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The utilization of a mechanically stabilized earth wall (MSE wall) is prevalent due to its stability and cost-effectiveness compared to conventional earthwork construction methods. In addition, the railway transportation infrastructure has played a vital role in connecting Thailand's numerous regions. The behavior of a 6-m-high MSE wall constructed on a hard ground foundation, which was reinforced with high-density polyethylene on one side and a metallic strip on the other side, was studied in this research. The purpose of this MSE wall is to support the railway structure under dynamic train loads at 100, 150, and 200 km/h. The three-dimensional finite-element method was used to simulate and investigate the behavior of the MSE wall in terms of lateral displacement, settlement, and strain of reinforcement materials. The findings of the study demonstrate that there is a positive correlation between train speed and both lateral displacement and settlement. This relationship is most pronounced at the top of the MSE wall, which is primarily attributable to the influence of surface waves. The MSE wall's behavior under the influence of dynamic train loads was most prominently displayed by the surface waves, which were a curved wavefront at 150 km/h and a Mach cone at 200 km/h. The settlement profile increased when the speed of dynamic train loads increased. The impact of velocity fluctuations on the strain of the reinforcement material was insignificant. Due to the hard ground foundation, the behavior of the MSE wall on both types of reinforcement materials exhibited similar tendencies. Moreover, it was observed that the maximum tension lines closely follow the bilinear coherent gravity method with a standard distance of 0.3H from the facing, where H represents the equivalent height of the MSE wall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Nucleotide‐binding domain and leucine‐rich repeat (NLR) proteins are important intracellular immune receptors that activate robust plant immune responses upon detecting pathogens. Canonical NLRs consist of a conserved tripartite architecture that includes a central regulatory nucleotide‐binding domain, C‐terminal leucine‐rich repeats, and variable N‐terminal domains that directly participate in immune execution. In flowering plants, the vast majority of NLR N‐terminal domains belong to the coiled‐coil, Resistance to Powdery Mildew 8, or Toll/interleukin‐1 receptor subfamilies, with recent structural and biochemical studies providing detailed mechanistic insights into their functions. In this insight review, we focus on the immune‐related biochemistries of known plant NLR N‐terminal domains and discuss the evolutionary diversity of atypical NLR domains in nonflowering plants. We further contrast these observations against the known diversity of NLR‐related receptors from microbes to metazoans across the tree of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to solve the thorny problem of maintenance and repair of cast-in-place monolithic track slab, a new type of prefabricated slab ballastless track structure is developed for ordinary sections and damping sections. This study uses dynamics software to establish a vehicle-ballastless track coupling dynamics model, to explore the dynamic properties of the new type of prefabricated ballastless track structure in ordinary and damping sections. The model is verified using field measurement to prove its reliability. Based on the results obtained in the study, the following conclusions are deduced: (1) The vertical displacement of the floating slab in the damping section is increased by 82.95 times compared with the ordinary section. However, the vertical acceleration of the tunnel wall is reduced by 90.48%, while the insertion loss of vertical vibration acceleration of the tunnel wall is 11.08 dB, which meets the requirements of the code (CJJ/T 191-2012). (2) As the stiffness of the damping cushion increases, the vertical displacements of the rail and track slab are reduced by 43.25% and 56.68%, respectively, while the insertion loss of the vertical vibration acceleration is reduced by 31.28%. (3) As the damping increases, the vertical acceleration of the tunnel wall increases by 75.96%, whereas the insertion loss of the vertical vibration decreases by 30.51%. When the damping or the stiffness of rubber cushion is greater than 0.132 MN·s/m3 or 0.0231 N/mm3, the damping does not meet requirements. (4) When the thickness of the floating slab is increased from 200 mm to 350 mm, the vertical accelerations of the floating slab and the tunnel wall are reduced by 35.79% and 41.35%, respectively, whereas the insertion loss of the vertical vibration acceleration is increased by 37.36%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A type of short-pitch rail corrugation on tracks with resilient fasteners called 'Vanguard' fasteners is widely found on different metro lines in China. Field measurements and numerical calculations are used to investigate the cause of the corrugation formation. The corrugation with wavelengths of 30–60 mm occurs on both the curved and straight tracks through field measurements. Corrugation passing frequencies are in the range of 340–700 Hz. The frequencies of pinned-pinned resonance, the P2 resonance and the wheelset torsional resonance are far away from the corrugation passing frequencies. The investigated results show the vertical dynamic characteristic of the track is the main factor for occurrence of the short-pitch rail corrugation. The short-pitch rail corrugation arises by a wavelength-fixing mechanism of rail vertical bouncing on the resilient fasteners. The corrugation wavelength mainly is related to the vertical stiffness of the rail fasteners. Rail corrugation with wavelengths of 25–63 mm easily occurs on tracks with resilient fasteners with the vertical stiffness of less than 20 MN/m. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Road infrastructure plays a critical role in the support and development of the Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS) paradigm. Roadside Units (RSUs), equipped with vehicular communication capabilities, traffic radars, cameras, and other sensors, can provide a multitude of vehicular services and enhance the cooperative perception of vehicles on the road, leading to increased road safety and traffic efficiency. Moreover, the central C-ITS system responsible for overseeing the road traffic and infrastructure, such as the RSUs, needs an efficient way of collecting and disseminating important information to road users. Warnings of accidents or other dangers, and other types of vehicular services such as Electronic Toll Collection (ETC), are examples of the types of information that the central C-ITS system is responsible for disseminating. To remedy these issues, we present the design of an implemented roadside and cloud architecture for the support of C-ITS services. With the main objectives of managing Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication units and network messages of a public authority or motorway operator acting as a central C-ITS system, the proposed architecture was developed for different mobility testbeds in Portugal, under the scope of the STEROID research project and the pan-European Connected Roads (C-Roads) initiative. RSUs, equipped with ETSI ITS-G5 communications, are deployed with a cellular link or fiber optics connection for remote control and configuration. These are connected to a cloud Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) broker