Digital Commons Network^™

Life Cycle Integration Of Building Information Modeling In Infrastructure Projects, Xingzhou Guo, Chi Tian, Jinwu Xiao, Yunfeng Chen, Jiansong Zhang

JTRP Technical Reports

Building Information Modeling (BIM) can provide solutions to many challenges of asset management, such as missing data, incompatible software, and an unclear business process. However, current implementation of BIM in infrastructure projects has only considered limited factors, such as technology application and digital information delivery, while issues of system compatibility and information needs are still missing. Different aspects of a business are interdependent and an incompatible development of various factors might result in different levels of BIM implementation or even project failure. Comprehensive research is needed to explore the key factors and challenges of BIM implementation in infrastructure projects. This …

Alternate Interchange Signing Study For Indiana Highways, Stanley Chien, Yaobin Chen, Renran Tian, Lingxi Li, Donglin Liu, Jue Zhou, Dan Shen

JTRP Technical Reports

The main objectives of this research were to (1) understand signing issues from the perspective of drivers and (2) develop recommendations for improving interchange signing in Indiana to aid driver understanding and increase the safety and efficiency of highway traffic operations. An online survey with specific questions was designed and distributed through email, social media, online newspapers, and a survey company with the goal of better understanding driver thinking when approaching decision-making areas on the interstate. The analysis of the survey results revealed the following.

• Drivers usually do not know the interchange types as they approach an interchange on the …

Evaluating The Impact Of Vehicle Digital Communication Alerts On Vehicles, Rahul Suryakant Sakhare, Jairaj Desai, Jijo K. Mathew, Woosung Kim, Justin Mahlberg, Howell Li, Darcy M. Bullock

JTRP Technical Reports

Traditional methods for communicating the presence of maintenance activities and work zones have been done with a variety of fixed signs. The increase of in-vehicle connectivity on our roads—either directly integrated into the vehicle or via an application running on a mobile phone–provides an opportunity for additional communication to motorists about the presence of emergency vehicles, maintenance activities, or work zones. Although the exact form of the in-vehicle communication is evolving and will continue to do so, a critical first step is to leverage the extensive telematics currently deployed on the Indiana Department of Transportation Vehicles. The objective of this …

Cpt-Based Geotechnical Design Manual, Volume 3: Cpt-Based Design Of Foundations—Example Problems, Venkata A. Sakleshpur, Monica Prezzi, Rodrigo Salgado, Mir Zaheer

JTRP Technical Reports

This manual provides guidance on how to use the cone penetration test (CPT) for site investigation and foundation design. The manual has been organized into three volumes. Volume 1 covers the execution of CPT-based site investigations and presents a comprehensive literature review of CPT-based soil behavior type (SBT) charts and estimation of soil variables from CPT results. Volume 2 covers the methods and equations needed for CPT data interpretation and foundation design in different soil types, while Volume 3 includes several example problems (based on instrumented case histories) with detailed, step-by-step calculations to demonstrate the application of the design methods. …

Use Of Lrfr Methodology For Load Rating Of Indot Steel Bridges, Prekshi Khanna, Mark D. Bowman

JTRP Technical Reports

Load rating of bridges before 1994 was primarily conducted by Load Factor Rating (LFR). In 1994, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) developed and encouraged the use of a probabilistic-based method titled Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) for carrying out bridge design. A new methodology consistent with LRFD was also developed and adopted for conducting load rating. Thus, a new Load and Resistance Factor Rating (LRFR) was adopted by AASHTO in 2001 for load rating. Today, the bridges that were designed by the old LFD methodology are rated by both LFR and LRFR. Continued development …

An Integrated Critical Information Delivery Platform For Smart Segment Dissemination To Road Users, Lingxi Li, Yaobin Chen, Renren Tian, Feng Li, Howell Li, James R. Sturdevant

