Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development and Validation of Deterioration Models for Concrete Bridge Decks: Phase 1: Artificial Intelligence Models and Bridge Management System

This research documents the development and evaluation of artificial neural network (ANN) models to predict the condition ratings of concrete highway bridge decks in Michigan. Historical condition assessments chronicled in the national bridge inventory (NBI) database were used to develop the ANN models. Two types of artificial neural networks, multi-layer perceptrons and ensembles of neural networks (ENNs), were developed and their performance was evaluated by comparing them against recorded field inspections and using statistical methods. The MLP and ENN models had an average predictive capability across all ratings of 83% and 85%, respectively, when allowed a variance equal to bridge inspectors. A method to extract the influence of parameters from the ANN models was implemented and the results are consistent with the expectations from engineering judgment. An approach for generalizing the neural networks for a population of bridges was developed and compared with Markov chain methods. Thus, the developed ANN models allow modeling of bridge deck deterioration at the project (i.e., a specific existing or new bridge) and system/network levels. Further, the generalized ANN degradation curves provided a more detailed degradation profile than what can be generated using Markov models. A bridge management system (BMS) that optimizes the allocation of repair and maintenance funds for a network of bridges is proposed. The BMS uses a genetic algorithm and the trained ENN models to predict bridge deck degradation. Employing the proposed BMS leads to the selection of optimal bridge repair strategies to protect valuable infrastructure assets while satisfying budgetary constraints. A program for deck degradation modeling based on trained ENN models was developed as part of this project.
Diabetes control and metabolism maintenance during COVID-19 period in comparison to three other periods using GH-Method: math-physical medicine (No. 288)

This paper describes the author’s quantitative results of diabetes control and metabolism maintenance within a 4.5-year period covering two years from 7/1/2018 to 6/30/2020. Special attention has been placed on the COVID-19 quarantine period from 1/1/2020 to 6/30/2020. COVID-19 is more than 100 times worse than SARS that occurred in 2003, in terms of its spreading speed, fatality number, and emotional impact on the world population. People belonging to the “vulnerable” groups, such as the elderly with existing chronic diseases and history of complications, or people with psychological disorders, who require special attention to their health conditions and lifestyle management during this quarantine period. However, during this time, the author has achieved better results on both of his diabetes control and metabolism management. The knowledge and experience he has acquired in the past 10 years of medical research and his developed MI model and diabetes prediction tools have assisted him in many ways. As a result, he has turned the COVID-19 crisis into his health advantage!
Digital communication between pleasure and danger: a feminist reading of youth sexting

This paper explores a form of digital communication among young people that arises with the cheapening of digital technologies and the emergence of the Internet: sexting. Based on a qualitative methodology and a gender theoretical approach, it explores the forms of experience and significance of this practice in young people aged 15 to 19, from two Mexican cities. It is concluded that sexting must be understood as a collective practice, not individual, inserted in a framework of gender relations and, therefore, power relations. It seeks to contribute to the understanding of a new and scarcely studied communicative phenomenon in Mexico. kEyworDs: Sexuality, gender, youth, digital culture, sexting.
Natural Ventilation for Energy Savings in California Commercial Buildings

This research program investigated the potential energy savings to be gained by retrofitting non-domestic buildings in California with natural ventilation for cooling. The simplest and most cost effective retrofit is to open windows on the facade and turn off any mechanical ventilation. To make the problem tractable attention was restricted to wind-driven natural ventilation. Stack-driven ventilation is likely to also be present in practice, and usually improves the cooling potential. The program was split into three major projects. Project 1 assessed the potential of and the barriers to the implementation of natural ventilation. Project 2 examined induced air movement and the possible ingress of outdoor pollutants. Project 3 produced new tools for predicting the energy performance of naturally ventilated buildings, and provided training in their use. The major barriers to the introduction are the lack of specific design guidance and a lack to easy-to-use modeling tools. These are compounded by a lack of design experience and case studies and the mandatory requirements for the amount and location of openable area specified in Title 24. Research on wind-driven natural ventilation using computational fluid dynamics and wind tunnel tests provided new algorithms for cross ventilation, single-sided ventilation and corner ventilation, accounting for opening size, location and number, and the effects of sheltering by neighboring buildings. These algorithms were implemented in EnergyPlus, and the new version of the code was used in three training sessions to provide the design and engineering community with some familiarity in the new modules that calculate natural ventilation. The overall outcome of this program is a comprehensive study of the current issues concerning retrofitting commercial buildings in California and an assessment of the potential risks and benefits. It has also significantly extended the capabilities for modeling, design, and operation of naturally ventilated buildings in California.
Efficacy of an Asynchronous Online Preparatory Chemistry Course: A Post-hoc Analysis

