Tributyltin in marine sediments and Philippine green mussels (Perna viridis) in Manila Bay

Tributyltin (TBT) is a pollutant, mainly introduced to the environment as insecticides, fungicides, bactericides, wood preservatives and marine antifouling agent. Concentrations of TBT and its degradation products were isolated from the bivalve Perna viridis and marine sediments collected from selected coastal areas along Manila Bay. In all samples, the extremely toxic TBT compound was detected, calculated as Sn. In sediments, measured concentration ranged from the limit of detection of 0.5 to 9.0 ng Sn g^?1. Highest levels of TBT were observed at the inner and northern part of the bay, adjacent to coastal areas of varying land and water use (i.e., aquaculture, fishpond, mangrove forests, industrial establishments, and ports). However, the levels decrease near the bay entrance. Accumulation in this area can also be deduced from the movement of the prevailing wind and hydrodynamic behavior of the bay during the time of sampling, which transports suspended sediments from the eastern coast of Manila to the northern coast of Bulacan. In green mussels, the levels of TBT ranged from 2.1 to 8.9 ng Sn g^?1. While these values are relatively low, concentrations as low as 0.659 ng Sn g^?1 have been reported to be toxic to molluscs. The environmental levels of organotin species determined in the samples are comparatively low by global standards. Nevertheless, there is a need to estimate the levels of TBT in coastal waters and its associated uses, to evaluate the effectiveness of imposed regulation prohibiting the application of organotin compounds (OTs) as biocides in antifouling agents on ships and aquaculture facilities.     

A combined tramp ship routing,fleet deployment,and network design problem

In this paper, a tramp ship routing model of fleet deployment in a hub-and-spoke network is presented. This model simultaneously determines the selection of hubs, the assignment of spokes to hubs, the deployment of feeder-containerships as well as containership routing between spokes and spokes, hubs and spokes, and hubs and hubs. Even though some parts have been studied, this complex combination of shipping problems has never been addressed. Because the problem is NP-hard, a genetic algorithm (GA) with local search is proposed. In the algorithm, a cut-off procedure is applied to fleet deployment in a sub-route strategy. A number of randomly generated problem instances are solved by both a mathematical program and the GA with local search. A simple but realistic heuristic algorithm is also developed. Both the GA with local search and the heuristic algorithm are used to solve a number of real case instances. A comparison of the results shows the efficiency of the GA with local search. The developed model can be used as a route-decision support tool for shipping companies that provide long-haul shipping services in a hub-and-spoke network.     

Modelling greenhouse gas emissions from cars in Great Britain

This paper outlines the issues involved in the problem of global warming. The road transport sector's contributions to this problem are then detailed and various policy options to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from private cars are discussed. The paper then describes a model which forecasts greenhouse gas emissions from cars. The effects of various policy options are then modelled and the results compared. Policies considered include: raising fuel prices in terms of the UK government's commitment to increase road fuel duties; subsidising public transport in terms of reduced public transport fares; and a tax differentiated by engine size.     

Analysis of collapsibility of loess in real soaking environment and grading of soaking environmentEI北大核心

Research purposes: The analysis of the soaking condition and mechanism of the Loess under the real environment condition was made, the thicknesses of the saturated collapsible loess layers under most unfavorable natural and artificial environments were determined, and the soaking collapsible environments were graded according to the influence differences of the environment on the loess soaking. Research conclusions: The real collapsible thickness of loess depends on a variety of factors and the major factor is the soaking condition. Under the concrete soaking condition, the thickness of saturated collapsible loess is controlled by the precipitation, penetration of surface water and rising of ground water. The experience and calculation show the most soaking thicknesses under natural environment are obviously less than the thickness of the collapsible loess. By taking the soaking collapsible thickness as the basis, the construction cost and works can be much reduced. The calculation and analysis of the soaking thickness under natural environment presented in this paper can give a new method and thinking on valuation of the loess collapsibility and grading the soaking environment.     

Integration of experiment and hydrostatic fluid-structure finite element analysis into dynamic characteristic prediction of a hydraulically damped rubber mount

Hydraulically damped rubber mount (HDM) can effectively attenuate vibrations transmitted between an automotive powertrain and body/chassis and reduce interior noise in the car compartment. Predicting the dynamic characteristics of a HDM faces challenges due to fluid-structure interactions between the rubber spring and fluid in the chambers, nonlinear material properties of the rubber parts and turbulent flow in the chambers and fluid track linking chambers. In this paper, an experimental analysis and hydrostatic finite element (FE) modeling technique are integrated in a numerical simulation approach to modeling the dynamic characteristics of a HDM with a lumped-parameter HDM model. The dynamic characteristics of a typical HDM with a fixed decoupler are predicted and compared with experimental results, which verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach. Moreover, a parametric effect analysis is performed to demonstrate parameter influence on dynamic characteristic, which provides a concise design guideline for the parameter adjustments necessary for a HDM to meet the vibration isolation requirements of a powertrain mount system.     

