Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ON THE ANALYSIS OF SOIL DEFORMATION UNDER A MOVING RIGID WHEEL

A new approach to the problem of soil behavior under vehicular loads is described in this paper whereby a Cine Flash X-ray technique is used to study the translation, rotations, and velocities of small objects buried within the sand, as a function of depth and relative wheel position. Some basic considerations associated with the development of this technique are included, together with a section on the accuracy of information derived from the radiographic results. The specific case of a rigid-wheel loading pattern on a loose dry sand has been studied, and some results from one test series are reported. The influence of applied torque on the translation patterns, is described. Large horizontal deformations are found within the soil, where the ratio of horizontal to vertical movements can exceed positive or negative equality. The actual ratio is shown to be strongly dependent on applied torque. Whereas many studies, in the field of soil-vehicle mechanics, have concentrated on the measurement of purely surficial information, few have been concerned with the study of the actual soil behavior beneath the wheel-soil interface. The assumption that (a) rolling resistance can be equated to the vertical component of work expended in the formation of a rut, (b) that dynamic side effects may be ignored at low vehicle speeds, and (c) that the soil response may be examined on the basis of static limit equilibrium analyses, are a few of the topics that have provided continuous speculation. The physical problems of measuring stress and non-linear deformations in the soil have been largely responsible for this speculation. In this paper the emphasis is on the experimental method and its accuracy, with one section on the results, and further examples will be described in subsequent publications. The results described in this paper do, however, produce sufficient evidence to question some of the assumptions used in contemporary theories. /McG Univ/
Some Aspects of Networking of Lifelong Learning

In the presented paper various views and reflections on lifelong learning concepts are provided. The main focus is on networking of providers and their collaboration. Major theoretical views are illustrated by examples and additionally, an empirical study of networking of lifelong learning in Slovenia was made and analysed using network analytic methods. The results were carefully studied and also presented with modern visualisation tools. Conclusions could serve as a possible cornerstone for further research and for guidelines when formulating policies for promotion of lifelong learning.
Characterization of l-fucose isomerase from Paenibacillus rhizosphaerae to produce l-fuculose from hydrolyzed fucoidan and commercial fucose.

AIMS l-Fuculose is a valuable rare sugar that is used to treat a variety of ailments, including HIV, cancer, Hepatitis B, human lysosomal disease (fucosidosis), and cardio-protective medications. The enzymatic approach for the production of l-fuculose using l-fucose as a substrate would be an advantageous method with a wide range of industrial applications. The objective of this study is the characterization of recombinant l-fucose isomerase from Paenibacillus rhizosphaerae (Pa-LFI) for the production of l-fuculose from an inexpensive and natural source (fucoidan) as well as its comparison with commercial l-fucose (Sigma-Aldrich). METHODS AND RESULTS Fucoidan, a fucose-containing polysaccharide (FPs), was isolated from Undaria pinnatifida, subsequently hydrolyzed, and characterized before the enzymatic production of l-fuculose. The results elaborate that FPs contain 35.9% of fucose along with other kinds of monosaccharides. The purified Pa-LFI exhibited a single band at 65 kDa and showed it as a hexamer with a native molecular mass of 396 kDa. The highest activity of 104.5 U mg-1 of Pa-LFI was perceived at a temperature of 50°C and pH 6.5 in the presence of 1 mM of Mn2+. The Pa-LFI revealed a melting temperature (Tm) of 75°C and a half-life of 12.6 h at 50°C. It exhibited that Pa-LFI with aldose substrate (l-fucose), has a stronger isomerizing activity, disclosing Km,kcat, and kcat/Km 86.2 mM, 32 831 min-1, and 335 min-1 mM-1, respectively. After reaching equilibrium, Pa-LFI efficiently catalyzed the reaction to convert l-fucose into l-fuculose and the conversion ratios of l-fuculose from 100 g L-1 of FPs and commercial fucose were around 6% (5.6 g L-1) and 30% (30.2 g L-1), respectively. CONCLUSIONS According to the findings of the current study, the Pa-LFI will be useful in the manufacturing of l-fuculose using an effective and easy approach that produces no by-products.
Development of an extended environmental multimedia modeling system (EEMMS)

