Influence Of Individual Factors Research Articles

Prediction and interpretation of limit pressure of clayey soils using ensemble machine learning methods and shapely additive explanations

The pressuremeter test (PMT), a valuable geotechnical in situ test, is used to design foundations of varying depths (shallow, semi-deep, and deep). It assesses a soil's bearing capacity and settlement through two key parameters: limit pressure and pressuremeter modulus. However, the high cost and time demands of PMTs limit their widespread use. This study addresses this challenge by exploring the effectiveness of ensemble machine learning algorithms. To achieve this main goal, we employ two methods, Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) and Random Forest, to predict limit pressure of soil. To develop the mentioned models an experimental database was used to train and validate the developed models. The effectiveness of these methods are evaluated using three statistical metrics: Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), and Coefficient of Determination (R²). The performance metrics show that the developed XGBoost and Random Forest models are viable alternatives to the pressure meter test for estimating limit pressure. Both models achieved high R-squared values (around 0.99 for training and 0.90 for testing) and a low root mean squared error (RMSE) of 3.23 and 4.13 for the testing set, respectively. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of using machine learning in the geotechnical field. To further understand the influence of individual factors on the predictions, we will utilize the Shapley Additive explanations (SHAP) method. This technique analyzes the contribution of each input variable (feature) to the model's predictions of limit pressure. By quantifying the importance of these features; SHAP provides valuable insights into which soil properties most significantly affect the foundation design parameters.

The influence of individual factors on the career preferences and specialty choices of final-year nursing students

BackgroundStatistical evidence shows that nursing students prefer a professional career in hospital settings, leading to a lack of career interest in non-hospital settings such as community and residential aged care facilities. The lack of preference for non-hospital settings has persisted over several decades and presents a need for different approaches that may reveal new information to better understand the individual factors that influence specialty choices and preferences from the students' viewpoints. PurposeThe aims of this study were to (1) explore individual factors that impact the nursing specialty choices of final-year nursing students and (2) explore how these factors influence the final-year nursing students' career decision-making process. MethodA narrative inquiry approach using semi-structured interviews was carried out with purposively sampled nursing students (n = 12) who had undertaken a final-year clinical placement(s). Data was analysed using two main steps. First, the interviews were restoried and then analysed using the three-dimensional framework. Subsequently, thematic analysis was applied to generate themes. ResultsData analysis generated three main themes: demographic factors, social factors, and career goals. Participants' characteristics and interactions with other individuals and systems influenced their nursing specialty preferences and professional career plans. ConclusionNursing students' career interests are influenced by individual factors external to their nursing education, such as their age, gender, and life experiences. These student characteristics and experiences facilitated or inhibited a career in some nursing specialties, with the students gauging their ability to practice in a specialty during their CPs. Nursing education should expose and inform students about the core skills, career opportunities, and how to advance their careers in the different nursing specialties. Most importantly, final-year students may need formal career guidance to encourage nursing students' positive attitudes and career interests in different nursing specialties and make realistic career decisions.

Rating of Perceived Exertion: A Large Cross-Sectional Study Defining Intensity Levels for Individual Physical Activity Recommendations

