Modelling cross-border transport: Three cases in Öresund

Transport models, and transport/land-use interaction models, are important decision support tools for large-scale infrastructure investments, for example in the road network. A bothersome feature of these tools are their distant forecasting horizon of 10--30 years ahead, and the uncertainty following from this. Although widely used, these models have rarely been put to test after this period have passed. The predictive power of a transport model is dependent on its ability to reproduce reality, which is assessed by validation. Apart from modelling the specific transport demand, which is based partly on socio-economic (demand) factors and partly on the supply of transport facilities (infrastructure), a number of scenarios of the future socio-economic development must be set up, called the scenario assumptions. In this paper we will present three different transport models: FREDRIK/ SSV, COMVIN and SAMPERS/ Skåne, out of which the first two have been used to model the transport across the Öresund Strait. The model structure, forecast results and scenario assumptions are considered in order to identify the key sources of uncertainties, and to prepare for the estimation of the true model error versus the error caused by incorrect scenario assumptions. Key words: infrastructure planning, transport models, validation, Öresund, before-and-after data.

A propensity score matching method for the link between accessibility and productivity

The connection between accessibility (or "highways" or "infrastructure") and productivity on a regional scale has been a matter of debate since Aschauer (1989). In this paper we use a panel data approach on the micro level, and a fine zonal subdivision in order to capture the effects on individual firms, both in terms of productivity and agglomeration. We study a cost function with a translog specification which we apply on a large unbalanced data set of firms in the Swedish part of the Öresund region: Scania. We use matching estimators for non-parametric tests of spatial dependence (agglomeration) and the accessibility dependence of productivity, thus avoiding sample selection bias. Key words: panel data, cost function, translog, Öresund region, accessibility, matching estimator

An approach to produce a stack of photo definable polyimide based flat UTCPs

Getting output of multiple chips within the volume of a single chip is the driving force behind development of this novel 3D integration technology which has a broad range of industrial and medical electronic applications. This can be achieved by laminating multiple layers of spin-on polyimide based ultrathin chip packages (UTCPs) with fine pitch through hole interconnects

Investigation on the microstructure of ecap-processed iron-aluminium alloys

The present work deals with adjusting a fine-grained microstructure in iron-rich iron-aluminium alloys using the ECAP-process (Equal Channel Angular Pressing). Due to the limited formability of Fe-Al alloys with increased aluminium content, high forming temperatures and low forming speeds are required. Therefore, tool temperatures above 1100◦C are permanently needed to prevent cooling of the work pieces, which makes the design of the ECAP-process challenging. For the investigation, the Fe-Al work pieces were heated to the respective hot forming temperature in a chamber furnace and then formed in the ECAP tool at a constant punch speed of 5 mm/s. Besides the chemical composition (Fe9Al, Fe28Al and Fe38Al (at.%—Al)), the influences of a subsequent heat treatment and the holding time on the microstructure development were investigated. For this purpose, the average grain size of the microstructure was measured using the AGI (Average Grain Intercept) method and correlated with the aforementioned parameters. The results show that no significant grain refinement could be achieved with the parameters used, which is largely due to the high forming temperature significantly promoting grain growth. The holding times in the examined area do not have any influence on the grain refinement. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

ACUPA: Exploring the Campus Policy Process (Working Paper)

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to make an exploratory inquiry into the state of policy development processes in institutions of higher education, and to review the history and mission of the Association of College and University Policy Administrators (ACUPA). Methodology: Members of ACUPA were surveyed concerning their opinions of the status of policy development, and where the policy process was located in local governance structures. A survey was conducted of ACUPA membership in March and April 2005. Results: 24 institutions responded to the survey, half of them identifying themselves as Doctoral or Research Universities (Carnegie Classification, 2000). 75% of respondents rated their policy development processes as “average”, “above average”, or “very good”. 60% report to a President or Vice President. Conclusions: The results were inconclusive. There appeared to be a tendency for those who portrayed their policy process as “centralized” or “both” to rate their process more favorably than those who described their setting as “decentralized” or “disorganized.” Nearly 65% (9 of 14) of those who chose “centralized” or “both” rated their process either “very good” or “above average.” Even though this small survey sample had inconclusive results, it is a significant contribution to the literature in the field, which is scarce. Recommendations: This brief survey raised additional questions which need further research. Persons who are interested in joining the network of policy administrators and developers of ACUPA should view the web site at http://www.acupa.org/ for more information

Greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions from slurry storage: impacts of temperature and potential mitigation through covering (pig slurry) or acidification (cattle slurry)

Storage of livestock slurries is a significant source of methane (CH4) and ammonia (NH3) emissions to the atmosphere, for which accurate quantification and potential mitigation methods are required. Methane and NH3 emissions were measured from pilot-scale cattle slurry (CS) and pig slurry (PS) stores under cool, temperate, and warm conditions (approximately 8, 11, and 17°C, respectively) and including two potential mitigation practices: (i) a clay granule floating cover (PS) and (ii) slurry acidification (CS). Cumulative emissions of both gases were influenced by mean temperature over the storage period. Methane emissions from the control treatments over the 2-mo storage periods for the cool, temperate, and warm periods were 0.3, 0.1, and 34.3 g CH4 kg−1 slurry volatile solids for CS and 4.4, 20.1, and 27.7 g CH4 kg−1 slurry volatile solids for PS. Respective NH3 emissions for each period were 4, 7, and 12% of initial slurry N content for CS and 12, 18, and 28% of initial slurry N content for PS. Covering PS with clay granules reduced NH3 emissions by 77% across the three storage periods but had no impact on CH4 emissions. Acidification of CS reduced CH4 and NH3 emissions by 61 and 75%, respectively, across the three storage periods. Nitrous oxide emissions were also monitored but were insignificant. The development of approaches that take into account the influence of storage timing (temperature) and duration on emission estimates for national emission inventory purposes is recommended

Load-Adapted Surface Modifications to Increase Lifetime of Forging Dies

Diffusion treatments offer possibilities to enhance the performance and the service lifetime of hot forging tools. In combination with coating after nitriding, the surface layer hardness can be further increased. Within the scope of this study, a surface layer hardness above 2,000 HV0.005 was determined for borided or DLC (diamond-like carbon) coated surface layers. An increased surface layer hardness improves the abrasive wear resistance of forging dies. Furthermore, the plastic deformation of thermally softened forging die areas can be reduced. Beside these desirable effects, the ductility of diffusion treated or coated near surface layers is reduced and thermomechanical cracks are promoted. Therefore, additional approaches were developed to improve the thermomechanical crack behavior of forging dies. Patterned plasmanitriding by the use of coverages to prevent areas from nitrogen diffusion, new combination processes of plasmanitrocarburizing (PNC) followed by plasmanitriding (PN) and the innovative boriding were investigated on different abstraction levels. A system of several testing rigs was set up to enable the abstraction of the thermal shock conditions in different stages. The patterned nitriding, boriding and combination plasma process (PN + PNC) were evaluated in a series of industrial field tests to derive recommendations for suitable tool treatments