The Animal Slave Trade: Brutality on the Road to Research

The HSUS is working on several fronts to stop the exploitation of our nation\u27s pets. In January, we were instrumental in establishing a coalition to abolish pound seizure-the practice of relinquishing pound and shelter animals for research purposes. Consisting of 11 of the country\u27s leading animal welfare organizations, The National Coalition to Protect Our Pets will be working with local groups to outlaw pound seizure on a state-by-state basis. HSUS investigators will continue to trace the road to research, and we\u27ll be taking legal action against both dealers and research centers whenever necessary. In our effort tore- r duce the incidence of pet theft, The HSUS is offering a reward of $1,000 for information supplied to any humane society leading to the arrest and conviction of any animal dealer who knowingly buys stolen dogs and cats. Can the animals pictured in these pages really be suitable models for supposedly crucial research? Scientists themselves are beginning to question the validity of findings obtained from such dogs and cats. Only by obstructing the avenues to the laboratory, however, will we force the research community to fmd alternatives to the helpless victims of the animal slave trade

Real-world comparison of probe vehicle emissions and fuel consumption using diesel and 5 % biodiesel (B5) blend.

An instrumented EURO I Ford Mondeo was used to perform a real-world comparison of vehicle exhaust (carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen) emissions and fuel consumption for diesel and 5% biodiesel in diesel blend (B5) fuels. Data were collected on multiple replicates of three standardised on-road journeys: (1) A simple urban route; (2) A combined urban/inter-urban route; and, (3) An urban route subject to significant traffic management. At the total journey measurement level, data collected here indicate that replacing diesel with a B5 substitute could result in significant increases in both NOx emissions (8-13%) and fuel consumption (7-8%). However, statistical analysis of probe vehicle data demonstrated the limitations of comparisons based on such total journey measurements, i.e., methods analogous to those used in conventional dynamometer/drive cycle fuel comparison studies. Here, methods based on the comparison of speed/acceleration emissions and fuel consumption maps are presented. Significant variations across the speed/acceleration surface indicated that direct emission and fuel consumption impacts were highly dependent on the journey/drive cycle employed. The emission and fuel consumption maps were used both as descriptive tools to characterise impacts and predictive tools to estimate journey-specific emission and fuel consumption effects

The effects of police patrolling on trunk road traffic

Police patrols are normally allocated to traffic duties with the objective of influencing driver behaviour, and thereby reducing road accidents. When scheduling police traffic patrol resources between routes it is therefore important to know what effect they might be expected to produce, on both driver behaviour and accidents. Similarly, knowledge of these effects are important in deciding the extent of the nation's resources to be allocated to this purpose. This thesis explores the effects of changes in the levels and tactics of police patrolling on driver behaviour, and on the accident rate. Previous published work is analysed and discussed, together with new experiments conducted in the Durham Constabulary Area. In carrying out these experiments, weaknesses in police and traffic engineering procedures became apparent. These too are discussed in detail. No statistically significant changes were observed, in the accident rate, or in any of the measures of driver behaviour investigated, in the presence of various levels and tactics of police patrolling. This was despite quite narrow confidence limits on most of the measures of driver behaviour

\u3ci\u3eUnder the absolute Amir \u3c/i\u3e

Contents: On the road.--Kabul.--Manners and customs.--Amir Abdur Rahman.--Prisons and prisoners.--Tortures and methods of execution.--Life of Europeans in Kabul.--Soldiers and arms.--Trades and commerce.--Geological conditions of the country.--Religion.--Political situation.--Road from Kabul to Peshawar. Illustrated by the author\u27s drawings and photographs, and by other photograph

The Analysis of the Factors Influencing the Severity of Bicyclist Injury in Bicyclist-Vehicle Crashes

Transportation and technological development have for centuries strongly influenced the shaping of urbanized areas. On one hand, it undoubtedly brings many benefits to their residents. However, also has a negative impact on urban areas and their surroundings. Many transportation and technological solutions lead, for example, to increased levels of pollution, noise, excessive energy use, as well as to traffic accidents in cities. So, it is important to safe urban development and sustainability in all city aspects as well as in the area of road transport safety. Due to the long-term policy of sustainable transport development, cycling is promoted, which contributes to the increase in the number of this group of users of the transport network in road traffic for short-distance transport. On the one hand, cycling has a positive effect on bicyclists’ health and environmental conditions, however, a big problem is an increase in the number of serious injuries and fatalities among bicyclists involved in road incidents with motor vehicles. This study aims to identify factors that influence the occurrence and severity of bicyclist injury in bicyclist-vehicle crashes. It has been observed that the factors increasing the risk of serious injuries and deaths of bicyclists are: vehicle driver gender and age, driving under the influence of alcohol, exceeding the speed limit by the vehicle driver, bicyclist age, cycling under the influence of alcohol, speed of the bicyclist before the incident, vehicle type (truck), incident place (road), time of the day, incident type. The obtained results can be used for activities aimed at improving the bicyclists’ safety level in road traffic in the area of analysi

Factors affecting vehicle performance in developing countries.

