Board Design Research Articles

Implementation of Field-Programmable Gate Array Platform for Object Classification Tasks Using Spike-Based Backpropagated Deep Convolutional Spiking Neural Networks.

This paper investigates the performance of deep convolutional spiking neural networks (DCSNNs) trained using spike-based backpropagation techniques. Specifically, the study examined temporal spike sequence learning via backpropagation (TSSL-BP) and surrogate gradient descent via backpropagation (SGD-BP) as effective techniques for training DCSNNs on the field programmable gate array (FPGA) platform for object classification tasks. The primary objective of this experimental study was twofold: (i) to determine the most effective backpropagation technique, TSSL-BP or SGD-BP, for deeper spiking neural networks (SNNs) with convolution filters across various datasets; and (ii) to assess the feasibility of deploying DCSNNs trained using backpropagation techniques on low-power FPGA for inference, considering potential configuration adjustments and power requirements. The aforementioned objectives will assist in informing researchers and companies in this field regarding the limitations and unique perspectives of deploying DCSNNs on low-power FPGA devices. The study contributions have three main aspects: (i) the design of a low-power FPGA board featuring a deployable DCSNN chip suitable for object classification tasks; (ii) the inference of TSSL-BP and SGD-BP models with novel network architectures on the FPGA board for object classification tasks; and (iii) a comparative evaluation of the selected spike-based backpropagation techniques and the object classification performance of DCSNNs across multiple metrics using both public (MNIST, CIFAR10, KITTI) and private (INHA_ADAS, INHA_KLP) datasets.

Understanding board designs in Latin American firms: Insights from Brazil

Firms are facing an increasing pressure to conform to a globally-accepted good governance norm that is largely based on developing economies in order to increase board monitoring. However, many Latin American firms deviate from a set of recommended corporate governance practices by adopting board designs with practices associated with low board monitoring. We attribute this deviation to the interplay of capacity and willingness to bear the high costs of board designs with few barriers to board monitoring. In this study, we use a configurational approach to inductively identify the board designs of publicly listed Brazilian firms. Our findings uncover a typology of board designs corresponding to particular levels of firms’ capacity and willingness to bear the costs of board governance practices that conform to the good governance norm. We discuss our study’s implications for strategic corporate governance.

Organizational and Environmental Determinants of Board Performance in Community-Based Human Service Nonprofit Organizations

ABSTRACT Previous studies have examined board-level determinants of board performance but left other organizational and environmental factors underexplored. This study examines determinants of board performance through multiple theories by using a sample of community-based human service nonprofits in Taiwan. The results show that organizational characteristics, such as governance structure, organizational stability, and management professionalization, are associated with board performance. A two-tier board design and a stable organization are essential to effective board performance, while having professional chief executive officers is linked to less effective board performance. Surprisingly, the results also show that external funding sources are not associated with board performance.

Analysis of aesthetic value of ancient books in Song dynasty——Board design and font illustration system based on Song Dynasty books

The cultural industry and commodity economy of the Song Dynasty in China were very developed, which gave rise to a very complete book publishing industry. In addition to having high cultural value, the aesthetic value of books in the Song Dynasty cannot be ignored. The books of the Song Dynasty, as a model of ancient Chinese books, had very beautiful board designs and font illustrations, which had a huge impact on the design of later books. Therefore, analyzing the book design system based on the Song Dynasty can fully explore its aesthetic value, which is of great significance for the study of art history and modern book design.

Intel Stratix 10 FPGA design for track reconstruction for the ATLAS experiment at the HL-LHC

The fast reconstruction of charged particle tracks with high efficiency and track quality is an essential part of the online data selection for the ATLAS experiment at the High Luminosity LHC.Dedicated custom designed hardware boards and software simulations have been developed to assess the feasibility of a Hardware Tracking Trigger (HTT) system.The Pattern Recognition Mezzanine (PRM), as part of the HTT system, has been designed to recognize track candidates in silicon detectors with Associative Memory ASICs and to select and reconstruct tracks using linearized algorithms implemented in an Intel Stratix 10 MX FPGA.The highly parallelized FPGA design makes extensive use of the integrated High-Bandwidth-Memory.In this paper, the FPGA design for the PRM board is presented. Its functionalities have been verified in both simulations and hardware tests on an Intel Stratix 10 MX development kit.

