Evaluation of Traffic Accident Risk in In-City Bus Drivers: The Use of Berlin Questionnaire.

PubMed

Taşbakan, Mehmet Sezai; Ekren, Pervin Korkmaz; Uysal, Funda Elmas; Başoğlu, Özen K

2018-04-01

Traffic accidents associated with high mortality rate may produce serious problems especially in highways. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been associated with a high risk for traffic accidents due to excessive daytime sleepiness even in in-city drivers. In the present study, it was aimed to evaluate the rate of OSA symptoms and to identify risk factors associated with traffic accidents in in-city bus drivers. A self-administered questionnaire including demographic and anthropometric features, sleep and work schedules, Berlin questionnaire, Epworth sleepiness score (ESS), and history of traffic accidents was used. The questionnaire was conducted for 1400 male bus drivers (mean age, 38.0±6.4 y, body mass index, 27.8±3.9 kg/m 2 ). A total of 1058 (75.6%) drivers had one or more accidents while driving bus. According to the Berlin questionnaire, 176 (12.6%) drivers were found to have high OSA risk and the accident rate was 83.0% in high-risk group, whereas 74.5% of low-risk drivers had accidents (p=0.043). The drivers with a history of traffic accident were older (p=0.030), had higher ESS (p=0.019), and were more in the high-risk OSA group according to the Berlin questionnaire (p=0.015). In multivariate linear regression analysis, traffic accident was associated with only Berlin questionnaire (p=0.015). The present results support that city bus drivers with high OSA risk according to Berlin questionnaire have increased accident rates. Therefore, we suggest using Berlin questionnaire for screening sleep apnea not only in highway drivers but also in in-city bus drivers.

Road rage and road traffic accidents among commercial vehicle drivers in Lahore, Pakistan.

PubMed

Shaikh, M A; Shaikh, I A; Siddiqui, Z

2012-04-01

Road rage and road traffic accidents increase the burden of morbidity and mortality in a population. A cross-sectional survey with convenience sampling was conducted among commercial vehicle drivers in Lahore, Pakistan (n = 901) to record their behaviours/experiences regarding road rage and road traffic accidents. Respondents were asked about incidents of shouting/cursing/rude gestures or threats to physically hurt the person/vehicle, by others or themselves, in the previous 24 hours or 3 months, and their involvement in road traffic accidents in the previous 12 months. Auto-rickshaw drivers were significantly more likely to report various road rage experiences/behaviours and involvement in accidents compared with bus and wagon drivers. A total of 112 respondents (12.4%) reported being involved in a road traffic accident in the previous 12 months but traffic police did not record the accident in 52.7% of cases. The results of this study underline the need to improve road safety in Pakistan.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wang, Lijuan; Gonder, Jeff; Burton, Evan

This study evaluates the costs and benefits associated with the use of a plug-in hybrid electric bus and determines the cost effectiveness relative to a conventional bus and a hybrid electric bus. A sensitivity sweep analysis was performed over a number of a different battery sizes, charging powers, and charging stations. The net present value was calculated for each vehicle design and provided the basis for the design evaluation. In all cases, given present day economic assumptions, the conventional bus achieved the lowest net present value while the optimal plug-in hybrid electric bus scenario reached lower lifetime costs than themore » hybrid electric bus. The study also performed parameter sensitivity analysis under low market potential assumptions and high market potential assumptions. The net present value of plug-in hybrid electric bus is close to that of conventional bus.« less

Chattanooga SmartBus Project : phase III evaluation report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-12-01

This report presents the results of Phase III of the national evaluation of the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authoritys (CARTA) SmartBus Project. The SmartBus Project is a comprehensive transit ITS program for the city of Chattanooga, ...

Hydrogen powered bus

ScienceCinema

Glass, Bob; Mathis, Mike; Cochran, Ron; Garback, John

2018-06-08

Take a ride on a new type of bus, fueled by hydrogen. These hydrogen taxis are part of a Department of Energy-funded deployment of hydrogen powered vehicles and fueling infrastructure at nine federal facilities across the country to demonstrate this market-ready advanced technology. Produced and leased by Ford Motor Company , they consist of one 12- passenger bus and one nine-passenger bus. More information at: http://go.usa.gov/Tgr

Development and evaluation of a pedestrian safety training program for elementary school bus riders

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1994-12-01

The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate a comprehensive pedestrian safety program for elementary (kindergarten through grade 6) school bus riders. Existing materials, crash data and state laws/regulations on school bus pedestrian safe...

Modeling level-of-safety for bus stops in China.

PubMed

Ye, Zhirui; Wang, Chao; Yu, Yongbo; Shi, Xiaomeng; Wang, Wei

2016-08-17

Safety performance at bus stops is generally evaluated by using historical traffic crash data or traffic conflict data. However, in China, it is quite difficult to obtain such data mainly due to the lack of traffic data management and organizational issues. In light of this, the primary objective of this study is to develop a quantitative approach to evaluate bus stop safety performance. The concept of level-of-safety for bus stops is introduced and corresponding models are proposed to quantify safety levels, which consider conflict points, traffic factors, geometric characteristics, traffic signs and markings, pavement conditions, and lighting conditions. Principal component analysis and k-means clustering methods were used to model and quantify safety levels for bus stops. A case study was conducted to show the applicability of the proposed model with data collected from 46 samples for the 7 most common types of bus stops in China, using 32 of the samples for modeling and 14 samples for illustration. Based on the case study, 6 levels of safety for bus stops were defined. Finally, a linear regression analysis between safety levels and the number of traffic conflicts showed that they had a strong relationship (R(2) value of 0.908). The results indicated that the method was well validated and could be practically used for the analysis and evaluation of bus stop safety in China. The proposed model was relatively easy to implement without the requirement of traffic crash data and/or traffic conflict data. In addition, with the proposed method, it was feasible to evaluate countermeasures to improve bus stop safety (e.g., exclusive bus lanes).

Effectiveness of Bus Signal Priority : Final Report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2002-01-01

Effectiveness of Bus Signal Priority (BSP) study evaluates BSP?s impact on traffic operations. The goal was to examine how different situations, such as the level of congestion, placement of bus stops, presence of express bus service, and number of t...

California's Bus Driver's Training Course. Instructor's Manual.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

California State Dept. of Education, Sacramento.

This instructor's manual was designed to help graduates of the California Bus Driver Instructor Course provide effective instruction to school bus driver trainees. It contains enough material for 20-30 hours of classroom training. The information is organized in 12 instructional units that cover the following topics: introduction to the course;…

Updating the school bus standard vehicle for load rating Alabama bridges.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-06-01

The objective of this project is to identify a representative school bus (weight and axle spacing) for load rating highway bridges. The ALDOT Bridge Rating and Load Test Section currently uses a 12.5-ton school bus (four tons on the front axle and 8....

Advanced flight control system study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mcgough, J.; Moses, K.; Klafin, J. F.

1982-01-01

The architecture, requirements, and system elements of an ultrareliable, advanced flight control system are described. The basic criteria are functional reliability of 10 to the minus 10 power/hour of flight and only 6 month scheduled maintenance. A distributed system architecture is described, including a multiplexed communication system, reliable bus controller, the use of skewed sensor arrays, and actuator interfaces. Test bed and flight evaluation program are proposed.

The Design of a Fault-Tolerant COTS-Based Bus Architecture

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chau, Savio N.; Alkalai, Leon; Burt, John B.; Tai, Ann T.