In an ongoing effort to increase student retention and success in the undergraduate general chemistry course sequence, a fully online preparatory chemistry course was developed and implemented at a large public research university. To gain insight about the efficacy of the online course, post-hoc analyses were carried out in which student performance on final exams, and performance in the subsequent general chemistry course were compared between the online cohort and a previous student cohort who completed the preparatory chemistry course in a traditional lecture format. Because the retention of less academically prepared students in STEM majors is a historical problem at the institution in which the online preparatory chemistry course was implemented, post-hoc analyses were also carried out to determine if this at-risk group demonstrated similar achievement relative to the population at large. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to compare final exam scores and general chemistry course grades between the online and in-person student cohorts, while statistically controlling for incoming student academic achievement. Results from these analyses suggest the fully online course led to increased final exam scores in the preparatory course (unstandardized B = 8.648, p < 0.001) and higher grades in the subsequent general chemistry course (unstandardized B = 0.269, p < 0.001). Notably, students from the lowest quartile of incoming academic preparation appear to have been more positively impacted by the online course experience (preparatory chemistry final exam scores: unstandardized B = 11.103, p < 0.001; general chemistry course grades: unstandardized B = 0.323, p = 0.002). These results suggest a fully online course can help improve student preparation for large populations of students, without resulting in a negative achievement gap for less academically prepared students. The structure and implementation of the online course, and the results from the post-hoc analyses will be described herein.
REMEMBERING AND PREDICTING VEHICLE LOCATION: SITUATIONAL AWARENESS IN DISTRACTED AND NON-DISTRACTED DRIVERS

Two aspects of drivers' situation awareness are investigated here: drivers' immediate memory of the vehicles in front of them, and drivers predictions of where those vehicles would be after some time has elapsed. Novice and experienced drivers watched briefly presented photographs of, or films of moving, normal traffic scenes. Immediately afterwards, participants were asked to specify the location of the vehicles they saw or to predict where those vehicles would be after 5 seconds of further travel on a structured grid. Drivers were tested when able to devote their attention wholly to the situation awareness tasks, and when dividing their attention between the situation awareness tasks and a concurrent distracting task. Results indicate that drivers' memory for their current environment is relatively poor, and predictions made on the basis of such memories are inaccurate. The implications for current understanding of hazard perception are discussed. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E209619.
The Effects of Expectancy, Clothing Reflectance, and Detection Criterion on Nighttime Pedestrian Visibility

Nighttime pedestrian visibility was studied under various combinations of driver expectancy (to see a pedestrian on the road), pedestrian clothing characteristics (dark clothing, light clothing, and dark clothing with retroreflective tags), and the detection criterion (pedestrian versus retroreflective tag). It was found that visibility distance increases with expectancy, but the magnitude of the effect varies as a function of whether or not the pedestrian is wearing the tag. Furthermore, it was shown that when the pedestrian is unexpected, the usefulness of the tag is significant only if the driver can rely on it as a criterion for detection (by prior knowledge of the association between the tag and the pedestrian). The difference in visibility when the tag is not associated with the pedestrian may explain the less-than-expected effectiveness of retroreflective materials on accident reduction.
The Relationship between Emotional Regulation and Depression among Adolescent in Bangladesh

Depression is a major public health issue both in Bangladesh and in the world and should be given more focus, in particular to the identification of prevention and intervention targets. The research aimed at researching relationships between the strategy of emotional regulation and adolescent depression.This quantitative study chose the youth population in Dhaka City, Bangladesh. The researcher selected the participants randomly from among those in the 7th to 10th grades. A class with 40 participants was selected. The researcher sent questionnaires to the participants and obtained their responses to the questionnaires. The data from this study were used to examine the relationship between emotional control and depression in adolescents in Bangladesh by using the Spearman correlation analysis. The findings show that the relationships between emotional regulation and depression, higher extents of ‘suppression - focused’ emotional regulation styles appear to be related to the reporting of more borderline clinical depression, while more cognitive ‘reappraisal - focused’ styles are not significantly associated with the symptoms of depression.The outcomes concerning the connections between cognitive strategies for emotional regulation and depression may serve as potential targets for a mental health intervention for adolescents in developing countries. This study outcome will also contribute to the adolescent crisis intervention strategy among adolescent in Bangladesh. In the individual and group treatment sessions, the therapists may use a strategy plan for adaptive emotional regulations to prevent depression.
COMPARISON OF THE PREDICTIVE ABILITY OF FOUR MULTIATTRIBUTE APPROACHES TO ATTITUDINAL MEASUREMENT