All pollutant contamination problems have both short and long term impacts on ambient air, water, and soil environments. Previous environmental pollution control programmes mainly focused on a single environmental medium (e.g., groundwater). Traditional environmental multimedia models (EMM) usually simulate pollutants' fate and transport in separate zones, based on one-dimensional, first-order mechanisms. This may lead to biased results and simulation errors. In this study, firstly, a new extended environmental multimedia model system (EEMMS) was set up, which includes four sub-modules (sources, air quality, unsaturated zone, groundwater) on a regional spatial-temporal scale. Three different approaches were evaluated for solving multi-dimensional coupled pollutants equations using experimental data from the literature: a) EEMMS/FEM (numerical finite element method); b) EEMMS /FDM (numerical finite difference method); and, c) EEMMS /analytical method. Furthermore, three validations related to the three approaches are conducted. First, experimental results from a pilot scale landfill were used to verify the spatial temporal accuracy of predicted emission fluxes and concentrations in both numerical spatial and temporal scale. Further systematic model validations were implemented and tested comparing with the dual domain mass transfer model and 2-D analytical model. Complicated 3-D real site validation was conducted through the Trail Road Sanitary Landfill site. 3-D reasonable results have been obtained through the comparisons of analytical and numerical solutions (FDM and FEM) in non-uniform and unsteady conditions. Implementing the EEMMS/FEM solution in the above three validations was found to be better than that of EEMMS/FDM, and EEMMS /analytical solutions. EEMMS/FEM solution also provided more stabilization technique, a better mesh that minimizes the error or even a faster solution. In addition, given a large amount of uncertainties associated with EMMS practices, sensitivity analyses approach such as retardation factor, Peclet number (Pe), hydraulic conductivity, bulk density, porosity, were embedded into the developed EEMMS. Lastly, the new EEMMS model containing both new environmental multimedia system (EMS) and Monte Carlo Method (MCM) was developed to an integrated tool for the risk assessment of contaminants. The new EEMMS would serve as a risk assessment tool to address the fate and transport of the pollutants in complex, multimedia environments and subsequently to help in the management of the resulting environmental impacts.
Architecting Human Operator Trust in Automation to Improve System Effectiveness in Multiple Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) Control

Abstract : Current Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) designs require multiple operators for each vehicle, partly due to imperfect automation matched with the complex operational environment. This study examines the effectiveness of future UAS automation by explicitly addressing the human/machine trust relationship during system architecting. A pedigreed engineering model of trust between human and machine was developed and applied to a laboratory-developed micro-UAS for Special Operations. This unprecedented investigation answered three primary questions: Can previous research be used to create a useful trust model for systems engineering? How can trust be considered explicitly within the DoD Architecture Framework? Can the utility of architecting trust be demonstrated on a given UAS architecture? By addressing operator trust explicitly during architecture development, system designers can incorporate more effective automation. The results provide the Systems Engineering community a new modeling technique for early human systems integration.
Prospects for the commercial development of hot dry rock geothermal energy in New Mexico

A vast store of energy is available to the world in the form of hot dry rock (HDR) which exists almost everywhere beneath the surface of the earth. The Los Alamos National Laboratory has developed technology to mine the heat from HDR by using techniques developed in the petroleum industry. In practice, an artificial reservoir is created in the hot rock and water is circulated through the reservoir to extract the thermal energy and bring it to the surface. There are virtually no adverse environmental effects from an HDR plant when the system is operated in a closed-loop mode with the process water continually recirculated. An experimental plant at Fenton Hill, NM is now undergoing long-term testing to demonstrate that energy can be obtained from HDR on a sustained basis with operational procedures which are readily adaptable to industry. Significant HDR resources exist in the state of New Mexico. Resources in the Valles Caldera, Zuni Uplift, and Rio Grande Rift have been evaluated in detail. Studies indicate that it should be possible to economically develop high grade HDR resources with technology available today. As advanced concepts for developing and operating HDR systems are investigated, even more widespread utilization of themore » technology will be commercially feasible. « less
But wait! There's more! : Using your eprint repository to advance multiple institutional objectives while protecting (and advancing)your open access objectives

