bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Contact tracing: a lesson from the Nipah virus in the time of COVID-19
Authors: Wilson Arun , Warrier Anup , Rathish Balram
Published: June 2020

Without a vaccine or proven therapeutic options in COVID-19, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a combination of measures: rapid diagnosis and immediate isolation of cases; rigorous contact tracing; and precautionary self-isolation of close contacts to curb the spread of COVID-19. During a Nipah outbreak in Kerala, India in 2019, it was confined to a single case. The authors were involved in the in-hospital contact tracing. With a single patient producing a contact list of 98 in a healthcare setting, the implications in a community setting during a pandemic of the scale of COVID-19 are huge but it proves that early and rigorous tracing with quarantining is an effective strategy to limit clusters. We believe that if the public is encouraged to maintain their own contact list on a daily basis, it would help in significantly reducing the time and effort invested into contact tracing in the event of a person contracting COVID-19.
Taking Process-Based Theory Seriously: Could ‘Discrete and Insular Minorities’ Be Protected Under the Australian Constitution?
Authors: Loughland Amelia
Published: June 2020

The High Court is committed to protecting the substantive rights necessary for the effective functioning of the constitutionally entrenched system of representative and responsible government. This is consistent with a ‘representation-reinforcing’ approach to constitutional review as advocated by John Hart Ely in the United States, in which judicial intervention is limited to protecting the ordinary political processes established by the Constitution rather than adjudicating on its outcomes. While the High Court has demonstrated an Elyian commitment to keeping open the channels of political change, it has not engaged with the protection of minority rights or equality concerns more broadly which were a key element of process-based theory. In this article, I argue that the judicial protection of minority rights is a necessary and desirable corollary of the constitutional entrenchment of representative government in the Australian Constitution. I explore how this could arise through either a freestanding guarantee of equality or in a weaker form by inflecting other areas of constitutional practice. Ultimately, I acknowledge that while the High Court’s current interpretive approach may not support a broad protection of equality, its process-based protection of representative government provides an available means to recognise minority rights under the Australian Constitution.
Synthesis and thermal and mechanical properties of nonisocyanate poly(ether urethane) thermoplastic elastomers containing dibutylene terephthalate and poly(tetramethylene ether) segments
Authors: Guoliang Wang , Qian Wang , Jingbo Zhao , Zhiyuan Zhang , Junying Zhang
Published: June 2020

Several novel semiaromatic poly(ether urethane) thermoplastic elastomers were synthesized through a nonisocyanate route. The nonisocyanate thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers (NI-TPUEs) were prepared via a transurethane polycondensation of bis(hydroxyethyl) hexanediurethane with bis(4-hydroxybutyl) terephthalate and poly(tetramethylene glycol)s under a reduced pressure of 3 mmHg at 170°C. The NI-TPUEs were fully characterized. The influence of hard segment (HS) contents on thermal and mechanical properties was studied. Gel permeation chromatography characterization demonstrated that high molecular weight of NI-TPUEs was obtained. Wide-angle X-ray scattering and thermal characterization verified that NI-TPUEs were crystallizable and had a relatively high melting point. Atomic force microscopy exhibited microphase separation between the crystallized HSs and amorphous phases. High content of HSs and flexible poly(tetramethylene ether) soft segments leads to good crystallization, excellent mechanical property, and good resilience of NI-TPUEs.
Is Physical Activity a Buffer? Gendered Racial Microaggressions and Anxiety Among African American Women
Authors: Wright LaTrice N. , Lewis Jioni A.
Published: June 2020

The purpose of this study was to explore the relations between gendered racism (i.e., the simultaneous experience of racism and sexism) and anxiety among African American women. The study also tested the moderating role of physical activity in the link between gendered racism and anxiety. It was hypothesized that a subtle form of gendered racism (i.e., gendered racial microaggressions) would significantly predict anxious arousal. We also hypothesized that physical activity would buffer the relations between gendered racial microaggressions and anxiety. Participants were 249 African American women residing in the United States, who completed an online survey. Results from hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that a greater frequency and stress appraisal of gendered racial microaggressions significantly predicted greater anxious arousal. Results also suggested that physical activity did not buffer the association between gendered racial microaggressions and anxiety. This study has implications for highlighting the importance of exploring variables that might serve to buffer African American women against the stress of gendered racism experienced in their everyday lives.
Resilience, Disaster, and Rebuilding in Modern Port Cities
Authors: Hein Carola , Schubert Dirk
Published: June 2020

