Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Global dynamic output feedback stabilization for a class of high‐order nonlinear systems

This article discusses the issue of global dynamic output feedback stabilization for a class of high‐order nonlinear systems. At first, an output feedback controller (OFC) is designed for the nominal system by virtue of adding one power integrator technique. Then, two dynamic gains are introduced into the proposed OFC to implement global stabilization of the closed‐loop system. Moreover, the proposed method can be broadened to a family of high‐order upper‐triangular nonlinear systems. To the end, two examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Optimal Operation of Multiquality Networks. II: Unsteady Conditions

A model is developed for optimal operation of a multiquality water‐supply network under unsteady conditions, for a time horizon that is divided into a number of time periods. The objective is to minimize total cost, which includes the cost of water at the sources, of treatment, and of the energy to operate the system. The constraints include equations that describe the change in flow and quality over time throughout the system, the physical laws of flow and concentrations, and the requirements for level of service. The equations that describe concentrations in pipes are of a form that allows the flow direction to reverse during the iterative solution process. The model is solved with GAMS/MINOS. An example system is optimized, with two sources, one with a treatment plant, two reservoirs, 6 consumers and 11 pipes, operated over five time periods. The system has been analyzed through a base run and three additional runs.
EXPERI_VIENTAL STUDY OIL THE PERFORMANCE ESTIVIATION EFFICIENCY MODEL OF A HYDRAULIC AXIAL PISTON MOTORS

Performance of a hydraulic piston motor is very difficult to estimate in advance before experiment. But it is highly required because, if an efficiency model for performance estimation is already in hands, the model enables one to design a hydraulic motor with good efficiency at a designated operating point. Recently such a performance estimation model is developed by H.S. Jeong. In this paper, validity and accuracy of the performance model is studied by comparison with experimental efficiency test data.
Effectiveness of Mindfulness Based Interventions on Symptom Reduction According to Y-BOCS and OCI-R in Adult Patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is one of the most debilitating and costly mental health disorders. Mindfulness Based Interventions (MBIs) may decrease rumination and were meticulously searched from commencement to May 2020. The primary outcome measure was symptom severity, which was assessed with Y-BOCS. Secondary outcomes were assessed with the BDI, OBQ-R, FFMQ, and quality of life scores. The initial search retrieved 1071 studies, of which only five randomized controlled trials met the selection criteria. Three out of five studies did not demonstrate a statistically significant reduction in OCD symptoms’ severity according to Y-BOCS. With regards to secondary outcomes, studies reported an improvement in mindfulness, an amelioration of life quality and a reduction of obsessive beliefs, depressive symptoms and anxiety. Though most studies implementing MBIs did not show a significant improvement of OCD symptom severity, the review highlighted contradictive and inconclusive findings due to a limited number of research studies on each specific MBI, heterogeneity of the studies’ populations and lack of RCTs of large num-bers of participants.
Technological transformation of the construction sector: a conceptual approach

Abstract If technological transformation has been achieved by some industries, it has been a dilemma for the construction industry for several decades. Further, at firm level within the industry, few companies have achieved this transformation; however, for the majority, the innovation transformation remains as a myth. How can this heterogeneous phenomenon in the construction industry be explained? In this research, an endeavor has been made to theorize this phenomenon and essential determining factors in this realm along with their attendant premises through a comparative study between firms as haves and have-nots regarding digital transformation. Any logical justification, confirmation and disputation of these premises can be verified and validated in future research projects. The firms within the industry were divided into two categories of conventional with resistance to change and avonguards that welcome change. The characteristics of these two groups were investigated by identifying pathways towards digitalization.
Pseudo Incorporation and Anaphoricity: Evidence from Persian

The paper investigates the discourse effects of bare nominal pseudo-incorporated objects in Persian. Contrary to claims that such nominals cannot be antecedents to anaphora, experimental results show that that their anaphoric potential is only somewhat reduced, compared to indefinites. This is consonant with Krifka & Modarresi (2016), according to which they are interpreted like functional definites that are dependent on the event denoted by the verb that undergo existential closure.
Technology Demonstration of Decontamination Gel and Strippable Coatings Applied via Remote Sprayer Platform - 11300

