The Novel Sequence Distance Measuring Algorithm Based on Optimal Transport and Cross-Attention Mechanism

In this paper, we propose a novel sequence distance measuring algorithm based on optimal transport (OT) and cross-attention mechanism. Given a source sequence and a target sequence, we first calculate the ground distance between each pair of source and target terms of the two sequences. The ground distance is calculated over the subsequences around the two terms. We firstly pay attention from each the source terms to each target terms with attention weights, so that we have a representative source subsequence vector regarding each term in the target subsequence. Then, we pay attention from each representative vector of the term of the target subsequence to the entire source subsequence. In this way, we construct the cross-attention weights and use them to calculate the pairwise ground distances. With the ground distances, we derive the OT distance between the two sequences and train the attention parameters and ground distance metric parameters together. The training process is conducted with training triplets of sequences, where each triplet is composed of an anchor sequence, a must-link sequence, and a cannot-link sequence. The corresponding hinge loss function of each triplet is minimized, and we develop an iterative algorithm to solve the optimal transport problem and the attention/ground distance metric parameters in an alternate way. The experiments over sequence similarity search benchmark datasets, including text, video, and rice smut protein sequence data, are conducted. The experimental results show the algorithm is effective.

Factors Affecting the Rate of Fuel Consumption in Aircrafts

The cost of fuel and its availability are among the most major concerns for aircrafts and the aviation industry overall. Environmental difficulties with chemical pollutant emissions emitted by aviation machines are also connected to fuel consumption. As a result, it is crucial to examine factors that affect the overall fuel usage and consumption in the airport-based aviation industry. Several variables were investigated related to the total fuel consumed, such as dry operating weight (DOW) (KG), zero-fuel weight (ZFW), take-off weight (TOW), air distance (AIR DIST) (KM), and ground distance (GDN DIST). Analysis of the correlation between total fuel consumed as well as the extra fuel and selected variables was conducted. The results showed that the most positively associated factors with the total used fuel were the air distance (r2 = 0.86, p < 0.01), ground distance (r2 = 0.78, p < 0.01), TOW (r2 = 0.68, p < 0.01), and flight time (r2 = 0.68, p < 0.01). There was also a strong positive association between the average fuel flow (FF) and actual TOW (r2 = 0.74, p < 0.01) as well as ZFW (r2 = 0.61, p < 0.01). The generalized linear model (GLM) was utilized to assess the predictions of total energy usage after evaluating important outliers, stability of the homogeneity of variance, and the normalization of the parameter estimation. The results of multiple linear regression revealed that the most significant predictors of the total consumed fuel were the actual ZFW (p < 0.01), actual TOW (p < 0.01), and actual average FF (p < 0.05). The results interestingly confirmed that wind speed has some consequences and effects on arrival fuel usage. The result reflects that thermal and hydrodynamic economies impact on the flying fuel economy. The research has various implications for both scholars and practitioners of aviation industry.

IMUMETER—A Convolution Neural Network-Based Sensor for Measurement of Aircraft Ground Performance

The paper presents the development of the IMUMETER sensor, designed to study the dynamics of aircraft movement, in particular, to measure the ground performance of the aircraft. A motivation of this study was to develop a sensor capable of airplane motion measurement, especially for airfield performance, takeoff and landing. The IMUMETER sensor was designed on the basis of the method of artificial neural networks. The use of a neural network is justified by the fact that the automation of the measurement of the airplane’s ground distance during landing based on acceleration data is possible thanks to the recognition of the touchdown and stopping points, using artificial intelligence. The hardware is based on a single-board computer that works with the inertial navigation platform and a satellite navigation sensor. In the development of the IMUMETER device, original software solutions were developed and tested. The paper describes the development of the Convolution Neural Network, including the learning process based on the measurement results during flight tests of the PZL 104 Wilga 35A aircraft. The ground distance of the test airplane during landing on a grass runway was calculated using the developed neural network model. Additionally included are exemplary measurements of the landing distance of the test airplane during landing on a grass runway. The results obtained in this study can be useful in the development of artificial intelligence-based sensors, especially those for the measurement and analysis of aircraft flight dynamics.

Canopy distribution and microclimate preferences of sterile and wild Queensland fruit flies

Insects tend to live within well-defined habitats, and at smaller scales can have distinct microhabitat preferences. These preferences are important, but often overlooked, in applications of the sterile insect technique. Different microhabitat preferences of sterile and wild insects may reflect differences in environmental tolerance and may lead to spatial separation in the field, both of which may reduce the control program efficiency. In this study, we compared the diurnal microhabitat distributions of mass-reared (fertile and sterile) and wild Queensland fruit flies, Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) (Diptera: Tephritidae). Flies were individually tagged and released into field cages containing citrus trees. We recorded their locations in the canopies (height from ground, distance from canopy center), behavior (resting, grooming, walking, feeding), and the abiotic conditions on occupied leaves (temperature, humidity, light intensity) throughout the day. Flies from all groups moved lower in the canopy when temperature and light intensity were high, and humidity was low; lower canopy regions provided shelter from these conditions. Fertile and sterile mass-reared flies of both sexes were generally lower in the canopies than wild flies. Flies generally fed from the top sides of leaves that were lower in the canopy, suggesting food sources in these locations. Our observations suggest that mass-reared and wild B. tryoni occupy different locations in tree canopies, which could indicate different tolerances to environmental extremes and may result in spatial separation of sterile and wild flies when assessed at a landscape scale.

