38 research outputs found
Exploring preferences in the Netherlands for MaaS mobility packages, as a transportation alternative for short-distance trips: A Stated Preference Experiment: Mobility as a Service
No full textCities of the Netherlands are the driving forces to develop and encompass a cluster of markets that boost productivity. In recent times, cities have tended to demonstrate the rapid transformation, more spatially dispersed and growing in demand for transportation. Reasonably, all the trips done intra-city are short-distance trips (i.e. trips less than 10km) accounting for approximately 30% of a person’s total trips per month.To make these short-distance trips for various trip purposes, the majority of the Dutch people prefer using their private cars or private bike. Thus, over the years, the usage of private transportation in the Netherlands has increased leading to an upsurge in roadway congestion and lack of parking space. The observations from the literature suggest that more than 50% of car usage for different trip purposes are non-essential and could be shifted to ‘other modes’. Further, short-distance mobility poses as a core challenge for sustainable mobility, accounting for 60% of emissions in the city.Therefore, there is a need for sustainable transportation and this could be achieved by providing Mobility as a Service (in short MaaS) which could be defined as “A service attributed to integrate various forms of transport services into a solo mobility service, accessible on demand”It is a novel approach to service bundling enabled technology that facilitates the usage of multiple means for travel. It has recently attracted more interest and it is observed that the notion of MaaS tends to be linked to the context of multi-modal transportation. However, it is still unknown regarding the true influence of MaaS for unimodal (i.e. short-distance) trips, spurring a clear gap in the available literature on MaaS. Hence, the main research question for the study is formulated as follows“What is the preference of Dutch people, regarding MaaS mobility package as a transportation alternative (to status-quo mobility pattern), for carrying out short-distance trips?”To achieve the goal, a web-based survey is carried out and there were 3 choice experiments. The survey had two parts. The first part consisted a stated preference (SP) experiment, while the second part collected information for a wide range of socio-economic variables and attitudinal questions. The survey was sent out to Dutch people via email (in the Netherlands) and about 555 respondents filled out the survey substantially. The data of respondents who spent 15 minutes to complete the survey were considered (remaining were considered as outliers) for further analysis because the survey was lengthy.To deepen the knowledge, the final dataset is then used for estimating consumer utility by applying a multinomial logit model, nested logit, and mixed logit model. The knowledge from the final mixed logit model is further applied to get insight into different latent classes and the probable share of MaaS class by applying the latent class model. The results on the attributes’ influence on the choice were mostly consistent and of the expected sign. In all the three models, the subscription pricing, as well as time parameters (i.e. access/waiting time), have a negative coefficient indicating dislike towards higher mobility expenses or access/waiting time in the process of carrying out a short trip. Regarding socio-demographics, it is observed that younger and mid-age people have a significant inclination towards using the MaaS mobility package. Alternatively, older people have shown a higher preference for using private transportation to carry out short-distance trips. Highly educated people are more inclined to use the MaaS package though being aware of the environment and traffic-related problems.People having a higher car trip usage for short-distance trips are more inclined to subscribe MaaS package. Similarly, in the scenario of the bike, people with high bike trip usage per month tend to find it convenient to use a private bike. However, for person with fewer number of bike trips (like less than 20 trips per month), tends to be preferring MaaS subscription package.For MaaS package with car included, higher-income group tend to have an inclination towards it whereas lower-income group are inclined towards integrated package with only bike as mode of transportation. Furthermore, regarding the attitudinal factors, people who are open-minded, tech-loving, always compare products, enthusiastic, and love traveling have a positive contribution to the choice for MaaS mobility package. The study also, reveals that people are highly sensitive towards the subscription price and are willingness to pay more towards reducing waiting or access time of shared vehicles in MaaS package.There is noticeable preference heterogeneity regarding preference for the MaaS subscription package. The same has been identified with the application of the LC model. The results from the LC model suggest a lower share of the MaaS alternative in comparison to the status-quo mobility pattern (like use of private car, private bike, etc.) for short-distance trips. Regarding the probable discrete preference profiles: people who are young and mid-aged people (<60 years), earning mid-level income (between 20,000 to 60,000 euros per year), residing with one or two family members, and have a high educational background (WO or HBO) possess a high likelihood to be a MaaS subscriber. In comparison between single-mode shared mobility package and MaaS integrated package, the study reveals a higher preference of Dutch people towards later. Nonetheless, the aggregate preference remains high for the private mode of transportation (for both primary/secondary choice). The estimated results from models reveal lower share of MaaS class for which it is currently realized that for the MaaS service to become popular, it shall take further time and familiarity to build upon the trust of people and bring about change in individual mobility preferences. There is a need for greater subsidy to MaaS initiatives (at the initial stage) to gain popularity. This has been the contribution of the study to the literature.Civil Engineering | Transport and Plannin
Effect of praziquantel treatment of Schistosoma mansoni during pregnancy on immune responses to schistosome antigens among the offspring: results of a randomised, placebo-controlled trial.
