Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MEETING THE ACCURACY CHALLENGE IN AIRBORNE LIDAR BATHYMETRY

The essential qualities for a successful airborne lidar bathymeter are accuracy, capability, and cost effectiveness. Over the past twenty five years, developments in lasers, optics, electronics, and computers have made it somewhat easier to construct viable airborne lidar systems with varying purposes, and an increasing number are being constructed. Fewer than ten airborne lidar bathymeters exist in the world today, however, because of limited demand and because of the fact that it is still very difficult to meet the above three requirements, particularly the first. It is not hard to get answers from a system. It takes a great deal of understanding and effort, however, to obtain results that will meet international accuracy standards and the operational requirements of the typical customer. The primary considerations in the design, construction, and operation of an airborne bathymeter must be data quality and depth measurement accuracy. Both the physical environment and system hardware components contribute many error sources that must be overcome. This requires thoughtful hardware and software system design and construction, as well as the prediction, modelling, and application of appropriate correctors. Operational procedures for quality control, calibration, and maintenance must be established and followed. In this paper, we describe the large number of hardware design features, software algorithms, bias correctors, displays, and operational procedures that have been developed to provide the basis for a system which will meet required accuracy standards while maintaining efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The above features have all been incorporated into the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers SHOALS operational airborne lidar bathymetry system. SHOALS has been operated, from both a helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft, to meet a wide range of survey requirements in categories such as charting, dredging, coastal engineering, resource management, modeling, and reconnaissance. Although SHOALS hardware was designed ten years ago, that design has been demonstrated to be optimal through seven years of successful field operation covering a wide range of sponsors, requirements, locations around the world, and environmental conditions. The SHOALS post-flight data processing software suite has provided high accuracy, performed flawlessly, and been regularly upgraded to improve utility and efficiency. The overall system design has proven to be very flexible, and a number of new features and capabilities have been added in hardware and software in response to customer requirements. In this paper, we will describe hardware and software design philosophy and critical design considerations. We discuss in detail how a large number of potential or realized error sources, inherent to airborne lidar hydrography systems in general and for SHOALS in particular, have been overcome.
Inhibition of F3 Layer at Low Latitude Station Sanya During Recovery Phase of Geomagnetic Storms

A special F2 layer stratification structure named F3 layer occurs frequently in equatorial and low latitude ionosphere during summer daytime. In this study, a new phenomenon of decreasing occurrence of the F3 layer, and narrowing differences of virtual heights between the F3 and F2 layers in the recovery phase of geomagnetic storms is reported. We named this phenomenon as the inhibition of F3 layer event (IFLE). Using the ionosonde observations during summer of 2012–2015 at Sanya (18.3°N, 109.6°E, dip latitude 12.6°N), we found that IFLE occurred during 14 geomagnetic storms (−127 nT ≤ Dstmin ≤ −22 nT), which was accompanied by the thinning and lowering bottom ionosphere, and decreasing the crest‐to‐trough ratio of total electron content (TEC). Together with the ion drift data measured by Defense Meteorological Satellite Program F18, we suggest that the IFLE is mainly caused by the westward disturbance dynamo electric field (DDEF; downward drift velocity), taking disadvantage of the formation of the F3 layer. The observed decrease in the crest‐to‐trough ratio of TEC also indicates that the westward DDEF should prompt IFLE by providing less plasma from the equatorial region to the low latitude. Hence, IFLE then can be a good indicator to show how the magnetosphere‐ionospheric coupling process affects the low and equatorial ionosphere. Notably, the results also indicate that even a very weak geomagnetic storm can generate significant changes in ionospheric state at low latitude.
Automatic Three-Dimensional Optimisation of a Modern Tandem Compressor Vane

