Machine Learning Tools for Optimization of Fuel Consumption at Signalized Intersections in Connected/Automated Vehicles Environment

Researchers continue to seek numerous techniques for making the transportation sector more sustainable in terms of fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Among the most effective techniques is Eco-driving at signalized intersections. Eco-driving is a complex control problem where drivers approaching the intersections are guided, over a period of time, to optimize fuel consumption. Eco-driving control systems reduce fuel consumption by optimizing vehicle trajectories near signalized intersections based on information of the SpaT (Signal Phase and Timing). Developing Eco-driving applications for semi-actuated signals, unlike pre-timed, is more challenging due to variations in cycle length resulting from fluctuations in traffic demand. Reinforcement learning (RL) is a machine learning paradigm that mimics the human learning behavior where an agent attempts to solve a given control problem by interacting with the environment and developing an optimal policy. Unlike the methods implemented in previous studies for solving the Eco-driving problem, RL does not necessitate prior knowledge of the environment being learned and processed. Therefore, the aim of this study is twofold: (1) Develop a novel brute force Eco-driving algorithm (ECO-SEMI-Q) for CAV (Connected/Autonomous Vehicles) passing through semi-actuated signalized intersections; and (2) Develop a novel Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) Eco-driving algorithm for CAV passing through fixed-time signalized intersections. The developed algorithms are tested at both microscopic and macroscopic levels. For the microscopic level, results indicate that the fuel consumption for vehicles controlled by the ECO-SEMI-Q and DRL models is 29.2% and 23% less than that for the case with no control, respectively. For the macroscopic level, a sensitivity analysis for the impact of MPR (Market Penetration Rate) shows that the savings in fuel consumption increase with higher MPR. Furthermore, when MPR is greater than 50%, the ECO-SEMI-Q algorithm provides appreciable savings in travel times. The sensitivity analysis indicates savings in the network fuel consumption when the MPR of the DRL algorithm is higher than 35%. At MPR less than 35%, the DRL algorithm has an adverse impact on fuel consumption due to aggressive lane change and passing maneuvers. These reductions in fuel consumption demonstrate the ability of the algorithms to provide more environmentally sustainable signalized intersections

The Challenges Of Understanding Security In Web Browser Case Study: Internet Explorer And Mozilla Firefox

Many applications contain security features that are available for the end user to select and configure, as well as the ability to place the users in situation where they must take security related decisions. Web browser is one of these applications which consider as the only way to browse the internet. This study exposes the available security features in both of Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox in Microsoft Windows XP; moreover describes results of survey over 232 students in Universiti Utara Malaysia from different educational background to explore typical Internet user awareness and understanding toward web browser security features within windows XP through internet user behavior when using a Web browser to access the Internet. The study reveals some significant area of difficulty, with many standards security features presenting usable security challenge for large proportion of respondents. The results and finding highlight the lack of internet user understanding and awareness toward security features in the web browser

The influence of objectivity, competence, and work performance on external auditors' judgements relating to the internal audit function in Jordan

This thesis presents empirical research on the perceptions of external auditors (EAs) regarding the impact of three dimensions of auditing, namely the objectivity of the Internal Audit Function (IAF), the competence of the IAF, and the work performance of the IAF, on (1) the effectiveness of the IAF in Jordanian companies listed on the Amman Stock Exchange (ASE) and (2) EAs’ decisions to rely on the work of internal auditors (IAs). In addition, this thesis investigates Jordanian EAs’ level of self-insight into the importance of the three dimensions when (1) evaluating the effectiveness of the IAF and (2) deciding on the degree of reliance on IAs

The Relationship Between Oil Price and Airline Stock Price

This study aims to examine the relationship between oil prices and airline stock prices. with the increase of threats of oil price fluctuations and rising energy price for airline companies, it is important to important to consider oil as a pricing factor in asset pricing models. Furthermore the study contributes to literature by demonstrating how the relationship between oil price and stock price vary among companies depending on their characteristics. Two multiple regression models are executed to investigate the nature of the relationship between oil price and airline stock price. The models consider crud oil denominated by daily OPEC basket prices, and the data for 40 airline companies from 27 countries. The findings suggest that there is a significant negative relationship between airline stock prices and both oil price and exchange rate. The findings also suggest that there is a significant positive relationship between firm size and profitability and the effect of oil prices, as well as there is a significant negative relationship between operating leverage and liquidity and the effect of oil price. Conversely, there is a negative relationship between financial leverage and the effect of oil price but not significant and as for the operating efficiency the finding show a positive relationship but not significant too

The Strategic Deployment of Information Systems Attributes and Financial Performance in The Hospitality Industry

