•The NG-BN model improves the efficiency of risk assessment.•The NG-BN model facilitates and simplifies the expert inquiry process.•The NG-BN model establishes an examination criterion of the Markov ...property.•The analysis result of the NG-BN model do not deviate from that of the NBN model.
During construction risks’ probability assessment, it is challenging to obtain the joint probability distribution (JPD) of target risk systems, because every risk element's probability needs to be determined, known as the curse of dimensionality. This paper introduces a Noisy-or Gate Bayesian Network (NG-BN) model that integrates the Noisy-or Gate (NG) model and the Naive Bayesian Network (NBN) to address the problem. The NBN and the NG model's conditional independence assumptions’ gap is bridged by the Markov property. The proposed model requires only connection probabilities with high availability and reliability as the prior knowledge, thus substantially reduces the dimensionality of risk factors while retaining the ability of JPD reasoning. The model is illustrated and tested by a data analysis of the Zijingang Station construction project of Hangzhou Metro Line 5. The result demonstrates that the NG-BN can effectively accomplish the practical occurrence probability evaluation of construction risks. This study has a theoretical contribution as this model establishes a qualitative examination criterion of the Markov property. The proposed NG-BN performs better than the NBN on dimensionality reduction without diminishing the effectiveness of practical risk probability assessment. Its potential for reliability analysis in other engineering fields awaits further study.
The Belt and Road initiative (BRI) mainly relies on the traditional and underdeveloped logistical trade routes including the terrestrial and oceanic Silk Road. The poor logistic infrastructure across ...the BRI region not only restricts trade potential and economic progress but also creates several social and environmental challenges. Therefore, this study investigates the relationship between green logistic operations, economic, environmental, and social indicators of countries along with the BRI. This study provides three key findings using feasible generalized least squares (FGLS) and system generalized method of moments (Sys-GMM) estimation techniques. First, Chinese outward foreign direct investment significantly improves the quality and quantity of green logistic operations in terms of transport infrastructure, customs services, cost, time, tracking, and reliability of international shipments. Second, a higher quality of transport-related infrastructure, customs clearance efficiency, and competency of logistics services significantly mitigate the level of carbon emissions due to the energy conservation in the supply chain process. Moreover, the application of renewable energy resources significantly improves the quality of logistics operations. These results indicate that higher quality of green logistic operations provides efficient infrastructure and greater information sharing among supply chain partners that increase trade volume, growth opportunities, and environmental sustainability. Third, a higher institutional quality helps to mitigate social concerns through improvement in the efficiency of logistic operations. Although BRI regional estimates show significant variations, the overall results imply that BRI participating countries should integrate with ongoing investment projects to promote the quality and quantity of green logistic infrastructure and ensuring environmental stewardship.
The link between infrastructure and green logistics performance in the services sector has been studied in this study. The mediating function of business performance and service quality are also ...discussed in this study as this is a deductive and cross-sectional study, the hypothesis was first formulated based on the literature gap and then tested. The unit of analysis is management personnel, entry-level economists, and financial analysts. The structural equation modeling-partial least-squares analysis (PLS-SEM) approach was employed in this investigation. The authors validated the reliability and validity of constructs and indicators used to measure constructs by assessing measurement models. The measurement methodology has then utilized to confirm the study hypothesis. The study results demonstrate that infrastructure and green logistics performance have a beneficial influence on services trade and environment; besides that, service quality and company performance are also important factors in improving services trade in China. Furthermore, firm performance and service quality have been identified as strong positive mediators between Green logistic performance, infrastructure, and services trade & environment. This study has a theoretical contribution by introducing, verifying, and proposing a new measurement for three variables: infrastructure, green logistic performance, and services trade & environment. This study has numerous relevant and helpful implications for government agencies and departments. It will provide a pathway for the upcoming industry practitioners in terms of green logistic performance and service trade & environment.
Quad-copters continue to be an area of active research due to their extensive applications in both civilian and military domains. In this paper, we present an advanced approach to enhance the ...attitude control of Quad-copters, focusing on trajectory tracking performance. We introduce a state-of-the-art Conditioned Adaptive Barrier Function Integral Terminal Sliding Mode Controller (CABFIT-SMC) for precise attitude control. To optimize the control law parameters effectively, we introduce the Redfox algorithm, a newly developed optimization technique inspired by the intelligence of red foxes in hunting and decision-making. The paper includes an in-depth comparative analysis of the Redfox-optimized CABFIT-SMC with the previously researched quantum particle swarm optimization (QPSO) algorithm, presented in our earlier work. The evaluation involves comparing graphs and tables for six different performance measures. These include mean absolute percentage error, root mean square error, integral square error, integral absolute error, integral time absolute error, and integral time square error. We confirm the stability of the system using Lyapunov stability analysis. To test how well the controller works, we use a challenging 3D-helical trajectory. This helps us see if the optimized controllers perform consistently and effectively. Furthermore, we validate the controllers using a Controller-in-Loop setup, demonstrating their effectiveness under realistic operating conditions. Our results demonstrate the CABFIT-SMC Redfox optimized outperforms QPSO-optimized CABFIT-SMC across all performance metrics, solidifying its effectiveness for precise attitude tracking of Quad-copter systems. The proposed approach contributes to improved maneuverability and control precision, with potential applications in various practical scenarios.