Hardware and Firmware Design and Implementation of Twin 8-Bit and 32-Bit Microcontroller Boards for Research and Educational Applications

This document describes the design and implementation sequence of hardware and firmware components of two microcontroller boards of 8-bit and 32-bit architectures, which use similar form factors and share common input/output devices and recently developed web-based user interfaces. These developments are the result of over two decades of experimentation in educational and research measurement systems in renewable energy projects. The boards are intended to fill a gap between low-cost hobby systems and high-end research loggers, especially where international standards require control of uncertainties, as is the case with small wind turbine power curve assessments. The focus was to increase reliability in the hardware aspects and make software development easier by including user-friendly firmware and a set of in-house C language coding rules for new developments and refactoring of legacy code. Testing of the low-level driver sections and the use of automated tools such as Ceedling for higher-level module testing are also described.

Embedded federated learning over a LoRa mesh network

In on-device training of machine learning models on microcontrollers a neural network is trained on the device. A specific approach for collaborative on-device training is federated learning. In this paper, we propose embedded federated learning on microcontroller boards using the communication capacity of a LoRa mesh network. We apply a dual board design: The machine learning application that contains a neural network is trained for a keyword spotting task on the Arduino Portenta H7. For the networking of the federated learning process, the Portenta is connected to a TTGO LORA32 board that operates as a router within a LoRa mesh network. We experiment the federated learning application on the LoRa mesh network and analyze the network, system, and application level performance. The results from our experimentation suggest the feasibility of the proposed system and exemplify an implementation of a distributed application with re-trainable compute nodes, interconnected over LoRa, entirely deployed at the tiny edge.

Four-Channels High-Resolution Frequency Counter for QCM Sensor Array Using Generic FPGA XC6SLX9 Board

A frequency counter is essential for resonance-based sensors like quartz crystal microbalance. An electronic nose or tongue using a QCM sensor array requires a multichannel frequency counter to detect the frequency shift of the sensors simultaneously. The frequency counter’s resolution, precision, and sampling speed are important factors. Board size, energy consumption, and rapid deployment are also considered in the design. This work shows the development of an independent multichannel frequency counter using a commercial Xilinx Spartan 6 series XC6SLX9 board module and a microcontroller board. Both modules are general-purpose modules; therefore, there is no need for a printed circuit board design, resulting in a quick implementation: the use of FPGA results in a compact size and low energy consumption. The developed counter is designed based on a reciprocal counter utilizing the internal logic block of the FPGA. The FPGA module has a built-in 50 MHz TCXO clock and is the reference clock. The high-resolution timing of the counter is realized by multiplying the 50 MHz clock by 6 to reach 300 MHz. The multiplication utilizes the PLL modules in the FPGA. The high precision and accuracy of the counter are achieved by calibrating the timing clock to a 10 MHz rubidium oscillator. The data communication to the microcontroller is done via the SPI by implementing the SPI protocol in the FPGA. The resource is optimized by utilizing PLL and DSP blocks for the counter. Only 5% registers and 5% LUTs of the FPGA resource are used to build a four-channel frequency counter. The result shows that the counter can measure the frequency of incoming signals with a resolution of 0.033 Hz at 10 MHz with a sampling time of 1 second. The system has been tested to monitor the frequency changes of a QCM sensor array.

