Bridge Monitoring Through a Hybrid Approach Leveraging a Modal Updating Technique and an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Method

USDOT Grant 69A3551747109An early damage identification process in bridge structures may offer an opportunity to slowdown progressive failure and thus prevent catastrophic collapses. With a structural health monitoring system which allows real-time measurement of structural responses, early damage in bridge structures can be identified with proper techniques. Recently, data-driven based damage detection has become one of the principal practices. To accommodate the requirement, the project integrates two methods (i.e., a model updating technique and an artificial intelligence (AI) prediction) that can compensate for each other\u2019s the weakness that otherwise imposed difficulty in precise real-time application of health monitoring systems. Therefore, this project leverages a mode-updating technique with high-fidelity experimental data to obtain an accurate digital model that represents an actual bridge model. The drawback of the model updating technique (i.e., high computational time) is overcome by applying an artificial intelligence algorithm such as neural networks that are known to be computationally efficient while perusing high accuracy. In this project, a pre-trained convolutional neural network is employed to conduct machine learning for damage prediction. The performances of the proposed method are assessed with various damage scenarios. The prediction accuracy of the network is 97%

Recent developments on the STAR detector system at RHIC

The STAR detector system is designed to provide tracking, momentum analysis and particle identification for many of the mid-rapidity charged particles produced in collisions at the RHIC collider. A silicon vertex detector (SVT) provides three layers of tracking near the interaction point. This is followed by the main time projection chamber (TPC), which continues tracking out to 200 cm radial distance from the interaction region. The detector design also includes an electromagnetic calorimeter, various trigger detectors, and radial TPCs in the forward region. The entire system is enclosed in a 0.5 T solenoid magnet. A progress report is given for the various components of the STAR detector system. The authors report on the recent developments in the detector proto-typing and construction, with an emphasis on the main TPC, recent TPC cosmic ray testing and shipping to Brookhaven National Laboratory

Outcomes from elective colorectal cancer surgery during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

This study aimed to describe the change in surgical practice and the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on mortality after surgical resection of colorectal cancer during the initial phases of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

Funding Opportunity Announcements

Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy project sheet summarizing general information about a new program to develop a cost-effective thermal storage system utilizing a supercritical fluid to replace molten salt systems (project title "Thermal Energy Storage With Supercritical Fluids") including critical needs, innovation and advantages, impact, and contact information. This sheet is the first open solicitation, announcing funding opportunities for involvement in the project

Evidence for opportunity cost neglect in the poor

Previous research shows that many people tend to neglect opportunity costs: They fail to spontaneously consider forgone alternatives outside of a particular choice set. Several researchers have suggested that the poor should be more likely to spontaneously consider opportunity costs because budget constraints lead to a focus on trade-offs. We tested this hypothesis in five high-powered experiments (total N = 2325). The experiments used different products (both material and experiential) with both high and low prices (from $8.50 to$249.99) and different ways of reminding participants of opportunity costs. Both high-income and low-income participants showed a strong decrease in willingness-to-buy when reminded of opportunity costs, implying that both the rich and the poor show opportunity cost neglect. Alternative explanations and implications for studies on poverty and decision making are discussed

Evidence for opportunity cost neglect in the poor

Previous research shows that many people tend to neglect opportunity costs: They fail to spontaneously consider forgone alternatives outside of a particular choice set. Several researchers have suggested that the poor should be more likely to spontaneously consider opportunity costs because budget constraints lead to a focus on trade-offs. We tested this hypothesis in five high-powered experiments (total N = 2325). The experiments used different products (both material and experiential) with both high and low prices (from $8.50 to$249.99) and different ways of reminding participants of opportunity costs. Both high-income and low-income participants showed a strong decrease in willingness-to-buy when reminded of opportunity costs, implying that both the rich and the poor show opportunity cost neglect. Alternative explanations and implications for studies on poverty and decision making are discussed

Variability of residents’ ratings of faculty’s teaching performance measured by five- and seven-point response scales

Abstract Background Medical faculty’s teaching performance is often measured using residents’ feedback, collected by questionnaires. Researchers extensively studied the psychometric qualities of resulting ratings. However, these studies rarely consider the number of response categories and its consequences for residents’ ratings of faculty’s teaching performance. We compared the variability of residents’ ratings measured by five- and seven-point response scales. Methods This retrospective study used teaching performance data from Dutch anaesthesiology residency training programs. Questionnaires with five- and seven-point response scales from the extensively studied System for Evaluation of Teaching Qualities (SETQ) collected the ratings. We inspected ratings’ variability by comparing standard deviations, interquartile ranges, and frequency (percentage) distributions. Relevant statistical tests were used to test differences in frequency distributions and teaching performance scores. Results We examined 3379 residents’ ratings and 480 aggregated faculty scores. Residents used the additional response categories provided by the seven-point scale – especially those differentiating between positive performances. Residents’ ratings and aggregated faculty scores showed a more even distribution on the seven-point scale compared to the five-point scale. Also, the seven-point scale showed a smaller ceiling effect. After rescaling, the mean scores and (most) standard deviations of ratings from both scales were comparable. Conclusions Ratings from the seven-point scale were more evenly distributed and could potentially yield more nuanced, specific and user-friendly feedback. Still, both scales measured (almost) similar teaching performance outcomes. In teaching performance practice, residents and faculty members should discuss whether response scales fit their preferences and goals