bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Extraction of high molecular weight DNA from nasal lining fluid v1
Authors: Montgomery Samuel
Published: October 2023

Assessing the microbiome in respiratory samples is often difficult due to the low biomass of microbes often present in these samples. While there are published methods for efficient extraction of DNA from samples such as bronchoalveolar lavage fluid for 16s rRNA sequencing or metagenomic sequencing (Saladie et al., 2020), these methodologies are usually optimised for traditional short-read based sequencing technologies. With the advent of accessible and affordable long-read sequencing technologies for full length 16s rRNA sequencing (PacBio) and whole metagenomic sequencing (Oxford Nanopore), there is increased importance in extracting high quality, high molecular weight fragments of DNA from metagenomic samples. This protocol can be used to extract DNA from both low biomass (nasal lining fluid, bronchoalveolar lavage, nasal swabs) and high biomass (pure bacterial culture) samples.
Cylinder Test v1
Authors: Marciano Sabina , Marongiu Roberta
Published: October 2023

The Cylinder test is used to evaluate locomotor asymmetry in rodent models
Human Adipose Sample Collection Protocol -- University of Minnesota TMCs v1
Authors: J Niedernhofer Laura
Published: October 2023

Collection protocol obtained from the attached BioNet Specimen Procurement Agreement provided by the UMN CTSI Biorepository and Laboratory Services (BLS).
Human Blood Sample Collection Protocol --University of Minnesota TMCs v1
Authors: J Niedernhofer Laura
Published: October 2023

Collection protocol obtained from the attached BioNet Specimen Procurement Agreement provided by the UMN CTSI Biorepository and Laboratory Services (BLS).
Tethered Disparities: Adolescent Smartphone Use in Rural and Urban China
Authors: Chen Huan , Tai Zixue
Published: October 2023

The pervasive penetration of the smartphone has disproportionately affected adolescents and youth more than any other sociodemographic group. Inspired by the conceptual framework of the digital divide in internet use, this research aims to interrogate the multi-dimensional aspects of disparities in smartphone use among teens in China. Measurement was developed to assess the first-, second-, and third-level divide as manifested in smartphone access and engagement in a variety of activities, different skill sets, and myriad outcomes and consequences. Results from a cross-sectional survey of 1,511 at-school teens show various patterns of divide along the lines of age, gender, and rural/mid-sized-city/metropolitan location.
ON AN $\omega$-EDGE IDEAL OF A SIMPLE GRAPH
Authors: Tognon C. H.
Published: October 2023

Considering a commutative ring $R$ with non-zero identity and the $R$-module $I(G)$, which is the edge ideal of a finite simple graph $G$, with no isolated vertex, we introduce the notion of an $\omega$-edge ideal, which is a module. We establish some results which involve the sum of $\omega$-edge ideals.
Getting Around to It: How Design Science Researchers Set Future Work Agendas
Authors:   University of Coimbra, Barata João , Rupino da Cunha Paulo ,   University of Coimbra
Published: October 2023

Abstract Background: There is a long tradition of writing about future work in research papers, and information systems design science research (IS DSR) is no exception. However, there is a lack of studies on (1) how IS DSR authors currently envision the next steps for their work and (2) guidelines to improve the communication of opportunities to accumulate knowledge. Method: This paper contributes to this topic, building on a systematic literature review of 123 IS DSR papers published between 2018 and 2022. Results: Design-oriented research requires the research team to decide which tasks to carry out immediately in building the future and which to postpone as research debt. The paper's contribution is threefold. First, we propose a research debt lifecycle to support (1) project stakeholders, (2) IS DSR community, and (3) societies looking for better futures. Second, we discuss the anatomy of future work in recent IS DSR. Finally, we suggest guidelines to manage and report the next research steps. Conclusion: This paper presents a pioneering assessment of future work suggestions in the IS field, focusing on the design science research paradigm. Future work directions emerge from researchers' choices during the IS DSR process that must be continuously managed.
Comparative Histological Analysis of Caspian Thin-Toed Gecko (Reptilia, Squamata) and Persian sturgeon (Actinopterygii, Acipenseriformes) Skin
Authors: Janbakhish Ali Najafov, Ramin Tahir Hashimov
Published: October 2023

We carried out a comparative study on Caspian thin-toed gecko with Persian sturgeon. The skin plays a role in preventing damage to internal organs from mechanical stress and the harmful effects of sunlight, and is colored depending to the environment to protect against enemies. It also plays the role in the recognition and reproduction of members. The epidermis of Tenuidactylus caspius (Eichwald, 1831) resembles mammals and birds more than the epidermis of reptiles. The stratum corneum layer of the epidermis is the same thickness in the same body area of the Caspian thin-toed gecko representatives. T.c. insularis, which live by the seaside in horizontal position, have relatively few stratum corneum cells that cover the underside of the body, however, there are many air-filled cavities inside these cells. The stratum corneum underside of T.c. caspius, which are adapted to living in a vertical position, have a large number of cells, but they are flatter and have fewer air cavities. The stratum compactum layer of the dermis in the T.c. caspius, is denser and more compact than in the T.c. insularis. Acipenser persicus (Borodin, 1897) epidermis consist of outermost surface layer, middle layer and stratum germinativum. In sturgeon, the outer surface of skin is covered with a cuticle. Below it are mucous cells, taste buds and stratified flattened cells. The stratum compactum of Acipenser persicus is thick and covers the body like a shield
The Communicative Function of Legal Transplants in Mixed Legal Systems
Authors: Trikoz E. N. , Gulyaeva E. E.
Published: October 2023

