Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Weigh-in-Motion Applications for Intelligent Transportation Systems-Commercial Vehicle Operations: Evaluation Using WESTA

An investigation was undertaken to sort the efficiencies of different types of weigh-in-motion (WIM) systems commonly used for enforcement of commercial vehicle operations. Weigh station microsimulation model WESTA (WEigh STAtion) was used. The investigation focused, in particular, on the effect WIM system accuracy has on the effectiveness of presorting commercial vehicles before they approach a weigh station. WESTA simulations were performed, with and without mainline WIM, on a typical commercial weigh station facility across a range of commercial truck volumes (200, 400, and 600 Class 9 trucks per hour) and WIM system accuracies (ASTM Type III and Type I WIM). Three evaluation criteria were used: (a) number of compliant trucks required to report to the station, (b) number of overweight trucks instructed to bypass the station, and (c) time the weigh station remained open. It was found that weight enforcement efficiency improved with WIM. The improvements in efficiency translate into considerable savings for both the weight enforcement agency in relation to improved enforcement effectiveness and protection of the infrastructure and for the trucking industry in relation to reduced user-delay costs. It was also found that higher WIM system accuracy results in higher agency and user savings.
An Improved Fault-Tolerant Control of a Five-Phase Synchronous Reluctance Motor Connected to Matrix Converter

This paper proposes an optimal current angle to maximize the torque under the fault condition for a five-phase synchronous reluctance machine connected to a matrix converter. The effect of fault and saturation on the dq-axis inductances is considered when selecting the operating point of maximum torque per Ampère. The healthy phases current is reconstructed to ensure a null value of zero sequence current. Space vector modulation is applied to control the matrix converter under the fault condition. Finally, the performance of the drive system is analysed.
Extension of dissemination of mass unit below 1 mg in Romania

The determination of mass influences a vast range of activities and is the dominant factor in the conduct of trade. Many chemical reference methods rely on gravimetric determinations. Health, safety and business costs may be vitally dependent on the accurate determination of mass which it’s an important source of errors in any analysis. In addition, a wide range of derived SI units (Flow, Volume, Force, Pressure, Humidity, Density) is based on mass determination for traceability [1]. An improvement in the realization and dissemination of the mass scale lead to an improvement of measurement uncertainty in these areas. Some of the needs for reduced uncertainties at small mass (milligram and below) exist in pharmaceutical, health, defence and biotechnology industries. Similarly, in nanotechnology, micro-mass standards can provide traceability for a range of measurements of mass, force and density. In the last period, the dissemination of mass unit below 1 mg has seen a continuous development, the main applications of the micro-mass being in the small force measurements and also for determination of sensitivity error of mass comparators with high accuracy. Considering all these aspects, the mass laboratory of Romanian National Institute of Metrology (INM) considered necessary to extend the dissemination of mass unit below 1 mg using micro-mass standards, with nominal values between (100.500) µg.
Defocus deblurring: a designed deep model based on CNN

Abstract. With the flourishing development of deep learning in the field of computer vision, research of defocus deblurring based on it has gradually become a hotspot. However, most of the research focuses on defocus region detection or defocus map estimation, and algorithms for directly generating restoration images are less studied. Stressing on the problems of defocus deblurring, we propose a defocus deblurring deep model based on multi-scale information and convolution neural network. Concretely, we first perform an efficient and concise multi-scale information fusion by the selective receptive field module, thus the model can adapt to the scale sensitivity of the image defocusing region. We then use the residual channel attention module in the bottleneck module to extract the correlation features between channels, which enhances the effective channels and suppress the useless ones. Finally, a fusion objective function of edge loss and mean square loss is proposed to enhance the edge details of the image. Experimental results on a large-scale defocus deblurring dual-pixel dataset demonstrate that the proposed model has better performance than the traditional and existing deep-based methods. Comparing with the methods of the state of the art, the proposed model has a 0.44-DB improvement in PSNR metric.
A Line of Sight Counteraction Navigation Algorithm for Ship Encounter Collision Avoidance

A new navigation method, called a Line of Sight Counteraction Navigation (LOSCAN) algorithm has been introduced to aid manoeuvre decision making for collision avoidance based on a two-ship encounter. The LOSCAN algorithm is derived from an extension of the basic principle of traditional missile proportional navigation, recognising that the objective of the latter is target capture rather than target avoidance. The basic concept is to derive an acceleration command so as to increase the misalignment between the ships' relative velocity and the line-of-sight. The algorithm includes a risk assessment and the generation of appropriate navigation commands to manoeuvre own ship free of collision if a risk of collision exists. Numerical examples have been used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the algorithm. The relationship between the distance at the closest point of approach with respect to early warning distance, and with the norm of the acceleration, has also been analysed. In operation, the collision avoidance decision making process is a complicated problem, with its solution subject to ship states, practical dynamic constraints, Collision Avoidance Regulations (COLREGS), encountering ship manoeuvre coordination and human decision making factors. The proposed algorithm provides a consistent manoeuvre signal to aid decision-making.
High-speed optical inspection of rapid prototyping parts

