17179 research outputs found
Sort by
Artificial Intelligence and Spatial Modeling to Estimate Traffic Volume Measures on Local Roadways
No full textThis study explores the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and spatial modeling techniques to estimate Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) on local roadways, which are often data-scarce yet crucial for transportation planning and infrastructure development. Traditional traffic monitoring methods, such as permanent traffic count stations and short-term manual counts, are cost-prohibitive and fail to capture the variability and complexity of traffic flow on low-volume roads. To address this gap, the research develops and compares two modeling frameworks: a non-spatial Random Forest (RF) model and an enhanced spatial RF model. Using the comprehensive Statewide Traffic Monitoring Program (STMP) and Smart Location Database (SLD) dataset from Texas that incorporates socioeconomic, land use, environmental, and transportation accessibility variables, the study applies advanced machine learning methods to capture nonlinear relationships and interaction effects. The spatial RF model, augmented with geospatial diagnostics and cross-validation, demonstrates superior predictive performance over both the non-spatial RF and conventional Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) models. Key predictors influencing traffic volume include regional centrality, transit ridership, and employment-residential balance. The results reveal complex, context-dependent relationships, emphasizing the importance of spatial heterogeneity and urban form in shaping traffic demand. The findings contribute valuable insights to data-driven traffic estimation on local roads, with practical implications for sustainable transportation planning, emission control, and equitable infrastructure investments. The study concludes by identifying model limitations and proposing future directions for improving the integration of dynamic temporal data and enhancing the interpretability of AI-based traffic models.Engineerin
AI Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) System with Engineering Document Information Extraction for Employee Development
No full textThis paper explores the implementation of AI large language model (LLM) support systems that utilize retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) to enhance employee effectiveness in trouble-shooting on a manufacturing production line. The RAG-augmented LLM tool is designed to ex-tract relevant data from proprietary engineering documents, including engineering specifications, product engineering documents, troubleshooting tool manuals, and manufacturing logging data, and convey this information in a comprehensible format for troubleshooting purposes. The antici-pated effects of training with the tool include improvements in employee technical communica-tion, product and process technical literacy, and the timeliness and accuracy of investigations. Increasing the performance of technical employees helps businesses meet customer deadlines and quality expectations and decreases the need for expert support. The advantage of this system over a collection of documents and data is that anyone can use it without extensive familiarity with the engineering documents, allowing a wider range of employees to learn to navigate them and raise alarms about potential systemic issues.Engineerin
Queer-Free or Queer-Friendly? Exploring Faculty's Classroom LGBTQ+ Belonging Practices by Subject
No full textA sense of belonging in higher education is related to increased student success, including emotional well-being, retention rates, and academic achievement. Researchers have identified that LGBTQIA+ college students self-select out of certain disciplines that they perceive to be less welcoming. This self-selection extends beyond academia, where LGBTQ+ students and other marginalized groups learn to adapt to perceived and expected discrimination by limiting themselves to careers that are known to be inclusive. Using a mixed-methods survey methodology, this research sought to further understand the differences in classroom belonging practices across college majors through the perspective of faculty by asking the following questions: 1) Do faculty members’ content-based and behavioral classroom practices relating to developing belonging for LGBTQIA+ students differ based on the subject being taught? 2) Do faculty perceive that gender identity and sexual orientation are less relevant in certain disciplines? The quantitative analyses indicated that subjects identified as chilly environments for LGBTQIA+ students in prior literature use fewer behavioral and content-based classroom practices that promote LGBTQIA+ belonging than the warm and neutral subject groups. The qualitative analyses identified three major themes and ten subthemes, revealing the rationales of faculty regarding the relevancy of gender and sexual identities to their subjects. Recommendations for future research and professional development are presented.Sociolog
Quantitative Analysis of a Polymicrobial Population from the International Space Station
