Systematic training for maritime transport managers

Providing effective training for managers in the maritime and ports sector in developing countries has proven to be a daunting task. Initial attempts by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in the 1970s led to the development of senior port manager residence courses in Sweden. However, Given the vast numbers of managers needing training a more eficient method was required. Using the systematic training techniques pioneered by the International Telecommunications Union, UNCTAD, in the 1980s initiated two parallel programme: Trainmer (Training development in Maritime Transport); and IPP (Improving Port Performance). Both of these programmes demonstrated considerable success in terms of the numbers of maritime and port managers receiving training opportunities. Increased cooperation amoungst international agencies providing training programmes should result in improved transport management training in the 1990s, lrading to increased efficiences in port and related transport systems.     

Signalized intersections with variable flow rates: II A model for delay estimation

This second part of our work develops a model for delay estimation at intersections whose traffic signal controls are continuously being updated. Generally, these traffic signals are centrally controlled. The foundation for the delay estimation model is based on a queuing theory model called “Preemptive resume discipline for M/G/1 with two priority levels.” This queuing model assumes that two customers arrive at acertain point by a Poisson arrival process, and that one customer has service priority over the second customer. The analogy for the case of intersection control is that the preferred customers are the red lights and the secondary customers are the vehicles. In order to adapt the model to the realistic behavior of vehicle traffic at continuously adjusted signals, components are derived to modify the model. The simulation results of the first part of this work are used to calculate adjustment factors that fairly accurately reproduce the simulated delays. This gives rise to the advantage of using in practice a closed mathematical model, in particular when trying to optimize the operation of signalized intersections at the network level.     

ICR－191体外诱发人成纤维细胞恶性转化的初步研究

ＭＳＵ－１．１细胞株是由ｖ－ｍｙｃ癌基因转染正常二倍体人成纤维细胞后所建立的生命期无限的近二倍体细胞株，使该细胞暴露于实验研究用广谱诱变剂ＩＣＲ－１９１以建立体外细胞转化体系，结果表明剂量０．３５及０．４５μｍｏｌ／Ｌ的ＩＣＲ－１９１可使ＭＳＵ－１．１细胞转化成具有转化灶形成能力和成瘤性的恶性转化细胞。本文支持永生化是人类细胞培养的多步骤的恶性转化过程的前提条件的假说。为建立的致癌物诱发细胞转化体系为研究阐明人类多步致癌的分子机理提供了一个有用的模型体系。     

Vibrations of imperfect ship plating

This paper deals with vibration analysis of plates in marine structures. It is the main purpose of the paper to demonstrate that in order to obtain reliable frequency predictions it is necessary to include in the vibration analysis the effects of the unavoidable imperfections caused by welding or lateral fluid pressure. Furthermore, practical procedures for including these effects are presented. Simple algebraic expressions are derived for determination of small amplitude natural frequencies of vibration of initially imperfect rectangular plates subjected to uniaxial in-plane loads. The theoretical results show close agreement with experimental results available in the literature. For plating of marine structures with typical welding induced geometric imperfections and residual stresses it is shown that the lowest natural frequency of the unloaded imperfect plate can be twice as high as that of the perfect plate. For vibration analyses of plates submerged in a liquid the importance of taking into account deflections and membrane stresses caused by the hydrostatic pressure is demonstrated.     

A two-layer model of the Rhine plume

The outflow of Rhine water into the shallow Southern Bight of the North Sea leads to almost discontinuous vertical density distributions and sharp frontal structures around the river mouth. Strong tidal motion, wind and baroclinic effects have large influence on the dynamics and dispersion of river water. A three-dimensional tidal model, including advective and diffusive transport of salinity, is used in the two-layer mode for simulation of Rhine water outflow to quantify the interaction of the different processes and the effect on dispersion and mixing of river water. Layer depths are adjusted in a way that no advective transports between upper and lower layer take place in case of sufficiently stable stratification. In case of weak or no stratification the upper layer depth is fixed, and advective transports between layers are computed. Model results show frontal eddy development and (limited) growing internal waves due to baroclinic instability. Comparisons with observational data are presented.     

Multicriteria ranking of urban transportation system alternatives

This paper presents the fundamentals of a new method to rank urban transportation system alternatives, taking into consideration multiple criteria. Those criteria can be quantifiable or not. The new method is founded on Utility Theory and it makes use of absolute weighting and pairwise comparisons. It has important practical advantages over other existing methods, the most important among those advantages being its capability to be understood and accepted by professionals and by the public. A numerical example is included in the paper.     

Meroplankton abundance in the Northeast Water Polynya: Insights from oceanographic parameters and benthic abundance patterns

We investigated meroplankton (planktonic larvae of benthic organisms) abundance and distribution in the Northeast Water (NEW) Polynya, located on the northeast coast of Greenland, from July 15 to August 15, 1992. Meroplankton was present at all sites visited (0.03–84.83 individuals per m³); at one station meroplankton comprised 8.28% of total zooplankton. Total meroplankton abundance was correlated with total zooplankton abundance and total benthic infaunal abundance but was not correlated with either microscopic carbon concentration or primary productivity. Examination of distribution data for barnacle nauplii and adults indicated that both adults and larvae were concentrated at the same locations. Patterns of distribution were also examined for stelleroid plutei, polychaete larvae and trochophores. There were distinct geographic patterns in total and class-specific meroplankton distributions, with maximal abundances occurring over the Belgica Bank and in the eastern regions of the Westwind Trough and minimal abundances in the Belgica Trough. The apparent control of meroplankton distribution by the hydrography of the region, coupled with the correlation between meroplankton, zooplankton and adult infaunal abundance, reinforces the hypothesis that hydrography plays a major role in controlling the distribution of biota in the NEW polynya (Ambrose and Renaud, 1995; Ashjian et al., 1995, 1997-this volume; Smith et al., 1995; Piepenburg et al., 1997-this volume).     

Hatchcoverless container ships: productivity gains from a new technology

The hatchcoveless container ship is an innovative design which improves cargo handling productivity. The paper develops a methodology for measuring the gains. To illustrate the impact of faster port times on voyage profitability a voyage cost analysis is used to show its operational advantages. An investment analysis demonstrates the value which will accrue to the company over the life of the vessel.