Resilience has become a buzzword used to describe the capacity of cities to bounce back after disasters. It carries the hope of a robust and more sustainable future. Disasters can strike any region, but port cities face complex and particular risks due to their location at the intersection of sea and land, and their role in an international maritime system. This introduction to the special section on resilience, disaster and rebuilding in modern port cities first examines resilience as a concept and course of action in a heterogenous theory landscape. It then explores different dimensions of resilience—environmental, economic, institutional, social and spatial—and their importance in port city historiography. The articles collected in this special section explore case studies from three continents. Together, they demonstrate that there is no such thing as the resilient (port) city. But, they also show that the combination of maritime and urban interests can lead to creative planning for resilience, particularly when port and city authorities pursue the same strategies. In view of contemporary challenges, this special section demonstrates the value of further research on port city resilience and vulnerability. The section raises an important question: Is it possible to balance the wide-ranging economic interests of port actors and their view of waters as sites for shipping with those of local actors concerned about water quality and ecosystems?
The Resilience of the Port Cities of Trieste, Rijeka, and Koper
Authors: Ažman Momirski Lucija
Published: June 2020

The port cities of Trieste, Rijeka, and Koper all lie in the northern Adriatic, although in three different countries: Italy, Croatia, and Slovenia. The greatest advantage of this port city region is its geostrategic location: it connects Western Europe with the Danube region, the Balkans, Eastern Europe, and Asia Minor. This location is also the greatest threat to the region’s stability, for countries, cities, and ports are always struggling for political and economic dominance. This article first defines approaches to urban resilience and various forms of capacity and vulnerability. It then identifies the key factors in the three cities’ resilience or lack of it over two thousand years. Finally, it shows how these notions are visible in the more recent past and present of each port city.
A Path to Standardizing Material Evidence Collection in Chinese Criminal Justice
Authors: Zhang Lianhan
Published: June 2020

An analysis of detailed police dossiers and participant interviews in two urban districts reveals that, in the field of criminal justice in China, the process of collection, circulation, and disposal of material evidence has been highly problematic. Even though the process appears to adhere to a legal framework most of the time, its failures can be readily seen in the absence or violation of norms. For example, procedures have routinely been mixed together or invented; the use of warrants has been limited or avoided; the approval process has frequently been circumvented; the management of the criminal property has been slipshod. Exploring the structural contradictions of the evidence collection process and the behavior of police officers and their motivations can help clarify the factors that shape the process as it exists today, the presence or absence of norms that guide evidence collection behavior, and the mechanisms that govern the actual practices of evidence collection. The current dominant approach to reforms in this field is legal transplantation. However, this approach may fail to respond to local practices or may fail to take into account participants’ mentalities. In order to find norms that are suitable for China’s circumstances, future standardization reforms of material evidence collection should take both transplanted experience and actual operations into consideration.
Profiles of Social Engagement and Their Association With Loneliness and Self-Rated Health Among Older Korean Immigrants
Authors: Park Nan Sook , Jang Yuri , Chiriboga David A. , Chung Soondool
Published: June 2020

The purposes of this study were to (1) develop a typology of social engagement in older Korean immigrants in the United States and (2) compare the groups in the typology regarding their level of loneliness and self-rated health. Data were drawn from the Study of Older Korean Americans covering the five geographic locations ( N = 2,149). Using eight criterion variables concerning the type and frequency of activities, latent profile analysis identified a six-group model as the most optimal with the following groups: diverse, active, moderately social, structured, sedentary, and restricted. When the restricted group was used as the reference, the groups that were more socially engaged were found to have lower levels of loneliness. Additionally, being a member of the active or moderately social group was associated with more favorable self-ratings of health. These findings hold implications for understanding the variability of social engagement and how it relates to health and well-being.
Spontaneous Axonal Dystrophy in the Brain and Spinal Cord in Naïve Beagle Dogs
Authors: Pardo Ingrid D. , Otis Diana , Ritenour Hayley N. , Bailey Steven , Masek-Hammerman Katherine , Dowty Heather V. , Bolon Brad , Palazzi Xavier
Published: June 2020

Axonal dystrophy (AD) is a common age-related neurohistological finding in vertebrates that can be congenital or induced by xenobiotics, vitamin E deficiency, or trauma/compression. To understand the incidence and location of AD as a background finding in Beagle dogs used in routine toxicity studies, we examined central nervous system (CNS) and selected peripheral nervous system (PNS) tissues in twenty 18- to 24-month-old and ten 4- to 5-year-old control males and females. Both sexes were equally affected. The cuneate, gracile, and cochlear nuclei and the cerebellar white matter (rostral vermis) were the most common locations for AD. Incidence of AD increased with age in the cuneate nucleus, cerebellar white matter (rostral vermis), trigeminal nuclei/tracts, and lumbar spinal cord. Axonal dystrophy in the CNS was not accompanied by neuronal degeneration/necrosis, nerve fiber degeneration, and/or glial reaction. Axonal dystrophy was not observed in the PNS (sciatic nerve, vagus nerve branches, or gastrointestinal mural autonomic plexuses).
Behavioral Markers of Risky Daily Fantasy Sports Play
Authors: Wiley Rhiannon C. , Tom Matthew A. , Edson Timothy C. , LaPlante Debi A.
Published: June 2020

