Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Flight Testing of a Gravity Air Launch Method to Enable Responsive Space Access

AirLaunch LLC is developing a small launch vehicle (SLV) called QuickReachTM that is carried by and launched from an existing military cargo aircraft for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and USAF Falcon SLV program. One purpose of the QuickReachTM development program was to demonstrate AirLaunch’s innovative Gravity Air Launch (GAL) method. Three inert Drop Test Articles (DTA) were successfully dropped from three separate C-17A aircraft onto the Edwards flight test center range to demonstrate GAL. The DTAs were water filled steel tanks with the same outer mold line, stiffness, and mass properties as the actual QuickReachTM launch vehicle. The overall length and weight of the QuickReachTM rocket exceeded those of any single item previously airdropped from a C-17A aircraft. In addition, the airspeed required for the GAL airdrop was significantly higher than the standard airdrop speed. As a result of AirLaunch’s successful GAL program, the envelope of the C-17A aircraft was expanded to handle drops of objects nearly 66 feet in length and 72,000 pounds in weight. This paper describes AirLaunch’s successful GAL flight test program as demonstrated under the Falcon SLV program.
Exploration Drilling Productivity at the Norwegian Shelf

Recently, we have seen falling oil prices combined with sticky costs at a high level in the petroleum industry. This causes project postponements, thus challenging reserve replacement of oil companies and security of supply for consumers. Costs are particularly high for drilling. High rig rates are obviously important. In addition we experience a dramatic fall in drilling productivity. This paper analyses the development in drilling productivity in exploration wells at the Norwegian continental shelf. A unique dataset allows us to apply econometric analyses to ascertain vital explanatory factors for variation in drilling productivity over time and between different wells.
Integrated Uncertainty/Disturbance Suppression Based on Improved Adaptive Sliding Mode Controller for PMSM Drives

Permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs) have attracted great attention in the field of electric drive system. However, the disturbances caused by parameter mismatching, model uncertainty, external load and torque ripple seriously weaken the control accuracy. The traditional adaptive sliding mode control (ASMC) methodology can address slow-varying uncertainties/disturbances whose frequencies are located at the bandwidth of the filter used to design the adaptive law well; however, it has been barely discussed with respect to the periodic situation. In this paper, we extend the ASMC arrangement to periodic case to suppress the torque ripple by using a series-structure resonant controller. Firstly, a typical SMC is designed to force the tracking error of speed to converge to zero and obtain a certain capacity to disturbance. Then, the improved adaptive law is incorporated to estimate the lumped disturbance and torque ripple. The improved adaptive law is enhanced by embedding the resonant controller, which can obtain a better estimating result for torque ripple with repetitive feature. Finally, simulation and experimental results with PI, SMC and proposed methods are compared to verify the effectiveness of the developed controller.
Manual avanzado de Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM)

Este libro es una traducción autorizada por Sage del libro Advanced Issues in Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling. Concebido como una ampliación del Manual de Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) (segunda edición)*, esta guía práctica de fácil manejo abarca contenido avanzado de PLS-SEM para ayudar a los estudiantes e investigadores a aplicar técnicas sobre problemas de investigación y a interpretar oportunamente los resultados. El libro aporta un resumen de conceptos básicos antes de centrarse en aspectos más avanzados. Además, ofrece amplios ejemplos del software SmartPLS 3 (www.smartpls.com) y viene acompañado de bases de datos de descarga gratuita. En el libro se subraya la necesidad de aplicar cuidadosamente cualquier enfoque de PLS-SEM para asegurarnos de que éste encaje con el contexto de investigación y las características de los datos. Características clave: · Uso limitado de fórmulas, ecuaciones, símbolos y notaciones similares que hace que se comprendan los conceptos fácilmente. · Disponibilidad de reglas prácticas en cada capítulo que aportan guías concretas de mejores prácticas para aplicar e interpretar PLS-SEM y preparar artículos para su publicación en revistas científicas. · Empleo de un mismo ejemplo y base de datos a lo largo de todo el libro para facilitar la consistencia en los aspectos relacionados con el caso propuesto. · Conjunto de recursos que se pueden descargar de manera gratuita: bases de datos y proyectos de SmartPLS para practicar las técnicas planteadas. · Manual traducido y actualizado con pies de página con los desarrollos más recientes de PLS-SEM. -------- *Manual de Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) (segunda edición) Hair, J. F. , Hult, G. T. M. , Ringle, C. M. , Sarstedt, M. , Castillo Apraiz, J., Cepeda Carrión, G. , & Roldán, J. L. (2019). Manual de Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). OmniaScience Scholar, Terrassa, Barcelona.
Measuring software reuse

