Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Linear time-varying eigenstructure assignment with flight control application

This work is concerned with the assignment of a desired PD-eigenstructure for linear time-varying systems. Despite its well-known limitations, gain scheduling control appeared to be a focus of the research efforts. Scheduling of frozen-time, frozen-state controllers for fast time-varying dynamics is known to be mathematically fallacious, and practically hazardous. Therefore, recent research efforts are being directed towards applying time-varying controllers. In this paper we: 1) introduce a differential algebraic eigenvalue theory for linear time-varying systems; and 2) propose a PD-eigenstructure assignment scheme via a differential Sylvester equation and a command generator tracker (CGT) for linear time-varying systems. The PD-eigenstructure assignment is utilized as a regulator. A feedforward gain for tracking control is computed by using the command generator tracker. The whole design procedures of the proposed PD-eigenstructure assignment scheme are systematic in nature. The scheme could be used to determine the stability of linear time-varying systems easily as well as to provide a new horizon of designing controllers for the linear time-varying systems. A missile flight control application is presented to validate the proposed schemes.
Fruits of Anacardiaceae from the Paleogene of the Paris Basin, France

Premise of research. The Anacardiaceae family is distributed throughout the vegetated continents. The fossil record indicates extensive diversification of the family during the Paleogene and, in particular, during the Eocene. Despite the abundant fossil record of this period, there are only a few reliable anacardiaceous fossils in the Paris Basin. Here, we aim to document newly recognized fossils of Anacardiaceae from the Paris Basin, understand their paleoecology, and discuss their biogeographic history. Methodology. Thirty-three lignite fruits were examined from two sites, one before and one after the Paleocene-Eocene boundary (i.e., Petit Pâtis [Rivecourt] and Le Quesnoy [Houdancourt]). The specimens were photographed, and anatomy was studied using computed tomography and histological sections. Comparative analyses were undertaken using available descriptions of fossil and modern fruits of Anacardiaceae. Pivotal results. A new species, Cyrtocarpa biapertura sp. nov., is described on the basis of a unilocular fruit with two prominent apertures present on the ventral side of the endocarp, protruding into two lacunae surrounding the locule. Taphonomic analysis indicates that this plant grew close to riverbanks. Furthermore, a new record of “Lannea” europaea (Reid and Chandler) Chandler is reported for the Eocene site. Conclusions. The occurrence of Cyrtocarpa in both the Paleocene and the Eocene floras in the Paris Basin suggests similar vegetation during both time intervals. It is likely that both floras grew under similar subtropical climates. Moreover, it appears that the early Eocene shows an enrichment of the paleodiversity of Anacardiaceae and other plant families in the Paris Basin. The presence of Cyrtocarpa documents a rarely reported disjunction between the Paleogene of Europe and the recent tropical flora of South America.
Developing rural Chinese children’s computational thinking through game-based learning and parental involvement

Abstract The lack of teachers and equipment is a major obstacle to the implementation of Computational Thinking (CT) in education, particularly for rural schools. Although CT education has been investigated for many years, less attention has been paid to lower primary schools in rural areas. This study contributes to filling this gap by investigating the impact of three different learning approaches on the CT of grade-two primary school students in a rural area in China. Seventy-seven students were randomly assigned to three learning approaches, namely traditional lectures, Game-Based Learning (GBL) using a newly designed board game in classrooms, and GBL with parental involvement. The findings showed that both GBL approaches (i.e., with and without parents) significantly enhanced the students’ CT skills compared to the traditional approach. The findings also showed that the GBL approach with parental involvement significantly enhanced students’ attitudes toward learning CT compared with the other two approaches.
Fractured system, fractured care: The experiences of Canadian women with chronic pelvic pain waiting for interprofessional pain care

Background: Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is a common disorder in women that includes complex interactions between biological, psychological, and social factors. Accessibility to interprofessional, biopsychosocial CPP care remains a challenge for many patients. There is a lack of knowledge regarding the experiences of women using health services for CPP care and the impact of waiting for interprofessional CPP care. This study explores the perceptions and experiences of Canadian women with CPP interacting with the health system while waiting for interprofessional CPP care. Methods: Our qualitative study included women with CPP waiting for interprofessional care in Ontario, Canada. Data were obtained through semi-structured interviews which were transcribed verbatim and analyzed inductively using established methods for thematic analysis. Results: Ten women (median age of 38.5 years, age range 28–57) participated in in-depth semi-structured interviews. Three main themes were identified: (1) feeling adrift in the health system, (2) feeling “On hold,” uncertain, and in need of guidance, and (3) feeling reliant on a system that does not understand. Within these themes, women with CPP describe tangible strategies and recommendations for improving health system navigation and care. Conclusion: Our study highlights the need for improved access to interprofessional CPP programs, enhanced and targeted training for health professionals in CPP management, and better health system navigation support. Specific recommendations were provided from the perspectives of women with CPP and included providing information on what to expect and prepare for their appointment and engaging patients in education resources while they wait.
Validation of Surface Current Measurements in the Northern Adriatic Sea from High-Frequency Radars

