Sustainable Bus Design focused on Improved Accessibility

The world population is ageing and designing accessible public transport modes is a real challenge for all societies nowadays. The influence of bus movement on the movement of passengers is analysed in this study. Experiments on a static platform and a moving bus were carried out and body motion and foot pressure tracking systems were used to collect information about bus acceleration and the plantar forces of the person. From the experiments it was shown that the movement of the bus does not vary with the vertical position in the bus but it affects a passenger’s gait and balance especially whilst ascending and descending the staircase

ArraySearch: A Web-Based Genomic Search Engine

Recent advances in microarray technologies have resulted in a flood of genomics data. This large body of accumulated data could be used as a knowledge base to help researchers interpret new experimental data. ArraySearch finds statistical correlations between newly observed gene expression profiles and the huge source of well-characterized expression signatures deposited in the public domain. A search query of a list of genes will return experiments on which the genes are significantly up- or downregulated collectively. Searches can also be conducted using gene expression signatures from new experiments. This resource will empower biological researchers with a statistical method to explore expression data from their own research by comparing it with expression signatures from a large public archive

Depth spreading through empty space induced by sparse disparity cues

A key goal of visual processing is to develop an understanding of the three-dimensional layout of the objects in our immediate vicinity from the variety of incomplete and noisy depth cues available to the eyes. Binocular disparity is one of the dominant depth cues, but it is often sparse, being definable only at the edges of uniform surface regions, and visually resolvable only where the edges have a horizontal disparity component. To understand the full 3D structure of visual objects, our visual system has to perform substantial surface interpolation across unstructured visual space. This interpolation process was studied in an eight-spoke depth spreading configuration corresponding to that used in the neon color spreading effect, which generates a strong percept of a sharp contour extending through empty space from the disparity edges within the spokes. Four hypotheses were developed for the form of the depth surface induced by disparity in the spokes defining an incomplete disk in depth: low-level local (isotropic) depth propagation, mid-level linear (anisotropic) depth-contour interpolation or extrapolation, and high-level (anisotropic) figural depth propagation of a disk figure in depth. Data for both perceived depth and position of the perceived contour clearly rejected the first three hypotheses and were consistent with the high-level figural hypothesis in both uniform disparity and slanted disk configurations. We conclude that depth spreading through empty visual space is an accurately quantifiable perceptual process that propagates depth contours anisotropically along their length and is governed by high-level figural properties of 3D object structure

Bandgap Profiling in CIGS Solar Cells Via Valence Electron Energy-Loss Spectroscopy

A robust, reproducible method for the extraction of relative bandgap trends from scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) based electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) is described. The effectiveness of the approach is demonstrated by profiling the bandgap through a CuIn1-xGaxSe2 solar cell that possesses intentional Ga/(In + Ga) composition variation. The EELS-determined bandgap profile is compared to the nominal profile calculated from compositional data collected via STEM-based energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The EELS based profile is found to closely track the calculated bandgap trends, with only a small, fixed offset difference. This method, which is particularly advantageous for relatively narrow bandgap materials and/or STEM systems with modest resolution capabilities (i.e., 100 meV), compromises absolute accuracy to provide a straightforward route for the correlation of local electronic structure trends with nanoscale chemical and physical structure/microstructure within semiconductor materials and devices. Published by AIP Publishing

Environmental Effect of Bus Priority Measures Applied on a Road Network in Santiago, Chile

