bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The problem of toxoplasmosis in outpatient practice. Part III. Toxoplasmosis in pregnants and congenital toxoplasmosis
Authors: Vasiliev Valerii V. , Rogozina Natalia V. , Ivanova Regina A.
Published: November 2023

Congenital toxoplasmosis is a consequence of acute toxoplasmosis in a pregnant woman. When assessing the risk of сongenital toxoplasmosis during pregnancy, methods for determining specific antibodies, the genetic material of the pathogen (polymerase chain reaction method), immunoglobulins G avidity are used. Molecular genetic methods have the greatest diagnostic value in the diagnosis of сongenital toxoplasmosis in children of the first year of life. Drug prevention of сongenital toxoplasmosis in Russia can be implemented with the use of spiramycin, antenatal therapy is impossible, and postnatal therapy is limited by the list of available antiprotozoal drugs. For the prevention of сongenital toxoplasmosis, the awareness of the population about the ways and factors of transmission of the pathogen is of primary importance.
CBR Characteristics and Swelling Behaviour of Black Cotton Soil Mixing with Fly Ash and Silica Fume
Authors: Kumar Beerendra , Gupta Ashish , Kasaudhan Adarsh
Published: November 2023

Today’s rapid growing world produces waste that is very difficult to handle eco-friendly. Soil contamination is also one of the major geo-environmental issues by pouring industrial wastes directly over soil without treating it like caustic soda, fly ash, etc. Fly ash reaches ground water through percolation and pollutes the ground water. The main reason behind the soil contamination is due to rapid urbanization. This innovative and non-traditional research on waste utilization is gaining importance nowadays. Geotechnical engineers are adopting soil properties remolding and monitoring techniques by using waste material like fly ash Slag, Silica fume etc. This research aims to find the suitability of by-product silica fume and fly ash for Black cotton soil. In this research number of laboratory test are performed on black cotton soil using silica fume & fly ash as admixture in varying percentage. The outcome of the research shows the enhancement in properties of black cotton soil also significant decrease in free swelling index is observed. This expansive soil has very high swelling and shrinkage characteristics due to the clay mineral montemorillonite. It is found in abundant quantity in southern region of India and due to its poor characteristic, it is also termed as poor soil. Building any structure, road, bridge, embankment etc is so risky, and the solution is to replace this poor soil with good natural soil. Hence in this thesis work, emphasis is given on the use of black cotton soil by mixing stabilizers like silica fume and fly ash. Both increase the maximum dry density of black soil, and also CBR %value is increased. On adding silica fume, it also possesses a very low free swell value; hence, using both additives simultaneously will be a better solution to the problem of black cotton soil.
Design of a Hybrid Bio-inspired Model for Improving Addressing Capabilities of IPv6 Networks
Authors: Shahapurkar Rekha , Roychaudhary Reema
Published: November 2023

Addressing in IPv6 networks is a complex task, that involves multiple decision criterion that include base addressing, subnet addressing, location & energy aware addressing, and temporal performance aware addressing constraints. To incorporate these constraints a wide variety of models are proposed by researchers, and most them utilize location-aware addressing and do not consider multimodal parameters. Schemes that consider these parameters are either highly complex, or cannot be scaled for heterogeneous network scenarios. To overcome these limitations, this text proposes design of a novel hybrid bioinspired model that assists in improving addressing capabilities of IPv6 networks. The proposed model bee colony optimization (BCO), genetic algorithm (GA), and particle swarm optimization (PSO) in order to improve addressing quality for different network types. Initially, GA is used to stochastically assign location-specific addresses to a simulated network, which is incrementally tuned by PSO via a cognitive & social learning process. The fine-tuned addresses are further optimized via integration of BCO model, which assists in integrating energy awareness. Final addresses are initially simulated with exhaustive communication test, and then deployed to real-time networks for optimized operations. Due to which, the assigned addresses are observed to be delay & energy efficient, thereby assisting in deploying them for real-time use cases. The proposed addressing model was tested under different scaled networks, and an energy efficiency of 8.3%, with delay reduction of 6.5% was achieved when compared with various state-of-the-art methods, which assists in deploying the model for multiple scaled network scenarios.
The Scope of Immunity with Contracts on the International Sale of Goods under COVID-19
Authors:   Korean Academy Of International Commerce, Inc., Hong Sung-kyu , Oh Ye-eun , Park Keun-sik
Published: November 2023