Abstract The performances of a shore-based high-frequency (HF) radar network deployed along the coast of the Venice lagoon (northern Adriatic Sea) are discussed based on a comparison with a single bottom-mounted ADCP deployed in the shallow-water area offshore of the lagoon for a 40-day period in August–September 2005. The analyses, carried out using currents representative of the first meter for the HF radars and 2.5 m for the ADCP, gave rms differences of radial currents in the range of 8.7–14.7 cm s−1 (correlation 0.37– 0.82) for the ideal pattern and 8.4–20.5 cm s−1 (correlation 0.14–0.84) for the measured pattern. Good correlation was found between surface current vectors and moored data (scalar correlation up to R = 0.83, vector correlation ρ = 0.78, veering angle 6°). Comparison metrics were improved for the low-passed currents. Angular offsets ranged between +6° and +11°. Differences depended primarily on the geophysical variability within the water column. Bearing offsets also contributed because.
Be More Conceptual Regarding Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) as Art

Abstract This statement presents the author’s proposition—“Let’s be more conceptual! ”—in response to the attempt to interpret Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) as contemporary art. In the context of NFTs, this opinion has the significance of finding artistry in the underlying decentralized autonomous consensus-building, and in the context of contemporary art, it has the significance of leading to the revival of early conceptual art. The second half of this statement covers the novelty and feasibility of this opinion, referring to precedents in art and engineering.
Bottom up: Conditions supporting policy influence of civil society organisations at national and EU level

ABSTRACT Civil society organisations (CSOs) at EU-level depend on the capacity of their members to act as ‘transmission belts’: they provide analysis, influence national legislation and monitor the implementation of policies affected by multi-level governance procedures like the European Semester on the ground. CSOs have more influence on social and employment policy in some countries than in others, which may be linked to the given environment and conditions they encounter to function and participate effectively in policy debate. Using Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) based on expert reports following interviews with national-level civil society organisations, this article investigates which set of conditions support CSOs’ influence within policy deliberation and why. The QCA solution formulas indicate that an enabling legal and administrative framework is necessary, while a high level of volunteering and participation in combination with a legal obligation to consult CSOs are conducive to policy influence at the national level. Stable and varied funding seems to play an ambivalent role. These findings are corroborated through a focus group held with EU-level CSOs, underlining their reliance on national members’ capacity to contribute meaningfully to policy consultations at European level.
Integral field spectroscopy with the Gemini Near-Infrared Spectrograph

The Astronomical Instrumentation Group (AIG) of the University of Durham has recently completed an integral field unit (IFU) for use on the Gemini-South telescope with the Gemini Near-Infrared Spectrograph (GNIRS) built by the National Optical Astronomy Observatories (NOAO, USA). When the IFU is deployed remotely inside the instrument cryostat, GNIRS is converted into an integral field spectrograph with a field of 5 × 3 arcsec2 and spatial sampling of 0.15 × 0.15 arcsec2, optimised for 1-2. 5μm but operable up to 5μm. We present summaries of the design and construction and results from laboratory testing. We also show results obtained at the telescope where a throughput of 90% was measured at 2. 5μm, and show that this is consistent with predictions of a simple model where surface scattering is the dominant loss mechanism. The throughput data are well fit by the roughness measured in the laboratory. Finally, we show a few examples of astrophysical data from the commissioning run in April 2004.
Physical Activity Influences Health-Related Quality of Life in Adults with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the impact of physical activity and physical fitness on the health-related quality of life (HQoL) of adult patients with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA). Fifty-nine JIA patients and sixty healthy individuals participated in this study. All individuals had the following evaluations performed: body composition (electrical bioimpedance), physical fitness (6 min walk test (6MWT)), physical activity level (International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)), and HQoL (Quality of Life Questionnaire in relation to Health—Short Form (SF36)). Thirty-nine (66%) JIA patients were considered sedentary compared with 15 (25%) in the control group (p < 0.01). JIA patients had a lower HQoL compared with the control group in all variables studied (p < 0.05). JIA patients who were very physically active had better HQoL conditions in the categories of functional capacity (p = 0.001), limitations by physical aspects (p = 0.003), and emotional aspects (p = 0.002) compared with sedentary patients. JIA patients had more cardiovascular abnormalities and walked shorter distances compared with healthy controls in the 6MWT. In conclusion, we observed that HQoL was reduced in adults with JIA. A high percentage of JIA patients were sedentary with lower physical fitness, but physically active patients had a better HQoL than sedentary patients. The duration of physical activity, rather than intensity, influenced the mental aspects of HQoL.
Signatures of the quantum fluctuations of cold atoms in an optical lattice in the three-body loss rate

