in the Sm-A* phase, whereas the birefringence at Sm-A* to Sm-C* transition goes up by 12.7%. The soft mode relaxation strength, the Landau coefﬁcient of …

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Development Of Laboratory Prototype Of A 12kva Digital Shunt Active Filter, N. G. Jayanti, Malabika Basu, Iurie Axente, Kevin Gaughan, Michael Conlon

Conference papers

The paper reports the development of a laboratory prototype of a fully digital DSP controlled 12 kVA Shunt Active Filter (ShAF) capable of compensating for non-linear, unbalanced load and reactive power. A fully digital controller is implemented for the reference generation and the current control purposes. The delay problem in digital current controller is overcome by application of a fast DSP, a compact controller and proper flow of control steps in the DSP software. A Phase Locked Loop (PLL)-less software grid synchronization method has been proposed for the effective operation of the ShAF under the grid frequency variation. The source …

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High Performance Zno Varistors Prepared From Nanocrystalline Precursors For Miniaturised Electronic Devices, Suresh Pillai, Declan Mccormack, John Kelly, Raghavendra Ramesh

Articles

An industrially viable solution-based processing route using minimal amounts of solvent has been used to prepare bulk quantity nanopowders (average particle size 15.3 nm) for the fabrication of ZnO varistors. The xerogels, calcined powders and sintered materials were fully characterised. The preparation of varistors from nanopowders has been optimised by studying the effect of temperature on grain growth, densification and breakdown voltage. The varistors are prepared by sintering at 1050 C for 2 hours, a temperature that is significantly lower than that used in the current industrial process. Highly dense varistor discs prepared from the sintered material produce devices, with …

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Antenna Design Considerations For High Specific Absorption Rate In Local Hyperthermia Treatment, Max Ammann, Sergio Curto, Xiulong Bao, Patrick Mcevoy

Conference papers

The design of a miniaturised low-profile efficient hyperthermia applicator is presented. The efficiency is attributed to small size, resilience to detuning and wide bandwidth. The antenna provides a high value of SAR and is well matched to tissue, even at close distances.

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Dual-Frequency Dual-Sense Circularly-Polarized Slot Antenna Fed By Microstrip Line, Xiulong Bao, Max Ammann

Articles

A new design of a dual-frequency dual circularly-polarized slot antenna is presented. The dual-frequency is achieved using a single-layer microstrip-fed configuration coupled to a modified annular-slot antenna. The dual sense circular-polarization is obtained by four unequal linear slots which augment the annular slot. Experimental results show the proposed antenna has good circular polarization characteristics for both right-hand circular polarization (RHCP) and left-hand circular polarization (LHCP). The 10 dB return loss impedance bandwidths for the lower (RHCP) and higher (LHCP) bands are 26.7% and 11.3%, respectively. The 3 dB axial-ratio bandwidths are 6.1% and 6.0% with respect to 1.5 GHz (RHCP) …

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Responses Of Engineering Students To Lectures Using Powerpoint, Aidan O'Dwyer

Conference papers

This contribution reports on, reflects on and evaluates engineering students responses to the use of PowerPoint in a lecture environment, compared to a more traditional lecturing approach. The contribution concludes that, on average, students value PowerPoint based lectures both as a means of better understanding the material and for the mediums structural and organisational advantages. Students also strongly favour the PowerPoint lectures being available on-line and that a paper copy of the PowerPoint presentation be distributed at the lecture.

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Using Student Presentations For Learning And Assessment: Some Experiences, Aidan O'Dwyer

Conference papers

This contribution reports on, reflects on and evaluates the author’s experiences, over a number of academic years, of using formal student presentations as a means of learning and assessment in a taught postgraduate programme in engineering at Dublin Institute of Technology. Students were asked to prepare PowerPoint presentations on individual engineering topics; relevant references in books and technical papers were provided as assistance. Peer assessment of the presentations was employed, following a structured guideline agreed with the students. The contribution discusses the peer assessment experience in detail, including formal student feedback on the process. Some analysis work suggests that there …

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Electric-Powered Wheelchairs As An Assistive Technology, Aidan O'Dwyer, Malabika Basu, Eugene Coyle

Conference papers

This paper briefly outlines recent work done, particularly in control systems, for electric powered wheelchairs. These mobility aids, first developed in the 1950’s [1], were improved with the incorporation of microprocessors. The requirement for mobility aids in general is rising; for example, it is reckoned that 1.5% of the U.K. population require such aids. As an assistive technology, electric powered wheelchairs have many benefits. Nevertheless, a reliable and robust such wheelchair has still to evolve.