The objective of the US Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management’s (DOEEM’s) D&D Toolbox Project is to use an integrated systems approach to develop a suite of decontamination & decommissioning (D&D) technologies, a D&D toolbox, that can be readily used across the DOE complex to improve safety, reduce technical risks, and limit uncertainty within D&D operations. Florida International University’s Applied Research Center (FIU-ARC) is supporting this initiative by identifying technologies suitable to meet specific facility D&D requirements, assessing the readiness of those technologies for field deployment, and conducting technology demonstrations of selected technologies. To meet the technology gap challenge for a technology to remotely apply strippable coatings, FIU-ARC identified and demonstrated a remote sprayer platform. FIU-ARC selected the International Climbing Machines’ (ICM’s) robotic climber to perform this technology demonstration. The selected technology was previously demonstrated spraying fixative products at the hot cell mockup facility at FIU-ARC in November 2008 [1]. Based on the initial FIU demonstration and specific technical requirements identified at the DOE facilities, DOE requested that the follow-up demonstration be expanded to include strippable coatings and decontamination gels. FIU-ARC conducted a demonstration of the technology in coordination with ICM to evaluate the remote crawler machine’s ability to spray strippable coatings and a decontamination gel on vertical surfaces of concrete and steel. The technology evaluation documented the ability of the remote system to spray three different strippable coating products, including one decontamination gel, on vertical concrete and stainless steel surfaces. The technology performance, cost, and health & safety issues were evaluated during this technology demonstration. The results confirmed that the technology was able to travel across the floor and climb-up the walls unassisted while being controlled remotely by the operator. The technology sprayed strippable coatings and a decontamination gel to the vertical wall surfaces of concrete and stainless steel and achieved a sufficient thickness of each product to promote the ability of the product to be stripped from the surface once dry. In addition, 12 of the 16 health and safety risk categories were either not applicable to this technology or received a risk rating of 1, indicating that the hazard may be present but not expected over background levels. Four categories received a rating of 2, indicating that some level of hazard above background level was known to be present. The cost of the products sprayed, using the actual coverage (ft 2 ) achieved during the
PRESSURE STANDARDS COMPARISON WITHIN THE INTERAMERICAN METROLOGY SYSTEM (SIM), UP TO 100 MPa.

A pressure comparison was carried out within the Interame rican Metrology System (SIM), in order to estimate the level of agreement for the realization of the quantity and the uncertainty associated to its measurement. The comparison participants were at least, one National Metrology Institute (NMI) from each of the five SIM areas. The comparison was carried out up to 100 MPa, using an electronic comparison standard with 1·10 -4 of full-scale accuracy. The Centro Nacional de Metrologia, CENAM, in Mexico, was the coordinator and pilot laboratory. The re sults obtained the deviations graphs that include the uncertainty for each participating laboratory are presented in this document. 1. Introduction The realization of the PRESSURE quantity is a task assigned to the pressure laboratories of the National Metrology Institutes (NMI), which are in charge of the correct dissemination of this quantity as well as giving the adequate levels of uncertainty to the traceability chain, according to the country's needs. Within the frame of internat ional cooperation in the Interamerican Metrology System (SIM), a comparison was carried out in order to estimate the level of agreement for the realization of the quantity of pressure, and the uncertainty associated to its measurement. The comparison was performed among laboratories using similar standards (piston gages, also known as pressure balances). The SIM country members have always had a keen interest in comparing their capabilities to realize the quantity of pressure. Until now, a full pressure comparison within the SIM countries had not been performed. This comparison was carried out for up to 100 MPa (oil) and at least one national laboratory from each of the five areas of SIM participated. 2. Scope of work The ISO publication "International Vocabulary of Basic and General Terms of Metrology" (VIM) 1 , and the International System of Units 2 , SI, were used for the comparison and for th e writing of this document. The recommendations established in the Guide to the Expression o f Uncertainty in Measurement 3 , were followed for the uncertainty evaluation.
Roadkills of Lowland Tapir Tapirus terrestris (Mammalia: Perissodactyla: Tapiridae) in one of its last refuges in the Atlantic Forest

Highways limit the movement and dispersion of wild animals and contribute to their loss due to roadkills, leading to the isolation and decline of populations, increasing the risk of local extinction. The Lowland Tapir Tapirus terrestris is the largest neotropical herbivore-frugivore, and despite its wide distribution in South America it is threatened with extinction. In this study we report six roadkill events of tapirs between 2014 and 2019 in a section of a federal highway crossing the mosaic of Atlantic Forest reserves called Sooretama, one of the last tapir refuges in southeastern Brazil. The traffic in this area is heavy with inadequate speed control, while exotic fruit trees growing along the highway attract wild animals. Water drainage tunnels serve as passageways for some species, including tapirs. However, the tunnels located under the highway are not continuously maintained, reducing its effectiveness. The loss of at least one tapir per year can have serious long-term consequences for one of the last viable lowland tapir populations in the entire Atlantic Forest. Emergency measures are required to avoid vehicle-tapir collisions.
A Collaborative Defense Framework Against DDoS Attacks in Networks

iv LIST OF TABLES . xi LIST OF FIGURES . xii CHAPTER
Barriers to and Facilitators of Automated Patient Self-scheduling for Health Care Organizations: Scoping Review

