Search Results (195)

Urban tourism has experienced significant growth driven by platforms such as Airbnb, yet the relationship between short-term rental (STR) location and guest mobility remains underexplored. In this study, a structured survey of STR guests in Madrid during 2024 was administered face-to-face through property managers and luggage-storage services to examine factors influencing public transport (PT) use. Responses on bus and metro usage were combined into a three-level ordinal variable and modeled using ordered logistic regression against tourist demographics, trip characteristics, and accommodation attributes, including geocoded location zones. The results indicate that first-time and international visitors are less likely to use PT at high levels, while tourists visiting more points of interest and those who rated PT importance highly when choosing accommodation are significantly more frequent users. Accommodation in the central almond or periphery correlates positively with higher PT use compared to the city center. Distances to transit stops were not significant predictors, reflecting overall network accessibility. These findings suggest that enhancing PT connectivity in peripheral areas could support the spatial dispersion of tourism benefits and improve sustainable mobility for STR guests. Full article

Background and Objectives: Questionnaires are patient-reported outcome measures that require a validation process to assess their reliability and replicability. Over time, questionnaires have not only focused on a single health condition, such as neck pain, but also expanded their assessment spectrum to other areas in order to gather additional and relevant information from the patient. The main objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the different structural and psychometric characteristics of neck pain questionnaires. Materials and Methods: A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA recommendations. The search strategy was implemented across various databases (PubMed, Cochrane, EMBASE, CINHAL, Trip Medical Database, Scopus) using terms such as neck pain, cervicalgia, cervical pain, questionnaire, survey, index, validity, validation, and reliability. COSMIN criteria were used to identify valid questionnaires for this systematic review based on their psychometric properties. Results: A total of 15 articles were identified in this systematic review, of which 8 assessed the level of disability, while the rest evaluated dizziness in neck pain, anxiety and/or depression, beliefs about fear and avoidance, and perception of scarring and symptoms after neck surgery. The main findings show that neck pain questionnaires exhibit very good values for reliability and internal consistency, along with a high variability for construct validity. Conclusions: This study highlights the good values exhibited by neck pain questionnaires despite their heterogeneity in structural characteristics, demonstrating good values in psychometric properties. Nevertheless, the latter should be further investigated to gather more information. Full article

The reduction of environmental pollutant emissions—including greenhouse gases, particulate matter, and other harmful substances—represents one of the foremost challenges in climate policy, economics, and industrial management today. Excessive emissions of CO₂, NO_X, and suspended particulates exert significant impacts on climate change as well as human health and welfare. Consequently, numerous studies and regulatory and technological initiatives are underway to mitigate these emissions. One critical area is intra-plant transport within manufacturing facilities, which, despite its localized scope, can substantially contribute to a company’s total emissions. This paper aims to assess the potential of computer simulation using FlexSim software as a decision-support tool for planning inter-operational transport, with a particular focus on environmental aspects. The study analyzes real operational data from a selected production plant (case study), concentrating on the optimization of the number of transport units, their routing, and the layout of workstations. It is hypothesized that reducing the number of trips, shortening transport routes, and efficiently utilizing transport resources can lead to lower emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NO_X). The findings provide a basis for a broader adoption of digital tools in sustainable production planning, emphasizing the integration of environmental criteria into decision-making processes. Furthermore, the results offer a foundation for future analyses that consider the development of green transport technologies—such as electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles—in the context of their implementation in the internal logistics of manufacturing enterprises. Full article

Pakistan, a country with a rich cultural heritage and diverse products, enacted the Geographical Indications (Registration and Protection) Act 2020 to comply with the WTO’s TRIPS Agreement, which defines GIs as signs linking products to their geographic origin based on unique qualities or reputation. This legal framework aims to protect local products, promote exports, and drive economic growth. To date, Pakistan has 10 registered and 65 notified GIs. This study critically examines Pakistan’s GI framework, highlighting gaps in legislation, enforcement, institutional capacity, and stakeholder awareness. It assesses Pakistan’s alignment with international standards (e.g., the EU model) and explores how GIs can foster sustainable rural development, cultural preservation, and economic growth. As a governance tool, GIs ensure equitable benefit-sharing, enhance market competitiveness, and promote eco-friendly traditional practices. The findings reveal that addressing policy weaknesses and strengthening institutional mechanisms could unlock the full socio-economic potential of GIs, contributing to sustainable industrialization and rural uplift. Aligning Pakistan’s GI framework with global best practices would not only protect indigenous products but also boost their international recognition, reduce poverty, and advance sustainable development goals. Full article

