International private and public reinforcing dependencies for the innovation of automotive emission control systems in Japan and USA

In the beginning of the 1970s, the economies of USA and Japan were growing fast and environmental pollution was increasing to alarming levels. As passenger car emissions were found to be significant and rapidly increasing, their reduction was specially targeted. Following a bill passed by US Congress in 1968, requirements were set in 1970 for the vehicle manufacturers to reduce the emissions of carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons (HC) with 90% by 1975, and nitrogen oxides (NO_x) with 90% by 1976. These requirements were soon adapted to the Japanese regulatory framework, and were known in both countries as the “Muskie Act” or “Muskie Law” after the senator who developed the original bill.The new requirements spurred tremendous research and development efforts. Car manufacturers and research institutions in USA, Japan and Europe investigated and developed alternative solutions, including gas turbine and steam engine vehicles. California, the USA state with the most severe air quality problems and the only state at the time allowed to establish more strict requirements than federal regulation, established requirements implying the use of oxidation catalysts in 1975 and three-way catalysts (TWC’s) in 1977. Japan as a nation adopted similar requirements 1976 and 1978. Export of cars from Japan to USA increased rapidly. The rest of USA adopted emission standards similar to California’s only in 1981, timing USA vehicle sales rebound after the energy crisis and grave economic downturn. Strict requirements were thus established only after more than a decade of civic and legal processes between federal authorities, the car manufacturers and NGO’s.The history of vehicle development is one of cooperation and competition. This paper argues that the international cooperation on different levels of society (government, industry and science) together with commercial competition between the two countries was strong, continuous and instrumental in enabling the development of technology, appropriate regulation and infrastructural changes and thus created a market for cleaner cars and effectively reduced emissions from the growing vehicle fleet. In other words, the introduction of TWCs was reinforced by the simultaneous development of mitigating technology in two car producing countries competing for market space.     

Joint impact of competition,ownership form and economic regulation on airport performance and pricing

The combined impact of ownership form, economic regulation and competition on airport performance is analyzed using data envelopment analysis to measure cost efficiency in the first stage and regression analysis to measure the impact of the environment in the second stage. The empirical results of an analysis of European and Australian airports over a 10 year timeframe reveal that under relatively non-competitive conditions, public airports operate less cost efficiently than fully private airports. Irrespective of ownership form, regulation is necessary to emulate competitive forces thus pushing airport management towards cost efficiency and reasonable pricing policies. Under potential regional or hub competition, economic regulation inhibits airports of any ownership form from operating and pricing efficiently. Although public and fully private airports operate equally efficiently in a competitive setting, private airports still set higher aeronautical charges. Furthermore, mixed ownership forms with a majority public holding are neither cost efficient nor low price, irrespective of the level of competition.     

Quantitative assessment of effect of enforcement intensity on violation rates of vehicle weight and dimension regulations

A theory of upper bound limit describing the relationship between maximum possible violation rate as a function of the intensity of enforcement of vehicle weight and dimension regulations and indeed other transport administrative regulations is postulated. The model is an exponential function that determines the maximum violation rate for given inspection capacity. The constant of the function depends on the method of enforcement. The theory is demonstrated to be valid. It has potential for facilitating important policy issues relating to enforcement of transport administrative regulations and within the framework of infrastructure management to be addressed.

The relative effectiveness of enforcement methods is quantified by two parameters namely, the effectiveness index and the truckers’ relative perceived probability of detection. These parameters facilitate evaluation of the performance of various enforcement methods and operation strategies. It is found that patrol teams are, on average, 30 times as effective in detecting violations as continuously operated permanent weigh scales. High perceived detection probabilities are associated with high inspection capacities. To increase the perceived detection probability (reduce violation rates) therefore implies increasing the inspection capacity.     

沥青分流调节系统与分流阀

以稀浆封层机的乳化沥青供应系统为例，介绍了沥青供应系统的分类与特点，阐述了分流阀系统和分流阀的基本组成、工作原理和适用范围。     

Lessons in ownership, regulation and management from 100 years of bus transport in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka observes 100 years of bus passenger transport in 2007. During this period the country has seen different forms of service providers ranging from private sector monopolies to state sector monopolies. It also has seen several changes in state policy ranging from welfare orientated service provision to entire market determined without any regulation. The existing regulated mixed competition is also characterized by poorly equipped regulators. In conclusion, the paper traces the different stages of failure that have led to the poor quality of bus transport services existing at present.     

欧盟和我国台湾省摩托车催化转化器使用情况简介

介绍了欧盟和我国台湾省摩托车的排放法规及摩托车催化转化器的使用情况。欧盟 及台湾省催化转化器的使用,对我国摩托车排放第2阶段达标提供了成功的示例。     

Public regulation and passengers importance in port infrastructure costs

Because ports are conceived and designed mainly to be the transfer point of various types of freight, passengers tend to be forgotten in the analysis of port costs. In this paper first we investigate the importance of passengers in port infrastructure costs by means of a multi-output cost function estimated from 20 annual observations (1986-2005) for 26 Spanish Port Authorities. Results show that, although a passenger weights on average less than one tenth of a ton, he or she represents as much as two tons of solid bulk and about three tons of containerized general cargo in terms of marginal costs. Secondly, we compare the marginal costs of different cargoes with their price caps established by law. Results suggest that some type of second best pricing is induced by present regulation.     

中国轻型汽车国Ⅳ国Ⅴ排放法规对比分析

2013年9月为了保护环境,保障人体健康,防治大气污染,由中华人民共和国环境保护部与国家质量监督检验检疫总局联合发布《轻型汽车污染物排放限值及测量方法（中国第五阶段）》为国家污染物排放标准。本文对国Ⅳ标准与国Ⅴ标准的限值,与技术路线进行对比分析。     

发射动力系统有用能调节技术研究的若干问题

本文提出了有用能调节技术试验需解决的问题，分析了代用工质气体的通用性、可视性、经济性以及缩比试验装置的共架技术和相似性，提出了代用工质气体原理性试验的技术途径。通过一定的技术途径，可以开展不同动力系统有用能调节技术的试验研究工作。     

右江航道鱼梁滩整治研究

文章针对右江鱼梁滩航道存在的问题,根据鱼梁滩滩段的特点,在对其滩性进行分析的基础上,提出鱼梁滩整治原则;通过建立水平比尺1∶80、垂直比尺1∶50航道物理模型,对2个设计整治方案和11个修改整治方案进行了试验。试验结果表明:采用修改方案11可使滩头比降得到调整,流态得到改善,航道纵向流速在整治流量以下,一般<1.9m/s,可基本满足滩头降水和航道流速的控制要求。