where communication is based on a geographical tiling scheme, which allows the selection of the appropriate coverage areas for the dissemination of C-ITS messages. The architecture is deployed in the field, on several Portuguese motorways, where road traffic and infrastructure are monitored through a C-ITS platform with visualization and event reporting capabilities. The provided architecture is independent of the underlying communication technology and can be easily adapted in the future to support Cellular-V2X (PC5 interface) or 5G RSUs. Performance results of the deployed architecture are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Individuals with gait disturbances, such as that post-stroke, are discharged home to undergo outpatient rehabilitation. Rehabilitation in the community is not as effective as that in hospital, due to long travel times and short program duration. OBJECTIVE: This study analyzed rail unit structure, with the aim of assisting home indoor assistive mobility system (HIAMS) development, allowing patients to undergo gait-related rehabilitation training at home. METHODS: The HIAMS consists of a mobile rail running around the whole room, a turn-table for movement between rails, and a weight-supporting component. Structural analysis was performed using the Abaqus/CAE solution (Version 6.14, Dassault systems, Inc.) to verify device safety, according to the load applied to the rail and turn-table units. The load was applied vertically at 150 kg to reflect the weight of potential users. RESULTS: Structural analysis was performed on the weight-supporting components, which was consist of turn-table case, bearing components (center, left), connective bracket and rail rollers. The safety factors of each components were estimated as 1.31, 5.39 (bearing, center), 8.45 (bearing, left), 1.43 and 3.61 in sequence. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated a safety factor of ⩾ 1.3 for the key system units, suggesting this technology is safe for use in the home rehabilitation training of individuals with gait impairment post-ICU stay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the location of Kerman city on the border of mountains and plains, there are several faults in its vicinity, some of which can cause very destructive earthquakes. The city has a very old central core in terms of architecture and is mainly made of brick and mud buildings that have a high level of vulnerability. Based on this, detailed and scientific studies of seismic vulnerability are among the necessities of Kerman urban management. Therefore, this city was chosen as the study area in this study. The information research and analysis methods were database-based methods and ELECTRE FUZZY model. In this study, quality of buildings, household density in a residential unit, width of passages, distance from the faults, distance from medical centers, access to the fire-fighting station, access to green space, access to temporary accommodation centers, and land use were examined. The results indicated that the 4th and 5th urban areas of Kerman City were the most vulnerable areas against earthquakes. The vulnerability zoning of earthquake risk in this city revealed that the areas of high vulnerability were 28 and 23% in Zones 4 and 5, respectively. More than 50% of the area with high vulnerability rating was located in these areas. Also, Urban Areas 1, 3, and 2 were in the next ranks of high vulnerability zone, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent times, the shape of the beams evolved from wooden sleepers and then to steel sleepers until they reached concrete sleepers. These sleepers play a significant role in transferring the loads from the train wheels to the subgrade layers fixed by the railway. This development took place in concrete sleepers until we reached mono-block concrete sleepers. This paper discusses, through laboratory experiments, the effect of ultra-high performance concrete mixtures on the behavior of mono-block concrete sleeper B70. The ability of these new sleepers to resist train loads was also studied compared to its conventional concrete sleepers. This research aimed to determine through experiment if these sleepers' behavior fulfilled the European requirements standers for prestressed concrete sleepers and make comparisons between the UHPC sleepers and conventional concrete sleepers. These sleepers were tested under static load tests at the rail seat and center section and pull-out tests for cast-in fastening components. These initial results suggest that a new generation of Ultra-high performance concrete sleepers can be created; the long-term efficiency of this category of sleeper will need to be confirmed by dynamic and fatigue tests and practical use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article summarizes the research results related to our own conducted extensive laboratory tests of polymer composite and steel fishplated glued insulated rail joints (GIRJs), namely axial tensile tests as well as vertical static and dynamic tests. The investigation dealt with the examination of GIRJs assembled with steel and special glass-fiber reinforced plastic (polymer composite) fishplates, both of them for CWR railway tracks (i.e. so-called gapless tracks or, in other words, railway tracks with continuously welded rails). The exact rail joint types were MTH-P and MTH-AP, consistently. The MTH P types have been commonly applied for many years in the CWR tracks in Europe, mainly in Hungary. The MTH-AP rail joints consist of fishplates that are produced by the APATECH factory (Russia). They are made of a fiberglassamplified polymer composite material at high pressure and controlled temperature. This solution can eliminate electrical fishplate lock and early fatigue failures just as it can ensure adequate electrical insulation. The advantage of such rail joints can be that they are probably able to ensure the substitution of the glued insulated rail joints with relatively expensive steel fishplates currently applied by railway companies, e.g. Hungarian State Railways (MÁV). The aim of the mentioned research summarized in this paper is to formulate recommendations on technical applicability and on the technological instructions that are useful in everyday railway operation practice on the basis of the measurements and tests carried out on rail joints in laboratory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Xinbaishiyan tunnel in the reconstruction Chengdu–Kunming railway Ermeishan-Mipan section mainly runs through dolomite with dolomitic limestone, with an excavation area of 260 m2, a maximum span of 22.3 m, a maximum height of 14.4 m, a vector height of 7 m, and a rise-span ratio of 0.31. The tunnel has an extra-large cross section, and it is a low flat-ration railway tunnel. This paper mainly describes the finite element analysis for this tunnel excavation that was used to guide the construction. Finite element software was used to model the tunnel according to the engineering geological conditions of the tunnel. These engineering geological conditions included the rock mass, system bolts, middle pipe shed, steel arch and shotcrete, grouting layer, second lining and so on. Nonlinear construction phase analysis was adopted. The results showed that the maximum vertical deformation of the tunnel vault and the middle of the invert was about 34 mm. The vertical deformation of the tunnel could be divided into an acceleration deformation section, linear deformation section, deceleration deformation section, and stable deformation section. The