Purpose : In this paper, legal implications were presented by analyzing whether the COVID-19 pandemic corresponds to force majeure, which is the reason for immunity from violating trade contracts, and analyzing the scope of immunity in practical application.
Research design, data, and methodology : For this study, prior studies on force majeure clause were reviewed, and the characteristics of international unification laws such as CISG, PICC, and PECL were analyzed to examine their applicability to COVID-19.
Results : In contracts on the international sales of goods, it is common to have detailed provisions on Force majeure, and it is desirable for the contracting parties to freely modify the allocation of non-performance risks according to the circumstances of individual contracts.
Conclusions : Even if force majeure such as the COVID-19 pandemic occurs, the contract should be observed through the principles of good faith and Hardship rather than the termination of the contract, and the Governing law should be specified in the contract.
ECONOMIC GROWTH AND FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENT - A REGIONAL ANALYSIS
Authors: De Moraes Leonardo Nogueira , Moreira Tito Belchior Silva , Cunha George Henrique de Moura
Published: November 2023

This paper aims to contribute to the economic debate on the relationship between financial development and economic growth from a regional development perspective. This research empirically examines the relationship between economic growth and financial development based on the Federative Units of Brazil, from 2006 to 2017. From a methodological point of view, we use econometric models for panel data that make it possible to show the effects of financial development indicators on real GDP. Regarding the assessment by States, the empirical results show a positive relationship between the developmentof the financial system and economic growth. More specifically, the results show that economic and financial indicators such as “economic openness”, “term deposits” and “demand deposits”, as well as fiscal indicators such as current expenditures, positively affect real GDP.Finally, the empirical results by region are similar to the results by federation units.
ESPACIALIDADE DO CRIME ENTRE OS MUNCIÍPIOS DO ESTADO DO RIO DE JANEIRO
Authors: Clemente Ademir , Clemente Leonel Toshio , Clemente Artur Kendi
Published: November 2023

O objetivo deste artigo é avaliar a interdependência espacial da criminalidade entre os 92 (noventa e dois) municípios do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Os dados se referem ao período de 2003 a 2018. A análise é estatística e econométrica. Por meio da Análise de Componentes Principais foram identificadas 3 dimensões da criminalidade, para as quais foi calculado e testado estatisticamente o I de Moran para cada ano compreendido no período. Então, as 3 dimensões principais foram ponderadas pela matriz de contiguidade dos municípios e foi aplica Análise de Dados em Painel por meio do Método de Máxima Verossimilhança. As variáveis independentes são densidade demográfica, educação (IDEB do ensino fundamental), saúde (despesas municipais com saúde per capita) e PIB municipal per capita. Os resultados evidenciam a importância da educação para conter a criminalidade, a interdependência espacial das dimensões da criminalidade e as distorções que a omissão da interdependência pode causar, bem como a irrelevância da pujança econômica dos municípios.
Algunos peces dulceacuícolas de la Cordillera Oriental Colombiana
Authors: Morales Villanueva Carlos , Jácome García Jesús
Published: November 2023

Los peces son el grupo de animales más numeroso y diverso de vertebrados del mundo, Colombia alberga el 25% (3668 especies) de los peces del mundo, ocupando el segundo lugar en diversidad de este grupo después de Brasil. Los Cerros Orientales representan una gran oferta de biodiversidad y servicios ecosistémicos para la capital y para la región Andina allí podemos encontrar el Capitán de la sabana (Eremophilus mutisii), la Guapucha (Grundulus bogotensis), el Capitán enano (Trichomycterus bogotense), el Bocachico (Prochilodus magdalenae), el Pez Cuchilla de Cristal (Sternopygus aequilabiatus), y el corroncho o cucha (Cordylancistrus daguae). Algunas de estas especies representan una fuente de proteínas para el consumo humano, otras aportan nutrientes a sus ecosistemas específicos a través de los desechos nitrogenados que sirven para alimento de las plantas que viven en estos lugares. Sin embargo, su presencia en los cerros puede verse amenazada por muchos factores como la sobrepesca, la implantación de especies exóticas principalmente de trucha arcoíris (Oncorhynchus mykiss), la tala de árboles que afecta el hábitat de las especies, así como la mínería, y el manejo inadecuado de basuras en los ríos. Este último además de afectar negativamente al suelo, también pueden deteriorar las fuentes hídricas donde habitan estos organismos y ocasionar alteraciones en la cadena trófica. A todo esto también debemos añadir el mal uso de los cuerpos de agua como la captación ilegal del agua, ocupación de los cauces de los ríos, esto representa el 40% de las amenazas que tienen los cerros. Para hacer frente a todas estas amenazas además del consumo responsable de estos organismos, que implica respetar las tallas mínimas de captura para impedir su explotación excesiva, se debe conocer todas las medidas de control que contribuyen a su conservación. Por ejemplo, no introducir especies ícticas exóticas, no arrojar sustancias contaminantes o tóxicas en los cuerpos de agua, denunciar el uso de los recursos naturales renovables sin la previa obtención de los permisos correspondientes. De forma directa reconocer las especies a nivel morfológico, permitirá hacer conciencia del proceso de conservación que debemos realizar. De esta manera, ayudaremos a frenar el avance de los procesos de deterioro relacionados con la urbanización para que nuestras futuras generaciones puedan contemplar, disfrutar y beneficiarse de los peces de nuestros Cerros Orientales.
Processing of Red Mud into Catalysts for the Treatment of Gas Emissions from Carbon Monoxide
Authors: Liberman E.Yu. , Konkova T.V. , Kleusov B.S. , Semenov A.F. , Seitkasymova A.A.
Published: November 2023