JTRP Technical Reports

An integrated critical information delivery platform for smart segment dissemination to road users was developed. A statewide baseline milepost geodatabase was created at 0.1-mile resolution with tools, protocols, and interfaces that allow other data sources to be efficiently utilized. A variety of data sources (e.g., INRIX, CARS, Doppler, camera images, connected vehicle data, automated vehicle location) were integrated into existing and new dashboards for stakeholders to monitor roadway conditions and after-action reviews. Additionally, based on these data sources, algorithms were developed and an API was created to identify hazardous road conditions when the location of the end-user mobile device was …

Cpt-Based Geotechnical Design Manual, Volume 2: Cpt-Based Design Of Foundations—Methods, Venkata A. Sakleshpur, Monica Prezzi, Rodrigo Salgado, Mir Zaheer

JTRP Technical Reports

This manual provides guidance on how to use the cone penetration test (CPT) for site investigation and foundation design. The manual has been organized into three volumes. Volume 1 covers the execution of CPT-based site investigations and presents a comprehensive literature review of CPT-based soil behavior type (SBT) charts and estimation of soil variables from CPT results. Volume 2 covers the methods and equations needed for CPT data interpretation and foundation design in different soil types, while Volume 3 includes several example problems (based on instrumented case histories) with detailed, step-by-step calculations to demonstrate the application of the design methods. …

Effective Design And Operation Of Pedestrian Crossings, Noshin S. Ahmad, Raul Pineda-Mendez, Fahad Alqahtani, Mario Romero, Jose Thomaz, Andrew P. Tarko

JTRP Technical Reports

Pedestrians are vulnerable road users since they are prone to more severe injuries in any vehicular collision. While innovative solutions promise improved pedestrian safety, a careful analysis of local conditions is required before selecting proper corrective measures. This research study had two focuses: (1) methodology to identify roads and areas in Indiana where the frequency and severity of pedestrian collisions are heightened above the acceptable level, and (2) selecting effective countermeasures to mitigate or eliminate safety-critical conditions. Two general methods of identifying specific pedestrian safety concerns were proposed: (1) area-wide analysis, and (2) road-focused analysis. A suitable tool, Safety Needs …

Self-Healing Cementitious Composites (Shcc) With Ultrahigh Ductility For Pavement And Bridge Construction, Cihang Huang, Yen-Fang Su, Na (Luna) Lu

JTRP Technical Reports

Cracks and their formations in concrete structures have been a common and long-lived problem, mainly due to the intrinsic brittleness of the concrete. Concrete structures, such as rigid pavement and bridge decks, are prone to deformations and deteriorations caused by shrinkage, temperature fluctuation, and traffic load, which can affect their service life. Rehabilitation of concrete structures is expensive and challenging—not only from maintenance viewpoints but also because they cannot be used for services during maintenance. It is critical to significantly improve the ductility of concrete to overcome such issues and to enable better infrastructure quality. To this end, the self-healing …

Book Review: Dread Nation And Deathless Divide By Justina Ireland, Phillip Fitzsimmons

Faculty Articles & Research

The books, Dread Nation and Deathless Divide, by Justina Ireland, are the first two volumes of the Dread Nation series, an alternative history in which the American Civil War ended “when the dead rose up and started to walk on a battlefield in a small town in Pennsylvania called Gettysburg.”

Risk Factors For Covid-19 Infection, Disease Severity And Related Deaths In Africa: A Systematic Review, Hailay Abrha Gesesew, Digsu Negese Koye, Dagnachew Muluye Fetene, Mulu Woldegiorgis, Yohannes Kinfu, Ayele Bali Geleto, Yohannes Adama Melaku, Hassen Mohammed, Kefyalew Addis Alene, Mamaru Ayenew Awoke, Mulugeta Molla Birhanu, Amanuel Tesfay Gebremedhin, Yalemzewod Assefa Gelaw, Desalegn Markos Shifti, Muluken Dessalegn Muluneh, Teketo Kassaw Tegegne, Solomon Abrha, Atsede Fantahun Aregay, Mohammed Biset Ayalew, Abadi Kahsu Gebre, Kidane Tadesse Gebremariam, Tesfaye Gebremedhin, Lemlem Gebremichael, Cheru Tesema Leshargie, Getiye Dejenu Kibret, Maereg Wagnew Meazaw, Alemayehu Berhane Mekonnen, Dejen Y. Tekle, Azeb G. Tesema, Fisaha H. Tesfay, Wubshet Tesfaye, Befikadu L. Wubishet, Berihun A. Dachew, Akilew A. Adane

