31 research outputs found
Rolling stock doorways compatibility with platforms at Serbian Railways
Rad prikazuje neke poteĆĄkoÄe koje imaju putnici pri ulasku u voz. Prikazane su i razmotrene visine perona prema meÄunarodnim ĆŸelezniÄkim propisima. Dat je pregled visine perona na srpskim prugama i visine poda putniÄkih kola, dizel i elektriÄnih viĆĄedelnih jedinica za prigradski i regionalni saobraÄaj. Rad se fokusira na razlikama izmeÄu politike nabavke, u odnosu na kompatibilnost ulaziĆĄta sa peronima, dizel i elektriÄnih viĆĄedelnih jedinica Ćœeleznice Srbije i posledicama ovih nabavki.This paper shows some of the passenger difficulties when boarding trains. Overview of platform heights is discussed in accordance with international railway regulation. An overview of platform heights at Serbian railway lines and floor heights of passenger coaches, diesel units and electric multiple units for suburban and regional railway transport are shown. This paper is focused on the differences between procurement policy, regarding doorway compatibility with platforms, of diesel and electric multiple units for Serbian Railways and consequences of these acquisitions
Psychoanalytic and cognitive-behavior therapy of chronic depression : study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Background: Despite limited effectiveness of short-term psychotherapy for chronic depression, there is a lack of trials of long-term psychotherapy. Our study is the first to determine the effectiveness of controlled long-term psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral (CBT) treatments and to assess the effects of preferential vs. randomized assessment.
Methods/design: Patients are assigned to treatment according to their preference or randomized (if they have no clear preference). Up to 80 sessions of psychodynamic or psychoanalytically oriented treatments (PAT) or up to 60 sessions of CBT are offered during the first year in the study. After the first year, PAT can be continued according to the ânaturalisticâ usual method of treating such patients within the system of German health care (normally from 240 up to 300 sessions over two to three years). CBT therapists may extend their treatment up to 80 sessions, but focus mainly maintenance and relapse prevention. We plan to recruit a total of 240 patients (60 per arm). A total of 11 assessments are conducted throughout treatment and up to three years after initiation of treatment. The primary outcome measures are the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptoms (QIDS, independent clinician rating) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) after the first year.
Discussion: We combine a naturalistic approach with randomized controlled trials(RCTs)to investigate how effectively chronic depression can be treated on an outpatient basis by the two forms of treatment reimbursed in the German healthcare system and we will determine the effects of treatment preference vs. randomization
The strong enhancer element in the immediate early region of the human cytomegalovirus genome
The human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), a
member of the herpesvirus group, was found to
possess a strong transcription enhancer in the
immediate early gene region. Co-transfection
of enhancerless SV40 DNA with randomly fragmented
HCMV DNA yielded two SV40-like recombinant
viruses , each containing HCMV DNA fragments that
were substituting for the missing SV40 enhancer.
The two inserts , 341 and 262 bp in length , are
overlapping segments of genuine viral DNA representing
part of the 5'flanking region of the
major immedistte early gene i n HCMV. Studies
with deletion mutants showed that different nonoverlapping
subsets of the HCMV enhancer region
can substitute for the 72 bp repeats of SV40.
Transient expression assays indicated that the
HCMV enhancer is significantly stronger than the
SV40 element, activating cis-linked heterologous
promoters in a wide spectrum of cultured cells.
It appears that the HCMV enhancer is positively
regulated by viral immediate early genes
A Qualitative Study on providing alternative solutions for handling the HSR passenger's luggage
The objective of this paper is to look at the problem of high-speed rail (HSR) passengersâ luggage and provide alternative solutions to improve luggage handling. A qualitative study is carried out to assess the current state of HSR practices, analyse existing issues with HSR passenger luggage and provide alternative solutions, including modification of the passenger unit, double-deck rolling stock, an additional train for transporting luggage, and repositioning of passenger seats. Four solutions are discussed that could solve the problem of HSR passenger luggage handling and evaluated from four aspects namely passengers, railway operator, cost and passenger comfort level. The solution of additional trains for transporting luggage may be the preferred solution when compared with other options, without compromising the comfort of the passengers or the profit of the railway company
Organic Agriculture in Africa. Statistical Yearbook 2023
Data on organic agriculture in Africa showing the sectorâs relevance are scarce, even though much needed. Data are essential for policymakers and donors to monitor and evaluate policy measures on organic production. Furthermore, they are necessary by market actors for informed decision-making.