BackgroundPhysical inactivity is a growing risk factor worldwide, therefore getting people into sports is necessary. When prescribing physical activity, it is essential to recommend the correct training intensities. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) enables precise determination of individuals’ training intensities but is unavailable for a broad population. Therefore, the Borg scale allows individuals to assess perceived exertion and set their intensity easily and cost-efficiently. In order to transfer CPX to rating of perceived exertion (RPE), previous studies investigated RPE on specific physiological anchors, e.g. blood lactate (bLa) concentrations, but representativeness for a broad population is questionable. Some contradictory findings regarding individual factors influencing RPE occur, whereas univariable analysis has been performed so far. Moreover, a multivariable understanding of individual factors influencing RPE is missing. This study aims to determine RPE values at the individual anaerobic threshold (LT2) and defined bLa concentrations in a large cohort and to evaluate individual factors influencing RPE with multivariable analysis.MethodsCPX with bicycle or treadmill ergometer of 6311 participants were analyzed in this cross-sectional study. RPE values at bLa concentrations 2 mmol/l, 3 mmol/l, 4 mmol/l, and LT2 (first rise in bLa over baseline + 1.5 mmol/l) were estimated by spline interpolation. Multivariable cumulative ordinal regression models were performed to assess the influence of sex, age, type of ergometry, VO2max, and duration of exercise testing on RPE.ResultsMedian values [interquartile range (IQR)] of the total population were RPE 13 [11; 14] at 2 mmol/l, RPE 15 [13; 16] at 3 mmol/l, RPE 16 [15; 17] at 4 mmol/l, and RPE 15 [14; 16] at LT2. Main influence of individual factors on RPE were seen especially at 2 mmol/l: male sex (odds ratio (OR) [95%-CI]: 0.65 [0.587; 0.719]), treadmill ergometry (OR 0.754 [0.641; 0.886]), number of stages (OR 1.345 [1.300; 1.394]), age (OR 1.015 [1.012; 1.018]), and VO2max (OR 1.023 [1.015; 1.030]). Number of stages was the only identified influencing factor on RPE at all lactate concentrations/LT2 (3 mmol/l: OR 1.290 [1.244; 1.336]; 4 mmol/l: OR 1.229 [1.187; 1.274]; LT2: OR 1.155 [1.115; 1.197]).ConclusionOur results suggest RPE ≤ 11 for light intensity, RPE 12–14 for moderate intensity, and RPE 15–17 for vigorous intensity, which slightly differs from the current American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommendations. Additionally, we propose an RPE of 15 delineating heavy and severe intensity domain. Age, sex, type of ergometry, duration of exercise, and cardiopulmonary fitness should be considered when recommending individualized intensities with RPE, primarily at lower intensities. Therefore, this study can be used as a new guideline for prescribing individual RPE values in the clinical practice, predominantly for endurance type exercise.

Aspirin as a chemopreventive agent for cutaneous melanoma: a literature review.

Rising melanoma rates have spurred interest in preventive strategies. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), particularly aspirin, show potential in reducing cancer risks. NSAIDs act on cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, impacting COX-2 associated with inflammation and cancer progression.This paper explores aspirin's role in cutaneous melanoma prevention, elucidating its mechanisms and acknowledging varying literature outcomes. Rather than providing conclusive recommendations, the review emphasizes the influence of individual factors, contributing to the ongoing dialogue on aspirin's complexities in melanoma prevention. A PubMed search using "Aspirin" AND "Cutaneous melanoma" yielded relevant English-language, peer-reviewed studies. Selection criteria focused exclusively on skin cancers, specifically cutaneous melanoma. Exclusions included studies covering various cancers, some non-dermatologic, and those not evaluating aspirin use independently but in conjunction with NSAIDs. The potential chemopreventive effects of aspirin and NSAIDs against melanoma have gained attention due to their association with a reduced risk of various cancers including gastric, colorectal, and breast. By inhibiting COX enzymes and the NF-κB pathway, these agents theoretically slow malignant cell activities, presenting a prospect for cancer prevention. Aspirin exhibits noteworthy effects, depleting growth-stimulating hormones, generating reactive oxygen species harmful to cancerous cells, and inhibiting COX-2 linked to cancer progression. Limited literature suggests survival benefits with aspirin use in stage II and III melanoma, possibly due to slowing disease progression, evident in smaller Breslow depths. Gender-specific responses to aspirin are notable, with some studies reporting a stronger chemopreventive correlation in females. It's crucial to note that geographic disparities, demographic cohorts, and individual-specific factors are confounding variables that may contribute to conflicting findings regarding aspirin's impact on melanoma. The association between aspirin use and melanoma risk is complex, with conflicting findings across diverse populations. Although it appears that more studies suggest a protective role for aspirin rather than not, evidence lacks consistency. Factors such as gender, geography, race, sun exposure, and health conditions play a role in shaping these varied outcomes, necessitating large-scale, prospective studies research and standardized parameters for more conclusive insights that may help guide tailored clinical strategies for melanoma prevention.

Dynamic observation and risk factors analysis of deep vein thrombosis after hip fracture.