No full textThe success of prolonged human space travel depends on critical life support systems. Onboard the International Space Station (ISS) the clean water supply is maintained by recycling urine, shower runoff, and humidity condensate through the Water Recovery System (WRS). The WRS provides potable water for both consumption and for use in the Oxygen Generator Assembly (OGA). A resident mixed-species bacterial population has persisted in the WRS despite various microbial control methods. The bacteria identified grow together in mixed-species communities and have a propensity to form biofilms, which can alter microbial virulence and susceptibility to antimicrobial substances. In addition to maintaining astronaut health, these polymicrobial communities should be monitored for their role in malfunctioning spacecraft equipment such as surface corrosion and clogging of WRS filtration units. Currently, microbial monitoring on the ISS requires samples to be collected and sent back to Earth for processing. This is costly, time consuming, and has many limitations as several months can elapse between sampling and microbial identification. Onboard molecular testing providing microbial information in 1-2 hours, could be used to mitigate illness and damage to critical life support systems caused by opportunistic microorganisms. This study developed and validated a multiplex quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) method to identify and quantify members of a five species model biofilm community acquired from the ISS. This qPCR protocol will assist in the rapid identification and monitoring of these polymicrobial communities and can aid in the timely and optimized treatment of life support systems to reduce incidents of disease or damage in the future.Biolog
Barriers to Accessing Cleft Care in Latin America
No full textApproximately 1 in 700 to 1 in 1,000 babies are born with a cleft lip/palate worldwide. Existing research shows a higher prevalence of cleft conditions among those of Asian, Native American, and Hispanic descent. Access to cleft care services is important for children to meet their nutritional needs, ensure appropriate speech & language development, and to reach developmental milestones. In the United States, a comprehensive cleft care team usually consists of craniofacial surgeons, orthodontists, dentists, speech-language pathologists, otolaryngologists, geneticists, psychologists, and social workers. A holistic, multidisciplinary approach to care goes beyond surgery and includes family support, nutrition and feeding, speech therapy, psychosocial support, and genetic counseling. In Latin America, patients and families often face barriers to accessing and receiving these components of comprehensive cleft care. This study identifies the most common obstacles to receiving comprehensive cleft care in Latin America, along with the factors that influence treatment quality and accessibility. Though there is limited research on this subject, this study seeks to add firsthand experiences of speech-language pathologists regarding perceived barriers of access to cleft care based on their participation in a medical mission trip. The results of existing research show that the most reported barriers to care include finances and expenses, geography, and an overall lack of awareness of available resources, while the speech language pathologists interviewed in this study identified safety as a barrier they personally observed. Cleft palate surgery is costly, and children may receive up to 10 surgeries depending on the type and severity of the condition (McIntyre et al., 2016). While many medical mission organizations seek to remove financial barriers by providing free or low-cost surgeries to families, the costs of transportation, lodging, and other services in addition to perceived safety must be considered.Communication Disorder
The Positive Impacts of Consistency and Decreased Screen Time on Sleep and Health - An Observational Case Study
No full textSleep is a crucial factor in our health, and research has shown that poor sleep quality negatively impacts our overall well-being. The purpose of the current study is to investigate the impact of changing two health behaviors—reducing screen time and setting a consistent sleep schedule— on sleep quality and overall well-being. To do this, a sleep journal will be used to collect personal data on sleep habits, barriers, facilitators, and any biopsychosocial factors that hindered/helped the change in behavior. In this observational case study, the health belief model will be followed, which is a health behavior change theory that states that perceived consequences, ease, and effectiveness determine a person's ability to change health behaviors. The effectiveness of this model and its ability to predict change will be critiqued based on the results/experiences of the study.Psycholog
Enhancing Urban Energy Sustainability through PCM-Integrated Mortar Infrastructure
No full textThe escalating energy demand to regulate urban temperature is emerging as a pressing environmental issue. As societies strive for comfort and climate control, the environmental impact of excessive energy use cannot be overlooked. To mitigate this situation, this research aims to design novel mortar mixtures to regulate heat in urban spaces affected by temperature fluctuations, thereby enhancing urban energy sustainability using Phase-Change Material (PCM) and recycled crushed glass with low thermal conductivity. This study also aims to clarify contradictory findings about the impact of glass on the mechanical properties of mortar. While some studies suggest that incorporating glass improves the strength of mortar, other studies concluded strength reduction. Furthermore, by substituting natural sand with recycled glass, this study also addresses the importance of preserving natural resources. Initially, thermal efficiency and mechanical strength have been measured after fabricating mortar mixtures with partial mass replacements of sand with PCM (e.g., 2%, 4%, 6%, and 10%) and with recycled crushed glass (e.g., 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%). Since 6% PCM replacement showed a strength level within the target