Comparison of the technical performance of a discretely supported slab track system and an embedded slab track system in a high-speed railway

Slab tracks are increasingly used for High-Speed Railways (HSR) as opposed to the conventional ballasted track. This is due to many factors, including increased durability and sustainability, as the slab track can sustain higher dynamic loading with less maintenance and disruption to railway services. In line with this, this paper reports on preliminary work on the development and application of a 3D structural model using the Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software ABAQUS. The research aims at evaluating comparatively the behaviour of two types of slab track systems; namely, the RHEDA Track System (RTS), which is a German system, and the Balfour Beatty (UK) Embedded Rail System (ERS). The modelled track structures consist of a rail fastened onto a slab laid on a suitable foundation. The foundation comprises a Hydraulically Bound Layer (HBL) placed on a Frost Protection Layer (FPL) overlaying the subgrade soil. The paper reports on findings of static loading on a straight railway section investigating the relationship between slab the thickness values and the corresponding displacements (deflections) and related stresses along the load path. Ongoing research is further developing the model to assess the dynamic behaviour of HSR slab track including the railway geometry-structure interaction particularly at bends

Properties of Photogenerated Tryptophan and Tyrosyl Radicals in Structurally Characterized Proteins Containing Rhenium(I) Tricarbonyl Diimines

Aromatic amino acid radicals are key intermediates in nucleic acid biosynthesis, DNA repair, dioxygen reduction by cytochrome oxidase, water oxidation by PSII, as well as other biological procesess. In our work on electron tunneling in proteins, we have developed laser flash/quench methods that potentially could facilitate the study of such highly reactive radicals. To test our methods, we are investigating two structurally characterized proteins, [Re(CO)_3(L)(H83)]^+AzM^(2+) and [Re(CO)_3(L)(H107)]^+AzM^(2+) (L ) 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) or 4,7-Me_2phen; Az ) Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin; M ) Cu or Zn). Of special interest is that calculations and experiments on the H107 protein show that Cu^+ oxidation via electron transfer (ET) through an intervening tyrosine (Cu^+ → Y108^(./) → Re(2+)) is over 2 orders of magnitude faster than optimized (Cu^+ → Re^(2+)) electron tunneling

The use of simulation to prepare and improve responses to infectious disease outbreaks like COVID-19: practical tips and resources from Norway, Denmark, and the UK.

In this paper, we describe the potential of simulation to improve hospital responses to the COVID-19 crisis. We provide tools which can be used to analyse the current needs of the situation, explain how simulation can help to improve responses to the crisis, what the key issues are with integrating simulation into organisations, and what to focus on when conducting simulations. We provide an overview of helpful resources and a collection of scenarios and support for centre-based and in situ simulations

Effets de la stimulation du TLR9 sur le développement et l’aggravation des lésions rénales dans le modèle hα1 de néphropathie à IgA

International audienc

Dépôts d’IgA et inflammation intestinale : quelle relation ?

International audienc