1999-01-01

In this paper, we report our experiences and findings on the design of a fault-tolerant bus architecture comprised of two COTS buses, the IEEE 1394 and the 12C. This fault-tolerant bus is the backbone system bus for the avionics architecture of the X2000 program at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. COTS buses are attractive because of the availability of low cost commercial products. However, they are not specifically designed for highly reliable applications such as long-life deep-space missions. The X2000 design team has devised a multi-level fault tolerance approach to compensate for this shortcoming of COTS buses. First, the approach enhances the fault tolerance capabilities of the IEEE 1394 and 12 C buses by adding a layer of fault handling hardware and software. Second, algorithms are developed to enable the IEEE 1394 and the 12 C buses assist each other to isolate and recovery from faults. Third, the set of IEEE 1394 and 12 C buses is duplicated to further enhance system reliability. The X2000 design team has paid special attention to guarantee that all fault tolerance provisions will not cause the bus design to deviate from the commercial standard specifications. Otherwise, the economic attractiveness of using COTS will be diminished. The hardware and software design of the X2000 fault-tolerant bus are being implemented and flight hardware will be delivered to the ST4 and Europa Orbiter missions.

Information management advanced development. Volume 3: Digital data bus breadboard

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gerber, C. R.

1972-01-01

The design, development, and evaluation of the digital data bus breadboard for the modular space station are discussed. Subjects presented are: (1) requirements summary, (2) parametric data for bus design, (3) redundancy concepts, and (4) data bus breadboard performance and interface requirements.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wang, Lijuan; Gonder, Jeff; Burton, Evan

This study evaluates the costs and benefits associated with the use of a stationary-wireless- power-transfer-enabled plug-in hybrid electric bus and determines the cost effectiveness relative to a conventional bus and a hybrid electric bus. A sensitivity sweep was performed over many different battery sizes, charging power levels, and number/location of bus stop charging stations. The net present cost was calculated for each vehicle design and provided the basis for design evaluation. In all cases, given the assumed economic conditions, the conventional bus achieved the lowest net present cost while the optimal plug-in hybrid electric bus scenario beat out the hybridmore » electric comparison scenario. The study also performed parameter sensitivity analysis under favorable and high unfavorable market penetration assumptions. The analysis identifies fuel saving opportunities with plug-in hybrid electric bus scenarios at cumulative net present costs not too dissimilar from those for conventional buses.« less

58. VIEW OF SIGNAL BUS SECTION NUMBER 2 LOCATED OVER ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

58. VIEW OF SIGNAL BUS SECTION NUMBER 2 LOCATED OVER THE CONTROL ROOM MEZZANINE IN THE SIGNAL POWER CONDITIONING ROOM. BUS IS A HEAVY COPPER BAR APPROXIMATELY 1/2" BY 4" WHICH CONDUCTS POWER THROUGHOUT THE POWER PLANT. BUS ARE PROTECTED BY A BRICK AND SOAPSTONE HOUSING. OPENINGS FOR INSPECTION AND ACCESS WOULD NORMALLY BE PROTECTED BY GLASS DOORS. THE BUS WOULD BE SUPPORTED ON INSULATORS WITHIN THE BRICK CHAMBER. BUS WAS REMOVED AND SALVAGED WHEN THE STATION WAS ABANDONED. THE OBJECT IN THE TOP CENTER OF THE PHOTOGRAPH IS A POTENTIAL TRANSFORMER USED TO REDUCE BUS POTENTIAL OF 2200 VOLTS TO LOW VOLTAGES SAFE FOR USE IN CONTROL ROOM CIRCUITRY. POTENTIAL TRANSFORMERS ARE PRECISION DEVICES WHICH PRODUCE AN ACCURATE LOW VOLTAGE ANALOG OF THE HIGH VOLTAGE ON THE BUS. - New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad, Cos Cob Power Plant, Sound Shore Drive, Greenwich, Fairfield County, CT

Design of a 500 MJ, 5 MA power supply

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pappas, J. A.; Headifen, G. R.; Weldon, J. M.; Wright, J. C.; Zowarka, R. C.; Aanstoos, T. A.; Kajs, J. H.

1993-01-01

The design of a 500 MJ, 5 MA power supply for rail gun experiments under the Battery Upgraded Supply (BUS) program is examined. About 50,000 12-volt lead acid batteries are required to reach this level. BUS will be required to perform up to two discharges per week. Therefore, BUS is designed to be a low-maintenance, reliable, and fault-tolerant power supply. The design of BUS and the details of its subsystems are described.

National Fuel Cell Bus Program: Accelerated Testing Evaluation Report and Appendices, Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chandler, K.; Eudy, L.

2009-01-01

This is an evaluation of hydrogen fuel cell transit buses operating at AC Transit in revenue service since March 20, 2006 compared to similar diesel buses operating from the same depot. This evaluation report includes results from November 2007 through October 2008. Evaluation results include implementation experience, fueling station operation, fuel cell bus operations at Golden Gate Transit, and evaluation results at AC Transit (bus usage, availability, fuel economy, maintenance costs, and roadcalls).

An evaluation of the effect of level of service and cost on demand for intercity bus travel : final report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1980-01-01

This report describes an evaluation of the effect on intercity bus ridership of changes in frequency of service and cost. The study was based on a comparison of travel between 19 selected cities in Virginia served by air, bus, or rail. These modes we...

TMS communications software. Volume 2: Bus interface unit

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gregor, P. J.

1979-01-01

A data bus communication system to support the space shuttle's Trend Monitoring System (TMS) and to provide a basis for evaluation of the bus concept is described. Installation of the system included developing both hardware and software interfaces between the bus and the specific TMS computers and terminals. The software written for the microprocessor-based bus interface units is described. The software implements both the general bus communications protocol and also the specific interface protocols for the TMS computers and terminals.

Fuel Cell Electric Bus Evaluations | Hydrogen and Fuel Cells | NREL

Science.gov Websites

. Transit Fleets: Current Status 2017, L. Eudy and M. Post (November 2017) Zero Emission Bay Area (ZEBA ) Fuel Cell Bus Demonstration Results: Sixth Report, L. Eudy, M. Post, and M. Jeffers (September 2017 2017) American Fuel Cell Bus Project Evaluation: Third Report, L. Eudy, M. Post, and M. Jeffers (May

A Survey of Some Approaches to Distributed Data Base & Distributed File System Architecture.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-01-01

BUS POD A DD A 12 12 A = A Cell D = D Cell Figure 7-1: MUFFIN logical architecture - 45 - MUFI January 1980 ".-.Bus Interface V Conventional Processor...and Applied Mathematics (14), * December, 1966. [Kimbleton 791 Kimbleton, Stephen; Wang, Pearl; and Fong, Elizabeth. XNDM: An Experimental Network

Emission inventory estimation of an intercity bus terminal.

