Flight Delay Prediction Using Deep Learning and Conversational Voice-Based Agents

Airlines are critical today for carrying people and commodities on time. Any delay in the schedule of these planes can potentially disrupt the business and trade of thousands of employees at any given time. Therefore, precise flight delay prediction is beneficial for the aviation industry and passenger travel. Recent research has focused on using artificial intelligence algorithms to predict the possibility of flight delays. Earlier prediction algorithms were designed for a specific air route or airfield. Many present flight delay prediction algorithms rely on tiny samples and are challenging to understand, allowing almost no room for machine learning implementation. This research study develops a flight delay prediction system by analyzing data from domestic flights inside the United States of America. The proposed models learn about the factors that cause flight delays and cancellations and the link between departure and arrival delays

An assessment of the Auditor General's contribution to good governance in the public service: a case of the Eastern Cape provincial administration

The Office of the Auditor -General’s role is by no means minor, for it plays a major role in curbing corruption and acts as a ‘’watchdog’’ of the nation over public funds. Amidst high mismanagement and misuse of public resources, as well as corruption, especially in developing countries, the major question one asks is how effective the Auditor -General can be in ensuring good governance within state departments so as to improve service delivery. The gaps between approved budgets and the realisation of policy and development goals stand among key governance challenges in many developing countries. Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) play an important role in holding governments to account. However, many SAIs including AGSA face serious challenges when trying to evaluate the expenditures and performance of government agencies. Therefore this study suggests that more resources should be invested in the office of the AG so as to allow it to carry out its duties without impediments. Good governance and public finance accountability is becoming increasingly important in the public sector. One means of effecting good governance and accountability is through auditing. For this reason the Office of the Auditor-General through the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 1996 (Act 108 of 1996 section 216 (1)) was established to facilitate and encourage good governance and effective accountability through auditing

Surveying the Evolution of Computing in Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Education since 2012

This paper presents the results of an online survey that was conducted in 2014 to assess the evolution of computing in architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) education. A primary goal includes contributing to the understanding of the evolution of computing in architecture, civil engineering, and construction management curricula. The current state of computing within the AEC curricula with respect to changes implemented since 2012 is evaluated. The paper includes a comparison of the 2014 survey with the 2012 survey. Changes in the levels and concentrations of computer science knowledge versus computer skills in the curricula are investigated. Similarities and differences between architecture and engineering (including construction management) programs are studied through comparing the data associated with these disciplines. The survey results are presented as useful benchmarks for decision-making regarding research, industry collaboration, and understanding the speed and needs for change in AEC curricula. Key findings of the study include (1)the importance of most computing skills and the coverage of curricula for these skills have not changed significantly over these 2years, while the competence of the students in these skills have decreased; (2)increasing trends have been seen in the percentages of computer science knowledge related courses in all program types and levels; (3)the percentage of computing skills related courses are more than the percentages of the computer science knowledge related courses in AEC curricula; (4)an increasing trend has been seen in the importance of the knowledge of scientific concepts of computing in respondents' perceptions; and (5)computing education still is not sufficient to meet the demands of the AEC industry

Surveying the Evolution of Computing in Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Education

This paper includes the results of an online survey that was conducted by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) task committee on computing education to assess the evolution of computing in architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) education in 2012. The committee aims to understand and measure the evolution of computing in civil engineering, architecture, and construction management curricula and evaluate the current state of computing within the AEC curricula. The paper contains an investigation of the levels and concentrations of computer-science knowledge versus computer skills in curricula. In addition, the committee seeks to recognize the similarities and differences between architecture, engineering, and construction management programs by comparing the data associated with these disciplines. The paper also includes a discussion of basic aspects of computing education including the prerequisites that are necessary for further learning. The survey results provide useful benchmarks for decision making regarding research, industry collaboration, and curricula. Findings of the study include: (1) the importance and coverage of computer skills and competence of graduates has increased over the past decade; (2) computing skills are judged to be more important than computer-science knowledge in AEC curricula; (3) the links between computer-science concepts and AEC applications of computing are not yet fully recognized; (4) computing education is not sufficient to meet the demands of the AEC industry and the share of computing courses is less than what educators desire; and (5) scientific concepts of computing are important for preparing architects and engineers for unknown future developments in information technology. (C) 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers

Antenatal umbilical coiling index in gestational diabetes mellitus and non-gestational diabetes pregnancy

Objective: Umbilical cord abnormalities increase fetal morbidity and mortality. This study was designed to compare antenatal umbilical coiling index (aUCI) in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and non-gestational diabetes mellitus (non-GDM) pregnancy, considering uncertainties about the best time to perform antenatal ultrasonography scan. Materials and Methods: In this prospective study, 246 parturients were included, 123 with GDM and 123 with non-GDM pregnancy. Gestational diabetes was confirmed at 24�28 weeks of gestation (WG) using one-step strategy. An anatomical ultrasound survey of placenta and umbilical cord was performed at 18�23 as well as 37�41 weeks of gestational age. Results: At 18�23 WG, the frequency distribution (10th, 90th percentiles, mean ± SD) of the aUCI in the GDM and non-GDM groups were (0.13,0.66,0.32 ± 0.19) and (0.18,0.74, 0.4 ± 0.31) respectively. These values were (0.12,0.4, 0.25 ± 0.11) in the GDM group at 37�41 WG and (0.17,0.43, 0.29 ± 0.11) in the non-GDM group. A significant relationship was detected between UCI value and GDM/non-GDM groups at both antenatal evaluations (18�23 WG; P = 0.002, 37�41WG; P 90th) (P = 0.001). However, hypocoiling were significantly more frequent in GDM than non-GDM in both antenatal evaluations (P < 0.001, P = 0.006). Conclusion: Antenatal UCI in pregnancy complicated by GDM were lower in comparison with non-GDM pregnancy. The most abnormal pattern of coiling in gestational diabetes was hypocoiling in both trimesters. In addition, 18�23 WG is the best time to perform ultrasound scan to detect aUCI and umbilical cord pattern. © 201

Assessing the impact of a construction virtual reality game on design review skills of construction student

Being able to perform an effective design review is a fundamental skill that every design or construction student should possess. Performing a design review requires critical thinking, analysis, and communication skills. To support the acquisition of these skills, this study investigated the impact of a virtual reality game, the design review simulator (DRS), in a classroom environment. To assess the impact of the game, the authors performed a crossover experiment with 120 students. The students were split into groups and were asked to perform design reviews in two treatment conditions, 2D drawings or the DRS. A knowledge test was administered at the end of different treatments to collect quantitative data on the students’ performance. Results from this research indicate that the DRS supported students in identifying a higher number of design mistakes. Furthermore, students that played with the DRS after performing 2D drawings reviews scored significantly higher in the knowledge test. The research results contribute to the growing knowledge base on the implementation of VR in the classroom and in supporting students in meeting learning objectives related to design review skills. In particular, the research illustrated that the benefits of VR found in the construction industry in terms of improved communication, user involvement, and feedback collection could be translated into the classroom environment