Robust control of traffic networks under uncertain conditions

Uncertainty of traffic network operations has been a subject of lively debate in the last decade. However, little effort has been put in developing control frameworks that are not only aimed at improving the average performance of the system, but also at improving the system robustness and reliability. In fact, it can be argued that most of the current control approaches are only aimed at improving the efficiency, which can even be counterproductive from a robustness point of view. The main contributions of this article is the proposition of a new control framework based on the notion of controlled Markov processes, which explicitly takes into account the uncertainty in predicted traffic conditions and system performance. Furthermore, in contrast to traditional optimal control approaches, the objective function can include general statistic of the random system performance, such as the mean, standard deviation or 95‐percentile. The contribution aims to make clear how different performance function specifications yield different control strategies. This is shown for a relatively simple case study.     

Relationships between near-bottom dissolved oxygen and sediment profile camera measures

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) and other environmental authorities regulate concentrations of dissolved oxygen (DO) as a measure of nutrient-related eutrophication in estuarine and coastal waters. However, in situ DO concentrations are extremely variable, and their characterization requires an extensive sampling program to provide data over meaningful scales of time and space. In contrast, benthic faunal communities integrate the impacts of low DO over time, and can be rapidly assessed using benthic imaging. The goal of this study was to quantify the relationships between near-bottom dissolved oxygen and measures derived from benthic imaging with a sediment profile camera. We monitored three stations in Narragansett Bay (Rhode Island, USA) for DO and other water quality parameters 15–20 cm above the sediment surface on 15-minute intervals between July and November 2002, and regularly sampled these stations with a sediment profile camera throughout this time period. These soft-sediment stations encompassed several DO environments. We tested for relationships between near-bottom DO and several camera measures, including Nilsson and Rosenberg's Benthic Habitat Quality (BHQ) index, the apparent Redox Potential Discontinuity (aRPD) depth, and various faunal features that can be identified in sediment profile images. Camera measures were examined against a variety of methods of characterizing DO (including mean DO, and the percent of time under various DO thresholds), over a span of time scales from 1 day to 49 days. The best relationship (highest r²) between near-bottom DO and BHQ was found when DO was evaluated as the percent of time under a hypoxic threshold of 2.6 mg l^− 1 over a 28-day time scale (by examining DO records over the 28 days preceding each camera deployment). We found that, over several benthic settings, the BHQ index was successful at identifying environments that had experienced relatively high or low DO over the preceding four weeks. Our sediment profile data showed more variability with DO in the intermediate values of BHQ. We conclude that sediment profile camera measures correlate to DO in areas where low DO is the primary stressor, integrate DO over ecologically relevant time scales, and enable sampling over spatial scales that are meaningful for mapping by virtue of rapid deployment and analysis. We submit that sediment profile camera imagery is a useful assessment and mapping tool for environmental managers interested in benthic condition and in first-order quantitative estimates of near-bottom DO regimes in areas where low DO is the primary benthic stressor.     

Estimates of Southern Ocean primary production—constraints from predator carbon demand and nutrient drawdown

In view of the wide range of estimates for the total primary production for the Southern Ocean south of the Subantarctic Front—current estimates range from 1.2 to 3.5 Gtonne C year⁻¹—we have examined two indirect methods for assessing primary production. First, we have estimated the primary production needed to sustain the carbon requirements of the endotherm top predators in the ecosystem. Estimation of the carbon requirements for crabeater seals of about 7 Mtonne C year⁻¹ is extrapolated to a value for all endotherm predators of 15–30 Mtonne C year⁻¹. Current data indicate that 70–80% of the diet of this suite of predators is zooplankton (predominantly the euphausiid krill), making for highly efficient transfer from primary production to top predators. Our best estimate of Southern Ocean primary production by this method is of the order of 1.7 Gtonne C year⁻¹, or an averaged areal primary production of about 30–40 g C m⁻² year⁻¹. Our second approach is to estimate primary production from the drawdown of inorganic nutrients, based on the limited suite of studies from which an annual nutrient deficit can be calculated. Again, this indicates annual primary production of the order of 1.5 Gtonne. Although both methods have inherent uncertainties, taken together they provide a relatively robust constraint on annual primary production. For both methods to underestimate primary production by the 1–1.5 Gtonne C implied by the higher current estimates, carbon export from the Southern Ocean pelagic ecosystem would need to be much higher than is normally found in other oceans.     

An Experimental Study of a Prototype Active Anti-Roll Suspension System

Active roll control is known to offer substantial improvements in ride and handling performance over the most sophisticated passive suspension systems. However although many different active suspension systems have been discussed and analysed through simulation little information regarding experimental performance data from a prototype active roll control system has been published. This study focuses on the design, development, commissioning and experimental evaluation of a roll control suspension based on active anti-roll bar actuation. In tests, the prototype vehicle demonstrated excellent steady state and dynamic roll cancellation within the lateral acceleration range of 0.5g. Subjective assessments of the system confirmed the benefits of a level ride together with the added benefit accrued from the elimination of roll dynamics.     

