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The ‘EcoLab’ is a smart living research laboratory currently being developed by the University of Suffolk (UoS), in partnership with BT. The purpose of this short paper is to present the scheme and share some of our early work, specifically how the reach of the project extends beyond the technical performance of smart technology to consider how to embed the end-user in every element of the building’s design.

The strategic importance of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) has attracted the attention of many researchers. Nowadays, there are numerous serious projects and researches that have gained momentum in recent years, particularly in order to improve the technical performance of the system and to increase the search and practice skills of the model. UAVs, which are the latest technological inventions, are very advantageous in terms of practicality, flexibility, cost advantage and multitude of usage areas.

Ultrasound is a tool used for the diagnosis and management of urologic disease. An ultrasound examination performed and interpreted by the clinician combines a knowledge of the underlying anatomy and disease processes with technical expertise to produce images of superior quality which answer a specific clinical question. The interpretation of urologic images is an integral part of the training of all urologists. The technical performance of the study and the ability to maximize image quality are learned skills. Current ultrasound equipment is a sophisticated combination of mechanical equipment and software which is capable of producing exquisitely detailed anatomic images. Almost all current ultrasound equipment includes preset applications which optimize machine settings for imaging of specific organs or regions of the body. These presets save a great deal of time because they set scanning parameters which are favorable for most patients. However, there are many clinical circumstances in which these presets will need to be adjusted by the individual performing the ultrasound examination. An understanding of the underlying physical principles of ultrasound, proper probe selection, and machine settings is critical to making appropriate adjustments to the equipment.

Power system technical performance issues involve the development and review of methods and tools for analysis with specific reference to dynamic and transient conditions and to the interaction between the power system and its apparatus/sub-systems, between the power system and external causes of stress and between the power system and other installations.

Appropriate evaluation is a key component in visualization research. It is typically based on empirical studies that assess visualization components or complete systems. While such studies often include the user of the visualization, empirical research is not necessarily restricted to user studies but may also address the technical performance of a visualization system such as its computational speed or memory consumption. Any such empirical experiment faces the issue that the underlying visualization is becoming increasingly sophisticated, leading to an increasingly difficult evaluation in complex environments. Therefore, many of the established methods of empirical studies can no longer capture the full complexity of the evaluation. One promising solution is the use of data-rich observations that we can acquire during studies to obtain more reliable interpretations of empirical research. For example, we have been witnessing an increasing availability and use of physiological sensor information from eye tracking, electrodermal activity sensors, electroencephalography, etc. Other examples are various kinds of logs of user activities such as mouse, keyboard, or touch interaction. Such data-rich empirical studies promise to be especially useful for studies in the wild and similar scenarios outside of the controlled laboratory environment. However, with the growing availability of large, complex, time-dependent, heterogeneous, and unstructured observational data, we are facing the new challenge of how we can analyze such data. This challenge can be addressed by establishing the subfield of visualization for visualization (Vis4Vis): visualization as a means of analyzing and communicating data from empirical studies to advance visualization research.

In this paper we examine the technical performance of the current version of the semantic exchange standard for the subject-oriented process-modeling language PASS (Parallel Activity Specification Schema). Based on our findings we propose changes to the standard that have the potential to significantly increase the reasoning performance.

The distribution system is the nearest part of the power network to the consumers; so, the efficiency of the distribution system has the effect on the satisfaction of customers from the network. The optimal operation of the distribution flexible alternative current transmission system (DFACTS) is one of the useful ways to increase the efficiency of the distribution system. These devices compensate the reactive power and improve the technical performance of the network. On the other hand, applying demand response programs can promote the efficiency of DFACTS devices. As regards the importance of power electronic compensators in the power network, the optimization of location and capacity of DFACTS is studied in the distribution system in the presence of DR program. The combination of multi-objective optimization algorithm and analytical hierarchy process method is utilized to minimize the considered objective functions and select the optimal place and size of DFACTS devices.