limit (i.e., 12-17 Mpa) of any practical application, the amount of PCM replacement has been extended to 10% to evaluate both the maximum thermal benefit and the most critical strength reduction of PCM-modified mortars. Thereafter, combined mortar mixtures have been prepared based on preliminary results obtained with varying levels of PCM (e.g., 2%, 4%, and 6%) and glass (e.g., 5%, 10%, and 15%). All samples (e.g., PCM mortar, Glass mortar, and Glass-PCM mortar) were tested for workability, density, air content, compressive and flexural strength, thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity, surface resistivity, and water absorption. The optimized mix, P6G15 (i.e., 6% PCM and 15% Glass), demonstrated the best combined thermos-mechanical performance. It achieved a compressive strength of 29.8 Mpa. In terms of thermal conductivity there is a reduction of ~ 40% (0.6 w/mK), ~ 60% improvement in resistance and ~ 58% improvement in heat storage capacity than the control mix. The durability properties tests indicated higher surface resistivity (25.2 kΩ·cm), and reduction in void content (8.1%) with lower water absorption (3.3%). P4G15 also exhibited a well-balanced enhancement in both mechanical strength and thermal performance. It achieved a compressive strength of 35.2 MPa, which is higher than the optimized mix (P6G15). Thermally, it showed ~ 30% reduction in conductivity, ~ 40% improvement in resistance and ~ 54% improvement in heat storage capacity than the control mix. The durability properties also showed 11% improvement in surface resistivity than the control mix. These findings show that the synergistic use of PCM and recycled glass not only improves the thermal and mechanical stability of mortar but also contributes to the sustainability of construction materials.Engineering Technolog
A Quantitative Analysis of Religious Attitudes Towards Suicide
No full textSuicide remains a deeply stigmatized issue, with religious beliefs playing a critical role in shaping attitudes toward its moral acceptability. This study examines how religious commitment, fundamentalist views, and religious affiliation influence individuals' perspectives on suicide across different contexts. Using data from the 2018 General Social Survey (GSS), this research employs binary logistic regression to analyze the relationship between religiosity and attitudes toward suicide in four scenarios: incurable disease, financial bankruptcy, family dishonor, and being tired of living. Findings indicate that religious commitment is consistently associated with stronger opposition to suicide, particularly in cases of incurable illness. Fundamentalist beliefs, assessed through opposition to anti-religious speech, books, and teaching, also correlate with greater disapproval of suicide across all models. Additionally, Catholics exhibit significantly stronger opposition to suicide compared to Protestants and individuals with no religious affiliation, supporting Durkheim’s theory of religious integration. Education level, however, is positively associated with approval of suicide, suggesting that exposure to diverse perspectives may influence moral attitudes. The study highlights the broader sociological impact of religiosity on moral decision-making and reinforces the role of religious teachings in shaping attitudes toward life and death. By integrating Durkheim’s theory of social integration and social learning theory, this research provides a comprehensive understanding of how religious beliefs contribute to both protective and restrictive views on suicide. These findings have implications for mental health professionals, religious leaders, and policymakers seeking to address suicide prevention within diverse communities.Sociolog
Discovery of novel vaccines/therapeutics against dengue virus
No full textNo abstract prepared.Medical Laboratory Scienc
Barriers to Trust Between Police and Disadvantaged Communities: A Comparative Analysis of Officers' and Residents' Perspectives in San Antonio, Texas
No full textTrust between police officers and residents of disadvantaged communities remains a critical issue in contemporary policing. This study explores the barriers preventing trust between law enforcement officers and residents in San Antonio, Texas, using a qualitative comparative analysis of semi-structured interviews with 18 participants, including eight law enforcement officers and 10 residents from disadvantaged communities. The findings indicate that officers perceive public distrust as driven largely by negative media portrayals, lack of public understanding of police work, and community reluctance to cooperate, whereas residents attribute distrust to personal and historical experiences, inconsistent police presence, a lack of accountability, and procedural justice failures. Applying Procedural Justice Theory and Social Capital Theory, this study finds that procedural justice failures degrade police-community relations, while weak bridging and strong bonding social capital perpetuate cycles of mistrust. Despite differences in perspectives, both groups recognize the need for enhanced community policing strategies including positive interactions not related to law enforcement. This research contributes to sociological literature by emphasizing the reciprocal nature of trust and the necessity of structural reforms to address officer and resident concerns. Policy recommendations include independent oversight mechanisms, expanded community engagement programs, and targeted training to strengthen procedural justice. Future research should examine residents’ intergenerational transmission of police distrust and the impact of policing on officer mental health.Sociolog