声波测试法在铁路路基测试中的应用

通过采用声波测试法对既有线铁路路基进行测试,并结合现场地质调查及便携式可变能动力触探测试结果,对铁路路基承载力状况做出快速评价,为既有线路路基检测提供一种快速有效的测试方法。     

Material transport from the nearshore to the basinal environment in the southern Baltic Sea: I. Processes and mass estimates

Processes involved in erosion, transport and deposition of cohesive materials are studied in a transect from shallow (16 m) to deep (47 m) water of the SW Baltic Sea. The wave- and current-induced energy input to the seabed in shallow water is high with strong variability and suspended matter concentrations may double within a few hours. Primary settling fluxes (from sedimentation traps) are less than 10 g m⁻² day⁻¹, whereas resuspension fluxes (evaluated from sedimentation flux gradients) are 15–20 times higher and the residence time for suspended matter in the water column is 1–2 days. Settling velocities of aggregates are on average six times higher than for individual particles resulting in an enhanced downward transport of organic matter. Wave-induced resuspension (four to six times per month) takes place with higher shear stresses on the bottom than current-induced resuspension (three to five times per month). The short residence time in the water column and the frequent resuspension events provide a fast operating benthic–pelagic coupling. Due to the high-energy input, the shallow water areas are nondepositional on time scales longer than 1–2 weeks. The sediment is sand partly covered by a thin fluff layer during low-energy periods. The presence of the fluff layer keeps the resuspension threshold very low (<0.023 N m⁻²) throughout the year. Evaluated from 3-D sediment transport modeling, transport from shallow to deep water is episodic. The net main directions are towards the Arkona Basin (5.5×10⁵ t per year) and the Bornholm Basin (3.7×10⁵ t per year). Energy input to the bottom in deep water is low and takes place much less frequently. Wave-induced resuspension occurs on average once per month. Residence time of particles (based on radioactive isotopes) in the water column is half a year and the sediment accumulation rate is 2.2 mm year⁻¹ in the Arkona Basin.     

Longitudinal Tire Dynamics

This article begins with a brief review of the traditional concept of lateral relaxation length. The review illustrates that this concept yields a useful approximation which can be used with semi-empirical tire models which assume lateral forces are a function of steady-state slip angles. The article then presents an analogous derivation for longitudinal slip. Like its lateral counterpart, the derivation yields an approximation for transient longitudinal slip which can be used with tire models which assume longitudinal forces are a function of steady-state longitudinal slip. It is shown that, like the relaxation-length-based lateral slip angle, this formulation for longitudinal slip yields the ability to compute shear forces at the tire/road interface for either high or low speed applications, a necessary feature of simulations which support human in the loop driving simulation. Like traditional kinematically-based longitudinal slip, the transient formulation presented here is coupled with the wheel spin equation, and it shares the characteristic that it is very stiff compared to the equations of vehicle motion. This characteristic is a challenge impeding the real-time calculations required for driving simulation. The paper shows that local linearization of the wheel spin equations coupled with analytical solutions of the transient longitudinal slip formulation provide the basis for both insight into the longitudinal dynamics of the tire and for integrating the model in real-time.     

Cost assessment for abyssal seafloor waste isolation

We develop an integrated model for estimating the internal cost of abyssal seafloor waste isolation. The model captures the major economic, engineering, geographic and social factors that influence the management cost for sewage sludge and municipal incinerator ash. Considering five representative metropolitan areas and five proposed abyssal study sites, we apply this model to produce cost estimates for four deep-ocean waste delivery system concepts. The results show that the unit cost depends primarily on regional waste volume, the marine delivery system and transportation distance. Based on available data, the abyssal ocean option may be competitive with present land-based disposal costs in New York City. The option is less competitive in other metropolitan areas.     

宋丽关系与密州板桥镇

关于宋朝与高丽王朝的关系史,很多学者已作了大量的研究,但多是集中在两个国家总体上的政治经济文化交流,从地方史角度出发的不多,即使有也大多是对两浙地区比如明州(今浙江宁波)和杭州等地的宋丽关系史的考察,研究山东胶州地区中韩关系的则很少.对于山东胶州的问题也有人研究,李晓先生曾在<海交史研究>(1985年第1期)上发表过<山东胶州港兴衰问题初探>,介绍了胶州港在北宋前、宋金元初及明清两代的兴衰过程,不过,重点是在港口历史沿革,不在宋丽关系.所以本文拟以胶州(即宋朝历史上的密州板桥镇)为中心对宋丽关系作一初步探索,以就正于诸位前辈.     

损伤反应性星形胶质细胞对成年大鼠室下区的再生作用

目的①观察液压性脑损伤后不同时期室下区Nestin和GFAP的表达及其细胞类型。②分离脑损伤室下区Nestin /GFAP 共存细胞进行培养、诱导分化鉴定。方法①用液压冲击法建立SD大鼠动物模型,用免疫组化和免疫荧光双标法分析和显示不同时期(1、3、5 d,1、2、3、4、6、8周)Nestin和GFAP的表达变化以及细胞类型。②分离液压损伤SD大鼠室下区Nestin /GFAP 共存细胞,制成单细胞悬液,进行培养、传代,以免疫荧光化学方法对原代和传代培养形成的神经球以及诱导分化的细胞进行鉴定。结果①室下区免疫荧光染色:正常组及空白对照组在前脑侧脑室SVZ区出现神经干细胞,主要集中在外侧壁上部和上角,其他部位及三脑室的SVZ区有少量神经干细胞。脑损伤模型组脑损伤24 h后,和正常组相比,室下区Nestin和GFAP的表达显著增加,阳性表达在3 d后逐渐达到高峰,持续1周。②在上述条件下培养及传代的细胞不断分裂增殖,形成悬浮生长的呈Nestin阳性的神经球;神经球贴壁后分化的细胞表现为少突胶质细胞、神经元和星形胶质细胞的形态,且分别呈GalC阳性、β-tublinⅢ阳性和GFAP阳性。结论①成年大鼠液压性脑损伤可诱导室下区表达Nestin和GFAP,Nestin的表达和反应性星形胶质细胞增生呈正相关,且表达多相互共存,并且具有星形胶质细胞的形态;室下区的星形胶质细胞和神经干细胞都对脑损伤都有反应,并可能参与中枢神经系统损伤修复。②成年大鼠液压性脑损伤后分离的室下区细胞具有自我更新能力和多分化潜能,可以分化为神经元、少突胶质细胞和星形胶质细胞,是中枢神经系统的干细胞。