Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Safe Deep Reinforcement Learning for Power System Operation under Scheduled Unavailability

The electrical grid is a safety-critical system, since incorrect actions taken by a power system operator can result in grid failure and cause harm. For this reason, it is desirable to have an automated power system operator that can reliably take actions that avoid grid failure while fulfilling some objective. Given the existing and growing complexity of power system operation, the choice has often fallen on deep reinforcement learning (DRL) agents for automation, but these are neither explainable nor provably safe. Therefore in this work, the effect of shielding on DRL agent survivability, validation computational time, and convergence are explored. To do this, shielded and unshielded DRL agents are evaluated on a standard IEEE 14-bus network. Agents are tasked with balancing generation and demand through redispatch and topology changing actions at a human timescale of 5 minutes. To test survivability under controlled conditions, varying degrees of scheduled unavailability events are introduced which could cause grid failure if unaddressed. Results show improved convergence and generally greater survivability of shielded agents compared with unshielded agents. However, the safety assurances provided by the shield increase computational time. This will require trade-offs or optimizations to make real-time deployment more feasible.
PSLR estimation for SAR systems with consideration of clutter background

Besides spatial resolution, the peak sidelobe ratio (PSLR) is another important parameter to assess the quality of a SAR system. For the verification of SAR performance parameters, usually the point target responses of a number of ground-fixed reference targets such as corner reflectors or active transponders are evaluated in the processed SAR image. The area around these reference targets should consist of a (natural) cover with a radar backscattering coefficient σ0 as small as possible in order to limit the backscattered clutter energy. For SAR systems with low PSLR requirements the effect of this clutter is mostly neglected and the PSLR is determined in a classical manner by the estimation of mainlobe and sidelobe amplitudes from the range and azimuth section of the two-dimenensional point target response. The verification of high performance SAR systems, where challenging performance specifications are to be fulfilled, requires a more accurate PSLR estimation. Hence, the ground clutter of the surrounding target area has to be taken into account. Due to the ground clutter's statistical nature the superposition of the clutter with mainlobe/sidelobe amplitude is stochastic, therefore these amplitudes and the PSLR itself can be regarded as random variables. In our paper we suggest a combined deterministic-statistical approach as a tradeoff to the fully statistical modelling of the PSLR. This approach exploits the statistical properties of mainlobe and sidelobe with consideration of point target and clutter energy. Error bounds of the estimated PSLR are derived using established parameters such as signal-to-clutter ratio (SCR) and the classically defined PSLR. Furthermore some simulational results are presented which enable an evaluation of the calculated error bounds.
Robust and rapid matching of oblique UAV images of urban area

The robust and rapid matching of oblique UAV images of urban area remains a challenge until today. The method proposed in this paper, Nicer Affine Invariant Feature (NAIF), calculates the image view of an oblique image by making full use of the rough Exterior Orientation (EO) elements of the image, then recovers the oblique image to a rectified image by doing the inverse affine transform, and left over by the SIFT method. The significance test and the left-right validation have applied to the matching process to reduce the rate of mismatching. Experiments conducted on oblique UAV images of urban area demonstrate that NAIF takes about the same time as SIFT to match a pair of oblique images with a plenty of corresponding points and an extremely low mismatching rate. The new algorithm is a good choice for oblique UAV images considering the efficiency and effectiveness.
A Numerical Modeling Approach for Better Differentiation of Boulders Transported by a Tsunami, Storm, and Storm‐Induced Energetic Infragravity Waves