To understand the natural groups of daily fantasy sports (DFS) players and their associated problematic play, we obtained DFS participation records for 11,130 DFS players from a leading provider. A cluster analysis suggested four player clusters. Cluster 4 included a single highly successful player (i.e., an outlier). Players in Cluster 1 had shorter playing durations than players in Clusters 2 and 3 and picked riskier contests than players in Cluster 3. Players in Cluster 2 picked riskier contests than players in Cluster 3 and had longer playing durations than players in Cluster 1. Players in Cluster 3 experienced greater financial DFS success than others. This suggests that measures of DFS involvement can identify natural DFS player groups with distinct problematic play experiences.
Is an Ounce of Remittance Worth a Pound of Health? The Case of Tajikistan
Authors: Kan Sophia
Published: June 2020

This article investigates the impact of international remittances on health outcomes. While the existing literature finds that remittances increase healthcare expenditure, expenditure alone is an incomplete proxy for health outcomes. Consequently, this article explores the impact of remittances on proxies for health outcomes beyond expenditure and for all household members (adults and children). It uses an instrumental variable approach to control for the endogeneity of remittances and finds a mostly positive relationship between remittances and health outcomes. This article also explores several possible transmission channels for how remittances affect health, finding that remittances have a positive and significant effect on household members’ likelihood of seeking direct medical care. It confirms remittances’ positive role in improving the welfare of the receivers and emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between remittances and other income sources in terms of their effects on development.

JEL Classification:

I15, F22, R23
Crossing the left-right party divide? Understanding the electoral success of the Czech Pirate Party in the 2017 parliamentary elections
Authors: Maškarinec Pavel
Published: June 2020

In the 2017 Czech parliamentary election, the Czech Pirate Party (Pirates) gained 10.79% of the votes – an unprecedented success, compared to most of the pirate parties across Europe. However, as their electoral gain varies widely across the Czech Republic’s territory, this article analyses all (more than 6000) Czech municipalities in the elections of 2010, 2013, and 2017 to explain this variation. Overall, the success of the Pirates was driven especially by obtaining much more support in larger municipalities with younger populations (although not only those aged 18–24 but also older ones), lower unemployment, higher turnout, and lower support for leftist parties. Thus, from a spatial perspective, the patterns of Pirate voting largely resembled long-term spatial support for Czech rightist parties and we can conclude that the Pirates made considerable inroads to regions which had historically been strongholds of the Civic Democratic Party, as the former main party of the right, but also strongholds of minor right-wing (‘liberal centre’) parties of the 1990s and early 2000s. Success of the Pirates thus was based especially on votes from municipalities located in more developed areas, where the Pirates received many more votes than in structurally disadvantaged regions.
How candidate characteristics matter: Candidate profiles, political sophistication, and vote choice
Authors: Coffé Hilde , von Schoultz Åsa
Published: June 2020

Our study examines the influence of various candidate characteristics (sociodemographic profile, competence and experience, issue positions, and party affiliation) on voters’ preference for a candidate, and investigates the impact of voters’ levels of political sophistication on their likelihood of considering various candidate characteristics when deciding whom to support. Using data from the 2015 Finnish National Election Study, this study is situated within the complex Finnish open list system with many candidates at display and mandatory preference voting. We find that voters mostly argue to make their choice based on candidate characteristics with direct politically relevant information such as candidate party affiliation and issue positions. Candidate sociodemographic profile has relatively little stated impact. Overall, voters with higher levels of political sophistication tend to be more likely to consider a broad range of candidate characteristics. When investigating the relative impact of each candidate characteristic (that is, their impact relative to the other candidate characteristics) on voting behaviour, political sophistication increases the likelihood of saying to rely on candidate characteristics that are more demanding in terms of information processing such as competence and experience, and issue positions. Our analyses also show how different measures of political sophistication have distinct effects.
Taking responsibility for entrepreneurship development in South Africa: The role of local municipalities
Authors: Madzivhandila Thanyani S , Musara Mazanai
Published: June 2020

Local economic development policies around the world increasingly emphasise entrepreneurship as a tool to mobilise local and indigenous economic potential. This paper explores the role of local municipalities in entrepreneurship development in South Africa. In particular, it provides a critical review of local economic development strategies and their effect on entrepreneurial development. Special attention is placed on deeply rural municipalities, primarily because of their marginalisation from national development efforts and the acute need for entrepreneurial development to tackle the triple challenges, which are unemployment, poverty and inequality. The paper argues that local municipalities should play a pivotal role in enhancing the development and upliftment of entrepreneurs in their areas of jurisdiction. The paper uses an integrative literature review method in which sources such as academic journal articles, reports and books are analysed, critiqued and synthesised. Lessons are drawn from other developed and developing nations, combined with the observations and thorough review of literature, to develop a framework that can inform South African Local Municipalities in mobilising entrepreneurship development in their communities. The paper concludes that for entrepreneurship development to be strengthened and for local economic development to be accomplished, local municipalities should invest in the development of entrepreneurship within their municipalities.
Industrial dynamics in the context of a region’s international competitiveness
Authors: Varum Celeste , Guimarães Carmen , Oliveira José Martinho , Martins Ana
Published: June 2020

