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Pedestrian-aware supervisory control system interactive optimization of connected hybrid electric vehicles via fuzzy adaptive cost map and bees algorithm
No full textElectrified vehicles are increasingly being seen as a means of mitigating the pressing concerns of traffic-related pollution. Due to the nature of engine-assisted vehicle exhaust systems, pedestrians in close proximity to these vehicles may experience events where specific emission concentrations are high enough to cause health effects. To minimize pedestrians’ exposure
to vehicle emissions and pollutants nearby, we present a pedestrian-aware supervisory control system for connected hybrid electric vehicles by proposing an interactive optimization methodology. This optimization methodology combines a novel fuzzy adaptive cost map and the Bees Algorithm to optimize power-split control parameters. It enables the self-regulation of inter-objective weights of fuel and exhaust emissions based on the real-time pedestrian density information during the optimization process. The evaluation of the vehicle performance by using the proposed methodology is conducted on the realistic trip map involving pedestrian density information collected from the University College Dublin campus. Moreover, two bootstrap sampling techniques and effect of communication quality are both investigated in order to examine the robustness of the improved vehicle system. The results demonstrate that 14.42% mass of exhaust emissions can be reduced for the involved pedestrians, by using the developed fuzzy adaptive cost map
A practice-based exploration of mask/clown and the development of a new pedagogy
No full textThis thesis explores the development of a creative pedagogy through mask and clown
and the possibilities that these methods could present in the education of practitioners
across other performance-related disciplines.
In order to undertake this inquiry, the research was focused on my personal
experience as a mask and clown performer. This thesis document is an active
interrogation of my practice by using an auto-ethnographic approach relating to
practice and creative process within the context of devising and teaching. Throughout
the thesis, I further reflect on my own solo work and collaborative work through
workshops, experiments and performances.
During the process of engaging with this research, a number of new findings and
methods have emerged. This new knowledge base has been developed and
established upon the existing concepts of play, complicité, embodiment and kinetic
empathy. These emergent methods have subsequently been compiled to create a
robust framework for a new creative pedagogy.
The new methodology, which informs this thesis, follows a structured learning
programme through mask and clowning principles incorporating the neutral mask, the
equivocal mask, the four temperaments’ masks and character masks, which are then
interspersed with the application of a red nose.
However, the focus of this pedagogy is not on teaching mask and clown as
disciplines, but on how to incorporate elements of mask and clown into a student’s
existing knowledge base. This pedagogy has been developed to teach, support and
mentor students by providing them with the necessary skills to create audience-engaged performances, which are rooted in play, complicité and empathy
Biophotonics box: educational kit for multidisciplinary outreach activities in optics and photonics
No full textThe biophotonics box enables multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary and self-paced learning with at-home experiments using low-resource components. Experiments can increase the interest of students in STEM subjects by emphasizing the real-life applications in biology and medicine
Creating Resilient Futures - Integrating Disaster Risk Reduction, Sustainable Development Goals and Climate Change Adaptation Agendas
No full textExamines a coherence building opportunity between Climate Change Adaptation, the Sustainable Development Goals and Disaster Risk Reduction agendas. Considers opportunities to address global challenges in the context of developing resilience as an integrated development continuum instead of through independent and siloed agendas
What\u27s love got to do with it? Women, the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood and organizational identity
No full textThe article suggests that the gender politics advanced by the young female members of the
Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood in the family sphere after the 2013 military-led coup challenges the
movement’s ability to re-emerge from repression based on traditional patriarchal values and principles. A
patriarchal division of labour, epitomized in women’s position in the family, sustains the Brotherhood in times
of repression and in its absence. The research shows that the circumstances of repression against the
movement have caused women to reconsider the Brotherhood’s patriarchal structures, with potential
consequences for the organization. The article does so by analysing women’s articulations of their role in the
family and in marriage relationships. Using love as an analytical lens, the article argues that women’s
demand for love in marriage suggest their desire to commit the Brotherhood to attending women’s needs,
desires and aspirations
Particle Migration and Clogging in Porous Media: A Convergent Flow Microfluidics Study
No full textThe migration and retention of fine particles in porous media are important phenomena in natural processes and engineering applications. Migrating particles experience physicochemical interactions with carrier fluids, pore walls, and other migrating particles. The governing dimensionless ratios capture particle-level forces, flow conditions, and geometric characteristics. This study explores micron-size particle migration and retention in microfluidic chips during convergent radial flow, which is the prevalent flow condition in water extraction and oil production. Pore-scale observations reveal the role of electrostatic interactions on clogging mechanisms: Glass particles experience retardation-accumulation bridging, while quasi-buoyant latex particles involve capture and clogging. Consequently, flow rates exert opposite effects on the clogging behavior of inertial glass particles versus electrostatically affected latex particles. Migrating particles experience a varying fluid velocity field in convergent radial flow, and clogging reflects the evolving local conditions (Nad, Ar, Stk, and Re). In particular, clogged pores alter local flow and promote further clogging nearby. Pore network model simulations suggest that such “dependent clogging” lowers the permeability of the porous medium more effectively than independent clogging at random locations.KAUST endowmen
Human resources analytics: A legitimacy process
No full textTaking a grounded theory approach, this paper explores human resources (HR) Analytics legitimacy in three organisations over a period of 3 years. The research aims to investigate (i) how the HR Analytics legitimacy process presents and develops and (ii) what decisions, activities, and events can shape the legitimacy of HR Analytics in organisations. We draw on institutional theory and industry creation literatures to understand what constitutes HR Analytics legitimacy through a three-dimensional perspective: cognitive, socio-political, and technological. A process theory lens as an analytical tool allowed for the mapping of the institutional process in order to isolate key individual decisions, activities, and events over time. Three related, non-linear sub-processes of HR Analytics legitimation are identified, namely, HR Analytics as a strategic commitment, the HR data infrastructure decision, and the focus of HR Analytics projects in addition to a number of delaying, enabling, and accelerating elements that influence this process
Depression and anxiety in malaysian population during third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic
No full textIntroduction: The outbreak of coronavirus posits deleterious consequences on global healthcare system while affecting human life in every aspect. Despite several measures undertaken to limit the socio-economic effect of coronavirus, various challenges remain pervasive, and one such challenge is mental health, particularly depression and anxiety. Therefore, this study examines the prevalence and determinants of depression and
anxiety in Malaysian population during third wave of COVID-19. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was carried out via social media platforms and 1544 Malaysians were selected. The level of depression was assessed by Patient Health Questionnaires (PHQ-9) and scored accordingly for categorization. Zung’s Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) was used as a self-assessment survey to quantify the level of anxiety of persons experiencing anxiety-related symptoms. Percentage distribution and logistic regression analysis were used in the data analysis. Results: Results showed that one-fourth (25.1%) of the participants had severe depressive symptoms. Almost one sixth (18.7%) had mild depressive symptoms and one-third (34.1%) had mild to moderate anxiety symptoms.
