Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
This work was funded in part by the New York Apple Research and Development Program. Reducing Spray Drift From Orchards - A Successful Case Study

23 T he application of pesticides has been of concern for many years, particularly in relation to methods of reducing drift and improving deposition. Many growers still use older airblast sprayers with hollow cone or airshear nozzles which provide a large amount of air to penetrate traditional large fruit tree canopies. During recent years many growers have removed traditional tree plantings and replaced them with dwarf and semi-dwarf trees, but still use the older sprayers; the result is over-spraying of the target row and drift. Spray drift from air-blast sprayers is an important and costly problem facing fruit growers (Landers, 2002). Drift results in damage to susceptible off target crops, environmental contamination to watercourses and an unintentionally reduced rate of application to the target crop, thus reducing pesticide effectiveness, (Landers 1999). Pesticide drift also affects neighboring properties, often leading to public outcry and conflict. Sprayer Design and Drift There are many interrelated factors affecting drift and deposition (see Table 1). Droplet size, air volume, speed and direction are the main factors from the Reducing spray drift and improving deposition are increasing concerns for fruit growers. Drift results in damage to susceptible off target crops, environmental contamination to watercourses and an unintentionally reduced rate of application to the target crop, thus reducing pesticide effectiveness. Pesticide drift also affects neighboring properties, often leading to public outcry and conflict. For many dwarf-tree apple orchards we have found that reducing fan speed by 25 percent provides a simple, inexpensive method of reducing drift. This work was funded in part by the New York Apple Research and Development Program. Reducing Spray Drift From Orchards – A Successful Case Study
Application of (alpha,beta)-trimmed mean filtering for removal of additive noise from images

This paper is concerned with algorithms for removal additive noise from images. The proposed ((alpha) -(beta) )-trimmed mean filtering is suitable for application to real images corrupted by Gaussian, uniform and impulsive noise. The developed technique is a generalization of (alpha) -trimmed mean filter and have the same basic properties as rank- order filters. The actual performance of proposed technique was compared with that of average, median and midpoint filters and evaluate on noisy images by the error of restoration. The illustrative examples are given.
Voltage rise: the big issue when connecting embedded generation to long 11 kV overhead lines

There has been much interest in embedding small generators deep within distribution systems. The steady-state voltage rise resulting from the connection of these generators can be a major obstacle to their connection at the lower voltage levels. This article summarises the results of some generic studies, explaining this voltage rise issue and how it may be overcome. Methods discussed to counteract voltage rise are primary substation voltage reduction, reactive power import, autotransformers installation, conductor upgrading, and generation constraints.
Organizational change : a processual approach

Organizations in Transition Understanding Organizational Change The Transition Towards New Organizational Arrangements Applying a Processual Approach The Computerization of Freight Operations at British Rail: Total Quality Management at Pirelli Cables Just-in-time at Hewlett Packard Cellular Manufacture at General Motors New Technology at General Linen Service Developing Software for Organizational Change The Alvey and Csiro Projects Conclusion Managing Transition in Modern Organizations
PS-Wave Angle-Domain Imaging With Gaussian Beam Summation in 2-D TTI Media

Imaging PS-wave is essential for converted wave exploration, especially in tilted transversely isotropic (TTI) media. Compared with the relatively low imaging accuracy of anisotropic time migration for complex structures, an accurate anisotropic PS-wave depth migration approach would be preferable. As an effective depth migration technique, Gaussian beam summation (GBS) migration can provide high-precision imaging for complex geological structures. In this letter, we extend the GBS to PS-waves imaging in anisotropic media and present an angle-domain GBS migration method for converted waves in 2-D TTI media. We first introduce the anisotropic ray-tracing-based angle-domain GBS imaging condition of PS-waves in TTI media, in which the sign of the incidence angle of P-waves is applied to decide the PS-wave polarity. After calculating the propagation angles at imaging points by using the data of real-value travel time of anisotropic Gaussian beams, we can get the P-wave incidence angles and then extract the corresponding PS-wave angle-domain common-image gathers (ADCIGs). The performance of our method is verified by two numerical tests, indicating that it is an effective migration algorithm for accurately imaging converted waves in 2-D TTI media.
Flexible Design and Operation of Multi-Stage Flash (MSF) Desalination Process Subject to Variable Fouling and Variable Freshwater Demand