This article attempts to explain the resilience and international competitiveness of a micro-region in Portugal, based on three intertwined levels – firm, industrial structure and region. The study covers the period 2006–2014 and is based upon a rich micro-level dataset of all firms established in Portugal. The findings reveal the dynamics of the industrial base of this region and how its enterprises managed to remain competitive over time, reinventing themselves through innovation and related diversification, conveying knowledge and expertise from incumbent businesses to new ones with higher value added. Proximity between firms played an important role in learning processes, and knowledge creation was promoted by shared knowledge. Competitiveness requires ongoing replacement of resources and rejuvenation of structures and institutions, turning regional capabilities into valuable assets.
Acceptance and commitment therapy for the treatment of depression in persons with physical disability: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Zemestani Mehdi , Mozaffari Sharmin
Published: June 2020

Objective:

To evaluate the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on depressive symptoms in physically disabled persons.

Design:

Randomized controlled trial.

Setting:

State welfare organization in Kamyaran, Kurdistan, Iran.

Participants:

Fifty-two physically disabled participants with a primary diagnosis of depression were randomly assigned to either ACT or control groups.

Interventions:

Participants in the ACT group ( n = 23) received eight weekly 90-minute group sessions based on standard ACT protocol for depression. Participants in the control group ( n = 29) received psychoeducation regarding depression.

Main measures:

Measures were recorded at baseline, eight weeks (end of treatment), and 16 weeks (follow-up). The outcomes were the change in the depressive symptoms, measured by Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), psychological flexibility, emotion regulation, and psychological well-being measured by Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II), Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), and Scales of Psychological Well-Being (SPWB), respectively.

Results:

After eight weeks, significant changes in depressive symptoms was observed in the experimental group (ACT –10.39 ± 0.79 vs control 0.66 ± 0.68, P < 0.001). Compared to the control group, the experimental group also showed significant improvement in psychological flexibility (ACT 8.13 ± 0.52 vs control –0.03 ± 0.51, P < 0.001), adaptive emotion regulation strategies (ACT 10.74 ± 0.62 vs control 0.03 ± 1.03, P < 0.001), and psychological well-being (ACT 66.95 ± 4.01 vs control –1.90 ± 1.04, P < 0.001).

Conclusion:

Compared with control group, ACT significantly reduced the participants’ depression, and changed psychological flexibility, emotion regulation, and psychological well-being in persons with physical disability.
The effects of reduced-gravity on planetary rover mobility
Authors: Niksirat Parna , Daca Adriana , Skonieczny Krzysztof
Published: June 2020

One of the major challenges faced by planetary exploration rovers today is the negotiation of difficult terrain, such as fine granular regolith commonly found on the Moon and Mars. Current testing methods on Earth fail to account for the effect of reduced gravity on the soil itself. This work characterizes the effects of reduced gravity on wheel–soil interactions between an ExoMars rover wheel prototype and a martian soil simulant aboard parabolic flights producing effective martian and lunar gravitational accelerations. These experiments are the first to collect wheel–soil interaction imagery and force/torque sensor data alongside wheel sinkage data. Results from reduced-gravity flights are compared with on-ground experiments with all parameters equal, including wheel load, such that the only difference between the experiments is the effect of gravity on the soil itself. In lunar gravity, a statistically significant average reduction in traction of 20% is observed compared with 1 g, and in martian gravity an average traction reduction of 5–10% is observed. Subsurface soil imaging shows that soil mobilization increases as gravity decreases, suggesting a deterioration in soil strength, which could be the cause of the reduction in traction. Statistically significant increases in wheel sinkage in both martian and lunar gravity provide additional evidence for decreased soil strength. All of these observations (decreased traction, increased soil mobilization, and increased sinkage) hinder a rover’s ability to drive, and should be considered when interpreting results from reduced-load mobility tests conducted on Earth.
Right and left ventricle native T1 mapping in systolic phase in patients with congenital heart disease
Authors: Secchi Francesco , Alì Marco , Monti Caterina B , Greiser Andreas , Pluchinotta Francesca R , Carminati Mario , Sardanelli Francesco
Published: June 2020

Background

T1 mapping is emerging as a powerful tool in cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) to evaluate diffuse fibrosis. However, right ventricular (RV) T1 mapping proves difficult due to the limited wall thickness in diastolic phase. Several studies focused on systolic T1 mapping, albeit only on the left ventricle (LV).