No full textBACKGROUND: Offspring of women with schistosomiasis may exhibit immune responsiveness to schistosomes due to in utero sensitisation or trans-placental transfer of antibodies. Praziquantel treatment during pregnancy boosts maternal immune responses to schistosome antigens and reduces worm burden. Effects of praziquantel treatment during pregnancy on responses among offspring are unknown. METHODS: In a trial of anthelminthic treatment during pregnancy in Uganda (ISRCTN32849447; http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN32849447/elliott), offspring of women with Schistosoma mansoni were examined for cytokine and antibody responses to schistosome worm (SWA) and egg (SEA) antigen, in cord blood and at age one year. Relationships to maternal responses and pre-treatment infection intensities were examined, and responses were compared between the offspring of women who did, or did not receive praziquantel treatment during pregnancy. RESULTS: Of 388 S. mansoni-infected women studied, samples were obtained at age one year from 215 of their infants. Stool examination for S. mansoni eggs was negative for all infants. Cord and infant samples were characterised by very low cytokine production in response to schistosome antigens with the exception of cord IL-10 responses, which were substantial. Cord and infant cytokine responses showed no association with maternal responses. As expected, cord blood levels of immunoglobulin (Ig) G to SWA and SEA were high and correlated with maternal antibodies. However, by age one year IgG levels had waned and were hardly detectable. Praziquantel treatment during pregnancy showed no effect on cytokine responses or antibodies levels to SWA or SEA either in cord blood or at age one year, except for IgG1 to SWA, which was elevated in infants of treated mothers, reflecting maternal levels. There was some evidence that maternal infection intensity was positively associated with cord blood IL-5 and IL-13 responses to SWA, and IL-5 responses to SEA, and that this association was modified by treatment with praziquantel. CONCLUSIONS: Despite strong effects on maternal infection intensity and maternal immune responses, praziquantel treatment of infected women during pregnancy had no effect on anti-schistosome immune responses among offspring by age one year. Whether the treatment will impact upon the offspring's responses on exposure to primary schistosome infection remains to be elucidated. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN: ISRCTN32849447
Factors affecting the infant antibody response to measles immunisation in Entebbe-Uganda.