PubMed

Qiu, Zhaowen; Li, Xiaoxia; Hao, Yanzhao; Deng, Shunxi; Gao, H Oliver

2016-06-01

Intercity bus terminals are hotspots of air pollution due to concentrated activities of diesel buses. In order to evaluate the bus terminals' impact on air quality, it is necessary to estimate the associated mobile emission inventories. Since the vehicles' operating condition at the bus terminal varies significantly, conventional calculation of the emissions based on average emission factors suffers the loss of accuracy. In this study, we examined a typical intercity bus terminal-the Southern City Bus Station of Xi'an, China-using a multi-scale emission model-(US EPA's MOVES model)-to quantity the vehicle emission inventory. A representative operating cycle for buses within the station is constructed. The emission inventory was then estimated using detailed inputs including vehicle ages, operating speeds, operating schedules, and operating mode distribution, as well as meteorological data (temperature and humidity). Five functional areas (bus yard, platforms, disembarking area, bus travel routes within the station, and bus entrance/exit routes) at the terminal were identified, and the bus operation cycle was established using the micro-trip cycle construction method. Results of our case study showed that switching to compressed natural gas (CNG) from diesel fuel could reduce PM2.5 and CO emissions by 85.64 and 6.21 %, respectively, in the microenvironment of the bus terminal. When CNG is used, tail pipe exhaust PM2.5 emission is significantly reduced, even less than brake wear PM2.5. The estimated bus operating cycles can also offer researchers and policy makers important information for emission evaluation in the planning and design of any typical intercity bus terminals of a similar scale.

An evaluation plan of bus architectures and protocols using the NASA Ames intelligent redundant actuation system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Defeo, P.; Chen, M.

1987-01-01

Means for evaluating data bus architectures and protocols for highly integrated flight control system applications are needed. Described are the criteria and plans to do this by using the NASA/Ames Intelligent Redundant Actuation System (IRAS) experimental set-up. Candidate bus architectures differ from one another in terms of: topology, access control, message transfer schemes, message characteristics, initialization. data flow control, transmission rates, fault tolerance, and time synchronization. The evaluation criteria are developed relative to these features. A preliminary, analytical evaluation of four candidate busses (MIL-STD-1553B, DATAC, Ethernet, and HSIS) is described. A bus must be exercised in a real-time environment to evaluate its dynamic characteristics. A plan for real-time evaluation of these four busses using a combination of hardware and simulation techniques is presented.

COMPARISON OF PARALLEL AND SERIES HYBRID POWERTRAINS FOR TRANSIT BUS APPLICATION

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gao, Zhiming; Daw, C Stuart; Smith, David E

2016-01-01

The fuel economy and emissions of both conventional and hybrid buses equipped with emissions aftertreatment were evaluated via computational simulation for six representative city bus drive cycles. Both series and parallel configurations for the hybrid case were studied. The simulation results indicate that series hybrid buses have the greatest overall advantage in fuel economy. The series and parallel hybrid buses were predicted to produce similar CO and HC tailpipe emissions but were also predicted to have reduced NOx tailpipe emissions compared to the conventional bus in higher speed cycles. For the New York bus cycle (NYBC), which has the lowestmore » average speed among the cycles evaluated, the series bus tailpipe emissions were somewhat higher than they were for the conventional bus, while the parallel hybrid bus had significantly lower tailpipe emissions. All three bus powertrains were found to require periodic active DPF regeneration to maintain PM control. Plug-in operation of series hybrid buses appears to offer significant fuel economy benefits and is easily employed due to the relatively large battery capacity that is typical of the series hybrid configuration.« less

Road safety issues for bus transport management.

PubMed

Cafiso, Salvatore; Di Graziano, Alessandro; Pappalardo, Giuseppina

2013-11-01

Because of the low percentage of crashes involving buses and the assumption that public transport improves road safety by reducing vehicular traffic, public interest in bus safety is not as great as that in the safety of other types of vehicles. It is possible that less attention is paid to the significance of crashes involving buses because the safety level of bus systems is considered to be adequate. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the knowledge and perceptions of bus managers with respect to safety issues and the potential effectiveness of various technologies in achieving higher safety standards. Bus managers were asked to give their opinions on safety issues related to drivers (training, skills, performance evaluation and behaviour), vehicles (maintenance and advanced devices) and roads (road and traffic safety issues) in response to a research survey. Kendall's algorithm was used to evaluate the level of concordance. The results showed that the majority of the proposed items were considered to have great potential for improving bus safety. The data indicated that in the experience of the participants, passenger unloading and pedestrians crossing near bus stops are the most dangerous actions with respect to vulnerable users. The final results of the investigation showed that start inhibition, automatic door opening, and the materials and internal architecture of buses were considered the items most strongly related to bus passenger safety. Brake assistance and vehicle monitoring systems were also considered to be very effective. With the exception of driver assistance systems for passenger and pedestrian safety, the perceptions of the importance of other driver assistance systems for vehicle monitoring and bus safety were not unanimous among the bus company managers who participated in this survey. The study results showed that the introduction of new technologies is perceived as an important factor in improving bus safety, but a better understanding of their actual effectiveness and related risk factor avoidance must be developed to permit their useful implementation in bus fleets. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Analysis of a diesel-electric hybrid urban bus system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marr, W. W.; Sekar, R. R.; Ahlheim, M. C.

A hybrid bus powered by a diesel engine and a battery pack was analyzed over an idealized bus-driving cycle in Chicago. Three hybrid configurations, two parallel and one series, were evaluated. The results indicate that the fuel economy of a hybrid bus, taking into account the regenerative braking, is comparable with that of a conventional diesel bus. Life-cycle costs are slightly higher because of the added weight and cost of the battery.

SunLine Transit Agency Advanced Technology Fuel Cell Bus Evaluation: Fourth Results Report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Eudy, L.; Chandler, K.

2013-01-01

SunLine Transit Agency, which provides public transit services to the Coachella Valley area of California, has demonstrated hydrogen and fuel cell bus technologies for more than 10 years. In May 2010, SunLine began demonstrating the advanced technology (AT) fuel cell bus with a hybrid electric propulsion system, fuel cell power system, and lithium-based hybrid batteries. This report describes operations at SunLine for the AT fuel cell bus and five compressed natural gas buses. The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is working with SunLine to evaluate the bus in real-world service to document the results and helpmore » determine the progress toward technology readiness. NREL has previously published three reports documenting the operation of the fuel cell bus in service. This report provides a summary of the results with a focus on the bus operation from February 2012 through November 2012.« less

Factors associated with self-reported driver sleepiness and incidents in city bus drivers

PubMed Central

ANUND, Anna; IHLSTRÖM, Jonas; FORS, Carina; KECKLUND, Göran; FILTNESS, Ashleigh

2016-01-01

Driver fatigue has received increased attention during recent years and is now considered to be a major contributor to approximately 15–30% of all crashes. However, little is known about fatigue in city bus drivers. It is hypothesized that city bus drivers suffer from sleepiness, which is due to a combination of working conditions, lack of health and reduced sleep quantity and quality. The overall aim with the current study is to investigate if severe driver sleepiness, as indicated by subjective reports of having to fight sleep while driving, is a problem for city based bus drivers in Sweden and if so, to identify the determinants related to working conditions, health and sleep which contribute towards this. The results indicate that driver sleepiness is a problem for city bus drivers, with 19% having to fight to stay awake while driving the bus 2–3 times each week or more and nearly half experiencing this at least 2–4 times per month. In conclusion, severe sleepiness, as indicated by having to fight sleep during driving, was common among the city bus drivers. Severe sleepiness correlated with fatigue related safety risks, such as near crashes. PMID:27098307

Factors associated with self-reported driver sleepiness and incidents in city bus drivers.