The article analyzes the definition of the communicative function of law from the point of view of legal communication between the dependent legal systems of the former colonies. In this context, the “evergreen issue” arises about legal transplantation, the legal transfer of norms and institutions and reception of nomadic legal constructs. The modern comparative lexicon uses three types of metaphors related to the interaction of legal systems and their law hybridization: anthropomorphic, communicative and mechanical metaphors. Among the best-known cases of legal transplantation, the authors pay attention to the spread of codes, the diffusion of common law, and the emergence of mixed legal systems. They explore the positivist concept of “legal transplants,” which appeared in comparative discourse thanks to the theory of Alan Watson. The article discusses the comparative opposition to this theory — the so-called cultural concept of legal transplants (transferists vs. culturalist debate), as well as the musical metaphor “legal transposition” and the process of diffusion of law in dependent legal systems. The practice of legal transplants in mixed common law systems and their application in practice are analyzed in national jurisdictions. The article shows criminal legal bijuridism and the process of the so-called “diffuse codification” in India, Canada, Australia and other British former colonies, which is an example of codistics communication of dissimilar political and legal cultures and circulation of model codes between them. In conclusion, attention is drawn to the discourse of the effectiveness, applicability and effectiveness of transplants. It is concluded that the success — failure discourse of legal transplants depends on the degree of communicativeness of transplanted and receptive constructs, their ability to “speak” in an understandable language for the host cultural environment of law.
Discussions on the Status of the Ethics Committee and Biobanking Practices in the Nordic Countries
Authors: Przhilenskiy V. I.
Published: October 2023

The article analyzes the institutional status of the ethics committee as a social regulator. The object of the study is the practice of legal and administrative regulation in the field of application of genetic technologies in the Nordic countries. To this end, a comparative analysis of national legislation and practices regulating the activities of biobanks in these countries is carried out. Particular attention is given to the legal status of the ethics committee, the possibility of the ethics committee performing a regulatory function, as well as its relation to the legal system, is being investigated. Various positions concerning the legitimization of the decisions of the ethics committee in modern literature are considered. The heterogeneity of this institution is determined, which makes it possible to consider it both as legal, administrative and metaethical social regulators.
Ensuring the Health of the Nation as a Determinant of Innovations in Law Enforcement and Judicial Activities
Authors: Otcheskaya T. I. , Afanasyeva T. I. , Zhukova P. D. , Mishakova N. V. , Orkina K. A. , Shtefan D. I.
Published: October 2023

The Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation has repeatedly stated the extreme importance of human life and health as values without which all other benefits lose their relevance. Despite this approach, practicing law upholders and law-makers are constantly faced with a dilemma between ensuring the human health and following public interests in a different dimension of the state activity. The purpose of this paper is 1) to substantiate the system-forming role of such vital values as preservation of human life and health in law-making and law enforcement, and 2) to determine the vector of legal regulation in the field of public health protection. The authors have analyzed the transformation of the legal regulation of relations aimed at ensuring the health of the nation in a number of key areas: the health of minors, high-tech medicine, the balance of interests of a doctor and a patient in law enforcement, digitalization of medicine and its impact on relations in the field of personal data protection, artificial intelligence in medicine, advanced legal regulation of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation in the field of healthcare. Based on the Russian and foreign legislation, the practice of the courts of the highest instance and the lower courts, the authors have proved a determinative influence of the constitutional obligation of the state to ensure the rights to life and health on the legal regulation and law enforcement. Proposals have been made concerning the need to finalize legal acts aimed at detailing the regulation of issues in these key areas.
Evaluation of the influence of fuel pressure pulsation in the Common Rail system on the economic and environmental performance of a diesel engine
Authors: Kulmanakov Sergey P. , Tyutikov Sergey A.
Published: October 2023

