615 research outputs found
Choice of departure station by railway users
This paper applies a multinomial logit model to the choice of a departure railway station by Dutch
railway passengers. This is a relevant theme since about 50% of Dutch railway passengers do not travel
via the nearest railway station. The passengers’ choices for departure stations are aggregated at the four
digit postal code area level. We applied three functional forms for the underlying systematic utility of a
station, namely a linear effect of attributes, cross effect of distance and frequency of service, and a
translog formulation on distance and frequency of train services. With 3,498 post code areas and 360
railway stations our analysis found consistent effect sizes for distance, frequency of service, intercity
status of the station and the presence of park-and-ride facility on the choice of departure station. The
effect of distance on the choice of a departure station declines smoothly. The effect of frequency of
service is relatively small compared to the effect of distance. A frequency of service increase by a
hundred trains per day is equivalent to being 600 m closer to the station. The Intercity status of the station
plays the biggest role in the choice of departure station. It has an equivalent effect of a change in 2 km
distance or about a frequency of service of 300 trains per day. In addition, the presence of park-and-ride
facility in the station poses a sizable effect in the departure station choice. In most cases its effect reaches
about 35% of the intercity status effect
Brain-Computer interfaces for communication:preferences of individuals with locked-in syndrome, caregivers and researchers
Objectives: The development of Brain-Computer Interfaces to restore communication (cBCIs) in people with severe motor impairment ideally relies on a close collaboration between end-users and other stakeholders, such as caregivers and researchers. Awareness about potential differences in opinion between these groups is crucial for development of usable cBCIs and access technology (AT) in general. In this study, we compared the opinions of prospective cBCI users, their caregivers and cBCI researchers regarding: (1) what applications would users like to control with a cBCI; (2) what mental strategies would users prefer to use for cBCI control; and (3) at what stage of their clinical trajectory would users like to be informed about AT and cBCIs.Methods: We collected data from 28 individuals with locked-in syndrome, 29 of their caregivers and 28 cBCI researchers. The questionnaire was supported with animation videos to explain different cBCI concepts, the utility of which was also assessed.Results: Opinions of the three groups were aligned with respect to the most desired cBCI applications, but diverged regarding mental strategies and the timing of being informed about cBCIs. Animation videos were regarded as clear and useful tools to explain cBCIs and mental strategies to end-users and other stakeholders.Conclusions: Disagreements were clear between stakeholders regarding which mental strategies users prefer to use and when they would like to be informed about cBCIs. To move forward in the development and clinical implementation of cBCIs, it will be necessary to align the research agendas with the needs of the end-users and caregivers.</p
The Influence of Education and Socialization on Radicalization: An Exploration of Theoretical Presumptions and Empirical Research
Background and Objective: Research into radicalization does not pay much attention to education. This is remarkable and possibly misses an important influence on the process of radicalization. Therefore this article sets out to explore the relation between education on the one hand and the onset or prevention of radicalization on the other hand. Method: This article is a theoretical literature review. It has analyzed empirical studies-mainly from European countries-about the educational aims, content and style of Muslim parents and parents with (extreme) right-wing sympathies. Results: Research examining similarity in right-wing sympathies between parents and children yields mixed results, but studies among adolescents point to a significant concordance. Research also showed that authoritarian parenting may play a significant role. Similar research among Muslim families was not found. While raising children with distrust and an authoritarian style are prevalent, the impact on adolescents has not been investigated. The empirical literature we reviewed does not give sufficient evidence to conclude that democratic ideal in and an authoritative style of education are conducive to the development of a democratic attitude. Conclusion: There is a knowledge gap with regard to the influence of education on the onset or the prevention of radicalization. Schools and families are underappreciated sources of informal social control and social capital and therefore the gap should be closed. If there is a better understanding of the effect of education, policy as well as interventions can be developed to assist parents and teachers in preventing radicalization. © 2011 The Author(s)
- …