publications in their institutional repository, "function creep" is almost inevitable. In recent years, it has become obvious to researchers, university administrators and even governments that these repositories could be used to fulfil other functions and to advance objectives other than open access. On the whole, this is a good thing as it is much easier to make business case for a multi-functional institutional repository. A repository that addresses multiple needs and is integrated into the academic workspace at various points is also more likely to achieve a high uptake level - reaching beyond the enthusiastic "early adopters". However, if care is not taken, there is a danger that the open access agenda could get swamped or even lost. This poster will examine the various ways in which the eprint repository at Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane (Australia) is being used and the strategies in place to not only protect, but to advance, the open access agenda along the way.
Subwavelength high -contrast grating (HCG) and its applications in optoelectronic devices

Permission to make digital or hard copies of all or part of this work for personal or classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies are not made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the full citation on the first page. To copy otherwise, to republish, to post on servers or to redistribute to lists, requires prior specific permission. Optical grating is a research topic with a long history. It has been extensively studied over the years due to its various applications in holography, spectroscopy, lasers, and many other optoelectronic devices. In this dissertation, we present a novel single-layer subwavelength high-index-contrast grating (HCG) which opens a new era in the study of grating. HCGs can serve as surface normal broadband (∆λ/λ ~35%), high-reflectivity (>99%) mirrors, which can be used to replace conventional distributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs) in optical devices. Different designs of HCGs can also serve as narrow band, surface emitting, high-quality (Q) factor optical resonators or shallow angle reflectors. In this dissertation, we will review the recent advances in high-index-contrast grating and its applications in optoelectronic devices, including vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs), high-Q optical resonators, and hollow-core waveguides. We first present a novel HCG-based VCSEL where the conventional DBR mirror is replaced with a HCG-based mirror. A systematic and comprehensive review of the experimental and numerical simulation results is presented to demonstrate many desirable 2 attributes of HCG-based VCSELs, including polarization selection, transverse mode control and a large fabrication tolerance. Next, we present an ultra-fast tuning, HCG-based tunable VCSEL. By integrating a mechanically movable actuator with a single-layer HCG as the VCSEL top mirror, precise, wide continuous wavelength tuning (~18 nm) was achieved at room temperature. The small footprint of the HCG enables each of the mechanical actuator dimensions to be scaled down by at least a factor of 10, resulting in a greater than 1000 times reduction in mass, and an increase in the mechanical resonant frequency. It also allows for a record-fast, HCG-based tunable VCSEL with a tuning time in the ~10 ns range to be obtained. Besides the HCG-based VCSELs/tunable VCSELs, we also present a HCG-based surface normal high-Q resonator with a simulated Q-factor as large as 500,000 and an experimentally measured Q-factor of ~14,000. The unique feature of a high-Q with surface normal emission is highly desirable, as the topology facilitates a convenient and high output …
UPDATE ANALYSIS OF HIGHWAY COST ALLOCATION

Many states have recently performed cost allocation studies to provide a logical basis for formulating equitable tax structures and registration fee schedules. Many states have also recognized the dynamic nature of the problem, and the need to conduct an update analysis periodically. A full-scale update analysis is often costly and time consuming and little effort has been made to address this problem. Using the 1988 Indiana update analysis of highway cost allocation as an illustration, the key elements in an update analysis are identified here and a recommendation is made that the establishment of a permanent cost allocation data base would enable an update analysis to be conducted periodically in an efficient manner within a time frame acceptable to most highway agencies. The important steps in the Indiana update study are described and examined in detail. Study results and findings are also discussed.
A Comparison of the Sensor Brick Concept as a Modular System Architecture to the Realtime Control System as the Operational Architecture