This chapter gives a comprehensive review on R&D efforts to develop bio-based thermosetting resins and biocomposites for use in critical applications such as aircraft fabrication, rail transportation, and construction by a Chinese research consortium in collaboration with international teams. This work was initially motivated by the fact that, on one hand, environmental and resource-related benefits of bio-sourced materials are still compromised by limited standards of technical performance and material life. On the other hand, in the air and ground transportation sectors, new environmental regulations and societal concerns have triggered a search for new products and processes that complement not only environment but also resources. To address this issue, novel bio-sourced materials, including bio-sourced epoxies, continuous plant fibers, textiles and prepregs, and neat and hybrid biocomposite laminates, were developed. These materials were characterized, modified, and evaluated in terms of their interfacial properties, flammability, and hydrothermal stability levels. Quasi-structural and structural damping biocomposite structures were finally designed and manufactured using technologies that have been fully adapted to state-of-the-art industrial composite processes. It is also found that developing function-integrated plant-fiber-fabric-reinforced biocomposites and corresponding hybrid structures appears to be more essential and feasible than the mere development of “high-performance” biocomposites for applications. At the end of the chapter, structural damping and decorative quasi-structural composites for use in aircraft, rail transportation, and civil engineering sectors are presented.

The research established that planning was adequate but the problem lied with the planning personnel who were inadequately trained to undertake the tasks. Further, while designs and specifications needed to take into account the alignment requirements, technical performance, pavement solutions, material requirements and structures that are specific to an area are available, results indicate that planners use a one-size-fits-all kind of approach of designing. This is compromising the quality. This chapter therefore recommends that local councils employ competent people who will help, especially during the planning process, to come with detailed plans, project plans and local plans. Design standards should be based on reliability and durability not just concentrating on accessibility.

This chapter investigates the motivations and driving forces of 5G development as well as introduces the 5G use cases and technical requirements. 5G is the first generation that devotes itself to connecting both humans and machines. Accordingly, the service requirements and the technical performance requirements are extended from mobile broadband (MBB) to the new use cases. The diverse requirements pose significant challenges to system design.

Distributed Flexible AC Transmission System (D-FACTS) devices improve the performance of distributed Generation (DG) units in the distribution system. Optimizing the location and size of DGs and Unified Power Quality Conditioner (UPQC) is done in the distribution system with hourly load model in this study. The model of network load is considered as the hourly variation of consumption. The technical and economic indices are optimized during the proposed method so that the profitability of network increases after locating the devices. The combination of multi-objective whale optimization algorithm and fuzzy decision-making method is utilized to find the optimal location and capacity of DGs and UPQC. Finally, the proposed method is applied to the 34-bus standard distribution system. The results show that the technical performance and the profitability of distribution system are improved considerably after operating the devices in the best location with optimal capacity.

Throughout its history, surgery has been a field of continuous innovation, but the last few decades have seen a particularly rapid pace of new technologies and applications. The widespread use of laparoscopy and minimal access surgery has demonstrated benefits in reductions in patient pain, wound complications, and in some instances, an improvement in the technical performance of certain procedures.

This chapter describes basic aspects of the design and sizing of interconnected photovoltaic systems (hereinafter referred to as BIPVS) and further details of the development of a high technology system implemented using the concept of virtual instrumentation to monitor and assess the technical performance and the power quality generated by BIPVS to the local power grid.

The worldwide development and market penetration of electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid cars has lagged far behind initial expectations and prognoses. However, more recent discussions about petrol and diesel car emissions seem to accelerate the market penetration of battery-based mobility and other alternative options. Many big car manufacturers have announced that they will offer a broad EV fleet by between 2020 and 2024 at the latest, and some even plan to abandon the production of petrol- and diesel-powered cars completely. This might result in a sharp increase in EV market shares and, consequently, in a significant amount of resources needed to produce traction batteries. At present, EVs are produced mainly using different types of Li-ion batteries (LIBs) and only to a lesser extent other battery systems like NiMH. Also in a midterm perspective, LIBs will probably continue to be the preferred energy storage technology for EVs due to their excellent technical performance. This raises the question of whether we will have enough reserves or resources of key metals such as Li, Co, Ni, Cu, Al, Mn or P required for Li-ion traction batteries. In answering this question, a dynamic material flow analysis (dMFA) was conducted to quantify the global demand for these key metals driven by the increasing number of battery vehicles. The calculations also take into account potential recycling of metals from batteries after the use phase, which significantly reduces the pressure on reserves and resources.