Coastal boulders are often indicators of past extreme wave events. In fact, the coastal boulder distribution induced by infragravity‐dominated storm waves (energetic IG waves) may be similar to that induced by tsunamis; however, this assumption is yet to be investigated. We show that the factors responsible for generating energetic IG waves under storm scenarios are not identical to those affecting the boulders' transport distances. Our results indicate that the storm waves typically only transport boulders over short distances as compared to boulders deposited by tsunamis, even when energetic IG waves are being generated. When the dimensionless transport distance of a boulder (=transport distance of a boulder/offshore wave height) is less than 4.0 × 10 over planar topography and 3.0 × 10 over reef topography, both waves can potentially be responsible for the transport distance. In this case, whether a reasonably‐sized storm or tsunami can explain a boulder location in a study area should be investigated through detailed numerical modeling. We found a clear relationship between the dimensionless transport distance of tsunami boulders and the Iribarren number, and it is plausible to directly estimate offshore wave height or wavelength from the tsunami boulder distribution and beach slope without numerical simulation.
Algebra and logic for resource-based systems modelling

Mathematical modelling is one of the fundamental tools of science and engineering. Very often, models are required to be executable, as a simulation, on a computer. In this paper, we present some contributions to the process-theoretic and logical foundations of discrete-event modelling with resources and processes. We present a process calculus with an explicit representation of resources in which processes and resources co-evolve. The calculus is closely connected to a logic that may be used as a specification language for properties of models. The logic is strong enough to allow requirements that a system has a certain structure: for example, that it is a parallel composite of subsystems. This work consolidates, extends and improves upon aspects of earlier work of ours in this area. An extended example, consisting of a semantics for a simple parallel programming language, indicates a connection with separating logics for concurrency.
Gesture Control Method for Oral Blood Mixed Liquid Removal Robot*

All of oral surgeries are accompanied by bleeding. Manual removal of blood is carried out by a nurse and dozens of repetitive blood suction operations are implemented by the nurse during a single oral surgery. In our previous work, a robot for removal of blood-water mixed liquid is designed. However, the robot requires an initial order to autonomous removal of blood mixed liquid. In this paper, a hand gesture control method for typical operations of the robot is developed. Gesture dataset are developed at first and a deep learning neural network is trained for detection of hand gesture. The gesture control procedures for four typical operations are provided in detail. In a group of experiments, it’s demonstrated that an oral surgeon controls the robot’s motion by presenting prescribed hand gesture. The proposed method could be an alternative manner for blood mixed liquid removal.
Insights into momentous aroma dominating the characteristic flavor of jasmine tea

Abstract Jasmine tea is loved by most people who drink flower tea owing to its unique aroma, and it is known as the top of flower teas. In our study, the quantitative evaluation of the quality of jasmine tea and detection of aroma components were carried out. First, the flavor quality of 92 kinds of jasmine tea was evaluated using multiple sub‐factor quality evaluation methods. According to the evaluation results, jasmine tea was divided into three types: “fresh and lovely” (FL), “heavy and thick” (HT), and “fresh and heavy” (FH). Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) was used to detect the aroma components of the three types of jasmine tea samples. α‐Farnesene, cis‐3‐hexenyl benzoate, acid phenylmethyl ester, linalool, methyl anthranilate, and indole were the main substances that constituted the basic aroma quality characteristics of jasmine tea. Compared to the FL type, the HT and FH types were weaker in the diversification of the characteristic aroma and accumulation of green, herb, sweet, and roast aroma substances. Green and herb aromas play crucial roles in the fresh and persistent qualities of the three types of jasmine tea, which are the key quality factors research focus of jasmine tea.
Probabilistic modeling of future volcanic eruptions at Mount Etna

