Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Post‐Drought Groundwater Storage Recovery in California's Central Valley

Groundwater depletion is a major threat to agricultural and municipal water supply in California's Central Valley. Recent droughts during 2007–2009 and 2012–2016 exacerbated chronic groundwater depletion. However, it is unclear how much groundwater storage recovered from drought‐related overdrafts during post‐drought years, and how climatic conditions and water management affected recovery times. We estimated groundwater storage change in the Central Valley for April 2002 through September 2019 using four methods: GRACE satellite data, a water balance approach, a hydrologic simulation model, and monitoring wells. We also evaluated the sensitivity of drought recovery to different climate scenarios (recent climate ± droughts and future climate change scenarios: 20 GCMs and 2 RCPs) using water balance method and statistical sampling of historical climate data. Estimated Central Valley groundwater loss during the two droughts ranged from 19 km3 (2007–2009) to 28 km3 (2012–2016) (median of four methods). Median aquifer storage recovery was 34% and 19% of the overdraft during the 2010–2011 and 2017–2019 post‐drought years, respectively. Numerical experiments show that recovery times are sensitive to climate forcing, with longer recovery times for a future climate scenario that replicate historical climatology relative to historical forcing with no droughts. Overdraft recovery times decrease by ∼2× with implementation of pumping restrictions (30th to 50th percentiles of historical groundwater depletion) to constrain groundwater depletion relative to no restrictions with a no‐drought future climatology. This study highlights the importance of considering water management implications for future drought recoveries within the context of climate change scenarios.
Co‐ordinating humanitarian operations in peace support missions

Purpose – This paper seeks to contribute to a more effective co‐ordination of humanitarian operations by military and civilian organizations involved in a peace support mission in response to a complex emergency.Design/methodology/approach – The information processing view, in particular Galbraith's typology of generic mechanisms for achieving co‐ordination, is taken as the theoretical framework. This framework is subsequently applied to the co‐ordination of humanitarian operations by military and civilian organizations. Empirical data are derived from a set of expert interviews with both military and civilian respondents in The Netherlands and a four week visit to Kabul and Baghlan, a province in northern Afghanistan. During this visit 40 military respondents have been interviewed and over 60 meetings have been held with local authorities, humanitarian organizations, small entrepreneurs, refugees and local villagers. Finally, conclusions are drawn and recommendations are provided with regard to a more ef.
Prediction of Remaining Life in Pipes using Machine Learning from Thickness Measurements

Offshore oil and gas platforms facilities include extensive piping components, pressure vessels, and other equipment. These are monitored regularly to minimize non-conformances for safety and integrity of platforms. This paper focuses on using field measurements of thickness in pipes to alert engineers to take appropriate actions when thickness falls below the minimum thickness. Data from the field at various thickness measurement locations (TMLs) are used to analyze for finding anomalies. Inspectors periodically measure at TMLs on pipes and record the thickness values. Based on these measurements they determine the remaining life time at a location before thickness falls below the minimum thickness. They do this by estimating corrosion rates and then calculate the next measurement date. When the measured thickness value at a TML is below the minimum they will issue action reports. With multiple measurements of thickness values at TMLs, we have developed a machine learning framework and algorithms to generate action alerts before corrosion lead to non-conformances. This approach is based on machine learning techniques to learn from examples when certain TMLs will have below the minimum thickness. Such alert prediction models are from a purely data driven approach and can help in prioritizing inspection schedule. The results show that our approach using machine learning is effective in capturing potential nonconformances in TMLs.
Advanced control for miniature helicopters : modelling, design and flight test

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) have been receiving unprecedented development during the past two decades. Among different types of UAVs, unmanned helicopters exhibit promising features gained from vertical-takeoff-and-landing, which make them as a versatile platform for both military and civil applications. The work reported in this thesis aims to apply advanced control techniques, in particular model predictive control (MPC), to an autonomous helicopter in order to enhance its performance and capability. First, a rapid prototyping testbed is developed to enable indoor flight testing for miniature helicopters. This testbed is able to simultaneously observe the flight state, carry out complicated algorithms and realtime control of helicopters all in a Matlab/Simulink environment, which provides a streamline process from algorithm development, simulation to flight tests. Next, the modelling and system identification for small-scale helicopters are studied. A parametric model is developed and the unknown parameters are estimated through the designed identification process. After a mathematical model of the selected helicopter is available, three MPC based control algorithms are developed focusing on different aspects in the operation of autonomous helicopters. The first algorithm is a nonlinear MPC framework. A piecewise constant scheme is used in the MPC formulation to reduce the intensive computation load. A two-level framework is suggested where the nonlinear MPC is combined with a low-level linear controller to allow its application on the systems with fast dynamics. The second algorithm solves the local path planning and the successive tracking control by using nonlinear and linear MPC, respectively. The kinematics and obstacle information are incorporated in the path planning, and the linear dynamics are used to design a flight controller. A guidance compensator dynamically links the path planner and flight controller. The third algorithm focuses on the further reduction of computational load in a MPC scheme and the trajectory tracking control in the presence of uncertainties and disturbances. An explicit nonlinear MPC is developed for helicopters to avoid online optimisation, which is then integrated with a nonlinear disturbance observer to significantly improve its robustness and disturbance attenuation. All these algorithms have been verified by flight tests for autonomous helicopters in the dedicated rapid prototyping testbed developed in this thesis.
Practical design criteria of interior permanent magnet synchronous motor for 42V integrated starter-generator

