Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Damping of power system oscillations with output feedback and strip eigenvalue assignment

This paper presents a modified optimal controller for an interconnected power system. The design method does not need the specification of weighting matrices. The eigenvalues of electromechanical and exciter modes would be shifted to a prespecified vertical strip. For practical implementation, the design method only uses partial output feedback. For demonstrating the effectiveness of damping enhancement, eigenvalue analysis and nonlinear simulation results are used to show that the proposed controller gives significant improvement in the dynamic performance of the interconnected power system. >
Agile in action : Hybrid methodologies in practice

In recent years an increase of agile methodologies and their implementation in mainstream software engineering projects have been seen, but this implementation has reportedly changed agility in practice into a hybrid form of agility and more classic methodologies. With a lack of research regarding these hybrid methodologies this multiple case study empirically analyses the practice of methodologies from two different conglomerates and places the results in the Information Technology Management framework (ITMF) to answer the research question; How are hybrid agile methodologies enacted in practice in mature agile teams and why are they enacted in such a way? The result show that the organizations work agile within a waterfall framework, a hybrid form of requirement handling into agile development followed by waterfall testing. The hybrid methodologies are imposed by external factors such as the sales department and traditional economic reporting. This study acknowledges a need for a greater understanding of the engagement between external actors and software development.
Wheel slip tracking using moving sliding surface

Abstract This paper describes robust and fast wheel slip control using a moving sliding surface technique. Unlike the conventional sliding mode control, the moving sliding surface moves (shifts and rotates) to the desired sliding surface from the initial condition and thus fast tracking can be obtained. In addition, the moving sliding mode was originally designed to ensure that the states remain on a sliding surface, thereby simultaneously achieving robustness and eliminating chattering at the same time. In vehicle dynamics, the wheel slip during driving can change because of environmental variations which always happen in driving conditions. The moving sliding surface technique is applied to wheel slip control to obtain a robust and fast response. The design strategy is based on a moving sliding surface that only contains the error between the reference input wheel slip and the actual wheel slip. The proposed controller can track a reference input wheel slip in a predetermined time. Simulations are performed and analysed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed moving sliding-mode controller.
Antimicrobial Susceptibility and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration of <i>Salmonella enterica</i> Isolates from Chickens in Yobe State

Salmonella of poultry are zoonotic microorganisms transmitted to humans and other animals via contact with infected poultry feces, meat, eggs and formites. This study was conducted to phenotypically characterize Salmonella enterica from samples collected from chickens presented for slaughter in some selected Local Government Areas of Yobe State, Nigeria, as well as carry out antimicrobial susceptibility and minimum inhibition concentration on the isolates. A cloacal swab and blood samples were collected and transported on ice pack to Veterinary Microbiology Laboratory, University of Maiduguri and analyzed for the presence of Salmonella enterica. Samples were then inoculated onto Xylose Lysine Deoxycholate agar for morphological identification of Salmonella blackish colonies. A total of 600 (300 cloacal swab and 300 blood), consisting (202 males, 98 female chickens, 150 local and exotic each) were randomly sampled in 16 weeks for the isolation of Salmonella enterica. The presumptive Salmonella isolates were further characterized using the MicrobactTM GNB 24E System kit, with 40 randomly selected presumptive isolates (8 from blood and 32 from cloacal swab) tested using Microbact 24E GNB Computerize system, with 10 samples found to be positive for Salmonella organisms out of which 9 (22.5%) were from cloacal swab and 1 (2.5%) from blood. All the blood samples were tested for haemagglutination using slide method, 255 were found to be positive, where agglutination was observed. Where as only 8 (2.7%) were positives after blood culture 8 (2.67%). Exotic chickens showed the highest resistance level of (35%) to commonly used antibiotics (Amoxixillin and Ampicillin). The isolates from exotic chickens are susceptible to Ciprofloxacin 11 (68.8%), Ofloxacin 10 (62.5%), Gentamicin 2 (12.5%), Levofloxacin and Erythromycin 6 (37.5%), while intermediate to Norfloxacin 5 (31.3%) and Amoxicillin 7 (43.8%) but were resistant to Ampicillin 6 (37.5%%), Cefuroxime 10 (62.5%) and Amoxicillin 4 (25.0%). The MIC was carried out on all the 10 Salmonella isolated that showed positive on microbact 24E computerized system. All the 10 isolates from microbact 24E computerized system showed susceptibility to amoxicillin, ofloxacin, and ciprofloxacin on MIC. The MIC of ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin was distributed within 0.00175–2 µg/ml each, and for amoxilin, the MIC ranged between 0.00175-3.00 µg/ml. It is therefore, concluded that Salmonella organisms phenotypically characterized in the study area had antimicrobial susceptibility to routinely used antimicrobial drugs. As a result, it is suggested that the medications with high susceptibility be used to treat poultry salmonellosis in the study area.
Modeling Dynamical Positional Physical Data on Field Zones Occupied by Playing Positions in Elite-Level Futsal: A Comparison Between Running Velocities, Accelerations, and Decelerations

