Impact of Prior Knowledge about Autonomous Vehicles on the Public Attitude

It is anticipated that AVs will offer multiple benefits, such as an improvement in the level of mobility, increasing the level of comfort, and reducing the number of traffic accidents. However, the public attitude is the main determinant factor that will face the deployment of AVs and in turn affect their implications. Over the last few years, there was a debate on the impact of the level of knowledge about AVs on public attitudes. While some studies show that people with higher levels of knowledge about AVs are the most optimistic, some other studies show that the public attitude moves in the negative with an increase in the level of knowledge. Thus, this study focuses exclusively on quantifying and understanding the impact of the level of knowledge and the public attitude in the US. A questionnaire survey was designed and conducted between June and November, 2022. A total of 5778 complete responses were received from all over the US and the analysis was conducted to estimate the public attitude and level of knowledge by region. The results show that there is a negative shift in public attitude with the increase in the level of knowledge about AVs. In addition, the results show that 1% increase in the level of knowledge about AVs is associated with 0.65%, 0.68%, and 2466 (USD) $ decrease in the level of interest, trust, and willingness to pay for AV and 0.56% increase in the level of concern about traveling in AVs. Moreover, the results are discussed in light of both the diffusion of innovation theory and the Gartner Hype curve. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2023-09-04-017 Full Text: PD

Prediction of the optimum asphalt content using artificial neural networks

The performance of the asphalt mix is significantly influenced by the optimum asphalt content (OAC). The asphalt content is responsible for coating the aggregate surface and filling the voids between the aggregate particles. Thus, the aggregate gradation has a significant influence on the required asphalt content. The Marshall design process is the most common method used for estimating the OAC, and this process is called the asphalt mix design. However, this method is time consuming, labor intensive, and its results are subjected to variations. Thus, this paper employs the artificial neural network (ANN) to estimate the OAC from the aggregate gradation for the two most common gradations used in asphalt mixes in Egypt (3D, 4C). Results show that the proposed ANN can predict the OAC with a coefficient of correlation of 0.98 and an average error of 0.026%. As a result, a new approach for the Marshall test can be adopted using results of the proposed ANN, and only three specimens, instead of fifteen, are prepared and tested for estimating the remaining parameters. This approach saves the time, effort, and resources required for estimating the OAC. Additionally, the ANN was validated with previously developed models, and the ANN shows promising results

Growth of lettuce with different content of inorganic nitrate as a feeding strategy for placebo-controlled nutritional interventions to test the effects of inorganic nitrate on human health

PhD ThesisThe chemical composition of vegetables is dependent on several growing conditions. This effect relates to phytochemical compounds including secondary metabolites and other bioactive non-nutritional compounds. This study aimed to use different nitrogen fertilizer regimes to produce vegetables with so large differences in nitrate content that they can be used as treatment and placebo to study the effect of nitrate on human health. Green leafy vegetables, such as lettuce or rocket, are rich in inorganic nitrate (NO3) and an increased consumption has been associated with beneficial effects on blood pressure (BP). The objective of this study was to compare whether two lettuce materials with controlled high and low NO3 content may have different effects on BP in healthy subjects. Firstly a gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method using pentafluorobenzyl bromide and chemical ionisation to determine nitrate and nitrite levels was modified to optimise the analytical process. This method has been used to measure samples of lettuce as well as samples of human plasma, urine and saliva obtained from this study and several other projects. In this study, two sets of lettuce were produced as a model vegetable with high and low nitrogen fertiliser in controlled growing conditions to manipulate nitrate concentration of the vegetable as a tool for investigating the effect of nitrate content of food on human health. This was tested by determining the correlations between nitrate intake and blood pressure (BP), by measuring the short effect on systolic and diastolic BP and nitrate and nitrite contents in blood, urine and saliva samples. The novelty of this study is that the placebo and the treatment (lettuce with low and high nitrate content, respectively) have similar appearance despite being very different in nitrate content, making it possible to blind the subjects to the treatment and control placebo effects of vegetable consumption. Using 26 and 154ppm ammonium nitrate in the fertigation solution, lettuce was produced with a high (~530 mg nitrate/50g FW portion) or low (~3 mg/50g) nitrate content. However not all confounding factors could be controlled, e.g. the low nitrate lettuce produced a high amount of phenolic acids which was 69.5 mg/50g FW and high nitrate lettuce produced a much lower amount which10.5mg/50g FW (P<0.001). So while the nitrate content can be manipulated substantially via fertilizer treatments, the low-nitrate lettuce also differs from the high-nitrate lettuce in the content of other non-nutrient phytochemicals. An intervention trial was carried out with twenty healthy young volunteers (12 females and 8 males) in a randomised, double-blind placebo controlled cross-over design, with two 24-hour ii intervention phases separated by a 3-week washout period to avoid carry-over effects. Blood pressure was recorded by 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), every 30 mins during day-time and every 60 min at night-time. Consumption of high nitrate lettuce significantly increased plasma NO3 (3 hrs post-ingestion: 395±133 μM; P<0.001), salivary NO3 (3 hrs post-ingestion: 7362±4666 μM; P<0.001) and urinary NO3 (3 hrs post-ingestion: 2287±1233μM; P<0.001) concentrations whereas non-significant changes were measured in the low nitrate lettuce group. High nitrate lettuce significantly reduced systolic BP (-2.80±4.43 mmHg and -6.85±4.91 mmHg after 3 and 6 hrs, respectively; P=0.003) and diastolic BP (-2.25±2.34mmHg and Δ3.85±3.01 mmHg after 3h and 6 hrs, respectively; P=0.002) compared to low nitrate lettuce. No significant difference was observed between high nitrate lettuce and low nitrate lettuce for TEAC (P = 0.32), FRAP (P = 0.26), cGMP (P = 0.19) and plasma concentrations of phenolic compounds. The results showed that the amount of urinary nitrate excreted during a 24-hour period increased from 104mg with low nitrate lettuce to 391mg (P<0.001) with the high nitrate lettuce. In conclusion, ingestion of high nitrate lettuce significantly increases plasma, saliva and urinary nitrate and lowers systolic and diastolic BP compared to low nitrate lettuce. The development of NO3-enriched and NO3-depleted vegetable products with similar organoleptic characteristics could provide a unique opportunity to conduct double-blind nutritional interventions and advance knowledge on the role of dietary nitrate on human health.Iraqi Government, The Higher Committee for Education Development (HCED) in Iraq for providing this scholarship to doctoral studies