The statistical analysis of volcanic activity at Mt Etna was conducted with the twofold aim of (1) constructing a probability map for vent opening of future flank eruptions and (2) forecasting the expected number of eruptive events at the summit craters. The spatiotemporal map of new vent opening at Etna volcano is based on the analysis of spatial locations and frequency of flank eruptions starting from 1610. Thanks to the completeness and accuracy of historical data over the last four centuries, we examined in detail the spatial and temporal distribution of flank eruptions showing that effusive events follow a nonhomogenous Poisson process with space‐time varying intensities. After demonstrating the spatial nonhomogeneity and the temporal nonstationarity of flank eruptions at Etna, we calculated the recurrence rates (events expected per unit area per unit time) and produced different spatiotemporal probability maps of new vent opening in the next 1, 10 and 50 years. These probabilistic maps have an immediate use in evaluating the future timing and areas of Etna prone to volcanic hazards. Finally, the results of the analysis of the persistent summit activity during the last 110 years indicate that the hazard rate for eruptive events is not constant with time, differs for each summit crater of Mt Etna, highlighting a general increase in the eruptive frequency starting from the middle of last century and particularly from 1971, when the SE crater was formed.
Research on the Optimization Strategy of Electric Vehicle Charging and Discharging Scheduling

With the rapid growth of electric vehicle ownership and the continuous increase of its charging volume, a linear programming-based electric vehicle charging scheduling optimization strategy was proposed on the basis of Vehicle To Grid(V2G) to address the problems of high charging costs and large load fluctuations of the power system in charging stations. With the objective of minimizing the total charging cost of the charging station, the daily driving demand of EVs and the load constraint of the grid were considered, and the Linprog solver function in Matlab was used to obtain the charging power of EVs at each moment, so as to further obtain the total charging power of the charging station at each moment and solve for the optimal charging cost. Through experimental simulation analysis, the optimal charging strategy proposed in this paper effectively reduced the total charging cost of the charging station and can achieve the purpose of EV charging and discharging scheduling optimization.
Overlapping rift-zone segments and the evolution of the South Iceland Seismic Zone

The South Iceland seismic zone is a 20–60 km-wide (north-south) and up to 70 km-long zone of north and north-northeast trending Holocene arrays of en echelon tension fractures. These fracture arrays are related to dextral strike-slip faults buried by Holocene lava flows. In this zone, major destructive earthquake sequences occur at intervals of 45–112 years, the largest events reaching magnitude 7 (Ms). We propose that this seismic zone is located between overlapping rift-zone segments (spreading centers), where the eastern segment has been propagating to the south during the past 3 Ma. We made a finite element study of this configuration with the segments modeled as mode I cracks loaded in tension. The results suggest that the South Iceland seismic zone in general, and the north and north-northeast trending dextral faults in particular, develop in response to the shear stresses generated between the rift-zone segments.
Morphological diversities and ecozones of Ethiopian horse populations

Utilizando un enfoque de encuestas estandar, se llevo a cabo una encuesta a nivel nacional para caracterizar morfologicamente e identificar las ecozonas de las poblaciones equinas caballares de Etiopia. Como consecuencia, se ha estudiado una nueva poblacion de caballos asilvestrados no investigada con anterioridad y otras siete poblaciones de caballos diferentes. Se estudio un total de diecisiete variables morfologicas en 503 caballos (293 sementales y 210 yeguas), pertenecientes a cinco de las ocho poblaciones equinas caballares identificadas. Las comparaciones multiples entre medias por pares (PMMC por sus siglas en ingles), utilizando un modelo lineal y analisis multivariantes, se realizaron por separado para cada sexo y los minimos cuadrados medios se utilizaron en el caso de los sexos agregados. Los resultados del PMMC mostraron que existian diferencias significativas (P < 0.05) entre las medias de la mayoria de las variables estudiadas. El analisis de los componentes principales mostro que la altura a la cruz, la altura al dorso, la altura a la grupa, longitud corporal, la longitud dorsal y la longitud ventral en conjunto representaban alrededor del 80 percent de las variaciones. Todas las distancias de Mahalanobis al cuadrado entre las poblaciones fueron significativas (P < 0.01). Las mayores diferencias fenotipicasfueron observadas entre las poblaciones equinas caballares de Bale y Selale y las menores entre las poblaciones Horro y Kafa. La funcion del analisis canonico discriminante mostro que el 77.05 percent de los individuos fueron clasificados correctamente dentro de sus respectivas poblaciones. Por otra parte, el analisis de agrupamiento, basado en las distancias de Mahalanobis al cuadrado, agrupo las cinco poblaciones equinas caballares estudiadas de Etiopia en tres grandes grupos y en cinco poblaciones de caballos diferentes.
Effectiveness, Efficiency, and Governance of School Capital Investments Across the U.S.*