maximum horizontal deformation in the middle of the side wall was about 12.3 mm. Under the effect of the initial support, the equivalent stress of the side wall gradually increased with the excavation of the steps and the increase in the support structure. The axial force of the bolt in the middle of the side wall was larger than that in other places and the axial force of the middle pipe shed went along with the excavation of the tunnel in waves. The steel arch and the shotcrete had the maximum effective stress at the arch shoulder, which played the role of the deformation and pressure for the surrounding rock. During the construction, the length and height of the three-step method had to be set reasonably. The middle pipe shed and the system bolt supported the rock mass together. In the construction of the extra-large cross section and the flat tunnel, there was no need to set up temporary support, which was convenient for mechanical excavation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing number of environmental, technological, and cultural reasons support the case for greater attention to the existing building stock and expanding practices of building alteration. And with it, renewed attention to architecture's central instrument for documenting existing buildings: the as-built. Commonly overlooked as a sterile service instrument, the as-built is exposition for new architectural acts. Presented here are a series of experiments and investigations into expanding the narrative value of the as-built, carried out as part of a graduate course taught at Tulane University, and an accounting of the professional, historic, and disciplinary contexts informing the work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current crisis management approaches to protect soft targets make assumptions about average visitors/listeners/viewers or passengers. They do not give much consideration to impacts of diversity of potentially evacuated persons with regard to socio-psychological parameters/factors that may lead to practical problems and complications during the evacuation itself. At the same time, the soft target operators have various means of machine vision tools at their disposal, but do not use these records for more thorough analysis of evacuation planning needs. Based on this observation, the article identifies and analyzes the socio-psychological aspects that may significantly affect behavior and decisions of persons during the evacuation and thus total evacuation time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate the effectiveness of public-access automated external defibrillators (AEDs) at Tokyo railroad stations.Methods: We analysed data from a population-based registry of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in Tokyo, Japan (2014-2018). We identified patients aged ≥18 years who experienced bystander-witnessed cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation of presumed cardiac origin at railroad stations. The primary outcome was survival at 1 month after cardiac arrest with favourable neurological outcomes (cerebral performance category 1-2).Results: Among 280 eligible patients who had bystander-witnessed cardiac arrest and received defibrillation at railroad stations, 245 patients (87.5%) received defibrillation using public-access AEDs and 35 patients (12.5%) received defibrillation administered by emergency medical services (EMS). Favourable neurological outcomes at 1 month after cardiac arrest were significantly more common in the group that received defibrillation using public-access AEDs (50.2% vs. 8.6%; adjusted odds ratio: 11.2, 95% confidence interval: 1.43-88.4) than in the group that received defibrillation by EMS. Over a 5-year period, favourable neurological outcomes at 1 month after cardiac arrest of 101.9 cases (95% confidence interval: 74.5-129.4) were calculated to be solely attributable to public-access AED use. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio to gain one favourable neurological outcome obtained from public-access AEDs at railroad stations was lower than that obtained from nationwide deployment (48.5 vs. 2133.4 AED units).Conclusion: Deploying public-access AEDs at Tokyo railroad stations presented significant benefits and cost-effectiveness. Thus, it may be prudent to prioritise metropolitan railroad stations in public-access defibrillation programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, by drawing on the advanced experience and norms at home and abroad, the compilation and research of "intelligent technical guidelines" for Chongqing east railway station and its supporting hub area are completed. It includes "digital technology, intelligent construction," "accurate and flexible, intelligent service," and "panoramic management and control, intelligent operation, and maintenance," and has formed the whole life cycle technical framework of "intelligent construction, intelligent service, intelligent management, and operation and maintenance." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This paper addresses a novel practical problem faced by a major North American railway. • The problem involves decisions such as how inbound trains are split, on which tracks the railcars are parked for loading and off-loading operations, and how the railcars are assigned to outbound blocks. • We propose a 2-step approach that considers all the decisions that must be made by terminal operators. • Tests based on realistic benchmark instances indicate that our approach is able to generate good quality solutions for all instances. In the last decades the intermodal transportation of containers has become a key component of the entire international trade system, as it allows safe and efficient intercontinental door-to-door movement of freight by combining land and sea transportation services. Intermodal railway terminals are special components of these systems that allow container traffic to be consolidated from different sources and to be transported by train over long distances. This paper addresses a practical problem faced by a major North American railway. On a daily basis, terminal operators must make several decisions such as how inbound trains are split into sequences of railcars, on which tracks these railcars are parked for loading and off-loading operations, and how the railcars are assigned to outbound blocks so as to fulfill the demand of each block. We introduce an approach that incorporates all these decisions to obtain improved solutions. In a first step, a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) model is used to create a set of patterns that specify how each inbound train is split and how the railcars are assigned to the blocks. Then, in a second step, another MILP formulation decides which patterns to use and where to park the railcars. Tests on generated benchmark instances based on realistic data from the railway indicate that our approach is able to generate good quality solutions for all instances and can be used by the company to assist decision makers in generating less costly and more efficient plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using results from a design-research studio analysing rail station access in Melbourne, this article considers how differing Autonomous Vehicle (AV) deployment models might fit into a suburban landscape. The results challenge assumptions about AV deployment. If AVs are low occupancy, peak demands may require station carparks to be used entirely as pick-up/drop off zones. This suggests little opportunity to re-purpose car parks for non-transport