Will commute drivers switch to park-and-ride under the influence of multimodal traveler information? A stated preference investigation

The knowledge about en-trip mode switching behavior with presence of multimodal traveler information is very limited so far. This study investigated the impacts on commute drivers’ en-trip mode switch decisions of smartphone multimodal traveler information systems (SMTIS) which integrate dynamic information of auto-drive and subway park-and-ride (P&R). This is based on data collected from a stated preference survey in Shanghai, China. A panel mixed probit model which accounts for potential correlations of observations among a same driver and heterogeneity in preferences for travel time savings and comfort level of subway car was developed. The panel model has a much better goodness of fit than a model without consideration of panel effect and heterogeneity. The results show that SMTIS have significant impacts on commuter drivers’ decision about switching from auto drive to P&R; the impacts depend on personal attributes including gender, age, education level, income, and P&R use experience; the sensitivity to time savings in the case non-incident induced delays, and the sensitivity to comfort level of subway, both vary significantly among the driver sample.     

Make this detour and be unselfish! Influencing urban route choice by explaining traffic management

Traffic management policies aim to improve traffic flow by influencing the route choice of drivers, therefore preventing traffic jams in crowded cities. With respect to a system-optimum of the traffic network, drivers might have to make small-scale detours. The aim of this article is to encourage unselfish route choice behaviour in an urban context by informing drivers in advance about the objectives of traffic management. Two studies were conducted: (1) an online survey (N = 244) and (2) a driving simulation study (N = 48). The first study focussed on the general effect of recommendations for routes with longer travel times (system-optimal routes) when traffic management is explained. Other route choice attributes (travel time, red-light duration, time pressure) were analysed as well. Drivers were randomly confronted with 35 route choice scenarios consisting of a main route with certain red-light duration and an alternative route without. Results showed that the compliance with system-optimal routes is increased by around 10 percentage points when comparing the group with recommendation to the group without. This effect occurred independently of the variation of other route choice attributes. The second study aimed to determine if the compliance can be increased even more if drivers receive in-depth information about traffic management and experience ‘good’ as well as ‘bad’ recommendations in a driving simulator. Results showed no further effect of these manipulations on route choice. Only decision-making times and subjective evaluation were influenced by in-depth information compared to basic information. Altruism was partly correlated with decision-making. This article shows a novel approach to encouraging drivers to select routes with longer travel times for the benefit of the common good. Drivers’ knowledge gap regarding traffic management needs to be closed in order to enhance their understanding of traffic regulations. Finally, results of this research should be transferred to driver models within traffic simulations to estimate the effects on traffic networks.     

假言推理判定标准的发展性研究

以充分条件和必要条件假言推理题目为测验材料,对小学四年级、初中二年级、高中二年级和大学二年级共469名被试进行了测量。结果表明:(1)内容和形式两种判断标准从小学四年级就开始发展了,但是小学生和中学生还是根据经验事实来进行判断,直到大学才摆脱经验事实的束缚。(2)必要条件推理的能力发展要早于充分条件推理的能力,而且最后能够达到的水平也要高。(3)被试对规则掌握的先后顺序是肯定前件式、否认前件式、肯定后件式和否认后件式。(4)被试是否受到信念偏见效应的影响,还要看题目是否符合事实以及是否符合逻辑规则。     

Unstable Interaction in Multiple Criteria Decision Problems

In this paper, we present a decision‐aid method with interacting criteria. The fuzzy measures used to aggregate the criteria depend on the considered alternatives. Pairwise comparisons on the importance of criteria and some levels of veto (or favor) degrees, specified by the decision maker, are taken into consideration. For each alternative, we search for the fuzzy measure that makes it the best. The orness degrees of the resulting fuzzy measures are compared and the alternative associated with the minimum orness degree is selected. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The role of additional information in the compliance,satisfaction, psychological,and emotion responses of non-surgical patients with low back pain: An exploratory investigation

Abstract

Noncompliance and the psychological and emotional states of patients with low back pain are major concerns for health professionals. The current study evaluated whether amount of information available to patients enhanced compliance to a medical regimen and whether it reduced negative emotions in patients with low back pain. Forty-five orthopaedic non-surgical patients with low back pain were randomly assigned to one of three information presentation conditions: 1) Standard, 2) Pre-examination, and 3) Post-examination. Patients were also separated by compensation and noncompensation within each information group. Patients completed questionnaires at their initial visit and at their follow-up which evaluated their: levels of compliance to a prescribed treatment program, psychological, and emotional states. Results indicated that some patients benefitted from receiving additional information as the Pre-examination and Post-examination groups demonstrated superior comprehension and recall as well as higher levels of compliance to a physical therapy program. In addition, compensation patients complained of more negative psychological and emotional behaviors in comparison to noncompensation patients. Implications of the research and future research considerations were discussed.     

社会阶层分化视角下医患信息行为对医患关系的影响

目前社会阶层分化进程中的医患关系比较紧张,医患信息行为起了很大作用.由于历史原因多数医师未能认识到医患信息行为对医患沟通及医患关系的影响.患者作为医疗信息掌握的弱势群体,其对从医师处获得信息的依赖将长期存在,医师与患者信息行为必然相互影响.针对信息行为建立相应的培训及评价机制是十分必要的.     

The paradox of evolution

In the second (and expanded) version of Origin of the Species, Darwin introduces the term “advanced progressive development” in an attempt to describe the development of the more complex species from the simpler ones. More than 100 years have passed since Darwin tried to qualify and conceptualize the directional question of evolution, and very little progress has been made regarding the subject. The appearance of the species, from the simple to the more complex, is today an empirical fact, one which is no longer dependent upon any theory, including that of Darwin. This work examines the subject of advanced development in evolution by attempting to answer a few basic questions: What parameters may be used to evaluate complexity? Can any rules or order be identified as to the development of the species? Is the mechanism of “natural selection” sufficient to explain the direction or ‘purpose’ of evolution? Can the human race be included within the “rules” of Darwin's evolutionary theory?

The purpose of this essay is to develop and represent a new conceptual framework. Through this, it will be possible to offer a principle answer to all four questions.     

Information-Hierarchical Organization of Natural Systems I: The Information-Physical Principle

The mathematical notion of information characterizing system organization as such has been developed. The information-physical principle, which characterizes an information exchange in natural hierarchical systems and has been confirmed by its numerous applications, is laid down. It is shown to be based on the ancient “matter–measure–information” concept of physical world structure and talked about in the Hermes Trismegistus's will.