During the period of modern medicine, there has been a multitude of procedures described to address hallux valgus deformity. Most commonly these procedures have been used to address deformity of the first metatarsal. It is generally accepted that deformity can also be intrinsic to the hallux, and if present correction must be done at this level as well. When hallux osteotomies were initially considered, they were felt to be a primary procedure. Due to less favorable outcomes when done as a primary procedure, these are now considered to be adjunctive. Like any type of corrective osseous procedure, there have been multiple variations described for osteotomy performance as well as fixation of the bone. The intent of this chapter will be to discuss the history of phalangeal osteotomies in correction of hallux valgus, indications, preoperative evaluation, technical performance of several variations, perioperative management, and discussion of current evidence.

Vocal cord ultrasound (VCUS) has been shown accurate in demonstrating vocal cord paralysis with a sensitivity of 93–100 % and specificity ranging from 97 to 100 % when performed by surgeons. Although flexible laryngoscopy (FL) is considered the gold standard for vocal cord mobility evaluation, laryngeal ultrasonography can substitute FL in most patients requiring preoperative vocal cord function evaluation as long as the vocal folds can be well visualized on cervical ultrasound.

Quality of communication service and technical performance of telecom systems are closely related concepts often employed in a confused manner.

The story of computing in nuclear medicine is one of a role enabling continually improving performance and an interaction between technologies and applications, but sometimes with a pause for technical performance to catch up with user demand. At the beginning of the medical use of radioactivity in clinical research and diagnosis, measurements of nuclear radiation, typically using a Geiger-Muller or a scintillation counter, enabled comparisons between the radioactivity of samples to be made. The next step forward came from the advent of minicomputers in the 1970s and for clinical nuclear medicine, developments in the 2000s decade included the introduction of systems giving more integration of nuclear medicine in diagnostic imaging. This chapter summarises the development of Computers in Nuclear Medicine.

Starting from 1996, the Shenyang Aluminium & Magnesium Engineering & Research Institute (SAMI) developed a series of prebaked pot technologies ranging from 160kA, 190/200kA, 230/240kA 280kA, 300kA, 350kA to 400kA pots. All of them have been applied to the industry field, which gives rise to total capacity of 12Mt of aluminium. These pot technologies were developed through effective numerical simulation modelling and by learning the success and failure of the engineering and operation of previous pot technologies. Numerical modelling, pot design, pot measurements and process control will be described in this article. The SY series pot technology has been validated for its technical performance and economy. SAMI is launching a new campaign to reduce more investment and improve pot performance.

One of the main key factors during the project life cycle is the control of the project’s real status against the planned one. It allows project manager to evaluate its health and to take corrective actions if needed. An efficient control requires an integrated supervision of the project performance, scheduling and costs. Earned Value Management (EVM) is a method that integrates these three parameters in a quantifiable form and therefore its use has been extended both in private and public companies. The latest research works about EVM go through the evaluation of the performance indexes and forecasting formulas, the applicability to any type of project and the consideration of specific projects issues such as the technical performance. This work presents the application of EVM to two real projects where the technical performance is a driver, and the further analysis of resulting EVM indexes. For the experiment, besides real data, several probable scenarios have been generated applying statistical methods by Monte Carlo simulations to evaluate the efficiency of the EVM performance indexes in this type of projects.

The increasing penetration of intermittent energy sources in existing power systems heavily impacts the planning and operational processes of system operators. Therefore, refined approaches are required to address the techno-economic issues introduced by the stochastic nature of renewable energy sources, in an attempt to harness the maximum benefit possible. To address these challenges, this work capitalizes on a set of technical performance indices. These indices are attempting to quantify some operational impacts by providing an operational and/or long-term planning tool for assessing the renewable energy penetration in transmission networks. The modeling and simulation case studies are facilitated within the powerful grid simulator DIgSILENT which enables for fast and reliable execution of a wide spectrum of computing procedures. In particular, this chapter showcases how DIgSILENT’s programming language (DPL) is utilized to create several automated scenarios that may explore potential topologies of a test system as per the systems’ operators and planners’ possible interests.