PubMed

Anund, Anna; Ihlström, Jonas; Fors, Carina; Kecklund, Göran; Filtness, Ashleigh

2016-08-05

Driver fatigue has received increased attention during recent years and is now considered to be a major contributor to approximately 15-30% of all crashes. However, little is known about fatigue in city bus drivers. It is hypothesized that city bus drivers suffer from sleepiness, which is due to a combination of working conditions, lack of health and reduced sleep quantity and quality. The overall aim with the current study is to investigate if severe driver sleepiness, as indicated by subjective reports of having to fight sleep while driving, is a problem for city based bus drivers in Sweden and if so, to identify the determinants related to working conditions, health and sleep which contribute towards this. The results indicate that driver sleepiness is a problem for city bus drivers, with 19% having to fight to stay awake while driving the bus 2-3 times each week or more and nearly half experiencing this at least 2-4 times per month. In conclusion, severe sleepiness, as indicated by having to fight sleep during driving, was common among the city bus drivers. Severe sleepiness correlated with fatigue related safety risks, such as near crashes.

Evaluation guidelines for bus rapid transit demonstration projects

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2002-02-01

The Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) Bus Rapid Transit Demonstration Program is supporting demonstrations of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in selected cities across the United States. The US BRT Demonstration Program aims to adapt the principles of h...

Electric bus systems.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2017-04-01

Pure electric buses (EBs) offer an alternative fuel for the nations transit bus systems. To : evaluate EBs in a transit setting, this project investigated the five electric bus fleet of the : StarMetro transit system of the city of Tallahassee, FL...

Applying Unmanned Ground Vehicle Technologies To Unmanned Surface Vehicles

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-01-01

PCI or ISA bus interface • 7 UARTs • 3 USB ports • CAN bus • I2C Bus • 1 RS232 Serial Port • Two 12-bit D-A output • Two 8-bit D-A...two of the seven UARTs and the CAN bus interface. It is also used to preprocess some sensor data before sending it to the FPGA. The daughterboard...modification of the Kalman Filter and PID parameters for use in a marine environment. 2.2.1 Architecture The Small Robot Technology ( SMART ) software

Risk factors for unintentional occupational injury among urban transit bus drivers: a cohort longitudinal study.

PubMed

Wei, Chia; Gerberich, Susan G; Ryan, Andrew D; Alexander, Bruce H; Church, Timothy R; Manser, Michael

2017-12-01

Although many studies have focused on bus operators' occupational diseases, work-related injury and associated risk factor data are limited. The purpose of this longitudinal study was to investigate unintentional injury and exposures that may affect injury risk among metropolitan bus operators. Demographic, work-related, and injury data obtained from a metropolitan transit company for a 5-year period, enabled estimates of rates per 100 full time equivalents (FTEs) and adjusted Hazard Ratios (HRs), with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), using Generalized Estimating Equations and Cox proportional hazards models, respectively. The 2095 bus operators, included in this study, had an unintentional injury rate (95% CI) of 17.8 (16.1-19.7) per 100 FTEs. Multivariable analysis identified increased risks for operators who were female, compared to male (HR = 2.4; 2.0-2.8); worked less than 7 versus 7 to less than 12 hours per day (HR = 4.6; 3.8-5.5); and drove less than 7 versus 7 to less than 12 hours per day (HR = 3.2; 2.7-3.8). Suggestive increased risks were identified for operators working split versus straight shifts (HR = 1.2; 1.0-1.4) and for driving limited versus regular bus routes (HR = 1.36; 1.0-1.8). Results serve as a basis for further studies and inform the development of targeted intervention strategies to reduce bus operators' occupational injuries. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pickerell, D.H.; Abkowitz, M.; Tozzi, J.

The 9 papers in the report deal with the following areas: Federal operating assistance for urban mass transit; a decade of experience; transit route characteristics and headway-based reliability control; day-of-week and part-of-month variation in bus ridership; job satisfaction and transit operator recognition programs; results of a survey of muni operators; bus marketing costs: the experience of 18 section 15 reporters from 1981 to 1983; prospects for differential transit pricing in the United States; an initial analysis of total factor productivity for public-transit coordination of transportation resources: the Georgia experience; absenteeism, accidents, and attrition: part-time versus full-time bus drivers.

Computer-Based Video Instruction to Teach Students with Intellectual Disabilities to Use Public Bus Transportation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mechling, Linda; O'Brien, Eileen

2010-01-01

This study investigated the effectiveness of computer-based video instruction (CBVI) to teach three young adults with moderate intellectual disabilities to push a "request to stop bus signal" and exit a city bus in response to target landmarks. A multiple probe design across three students and one bus route was used to evaluate effectiveness of…

Comparison of Parallel and Series Hybrid Power Trains for Transit Bus Applications

DOE PAGES

Gao, Zhiming; Daw, C. Stuart; Smith, David E.; ...

2016-08-01

The fuel economy and emissions of conventional and hybrid buses equipped with emissions after treatment were evaluated via computational simulation for six representative city bus drive cycles. Both series and parallel configurations for the hybrid case were studied. The simulation results indicated that series hybrid buses have the greatest overall advantage in fuel economy. The series and parallel hybrid buses were predicted to produce similar carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon tailpipe emissions but were also predicted to have reduced tailpipe emissions of nitrogen oxides compared with the conventional bus in higher speed cycles. For the New York bus cycle, which hasmore » the lowest average speed among the cycles evaluated, the series bus tailpipe emissions were somewhat higher than they were for the conventional bus; the parallel hybrid bus had significantly lower tailpipe emissions. All three bus power trains were found to require periodic active diesel particulate filter regeneration to maintain control of particulate matter. Finally, plug-in operation of series hybrid buses appears to offer significant fuel economy benefits and is easily employed because of the relatively large battery capacity that is typical of the series hybrid configuration.« less

Comparison of Parallel and Series Hybrid Power Trains for Transit Bus Applications

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gao, Zhiming; Daw, C. Stuart; Smith, David E.

The fuel economy and emissions of conventional and hybrid buses equipped with emissions after treatment were evaluated via computational simulation for six representative city bus drive cycles. Both series and parallel configurations for the hybrid case were studied. The simulation results indicated that series hybrid buses have the greatest overall advantage in fuel economy. The series and parallel hybrid buses were predicted to produce similar carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon tailpipe emissions but were also predicted to have reduced tailpipe emissions of nitrogen oxides compared with the conventional bus in higher speed cycles. For the New York bus cycle, which hasmore » the lowest average speed among the cycles evaluated, the series bus tailpipe emissions were somewhat higher than they were for the conventional bus; the parallel hybrid bus had significantly lower tailpipe emissions. All three bus power trains were found to require periodic active diesel particulate filter regeneration to maintain control of particulate matter. Finally, plug-in operation of series hybrid buses appears to offer significant fuel economy benefits and is easily employed because of the relatively large battery capacity that is typical of the series hybrid configuration.« less

Annoyance evaluation and the effect of noise on the health of bus drivers.