In the past decade, attitudinal measurement techniques have been developed that measure the relative attractiveness of specific levels of transportation characteristics. These partial measures are then combined to form overall measures of attractiveness, which makes it possible to simulate market responses under varying conditions. Four techniques that have emerged as leaders in this area are functional analysis, conjoint measurement, trade-off analysis, and unidimensional scaling. Each of these techniques assumes a compensatory utility function; the techniques vary with respect to the assumed integrity of the data (interval or ordinal) and with respect to subject tasks. To test each approach, 300 subjects in Charlotte, North Carolina, were interviewed, then reinterviewed one year later. Each subject was asked four different sets of questions concerning preferences for different transportation alternatives, characterized by various levels of mode and waiting time, cost, and travel time, as well as the subject's background and current mode of travel. Each attitudinal question set was analyzed by the appropriate scaling technique. The analysis showed that relative measures of attractiveness derived from each technique differ somewhat and that these measurement differences have an impact on market simulation. It was also found that techniques that provide the highest predictive ability are those that use a conjoint data set consisting of modes described by all factors simultaneously. It was also found that modal choice is most closely a function of previous choice of mode and that attitudes toward mode and waiting time have the greatest influence on modal split.
GAP ACCEPTANCE AND TRAFFIC CONFLICT SIMULATION AS A MEASURE OF RISK

A new method of measuring gap acceptance behaviour of drivers is described. It has been used to study the behaviour of turning drivers at a selection of priority controlled t-junctions outside urban areas. The data thus obtained are used in a simulation model to predict conflict rates in turning manoevres. It is found that the ranking by frequency of conflict of such junctions given by this model agrees well with that obtained from five-year recorded injury accident data. The effect of various parameters, including age and sex of driver on gap-acceptance behaviour is discussed. A new model of headway distributions on major roads is given. (Author/TRRL)
Keen on EVs: Kiwi perspectives on electric vehicles, and opportunities to stimulate uptake

Understanding the potential growth of EVs in the New Zealand market is of great interest to a wide range of stakeholders. Aside from the direct impact on the new and used car markets, it could also reduce NZrs dependence on oil imports, increase demand for electricity, and offer new opportunities for managing electricity demand in distribution networks. It is important for businesses, the energy sector, and national and local governments to be able to plan for EV uptake. This report provides insights into Kiwi appetite for EVs and barriers to uptake. We draw from four pieces of research undertaken as part of the GREEN Grid (GG) and Energy Cultures (EC) research projects: 1. Dr Scott carried out interviews with 23 people who have already purchased, who have a strong interest to purchase, or have rejected EVs (GG); 2. Dr Williams ran an online survey and choice modelling experiment with 2000 people (500 of whom we questioned about EVs specifically) (GG); 3. Associate Professor Wooliscroft ran a national survey of 2278 households which included questions about interest in EVs (EC); 4. Dr Rees carried out Systems Dynamics (SD) modelling using these findings and insights from transport experts to explore influences on the rate of growth of EVs in the light vehicle fleet (GG).
The effect of dielectric stress on the electrical characteristics of AlGaN/GaN heterostructure field-effect transistors (HFETs)

We present an experimental analysis on the effect of dielectric stress on the electrical characteristics of AlGaN/GaN HFETs. Issues such as maximum current (I/sub d-max/), gate leakage and current collapse are presented. Different dielectric deposition conditions were used to vary the amount of stress induced on the wafer and the devices were measured before and after passivation. A striking feature observed was the strong dependence of I/sub d-max/ on the amount of stress induced by the dielectric. I/sub d-max/ increases when the stress is tensile and reduces when it is compressive. The rise in leakage current was found to be dependent on the dielectric film itself and not on the stress induced, which suggests that a surface effect is responsible for the leakage mechanism.
(Cu0.4Al0.3)TaSe2: PREPARATION AND CRYSTAL STRUCTURE ANALYSIS FROM X-RAY POWDER DIFFRACTION

A new phase of the (CuAlSe2)1-x(TaSe)x alloy system was synthesized by the melt and annealing technique and studied by SEM, DTA, and XRPD techniques. Its structure has been refined by the Rietveld method using X-ray powder diffraction data. The new alloy corresponds with the stoichiometry Cu0.4Al0. 3TaSe2. This compound crystallizes in the hexagonal space group 𝑃6ത𝑚2 (Nº 187) with a MoS2-type structure, and unit cell parameters a = 3.455(2) Å, c = 13.423(4) Å, V = 138.7(1) Å3, Z =2. The crystal structure is based on the MoS2- type of stacking of TaSe2 layers with a partial ordering of Cu and Al cations over the tetrahedral sites. The powder pattern was composed of 63.1% of the principal phase Cu0.4Al0. 3TaSe2 and 29.9% of CuAlSe2, 7.0% of TaSe3, as the secondary phases.
Frequency of thrombophilia associated genes. Population – based study.

