Search in Publications
Found 6289 publications
Machine Learning Prediction of Pavement Macrotexture from 3D Laser-Scanning Data
Publication Name: Applied Sciences Switzerland
Publication Date: 2026-01-01
Volume: 16
Issue: 1
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Featured Applications: Pavement texture evaluation using a traditional sand patch method, 3D laser scanning, and machine learning algorithms. Pavement macrotexture, quantified by mean texture depth (MTD) and mean profile depth (MPD), is a critical parameter for road safety and performance. The traditional sand patch test is labor-intensive and slow, creating a bottleneck for modern pavement management systems. Accurately translating the rich point cloud data into reliable MTD values using the 3D scanning method remains a challenge, with current methods often relying on oversimplified correlations. This research addresses this gap by developing and validating a novel machine learning framework to predict MTD and MPD directly from high-resolution 3D laser scans. A comprehensive dataset of 127 pavement samples was created, combining traditional sand patch measurements with detailed 3D point clouds. From these point clouds, 27 distinct surface features spanning statistical, spatial, spectral, and geometric domains were developed. Six machine learning algorithms, consisting of Random Forest, Gradient Boosting, Support Vector Regression, k-Nearest Neighbor, Artificial Neural Networks, and Linear Regression, were implemented. The results demonstrate that the ensemble-based Random Forest model achieved superior performance, predicting MTD with an R2 of 0.941 and a mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.067 mm, representing a 56% improvement in accuracy over traditional digital correlation methods. Model interpretation via SHAP analysis identified root mean square height (Sq) and surface skewness (Ssk) as the most influential features.
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.3390/app16010500
Virtual influencer-brand collaborations: a multiple-case study of strategic design and the credibility-engagement paradox
Publication Name: Cogent Business and Management
Publication Date: 2026-01-01
Volume: 13
Issue: 1
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Virtual influencers (VIs) are increasingly integrated into brand communication strategies, offering novel opportunities for audience engagement, message control, and digital differentiation. This study examines brand-virtual influencer collaborations through a multiple-case study approach, analyzing five diverse cases: Lil Miquela, Imma, Noonoouri, Lu do Magalu, and Knox Frost. The analysis focuses on brand motivations for engaging with virtual influencers, strategic design and implementation choices in VI collaborations, and their effects on consumer trust, brand perception, and engagement. Findings indicate that brands are primarily motivated by novelty, differentiation, and the ability to achieve risk-controllable visibility, while effective collaboration strategies depend on aligning virtual influencer characteristics such as form realism, ownership structure, and endorsement format with product category and communication objectives. Cross-case synthesis reveals what we conceptualize as the Credibility-Engagement Paradox: an analytical framework whereby novelty, originality, and visual distinctiveness enhance engagement and opinion leadership, while simultaneously constraining perceived credibility and trust relative to human influencers. This study advances influencer marketing theory by conceptualizing the Credibility-Engagement Paradox as an analytical framework derived from cross-case evidence, demonstrating how novelty-driven engagement and credibility formation operate as partially independent mechanisms shaped by anthropomorphism, ownership structure, and contextual accountability, while also offering actionable guidance for brands deploying virtual influencers in digital marketing ecosystems.
Open Access: Yes
Controlled Fuzzy 2-Metric Spaces: A Soft Computing Framework with Dynamic Applications
Publication Name: International Journal of Analysis and Applications
Publication Date: 2026-01-01
Volume: 24
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
In this article, we introduce the concept of a controlled fuzzy 2-metric space, formulated by incorporating three control functions that flexibly regulate the fuzzy distance relationships among triplets of points. This structure provides a flexible analytical tool for modeling systems influenced by uncertainty, interdependence, and approximate reasoning. We establish several fundamental properties of this structure and derive fixed-point results. To demonstrate its practical relevance, we apply the proposed framework to a dynamic market-equilibrium problem, in which agents’ interactions are governed by fuzzy relations and control-dependent adjustments. The study also discusses implications for soft computing and decision-making systems, highlighting the framework’s potential in modeling adaptive and uncertain environments.
