Impacts of urban built environment on empty taxi trips using limited geolocation data

This study identifies the determinants of the empty taxi trip duration (ETTD) by combining three high-resolution databases—geolocation data in New York City, geodatabase of urban planning data, and transportation facilities data. Considering the nature of duration data, hazard-based duration model is proposed to explore the relationships between causal factors and ETTD, coupling with three variations of baseline hazard distribution, i.e., Weibull distribution with heterogeneity, Weibull distribution, and log-logistic. Furthermore, the likelihood ratio test is presented to implement comparisons of three baseline hazard distributions, as well as spatial and temporal transferability of causal factors. The results show significant complementary effects by subway system and competitive effects by city bus and bicycling system, as well as significant impacts of trip length, airport trip, average annual income, and employment rate. Urban built environment, for instance, density of road, public facilities, and recreational sites and ratio of green space, has various impacts on ETTD. The elasticity estimations confirm significant spatial and temporal heterogeneity in impacts on ETTD. In addition, the analysis on elasticity also reveals the considerable impacts of severe traffic congestion on ETTD within Manhattan. The modeling can assist stakeholders in understanding empty taxi movements and measuring taxi system efficiency in urban areas.     

Florida's coastal setback line—an effort to regulate beachfront development

Abstract

The coastal setback line program in Florida represents an effort to achieve more efficient location decisions, protect beachfront properties from storms, and control beach erosion. This article examines the reasons why the regulation of shoreline development might be necessary, describes the coastal setback program in Florida, discusses some of the problems encountered in its implementation, and examines its potential success.     

The continental shelf and the exclusive economic zone: the problem of delimitation at UNCLOS III

If the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea succeeds in adopting a new Caracas Convention on the Law of the Sea, it is likely to embody detailed provisions on the delimitation of both the continental shelf and the new zone, the exclusive economic zone. In this paper, the most recent draft of these rules—contained in the Revised Single Negotiating Text—is subjected to a detailed and critical scrutiny which leads to the conclusion that the Sixth Session of the Conference still has a great deal of work to do before agreement can be reached on a satisfactory set of rules.     

Effect of nozzle orifice diameter on diesel spray tip penetration according to various spray models for CFD simulation with widely varying back pressure

CFD simulations of spray tip penetration with the standard KIVA3V, ‘original gas jet’ and ‘Normal gas jet profile with breakup length formula’ (NGJBL) spray models were performed to investigate the effects of nozzle orifice size and ambient gas density combinations on the spray penetration. The accuracy of the CFD simulation results was estimated by comparing them with available experimental data. The ambient gas density was varied in 12 kg/m³ intervals from 12 to 69 kg/m³ for each nozzle orifice diameter. The nozzle orifice diameters used were 119, 140, 183 and 206 mm. A total of 20 cases in the CFD simulations were considered with combinations of the 4 nozzle orifice diameters and 5 ambient gas densities. CFD simulations with the NGJBL spray model were more accurate than those with either the standard KIVA3V or gas jet spray models as the nozzle orifice diameter and ambient gas density was increased. The NGJBL and original gas jet model is more effective in predicting the spray tip penetration near the nozzle tip region.     

Vibration reduction of H/Shaft using an electromagnetic damper with mode change

The objective of this study is to develop a damper that can reduce the amplitude of vibration in various frequency ranges. Previous H/Shaft vibration reduction methods work in a passive way. A dynamic damper reduces the amplitude of vibration at its first mode, but vibration still appears at the second mode. A mass damper or hollow shaft can shift the natural frequency to a lower or higher region. The fixed operating frequency prevents vibration from being reduced outside the operating frequency range. The proposed damper uses electromagnets as either masses or actuators to change the damper mode between dynamic damper mode and mass damper mode. The electromagnetic damper (EMD) can change its mode to respond to the vibration excitation at both low and high frequencies. The vibration reduction performance was evaluated by FRF tests in laboratory and vehicle conditions. The results were compared with those of a dynamic damper and indicate that the amplitude of vibration is reduced by 95.6 % when the EMD is implemented on an H/Shaft, whereas only 61.9 % vibration reduction is achieved by the dynamic damper.     