In order to increase the performance of a modern gas turbine, compressors are required to provide higher pressure ratio and avoid incurring higher losses. The tandem aerofoil has the potential to achieve a higher blade loading in combination with lower losses compared to single vanes. The main reason for this is due to the fact that a new boundary layer is generated on the second blade surface and the turning can be achieved with smaller separation occurring. The lift split between the two vanes with respect to the overall turning is an important design choice.In this paper an automated three-dimensional optimisation of a highly loaded compressor stator is presented. For optimisation a novel methodology based on the Multipoint Approximation Method (MAM) is used. MAM makes use of an automatic design of experiments, response surface modelling and a trust region to represent the design space. The CFD solutions are obtained with the high-fidelity 3D Navier-Stokes solver HYDRA. In order to increase the stage performance the 3D shape of the tandem vane is modified changing both the front and rear aerofoils. Moreover the relative location of the two aerofoils is controlled modifying the axial and tangential relative positions. It is shown that the novel optimisation methodology is able to cope with a large number of design parameters and produce designs which performs better than its single vane counterpart in terms of efficiency and numerical stall margin.One of the key challenges in producing an automatic optimisation process has been the automatic generation of high-fidelity computational meshes. The multi block-structured, high-fidelity meshing tool PADRAM is enhanced to cope with the tandem blade topologies. The wakes of each aerofoil is properly resolved and the interaction and the mixing of the front aerofoil wake and the second tandem vane are adequately resolved.Copyright © 2014 by Rolls-Royce plc
Vaccine Hesitancy: In the Age of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Vaccines are one of the most significant innovations of modern science. Worldwide, millions of lives are saved each year by the vaccine. Vaccine hesitancy, which represents the refusal to receive vaccines when vaccination services are available and reachable, is a major obstacle to global health. While vaccine hesitancy has been present for many years, its damaging effects are likely to be more evident during the COVID-19 pandemic than ever before. This study aimed to find out common causes of vaccine hesitancy, assess COVID-19 vaccination acceptance rates worldwide, and present the approaches by which vaccine hesitancy rate can be reduced. This study revealed though vaccine hesitancy is a worldwide phenomenon, the causes differ from country to country or reign. More studies are needed to address COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, especially in the Middle and South America, the Middle East and North Africa, Central Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern Europe. The leading causes of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy are found lack of confidence towards the government or pharmaceutical companies, less concern about the outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and shortage of supply of different types of COVID-19 vaccines. Healthcare personnel and social media play an essential role in addressing vaccine hesitancy. Convincing the general population about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, the consequence of being unvaccinated, and the delivery of free vaccines in an easily accessible way can reduce vaccine hesitancy rate.
A critical evaluation of the EFQM model

Purpose – As with the ISO 9000 standard, some doubts arise from the scientific literature about the impact of the EFQM model in companies' success. This paper aims to present an analysis of the relationships in the 2003 version of the EFQM model using data from the actual self‐evaluations of 68 organizations. It also analyzes if there are possible differences in the EFQM implementation between public and private organizations.Design/methodology/approach – The Partial Least Squares (PLS) method is used to test hypotheses.Findings – Results show that the model does not behave in the way that the designers of the EFQM expected. Two of the results variables are not sufficiently correlated with the others to be part of the complete model. When the model is tested without these two variables, the connection between enablers fails, since policy and strategy, people, and partnership and resources do not have statistically significant effects on the process. There is a slightly higher achievement in the group of m.
Pressure Tuned Structural, Electronic and Elastic Properties of U3Si2C2: A First Principles Study

U3Si2C2 is expected to be a new nuclear fuel as a ternary compound of uranium, silicon and carbon. However, the relevant research on U3Si2C2 under accident conditions is rarely reported. Hence it is necessary to explore the service behavior of the potential U-Si-C ternary nuclear fuel in extreme environments. In this work, the structural characteristics, electronic behaviors and mechanical properties of U3Si2C2, such as stable crystalline structures, density of states, charge distributions, electron localization function, electronic thermal conductivity and elastic modulus under extreme high pressure are calculated by density functional theory. The calculation results show that the lattice volume sharply increases when the external stress reached 9.8 GPa. Ionic and metallic nature coexist as to the bonding characteristics of U3Si2C2, and the ionic takes the dominant position in bonding. The toughness of U3Si2C2 is predicted to be better compared to U3Si2. Our theoretical investigation may help with the application of U3Si2C2-based fuel and the design of ternary uranium fuels.
Sexual reproductive behaviours of tardigrades: a review

ABSTRACT The first observation of sexual reproductive behaviour of a tardigrade was reported in 1895, and much knowledge on this topic has accumulated since then. Up to the 2000s, these observations were described in detailed reports including text, sketches and photographs. Then, innovative video recordings were made in 2016 of the reproductive behaviours of tardigrades that oviposit their eggs into exuviae, allowing the clear visualization of the phenomenon. Recently, we recorded tardigrade species laying their eggs freely in the environment. Thus, knowledge of tardigrade reproduction has been increasing. We therefore summarize the known sexual reproductive behaviours of tardigrades and present some unresolved questions herein.
Room temperature synthesis of a luminescent crystalline Cu–BTC coordination polymer and metal–organic framework

Synthesis of crystalline materials is elemental in the field of coordination chemistry towards optical applications. In the present work, coordination between copper and benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid (BTC) is controlled by adjusting the pH scale of the reaction mixture at room temperature to synthesize two crystalline structures: metal–organic framework HKUST-1 and coordination polymer Cu(BTC)·3H2O. The post-synthesis transformation of HKUST-1 into Cu(BTC)·3H2O is further demonstrated. Single crystals of both structures are studied by multi-laser Raman and luminescence spectroscopy. It is found that both crystals exhibit photoluminescence in the range of 700–900 cm−1 within the optical gap of the bulk materials, which can be associated with crystallographic defects. This work gives impetus for the synthesis of large metal–organic crystals based on which optical properties can be studied in depth.
Minor league baseball and local economic development