PubMed

Bruno, Portela S; Marcos, Queiroga R; Amanda, Constantini; Paulo, Zannin H T

2013-01-01

In the present study, we evaluated annoyance and the effects of noise on the health of bus drivers. For that, 200 bus drivers from a public transport company participated in a cross-sectional study. Annoyance and effects on health was measured with analog scale: Sleep quality, occurrence of tinnitus, headache, irritation, and annoyance from bus engine, traffic, and passengers. Data of age and working time of bus drivers also were obtained. For noise exposure, LA eq was evaluated in 80 buses. Statistical analysis consisted of mean, standard deviation, minimum, and maximum, Kruskal-Wallis test with post-hoc Dunn, one-way ANOVA with post-hoc Tukey and Spearman's correlation coefficient. Results indicate three groups of bus drivers (not annoyed: (N.A.), a little annoyed (L.A.) and highly annoyed (H.A.)). The group H.A. was younger and with less working time in relation to others, with a significant difference only for age. Regarding sleep quality, there was no significant difference. For results on the occurrence of tinnitus, headache and irritation after work, group H.A. had significantly higher means. Result of annoyance to the bus engine was significantly higher in H.A. than in L.A. and N.A. Annoyance to traffic and passengers, no significant differences were found, but the highest results were found for L.A., followed by H.A. and N.A. Equivalent sound pressure level in buses was above of the limit for occupational comfort. It was concluded that bus drivers has considerable level of noise annoyance and some health effects are perceived. The noise is a factor discomfort ergonomic that may cause effects on health of bus drivers. This study aims to evaluate annoyance and the effects of noise on the health of bus drivers. Cross-sectional study with buses and bus drivers. For that, 200 bus drivers from a public transport company participated in a cross-sectional study. Annoyance and effects on health was measured with analog scale: Sleep quality, occurrence of tinnitus, headache, irritation and annoyance from bus engine, traffic, and passengers. Data of age and working time of bus drivers also were obtained. For noise exposure, LA eq was evaluated in 80 buses. Statistical analysis consisted of mean, standard deviation, minimum and maximum, Kruskal-Wallis test with post-hoc Dunn, one-way ANOVA with post-hoc Tukey and Spearman's correlation coefficient. Results indicate three groups of bus drivers (N.A., a L.A. and H.A.). The group H.A. was younger and with less working time in relation to others, with a significant difference only for age. Regarding sleep quality, there was no significant difference. For results on the occurrence of tinnitus, headache and irritation after work, group H.A. had significantly higher means. Result of annoyance to the bus engine was significantly higher in H.A. than in L.A. and N.A. Annoyance to traffic and passengers, no significant differences were found, but the highest results were found for L.A., followed by H.A. and N.A. Equivalent sound pressure level in buses was above of the limit for occupational comfort. It was concluded that bus drivers has considerable level of noise annoyance and some health effects are perceived.

Public transport policy, social engagement and mental health in older age: a quasi-experimental evaluation of free bus passes in England.

PubMed

Reinhard, Erica; Courtin, Emilie; van Lenthe, Frank J; Avendano, Mauricio

2018-05-01

Social engagement and social isolation are key determinants of mental health in older age, yet there is limited evidence on how public policies may contribute to reducing isolation, promoting social engagement and improving mental health among older people. This study examines the impact of the introduction of an age-friendly transportation policy, free bus passes, on the mental health of older people in England. We use an instrumental variable (IV) approach that exploits eligibility criteria for free bus passes to estimate the impact of increased public transportation use on depressive symptoms, loneliness, social isolation and social engagement. Eligibility for the free bus travel pass was associated with an 8% (95% CI 6.4% to 9.6%) increase in the use of public transportation among older people. The IV model suggests that using public transport reduces depressive symptoms by 0.952 points (95% CI -1.712 to -0.192) on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. IV models also suggest that using public transport reduces feelings of loneliness (β -0.794, 95% CI -1.528 to -0.061), increases volunteering at least monthly (β 0.237, 95% CI 0.059 to 0.414) and increases having regular contact with children (β 0.480, 95% CI 0.208 to 0.752) and friends (β 0.311, 95% CI 0.109 to 0.513). Free bus travel is associated with reductions in depressive symptoms and feelings of loneliness among older people. Transportation policies may increase older people's social engagement and consequently deliver significant benefits to mental health. © Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

Technology Validation: Fuel Cell Bus Evaluations

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Eudy, Leslie

This presentation describing the FY 2016 accomplishments for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's Fuel Cell Bus Evaluations project was presented at the U.S. Department of Energy Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program Annual Merit Review and Peer Evaluation Meeting, June 7, 2016.

Connecticut Transit (CTTRANSIT) Fuel Cell Transit Bus Preliminary Evaluation Results

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2008-10-16

This report describes operations at Connecticut Transit (CTTRANSIT) in Hartford for one prototype fuel cell bus and three new diesel buses operating from the same location. The report discusses the planned fuel cell bus demonstration and equipment us...

Vehicle emissions during children's school commuting: impacts of education policy.

PubMed

Marshall, Julian D; Wilson, Ryan D; Meyer, Katie L; Rajangam, Santhosh K; McDonald, Noreen C; Wilson, Elizabeth J

2010-03-01

We explore how school policies influence the environmental impacts of school commutes. Our research is motivated by increased interest in school choice policies (in part because of the U.S. "No Child Left Behind" Act) and in reducing bus service to address recent budget shortfalls. Our analysis employs two samples of elementary-age children, age 5-12: a travel survey (n = 1246 respondents) and a school enrollment data set (n = 19,655 students). Multinomial logistic regression modeled the determinants of travel mode (automobile, school bus, and walking; n = 803 students meeting selection criteria). Travel distance has the single greatest effect on travel mode, though school choice, trip direction (to- or from-school), and grade play a role. Several policies were investigated quantitatively to predict the impact on school travel, vehicle emissions, and costs. We find that eliminating district-wide school choice (i.e., returning to a system with neighborhood schools only) would have significant impacts on transport modes and emissions, whereas in many cases proposed shifts in school choice and bus-provision policies would have only modest impacts. Policies such as school choice and school siting may conflict with the goal of increasing rates of active (i.e., nonmotorized) school commuting. Policies that curtail bus usage may reduce bus emissions but yield even larger increases in private-vehicle emissions. Our findings underscore the need to critically evaluate transportation-related environmental and health impacts of currently proposed changes in school policy.

Sensor/Transducer Bus Alternatives for Space derived from Automotive Networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heyer, H.-V.

2004-06-01

Both automotive and space industry have major constraints concerning cable and harness. As in a satellite, the dry mass of the harness in the empty car is about 3.3% of the total car mass and the harness costs are about 12% of the total production cost. So a lot of new architectural communication and power distribution concepts are needed to reduce these drawbacks. One of the possible solutions is the use of distributed bus systems which contains in a decentralized topology busses such as CAN, TTCAN or FLEX-RAY for hard-real-time applications, MOST for fast video communication via optical fiber cabling and fire wire IEEE1394 as backbone.For the general purpose sensor/actuator tasks a simple robust one-wire bus has been defined, the Local Interconnect Network (LIN) bus. This bus is an open standard which is supported by several semiconductor manufactures. The bus was firstly introduced in 1999 and has now reached an acceptable maturity with version 2.0 turning out to be quite interesting as sensor / transducer bus for space applications.This presentation will focus on the LIN Bus and present an overview of that bus.

An evaluation of the Shirley Highway Express-Bus-on-Freeway Demonstration Project.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1973-01-01

The Shirley Highway Express-Bus-on-Freeway Demonstration Project was initiated to test the hypothesis that the provision of rapid and convenient bus service over an exclusive lane would attract significant numbers of automobile passengers. Such a div...

American Fuel Cell Bus Project Evaluation : Third Report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2017-05-01

This report presents results of the American Fuel Cell Bus (AFCB) Project, a demonstration of fuel cell electric buses (FCEB) operating in the Coachella Valley area of California. The AFCB, built on an ElDorado National-California 40-foot Axess bus p...

Shear Wave Elastography (SWE) for Monitoring of Treatment of Tendinopathies: A Double-blinded, Longitudinal Clinical Study.