Purpose

To estimate intra- and inter-observer variability of native T1 (nT1) mapping of the RV, and its correlations with biventricular and pulmonary function in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD).

Material and Methods

In this retrospective, observational, cross-sectional study we evaluated 36 patients with CHD, having undergone CMR on a 1.5-T scanner. LV and RV functional evaluations were performed. A native modified look-locker inversion recovery short-axis sequence was acquired in the systolic phase. Intra- and inter-reader reproducibility were reported as complement to 100% of the ratio between coefficient of reproducibility and mean. Spearman ρ and Mann–Whitney U-test were used to compare distributions.

Results

Intra- and inter-reader reproducibility was 84% and 82%, respectively. Median nT1 was 1022 ms (interquartile range [IQR] 1108–972) for the RV and 947 ms (IQR 986–914) for the LV. Median RV–nT1 was 1016 ms (IQR 1090–1016) in patients with EDVI ≤100 mL/m2 and 1100 ms (IQR 1113–1100) in patients with EDVI >100 mL/m2 ( P = 0.049). A significant negative correlation was found between RV ejection fraction and RV–nT1 (ρ = −0.284, P = 0.046).

Conclusion

Systolic RV-nT1 showed a high reproducibility and a negative correlation with RV ejection fraction, potentially reflecting an adaptation of the RV myocardium to pulmonary valve/conduit (dys)-function.
The challenges of livelihoods reconstruction in the context of informal settlement upgrading
Authors: Cherunya Pauline C , Truffer Bernhard , Samuel Edinah Moraa , Lüthi Christoph
Published: June 2020

Community involvement is recognized as a core condition for success in informal settlements upgrading. However, the wider ramifications of this requirement are not well understood. Mostly, community involvement has been equated with a narrow interpretation of participation, largely focusing on the elicitation of dwellers’ preferences at the planning stages. We argue that this approach overlooks the actual needs for livelihoods reconstruction in the course of upgrading. To better conceptualize these requirements, we propose to analyse the time–space configuration of practices, which we frame as constituting Oscillating Domestic Spaces. The concept illustrates the contingent nature of daily activities to meet livelihoods needs and how people navigate these conditions. Challenges associated with reconstructing new domestic spaces are illustrated using the Kenyan Slum Upgrading (Kensup) initiative in Nairobi, Kenya. The findings suggest that an inadequate understanding and consideration of livelihoods reconstruction reduced legitimacy of the initiative, resulted in rapid deterioration of physical amenities and relegated most of the alleged ‘beneficiaries’ deeper into poverty. We suggest that, for successful settlements upgrading, livelihoods reconstruction should be a core process in the planning, implementation and post-implementation stages.
Where we are in fighting against COVID-19
Authors: Wei Xuebin , Wang Mingshu , Kraak Menno-Jan
Published: June 2020

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization announced the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as a pandemic. Despite an increasing number of international attempts using maps to present and communicate COVID-19-related information in different organizations, most map products have only used the presentation function of maps. Against this backdrop, we offer an automatically daily-updated, color-blind-friendly, Tableau-based interactive dashboard to demonstrate where and how different countries are fighting against COVID-19. The dashboard allows users to specify countries they want to compare and aggregate relevant data on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.
Enablers of evidence-based management: Clues from the absorptive capacity literature
Authors: Criado-Perez Christian , Collins Catherine G , Jackson Chris
Published: June 2020

Evidence-based management (EBM) is a framework well-suited to improving decision-making amid the deluge of available information. However, little is known about the enablers of EBM, particularly with regard to organisational-level factors. Drawing on the absorptive capacity (AC) literature, we identify novel multi-level factors that are likely to enable EBM implementation. Specifically, we review the empirical literature on antecedents of AC and use meta-analyses to determine the relationship between these antecedents and AC. Findings highlight organisational-level enablers of EBM including information system capabilities, transformational leadership, available resources and collaboration. Individual-level enablers include prior related knowledge, motivation for learning and employee empowerment. We contribute to the literature by illustrating the importance of organisational-level enablers for EBM, advancing a research agenda on EBM and providing recommendations for practitioners.