This work describes how the design and operation parameters of the Multi-Stage Flash (MSF) desalination process are optimised when the process is subject to variation in seawater temperature, fouling and freshwater demand throughout the day. A simple polynomial based dynamic seawater temperature and variable freshwater demand correlations are developed based on actual data which are incorporated in the MSF mathematical model using gPROMS models builder 3.0. 3. In addition, a fouling model based on stage temperature is considered. The fouling and the effect of noncondensable gases are incorporated into the calculation of overall heat transfer co-efficient for condensers. Finally, an optimisation problem is developed where the total daily operating cost of the MSF process is minimised by optimising the design (no of stages) and the operating (seawater rejected flowrate and brine recycle flowrate) parameters.
Dynamic Anti-Windup Design for Missile Overload Control System

The former research on the overload control system of a supersonic missile didn’t consider actuator saturation. In order to reduce the windup effect caused by actuator saturation, we developed a dynamic anti-windup compensator. The overload control system design adopted a two-step approach. Firstly a sliding mode controller was designed ignoring the saturation. Secondly a dynamic anti-windup compensator was designed. It added to the control system to reduce the windup effect. It disengaged the actuator fast from saturation phase after the actuator entered saturation. Simulation results showed that the dynamic anti-windup compensator reduced 52% of saturation time of the control system. Hence the performance of the overload control system is improved effectively.
Research on Tourism Service Intelligent Recommendation System Based on Apriori-MD Algorithm

In digital tourism, the current hot topic on tourism is applying data mining [1] technology to conduct deep analysis and disposal on mass data of tourism information in order to provide service for individual needs of user. This paper mainly introduced a kind of tourism service intelligent recommendation system based on Apriori-MD algorithm. Through data comparison analysis, we found that Apriori-MD algorithm was a kind of intelligent recommendation method with superior performance whose enforcement efficiency was doubled compared to Apriori algorithm. Satisfactory recommendation result can be obtained according to the demand of users and has wide application prospect in tourism market.
Scenario-Based Development of Disassembly Systems for Automotive Lithium Ion Battery Systems

The rising number of lithium ion batteries from electric vehicles makes an economically advantageous and technically mature disassembly system for the end-of-life batteries inevitable. The disassembly system needs to cope with the size, the design and the remaining state of charge of the respective battery system. The complex design resulting from the number and type of connection elements challenges an automated disassembly. The realisation of an automated disassembly presupposes the consideration of elements from Design for Disassembly throughout the battery system development. In this paper a scenario-based development of disassembly systems is presented with varying possible design aspects as well as different amounts of end of life battery systems. These scenarios point out the resulting implications on battery disassembly systems in short, medium and long term. Using a morphological box the best option for each disassembly scenario is identified and framed in a disassembly system design. The disassembly systems are explained and the core elements are introduced. Newly developed and innovative disassembly tools, such as a robot that allows a hybrid human-robot-working-space and an advanced battery cell gripper are introduced. The gripper system for the battery cells enables with an integrated sensor an instant monitoring of the battery cell condition. The proposed disassembly element is verified in an experimental test series with automotive pouch cell batteries.
SunSailor: Solar Powered UAV

This paper summarizes the final project of undergraduate students' team at the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at the Technion IIT, Haifa, Israel. The team was formed to design, build, test and fly a Solar Powered Unmanned Aerial Vehicle with the final goal of breaking the world record for distance flight under certain limitations. Until this moment two UAVs were built at the Technion Workshop. The first flew its first solar flight on June 29 th 2006. It crashed on its third solar flight. The second was built in 54 days, flew and crashed on its maiden solar flight. The third UAV was completed lately and had 2 successful flight tests.
Anti-apoptotic and antioxidant effects of melatonin protect spleen of whole body γ-irradiated male Sprague-dawley rats

Background: Spleen is the largest lymphatic organ that is seriously affected during irradiation. Radiation exposure reduces both of spleen size and weight; that in turn decreases the numbers of immune cells. Melatonin is an effective free radicals scavenger. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of melatonin on both blood and spleen of whole body γ-irradiated male Sprague dawley rats. Materials and methods: Animals were intraperitoneally injected with 100 mg/kg melatonin prior to radiation exposure by 30 minutes. Experimental groups were group I: control rats, group II: irradiated rats, group III: melatonin administrated unirradiated rats and group IV: melatonin administrated irradiated rats. Blood and spleen samples were collected 24 hours post irradiation for biochemical, immunological and blastogenesis measurements. Apoptosis, proand anti-apoptotic proteins of spleen cells were measured by flow cytometry techniques. Results: Melatonin significantly upregulated the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH) and catalase (CAT); and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA). It down regulated the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins (p53, Bax, caspase -3 and caspase-8) and up regulated the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 in spleen cells; that in turn reduced the radiation-induced apoptosis. Levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL-1β) were significantly reduced in group IV. Blastogenesis assay showed that melatonin protects PBMC and spleen B lymphocytes and stabilized their proliferation. Conclusion: Melatonin administration prior to whole body γ-radiation successfully protected rat's spleen from the consequences of radiation exposure. This was due to its free radicle scavenger nature, its reduction of lipid peroxidation and its anti-apoptotic effects.
Imaging features of breast cancer molecular subtypes: An Updated Review of the Literature