Background Appointment management in the outpatient setting is important for health care organizations, as waits and delays lead to poor outcomes. Automated patient self-scheduling of outpatient appointments has demonstrable advantages in the form of patients’ arrival rates, labor savings, patient satisfaction, and more. Despite evidence of the potential benefits of self-scheduling, the organizational uptake of self-scheduling in health care has been limited. Objective The objective of this scoping review is to identify and to catalog existing evidence of the barriers to and facilitators of self-scheduling for health care organizations. Methods A scoping review was conducted by searching 4 databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Business Source Ultimate, and Scopus) and systematically reviewing peer-reviewed studies. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research was used to catalog the studies. Results In total, 30 full-text articles were included in this review. The results demonstrated that self-scheduling initiatives have increased over time, indicating the broadening appeal of self-scheduling. The body of literature regarding intervention characteristics is appreciable. Outer setting factors, including national policy, competition, and the response to patients’ needs and technology access, have played an increasing role in influencing implementation over time. Self-scheduling, compared with using the telephone to schedule an appointment, was most often cited as a relative advantage. Scholarly pursuit lacked recommendations related to the framework’s inner setting, characteristics of individuals, and processes as determinants of implementation. Future discoveries regarding these Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research domains may help detect, categorize, and appreciate organizational-level barriers to and facilitators of self-scheduling to advance knowledge regarding this solution. Conclusions This scoping review cataloged evidence of the existence, advantages, and intervention characteristics of patient self-scheduling. Automated self-scheduling may offer a solution to health care organizations striving to positively affect access. Gaps in knowledge regarding the uptake of self-scheduling by health care organizations were identified to inform future research.
International assessment and validation of the prognostic role of lymph node ratio in patients with resected pancreatic head ductal adenocarcinoma

Background Lymph node ratio (LNR; positive/harvested lymph nodes) was identified as overall survival predictor in several cancers, including pancreatic adenocarcinoma. It remains unclear if LNR is predictive of overall survival in pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients staged pN2. This study assessed the prognostic overall survival role of LNR in pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients in relation with lymph node involvement. Methods A retrospective international study in six different centers (Europe and United States) was performed. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy from 2000 to 2017 were included. Patients with neoadjuvant treatment, metastases, R2 resections, or missing data regarding nodal status were excluded. Survival curves were calculated using Kaplan-Meier method and compared using log-rank test. Multivariable Cox regressions were performed to find independent overall survival predictors adjusted for potential confounders. Results A total of 1,327 patients were included. Lymph node involvement (pN+) was found in 1,026 patients (77%), 561 pN1 (55%) and 465 pN2 (45%). Median LNR in pN+ patients was 0.214 [interquartile range (IQR): 0.105–0.364]. On multivariable analysis, LNR was the strongest overall survival predictor in the entire cohort [hazard ratio (HR) =5.5; 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.1–9.9; P<0.001] and pN+ patients (HR =3.8; 95% CI: 2.2–6.6; P<0.001). Median overall survival was better in patients with LNR <0.225 compared to patients with LNR ≥0.225 in the entire cohort and pN+ patients. Similar results were found in pN2 patients (worse overall survival when LNR ≥0.225). Conclusions LNR appeared as an important prognostic factor in patients undergoing surgery for pancreatic adenocarcinoma and permitted to stratify overall survival in pN2 patients. LNR should be routinely used in complement to tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage to better predict patient prognosis.
Protein Aggregation Measurement through Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy

The paper presents a novel methodology to measure the fibril formation in protein solutions. We designed a bench consisting of a sensor having interdigitated electrodes, a PDMS hermetic reservoir and an impedance meter automatically driven by calculator. The impedance data are interpolated with a lumped elements model and their change over time can provide information on the aggregation process. Encouraging results have been obtained by testing the methodology on K-casein, a protein of milk, with and without the addition of a drug inhibiting the aggregation. The amount of sample needed to perform this measurement is by far lower than the amount needed by fluorescence analysis.
Secrecy Outage Analysis of CR-SWIPT Networks With Artificial Noise and Spatially Random Secondary Terminals

In this paper, the secrecy outage performance of cognitive radio (CR) systems with simultaneous wireless information and power transfer (SWIPT) is investigated, in which non-colluding eavesdroppers (Eves) are randomly located in a 2-dimensional disk and artificial noise is added to safeguard the secrecy performance of the targeted information delivery in the secondary network. The secondary users coexist with primary users in the same bands while the secondary user transmitter (SU-TX) transmits confidential messages to a legitimate receiver (Bob) and energy to multiple energy-receivers (ERs) via the same radio frequency signals. Apart from harvesting energy, these ERs may act as Eves to overhear the confidential information only for Bob. SU-TX equipped with multiple antennas performs beamforming to Bob, which is equipped with multiple antennas and adopts selection combining (SC) scheme. To enhance the secure performance of the considered CR-SWIPT system, SU-TX adds artificial noise (AN) to the original signal designed for Bob according to the instantaneous channel state information (CSI) between SU-TX and Bob, where the artificial noise and original signals for Bob are orthogonal so that Bob can cancel this noise. On ERs’ side, the total received energy for harvesting is not degraded, and a lower signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio for eavesdropping on the information between SU-TX and Bob is introduced. The approximated closed-form expression for the secrecy outage probability (SOP) is derived by using Gauss-Laguerre quadrature, as well as the asymptotic results are valid in the high signal to noise ratio region. Finally, Monte-Carlo simulations are presented to validate the correctness of the derived analytical results.
Noise induced time interval measurement biases