BACKGROUND: At present, all the worlds diesel engine manufacturers have directed their development strategy towards reducing harmful emissions, improving fuel efficiency and increasing power per liter. To achieve this, using only the Common Rail system is not sufficient. It is necessary to apply new additional devices, such as an exhaust gas converter, an exhaust gas recirculation system, the injection of additional fluids together with diesel fuel, as well as to improve existing ones. Increasing the accuracy of fuel delivery for an injector will make it possible to adjust the engine fuel system more precisely, leading to a positive effect on all areas of development of the diesel industry.
In this article, the possibility of increasing fuel efficiency and reducing harmful emissions through exhaust gases of a diesel engine with a decrease in pressure pulsation in the accumulator of the Common Rail system is considered on the example of the D-442-59I-1 (4ChN 13/14) experimental four-cylinder diesel engine with a two-valve gas distribution system manufactured by Altai Motor Plant.
AIMS: Study of the effect of fuel pressure pulsation in the Common Rail fuel system on the economic and environmental performance of a diesel engine.
METHODS: On a non-motorized test rig, the dependence of the fuel delivery of the injector on the pressure in the accumulator was determined. To assess the effect of fuel pressure at the injector inlet on the performance of a diesel internal combustion engine, experimental designs of diesel engines were simulated using the specialized software. Theoretical studies have been carried out to assess the influence of fuel pressure in the fuel system.
RESULTS: Data have been obtained on the effect of fuel pressure fluctuations in the high-pressure line on the injector cycling, harmful emissions and fuel efficiency.
CONCLUSIONS: As a result of the study of the process of fuel supply and combustion in a 4CHN 13/14 diesel engine, it was found that with a pressure fluctuation range of 50 bar in the fuel accumulator, the concentration of wet NOx decreases by 11%. The concentration of solid particles increases to 13.4%, fuel efficiency deteriorates to 0.5% when the operating pressure of the fuel deviates 160 MPa in any direction from the set value.
Retrieving Aquinas: Traditions in Dialogue
Authors: Batista Ricardo Barroso , Nobre Bruno , Galvão Artur Ilharco
Published: October 2023

In the broadest sense of the term, “Thomism” refers to a set of ideas and principles, both in philosophy and theology that can be considered as derivations or representations of the thought of Thomas Aquinas. However, Thomism should not be considered as a mere conceptual body. It also represents a certain view and way of doing philosophy and theology. Alasdair MacIntyre, in his book Three Rival Versions of Moral Enquiry, argues that the Thomistic approach provides a coherent and skillful point of view for dealing creatively and critically with opposing views, contrasting this approach with the encyclopedic and the genealogical approaches. The former imposes a single worldview, enclosing knowledge and “truth” in a monolithic structure of “progress,” while the latter, following Nietzsche, devalues and relativizes knowledge, reducing it to a multiplicity of perspectives, each with its own claims to truth, leading to incommensurability and the consequent subjugation of “truth” to the law of the strongest. On the other hand, Thomists have adopted, from the end of the thirteenth century to the present day, different styles and ways of thinking while maintaining dialogue with their “predecessors” and at the same time with their contemporaries, that is, Thomists are capable of what MacIntyre called the “rationality of tradition”.
Validity and Soundness in the First Way
Authors: Oppy Graham
Published: October 2023

This article critically examines the structure and implications of the argument in ST 1, Q2, A3, associated with Aquinas’ First Way. Our central endeavor is to discern whether a certain disambiguation of point 6 (“There is something that is not moving/changing that moves/changes other things”) can be logically inferred from points 1-5. Through a three-part proof, the article establishes that under specific conditions, it can indeed be inferred. However, this interpretation notably diverges from Aquinas’ intended conclusion and subsequent stronger interpretations of the claim. The paper also engages in discussions surrounding the soundness of the argument, assessing the plausibility of its premises in light of physics and logical analysis. The contribution does not seek to speculate on Aquinas’ understanding or to dismiss his perspective but rather to delineate what follows from his First Way premises, highlighting discrepancies with contemporary views on the nature of existence, particularly the notion of God.
“Quod possibile est non esse quandoque non est”. Aquinas’ Third Way in the light of Hintikka’s Principle of Plenitude
Authors: Gili Luca
Published: October 2023

According to both Jaakko Hintikka and Simo Knuuttila, Aquinas’ third way to demonstrate that God exists presupposes the acceptance of the principle of plenitude, i.e., of the claim that all possibilities are realized at some time. Aquinas, however, maintained elsewhere that not all possibilities are always realized, and the coherence of his philosophical project may be called into question if one were to accept Hintikka’s and Knuuttila’s reading of the third way. In this paper, I argue that it is difficult to present the third way without invoking the principle of plenitude in Hintikka’s formulation. The corollary of this claim is that third way cannot be a demonstration within the philosophical system outlined by Aquinas, despite his claim to the contrary. Against the backdrop of this exegetical discussion, it is possible to rephrase Aquinas’ third way as a probabilistic argument that shows that God’s existence is highly likely, although not necessarily proven.
‘Natural Inclinations’ in Aquinas and his Modern Interpreters
Authors: Angier Tom
Published: October 2023