To dynamically observe the occurrence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after a hip fracture and analyze of the risk factors affecting the dynamic alteration of DVT. Data of patients with hip fractures from January 1, 2017 to August 31, 2021 were collected. Patients were divided into DVT and non-DVT groups according to their daily Doppler ultrasonography findings. Survival analysis was used to describe dynamic changes in DVT occurrence with time. Log-rank tests were used to compare the influence of individual factors of patients with DVT occurrence, and a Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to identify the risk factors affecting the dynamic alteration of DVT occurrence. A total of 331 patients were included: 148(44.7%) had preoperative DVT, and 143 (96.6%) had DVT in the first 3days after admission. The probability of DVT was 0.42 on Day 1, 0.11 on Day 2, 0.10 on Day 3, 0.08 on Day 4, 0.20 on Day 5, and 0.00 on Day 6-7, with a median survival time of 3.30 d. Age>70 years, intertrochanteric fracture, admission hemoglobin<130g/L, and admission hematocrit<40% had a significantly higher occurrence rate of DVT. A hematocrit level of <40% (Hazard Ratio 2.079, 95% Confidence Interval:1.148-3.764, P = 0.016) was an independent risk factor for DVT. DVT after hip fractures mainly occurred in the first three days after admission, the trend was stabilized within one week, and day 1 had the highest rate of DVT incidence. Age, fracture type, HGB level, and Hct level affected dynamic occurrence of DVT. At constant other factors, Hct<40% was 2.079-fold incidence in the risk of preoperative DVT formation than those with Hct≥40% after hip fracture.

The Influence of Pubertal Development on Autoantibody Appearance and Progression to Type 1 Diabetes in the TEDDY Study.

The 2 peaks of type 1 diabetes incidence occur during early childhood and puberty. We sought to better understand the relationship between puberty, islet autoimmunity, and type 1 diabetes. The relationships between puberty, islet autoimmunity, and progression to type 1 diabetes were investigated prospectively in children followed in The Environmental Determinants of Diabetes in the Young (TEDDY) study. Onset of puberty was determined by subject self-assessment of Tanner stages. Associations between speed of pubertal progression, pubertal growth, weight gain, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), islet autoimmunity, and progression to type 1 diabetes were assessed. The influence of individual factors was analyzed using Cox proportional hazard ratios. Out of 5677 children who were still in the study at age 8 years, 95% reported at least 1 Tanner Stage score and were included in the study. Children at puberty (Tanner Stage ≥2) had a lower risk (HR 0.65, 95% CI 0.45-0.93; P = .019) for incident autoimmunity than prepubertal children (Tanner Stage 1). An increase of body mass index Z-score was associated with a higher risk (HR 2.88, 95% CI 1.61-5.15; P < .001) of incident insulin autoantibodies. In children with multiple autoantibodies, neither HOMA-IR nor rate of progression to Tanner Stage 4 were associated with progression to type 1 diabetes. Rapid weight gain during puberty is associated with development of islet autoimmunity. Puberty itself had no significant influence on the appearance of autoantibodies or type 1 diabetes. Further studies are needed to better understand the underlying mechanisms.

О зависимости процесса промерзания грунтов от влажности

Purpose: the temperatures at which soils begin to freeze during the onset of frost are of interest primarily to agricultural workers and construction workers. It was previously established that many factors influence soil freezing. However, not enough research has been carried out on the influence of individual factors on the freezing process. The article examines the influence of soil moisture on their supercooling and freezing temperatures. Methods: the studies were carried out in a microrefrigerator with three freezing modes. Results: it was found that with constant shaking, the supercooling temperature increased, but the freezing temperature did not change. Graphic dependences of the temperatures of supercooling and freezing of soils on the initial humidity were obtained. The degree of soil compaction did not affect these temperatures. The temperatures of supercooling and freezing of soils depend to a greater extent on the dispersion of soils than on the content of organic substances in them. Practical significance: the results of the work are important for construction as they expand the understanding of the features of the mechanism of soil freezing.

CREATIVITY AND THE FILM INDUSTRY: THE CASE OF “LATVIAN FILMS FOR LATVIA’S CENTENARY”

In this paper authors focus on the film projects created under the “Latvian Films for Latvia’s Centenary” (LV100) project competition, their thematic choice and development process. The aim of the article “Development of creative processes in the film industry in the framework of the LV100” is to find out how the thematic ideas of films under the “Latvian Films for Latvia’s Centenary” contest developed, and what important factors are reflected in this creative process? The empirical part of the work, which includes semi-structured in-depth interviews with filmmakers (N = 15), reveals that (1) film ideas have occurred either under the influence of individual factors or collective as a result of the impression of LV100 contest (2) certain film intentions have arisen as a source of inspiration from an existing cultural product (3) in the context of the creative process, nationalism can be viewed in two ways: for some directors, nationalism was not a major theme for film-making purposes, but other directors acknowledge that it had an important role in Latvian identity and self-awareness.