uses. Further, with AVs uncoupling station demand from existing feeder bus and park-and-ride provision, a re-distribution of demand along rail corridors may occur. The work has broad applicability to the policy challenges of an AV future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research applied secondary data collection methods to predict passenger flows, which involved analyzing traffic flows at rail stations and statistical methods, which involved assessing the relationship between variables and regression. Observation methods were used to measure current passenger flows at the rail station entrances. Passengers' safety perception was assessed to understand the customer value of transport services. This assessment was based on an online survey, an analysis of official requests from passengers to the station directorates, and feedback from passengers and station visitors posted on the Internet. Traditional and content analysis methods were used to study passengers' requests and feedbacks. It was substantiated that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the concept of transportation security and the role of health safety as a customer value in passenger service have become more prominent. The possibility for passenger flow simulation to ensure people's safe passage through a disinfection gateway is clearly shown. Public space management structures in transportation hubs can use the simulation results of this paper to solve the problem of passenger flow control along with installation of disinfection gateways at the station entrances for additional security. This is one of the few studies that explores the impact of using disinfection gateways to manage passenger flows in train stations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the issue of container handling processes at a railroad intermodal terminal. The main purpose of this paper is the assessment of the handling equipment utilization and the associated energy consumption. The authors analyze how the road vehicle availability at the moment specified in the containers loading schedule influences the total handling equipment operation time as well as the necessary number of handling equipment. It is assumed that vehicles planned for loading of import containers may be late for loading, which causes some interruptions in the loading schedule. Such interruptions are identified with the necessity to handle the next container for which the road vehicle is already waiting, which influences the handling equipment utilization and, finally, energy consumption. The general mathematical model of the problem developed in the FlexSim simulation software was presented. Based on the simulation research, it pointed out that proper road vehicles loading sequencing can significantly reduce handling equipment operation time, and thus energy consumption, costs, and CO2 emissions. The literature analysis presented in the paper indicates that most of the research in the field of intermodal transport is focused on operations optimization in container ports. There are differences between two types of intermodal terminals in operation procedures and rules. That is why the authors decided to undertake the problem of road vehicle sequencing including their random availability and its influence on handling device operation time, which has not been considered in the literature so far. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The banality of movement and the fascination with mobility meet at the very locations of arrival and departure. This contribution highlights social practices within and discourses about train stations which are interpreted as constitutive moments in the production of gender, sexuality and space. Train stations host the crossing between different spatial and social contexts, the negotiation of scales and between life cycles. Focusing on the historical moment of the early twentieth century we look at Swiss train stations as sites of heightened public concern which served to implement regulatory instruments to govern the social order of modernity. Narratives of the city as danger delineated train stations as critical turning points in the life-journey of young people, particularly for 'impressionable' young women. What is of interest here is how sexualities are discursively and metaphorically constructed and governed by social purity groups within the train station at the turn of the century. The way in which Station Assistance agents 'received', counselled and controlled the arrival of young people in the cities contributed to reiterating and (re)constructing gender and sexuality beyond national boundaries. The resulting protective and prescriptive constructions of sexuality reveal much about the complex perceptions and regulations of rural and urban sexualities and gender systems in their spatial nexus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, we address the railway multiterritory dispatch planning (RMTDP) problem. The goal of the RMTDP problem is to find the optimal movement of trains across consecutive dispatch territories, and it is one of the major challenges that decision makers face on a daily basis. It ideally takes into account the correct placement of maintenance windows, remaining capacity of terminals, and availability of train crews, among other critical aspects such as locomotive balance, fueling locations, and inspections. Although these train movement plans are made at the corridor level, which comprises several dispatch territories, when it comes to execution, the meet–pass decisions are made at the individual dispatch territories. This notion causes disruptions and misalignment at the boundaries of dispatch territories. The approach in this paper aims at finding a holistic conflict-free master plan by optimally matching train lineups at territory boundaries and smoothly routing trains through bottlenecks. We propose an efficient solution approach that iteratively constructs a master scheduling plan while minimizing the amount of train delay within a given planning horizon. This is accomplished by designing a time–space network model to identify feasible schedules and developing a mathematical programming–based heuristic to solve the underlying model. A thorough computational study shows the effectiveness of our heuristic approach, as we report reasonable average run times of 3.0 and 6.5 minutes to solve instances of moderate to large size problems, respectively. The results obtained from the algorithm using test snapshots from a Class I railroad company have been shown to assistant chief dispatchers and have received encouraging feedback for applicability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Establishment of biorefineries for processing forest biomass in the Nordic region is extremely costly due to the high investment, running, and procurement costs. Procurement costs could be reduced by allowing all actors to open access to all available terminals in an area (regardless of ownership) and allowing trucks with higher gross weight. These impacts of changes were evaluated for deliveries of logging residue and energy wood chips to a potential biorefinery, from two suppliers in northern Sweden. Open access to all terminals reduced the terminal-procurement costs by 2–6% and the terminal-to-biorefinery transportation costs by 7–9%. When 74 tonnes trucks were used instead of 60 tonnes, the terminal-to-biorefinery transportation costs were reduced by 4 and 3%, in the current situation and with open access to terminals, respectively. However, the largest effect of open access