To make existing data on organic farming in Africa better accessible for African stakeholders, FiBL, based on its annual data collection on organic agriculture worldwide (Willer et al. 2023), provides several tools showing the current status of organic agriculture in Africa as a whole, by its five regions and by country
Emissions from a modern log wood masonry heater and wood pellet boiler : Composition and biological impact on air-liquid interface exposed human lung cancer cells
The consumption of wood fuel is markedly increasing in developing and industrialized countries. Known side effects of wood smoke inhalation manifest in proinflammatory signaling, oxidative stress, DNA damage and hence increased cancer risk. In this study, the composition and acute biological impact of emissions of state-of-the-art wood combustion compliances: masonry heater (MH) and pellet boiler (PB) were investigated. Therefore A549 cells were exposed to emission aerosols in an automated air-liquid interface exposure station followed by cytotoxicity, transcriptome and proteome analyses. In parallel, aerosols were subjected to a chemical and physical haracterization. Compared to PB, the MH combustion at the same dilution ratio resulted in a 3-fold higher particle mass concentration (PM2.5) and deposited dose (PB: 27 2 ng/cm2, MH; 73 12 ng/cm2). Additionally, the MH aerosol displayed a substantially larger concentration of aldehydes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) or oxidized PAH. Gene ontology analysis of transcriptome of A549 cells exposed to MH emissions revealed the activation of proinflammatory response and key signaling cascades MAP kinase and JAK-STAT. Furthermore, CYP1A1, an essential enzyme in PAH metabolism, was induced. PB combustion aerosol activated the proinflammatory marker IL6 and different transport processes. The proteomics data uncovered induction of DNA damage-associated proteins in response to PB and DNA doublestrand break processing proteins in response to MH emissions. Taking together, the MH produces emissions with a higher particle dose and more toxic compounds while causing only mild biological responses. This finding points to a significant mitigating effect of antioxidative compounds in MH wood smoke
TRY plant trait database â enhanced coverage and open access
Plant traits - the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants - determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of traitâbased plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traits - almost complete coverage for âplant growth formâ. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and traitâenvironmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives
Questions et remarques concernant certaines méthodes statistiques utilisées dans le domaine de la recherche en psychothérapie
Die Beachtung der methodischen GrundsĂ€tze statistischer Verfahren entscheidet ĂŒber Wert und GlaubwĂŒrdigkeit eines statistisch gewonnenen Ergebnisses und nicht der Inhalt des Ergebnisses. Auf der Grundlage dieses methoden-orientierten Standpunktes eines Statistikers werden die klassischen statistischen Verfahren der empirischen Psychotherapieforschung untersucht. Es wird aufgezeigt, an welch strenge Voraussetzungen die gĂ€ngigen âhartenâ Inferenzverfahren (vor allem statistische Tests) gebunden sind und daĂ in den meisten FĂ€llen empirischer Studien der Einsatz âweicherâ Methoden deskriptiver oder explorativer Art angezeigt ist. Untersucht werden auch Prinzipien zur Evaluation, PrĂŒfungen von ValiditĂ€t und ReliabilitĂ€t und insbesondere statistische Probleme bei der empirischen Beurteilung der Therapiedauer.SchlĂŒsselwörter: Evaluation, ValiditĂ€t, ReliabilitĂ€t, geeignete statistische Methoden, multiple Signifikanztests, Therapiedauer.The value and credibility of a statistically obtained result is not judged by its content, but by the methodological principles of the statistical procedures by which the result was obtained. Based on this methodological point of view (as is usual in statistics) the classical statistical procedures in empirical psychotherapy studies are considered. It is pointed out, how restrictive the assumptions are on which the usual âhardâ inference procedures (viz.: statistical tests) are based. It turns out that in most cases the use of âweakerâ methods as developed in descriptive and explorative data analysis is more adequate. Methods of evaluation, measurements of validity and reliability, in particular statistical problems concerning the effect of the duration of a therapy are also inquired.Keywords: Evaluation, validity, reliability, proper statistical methods, multiple tests, duration of therapy.Ce nâest pas le contenu des rĂ©sultats qui dĂ©finit la valeur et la fiabilitĂ© des chiffres obtenus par le biais de mĂ©thodes statistiques, mais le respect de principes mĂ©thodiques fondamentaux. Partant du point de vue dâun statisticien axĂ© sur la mĂ©thode, nous examinons les procĂ©dures statistiques classiques employĂ©es au niveau de la recherche par la psychothĂ©rapie: les principes permettant dâĂ©valuer un type de