Modeling cross-national differences in automated vehicle acceptance

The technology that allows fully automated driving already exists and it may gradually enter the market over the forthcoming decades. Technology assimilation and automated vehicle acceptance in different countries is of high interest to many scholars, manufacturers, and policymakers worldwide. We model the mode choice between automated vehicles and conventional cars using a mixed multinomial logit heteroskedastic error component type model. Specifically, we capture preference heterogeneity assuming a continuous distribution across individuals. Different choice scenarios, based on respondents’ reported trip, were presented to respondents from six European countries: Cyprus, Hungary, Iceland, Montenegro, Slovenia, and the UK. We found that large reservations towards automated vehicles exist in all countries with 70% conventional private car choices, and 30% automated vehicles choices. We found that men, under the age of 60, with a high income who currently use private car, are more likely to be early adopters of automated vehicles. We found significant differences in automated vehicles acceptance in different countries. Individuals from Slovenia and Cyprus show higher automated vehicles acceptance while individuals from wealthier countries, UK, and Iceland, show more reservations towards them. Nontrading mode choice behaviors, value of travel time, and differences in model parameters among the different countries are discussed

High Performance Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry Method for Correlating the Metabolic Changes of Lactate, Pyruvate and L-Glutamine with Induced Tamoxifen Resistant MCF-7 Cell Line Potential Molecular Changes

Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide usually treated with Tamoxifen. Tamoxifen resistance development is the most challenging issue in an initially responsive breast tumor, and mechanisms of resistance are still under investigation. The objective of this study is to develop and validate a selective, sensitive, and simultaneous high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method to explore the changes in substrates and metabolites in supernatant media of developed Tamoxifen resistance MCF-7 cells. We focus on the determination of lactate, pyruvate, and L-glutamine which enables the tracking of changes in metabolic pathways as a result of the resistance process. Chromatographic separation was achieved within 3.5 min. using a HILIC column (4.6 × 100 mm, 3.5 µm particle size) and mobile phase of 0.05 M acetic acid–ammonium acetate buffer solution pH 3.0: Acetonitrile (40:60 v/v). The linear range was 0.11–2.25, 0.012–0.227, and 0.02–0.20 mM for lactate, pyruvate, and L-glutamine, respectively. Within- and between-run accuracy was in the range 98.94-105.50% with precision (CV, %) of ≤0.86%. The results revealed a significant increase in both lactate and pyruvate production after acquiring the resistant. An increase in L-glutamine levels was also observed and could be attributed to its over production or decline in its consumption. Therefore, further tracking of genes responsible of lactate, pyruvate, and glutamine metabolic pathways should be performed in parallel to provide in-depth explanation of resistance mechanism

Evaluating Knowledge of Human Microbiota among University Students in Jordan, an Online Cross-Sectional Survey

Human microbiota have a significant impact on the health of individuals, and reciprocally, lifestyle choices of individuals have an important effect on the diversity and composition of microbiota. Studies assessing microbiota knowledge among the public are lacking, although it is hypothesized that this knowledge can motivate healthier behavior. Hence, this study aimed to measure microbiota knowledge among university students, and the effect of this knowledge on behavioral beliefs. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among students from various fields of study enrolled at the University of Jordan, using an online questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of 3 parts: demographics, general knowledge of microbiota, and behavioral beliefs related to microbiota. Four hundred and two responses were collected from verified university students. Participants were divided into two groups depending on whether they took a formal microbiology course (45 h) or not. Results from those two groups were compared using appropriate statistical methods. Results showed that most participants, even those who did not take a formal microbiology course, displayed good knowledge of what microbiota is and how they can be influenced by personal and environmental factors. Participants who took a microbiology course had significantly higher microbiota knowledge scores and were more aware of the effect of antibiotics on microbiota. Participants’ behavioral beliefs regarding their antibiotic use, but not their diet and lifestyle choices, were affected by their knowledge of microbiota. The study indicates that disseminating knowledge regarding microbiota and microbiology in general, can improve behaviors related to antibiotic use

A study on removal characteristics of <i>o</i>-, <i>m</i>-, and <i>p</i>-nitrophenol from aqueous solutions by organically modified diatomaceous earth

<div><p></p><p>The natural diatomaceous earth (DAT) was modified with surfactant of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HDTMABr) to form organic-modified diatomaceous earth (DAT-HDTMABr). The DAT and DAT-HDTMABr were characterized by X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, FT-IR and DTA-TG. The surface area was determined using Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller adsorption method. Cation exchange capacity was estimated using an ethylenediamine complex of copper method, and the modifier loading was calculated from the total carbon analysis. The ability of raw and organomodified diatomaceous earth to remove <i>o</i>-nitrophenol (ONP), <i>m</i>-nitrophenol (MNP), and <i>p</i>-nitrophenol (PNP) from aqueous solutions has been carried out at predetermined equilibration time, adsorbent amount, pH, and temperatures using a batch technique. The removal of ONP, MNP, and PNP from aqueous solutions by modified clay seems to be more effective than unmodified sample. The experimental equilibrium adsorption data were analyzed by four widely used two parameters, Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Dubinin–Radushkevich (D–R) isotherm equations. Kinetic studies showed that pseudo-second-order described the adsorption experimental data better than the pseudo-first-order kinetic model. Based on the calculated thermodynamic parameters, such as enthalpy (Δ<i>H</i>), entropy (Δ<i>S</i>), and Gibb’s free energy changes (Δ<i>G</i>), it is noticeable that the adsorption of ONP, MNP, and PNP by DAT and DAT-HDTMABr adsorbents was carried out spontaneously, and the process was exothermic in nature.</p></div

Who is willing to share their AV? Insights about gender differences among seven countries

The introduction of shared autonomous vehicles into the transport system is suggested to bring significant impacts on traffic conditions, road safety and emissions, as well as overall reshaping travel behaviour. Compared with a private autonomous vehicle, a shared automated vehicle (SAV) is associated with different willingness-to-adopt and willingness-to-pay characteristics. An important aspect of future SAV adoption is the presence of other passengers in the SAV—often people unknown to the cotravellers. This study presents a cross-country exploration of user preferences and WTP calculations regarding mode choice between a private non-autonomous vehicle, and private and shared autonomous vehicles. To explore user preferences, the study launched a survey in seven European countries, including a stated-preference experiment of user choices. To model and quantify the effect of travel mode attributes and socio-demographic characteristics, the study employs a mixed logit model. The model results were the basis for calculating willingness-to-pay values for all countries and travel modes, and provide insight into the significant heterogeneous, gender-wise effect of cotravellers in the choice to use an SAV. The study results highlight the importance of analysis of the effect of SAV attributes and shared-ride conditions on the future acceptance and adoption rates of such services