The study has been investigated on conceptualizing the state of the art of cooperate social responsibility (CSR) in green construction and its nexus to sustainable development. The research objective ...is to find out the significant relationship between CSR and green construction and further link green construction with sustainable development. The data has been collected from the 319 respondents working on different projects in the construction industry of China. The study is quantitative by nature. SEM analysis with the help of Smart-PLS has been applied to test the hypothesis relationship and mediations between components of CSR, green construction, and sustainable development. Results define that green procurement as a component of green construction strongly mediates between corporate social responsibility and sustainable development, and green design and CO
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emission moderately mediates between corporate social responsibility and sustainable development. This research would add values, benefits, and knowledge toward reducing environmental temperature with the help of green construction occupying the effects of CSR on it. It would be helpful to change the trends in the construction industry to make environmental health protective and to boost the sustainable development.
We introduce a financial stress index that was developed by the Office of Financial Research (OFR FSI) and detail its purpose, construction, interpretation, and use in financial market monitoring. ...The index employs a novel and flexible methodology using daily data from global financial markets. Analysis for the 2000-2018 time period is presented. Using a logistic regression framework and dates of government intervention in the financial system as a proxy for stress events, we found that the OFR FSI performs well in identifying systemic financial stress. In addition, we find that the OFR FSI leads the Chicago Fed National Activity Index in a Granger causality analysis, suggesting that increases in financial stress help predict decreases in economic activity.
The study is based on validating and exploring the effects of a mega project plan (CPEC) on infrastructure development and Sustainable Project Management. The CPEC has great importance to ...infrastructure development and economy-boosting. The current study's primary aim is to deal with environmental protection, economic boost up, international relations influencing to the Project's success. The paper also addressed project management as a moderator between environmental protection, economic boost up, international relations, and the CPEC project's success. The primary data has been gathered by using questionnaires, and PLS-SEM has been employed for the analysis. The results revealed that environmental protection, economy boost up, and international relations have a positive association with the success of CPEC. The outcomes also exposed that project management moderating among the nexus of economy boosts up the international relations and success of CPEC. The present study results guided how Pakistan and China make the CPEC project stronger with the efficient implementation of practices required for protecting the environment, with the economic growth and boost up, and good strong relations with foreign countries. This study was an attempt to validate the different factors to check their association with each other in a new environment, resulting in a leading edge for the success of mega projects that influence project management.
The construction projects in Pakistan have inherent problems of erroneous planning and schedule development. This dilemma has led to the failure of the majority of construction projects in Pakistan. ...Earlier researches have tried to curtail the increasing spectrum of inaccurate planning and schedule development. But not many research studies have shed light on the major factor of 2D CAD drawings interpretation problems, which are playing a key role in defective planning and scheduling. Moreover, the role of BIM, i.e., Building Information Modeling with respect to efficient planning, has not been also discussed in detail. This study has concluded a positive impact of BIM on effective planning and scheduling in the construction industry of Pakistan. About 210 responses were obtained from experienced construction professionals of Pakistan and tested via regression analysis in order to validate this argument. It has been analyzed that 2D CAD drawings are now getting primitive and 3D technology BIM is taking its place. BIM is an efficient tool for planning and scheduling. With the start of CPEC and Multi-Billion Dollar investment on infrastructure, construction industry of Pakistan needs to uplift its existing standard in order to meet with international requirements. For this purpose, BIM has been recommended. It will not only assist in attaining flawless planning but will also increase the success rate of CPEC projects in Pakistan.
There has been a significant increase in the amount of construction and demolition waste (C&DW) produced over the past few decades, posing challenges to the construction industry and endangering ...environmental and sustainable development. Therefore, the present study is conducted with an objective to determine the association among factors in critical management practices that contribute in waste maximization and minimization in construction projects. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire. The population of this study comprised of project managers, field engineers, consultants, civil engineers, working in the construction industry in Pakistan. The ‘confirmatory factor analysis’ (CFA) was applied to validate the measurement model, based on five latent factors and 27 observed variables for construction waste maximization (case study- I), and five latent factors and 28 observed variables for construction waste minimization (case study- II). The Cronbach's alpha value < 0.05 was set to determine the association among factors. The results demonstrated a significant correlation between each of the five parameters connected to construction waste maximization and minimization. The results of the study concluded that critical management practices such as contract management, materials logistics management, materials reuse, waste segregation, and onsite practices are strongly correlated with each other and are contributing factors in the minimizing the waste in the construction sites. The study is novel in terms of identifying the contributing factors in construction waste maximization and minimization, as well as determining the relationship among these factors. The study carries some important practical implications in terms of illustrating the two proposed models on factors influencing to construction waste minimization and maximization.
Biomedical research relies on identification and isolation of specific cell types using molecular biomarkers and sorting methods such as fluorescence or magnetic activated cell sorting. Labelling ...processes potentially alter the cells' properties and should be avoided, especially when purifying cells for clinical applications. A promising alternative is the label-free identification of cells based on physical properties. Sorting real-time deformability cytometry (soRT-DC) is a microfluidic technique for label-free analysis and sorting of single cells. In soRT-FDC, bright-field images of cells are analyzed by a deep neural net (DNN) to obtain a sorting decision, but sorting was so far only demonstrated for blood cells which show clear morphological differences and are naturally in suspension. Most cells, however, grow in tissues, requiring dissociation before cell sorting which is associated with challenges including changes in morphology, or presence of aggregates. Here, we introduce methods to improve robustness of analysis and sorting of single cells from nervous tissue and provide DNNs which can distinguish visually similar cells. We employ the DNN for image-based sorting to enrich photoreceptor cells from dissociated retina for transplantation into the mouse eye.
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