Abstract Serrano, C, Felipe, JL, García-Unanue, J, Vicente Gimenez, J, Jiménez-Linares, L, Ibáñez, E, Hernando, E, Gallardo, L, and Sánchez-Sánchez, J. Modeling dynamical positional physical data on field zones occupied by playing positions in elite-level futsal: a comparison between running velocities, acceleration, and deceleration. J Strength Cond Res 37(1): 200–206, 2023—The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of playing positions on the physical demands and the specific court zones occupied during official futsal games. The total number of observations were 188, corresponding to 8 matches from the first division of the Spanish Futsal League during the 2019–2020 season. All dynamic motion representations were recorded using an 18 Hz device with ultra-wideband technology and local positioning system installed on the futsal pitch for each position. Python Data Analysis Library, Matplotlib, and Python programming language were applied as computational tools to generate visual analysis of figures to represent every physical demand analyzed. An analysis of variance test showed differences between playing positions, specifically, for winger position (p < 0.05). Based on eta-square coefficients, all variables showed large effects, except acceleration distance zone 1 (1–2 m·s−2). Accordingly, the visual representation of positional dynamic motion data showed differences in the physical demands and the court zone occupied by the different playing positions. This innovative visual analysis allows fitness coaches to associate the physical demands with court zones occupied by different playing positions, and it aids in the design of training drills associated with futsal competition requirements.
Spectral Properties of Clipping Noise

One serious disadvantage of any multicarrier-modulation technique such as orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) is its high peak-to-average-power ratio (PAPR) which might lead to signal clipping in several scenarios. To maximize the transmit data rate, it is important to take this non-linear distortion into account. The most common approach is based on the Bussgang theorem, which splits the distortion in a correlated part, represented by a linear damping factor, and uncorrelated additive noise. However, there are two aspects that are not correctly considered by the Bussgang theorem. Firstly, clipping noise shows a frequency-dependent power spectrum which depends on the clipping probability. Secondly, some of the clipping noise power is located outside of the transmission bandwidth, so that it does not influence the transmission quality. In this work, the Bussgang theorem is reviewed in detail and the exact power spectral density of the uncorrelated clipping noise is approximated to determine the signal-to-noise power ratio on every subcarrier separately. Although it is shown that the frequency dependence within the transmission bandwidth is relatively small, at least 36% of the uncorrelated noise power, depending on the clipping level, lays outside of the transmission band. Monte Carlo simulations validate that a simple expression for the power spectral density allows to calculate the symbol error probability of an OFDM transmission system that suffers from clipping. Furthermore, the newly found result can be used to optimize bit allocation tables in bit loading algorithms or to calculate the channel capacity.
All 3D Printed Antennas Based on Phase Velocity Control for Beam-steering and Size Reduction with Low-Cost

A concept based on engineering a dielectric filling material to adjust the phase velocity of the propagating electromagnetic wave in a horn antenna is proposed. The resulting transformation from the spherical to plane wave at the aperture is used to prove that the size reduction of the horn is achievable. The designed antenna demonstrates more than 50% size reduction with improved radiation pattern, including the sidelobe level and satisfactory gain when compared to the commercial horn antenna. It also offers a wide bandwidth from 22 GHz to 26.5 GHz. This design is further elaborated for a continuous, from -21° to +21°, beam steering along the electric polarization implementation by asymmetrical dielectric insertions, with a measured relative bandwidth around 27.1%. The two simple designs are liquid crystal display (LCD) 3D printed using a commercial UV resin, with the relative permittivity εr=2.75 and loss tangent around 0.025. The fabrication method allows easy control of the effective permittivity of dielectric-air combined units at low cost.
Feature detection in synthetic aperture radar images using fractal error

This paper discusses a technique that will enhance man-made features in SAR images. The technique uses a metric called fractal error. Developed by Cooper, et al. (1994) for aiding photointerpreters in detecting man-made features in aerial reconnaissance images, this metric is based upon the observed propensity of natural image features to fit a fractional Brownian motion (fBm) model. Natural scene features fit this model well, producing a small fractal error. Man-made features, on the other hand, usually do not fit the fBm model well and produce a relatively large fractal error. Therefore the fractal error is useful as a discriminant function for detecting man-made features in SAR imagery. The fractal error metric is defined, an approach to segmentating man-made objects in SAR images is discussed, and the results are presented.
Operationalizing culture in construction management research: a social identity perspective in the Hong Kong context

