An Empirical Study on the Segmentation of Potential Users of Shared Parking Spaces considering Individual Heterogeneity

Shared parking has become the most effective way to utilize existing parking resources. Little attention has been focused on drivers’ intention to use shared parking spaces in residential areas considering individual heterogeneity. To fill this gap, this paper explores the influencing factors and mechanism of shared parking use intention (SPUI) and further studies the preferences for the shared parking of different types of drivers. Firstly, based on the extended unified theory of acceptance and use of technology that includes psychological factors, personal attributes, and travel characteristics, the multiple indicator multiple cause (MIMIC) model was employed for parameter estimation and model assessment. Secondly, using MIMIC’s output results as input variables, the segmentation method of the latent class model (LCM) was adopted to explore drivers’ preferences regarding SPUI. Finally, a quantitative study was carried out through questionnaire data. The empirical results show that: (a) the extended unified theory of acceptance and use of technology has good explanatory power for SPUI. SPUI is directly affected by perceived risk (PR), behavioral habit (BH), social influence (SI), facilitating conditions (FCs), and effort expectancy (EE), while performance expectancy (PE) have no significant effect on SPUI. In addition, some factors of personal attributes and travel characteristics affect SPUI through psychological factors. (b) According to individual heterogeneity, the surveyed driver groups are divided into four segments: sensitive type (36%), conservative type (29.6%), neutral type (24.5%), and approved type (9.9%), respectively. There are significant differences in psychological observation variables such as EE, PE, FC, and SI among the four segments of drivers. According to the influence mechanism of psychological factors and preferences analysis of different types of drivers, the shared parking promotion strategy can be formulated from the aspects of management, operation, and technology.

Conservation Laws -- a Source for Distortionless Propagation and Time Delays

Since the very first paper of J. Bernoulli in 1728, a connection exists between initial boundary value problems for hyperbolic Partial Differential Equations (PDE) in the plane (with a single space coordinate accounting for wave propagation) and some associated Functional Equations (FE). From the point of view of dynamics and control (to be specific, of dynamics for control) both type of equations generate dynamical and controlled dynamical systems. The functional equations may be difference equations (in continuous time), delay-differential (mostly of neutral type) or even integral/integro-differential. It is possible to discuss dynamics and control either for PDE or FE since both may be viewed as self contained mathematical objects. A more recent topic is control of systems displaying conservation laws. Conservation laws are described by nonlinear hyperbolic PDE belonging to the class ``lossless'' (conservative); their dynamics and control theory is well served by the associated energy integral. It is however not without interest to discuss association of some FE. Lossless implies usually distortionless propagation hence one would expect here also lumped time delays. The paper contains some illustrating applications from various fields: nuclear reactors with circulating fuel, canal flows control, overhead crane, drilling devices, without forgetting the standard classical example of the nonhomogeneous transmission lines for distortionless and lossless propagation. Specific features of the control models are discussed in connection with the control approach wherever it applies.

COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF A NEW FLAX VARIETY "CHANCE" OF THE PSKOV SELECTION ACCORDING TO THE MAIN ECONOMICALLY VALUABLE CHARACTERISTICS