No full textBACKGROUND: Vaccine failure is an important concern in the tropics with many contributing elements. Among them, it has been suggested that exposure to natural infections might contribute to vaccine failure and recurrent disease outbreaks. We tested this hypothesis by examining the influence of co-infections on maternal and infant measles-specific IgG levels. METHODS: We conducted an observational analysis using samples and data that had been collected during a larger randomised controlled trial, the Entebbe Mother and Baby Study (ISRCTN32849447). For the present study, 711 pregnant women and their offspring were considered. Helminth infections including hookworm, Schistosoma mansoni and Mansonella perstans, along with HIV, malaria, and other potential confounding factors were determined in mothers during pregnancy and in their infants at age one year. Infants received their measles immunisation at age nine months. Levels of total IgG against measles were measured in mothers during pregnancy and at delivery, as well as in cord blood and from infants at age one year. RESULTS: Among the 711 pregnant women studied, 66% had at least one helminth infection at enrolment, 41% had hookworm, 20% M. perstans and 19% S. mansoni. Asymptomatic malaria and HIV prevalence was 8% and 10% respectively. At enrolment, 96% of the women had measles-specific IgG levels considered protective (median 4274 mIU/ml (IQR 1784, 7767)). IgG levels in cord blood were positively correlated to maternal measles-specific IgG levels at delivery (r = 0.81, p < 0.0001). Among the infants at one year of age, median measles-specific IgG levels were markedly lower than in maternal and cord blood (median 370 mIU/ml (IQR 198, 656) p < 0.0001). In addition, only 75% of the infants had measles-specific IgG levels considered to be protective. In a multivariate regression analysis, factors associated with reduced measles-specific antibody levels in infancy were maternal malaria infection, infant malaria parasitaemia, infant HIV and infant wasting. There was no association with maternal helminth infection. CONCLUSION: Malaria and HIV infection in mothers during pregnancy, and in their infants, along with infant malnutrition, may result in reduction of the antibody response to measles immunisation in infancy. This re-emphasises the importance of malaria and HIV control, and support for infant nutrition, as these interventions may have benefits for vaccine efficacy in tropical settings
Hydromagnetic flow of a heat radiating chemically reactive casson nanofluid past a stretching sheet with convective boundary conditions
No full textValstybės socialinės paramos gyventojams finansinio mechanizmo plėtra
No full textCC BY-NC-ND 4.0This article aims proves that social protection is an effective tool for reducing poverty,
contributing to the integration of economic and social aspects of sustainable development. The main
purpose of this study is to evaluate the current state of the social protection system in the Republic of
Kazakhstan and to develop measures to improve the level of social security and mechanisms for financing social protection. The results obtained during the study allow for the conclusion that over the
years of independent development in the Republic of Kazakhstan a national model of social protection
has been created and a number of important social programmes have been adopted aimed at reducing
the level of poverty among the population. The social protection system is a key element of national
governance, embodying the social values of any society. The social protection system has three main
purposes: to guarantee all members of society access to basic goods and services, to promote active
social and economic security, and to develop individual and social potential for poverty reduction
and the sustainable development of society. Social protection supports people in handling risks and
reducing inequality and also allows them to fulfil their full potential for personal growth and making
a meaningful contribution to society throughout their lives
Micromagnetic simulation of static magnetic properties and tuning of anisotropy strength in two dimensional square antidot elements
No full textRevenue models for digital services in the railway industry : A framework for choosing the right revenue model
No full textWhile digital servitization provides manufacturing companies with the potential to earn additional revenues in the transition process from physical to digital offerings, the implementation of adequate value-capturing mechanisms is a major hurdle. The literature discerns little on the factors that influence the choice of revenue models for digital services. To address this knowledge gap, we build on a case study approach involving two global manufacturing companies in the railway industry that have experience in offering diverse digital services. The analysis reveals specific features and characteristics of three major revenue models for digital services – namely, subscription, usage-based, and performance-based revenue models. In addition, we identify overarching factors influencing the choice of revenue models for digital services. They are related to a) customer digital readiness, b) digital service sophistication, and c) digital ecosystem partnerships. Building on these influencing factors, we propose a framework that recommends that companies evaluate revenue models in relation to specific digital services. We furnish several theoretical contributions to the digital servitization literature and provide managerial implications for practitioners to assist in the choice of revenue models for digital services.© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).fi=vertaisarvioitu|en=peerReviewed
Measurement of WZ and ZZ production in pp collisions at √s = 8 TeV in final states with b-tagged jets
No full textOpen Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative
Commons Attribution License which permits any use, distribution, and
reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and the
source are credited.