This thesis describes the application of modular design into an intelligent mobile robotic system. The Sensor Brick System, a mobile robotic system infused with artificial intelligence, is derived through the concept and application of modular design. Modular design drives the system’s characterization by defining, identifying and selecting the essential composite of sub-systems that form the system architecture. The principles of modular design designate grouping the technologies into modules that facilitate maintenance of the system components and allow the rapid integration of future technological developments. Developing the operational control of the system requires an examination and comprehension of the theories of intelligent control. The operational architecture of the system, an application derived from the theories of intelligent control, describes the tasks, operational units, and information flows of the system in a scope of high resolution. Generally, the application of a control structure directs the evolution of and for the intelligent systems by providing a framework for the system as it achieves increasing degrees of autonomous operations. The conceptual implementation of an operational control structure in the form of the Realtime Control System into the Sensor Brick System describes the system in a future, more developed state, and constitutes the penultimate contribution of this research. A demonstrable result of the Sensor Brick System describes the system as it is applied to an under-vehicle inspection scenario. The application of the system highlights the attributes of the system as it extracts information about the state of the vehicle using various sensor bricks.
French translation and validation of the Keele STarT MSK Tool

Background The Keele STarT MSK Tool is a 10-item questionnaire developed to classify patients suffering from one of the five most common types of musculoskeletal pain into 3 sub-groups of risk of chronic pain (i.e. low risk, medium risk and high risk). Objective The objective of the present study was to translate the Keele STarT MSK Tool into French and to evaluate its main psychometric properties. Methods The translation and intercultural adaptation of the questionnaire were carried out using a 6-step process. The following psychometric properties were investigated: floor and ceiling effects, construct validity, internal consistency and test-retest reliability including Standard Error of Measurement and Smallest Detectable Change. Results 101 patients suffering from musculoskeletal pain participated in the study. No floor nor ceiling effects were observed. A Cronbach’s alpha of 0.65 was found, revealing a moderate internal consistency. Nevertheless, all items were demonstrated to be significantly correlated with the total score (range of correlations: r=0.2 for item 7 to r=0.78 for item 1). A good construct validity was also found with a significant correlation of r=0.78 between the French Keele STarT MSK Tool and the ÖMPSQ-short. Test-retest reliability was excellent (Intraclass Correlation Coefficient 0.97). A Standard Error of Measurement of 0.42 and a Smallest Detectable Change of ±1.17 were measured. Conclusion A validated French version of the Keele STarT MSK Tool is now available and can be used by health practitioners to stratify patients as being at low, medium or high risk of persistent musculoskeletal pain.
Estimating the climate value of bicycling in Bogota, Colombia, using a shadow pricing methodology

The reduction of CO2 emissions forms one of the largest challenges of the current era. Sustainable transport projects aim at reducing emissions by (1) ’Avoiding’ motorized mobility, (2) ’Shifting’ motorized mobility to zero-emission alternatives or (3) ’Improving’ efficiencies in the current transport system. Especially bicycling is suitable for ’Shift’ projects because bicycles have a zero-emission value. Development of bicycle projects, however, is hampered caused by a lack of insight in the economic benefits arising from bicycling. With the introduction of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and the Voluntary Carbon Markets (VCM) an extra stimulus for sustainable development, in the form of additional project revenues produced by the sale of CO2 emission reduction credits (CERs) is created. Little scientific research has been conducted to the appraisal of the CO2 reduction potential of bicycling. This research explores the possibilities of the CO2 assessment of bicycling by the development of the Shadow Traffic Model.
VIBRATION MEASUREMENT WITH PULSE AND DSPACE EQUIPMENT MEREN VIBRAC SE SYSTMY PULSE A DSPACE