薄基岩顶板隧道爆破施工围岩稳定性分析

为更有效地进行薄基岩顶板条件下隧道施工安全控制,以某高速公路隧道为工程背景,运用数值模拟的方法,分别研究不同顶板厚度下隧道爆破施工引起的围岩振速分布特征及其对围岩的损伤情况,并进行围岩稳定性分析。结果表明:1)当顶板厚度在5 m及以上时,围岩是稳定的;2)当顶板厚度为3 m时,最危险横断面上基岩顶板内开始产生严重的拉伸裂缝及一些径向裂缝,将形成超挖;3)当顶板厚度≤2 m时,径向裂缝贯穿顶板岩体,围岩稳定性较差,在掌子面后1 m内可能发生塌落、掉块等事故。     

行人微观仿真中的运动模型与行为模型——STEPS与NOMAD模型对比

为了解各类行人仿真模型的性能差异和适用范围,以选取适当模型进行交通枢纽行人仿真,对两种典型行人仿真模型进行研究。依据模型对行人行为描述的复杂程度,将行人仿真模型分为运动模型、部分行为模型、行为模型3类,并分别介绍了各自的特点。选取典型的运动模型软件STEPS和行为模型软件NOMAD,详细探讨其采用的数学模型,并通过4个仿真实例对比分析这两种模型的特点。分析结果得出两种模型在宏观与微观层面的异同点以及存在的问题。     

快速老化小鼠的学习记忆缺陷及其生化机制

目的用快速老化小鼠(SAMP8)模拟老年痴呆,观察其学习记忆能力,并探讨其学习记忆能力下降的可能机制。方法采用10月龄SAMP8,并用同龄抗快速老化小鼠(SAMR1)作为正常对照。用水迷路检测近记忆以及空间学习记忆能力。用生物化学方法检测大脑皮层线粒体膜电位和ATP酶活力,观察线粒体功能;检测皮层和海马胆碱乙酰基转移酶(ChAT)和乙酰胆碱酯酶(AChE)的活力,观察中枢胆碱能神经功能;检测血清超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活力和丙二醛(MDA)含量,观察其全身性氧化应激状况。结果与SAMR1相比,SAMP8出现明显的衰老体征,其近记忆和空间学习记忆能力明显减弱,具有衰老和痴呆特征;皮层线粒体膜电位和ATP酶活力显著降低,海马ChAT活力显著下降,AChE活力显著升高,血清SOD活力稍有增高。结论SAMP8可以很好地模拟老年痴呆,其机制包括大脑皮层线粒体功能降低、海马胆碱能神经功能下降以及氧化应激等。     

The changes of neuronal activity of the zone incerta in a rodent model of Parkinson＇s disease

Objective To study the changes in neuronal activity of the zone incerta (ZI) following the unilateral lesion of the nigrostriatal pathway. Methods Eiectrophysiological recordings of ZI neurons were made in normal rats and in two groups of rats at different time intervals after injection of 6-hydrodopamine (6-OHDA) into the pars compacta of snbstantia nigra by extracellular recording in vivo. Results The results showed a significant increase in the mean firing rate of ZI during the second and fourth weeks after 6-OHDA lesion [-n=32, (3.6±2. 2)Hz, P<0.001; n=35, (9.3±6.6)Hz, P<0. 001, respectively] compared to that of normal rats [n=39, (9.2±5.2)Hz]. However, no significant change was observed between two groups of 6-OHDA-lesioned rats. With regard to firing pattern, 7.7%(3/39) of ZI neurons discharged regularly, 82.1% (32/39) irregularly and 10. 3% (4/39) in bursts in normal rats. During the second week after 6-OHDA lesion, the regular, irregular and bursting firing neurons recorded in the ZI were 9.4% (3/32), 59. 4% (19/32) and 31.3% (10/32), and during fourth week, the regular, irregular and bursting firing neurons were 14.3% (5/35), 57.1% (20/35) and 28. 6% (10/35), respectively. The firing pattern of the neurons in the three different groups did not change significantly. Conclusion These results suggest that the firing rate of ZI neurons in 6-OHDA-lesioned rats is increased significantly, which may contribute to the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease.     

七叶皂苷钠对大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注后MMP-9和LN表达的影响

目的研究七叶皂苷钠(sodium β-aescin)对大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注后基质金属蛋白酶-9(matrix metallopro-teinase-9,MMP-9)和层黏连蛋白(laminin,LN)表达影响,为深入探讨七叶皂苷钠对脑的保护机制提供实验依据。方法制备大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注模型,随机分为正常组、假手术组、缺血再灌注组和缺血再灌注七叶皂苷钠治疗组,后两组又分为缺血2h后再灌注3、6、12、24、72h和7d,共6个时间点,每时间点4只;用免疫组织化学法和图像分析观察其缺血区LN和MMP-9的表达变化。结果缺血再灌组MMP-9在神经元的表达于再灌注6h开始增加,12h达高峰,24h又降低,7d最低,治疗组MMP-9于再灌注同一时相有显著减少;LN在微血管的表达于再灌注12h明显减少,24h时达低峰,72h开始回升,治疗组在同一时相LN表达显著增多。结论MMP-9与LN可能参与脑血管源性脑水肿的形成发展,缺血再灌注早期七叶皂苷钠治疗通过减少MMP-9的表达,增加LN的表达对缺血再灌注脑起保护作用。