Catalytically active materials were obtained by processing the red mud of the Bogorodskoye field for the treatement of gas emissions from carbon monoxide. It was found that that the use of acid leaching followed by precipitation of sparingly soluble compounds with ammonium hydroxide leads to the production of materials with an iron content of 55% by weight according to elemental analysis. The samples were found to have higher specific surface area (154.8–155.7 m2/g) and porosity (0.275–0.311 cm3/g) and higher catalytic activity in the CO oxidation reaction compared to untreated red mud. It was confirmed that impregnation of the surface of refined products with copper oxide in the amount of 5 % by mass in terms of metal significantly increases the catalytic activity.
Ecological Safety of Application of Nanotechnologies on the Example of Vegetables
Authors: Glushchenko N.N. , Nechitaylo G.S.
Published: November 2023

The modern issue of environmental safety of using nanotechnologies to increase the yield of vegetables was studied. The technology was developed for incorporating nanoparticles (NPs) of metal microelements into the composition of the nutrient medium to obtain planting material with improved morphophysiological properties, due to which the yield of crops when planted in the soil almost doubles. It was confirmed that the absence of disturbances in microelement composition of plant and fruit tissues, the unchanged content of mobile phases in the soil after harvesting testifies to the environmental safety of nanotechnologies in biocultivation of vegetables under aseptic conditions.
Atmospheric Pollution from Fuel Combustion at Stationary Sources in the Regions of Russia: Scale and Dynamics
Authors: Bityukova V.R. , Kravchik A.I.
Published: November 2023

The peculiarities of fuel consumption in Russian regions were revealed — the energy sector consumes 40 % of the country's fuel resources, but its role is declining. There was an increase in fuel consumption by industries and population. The fuel balance of the regions revealed a predominance of gas in the European part and coal in the eastern regions with an increase in the share of associated gas. Thanks to the modernization of the power industry in most regions of Russia, emissions from fuel combustion have decreased and industrial production has increased.
De batallas, dolores y placeres: cuerpos y feminismos en Quito, Ecuador (1980-2020)
Authors: Cedeño Carofilis Cynthia
Published: November 2023

La obra está gestada al calor de la insurrección feminista que pone al cuerpo como eje de transformaciones desde la piel. El objetivo fue cartografiar las prácticas, tácticas y figuraciones que politizan el cuerpo desde los activismos feministas en Quito en el período 1980-2020. Para responderlo, la autora combina la aproximación genealógica foucaultiana, la etnografía y las producciones narrativas, en un diálogo con las epistemologías feministas descoloniales, poscoloniales y transfeministas. Desde distintos escenarios, la obra conecta los activismos desde los ochenta con los actuales, de ahí su valor: los diálogos y disensos entre generaciones, entre teorías, entre feminismos y entre cuerpos. Una obra que mira hacia atrás para darnos esperanzas de “cuerpo” al futuro de los feminismos.
Molecular cytological analysis of alien introgressions in common wheat lines created by crossing of Triticum aestivum with T. dicoccoides and T. dicoccum
Authors: Orlovskaya О. A. , Leonova I. N. , Solovey L. A. , Dubovets N. I.
Published: November 2023

Wild and domesticated emmer (ВВАА, 2n = 28) are of significant interest for expanding the genetic diversity of common wheat as sources of a high protein and microelement grain content, resistance to many biotic and abiotic factors. Particular interest in these species is also determined by their close relationship with Triticum aestivum L., which facilitates interspecific hybridization. The objective of this work was to analyze the nature of alien introgressions in hybrid lines from crossing common wheat varieties with T. dicoccoides and T. dicoccum, and to assess the effect of their genome fragments on the cytological stability of introgression lines. A C-banding technique and genotyping with SNP and SSR markers were used to determine localization and length of introgression fragments. Assessment of cytological stability was carried out on the basis of chromosome behavior in microsporogenesis. A molecular cytogenetic analysis of introgression wheat lines indicated that the inclusion of the genetic material of wild and domesticated emmer was carried out mainly in the form of whole arms or large fragments in the chromosomes of the B genome and less extended inserts in the A genome. At the same time, the highest frequency of introgressions of the emmer genome was observed in chromosomes 1A, 1B, 2B, and 3B. The analysis of the final stage of meiosis showed a high level of cytological stability in the vast majority of introgression wheat lines (meiotic index was 83.0–99.0 %), which ensures the formation of functional gametes in an amount sufficient for successful reproduction. These lines are of interest for the selection of promising material with agronomically valuable traits and their subsequent inclusion in the breeding process.
Powdery mildew resistance of apple clonal rootstocks from the collection of the Michurinsk State Agrarian University
Authors: Shamshin I. N. , Dubrovsky M. L. , Trifonova A. A. , Boris K. V. , Kudryavtsev A. M.
Published: November 2023