was that the fraction of short-distance transportation to terminals and train transportation from terminals increased significantly. This indicated that open access to terminals and relatively heavy trucks between terminals and the biorefinery are preferable from both environmental and economic perspectives. Furthermore, the estimated cost saving was adequate and should allow the deliverers to pay a reasonable fee for the use of terminal space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the considerable growth in worldwide container transportation, the configurations of facility and operating processes need to be optimized in container terminals. This paper studies a novel scheduling problem for twin automated gantry cranes with a handshake area encountered in railroad container terminals. The handshake area is a temporary storage place where one gantry crane drops a container there for another crane to complete the movement. A limited random search method is designed to produce the operation sequence of cranes. Four interference-handling rules and four combined sequence rules are proposed to obtain the movement scheme of twin cranes based on First Come First Serve strategy. Computational experiments are implemented to investigate the performance of these rules. The results show the combined sequence rules outperform the interference-handling rules, and the best rule is C2-OH. For the C2-OH rule, the priority of handling tasks is assigned to right-side crane and splitting-tasks are handled first. When twin cranes request to enter the handshake area simultaneously, right-side crane must leave without load immediately after unloading. Meanwhile, the twin cranes always choose the nearest task to handle until all have been completed. The runtime of C2-OH rule is very short and can be used to produce a schedule for real operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When a group of Mobile Users (MUs) equipped with multi-mode or multi-home terminals, like passengers on board a bus or a train or a car, moves from one wireless network (WN) to another WN within a heterogeneous wireless network (HWN) environment, request vertical handoffs simultaneously, a group vertical handoff (GVHO) occurs. In literature, the prevailing research work is mainly concerned for forced GVHO with network aspects like signal strength and bandwidth etc. while in reality the user initiated GVHO with the user aspects like price, power consumption and velocity etc. along with their respective user preferences is more important for performing vertical handoffs in HWNs. In user initiated GVHO, selection of the mutually best WN-MU pair which can maximise network revenue of constituent WN as well as user satisfaction of MU in a group while minimising the simultaneous selection of a WN by multiple MU of the group is a challenging problem. This paper proposes a GVHO decision model based on non-cooperative game which utilizes multiple handoff decision attributes and their respective user preferences calculated dynamically on real-time basis as the game strategies to select the best available WNs by group MUs at NASH equilibrium for vertical handoffs. The performance of the proposed model is evaluated in terms of number of GVHOs, price of anarchy and price of stability for both group of MUs and WNs. The simulation results show that the proposed model results in minimum number of GVHOs as compared to existing GVHO models and maximisation of user satisfaction and network revenue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past decade, China has developed the most extensive high-speed rail (HSR) transportation network globally. Previous studies have shown that HSR greatly improved inter-city accessibility and that it plays an increasingly important role in facilitating urban growth. Chinese cities tend to use the spatial spillover benefits of HSR stations to promote the HSR new town development program. This study aims to measure the spatial spillover effect of HSR stations in China accurately by employing high-precision calibrated nighttime light satellite images. By utilizing a difference-in-differences estimation, it was found that the nighttime light image intensity has increased by an average of 27% in areas surrounding HSR stations. The study additionally documents a number of heterogeneities concerning these spillover effects across Chinese cities and provides an in-depth discussion regarding the factors that could affect the performance of HSR new towns. • High-speed railway stations show a localized spillover effect. • The effects are studied by high-precision nighttime light satellite images. • The success factors of HSR new towns are discussed. • Nighttime light image intensity has increased by 27% in areas near HSR stations. • There are heterogeneities to these such spillover effect across Chinese cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The railway handling area of the railway container terminal is the main place for container sea–rail transportation. To enhance the efficiency of the handling systems and improve the coordination of different types of equipment in railway handling area, an integrated scheduling model is developed, which integrates the scheduling of rail-mounted gantry cranes (GCs), inner trucks (ITs), and yard cranes (YCs). This model considers not only train loading and unloading simultaneously, but GC interference and safety margin, GC and YC travel time as well as buffer area. A multi-layer genetic algorithm (MLGA) is proposed to solve the problem. Eventually, comparison experiments are conducted, including the experiments on handling process between non-optimization and optimization, MLGA with and without the balanced operator and the performance of different numbers of ITs. These experiments validate that the model and algorithm is feasible and efficient in both equipment scheduling and allocation problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work we focus on an extension of the minimum cost flow problem in layered networks. Feasible arc flows must satisfy a specific compatibility restriction in addition to flow balance and capacity restrictions. Namely, at most one of the crossing arcs is allowed to have positive flow on it. This variant of the minimum cost flow problem, which we call the minimum cost noncrossing flow problem, can frequently be encountered in real life. The determination of optimal temporal quay crane allocations to berthed vessels in container terminals, and optimal train schedules through the stations on the same railroad line are two examples. We first analyze the complexity of the problem and show that the noncrossing flow problem is in fact N P -complete in a layered network. Then, we introduce mixed-integer linear programming formulations and discuss a polynomially solvable special case. Next we show a sufficient condition for the existence of a crossing in an optimal solution, which can be used for preprocessing the arcs in order to reduce the problem size. Our computational experiments on a large test set show that our preprocessing algorithm can significantly reduce the number of arcs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a test data generator that can be used for simulating processes of cranes handling containers. The concepts originate from container storage areas at seaports, but the generator can also be used for other applications, particularly for train terminals. A key aspect is that one or multiple cranes handle containers, that is, they store containers, receiving the containers in a designated handover area; retrieve containers, handing the containers over in the handover area; or reshuffle containers. We present a generic model and outline what is captured by the test data itself and what is left to be estimated by the user. Furthermore, we detail how data are generated to capture the considerable variety of container characteristics, which can be found in major terminals. Finally, we present examples to illustrate the variety of research projects supported by our test data generator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the development of the New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal in New Orleans, Louisiana as part of Mayor deLesseps S. Morrison's strategy for urban renewal in the 1940s and 1950s. Topics covered include the historical complexities that delayed and shaped the project for decades, the modernist optimism the terminal stood for, and the massive murals created for the building by artist Conrad Albrizio.

