Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessing Schedule Delay Propagation in the National Airspace System

Flight delay propagation or “ripple” is a well-known phenomenon in the National Airspace System (NAS). It is when delay on one flight leg carries forward to a future flight leg for the same aircraft due to the practice of airlines scheduling multiple flight legs per aircraft. The research investigates where delay propagation is occurring in the NAS by analyzing historical data. A backtracking algorithm is proposed to tally delay that is experienced on the ground and in the air for each flight leg, which later becomes observable schedule delay at downstream airports. Results are shown across different time periods, carriers, weather conditions, and airports.
Process Monitoring Using Domain-Adversarial Probabilistic Principal Component Analysis: A Transfer Learning Framework

Probabilistic principal component analysis (PPCA) is a feature extraction method that has been widely used in the field of process monitoring. However, PPCA assumes that training and testing data are drawn from the same input feature space with the same distributions. This assumption is not valid for complex processes that exhibit multiple operating modes and generate data with different distributions. In this article, we propose a novel transfer learning approach to monitoring processes with data from multiple distributions. To this end, we introduce a novel extension of PPCA, which is we refer to as the domain adversarial probabilistic principal component analysis (DAPPCA). DAPPCA algorithm automatically learns feature representations that are relevant across different operational modes. The algorithm extracts the most informative shared fault features and improves the accuracy of the fault detection model in a new operating mode using the knowledge transferred from previously known modes. The parameters of DAPPCA are estimated using a variational inference approach, and the monitoring statistics are calculated using the proposed model. We demonstrate the efficacy and real-time applicability of the proposed method with simulated and industrial examples.
Shear Wave Elastography of the Sural Nerve in Healthy Subjects: A Pilot Study

The goal of this study is to evaluate the potential ability of shear wave elastography (SWE) to evaluate the sural nerve (SN) in healthy subjects. Methods and Results: Thirty-six SNs were evaluated in 18 healthy adult subjects. Subjects were examined in the prone position with the ankle in the neutral position, and the knees fully extended; a linear transducer was used [L18-4, MHZ] (EPIQ Elite SW 5.0.1, Philips). Nerve conduction studies were performed with the Nihon-Cohden Neuropack device. The mean cross sectional area of the SN at both sides was 4.03±1.16mm2. The mean shear elastic modulus of the right SN in the SA was 24.92±6.08 kPa, while in the LA it was 26.45±5.66 kPa. The mean shear elastic modulus of the left SN in the SA was 24.1±4.1 kPa [range 19-33.13], while in the long axis it was 23.9±4.9 kPa [range 16.4-30.77]. The cross sectional area of the SN correlated positively with height (P<0.05), weight (P<0.001), and body mass index (P<0.01). Conclusion: SWE could play a complementary role in future evaluation of SN pathologies.
Different Airway Inflammatory Phenotypes Correlate with Specific Fungal and Bacterial Microbiota in Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Background Studies of chronic airway inflammatory diseases have increasingly focused on airway microbiota. However, the microbiota characteristics of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with different airway inflammatory phenotypes remain unclear. Objective We aimed to reveal the differences of fungal and bacterial microbiota between eosinophilic asthma (EA) and noneosinophilic asthma (NEA) patients and between eosinophilic COPD (EC) and noneosinophilic COPD (NEC) patients. Further, explore whether similarities exist in the airway microbiota of patients with the same phenotype. Methods Induced sputum samples were collected from 45 asthma subjects and 39 COPD subjects. The airway microbiota of the subjects was profiled by nearly full-length 16S rRNA and internal transcribed space (ITS) sequencing. Results Subjects with eosinophilic phenotype (EA and EC) showed significant differences in both fungal and bacterial microbiota compared to the corresponding subjects with noneosinophilic phenotype (NEA and NEC). In addition, no differences were observed between the fungal microbiota of subjects with the same phenotype (EA vs. EC, NEA vs. NEC). In bacterial microbiota, the greater relative abundance of Streptococcus thermophilus was observed in EA and EC subjects, while Ochrobactrum was enriched in NEA and NEC subjects. In fungal microbiota, the EA and EC subjects showed higher relative abundances of Aspergillus and Bjerkandera, while the NEA and NEC subjects were enriched in Rhodotorula and Papiliotrema. Conclusions Different airway inflammatory phenotypes were related to specific fungal and bacterial microbiota in both asthma and COPD, while the same airway inflammatory phenotype revealed a degree of similarity in airway microbiota, particularly in fungal microbiota.
E-Commerce Logistics Inspection System Based on Artificial Intelligence Technology in the Context of Big Data