While the speed of the transition to battery electric vehicles (BEVs) depends on real-world driving behaviors and socioeconomic conditions, relevant predictions are often not based on real trip data. This study analyzes over 200,000 private car trips, tracked via onboard telematics across Italy, in order to assess the feasibility of replacing internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) with BEVs. Given that drivers are resistant to changing their habits, we introduce the E-Private Mobility Index, which quantifies the percentage of traditional cars at present that are functionally compatible with a medium BEV, assuming home charging. Nationwide, this index reaches 30%, but only 15% of car owners would also see financial benefits. By quantifying both the potential to replace traditional cars with electric ones and the associated economic impacts, our analysis supports sustainable mobility by offering insights into the rate of penetration of sustainable and green mobility, in line with the objectives of the European Green Deal. With its unprecedented statistical significance, the study not only provides a data-driven upper threshold of BEV penetration but also offers a flexible framework for shaping future policies, allowing the adaptation of parameters and assumptions to guide a scalable transition to electric private mobility. Full article

As global initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change expand, electric vehicles (EVs) powered by fuel cells and lithium-ion batteries are gaining global recognition as solutions for sustainable transportation due to their high energy conversion efficiency. Considering the driving range limitations of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and the low efficiency of internal combustion engines (ICEs), fuel cell hybrid vehicles offer a compelling alternative for long-distance, low-emission driving with less refuelling time. To facilitate their wider scale adoption, it is essential to understand their energy performance through models that consider external weather effects, driving styles, road gradients, and their simultaneous interaction. This paper presents a microlevel, multicriteria assessment framework to investigate the performance of BEVs, fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), with a focus on energy consumption, drive systems, and emissions. Simulation models were developed using MATLAB 2021a Simulink environment, thus enabling the integration of standardized driving cycles with real-world wind and terrain variations. The results are presented for various trip scenarios, employing quantitative and qualitative analysis methods to identify the most efficient vehicle configuration, also validated through the simulation of three commercial EVs. Predictive modelling approaches are utilized to estimate a vehicle’s performance under unexplored conditions. Results indicate that trip conditions have a significant impact on the performance of all three vehicles, with HEVs emerging as the most efficient and balanced option, followed by FCEVs, making them strong candidates compared with BEVs for broader adoption in the transition toward sustainable transportation. Full article

As the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) rapidly increases, the expansion of charging infrastructure has become a critical issue. Unlike internal combustion engine vehicles, EV charging is sensitive to factors such as the time and location for charging, depending on the charging speed and capacity of the battery. Therefore, recommending an appropriate charging station that comprehensively considers not only the user’s preference but also the charging time, waiting time, charging fee rates, and power supply status is crucial for the user’s convenience. Currently, charging station recommendation services suggest suitable charging stations near a designated location and provide information on charging capacity, fee rates, and availability of chargers. Furthermore, research is being conducted on EV charging station recommendations that take into account various charging environments, such as power grid and renewable energy conditions. To solve these optimization problems, a large amount of information about the user’s history and conditions is required. In this paper, we propose a real-time charging station recommendation method based on minimal and simple current information while driving to the destination. We first propose a preference objective function that considers the factors of distance, time, and fees, and then analyze the recommendation results based on both synthetic and real-world charging environments. We also observe the recommendation results for different combinations of the weights for these factors. If we set all the weights equally, we can obtain appropriate recommendations for charging stations that reflect driving distance, trip time, and charging fees in a balanced way. On the other hand, as the number of charging stations in a given area increases, it has been found that gradually increasing the weighting of charging fees is necessary to alleviate the phenomenon of rising fee rates and provide balanced recommendations. Full article

The objective of this research is to examine the role of intellectual property (IP) in fostering business development, particularly focusing on patent management in Ecuador and its alignment with international standards. The study employs a comparative analysis of Ecuadorian legislation against the framework established by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to identify challenges and opportunities within the national IP system. Key methods include reviewing existing legal texts, interviewing stakeholders, and analyzing patent registration processes. The findings indicate that while Ecuador has made significant strides in harmonizing its IP laws with international treaties, such as the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) and the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), considerable barriers remain, particularly related to bureaucratic inefficiencies and a lack of technical resources in key institutions like the National Service of Intellectual Rights (SENADI). The conclusions highlight the need for enhanced efficiency and implementation of IP regulations to stimulate sustained innovation growth, attract national and foreign investments, and, ultimately, strengthen Ecuador’s competitiveness in a global economy. This research contributes to the understanding of how effective IP management can serve as a vital tool for economic development and innovation. Full article