Simulation of Screening Performance of Linear Vibrating Screen for Sand Sorting Based on Discrete Element Method

Screening technology has been widely used in the grading of granular materials, in order to improve the screening efficiency and screening quality of sand particles, a linear vibrating screening device was designed. Analyzing the motion state of the vibrating screen, it is found that the factors affecting the screening efficiency and screening quality, mainly include: vibration frequency, amplitude and screen surface inclination angle. Taking sand grains as the research object, the Hertz-Mindlin with JKR contact model was chosen to analyze the influence of individual factors on the screening performance, and the discrete element method was applied to simulate and analyze the screening process of the material, and the screening efficiency of the material was used as a measure to obtain the vibration parameter set of the optimal screening performance. It is found that the best vibration parameter set of linear vibrating screen is: vibration frequency f=25Hz, amplitude A=4mm, screen surface inclination angle φ=4^°, at this time the screening efficiency can reach 95.77%. This study proves that the discrete element method has good reliability for the screening of particles, and it can be used to carry out efficiency analysis in the pre-production stage of the screening device, and provide corresponding reference for the design and parameter optimization of the vibrating screen.

The Difference of Influencing Factors of Entrepreneurs' Entrepreneurial Choice

Entrepreneurship is a crucial catalyst for enhancing economic vitality and sustaining a country's healthy economic growth. Therefore, what leads entrepreneurs to relinquish their comfort zone and abandon traditional employment to pursue entrepreneurship remains a pertinent inquiry. Entrepreneurs represent the core of entrepreneurial activity. Based on empirical evidence, entrepreneurs' reasons for starting a business vary considerably. For instance, some are motivated by the desire to innovate, while others aim to maximize their earnings. This study specifically examines the singular influence of individual factors, summarizes the primary factors that impact entrepreneurial decision-making, provides explanations and analyses, and elucidates the specific role of each factor and its impact on entrepreneurs' choices. Furthermore, this study introduces the impact of economic cycles and unemployment on individual entrepreneurial behavior, which has received insufficient attention until now. People commonly believe that starting a business is more feasible during periods of economic growth rather than during recessions, but certain entrepreneurial behaviors suggest that this belief may be misguided. Through analysis and research, recommendations are provided for both individual entrepreneurial decisions and government entrepreneurial incentive policies.

Risk factors for malignant oral mucosal lesion development (literature review). Part 2. Exogenous factors

Relevance. Cancer stands as a prominent cause of untimely mortality in young and middle-aged individuals (aged 20-64 years). The inquiry into the extent of influence exerted by external risk factors on the emergence of oral mucosal oncopathology remains pertinent. Equally crucial is understanding the intricate interplay among different groups of factors and their effects.Research objective. To determine the extent of influence exerted by various endogenous and exogenous risk factors on the development of malignant oral mucosal lesions, based on contemporary literature data, and to assess their interrelationships.Materials and methods. The research material was the analysis of literary data from bibliographic sources – Elsevier, PubMed, Elibrary, Google Academy, Medline, Cyberleninka. The study included literature sources in Russian and English. The second part of the review combines studies devoted to the study of the influence of exogenous controlled factors on the risk of developing malignant neoplasms of the oral mucosa.Results. Through contemporary literature analysis, the potential and scale of influence attributed to controllable exogenous risk factors in the development of malignant oral mucosal lesions have been established. Notably, significant impact has been associated with smoking and alcohol consumption. Additionally, adverse socio-economic conditions, environmental factors, and dietary habits have been identified as contributors to an elevated cancer risk. Throughout this investigation, it became evident that literature sources frequently highlight the influence of individual factors without adequately considering potential synergies, antagonistic effects, or interactions with endogenous factors. Moreover, certain factors pivotal to the carcinogenesis of oral cavity tumors remain inadequately researched.Conclusion. To facilitate efficient primary and secondary prevention measures, it is imperative to advance and refine a multidisciplinary research methodology. This approach should aim to comprehensively identify the collective impact of diverse groups of risk factors on the progression of malignant oral mucosal lesions.

The utility of heart rate and heart rate variability to identify limits of tolerance to moderate-intensity work in the heat: a secondary analysis.