With the development of science and technology, the logistics industry has generally introduced information technology, and the construction of intelligent warehouse management is the development trend of the logistics industry. In order to improve the operation efficiency of intelligent warehouse and make full use of freight resources, this paper proposes an intelligent logistics inspection system based on big data. The system takes the platform data of unmanned monitoring points with multiple data sources as the research object and also uses a deep learning-based method for parcel detection and tracking in order to overcome the defects of traditional parcel detection and tracking technology. The role of the system is to obtain the parcel flow data of each unmanned monitoring point and then upload these important data to the scheduling system of the warehouse to realize the intelligent management of the warehouse.
Model for integrated feasibility study system for building project

At the feasibility stage of a building project, many alternatives must be generated to develop the appropriate type of building. The consideration of alternatives is time consuming and costly. In today’s competitive market, the project team are often provoked by the client to reduce the time and cost of feasibility study process. Previous studies also emphasised that feasibility study is fragmented into many tasks. Therefore, the effort must be coordinated because they should be interdependent and focused on a common goal. The client must coordinate the inputs from the fragmented project team into an automated and integrated system to support his decision-making rapidly and in a cost effective manner. Therefore, a set of models to support the integration and automation of the information of feasibility study is to be developed. The objectives of this paper are to present an information model for feasibility study using EXPRESS-G technique and an implementation model using relational model. A prototype known as Feasibility Study Tool, is developed based on the implementation model. The resulting models are derived from interviews from selected Malaysian construction industry players and literature reviews. The scope of models is limited to building projects and the viewpoint of the models is of the client. It is concluded that the models represent the best practice for feasibility study information structure in Malaysia. The overall result of the research provides basic prerequisites for the development of IT systems for feasibility study in Malaysia.
Neglecting the Neglected: Encumbrances to Children’s Successful Transitioning From Orphanages to Adoptive Homes in Nigeria

The majority of children living within institutional care have a history of neglect. Past studies have identified developmental challenges with children in institutional care, for which reasons, orphanages must be transitional. However, placement of some children living in the orphan homes remains difficult. Through an in-depth interview with orphanage managers, social workers, prospective and successful adopters, and foster mothers, the study situates the diverse encumbrances to child placement in observed irregularities within three stages (entry, within the home, and at the exit point) of children’s contact with the orphan homes. The study found that unresolved regulation on the duration for custody of children in orphan homes impedes the placement of children who are merely kept for care and protection. Lack of response to the basic care needs of children within orphan homes poorly influence their chances for adoption, and sometimes disrupt placement processes. Also the legal preference for domestic adoption discourages and sabotages efforts toward inter-country placement of children who are not locally desired. These result into prolonged stay of children in orphan homes, and as such, children outgrow either adoption or fosterage. Child protection policy direction must, therefore, be value-laden, and informed by the unique system/society realities. This study, specifically, makes a case for more political interest in children living in orphan homes.
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices in the construction industry of Sri Lanka

Abstract Construction could be considered an industry that provides a major contribution to the economy, society, and the environment. However, it is often criticised due to its unethical and substandard practices. Thus, effective Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices could be utilised to minimise the adverse effects in the industry and lead to sustainability of the industry. This study focused on identifying various CSR practices prevailing in the Sri Lankan construction industry. A qualitative research approach, with twenty-three semi structured interviews, on a purposive sample, was used to gather data. Grounded theory: transcribing, coding, categorizing, was used for data analysis with five expert group interviews conducted to validate the gathered data. Findings revealed that the activities related to, three categories of CSR activities performing among construction business organisations i.e. business process-related CSR, business environment-related CSR, and philanthropic activities. Despite the industry's focus on philanthropy, it still has the capability to promote the concept of CSR through its various business process-related and business environment-related activities. As the main implication of this research, industry practitioners and stakeholders can apply the identified CSR categories and CSR activities within their core business operations to contribute to sustainable development.
Power Consumption Minimization of Khormoj Compressor Station

Arguably, the natural gas transmission pipeline inf rastructure in Iran represents one of the largest a nd most complex mechanical systems in the world. The optimization of large gas trunk lines known as IGAT results in reduced fuel consumption or higher capability and improves pipeline operation. In the current study, a single-objective optimization was conducted for Khormoj compressor station on the Iranian gas trunk line V (IGAT5). The system consis ts of over 504 kilometers of 56-inch pipeline from South Pars to Aghajari. This system passes thr ough a tortuous terrain with changes in elevation which makes the optimization process even more challenging. Genetic algorithm (GA) was used in this optimization along with detailed models of the performance characteristics of compressors. The results show that in stations having the same compr essor in parallel the minimum power (energy) consumption is reached when split flow in all the c ompressors is the same.
The Effectiveness of the Integrated Care Model among Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Depression: A Quasi-Randomized Controlled Trial

