Satellite rainfall products for landslide early warning prediction have been spotlighted by several researchers, in the last couple of decades. This study investigates the use of TRMM and ERA-Interim data, for the determination of rainfall thresholds and the prediction of precipitation, respectively, to be used for landslide early warning purposes at the Bogowonto catchment, Central Java, Indonesia

Recent research has highlighted that the relationship between species interactions and latitude can differ between native and invasive plant taxa, generating biogeographical heterogeneity in community resistance to plant invasions. In the first study with foliar pathogens, we tested whether co‐occurring native and invasive lineages of common reed (Phragmites australis) exhibit non‐parallel latitudinal

Since its emergence in the mid‐20th century, invasion biology has matured into a productive research field addressing questions of fundamental and applied importance. Not only has the number of empirical studies increased through time, but also has the number of competing, overlapping and, in some cases, contradictory hypotheses about biological invasions. To make these contradictions and redundancies

Abstract Traditional news media Web sites usually provide generic recommendations that are not personalized to the preferences of their users. Typically, news recommendation algorithms mainly rely on the long-term preferences of users and do not adjust their model to the continuous stream of short-lived incoming stories to capture short-term intentions revealed by users’ sessions. In this paper, we

Abstract Along with the rapidly increasing influence and importance of advertisements and publicity in social networking services (SNS), considerable efforts are being made to provide user-customized services through an understanding of SNS content. Studies on online purchasing patterns based on user attributes have also been conducted; however, these studies used either only experimental methods (e

Abstract Venue recommendation approaches have become particularly useful nowadays due to the increasing number of users registered in location-based social networks (LBSNs), applications where it is possible to share the venues someone has visited and establish connections with other users in the system. Besides, the venue recommendation problem has certain characteristics that differ from traditional

Abstract Modelling the occupancy of buildings, rooms or the usage of machines has many applications in varying fields, exemplified by the fairly recent emergence of smart, self-learning thermostats. Typically, the aim of such systems is to provide insight into user behaviour and incentivise energy savings or to automatically reduce consumption while maintaining user comfort. This paper presents a nonparametric

Abstract Similar item recommendations—a common feature of many Web sites—point users to other interesting objects given a currently inspected item. A common way of computing such recommendations is to use a similarity function, which expresses how much alike two given objects are. Such similarity functions are usually designed based on the specifics of the given application domain. In this work, we

Abstract Personas are models of users that incorporate motivations, wishes, and objectives; These models are employed in user-centred design to help design better user experiences and have recently been employed in adaptive systems to help tailor the personalized user experience. Designing with personas involves the production of descriptions of fictitious users, which are often based on data from

Abstract Knowledge monitoring is a component of metacognition which can help students regulate their own learning. In adaptive learning software, the system’s model of the student can be presented as an open learner model (OLM) which is intended to enable monitoring processes. We explore how presenting alignment, between students’ self-assessed confidence and the system’s model of the student, supports

Abstract Recommender systems provide personalized information access to users of Internet services from social networks to e-commerce to media and entertainment. As is appropriate for research in a field with a focus on personalization, academic studies of recommender systems have largely concentrated on optimizing for user experience when designing, implementing and evaluating their algorithms and

Abstract As various educational technologies have rapidly become more powerful and more prevalent, especially from the 2010s onward, the demand of automated grading natural language responses has become a major area of research. In this work, we leverage the classic student and domain/question models that are widely used in the field of intelligent tutoring systems to the task of automatic short-answer

Abstract In addition to context awareness and proactive behaviour, personalization constitutes one of the most important factors to consider when building digital assistance systems. In the field of location prediction, personal information can lead to a significant improvement of the predictive performance of the respective models. However, most of the existing approaches handle this type of information

Abstract Effective teaching strategies improve the students’ learning rate within academic learning time. Inquiry-based instruction is one of the effective teaching strategies used in the classrooms. But these teaching strategies are not adapted in other learning environments like intelligent tutoring systems, including auto tutors. In this paper, we propose an automatic inquiry-based instruction teaching

Abstract Conversational Recommender Systems (CoRSs) implement a paradigm that allows users to interact in natural language with the system for defining their preferences and discovering items that best fit their needs. CoRSs can be straightforwardly implemented as chatbots that, nowadays, are becoming more and more popular for several applications, such as customer care, health care, and medical diagnoses