Time jitter in the output fronts of hysteretic triggers is not the only effect of additive noise. An average leading time bias error can be observed when large bandwidth noise is added to a poor slope signal. Time jitter is shown to be a possible limitation to the accuracy of high precision time interval measurements, as the average switching time is always before the zero crossing of the ideal noiseless analog signal. The resulting bias in the start-stop type of measurements, in which a noisy signal is compared to a reference, is shown to depend on S/N ratio and on noise bandwidth. An experimental evaluation of this effect is reported, based on time interval measurements in which noise is added to a sinewave signal. <<ETX>>
On-line-estimation of temperatures in electrical machines by an observer

Abstract An observer for temperature estimation in electrical machines is introduced, based on a thermal model implemented in a microcomputer. Only measurement of current, voltage, speed and temperature at an easy accessible spot is required. The experimental results are shown for three different machine types, a dc disk motor 1 k W, a dc rolling mill motor 3500 k W and a squirrel cage induction motor 18.5 k W.
Dual-frequency power divider with isolation stubs

A novel dual-frequency power divider with isolation stubs is presented. To reduce the parasitic effects between the two stubs that are connected by the isolation resistor in traditional Wilkinson power dividers, a structure consisting of isolation stubs is proposed. The corresponding design equations are obtained to calculate the design parameters of the desired dual-frequency power divider. Finally, this design concept is validated by experimental results on a 0.95/2.09 GHz dual-frequency power divider.
Assessing soil and land health across two landscapes in eastern Rwanda to inform restoration activities

Land degradation negatively impacts water, food, and nutrition security and is leading to increased competition for resources. While landscape restoration has the potential to restore ecosystem function, understanding the drivers of degradation is critical for prioritizing and tracking interventions. We sampled 300– 1000 m2 plots using the Land Degradation Surveillance Framework across Nyagatare and Kayonza districts in Rwanda to assess key soil and land health indicators, including soil organic carbon (SOC), erosion prevalence, vegetation structure and infiltration capacity, and their interactions. SOC content decreased with increasing sand content across both sites and sampling depths and was lowest in croplands and grasslands compared to shrublands and woodlands. Stable carbon isotope values (δ13C) ranged from −15.35 ‰ to −21.34 ‰, indicating a wide range of historic and current plant communities with both C3 and C4 photosynthetic pathways. Fieldsaturated hydraulic conductivity (Kfs) was modeled, with a median of 76 mm h−1 in Kayonza and 62 mm h−1 in Nyagatare, respectively. Topsoil OC had a positive effect on Kfs, whereas pH, sand, and erosion had negative effects. Soil erosion was highest in plots classified as woodland and shrubland. Maps of soil erosion and SOC at 30 m resolution were produced with high accuracy and showed strong variability across the study landscapes. These data demonstrate the importance of assessing multiple biophysical properties in order to assess land degradation, including the spatial patterns of soil and land health indicators across the landscape. By understanding the dynamics of land degradation and interactions between biophysical indicators, we can better prioritize interventions that result in multiple benefits as well as assess the impacts of restoration options.
Analysis of Center of Pressure Signals by Using Decision Tree and Empirical Mode Decomposition to Predict Falls among Older Adults

Falls put older adults at great risk and are related to the body's sense of balance. This study investigated how to detect the possibility of high fall risk subjects among older adults. The original signal is based on center of pressure (COP) measured using a force plate. The falling group includes 29 subjects who had a history of falls in the year preceding this study or had received high scores on the Short Falls Efficacy Scale (FES). The nonfalling group includes 47 enrollees with no history of falls and who had received low scores on the Short FES. The COP in both the anterior–posterior and mediolateral direction were calculated and analyzed through empirical mode decomposition (EMD) up to six levels. The following five features were extracted and imported to a decision tree algorithm: root-mean-square deviation, median frequency, total frequency power, approximate entropy, and sample entropy. The results showed that there were a larger number of statistically different feature parameters, and a higher classification of accuracy was obtained. With the aid of empirical mode decomposition, the average classification accuracy increased 10% and achieved a level of 99.74% in the training group and 96.77% in the testing group, respectively.