Apple clonal rootstocks are the basis of modern intensive horticulture, providing a rapid increase in yield and convenience of fruit trees cultivation. Production of clonal rootstocks under high humidity often causes powdery mildew infection caused by the pathogenic fungus Podosphaera leucotricha Salm., which significantly reduces the productivity of stoolbed. Growing powdery mildew resistant genotypes is the most appropriate way to combat this disease and allows reducing the use of fungicides. To accelerate the search for resistant forms, molecular markers associated with resistance genes have been developed. However, these markers have not been used to study clonal rootstocks. The aims of the work were the field assessment of powdery mildew resistance of apple clonal rootstocks from the collection of the Michurinsk State Agrarian University and the screening of the collection for Pl-1, Pl-2, Pl-w and Pl-d resistance genes. The results of a three-year field evaluation of powdery mildew resistance of 80 rootstocks allowed us to distinguish five main groups ranging from very low to highly resistant. A group of 57 accessions was classified as powdery mildew resistant. The search for resistance genes was performed using the AT20 SCAR (Pl-1 gene), OPU02 SCAR (Pl- 2 gene), EM DM01 (Pl-d gene), and EM M02 (Pl-w gene) markers. The Pl-d and Pl-1 genes identified in 33 (41.25 %) and 31 (38.75 %) accessions, respectively, were the most common in the collection. The Pl-w gene was detected only in two accessions. Identification of the Pl-2 gene with the OPU02 SCAR marker did not reveal a fragment of the expected size. Thirty accessions with different powdery mildew resistance scores had two genes, Pl-1 and Pl-d, and highly resistant forms G16 and 14-1 had a combination of the Pl-d and Pl-w genes. These accessions can be used as donors of powdery mildew resistance for breeding new apple clonal rootstocks.
Smallpox vaccination in a mouse model
Authors: Shchelkunov S. N. , Sergeev A. A. , Pyankov S. A. , Titova K. A. , Yakubitskiy S. N.
Published: November 2023

The monkeypox epidemic, which became unusually widespread among humans in 2022, has brought awareness about the necessity of smallpox vaccination of patients in the risk groups. The modern smallpox vaccine variants are introduced either intramuscularly or by skin scarification. Intramuscular vaccination cannot elicit an active immune response, since tissues at the vaccination site are immunologically poor. Skin has evolved into an immunologically important organ in mammals; therefore, intradermal delivery of a vaccine can ensure reliable protective immunity. Historically, vaccine inoculation into scarified skin (the s.s. route) was the first immunization method. However, it does not allow accurate vaccine dosing, and high-dose vaccines need to be used to successfully complete this procedure. Intradermal (i.d.) vaccine injection, especially low-dose one, can be an alternative to the s.s. route. This study aimed to compare the s.s. and i.d. smallpox immunization routes in a mouse model when using prototypic second- and fourth-generation low-dose vaccines (104 pfu). Experiments were conducted using BALB/c mice; the LIVP or LIVP-GFP strains of the vaccinia virus (VACV) were administered into the tail skin via the s.s. or i.d. routes. After vaccination (7, 14, 21, 28, 42, and 56 days post inoculation (dpi)), blood samples were collected from the retro-orbital venous sinus; titers of VACV-specific IgM and IgG in the resulting sera were determined by ELISA. Both VACV strains caused more profound antibody production when injected via the i.d. route compared to s.s. inoculation. In order to assess the level of the elicited protective immunity, mice were intranasally infected with a highly lethal dose of the cowpox virus on 62 dpi. The results demonstrated that i.d. injection ensures a stronger protective immunity in mice compared to s.s. inoculation for both VACV variants.
Pricing Mobility
Authors: Rietveld Piet
Published: November 2023

Externalities of transport do not only depend on the number of kilometres driven, but also on factors such as road type, time of day, car type and on driving behaviour such as speed and acceleration. The present pricing system of car use and ownership in the Netherlands is such that the degree of differentiation is small, except for the car type aspect. Thus there is a clear mismatch between the differentiation in external costs and in pricing. A considerable share (55%) of all car-related taxes in the Netherlands relates to car ownership. The rest (45%) is paid for car use. The structure of the tax system is only vaguely related to the differentiation in the external effects. To overcome this problem, variabilisation of the tax system has been a main objective during the past 20 years in the Netherlands. A discussion is given of various ways to achieve this variabilisation such as a spatial graduation of fuel taxes, congestion pricing, a kilometre charge, and paid parking. The treatment of transport costs as a deductible in the income tax leads to major distortions in the Netherlands: a low variable cost for commuting, a zero variable cost for the company car, and a negative cost in the case of private car use for business purposes. Thus, two major problems in the taxation of road transport are found: lack of differentiation so that the tariffs do not reflect the external costs, and adverse effects of the structure of the income tax in the fields of business traffic and commuting leading to low, zero or even negative costs of car use. Discussions on the reform of transport-related taxes generally focus on the first problem but the figures presented in this study indicate that the second problem also deserves high priority.
Determination and Evaluation of Traffic Congestion Costs
Authors: Hansen Ingo
Published: November 2023