PubMed

Dirrichs, Timm; Quack, Valentin; Gatz, Matthias; Tingart, Markus; Rath, Björn; Betsch, Marcel; Kuhl, Christiane K; Schrading, Simone

2018-03-01

We aimed to investigate the diagnostic accuracy with which shear wave elastography (SWE) can be used to monitor response to treatment of tendinopathies, and to compare it to conventional ultrasound (US)-imaging methods (B-mode US (B-US) and power Doppler US (PD-US)). A prospective Institutional Review Board-approved longitudinal study on 35 patients with 47 symptomatic tendons (17 Achilles-, 15 patellar-, and 15 humeral-epicondylar) who underwent standardized multimodal US and standardized clinical assessment before and after 6 months of treatment (tailored stretching exercise, sport break, and local Polidocanol) was carried out. All US studies were performed by radiologists blinded to the clinical symptoms on both tendon sides to avoid biased interpretations, by B-US, PD-US, and SWE, conducted in the same order, using a high-resolution linear 15 MHz probe (Aixplorer). Orthopedic surgeons who were in turn blinded to US imaging results used established orthopedic scores (Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment questionnaire for Achilles, Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment questionnaire for patellar tendons, and Disability Arm Shoulder Hand scoring system) to rate presence, degree, and possible resolution of symptoms. We analyzed the diagnostic accuracy with which the different US imaging methods were able to detect symptomatic tendons at baseline as well as treatment effects, with orthopedic scores serving as reference standard. B-US, PD-US, and SWE detected symptomatic tendons with a sensitivity of 66% (31 of 47), 72% (34 of 47), and 87.5% (41 of 47), respectively. Positive predictive value was 0.67 for B-US, 0.87 for PD-US, and 1 for SWE. After treatment, clinical scores improved in 68% (32 of 47) of tendons. Treatment effects were observable by B-US, PD-US, and SWE with a sensitivity of 3.1% (1 of 32), 28.1% (9 of 32), and 81.3% (26 of 32), respectively. B-US was false-positive in 68.8% (20 of 32), PD-US in 46.9% (15 of 32), and SWE in 12.5% (4 of 32) (SWE). Clinical scores and B-US, PD-US, and SWE findings correlated poorly (r = 0.24), moderately (r = 0.59), and strongly (r = 0.80). Unlike B-US or PD-US, SWE is able to depict processes associated with tendon healing and may be a useful tool to monitor treatment effects. Copyright © 2018 The Association of University Radiologists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The increase in physical performance and gain in lean and fat mass occur in prepubertal children independent of mode of school transportation. One year data from the prospective controlled Pediatric Osteoporosis Prevention (POP) Study

PubMed Central

2009-01-01

Background The aim of this 12-month study in pre-pubertal children was to evaluate the effect of school transportation on gain in lean and fat mass, muscle strength and physical performance. Methods Ninety-seven girls and 133 boys aged 7-9 years from the Malmö Pediatric Osteoporosis Prevention Study were included. Regional lean and fat mass were assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, isokinetic peak torque of knee extensors and flexors by a computerised dynamometer and physical performance by vertical jump height. Level of physical activity was assessed by accelerometers. The 12-month changes in children who walked or cycled to school were compared with changes in those who travelled by bus or car. Results There were no differences in baseline or annual changes in lean or fat mass gain, muscle strength or physical performance between the two groups. All children reached the internationally recommended level of 60 minutes per day of moderate or high physical activity by accelerometers. Conclusion The choice of school transportation in pre-pubertal children seems not to influence the gain in lean and fat mass, muscle strength or functional ability, probably as the everyday physical activity is so high that the mode of school transportation contributes little to the total level of activity.

Multibus-based parallel processor for simulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ogrady, E. P.; Wang, C.-H.

1983-01-01

A Multibus-based parallel processor simulation system is described. The system is intended to serve as a vehicle for gaining hands-on experience, testing system and application software, and evaluating parallel processor performance during development of a larger system based on the horizontal/vertical-bus interprocessor communication mechanism. The prototype system consists of up to seven Intel iSBC 86/12A single-board computers which serve as processing elements, a multiple transmission controller (MTC) designed to support system operation, and an Intel Model 225 Microcomputer Development System which serves as the user interface and input/output processor. All components are interconnected by a Multibus/IEEE 796 bus. An important characteristic of the system is that it provides a mechanism for a processing element to broadcast data to other selected processing elements. This parallel transfer capability is provided through the design of the MTC and a minor modification to the iSBC 86/12A board. The operation of the MTC, the basic hardware-level operation of the system, and pertinent details about the iSBC 86/12A and the Multibus are described.

Improving School Bus Driver Performance.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Farmer, Ernest

This reference source is intended to assist the school bus driver training instructor in course preparation. Instructional units for program planning each contain pertinent course questions, a summary, and evaluation questions. Unit 1, "Introduction to the School Bus Driver Training Program," focuses on basic course objectives and…

TMS communications software. Volume 1: Computer interfaces

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brown, J. S.; Lenker, M. D.

1979-01-01

A prototype bus communications system, which is being used to support the Trend Monitoring System (TMS) as well as for evaluation of the bus concept is considered. Hardware and software interfaces to the MODCOMP and NOVA minicomputers are included. The system software required to drive the interfaces in each TMS computer is described. Documentation of other software for bus statistics monitoring and for transferring files across the bus is also included.

Scheduled Peripheral Component Interconnect Arbiter

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nixon, Scott Alan (Inventor)

2015-01-01

Systems and methods are described for arbitrating access of a communication bus. In one embodiment, a method includes performing steps on one or more processors. The steps include: receiving an access request from a device of the communication bus; evaluating a bus schedule to determine an importance of the device based on the access request; and selectively granting access of the communication bus to the device based on the importance of the device.

A study of multiplex data bus techniques for the space shuttle

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kearney, R. J.; Kalange, M. A.

1972-01-01

A comprehensive technology base for the design of a multiplexed data bus subsystem is provided. Extensive analyses, both analytical and empirical, were performed. Subjects covered are classified under the following headings: requirements identification and analysis; transmission media studies; signal design and detection studies; synchronization, timing, and control studies; user-subsystem interface studies; operational reliability analyses; design of candidate data bus configurations; and evaluation of candidate data bus designs.

Valley Transit District: specialized transportation services for the elderly, handicapped, and low-income in the Lower Naugatuck Valley, Connecticut. Final report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kocur, G.

1979-02-01

A multifaceted demonstration with special emphasis on service to the elderly and handicapped has been operating in the Lower Naugatuck Valley of Connecticut since January 1973. The system has included limited fixed-route service, demand responsive door-to-door service, subscription service, and contract bus service for social-service agencies and other groups in the Valley. An automated fare-collection system using credit cards and monthly billings to eliminate the need for cash payment was used from 1973 to 1975. Fare subsidization for handicapped and elderly citizens is facilitated by this computerized system which bills sponsoring agencies according to the use of the transportation servicesmore » by their clients during the previous billing period. The user-side subsidies and monthly billings were continued after 1975 using manual methods. Of the target population of 12,000 individuals, 600 are regular, heavy users of the Valley Transit District (VTD), with few of the others using the system at all. VTD users are primarily low-income, autoless elderly from small households. The system operates 10 vehicles daily to provide its services; the average hourly cost is near $12. The system has earned revenues equal to almost 50% of its costs, although 40% of its revenues have been derived from user-side subsidy funds. Finally, VTD has withstood several challenges in regulatory and institutional areas from private bus operators and has slowly expanded its services throughout the demonstration. It is currently operating in post-demonstration status under ongoing funding.« less

Evaluation and modification of exercise patterns in the natural environment.