We investigated the utility of heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) for identifying individuals who may terminate work early due to excessive heat strain. Forty-eight men and women (median=36 years; Q1=20 years; Q3=54 years) attempted 180 min of moderate-intensity work at a fixed metabolic rate (∼200W/m2; ∼3.5 METs) in a hot environment (wet-bulb globe temperature: 32 °C). Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves were used to identify the ability of indices of HR (absolute HR, percentage of maximum HR, percentage of HR reserve) and HRV (root-mean-square of successive differences (RMSSD), high-frequency power, and detrended fluctuation analysis component alpha 1 (DFA α1)) to discriminate between participants who completed the 180 min work bout or terminated prematurely. Participants who terminated work prematurely (n=26) exhibited higher HR and percentage of HR measures, as well as reduced RMSSD and DFA α1 after the first hour of work compared to participants who completed the bout. The discriminative utility of HR and HRV indices was strongest within the first hour of work, with percentage of HR reserve demonstrating excellent discriminative power (ROC area under curve (AUC) of 0.8). Stratifying participants by age and sex improved ROC AUC point estimates for most indices, particularly in female participants. The study provides preliminary evidence supporting the use of noninvasive cardiac monitoring for predicting work tolerance in healthy individuals exposed to occupational heat stress. HR and percentage of HR reserve were suggested to discriminate work termination most effectively. Further investigations are warranted to explore the influence of individual factors and refine the discriminative thresholds for early identification of excessive occupational heat strain.

Мотивація персоналу міжнародних проєктів для забезпечення конкурентоспроможності підприємства з використанням статистичних та економетричних методів

The aim of the article is to identify the features of modern approaches to the motivation of personnel of international projects to ensure competitiveness and establish, using statistical and econometric methods, the quantitative influence of individual socioeconomic factors on the performance of these employees. The socioeconomic and political situation in Ukraine due to the full-scale military aggression on the part of the russian federation requires the top management of business entities to search for and successfully use statistical and econometric methods to determine and model dependencies between socioeconomic indicators, as well as to provide an opportunity to be involved in international projects in order to obtain additional competitive advantages. In the course of the study with the use of system-structural analysis and synthesis, the stages of personnel management of international projects are determined, as well as the characteristics and functions performed by individual subsystems of personnel management of international projects are identified. According to the results of the review of scientific literature, considerable attention of scientists to the problems of motivation of personnel of international projects to ensure the competitiveness of enterprise has been revealed. Approbation of theoretical studies was carried out based on the results of the activities of JSC «Interpipe NMPP», the main types of products of which are pipes of medium and small assortment. The analytical study revealed a decrease in sales, net profit and the number of employees, which is a consequence of the company’s work in an unstable external environment (COVID, military aggression of the russian federation against Ukraine). With the use of statistical and econometric methods, the degree of influence of individual factors on the efficiency of the personnel of the specified enterprise is determined; in particular, with the use of regression analysis, the author has built econometric models of the impact of personnel development in the form of professional training and advanced training and material incentives (remuneration) on the efficiency of the personnel of the specified enterprise and its involvement in participation in international projects. The author’s vision boils down to the fact that the use of such tools for motivating the personnel of international projects as wages, vocational training and advanced training provide an increase in labor productivity and, accordingly, the formation of competitive advantages of both employees and products, the enterprise, and the country as a whole. Prospect for further scientific research is the formation of a system of non-material factors for increasing labor productivity and personnel evaluation.

ГЛОБАЛІЗАЦІЯ ЯК ДОМІНАНТА ТРАНСФОРМАЦІЙ В ОСВІТНІЙ СФЕРІ (У КОНТЕКСТІ ДОСВІДУ США)

