Analysis of the Traffic Parameters on a Section in the City of the National Road during Several Years of Operation

The study carried out an analysis of the vehicle traffic parameters on a national road in 2011-2016. The variability and uncertainty of results were evaluated. An analysis of traffic data recorded on the city's entry and exit lanes was carried out. The variations in traffic volume are of interest e.g. in dynamic traffic management systems and navigation services, examining the benefits of flexible work time and places and assessing the environmental effects of traffic congestion. Research has shown that the assumption that lanes perform equally is not always true. Traffic volume models should be periodically calibrated taking into account the shape of the daily profile, which may, for example, allow public transport timetables to be more responsive to the needs of travelers.

ESTIMATION OF NITROGEN DIOXIDE (NO₂) CONCENTRATION USING FENGYUN-4A DUST STORM DETECTION (FY-4A DSD) PRODUCT DURING THE COVID-19 LOCKDOWN IN METRO MANILA, PHILIPPINES

The coronavirus disease was discovered in 2019 (COVID-19) and was eventually declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a global pandemic on March 11, 2020. This study aims to determine the correlation of Dust Storm Detection (DSD) index from the Fengyun-4A (FY-4A) data, NO2 ground observations, and daily positivity rate of COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila and predict the confirmed daily cases of COVID-19 using the established correlations. FY-4A DSD products were used to obtain different Dust Storm Indices (DSI) and daily COVID-19 confirmed cases were tallied during the period November 01–30, 2020, and March 01–31, 2021. Ground-observed NO2 levels from Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) monitoring stations were gathered for validation and regression analysis. Results of linear regression analysis between the DSI and NO2 exhibited a weak correlation (0.24) with the available observations at the specified period. Ground-observed NO2 levels exhibit the same trend with the daily positivity rate of COVID-19 considering only a smaller area and short period of observations. Moreover, results showed a weak correlation (0.07) between the positivity rate of COVID-19 case as a function of the DSD Index and ground-observed NO2 levels. Uncertainty of results from this study may be attributed to the fact that it has focused on a relatively small area due to limited available ground observations. Therefore, it is recommended to apply the same analysis on different periods of observations using as many NO2 level ground observations as available and determine if variables follow the same trend and correlations as reported in this study.

Creative Process as Labor

This chapter synthesizes a large body of sociological research dedicated to artistic creation as a labor-intensive activity. Questioning the nineteenth-century expressivist ideal of self-actualization, contemporary ontologies—whether defined by artists, scholars, or various professional assessors—function within two opposing regimes: elite egalitarianism and competing differentiation. Adopting a processual perspective, the chapter first turns to creation as a sequence of choices and tests realized under strict uncertainty of results, with an extreme discrepancy between accumulated efforts and reputational as well as monetary outcomes. Second, the chapter follows the downstream production of aesthetic value, turning to scores and performances and the reallocation of creative roles they rest upon. Third, the chapter sketches a genealogy of finishedness, from Romantic idealization to modern relativization, with a special focus on the completion of uncompleted works. Finally, the chapter outlines several caveats regarding the study of the creative process and their consequence for the sociology of labor, work, and innovation.

Introduction to diagnostic test accuracy studies

Diagnostic accuracy studies are fundamental for the assessment of diagnostic tests. Researchers need to understand the implications of their chosen design, opting for comparative designs where possible. Researchers should analyse test accuracy studies using the appropriate methods, acknowledging the uncertainty of results and avoiding overstating conclusions and ignoring the clinical situation which should inform the trade-off between sensitivity and specificity. Test accuracy studies should be reported with transparency using the STAndards for the Reporting of Diagnostic accuracy studies (STARD) checklist.

The role of GAP-analysis in reducing the uncertainty of online marketing results for SBEs

Modern online marketing consists of a variety of interacting methods and tools. The consumer exists in the flows of marketing information. The consumer’s value acquisition process is not linear. Financial constraints at the marketing budget level for small business enterprises require reducing the uncertainty of results from the applied online marketing methods. In this paper, we look into the properties of gap analysis to study the discrepancies between the current and planned results of online marketing activities of small business enterprises. The research methodology is based on the gap analysis method, which is complemented by the methods of content analysis, cvp analysis, graphical methods, and special methods of online marketing. The study examines the properties of gaps in the transformation of online marketing informational flows. A mathematical description and graphic interpretation of the gap in the transformation of the informational flow of online marketing is proposed. The results of the study show that the use of gap analysis methods makes it possible to detail the phenomenon of consumer proactivity, reduce the uncertainty from the use of online marketing methods and improve the quality of marketing information about the consumer for small business enterprises.