Predicting future i s always a risky enterprise! GPS is undergoing tremendous growth, with many product innovations being made. Furthermore, technology advances are leading resulting organizational and institutional changes, which wil l have a profound impact on the ”positioning professions”, as well as on the community in general. Location commerce or “L-Commerce” has become the latest buzzword to circulate, among ’ telecommunications industry watchers tracking new trends in the wireless arena. L-Commerce wil l help connect businesses with their most qualified customers, quickly direct individuals to the services they desire, and even increase the efficiency of emergency services. The convergence of multiple technologies including geographic information systems (CIS), Internet, wireless communications, location determination, and portable devices has given rise to exciting new types of information utilities that may be referred to simply as location services. Also called mobile location services, wireless location services, or location-based services, these systems are making a major impact on how we navigate our world and how business i s done. Knowing where a person or object i s at any time presents a powerful new dimension to’ the kinds of information services that can be offered. Location services deliver geographic information between mobile and I or static users via the Internet and/or wireless network. L-Commerce has combined the technologies of mobile computing / wireless communication with Global Positioning System (GPS), to provide a wide range o f location-dependent services to the general public (such as roadside assistance, concierge services, location-sensitive advertising). The Governments are working on the grounds to provide location-based data to the public. US government has already announced that GPS will be freely available to general public by the current decade [ZOOO]. In this paper, L-Commerce i s presented with reference to future trends in mobile computing and GPS technology. By using the media o f GPS, people would be experiencing the world as really a ‘Global Village’.
Design of Modified Patch Antenna Using Inverted U-Slot and L-slot for X, Ku and K-Band Applications

This paper presents the design of microstrip patch antenna for multiband applications. The designed antenna can be used for X, Ku and K band applications. The multiband antenna is achieved by cutting U and L slots in the rectangular patch. The designed antenna has width of the patch, Wp= 49.4mm and length of the patch, Lp = 41.4mm. Taconic TLY-5 dielectric substrate is used as a substrate layer which has dielectric constant of 2.2 and height of dielectric substrate is 1.6mm. The advantages of the resultant configurations are a) design is simple b) Inset feed is used for proper impedance matching c) the structure remains single layer and single patch. The designed antenna can be used for number of applications like in X-band it can be used for military communication and wideband global satellite communication systems (WGS), for Ku-band it can be used for terrestrial microwave and radar, specially police traffic speed-detector and for K-band it can be used in airport surface detection equipment (ASDE). The antenna is designed and simulated using Agilent’s ADS (Advanced Design System) 2009. Keywords—Multiband,Uslot,Lslot,Inset feed,X-band,Ku-Band, K-Band,PIFA
Dual networks and self-checking dividers

Methods of establishing dual network pairs and self-checking dividers from a string of 12 nominally equal resistors permanently connected in series using short-circuiting links between nodes are described. Dual networks that can be generated from a string of 11 nominally equal resistors, permanently connected in series with Hamon star junctions by joining one or more nodes together with one or more zero-resistance links, are established. These networks are then coupled together to form all possible three-terminal self-checking divider networks attainable using a total number of resistors from 2 to 12. There are 58269 physically different dual pairs using 11 resistors, comprising 3733 numerically different ratios. Correspondingly there are 79053 self-checking dividers with 4367 numerically different ratios. >
Integration of Parental Monitoring and Parental Communication Factors on Deviant Behaviours of Adolescents in Peninsular Malaysia