PubMed

Brownell, K D; Stunkard, A J; Albaum, J M

1980-12-01

Using a new experimental paradigm to evaluate physical activity in the natural environment, the authors made of 45,694 observations of persons using stairs or an adjacent escalator at a shopping mall, train station, and bus terminal. In study 1, stair use more than doubled for both obese and nonobese persons during two-week periods when a colorful sign encouraging use of the stairs was positioned at the stairs/escalator choice point. In study 2, stair use remained elevated for 15 consecutive days while the sign was present, decreased during a 1-month follow-up period, and returned to baseline by 3 months. These results not only demonstrate the usefulness of this paradigm, but also suggest the strength of simple, inexpensive public health interventions to increase physical activity.

Chattanooga SmartBus Project : phase 2 evaluation report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2008-06-10

This report presents the results of Phase II of the national evaluation of the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authoritys (CARTAs) SmartBus Project. The Smartbus Project is a comprehensive transit ITS program for the city of Chattanoog...

Free Bus Travel and Physical Activity, Gait Speed, and Adiposity in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing

PubMed Central

Laverty, Anthony; Mindell, Jenny; Millett, Chris

2016-01-01

Objectives. We investigated associations between having a bus pass, enabling free local bus travel across the United Kingdom for state pension–aged people, and physical activity, gait speed, and adiposity. Methods. We used data on 4650 bus pass–eligible people (aged ≥ 62 years) at wave 6 (2012–2013) of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing in regression analyses. Results. Bus pass holders were more likely to be female (odds ratio [OR] = 1.67; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.38, 2.02; P < .001), retired (OR = 2.65; 95% CI = 2.10, 3.35; P < .001), without access to a car (OR = 2.78; 95% CI = 1.83, 4.21; P < .001), to use public transportation (OR = 10.26; 95% CI = 8.33, 12.64; P < .001), and to be physically active (OR = 1.43; 95% CI = 1.12, 1.84; P = .004). Female pass holders had faster gait speed (b = 0.06 meters per second; 95% CI = 0.02, 0.09; P = .001), a body mass index 1 kilogram per meter squared lower (b = –1.20; 95% CI = –1.93, –0.46; P = .001), and waist circumference 3 centimeters smaller (b = –3.32; 95% CI = –5.02, –1.62; P < .001) than women without a pass. Conclusions. Free bus travel for older people helps make transportation universally accessible, including for those at risk for social isolation. Those with a bus pass are more physically active. Among women in particular, the bus pass is associated with healthier aging. PMID:26562118

Benefit-cost analysis framework for evaluating inter-city transit investment.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2008-10-01

This report describes the development and application of a benefit/cost analysis (BCA) model to support the evaluation of investment decisions for intercity bus services. The model recognizes two principle types of intercity bus benefits: benefits th...

Bus service evaluation procedures : a review

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1979-03-01

The report presents the results of a literature review and survey of 71 transit properties in the U. S. and Canada regarding bus service evaluation procedures currently in use. The focus of the study was to identify service performance indicators and...

A study of headway maintenance for bus routes : causes and effects of "bus bunching" in extensive and congested service areas.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-07-01

A healthy and efficient public transit system is indispensable to reduce congestion, emissions, energy consumption, and car : dependency in urban areas. The objective of this research is to 1) develop methods to evaluate and visualize bus service rel...

Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Transit Bus Evaluations : Joint Evaluation Plan for the U.S. Department of Energy and the Federal Transit Administration

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2008-05-01

This document describes the hydrogen transit bus evaluations performed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Department of Transportations Federal Transit Administration (...

Changing social norms: a mass media campaign for youth ages 12-18.

PubMed

Schmidt, Eileen; Kiss, Susan Mide; Lokanc-Diluzio, Wendi

2009-01-01

To create a mass media campaign that endeavours to a) denormalize tobacco use among youth aged 12-18, b) empower youth to stay tobacco product free, and c) increase awareness of the dangers of tobacco use, while using positive messaging. Target age group was youth between the ages of 12 and 18 years. The mass media campaign was developed, implemented, and evaluated within the city of Calgary. The mass media campaign consisted of posters for schools and other venues frequented by youth (e.g., community centres, libraries, fitness centres, restaurants, movie theatres), posters for transit (e.g., bus shelters, LRT shelters, back of bus) print advertisements, television/radio public service announcements, an interactive community website for youth, a media launch event, promotional items, and organizational efforts to cross-promote the campaign. The creative concept was based on intercept interviews, focus group testing, and other research conducted by the campaign's creative team and youth volunteers in order to identify the key elements of this campaign. A total of 149 students completed both a baseline and follow-up survey to evaluate the marketing activities of the campaign. A total of 27 youth participated in prototype testing to compare this positive-messaging campaign with negative-toned tobacco reduction campaigns. Six stakeholders/partners participated in stakeholder interviews to assess their thoughts and learnings regarding the campaign process. The evaluation respondents viewed the campaign positively and showed strong recall of the messaging.

Evaluation of bus emissions generated near bus stops

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Qian; Li, Tiezhu

2014-03-01

The purpose of this research is to demonstrate a methodology for quantification of bus emissions generated near bus stops based on the real-world on-road emissions data collected by the Portable Emission Measurement System (PEMS). Data collection was carried out on an urban diesel bus throughout a bus line under normal operation condition on four work days. Stop influence zone is defined as the area in which the normal bus driving is interrupted by bus stops. The second-by-second data were screened out within the stop influence zone. And the bus running state near a stop was classified into three driving modes, deceleration, idling, and acceleration. Then emission characteristics were analyzed for each mode. Under the idling condition, the emission rates (g s-1) were not constant all the time. The NOX emission rate decreased in the first 4-6 s while the corresponding emission rates of CO2, CO, NOX, and HC increased in the last 4 s of idling. Besides, the influence of bus stop characteristics on emissions was investigated using statistical methods. Platform type, length and location of bus stops showed significant effects on the length of the stop influence zone. However, there were no significant effects on distance-based emission factors.

Zero Emission Bay Area (ZEBA) Fuel Cell Bus Demonstration Results : Third Report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2014-05-01

This report presents results of a demonstration of 12 fuel cell electric buses (FCEB) operating in Oakland, California. The FCEBs have a fuel cell dominant hybrid electric propulsion system in a series configuration. The bus manufacturerVan Hool...

Zero Emission Bay Area (ZEBA) Fuel Cell Bus Demonstration : Second Results Report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-07-04

This report presents results of a demonstration of 12 new fuel cell electric buses (FCEB) operating in Oakland, California. The FCEBs have a fuel cell dominant hybrid electric propulsion system in a series configuration. The bus manufacturerVan Ho...

A Conceptual Approach for Optimising Bus Stop Spacing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Johar, Amita; Jain, S. S.; Garg, P. k.

2017-06-01

An efficient public transportation system is essential of any country. The growth, development and shape of the urban areas are mainly due to availability of good transportation (Shah et al. in Inst Town Plan India J 5(3):50-59, 1). In developing countries, like India, travel by local bus in a city is very common. The accidents, congestion, pollution and appropriate location of bus stops are the major problems arising in metropolitan cities. Among all the metropolitan cities in India, Delhi has highest percentage of growth of population and vehicles. Therefore, it is important to adopt efficient and effective ways to improve mobility in different metropolitan cities in order to overcome the problem and to reduce the number of private vehicles on the road. The primary objective of this paper is to present a methodology for developing a model for optimum bus stop spacing (OBSS). It describes the evaluation of existing urban bus route, data collection, development of model for optimizing urban bus route and application of model. In this work, the bus passenger generalized cost method is used to optimize the spacing between bus stops. For the development of model, a computer program is required to be written. The applicability of the model has been evaluated by taking the data of urban bus route of Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) in Excel sheet in first phase. Later on, it is proposed to develop a programming in C++ language. The developed model is expected to be useful to transport planner for rational design of the spacing of bus stops to save travel time and to generalize operating cost. After analysis it is found that spacing between the bus stop comes out to be between 250 and 500 m. The Proposed Spacing of bus stops is done considering the points that they don't come nearer to metro/rail station, entry or exit of flyover and near traffic signal.