In this paper, I tackle Aquinas’s notion of ‘natural inclinations’, specifically as it occurs in his seminal elaboration of the natural law in Summa Theologiae I-II. Question 94. Article 2. Maintaining that it constitutes a departure from Aristotle’s terminology, and is hence puzzling, I go on to investigate a raft of modern, mainly Anglophone, interpretations of the concept. Beginning with Jacques Maritain, I move through the broadly chronological sequence of John Finnis, Jean Porter, Steven Jensen, Justin Matchulat and Stephen Brock. In each case, I argue that – despite these scholars’ philosophical ingenuity and textual facility – there are crucial problems with their respective approaches and construals. I end the paper by outlining my own construal of ‘natural inclinations’, which, even if not bolstered by heavy textual scholarship, is at least coherent and, moreover, avoids the philosophical pitfalls of the above interpretations.
Understanding Narratives according to the Psychology of Thomas Aquinas
Authors: Chanderbhan Stephen
Published: October 2023

Narratives relate salient connected events across some time and many particular details of the agents involved in those events. Whether fictional or true, historical or current, personal or cultural, they seem to pervade human experience and, according to theorists across different philosophical traditions, can be of some help to elucidate concerns in the moral life. Thomas Aquinas himself acknowledges the existence of such things, or at least their near analogues, in various places in his corpus. But he does not offer a sustained explanation of how narratives are understood in terms of his psychology. In this paper, I claim that such an account lies in his thought on the functioning of two interior senses in particular – the cogitative power (vis cogitativa) and the memorative power (vis memorativa) – which have been the subject of more sustained study only more recently. With this account of how humans generate and process such narratives, Thomistic scholars will be positioned to explain how narratives may function in human experience, especially the moral life, on Thomistic terms.
Aquinas, Geach, and the Inner Acts of the Will
Authors: Głowala Michał
Published: October 2023

In the paper I discuss Geach’s rejection of volitions (inner acts of the will) both in the exegesis of Aquinas and in systematic action theory – a rejection followed by some analytical commentators of Aquinas (like Davies and Kenny). I claim that Geach’s interpretation of Aquinas’s action theory in terms of tendencies (treating the will as a special kind of tendency) enables – pace Geach – a sound defense of volitionism both in the exegesis of Aquinas and in the action theory. In other words, I offer arguments in favour of volitions (inner acts of the will) starting from some insights to be found in Geach, and I response to some standard objections against volitionism. Moreover, I try to sketch a framework (based on an ontology of tendencies suggested by Geach) suitable to discuss some other volitionist claims. I proceed in four steps: first I introduce the definition of a volition or inner act of the will that may be ascribed to various camps in the volitionism debate; then I discuss three main arguments of Geach against volitionism – the argument from trying, the argument from voluntary omissions, and the argument from natural theology. I pay special attention to the issue of the timing of volitions.
Pope Benedict XVI & the French Ressourcement. “Lumen gentium cum sit Christus”
Authors: Flynn Gabriel
Published: October 2023

What unites Joseph Ratzinger / Benedict XVI to the French is ressourcement, a controversial movement that initiated a brilliant reorientation of Catholic thought and teaching in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. In the light of the significant work that has already been done on Ratzinger’s original contribution to Vatican II, the objectives of the present paper are, first, to situate him as theologian and Christian humanist at the heart of the ressourcement movement and to evaluate his work for peace and harmony in the confines between past and present. It attempts to illuminate a way forward for the Church, based on the anthropological, philosophical, and spiritual foundations of the new Christian humanism of the ressourcement project, championed by the French and their German allies. Secondly, the paper seeks to document the influence of notable, twentieth-century, French Catholic thinkers, theologians and philosophers, on Ratzinger’s thought and future contribution to Church and culture on a global stage, with particular attention to Yves Congar, Henri de Lubac, Jean Daniélou (1905-74), and Jacques Maritain (1882-1973). Thirdly, it presents a fresh consideration of his vision of the Church, his contribution to the ecclesiology of the Second Vatican Council, and of the turbulent post-conciliar period. The key goals in this domain are, therefore, to articulate Ratzinger’s spirituality and his preponderant contribution to theological anthropology, using the lens of Vatican II. This is a point of some considerable importance and fills a critical lacuna in Catholic theology. As a pertinent comment of Congar’s makes clear. “For there is little awareness of the values of anthropology; we have created an ecclesiology without any anthropology”. Like Congar, Ratzinger sought to construct a theological anthropology concerned to serve the pastoral needs of the Church but without neglecting its cultural and social elements. Spirituality and anthropology are then, unsurprisingly, as luminous, intricately interwoven threads that permeate and fortify his entire theological edifice.
Frequency of Mycobacterium tuberculosis among Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex Strains Isolated from Clinical Specimen
Authors: Hyunmi Cho  , Jong-Bae Kim  , Young Uh
Published: October 2023