In this paper, we describe a new automated inspection method of parts produced by rapid prototyping machines using a 3-D range sensor. The input to the program is a tessellated representation of the part at a desired resolution saved in the standard STL format and an un-ordered series of measurements produced by a 3-D optical sensor. The output is an inspection report indicating the level of discrepancy between the measured points and the model. Using this inspection system an operator of a rapid prototyping machine can rapidly identify fabrication defects or monitor process drift during conversion process. At the base of the method, a new robust correspondence algorithm which can find the rigid transformation between the tessellated model of the part and the measured points, is presented. This method is based on a least median square norm capable of a robustness of up to 50%. The robustness of the method is essential since one cannot guaranty that in practice, all the points in the measured set belong to the model. These types of algorithms are usually quite costly in computational complexity but we show that one can speed-up these algorithms by using the well-known iterative closest point algorithm (ICP) and a multi-resolution representation scheme based on voxels. We analyze in detail the complexity of the algorithm. We also present experimental results on a complex part with global and local inspection processes.
The context is more important than the commodity in understanding stakeholder responses to blue gum plantations

ABSTRACT Forestry plantations constitute fertile ground for critical analysis of land use conflict. Policy-makers are increasingly recognising the need to address controversial issues in the plantation forestry sector. However, these efforts are often grounded in short-term analyses, resulting in static or inappropriate responses to a dynamic commodity environment. This research article proposes that combining cognitive and social research approaches can elucidate place-based land-use conflicts that at their root, are about more than just the one particular commodity under examination. We explore stakeholders’ perceptions and attitudes around Tasmanian blue gum (Eucalyptus globulus) plantations in a region that has witnessed three radically different social-economic stages of blue gum plantation growth and management over the last 25 years. Our findings show that individual perceptions and attitudes over time are most closely related to the economic characteristics of blue gum plantations than to any other factor. By extension, market instability shapes popular narratives around blue gum plantations. We conclude that the analysis of conflicts associated with long-established forestry plantations should encompass an understanding of community members’ worldviews and emotions in addition to economic analyses in order to adequately explain conflicts.
Inkjet printed structures for smart lab-on-chip systems

Inkjet printing is a digital printing technique that is capable of depositing not only inks, but functional materials onto different substrates in an additive way. In this paper, applications of inkjet printed structures for microfluidic lab-on-chip systems are discussed. Such systems are promising for different chemical or biochemical analysis tasks carried out at the Point-of-Care level and therefore due to cost reasons are often fabricated from polymers. The paper discusses inkjetprinted wiring structures and electroactive polymer (EAP) actuators for use in microfluidic lab-on-chip systems. Silver and gold wirings are shown that are fabricated by printing metal nanoparticle inks onto polymer substrates. After printing the structures are sintered using argon plasma sintering, a low-temperature sintering process that is compatible with polymer substrates. The wirings consist of several electrode like structures and contact pads and feature minimum structure sizes of approximately 70 μm. They can be used for electrodes, fluid presence detectors and localized ohmic heaters in lab-on-chip systems. Based on that an all inkjet-printed EAP actuator then is discussed. Membrane-type bending actuators generate deflections of approximately 5 μm when being driven at a resonance frequency of 1.8 kHz with 110 V. Derived from that and assuming passive valves on-chip pumping rates in the range of 0.5 ml/min can be estimated.
Engineering Framework for Self-Consistent Analysis of Falling Weight Deflectometer Data

In pavement engineering practice, the falling weight deflectometer (FWD) is a recognized nondestructive tool to evaluate the mechanical characteristics of layered pavement systems. Unfortunately, elastostatic backcalculation remains the norm in the interpretation of FWD data, even though its underlying (static) analysis is inconsistent with the dynamic nature of the FWD test. Because of wave propagation effects, which are especially pronounced in the presence of a shallow stiff layer, the peak pavement deflections induced by the FWD loading can differ significantly from their static counterparts and thus compromise the conventional backcalculation of pavement moduli. In this study a frequency domain–based preprocessing procedure was developed to extract the static pavement response from the transient FWD records to provide a more consistent input for the elastostatic recovery of pavement profiles. To ensure the fidelity of the educed static deflections, the key drawbacks of typical field FWD data, namely, the baseline offset and the low-frequency noise pollution, were examined and remedied. For pavement engineering applications, the featured preprocessing procedure for extracting the static deflections from dynamic FWD records was implemented in a user-friendly graphical environment, GopherCalc. By comparing the results of the proposed and existing backanalyses applied to both synthetically generated (elastodynamic) data and field records, it was found that the proposed procedure had the potential for mitigating systematic errors associated with the dynamic nature of the FWD test while retaining the computationally effective elastostatic backcalculation scheme.
MMIC PAM applied with pre‐distorter having independent operation of nonlinear signal