JEL Classification: M10
Laboratory Method to Assess Efficacy of Dust Suppressants for Dirt and Gravel Roads
Authors: Stallworth Audrey M. , Chase Eric H. , Burgos William D. , Warner Nathaniel R.
Published: June 2020

Particulate matter (PM) generated from dirt and gravel roads is a concern for both human and environmental health. To help reduce the amount of PM generated, many states allow the use of water coproduced from oil and gas wells (i.e., brines) as road dust suppressants. However, few methods exist to quantify the effectiveness of these brines and other dust suppressants. Here we designed and tested a bench-scale method to test the efficacy of dust suppressants on dirt and gravel road materials. The Standard Proctor test was modified to create discs of road aggregate that could be treated with dust suppressant, dried, and then tumbled in a mechanical drum attached to an aerosol monitor that measured PM generated within the drum. Using two types of road aggregate (DSA and 2RC) and a combination of nine simulated brines, the effects of brine total dissolved solids (TDS), and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) on dust suppression were calculated. The effects of moisture content and aggregate type were also observed. Higher TDS and lower SAR were found to be good predictors of dust-suppression effectiveness, with the degree of effectiveness partially dependent on the type of road aggregate. The test method provides a means to quickly and reproducibly compare effectiveness of dust suppressants, with other variables such as aggregate type and moisture content, to accurately estimate dust suppression. Comparisons of dust measurements collected within the laboratory and vehicle-based measurements offer the ability to relate laboratory results to conditions encountered on dirt and gravel roads.
Safety, Energy, and Emissions Impacts of Adaptive Cruise Control and Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control
Authors: Mahdinia Iman , Arvin Ramin , Khattak Asad J. , Ghiasi Amir
Published: June 2020

Connected and automated vehicle technologies have the potential to significantly improve transportation system performance. In particular, advanced driver-assistance systems, such as adaptive cruise control (ACC) and cooperative adaptive cruise control (CACC), may lead to substantial improvements in performance by decreasing driver inputs and taking over control of the vehicle. However, the impacts of these technologies on the vehicle- and system-level energy consumption, emissions, and safety have not been quantified in field tests. The goal of this paper is to study the impacts of automated and cooperative systems in mixed traffic containing conventional, ACC, and CACC vehicles. To reach this goal, experimental data based on real-world conditions are collected (in tests conducted by the Federal Highway Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation) with presence of ACC, CACC, and conventional vehicles in a vehicle platoon scenario and a cooperative merging scenario. Specifically, a platoon of five vehicles with different vehicle type combinations is analyzed to generate new knowledge about potential safety, energy efficiency, and emission improvement from vehicle automation and cooperation. Results show that adopting the CACC system in a five-vehicle platoon substantially reduces the driving volatility and reduces the risk of rear-end collision which consequently improves safety. Furthermore, it decreases fuel consumption and emissions compared with the ACC system and manually-driven vehicles. Results of the merging scenario show that while the cooperative merging system slightly reduces the driving volatility, the fuel consumption and emissions can increase because of sharper accelerations of CACC vehicles compared with manually-driven vehicles.
Travel Demand and Emissions from Driving Dogs to Dog Parks
Authors: MacKenzie Don , Cho Hyun
Published: June 2020

This paper reports on an intercept survey of dog park visitors in Seattle, U.S., which was combined with Google Maps and Google Popular Times data to develop estimates of the number of walking trips, vehicle miles traveled (VMT), and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with traveling to dog parks. It is estimated that approximately 1.6 million VMT and more than 700 tonnes CO2-equivalent are generated annually by driving dogs to dog parks in Seattle, representing approximately 0.07% of vehicle trips and 0.04% of GHG emissions from cars and light trucks in the city. Based on a stated choice exercise, it is estimated that allowing dogs off-leash in neighborhood parks could reduce these VMT and GHG emissions by 38% and 45%, respectively, while encouraging more than 39,000 additional walking trips annually. Even limiting such use to the hours of 6:00 to 8:00 a.m. would reduce VMT and GHGs by 24% and 28%, respectively, while encouraging 22,000 additional walking trips. Although less than 20% of survey respondents expressed an interest in replacing a trip to the dog park with a visit to a neighborhood park, those who did were likely to replace driving trips to the dog park with walking trips. Thus, allowing dogs off-leash in neighborhood parks, even for limited hours each day, could increase physical activity while reducing the vehicle travel and GHG emissions associated with driving dogs to dog parks.
Person-Based Micro-Simulation Demand Model for National Long-Distance Travel in the U.S.A.
Authors: Zhang Lei , Lu Yijing , Ghader Sepehr , Carrion Carlos , Asadabadi Arash , Yang Di
Published: June 2020

As the nation and various states engage in funding transportation infrastructure improvements to meet future long-distance passenger travel demand, it is imperative to develop effective and practical modeling methods for analysis of long-distance passenger travel. Evaluating national-level infrastructure improvements requires a reliable analysis tool to model the demand for long-distance travel. The national travel demand model presented in this paper implements a person-level tour-based micro-simulation approach for modeling individuals’ long-distance or national activities in the U.S.A. This paper reviews the model framework, explains the model calibration, and presents applications of the model for policy evaluation and demand prediction. The model was estimated using the latest long-distance travel survey in the U.S.A., which is the 1995 American Travel Survey. As the estimation data is old, and no new long-distance travel survey with appropriate sample size is available to re-estimate the model, model calibration is the solution used to update the model and make it capable of capturing up-to-date travel patterns. Calibrating such a large-scale model can be challenging, because each calibration iteration is very costly. This paper describes the calibration effort conducted on the national long-distance micro-simulation model to showcase how a large-scale travel demand model can be calibrated efficiently. A fuel price scenario is analyzed to show how the national travel demand will change under a national fuel price increase scenario in the future year 2040. Another scenario analysis corresponding to construction of high-speed rail (HSR) is conducted to observe the effects of adding a HSR system to the northeast corridor on travel demand from a national perspective.
Monte Carlo Tree Search-Based Mixed Traffic Flow Control Algorithm for Arterial Intersections
Authors: Cheng Yanqiu , Hu Xianbiao , Tang Qing , Qi Hongsheng , Yang Hong
Published: June 2020