The current estimation of time loss and costs of traffic congestion is lacking a scientifically valid empirical database concering the queue speed and time loss, as well as a methodological soundness of the value-of-time of commuting and leisure, and may hence lead to serious errors. In fact, the low willingness-to-pay of commuters for using a toll road indicates that the benefit of traffic time gains is estimated to be much lower than a significant part of the wages.
The Impact of Institutional Structures on Transport Infrastructure Performance. A Cross-National Comparison on Various Indicators
Authors: De Jong W. Martin
Published: November 2023

It is generally acknowledged that structures and styles of decision-making have an important impact on what transport networks under these regimes look like. However, this has not been a regular line of research up to now. This paper investigates this by distinguishing four types of institutional structures that reflect various politico-administrative systems and styles in Western Europe. It seeks to construe an argument on how these types of institutional structures have divergent impacts on 1) decision-making speed on infrastructure projects, 2) satisfaction of actors in the decision making process, 3) Benefit-Cost ratios for projects, 4) modal split, 5) size of transport networks, 6) congestion in the networks and 7) investment levels. It seeks to explain why every specific type of institutional structure has a specific predicted impact on the form, type and performance of the transport networks and also takes into account that institutional structure is not the only factor with an impact on final physical outcomes. The article gives a well-substantiated argument on the supposed connection and provides some empirical evidence, but does not claim statistical significance. It sets a first step toward a new line of research and suggests this may prove fruitful as a contribution to policy making.
Behavioural impacts of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems–an overview
Authors: Brookhuis Karel A. , De Waard Dick , Janssen Wiel H.
Published: November 2023

The purpose of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) is that driver error will be reduced or even eliminated, and efficiency in traffic and transport is enhanced. The benefits of ADAS implementations are potentially considerable because of a significant decrease in human suffering, economical cost and pollution. However, there are also potential problems to be expected, since the task of driving a ordinary motor vehicle is changing in nature, in the direction of supervising a (partly) automated moving vehicle.
Stated Preferences of European Drivers regarding Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)
Authors: Marchau Vincent , Wiethoff Marion , Penttinen Merja , Molin Eric
Published: November 2023

The introduction of electronic Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) in road vehicles is expected to improve traffic efficiency and safety significantly. As such, public policy makers are increasingly interested in the implementation possibilities of these systems. Successful implementation in the near future of these systems will largely depend on the willingness of people to buy and use these systems. The current knowledge regarding this willingness is limited. Therefore, in this paper the acceptance of potential users is explored regarding the first ADAS currently deployed. These systems involve proper distance keeping, speed limit adaptation and navigational support. The preferences for ADA systems have been measured using conjoint analysis techniques. Drivers of cars and trucks throughout Europe have been questioned about the overall attractiveness regarding several alternative ADAS. Alternative systems were presented based on their functional features, different levels of system price and varying types of roads on which ADAS could be used. On average, drivers consider it neither attractive nor unattractive to have support systems in their vehicle(s). However, the study shows that this finding needs to be qualified, as preferences depend on the specific system characteristics and the background characteristics of drivers.
Decision Support in Dynamic Traffic Management
Authors: Hoogendoorn Serge P. , De Schutter Bart , Schuurman Henk
Published: November 2023

To support operators in Regional Traffic Management Centers in their task to efficiently and safely manage traffic flows on the motorway and urban networks, a decision support system is being developed. An essential function of this system is its ability to predict the effects of a large number of candidate control scenarios, given the recurrent and non-recurrent conditions in the network. This article proposes such a prediction system referred to as BSES (Boss Scenario Evaluation System), which can evaluate control scenarios in real time, predicting their effects in terms of various measures of effectiveness, such as total travel times, vehicle loss times, average speeds, fuel consumption, etc. The main characteristics of the system are l) that it is case- based, i.e. it uses either synthetic or real-life examples of the effect of control scenarios under different circumstances; 2) that is determines the similarity of the current situation to different examples in the case-base using fuzzy logic, and 3) that it is agent-based, meaning that it predicts the effects of the different measures for small subnetworks and combines these predictions afterwards. In the article, synthetic data is used to set-up the case base. The test results described in the article illustrate the workings of the system, and shows that the system can provide the operator with real-time predictions. Furthermore, the predictions of the system are in comparable to the predictions from the simulation model used to fill the case-base, showing that the method is applicable to generalize the - in this case synthetic - data it uses.
Book Review: Michael A.P. Taylor (ed.) Transportation and Traffic Theory in the 21st Century
Authors: Coeymans J. E.
Published: November 2023

