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Acceptance of self-driving cars among the university community: Effects of gender, previous experience, technology adoption propensity, and attitudes toward autonomous vehicles

Győző Kurucz Gabor Kovacs Ágnes Hőgye-Nagy

Publication Name: Transportation Research Part F Traffic Psychology and Behaviour

Publication Date: 2023-04-01

Volume: 94

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 353-361

Description:

This article investigates the acceptance of autonomous cars based on the role of attitudes toward autonomous vehicles, acceptance of technology, previous experiences, and gender. Using an online survey, which includes the Acceptance of Autonomous Vehicles (AVAS) and Technology Adoption Propensity scale (TAP), a sample of 1273 members of a university community was collected. Acceptance of using autonomous cars in a test drive and ordinary, real traffic scenarios, as well as the intention to buy one were measured via self-administered items. We used conditional process modeling to get a more detailed insight into the connections among these factors. The findings revealed that all four factors of attitudes towards autonomous vehicles (benefits in usefulness, benefits in situations, commonalities concerns, system concerns) but only the optimism factor of technology adaption propensity affected the acceptance. Dependency seemed to affect benefits in usefulness and the two concern variables. Gender differences are almost entirely explained away by the effects of attitudes. Previous experience had no significant effect in the model.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1016/j.trf.2023.03.005

Mortality on DOACs Versus on Vitamin K Antagonists in Atrial Fibrillation: Analysis of the Hungarian Health Insurance Fund Database

Zsuzsa Bagoly László Márk Ibolya Fábián Dániel Aradi György Rokszin Csaba András Dézsi Dávid Becker Tímea Papp Zoltán Kiss Zoltán Csanádi Zoltán Járai Béla Merkely

Publication Name: Clinical Therapeutics

Publication Date: 2023-04-01

Volume: 45

Issue: 4

Page Range: 333-346

Description:

Purpose: Limited real-world data are available on the survival of patients treated with vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) versus with direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) for nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF). In this nationwide registry, we analyzed the mortality risk of patients with nonvalvular AF taking DOACs versus VKAs, with a special attention to the early treatment period. Methods: The Hungarian National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) database was searched to identify patients treated with VKA or DOAC as a thromboembolic prophylaxis for nonvalvular AF between 2011 and 2016. The overall and the early (0–3, 4–6, and 7–12 months) mortality risks with the 2 types of anticoagulation were compared. A total of 144,394 patients with AF treated with either a VKA (n = 129,925) or a DOAC (n = 14,469) were enrolled. Findings: A 28% improvement in 3-year survival with DOAC treatment compared with VKA treatment was shown. Mortality reduction with DOACs was consistent across different subgroups. However, younger patients (30–59 years old) initiated on DOAC therapy had the greatest RRR (53%) in mortality. Furthermore, DOAC treatment also yielded a benefit of greater magnitude (HR = 0.55; 95% CI, 0.40–0.77, P = 0.001) in the lower (0-1) CHA2DS2-VASc score segment and in those with fewer (0–1) bleeding risk factors (HR = 0.50, CI 0.34–0.73, P = 0.001). The RRR in mortality with DOACs was 33% within the first 3 months, and 6% in the second year. Implications: Thromboembolic prophylaxis with DOACs in this study yielded significantly lower mortality compared with VKA treatment in patients with nonvalvular AF. The largest benefit was shown in the early period after treatment initiation, as well as in younger patients, those with a lower CHA2DS2-VASc score, and those with fewer bleeding risk factors.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2023.03.008

Analysis of Road Users’ Risk Behaviors in Different Travel Modes: The Bangkok Metropolitan Region, Thailand

Pawinee Iamtrakul Emese Makó Sararad Chayphong Souvathone Phetoudom

Publication Name: Infrastructures

Publication Date: 2023-04-01

Volume: 8

Issue: 4

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

This study explores road users’ behaviors and accident analyses on different travel modes in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region (BMR). The questionnaire survey was adopted and designed based on contributing factors related to risk behavior perceptions in different travel modes. A total of 3000 participants submitted questionnaires that provided data for a multiple regression model analysis. The results indicated that different travel modes have different risk behavior perceptions. Road users of vulnerable modes of travel, such as walking and cycling, were more aware of risky behaviors than users of others. Risky, violent behavior may occur due to fatigue, driving while taking drugs, or aggressive tactics where the driver may lose control and cause an accident. However, driver negligence, especially violating traffic rules, may sometimes cause risky behavior. The results show that age, gender, education level, income level, marital status, driving experience, accident experience, and attitude toward road safety affect risk behavior perception. In conclusion, the differentiation of vehicles plays a vital role as a critical issue that should be understood for effectively mitigating risks in different travel patterns.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/infrastructures8040079