Целью исследований являлась комплексная оценка нового сорта льна-долгунца Шанс по основным хозяйственно ценным признакам и параметрам адаптивности в условиях Северо-Западного региона на основе конкурсного сортоиспытания, проводимого в 2016-2018 годах и производственной проверки в 2019 году. ГТК за период вегетации был равен 1,98 в 2016 г., в 2017 г. – 1,60 и в 2018 г. – 0,95. Как показали расчеты индекса среды, наиболее благоприятные условия для роста и развития льна-долгунца сложились в 2017 г. (Ij = +3,98), и худшие – в 2018 г. (Ij = -3,68). Сорт Шанс раннеспелый (период вегетации 71-85 дней), высокорослый (82-88 см), относительно устойчив к фузариозу (89-94%) и полеганию (4-5 баллов), отличается высоким содержанием волокна в соломе (всего 36,0-36,5%, в том числе длинного 27,3-28,1%). По содержанию всего волокна он превышал стандарт на 2,4% (абс.), а длинного – на 0,8% (абс.) В среднем за годы исследований урожайность льносоломы составила 52,1 ц/га, семян 6,0 ц/га, что незначительно превышало стандарт соответственно на 3,6 и 7,1%. По урожайности всего льноволокна (18,9 ц/га) он достоверно превысил стандарт на 1,9 ц/га при НСР0,95 или на 10,4%. По прочности волокна, которая измеряется по разрывной нагрузке, сорт Шанс в среднем за 2 года имел равный стандарту Восход показатель (10,5 кгс), а по гибкости превосходил последнего на 2,5 мм (50,5 мм). Сорт Шанс в сравнении со стандартом в большей степени адаптирован к условиям внешней среды. Он характеризуется более низкой вариабельностью урожайности волокна по годам исследований (Cv – 4,75%), более высокой стрессоустойчивостью (-5,3) и генетической гибкостью. Сорт Шанс пластичный (bi – 0,91), относится к сортам нейтрального типа, которые слабо отзываются на улучшение условий среды, но более эффективны на более низких агрофонах и в зонах рискованного земледелия, к которым относится и Псковская область. В производственных условиях урожайность льноволокна у нового сорта составила 22,5 ц/га, что на 2,0 ц или 12,1% больше стандарта (НСР0,95 – 0,92 ц/га). В настоящее время сорт находится в государственном сортоиспытании. The purpose of the research was a comprehensive assessment of a new variety of flax «Chance» according to the main economically valuable characteristics and adaptability parameters in the conditions of the North-Western region on the basis of a competitive variety testing conducted in 2016-2018 and a production inspection in 2019. The SCC for the growing season was equal to 1.98 in 2016, 1.60 in 2017 and 0.95 in 2018. As the calculations of the environment index showed, the most favorable conditions for the growth and development of flax were formed in 2017 (Ij = +3.98), and the worst-in 2018 (Ij = -3.68). The «Chance» variety is early-maturing (the growing season is 71-85 days), tall (82-88 cm), relatively resistant to fusarium (89-94%) and lodging (4-5 points), has a high fiber content in straw (only 36.0-36.5%, including 27.3- 28.1% long). In terms of the content of the entire fiber, it exceeded the standard by 2.4% (abs.), and the long fiber -by 0.8% (abs.). On average, over the years of research, the yield of flax straw was 52.1 c/ha, seeds 6.0 c/ha, which slightly exceeded the standard by 3.6 and 7.1%, respectively. In terms of the yield of all flax fiber (18.9 c/ha), it significantly exceeded the standard by 1.9 c/ha at NSR0.95 or by 10.4%. According to the strength of the fiber, which is measured by the breaking load, the «Chance» grade on average for 2 years had an indicator equal to the standard of the Sunrise (10.5 kgf), and in terms of flexibility it exceeded the latter by 2.5 mm (50.5 mm). The «Chance» variety is more adapted to the environmental conditions in comparison with the standard. It is characterized by a lower variability of fiber yield over the years of research (Cv-4.75), higher stress resistance (-5.3) and genetic flexibility. The plastic «Chance» variety (bi – 0.91) belongs to neutral-type varieties that respond poorly to improving environmental conditions, but are more effective at lower agricultural zones and in risky farming zones, which include the Pskov region. Under production conditions, the yield of flax fiber in the new variety was 22.5 c/ha, which is 2.0 c or 12.1% more than the standard (NSR0,95-0.92 c/ha). Currently, the variety is in the state variety testing.

Finite-Time Passivity Analysis of Neutral-Type Neural Networks with Mixed Time-Varying Delays

This research study investigates the issue of finite-time passivity analysis of neutral-type neural networks with mixed time-varying delays. The time-varying delays are distributed, discrete and neutral in that the upper bounds for the delays are available. We are investigating the creation of sufficient conditions for finite boundness, finite-time stability and finite-time passivity, which has never been performed before. First, we create a new Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional, Peng–Park’s integral inequality, descriptor model transformation and zero equation use, and then we use Wirtinger’s integral inequality technique. New finite-time stability necessary conditions are constructed in terms of linear matrix inequalities in order to guarantee finite-time stability for the system. Finally, numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the result’s effectiveness. Moreover, our proposed criteria are less conservative than prior studies in terms of larger time-delay bounds.

Environmental assessment of gooseberry cultivars developed in Chelyabinsk Province

The analysis of environmental plasticity and stability made it possible to identify adaptable gooseberry cultivars: ‘Avangard’ (CA = 1.77), ‘Vladil’ (CA = 1.58), ‘Grinchel’ (CA = 1.24), ‘Kovcheg’ (CA = 1.13) and ‘Arlekin’ (CA = 1.01). Cv. ‘Grinchel’, submitted for state trials in 2020, is an intensive-type cultivar (bi = 1.49), cvs. ‘Arlekin’ (bi = 1.03; Si2 = 4.1) and ‘Vladil’ (bi =1.03; Si2 = 1.0) are environmentally plastic and stable, while cvs. ‘Avangard’ (bi = 0.51) and ‘Kovcheg’ (bi = 0.53) belong to the neutral type. The advantages of these cultivars are their high productivity, large fruit size, dessert flavor, high winter hardiness, low thorniness, and increased resistance to American gooseberry mildew. High productivity in years with favorable and satisfactory growing conditions can be provided by the intensive-type cultivars ‘Stanichny’ (bi = 1.55) and ‘Kooperator’ (bi = 1.35) as well as the plastic but insufficiently stable cv. ‘Uralsky Izumrud’ (bi = 1.03; Si2= 5.3).