Funded by SCOAP3 / License Version CC BY 4.0.Measurements are reported of the WZ and ZZ production cross sections in proton-proton collisions at s √ =8 TeV in final states where one Z boson decays to b-tagged jets. The other gauge boson, either W or Z, is detected through its leptonic decay (either W→eν , μν or Z→e + e − , μ + μ − , or νν ¯ ). The results are based on data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 18.9 fb −1 collected with the CMS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The measured cross sections, σ(pp→WZ)=30.7±9.3(stat.)±7.1(syst.)±4.1(th.)±1.0(lum.)pb and σ(pp→ZZ)=6.5±1.7(stat.)±1.0(syst.)±0.9(th.)±0.2(lum.)pb , are consistent with next-to-leading order quantum chromodynamics calculationsBMWF and FWF (Austria); FNRS and FWO (Belgium); CNPq, CAPES, FAPERJ, and FAPESP (Brazil);
MES (Bulgaria); CERN; CAS, MoST, and NSFC (China); COLCIENCIAS (Colombia); MSES and CS (Croatia); RPF (Cyprus); MoER, SF0690030s09 and ERDF (Estonia); Academy of Finland, MEC, and HIP (Finland); CEA and CNRS/IN2P3 (France); BMBF, DFG, and HGF(Germany);GSRT(Greece);OTKAand NIH(Hungary);DAEand DST (India); IPM (Iran); SFI (Ireland); INFN (Italy); NRF and WCU (Republic of Korea); LAS (Lithuania);MOE and UM(Malaysia); CINVESTAV, CONACYT, SEP, and UASLP-FAI (Mexico); MBIE (New Zealand); PAEC (Pakistan); MSHE and NSC (Poland); FCT (Portugal); JINR (Dubna); MON, RosAtom, RAS and RFBR (Russia); MESTD (Serbia); SEIDI and CPAN (Spain); Swiss Funding Agencies (Switzerland);
NSC (Taipei); ThEPCenter, IPST, STAR and NSTDA(Thailand); TUBITAK and TAEK (Turkey); NASU and SFFR (Ukraine); STFC (United Kingdom); DOE and NSF (USA)
Search for Higgs boson decays into a pair of light bosons in the bb mu mu final state in pp collision at root s=13 TeV with the ATLAS detector
No full textA search for decays of the Higgs boson into a pair of new spin-zero particles, H -> aa, where the a-bosons decay into a b-quark pair and a muon pair, is presented. The search uses 36.1 fb(-1) of proton-proton collision data at root s = 13 TeV recorded by the ATLAS experiment at the LHC in 2015 and 2016. No significant deviation from the Standard Model prediction is observed. Upper limits at 95% confidence level are placed on the branching ratio (sigma(H)/sigma(SM)) x B(H -> aa -> bb mu mu), ranging from 1.2 x 10(-4) to 8.4 x 10(-4) in the a-boson mass range of 20-60 GeV. Model-independent limits are set on the visible production cross-section times the branching ratio to the bb mu mu final state for new physics, sigma(vis)(X) x B(X -> bb mu mu), ranging from 0.1 fb to 0.73 fb for m(mu mu) between 18 and 62 GeV. (C) 2018 The Author. Published by Elsevier B.V
Search for vector-boson resonances decaying to a top quark and bottom quark in the lepton plus jets final state in pp collisions at root s=13 TeV with the ATLAS detector
No full textA search for new charged massive gauge bosons, W', is performed with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. Data were collected in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of root s = 13 TeV and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 36.1 fb(-1). This analysis searches for W' bosons in the W'-> t ( b) over bar decay channel in final states with an electron or muon plus jets. The search covers resonance masses between 0.5 and 5.0 TeV and considers right-handed W' bosons. No significant deviation from the Standard Model (SM) expectation is observed and upper limits are set on theW'-> t ( b) over bar cross section times branching ratio and the W' boson effective couplings as a function of the W' boson mass. For right-handed W' bosons with coupling to the SM particles equal to the SM weak coupling constant, masses below 3.15 TeV are excluded at the 95% confidence level. This search is also combined with a previously published ATLAS result for W'-> t ( b) over bar in the fully hadronic final state. Using the combined searches, right-handed W' bosons with masses below 3.25 TeV are excluded at the 95% confidence level. (C) 2018 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V