This research aimed to study the factors for parents’ monitoring and parents’ communication and their effects on deviant behaviours among adolescents in Peninsular Malaysia. This study utilized a mixed mode design which are Simultaneous Triangulation Design for the quantitative data; and qualitative data. Findings from the quantitative data established that parents’ monitoring negatively correlates with adolescents’ deviant behaviour. Whereas, parents’ communication did not present any significant relationship with deviant behaviour from adolescents. From interviews relating to parents’ monitoring, two sub-themes were identified which are the lack of monitoring of the child’s activity and perception of parents’ monitoring. The sub-themes uncovered from the interview on parents’ communication were three which are communication between parents and child, conflict of communication, and the perception on the importance of communication. The result from the integration of data on the factors for parent’s monitoring is paralleled and the qualitative data supported the quantitative data. Whilst the finding from the integration of data on parents’ communication was different, qualitatively, it was found that poor communication between parents and their child will lead to deviant behaviour. In conclusion, parent’s monitoring plays an important role in ensuring that adolescents do not get involve in deviant behaviour. Good monitoring makes adolescents feel that they are given enough attention and feel guilty if involved in deviant behaviour. Good communication from the parents help to improve adolescents’ creativity, ideas, and allow for effective two-way communication between parents and child. Further, adolescents feel the need to be more rationale and even avoid from participating in deviant activities.
Kinematics and Dynamics Analysis of Planar 3-RRR Parallel Robots

Kinematics and dynamics of planar 3-RRR parallel robots are presented. Firstly, kinematic equations of planar 3-RRR parallel robots are given. Then, dynamic model of the system based on Lagrange equations is obtained. Finally, the change of the drive torque and energy consumption of active joints are analyzed under the different trajectories and different loads of the moving platform is given, the results showed that the mass and trajectory of the moving platform have a critical influence on drive torque and energy consumption of the active joint. These are very important for the optimum design of the manipulator and the excellent design of the dynamic controller.
DETECTION OF CAVITIES UNDER CONCRETE PAVEMENT

Abstract : An evaluation of an impulse radar system for detecting cavities under concrete pavement is discussed, and field results are presented. It was found that a dual antenna mode of surveying was ideal for void detection. In this mode one antenna operated in a transceive mode and a second, offset from the first, operated in a receive-only mode. This arrangement allowed a refraction-type profile survey to be performed, which enabled subpavement voids to be easily detected. Field trails were held at Plattsburgh Air Force Base, where 28 cavities were detected and mapped. Drilling of holes verified that a cavity existed and allowed cavity depth to be measured. The cavities varied from 1.5 in. to 23 in, depth and were up to 20 ft. long. (Author)
DEVELOPMENT OF A LASER SCANNER FOR MEASURING TREE CANOPY CHARACTERISTICS: PHASE 2. FOLIAGE DENSITY MEASUREMENT

This study used a laser scanning system to quantify foliage density of citrus trees. The density calculations were based on the laser sensor-canopy distance measurements and a canopy boundary-smoothing algorithm. Ten citrus trees with different foliage densities were scanned by the laser system, and the calculated results were compared with the corresponding visual assessments of tree densities. Overall, laser measurements and visual assessments had a good correlation (R2 = 0.96; RMSE = 6.1%). Laser density measurements also had a good repeatability, with an average coefficient of variation of less than 3%.
Time-to-Collision Judgments of Constant and Non-Constant Velocities: Implications for Rear-End Collisions

To avoid rear-end collisions drivers putatively judge the time to collision (TTC) with a lead car. Prior studies typically measured TTC judgments of object motion or constant velocity rather than self motion or acceleration. In contrast, rear-end collisions typically occur when a driver is accelerating or decelerating. With computer-simulations of traffic scenes, we measured TTC judgments of self motion or object motion at constant and non-constant velocities. We also measured judgments at different levels of headway and viewing duration because rear-end collisions often occur with short headways and during driver distractions. Observers typically underestimated TTC when the virtual self accelerated toward a lead car. Further, the accuracy of TTC judgments depended on the parameters of the traffic environment, including viewing duration and headway. The implication is that intelligent collision-avoidance warning systems might be more effective in reducing rear-end collisions under certain traffic conditions than others. We begin to identify such conditions here.
Measurement invariance of suicide screening measures across military branch