There is a wide literature concerning the application of inductive power transfer (IPT) to light railway systems. In this work, proposed application is innovative with respect to existing literature: static current collection on conventional railway lines is proposed in order to replace the functionalities implemented by conventional battery chargers and the so-called railway "parking" system. According to standards in force, current collection in standstill conditions is limited since pantograph contact shoes and catenary wires have to be protected by thermal overload. These limitations have to be considered since power demand for all the services installed on modern coaches should be higher than 20-40kW. This is a critical technical issue especially for long compositions that have to be prepared for service by activating on-board subsystems such as heating and air conditioning. Additional possible applications should be related to refrigerated wagons in freight compositions. In all these cases the availability of a simple, safe, and compact system should be useful to ensure a wireless power collection to on-board equipment. In this work authors introduce the proposed application and perform some preliminary design considerations. With respect to current literature on IPT systems, authors also introduce some innovative design criteria based on the analogy between resonant electrical system and corresponding mechanical ones. In this way, sizing of the proposed IPT system can be performed using modal methods that are also used for the proper sizing of mechanical vibrating systems, such as example, vehicle suspensions, or pantograph systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • HFACS-RR useful tool for analysing operator signals passed at danger (SPAD) events. • Operator Acts associated with majority of SPADs reviewed. • Most common type of error associated with SPAD was contraventions and distraction. Abstract A common safety issue in the rail industry is a Signal Passed at Danger (SPAD) occurrence in which a train encroaches into a section of track without authority, usually by passing a signal at stop. This study aimed to analyse SPADs using the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) modified to suit the rail industry (HFACS-RR) to examine the human factors involved in the occurrences and identify trends. An analysis of an Australian freight rail organisation's investigation reports (N = 35) into SPADs was undertaken. The analysis revealed at least one HFACS-RR category for each of the events examined. It was found that 97.1% (n = 34) of the events had an 'operator act' category, with 74.3% associated with operator errors. Contraventions (e.g. violation of signal approach speed) and distraction (e.g. focus on other non-critical tasks) were the most common types of errors. Mitigation strategies to address these errors are discussed. These include a single methodology to investigate SPADs; train driver performance monitoring; and training strategies focussed on route knowledge, all of which have the potential to reduce SPADs and thereby minimise risk and improve safety. Future research into SPADs may include utilising a larger sample from various organisations, and examining potential differences in the frequency and types of errors of single versus two-man crewed trains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Design of inland terminals for containers with dangerous goods (ITDGs). • A railway system with higher social benefits (lower risks and lower GHG emissions). • Decreasing safety, security and environmental risks associated with rail ITDGs. • Decision-making tool for safe, secure, green and cost-efficient rail ITDGs. Abstract While rail transport is growing for medium-distance journeys, the first and last miles are travelled by road, marking a change of transport mode in inland terminals (ITs). Moreover, the introduction of ITs in seaport hinterlands is increasing with a view to decongesting ports, and the best transport mode to connect these ITs with ports is that of rail. In 2013, chemicals were involved in 48 rail accidents in the EU-28 and in 667 in the United States (US). An appropriate design for the layout of inland terminals for containers with dangerous goods (ITDGs) involved in the rail system will increase the safety and operability of rail transport, avoiding accidents such as Tianjin (2015). The novelty of this work is a methodology to design the layout of ITDGs involved in rail transport through a hierarchy of container handling equipment (CHE), used in the yard of the terminal for a safer, more resilient and more environmentally friendly rail transport. The AHP (analytic hierarchy process) was used to hierarchize five alternative layouts, one for each CHE used in the yard; and according to criteria belonging to three areas: safety and security, environment and equipment performance. Results show that a layout linked to platforms is the preferred alternative for storing containers with dangerous goods (DGs) in ITs connected to railways. The implementation of this methodology will reduce consequences in the case of a serious accident in, or terrorist attack on, ITDGs involved in the rail system and GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions in the terminal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We recently demonstrated that, under elevated [CO 2 ] (e C a), coffee (Coffea arabica L.) plants grown at high light (HL), but not at low light (LL), display higher stomatal conductance (g s) than at ambient [CO 2 ] (a C a). We then hypothesized that the enhanced g s at e C a /HL, if sustained at the long-term, would lead to adjustments in hydraulic architecture. To test this hypothesis, potted plants of coffee were grown in open-top chambers for 12 months under HL or LL (ca. 9 or 1 mol photons m−2 day−1, respectively); these light treatments were combined with two [CO 2 ] levels (ca. 437 or 705 μmol mol−1, respectively). Under e C a /HL, increased g s was closely accompanied by increases in branch and leaf hydraulic conductances, suggesting a coordinated response between liquid- and vapor-phase water flows throughout the plant. Still under HL, e C a also resulted in increased Huber value (sapwood area-to-total leaf area), sapwood area-to-stem diameter, and root mass-to-total leaf area, thus further improving the water supply to the leaves. Our results demonstrate that C a is a central player in coffee physiology increasing carbon gain through a close association between stomatal function and an improved hydraulic architecture under HL conditions. • Coffee plants grown at high light