A prevailing trend of opinion in construction management research revolves around the importance of instilling a positive partnering culture in order to improve overall project performance. Indeed, the culture part of the equation has often been taken as a given and this has led to many normative and, at best, prescriptive claims about culture's consequences in terms of individual behaviours and practices. Despite this trend, no systematic empirical work has so far been undertaken to objectively operationalize or test the real effects of culture. This study aims to fill this research gap. Grounded in the social identity framework, this study proposes an alternative approach for operationalizing and examining culture's effects using data derived from 398 local and foreign senior managers from construction firms in Hong Kong. Results suggest that the relationships between culture and individual behaviours are far more complex than alluded to by simple normative generalizations. The study underscores an urgent need for future research to adopt a more comprehensive framework for defining and measuring culture in construction management research.
A log-by-log productivity analysis of two Valmet 475EX harvesters

Productivity of a mechanized harvesting system is influenced by stand and terrain conditions, operator performance, and machinery limitations or design. The purpose of the study was to compare the productivity of two near-identical single-grip harvesters in similar Australian Pinus radiata clearfell harvesting operations on a log-by-log basis. The study first compared the productivity of each harvester against tree volume for cycle times and for tree processing times only. Significant differences in productivity between the harvesters were found to be largely due to significant differences in tree processing times. Comparisons between each component of processing time (dragging-out time, disc-cutting time, cross-cutting time, harvester head travel time and delimbing time) for a subset of 6.1 m sawlogs at each study site found operator working technique differences to be the main driver of productivity differences between the harvesters. In particular, the operator of the less productive harvester dragged out most trees after felling and cut discs on most trees to reset the length-measuring device, whereas the operator of the other, more productive harvester rarely carried out these activities.
Double Averaging Analysis Applied to a Large Eddy Simulation of Coupled Turbulent Overlying and Porewater Flow

Freestream turbulence in rivers is a key contributor to the flux of dissolved nutrients, carbon, and other ecologically important solutes into porewater. To advance understanding of turbulent hyporheic exchange and porewater transport, we investigate flow over and through a rough bed of spheres using large eddy simulation (LES). We apply double averaging (combined space and time averaging) to the LES results to determine the mean velocity distribution, momentum balance, and drag forces. Our simulations show large‐scale freestream structures interacting strongly with vortices generated at the surfaces of individual spheres to control turbulent momentum fluxes into the bed. The transition between turbulent flow and Darcy flow occurs over the first row of spheres, where turbulence decays rapidly and turbulent kinetic energy, Reynolds stress, and drag forces peak. Below this region, turbulence is only present in the high‐velocity flow in open pore throats. Experimental observations suggest that minimum mean porewater velocity occurs in the first open pore space below the transition region, but our results show that the minimum occurs between the first and second pore spaces. The simulation mean porewater velocities are approximately half those captured in measurements because the model resolves the entire flow continuum while measurements can access high‐velocity fluid in open pores. The high‐resolution dual time‐space averaging of the LES resolves both turbulent and mean flow features that are important to interfacial solute and particle fluxes, providing a means to include turbulent hyporheic exchange in upscaled river models, which has not been achieved to date.
Analysis of LGS resonators using the finite plate technique

This paper presents the results of an analysis using the finite plate technique of Y-cut langasite plan-parallel resonators with Al and Ag electrodes. We have extracted values for the piezoelectrically stiffened elastic stiffness c/sub 66//sup D/, the elastic stiffness c/sub 66//sup E/, the piezoelectric stress constant e/sub 11/, and the dielectric permittivity /spl epsiv//sub 11//sup S/. The measured material constants are in very good agreement with other reported values. This paper will present our new results on the langasite samples, and will include a comparison between an analysis of the data using the measurement method recommended by the current IEEE Standard on Piezoelectricity and the finite plate technique.
Nonlinear Aircraft Loads in Severe Atmospheric Turbulence

The problem of predicting loads due to turbulence for aircraft with nonlinear flight-control systems is reviewed, and related recent research in this area is described. Two alternative approaches to the problem, stochastic simulation and worst-case analysis, are compared and problem areas associated with each are identified. It is concluded that the latter method, which involves a search over a specified family of gust patterns to find the pattern thatcauses maximum load,is appropriate for investigating a limited number of criticalcases, butthat apreliminary simplified method of estimation is called for by computational considerations as a means of identifying such critical cases. A new genetic algorithm is described and proposed as the most reliable method of performing the search. It is illustrated how this search algorithm can be simplified computationally by introducing a weighting factor that penalizesthemorecomplexgustpatterns,astepthatissupportedbymeasurementsoftheamplitudesofgustpatterns in severe turbulence. Nomenclature � A = measure of response found by power spectral density analysis a = empirical constant in Eq. (2) b = empirical constant in Eq. (2) e = energy-reduction factor n = number of component ramp gusts in the discrete gust pattern pi = absolute value of the wavelet coefficient SI = information entropy U = energy of the single-wavelet pattern U� = design gust velocity
Women’s Workforce Participation and Spousal Violence: Insights from India