This article presents a review of the problems and solutions concerning the distance protection of transmission lines connected to inverter-based resources (IBRs). After a brief description of IBRs and distance protection, the reported problems are classified based on their causes and effects. The causes are related to IBR behavior, and the effects are related to distance protection. The effects are classified as overall effects (observable wrong trips or an observable lack of activation of distance functions) and specific effects (related to the particular internal relay elements that failed, causing the observable overall effects). Furthermore, special attention is paid to clearly describe the research literature from relay manufacturers, since it should be closer to the current trends related to real-life problems and solutions. The causes and specific effects particularly mentioned in the reviewed literature are summarized in corresponding tables, including information about those papers where such causes and effects cannot be clearly identified. Full article

The imperative of decarbonization in maritime shipping is underscored by the sector’s sizeable contribution to worldwide greenhouse gas emissions. ShipNetSim, an open-source multi-ship simulator created in this study, combines state-of-the-art hydrodynamic modeling, dynamic ship-following techniques, real-time environmental data, and cybersecurity threat simulation to quantify and evaluate marine fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions. ShipNetSim uses well-validated approaches, such as the Holtrop resistance and B-Series propeller analysis with a ship-following model inspired by traffic flow theory, augmented with a novel module simulating cyber threats (e.g., GPS spoofing) to evaluate operational efficiency and resilience. In a case study simulation of the journey of an S175 container vessel from Savannah to Algeciras, the simulator estimated the total fuel consumption to be 478 tons of heavy fuel oil and approximately 1495 tons of CO₂ emissions for a trip of 7 days and 15 h within 13.1% of reported operational estimates. A twelve-month sensitivity analysis revealed a marginal 1.5% range of fuel consumption variation, demonstrating limiting variability for different environmental conditions. ShipNetSim not only yields realistic predictions of energy consumption and emissions but is also demonstrated to be a credible framework for the evaluation of operational scenarios—including speed adjustment, optimized routing, and alternative fuel strategies—that directly contribute to reducing the marine carbon footprint. This capability supports industry stakeholders and policymakers in achieving compliance with global decarbonization targets, such as those established by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Full article

Insufficient sleep and circadian misalignment increase inflammatory agents. This triggers neuroinflammation and can result in health issues including depression, dementia, lifestyle-related diseases, and industrial accidents. Lactoferrin (LF) confers neuroprotective effects, which are derived from its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and iron metabolic properties; however, its roles in acute neuroinflammation and circadian rhythm disruption are yet to be elucidated. Therefore, we aimed to test the effects of LF on rat neuroinflammation and sleep and jetlag in humans. Rats received 7 days of an oral liposomal bovine LF (L-bLF) or vehicle followed by polyriboinosinic:polyribocytidylic acid (poly I:C) peritoneal injections (n = 5–6). Compared with the rats given poly I:C only, the rats given L-bLF and poly I:C had lower Il1b, Tnf, Casp1, Nfe212, Gclm, and Sod2 expression in the hippocampus. This open-label pilot study was carried out on tour conductors performing regular international tour responsibilities, and the data were compared between the initial tour without L-bLF intake and the subsequent tour with L-bLF intake. In the tour with L-bLF intake, L-bLF administration started from one week before the trip and was continued during the trip. In both periods, the tour conductors experienced limited sleep; however, both subjective and objective sleep quality was significantly better with the oral L-bLF intake than without. Overall, we found that prophylactic L-bLF supplementation reduced neuroinflammation in rat hippocampi and improved sleep quality and jetlag in tour conductors. Full article