The purpose of the work described in this thesis was to establish an improved set of relationships for estimating vehicle speed and fuel consumption that can be used in road appraisal studies on rural roads in developing countries. The need for an accurate economic evaluation of various alternatives in assessing whether or not expenditure on roads will produce real economic and social benefits in the areas they serve was identified. A detailed appraisal of results from previous studies showed that an empirical approach to estimating vehicle speeds and fuel consumption for use in a decision-making framework was a more appropriate method than a theoretical approach. An experimental study of vehicle speed and fuel consumption was undertaken in the Eastern Caribbean island of St. Lucia. Regression equations were derived which related vehicle speed and fuel consumption to road and vehicle characteristics. These relationships were compared with those derived from similar studies conducted in Kenya and India. The comparison of the relationships for estimating vehicle speeds from the three studies showed large differences in predicted speeds between the different environments for all classes of vehicle. A method was developed for estimating vehicle speeds in other environments that made use of the relationships from the Kenya and St. Lucia studies. The relationships for estimating fuel consumption from the St. Lucia study were shown to be more accurate predictors than those established in either the Kenya or India studies, covering a far wider range of geometric characteristics and surface condition of the road. The modified vehicle speed relationships, established from the amalgamation of the results from the Kenya and St. Lucia studies, have been incorporated in the TRRL Road Investment Model (RTIM2), together with the fuel consumption relationships from the St. Lucia study. These relationships have improved the scope, accuracy and applicability of RTIM2 in road appraisal studies in developing countries

Thermal modeling of Anchorage driveway culvert with addition of insulation to prevent frost heaving

A predominate problem in cold regions, and specifically in Anchorage, Alaska, is frost heaving pavement above culverts in residential driveways. The culvert increases heat loss in the subgrade materials during winter months and allows the soils below the culvert to freeze, which is not an issue if the underlying soils are non-frost susceptible material. However, there are numerous locations in Anchorage and other parts of Alaska where the underlying soils are frost susceptible which result in frost heaving culverts under driveways that cause damaged pavement and culvert inverts that are too high. The seasonal heave and settlement of culverts under driveways accelerates pavement deterioration. A model of this scenario was developed and several insulation configurations were considered to determine a suitable alternative for preventing pavement damage from heaving culverts. The model used material properties for typical Anchorage area silty sand. The model showed that insulation could be used below culverts to prevent differential frost heave at the culvert. In addition, this technique uses typical construction materials and is reasonable for a typical residential dwelling contractor to complete during the construction of the home.Title Page / Abstract / Table of Contents / List of Figures / List of Tables / Introduction / Literature Review / Driveway Pavement Section / Driveway Pavement Section Design Method / Driveway Pavement Section / Thermal Analysis / TEMP/W (GeoStudio 2012) / Model Configuration / Model Materials and Boundary Conditions / Analysis Procedure / Results / Steady State Model and Temperature Gradient / Thermal Analysis with Pavement and Culvert without Insulation / Thermal Analysis with Pavement, Culvert, and Insulation / Discussion / Conclusions / Recommendations / References / Appendi

Special Interrogation Report: Brigadefuhrer Kurt Meyer Command, 12th SS Panzer Division (6 June-25 August 1944)

Brigadefuhrer Kurt Meyer remains a controversial figure in Canadian military history. As a commander of Waffen-SS troops in Normandy, he fought the Canadians in the days and weeks after the Allied landings and allegedly ordered the killing of prisoners of war. A Canadian military court at Aurich in occupied Germany tried and convicted Meyer on charges of war crimes. Although sentenced to death, Meyer received commutation to life imprisonment from the convening authority, Major-General Chris Vokes. Meyer was imprisoned in New Brunswick and West Germany until his release in 1954. Several significant political, legal, public opinion, diplomatic, and military factors worked together to turn Meyer into Canada\u27s most notorious war criminal. His trial raised delicate issues of command responsibility for the first time, while Meyer and his formation, the 12th SS Panzer Division, became almost household names in some parts of Canada. Some Canadians may have genuinely hated the man and his ideals, but Meyer garnered curiosity and respect for his abilities as a fighting officer. A combat veteran of campaigns in Poland, the West, the Balkans, and the Eastern Front, Meyer felt most comfortable at the front of his troops. The inclination was borne from years of experience in the reconnaissance role and a personal disregard for danger. Meyer was among the best-regarded silver foxes of the Waffen-SS, the combat arm of Heinrich Himmler\u27s Schutzstaffel. Meyer likely did not believe that he would survive the war; this fact may have played some part in his complicity in the killing of Canadian prisoners of war behind the lines. Winning the battle or to die trying in a heroic fashion was always his first concern. After being captured alive, Meyer became the subject of several interrogations to further investigations for his eventual war crimes prosecution and to assess Canadian and German battlefield performance during the Normandy campaign. The following document gives good insights into Meyer’s background, his unwavering adherence to the Nazi cause, the obvious pride in his formation’s conduct, and the tactical battles against the Canadians in Normandy. This interview was conducted by the G Intelligence officer at the HQ of Canadian Forces in the Netherlands on 24 August 1945. In terms of operational details on the battlefield, Meyer demonstrated a remarkable memory, which proved less forthcoming on other matters during his war crimes trial. Meyer obviously inflated his own role and that of the troops under his command in operations. Canadian interrogators, on the other hand, added their own analysis of Meyer’s claims. While furnishing an important perspective from the enemy’s side, this interrogation report must be used with the standard checks for bias and reliability in any primary source

ConVeh: Driving Safely into a Connected Future

© 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. The loss of lives and damages to the property due to the vehicle crashes and road accidents have been an issue for long; a quarter of these accidents happen due to the adverse weather conditions. This paper presents the idea of cooperative driving technique for the drivers with the use of Connected Vehicles to minimize road accidents, traffic congestions, and to lessen, as far as possible, the effects of traffic on the environment and the loss of lives and economy. The frameworks for improving situational awareness and crash avoidance suggested hereby are vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) data transmission systems. The research will primarily focus on the feasibility of CVs as applicable to the contemporary physical and virtual infrastructure and suggest the required adaptations, while the technical needs for the effective and successful implementation of a robust communication framework through the use of dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) will be discussed thereafter. Peer-review under responsibility of the Conference Program Chairs