Towards the Strongest Neutral Organic Superbases Based on Intramolecular H-bonds

Utilizing several different trialkylarsine oxides and substituted pyridine N-oxides as a hydrogen bond acceptors in tri-substituted guanidines we designed several very basic superbases possessing intramo-lecular hydrogen bonds (IHB-superbases), with proton affinity in the gas phase that comes very close to that of paradigmatic P4-tBu Schwesinger superbase and with pKa in acetonitrile up to 36 units

Temporal Patterns of Vehicle Collisions with Roe Deer and Wild Boar in the Dinaric Area

The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVC) based on the animal species, and to deepen the knowledge of temporal patterns of vehicle collisions with roe deer and wild boar. The study analyses the data from police reports on vehicle collisions with animals on state roads, by date and time, section of road, and animal species over a 5-year period (2012–2016). These data were analysed to determine the temporal dynamics of vehicle collisions with roe deer and wild boar by month, time of day, and moon phase. On the state roads in the Dinaric area, roe deer are most commonly involved in vehicle collisions (70.1% of all collisions), followed by wild boar (11.0%). Other large species involved in collisions were fallow deer (4.8%), brown bear (1.8%), red deer (0.9%), grey wolf (0.7%), and European mouflon (0.5%), respectively. Most collisions with roe deer occurred in the period April–August, with reduced frequency during autumn and winter. For wild boar, there was no association between month and frequency of collisions. At the annual level, collisions with roe deer were significantly higher during night (37%) and twilight (41%) than during the day (22%). For wild boar, most collisions occurred during twilight (26%) and night (72%), although the difference between these two periods was not statistically significant. For roe deer, collisions had no association with lunar phase, though wild boar collisions during twilight (dawn or dusk) were more common during twilight periods on days with less moonlight. Since vehicle collisions with wildlife showed certain temporal patterns, these should be taken into consideration in developing statistical models of spatial WVC patterns, and also in planning strategies and countermeasures to mitigate WVC issues

BEHAVIOUR ANALYSIS OF TRAFFIC PARTICIPANTS AT LEVEL CROSSINGS

Sa stajališta sigurnosti željezničko-cestovni prijelaz (ŽCP) kao mjesto neposrednog sučeljavanja željezničkog i cestovnog prometa točka je visokog rizika. Namjerno ili nenamjerno rizično ponašanje korisnika ŽCP-a glavni je uzrok izvanrednih događaja. Cilj ovoga rada jest utvrditi uzroke nepropisnog prelaženja pješaka i biciklista preko ŽCP-a te predložiti mjere prevencije. Istraživanjem se željelo utvrditi u kojim će situacijama pješaci i biciklisti nepropisno prelaziti preko pruge. Kako će na poštivanje prometnih propisa utjecati prisustvo službene osobe? Kako na poštivanje propisa utječe videonadzor? Utječu li edukativne kampanje na promjenu obrazaca ponašanja korisnika ŽCP-a? U ovome je istraživanju prvi su put primjenjivani kontinuirano videosnimanje i promatranje ponašanja korisnika željezničko-cestovnih prijelaza te anketno istraživanje, a u cilju utvrđivanja ponašanja sudionika u prometu na ŽCP-ima. Metodologija istraživanja primjenjena je na ŽCP-u Republike Austrije.From the aspect of traffic safety, level crossings (LC) are areas with increased risk for severe accidents. Intentional or unintentional risky behaviour of level crossing users is the main cause for all accidents. The main objective of this study is to determine the reasons for illegal pedestrian and cyclist crossing over LC and accordingly propose prevention measures. The study aim is to identify in which situations will pedestrians and cyclists illegally cross the tracks. How to road users affected by the presence of officials? How to road users affected by the presence of video surveillance? Do the educational campaigns can change behavior patterns of LC users? This is the first time for using survey and video surveillance for studying, describing and analysing correlation of nonmotorized LC users behaviour and TS on Croatian LCs. Research metodology is applyed on LC Republike Austrije

Mild carnitine uptake defect due to a novel homozygous mutation in the SLC22A5 gene detected by newborn screening

Carnitine uptake defect (CUD) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by pathogenic variants in the SLC22A5 gene, resulting in primary carnitine transporter (OCTN2) deficiency and disturbed fatty acid oxidation. Patients may present in infancy with hypoketotic hypoglycemia, metabolic crisis, muscle weakness, cardiomyopathy, or sudden death, while some may remain asymptomatic even if not treated. We present a patient detected by newborn screening (NBS) who harbored a previously unreported homozygous variant in the SLC22A5 gene. OCTN2 activity testing showed mild deficiency