Theoretical and practical aspects of activity in the educational sphere in the conditions of globaliza- tion are considered. The importance of this issue is determined by the fact that globalization increasingly affects the development of the educational sphere, in particular, its competitiveness. As a consequence of this, the development of education is now a way of society's influence not only on the current social situation, but also on its future transformations. In this connection emphasis is placed on the exceptional importance of education for socio-economic development in the modern conditions of the formation of an information-technological society. An analysis of the influence of individual factors on the successful implementation of transformational processes in educational activity was carried out. An overview of the experience of the USA as the most developed country in the world today, which has significant achievements due to the development of education, is provided. At the same time, special attention is paid to the development of American higher education. The main indicators and approaches in the development of education in the USA are characterized. In this context, special attention is paid to the areas of implementation of the American experience in Ukraine, as well as to the deepening of the processes of innovative transformations aimed at achieving quality indicators in the development of education. Emphasis is placed on the importance of activities to improve the quality of education. It also emphasizes the need for continuous improvement of the education system, as is the case in the USA. Modernization of education should ensure not only the improvement of knowledge of all categories of those who study, but also provide a person with wider opportunities than before to determine his own educational and professional trajectory. The conclusion is substantiated that educational activity aimed at increasing the educational level of each person provides him with a real opportunity to have a prestigious job and a decent salary and thus represents a strategic trajectory of successful socio-economic development and a powerful innovative resource, an effective means of achieving social progress.

Microstructural effects of copper deposits on direct bonding for 3D IC integration

Cu-to-Cu direct bonding has been regarded as an important approach to achieve three-dimensional integrated circuit integration. This study aims to investigate the effects of microstructure and Xenon flash exposure on the direct bonding of copper deposits. Copper electrodeposits, along with a sputtered deposit, with various grain sizes, preferred orientations, as well as surface hardnesses, were prepared to clarify the influence of individual factors quantitatively. Experimental results show that joint strength and grain boundary density followed a positively linear relationship regardless of other microstructural differences, suggesting the dominating role of grain boundary diffusion. Grain refinement can effectively enhance bonding strength, even only one side of the directly bonded joints possessed fine grains. Considering the portable device applications which may suffer from drop shocks, drop testing of the packages comprising sputtered copper on Si chips joined with electroplated copper on Al2O3 substrates assembled by thermal compression bonding was performed for the first time. Noticeably, a proper flash irradiaiton prior to bonding brought about not only remarkable improvement in shear strength by up to 60 % but also drop resistance for direct-copper bonds. The resistance against drop shock for directly-bonded daisy chains subjected to an appropriate light exposure prior to bonding was superior than the joints bonded using impact-resistant solders.

Factors influencing the success and complications of intraosseous access in pediatric patients—a prospective nationwide surveillance study in Germany

BackgroundVascular access is essential for the efficient treatment of critically ill children, but it can be difficult to obtain. Our study was conducted to analyze the feasibility and short-term safety of intraosseous access (IO) use as well as factors influencing its success and the incidence of complications in pediatric emergencies and resuscitation. This dataset of systematically documented intraosseous access attempts constitutes one of the largest published in the literature.MethodsTwo-year nationwide prospective surveillance study in Germany from July 2017 to June 2019. Pediatric hospitals anonymously reported the case data of all children aged 28 days to 18 years who arrived with or were treated with an intraosseous access to the German Pediatric Surveillance Unit (GPSU). The main outcomes were the occurrence of complications, overall success and success at the first attempt. The influence of individual factors on outcomes was evaluated using multivariate regression models.ResultsA total of 417 patients underwent 549 intraosseous access attempts. The overall rates of success and success at the first attempt were 98.3% and 81.9%, respectively. Approximately 63.6% of patients were successfully punctured within 3 min from the time of indication. Approximately 47.7% of IO access attempts required patient resuscitation. Dislocation [OR 17.74 (5.32, 59.15)] and other complications [OR 9.29 (2.65, 32.55)] occurred more frequently in the prehospital environment. A total of 22.7% of patients experienced minor complications, while 2.5% of patients experienced potentially severe complications.ConclusionWe conclude that intraosseous access is a commonly used method for establishing emergency vascular access in children, being associated with a low (age-dependent) rate of severe complications and providing mostly reliable vascular access despite a relatively high rate of dislocation.

Application of the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory Method to Assess Factors Influencing the Development of Cycling Infrastructure in Cities