This book presents the Proceedings of the 15th International Symposium on Transportation and Traffic Theory (ISTTT), held at the University of South Australia in July 2002. The ISTTT is one of the most important gatherings for transportation and traffic theoreticians. Its main purpose is to share advances in the scientific aspects of transportation and traffic phenomena. A renowned International Committee and the plurality of excellent contributors, makes this book a valuable tool for the scientific and professional world in the transportation and traffic arena.
Urban Structures and Travel Behaviour
Authors: Naess Petter
Published: November 2023

In line with theoretical considerations, a number of empirical studies reviewed in this paper show that urban structural variables influence the inhabitantsÌ amount of transport and their choice of means of conveyance. This appears to be true across city sizes. The location of the residence relative to the city centre is the urban structural characteristic which, according to our analyses, exerts the strongest influence on travelling distances, modal split between car and non-motorized transport, and energy use for transport. The distance from the residence to the downtown area is a key factor influencing the accessibility to a number of facility types. Population densities at a local scale as well as for the city as a whole are also important to the amount of travel and the use of cars. In addition, a high road capacity contributes to the increase of the proportion of commuters travelling by car in the peak period.
Tolling Heavy Goods Vehicles on European Roads. From a Diverse Set of Solutions to Interoperability?
Authors: Viegas José
Published: November 2023

This paper is based on work carried out in the DESIRE research project of the European Commission’s 5th Framework Program, dedicated to the identification of preferred schemes for inter-urban tolling of Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV’s) in the EU. As such, it presents some of the current developments related to this type of tolling, starting with the relevant transport policy background and a brief review of the various forms of tolling in existence and the main technological approaches used for tolling operations. A variety of situations in different countries studied in the project is then reviewed and presented in a framework that tries to put them in perspective according to several angles, accompanied by some explanation of the choices made in the various countries. A synthesis of this complex set of realities is produced thereafter in the form of a suggestion for a preferred form of pricing scheme. Recognising that various background conditions have led to legitimately different choices, but also that interoperability of each vehicle across regional and national borders is a natural request in international freight transport, the issue of the real value and costs of interoperability is finally discussed. It is argued that political difficulties for approval of these schemes at national level have been so strong that the policy package presented for parliamentary approval generally has to be very well tuned to the prevailing balances of power, thus leaving the issue of interoperability to a later stage. This evolution is currently of a relatively easy conceptual formulation, but many institutional and economic hurdles must be expected along the way. It is expected that interoperability may be reached within some 10 years, when there will be joint pressure for it from the demand side (hauliers) and from the supply side (technology suppliers).
Pricing of Intermodal Transport. Lessons Learned from RECORDIT
Authors: Ricci Andrea
Published: November 2023

Intermodal transport is defined as a sequence of activities involving modal haulages, transhipments and terminals, and requiring the intervention of a variety of operators, whose roles partially overlap and compete. This entails an inherent complexity of the cost and price formation mechanisms, and an overall lack of transparency resulting both from the technical difficulty to establish a reliable and effective accounting framework, and from the high level of competition currently observed between operators. Specific obstacles to cost valuation and pricing are also related to the choice of the units of measure, whereby intermodal traffic is usually assessed with reference to the Loading Unit concept, rather than in terms of vehicles moved. The RECORDIT project (Real Cost Reduction of Door-to-door Intermodal Transport) is briefly presented, with particular reference to its pricing-relevant objectives: designing an original accounting framework for intermodal transport, and documenting the value of individual cost items (both internal and external) based on the detailed, bottom-up analysis of three intermodal trans-European corridors and their all-road competing alternatives. Intermodal transport is found to be consistently cheaper than all-road solutions, and its external costs significantly lower, thereby confirming the high potential of intermodal transport in increasing the sustainability of the transport sector. Lead times are however substantially longer than for road, which contributes to explain the currently limited market share of intermodal transport services. For price setting purposes, RECORDIT has carried out a comparison between social costs (internal + external) and taxes and charges currently paid. The evidence from the three corridors analysed does not lead to uniform conclusions, owing to a high level of variability of results in relation to corridor-dependent parameters, and thereby confirming the need for a price-setting approach that allows to adequately reflect the specific characteristics of each route. Further research and policy initiatives can be envisaged to facilitate the pricing reform process, particularly directed at reducing information gaps and increasing transparency, also through the establishment of more effective institutional and market mechanisms.
Evaluating Urban Sustainability Using Land-Use Transport Interaction Models
Authors: Spiekermann Klaus , Wegener Michael
Published: November 2023

The objective of the EU research project PROPOLIS (Planning and Research of Policies for Land Use and Transport for Increasing Urban Sustainability) was to assess urban strategies and to demonstrate their long-term effects in European cities. To reach this goal, a comprehensive framework of methodologies including integrated land-use, transport and environmental models as well as indicator, evaluation and presentation systems was developed.