Abstract Music recommender systems typically offer a “one-size-fits-all” approach with the same user controls and visualizations for all users. However, the effectiveness of interactive interfaces for music recommender systems is likely to be affected by individual differences. In this paper, we first conduct a comprehensive literature review of interactive interfaces in recommender systems to motivate

Abstract An individual’s conflict resolution styles can have a large impact on the decision making process of a group. This impact is affected by a variety of factors, such as the group size, the similarity of the group members, and the type of support offered by the recommender system, if the group is using one. Measuring the effect of these factors goes beyond the capability of a live user study

Abstract ACT-R, as a useful and well-known cognitive architecture, is a theory for simulating and understanding human cognition. However, the standard version of this architecture uses a deprecated forgetting model. So, we equipped it with a temporal ratio model of memory that has been named as SIMPLE (Scale-Independent Memory, Perception, and Learning). On the other hand, one of the usages of cognitive

Abstract Previous research has shown that various user characteristics (e.g., cognitive abilities, personality traits, and learning abilities) can influence user experience during information visualization tasks. These findings have prompted researchers to investigate user-adaptive information visualizations that can help users by providing personalized support based on their specific needs. Whereas

Abstract Building predictive models for human-interactive systems is a challenging task. Every individual has unique characteristics and behaviors. A generic human–machine system will not perform equally well for each user given the between-user differences. Alternatively, a system built specifically for each particular user will perform closer to the optimum. However, such a system would require more

Abstract Fitness trackers are undoubtedly gaining in popularity. As fitness-related data are persistently captured, stored, and processed by these devices, the need to ensure users’ privacy is becoming increasingly urgent. In this paper, we apply a data-driven approach to the development of privacy-setting recommendations for fitness devices. We first present a fitness data privacy model that we defined

Abstract This study presents how predictive analytics can be used to inform the formulation of adaptive collaborative learning groups in the context of Computer Supported Collaborative Learning considering across-spaces learning situations. During the study we have collected data from different learning spaces which depicted both individual and collaborative learning activity engagement of students

Previous work demonstrated the global variability of synchrony in tree growth within populations, that is, the covariance of the year‐to‐year variability in growth of individual neighbouring trees. However, there is a lack of knowledge about the causes of this variability and its trajectories through time. Here, we examine whether climate can explain variation in within‐population synchrony (WPS) across

Predictions of plant traits over space and time are increasingly used to improve our understanding of plant community responses to global environmental change. A necessary step forward is to assess the reliability of global trait predictions. In this study, we predict community mean plant traits at the global scale and present a systematic evaluation of their reliability in terms of the accuracy of

The aim was to determine how reptile populations respond to anthropogenic habitat modification and determine whether species traits and environmental factors influence such responses.

Consideration of vertical seismic design loads is important for long‐span structural systems, short‐period structures, and for some nonstructural components in the buildings. To this end, seismic design codes utilize alternative approaches to define vertical design spectrum at different levels of complexity: either as a fraction of horizontal design spectrum or using a separate functional form having

Track nonlinear energy sinks (track NESs) have been shown to be an effective and applicable strategy to mitigate structural response in recent years. However, previous studies on track NESs has mainly focused on demonstrating the benefits of track NESs through numerical simulations and experiments, with relatively little attention paid to the analytical understanding of the unique dynamics of track

This paper investigates the influence of the hysteretic shear behavior of postinstalled anchors in concrete on the seismic response of nonstructural components (NSCs) using numerical methods. The purpose of the investigation is to evaluate current design requirements for NSC and their anchorage. Current design guidelines and simplified methods, such as floor response spectra (FRS), typically approach

In recent years, the additional risk posed to the built environment due to aftershock sequences and triggered events has been brought to attention, and several efforts have been directed towards developing fragility functions for structures in damaged conditions. Despite this rise of interest, a rather fundamental component for such tasks, namely that of aftershock ground motion record selection, has

Accurate and high‐fidelity finite element (FE) models are in great demand in the design, performance assessment, and life‐cycle maintenance of long‐span cable‐stayed bridges. The structural system of a long‐span cable‐stayed bridge is often huge in size and complex with many components connected and various materials constituted. Therefore, the FE model of a long‐span cable‐stayed bridge involves a

During a mainshock‐aftershock (MSAS) sequence, there is no time to retrofit structures that are damaged by a mainshock; therefore, aftershocks could cause additional damage. This study proposes a new approach to develop state‐dependent fragility curves using real MSAS records. Specifically, structural responses before and after each event of MSAS sequences are used to obtain statistical relationships