Open Access: Yes
Audit fees in the mandatory joint audit setting: a comparative study between the European Union and the MENA region
Publication Name: Journal of Financial Reporting and Accounting
Publication Date: 2026-01-01
Volume: Unknown
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: 1-28
Description:
Purpose – This study aims to investigate audit fees for nonfinancial listed companies under mandatory joint audit regimes, comparing the effects of different joint audit pair compositions in France (EU) and Morocco (MENA region). Design/methodology/approach – Using a sample of 397 nonfinancial listed companies (349 French, 48 Moroccan) from 2014 to 2023 (3, 970 firm-year observations), this study uses multivariate regressions in Stata to examine audit fee variations across six joint audit pair types: B4B4 (two Big Four firms), B4S1 (one Big Four with one non-Big Four international), B4S2 (one Big Four with one local), S1S1 (two non-Big Four international), S1S2 (one non-Big Four international with one local) and S2S2 (two local). Findings – Results reveal significant differences in audit fees across joint audit pairs in both France and Morocco, regardless of pair type or firm size. Notably, fees are consistently higher in France, which has stronger investor protection, than in Morocco. In terms of pair ranking in France, B4B4FR commands the highest fees, followed by B4S1FR and B4S2FR. There is no significant fee difference between B4B4FR and B4S1FR, supporting the preference for joint Big Four pairs among large companies. By contrast, in Morocco, B4B4MO has the highest fees, followed by B4S2MO; B4S1MO has the lowest. Non-Big Four pairs (S1S1, S1S2 and S2S2) show no significant fee differences in either country, suggesting that medium-sized companies rationally select two non-Big Four international auditors. Further analysis shows that, in France, Big Four premiums and interpair fee gaps narrow as firm size increases. Conversely, in Morocco, B4B4MO and S1S1MO are more competitively priced for small firms, while B4S1MO targets larger firms. Regarding industry specialization, it generally raises fees – except in B4S2 and S1S1 pairs (no effect) and in B4S1FR, where it reduces fees. Practical implications – This study offers significant insights for investors, policymakers and companies involved in joint audit frameworks, as well as those considering implementing joint audits, through an in-depth analysis of a crucial issue in joint auditing. Originality/value – To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first comparative study of joint audit fees for nonfinancial companies in mandatory regimes across developed (France) and emerging (Morocco) markets. It classifies joint audit pairs into six categories and investigates the effects of company size and auditor industry specialization on these fees.
Open Access: Yes
Legal Risk Assessment of Re-using Building Materials and Elements in Historic Structures
Publication Name: Rilem Bookseries
Publication Date: 2026-01-01
Volume: 64
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: 2952-2962
Description:
Construction processes intensively contributes to greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. The resulting climate change affects historic buildings and complicates built heritage preservation. However, there are several actions under way, such as the European Green Deal, to reduce CO2 emissions in construction. Revaluation of existing structures under application of recycled materials and by re-use of available building elements may save resources and thus reduces emission of CO2 in construction industry. This contributes to a more environmentally friendly construction process. Furthermore, re-using of existing building materials or elements may preserve the historical appearance of structures, in the interest of future generations. For production and usage of new building materials and elements, a plethora of legislation and codes needs to be considered. The same applies to re-use of existing building materials and elements which increases the danger for construction defects and thus expensive claims. Thus, beside the advantages, re-using of building materials and elements bears risks to all stakeholders in a construction project. In the interest of avoiding conflicts between the construction contract parties, a legal risk analysis is necessary to support them in decision about the re-use of existing building materials and elements. The authors examined current international, European and German law, codes, and policy dealing with re-use of building materials and elements. Furthermore, they reviewed existing literature about that topic and analyzed relevant court cases of the last twenty years. The conclusion is, that there is a need for a detailed contract specification which kind of existing building elements and materials can be re-used and who takes the responsibility for known or unknown defects under the aspect of liability. The paper provides suggestions under which legal aspects a re-use of building elements may be recommendable and which requirements need to be met.