Simultaneous actuator and sensor fault estimation for neutral-type systems via intermediate observer

This study addresses the fault estimation (FE) issue for neutral-type systems with sensor faults and actuator faults through the intermediate observer. First, it is well-known that the observer matching condition (OMC) ought to be met for most traditional FE methods, which is actually difficult to satisfy for many systems. In order to overcome this limitation, a suitable variable is designed and the intermediate observer is proposed to estimate the actuator and sensor faults for neutral-type systems simultaneously. Second, based on linear matrix inequalities, sufficient conditions are derived, which guarantee the existence of the intermediate observer. An augmented descriptor system is constructed for the neutral-type systems. By the Lyapunov stability theory, states of error systems are ultimately bounded. Finally, two examples demonstrate the effectiveness and practicability of the designed strategy.

Necessary diagnostic criteria of dental crowding in children during mixed dentition with different facial skeleton growth patterns

Annotation. Pathology of dental crowding during mixed dentition is one of the most common and difficult in the practice of dentist-orthodontist. Its prevalence, according to modern scientific data reaches 77% and occurs in all pathologies of occlusion (malocclusions). The aim of our study is to establish the relationship between the formation of dental crowding and the growth patterns of facial skeleton during mixed dentition in order to improve the effectiveness of orthodontic treatment. We used 42 pairs of plaster models and 42 slices of cone-beam computed tomography images (CBCT) for patients aged 7 to 11 years. Randomization of patients into study groups was performed according to the facial skeleton growth patterns and the Little index value. The analysis was performed by the method of variation statistics taking into account the mean values (mode, median, arithmetic mean) and mean error (M) with the assessment of reliable values by Student’s t-test, as well as determining the correlation coefficient using the Pearson pairwise method to detect connections between the obtained indicators at the minimum probability threshold p<0.05 using the statistical package EZR v. 1.35. According to the results of the examined patients: 30 people (71.4%) had a severe degree of dental crowding on both maxilla and mandible (LII> 8 mm.), more often it was associated with the neutral type of growth – 82% (with vertical – 60%). Statistically significant correlations were found between severe degree of dental crowding and vertical and neutral facial skeleton growth patterns (p<0.05). The results of the CBCT study showed that narrowing of the upper pharyngeal airway (UP) according to McNamara was more common in patients with neutral (85%) and vertical (80%) growth patterns with skeletal II and I class malocclusions according to Engle, which were 55% and 35%, respectively. The study revealed that the vast majority of children with dental crowding with different facial skeleton growth patterns had clinically significant disorders of the development of both maxillary and mandibular apical bases and airways which required immediate interceptive orthodontic treatment.

Asymptotic Analysis of Spectrum and Stability for One Class of Singularly Perturbed Neutral-Type Time-Delay Systems

In this study, a singularly perturbed linear time-delay system of neutral type is considered. It is assumed that the delay is small of order of a small positive parameter multiplying a part of the derivatives in the system. This system is decomposed asymptotically into two much simpler parameter-free subsystems, the slow and fast ones. Using this decomposition, an asymptotic analysis of the spectrum of the considered system is carried out. Based on this spectrum analysis, parameter-free conditions guaranteeing the exponential stability of the original system for all sufficiently small values of the parameter are derived. Illustrative examples are presented.

Stance of Indonesian Writers in Journal Articles

Stance refers to attitude, feelings, judgment or commitment of a speaker towards a proposition. A speaker employs certain linguistics features to express his stance including hedges, boosters, self-mentions and attitude markers. This research aims at analyzing stance of Indonesian writers in social and hard science journal articles written in English by examining the use of linguistic features employed as stance markers. The research result shows that the writers of social science articles use more stance marker compares to those of hard science articles. Indonesian writers maintain the objectivity of academic writing as there was very limited use of self-mentions in the articles. The stance markers used by Indonesian writers represent the positive, negative or neutral type of stance.