A multiscale strategy is evaluated at a structural level for the analysis of unreinforced masonry structures. The mechanical characterization of the masonry is deduced from homogenization‐based micro‐scale finite element (FE) models. The derived data are here employed at a structural level via a discrete FE model. The discrete FE model is composed of quadrilateral rigid plates interconnected through

As urban systems become more highly sophisticated and interdependent, their vulnerability to earthquake events exhibits a significant level of uncertainties. Thus, community‐level seismic risk assessments are indispensable to facilitate decision making for effective hazard mitigation and disaster responses. To this end, new frameworks for pre‐ and post‐earthquake regional loss assessments are proposed

A new type of external substructure to upgrade existing reinforced concrete frames (RCFs) is presented in this paper, namely, a self‐centering precast bolt‐connected steel‐plate reinforced concrete buckling‐restrained brace frame (SC‐PBSPC BRBF). The upgrade mechanism and three‐dimensional simulation model were analyzed based on relevant experiment validations. A quasistatic analysis and parameter

A novel low‐cost friction sliding system for bidirectional excitation is developed to improve the seismic performance of reinforced concrete (RC) bridge piers. The sliding system is a spherical prototype developed by combining a central flat surface with an inclined spherical segment, characterized by stable oscillation and a large reduction in response accelerations on the flat surface. The inclined

In a real‐time hybrid simulation, a transfer system is used to enforce the interface interaction between computational and physical substructures. A model‐based, multilayer nonlinear control system is developed to accommodate extensive performance variations and uncertainties in a physical substructure. The aim of this work is to extend the application of real‐time hybrid simulation to investigating

Testing of stiff physical substructures (PSs) still poses major technical issues that prevent from adopting hybrid simulation (HS) as a standard structural testing method. Firstly, elastic deformation of reaction frames, as well as the limited resolution of displacement transducers, deteriorate displacement control accuracy. Secondly, as a consequence of control errors, small perturbations of actuator

Near‐fault ground motions containing high energy and large amplitude velocity pulses may cause severe damage to structures. The most widely used intensity measure (IM) is the elastic spectral acceleration at the fundamental period of the structure (Sa(T1)); however, Sa(T1) is not a sufficient IM with respect to the effects of the pulse‐like ground motions on structural response. For near‐fault ground

Studies on recent earthquakes highlighted that buildings with minimal structural damage still suffer from extensive damage and failure of nonstructural components. The dropping and damage of suspended ceiling systems, which typically consist of acceleration‐sensitive nonstructural elements, resulted in lengthy functional disruptions and extended recovery time. This article experimentally and analytically

In seismic risk assessment of structures, fragility functions are the probabilistic characterization of vulnerability at the component and/or structural level, expressing the probability of failure as a function of a ground motion intensity measure (IM). Fragility curves, in general, are structure‐ and site‐specific, thus a comparison of fragility curves, then of vulnerability, is not straightforward

The investigation of structural single rocking walls (SRWs) continues to gain interest as they produce self‐centering lateral load responses with reduced structural damage. The simple rocking model with modifications has been shown to capture these responses accurately if the SRW and its underlying base are infinitely rigid. This paper advances previous rocking models by accounting for (1) the inelastic

The characterization of the dynamic behavior of an arch dam, and its evolution throughout the structure's lifetime, provides important data for the safety control process. Forced vibration tests remain a reliable technique for this purpose. The Baixo Sabor dam is a 123 m high arch dam recently built in Portugal. Forced vibration tests were performed before and after the reservoir filling. Two techniques

A pushover‐based seismic risk assessment and loss estimation methodology for masonry buildings is introduced. It enables estimation of loss by various performance measures such as the probability of exceeding a designated economic loss, the expected annual loss, and the expected loss given a seismic intensity. The methodology enables the estimation of the economic loss directly from the results of

One widespread problem in damping estimation of high‐rise buildings is the neglect of structural modal directions, which may induce beating in measured dynamic responses along building geometric axes and thereby induce errors in damping estimations to some extent. Based on a proposed two degrees of freedom (2‐DOF) simulation model, the effects of neglecting the modal directions on damping estimate

Past earthquakes, in many instances, have demonstrated poor performance of commonly used built‐in staircase configurations. Codal provisions in India pertaining to staircases present a rather simple approach wherein the effects of built‐in staircases on the overall dynamic properties or on the local behavior of structures are not addressed explicitly. Studies in the past have highlighted the scale

No abstract is available for this article.