For the 42 V integrated starter-generator (ISG) application, the interior permanent magnet (IPM) synchronous machine has been a good candidate because of the field weakening capability, efficiency and high power density. However, the integration of starter and alternator requires contrary specifications, i.e. a high starting torque and a field-weakening capability in a wide speed range, and they make the design of the IPM machine a challenging job. In designing the IPM machine, there are many preceding design factors such as the pole number, the stator inductance value, the saliency ratio, and magnitude of the permanent-magnet flux and so on. These design factors provide the basic guideline for the detailed geometric design of the machine. However, because these design factors are dependent on each other, it is difficult to select a set of design factors which satisfies the required specifications. This paper presents the design criteria to select the set of design factors using the 42 V ISG specifications. The criteria are based on the three important specifications. From the specifications, the feasible ranges of stator inductance with current magnitude are illustrated with respect to the pole number and the saliency ratio. Using this analysis, the minimum saliency ratio and the range of stator inductance can be calculated with respect to the pole number. This paper also presents a practical design example of 8-pole IPM for crankshaft-mounted 42V ISG. In order to verify the validity of the design, a prototype 8-pole IPM is built and the parameters and performance of the machine are measured by the various experiments.
Generating fuzzy autopilot for ship maneuvering

This paper introduces a method to generate autopilots for ship headings by using issues from the observation of control actions performed by human operators. The controller is designed based on fuzzy logic and uses triangular membership functions for the antecedent and consequent functions for Singleton type. For an automatic adjustment of the consequential, the recursive least squares method was used. This method is used to generate and validate the course driver of a 350-m tanker, at different load conditions.
Application of fractional derivatives to the FDTD modeling of pulse propagation in a Cole–Cole dispersive medium

This article presents an application of the fractional derivative concept to the modeling of the time-domain propagation in dispersive Cole-Cole media. A recursive finite-difference(SINGLEBOND)time-time-domain (FDTD) formulation is developed to solve the special differential equation that is obtained. This formulation is validated by comparing the calculated permittivities to analytical values. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Understanding State Government-Linked Companies’ Service Delivery System Successful Performance from Employees’ Insights

It is inevitable for state government-linked companies (SGLCs) or state-owned enterprises (SOEs) nowadays to respond ingeniously to many business trials and tribulations. Since these companies faced intense challenges in a very dynamic business environment, this research intends to offer recommendations to address them. Essentially, this exploratory research reviewed the literature relevant to the topic and identified the research gaps to formulate two research propositions for testing this research. The data were collected using in-depth interviews from 19 head of departments in 19 state government-linked companies. The findings indicate several emerging themes such as company policies, leadership, process improvements, consultative attitudes and community engagement are important efforts to heed for improvement in the service delivery system. These findings are useful to trigger other SGLCs and SOEs into achieving successful performance on the service delivery system by paying attention to the provided information.
Performance Evaluation of a Newly Developed Variable-Rate Sprayer for Nursery Liner Applications

An experimental variable-rate sprayer designed for liner applications was tested by comparing its spray deposit, coverage, and droplet density inside canopies of six nursery liner varieties with constant-rate applications. Spray samplers, including water-sensitive papers (WSP) and nylon screens, were mounted inside tree canopies to collect spray deposit and coverage from variable-rate and constant-rate (555 and 1,110 L ha-1) applications. Models for estimating spray volume savings of the variable-rate sprayer compared to constant-rate and tree-row-volume (TRV) rate applications were developed for various liner canopy sizes and tree spacings. The accuracy of the model was validated with the field test data. For the liner trees tested, the variable-rate sprayer delivered 151 to 359 L ha-1 application rates, while the conventional constant-rate application required 1,110 L ha-1. Due to substantially lower spray output, the variable-rate application had lower (but sufficient) spray deposit, coverage, and droplet density than the constant-rate applications. The variable-rate application also had significantly less variations in spray deposit within canopies of different-size trees. Test results showed that the variable-rate sprayer reduced spray volume by up to 86.4% and 70.8% compared to the 1,110 L ha-1 and TRV-based rate applications, respectively, while the model-estimated savings were up to 94.6% for the 1,110 L ha-1 application and 57.7% for the TRV-based rate applications. Therefore, the newly developed variable-rate sprayer would bring great reductions in pesticide use and safeguard the environment for nursery liner production.
CFD Analysis of the Aerodynamics and Aeroacoustics of the NASA SR2 Propeller