thĂ©rapie, la vĂ©rification de la validitĂ© et de la fiabilitĂ© des donnĂ©es, les procĂ©dures âduresâ dâinfĂ©rence (les tests statistiques surtout) et (en particulier) les problĂšmes statistiques que prĂ©sente lâĂ©valuation empirique de la durĂ©e de la thĂ©rapie. Nous nous concentrons sur des indications ayant trait aux questions et rapports suivants:1) lâĂ©chelonnement de la âtaille de lâeffet (effect size)â (la rĂ©partition dâun item) est en gĂ©nĂ©ral trĂšs libre et peut en partie ĂȘtre fixĂ©e arbitrairement. Dans quelle mesure les modifications (par la thĂ©rapie) subies par âlâimportance de lâeffetâ sont-elles dĂ©pendantes de lâĂ©chelle choisie2) la validitĂ© de cette mĂȘme variable est mesurĂ©e en rĂšgle gĂ©nĂ©rale par le calcul dâune corrĂ©lation, Ă savoir celle entre la taille de lâeffet et un critĂšre (quantitĂ© visĂ©e) permettant dâĂ©valuer de maniĂšre absolue les effets dâune thĂ©rapie (validitĂ© du critĂšre). Si un critĂšre âidĂ©alâ de ce type existe, sa substitution par une variable âimportance de lâeffetâ dans les Ă©tudes dâĂ©valuation ne se justifie que si les donnĂ©es peuvent ĂȘtre collectĂ©es beaucoup plus aisĂ©ment que si lâon employait un vĂ©ritable critĂšre. Souvent, ces Ă©tudes se contentent dâemployer en tant que critĂšre une autre variable, plus ou moins bien testĂ©e, sans en indiquer la validitĂ©; en effet la validitĂ© dâune nouvelle variable âtaille de lâeffet â nâest que valeur relative.3) on mesure la fiabilitĂ© des rĂ©sultats en enregistrant I plusieurs fois (en rĂšgle gĂ©nĂ©rale deux fois) la variable ? âtaille de lâeffetâ (effect size) de lâinstrument dâĂ©valuation (re-test, test parallĂšle, division du test en deux) et on lâindique en tant que proportion de co-variance par rapport Ă la variance ou plus simplement, par lâalpha de Cronbach. Cette maniĂšre de procĂ©der requiert certaines conditions (hypothĂšse dâune homogĂ©nĂ©itĂ© de lâĂ©chantillon et dâun manque de corrĂ©lation entre les erreurs de mesure), dont la plupart des Ă©tudes dâĂ©valuation nĂ©gligent de vĂ©rifier la prĂ©sence. Lorsque celles-ci sont absentes, lâalpha de Cronbach ne constitue plus forcĂ©ment une mesure comparative de fiabilitĂ©; il peut arriver que deux valeurs alpha diffĂ©rentes ne soient plus comparables.4) du fait que la plupart des recherches en psychothĂ©rapie utilisent des variables âtaille de lâeffetâ (et des critĂšres) qualitatifs, il nâest pas possible dâutiliser lâhabituel coefficient de corrĂ©lation selon Bravais-Pearson lorsque validitĂ© et fiabilitĂ© sont mesurĂ©es comme dĂ©crit plus haut. Il faut plutĂŽt utiliser le coefficient de corrĂ©lation selon le rang de Spearman lorsque les variables sont Ă©chelonnĂ©es de maniĂšre ordinale et un coefficient de contingence lorsque les variables ne sont Ă©chelonnĂ©es que de maniĂšre nominale. Ces coefficients peuvent ĂȘtre influencĂ©s par une modification de la graduation choisie pour les cotes ordinal et nominal. Les mesures de validitĂ© et de fiabilitĂ© dĂ©pendent donc de lâexactitude de lâĂ©chelonnement de la variable â taille de lâeffetâ (effect size) J Ă©tudiĂ©e (du nombre de rĂ©ponses prĂ©vues pour un item i donnĂ©).5) les procĂ©dures âduresâ dâinfĂ©rence normalement utilisĂ©es, et surtout les tests statistiques, sont basĂ©es sur un Ă©chantillonnage alĂ©atoire et des hypothĂšses liĂ©es Ă lâindĂ©pendance des variables; dans de nombreux cas elles ne peuvent se pratiquer quâavec des variables Ă©chelonnĂ©es de maniĂšre cardinale ou mĂȘme prĂ©sentant une rĂ©partition normale - en rĂšgle gĂ©nĂ©rale, concernant la recherche empirique en psychothĂ©rapie ces conditions ne sont pas remplies. Il nâest donc pas possible dâutiliser ces procĂ©dures. Il est en particulier absurde (bien quâen accord avec les conventions) de procĂ©der Ă un test statistique et dâindiquer des valeurs p si lâon ne dispose pas dâun Ă©chantillonnage alĂ©atoire.6) pour la plupart des Ă©tudes effectuĂ©es dans la domaine de la psychothĂ©rapie il est recommandĂ© dâutiliser des procĂ©dures statistiques âmolles â : par ceci nous entendons les mĂ©thodes de lâanalyse descriptive ou exploratrice des donnĂ©es. Elles permettent de confirmer des hypothĂšses, mais non de les dĂ©montrer statistiquement (preuve par le seuil de signification).7) lâutilisation de tests multiples (plusieurs tests Ă©tant effectuĂ©s sur un mĂȘme Ă©chantillon) doit sâaccompagner dâun ajustement de lâalpha permettant de rĂ©duire nettement les alpha des diffĂ©rents tests (ajustement de Bonferroni).8) des problĂšmes (parfois statistiques) particuliers se manifestent par rapport Ă lâĂ©valuation empirique des effets de la durĂ©e de la thĂ©rapie si lâon nâeffectue pas une trĂšs nette distinction entre les deux questions suivantes: comment les changements provoquĂ©s par la thĂ©rapie chez un seul patient dĂ©pendent-ils en moyenne de la durĂ©e de la thĂ©rapie? Comment le nombre moyen de patients pour lesquels la thĂ©rapie a apportĂ© une amĂ©lioration dĂ©pend-il de la durĂ©e de la thĂ©rapie? Chacune de ces deux questions requiert ses propres conditions dâĂ©tude. Des exemples sont prĂ©sentĂ©s, qui permettent de dĂ©battre des problĂšmes qui se prĂ©sentent.
