Causation versus Prediction: Comparing Causal Discovery and Inference with Artificial Neural Networks in Travel Mode Choice Modeling

This study compares the performance of a causal and a predictive model in modeling travel mode choice in three neighborhoods in Chicago. A causal discovery algorithm and a causal inference technique were used to extract the causal relationships in the mode choice decision making process and to estimate the quantitative causal effects between the variables both directly from observational data. The model results reveal that trip distance and vehicle ownership are the direct causes of mode choice in the three neighborhoods. Artificial neural network models were estimated to predict mode choice. Their accuracy was over 70%, and the SHAP values obtained measure the importance of each variable. We find that both the causal and predictive modeling approaches are useful for the purpose they serve. We also note that the study of mode choice behavior through causal modeling is mostly unexplored, yet it could transform our understanding of the mode choice behavior. Further research is needed to realize the full potential of these techniques in modeling mode choice

Consistency of personal identity as a resource of pedagogical prevention of adolescents’ radicalization

The article discusses the problem of countering the radicalization of adolescents. It is assumed that adolescents are a social group that is subject to radical influence. This paper emphasizes the growing tendency to involve adolescents and young men in extremist and terrorist acts. Modern theoretical concepts of radicalization are considered and their specific nature is determined. It is noted that all concepts take into account the role of disturbed or difficult social relationships as a latent factor of radicalization

Psychophysiological and Psychosemantic Aspects of Teaching Stress-resistant Behavior Law Enforcement Officers

The relevance of the psychophysiological aspect of stress tolerance in the professional activities of law enforcement officers arises and manifests itself in connection with the high risk of mistakes in non-ordinary situations, as well as in the development of an algorithm for assessing the prognostic psychophysiological parameters of employees

TWO DIRECTIONS OF DEVELOPMENT OF THE HOT-ROLLED PLATE PRODUCTION

Two main directions of production of hot-rolled plate: foundry-rolled and schema «ore-semiproduct-rolled metal» are examined

TO THE MATTER OF APPRAISAL OF TECHNICAL-ECONOMIC INDICES OF STEEL-MELTING FURNACES OF CONSTANT AND ALTERNATING CURRENT

It is shown that using of static thyristor compensation systems improves efficiency, decreases consumption of power and electrodes, but increases the cost of furnaces of alternating current

Transition to Decentralized Energy in Cities through a Complex Systems Approach

Energy infrastructure systems, traditionally known for their reliability in providing energy access, are undergoing transformative changes due to recent advancements in technology and the rise of decentralized systems and renewable energy sources. This shift in energy systems is altering the dynamics of socio-technical interactions within urban environments and influencing consumer behavior, further impacting the energy landscape. Policymakers play a critical role in facilitating this transition, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of energy systems as complex socio-technical entities. This dissertation aims to equip stakeholders in the energy market with a valuable instrument for assessing the potential consequences of policies and technologies, providing guidance for urban planners in managing the transition. Using a modeling framework and methods such as causal loop diagramming, system dynamics, and graph theory, the research evaluates diverse strategies for stakeholders in the transition to decentralized energy systems. The study focuses on the state of Illinois (USA), which is committed to renewable energy reliance and climate neutrality by 2050. The policies and strategies in Illinois are compared and partly informed by the policies in European Union (Denmark, in particular), examining their energy planning strategies and the roles of various levels of government in shaping the landscape. The system dynamics model frames and evaluates several potential scenarios of the energy market development for the following decades, and the application of graph theory to a causal loop diagram quantitatively analyzes key variables driving and reinforcing the transition. The study identifies profit-driven approaches, technological progress, energy visibility, long-term strategic planning, and sustainable urban practices as crucial factors influencing the widespread adoption of decentralized energy systems. These findings contribute valuable insights to support the integration of decentralized grids into urban planning agendas and promote a sustainable transition to renewable energy reliance

Effectiveness variation of different census outreach activities: An empirical analysis from the state of Illinois using machine learning and user interface technologies for participatory data collection

Major social changes stem from policies that their developments heavily rely on public participation in the decennial U.S. Census. For individual states, the population counts determine representation in the U.S. House of Representatives and the amount of federal funding each state receives, leading to state outreach efforts to encourage participation in the census. The present empirical study uses advanced data collection technologies based on a user interface (UI) and machine learning techniques (k-means clustering, random forest, gradient boosting) to analyze the effectiveness of the outreach activities organized by the State of Illinois. As a result, we assess various types of outreach activities in different geographic areas with distinct socio-economic and demographic characteristics. Findings from the models in this study show that outreach activities classified as “direct engagement (1-on-1)” and “single events” bear the highest impact, especially in predominantly low-income minority communities in metropolitan areas. However, socio-demographic characteristics are found to be generally more influential on response rates than outreach activities performed in the area, and in many underperforming areas, a high number of activities does not correlate with an increase in response rates. The findings of this research could assist in structuring outreach efforts in different countries and the U.S

Thin Film Coatings from Aqueous Dispersion of Graphene-Based Nanocarbon and Its Hybrids with Metal Nanoparticles

Shungite carbon (ShC) nanoparticles in the form of stable aqueous dispersions represent a promising solution for optical and biomedical applications. The dispersion is an interesting phenomenon from the point of view of stabilization of ShC nanoparticles and their structural constituents up to the basic structural unit, namely a graphene fragment. Herein, we used these aqueous dispersions with easily released structural components to study laser irradiation with various durations and obtain hybrids of ShC with Ag and Au nanoparticles. The main role in the stabilization of ShC nanoparticles belongs to the graphene fragments and their stacks, which display a considerable dipole moment. Newly prepared aqueous dispersions of ShC–metal hybrid nanoparticles retained the stability inherent in the original nanoparticles both of ShC and metals. Changes in the size distribution pattern of nanoparticles in dispersions upon ablation were studied by dynamic light scattering (DLS). Raman with UV-Vis spectroscopy methods were applied to trace structural changes in ShC upon the formation of hybrid nanoparticles. Films obtained by condensation of the dispersions on glass substrates display periodic structures, as was revealed by SEM microscopy. There, the conditions under which nanoparticles lose their ability to disperse in water and retain a graphene-like structure in a film were revealed

Psychophysiological and Psychosemantic Aspects of Teaching Stress-resistant Behavior Law Enforcement Officers

The relevance of the psychophysiological aspect of stress tolerance in the professional activities of law enforcement officers arises and manifests itself in connection with the high risk of mistakes in non-ordinary situations, as well as in the development of an algorithm for assessing the prognostic psychophysiological parameters of employees

1,2,4-Oxadiazole/2-Imidazoline Hybrids: Multi-target-directed Compounds for the Treatment of Infectious Diseases and Cancer

Replacement of amide moiety with the 1,2,4-oxadiazole core in the scaffold of recently reported efflux pump inhibitors afforded a novel series of oxadiazole/2-imidazoline hybrids. The latter compounds exhibited promising antibacterial activity on both Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas fluorescens) strains. Furthermore, selected compounds markedly inhibited the growth of certain drug-resistant bacteria. Additionally, the study revealed the antiproliferative activity of several antibacterial frontrunners against pancreas ductal adenocarcinoma (PANC-1) cell line, as well as their type-selective monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitory profile