A model-free approach is presented, based on the Monte Carlo tree search (MCTS) algorithm, for the control of mixed traffic flow of human-driven vehicles (HDV) and connected and autonomous vehicles (CAV), named MCTS-MTF, on a one-lane roadway with signalized intersection control. Previous research has often simplified the problem with certain assumptions to reduce computational burden, such as dividing a vehicle trajectory into several segments with constant speed or linear acceleration/deceleration, which was rather unrealistic. This study departs from the existing research in that minimum constraints on CAV trajectory control were required, as long as the basic rules such as safety considerations and vehicular performance limits were followed. Modeling efforts were made to improve the algorithm solution quality and the run time efficiency over the naïve MCTS algorithm. This was achieved by an exploration-exploitation balance calibration module, and a tree expansion determination module to expand the tree more effectively along the desired direction. Results of a case study found that the proposed algorithm was able to achieve a travel time saving of 3.5% and a fuel consumption saving of 6.5%. It was also demonstrated to run at eight times the speed of a naïve MCTS model, suggesting a promising potential for real-time or near real-time applications.
Comparison between a Linear Regression and an Artificial Neural Network Model to Detect and Localize Damage in the Powder Mill Bridge
Authors: Kaspar Kathryn , Santini-Bell Erin , Petrik Marek , Sanayei Masoud
Published: June 2020

This paper evaluates the ability of two different data-driven models to detect and localize simulated structural damage in an in-service bridge for long-term structural health monitoring (SHM). Strain gauge data collected over 4 years is used to characterize the undamaged state of the bridge. The Powder Mill Bridge in Barre, Massachusetts, U.S., which has been instrumented with strain gauges since its opening in 2009, is used as a case study, and the strain gauges used in this study are located at 26 different stations throughout the bridge superstructure. A linear regression (LR) model and an artificial neural network (ANN) model are evaluated based on the following criteria: (a) the ability to accurately predict the strain at each location in the undamaged state of the bridge; (b) the ability to detect simulated structural damage to the bridge superstructure; and (c) the ability to localize simulated structural damage. Both the LR and the ANN models were able to predict the strain at the 26 stations with an average error of less than 5%, indicating that both methodologies were effective in characterizing the undamaged state of the bridge. A calibrated finite element model was then used to simulate damage to the Powder Mill Bridge for three damage scenarios: fascia girder corrosion, girder fracture, and deck delamination. The LR model proved to be just as effective as the ANN model at detecting and localizing damage. A recommended protocol is thus presented for integrating data-driven models into bridge asset management systems.
Temporal Analysis of Predictors of Pedestrian Crashes
Authors: Guerra Erick , Dong Xiaoxia , Lin Lufeng , Guo Yue
Published: June 2020

This study investigates the relationship between pedestrian crashes and various socio-demographic, built environment, traffic exposure, and roadway characteristics across different times of day for both weekdays and weekends. Using the street segment as the unit of analysis, multilevel generalized linear mixed models with negative binomial estimators are applied to examine predictors of pedestrian crashes, including those resulting in severe injuries and fatalities, that occurred in Philadelphia, U.S., between 2010 and 2017. It is found that most of the relationships between the predictor variables and pedestrian crashes are consistent throughout the day for both weekdays and weekends. Although traffic volumes and pedestrian trips fluctuate throughout the day, average daily measures of traffic and pedestrian exposure have consistent relationships with pedestrian crashes throughout the day for both weekdays and weekends. Certain roadway characteristics, such as the amount of secondary highways and major arterials, have stronger relationships with pedestrian crashes than others at certain times of day. Results indicate that authorities should pay particular attention to pedestrian safety at night, as well as in lower-income neighborhoods throughout the day when designing interventions to improve the walking environment. Modeling pedestrian crashes by time of day provides additional information that might not be captured by temporally aggregate analyses. Scholars should consider incorporating time of day into future traffic crash analyses.
High School Co-Teaching Partners’ Self-Efficacy, Personal Compatibility, and Active Involvement in Instruction
Authors: Johnson Todd M. , King-Sears Margaret E. , Miller Angela D.
Published: June 2020