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2020. Objective The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive evidence on risk factors for transmission, disease severity and COVID-19 related deaths in Africa. Design A systematic review has been conducted to synthesise existing evidence on risk factors affecting COVID-19 outcomes across Africa. Data sources Data were systematically searched from MEDLINE, Scopus, MedRxiv and BioRxiv. Eligibility criteria Studies for review were included if they were published in English and reported at least one risk factor and/or one health outcome. We included all relevant literature published up until 11 August 2020. Data extraction and …

Training In The Practice Of Noninvasive Brain Stimulation: Recommendations From An Ifcn Committee, Peter J. Fried, Emiliano Santarnecchi, Andrea Antal, David Bartres-Faz, Sven Bestmann, Linda L. Carpenter, Pablo Celnik, Dylan Edwards, Faranak Farzan, Shirley Fecteau, Mark S. George, Bin He, Yun-Hee Kim, Letizia Leocani, Sarah H. Lisanby, Colleen Loo, Bruce Luber, Michael A. Nitsche, Walter Paulus, Simone Rossi, Paolo M. Rossini, John Rothwell, Alexander T. Sack, Gregor Thut, Yoshikazu Ugawa, Ulf Ziemann, Mark Hallett, Alvaro Pascual-Leone

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© 2020 As the field of noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) expands, there is a growing need for comprehensive guidelines on training practitioners in the safe and effective administration of NIBS techniques in their various research and clinical applications. This article provides recommendations on the structure and content of this training. Three different types of practitioners are considered (Technicians, Clinicians, and Scientists), to attempt to cover the range of education and responsibilities of practitioners in NIBS from the laboratory to the clinic. Basic or core competencies and more advanced knowledge and skills are discussed, and recommendations offered regarding didactic and practical …

Led Illumination Spectrum Manipulation For Increasing The Yield Of Sweet Basil (Ocimum Basilicum L.), Md Momtazur Rahman, Mikhail Vasiliev, Kamal Alameh

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Manipulation of the LED illumination spectrum can enhance plant growth rate and development in grow tents. We report on the identification of the illumination spectrum required to significantly enhance the growth rate of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) plants in grow tent environments by controlling the LED wavebands illuminating the plants. Since the optimal illumination spectrum depends on the plant type, this work focuses on identifying the illumination spectrum that achieves significant basil biomass improvement compared to improvements reported in prior studies. To be able to optimize the illumination spectrum, several …

Psychological Distress In Men With Prostate Cancer Undertaking Androgen Deprivation Therapy: Modifying Effects Of Exercise From A Year-Long Randomized Controlled Trial, Daniel A. Galvão, Robert U. Newton, Suzanne K. Chambers, Nigel Spry, David Joseph, Robert A. Gardiner, Ciaran M. Fairman, Dennis R. Taaffe

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© 2021, The Author(s). Objectives: To assess the long-term effects of various exercise modes on psychological distress in men with prostate cancer on androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Patients and methods: 135 prostate cancer patients aged 43–90 years on ADT were randomized to twice weekly supervised impact loading and resistance exercise (ImpRes), supervised aerobic and resistance exercise (AerRes), and usual care/delayed supervised aerobic exercise (DelAer) for 12 months, and completed measures of psychological distress using the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18). BSI-18 provides three subscales for anxiety, depression, and somatisation, as well as the global severity index (GSI) where higher scores indicate …

Major Histocompatibility Complex (Mhc) Associations With Diseases In Ethnic Groups Of The Arabian Peninsula, Halima Al Naqbi, Aurélie Mawart, Jawaher Alshamsi, Habiba Al Safar, Guan K. Tay