Background: Thrombophilia is a hypercoagulable state that may have a genetic basis (inherited) or can be acquired. It is a multifactorial condition and only the mutual interactions between the environment and genes may lead to the development of clinical manifestation. This state is the main factor promoting venous (rarely arterial) thromboembolism (VTE). Inherited thrombophilia is mainly associated with two pathogenic variants in the V coagulation factor (FV) and the prothrombin (FII) genes. The aim of our study was to evaluate the frequency of two pathogenic variants in FII and FV genes as inherited thrombophilia factors in a group within the Polish population in comparison with other described populations. Methods: All studied groups consisted of 633 unrelated patients aged between 18 and 70. Individuals in the research group come from the Podlasie region of Poland. Genotyping of FII and FV variants was performed using the 7900HT Fast Real-Time PCR System and were genotyped by TaqMan assay. Results: The pathogenic allele frequency for A allele was 0.03 (3%) and 0.07 (7%) for FII and FV genes, respectively. The GA/AA genotypes (c.*97G>A variant) were observed in only 33 (5.03%) individuals in the studied group. Additionally, the frequency of GA/AA genotypes was over 17.4% in the coagulation factor V. Co-incidence of heterozygous genotype GA of variants FII and FV genes was observed in only 4 subjects. Conclusion: The FII gene variant shown in our study is less frequent than in other European countries (about 6%). In contrast, the A allele of the FV gene occurs with a frequency similar to that of Northern, Central and South Central Europe (about 5%).
ACCIDENT CAUSATION ANALYSIS AT RAILROAD CROSSINGS PROTECTED BY GATES

The purpose of this study was to identify probable causes of and factors responsible for accidents occurring at railroad crossings protected by gates. Two important goals of this study were to (a) compare the results obtained for the two types of warning systems activating the gates: fixed distance and constant warning time systems, and (b) test the hypothesis that extended, or widely variable, warning times create a lack of credibility in warning signals. These objectives were achieved by statistically analyzing accident data obtained from the National Rail-Highway Crossing Inventory and the Railroad Accident/Incident Report files for the period 1975 through 1984. An accident classification by circumstance (movement and position of the car in relation to the tracks and the trains) highlighted some causes and factors responsible for the different types of accidents. The classification indicated results and led to the development of a similar interpretation of the accidents for both types of warning systems. Further analysis confirmed and quantified the small impact of environmental factors (bad weather, poor visibility at crossings, etc.). Trends found in relation to warning times tended to indicate that lack of credibility in warning signals was a factor in the accidents.
P-Vector Method for Determining Absolute Velocity From Hydrographic Data

Several major techniques (Stommel-Schott method, Wunsch method, and Bernoulli method) that have been developed to quantitatively estimate the geostrophic velocity at the reference level, have the same order of dynamical sophistication (geostrophy, hydrostatic, and density conservation.) From a technical point of view, the Stommel-Schott method is an overdetermined system (the number of equations is much larger than the number of variables), however, the Wunsch method is an underdetermined system (the number of equations is much smaller than the number of variables). Based on the same dynamical and thermodynamical framework, a simple, well-posed system (P-vector method) is proposed in this study. Consistent with geostrophy, the system is assumed non-dissipative. The conservation of mass and potential vorticity leads to the condition that the velocity vector is perpendicular to both density (ρ) and potential vorticity (q = f∂ρ/∂z) gradients, and that the velocity can be represented as V(x, y, z) = r(x, y, z)P (x, y, z), where P = (⊇ρ x ⊇q)/|⊇ρ x ⊇q|. The unit vector, P, is computed from the density field, and the parameter r(x, y, z) is determined by the thermal-wind relation. Furthermore, an error reduction scheme is also proposed in this study.
The influence of humoral factors of homeostatistic proliferation on t-regulatory cells in vitro

Aim. The aim of this study was the investigation of the influence of humoral factors of homeostatic proliferation IL-7 and IL-15 on T-regulatory cells in healthy donors.Materials and methods. The study included 15 conditionally healthy donors. Phenotyping and evaluation of expression changes of transcription factor FoxP3 and the main functional molecules on T-regulatory cells such as PD-L1, CTLA-4 and HLA-DR during cultivation under IL-7, IL-15 and anti-CD3 stimulation combined with IL-2 were performed by flow cytometry. Also, we estimated proliferation intensity of T-regulatory cells in the course of cultivation.Results. We revealed that humoral factors of homeostatic proliferation can effectively support a pool of T-regulatory cells during cultivation by number and phenotype and can maintain expression of important molecules such as PD-L1 and HLA-DR on regulatory T-cell surface. In addition, our study showed that IL-7 and IL-15 can cause relatively low T-regulatory cells proliferation in comparison to CD4+- lymphocytes.Conclusion. The observed ability of homeostatic proliferation factors to maintain T-regulatory cells pool presumably can play an important role in lymphopenic conditions when the number of effector cells is decreased and the insufficiency of interleukin IL-2 is observed, which plays a primary role in the homeostasis of T-regulatory cells in normal conditions.