Intimate partner violence is a serious form of unfreedom inflicted on women across the world. How does the incidence of such violence vary with women’s workforce participation – a factor that is supposed to enhance their economic well-being? Our study examines this relationship using a nationally representative dataset from India. Given vast heterogeneity among Indian women, we investigate how this link varies by their class and socio-religious identities. Treating women’s employment as endogenous, we find that it is associated with a significantly higher probability of reported spousal violence for women from all wealth quintiles except the topmost and across all social groups. Moreover, the reported risks are found to be relatively higher for disadvantaged groups. We hypothesize that these findings could be explained through the backlash effect arising from two sources: the perceived violation of socio-cultural norms by employed women and the double burden of reproductive and market work on them.
Drying Kinetics of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L., cv. ‘Pionier’) during Thin-Layer Drying at Low Temperatures

The management of moisture is one of the main challenges in anticipating and averting food decay and food losses during postharvest processing and storage. Hence, it is imperative to reduce the moisture of freshly harvested products to safe-storage limits in order to inhibit the occurrence of diverse biochemical, microbiological and other moisture-related deteriorative reactions which can contribute to quality degradation. A viable alternative to conventional hot-air drying is the application of low temperatures for drying, which has scarcely been investigated. In this regard, experimental-based modeling is a requisite to gain insights into drying processes. Thus, this study focused on investigating the drying kinetics of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cv. ‘Pionier’ under a coherent set of drying air temperatures (T = 10–50 °C), relative humidity (RH = 20–60%), and airflow velocity (v = 0.15–1.00 ms−1). A robust and automated measurement system using a high precision balance was utilized as a basis for the real-time and continuous acquisition of drying data. The analysis of the experimental results facilitated the establishment of generalized drying model for low temperatures able to describe at a high accuracy the behavior of moisture ratio X* (R2 = 0.997, RMSE = 1.285 × 10−2, MAPE = 6.5%). An analytical model for predicting the effective diffusion coefficients D (R2 = 0.988, RMSE = 4.239 × 10−2, MAPE = 7.7%) was also developed. In conclusion, the anticipated drying model has demonstrated the capability of modeling the drying behavior of wheat at low temperatures with a high temporal resolution and should be employed in the design, analysis and modeling of cooling, aeration and low-temperature drying processes of wheat bulks.
Four Years Continuous Monitoring Reveals Different Effects of Urban Constructed Wetlands on Bats

Proactive artificial wetland constructions have been implemented to mitigate the loss of wetlands and their ecosystem services. As wetlands are habitats for bats, short-term (one or two years) studies find that constructed wetlands can immediately increase local bat activity and diversity. However, it is not clear how constructed wetlands affect bats through time while the wetlands are aging. We collected four years of continuous bat acoustic monitoring data at two constructed wetlands in an urban park in Greensboro, NC, USA. We examined bat activity and community composition patterns at these wetlands and compared them with reference sites in the city. With four years of data, we found that the effects of constructed wetlands were both habitat- and species-specific. The wetland in forests significantly increased bat activity, while the wetland in the open grass altered bat community composition. Specifically, in terms of species, we found that over time, constructed wetlands no longer attracted more big brown, silver-haired, or evening bats than control sites while the wetlands aged, highlighting the need to study broadly how each bat species uses natural and artificial wetlands. We emphasize the importance of long-term monitoring and the periodical evaluation of wildlife conservation actions.
Engineers Learn “Soft Skills the Hard Way”: Planting a Seed of Leadership in Engineering Classes

Today’s competitive global market and changing work environment demand that engineers possess “soft skills” in addition to technical skills, and they must be able to understand project goals and have the ability to accomplish them with available resources. Currently, engineers learn leadership and management skills while working—learning “soft skills the hard way. ” In order to meet the demands of this changing world, engineering programs are challenged to come up with innovative ways to teach classes so that graduates are prepared to take on the challenges twenty-first century engineers face. This article provides a summary of engineering leadership and its relationship to engineering education, problem-based learning, and service-learning pedagogies as they relate to engineering education, and an example of implementing these pedagogies in an engineering course.