The mathematical foundation of a software package for assessing the probability of a viral infection in massively occupied buildings

Текущая пандемия COVID-19 показала, что у принимающих решения органов власти отсутствуют инструменты, которые бы позволяли принимать обоснованные решения по введению карантинных мер, проведению/отмене массовых мероприятий в зданиях. Зачастую это приводит к введению либо избыточных (что вызывает ухудшение экономической ситуации), либо недостаточных мер (что приводит к ухудшению эпидемиологической ситуации). В настоящей статье дано описание математической основы и базовых принципов создания программного комплекса для оценивания вероятности заражения вирусной инфекцией, передающейся воздушно-капельным путем, в зданиях с массовым пребыванием людей The current COVID-19 pandemic has shown that decision-making authorities lack tools that would allow them to make informed decisions on the introduction of quarantine measures related to either holdingor canceling mass events in buildings. Often this leads either to the introduction of excessive (which leads to a worsening of the economic situation) or insufficient measures (which leads to a worsening of the epidemiological situation). This article describes the mathematical basic principles aimed at creating a software package for assessing the likelihood of contracting a viral infection transmitted by airborne droplets in massively occupied buildings. Evaluation of the likelihood of COVID-19 infection in public places is possible based on a joint analysis of the results of the people movement simulation, air circulation and the spread of aerosols from a carrier of the infection, taking into account the applied methods of protection (masks, ventilation). It is required to develop methods for assessing the danger of COVID-19 infection from a carrier of the virus and the methods of protection used (masks, ventilation) in specific public places. Simultaneously, the movement of people in accordance with the mode of operation, air movement (including ventilation systems) and the spread of respiratory aerosols needs to be accounted for

Strain Concentration Ratio Analysis of Different Waterproofing Materials during Concrete Crack Movement

When a crack occurs under an installed waterproofing material and moves due to environmental effects (freeze–thaw, settlement, vibration, dead load, etc.), waterproofing materials without adequate elongation or tensile strength properties may break and tear. To enable the selection of materials with proper response against the strain that occur during crack movement, this study proposes and demonstrates a new evaluation method for determining and comparing strain concentration of waterproofing materials under the effect of concrete crack movement. For the proposed testing method and demonstration, three common types of waterproofing material types were selected for testing, poly-urethane coating (PUC), self-adhesive asphalt sheet (SAS) and composite asphalt sheet (CAS). Respective materials are installed with strain gauges and applied onto a specimen with a separated joint that undergoes concrete crack movement simulation. Each specimen types are subject to repeated movement cycles, whereby strain occurring directly above the moving joint is measured and compared with the strain occurring at the localized sections (comparison ratio which is hereafter referred to as strain concentration ratio). Specimens are tested under four separate movement length conditions, 1.5 mm, 3.0 mm, 4.5 mm and 6.0 mm, and the results are compared accordingly. Experimental results show that materials with strain concentration ratio from highest to lowest are as follows: PUC, SAS and CAS.

The role of the mirror neuron system in bottom-up and top-down perception of human action

When we see or hear another person execute an action, we tend to automatically simulate that action. Evidence for this has been found at the neural level, specifically in parietal and premotor brain regions referred to collectively as the mirror neuron system (MNS), and the behavioural level, through an observer's tendency to mimic observed movements. This simulation process may play a key role in emotional understanding. It is currently unclear the extent to which the MNS is driven by bottom-up automatic recruitment of movement simulation, or by top-down (task driven) mechanisms. The present dissertation examines the role of the MNS in the bottom-up and top-down processing of action in the auditory and visual modalities, in response to emotional and neutral movements performed by humans. Study 1 used EEG to demonstrate that the MNS is affected by bottom-up manipulations of modality, and shows that the MNS is activated to a greater extent towards multi-modal versus unimodal sensory input. Study 2 employed an EEG paradigm utilizing a top-down emotion judgment manipulation. It was found that the left STG, part of the extended MNS, is affected by top-down manipulations of emotionality, but there were no areas in classical MNS that met the statistical threshold to be affected by top-down forces. Study 3 employed an fMRi paradigm combining bottom-up and top-down manipulations. It was found that the classical MNS was strongly affected by bottom-up differences in emotionality and modality, and minimally affected by the top-down manipulation. Together, the three studies presented in this dissertation support the premise that the classical mirror neuron system is primarily automatic. More research is needed to determine whether top-down manipulations can uniquely engage the MNS.

