Distance decay in activity chains analysis. A Belgian case study

This paper aims at measuring and testing the distance decay effect in activity chains. It enables one to show how far distance constrains the length of the trips and if there are borders effects. Two Belgian data bases are used: one conducted at the national level, the other at a regional level. Statistical tests are conducted for (1) several definitions of the trip and chain, (2) several distance measurements (time or kilometers), (3) several purposes of trips, and (4) different categories of travellers. This exploratory data analysis enables one to gain information about the spatial aspects of the activity chains and to get a better fit in the gravity type models.

How to incorporate the spatial dimension within destination choice models? The case of Antwerpen

This paper considers different alternatives for including spatial aspects within the activity-based approach for modeling destination choices. The study area is the urban agglomeration of Antwerpen (Belgium); the city and its suburbs are considered. Individual travel surveys are used. The paper pays particular attention to the inclusion of space within the decision context by including specific land-use explanatory variables generated by Geographical Information Systems. A preliminary geographical analysis is performed in order to represent the city by a limited set of destinations (n = 33) and to characterize those zones in terms of land use. Discrete choice modelling is used: each individual faces the total set of spatial destination alternatives. Several modelling approaches are explored and compared in terms of utility function (for instance Box-Cox; random coefficients) and in terms of global formulation (multinomial logit versus nested logit). The mixed nested logit formulation is selected as best and the parameter estimations are interpreted; it shows the importance of space within destination choices. This paper provides a useful background for decision-makers and planners of transportation policy related to individual mobility patterns. Keywords Discrete choice model, activity-based approach, GIS, land use, urban mobility, Antwerpen

Strategic interactions in public R&D across EU-15 countries : A spatial econometric analysis

The aim of this paper is to test the presence of strategic interactions in government spending on Research and Development (R&D), among EU-15 countries. We add to the literature on public choice strategic interactions in general, and to work on R&D spending in particular. We take account of traditional and some rather overlooked factors related to countries' public R&D spending, including (i) the international context - i.e. Lisbon strategy ; (ii) country characteristics - the National System of Innovation ; (iii) national similarities in relation to (a) trade and economic size and (b) sectoral specialization. Sectoral specialization is likely to affect government spending, depending on the mechanisms of complementarity or substitution between public and private R&D. Using a dynamic spatial panel model in which spatial matrices are specified in terms of traditional Euclidean distance, and sectoral specialization proximity, we confirm the existence of strategic interactions in relation to R&D spending among European countries with similar economic, international trade and sectoral structure perspectives. Unlike the results for strategic interactions in public choice, geographic proximity seems not to affect interactions related to public spending on R&D

Novel image enhancement technique using shunting inhibitory cellular neural networks

This paper describes a method for improving image quality in a color CMOS image sensor. The technique simultaneously acts to compress the dynamic range, reorganize the signal to improve visibility, suppress noise, identify local features, achieve color constancy, and lightness rendition. An efficient hardware architecture and a rigorous analysis of the different modules are presented to achieve high quality CMOS digital camera

Toward independent L2 readers: Effects of text adjuncts, subject knowledge, L1 reading, and L2 proficiency

With 97 learners in an advanced Spanish course, the study examines the effects of textual enhancement adjuncts, prior subject knowledge, first language (L1) reading ability, and second language (L2) Spanish proficiency on L2 comprehension of scientific passages. Readings included two texts with two types of embedded questions: a pause or written answer. MANOVA was used to examine the main effects and interaction of textual enhancement adjuncts on three types of comprehension tasks. Findings revealed that embedded questions did not assist L2 readers to comprehend better. The effect of embedded questions on comprehension was not moderated by L1 reading ability, L2 overall proficiency nor by prior subject knowledge. Although prior subject knowledge and L1 reading comprehension were positively related to comprehension, the use of textual enhancements did not compensate for weaknesses. This study provided evidence that, with advanced L2 learners, embedded questions do not aid L2 reading comprehension

Policy packages for modal shift and CO2 reduction in Lille, France

This paper proposes different policy scenarios to cut CO2 emissions caused by the urban mobility of passengers. More precisely, we compare the effects of the ‘direct tool’ of carbon tax, to a combination of ‘indirect tools’ – not originally aimed at reducing CO2 (i.e. congestion charging, parking charges and a reduction in public transport travel time) in terms of CO2 impacts through a change in the modal split. In our model, modal choices depend on individual characteristics, trip features (including the effects of policy tools), and land use at origin and destination zones. Personal “CO2 emissions budgets” resulting from the trips observed in the metropolitan area of Lille (France) in 2006 are calculated and compared to the situation related to the different policy scenarios. We find that an increase of 50% in parking charges combined with a cordon toll of €1.20 and a 10% travel time decrease in public transport services (made after recycling toll-revenues) is the winning scenario. The combined effects of all the policy scenarios are superior to their separate effects

Chemical Composition of The Essential Oil of Carduncellus Helenioides (Desf.)Hanelt from Algeria

The essential oil extracted from Carduncellus helenioides was analyzed using GC/EIMS. It was characterized by diepicedrene-1-oxide (10.6%), isoaromadendrene epoxide (7.1 %), caryophyllene oxide (6.20 %) , eudesmol (6.17 %) and aromadendrene oxide (1.3 %) as major constituents. The antibacterial activity of the essential oil of this plant were carrying out by disc diffusion method against four bacterial strains and the oil was only active against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923.\ud \u

The effect of the Saharan climate on the indoor environment of a station of electric energy transformation MV/LV

The proposed work studies numerically the mixed convection heat transfer in a station electric transformer MV / LV for the public distribution of a neighborhood located in the town of Bechar (Sahara region) in the south-west Algeria. Taking into account the climatic conditions measured during the summer period [1], introduced as boundary conditions using the Fluent CFD based on the finite volume method. In order to get results presented in form the isothermal and the stream function and the profile of the evolution of the temperature and velocity components of the air inside the station.The objective of this study is to analyze the results of the distribution of temperature, aeration of the position and the flow of air to the interior of the station.The influence of the number and location of openings in the station is studied