This article presents a straightforward and effective way of adding the Internet of Vehicles function to vehicles with different drive systems. By equipping the vehicle with a transmission device that communicates with the vehicle’s on-board diagnostics system, the current parameters of the vehicle’s operation can be read. This allows for wireless transmission to the application installed on the mobile device. The current parameters related to the vehicle’s operation together with the location data from the Global Positioning System on the mobile device are transferred to the cloud server. In this way, each vehicle with a drive system acquires the Internet of Vehicles function. Using this setup, short trips in urban conditions were carried out in a vehicle with an internal combustion engine and a plug-in hybrid vehicle. The data from the cloud system were then processed using the KNIME analytical platform. Signatures characterizing the vehicles with two types of drive systems were created. The obtained results were analyzed using various analytical tools and experimentally validated. The presented method is universally applicable and allows for the quick recognition of different drive systems based on signatures implementing k-means analysis. Acquiring and processing data from vehicles with various drive systems can be used to obtain important information about the vehicle itself, the road infrastructure, and the vehicle’s immediate surroundings, which can translate into increased road safety. Full article

The objective of this study was to verify the leisure time activity (LTA) patterns among students of three university courses (including students in their first, second, and third year of their bachelor’s degree)—Physical Education (PE) vs. Sports Diagnostics (SD) vs. Tourism and Recreation (TaR)—at the University of Szczecin and their possible correlations with the faculty of the studying youth. The study involved a total of 219 respondents: 96 were studying TaR, 93 were studying PE, and 31 were studying SD. The research was based on the following questionnaires: the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and a questionnaire created by the authors which covered the type of leisure time activity (LTA) with emphasis on leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and its type, frequency, and whether students sought companionship while engaging in such activities. The data obtained were developed using statistical methods such as analysis of structure and correspondence analysis. Several research questions were put forward in the study. Surprisingly, TaR students were characterized by a greater variety of sports activities than the PE or SD students. The TaR students had also undertaken long trips more often than the PE students. No difference in the frequency of long trips was found between students from either course. Regardless of the type of university course studied, no significant differences were found between the genders in terms of spending free time alone vs. in the company of family/friends. Full article

The potential of electric vehicles (EVs) to support the decarbonization of the transportation sector, crucial for meeting greenhouse gas reduction targets under the Paris Agreement, is obvious. Despite their advantages, the adoption of electric vehicles faces limitations, particularly those related to battery range and charging times, which significantly impact the time needed for a trip compared to their combustion engine counterparts. However, recent improvements in fast charging technology have enhanced these aspects, making EVs more suitable for both daily and long-distance trips. EVs can now deal with long trips, with travel times only slightly longer than those of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. Fast charging capabilities and infrastructure, such as 350 kW chargers, are essential for making EV travel times comparable to ICE vehicles, with brief stops every 2–3 h. Additionally, EVs help reduce noise pollution in urban areas, especially in noise-saturated environments, contributing to an overall decrease in urban sound levels. However, this research highlights a downside of DC (Direct Current) fast charging stations: high-frequency noise emissions during fast charging, which can disturb nearby residents, especially in urban and residential areas. This noise, a result of the growing fast charging infrastructure, has led to complaints and even operational restrictions for some charging stations. Noise-related disturbances are a significant urban issue. The World Health Organization identifies noise as a key contributor to health burdens in Europe, even when noise annoyance is subjective, influenced by individual factors like sensitivity, genetics, and lifestyle, as well as by the specific environment. This paper analyzes the sound emission of a broad sample of DC fast charging stations from leading EU market brands. The goal is to provide tools that assist manufacturers, installers, and operators of rapid charging stations in mitigating the aforementioned sound emissions in order to align these infrastructures with Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 11 adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015. Full article

Urban parks play a vital role in enhancing residents’ well-being, making it essential for decision-makers and designers to understand the factors influencing park satisfaction to improve park attributes. While existing studies primarily focus on internal park characteristics, this study investigates the diverse ways that external environmental factors influence park satisfaction. Using moderated regression models, we examined six factors, i.e., the quality of neighborhood compound greenspaces, perceived home–park distance, walking difficulty, the convenience of coordinating other trips, external environmental quality, and perceived travel safety, in Chongqing, China. Based on an intercept survey of 301 residents, five factors significantly impacted park satisfaction. Notably, the quality of compound greenspaces and trip coordination convenience were critical determinants, showing large correlations with satisfaction. Enhancing environmental quality and travel safety along access routes is also crucial, as they directly enhance satisfaction and moderate the impacts of internal park quality. Reducing walking difficulties can encourage frequent park visits and strengthen the relationship between internal park quality and satisfaction. Interestingly, the perceived home–park distance had minimal impact, likely because the parks studied were in close proximity to participants’ homes. These findings highlight the importance of holistically considering both internal and external factors in urban park planning and design. Future research should explore additional external factors in diverse urban contexts. Full article