Air pollution is at the highest levels ever and there is currently a worldwide initiative by transport engineers and urban planners to redesign public transport modes and cities to become more sustainable and environmentally friendly. The environmental impact of everyday activities is more apparent in developing cities which take longer to adapt to advanced methods of running public transport modes. This study aims to investigate the reduction of bus energy consumption and carbon emissions through bus priority measures in a bus route in the city of Santiago, Chile. Two bus priority schemes are tested in this study: Bus Only Lanes and Bus Signal Priority. The microscopic traffic simulator TSIS-CORSIM is used to quantify the environmental impact of these schemes. The results have shown that both schemes lead to lower fuel consumption and emissions, especially for the bus service. The environmental improvements are mostly apparent at traffic flows below 1000 veh/h, with clear benefits for both the bus service and passenger cars when dedicated bus lanes are included in the road infrastructure. Air pollution is an environmental phenomenon which puts a burden on people’s lives and affects everyday activities. Especially in urban metropolises, where more than half of the global population is accommodated, and more than 70% of the world’s carbon emissions are recorded. The world’s 10% richest people alone emit 50% of the worldwide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. These statistics show that the activities undertaken in cities are harming the environment and there is a clear need for changing our habits in the way we attempt everyday activities. It is essential to find ways to reduce air pollution and climate change whilst preserving people’s health and improving their wellbeing. One of the greatest GHG emitters in urban environments, with documented effects on air pollution, is transport systems. Transporting people and goods is a vital activity in cities, however energy related emissions from transportation amounts to 25% of GHG emissions worldwide. For reference, in 2015 the transportation sector in Europe emitted 26% of the world’s GHG and the USA emitted 27%. Transportation related emissions in China doubled between 2000 and 2010 and an extra 54% increase is expected up to 2020. Road transportation, in particular, is considered to be responsible for 70% of all GHG emissions, making it the largest polluter of all transport modes. As an example from the Latin American context, in Chile, 28% of the GHG emissions are generated by the transport sector, with private cars gaining ground over public transportation year after year, the levels of GHG emissions are constantly increasing. Indicated by 45% of GHG emissions from transportation in Chile being produced by cars and taxis, 10% by buses, and 1% by trains. In transport economics, road pollution is considered to be an abuse of the road that has been provided, whilst other users on the street are passive victims (1212 Button K. Transport Economics, 3rd ed. Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd, Aldershot, Hants; Northampton, 2010, p. 528.View Full Reference List). Therefore, it is necessary to provide alternative means of transport, such as public transport modes, as well as to improve the existing ones so that people stop the abuse of roads and start favoring environmentally friendly means over their private cars. Enabling people to choose more sustainable means of transport for their everyday mobility could significantly contribute to the reduction of GHG emissions worldwide. In regard to energy consumption, urban areas consume up to 75% of global energy, the majority of which is absorbed by the transportation sector. In 2010, transportation systems around the world consumed 19% of global energy supplies, 69% of which was consumed by road transportation. This number is expected to grow rapidly, and by 2050 transport energy consumption is expected to reach an 80% increase. In other words, by 2050 30% of the global energy will be channeled toward transportation, with the highest demand arising from developing countries and areas undergoing strong economic and population growth, such as Latin America and China. Statistics concerning car ownership rates highlight the global need to increase the attractiveness of public transport modes and to invest in energy efficient transport systems; car ownership in China has been growing by 12% per year, by 1.6% per year in the US, whereas only a slight increase in vehicle ownership is expected for European countries that are members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD-Europe) by 2050. Bus priority schemes have been widely tested in various environments, such as in Japan, the UK, and Canada, with the aim to reduce traffic congestion, to improve bus journey times and road safety (examples are included but not limited to 15–17), but their environmental effect is still being explored. To tackle the environmental challenges discussed above, the main objective of this study is to examine how bus priority schemes may reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions. It focuses on the bus system in Santiago, Chile, and with the use of the microscopic traffic simulator TSIS-CORSIM, the current road network and bus system is replicated. Two bus priority schemes—Bus Only Lanes and Bus Signal Priority—were tested during the morning peak period. The collection of data, the model parameters and the examined bus priority schemes are described in the methodology section. The results obtained for energy consumption and emissions for each of the schemes are presented in the results section for both the cars and the bus system. The results are then discussed and the traffic flow and bus priority scheme for which the highest environmental improvement is achieved is proposed

Analysis of model rotor blade pressures during parallel interaction with twin vortices