Background: Breast carcinoma is classified in keeping with its morphologic features. As regards the WHO classification, the histopathological kinds of the breast carcinoma; ductal carcinomas, lobular carcinomas, and uncommon kinds, these are associated with particular imaging features, primarily based on every kind. Additionally, predictive biologic markers along with estrogen, progesterone receptors, HER2 receptor status, and Ki-67 may be suitable to subclassify breast carcinoma into the intrinsic subtypes primarily based totally on gene expression profiling into: Luminal A, Luminal B, HER2+, and Triple Negative. Correlation among the imaging and the molecular subtypes has discovered an enormously circumscribed lesions with posterior acoustic enhancement without calcification inside the triple negative breast cancer subtype, microcalcifications are seen with the HER2+ subtype, but speculated lesions of irregular margin and posterior acoustic shadow with the luminal A and B subtypes, MRI is a longtime supplemental method to mammography and ultrasonography for the assessment of breast lesions. Diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DWI) has lately been incorporated into the breast MRI, moreover dynamic contrast enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI). Conclusion: Understanding medical collaboration of molecular subtypes and imaging features can assist the radiologist to help the clinician to adjust treatment consistent with the patient condition and tumor characteristics.
BUILD OPERATE TRANSFER MUNICIPAL BRIDGE PROJECTS IN INDIA

The build operate transfer scheme can be advantageously adopted by municipal administrations in India for implementing transport infrastructure projects, such as the construction of bridges, without undue strain on their declining budgetary resources. The simulation model developed by the writer permits the examination of the financial viability of any proposed build operate transfer transport infrastructure project, as affected by various options relating to the toll structure, toll revision schedule, extent of the municipal grant, and duration of the concession period. A realistic case study of a municipal bridge project illustrates the application of the simulation model.
7 th European Conference on Software Maintenance and Reengineering

CSMR is the premier European Conference on Software Maintenance and Reengineering. Its purpose is to promote both discussion and interaction about evolution, maintenance and reengineering. Topics of interest include, but are not restricted to: o Evolution, maintenance and reengineering o Metrics and economics o Pattern languages for evolution, maintenance and reengineering o Experience reports (successes and failures) on evolution, maintenance and reengineering o Evolution, maintenance and reengineering tools o Enabling technologies for evolution, maintenance and reengineering o Formal methods to support evolution, maintenance and reengineering o Software evolution and architecture recovery o System assessment for evolution, maintenance and reengineering o Migration and maintenance issues o Dealing with legacy systems towards new technologies o Wrapping and interfacing legacy systems o Data reengineering o Reverse engineering of embedded (control, mobile, .) systems o Web-site evolution, maintenance and reengineering o Evaluation and assessment of reverse engineering tools
Prevalence and Risk Factors of Group B Streptococcus Colonization in Pregnant Women: A Pilot Study in Palestine

Background Maternal Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B Streptococcus (GBS)) colonization is an important cause of complications in mothers and neonates during gestation and after delivery. The data regarding GBS colonization among pregnant women in Palestine is scarce. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of GBS colonization, its associated risk factors, and the antibiotic sensitivity patterns in Nablus, West Bank, Palestine. Methods A cross-sectional, single center study conducted at Rafidia Governmental Hospital in Nablus, West Bank, Palestine. Samples were collected between November 2019 and January 2020. Vaginal swabs from 200 pregnant women (≥35 weeks of gestation) attending the labor and delivery department were plated directly on CHROMagarTM StrepB (CHROM agar, France) and placed in an incubator at 35–37°C. After 24 and 48 hours, the plates were checked for growth and classified into three categories: growth of GBS with mauve colonies on chromogenic media, no growth, or other growth. The identification of the mauve colonies was confirmed by the CAMP test. Identified GBS isolates were tested for susceptibility to vancomycin, ampicillin, clindamycin, cefotaxime, erythromycin, and levofloxacin using the disc diffusion method. Clinical and demographic information were collected using a questionnaire. Result The overall prevalence of GBS colonization was 12%. The median age of the study population was 27 years. GBS colonization was significantly associated with age (p=0.013), history of previous preterm delivery (p=0.013), and parity (p=0.015). No association was noted with smoking, previous abortion, previous history of fetal demise, vaginitis, or urinary tract infection. Resistance to ampicillin, vancomycin, cefotaxime, erythromycin, clindamycin, and levofloxacin was found to be 91.7%, 54.2%, 45.8%, 29.2%, 25%, and 8.3%, respectively. Conclusion The prevalence of vaginal GBS in this study was 12% from Nablus, West Bank. Further research is needed to determine the GBS serotypes common in West Bank and the burden they cause on the health system. Moreover, this study also highlights the need to establish a screening program suited to a developing country with low control on the antibiotic's prescription protocols.
Function Area Layout Method of Underground Distribution Center

