GPS/RTS data fusion to overcome signal deficiencies in certain bridge dynamic monitoring projects

Fanis Moschas,Panos A. Psimoulis,Stathis C. Stiros 국제구조공학회 2013 Smart Structures and Systems, An International Jou Vol.12 No.3

Measurement of deflections of certain bridges is usually hampered by corruption of the GPS signal by multipath associated with passing vehicles, resulting to unrealistically large apparent displacements. Field data from the Gorgopotamos train bridge in Greece and systematic experiments revealed that such bias is due to superimposition of two major effects, (i) changes in the geometry of satellites because of partial masking of certain satellites by the passing vehicles (this effect can be faced with solutions excluding satellites that get temporarily blocked by passing vehicles) and (ii) dynamic multipath caused from reflection of satellite signals on the passing trains, a high frequency multipath effect, different from the static multipath. Dynamic multipath seems to have rather irregular amplitude, depending on the geometry of measured satellites, but a typical pattern, mainly consisting of a baseline offset, wide base peaks correlating with the sequence of main reflective surfaces of the vehicles passing next to the antenna. In cases of limited corruption of GPS signal by dynamic multipath, corresponding to scale distortion of the short-period component of the GPS waveforms, we propose an algorithm which permits to reconstruct the waveform of bridge deflections using a weak fusion of GPS and RTS data, based on the complementary characteristics of the two instruments. By application of the proposed algorithm we managed to extract semi-static and dynamic displacements and oscillation frequencies of a historical railway bridge under train loading by using noisy GPS and RTS recordings. The combination of GPS and RTS is possible because these two sensors can be fully collocated and have complementary characteristics, with RTS and GPS focusing on the long- and short-period characteristics of the displacement, respectively.

Analysis and Implementation of High Step-Up DC/DC Convertor with Modified Super-Lift Technique

Fani, Rezvan,Farshidi, Ebrahim,Adib, Ehsan,Kosarian, Abdolnabi The Korean Institute of Power Electronics 2019 JOURNAL OF POWER ELECTRONICS Vol.19 No.3

In this paper, a new high step up DC/DC converter with a modified super-lift technique is presented. The coupled inductor technique is combined with the super-lift technique to provide a tenfold or more voltage gain with a proper duty cycle and a low turn ratio. Due to a high conversion ratio, the voltage stress on the semiconductor devices is reduced. As a result, low voltage ultra-fast recovery diodes and low on resistance MOSFET can be used, which improves the reverse recovery problems and conduction losses. This converter employs a passive clamp circuit to recycle the energy stored in the leakage inductance. The proposed convertor features a high conversion ratio with a low turn ratio, low voltage stress, low reverse recovery losses, omission of the inrush currents of the switch capacitor loops, high efficiency, small volume and reduced cost. This converter is suitable for renewable energy applications. The operational principle and a steady-state analysis of the proposed converter are presented in details. A 200W, 30V input, 380V output laboratory prototype circuit is implemented to confirm the theoretical analysis.

SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING AND CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT IN THE ITALIAN FASHION INDUSTRY: EVIDENCE OF AN EMPIRICAL RESEARCH

Virginia Fani,Romeo Bandinelli,Monica Faraoni,Rinaldo Rinaldi 글로벌지식마케팅경영학회 2015 Global Fashion Management Conference Vol.2015 No.06

The aim of this paper is to understand which are the most effective social media strategies for gaining customer engagement for fashion companies. The study has been conducted using the empirical research methodology and the information has been collected with the use of an online survey distributed among companies belonging to the fashion industry. 42 questionnaires have been collected and therefore discussed. The analysis led to the definition of a list of strategies used by fashion companies on the adoption of social media tools. Subsequently, activities and the social tools able to improve customer engagement have been analysed. Finally, according to the size of the companies and to their positioning on the market, a descriptive analysis of the results have been carried out, comparing companies with similar characteristics. The research shows that companies of the same segment adopt the same approach to social media as well as a similar set of social media marketing strategies. The findings of this paper confirm the growing interest both from academics and practitioners for Social Media Marketing tools and they will suggest implications to fashion brands to manage their customer engagement and their social media activity.