The role of the mirror neuron system in bottom-up and top-down perception of human action

When we see or hear another person execute an action, we tend to automatically simulate that action. Evidence for this has been found at the neural level, specifically in parietal and premotor brain regions referred to collectively as the mirror neuron system (MNS), and the behavioural level, through an observer's tendency to mimic observed movements. This simulation process may play a key role in emotional understanding. It is currently unclear the extent to which the MNS is driven by bottom-up automatic recruitment of movement simulation, or by top-down (task driven) mechanisms. The present dissertation examines the role of the MNS in the bottom-up and top-down processing of action in the auditory and visual modalities, in response to emotional and neutral movements performed by humans. Study 1 used EEG to demonstrate that the MNS is affected by bottom-up manipulations of modality, and shows that the MNS is activated to a greater extent towards multi-modal versus unimodal sensory input. Study 2 employed an EEG paradigm utilizing a top-down emotion judgment manipulation. It was found that the left STG, part of the extended MNS, is affected by top-down manipulations of emotionality, but there were no areas in classical MNS that met the statistical threshold to be affected by top-down forces. Study 3 employed an fMRi paradigm combining bottom-up and top-down manipulations. It was found that the classical MNS was strongly affected by bottom-up differences in emotionality and modality, and minimally affected by the top-down manipulation. Together, the three studies presented in this dissertation support the premise that the classical mirror neuron system is primarily automatic. More research is needed to determine whether top-down manipulations can uniquely engage the MNS.

Reliability of vehicle movement simulation results in roundabout design procedure based on the rules of design vehicle movement geometry

Previous studies have shown that a valid roundabout design approach should include a determination of design elements based on the position of design vehicle’s movement trajectories obtained by swept path analysis in early project stages, and not a conduction of swept path analysis at the end of design process. Several software which enable such significant progress in the design practice (optimal design of roundabout elements based on the results of vehicle movement simulation) are currently available on the market. Consequently, it is of great importance to know their accuracy. The reliability of vehicle movement simulation results is usually verified by field tests in which the distances between the test vehicle’s movement trajectories are measured by means of a meter, which is a dilatory and time-consuming process. Within the scope of this study, a new approach for determination of the position of test vehicle’s movement trajectories at the test site using a precise GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) device is described. The test vehicle was conducting a critical manoeuvre (left turn for 270°) for ten times, and the distances between its movement trajectories were determined by means of a meter and a precise GNSS device. The situation on the test site was then simulated on a computer and the assessment of the accuracy of chosen software for vehicle movement simulation was made.

Neuro-musculoskeletal Upper Limb in-silico as virtual patient

Virtual patients and physiologies allow experimentation, design, and early-stage clinical trials in-silico. Virtual patient technology for human movement systems that encompasses musculoskeleton and its neural control are few and far in between. In this work, we present one such neuro-musculoskeletal upper limb in-silico model. This upper limb is both modular in architecture and generates movement as an emergent phenomenon out of a multiscale co-simulation of spinal cord neural control and musculoskeletal dynamics. It is developed on the NEUROiD movement simulation platform that enables a co-simulation of popular neural simulator NEURON and the musculoskeletal simulator OpenSim. In this work, we describe the design and development of the upper limb in a modular fashion, while reusing existing models and modules. We further characterize and demonstrate the use of this model in generating a range of commonly observed movements by means of a spatio temporal stimulation pattern delivered to the cervical spinal cord. We believe this work enables a first and small step towards an in-silico paradigms for understanding upper limb movement, disease pathology, medication, and rehabilitation. Index Terms : co-simulation, in-silico, NEUROiD, neuromusculoskeletal, upper limb, Virtual patient.