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© 2021, The Author(s). Since the discovery of human leukocyte antigens (HLAs), the function of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) gene families in a wide range of diseases have been the subject of research for decades. In particular, the associations of autoimmune disorders to allelic variants and candidate genes encoding the MHC are well documented. However, despite decades of research, the knowledge of MHC associations with human disease susceptibility have been predominantly studied in European origin, with limited understanding in different populations and ethnic groups. This is particularly evident in countries and ethnic populations of the Arabian Peninsula. Human MHC haplotypes, …

Judges’ Evaluation Reliability Changes Between Identifiable And Anonymous Performance Of Hip-Hop Dance Movements, Nahoko Sato, Luke S. Hopper

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© 2021 Sato, Hopper. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Hip-hop competitions are performed across the world. In the recent inclusion in the 2018 Youth Olympic Games, the assessment of hip-hop performance is undertaken by a panel of judges. The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability of different visualisation tools utilised in the assessment of the hip-hop dance movements. Ten dancers performed basic rhythmic hip-hop movements which were captured …

Detecting Sex-Related Changes To The Metabolome Of A Critically Endangered Freshwater Crayfish During The Mating Season, Emily Lette, Quinton Burnham, Nathan Lawler, Pierre Horwitz, Mary C. Boyce, David I. Broadhurst, Rodney Duffy, Annette Koenders

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Captive breeding is a vital tool in the conservation of highly endangered species, as it is for the Margaret River hairy marron, Cherax tenuimanus, from the south west of Australia. A close relative, Cherax cainii, has almost completely displaced C. tenuimanus in the wild and is a successful aquaculture species, whereas C. tenuimanus has performed poorly in captivity. We used untargeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to obtain metabolomic profiles of female and male C. tenuimanus held in controlled aquarium conditions during their reproductive period. Using repeated haemolymph sampling we tracked the metabolomic profiles of animals just prior to and …

Effect Of Oral Rehydration Solution Versus Spring Water Intake During Exercise In The Heat On Muscle Cramp Susceptibility Of Young Men, Wing Yin Lau, Haruyasu Kato, Kazunori Nosaka

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background

Muscle cramp is a painful, involuntary muscle contraction, and that occurs during or following exercise is referred to as exercise-associated muscle cramp (EAMC). The causes of EAMC are likely to be multifactorial, but dehydration and electrolytes deficits are considered to be factors. This study tested the hypothesis that post-exercise muscle cramp susceptibility would be increased with spring water ingestion, but reduced with oral rehydration solution (ORS) ingestion during exercise.

Methods

Ten men performed downhill running (DHR) in the heat (35–36 °C) for 40–60 min to reduce 1.5–2% of their body mass in two conditions (spring water vs ORS) …

Are National Cancer Control Indicators For Patient Experiences Being Met In Regional And Remote Australia? A Cross-Sectional Study Of Cancer Survivors Who Travelled For Treatment, Jeff Dunn, Belinda Goodwin, Joanne F. Aitken, Sonja March, Fiona Crawford-Williams, Michael Ireland, Nicholas Ralph, Leah Zajdlewicz, Arlen Rowe, Suzanne K. Chambers

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Objective: To examine the health services experience of patients with cancer from regional and remote Australia using the Australian National Cancer Control Indicators (NCCI) guidelines as an assessment framework. Design: Cross-sectional. Setting Queensland non-for-profit cancer accommodation lodges. Participants: Participants were patients with cancer who travelled for treatment from rural and remote Queensland to major urban centres (n=518; age mean=64.6, SD=11.18). Outcome measures: Assessments included NCCI patient indicators, quality of life (QoL), psychological distress and unmet supportive care needs. Results: The frequency at which NCCI indicators were met ranged from 37.5% for receiving an assessment and care plan to 97.3% for …