PRACTICES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY IN THE ITALIAN FASHION CLOTHING AND LEATHER SECTORS: OUTCOMES OF AN EMPIRICAL RESEARCH

Virginia Fani,Romeo Bandinelli,Barbara Resta,Stefano Dotti,Rinaldo Rinaldi 글로벌지식마케팅경영학회 2015 Global Fashion Management Conference Vol.2015 No.06

The fashion supply chain, even if represents one of the most important economies of the European industry, is one of the most polluting industries in the world, being a huge consumer of water, electricity and chemicals, and discharging massive quantities of wastes to land. Despite this fact, only few contributions have offered an analysis of the practices adopted by fashion companies to reduce its environmental impact. This paper present an empirical study on the sustainability practices adoption of Italian companies in the fashion Clothing, Leather industries. The research has been conducted through an online survey submitted to a sample of 192 Italian companies, having respectively the 14 and 15 ATECO 2007 code in the AIDA database, with a response rate of 13%. The results have been analyzed through the statistical software SPSS, in order to conduct a cluster analysis and 6 different clusters have been identified. Companies belong to cluster 1 do not apply any sustainability practices, even if they are coherent with what they declare on their website. Companies of cluster 2 adopt some practices, but sustainability is not integrated into their culture. Cluster 3 is composed by companies that declare a high interest to the environment, mainly for marketing reason. This way, companies of this group represent the ones more misaligned and not consistent from the practices declared on their website and the one really implemented. Cluster 5 is composed by companies endorsing environmental sustainability as a part of the company values and a high level of practices implemented is reported. Last, companies belonging to Cluster 6 have the environmental sustainability as a strategic objective and implements sustainability practices in a consistent and coordinated way.

Analysis and Implementation of High Step-Up DC/DC Convertor with Modified Super-Lift Technique

Rezvan Fani,Ebrahim Farshidi,Ehsan Adib,Abdolnabi Kosarian 전력전자학회 2019 JOURNAL OF POWER ELECTRONICS Vol.19 No.3

In this paper, a new high step up DC/DC converter with a modified super-lift technique is presented. The coupled inductor technique is combined with the super-lift technique to provide a tenfold or more voltage gain with a proper duty cycle and a low turn ratio. Due to a high conversion ratio, the voltage stress on the semiconductor devices is reduced. As a result, low voltage ultra-fast recovery diodes and low on resistance MOSFET can be used, which improves the reverse recovery problems and conduction losses. This converter employs a passive clamp circuit to recycle the energy stored in the leakage inductance. The proposed convertor features a high conversion ratio with a low turn ratio, low voltage stress, low reverse recovery losses, omission of the inrush currents of the switch capacitor loops, high efficiency, small volume and reduced cost. This converter is suitable for renewable energy applications. The operational principle and a steady-state analysis of the proposed converter are presented in details. A 200W, 30V input, 380V output laboratory prototype circuit is implemented to confirm the theoretical analysis.

Nuclear Theranostics in Turkey

Murat Fani Bozkurt 대한핵의학회 2019 핵의학 분자영상 Vol.53 No.1

Nuclear theranostics functions as a bridge which connects targeted diagnosis to targeted therapy, just like Turkey functions as a geographical bridge which connects Asia to Europe. This unique geographical site of the country plays an important role with regard to introduction of novel scientific and technologic improvements, which originate from one continent to another, in the era of accelerated information. The first nuclear medicine practice in Turkey started in the beginning of 1950s with the first radioiodine treatment, which actually was a debut for nuclear theranostics in Turkey, years before many other countries in the world. For the time being, along with radioiodine treatment, many other theranostic applications such as I-131 MIBG treatment, Lu-177/Y-90 DOTA peptide treatment, Lu-177 PSMA treatment, Y-90 microsphere treatment, and bone palliative treatment are being performed in many centers countrywide. As science and technology improves, novel theranostic applications are eagerly awaited to be introduced in near future. This paper summarizes the story of nuclear theranostics in Turkey and aims to give an overview on the current status of theranostic applications in Turkey.