Sustainable development and environmental considerations have resulted in many cities around the world recognising the importance of non-motorised modes of transport. Problems related to the proper development and maintenance of cycling infrastructure have already been the subject of various studies. However, they have mainly dealt with the identification of factors influencing the development of cycle paths and the optimisation of the design of safe and comfortable cycle routes. The influence of individual factors on each other and on the development of cycling infrastructure has not been studied. The research aims of this article are to identify which factors influence the development of bicycle infrastructure, their role and interdependence, and their prioritisation. It also looks at whether there are differences between the opinions of bicycle users and experts professionally involved in the development of bicycle paths in assessing the importance of the factors indicated. As a result of the study, eight factors influencing the development of bicycle infrastructure were identified. Based on the opinions of cyclists and experts, the nature of each factor was analysed. Taking into account the complex relationships between the factors, the key factors contributing to the development of bicycle infrastructure were shown: (1) the planning of bicycle paths, taking into account the separation of individual paths and their continuity, consistency, and length; (2) legal regulations promoting cycling in terms of transportation policy; (3) the elimination of obstacles; and (4) the design of bicycle paths, taking into account the safety, space management, terrain, and attractiveness of the surroundings. The results for both groups of respondents were compared. They indicate that both groups of respondents reported the same factors as the most important, with the only differences being in the order of the importance of the factors. The academic value of this work lies in showing the usability of the underrated original version of DEMATEL methodology in the considered area for key factors. The practical significance of this paper is the provision of a rather simple, yet reliable, tool for addressing the complexity of interrelated issues that make the development of urban infrastructure a cumbersome task.

STUDY OF URBAN WASTEWATER TREATMENT PROCESSES IN THE SYSTEM OF BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT FACILITIES “AERATION TANK-MIXER – SECONDARY SEDIMENTATION TANK”

The paper examines the features of the biological purification process in the “aeration tank-mixer – secondary settling tank” system. Factors influencing the course of processes were determined, and an experimental study of this process was carried out. After processing the results, models are proposed that describe the course of the activated sludge regeneration process and directly the process of biological wastewater treatment. The results of the calculation were analyzed, the mutual influence of individual factors on the course of the biological purification process was investigated and analyzed. The models obtained in the work allow, without conducting additional experiments, to study the process of regeneration of activated sludge depending on the concentration of sludge and its consumption, as well as to study the process of wastewater treatment taking into account its characteristics (costs, concentrations of pollutants), the dose of sludge coming from the regenerator, concentrations dissolved oxygen. It is advisable to use the proposed models for the analysis of the process of biological wastewater treatment in the system “aeration tank-mixer – secondary settling tank” and for quick response to changes occurring in the treatment process. This will prevent insufficiently treated wastewater from entering the reservoir and reduce its negative impact on the environment.

Mechanical and Chemical Resistance of UV Coating Systems Prepared under Industrial Conditions Using LED Radiation.

The furniture industry constantly strives to search for ecological and cost-effective solutions in the production of wood-based composites. It is anticipated that furniture with a honeycomb core and HDF-facing will gain market share. Understanding how specific technical and procedural factors on the finishing line affect the resistance of coatings on furniture elements made of honeycomb boards was the main goal of the study. With the use of a digital microscope, the roughness of two different types of HDF was tested. On the industrial UV LED+Hg finishing line, 198 different surface coating variations were produced by applying five or six layers of varnish applied, ranging from 3 to 30 g/m2 and hardening them with various surface power densities. On the basis of statistical tests, the influence of individual factors on abrasion, impact, and scratch resistance was determined. The nanointendence test of the coatings was used to measure the hardness and elasticity modulus. The coloring caused by coffee traces was checked using a colorimeter. The findings confirm the conception that LED+Hg lamp modules can replace mercury and gallium-doped mercury lamps.

Exploring the influence of individual factors on the perception of mental workload and body postures

Studies have revealed that physical and mental demands, psychosocial factors, and individual factors can contribute to the development of WMSDs. Yet, much is still unknown regarding the effects of individual characteristics on WMSDs susceptibility. Previous studies discovered people assumed more awkward body postures to perform an activity when the perception of mental workload is higher. This research study explored if individual characteristics such as age, sex, personality, and anxiety help explain changes or differences in the perception of mental workload and body postures assume when performing activities. The study provided evidence that these individual characteristics have a modifying role on perceived mental workload and body postures. The results suggest that perceived mental workload is influenced to a higher extent by individual characteristics such as anxiety, sex, and personality traits. Women have a higher (18.7%) mental workload perception than men. Likewise, NASA-TLX scores are 22% higher for feelers than thinkers. In general, higher perceptions of mental workload were observed in participants with higher anxiety levels. On the other hand, body postures seem to be influenced by different individual factors depending on the nature of the activity. RULA scores increased on average by 13.1% between baseline and time constraint conditions. Larger differences were observed in certain individuals (e.g. introverts (19.7%) and intuitors (13.8%)) across conditions.