Abstract
System identification approaches have been used to design an experiment, generate data, and estimate dynamical system models for Just Walk, a behavioral intervention intended to increase physical activity in sedentary adults. The estimated models serve a number of important purposes, such as understanding the factors that influence behavior and as the basis for using control systems as decision algorithms in optimized interventions. A class of identification algorithms known as matchable-observable linear identification has been reformulated and adapted to estimate linear time-invariant models from data obtained from this intervention. The experimental design, estimation algorithms, and validation procedures are described, with the best models estimated from data corresponding to an individual intervention participant. The results provide insights into the individual and the intervention, which can be used to improve the design of future studies.

Abstract

Abstract
In view to the decentralised problem of gas network optimisation, we model the problem as differential game where the players are the network controllable elements that communicate through nearest-neighbour network components. The controllable elements are sources and compressors. But since these do not have the same relevance within the network, it will be interesting to use a game hierarchical framework, i.e., to model the network operation as a Stackelberg game. Also, the disturbed version of the same problem suits the problem better because is is assumed that the network works with nominated operational levels. The variations of the real operation can then be viewed as disturbances to these system operational levels.

Abstract
The Kyrgyz Republic, as well as other countries of Central Asia, is highly exposed to natural-environmental hazards, which continues undermining efforts to achieve sustainable development. National disaster risk assessment procedures in Central Asian countries are mainly based on the evaluation of hazards without a detailed analysis of vulnerability and resilience. Additionally, the available practices of hazard assessments are mostly based on a zone-by-zone approach, which would make it difficult to develop a comparative assessment of facilities located in the same hazard zone. This situation hampers the efforts of the local governments to effectively plan and implement disaster risk reduction (DRR) actions when they cannot differentiate the individual facilities according to the risk level in order to focus the existing capacity (which is usually very limited) on increasing the resilience and reducing the vulnerability of the facilities with the highest risk. For improvement of DRR practices, the quantitative comprehensive approach of risk analysis applied in this study is used for risk assessment of educational institutions in one of the most seismically active and most disaster-prone mountain regions of Central Asia - the Alay valley, a wide intermontane valley situated in between the two biggest mountain systems in Asia: Tian Shan and Pamir. The developed multidisciplinary study suggests that the quantitative multi-risk assessment approach - can play a crucial role in understanding risks and can significantly improve the quality of disaster risk reduction planning. 

Abstract

Abstract
A cost-effective optical instrument for continuous in-situ monitoring applications is presented. With a production cost in raw materials of 38 Euro, a power consumption of 300 mu A in sleep mode and 100 mA in active mode (5 ms reading), and a capacity to monitor turbidity and sedimentary displacement at eight different depths in the water column, the sensor was developed for sediment monitoring in coastal areas. Due to the extent and dynamics of the processes involved in these areas, observations require a wide spatial and temporal resolution. Each of the eight monitoring nodes uses one infrared backscatter channel, to estimate turbidity and sediment concentration, and one ultraviolet with one infrared transmitted light channels to distinguish organic/inorganic composition of the suspended material load. An in-lab calibration was conducted, using formazine to correlate turbidity with the electronic outputs of the instrument. An analysis of the influence of external light sources and correction techniques were performed. Moreover, an in-lab experiment was conducted to study the behaviour of the sensor-to-sediment transport, wash load and sediment accumulation. The device was deployed, with a water level sensor, in an estuarine area with high sediment dynamics. The monitoring data were analysed, showing the potential of the device to continuously monitor turbidity, sediment processes, and distinguish between organic and inorganic matter, at the different depths in the water column.