EVALUATION THE BEHAVIOR OF PULLOUT FORCE AND DISPLACEMENT FOR A SINGLE PILE: EXPERIMENTAL VALIDATION WITH PLAXIS 3D

Edina Koch Shaymaa Alsamia

Publication Name: Kufa Journal of Engineering

Publication Date: 2023-04-01

Volume: 14

Issue: 2

Page Range: 105-116

Description:

This study conducted an experimental and numerical investigation to examine the pullout behavior of a single pile in sand soil with a specific density. The soil testing model was constructed to simulate real-world geotechnical applications where the soil is subjected to varying pullout forces. The experimental setup involved measuring vertical displacement corresponding to different values of pullout forces. The results were then compared to numerical results obtained from a PLAXIS 3D model with HS-small. The experimental and numerical results showed good agreement, demonstrating the effectiveness of the numerical model in simulating real-world geotechnical applications. The study provides valuable insights into the pullout behavior of a pile in soil with specific density and can be used to improve the design and construction of geotechnical structures. The difference between experimental results and numerical predictions was in acceptable values.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.30572/2018/KJE/140207

Effect of Roller Levelling on Tensile Properties of Aluminum Sheets

Dóra Harangozó Imre Czinege

Publication Name: Materials

Publication Date: 2023-04-01

Volume: 16

Issue: 8

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

The straightening of sheets, bars and profiles plays an important role in many machining processes. The aim of sheet straightening in the rolling mill is to ensure that the deviation of sheets from flatness is within the tolerances specified in the standards or delivery conditions. There is a wide range of information available on the roller levelling process used to meet these quality requirements. However, little attention has been paid to the effects of levelling, namely the change in properties of the sheets before and after roller levelling. The aim of the present publication is to investigate how the levelling process affects tensile test results. The experiments have shown that levelling increases the yield strength of the sheet by 14–18%, while it decreases its elongation by 1–3% and hardening exponent by 15%. The mechanical model developed allows changes to be predicted, so that a plan can be made regarding roller levelling technology that has the least effect on the properties of the sheet while maintaining the desired dimensional accuracy.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/ma16083001

Reliability Assessment of Reinforced Concrete Beams under Elevated Temperatures: A Probabilistic Approach Using Finite Element and Physical Models

János Szép János Lógó Majid Movahedi Rad Muayad Habashneh

Publication Name: Sustainability Switzerland

Publication Date: 2023-04-01

Volume: 15

Issue: 7

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

A novel computational model is proposed in this paper considering reliability analysis in the modelling of reinforced concrete beams at elevated temperatures, by assuming that concrete and steel materials have random mechanical properties in which those properties are treated as random variables following a normal distribution. Accordingly, the reliability index is successfully used as a constraint to restrain the modelling process. A concrete damage plasticity constitutive model is utilized in this paper for the numerical models, and it was validated according to those data which were gained from laboratory tests. Detailed comparisons between the models according to different temperatures in the case of deterministic designs are proposed to show the effect of increasing the temperature on the models. Other comparisons are proposed in the case of probabilistic designs to distinguish the difference between deterministic and reliability-based designs. The procedure of introducing the reliability analysis of the nonlinear problems is proposed by a nonlinear code considering different reliability index values for each temperature case. The results of the proposed work have efficiently shown how considering uncertainties and their related parameters plays a critical role in the modelling of reinforced concrete beams at elevated temperatures, especially in the case of high temperatures.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/su15076077

Global stability of fuzzy cognitive maps

Miklós F. Hatwágner István A. Harmati Ĺaszĺo T. Ḱoczy

Publication Name: Neural Computing and Applications

Publication Date: 2023-04-01

Volume: 35

Issue: 10

Page Range: 7283-7295

Description:

Complex systems can be effectively modelled by fuzzy cognitive maps. Fuzzy cognitive maps (FCMs) are network-based models, where the connections in the network represent causal relations. The conclusion about the system is based on the limit of the iteratively applied updating process. This iteration may or may not reach an equilibrium state (fixed point). Moreover, if the model is globally asymptotically stable, then this fixed point is unique and the iteration converges to this point from every initial state. There are some FCM models, where global stability is the required property, but in many FCM applications, the preferred scenario is not global stability, but multiple fixed points. Global stability bounds are useful in both cases: they may give a hint about which parameter set should be preferred or avoided. In this article, we present novel conditions for the global asymptotical stability of FCMs, i.e. conditions under which the iteration leads to the same point from every initial vector. Furthermore, we show that the results presented here outperform the results known from the current literature.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1007/s00521-021-06742-9

IIoT-Supported Manufacturing-Material-Flow Tracking in a DES-Based Digital-Twin Environment

Szabolcs Fischer Gergő Monek

Publication Name: Infrastructures

Publication Date: 2023-04-01

Volume: 8

Issue: 4

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

Manufacturing processes can be cited as significant research areas when examining infrastructure systems and infrastructure, as they are inextricably linked to both. Examples include automobile manufacturing, the production of traffic signs, etc. Connecting and utilizing Industry 4.0 technologies and processing simulation solutions to address industry challenges, such as process optimization and fault detection, are gaining in popularity. Cyber-physical systems and digital twins connect the physical and cyber worlds to enable intelligent manufacturing capabilities, increased system flexibility, decreased manufacturing-cycle times, and improved quality. This paper presents a solution that improves the synchronization between the real (physical) and simulation (digital) layers, using discrete-event-driven simulations to create more efficient and accurate digital-twin environments. Using a combination of inexpensive commercial microcontrollers and an inertial-measurement-unit sensor to enhance a standard programmable logic controller process, a discrete-event-simulation-based digital layer is updated in real time to produce a live digital twin. The system can accurately identify and track products throughout the production cycle while simultaneously updating the digital twin in real time. Even independently, the algorithm running on the microcontroller can be used to gather the input parameters required for the simulation of production processes. The implemented environment can serve as a suitable testing ground for investigating the practical applicability of digital-twin solutions.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/infrastructures8040075

Changing Tourism Trends of the Benedictine Abbey in Tihany: Best Practices of a Hungarian Monastic Community

Katalin Czakó Dávid Fekete Mihály Dömötör Gábor Ágoston Barkó

Publication Name: Religions

Publication Date: 2023-04-01

Volume: 14

Issue: 4

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

The touristic use of sacred sites is a widespread practice in Hungary. Throughout the past centuries, Christianity has dominated the history of the Carpathian Basin. The Hungarian State’s strong affiliation with the Roman Catholic Church dates back to its foundation over a 1000 years ago. Due to its location on the shore of Lake Balaton and outstanding natural environment, the Benedictine Tihany Abbey is a major touristic destination and a popular place of pilgrimage in Hungary. The objective of the present paper is to examine how touristic activities contribute to the livelihood of a Hungarian monastic community and local economic development in the 21st century. To answer the research questions, the study primarily relied on literature and documentary analysis, in-depth interviews, and the construction and processing of a database. The research revealed that in addition to the classic elements (e.g., guided tours in the abbey, museum exhibitions, concerts, etc.), the program offer developed by the monastic community of Tihany is capable of addressing new target audiences: the rapidly rising number of tourists from the Far East (mainly Japan, China, South Korea, and Russia). Despite remaining considerably below visitor numbers recorded by the abbey in the mid-1990s, a significant increase in visitor numbers was observed in 2018–2019. The economic activities of the Benedictines of Tihany comprise a number of different areas beyond tourism, e.g., agricultural production and candle making, both of which are integrated into their tourism offer and feature among touristic programs. As a major employer, the abbey exerts a positive impact on the population retention capacity of the settlement by offering jobs to local residents, and it also contributes to population growth by attracting a large number of highly skilled professionals who choose to settle down in the region. The paper shows the evidence of the pandemic on pilgrimage and religious tourism in Tihany.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/rel14040435