Sport, including minor league baseball, is an object of public policy. Communities can exploit it to promote economic and social well-being, but not without risk. Drawing on case studies of fifteen locales including Fresno, Birmingham, Durham, Buffalo, Indianapolis, and Colorado Springs, Arthur Johnson systematically analyzes the political process by which communities decide to invest in stadiums for minor league baseball teams. He explores such factors as the presence or absence of a development strategy as a guide in decision making, and the value to a community of a minor league team and its stadium. Johnson also describes the dynamics of minor league baseball franchise relocation, the importance of intergovernmental relations to stadium financing, and the organization and business of minor league baseball, including its formal relationship with major league baseball.
Cooling the UK housing stock post-2050s

This paper investigates the risk of projected post-2050s overheating in existing, retrofitted and new-build dwellings in the United Kingdom. As shown in the previous research, passive measures may not be sufficient in mitigating overheating risk. Therefore, mechanical cooling technologies that may be deployed to ‘adapt’ to a warming climate are tested for energy and CO2 implications. For retrofits, heating demand is projected to remain dominant, whereas in post-2016 new-build, greater cooling system efficiency will be important. Thermal mass is shown to reduce future cooling load. The heat recovery element of mechanical ventilation with heat recovery may be rendered unnecessary in super-efficient homes. Ceiling fans coupled with natural ventilation may be sufficient in providing thermal comfort in the north of England. Ultimately, not planning for future overheating and cooling systems could create a new performance gap in design, construction and occupant behaviour. Practical application : Overheating, already experienced in dwellings throughout the United Kingdom and projected to increase in occurrence, should be considered in all new design and retrofit. Dwellings designed to meet thermal comfort performance targets may be at risk of non-compliance as a result of a warming climate. Furthermore, dwellings designed to meet energy performance targets may be at risk of non-compliance as a result of potential need for cooling systems. The findings have implications for policy-making in relation to decarbonisation of the electricity grid, implementation of the Green Deal and upgrading building regulations to future-proof new and existing housing against a warming climate.
The Role of Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF) Signaling in Tissue Repair and Regeneration

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are a large family of secretory molecules that act through tyrosine kinase receptors known as FGF receptors. They play crucial roles in a wide variety of cellular functions, including cell proliferation, survival, metabolism, morphogenesis, and differentiation, as well as in tissue repair and regeneration. The signaling pathways regulated by FGFs include RAS/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase (PI3K)–protein kinase B (AKT), phospholipase C gamma (PLCγ), and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT). To date, 22 FGFs have been discovered, involved in different functions in the body. Several FGFs directly or indirectly interfere with repair during tissue regeneration, in addition to their critical functions in the maintenance of pluripotency and dedifferentiation of stem cells. In this review, we summarize the roles of FGFs in diverse cellular processes and shed light on the importance of FGF signaling in mechanisms of tissue repair and regeneration.
Evaluation of clays as linings to landfill

Abstract The use of remoulded natural clays as low-permeability barriers or as part of multiple-layered lining systems to landfill cells is widespread. Geotechnical considerations in the evaluation of possible sources of clay and the design and construction of clay liners are addressed. A study made of individual geological deposits within Lincolnshire is outlined and use of the term ‘material suitability’ to define the potential of a deposit to form a low-permeability barrier is discussed. A scheme for classifying deposits as unsuitable, marginal or suitable based primarily on plasticity data and variability is discussed and examples from the classification study are presented. The term ‘acceptability in earthworks’ is also introduced and relates to the requirement to place acceptance limits on the proposed lining material to achieve the desired low-permeability barrier and to ensure the practicality of constructing the lining. The use of the moisture condition value (MCV) test in the assessment of acceptability and control of earthworks is discussed. The requirement of a maximum allowable permeability for a clay lining dictates the upper limit to the acceptable MCV range while the shear strength would usually dictate the lower limit.
Analysis of the time response of multiconductor transmission lines with frequency-dependent losses by the method of convolution-characteristics

A new method for analysis of the time response of multiconductor transmission lines with frequency-dependent losses is presented. This method can solve the time response of various kinds of transmission lines with arbitrary terminal networks. Particularly, it can analyze nonuniform lines with frequency-dependent losses, for which no effective method for analyzing their time response exists. This method starts from the frequency-domain telegrapher's equations. After decoupling and inversely Fourier transforming, then a set of decoupled time-domain equations including convolutions are given. These equations can be solved with the characteristic method. The results obtained with this method are stable and accurate. Two examples are given to illustrate the application of this method to various multiconductor transmission lines. >
Effects of a rotating periodic lattice on coherent quantum states in a ring topology: The case of positive nonlinearity