A dynamic pre‐distorter with two paths to set nonlinear signal level and phase encourages power amplifier module (PAM) for wireless broadband (Wibro) service to enhance linearity. We proposed a linearizer having a new IM generator, which is made up of the InGaP/GaAs HBT operated at saturation region of a common collector circuit. The targeted Wibro PAM is designed using InGaP/GaAs HBT technology, and the pre‐distorter, drive and power amplifier are fully integrated in single chip within 960 × 2400 μm. Even though PAM is designed to have just a 5‐dB back‐off, PAM is compatible with linearity standards up to maximum output power 21 dBm, and has a 17.5% efficiency by having a low leakage and improving spurious of 6 dB in the 64QAM form based on IEEE802.16e‐2005 standards. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 50: 851–855, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.23235
Minimal Time Route Computation for Ships with Pre-Specified Voyage Fuel Consumption

The air pollution caused by the use of heavy fuel oil in shipping is a growing problem that is drawing increased attention. Methods have been developed to reduce air emissions from ships, more or less aimed at the choice of fuel and the related air emissions. However, the emissions of particulates, sulphur and carbon dioxide, which contribute to the greenhouse effect are not only related to the choice of fuel but also to the amount of fuel consumed in the combustion engines. This paper proposes an additional method that can contribute to the reduction of the air pollution from ships by decreasing the fuel consumption. This is done by specifying the amount of fuel that can be consumed on a specific ocean crossing and by computing a minimal-time route for that given amount of fuel, so decreasing the fuel consumption in a verifiable way.
Evaluation of pin penetration probing technique for the assessment of basic density in air-dried wood

Fast and accurate evaluation of the physical and mechanical properties of engineering ‎materials is of particular importance. The in situ semi-destructive and non-destructive tests versus the ‎static tests for determining the time-consuming physical properties have replaced many traditional ‎methods with reasonable accuracies. Determining the density as one of ‎the most important qualitative and quantitative parameters in the inspection of wood and wood-based ‎products is of great importance. For this purpose, 33 wood specimens from 11 species with varying densities were tested by pin penetration probing. Results were compared with those from ‎the basic density values from traditional methods. The results showed an exponential relationship between the pin penetration depths ‎and the basic density considering the moisture conditions but without any problems. The coefficients of ‎determination while estimating the equality of the basic density via pin penetration probing with the actual ‎basic density for both the testing specimens and the control samples were always over ‎‎0.8. Henceforth, this methodology suggested that the density evaluation could inspire higher precision than what has been achieved in previous efforts.
CROP WATER AND IRRIGATION WATER REQUIREMENTS OF MAIZE (ZEA MAYS L.) IN THE ENTISOLS OF KUWAIT

Crop water and irrigation water requirements of mai ze were estimated using the FAO CROPWAT model for the loamy sands of Kuwait. Agro-meteorological data 0f 43 years was used for this purpose. The crop water req uirement (ETc), irrigation requirement (IR) and net irrigation requirement (NI R) of maize vary with the planting date. Water use of grain maize was the lowest with planting date of 5 th November. The period 25 th October to 5 th December is suitable for maize planting. The ETc o f grain maize varied from 210 mm for a 90 day crop to 273 mm for a 110 day crop with planting date 5 th November. The IR of grain maize varied from 126 mm for a 90 day crop to 179 mm for a 110 day crop with same planting date. The NIR varied from 1226 m 3 ha -1 for a 90 day crop to 1898 m 3 ha -1 for 110 day crop with planting date 5 th November. Grain maize planting may not be advanced beyond 5 th December, in order to economise the water use. Water use of sweet corn (60 days) was the lowest with planting date of 5 th December. The period 5 th November to 15 th December is suitable for sweet corn planting. ETc of sweet corn ranged f rom 125 mm (5 th December planting) to 182 mm (15 th October planting). The IR of sweet corn, ranged fr om 66mm (5 th December planting) to 148 mm (15 th October planting). The NIR of sweet corn was 532 m 3 ha -1 with planting date 5 th December. Sweet corn planting may not be advanced beyond 15 th December, in order to economise the water use. An irrigation schedule was also developed for grain maize and sweet corn for the loamy sands of Kuwait.
Generators and power electronics technology for wind turbines