Sustainable development is viewed as comprising the environmental, socio-cultural and economic dimension. Thirty-five indicators were defined to measure the three dimensions of sustainability, such as air pollution, consumption of natural resources, quality of open space, population exposure to air pollution and noise, equity and opportunities and economic benefits from transport and land use. 

Indicator values are derived from state-of-the-art urban land-use and transport models. A number of additional modules, including a justice evaluation module, an economic evaluation module and a GIS-based raster module, were developed and integrated to provide further indicator values. Both multicriteria and cost-benefit analysis methods are used to consistently evaluate the impacts of the policies. The environmental and social dimensions of sustainability are measured using multicriteria analysis for the evaluation of the indicators, whereas cost-benefit analysis is used for the economic dimension. The modelling and evaluation system was implemented in seven European urban regions: Bilbao (Spain), Brussels (Belgium), Dortmund (Germany), Helsinki (Finland), Inverness (Scotland), Naples (Italy) and Vicenza (Italy).

A large number of policies were tested with the modelling and evaluation system in the seven urban regions. Policies investigated are land use policies, transport infrastructure policies, transport regulation and pricing policies and combinations of these. Besides a common set of policies examined in all seven urban regions, also city-specific local policies were assessed in each urban region. 

The first part of the paper introduces the methodology and the model system developed. A particular focus is on the development of indicators describing urban sustainability derived from different indicator modules in the modelling system. The second part presents selected aggregated results of the policy testing and evaluation for Dortmund as one of the seven urban regions. The paper concludes with recommendations on how successful strategies to enhance the long-term  ustainability of urban regions should look like.
Modelling Land Use – Transport Dynamics
Authors: Devereux Lynn , Jin Ying , Elston Ian
Published: November 2023

This paper describes the use of an integrated land use and transport model in the development of a long-term strategy for sustainable transport in the London to Ipswich Corridor (LOIS) in the UK. The project is one of a number of larger scale corridor studies commissioned by the UK government as part of a major programme of Multi Modal Studies. The application of the model is reviewed in the dynamic interactions between land use and transport policies, and the choice behaviours of the households and travellers in the region. This helps to explain the ways in which policy initiatives may be assessed in terms of the effectiveness in achieving sustainability objectives for the corridor.
Book Review
Authors: van der Heijden Rob E.C.M.
Published: November 2023

Transport planning has become one of the more complex challenges in our western regions. The tremendous increase in motorised transport in the past decades has had enormous impacts on urban and regional development, social and economic opportunities, environmental quality and technological innovations. Where half a century ago we expected mainly positive impacts of these developments and planned for accommodating them, since about 30 years we are more and more seeking strategies for balancing the advantages with the ever increasing negative impacts. To be mentioned are congestion, traffic accidents, fuel consumption, emissions, noise production, land use, and so on. The process of seeking the right balance is not a smooth one, but a battle based on a lack of knowledge and intervention means, with uncertainty, with unexpected impacts of policy measures, with locked-in behaviour of individuals and firms, with beliefs and changing policy values. In short: transport planning is an ongoing process of often trial- and error based attempts to find the best long term transport management concept for all of us within a dynamic context of rapidly changing conditions. Professionals involved in this battle, often experiencing the failure or only partly success of some policy measure, sometimes start fundamentally doubting whether traffic problems can be tackled by analytical approaches. Such doubts give space to a more normative view, that however has the danger to end in an individual belief.
Referee Acknowlegdement
Authors: _ _
Published: November 2023

Referee Acknowlegdement
Understanding road users’ expectations
Authors: Houtenbos M. , Jagtman H. M. , Hagenzieker M. P. , Wieringa P. A. , Hale A. R.
Published: November 2023

This article indicates the need for understanding road users’ expectations when developing Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). Nowadays, technology allows more and more opportunities to provide road users with all sorts of information or even actively support aspects of the driving task. However, we should first identify how the driving task is actually performed by drivers before determining which ADAS functionalities could support the driver optimally. The results of an experiment aimed at identifying aspects of expectations drivers have in interaction situations, are used to speculate about ADAS functionalities that could potentially support the driver in the interaction aspect of the driving task.
The Impacts of Time Access Restrictions and Vehicle Weight Restrictions on Food Retailers and the Environment
Authors: Quak Hans , Koster René De
Published: November 2023