and elevated CO 2 displayed higher gas-exchange rates. • This was associated with increases in branch and leaf hydraulic conductances. • Sapwood area-to-stem diameter, Huber value, and root mass-to-total leaf area also increased in response to elevated CO 2. • Increased carbon gain occurred via a close association between stomatal function and improved hydraulic architecture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An operational process at train marshaling yard is considered in this study. The inbound trains are decoupled and disassembled into individual railcars, which are then moved to a series of classification tracks, forming outbound trains after being assembled and coupled. We focus on the allocation plan of the classification tracks. Given are the disassembling and assembling sequence, the railcars connection plan, and a number of classification tracks. Output is the assignment of the railcars to the classification tracks. An integer programming model is proposed, aimed at reducing the number of coupling operations, as well as the number of dirty tracks which is related to the rehumping operation, and the order of the railcars on the outbound train must satisfy the block sequence. Tabu algorithm is designed to solve the problem, and the model is also tested by CPLEX in comparison. A numerical experiment based on a real-world case is analyzed, and the result can be reached within a reasonable amount of time. We also discussed a number of factors that may affect the track assignment and gave suggestions for the real-world case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transport demand for containers has been increasing for decades, which places pressure on road transport. As a result, rail transport is stimulated to provide better intermodal freight transport services. This paper investigates mathematical models for the planning of container movements in a port area, integrating the inter-terminal transport of containers (ITT, within the port area) with the rail freight formation and transport process (towards the hinterland). An integer linear programming model is used to formulate the container transport across operations at container terminals, the network interconnecting them, railway yards and the railway networks towards the hinterland. A tabu search algorithm is proposed to solve the problem. The practical applicability of the algorithm is tested in a realistic infrastructure case and different demand scenarios. Our results show the degree by which internal (ITT) and external (hinterland) transport processes interact, and the potential for improvement of overall operations when the integrated optimization proposed is used. Instead, if the planning of containers in the ITT system is optimized as a stand-alone problem, the railway terminals may suffer from longer delay times or additional train cancellations. When planning the transport of 4060 TEU containers within one day, the benefits of the ITT planning without considering railway operations account for 17% ITT cost reduction but 93% railway operational cost growth, while the benefits of integrating ITT and railway account for a reduction of 20% in ITT cost and 44% in railway operational costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of multiyards railway intermodal terminal (MYRIT) construction in China, performance evaluation has become an important issue for terminal design and management departments. Due to the complexity of the multiyards terminal and the associated rail network, the train moving process and related terminal operations have become more complicated compared with the traditional intermodal container terminal. However, in general simulation platforms, the train moving process is simplified and train route scheduling rules are not considered in existing simulation models. In order to provide an accurate and comprehensive quantitative evaluation tool for MYRIT, a simulation platform based on the Timed Petri Net model has been developed, which can offer decision support for terminal design and management departments. In this platform, a yards and facilities layout module has been created to give simulation users access to designing the railway network on this platform. And a train route dispatching simulation method has been integrated to provide an accurate simulation of the train moving process. Based on a real case of Qianchang railway intermodal terminal that is located in Fujian Province, China, the platform is thoroughly validated against historical data. And the test scenarios show that train routes arrangement and handling equipment configuration both have a significant influence on overall terminal performance, which need to be carefully considered during terminal design and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In nearly saturated station areas the limited capacity is one of the main reasons of delay propagation. Spreading the trains well in time and space in these areas has a big impact on the passenger robustness, i.e. the total travel time in practice of all passengers in the railway network in case of frequently occurring small delays. We focus on improving the performance in the bottleneck of the network in order to improve the performance of the whole railway network. This paper proposes a method that builds from scratch a routing plan and a cyclic timetable that optimizes the infrastructure occupation and the passenger robustness. An integer linear routing model assigns, without considering a timetable, every train to a route such that the maximal node usage is minimized and that the number of times that each node is used, is quadratically penalized. Thereafter, a mixed integer linear timetabling model assigns to each train the blocking times at which the nodes on its route, assigned by the routing model, are reserved and released. Different from other approaches is that we focus on the occupation of the railway infrastructure before constructing the timetable. The approach is validated on the complex railway station area of Brussels (Belgium). Our routing plan and timetable from scratch improve the passenger robustness up to 11% compared to a reference timetable and routing plan composed by the Belgian railway infrastructure manager Infrabel and by up to 2% compared to a reference timetable and routing plan from literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An extensive air quality campaign was performed at differently designed station platforms in the Barcelona metro system, aiming to investigate the factors governing airborne particle number (N) concentrations and their size distributions. The study of the daily trends of N concentrations by different size ranges shows that concentrations of N 0.3–10 are closely related with the schedule of the metro service. Conversely, the hourly variation of N 0.007–10 (mainly composed of ultrafine particles) could be partly governed by the entrance of particles from outdoor emissions through mechanical ventilation. Measurements under different ventilation settings at three metro platforms reveal that the effect on air quality linked to changes in the tunnel ventilation depends on the station design. Night-time maintenance works in tunnels are frequent activities in the metro system; and after intense prolonged works, these can result in higher N concentrations at platforms during the following metro operating hours (by up to 30%), this being especially evident for N 1–10 . Due to the complex mixture of factors controlling N, together with the differences in trends recorded for particles within different size