We consider an optical lattice potential loaded with a Bose-Einstein condensate in the presence of three-body loss. The dynamics of the atoms in the lattice realizes the Bose-Hubbard model of condensed-matter physics, where on-site number fluctuations are reduced by the atomic repulsion energy but increase with increased tunneling between lattice sites. A range of quantum states with different number fluctuations can therefore be created by varying the amplitude of the optical potential, and will be reflected in the values of the on-site correlation functions ${G}_{n}^{i}=〈{b}_{i}^{\ifmmode\dagger\else\textdagger\fi{}n}{b}_{i}^{n}〉,$ where ${b}_{i}$ is the annihilation operator of the $i\mathrm{th}$ lattice site. The three-body loss rate is shown to be proportional to a sum of the on-site three-body correlation functions and therefore acts as a natural probe of the number fluctuations. The three-body correlation function ${G}_{3}^{i}$ is a sensitive measure of the number fluctuations when site occupation is low. In particular, when the average number at each site is less than $3,$ the number fluctuations in the superfluid phase result in ${G}_{3}^{i}\ensuremath{\approx}{n}_{i}^{3}$ and give rise to a finite three-body loss, whereas in the insulator phase, ${G}_{3}^{i}{=n}_{i}{(n}_{i}\ensuremath{-}{1)(n}_{i}\ensuremath{-}2)$ and three-body loss ceases to occur.
A NEW TRAFFIC SPEED FORECASTING METHOD BASED ON BI-PATTERN RECOGNITION

Short-term traffic forecasting has played a key role in supporting the need of proactive and dynamic traffic control system. K-nearest neighbor (KNN) nonparametric regression models have been widely used in traffic prediction. KNN models give predictions based on the future state of traffic speed that is completely determined by the current state, but with no dependence on the past sequences of traffic speed that produced the current state. In fact, traffic speed is not completely random in nature, and some patterns repeat in the traffic stream. In this paper, we proposed a methodology called bi-pattern recognition KNN model (BKNN) which uses pattern recognition technique twice in the searching process to predict the future traffic state. Then the proposed BKNN model is applied to predict one day real traffic speed series of two sites, which are located near the North 2nd and 3rd Ring Road in Beijing, respectively. With the optimal neighbor and pattern size, the BKNN model provides good predictions. Moreover, in comparison with the KNN model, PKNN model (a modified model based on KNN), seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) and the artificial neural networks (ANN), the BKNN model appears to be the most promising and robust of the five models to provide better short-term traffic prediction.
ARESE II Spectral and Broadband Shortwave Absolution Calibrations

In the first Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Enhanced Shortwave Experiment (ARESE), care was given to the characterization and calibration of each instrument, but each absolute calibration was performed independently using whatever standard was available to each investigator. Kiedron et al. (1999), for example, have demonstrated that there may be significant variability in spectral calibration sources. The lack of redundancy also cast some doubt on the measurements made for this experiment.
Supports and Barriers to Lifestyle Interventions in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Australia: A National Online Survey

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) affects approximately one in six pregnancies, causing a significant burden on maternal and infant health. Lifestyle interventions are first-line therapies to manage blood glucose levels (BGLs) and prevent future cardiometabolic complications. However, women with GDM experience considerable barriers to lifestyle interventions; thus, the aim of this study was to determine how women with GDM manage their condition and to identify the primary supports and barriers to lifestyle intervention participation. Methods: An online cross-sectional survey of women in Australia with a history of GDM was conducted. Questions included participant demographics, strategies used to manage BGLs, physical activity and dietary habits, and barriers and supports to lifestyle interventions. Results: A total of 665 individuals consented and responded to the advertisement, of which 564 were eligible and provided partial or complete responses to the survey questions. Most respondents were between 35 and 39 years of age (35.5%), not pregnant (75.4%), working part-time (26.7%), university-educated (58.0%), and had only one child (40.1%). Most respondents managed their BGLs through diet (88.3%), with “low-carbohydrate” diets being the most popular (72.3%), and 46.2% of respondents were undertaking insulin therapy. Only 42.2% and 19.8% of respondents reported meeting the aerobic and strengthening exercise recommendations, respectively. Women with one child or currently pregnant expecting their first child were 1.51 times more likely (95% CI, 1.02, 2.25) to meet the aerobic exercise recommendations than those with two or more children. The most common reported barriers to lifestyle intervention participation were “lack of time” (71.4%) and “childcare” commitments (57.7%). Lifestyle interventions delivered between 6 and 12 months postpartum (59.0%), involving an exercise program (82.6%), and delivered one-on-one were the most popular (64.9%). Conclusion: Most women report managing their GDM with lifestyle strategies. The most common strategies reported involve approaches not currently included in the clinical practice guidelines such as reducing carbohydrate consumption. Furthermore, despite being willing to participate in lifestyle interventions, respondents report significant barriers, including lack of time and childcare commitments, whereas mentioned supports included having an online format. Lifestyle interventions for women with a history of GDM should be designed in a manner that is both tailored to the individual and considerate of existing barriers and supports to participation.
Walking Speed Learning and Generalization Using Seq2Seq Gated and Adaptive Continuous-Time Recurrent Neural Network (S2S-GACTRNN) for a Hip Exoskeleton