The case for robust academic research on corporate governance

Corporate Governance: An International ReviewVolume 31, Issue 3 p. 400-404 EDITORIAL The case for robust academic research on corporate governance Konstantinos Stathopoulos, Corresponding Author Konstantinos Stathopoulos [email protected] The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK Correspondence Konstantinos Stathopoulos, The University of Manchester, Booth Street West, Manchester M15 6PB, UK. Email: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorTill Talaulicar, Till Talaulicar University of Erfurt, Erfurt, GermanySearch for more papers by this author Konstantinos Stathopoulos, Corresponding Author Konstantinos Stathopoulos [email protected] The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK Correspondence Konstantinos Stathopoulos, The University of Manchester, Booth Street West, Manchester M15 6PB, UK. Email: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorTill Talaulicar, Till Talaulicar University of Erfurt, Erfurt, GermanySearch for more papers by this author First published: 07 May 2023 https://doi.org/10.1111/corg.12531Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL REFERENCES Bhagat, S., & Hubbard, G. (2022). Rule of law and purpose of the corporation. Corporate Governance: An International Review, 30(1), 10– 26. https://doi.org/10.1111/corg.12374 Castañer, X., Goranova, M., Hermes, N., Kavadis, N., & Zattoni, A. (2022). Ownership and corporate governance across institutional contexts. Corporate Governance: An International Review, 30(6), 638– 655. https://doi.org/10.1111/corg.12491 Chen, V. Z., Hobdari, B., Kellermanns, F., & Sluhan, A. (2022). For love or money? Family versus financial blockholders in international acquisitions. Corporate Governance: An International Review, 30(2), 140– 160. https://doi.org/10.1111/corg.12392 Chen, X., Torsin, W., & Tsang, A. (2022). International differences in the CEO gender pay gap. Corporate Governance: An International Review, 30(5), 516– 541. https://doi.org/10.1111/corg.12421 Hudson, K., & Morgan, R. (2022). Ideological homophily in board composition and interlock networks: Do liberal directors inhibit viewpoint diversity? Corporate Governance: An International Review, 30(3), 272– 289. https://doi.org/10.1111/corg.12406 Ponomareva, Y., Federo, R., Aguilera, R., & Collin, S.-O. (2022). The cost of conformity to good governance: Board design and compensation. Corporate Governance: An International Review, 30(4), 399– 420. https://doi.org/10.1111/corg.12408 Volume31, Issue3May 2023Pages 400-404 ReferencesRelatedInformation

Student Perceptions Of The Online Discussion Board

This research examined student perceptions of asynchronous discussion boards using the focused group methodology using an applied research approach. The research purpose was to explore what online students perceive to be worthwhile discussion board content and interactions in online college courses. Ultimately, the goal was to add to the growing body of literature that fosters a deeper understanding of how to improve both teaching strategy and instructional design and increase both the quality and quantity of student participation. The researchers recruited volunteers from closed undergraduate courses to participate in the survey. Emerging themes included concerns over busy work, excessive time requirements, overly structured discussion boards, and the importance of quality, relevance, professor involvement, and respect. To improve participation, teaching strategy, and instructional design for online courses, each of these themes should be addressed as part of the discussion board design and in the online classroom.

Overcoming Chip Shortages: Low-Cost Open-Source Parametric 3-D Printable Solderless SOIC to DIP Breakout Adapters

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the vulnerability of global supply chains of many products. One area that requires improved supply chain resilience and that is of particular importance to electronic designers is the shortage of basic dual in-line package (DIP) electronic components commonly used for prototyping. This anecdotal observation was investigated as a case study of using additive manufacturing to enforce contact between premade, off-the-shelf conductors to allow for electrical continuity between two arbitrary points by examining data relating to the stock quantity of electronic components, extracted from Digi-Key Electronics. This study applies this concept using an open hardware approach for the design, testing, and use of a simple, parametric, 3-D printable invention that allows for small outline integrated circuit (SOIC) components to be used in DIP package circuits (i.e., breadboards, protoboards, etc.). The additive manufacture breakout board (AMBB) design was developed using two different open-source modelers, OpenSCAD and FreeCAD, to provide reliable and consistent electrical contact between the component and the rest of the circuit and was demonstrated with reusable 8-SOIC to DIP breakout adapters. The three-part design was optimized for manufacturing with RepRap-class fused filament 3-D printers, making the AMBB a prime candidate for use in distributed manufacturing models. The AMBB offers increased flexibility during circuit prototyping by allowing arbitrary connections between the component and prototyping interface as well as superior organization through the ability to color-code different component types. The cost of the AMBB is CAD $0.066/unit, which is a 94% saving compared to conventional PCB-based breakout boards. Use of the AMBB device can provide electronics designers with an increased selection of components for through-hole use by more than a factor of seven. Future development of AMBB devices to allow for low-cost conversion between arbitrary package types provides a path towards more accessible and inclusive electronics design as well as faster prototyping and technical innovation.