The time‐integration algorithm is an indispensable element to determine response of the boundary of the numerical as well as physical parts in a hybrid test. Instability of the time‐integration algorithm may directly lead to failure of the test, so stability of an integration algorithm is particularly important for hybrid testing. The explicit algorithms are very popular in hybrid testing, because

Modelling uncertainty can significantly affect the structural seismic reliability assessment. However, the limit state excursion due to this type of uncertainty may not be described by a Poisson process as it lacks renewal properties with the occurrence of each earthquake event. Furthermore, considering uncertainties related to ground motion representation by employing recorded ground motions together

In performance‐based seismic design, as adopted by several building codes worldwide, the structural performance is verified against ground motions that have predetermined exceedance return periods at the site of interest. Such a return period is evaluated by means of probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA), and the corresponding ground motion is often represented by the uniform hazard spectrum

The special interest produced by near‐field directivity records and their effect on structural response has given a new significance in the velocity time history, its pulse‐like content, and relevant parameters and indices. Recent research has shown that directivity pulses inherent in these records govern the linear and the nonlinear response of a wide range of structures. Based on this observation

A freestanding rigid block subjected to base excitation can exhibit complicated motion described by five response modes: rest, pure rocking, pure sliding, combined sliding‐rocking, and free flight. Previous studies on the dynamics of a rocking block have assumed that the block does not interact with neighboring objects. However, there are many applications in which the block may start or come in contact

Field surveys are often a primary source of aboveground biomass (AGB) data, but plot-based estimates of parameters related to AGB are often not sufficiently precise, particularly not in tropical countries. Remotely sensed data may complement field data and thus help to increase the precision of estimates and circumvent some of the problems with missing sample observations in inaccessible areas. Here

Surface soil water content plays an important role in driving the exchange of latent and sensible heat between the atmosphere and land surface through transpiration and evaporation processes, regulating key physiological processes affecting plants growth. Given the high impact of water scarcity on yields, and of irrigated agriculture on the overall withdrawal rate of freshwater, it is important to

The timing of spring initiates an important period for resource availability for large trophic webs within ecosystems, including forage for grazing animals, flowers for pollinators, and the higher trophic levels that depend on these resources. Spring timing is highly variable across space, being influenced strongly by the departure of snow cover (i.e. snowmelt timing, in locations with a seasonal snowpack)

Nutrient enrichment is associated with plant invasions and biodiversity loss. Functional trait advantages may predict the ascendancy of invasive plants following nutrient enrichment but this is rarely tested. Here, we investigate (a) whether dominant native and non‐native plants differ in important morphological and physiological leaf traits, (b) how their traits respond to nutrient addition, and (c)

Biodiversity dynamics comprise evolutionary and ecological changes on multiple temporal scales from millions of years to decades, but they are often interpreted within a single time frame. Planktonic foraminifera communities offer a unique opportunity for analysing the dynamics of marine biodiversity over different temporal scales. Our study aims to provide a baseline for assessments of biodiversity

Most studies have the achieved rapid and accurate determination of soil organic carbon (SOC) using laboratory spectroscopy; however, it remains difficult to map the spatial distribution of SOC. To predict and map SOC at a regional scale, we obtained fourteen hyperspectral images from the Gaofen-5 (GF-5) satellite and decomposed and reconstructed the original reflectance (OR) and the first derivative

Ecological theory is not often applied to human appropriation of net primary production (HANPP), which estimates reduction of natural net primary production (NPP) due to harvest and land use. Here we use predator–prey theory to evaluate HANPP as “predation”. Macroecology and adaptive life history strategies also help evaluate relationships among global terrestrial HANPP, NPP, and plant biomass (B)

Historically, biomes have been defined based on their structurally and functionally similar vegetation, but there is debate about whether these similarities are superficial, and about how biomes are defined and mapped. We propose that combined assessment of evolutionary convergence of plant functional traits and phylogenetic biome conservatism provides a useful approach for characterizing biomes. We

Intraspecific trait variation (ITV) within natural plant communities can be large, influencing local ecological processes and dynamics. Here, we shed light on how ITV in vegetative and floral traits responds to large‐scale abiotic and biotic gradients (i.e., climate and species richness). Specifically, we tested whether associations of ITV with temperature, precipitation and species richness were consistent