Background: Rapid and accurate detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is of primary importance for infection control and selection of anti-tuberculosis drugs. However, most clinical laboratories report Mtb complex (MTC) without reporting Mtb because MTC comprising Mtb, Mycobacterium bovis, Mycobacterium africanum, Mycobacterium microti, Mycobacterium caprae, and Mycobacterium pinnipedii have 99.9% similarity at the nucleotide level and identical 16S rRNA sequences. This study was conducted to analyze the species frequency of MTC isolates obtained from clinical specimens. Methods: Of 310 MTC isolates obtained from clinical samples in a tertiary care hospital from February 2017 to August 2018, MolecuTech Real TB-Taq (YD Diagnostics, Korea) real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed,specifically to detect Mtb. For DNA showing Mtb negative results by Mtb-specific real-time PCR or pyrazinamide-resistant strains, PCR-based MTC typing, spacer oligonucleotide typing (spoligotyping), and exact tandem repeat D gene sequencing were performed. Results: All the 310 MTC isolates were identified to be Mtb. Two Mtb strains of the East-African-Indian 4-Vietnam genotype, which have not been reported in Korea, were also found. Conclusion: There was no zoonotic tuberculosis in this study. Since we investigated only 310 MTC isolates detected in only one medical institution, a multi-center study is needed to accurately know the prevalence of zoonotic tuberculosis in Korea.
Fecal Microbiota Transplantation against Gut Colonization Using a Multidrug-Resistant Organism
Authors: Seul Ki Lee  , Ji Eun Choi  , Chae Min Shin  , Mi-Na Kim
Published: October 2023

Background: Fecal microbiota transplantation against gut colonization using a multidrug-resistant organism is a technique used to treat infections through normalizing the gut microbiota via fecal microbiota transplantation in patients with confirmed colonization by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) or vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) based on a fecal culture test within the past one week. In this study, we aimed to determine the safety and effectiveness of this technique. Methods: The safety and effectiveness were assessed via a systematic review. A literature search was conducted using five Korean databases, such as KoreaMed, and international databases,including Ovid-MEDLINE, Ovid-EMBASE, and Cochrane Library. Results:Main results are described here. From the studies retrieved using the aforementioned search strategy, the remaining 581 studies were screened using the inclusion and exclusion criteria, resulting in the selection of nine studies for further consideration. In terms of safety, many studies reported deaths and adverse reactions associated with different causes. Fewer studies reported the rate of colonization; however, the effect of colony rate was inconsistent when compared to no treatment group. Additionally, none of the studies assessed the recurrence rate, a decrease in the prevalence of diseases related to infection by multidrug-resistant bacteria, and the quality of life.Conclusion: Fecal bacterial colonization for the decolonization of intestinal multidrug-resistant bacteria was evaluated using a technique that requires further research as there is insufficient literature evidence to validate its safety and efficacy in treating infections through normalizing the intestinal flora of patients with confirmed colonization by CRE or VRE.
A Case of Whole Genome Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Using Oxford Nanopore MinION System
Authors: Jae-Seok Kim  , Sung Hee Chung  , Jung-Min Kim  , Hyun Soo Kim  , Han-Sung Kim  , Wonkeun Song
Published: October 2023

The application of whole genome sequencing on the SARS-CoV-2 viral genome is essential for our understanding of the molecular epidemiology and spread of viruses in the community. The portable whole genome sequencer MinION (Oxford Nanopore Technologies, ONT, UK) could be feasibly used in a clinical microbiology laboratory without the need for vast resources or stringent operating conditions. We used the MinION sequencer to analyze the viral genome sequence of one SARS-CoV-2 strain. In June 2020, a nasopharyngeal specimen from one patient was subjected to whole-genome analysis using the nCoV-2019 sequencing protocol ARTIC V2 using the MinION sequencer. The ONT MinKNOW software, RAMPART tool, and Genome Workbench were used. We identified 11 nucleotide variants using the Wuhan-Hu-1 isolate (NC_045512.2) as the reference sequence. There were six nucleotide variants (T265I,F924, Y3884L, P4715L, L5462, and Q6804L) in the ORF1ab region, one variant (D614G) in the S gene, one variant (Q57H) in ORF3a, one variant (P302) in the N gene, and two variants in each the 5’-UTR and 3’-UTR. In this prolonged coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic season, the MinION system that operates an amplicon-based whole-genome sequencing protocol could be a rapid and reliable sequencer without the need for cumbersome viral cultivation.
The Retirement Readiness Crisis in Healthcare: Crisis calls for customized benefits
Authors: Morrissey Sean , Johnson Joyce
Published: October 2023

The healthcare industry plays a vital role in the U.S. economy, employing almost 15% of all U.S. employed workers. Of this group, an estimated 2.5 million plan to retire over the next 15 years. Healthcare employers feel responsible for helping these employees achieve retirement readiness, but most fall short of this goal. There is a looming crisis in the industry because millions of healthcare workers lack sufficient retirement assets. Industry executives generally acknowledge that their one-size-fits-all approach to employee retirement programs has not been successful in helping their aging workers achieve retirement readiness. Differentiating the healthcare workforce by financial needs and goals can help HR specialists design customized, realistic retirement plans that respond to specific employees’ needs. This customization process will help healthcare employers develop the type of robust, realistic retirement programs that can make retirement readiness a definitive priority in the healthcare industry.
Editorial
Authors: Venkatraja B.
Published: October 2023