The Role Of Sleep Curtailment On Leptin Levels In Obesity And Diabetes Mellitus, Maryam Mosavat, Mitra Mirsanjari, Diana Arabiat, Aisling Smyth, Lisa Whitehead

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Emerging evidence has identified sleep as a significant, but modifiable, risk factor for metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and obesity. Leptin, an adipocyte-derived peptide and a regulator of food intake and energy expenditure, has been shown to be associated with a short sleep duration in the pathophysiology of obesity and consequently type 2 diabetes. This review focuses on the current evidence indicating the effects of a short sleep duration on the regulation of leptin concentration in association with obesity and diabetes mellitus. In summary, the evidence suggests that sleep deprivation, by affecting leptin regulation, may lead to obesity and consequently development of …

Children And Young People's Experiences Of Living With Developmental Coordination Disorder/Dyspraxia: A Systematic Review And Meta-Ethnography Of Qualitative Research, Aíne O'Dea, Mandy Stanley, Susan Coote, Katie Robinson

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: To date services for children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) have not been informed by the perspective of children with DCD. This study aimed to synthesise the findings of discrete qualitative studies reporting the lived experiences views and preferences of children and young with DCD using a meta-ethnographic approach to develop new conceptual understandings. Methods: A systematic search of ten databases; Academic Search Complete, AMED, CINAHL, ERIC, MEDLINE, PsychArticles, PsychInfo, EMBASE, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science, was conducted between March and April 2019, and updated in early June 2020. Meta-ethnography, following the method described by Noblit and Hare was …

Recovery Agenda For Sustainable Development Post Covid-19 At The Country Level: Developing A Fuzzy Action Priority Surface, Meisam Ranjbari, Zahra S. Esfandabadi, Simone D. Scagnelli, Peer O. Siebers, Francesco Quatraro

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

As a response to the urgent call for recovery actions against the COVID-19 crisis, this research aims to identify action priority areas post COVID-19 toward achieving the targets of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) within the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development launched by the United Nations (UN). This paper applies a mixed-method approach to map the post-COVID-19 SDGs targets on a fuzzy action priority surface at the country level in Iran, as a developing country, by taking the following four main steps: (1) using a modified Delphi method to make a list of the SDGs targets influenced by COVID-19; (2) …

Hybrid Mamdani Fuzzy Rules And Convolutional Neural Networks For Analysis And Identification Of Animal Images, Hind R. Mohammed, Zahir M. Hussain

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Accurate, fast, and automatic detection and classification of animal images is challenging, but it is much needed for many real-life applications. This paper presents a hybrid model of Mamdani Type-2 fuzzy rules and convolutional neural networks (CNNs) applied to identify and distinguish various animals using different datasets consisting of about 27,307 images. The proposed system utilizes fuzzy rules to detect the image and then apply the CNN model for the object’s predicate category. The CNN model was trained and tested based on more than 21,846 pictures of animals. The experiments’ results of the proposed method offered high speed and efficiency, …

A Survey Of Western Australian Teachers’ Use Of Texts In Supporting Beginning Readers, Simmone Pogorzelski, Susan Main, Susan Hill

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Connected text reading is crucial to beginning reading development as this is where children apply the reading skills they are learning. The most recent version of the Australian Curriculum includes the requirement that teachers use both predictable and decodable texts in early reading instruction. As each text type is underpinned by a different approach to reading instruction, this creates a potential dilemma for teachers when implementing the curriculum. A preliminary study of the instructional practices used to teach reading in the first two years of schooling was therefore conducted to investigate how early years teachers make use of two different …

Digital Forensic Readiness Intelligence Crime Repository, Victor R. Kebande, Nickson M. Karie, Kim-Kwang R. Choo, Sadi Alawadi

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

It may not always be possible to conduct a digital (forensic) investigation post-event if there is no process in place to preserve potential digital evidence. This study posits the importance of digital forensic readiness, or forensic-by-design, and presents an approach that can be used to construct a Digital Forensic Readiness Intelligence Repository (DFRIR). Based on the concept of knowledge sharing, the authors leverage this premise to suggest an intelligence repository. Such a repository can be used to cross-reference potential digital evidence (PDE) sources that may help digital investigators during the process. This approach employs a technique of capturing PDE from …