Influence of reagent lots and multiple measuring systems on estimating the coefficient of variation from quality control data; implications for uncertainty estimation and interpretation of QC results

BackgroundClinical laboratories use internal quality control (QC) data to calculate standard deviation (SD) and coefficient of variation (CV) to estimate uncertainty of results and to interpret QC results. We examined the influence of different instruments, and QC and reagent lots on the CV calculated from QC data.MethodsResults for BioRad Multiqual frozen liquid QC samples over a 2-year interval were partitioned by QC and reagent lots. The mean and CV were calculated for each partition for each of three Abbott Architect c8000 instruments for measuring serum alanine amino transferase (ALT), creatinine (enzymatic), glucose and sodium.ResultsCVs differed among partitions and instruments for two QC levels by 5.8- and 3.3-fold for ALT, by 4.7- and 2.1-fold for creatinine, by 2.0- and 2.6-fold for glucose, and by 2.1- and 2.0-fold for sodium. Pooled CVs for two QC levels varied among instruments by 1.78- and 1.11-fold for ALT, by 1.63- and 1.11-fold for creatinine, by 1.08- and 1.06-fold for glucose, and by 1.24- and 1.31-fold for sodium.ConclusionsThe CVs from QC data varied substantially among QC and reagent lots and for different identical specification instruments. The CV used to estimate uncertainty for a measurement result or as the basis for interpreting individual QC results must be derived over a sufficient time interval to obtain a pooled CV that represents “typical” performance of a measuring system. An estimate of uncertainty provided to users of laboratory results will itself have uncertainty that can influence medical decisions.

Business Models of “New Cooperativism” Organizations as an Instrument of Sustainable Development Stimulation

Purpose: The article presents business models developed in organizations of the “new cooperativism” trend, whose application leads to a bottom-up solution of important social problems at the local level and, in a broader perspective, stimulation of sustainable development. Methodology: The adopted methodology uses a qualitative approach. The research was conducted in the form of case studies of four organizations following “new cooperativism,” based on in-depth interviews, observations, and analyses of organizational documents and various types of publicly available materials. Findings: The study showed that “new cooperativism” organizations use in their business models the old practices developed by classical cooperatives, which work well in today’s conditions and have the potential to provide a positive impact on important socioeconomic dysfunctions, which can be fully implemented through modern technologies. Research Limitations: The limitations typical of the case study method entail the uncertainty of results replication, which disallows their broad generalization. However, the obtained results indicate the need to conduct a scientific diagnosis of emerging collaborative grassroots organizations and the importance of their participation in the three-sector economic concept of the state. Originality: The article and its conclusions are based on empirical research of the practical effectiveness of business models used in organizations of the “new cooperativism” trend.

Effect of the uncertainty of multi-cut contour method and friction coefficient on residual stresses of constrained groove pressing process

Constrained groove pressing (CGP) process is a severe plastic deformation (SPD) method that can create ultrafine-grained microstructure in the sheet metals. In this study, residual stresses of the CGP process and the effect of the friction coefficient on the residual stresses were investigated. The residual stresses were measured in two directions using a multi-cut contour method and a mathematical-finite element model was developed to estimate the uncertainty of results of the multi-cut contour method. In order to study the effect of the friction coefficient on the residual stresses, a 3D finite element model was employed and the results of it were validated with the experimental results of the CGP process. According to the results, residual stresses in the first pass of CGP are compressive on the surface and gradually change to tension at the center of the thickness. Investigation of the effect of the first cut on the residual stresses and uncertainty of the second cutting plane showed that the effect of the first cut is only confined to regions near the intersection of the two cuts. Distancing from the intersection of two cuts causes the effect of the first cut to be ineffective on the second cut. Also, evaluation of the effect of friction coefficient on the residual stress illustrated that friction has a direct relationship with the residual stresses.

Structural model with controls of a very light airplane for numerical flutter calculations

Purpose The finite element model developed for a new-designed aircraft was used to solve some problems of structural dynamics. The key purpose of the task was to estimate the critical flutter velocities of the light airplane by performing numerical analysis with application of MSC Software. Design/methodology/approach Flutter analyses processed by Nastran require application of some complex aeroelastic model integrating two separate components – structural model and aerodynamic model. These sub-models are necessary for determining stiffness, mass and aerodynamic matrices, which are involved in the flutter equation. The aircraft structural model with its non-structural masses was developed in Patran. To determine the aerodynamic coefficient matrix, some simplified aerodynamic body-panel geometries were developed. The flutter equation was solved with the PK method. Findings The verified aircraft model was used to determine its normal modes in the range of 0-30 Hz. Then, some critical velocities of flutter were calculated within the range of operational velocities. As there is no certainty that the computed modes are in accordance with the natural ones, some parametric calculations are recommended. Modal frequencies depend on structural parameters that are quite difficult to identify. Adopting their values from the reasonable range, it is possible to assign the range of possible frequencies. The frequencies of rudder or elevator modes are dependent on their mass moments of inertia and rigidity of controls. The critical speeds of tail flutter were calculated for various combinations of stiffness or mass values. Practical implications The task described here is a preliminary calculational study of normal modes and flutter vibrations. It is necessary to prove the new airplane is free from flutter to fulfil the requirement considered in the type certification process. Originality/value The described approach takes into account the uncertainty of results caused by the indeterminacy of selected constructional parameters.