We study the landscape of solutions of the coherent quantum states in a ring shaped lattice potential in the context of ultracold atoms with an effective positive nonlinearity induced by interatomic interactions. The exact analytical solutions in the absence of lattice are used as a starting point and the transformation of those solutions is mapped as the lattice is introduced and strengthened. This approach allows a simple classification of all the solutions into states with periods commensurate/incommensruate with the lattice period and those with/without nodes. Their origins are traced to the primary dispersion curve and the swallowtail branches of the lattice-free spectrum. The commensurate states tend to remain delocalized with increasing lattice depth, whereas the incommensurate ones may be localized. The symmetry and stability properties of the solutions are examined and correlated with branch energies. The crucial importance of rotation is highlighted by its utility in continuously transforming solutions and accessing in a finite ring with a few sites the full spectrum of nonlinear Bloch waves on an infinite lattice.
Measurement techniques for the evaluation of thick‐film materials used in wireless applications

A review of the dielectric measurement techniques that are currently available for the characterization of thick film and LTCC materials at microwave and millimeter wave frequencies is presented. The intention is to show the relative advantages and limitations of the various methods, and to provide some practical guide to the particular technique that is most suitable for a given type of material, for use in a particular application. In addition, a novel slit cavity resonator method is proposed to enable substrate parameters to be more easily measured, whilst retaining high measurement accuracy. Measured data on materials from a variety of manufacturers are presented to show the validity and usefulness of this method.
Reliability tester for water-distribution networks

A computer model for assessing the reliability of water-distribution networks is presented. Both mechanical failure caused by pipe breakages and hydraulic failure caused by insufficient pipe capacity are incorporated into a simple stochastic model. A network solver identifies nodal pressures for individual pipe-failure conditions over a range of network demands, where both pipe failure and network demand are of known probabilities. The probabilities of pressure deficiency at nodes are calculated, from which the availability of supply is determined. Two examples are presented to clarify the principles of the model and to demonstrate the practicality of its applications. The model was developed to enable rapid yet realistic analysis of the reliability of water-distribution networks, and can be used for analyzing either existing systems or proposed designs of new systems.
Marketing Strategies to Use Solar Energy in Homes

Grounded in the disruptive innovation theory in this single case study, the purpose of this case study was to explore homeowner’s awareness of the benefits of solar energy. Twenty residential homeowners were interviewed face-to-face to explore: 1) perceived benefits of solar energy in their county in Ohio and 2) perceptions of the rationale behind the marketing strategy of solar energy systems sold for residential use. Inductive analyses and coding interpretation to explore the participants’ responses revealed 3 themes: the exis-tence of environmental benefits for using solar energy systems, the expensive cost of equipment associated with government incentives, and the lack of marketing information available for consumers use. The study’s finding indicated that homeowners were largely unaware of the lack of marketing strategies and social change implications through community awareness. The implications for positive social change include the potential to enable corporate leaders, small business owners, and entrepreneurs to develop marketing strategies for renewable energy systems. These strategies may promote solar energy systems as a clean, renewable, and affordable alternative electrical energy source for the 21st century.
Indications of Persistent Glycocalyx Damage in Convalescent COVID-19 Patients: A Prospective Multicenter Study and Hypothesis

The COVID-19 pandemic is caused by the SARS CoV-2 virus and can lead to severe lung damage and hyperinflammation. In the context of COVID-19 infection, inflammation-induced degradation of the glycocalyx layer in endothelial cells has been demonstrated. Syndecan-1 (SDC-1) is an established parameter for measuring glycocalyx injury. This prospective, multicenter, observational, cross-sectional study analyzed SDC-1 levels in 24 convalescent patients that had been infected with SARS-CoV-2 with mild disease course without need of hospitalization. We included 13 age-matched healthy individuals and 10 age-matched hospitalized COVID-19 patients with acute mild disease course as controls. In convalescent COVID-19 patients, significantly elevated SDC-1 levels were detected after a median of 88 days after symptom onset compared to healthy controls, whereas no difference was found when compared to SDC-1 levels of hospitalized patients undergoing acute disease. This study is the first to demonstrate signs of endothelial damage in non-pre-diseased, convalescent COVID-19 patients after mild disease progression without hospitalization. The data are consistent with studies showing evidence of persistent endothelial damage after severe or critical disease progression. Further work to investigate endothelial damage in convalescent COVID-19 patients should follow.