ABSTRACT Military suicide rates are near all-time highs. To help clinicians and researchers study suicide risk factors in military samples, the Military Suicide Research Consortium (MSRC) developed a set of brief suicide-risk screening measures. While previous research has examined the reliability of these screening measures, it remains unclear if measurement differences exist across different military branches. This is an important omission given that establishing measurement equivalence or invariance (ME/I) across groups is a prerequisite for making group comparisons, which are necessary for accurately identifying and effectively intervening with groups at heightened risk. This study examined the ME/I of four MSRC screening measures (e.g., Depressive Symptom Index – Suicidality Subscale; Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire; Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire – Revised; Suicide Intent Scale) using a sample of 4,487 participants across military branches (Army; National Guard; Navy; Marine; Air Force) using a series of multiple-group confirmatory factor analyses (MGCFA). We assessed configural, threshold, and loading invariance, with results indicating that the brief screening measures are fully invariant between individuals from different military branches and that these suicide screeners can be used to examine differences across branches in future research. Research and applied implications are discussed.
Cooperative adaptive cruise control

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) enables automatic following of a preceding vehicle, based on measurements of the inter-vehicle distance xr,i and the relative velocity ˙ xr,i. Commonly, a radar is used for these measurements, see Figure 1. Decreasing the inter-vehicle distance to a small value of only several meters is expected to yield an increase in traffic throughput [1]. To enable this for a string of vehicles, a platoon, inter-vehicle communication is required besides the radar data [2]. This is called Cooperative ACC (CACC).
Nutritional status and biomass of african mahogany seedlings grown with nutrient solution in the Northern Amazon

O objetivo neste trabalho foi determinar aspectos sobre variáveis de crescimento e partição de massa seca das mudas de Khaya senegalensis, bem como a marcha de absorção de nutrientes, em função das épocas e adubação mineral. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 2 x 6. Dois níveis do fator solução nutritiva (sem e com adição) e seis níveis para o fator período (0; 60; 80; 100; 120 e 140 dias). Foram utilizadas 4 repetições, sendo cada uma delas composta de 10 mudas. Para avaliação da qualidade das mudas, consideraram-se os parâmetros morfológicos, relações e índices de qualidade: altura da parte aérea (H; cm); diâmetro do coleto (DC; mm); massa seca da parte aérea (MSPA; g planta-1); massa seca da raiz (MSR; g planta-1); massa seca total (MST = MSPA + MSR; g planta-1); relação massa seca da parte aérea e massa seca da raiz (MSPA/MSR); índice de robustez (IR= H/DC; cm mm-1); e índice de qualidade de Dickson (IQD) e o acúmulo de macronutrientes na parte aérea e sistemaradicular. A adição de solução é recomendada para mudas de Khaya senegalensis a partir da época 100 dias após o transplantio em viveiro de telado na Amazônia setentrional. A manutenção das mudas de Khaya senegalensis com uso de solução nutritiva proporciona as melhores condições para o aproveitamento dos macronutrientes e permite obter mudas aptas para campo em 140 dias após o transplantio em viveiro de telado em Roraima.
Robust Fitness Landscape based Multi-Objective Optimisation

Abstract Multi-objective optimisation is a challenging and essential topic of both engineering and computation fields. Population-based approaches are able to achieve a set of solutions as an approximation to the Pareto front and have therefore become popular. However, these algorithms have to use a significant number of evaluations to reach convergence, which can be time-consuming and/or economically expensive as far as real-world applications are concerned. Recently, an efficient hybrid framework, named EMO-FL, which combines a state-of-the-art multi-objective optimiser with an embedded approximate model of the objective functions, has been proposed to handle such problems. In this paper, a new multi-objective optimiser (DBSGA) is developed and successfully exploited to enhance the performance of this EMO-FL framework. Successful applications of the newly proposed algorithm include well-known challenging benchmark functions and the optimal design of alloy steels via the manipulation of chemical equations and processing conditions.
Analysis and design of a soft-switching interleaved forward converter for generating pulsed electric fields