Accountability Via Social And Financial Performance Of The Hospitality Sector: The Role Of Market Orientation, Soheil Kazemian, Hadrian G. Djajadikerta, Saiyydi Mat Roni, Terri Trireksani, Zuraidah Mohd-Sanusi

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Purpose This study aims to examine the three dimensions of market orientation, namely, customer orientation, competitor orientation and inter-function coordination, which influence the accountability in the financial and social performance of tourism operators in large touristic cities. Design/methodology/approach In total, 95 usable questionnaires as the required data were collected from the top managers of four- and five-star hotels in Iran. Findings Partial least squares (PLS) results confirm that customer orientation and inter-function coordination influence both the financial and social performance of the hospitality sector yet reveal that competitor orientation has no significant relationship with social performance. Research limitations/implications These findings …

Are We Heading For Disaster? The Problem With Resilience In Disaster Management And Recovery, Zachary Horn

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Resilience is often construed as armour that protects individuals from stressors and harm, or a trait that allows people to ‘bounce back’ despite adversities and stressors. Although not fundamentally incorrect, these notions do not capture the true purpose, scope or power of resilience, particularly in the disaster context.

The Effect Of Cryogenic Machining Of S2 Glass Fibre Composite On The Hole Form And Dimensional Tolerances, Ugur Koklu, Sezer Morkavuk, Carol Featherston, Malik Haddad, David Sanders, Muhammad Aamir, Danil Yu Pimenov, Khaled Giasin

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

S2 glass fibre reinforced epoxy composites are widely used in aeronautical applications owing to their excellent strength to weight ratio. Drilling glass fibres can be cumbersome due to their abrasive nature and poor thermal conductivity. Moreover, the use of conventional coolants is not desirable due to contamination and additional costs for cleaning the machine part. An alternative is to use environmentally friendly coolants such as liquid nitrogen (LN2) which have been previously employed in machining metals and composites. The current study investigates the effect of drilling S2 glass fibre composite in a bath of LN2. The study aims to evaluate …

Spon1 Is Associated With Amyloid-Β And Apoe Ε4-Related Cognitive Decline In Cognitively Normal Adults, Shane Fernandez, Samantha C. Burnham, Lidija Milicic, Greg Savage, Paul Maruff, Madeline Peretti, Hamid R. Sohrabi, Yen Ying Lim, Michael Weinborn, David Ames, Colin L. Masters, Ralph N. Martins, Stephanie Rainey-Smith, Christopher C. Rowe, Olivier Salvado, David Groth, Giuseppe Verdile, Victor L. Villemagne, Tenielle Porter, Simon M. Laws

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: Genetic variation in Spondin-1, specifically rs11023139, has been associated with reduced rates of cognitive decline in individuals with Alzheimer's disease. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess whether the association was present in cognitively normal older adults. Methods: Longitudinal cognitive decline was investigated using linear mixed modelling in a cohort of 590 cognitively normal older adults enrolled in the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle Study. Results: No independent effect of Spondin-1 rs11023139 on cognitive decline was observed. However, significant associations were observed for the interaction between Apolipoprotein E (APOE) ϵ4 and rs11023139 in individuals with high amyloid-β …

Summary Of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (Fasd) Among Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander People, Australian Indigenous Healthinfonet

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a condition caused by alcohol exposure before birth. During pregnancy, alcohol freely crosses the placenta. The baby cannot process the alcohol and this may result in damage to the baby’s brain and body. Not all babies exposed to alcohol during pregnancy will develop FASD, but there is no safe level of alcohol use during pregnancy. FASD is a lifelong condition that results in cognitive, physical and behavioural disabilities. FASD occurs everywhere in Australia where people drink alcohol. Many women drink during pregnancy before they know they are pregnant and there is a lack of …