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Enhancing Learning On A First Year Engineering Programme With A Student Design Project, Aidan O'Dwyer

Conference papers

This contribution reports on, and evaluates, the use of a design project for enhancing student learning on a first year module in electrical engineering at Dublin Institute of Technology. The project objective, as outlined to the students, was to design and build a, possibly innovative, everyday device that can generate electricity from sources of “free energy”, so as to encourage first year engineering students to use their natural design creativity in a freeform, brainstorming manner. The project allows students to further develop their academic interests, assists student retention and facilitates student interaction, among other advantages. The work encourages students to …

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A New Configuration And Control Of Doubly Fed Induction Generator (Upqc-Wg), N. G. Jayanti, Malabika Basu, Kevin Gaughan, Michael Conlon

Conference papers

The paper presents detailed simulation based analysis and investigation on grid code compliance of a new configuration of a 2 MW doubly fed induction generator. The converters of DFIG are connected and controlled to function like a unified power quality conditioner (UPQC). One of the converters is connected in series with the stator terminals and acts to maintain the stator voltage at a predetermined value. It can also transfer power to or from the rotor side converter through the common DC link. The other converter is connected to the rotor like a conventional DFIG and is controlled to maintain appropriate …

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Portfolio Diversification Using Subspace Factorizations, Ruairí De Fréin, Konstantinos Drakakis, Scott Rickard

Conference papers

Successful investment management relies on allocating assets so as to beat the stock market. Asset classes are affected by different market dynamics or latent trends. These interactions are crucial to the successful allocation of monies. The seminal work on portfolio management by Markowitz prompts the adroit investment manager to consider the correlation between the assets in his portfolio and to vary his selection so as to optimize his riskreturn profile. The factor model, a popular model for the return generating process has been used for portfolio construction and assumes that there is a low rank representation of the stocks. In …

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A Review Of Negation In Clinical Texts, John D. Kelleher, Brian Mac Namee

Reports

Negation is commonly seen in clinical documents [Chapman et al., 2001a] ”In clinical reports the presence of a term does not necessarily indicate the presence of the clinical condition represented by that term. In fact, many of the most frequently described findings and diseases in discharge summaries, radiology reports, history and physical exams, and other transcribed reports are denied in the patient” [Chapman et al., 2001b, page. 301].

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An Investigation Of Block Searching Algorithms For Video Frame Codecs, Jerome Casey

Other Resources

Block matching is the most computationally demanding aspect of the video encoding process. In many applications real-time video encoding is desired and therefore it is important that the encoding is fast. Also where handheld devices such as a PDA or mobile phone are concerned a less computationally intensive algorithm means a simpler processor can be used which saves on hardware costs and also extends battery life. An optimised algorithm also allows these devices to be used in low bandwidth wireless networks. The challenge is to decrease the computational load on the system without compromising the quality of the video stream …

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Patient-Centred Laboratory Validation Using Software Agents, John Mcgrory, Jane Grimson, Frank Clarke, Peter Gaffney

Conference Papers

Guidelines are self-contained documents which healthcare professionals reference to obtain knowledge about a specific condition or process. They interface with these documents and apply known facts about specific patients to gain useful supportive information to aid in developing a diagnosis or manage a condition. To automate this process a series of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and workflow processes are constructed using the contents of these documents in order to manage the validation flow of a patient sample. These processes decompose the guidelines into workflow plans, which are then called using condition triggers controlled by a centralised management engine. The software …

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Thermodynamic Modelling And Ray-Trace Modelling Of Luminescent Solar Concentrators: A Comparison Of The Two Approaches, Manus Kennedy, Amanda Chatten, Daniel Farrell, Rahul Bose, Andreas Büchtemann, Sarah Mccormack, John Doran, Brian Norton, Keith Barnham

Conference Papers

The electrical and spectral output from luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) devices is predicted using thermodynamic modelling and ray-trace modelling techniques. Predicted output from four LSCs of varying dimensions, containing different luminescent dyes, are found to be in good agreement with measured output taken from fabricated LSCs. Despite the many different processes involved in the two modelling approach, predicted short circuit current densities from both approaches are found to be in excellent agreement.