GPS/RTS data fusion to overcome signal deficiencies in certain bridge dynamic monitoring projects

Moschas, Fanis,Psimoulis, Panos A.,Stiros, Stathis C. Techno-Press 2013 Smart Structures and Systems, An International Jou Vol.12 No.3

Measurement of deflections of certain bridges is usually hampered by corruption of the GPS signal by multipath associated with passing vehicles, resulting to unrealistically large apparent displacements. Field data from the Gorgopotamos train bridge in Greece and systematic experiments revealed that such bias is due to superimposition of two major effects, (i) changes in the geometry of satellites because of partial masking of certain satellites by the passing vehicles (this effect can be faced with solutions excluding satellites that get temporarily blocked by passing vehicles) and (ii) dynamic multipath caused from reflection of satellite signals on the passing trains, a high frequency multipath effect, different from the static multipath. Dynamic multipath seems to have rather irregular amplitude, depending on the geometry of measured satellites, but a typical pattern, mainly consisting of a baseline offset, wide base peaks correlating with the sequence of main reflective surfaces of the vehicles passing next to the antenna. In cases of limited corruption of GPS signal by dynamic multipath, corresponding to scale distortion of the short-period component of the GPS waveforms, we propose an algorithm which permits to reconstruct the waveform of bridge deflections using a weak fusion of GPS and RTS data, based on the complementary characteristics of the two instruments. By application of the proposed algorithm we managed to extract semi-static and dynamic displacements and oscillation frequencies of a historical railway bridge under train loading by using noisy GPS and RTS recordings. The combination of GPS and RTS is possible because these two sensors can be fully collocated and have complementary characteristics, with RTS and GPS focusing on the long- and short-period characteristics of the displacement, respectively.

CSR POLICY AND PRACTICES: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF HIGH-END FASHION RETAIL

Virginia Fani,Alessandro Da Giau,Laura Macchion,Romeo Bandinelli,Federico Caniato,Maria Caridi,Pamela Danese,Rinaldo Rinaldi,Andrea Vinelli 글로벌지식마케팅경영학회 2015 Global Fashion Management Conference Vol.2015 No.06

This paper aims to investigate the alignment between fashion companies’ CSR policy, as communicated through company website, and CSR retail practices customers can actually observe or get information about when visiting company’s retail stores. The case study analysis is carried out using the Mystery Shopping technique. The sample is made up of companies belonging to the top of the fashion luxury pyramid, whilst the visited stores are located in Italy. The purpose of this paper is to provide a classification of companies’ behaviours in deploying CRS policy at the retail level, and to highlight different levels of fit between companies’ CSR policy and CSR practices communicated at the retail-store level. Our results reveal that several companies show a mismatch between their CSR policy and CRS practices communicated in stores to customers.

Energy, Exergy and Exergoeconomic Analysis of Solar Thermal Power Plant Hybrid with Designed PCM Storage

Maryam Fani,Nima Norouzi,Molood Ramezani 대한설비공학회 2020 International Journal Of Air-Conditioning and Refr Vol.28 No.4

The tendency of renewable energies is one of the consequences of changing attitudes towards global energy issues. As a result, solar energy, which is the leader among renewable energies based on availability and potential, plays a crucial role in thoroughly filing global needs. Significant problems with the solar thermal power plants (STPP) are the operation time, which is limited by daylight and is approximately half of the power plants with fossil fuels, and the capital cost. In the present study, a new suggested sketch of adding latent heat storage (LHS) filled with commercial phase change material (PCM) to a 500-kW STPP case study has been investigated. Solar system details and irradiation amounts for a case study, including total and beam radiation have been determined. Also, the theoretical energetic and exergetic analysis of adding PCM storage to STTP is conducted, which showed a 19% improvement in the exergetic efficiency of the power plant to reach 30%. Besides, an optimized storage tank and appropriate PCM material have been investigated and selected concerning the practical limitations of the case study. By designing a new cycle, the LHS will be charged during daylight and will be discharged at night, doubling power plant operation time up to 2500h. Finally, exergoeconomic survey of STPP hybrid with PCM storage was carried out using Engineering Equation Solver (EES) program with genetic algorithm (GA) for three different scenarios, based on eight decision variables, which led us to decrease final product cost (electricity) in optimized scenario up to 30% compared to base case scenario from 28.99 to 20.27 $/kWh for the case study. Also, a comparison is made to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed new cycle on 250, 500, 1000, and 2000 kW STTPs.

Production of a Fusion Protein Containing the Antigenic Domain 1 of Human Cytomegalovirus Glycoprotein B

( Sousa ),( Fani ),( Susana Ferreira ),( Joao Queiroz ),( Fernanda Domingues ) 한국미생물생명공학회 2006 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.16 No.7