Survey-based Impact of Influencing Parameters on Level Crossings Safety

Level crossing (LC) accidents are a significant safety challenge worldwide and for that reason they have been subject of numerous research activities. Joint conclusion is that human behaviour is the main cause of accidents. This study examines how and to which extent certain influential parameters cause accident mechanisms on level crossings. To gain the necessary data we used an on-line survey questionnaire that was sent internationally to key experts in the field of road and railway safety. A total of 185 experts were asked to rank how much certain parameters influence level crossings accident mechanisms and what are the best countermeasures for diminishing accidents at level crossings. To our knowledge, this is the first time that an international survey among key experts was used to gain necessary data about influential parameters regarding level crossings safety. The results of this study could be used by road and railway traffic engineers and policy makers for further enhancement of LC’s safety.</p

An analytic hierarchy process model to evaluate road section design

The traffic system is as essential to modern society as the circulatory system to the human body. Road section design is therefore a key infrastructure activity for economic development, and multi-criteria decision-making can provide an interdisciplinary approach that moves beyond purely economic optimisation to include technological, technical and ecological factors. The present work describes applying the multi-criteria Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method to evaluate road section design in an urban environment through differential weighting of various criteria and sub-criteria. The model is tested on a stretch of National Road D8 in the municipality of Podstrana near the city of Split (Croatia), which serves as an important route for commuters and tourists. The proposed AHP model provided reliable results that were robust to sensitivity analysis. This approach involving differential criterion weighting may prove useful for evaluating and selecting appropriate road section designs for this and other contexts. First published online: 30 Mar 201

EU Pre-Accession Funds as a Source of Funding for the Traffic Infrastructure in the Republic of Croatia

Osnovnu mrežu prometne infrastrukture u Republici Hrvatskoj čine: ceste, željeznice, morske luke od državnog interesa, luke na unutarnjim plovnim putovima, zračne luke i terminali za kombinirani prijevoz. Ulaganje u izgradnju nove prometne infrastrukture jedan je od preduvjeta kontinuiranoga održivog razvitka. U posljednjih desetak godina vrlo se intenzivno investiralo gotovo isključivo u cestovnu infrastrukturu, posebice u autoceste pa je danas taj ciklus investiranja u završnoj fazi. Ciklus investiranja u željezničku infrastrukturu tek treba uslijediti, a nužan je zbog neadekvatnosti željezničke infrastrukture u prvom redu na paneuropskim koridorima, gdje ona mora zadovoljiti europske standarde može se očekivati da će taj ciklus investiranja trajati minimalno sljedećih petnaestak godina. Izgradnja autocesta temeljila se najvećim dijelom na državnom proračunu i djelomično na koncesijama. Izgradnja i modernizacija željezničke mreže, posebice dijela mreže koji je sastavni dio paneuropskih prometnih koridora (koridor X.), ima mogućnost financiranja putem pretpristupnih fondova. Danas je u Hrvatskoj aktualan fond IPA, a za promet je od posebnoga značaja njezina treća komponenta Regionalni razvoj. Prije IPA fonda, za područje prometa, Hrvatskoj je na raspolaganju bio fond ISPA, iz kojega je financirana obnova pruge na dionici Vinkovci – Tovarnik – d.g.The main network of traffic infrastructure in the Republic of Croatia consists of: roads, railways, sea ports of national importance, ports of inland navigable waterways, airports and terminals for combined transport. Investment in new traffic infrastructure is one of the prerequisites for continuous sustainable development. Over the past ten years intensive investments have been made almost solely in road infrastructure, especially highways. Nowadays this investment cycle has reached its final stage. The cycle of investment in railway infrastructure is yet to begin, and it is necessary due to inadequacy of railway infrastructure, primarily on pan-European corridors where it has to meet European standards. The investment cycle is expected to last for at least fifteen years. The construction of highways was mostly funded from the state budget and partially from concessions. The construction and modernisation of the railway network, especially the section that is an integral part of pan-European traffic corridors (Corridor X), may also be funded from pre-accession funds. Croatia currently uses funds from IPA, and its third component, Regional development, is of particular importance. Before IPA Croatia used funds from ISPA for railway reconstruction, from which reconstruction of the railway route Vinkovci – Tovarnik was funded