School capital investments, a major component of US school spending, are mostly financed through bonds issued by the school districts, with rules that vary in stringency across states. The impacts of these investments are highly debated, and existing estimates are conflicting. We reconcile this puzzle by showing that the stringency of funding rules and the demographic makeup of school districts affect the types of projects approved in equilibrium and, in turn, the impacts of these projects on students and communities. Using new data on 20,000 school bond elections and student achievement for 31 U.S. states and exploiting variation from close elections in a dynamic regression-discontinuity design, we find that approving a bond raises achievement and house prices on average. These impacts, though, are concentrated in districts with a high share of economically disadvantaged students and states with tighter financing rules. This is partly due to differences in the size and composition of financed projects: Investments on HVAC produce large test score effects but don’t impact house prices, whereas investments on athletic facilities only raise house prices. These findings are consistent with a probabilistic voting model in which districts, facing different rule stringency, choose the size and composition of a bond proposal to maximize the chances of electoral approval. JEL Classification: H41 H75, I22, I24, R30
A Framework for Anomaly Detection with Integrated Power System Operation Data

With the increasing complexity of power distribution networks and increasing flexibility of components' interconnections, control centers often have difficulty obtaining a complete and accurate system operation states in real time. The problems are accredited to anomalies, such as data communication errors and weather factors. Anomalies can affect both the cyber and physical layers of a system, and thus degrade the state estimation (SE) performance. To date, there is no comprehensive method that can handle all anomalies, and each method corresponds to a specific scenario. Therefore, this paper first made a general discussion of the existing anomaly detection deficiencies. Then, a generic framework is presented for achieving adequate static and dynamic anomaly detections. Finally, testing of basic algorithms proposed in the anomaly detection framework is tested.
Modelling fundamentals and the quantification and spatial presentation of uncertainty

The fundamental nature of two different types of models was examined relative to how spatial uncertainty can be quantified and represented for communication to users of model outputs. One model was a complex systems-based landscape model driven by hydrological dynamics whose calibration is an iterative semi-objective process. The other is a crop-specific landscape suitability model that is calibrated using expert knowledge. How fundamental model differences impact the type of uncertainty information that can be produced is discussed as are difficulties in producing such information. Finally, commonalities between the two approaches relative to uncertainty are discussed.
Direct Sensor Orientation for Large Scale Mapping—Potential, Problems, Solutions

Georeferencing is one of the most important tasks in photogrammetry. Traditionally it has been achieved indirectly using the well‐known method of aerial triangulation. With the availability of integrated GPS and inertial measurement units (IMU), this situation changed. Direct determination of exterior orientation is now possible. Today, direct and integrated sensor orientation is used for a wide range of sensors including lidar and SAR, as well as for digital line scanner systems and aerial cameras. This paper investigates the performance of direct and integrated sensor orientation for large scale mapping using the data‐set of the ‘‘Integrated Sensor Orientation’’ test of the European Organisation for Experimental Photogrammetric Research (OEEPE—now known as EuroSDR). The concept, potential, problems and solutions of direct and integrated sensor orientation are discussed.
Rock physics modelling of shale diagenesis

A model for estimating the effective anisotropic properties of cemented shales is presented. The model is based on two mathematical methods for estimation of effective properties of a composite medium; a self-consistent approximation and a differential effective medium model. In combination these theories allow approximation of a shale with connected clay minerals and cement, and disconnected pores and quartz grains, which can be compared with the conditions in a real cemented shale. A strategy is also presented for estimation of stiffnesses in the transition zone from mechanical compaction to chemical compaction dominated diagenesis. Combining these theories with a shale compaction theory, enables modelling of the effective elastic stiffnesses for shales from deposition and mechanical compaction to deep burial and chemical compaction/cementing. Results from the model were compared with velocity data from three wells, showing good fit for velocity predictions, following the main velocity trends with increased temperature and depth.
Carbonate rocks in the Mediterranean region – from classical to innovative uses of building stone