Due to the very fast development of power electronics, offering both higher capability and lower price/kW the applicability of power electronics in wind turbines increases rapidly. Moreover, new types of generators which may change the configuration of direct driven generators are being developed. This paper summarises the state of art regarding generator and power electronic concepts for wind turbines. The state of the art on wind turbine technology is established by a market oriented approach and the applied topologies are reviewed. Furthermore, trends for generators and power electronics are reviewed through technical and economical identifiers in terms of weight and price versus nominal power. New wind turbine designs are expected in the near future, exploiting the improved capabilities of generators and power electronics. Some of these new concepts are further discussed. Wind turbines are further being planned in big wind farms. These are subjected to quite high demands concerning power quality, controllability and safety. The paper also reviews potential concepts/technologies that can satisfy the defined restrictions.
Embedding a One-column Ocean Model (SIT 1.06) in the Community Atmosphere Model 5.3 (CAM5.3; CAM5–SIT v1.0) to Improve Madden–Julian Oscillation Simulation in Boreal Winter

Abstract. The effect of the air–sea interaction on the Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO) was investigated using the one-column ocean model Snow–Ice–Thermocline (SIT 1.06) embedded in the Community Atmosphere Model 5.3 (CAM5.3; hereafter CAM5–SIT v1.0). The SIT model with 41 vertical layers was developed to simulate sea surface temperature (SST) and upper-ocean temperature variations with a high vertical resolution that resolves the cool skin and diurnal warm layer and the upper oceanic mixed layer. A series of 30-year sensitivity experiments were conducted in which various model configurations (e.g., coupled versus uncoupled, vertical resolution and depth of the SIT model, coupling domains, and absence of the diurnal cycle) were considered to evaluate the effect of air–sea coupling on MJO simulation. Most of the CAM5–SIT experiments exhibited higher fidelity than the CAM5-alone experiment in characterizing the basic features of the MJO such as spatiotemporal variability and the eastward propagation in boreal winter. The overall MJO simulation performance of CAM5–SIT benefited from (1) better resolving the fine structure of upper-ocean temperature and therefore the air–sea interaction that resulted in more realistic intraseasonal variability in both SST and atmospheric circulation and (2) the adequate thickness and vertical resolution of the oceanic mixed layer. The sensitivity experiments demonstrated the necessity of coupling the tropical eastern Pacific in addition to the tropical Indian Ocean and the tropical western Pacific. Enhanced MJO could be obtained without considering the diurnal cycle in coupling.
Flash Flood Susceptibility Evaluation in Human-Affected Areas Using Geomorphological Methods—The Case of 9 August 2020, Euboea, Greece. A GIS-Based Approach

Flash floods occur almost exclusively in small basins, and they are common in small Mediterranean catchments. They pose one of the most common natural disasters, as well as one of the most devastating. Such was the case of the recent flood in Euboea island, in Greece, in August 2020. A field survey was accomplished after the 2020 flash floods in order to record the main impacts of the event and identify the geomorphological and man-made causes. The flash flood susceptibility in the urbanized alluvial fans was further assessed using a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based approach. Our findings suggest that a large portion of the alluvial fans of Politika, Poros and Mantania streams are mainly characterized by high and very high hazard. In fact, ~27% of the alluvial fans of Politika and Poros streams are characterized with very high susceptibility, and ~54% of Psachna area. GIS results have been confirmed by field observations after the 2020 flash flood, with significant damages noted, such as debris flows and infrastructure damages, in buildings, bridges and the road networks. In addition, even though the adopted approach may be more time-consuming in comparison to purely computational methods, it has the potential of being more accurate as it combines field observations and the effect of past flooding events.
Characteristics of microfabricated rectangular coax in the Ka band

Miniature rectangular coaxial transmission line (with a 300 × 300 μm outer conductor) is simulated, fabricated, and tested up to the Ka band. It is made by the electrochemical fabrication (EFAB™) of nickel such that the center conductor is supported primarily by ≈λ/4 stubs that also establish a resonant passband. The minimum insertion loss of a 1.67‐cm‐long test structure is found to be 1.74 dB at the passband center of 29 GHz. This is within 0.57 dB of the lowest insertion loss predicted by full‐wave numerical simulations, indicative of the high precision and smooth surface morphology of the EFAB process. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 40: 365–368, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.11383