Alternative Policy Management Framework in Determination of Long-Distance Travel Permit Based on Covid-19-like Symptoms Using Data Mining

Even though the obligation to carry out a Covid-19 booster vaccination still applies to long trips using public transportation in Indonesia. One clause regarding checking policy for symptoms of Covid-19 is still often ignored by train passengers because the symptoms of Covid19 are still similar to those of influenza. Somehow, the travel policy is not fair for comorbid person which cannot have Covid-19 vaccination. This research goal is to propose an alternative policy, which is a part of policy management framework, to prevent the transmission of covid19 by long-distance train travel in new era when the enforcement of Covid-19 regulation has been repealed. As alternative of Covid-19 vaccination requirement, the use of data mining algorithm will be proposed ning algorithm to determine whether or not it is permissible to travel long distances by using the dominant covid-19 like symptoms. The results of this study are in the form of a reasoning knowledge regarding the symptoms that passengers need to pay close attention to avoid the risk of transmission of Covid-19. Even though the accuracy of the decision is still 66.67% using C4.5 algorithm, it is the first step to be implemented in a new era, namely the era of prevention of Covid-19, no longer an era of mitigation. The publication of this result is put on bulletin board design

Aperture-Shared All-Metal Endfire High-Gain Parabolic Antenna for Millimeter-Wave Multibeam and Sub-6-GHz Communication Applications

This communication demonstrates an endfire aperture-shared antenna for millimeter-wave (mm-wave) multibeam and sub-6-GHz communication applications. High-gains are achieved based on the parabolic reflectors (PRs) that can collimate the electromagnetic (EM) wave radiated from the feeds at the focal points. In contrast to the full metal-based PR in the sub-6-GHz band, the mm-wave PR is implemented using periodic metal gratings, which shows a bandgap in the mm-wave band while allowing the sub-6-GHz EM wave free to pass. In this way, the sub-6-GHz and mm-wave parabolic antennas share the same radiating aperture with near 100% aperture reuse efficiency and tiny mutual interference. Multiple mm-wave feeds are used to achieve multibeam radiation without a complicated feed network. The radiating aperture is gradually enlarged in a flared structure to enhance the gain further while maintaining a high aperture efficiency. In contrast to the state-of-the-art printed circuit board (PCB) designs, the proposed antenna is an all-metal one with the advantage of no dielectric loss. A prototype operating at the C- and Ka-bands is designed, prototyped, and measured.

Design and Validation of a Low-Level Controller for Hierarchically Controlled Exoskeletons.

In this work, a generalized low-level controller is presented for sensor collection, motor input, and networking with a high-level controller. In hierarchically controlled exoskeletal systems, which utilize series elastic actuators (SEAs), the hardware for sensor collection and motor command is separated from the computationally expensive high-level controller algorithm. The low-level controller is a hardware device that must collect sensor feedback, condition and filter the measurements, send actuator inputs, and network with the high-level controller at a real-time rate. This research outlines the hardware of two printed circuit board (PCB) designs for collecting and conditioning sensor feedback from two SEA subsystems and an inertial measurement unit (IMU). The SEAs have a joint and motor encoder, motor current, and force sensor feedback that can be measured using the proposed generalized low-level controller presented in this work. In addition, the high and low-level networking approach is discussed in detail, with a full breakdown of the data storage within a communication frame during the run-time operation. The challenges of device synchronization and updates rates of high and low-level controllers are also discussed. Further, the low-level controller was validated using a pendulum test bed, complete with full sensor feedback, including IMU results for two open-loop scenarios. Moreover, this work can be extended to other hierarchically controlled robotic systems that utilize SEA subsystems, such as humanoid robots, assistive rehabilitation robots, training simulators, and robotic-assisted surgical devices. The hardware and software designs presented in this work are available open source to enable researchers with a direct solution for data acquisition and the control of low-level devices in a robotic system.

Design of Experimental Circuit Board of Spectrometer Amplifier in Nuclear Electronics

The signal output by a nuclear radiation detector is small in amplitude and irregular in waveform, which needs to be amplified and shaped to measure accurately. Spectrometer amplifiers assume the role of signal amplification and shaping in nuclear radiation measurement instruments, strictly maintaining useful information from the detector output (such as energy information and time information of the rays) and minimizing their distortion during signal processing. According to the needs of undergraduate experimental teaching and nuclear instrument development and application of nuclear electronics courses in nuclear science and technology, this paper designs a flexibly switchable pole zero phase extinction circuit, linear pulse amplification circuit, integral filter forming circuit, and baseline restoration circuit in the experimental circuit board of spectrometer amplifier. The total magnification is about 0 ~ 2040 times adjustable, and the forming time is 0~20μs adjustable. It has the functions of limiting voltage amplitude and optional input and output polarity, which can be adapted to scintillator detectors, proportional counters, Si-PIN, SDD, HpGe and other semiconductor detectors.

