Abstract

The process of publishing scientific papers should be based on universal principles of professional conduct: credibility, truth and authenticity. In academia, the inclusion of policies on ethical standards in journal instructions to authors could prevent misconduct and fraud in scientific publication. Due to the lack of attention to research ethics in the Social Sciences, in particular in Spain and Latin America, this research aims to analyze the scientific misconduct policy of the Spanish and Latin American journals in the JCR-Social Sciences Edition (2014). To achieve our goal, 104 selected journal instructions to authors were examined in relation to the following ethical principles: (1) the rights of people involved in the research; (2) the welfare of animals used in research; (3) conflicts of interest; and (4) publication issues. Our results suggest that publication issues such as unpublished research and the ban on simultaneous submission are the most frequently cited ethical issues. In spite of the efforts made by policy-making bodies to establish misconduct guidelines, very few journals adhere to ICMJE and COPE recommendations. Given the ethical heterogeneity evinced by our study, and by previous studies, it seems that the development of a uniform code of ethics in the field of Social Sciences may be required.

Abstract

The expansion of social media forces the communication of science and scientific journals to adapt to this new environment. Previous studies and theoretical models such as Utaut and Utaut2 have proven that there is a relationship between the perception of future performance of technology (performance expectancy), the difficulty of use (effort expectancy) and the social influence to which the individual is subject, on the real use of technology, but there is still scarce research about the mechanisms that cause this effect. Starting with Utaut, the hypothesis is that there is an indirect conditional effect of the performance expectancy, the effort expectancy and social influence, over the actual use of social media in scientific journals, where the effect is driven through the intention of use and the size of the effect is moderated by gender and age. A survey was carried out on 300 editors of the top 20 in Social Sciences of the Google Scholar ranking. Confirming partially Utaut, the results of moderated mediation show that performance expectancy and social influence of editors affect the use of Facebook and Twitter, through the intention to use, but it is not the case of ResearchGate, Academia and LinkedIn. There is not enough evidence about the moderation of age and gender.

Abstract

Traffic is the most widespread source of environmental noise. Railway noise has become increasingly common in urban areas in the past few decades. Therefore environmental requirements for railway operations regarding noise are becoming very strict and will become even tighter in future. In the present paper we present actual track- based field test performed on Slovenian Railways. The significant noise reduction (up to 30dBA) was achieved by the application of CHFC material on the rail using CL-E1 top anti noise system. Der Verkehr ist die am weitesten verbreitete Quelle von Umgebungslärm. Eisenbahnlärm nahm in den letzten Jahrzehnten in städtischen Gebieten immer mehr zu. Aus diesem Grund wurden die Umweltanforderungen für den Bahnverkehr bezüglich des Lärms immer strenger und werden in der Zukunft noch höher. In der vorliegenden Arbeit stellen wir den tatsächlichen Track-basierten Feldversuch auf der Slowenischen Bahn dar. Die deutliche Lärmreduzierung (bis 30 dBA)wurde durch die Anwendung von CHFC-Material auf der Schiene mithilfe des Cl-E1 Antirauschsystems erreicht. Document type: Article

Abstract

Air emissions of shipping have decreased in SECA regions after 2015. Environmental impacts of regulation policies are identifiable and measurable, as a study from the port of Gothenburg recently exposed. In addition to emissions, it is important to understand how regulations and decisions, focusing on environmental sustainability, impact on the maritime business indicators such as transport costs and marginal revenues. When SECA decision was made, the oil and bunker prices were historically high. Prices were also highly volatile. Numerous studies estimated difficulties for shipping companies, and maritime transport dependent export companies. The oil price dropped dramatically in 2016 remaining at the same level till the early 2018. This empirical case study examines and simulates bunker price data in relation to different vessel speeds. The paper looks at how different speed and oil price combinations impact transport costs and export business. The results of this simulation can be summarized with the notion that the negative economic impacts of the oil price variation can be mitigated to some extent by using lower vessel speeds, thus slow steaming, on short sea shipping (SSS). However, variable relations are not straightforward and they require additional studies. Document type: Article

Abstract

Residing in a high-density, diverse, and accessible neighborhood tends to be associated with less car use, more public transport, and more cycling and walking. However, this does not hold for all people because of differences in personal perceptions and preferences. This paper, therefore, analyzes spatial (mis)match, or the correspondence between perceptions of someone’s residence and the objectively measured spatial characteristics of that residence. Based on a sample for Flanders, Belgium, we found that people tend to overrate the urbanized character of their residence. Among urbanites, (mis)matched spatial perceptions do not influence mode choice. Mode choices remain mainly influenced by urban characteristics and not by personal perceptions as such. However, the influence of spatial (mis)match becomes more important among rural dwellers and, especially, suburbanites. The travel consequences of (mis)matched spatial perceptions thus clearly depend on the residential neighborhood type.