No Anstract.
Factors Influencing Purchase Decision: A Case Study of Tiktok Video Streaming Platform.
Authors: Ayamuang Kanyawee , Nuangjamnong Dr. Chompu
Published: October 2023

Purpose – This study aims to explore the influencing purchase decisions on the TikTok video streaming platform. It seeks to understand the impact of various elements such as influencer and celebrity marketing, perceived product quality and price, individual and social attitudes, and brand image on consumer behavior within the TikTok context.
Design/Methodology/Approach – The study employs a quantitative research design, employing surveys to collect data from 355 TikTok users. Multiple linear regression is utilized to analyze the relationships between influencers, product perceptions, attitudes, brand image, and purchase decisions. The study's approach combines descriptive and inferential analyses to explore the factors influencing purchase decisions on the TikTok platform.
Findings – The findings of this study reveal that influencer and celebrity marketing significantly impact purchase decisions on TikTok. Users tend to be influenced by the recommendations and endorsements of popular influencers and celebrities on the platform. Moreover, perceived product quality and price play a crucial role in shaping consumer decisions. The study also identifies the importance of individual and social attitudes in driving purchase behavior on TikTok. Additionally, brand image emerges as a critical factor, with dimensions such as reliability, trustworthiness, innovation, social responsibility, and uniqueness influencing consumer perceptions and purchase decisions.
Research Limitations/Implications – This study's limitations include potential bias in self-reported data and a single platform focus. Future research could consider diverse platforms and employ complementary methodologies for a comprehensive understanding.
Originality/value - This study contributes to the existing literature by providing insights into the factors that influence purchase decisions specifically within the TikTok context. The research highlights the importance of influencer marketing, product quality and price, individual and social attitudes, and brand image in shaping consumer behavior. The findings offer valuable implications for marketers and businesses seeking to optimize their marketing strategies on TikTok and other social media platforms.
Predicting the competitive position of extended gates: the case of inland customs zones
Authors: Sherafatipour Saeid , Saffarzadeh Mahmoud , Tavasszy Lóránt , Fatemi Ardestani S. Farshad
Published: October 2023

The extended gate concept aims to reduce the pressure on international ports by postponing administrative processes from these border gates to inland terminals. At present, this approach is used mainly in the container transport industry in European and Asian ports. In this paper we study an extended gate concept, where inland customs services are made available from all entry points of a country. Our aim is to predict the portion of the current flow through border gates that is diverted to these inland customs zones. We propose a time-series gravity models to predict these changes and estimate the parameters of this model using publicly available data for different cargo groups. The focus of our application is Iran, a nation with a large and emerging economy, where goods currently enter through 26 main border gates. In addition to this flow diversion model we explain how flow matrices can be synthesized from the available transport statistics. Our calculations indicate that transportation cost, travel time and customs tariff discounts are the most important for the choice of customs zone. The attractiveness of extended gates increases as the direct cost of transportation between the border gate and destination province rises. Extended customs zones in Iran would have an average share of import flows in 2025 of around 13% and attract a volume of 8.4 million metric tons of goods.
Potential of peer-to-peer bike sharing for relieving bike parking capacity shortage at train stations: an explorative analysis for the Netherlands
Authors: Goeverden Kees van , Correia Gonçalo
Published: October 2023

In the Netherlands, many (mainly larger) train stations suffer from capacity shortages for bicycle parking as the result of a large increase in the use of the bicycle as a feeder mode. Sharing of parked bicycles with arriving train passengers who are in need of a bicycle for some time would decrease the number of parked bicycles and reduce the capacity shortage. The paper explores to which extent sharing of these bicycles relieves the capacity problem by investigating the maximum potential for reducing the peak of parked bicycles. This is the potential of the case when all considered participants (bicycle owners and those who are in need for a bicycle) are willing to share. The analyses are based on data of the Dutch National Travel Survey. The main result is that the potential is likely to be modest. The estimated maximum is for the large stations between 13% and 50%, the actual potential is likely to be significantly lower. The large range for the maximum can partly be explained by the uncertainty about the number of arriving train passengers that might shift to the bicycle for the last mile if sharing increases bicycle availability. A second result is that sharing can have a significant effect on the distribution of parked bicycles over the day. The current peak halfway the day can turn into a dip between two peaks in the traditional morning and evening peak hours.
Effects of driverless vehicles
Authors: Pernestål Anna , Kristoffersson Ida
Published: October 2023