Abstract Carbonate rocks are present in many geological formations of the Mediterranean region, thus having favoured their common use as building stone for the many civilizations that inhabited the area throughout history. The wide presence of carbonate rocks has been supplemented by a large variety of rock types that can be found in monumental, funerary and normal constructions. Five main carbonate rock types used as building stone can be differentiated: metamorphic marble; banded fine-grained limestone; shell limestone; travertine; and brecciated–nodular carbonate rocks. In most cases these carbonate rocks have been traditionally used, although new rock types are currently marketed. Nowadays, several Mediterranean countries are major producers of carbonate building stone that is marketed for its ornamental and decorative characteristics. Italy, Spain and Turkey are placed in high rank positions of the global carbonate ornamental stone market, whilst Greece, France, Croatia, Israel, Morocco, Egypt, Algeria and Tunisia produce mainly for internal consumption.
Adaptive enhancement method of infrared image based on scene feature

All objects emit radiation in amounts related to their temperature and their ability to emit radiation. The infrared image shows the invisible infrared radiation emitted directly. Because of the advantages, the technology of infrared imaging is applied to many kinds of fields. But compared with visible image, the disadvantages of infrared image are obvious. The characteristics of low luminance, low contrast and the inconspicuous difference target and background are the main disadvantages of infrared image. The aim of infrared image enhancement is to improve the interpretability or perception of information in infrared image for human viewers, or to provide 'better' input for other automated image processing techniques. Most of the adaptive algorithm for image enhancement is mainly based on the gray-scale distribution of infrared image, and is not associated with the actual image scene of the features. So the pertinence of infrared image enhancement is not strong, and the infrared image is not conducive to the application of infrared surveillance. In this paper we have developed a scene feature-based algorithm to enhance the contrast of infrared image adaptively. At first, after analyzing the scene feature of different infrared image, we have chosen the feasible parameters to describe the infrared image. In the second place, we have constructed the new histogram distributing base on the chosen parameters by using Gaussian function. In the last place, the infrared image is enhanced by constructing a new form of histogram. Experimental results show that the algorithm has better performance than other methods mentioned in this paper for infrared scene images.
Decomposed and Prioritized Experience Replay-based MADDPG Algorithm for Multi-UAV Confrontation

Multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (Multi-UAV) confrontation is becoming an important combat mode in the era of intelligent air combat. The confrontation highly relies on the intelligent collaboration and real-time decision-making of the UAVs. Thus, we have proposed a decomposed and prioritized experience replay (PER)-based multi-agent deep deterministic policy gradient (DP-MADDPG) algorithm for the intelligent attacking decision-making of the UAVs in the multi-UAV confrontation scenario. Specifically, the problem of decision-making is formulated as a partially observable Markov Game. To solve the problem, the DP-MADDPG algorithm is proposed by integrating the decomposed and PER mechanisms into the traditional MADDPG. The decomposed mechanism improves the MADDPG framework with local and global dual critic networks to avoid the convergence to a local optimum and a single dominant policy. The PER mechanism optimizes the sampling efficiency from the experience replay buffer for the training process of MADDPG. Simulations have been conducted based on the Multi-agent Combat Arena (MaCA) platform, and the results indicate that due to the decomposed and PER mechanisms, the proposed DP-MADDPG improves the convergence rate and the reward value as compared to the traditional MADDPG and independent learning DDPG (IL-DDPG). Furthermore, the win rate of the DP-MADDPG empowered red party has been improved to 96% in a multi-UAV confrontation scenario.