The Impact of Servitization on Supply Chain Management in Aero-Engine Industry: Analysis of Rolls Royce’s Case Study

Abstract: Objective: The objective of this dissertation is to examine how implementing servitization might affect supply chain management in aero engine industry. By critically reviewing the literature of both of servitization, supply chain and any relevant subtopics to aero engine industry such as MR&O services, and creating value. Moreover, by analysing Rolls Royce’s case study to examine the impacts of TotalCare program as an application of servitization on the three main elements of their supply chain management, supply network structure, management processes, and components. It aims to draw guidance from the literature and the practical case study for optimisation of implementing servitization with respect to the three elements of supply chain management, along with servitization to create value for the entire stakeholders. Methodology/design/approach: a qualitative methodology is used to approach this study as the problem can be analysed critically to link between different variables of the dissertation. A single case study method is used due to the nature of the main question highlighted, which is (How). Data collected mainly from the journals and publications online and three topics of servitization, supply chain management, MR&O. papers, articles, online articles, whitepapers, and work papers are all relevant to those three titles reviewed to aid in designing the case study from the formal website of Rolls Royce. the selection is rationalised by the fact that the result oriented type of servitization which focus on providing functionality is successfully applied by R-R. Moreover, as a second large manufacturing company worldwide, it has a complex product and supply chain, long age, broad install based units and an infrastructure of MR&O system. Three relevant literatures reviewed and links found to support the case study, analysis, and discussion. Findings/Value/Suggestions This dissertation found that implementing servitization would change the significance consequent of supply chain management elements; Information flow infrastructure will gain the lion share in importance as a glue to link all elements and components and organise Risk management as a new process. Competitors are also considered as a supplier partner to create or deliver value. Settlement 4 of Accounts between Banks is modified to organise the outsourced MR&O between competitors, and gain fully reliability and availability as a global network, with maintaining their customers. Firms must consider reengineering the organisation and the supply network with the implementation servitization type in accordance to the nature of the business. Future research should be on the drawbacks of entrepreneurs’ servitization rather than shifting of manufacturing to servitization. Key words Servitization, Supply Chain Management (SCM), Value Creation, Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MR&O)

The Impact of Servitization on Supply Chain Management in Aero-Engine Industry: Analysis of Rolls Royce’s Case Study

Objective: The objective of this dissertation is to examine how implementing servitization might affect supply chain management in aero engine industry. It aims to draw guidelines from the literature and a practical case study for optimisation of implementing servitization with respect to the three elements of supply chain management, to create value for the entire stakeholders. Methodology/design/approach: A qualitative methodology is used to approach this study, as the problem can be analysed critically to link between different variables of the dissertation. A single case study method is used due to the nature of the main question highlighted, which is (How). Data collected mainly from the journals and publications online. Rolls Royce, which is a second largest engine manufacturer company worldwide, was selected as a case study because it has a complex product, supply chain, broad install based units and an infrastructure of MR&O system. the main resource is the Official website to design the case study. Findings/Value: This dissertation found that implementing servitization would change the significance of supply chain management elements; Information flow infrastructure will gain the lion share in importance to link all elements and components and organise Risk management. Competitors are also considered as a supplier partner to create or deliver value. Settlement of Accounts between Banks is modified and benchmarked to organise MR&O and servitization between competitors, and gain fully reliability and availability as a global network, with maintaining their customers. Suggestions: Firms must consider reengineering the organisation and the supply network with servitization in accordance to the nature of the business. Future research should be on the entrepreneurs’ servitization rather than shifting of manufacturing to servitization, and focusing on the drawbacks of servitization. Key words: Servitization, Supply Chain, Supply Chain Management (SCM), Value Creation, Performance objectives, Aero-Engine, Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MR&O)