The objective of this article is to provide a new approach for walking speed learning and generalization in the speed-adaptation control of exoskeletons. By combining the gated and adaptive continuous-time recurrent neural network (GACTRNN), which has the potential to process periodic signals, and the “sequence to sequence” structure, the S2S-GACTRNN model is proposed for walking gait generation at different speeds. The “proactive loop” and “reactive loop” were presented for learning and generalization capability evaluation, respectively, in the experiments of sinusoidal signals and walking gait signals. First, simulation experiments were carried out to evaluate the S2S-GACTRNN's learning and generalization capabilities of sinusoidal signals with different frequencies. Second, in offline experiments, the model was applied to deal with walking gait signals to evaluate the capabilities of learning and generalization of walking speeds. Third, a client-server system was constructed and an online prediction method was proposed for online experiments to further evaluate the trained model's performance in walking speed generalization. The mean absolute errors of S2S-GACTRNN trained using walking data at three speeds were reduced by 24%, 38%, and 24% compared with that trained using walking data at one speed. The results show that the model has learning and generalization potential for gait signals of different walking speeds and may be utilized as a new approach to the adaptive control of walking speeds in the field of exoskeletons.
F‐bar‐based linear triangles and tetrahedra for finite strain analysis of nearly incompressible solids. Part I: formulation and benchmarking

This paper proposes a new technique which allows the use of simplex finite elements (linear triangles in 2D and linear tetrahedra in 3D) in the large strain analysis of nearly incompressible solids. The new technique extends the F‐bar method proposed by de Souza Neto et al. (Int. J. Solids and Struct. 1996; 33: 3277–3296) and is conceptually very simple: It relies on the enforcement of (near‐) incompressibility over a patch of simplex elements (rather than the point‐wise enforcement of conventional displacement‐based finite elements). Within the framework of the F‐bar method, this is achieved by assuming, for each element of a mesh, a modified (F‐bar) deformation gradient whose volumetric component is defined as the volume change ratio of a pre‐defined patch of elements. The resulting constraint relaxation effectively overcomes volumetric locking and allows the successful use of simplex elements under finite strain near‐incompressibility. As the original F‐bar procedure, the present methodology preserves the displacement‐based structure of the finite element equations as well as the strain‐driven format of standard algorithms for numerical integration of path‐dependent constitutive equations and can be used regardless of the constitutive model adopted. The new elements are implemented within an implicit quasi‐static environment. In this context, a closed form expression for the exact tangent stiffness of the new elements is derived. This allows the use of the full Newton–Raphson scheme for equilibrium iterations. The performance of the proposed elements is assessed by means of a comprehensive set of benchmarking two‐ and three‐dimensional numerical examples. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An inverse source problem for quasi-static Maxwell's equations

Abstract In this paper, we show the uniqueness and local stability of an inverse source problem for the quasi-static Maxwell equation in a layered domain, where the source consists of multiple point dipoles. Also, an algebraic algorithm is proposed to identify the number, locations, and moments of the dipoles from boundary measurements of tangential components of the electric and magnetic fields. The proposed algorithm is numerically verified.
Pervasive Micro Information Flow Tracking

Detection of advanced security attacks that exploit zero-day vulnerabilities or application-specific logic loopholes has been challenging due to the lack of attack signatures or substantial deviations in the overall system behavior. One has to zoom in to the affected code regions and look for local anomalies distinguishable from the benign workload to detect such attacks. We propose pervasive micro information flow tracking (PerMIT) that realizes variable-level online dynamic information flow tracking (DIFT) as a means to detect the attacks. The system uses hardware virtualization extension to monitor access to taint source variables and performs asynchronous code emulation to infer the local information flow. We demonstrate that the pervasive micro information flow can sufficiently capture the attacks and incurs only a small overhead. Given the program source code, the system can further enrich the semantics of micro information flow by embedding the variable names. We have integrated the system with machine learning algorithms to demonstrate the effectiveness of anomaly detection for zero-day attacks with pervasive micro information flow.