ranges, developing an air quality strategy at metro systems is a great challenge. When compared to street-level urban particles concentrations, the priority in metro air quality should be dealing with particles coarser than 0.3 μm. In fact, the results suggest that at narrow platforms served by single-track tunnels the current forced tunnel ventilation during operating hours is less efficient in reducing coarse particles compared to fine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The train operational plan (TOP) plays a crucial role in the efficient and effective operation of an urban rail system. We optimize the train operational plan in a special network layout, an urban rail corridor with one terminal yard, by decomposing it into two sub-problems, i.e., the train departure profile optimization and the rolling stock circulation optimization. The first sub-problem synthetically optimizes frequency setting, timetabling and the rolling stock circulation at the terminal without a yard. The maximum headway function is generated to ensure the service of the train operational plan without considering travel demand, then we present a model to minimize the number of train trips, and design a heuristic algorithm to maximize the train headway. On the basis of a given timetable, the rolling stock circulation optimization only involves the terminal with a yard. We propose a model to minimize the number of trains and yard–station runs, and an algorithm to find the optimal assignment of train-trip pair connections is designed. The computational complexities of the two algorithms are both linear. Finally, a real case study shows that the train operational plan developed by our approach enables a better match of train headway and travel demand, and reduces the operational cost while satisfying the requirement of the level of service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the research results of economic feasibility of trains' breaking-up order control at marshalling yards. The article objective was to determine the area of rational use of trains' breaking-up order model, formalized in the form of stochastic programming problem. As a effectiveness criterion of trains' breaking-up order operating costs of marshalling yard were used, including the costs associated with cars' and locomotives' dwell time on the station and its approaches, as well as costs associated with additional shunting work. With the help of simulation modeling the dependence was obtained, describing the impact of trains' arrival forecasting error and processed car volumes on reducing operating costs of the marshalling yards through the trains' breaking-up order control. The studies enable us to establish the requirements for the accuracy of information support of operational planning tasks, which is necessary to achieve the desired economic effect of the trains' breaking-up order control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper the train load planning problem arising in a seaport container terminal is considered. This problem consists in determining the optimal assignment of containers to wagon slots in order to maximize the train utilization and, at the same time, to minimize unproductive operations in the terminal. Different solution approaches based on a mathematical programming model are compared. The best solution procedure, satisfactory both in terms of quality of the obtained solutions and for the computational times, is identified through extensive experimental tests. This procedure could be included in a planning tool to be used in real seaport terminals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current paper focuses its study on the Southeast Europe (SEE) and tries to identify real passenger needs (demand) which can reveal rail dynamic and competitiveness in specific connections. Based on a dedicated examination of 11 SEE city hubs (Bologna, Venice, Trieste, Ljubljana, Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, Thessaloniki, Sofia, Zagreb and Bucharest) examined within "Rail4SEE -- Rail Hub Cities for South East Europe" project, the paper aims to conclude in a quantitative analysis of demand data at regional and transnational level and on a comparative analysis based both on demand and supply data that will open the ground for the development of an accurate SEE modal split model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the job sequencing problem of a rail crane at rail terminals with multiple train lanes. Two kinds of containers are carried between trains and trucks. Inbound containers are loaded onto trains and outbound containers are unloaded from trains. We consider the dual-cycle operation of the crane to load and unload containers between trains and trucks. A branch-and-bound algorithm is used to obtain the optimal solution. A parallel simulated annealing algorithm is also proposed to obtain near optimal solutions to minimize the makespan in job sequencing problems of large size. Numerical examples are studied to evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithm. Finally, three different layouts for rail terminals with different temporary storage areas are considered and their performance of three layouts is compared numerically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European railway market has gone through a period of liberalization over the last two decades. The liberalization of the railway market has also affected port-related railway transport. Efficient port-related transport chains are key in the competition among ports, however providing this efficiency is to a large extent a coordination challenge. Many forms of coordination are needed to ensure that the railway chain operates efficiently, including the bundling of cargo, and good organization between railway companies, terminal operators and the infrastructure managers to realize an efficient use of assets. From the literature, it appears that less attention has been paid to the economic organization of port-related railway transport in general, and specifically in the new liberalized institutional environment. The goal of this paper is to come up with a framework to better understand the issue of coordination in port-related railway chains in a liberalized institutional environment. This paper presents a conceptual framework rooted in Transaction Cost Economics (TCE). Based on an in-depth study into coordination in liberalized container railway market at the Port of Rotterdam, empirical illustrations are used to adjust the TCE approach toward a dynamic model influenced by Douglas North's theory on economic and institutional change. Empirics from the port of Rotterdam show that new players have entered the railway market and their role has changed. This paper shows that coordination of railway operations has become more complex after the regime change. From a port perspective, liberalization does not lead to an optimal allocation of resources in a process that is highly operationally interdependent. In the liberalized environment, coordination arrangements are necessary to enable efficient coordination of railway operations in Rotterdam. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Highlights: [•] China is undertaking one of the most ambitious rail expansions in the world. [•] Factors affecting Metro ridership at the station level in Nanjing are investigated. [•] Bicycle P&R spaces are found to be related to Metro station ridership significantly. [•] Direct demand model for forecasting Metro station ridership is developed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]