Modeling and simulation of power system protection relays in a transmission-level application

This report presents the findings of an in-depth literature review on protective relaying. The project focuses on protection system practices which are relevant to transmission-level applications. Various implementations of differential, phase distance and ground distance relays were investigated and ultimately modeled in the Matlab Simulink environment. A further model for a saturable iron-core current transformer was also investigated and developed. These models were tested to ensure compliance with expected results. The developed relay and current transformer models are used to complete a detailed protection design for a sample power system. A small 230kV bulk-power transmission system is presented and modeled in the Simulink environment. A fault study is completed and current transformers are specified in accordance with IEEE standards. Bus and line protections are selected from the various implementations discussed in the report. The settings for all protection relays are developed in detail based on system analysis and the expert guidelines obtained from a wide literature review. The resulting protection design was tested in a systematic fashion and demonstrated to be effective.

Modeling and simulation of power system protection relays in a transmission-level application

This report presents the findings of an in-depth literature review on protective relaying. The project focuses on protection system practices which are relevant to transmission-level applications. Various implementations of differential, phase distance and ground distance relays were investigated and ultimately modeled in the Matlab Simulink environment. A further model for a saturable iron-core current transformer was also investigated and developed. These models were tested to ensure compliance with expected results. The developed relay and current transformer models are used to complete a detailed protection design for a sample power system. A small 230kV bulk-power transmission system is presented and modeled in the Simulink environment. A fault study is completed and current transformers are specified in accordance with IEEE standards. Bus and line protections are selected from the various implementations discussed in the report. The settings for all protection relays are developed in detail based on system analysis and the expert guidelines obtained from a wide literature review. The resulting protection design was tested in a systematic fashion and demonstrated to be effective.

Effect of Sodium Azide on Quantitative and Qualitative Stem Traits in the M2 Generation of Ethiopian Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) Genotypes

The emerging oilseed crop Sesamum indicum, also known as the queen of oilseeds, is being grown globally for its oil content for medicinal and nutritional values. One of the key challenges of sesame cultivation is its low productivity. In the present study, sodium azide (NaN3) was used as a chemical mutagen. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of NaN3 on quantitative and qualitative stem traits in the M2 generation of Ethiopian sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) genotypes. Seeds of fourteen sesame genotypes were used in this study and germinated and grown under greenhouse conditions. Different qualitative and quantitative data were collected and analyzed. Traits such as plant height, ground distance to first distance, and internode length were significantly affected by NaN3 treatment. The highest plant height was recorded in the control on Humera 1 and Baha Necho genotypes, while the lowest was observed on Setit 2 and Hirhir treated with the chemical. The highest ground distance to the first branch was observed in Gumero, while the least ground distance was recorded in Setit 1 in the treated and control genotypes, respectively. The best internode length was recorded on Setit 2 and ADI in the control, while the lowest internode length was observed in Setit 1 genotype treated with sodium azide. Genotypes such as ACC44, ADI, Baha Necho, Borkena, Gonder 1, and Setit 1 treated with NaN3 have showed glabrous type of stem hairiness. All the fourteen genotypes (both treated and control) were clustered into four groups. In conclusion, we observed a highly significant variation among the genotypes due the effect of the chemical and genotypes themselves. Hence, this report would create more genetic diversity for further sesame genetic research improvements.

DAMMING HUNZA RIVER BY MASSIVE ATTABAD LANDSLIDE, STORY OF A RISK MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE FROM HUNZA, PAKISTAN

The mountainous region of northern Pakistan is seismically active as Indian plate is subducting beneath the Eurasian plate. Various geological phenomena are active due to the mountain building and landslides are one of the most destructive natural disasters in the Karakoram range. The northern part of Pakistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, falling in this region is no exception to that. Attabad was a remote village situated on the right bank of Hunza River at a ground distance of almost 125 km from Gilgit city. The area falls into Darkut-Karakoram metamorphic complex composed of granites, granodiorite, and gneiss. A devastating landslide occurred on 4th January 2010, as mode of circular failure which blocked the Hunza River forming a lake behind. The debris material hit the opposite rock cliff, due to narrow gorge the landslide mass travelled downstream 1.5km with huge debris surges, hitting 8 houses in lower Attabad which came under rubble and 19 people died. Aga Khan Agency for Habitat previously FOCUS Pakistan developed an inventory of active landslides across the KKH in Hunza in 2000-2001, however this landslide was not identified. Later in 2002 after the Astore earthquake initial cracks developed at the top of the slope. The 8th October Kashmir earthquake destabilized and U-shaped demarcation appeared across the slope. Anthropogenic activities like irrigation of lands, seepage of water from rain and snow melt water further destabilized the land. Finally, an earthquake in November 2009 in Hindukush region triggered the landslide and brittle failure occurred on 4th January 2010.

FASS: a turbulence profiler based on a fast, low-noise camera

The measurement of the atmospheric optical turbulence with a new scintillation profiler is described and demonstrated. The instrument, FASS (Full Aperture Scintillation Sensor), uses new fast and low-noise detectors to record and process sequences of scintillation images. Statistical processing of these data is based on the calculation of power spectra of intensity in annular pupil zones over the angular coordinate. The angular power spectra are used to measure the optical turbulence intensity of 14 layers located at logarithmically-spaced distances from 0.3 km to 25 km. The reference functions relating turbulence strength to the angular power spectra are computed by numerical simulation. Measurement of the ground-later turbulence and total seeing with FASS is possible when the detector is conjugated to a negative (below ground) distance. Results of measurement campaigns at Paranal are reported, documenting a good agreement of turbulence profiles measured by FASS with two other instruments, SCIDAR and MASS.