The purpose of this article is to explore the strategic value, resources, and capabilities of information systems, as well as their effect on financial performance in the Jordanian hotel business Design/methodology/approach- The research was carried out on a representative sample of Jordanian hotel establishments. It uses the framework developed by Bharadwaj as a guide to assist firms in addressing the management of information systems and developing a better competency in that area. Research limitations/implications – This study contributes to the establishment of a new framework of analysis in the literature on information systems management by introducing a perspective of analysis for the study of the strategic deployment of information systems attributes that is based on the resource-based view of the hospitality industry. This perspective of analysis is used in the study of the strategic deployment of information systems attributes. Practical implications – This paper provides a useful framework for beginning the diagnosis of the situation of each hotel in terms of its available information systems resources and capabilities, as well as for identifying and selecting the information systems resources and capabilities that make the greatest contributions to the profitability and quality of the hotel. Originality/value – In order to determine which information systems resources and competencies are most significant in the creation of unique hotel competences, this effort will assist in identifying those that are most important

Synthesis, characterization and investigation of antibacterial activity for some new functionalized luminol derivatives

ABSTRACT. The present study describes synthesis of some new luminol derivatives, which might play an important role in biological active agents. These new synthesized compounds are functionalized based on luminol (LM) with different carboxylic drugs such as mefenamic acid, ibuprofen, diclofenac sodium, and ampicillin). Synthesis processes was conducted by converting carboxylic group in the investigated drugs into acid chloride group by reacting with SOCl2. Then the synthesized chloride drug derivatives were reacted with luminol in presences of DMSO and TEA to yield the final target molecules. These compounds were characterized using FTIR, NMR and CHNS techniques. Besides that, their physical properties and solubility were also investigated. Biological activity of the derivatives (TH1-TH4) was investigated using a pathogenic bacterium, Staphylococcus aureus (gram +ve), and Escherichia (E. coli) (gram -ve). The obtained results for antibacterial activity showed that TH1-TH4 derivatives have higher antibacterial activity against these types of bacteria in comparison with pure LM compound and the investigated drugs.   KEY WORDS: Luminol, Mefenamic acid, Ibuprofen, Diclofenac sodium, Ampicillin   Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2023, 37(1), 159-169.                                                               DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v37i1.13                                                     &nbsp

The Barriers Which Face Auditing Profession and Their Impact on the Quality of the Jordanian Auditor's Report

The study aimed to identify the barriers which face the auditing   profession through showing the impact of regulations, and laws, consulting services, and electronic auditing, which was divided into initial auditing by using computer, auditing through using computers, and knowledge and ability of auditor in using computer on the quality of the Jordanian certified public accountant report. The questionnaire was used as a study tool, and statistical sample was taken from the Jordanians Certified Accountants which amount to (150) certified accountants, retrieved (130) of those questionnaires, and (120) of them were analyze. The most important thing the two researchers arrived to is the finding of an impact for the independent variables on the quality of Jordanians certified public accountants report which means there is an importance of regulations, and laws, consulting services, and electronic auditing too. The two researchers give advices for several recommendations and the most important of them are: requiring auditors to follow laws and regulations, especially regarding the fees of the auditor, the commitment to independence and impartiality, and the separation of office work which practice auditing from the offices that practice accounting duties to provide greater autonomy to the auditor. Keywords: Auditing, Electronic auditing, Jordanian Auditor's report (JCPA)

Host-Guest Interactions Between Betacyclodextrin And Selected Fluoroquinolones: A Molecular Modelling Study

Fluorokuinolon (FQs) ialah satu kumpulan antibiotik penting yang terdiri daripada gelang kuinolon hidrofobik dan gelang piperazina hidrofilik. Betasiklodekstrin (β-CD) dan terbitannya kini digunakan secara meluas dalam sistem penghantaran ubat, kerana rongga hidrofobiknya mampu membentuk kompleks rangkuman dengan pelbagai molekul organik. Dalam kajian ini, interaksi perumah tetamu antara FQs dan β-CD menggunakan tiga teknik permodelan molekul iaitu mekanik kuantum, pengedokan molekul dan dinamik molekul telah dijalankan. Rangkuman molekul FQ ke dalam rongga β-CD boleh berlaku melalui dua orientasi iaitu dengan gelang kuinolon (orientasi A) atan gelang piperazina (orientasi C) menghadap rongga β-CD. Kesan pelarut dimodelkan secara implisit menggunakan model kontinuum berkutub (PCM) dalam pengiraan mekanik kuantum dan dengan menggunakan model caj titik mudah (SPC) dalam simulasi dinamik molekul 100 ps. Fluoroquinolones (FQs) is an important group of antibiotics made up of a hydrophobic quinolone and a hydrophilic piperazine rings. Beta-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and its derivatives are currently being widely used in drug delivery systems, owing to its hydrophobic cavities which are capable of forming inclusion complexes with a variety of organic molecules. In this work, the host-guest interactions between FQs and β-CD were investigated using three molecular modelling techniques, i.e. quantum mechanics, molecular docking and molecular dynamics. The penetration of FQ molecules into the β-CD cavity take place via two orientations which are Aorientation with the quinolone ring or C-orientation with the piperazine ring facing towards the β-CD cavity. The effect of solvent was modeled implicitly using polarizable continuum model (PCM) in the quantum mechanics calculation and by simple point charge water model (SPC) in a 100 ps molecular dynamics simulation