NASA’s SR2 8-bladed propeller rotating at 6487rpm [1, 2, 3, 4] Advance Ratio of 3.06 and Mach Number of 0.6 is used to assess the aerodynamic and noise performance prediction capabilities of a standard commercial CFD code.The main purpose of this study is to benchmark the performance prediction against experimental data for Power Coefficient and near-field noise measurements. Comparisons are made between single rotating and multiple rotating regions across a sliding mesh interface. We also focus on the effectiveness of capturing the downstream convection of tip vortex structures, in the wake of the propeller, modeled with all 8 blades, with a view towards using the approach to understand the interaction of these wake features with aerodynamic surfaces.Noise predictions are performed using the standard FfowcsWilliams-Hawkings impermeable surface method for rotating dipoles. This is compared with near-field noise predictions using direct noise simulation from the unsteady compressible CFD code and experimental data, in terms of the measured dB intensity at the blade passing frequency and harmonics.Additional unsteady CFD simulation was conducted for a separate SR2 propeller with a calibrated blade angle. The preliminary results of the direct near-field noise computation of dB intensity at the blade passing frequency have shown improved agreement with wind tunnel data at aft angles to the propeller plane.Practices are demonstrated which result in low dependency on the sliding mesh interface location. Tip vortex structures and downstream convection are well captured by judicious choice of mesh refinement in the wake of the propeller.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Combined Feedback/Feedforward Velocity Control of Electrokinetically Driven Flow in a Network of Planar Microchannels

Abstract In the present study, a combined feedback/feedforward strategy will be utilized in order to control the output flow rate in a micro-T junction. First, Finite Element Model (FEM) of the electroosmotic flow in the T-junction will be generated and then this model will form a basis for generating training data for building an inverse model of the flow in the T-junction based on Adaptive Neural Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS). This inverse model serves as a controller in the feedforward part of the system. Also, in order to make the controller robust against disturbances and uncertainties such as dimensional tolerances, a Mamdani-type fuzzy logic controller is incorporated in the feedback part of the controller. Finally, simulation results will be presented in order to establish the performance of the designed controller.
Close Range Photogrammetry

Close range photogrammetry (CRP) techniques can be used in accident scene reconstruction to derive accurate three-dimensional measurements from photos taken at the time of the event. This article describes how CRP was used in reconstructing an actual accident in which an articulated transit bus hit a woman. The woman was standing on the sidewalk when the bus approached a bus stop. CRP software was used to measure digital photographs taken at the scene, and to prove whether the bus driver was responsible for hitting the woman as the bus approached or whether the woman actually stepped over the curb onto the street. The photogrammetric measurements of the bus, relative to the sidewalk and curbing, prove the woman must have had her body leaning over the curb and into the street space. This case demonstrates the importance of capturing sufficient imagery of an incident to follow-up with accurate photogrammetric mapping of the scene.
Early spring mycobiota of pine litter needles.

Rise in air temperature accompanied by snow-melting in early spring may affect fungi colonising litter needles. This study dealt with the diversity of communities of culturable microfungi colonising Scots pine litter at localities still covered by snow and after snowmelt. Surface-sterilised needles were cultivated on malt agar under two temperature regimes (8/9 and 15/16 °C) and outgrowing fungi were isolated into pure cultures and identified based on morphology and analysis of ITS and partial 28S rDNA regions. Thirty-one fungal species were isolated in total. Dominant colonisers with a colonisation frequency of over 10 % included Verticicladium trifidum, Ceuthospora pinastri, Sympodiella acicola and an unidentified member of Helotiales. Two basidiomycetes, Marasmius androsaceus and Mycena galopus, were also isolated relatively frequently from needles with snow cover, but under different temperature regimes. This preference for different temperatures reflects different niches that these species occupy in coniferous litter. Species richness was significantly higher on needles cultivated at lower temperatures. Widespread use of room temperature for cultivation of samples even from cold seasons may underestimate fungal diversity.
Finite Element Analysis of Agricultural Tricycle Frame