Depression is the second-leading cause of disability among older patients worldwide. This study examined the effectiveness of the Integrated Care Model (ICM) intervention in decreasing depression, suicide ideation, and psychological symptoms and improving life satisfaction among old patients with depression living in communities. The participants were allocated to either the intervention (n = 67) or control group (n = 76) from July 2018 to November 2018. All participants received the usual geriatric care for three months in eastern Taiwan. Additionally, participants in the intervention group were treated according to the ICM, including the assessment and management of health problems, improvements in spiritual and mental wellbeing, helping with activities of daily life and mobility, providing social welfare resources, and prevention of elder abuse. The patients in the experimental group showed significant improvement in the group-by-time effect on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, the Brief Symptom Rating Scale, suicide ideation measures, and the Life Satisfaction Index over 18 weeks. The ICM should be included in routine geriatric care and adopted in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and communities
Investigation of morphology, crystal structure and property of ZnO/poly (methylstyrene-co-chloromethyl styrene) nanocomposite

Abstract A nanocomposite composed of ZnO and poly (methyl styrene-co-chloro methyl styrene) P (MSt-co-CMSt) by in situ polymerization method were prepared successfully. For this purpose, firstly, the zinc oxide surface was treated with 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate (TMSPMA), a silane coupling agent, and following that this functionalization nano-ZnO particle was reacted with PMSt to prepare PMSt-grafted TMSPMA-ZnO. The resulting PMSt-grafted TMSPMA-ZnO was brominated with N-bromosuccinimide and coupled with 1-hydroxy-2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy (TEMPO-OH) to produce an NMRP macroinitiator (PMSt-TEMPO/nano-ZnO). The well-controlled graft polymerization of 4-chloromethyl styrene (CMSt) with macroinitiators were carried out to produce nanoparticles based-ZnO (PMSt-co-PCMSt)/zinc oxide nanocomposite). Properties, crystal structure, and the morphology of (PMSt-co-PCMSt)/zinc oxide nanocomposite was studied using 1H-NMR, FT-IR, XRD, TGA, DSC, TEM, and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The results of FT-IR investigation and observations of TEM images represented clear and strong evidence for the preparation of PMSt and PMSt-co-PCMSt with spherical morphology of ZnO nanoparticles. The synthesized nanocomposites can be utilized a compound to attenuate the UV irradiation in the range of pointed wavelength. Graphical Abstract
Assessing socio-cultural aspects of sustainable urban water systems - the case of Hammarby Sjöstad

The Swedish national research programme Sustainable Urban Water Management aims to analyse and assess the sustainability of urban water systems (UWS) covering a range of perspectives. This paper will concentrate on development of tools to assess organisational and household related aspects, being an area with a particular need of development. Incorporated in our definition of UWS, is the condition that the functioning within the system is critical for sustainability as such and three sub-systems are distinguished: households, organisation and technical structure. A point of departure is that functional fit between the sub-systems needs to be high in order to create sustainable UWS. Organisational capacity, adaptability, motivation, opportunity and ability are used as criteria for comparison of two different technical structures. We can conclude that no straight answer to the question which system to prefer emerge-which is most often the case in reality. The two systems are high on some sub-criteria and low on others. With a combination of internal systems analysis, like this, and impact assessments, it is possible to both increase the quality of the impact assessments and manage to make analysis of organisations and households within their own frames of logic.
An Evaluation of Cultural and Chemical Control Practices to Reduce Slug Damage in No-till Corn