Urban freight transport has many sustainable aspects. It contributes to economic vitality and the competitiveness of a region. However, the less socially and environmentally friendly effects such as noise, pollutant emissions, and nuisance, are usually the central theme in designing urban freight transport policies. Restricting policies as time access restrictions and vehicle restrictions gain popularity among Dutch local authorities. More than half of the municipalities uses time access restrictions. In spite of the popularity of these policy measures, the effects on the distribution of retailers, the environment and the transport costs are not known yet. In this paper we present three case studies of food retailers, in order to examine the effects of time access restrictions and vehicle weight restrictions. We discuss the impacts on the transport costs and the distribution processes (on the retailer’s side) and the environmental impacts. To find these effects we design five scenarios, in which we vary the length of time access restrictions, the allowed weight of the weight restriction and the number of cities in which these regulations are used. In these scenarios we adapt, based on the likely reaction of the involved food retailers, the distribution activities to fit the regulations. The results show that the vehicle weight restriction as well as the time access restrictions have a negative impact on the retailers’ transport costs. In most cases we see that the policy measures also cause an increase in the pollutant CO2 emissions that are emitted during the distribution of the goods. The time access restrictions cause a cost-increase that develops more or less convexly, as more stores are affected by this policy measure. The turning point is around 45% of the stores affected. The weight restriction causes linear cost-increase as more stores are affected. Both policy measures affect especially the roundtrips that combine multiple less than truckload orders for different stores. The policy measures have a different effect on different retailers.
Real-time hiring of vehicles for container transport
Authors: Evers Joseph J.M.
Published: November 2023

This study concerns the deployment of large numbers of container transporting vehicles on a network consisting of (dedicated) roads and logistic sites such as container terminals. Each site is managed autonomously by a site manager. The fleet of vehicles is deployed by a fleet manager. On request of the site managers, the fleet manager allocates vehicles to be hired by the site managers. Next, within these allocations, each site manager issues transportation jobs and assigns these jobs to the allocated vehicles. The objective of the fleet manager is to avoid unpaid empty driving and to keep the size of its fleet just large enough the serve the demand for vehicles. The objective of the site managers is to minimize the operational costs. In this context a new coordination system is proposed to allocate vehicle capacity, operating on the basis of a win-win situation for all actors. The coordination takes place at two levels. One level concerns the drawing up of an adaptive fleet deployment plan. The other level resides under control of the individual site managers and concerns the assignment of transportation jobs to vehicles, given the allocations of the fleet deployment plan. Both use repetitive linear programming procedures. Small size simulation experiments show that the approach might be effective.
The demand for road-based passenger mobility in India: 1950-2030 and relevance for developing and developed countries
Authors: Kumar Singh Sanjay
Published: November 2023

The main aim of the paper is to estimate the demand for road-based passenger mobility in India and subsequently project the energy demand and CO2 emissions resulting from the same. Based on a data set of the four major motorized modes of transport – buses, cars (including jeeps and taxis), two-wheelers, and auto-rickshaws from 1950-51 to 2000-01, long-term trends in motorized traffic volume and modal split are projected up to the year 2030-31. It is found that the road-based traffic volume in India will increase from 3079 billion passenger-kilometers in 2000-01 to 12546 billion passenger-kilometers in 2030-31. Between 2000-01 and 2030-31, the aggregate share of private- and para-transit modes is projected to increase from 24.3% to 55.3% whereas the share of public transport mode is estimated to decrease from 75.7% to 44.7%. Based on the projected values of aggregate traffic volume, modal split, and modal intensities for energy demand and CO2 emissions, the paper then estimated the level of energy demand and CO2 emission from the road-based passenger transport sector in India. If there is no reduction in modal intensities, energy demand is projected to increase from 954 peta joules in 2000-01 to 5897 peta joules in 2030- 31 whereas CO2 emission is estimated to increase from 17.27 to 93.22 million metric tons of carbon equivalent during the same period. Even when we assume a reduction of 1% per year in energy and CO2 intensity of all modes of transport, energy demand and CO2 emission is projected to increase by a 4.6- and 4.0-fold respectively from 2000-01 to 2030-31.
Is there a ‘Stick’ Bonus? A Stated Choice Model for P&R Patronage incorporating Cross-Effects
Authors: Bos Ilona , Molin Eric
Published: November 2023

This paper presents a universal logit model for P&R patronage. This model was estimated from a Stated Choice experiment, in which 805 car drivers chose among car, P&R and public transport alternatives. In addition to main-effects, attribute cross-effects were estimated denoting the utility change of an alternative due to changes in the attribute levels of another alternative. The results indicate that improving the levels of the P&R related attributes has a negligible effect on the utility of the car alternative, whereas worsening the levels of the carrelated attributes increases the utility of the P&R facility. Considering the estimated maineffects as well as the estimated cross-effects suggests that ‘stick’ (push) policy measures are more effective to stimulate P&R patronage than ‘carrot’ (pull) policy measures. The paper further reports that the extension of the model by adding cross-effects to the main-effects resulted in a better model fit and that the resulting model could more accurately predict the choices for new observations.