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Ray Trace Modelling Of Multiple Dyes In A Luminescent Solar Concentrator, Manus Kennedy, Mike Dunne, Sarah Mccormack, John Doran, Brian Norton

Conference Papers

A previously developed Monte-Carlo ray-trace model has been modified to incorporate multiple luminescent species. Liquid luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) have been fabricated to verify the ray-trace predictions for LSCs containing multiple luminescent dyes. Single dye and multiple dye solutions of varying concentrations can be easily prepared and inserted into the experimental liquid LSC setup. In this way, experimental uncertainties, such as reduction in the luminescent quantum yield, can be reduced. Hence, the spectral effects of various single and multiple dyes can be analysed and compared more accurately with ray-trace predictions. Initial results from the liquid LSC characterisation and comparison with …

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Comparison Of Vacuum Glazing Thermal Performance Predicted Using Two- And Three-Dimensional Models And Their Experimental Validation, Brian Norton, Philip Eames, Yueping Fang, Trevor Hyde, Neil Hewitt

Conference Papers

The thermal performance of vacuum glazing was predicted using two dimensional (2-D) finite element and three dimensional (3-D) finite volume models. In the 2-D model, the vacuum space, including the pillar arrays, was represented by a material whose effective thermal conductivity was determined from the specified vacuum space width, the heat conduction through the pillar array and the calculated radiation heat transfer between the two interior glass surfaces within the vacuum gap. In the 3-D model, the support pillar array was incorporated and modeled within the glazing unit directly. The difference in predicted overall heat transfer coefficients between the two …

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Linguatag: An Emotional Speech Analysis Application, Charlie Cullen, Brian Vaughan, Spyros Kousidis

Conference papers

The analysis of speech, particularly for emotional content, is an open area of current research. Ongoing work has developed an emotional speech corpus for analysis, and defined a vowel stress method by which this analysis may be performed. This paper documents the development of LinguaTag, an open source speech analysis software application which implements this vowel stress emotional speech analysis method developed as part of research into the acoustic and linguistic correlates of emotional speech. The analysis output is contained within a file format combining SMIL and SSML markup tags, to facilitate search and retrieval methods within an emotional speech …

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Full-Text Articles in Engineering

On Surface Currents In A Polycrystalline Solar Cell Acting As Ground Plane For Microstrip Patch Antennas, Maria Roo Ons, S. Shynu, Max Ammann, Sarah Mccormack, Brian Norton

Conference papers

Rfid: An Ideal Technology For Ubiquitous Computing?, Ciaran O'Driscoll, Daniel Maccormac, Mark Deegan, Fredrick Mtenzi, Brendan O'Shea

Conference papers

Simulation And Parametric Analyses Of A Tubular Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Stack Using Aspen Plus, Wayne Doherty, Anthony Reynolds, David Kennedy

Other resources

Mechanical Engineering Education In Irish Context: On Route To Becoming A Chartered Engineer, David Kennedy, Richard Good

Conference Papers

Technology-Aided Participative Methods In Environmental Assessment: An International Perspective, Ainhoa Gonzalez, Alan Gilmer, Ronan Foley, John Sweeney, John Fry

Articles

Temperature Dependence Of Macrobending Loss In All-Fiber Bend Loss Edge Filter, Pengfei Wang, Yuliya Semenova, Gerald Farrell

Articles

Simulation Of A Circulating Fluidised Bed Biomass Gasifier Using Aspen Plus: A Performance Analysis, Wayne Doherty, Anthony Reynolds, David Kennedy