High school co-teachers prepare students with and without disabilities to earn content credits for graduation, with instructional effectiveness influenced by multiple factors. In this study, teacher self-efficacy and personal compatibility were examined as potential predictors of active involvement in instruction. The moderating effect of personal compatibility on the relationship between teacher self-efficacy and active involvement in instruction was also examined. One hundred twenty-seven co-teachers of students with learning disabilities and other high-incidence disabilities participated. Active involvement in instruction was significantly higher for general educators than for special educators. Results of Actor–Partner Interdependence Model (APIM) analyses revealed teacher self-efficacy was predictive of active involvement in instruction for general educators but not for special educators. Results of APIM with moderation found personal compatibility did not significantly moderate the relationship between teacher self-efficacy and active involvement in instruction for general or special education co-teachers. Implications for co-teaching practices are provided.
Comfort Among Older Lesbian and Gay People in Disclosing Their Sexual Orientation to Health and Aged Care Services
Authors: Lyons Anthony , Alba Beatrice , Waling Andrea , Minichiello Victor , Hughes Mark , Barrett Catherine , Fredriksen-Goldsen Karen , Edmonds Samantha , Pepping Christopher A.
Published: June 2020

Being comfortable in disclosing one’s sexual orientation to health and aged care providers is important for older lesbian and gay adults, given that nondisclosure is associated with poorer health and well-being outcomes. In a sample of 752 lesbian and gay adults aged 60 years and older living in Australia, we found only 51% of lesbian women and 64% of gay men felt fully comfortable to disclose their sexual orientation to health and aged care service providers. For both the women and the men, those who felt fully comfortable to disclose reported significantly less internalized homophobia; had fewer experiences of discrimination in the past year; and reported greater lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) community connectedness. Feeling fully comfortable was also predicted by fewer experiences of lifetime discrimination among the men. These findings may help those seeking to assist older lesbian and gay people in feeling comfortable and being open with health and aged care service providers.
Special Educators’ Working Conditions, Self-Efficacy, and Practices Use With Students With Emotional/Behavioral Disorders
Authors: Cumming Michelle M. , O’Brien Kristen Merrill , Brunsting Nelson C. , Bettini Elizabeth
Published: June 2020

Students with emotional/behavioral disorders (EBD) in self-contained settings depend on special educators to deliver high-quality instruction and behavior management, and special educators depend on administrators to create supportive working environments. Yet, to date, no studies have examined how working conditions relate to special educators’ provision of effective instructional or behavior management practices for students with EBD in self-contained settings. To fill this crucial gap, we conducted a national survey of 171 special educators serving students with EBD in self-contained settings. Using structural equation modeling, we found special educators who experienced more supportive working conditions (i.e., stronger logistical resources and lower demands) reported more manageable workloads, experienced less emotional exhaustion and stress, felt greater self-efficacy for instruction, and reported using evidence-supported instructional practices more often with their students. Results have implications for future research and practice.
Short Sleep Duration and Extremely Delayed Chronotypes in Uruguayan Youth: The Role of School Start Times and Social Constraints
Authors: Estevan Ignacio , Silva Ana , Vetter Céline , Tassino Bettina
Published: June 2020

During adolescence, biological, psychosocial, and contextual factors converge in a “perfect storm” and have been put forward to explain the delay in chronotype observed at this age and the prevalence of disrupted sleep. This study provides evidence to support that chronotype and sleep patterns (particularly sleep duration) are socially constrained and to identify novel significant social predictors. Uruguayan public school activities are arranged in up to 4 shifts, creating a natural experiment to examine the effect of school timing on questionnaire-based assessments of sleep and chronotype. In this study, 268 high school students (15-18 years old) who attended school either on morning (0730 to 1130 h) or afternoon shifts (1130 h to 1530 h) responded to an adapted School Sleep Habits Survey. Students attending afternoon shifts had later chronotypes (a 1.5-h later midpoint of sleep on free days adjusted for sleep debt) than those attending the morning shift. Besides shift, evening social activities (including dinner time) were further identified as key predictors of late chronotypes, whereas age and gender were not. Sleep on school days was overall advanced and reduced with respect to weekends, and these effects were stronger in morning-shift students. Weekend sleep duration was similar between shifts, which probably caused the prevalence of reduced sleep durations (average weekly sleep duration, SDweek <8 h) to be higher in morning-shift students (almost 80%) than in afternoon-shift ones (34%). Reduced sleep duration was significantly higher in morning-shift students. In addition, age, chronotype, and dinner time became relevant determinants of sleep deficit only in the morning-shift students. Besides the important social constraint of early school start time, this is the first study to confirm the significance of other types of social pressures on both adolescents’ chronotype and sleep deficit, which can be useful as potential new targets for effective policies to protect adolescent sleep.