Abstract-The large number of requirements and opportunities for automatic identification in manufacturing domains such as automotive and electronics has accelerated the demand for item-level tracking using radio-frequency identification technology. End-users are interested in implementing automatic identification systems, which are capable of ensuring full component process history, traceability and tracking preventing costly downtime to rectify processing defects and product recalls. The research outlined in this paper investigates the feasibility of implementing an RFID system for the manufacturing and assembly of crankshafts. The proposed solution involves the attachment of bolts with embedded RFID functionality by fitting a reader antenna reader to an overhead gantry that spans the production line and reads and writes production data to the tags. The manufacturing, assembly and service data captured through RFID tags and stored on a local server, could further be integrated with higher-level business applications facilitating seamless integration within the factory.

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Tan spot, caused by the fungus Pyrenophora triticirepentis, is economically important foliar disease in Latvia, Lithuania, and Romania; however, race structure from Baltic States and Romania is not known. In this study, we performed genotypic and phenotypic race characterization of a large collection of P. triticirepentis isolates from these countries to determine race structure and utilize this information for better disease management and breeding wheat for tan spot resistance. We characterized 231 single spore isolates from Latvia (n = 15), Lithuania (n = 107), and Romania (n = 109) for Ptr ToxA and Ptr ToxB genes using two genes specific primers. A subset (139) of 231 isolates were further characterized for their race structure by inoculating them individually on tan spot wheat differentials set. Majority (83%) of the 231 isolates amplified Ptr ToxA gene suggesting prevalence of race 1 and 2. Further, phenotypic characterization of 139 isolates also showed wide prevalence of races 1 (68%), 2 (8%), 3 (11%), and 4 (5%) were also identified from Baltic States as well as Romania. Eighteen of the isolates (13%) did not seem to be of any of the eight known races as they lacked Ptr ToxA gene but they behaved like either race 1 or race 2, suggesting possibility of novel toxins in these isolates as their virulence tools.

Abstract-Today's process industries typically utilise a very large set of multi-disciplinary, connected, heterogeneous systems composed of a large number of components, from individual sensors to whole control, monitoring and supervisory control systems. The use of such process control systems spans a wide range of application domains from traditional process industries to power distribution and residential applications. Regardless of the application, the design, implementation, optimised operation, maintenance and monitoring of such complex systems is often difficult to effectively achieve. Therefore, there is a need for the migration of such systems to scalable and modular plug and play platforms supported by effective engineering tools. This paper outlines a distributed modular service-based approach to the implementation of a real-time residential automation system application composed of heating, home automation and vehicle parking systems. The main focus of this paper is on the design and simulation of this System of Systems (SoS) focusing on the home parking, heating and vehicle monitoring application components and their interactions. The use of a component-based engineering approach is reported on providing 3D modelling and simulation capabilities prior to the physical implementation of the system, and from which the orchestration logic can be automatically generated. A potential toolkit for SOA-based application design and deployment is suggested.

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