This paper presents analysis and design of a soft-switching interleaved forward converter for generating pulsed electric fields to process microbes, which includes food sterilization, waste treatment, pollution control, and medical diagnostics and treatment. Particularly, in the food sterilization, it only causes a little increase in temperature, providing safe, nutritious and fresh quality of food for consumers. To achieve sterilization, the pulse-width of the pulsed electric field varies from tens of ns to hundreds of /spl mu/ s, the period changes from 0.1 to 1 ms and the electric field intensity is from tens to hundreds of kV/cm. In this study, sterilizing waveforms are long pulses stacked with narrow pulses to prevent undesired gas discharge and reduce power consumption. A converter equipped with an interleaving scheme is proposed to generate the pulses. Thus, the converter can operate at high frequencies, its weight and size can be reduced significantly, and its efficiency can be correspondingly improved. Hardware measurements of /spl plusmn/10 kV pulses and 200 W peak power have demonstrated the feasibility of the proposed converter.
Targeted drug delivery of capecitabine to mice xenograft gastric cancer by PAMAM dendrimer nanocarrier

Aims: In this study, we used an animal xenograft model of gastric cancer induction to investigate the therapeutic effects of capecitabine polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer complex against cancer, and its potential side effects. Methods and Materials: Human gastric cancer tissue was obtained from patients with gastric carcinoma and transplanted into mice. Anticancer drug capecitabine was loaded into PAMAM dendrimer nano-carrier and injected into the animals. All animals received cyclosporine before the surgery. Results: Capecitabine-dendrimer complex reduced the size of the axillary implanted tumor, the levels of AST and ALP, and the drug-induced adverse effects on other body organs. Furthermore, it increased apoptotic and necrotic responses in the grafted tumor, RBC, WBC, and platelet counts in comparison to free capecitabine. Conclusions: In the gastric cancer setting, PAMAM dendrimer drug delivery method effectively improved therapeutic index and outcomes, and reduced undesirable side-effects of the capecitabine. Keywords: Gastric cancer, Xenograft, Capecitabine, Cyclosporine, Poly amidoamine dendrimer (PAMAM), Mice.
Side-implanted piezoresistive shear stress sensor for turbulent boundary layer measurement

of Dissertation Presented to the Graduate School of the University of Florida in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy SIDE-IMPLANTED PIEZORESISTIVE SHEAR STRESS SENSOR FOR TURBULENT BOUNDARY LAYER MEASUREMENT By Yawei Li August 2008 Chair: Mark Sheplak Major: Aerospace Engineering In this dissertation, I discuss the device modeling, design optimization, fabrication, packaging and characterization of a micromachined floating element piezoresistive shear stress sensor for the time-resolved, direct measurement of fluctuating wall shear stress in a turbulent flow. This device impacts a broad range of applications from fundamental scientific research to industrial flow control and biomedical applications. The sensor structure integrates side-implanted, diffused resistors into the silicon tethers for piezoresistive detection. Temperature compensation is enabled by integrating a fixed, dummy Wheatstone bridge adjacent to the active shear-stress sensor. A theoretical nonlinear mechanical model is combined with a piezoresistive sensing model to determine the electromechanical sensitivity. Lumped element modeling (LEM) is used to estimate the resonant frequency. Finite element modeling is employed to verify the quasi-static and dynamic models. Two dominant electrical noise sources in the piezoresistive shear stress sensor, 1 f noise and thermal noise, and amplifier noise were considered to determine the noise floor. These models were then leveraged to obtain optimal sensor designs for several sets of specifications. The cost function, minimum detectable shear stress (MDS) formulated in terms of sensitivity and noise floor, is