Based on the Finite Element theory, Nastran analysis software is used to calculate a motor tricycle frame for static and dynamic simulation. From the calculation, the article analyzed the strength, deformation and fatigue degree of the agricultural tricycle frame. The stress distribution cloud picture is obtained with the weak link found and the general level of the structure strength assessed, thereby providing the data of valuable structure analysis for the optimization and reliability design. All of above results can provide theoretical guidance for the design of motor tricycle frame.
Assessment of inelastic response of buildings using force- and displacement-based approaches

In recognition of the increasing importance of accurate seismic vulnerability assessment, this paper deals with procedures and the application of inelastic acceleration and displacement spectra in the seismic assessment of buildings. An identification procedure is outlined, whereby an equivalent single degree of freedom (SDOF) system is devised to represent the building. The SDOF system characteristics (stiffness, strength, post-peak force response and ductility) are readily evaluated from observation of the seismic response of buildings and simple mechanics. The characteristics are then tuned using measurements from instrumented buildings. Based on the earthquake scenario and structural response characteristics, appropriate inelastic acceleration and displacement spectra are selected and used to ‘predict’ the response. Comparison between the measured and predicted responses for the five buildings studied in the paper confirm the feasibility of the procedure and the realism of the results. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
DETERMINATION OF COMFORTABLE SAFE WIDTH IN AN EXCLUSIVE MOTORCYCLE LANE

Motorcyclists contributed almost 60% of the fatal accidents in Malaysia. One of the effective engineering approaches to tackle this problem is by segregating these vulnerable road users from other motorized traffic through the provision of an exclusive motorcycle lane. At present there are no specific standards that are available to assess design criteria of exclusive motorcycle lanes. However, it is important to specify optimum control width for exclusive motorcycle lanes to ensure that the design of exclusive motorcycle lane is safe for all motorcycle riders. The estimation of safe control motorcycle lane width was based on a logistic regression. The dependent variable is status with respect to rider comfortable level in overtaking maneuver. The resulting analysis was used to suggest a safe control width of pavement for a straight section of an exclusive motorcycle lane. Result indicates that the safe control width of exclusive motorcycle lane should be 3.81 meters.
Power system stability and control

Part I: Characteristics of Modern Power Systems. Introduction to the Power System Stability Problem. Part II: Synchronous Machine Theory and Modelling. Synchronous Machine Parameters. Synchronous Machine Representation in Stability Studies. AC Transmission. Power System Loads. Excitation in Stability Studies. Prime Mover and Energy Supply Systems. High-Voltage Direct-Current Transmission. Control of Active Power and Reactive Power. Part III: Small Signal Stability. Transient Stability. Voltage Stability. Subsynchronous Machine Representation in Stability Studies. AC Transmission. Power System Loads. Excitation in Stability Studies. Prime Mover and Energy Supply Systems, High-Voltage Direct-Current Transmission. Control of Active Power and Reactive Power. Part III: Small Signal Stability. Transient Stability. Voltage Stability. Subsynchronous Oscillations. Mid-Term and Long-Term Stability. Methods of Improving System Stability.
Design and Implementation of Video Copyright Protection System Based on LabVIEW and Water Transfer Printing Materials

In view of the problems of the traditional digital copyright protection system which can’t fully protect the digital content and was vulnerable to be cracked, a video copyright protection system based on LabVIEW was proposed. The system used the basic theory of LSB algorithm, and embedded the watermark information into lowest position of DC about the DCT coefficients of the I-frame of video. The system can’t only have the good robustness under the premise of the invisibility of watermark but also realize the watermark blind extracted, achieving the requirement of the watermark embedded and extracted real-timely. The experimental results show that the algorithm has good robustness. The system has the advantages of operating easily, easy to be upgraded, low cost and has good prospect for application.
Dynamics of inelastic base‐isolated structures subjected to analytical pulse ground motions

Structural design code provisions worldwide prescribe relatively small seismic force reduction factors for seismically base‐isolated structures, making their response to design‐level earthquake excitation essentially elastic. This paper uses the method of dimensional analysis to prove that; in most cases, this is not a conservative design approach but a necessity that emerges from the dynamics of base‐isolated structures. It is shown that allowing typical base‐isolated structures to yield results in large displacement ductility demands for the structure. This phenomenon is caused by the change in the nature of the ground motion excitation as it is transmitted to the structure through the seismic base isolation system as well as by the change in the distribution of displacements between the structure and the isolation bearings caused by yielding of the isolated structure. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.