Simple Summary Slugs are the most damaging non-arthropod pest of corn grown in no-tillage systems in the US. The decaying plant residue on the soil surface provides food, shelter and optimum microenvironmental conditions for slug development and survival. In this study, we evaluated several cultural practices to reduce the risk of slug injury and the efficacy of different rates and application patterns of rescue treatments. Corn planted with row cleaner devices to remove surface residue over the seed row and starter fertilizer to enhance seedling growth, together reduced slug activity around emerging plants and provided more favorable conditions for plants to outgrow and tolerate feeding damage. We found that reduced rates of molluscicide baits applied as a directed band over the seed row and broadcasted solutions of urea-based nitrogen applied at night provided effective control as rescue treatments. Practical considerations of these treatments are discussed, as well as changes in weather patterns and current planting practices that have had contrasting effects on slug populations and their potential damage. Abstract Slugs, primarily the gray garden slug, Deroceras reticulatum (Müller), are the most damaging non-arthropod pest of corn grown in conservation tillage systems in the US. These mollusks favor decaying plant residue on the soil surface, which provides food, shelter and optimum microenvironmental conditions for their development and survival. Here, field plot experiments evaluated several cultural and chemical control practices to suppress slug activity and feeding injury during early seedling growth. The use of row cleaners to remove surface residue over the seed row and starter fertilizer applied different ways during planting significantly reduced the percentage and severity of plants damaged by slugs by negatively affecting their activity around emerging seedlings and providing more favorable conditions for plants to outgrow and tolerate feeding injury. As rescue treatments, reduced rates of a 4% molluscicide bait applied as a directed band over the seed row, and broadcasted solutions of urea-based nitrogen applied under calm winds at night provided effective slug control. Practical considerations of these treatments are discussed, as well as changes in weather patterns and current planting practices that have had contrasting effects on slug populations and their potential damage.
Using a Combination of PID Control and Kalman Filter to Design of IoT-based Telepresence Self-balancing Robots during COVID-19 Pandemic

COVID-19 is a very dangerous respiratory disease that can spread quickly through the air. Doctors, nurses, and medical personnel need protective clothing and are very careful in treating COVID-19 patients to avoid getting infected with the COVID-19 virus. Hence, a medical telepresence robot, which resembles a humanoid robot, is necessary to treat COVID-19 patients. The proposed self-balancing COVID-19 medical telepresence robot is a medical robot that handles COVID-19 patients, which resembles a stand-alone humanoid soccer robot with two wheels that can maneuver freely in hospital hallways. The proposed robot design has some control problems; it requires steady body positioning and is subjected to disturbance. A control method that functions to find the stability value such that the system response can reach the set-point is required to control the robot's stability and repel disturbances; this is known as disturbance rejection control. This study aimed to control the robot using a combination of Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) control and a Kalman filter. Mathematical equations were required to obtain a model of the robot's characteristics. The state-space model was derived from the self-balancing robot's mathematical equation. Since a PID control technique was used to keep the robot balanced, this state-space model was converted into a transfer function model. The second Ziegler-Nichols's rule oscillation method was used to tune the PID parameters. The values of the amplifier constants obtained were Kp=31.002, Ki=5.167, and Kd=125.992128. The robot was designed to be able to maintain its balance for more than one hour by using constant tuning, even when an external disturbance is applied to it. Doi: 10.28991/esj-2021-SP1-016 Full Text: PDF
Enhancing navigation using auditory feedback: a case study of a hierarchical information visualization system

Interaction with information systems today mostly consists of a user's unimodal interaction with a text-based or visual information system. However, human-computer interaction studies have illustrated that information can be successfully conveyed through different sensory modalities. This research focuses on the enhancement of the user experience using auditory feedback for the specific case of a 3D-visualized hierarchical information system, by representing some of the structural and navigational cues using nonspeech sounds. It is hypothesized that engaging the auditory modality may aid in navigation tasks, improve users' affective reactions and consequently enhance the overall user experience. The research involves two studies. In the first study, a user-centred semiotic sound design methodology is used, based on a methodology originally used on visually-impaired users. Three panels of end-users are employed to design the required nonspeech sounds. Based on the results of this study, recommendations are made for extending the sound design method to novel interfaces and sighted users. The second study is a controlled experiment that compares user experience with the visualization system and with the auditory-feedback enhanced system. The goal is to evaluate the effect of the auditory feedback on user experience. This effect is measured using a measurement model which draws on concepts derived from three conceptual frameworks, based in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Information Science (IS) and auditory interface studies. A combination of measures is examined, including utilitarian variables such as time taken on hierarchy navigation and information retrieval tasks, and accuracy of the answers. Hedonic variables, which influence the affective reactions, were also examined. These include preference, perceived ease of use, usefulness and ease of learning, and user engagement and satisfaction. We observed that 79% of the participants preferred the audio-visual system to the visual-only system. The audio-visual system was also perceived as easier to use and received higher ratings in terms of aesthetic appeal and perceived usability, which are attributes of user engagement. Furthermore, the audio-visual system was often perceived as being faster and more engaging even though no significant differences were observed in terms of utilitarian variables of task times and accuracy. Findings suggest hedonic variables play an important role in enhancing user experience when interacting with information systems. This research contributes to the field of information science by showcasing that designing multimodal information systems with a focus on the user has the potential to improve user experience. Our findings also provides evidence that utilitarian variables need not be the principle focus of user experience enhancement in information navigation and retrieval tasks, as preference appears to be linked to hedonic variables.