Damping Performance of Power Transmission System with Hydraulic Torque Converter

In this work three first-order nonlinear, nonstationary differential equations describing a hydraulic torque converter in a power transmission system are used.

A linear model is obtained on the basis of these equations. This model is verified both theoretically and by an experimental test. On the basis of the calculations the torsional damping was determined. This permitted the damping performance of a power transmission system with a hydraulic torque converter to be defined and established.     

Strategic management of organizational turnarounds in the transit industry

The traditional wisdom that there are increasing returns to scale among bus transit systems has been shaken with recent research findings. The implication from the literature is that unless many transit systems restructure along new organizational lines the financial and service provision difficulties will continue. Very few public transit systems have attempted to strategically manage change and turnaround organizationally.The objectives of this research were to identify the salient factors in organizational turnarounds and to determine whether these factors were evident within transit organizations that have attempted to manage change strategically. The author reviewed the corporate turnaround literature and conducted four case studies of strategic planning/management within the transit industry.All four cases exhibited organizational declines or perceived declines as imminent. They initiated turnarounds through reorganizations and efforts at strategic management. The reorganizations that occurred at all four cases were relatively minor, involving some changes in function. Only minor changes in management occurred and commitment to strategic management varied. Strategic objectives were not quantifiable. All of the cases could have improved their communication below the middle-management levels. The measures of performance in general did not relate a specific strategy and program to a particular turnaround effect. Through management commitment and some minor organizational restructuring two cases achieved some degree of turnaround. Total commitment to strategic management, organizational change, adequate communication, and accurate performance measures are keys to definitive turnarounds.     

Public transit service operation strategy under indifference thresholds‐based bi‐modal equilibrium

This paper investigates public transit service (fare and frequency) operation strategies in a bi‐modal network with assumption of indifference thresholds‐based travelers' mode choice behavior. Under such behavior, users would switch to a new mode only if its utility is larger than the utility of current mode plus a threshold. The concept of indifference thresholds‐based bi‐modal equilibrium (ITBE) and the properties of the ITBE solution are explicitly proposed. Considering transit operator's different economic objectives (profit‐maximizing, no‐deficit and total system cost‐minimizing), the effect of indifference thresholds on transit fare and frequency schemes is studied. Some numerical experiments are accompanied to verify the theoretical results. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Research on the CTCS-4 Train Control System Based on Track Circuit Information FusionEI北大核心

Research purposes: CTCS-3 train control system is adopted in Chinese high-speed railway with speed of 300 km/h or higher. It is based on track circuit to check train occupancy and adopt quasi-moving block. In recent years, rapid development of national economy has put forward higher requirements for the capacity of high-speed railway. As a higher level train control system, CTCS-4 train control system can realize virtual block or moving block, and further shorten headway, but it is still in the stage of theoretical research. So this paper aims to analyze the characteristics of high-speed railway, and to propose a scheme for the implementation of CTCS-4 train control system based on track circuit fusion. Research conclusions:(1)When the wireless communication between vehicle and ground is interrupted, transport efficiency of CTCS-4 train control system can not meet the transport demand of high-speed railway.(2)CTCS-4 train control system should have the CTCS-2 backup function, which can make non-communication trains run normally and ensure the transport efficiency.(3)CTCS-4 train control system should integrate track circuit information, which can make RBC obtain position information of non-communication trains, improve the availability of the system and avoid complicated operational rules.(4)Due to complexity of high-speed railway and change of existing equipment, virtual block can be used in early stage of CTCS-4 train control system.(5)The research results can provide some references for CTCS-4 train control system in high-speed railway. © 2018, Editorial Department of Journal of Railway Engineering Society. All right reserved.     

Research on the Mechanical Characteristics of Primary Supporting in Deep Buried Large-section Red Clay TunnelEI北大核心

Research purposes: In the New Austrian Tunneling Method, the primary supporting has the vital function as the main structure of taking the pressure of surrounding rock. In order to study the force characteristics of primary supporting in the composite lining of deep buried large section tunnel, this paper is based on Qingyang tunnel engineering in Yinchuan-Xi'an High-speed Railway. After the on-site monitoring of the process, we can find the variation law of surrounding rock pressure on the deep buried large section red clay tunnel, steel arch internal force and concrete internal force, and analyze the internal forces and distribution characteristics of the primary supporting structure. Research conclusions:(1) The pressure of surrounding rock on both sides of the large section tunnel of red clay is greater than that in the vault and the inverted arch. (2) The internal force of primary supporting structure shows a distribution pattern of big top and small bottom, and the steel arch bears most of the surrounding rock pressure. (3) It can be considered to increase the marking of steel arch frame on the side wall and vault roof, and reduce the section area of arch frame in inverted arch, so as to make full use of materials, reduce the cost and improve the reliability of lining structure. (4) This research conclusion can provide reference for the optimization of lining design and construction organization of tunnel primary support under similar geological conditions. © 2018, Editorial Department of Journal of Railway Engineering Society. All right reserved.