Abstract

Con la idea de que las prácticas cotidianas entre los inmigrantes mexicanos permiten construir y redefinir el espacio transnacional, como punto de partida, en este artículo se explorará la noción de la migración desde la perspectiva del transnacionalismo, en el marco de las tendencias contemporáneas del fenómeno migratorio en México. Al examinar las interacciones de los inmigrantes en el transporte público en San Diego, California, se buscará entender cómo se crean y recrean sus acciones. Este acercamiento desde un espacio social, permite analizar las interacciones específicas entre sociedades con historias y procesos de desarrollo diferentes. Based on the idea that everyday practices among Mexican immigrants allow the construction and redefinition of a transnational space, as a starting point, this article will explore the notion of migration from the perspective of transnationalism, within the framework of current tendencies in Mexican migration. Examining immigrant interactions in the public transportation system in San Diego, California, we will try to understand how they create and recreate their actions. This approach from a social space allows the analysis of the specific interactions between societies with different histories and development processe Document type: Article

Abstract

This paper evaluates the Technical Efficiencies (TEs) of a group of airports in East China by applying a three-stage Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method. The merit of this method allows us to consider the impact of the environmental factors on measuring airport efficiencies. Three variables, i.e. per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the proportion of the tertiary industry, and the number of tourists, are used to represent the environmental factors. The results show that the environmental factors have airport-specific impacts on the value of the efficiencies. Additionally, airport TE are dominated by both Pure Technical Efficiency (PTE) and Scale Efficiency (SE). Based on empirical results, airport specific strategies can be provided to enhance airport efficiency, such as taking the effects of environmental variables and the statistical noise into consideration when analysing the airport efficiency, improving airport efficiencies according to their own conditions and improving the PTE or SE according to their categorizations. Document type: Article

Abstract

Public transport transforms urban communities and the lives of citizens living in them by stimulating economic growth, promoting sustainable lifestyles and providing a greater quality of life. Globally, the healthiest cities have one thing in common, a public and active transport network that does not depend on each person owning a personal motorised vehicle. Growing dependence on the automobile has created a multitude of problems, some of which public transport can help solve. Adverse social, environmental and health effects related to automobile emissions and car-dependency suggest that using public transport will result in a decrease in an individual&rsquo s carbon footprint, will lessen overall CO2 emissions, and will help to ease urban traffic congestion as well as encourage more effective and efficient land use. With many urban areas experiencing ongoing traffic problems, it is acknowledged that any sustainable long-term solution must entail a significant public transport element. The aim of this research study, conducted in November and December 2017, was to obtain essential baseline information on service user satisfaction levels with the existing public bus services in Galway City, Ireland. By measuring levels of satisfaction, it is possible to build our overall knowledge of the public transport network and thus identify improvements in the service that would lead to an increase in bus passenger numbers and result in reductions in the amount of cars on the roads. Results suggest deficiencies in public transport infrastructure, such as Dedicated Bus Lanes, and the lack of attention to customer services are hindering improvements in the public bus service. Document type: Article

Abstract

In this paper, we develop a route-traffic-based method for detecting community structures in airline networks. Our model is both an application and an extension of the Clauset-Newman-Moore (CNM) modularity maximization algorithm, in that we apply the CNM algorithm to large airline networks, and take both route distance and passenger volumes into account. Therefore, the relationships between airports are defined not only based on the topological structure of the network but also by a traffic-driven indicator. To illustrate our model, two case studies are presented: American Airlines and Southwest Airlines. Results show that the model is effective in exploring the characteristics of the network connections, including the detection of the most influential nodes and communities on the formation of different network structures. This information is important from an airline operation pattern perspective to identify the vulnerability of networks. Document type: Article

Abstract

Social media require an efficient infrastructures of computer and communication systems to support a smart city. In a big city, there are several crucial dilemmas with a home and public space planning, a growing population, a global warming, carbon emissions, a lack of key resources like water and energy, and a traffic congestion. In a smart city, we expect an efficient and sustainable transportation, efficient management of resources and a better urban planning. In this paper, social media are proposed to support smart city with efficient computer infrastructure. Moreover, some methods are described to increase the availability and efficiency of an information infrastructure. Two criteria have been formulated to assign some key resources in a smart city system. The process of finding some compromise solutions from Pareto-optimal solutions has been illustrated. Metaheuristics o f collective intelligence, including particle swarm optimization PSO, ant colony optimization ACO, an algorithm of bee colony ABC, and differential evolution DE have been described due to smart city infrastructure improving. Other application of above metaheuristics in smart city have been also presented. Document type: Article