Driverless vehicles have the potential to significantly affect the transport system, society, and environment. However, there are still many unanswered questions regarding what the development will look like, and there are several contradictory forces. This paper addresses the effects of driverless vehicles by combining the results from 26 simulation studies. Each simulation study focuses on a particular case, e.g. a certain mobility concept or geographical region. By combining and analysing the results from the 26 simulation studies, an overall picture of the effects of driverless vehicles is presented. In the paper, the following perspectives are considered: what types of application of driverless vehicles have been studied in literature; what effects these simulation studies predict; and what research gaps still exist related to the effects of driverless vehicles. The analysis shows that it is primarily driverless taxi applications in urban areas that have been studied. Some parameters, such as trip cost and waiting time, show small variations between the simulation studies. Other parameters, such as vehicle kilometres travelled (VKT), show larger variations and depend heavily on the assumptions concerning value of time and level of sharing. To increase the understanding of system level effects of driverless vehicles, simulations of more complex applications and aspects such as land use, congestion and energy consumption are considered.
A study on parking supply optimization in central business districts considering the two way interaction between car traveling and parking
Authors: YANG Zhongzhen , Chen Dongxu
Published: October 2023

This paper proposes a bilevel programming model to optimize the parking supply in a central business district (CBD) considering the interaction between car traveling and car parking. The upper model (UM) determines the number and locations of parking lots in a CBD with the objective of minimizing the average impedance of all car trips. The lower model (LM) is a modal split and assignment combination model for calculating the traffic flow under various parking supply schemes. In addition to the bilevel model, a gravity model (GM) is proposed to calculate the car trips that are induced by the added parking lots. The interaction between car traveling and parking can be simulated by the feedbacks between the UM and LM. A case study is performed with real data from Dalian City. The results show that there is a negative correlation between parking supply increments and the average traveling impedance when the number of parking spaces is lower than the optimal value; however, the average traveling impedance will start to increase with the increase in parking supply when the number of parking spaces is higher than the optimal value.
Evaluating the external costs of a modal shift from rail to sea
Authors: Vierth Inge , Sowa Victor , Cullinane Kevin
Published: October 2023

This study analyzes the comparative level of social and external costs if an existing transport chain is replaced by one that includes a greater use of shipping. The main objective of the paper is to assess, on the basis of changes in social and external cost, the potential effectiveness of policies which aim to promote a modal shift to shipping. The social and external costs of both options are evaluated, therefore, using both Sweden’s national guidelines for cost-benefit analysis and the European guidelines. A secondary objective of the paper is to evaluate the sensitivity of outcomes to the methodology applied and the input values employed, as well as to identify the relative strengths and weaknesses of these two CBA methodologies when applied to choices involving a shipping mode, The paper concludes that evaluation outcomes are highly sensitive to the choice of CBA methodology and the input values embedded therein. In addition, a number of shortcomings with the guidelines are identified, the most important of which are the need to: (1) have specific values for air pollution from ships; (2) incorporate a system for continuous updates of emission factors, given that vessel speeds vary over time and; (3) incorporate values for water pollution and its effects on the coast and sea bottom. For the Swedish guidelines specifically, there is a need to encompass a value for the scarcity of rail capacity.
Annual climate impact and primary energy use of Swedish transport infrastructure
Authors: Liljenström Carolina , Toller Susanna , Åkerman Jonas , Björklund Anna
Published: October 2023

By 2045, Sweden is to have zero net emissions of greenhouse gases. To reach this goal, stakeholders involved in planning and construction of Swedish transport infrastructure aim to half their climate impact by 2030. Planning for emission reduction measures require network level studies showing environmental impacts of the infrastructure network. Previous studies do not allow assessment of current hotspots in the infrastructure network, which limits their relevance for decision-support in this question. The aim of this paper is to assess the current annual climate impact and primary energy use of Swedish transport infrastructure by using a methodological approach based on life cycle assessment. The scope includes new construction and management (operation, maintenance, and reinvestment) of existing roads, railways, airports, ports, and fairway channels. The annual climate impact was estimated to 2.8 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalents and the annual primary energy use was estimated to 27 terawatt hours. Mainly road and rail infrastructure contributed to these impacts. Environmental hotspots of the infrastructure network were management of the infrastructure stock (particularly reinvestment of road and rail infrastructure) and material production (particularly production of asphalt, steel, and concrete). If climate targets are to be met, these areas are particularly important to address. Additional research on impacts of small construction measures, the size of biogenic carbon emissions (in standing biomass as well as soil carbon), and the use and impacts of asphalt for road construction and management would further increase the understanding of impacts related to Swedish transport infrastructure at the network level.
(Note: an Erratum has been published to this paper in volume 20(2))
Erratum to: Annual climate impact and primary energy use of Swedish transport infrastructure
Authors: Liljenström Carolina , Toller Susanna , Åkerman Jonas , Björklund Anna
Published: October 2023

In the original version of this paper, some figures and units in Table 5 (in the main text) and Table A1, A2, A6, and A7 (in the Appendix) were found to be incorrect. The corrected tables are presented below. These changes only concern the presentation of data. They do not concern any of the calculations made; hence, they do not affect any of the results or conclusions in the paper.
(the original paper was published in volume 19(2))
Impact of a New Metro Line in Amsterdam on Ridership, Travel Times, Reliability and Societal Costs and Benefits
Authors: Brands Ties , Dixit Malvika , Oort Niels van
Published: October 2023