Design and Construction of Electrical Power Supply System: The Local Content Addition

This paper presents the design and construction of an electrical power supply extension box intending to incorporate local content addition as an alternative to imported boxes. The local content addition is aimed at reducing the importation of off-the-shelf electrical power supply extension boxes and replacing them with locally sourced components. The design process began with a review of the literature on the current uses of extension boxes in the electrical power supply. This was followed by the selection of the various components and the construction of the box. To test the efficacy of the local content addition, a series of tests were conducted to ascertain the box’s performance and general reliability. The results of the tests revealed that the designed extension box was able to outperform the off-the-shelf boxes in terms of safety, durability, and efficiency. The advantages of the local content addition design in comparison to the off-the-shelf boxes were also discussed. This study is expected to open up the use of locally sourced components in the electrical power supply industry and to bring about a reduction in the cost of power supply systems. The paper provides a methodological approach to the design and construction of an Electrical Power Supply Board with the addition of local content.

System Design of a Common Circuit Board of Ground Test Instrument for Payload Data Handling System

System Design of a Common Circuit Board of Ground Test Instrument for Payload Data Handling System

Precision Design and Fabrication of Noise-free High-Frequency Amplifier Board for Enhanced Signal Processing

An optical signal processing system is widely used for long-distance signal transmission with high speed and low attenuation. It plays a fundamental role in optical communication systems that involves transmitting, receiving, amplifying, and manipulating optical signals which are high-frequency signals. This paper portrays the design of a high-frequency amplifier to amplify the low-amplitude high-frequency, electrical signal procured from the optical signal. A four-stage high frequency amplifier has been designed using an AD8009 high-frequency Op-amp for the highest frequency of 1GHz, and for the fastest rise time of 0.35 nanoseconds. This amplifier board incorporates the high-frequency PCB design rules related to the characteristic impedance, impedance matching, signal crosstalk, the propagation delay of the transmission lines, transmission techniques for the ground plane, and termination of transmission lines for the effective use of high-frequency signals. It has also counted on the issues of electromagnetic interference, power supply decoupling, noise, and high-speed operational amplifier. The proposed system resulted in suitable amplification of low amplitude high-frequency electrical signal, having no signal cross-talks, electromagnetic interference, signal ringing, signal reflections, and posed larger bandwidth. The improved quality of high frequency processed signals with good signal integrity and moderate circuit oscillations achieved by this system will benefit the optical communication system.

System Design of a Common Circuit Board of Ground Test Instrument for Payload Data Handling System

System Design of a Common Circuit Board of Ground Test Instrument for Payload Data Handling System

An Original-Design Board Game to Increase Student Comprehension of Cellular Respiration Pathways

Cellular respiration is a daunting topic for many students in introductory biology courses. Students are challenged at conceptual and factual levels, since instruction covers multiple metabolic pathways occurring across different cellular compartments, involving abstract energy and electron transfers through diverse chemical reactions. Lecture-based instruction may clearly convey details of cellular respiration to students, but the complexity of this topic suggests alternative, active learning strategies may improve student comprehension and retention. I designed an original board game as a teaching tool for cellular respiration, targeted at improving learning outcomes for advanced high school, introductory undergraduate, and upper-level undergraduate biology students. &ldquo;Aerobic Respiration: The Board Game&rdquo; applies multiple learning strategies (quiz questions, student-completed study table, visual, tactile and quantitative learning, and game-play) with the goal that students are simultaneously entertained and invested in understanding this complex topic. Initial application in a small undergraduate introductory biology section (<em>ca.</em> 25&ndash;30 students) suggested improved student understanding of some aspects of cellular respiration. Use in a longer class or lab period and simplification of game board design and instructions should improve effectiveness of the game. Students had significantly favorable perceptions of the game as a learning tool. Included game board and game cards are provided to reflect multiple student academic levels, and are fully editable. Ordering information for materials and game pieces is also included. <em>Primary Image:</em>&nbsp;Example setup for Aerobic Respiration: The Board Game.