Exploring the challenges and opportunities of image processing and sensor fusion in autonomous vehicles: A comprehensive review

Autonomous vehicles are at the forefront of future transportation solutions, but their success hinges on reliable perception. This review paper surveys image processing and sensor fusion techniques vital for ensuring vehicle safety and efficiency. The paper focuses on object detection, recognition, tracking, and scene comprehension via computer vision and machine learning methodologies. In addition, the paper explores challenges within the field, such as robustness in adverse weather conditions, the demand for real-time processing, and the integration of complex sensor data. Furthermore, we examine localization techniques specific to autonomous vehicles. The results show that while substantial progress has been made in each subfield, there are persistent limitations. These include a shortage of comprehensive large-scale testing, the absence of diverse and robust datasets, and occasional inaccuracies in certain studies. These issues impede the seamless deployment of this technology in real-world scenarios. This comprehensive literature review contributes to a deeper understanding of the current state and future directions of image processing and sensor fusion in autonomous vehicles, aiding researchers and practitioners in advancing the development of reliable autonomous driving systems

Determination of some heavy metals in imported rice grains (Oryza sativa) available in Sulaymaniyah market and evaluation of their health risk assessment

This investigation was conducted to assess the levels of some heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, cadmium, chromium, copper, zinc, iron, nickel, and manganese in imported rice sold on the Sulaymaniyah market – Iraqi Kurdistan. The potential human health risk assessment was conducted by considering estimated weekly intake (EWI) of heavy metals from eating rice and calculated values compared with provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI). The mean values for copper, manganese and zinc were considerably higher than allowable limits set by FAO/WHO. While the lead value in the entire rice types were lower than allowable limits set by FAO/WHO except (Uruguayan rice R9 and R12, Iranian rice R20, American rice R24, and Russian rice R26). The concentration of iron and nickel in some rice brands were less than the standard limit, and the chromium value was within the safe limit except for these (Indian rice R1, Uruguayan rice R12, Iranian rice R20, Chinese rice R33) brands, which were higher than the acceptable limit. EWI for chromium and nickel in most samples were higher than the PTWI. Also, EWI for zinc, manganese, and copper was higher than the PTWI set by FAO/WHO. Moreover, the EWI for lead were considerably higher than other measured toxic metals, and the highest mean level of EWI for lead was observed in some imported rice samples. Thus, the high consumption of rice contaminated with heavy metals can cause potential health risks to the Kurdish population in Kurdistan. More consideration should be given to contaminated rice and prevention and control measures should be taken

Some mm-Fold Symmetric Bi-Univalent Function Classes and Their Associated Taylor-Maclaurin Coefficient Bounds

The Ruscheweyh derivative operator is used in this paper to introduce and investigate interesting general subclasses of the function class $\Sigma_{\mathrm{m}}$ of $m$-fold symmetric bi-univalent analytic functions. Estimates of the initial Taylor-Maclaurin coefficients $\left|a_{m+1}\right|$ and $\left|a_{2 m+1}\right|$ are obtained for functions of the subclasses introduced in this study, and the consequences of the results are discussed. The results presented would generalize and improve on some recent works by many earlier authors. In some cases, our estimates are better than the existing coefficient bounds. Furthermore, within the engineering domain, this paper delves into a series of complex issues related to analytic functions, $m$-fold symmetric univalent functions, and the utilization of the Ruscheweyh derivative operator. These problems encompass a broad spectrum of engineering applications, including the optimization of optical system designs, signal processing for antenna arrays, image compression techniques, and filter design for control systems. The paper underscores the crucial role of these mathematical concepts in addressing practical engineering dilemmas and fine-tuning the performance of various engineering systems. It emphasizes the potential for innovative solutions that can significantly enhance the reliability and effectiveness of engineering applications.Comment: 15 page

Comparative Study of the Fingerprint Pattern among Diabetic (Type 1) & Non-Diabetic Children in Koya City

Dactyloscopy is a branch of Dermatoglyphics (investigate of epidermal ridges) which includes estimation and classification of unique finger impression patterns for detection. The whole unique finger impression patterns are laid down for all time for the third month of the intrauterine living and they continue unchanged throughout life. This is, in addition, the period after every organ in the body is finalizing their progress. Consequently, a positive link of the dermatoglyphic character through dissimilar diseases like diabetes, mongolism, schizophrenia and leprosy have been correctly reported in the literature. The aim of the study is to show a relationship among fingertip patterns between type 1 diabetes cases in comparison to controls together with children in Koya City. In this study, 16 type 1 diabetic subjects and 16 controls were selected from the children in the Koya city in Kurdistan region of Iraq and their fingerprints were taken by the ink method. Overall the results showed that there is a significant difference in fingerprints between type 1 diabetes and controls in children. The print patterns, including whorls, arches, loops and suntypes were analysed for both cases. In conclusion, the findings of this study indicate possible markers for the use of dermatoglyphics in early diagnosis of type 1 diabetes in children