The north-south metro line in Amsterdam became operational in summer 2018, accompanied by changes to the existing bus, metro, and tram network in the city. In this paper we undertake an ex-post analysis of the transportation impacts of the network change. Using two sets of smart card transactions, of 5-6 weeks each, and corresponding Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) data, a before-after comparison is made, concerning ridership, travel times, number of transfers, and travel time reliability. The results show a 4% increase in network wide working day ridership and a strong shift from tram and bus to metro. On an average working day, more than 6,000 hours of travel time is saved. 21% of travellers have more than 1 minute shorter travel time and 13% of travellers have more than 1 minute travel time increase. Furthermore, slightly fewer transfers are made, and the aggregated effect on travel time reliability is marginally positive. For an average working day (7am to 7pm), the resulting daily societal benefits of the new public transport network are approximately €54,200. On a yearly basis the transport related societal benefits are approximately 22 million euros. Doing an ex-post analysis is not common in the literature and in practice, and therefore in a lot of cases the realized benefits of large infrastructural investments remain unknown. This study provides an example of scientific methodology development using multiple data sources, that enables such ex-post evaluations, leading to improvements in public transport assessment and planning.
Optimal synthesis of tours from multi-period origin-destination matrices using elements from graph theory and integer programming
Authors: Ballis Haris , Dimitriou Loukas
Published: October 2023

Nowadays, mobility modelling at individual level is receiving significant attention. Moreover, the technological advances in the field of travel behaviour analysis have supported and promoted the modelling paradigm shift to disaggregate methods such as agent/activity-based modelling Nonetheless, such approaches usually require significant amounts of detailed and fine-grained data which are not always easily accessible. The methodology presented in this paper aims to generate individual home-based trip-chains (i.e. tours) utilising aggregated sources of information, primarily, typical Origin-Destination matrices (ODs) and secondarily travel surveys. A suitable framework able to optimally identify ‘hidden’ tours in typical ODs is proposed and evaluated through its application on a set of multi-period OD matrices, covering an urban area of realistic size. This novel methodological framework synthesises the individual tours by combining and elevating advanced graph theory and integer programming concepts. The performance of the proposed methodology proves particularly encouraging since high estimation accuracy (greater than 85%) was achieved even for the most challenging examined test-case. The presented results provide positive evidence that information regarding travel behaviour on an individual level can be produced based on aggregated data sources such as OD matrices. This element is particularly valuable towards the analysis of mobility at the person-level, especially within the framework of agent-based modelling.
Subsidized ridesourcing for the first/last mile: how valuable for whom?
Authors: Reck Daniel J. , Axhausen Kay W.
Published: October 2023

The first/last mile is a long known deterrent to public transportation use, yet difficult to solve with fixed route transit. Many transit agencies are exploring partnerships with ridesourcing companies to offer subsidized feeder services. Ridership, however, has been surprisingly low. We explore two conceptual explanations. First, ridesourcing fares are found to exceed travel time savings for all distances below 1 mile and annual household incomes below USD 30,000 (i.e., the majority of US bus-using households). Subsidies are thus necessary, yet common schemes (flat fees, flat value or percentage discounts) are inequitable as they particularly benefit high-income households (thus miss their main target group). Second, the disutility of the additional transfer (‘transfer penalty’) and wait times exceed travel time savings assuming modest values for all distances below 0.45 miles. Subsidized ridesourcing for the first/last mile is thus not the panacea often portrayed, particularly not for short first/last miles. Where first/last miles are longer, investments in first/last mile services only might miss their purpose as the private car often remains the faster, more convenient and cheaper option. A much more holistic set of policy changes is hence required. Where transit agencies decide to proceed with first/last mile subsidies, they are advised to integrate them into existing fares (offering first/last mile rides for free) as this is the most equitable approach.
Modelling cellphone trace travel mode with neural networks using transit smartcard and home interview survey data
Authors: Vaughan James , Faghih Imani Ahmadreza , Yusuf Bilal , Miller Eric J.
Published: October 2023

This study proposes a framework to impute travel mode for trips identified from cellphone traces by developing a deep neural network model. In our framework, we use the trips from a home interview survey and transit smartcard data, for which the travel mode is known, to create a set of artificial pseudo-cellphone traces. The generated artificial pseudo-cellphone traces with known mode are then used to train a deep neural network classifier. We further apply the trained model to infer travel modes for the cellphone traces from cellular network data. The empirical case study region is Montevideo, Uruguay, where high-quality data are available for all three types of data used in the analysis: a large dataset of cellphone traces, a large dataset of public transit smartcard transactions, and a small household travel survey. The results can be used to create an enhanced representation of origin-destination trip-making in the region by time of day and travel mode.