Function area layout of underground distribution center is an important part of urban underground distribution center planning so that it would indirectly affect the building and development of underground distribution center and even the whole urban underground logistics system. Based on Automod simulation platform, the function area layout planning method was built in order to avoid underground operation invalidation because of the illogical function area layout. First by analyzing relative operation of underground distribution center, multi-objective 0-1 mixed integer programming model of function area layout was built based on two indexes of relativity and transit cost among function areas. Then the heuristic algorithm or exact algorithm was used to solve the mathematical model mathematical model and find out the layout scheme after quantifying the indicators. Finally the final layout was gained by simulation and optimization of Automod simulation platform. There was an example for proving the feasibility of the method. The results showed that the method was available to analyze the function area layout impact and it was very important for decision-making of building the underground distribution center.
DC voltage control strategy for a five-level converter

This paper describes a control method for a diode-clamped three-phase five-level PWM power converter considering the DC-link capacitor balancing problem. The proposed control circuit uses multiband hysteresis comparators (MHCs) to simplify the control of the main circuit. The DC-link capacitor balancing problem is solved by changing the shape of the MHC. The proposed method can: (1) overcome voltage imbalance in the DC capacitors; (2) achieve unity power factor; (3) generate nearly sinusoidal input currents; and (4) regenerate electric power back to the power system. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate the validity of the proposed method.
Acceptability and perception of environmentally friendly products by student population in Croatia

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to point out the perceptions of the student population toward environmentally friendly products and examine if they are willing to pay higher prices for those products. Methodology: The research conducted in the second half of 2020 included the student population, i.e. a sample of 114 respondents. The close-ended questions offered answers ranging from the level of knowledge related to general concepts to the factors related to purchasing decisions. Data were collected through an online survey. The collected data were analyzed by statistical software packages MedCalc Statistical Software version 19.1. 7 and SPSS. Results: Respondents are familiar with the concepts of sustainable development, a socially responsible business and green consumers, which they define correctly. There are no major differences between male and female respondents. When choosing a product, respondents of both genders mention product quality as the most important factor. The second most important factor is the price, followed by the brand of the product and the environmental friendliness of the product. The brand of the product and environmental acceptability of the product are somewhat more important to male respondents than to female respondents. Corporate social responsibility of the company that produces a product is described as least important by respondents of both genders when choosing a product. Conclusion: It is evident that the student population changed their attitudes towards environmentally friendly products compared to year 2009, but the trend has not changed since 2015. It is a market segment that takes into account this factor when choosing a product.
Seismic loss estimation of non‐ductile reinforced concrete buildings

Non‐ductile reinforced concrete buildings represent a prevalent construction type found in many parts of the world. Due to the seismic vulnerability of such buildings, in areas of high seismic activity non‐ductile reinforced concrete buildings pose a significant threat to the safety of the occupants and damage to such structures can result in large financial losses. This paper introduces advanced analytical models that can be used to simulate the nonlinear dynamic response of these structural systems, including collapse. The state‐of‐the‐art loss simulation procedure developed for new buildings is extended to estimate the expected losses of existing non‐ductile concrete buildings considering their vulnerability to collapse. Three criteria for collapse, namely first component failure, side‐sway collapse, and gravity‐load collapse, are considered in determining the probability of collapse and the assessment of financial losses. A detailed example is presented using a seven‐story non‐ductile reinforced concrete frame building located in the Los Angeles, California. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Technologies for Multimodal Interaction in Extended Reality - A Scoping Review

When designing extended reality (XR) applications, it is important to consider multimodal interaction techniques, which employ several human senses simultaneously. Multimodal interaction can transform how people communicate remotely, practice for tasks, entertain themselves, process information visualizations, and make decisions based on the provided information. This scoping review summarized recent advances in multimodal interaction technologies for head-mounted display-based (HMD) XR systems. Our purpose was to provide a succinct, yet clear, insightful, and structured overview of emerging, underused multimodal technologies beyond standard video and audio for XR interaction, and to find research gaps. The review aimed to help XR practitioners to apply multimodal interaction techniques and interaction researchers to direct future efforts towards relevant issues on multimodal XR. We conclude with our perspective on promising research avenues for multimodal interaction technologies.