This paper presents and provides analysis of unsteady surface pressures measured on a model rotor blade as the blade experienced near parallel blade vortex interaction with a twin vortex system. To provide a basis for analysis, the vortex system was characterized by hot-wire measurements made in the interaction plane but in the absence of the rotor. The unsteady pressure response resulting from a single vortex interaction is then presented to provide a frame of reference for the twin vortex results. A series of twin vortex interaction cases are then presented and analyzed. It is shown that the unsteady blade pressures and forces are very sensitive to the inclination angle and separation distance of the vortex pair. When the vortex cores lie almost parallel to the blade chord, the interaction is characterized by a two-stage response associated with the sequential passage of the two cores. Conversely, when the cores lie on a plane that is almost perpendicular to the blade chord, the response is similar to that of a single vortex interaction. In all cases, the normal force response is consistent with the distribution of vertical velocity in the flow field of the vortex system. The pitching moment response, on the other hand, depends on the localized suction associated with the vortex cores as they traverse the blade chord

Up the leash: Exploring canine handlers’ perceptions of volunteering in canine-assisted interventions

To date, research on university and college based canine-assisted interventions for post-secondary students have focused on identifying the effects of spending time with therapy dogs on the well-being of participants and, to a lesser extent, exploring the effects of canine-assisted interventions on therapy dogs as a means of safeguarding canine welfare. Little empirical attention has focused on understanding the experience of volunteer canine handlers – agents at the heart of the success of canine-assisted interventions. The aim of this exploratory research was to first capture the voice of these key stakeholders to better understand their experience as canine handler volunteers and second to provide preliminary insights into their well-being. Sixty volunteer handlers with varying volunteer experience with a canine therapy program at a mid-size Canadian university responded to a series of open-ended prompts related to their volunteer work and completed a battery of well-being measures. Qualitative findings revealed that most participants identified social benefits to volunteering for themselves (64%) and for their dog (55%). The perceived impact on students (33%) and the ability to help university students (36%) were the most rewarding aspects of volunteering. Though enticed to volunteer by qualities of the CAI program (36%), participant motivations to continue volunteering were predominantly associated with personal benefits of volunteering (44%). Most handlers reported no challenges associated with volunteering (73%) and described their dog as happy after sessions (71%). Participants commonly described good therapy dogs as relaxed, calm, and respectful (66%) and strong handlers as having good awareness of their dog (48%). Quantitative findings revealed volunteer handlers reported elevated levels of positive affect (p = < 0.001, d = 1.19), greater satisfaction with life (p = < 0.001, d = 0.85) and lower levels of avoidant attachment to their therapy dog (p = < 0.001, d = -1.16) when compared to normative samples. Implications for the governing of university and college based programs and handler well-being are discussed

Continuous-variable quantum teleportation of entanglement

Entangled coherent states can be used to determine the entanglement fidelity for a device that is designed to teleport coherent states. This entanglement fidelity is universal, in that the calculation is independent of the use of entangled coherent states and applies generally to the teleportation of entanglement using coherent states. The average fidelity is shown to be a poor indicator of the capability of teleporting entanglement; i.e., very high average fidelity for the quantum teleportation apparatus can still result in low entanglement fidelity for one mode of the two-mode entangled coherent state.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure, published versio

Foster Care Placement, Poor Parenting, and Negative Outcomes Among Homeless Young Adults

Although homeless youth with and without foster care histories both face adverse life circumstances, little is known about how these two groups compare in terms of their early histories and whether they face similar outcomes. As such, we compared those with and without a history of foster care placement to determine if the associations between a history of poor parenting and negative outcomes including depression, delinquency, physical and sexual victimization, and substance use, are similar for these two groups. The sample consisted of 172 homeless young adults from the Midwestern United States. Multivariate results revealed that among those previously in foster care, a history of physical abuse and neglect were positively associated with more depressive symptoms whereas sexual abuse and neglect were related to delinquency and physical victimization. Additionally, lower caretaker monitoring was linked to greater delinquent participation. Among those without a history of foster care, physical abuse was related to more depressive symptoms whereas sexual abuse was positively correlated with delinquency, sexual victimization, and substance use. Furthermore, lower monitoring was related to more substance use. Our findings are discussed in terms of a social stress framework and we review the implications of foster care placement for homeless young adults