Open Access: Yes
Design of an Energy-Efficient SHA-3 Accelerator on Artix-7 FPGA for Secure Network Applications
Publication Name: Computers
Publication Date: 2026-01-01
Volume: 15
Issue: 1
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
As the demand for secure communication and data integrity in embedded and networked systems continues to grow, there is an increasing need for cryptographic solutions that provide robust security while efficiently using energy and hardware resources. Although software-based implementations of SHA-3 provide design flexibility, they often struggle to meet the performance and power limitations of constrained environments. This study introduces a hardware-accelerated SHA-3 solution tailored for the Xilinx Artix-7 FPGA. The architecture includes a fully pipelined Keccak-f [1600] core and incorporates design strategies such as selective loop unrolling, clock gating, and pipeline balancing to enhance overall efficiency. Developed in VHDL and synthesised using Vivado 2024.2.2, the design achieves a throughput of 1.35 Gbps at 210 MHz, with a power consumption of 0.94 W—yielding an energy efficiency of 1.44 Gbps/W. Validation using NIST SHA-3 vectors confirms its reliable performance, making it a promising candidate for secure embedded systems, including IoT platforms, edge devices, and real-time authentication applications.
Open Access: Yes
Calculation of preheating temperature of different steels applied in vehicle industry
Publication Name: Pollack Periodica
Publication Date: 2026-01-01
Volume: Unknown
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Preheating is crucial in welding high-strength steels as it reduces the risk of cold cracking, manages residual stresses, and improves the mechanical properties of welded joints. This study examines various preheating techniques and their effects on the temperature field, residual stress distribution, and deformation behavior in high-strength steel welding. The specific procedures for enhancing it are discussed in this paper, focusing mainly on preheating, controlled heat input during welding, and additionally heat treatment of the welded joint. Through experimental analysis, the optimal preheating temperatures and methods for different steel grades, including S960QL and S1100M, are determined. The results indicate that preheating significantly lowers residual stress, prevents brittle fractures, and enhances overall weld quality.
Open Access: Yes
Who Benefits from the EV Transition? Electric Vehicle Adoption and Progress Toward the SDGs Across Income Groups
Publication Name: World Electric Vehicle Journal
Publication Date: 2026-01-01
Volume: 17
Issue: 1
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Electric vehicles (EVs) are widely promoted as a key strategy for reducing carbon dioxide (CO2 ) emissions and advancing sustainable development. However, the real-world benefits of EV adoption may vary across countries with different income levels and energy systems. This study investigates the relationship between EV adoption and CO2 emissions per capita, as well as overall sustainable development performance (SDG Index), across 50 countries from 2010 to 2023. Using panel quantile regression, we find that EV adoption is significantly associated with reduced CO2 emissions particularly in the high-emitting countries in high-income countries (interaction coefficient at the 90th quantile = −0.24, p < 0.05) but positively associated with emissions in lower- and middle-income countries at lower quantiles of the emissions distribution. Similarly, while EV adoption correlates positively with the SDG Index in high-income countries, it shows negative effects at the median and several quantiles. These findings challenge the “zero-emission” assumption and demonstrate that the climate and development benefits of EV diffusion are context-dependent and unevenly distributed, highlighting the need for policies that link electrification to renewable energy deployment, infrastructure development, and equitable access.
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.3390/wevj17010034
OPTIMIZING PATIENT TRANSPORT UNDER INFECTION CONTROL CONSTRAINTS: A MILP-BASED DIAL-A-RIDE APPROACH
Publication Name: Communications Scientific Letters of the University of Zilina
Publication Date: 2026-01-01
Volume: 28
Issue: 1
Page Range: E13-E20
Description:
With aging populations and rising healthcare demands, efficient patient transportation has become a critical challenge, particularly in the context of infection control. In this paper an extended mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model for optimizing patient transport in urban environments is presented, with a focus on the separate transportation of infectious and non-infectious individuals. The model incorporates time windows, maximum allowable ride durations, and mandatory vehicle disinfection requirements. Experimental results obtained using CPLEX demonstrate that incorporating infection control measures significantly influences both route planning and computational complexity. The proposed approach provides a scalable foundation for future multi-vehicle extensions and cost-based optimization strategies.
Open Access: Yes