Parallelt. [Ăbers. des Autors]: Luggage on train journeys
Zsfassung in engl. SpracheEs stellt sich die Frage, ob und wie stark ReisegepĂ€ck die Verkehrsmittelwahl beeinflusst und welche Probleme fĂŒr FahrgĂ€ste bzw.den Bahnbetrieb infolge der Mitnahme von GepĂ€ck bei Bahnfahrten entstehen.Das RĂŒckgrat dieser Arbeit bilden umfangreiche empirische Ermittlungen in Form von 13'000 Fahrgast- und 2'000 Hotelgastbefragungen sowie weitere ZĂ€hlungen und Messungen.72 % der befragten Urlauber geben an, wegen das ReisegepĂ€cks die Bahn nicht gewĂ€hlt zu haben, jedoch ist es nur fĂŒr 3,4 % der einzige Grund.Bei den meisten Befragten ist eine Kombination mehrerer GrĂŒnde ausschlaggebend! Die Untersuchungen haben gezeigt, dass bei Verbesserungen auf dem Sektor der ReisegepĂ€ckbeförderung in Ăsterreich im Fernverkehr mit einem Fahrgastzuwachs von bis zu 20 % gerechnet werden kann.Das GepĂ€ck verursacht v.a. beim Einsteigen, beim Fortbewegen im Zug und beim Verstauen Schwierigkeiten fĂŒr den Reisenden, aber auch fĂŒr den Betrieb.Reisende trachten generell danach, v.a. groĂe GepĂ€ckstĂŒcke in BodennĂ€he, bei vorhandenen Möglichkeiten zwischen den Sitzen, ansonsten am Boden, auf Sitzen oder im Gangbereich unterzubringen. Diesem Umstand ist bei der Umgestaltung oder der Neugestaltung von Waggons Rechnung zu tragen.Bei heute ĂŒblichen Reisezugwagengestaltungen kann davon ausgegangen werden, dass bei einer Waggonauslastung von 50 % durch Reisende infolge mangelnder GepĂ€ckunterbringungsmöglichkeiten ReisegepĂ€ck so verstaut wird, dass in Summe 80 % der PlĂ€tze belegt sind. Bei der Innenraumgestaltung ist demnach ein Gesamtoptimum zwischen den einzubauenden SitzplĂ€tzen und entsprechenden GepĂ€ckablagen in BodennĂ€he zu suchen. Der Einbau einer möglichst groĂen Anzahl an SitzplĂ€tzen bewirkt eine schlechtere Auslastung des Waggons durch FahrgĂ€ste.Zwei Drittel der FahrgĂ€ste möchten ihr GepĂ€ck immer bei sich haben, 35 % wĂŒrden lieber nur mit HandgepĂ€ck verreisen und dafĂŒr in erster Linie ein Check-in-System wie im Flugverkehr in Anspruch nehmen.The question is: Does luggage itself effect the choice of mode of transport and does it result in further difficulties for the railway-passengers or the railway-company? A questionnaire was conducted with 13'000 passengers and 2'000 hotel guests which lead to the following results: 72 % of the travellers do not take the railway because of luggage but only for 3,4 % it is the solemn reason. An improvement of the luggage facilities and options brings about up to 20 % more passengers.Luggage causes troubles for passengers while entering the train, moving along and during the storage process. Luggage causes also problems for the company. Travellers want to situate the large-sized luggage mainly near the floor, even better between seats, or directly on the floor, on seats or on the aisle. This consideration should be take into account for the design of new coaches or for the adaptation of older models. In regard to the current design, there is an occupation of 80 % of the seats and 50 % of the seats are taken up by travellers. This means an investigation for an overall optimum between seats and depositional space for luggage in the floor area. In addition, this questions the integration of as many seats as possible, which results in a bad degree of efficient space use.Two-thirds of the passengers want to keep their luggage in close vicinity. 35 % would prefer travelling only with hand luggage. Most of traveller would favour a check-in-system as in the air traffic.17