This contribution describes techniques and results of measurement with TIRA vibration generator. A method of experimental modal analysis allows next restore of vibration data. The goal is check validity of head expanders and screw connection. This process is based to using ME’scope environment. Another goal is check possibilities of dSPACE platform to vibration measurement. This task includes design of connection between dSPACE system and power amplifier, creating of graphical user interface and analyzing main configuration parameters to improve quality of drive signal. Abstrakt Příspěvek se věnuje postupům a výsledkům měření, zahrnující vibrační generátor TIRA. Cílem je ověřit vliv rozšiřujících nástavců pro ukotvení testovaných struktur, při analýze vibrací pomocí definovaného budícího signálu. V případě rozměrově větší plošiny byla provedena experimentální modální analýza, včetně zpětné rekonstrukce pohybu v prostředí ME’scope. Druhým hlavním cílem je realizace ovládání vibrátoru prostřednictvím simulátoru dSPACE. Jedná se o vytvoření spojovací kabeláže, vhodného grafického rozhraní a analýzu hlavních konfiguračních parametrů pro dosažení požadované kvality budícího signálu.
Multi-agent robotic systems

MOTIVATION, APPROACHES, AND OUTSTANDING ISSUES Why Multiple Robots? Advantages Major Themes Agents and Multiagent Systems Multiagent Robots Towards Cooperative Control Cooperation Related Research Learning, Evolution, and Adaptation Design of Multi-Robot Control Approaches Behavior-Based Robotics Collective Robotics Evolutionary Robotics Inspiration from Biology and Sociology Summary Models and Techniques Reinforcement Learning Genetic Algorithms Artificial Life Artificial Immune System Probabilistic Modeling Related Work on Multi-Robot Planning and Coordination Outstanding Issues Self-Organization Local vs. Global Performance Planning Multi-Robot learning Co-Evolution Emergent Behavior Reactive vs. Symbolic Systems Heterogeneous vs. Homogenous Systems Simulated vs. Physical Robots Dynamics of Multiagent Robotic Systems Summary CASE STUDIES IN LEARNING Multiagent Reinforcement Learning: Techniques Autonomous Group Robots Multiagent Reinforcement Learning Summary Multiagent Reinforcement Learning Results Measurements Group Behaviors Multiagent Reinforcement Learning: What Matters Collective Sensing Initial Spatial Distribution Inverted Sigmoid Function Behavior Selection mechanism Motion Mechanism Emerging a Periodic Motion Macro-Stable but Micro-Unstable Properties Dominant Behavior Evolutionary Multiagent Reinforcement Learning Robot Group Example Evolving Group Motion Strategies Examples Summary CASE STUDIES IN ADAPTATION Coordinated Maneuvers in a Dual-Agent System Issues Dual-Agent Learning Specialized Roles in a Dual-Agent System The Basic Capabilities of the Robot Agent The Rationale of the Advice-Giving Agent Acquiring Complex Maneuvers Summary Collective Behavior Group Behavior The Approach Collective Box-Pushing by Applying Repulsive Forces Collective Box-Pushing by Exerting External Contact Forces and Torques Convergence Analysis for the Fittest-Preserved Evolution Summary CASE STUDIES IN SELF-ORGANIZATION Multiagent Self-Organization Artificial Potential Field Overview of Self-Organization Self-Organization of a Potential Map Experiment 1 Experiment 2 Discussions Evolutionary Multiagent Self-Organization Evolution of Cooperative Motion Strategies Experiments Discussions Summary AN EXPLORATION TOOL Toolboxes for Multiagent Robotics Overview Toolbox for Multiagent Reinforcement Learning Toolbox for Evolutionary Multiagent Reinforcement Learning Toolboxes for Evolutionary Collective Behavior Implementation Toolbox for Multiagent Self-Organization Toolbox for Evolutionary Multiagent Self-Organization Example INDEX
TMI-2 Defueling System design description

This document provides a summary level description of the TMI-2 Dry Defueling System. Defueling will take place through the IIF above the reactor vessel. A Shielded Work Platform and Shielded Support Structure will be assembled around the IIF. Defueling equipment will be mounted on and operated from the Shielded Work Platform. Defueling operations will progress from fairly simple pick and place operations and vacuuming up to more complex cutting and other debris removal tasks.