Age, gender, and friends infected with virus were the three important predictors of depression and anxiety. The odds of having depression (OR = 1.44; C⋅I. = 1.32–1.62) and anxiety (OR = 1.36; C⋅I. = 1.27–1.47) were significantly higher among females than in males. Conclusion: A significant proportion of the study participants were facing mild to severe depression and anxiety symptoms which is very alarming as the pandemic is still now increasing across the country. Immediate interventions including community counselling programmes, TV and social media campaigns are urgently needed to reduce the psychological stress among the Malaysian population
Effect of soil microorganisms and labile C availability on soil respiration in response to litter inputs in forest ecosystems: A meta‐analysis
No full textLitter inputs can influence soil respiration directly through labile C availability and, indirectly, through the activity of soil microorganisms and modifications in soil microclimate; however, their relative contributions and the magnitude of any effect remain poorly understood. We synthesized 66 recently published papers on forest ecosystems using a meta‐analysis approach to investigate the effect of litter inputs on soil respiration and the underlying mechanisms involved. Our results showed that litter inputs had a strong positive impact on soil respiration, labile C availability, and the abundance of soil microorganisms, with less of an impact related to soil moisture and temperature. Overall, soil respiration was increased by 36% and 55%, respectively, in response to natural and doubled litter inputs. The increase in soil respiration induced by litter inputs showed a tendency for coniferous forests (50.7%)> broad‐leaved forests (41.3%)> mixed forests (31.9%). This stimulation effect also depended on stand age with 30‐ to 100‐year‐old forests (53.3%) and ≥100‐year‐old forests (50.2%) both 1.5 times larger than ≤30‐year‐old forests (34.5%). Soil microbial biomass carbon and soil dissolved organic carbon increased by 21.0%‐33.6% and 60.3%‐87.7%, respectively, in response to natural and doubled litter inputs, while soil respiration increased linearly with corresponding increases in soil microbial biomass carbon and soil dissolved organic carbon. Natural and doubled litter inputs increased the total phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) content by 6.6% and 19.7%, respectively, but decreased the fungal/bacterial PLFA ratio by 26.9% and 18.7%, respectively. Soil respiration also increased linearly with increases in total PLFA and decreased linearly with decreases in the fungal/bacterial PLFA ratio. The contribution of litter inputs to an increase in soil respiration showed a trend of total PLFA > fungal/bacterial PLFA ratio > soil dissolved organic carbon > soil microbial biomass carbon. Therefore, in addition to forest type and stand age, labile C availability and soil microorganisms are also important factors that influence soil respiration in response to litter inputs, with soil microorganisms being more important than labile C availability.National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaSpecial Project on Hi‐Tech Innovation CapacityExcellent Youth Scholars Program from Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry SciencesScientific and Technological Plan Projects in Shaanxi ProvinceThe Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Environmental Microbiome and ApplicationDoctoral Research Project of Baoji University of Arts and Science
No effect of warming and watering on soil nitrous oxide fluxes in a temperate sitka spruce forest ecosystem
No full textSoil fluxes of nitrous oxide (N2O) play an important role in the global greenhouse gas budget. However, the response of soil N2O emissions to climate change in temperate forest plantations is not yet well understood. In this study, we assessed the responses of soil N2O fluxes to experimental warming with or without water addition, using a replicated in situ heating (~2°C above ambient) and water addition (170 mm) experiment in a temperate Sitka spruce plantation forest over the period 2014–2016. We found that seasonal fluxes of N2O during the year were highly variable, ranging from net uptake to net emissions. Seasonal variations in soil N2O fluxes were not correlated with either soil temperature or soil moisture. In addition, none of the individual warming/watering treatments, or their interactions, had significant effects on soil N2O fluxes and N-related soil properties. Overall, our results suggest that despite future increases in temperature, soil N2O emission may remain largely unchanged in many temperate forest ecosystems that are often N-limited.University College DublinChina Scholarship Counci