Conference Papers

Reduction Of Ground-Plane-Dependent Effects On Microstrip-Fed Printed Rectangular Monopoles, Matthias John, Jonathan Evans, Max Ammann, J. C. Modro, Z. N. Chen

Articles

Violin Timbre Space Features, Jane Charles, Derry Fitzgerald, Eugene Coyle

Conference papers

A Surface Inspection Machine Vision System That Includes Fractal Texture Analysis, Jonathan Blackledge, Dmitry Dubovitskiy

Articles

Conference papers

Philosophy Matters In Engineering Studies, William Grimson, Mike Murphy, Steen Hyldgaard Christensen, Erik Erno-Kjolhede

Conference papers

Electro-Optic And Dielectric Study Of The De Vries-Type Smectic A* Phase Exhibiting Transitions To Smectic-C*A And Smectic-C* Phases, U. Manna, Jang-Kun Song, Yuri Panarin, Atsuo Fukuda, J. K. Vij

Articles

Development Of Laboratory Prototype Of A 12kva Digital Shunt Active Filter, N. G. Jayanti, Malabika Basu, Iurie Axente, Kevin Gaughan, Michael Conlon

Conference papers

High Performance Zno Varistors Prepared From Nanocrystalline Precursors For Miniaturised Electronic Devices, Suresh Pillai, Declan Mccormack, John Kelly, Raghavendra Ramesh

Articles

Antenna Design Considerations For High Specific Absorption Rate In Local Hyperthermia Treatment, Max Ammann, Sergio Curto, Xiulong Bao, Patrick Mcevoy

Conference papers

Dual-Frequency Dual-Sense Circularly-Polarized Slot Antenna Fed By Microstrip Line, Xiulong Bao, Max Ammann

Articles

Responses Of Engineering Students To Lectures Using Powerpoint, Aidan O'Dwyer

Conference papers

Using Student Presentations For Learning And Assessment: Some Experiences, Aidan O'Dwyer

Conference papers

Electric-Powered Wheelchairs As An Assistive Technology, Aidan O'Dwyer, Malabika Basu, Eugene Coyle

Conference papers

Enhancing Learning On A First Year Engineering Programme With A Student Design Project, Aidan O'Dwyer

Conference papers

A New Configuration And Control Of Doubly Fed Induction Generator (Upqc-Wg), N. G. Jayanti, Malabika Basu, Kevin Gaughan, Michael Conlon

Conference papers

Portfolio Diversification Using Subspace Factorizations, Ruairí De Fréin, Konstantinos Drakakis, Scott Rickard

Conference papers

A Review Of Negation In Clinical Texts, John D. Kelleher, Brian Mac Namee

Reports

An Investigation Of Block Searching Algorithms For Video Frame Codecs, Jerome Casey

Other Resources

Patient-Centred Laboratory Validation Using Software Agents, John Mcgrory, Jane Grimson, Frank Clarke, Peter Gaffney

Conference Papers

Thermodynamic Modelling And Ray-Trace Modelling Of Luminescent Solar Concentrators: A Comparison Of The Two Approaches, Manus Kennedy, Amanda Chatten, Daniel Farrell, Rahul Bose, Andreas Büchtemann, Sarah Mccormack, John Doran, Brian Norton, Keith Barnham

Conference Papers

Ray Trace Modelling Of Multiple Dyes In A Luminescent Solar Concentrator, Manus Kennedy, Mike Dunne, Sarah Mccormack, John Doran, Brian Norton

Conference Papers

Comparison Of Vacuum Glazing Thermal Performance Predicted Using Two- And Three-Dimensional Models And Their Experimental Validation, Brian Norton, Philip Eames, Yueping Fang, Trevor Hyde, Neil Hewitt

Conference Papers

Linguatag: An Emotional Speech Analysis Application, Charlie Cullen, Brian Vaughan, Spyros Kousidis

Conference papers

Electro-Optic And Dielectric Study Of The De Vries-Type Smectic A* Phase Exhibiting Transitions To Smectic-CA And Smectic-C Phases, U. Manna, Jang-Kun Song, Yuri Panarin, Atsuo Fukuda, J. K. Vij