Commuter exposure to black carbon particles on diesel buses, on bicycles and on foot: a case study in a Brazilian city.

PubMed

Targino, Admir Créso; Rodrigues, Marcos Vinicius C; Krecl, Patricia; Cipoli, Yago Alonso; Ribeiro, João Paulo M

2018-01-01

Commuting in urban environments accounts for a large fraction of the daily dose of inhaled air pollutants, especially in countries where vehicles have old technologies or run on dirty fuels. We measured black carbon (BC) concentrations during bus, walk and bicycle commutes in a Brazilian city and found a large spatial variability across the surveyed area, with median values between 2.5 and 12.0 μg m -3 . Traffic volume on roadways (especially the number of heavy-duty diesel vehicles), self-pollution from the bus tailpipe, number of stops along the route and displacement speed were the main drivers of air pollution on the buses. BC concentrations increased abruptly at or close to traffic signals and bus stops, causing in-cabin peaks as large as 60.0 μg m -3 . BC hotspots for the walk mode coincided with the locations of bus stops and traffic signals, whilst measurements along a cycle lane located 12 m from the kerb were less affected. The median BC concentrations of the two active modes were significantly lower than the concentrations inside the bus, with a bus/walk and bus/bicycle ratios of up to 6. However, the greater inhalation rates of cyclist and pedestrians yielded larger doses (2.6 and 3.5 μg on a 1.5-km commute), suggesting that the greater physical effort during the active commute may outweigh the reduction in exposure due to the shift from passive to active transport modes.

Expedition 18 Launch Day

NASA Image and Video Library

2008-10-11

Expedition 18 Commander Michael Fincke waves goodbye to family and friends from the bus that will take him and fellow crew members Flight Engineer Yuri V. Lonchakov and American spaceflight participant Richard Garriott to the Soyuz TMA-13 spacecraft for launch, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The three crew members are scheduled to dock with the International Space Station on Oct. 14. Fincke and Lonchakov will spend six months on the station, while Garriott will return to Earth Oct. 24 with two of the Expedition 17 crew members currently on the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Victor Zelentsov)

Expedition 18 Launch Day

NASA Image and Video Library

2008-10-11

Expedition 18 Flight Engineer Yuri V. Lonchakov walks from the crew bus to the Soyuz rocket with Expedition 18 Commander Michael Fincke, not pictured, and American spaceflight participant Richard Garriott, background left, prior to their launch in the Soyuz TMA-13 spacecraft, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The three crew members are scheduled to dock with the International Space Station on Oct. 14. Fincke and Lonchakov will spend six months on the station, while Garriott will return to Earth Oct. 24 with two of the Expedition 17 crew members currently on the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Expedition 18 Launch Day

NASA Image and Video Library

2008-10-11

Expedition 18 Commander Michael Fincke waves farewell from the crew bus as he and Flight Engineer Yuri V. Lonchakov and American spaceflight participant Richard Garriott depart the Cosmonaut Hotel to building 254 were they will don their flight suits prior to their launch, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The three crew members are scheduled to dock with the International Space Station on Oct. 14. Fincke and Lonchakov will spend six months on the station, while Garriott will return to Earth Oct. 24 with two of the Expedition 17 crew members currently on the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Expedition 18 Launch Day

NASA Image and Video Library

2008-10-11

Expedition 18 Flight Engineer Yuri V. Lonchakov waves farewell as he and fellow crew members Expedition 18 Commander Michael Fincke and American spaceflight participant Richard Garriott depart the Cosmonaut Hotel for the bus ride to building 254 where the crew will don their spacesuits, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. The three crew members are scheduled to dock with the International Space Station on Oct. 14. Fincke and Lonchakov will spend six months on the station, while Garriott will return to Earth Oct. 24 with two of the Expedition 17 crew members currently on the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Victor Zelentsov)

Expedition 18 Launch Day

NASA Image and Video Library

2008-10-11

Expedition 18 Flight Engineer Yuri V. Lonchakov pumps his fists as he and fellow crew members Expedition 18 Commander Michael Fincke and American spaceflight participant Richard Garriott depart the Cosmonaut hotel for the bus ride to building 254 where the crew will don their spacesuits, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. The three crew members are scheduled to dock with the International Space Station on Oct. 14. Fincke and Lonchakov will spend six months on the station, while Garriott will return to Earth Oct. 24 with two of the Expedition 17 crew members currently on the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Victor Zelentsov)

Lifestyle counseling in overweight truck and bus drivers - Effects on dietary patterns and physical activity.

PubMed

Puhkala, Jatta; Kukkonen-Harjula, Katriina; Aittasalo, Minna; Mansikkamäki, Kirsi; Partinen, Markku; Hublin, Christer; Kärmeniemi, Paula; Sallinen, Mikael; Olkkonen, Seppo; Tokola, Kari; Ojala, Anna; Nygård, Clas-Håkan; Fogelholm, Mikael

2016-12-01

We studied dietary patterns, physical activity (PA), and monthly goal setting in a weight reduction intervention in long-distance professional drivers. The study was conducted in Finland in 2009-2012. Male drivers with waist circumference > 100 cm were randomized to a lifestyle counseling (LIFE, N = 55) and a reference (REF, N = 58) group. During 12 months, LIFE participated in 6 face-to-face and 7 telephone counseling sessions on diet and PA. Dietary patterns were assessed using an index combining food diary and counselor interview, and PA with the number of daily steps using a pedometer. Monthly lifestyle goals, perceived facilitators and barriers, and adverse effects of PA in the LIFE participants were monitored using counselors' log books. Forty-seven (85%) LIFE participants completed the 12-month program. After 12 months, the mean dietary index score improved by 12% (p = 0.002, N = 24), and the number of daily steps increased by 1811 steps (median; p = 0.01, N = 22). The most frequent dietary goals dealt with meal frequency, plate model, and intake of vegetables, fruits, and berries. The most common PA mode was walking. Typical facilitators to reach monthly lifestyle goals were support from family and friends and ailment prevention; typical barriers were working schedules and ailments. Adverse effects, most commonly musculoskeletal pain, occurred among 83% of the LIFE participants. Positive changes in lifestyle habits were observed during counseling. Monthly lifestyle counseling combining face-to-face and phone contacts seemed appropriate to long-distance drivers. Barriers for reaching lifestyle changes, and adverse effects of PA were common and need to be addressed when planning counseling. Clinical Trials NCT00893646.

Bochum ultrasound score versus clinical and electrophysiological parameters in distinguishing acute-onset chronic from acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy.

PubMed

Kerasnoudis, Antonios; Pitarokoili, Kallia; Behrendt, Volker; Gold, Ralf; Yoon, Min-Suk

2015-06-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a nerve ultrasound score (Bochum ultrasound score, BUS), clinical, and electrophysiological parameters could distinguish subacute chronic (CIDP) from acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP). Phase 1: The charts of 35 patients with polyradiculoneuropathy were evaluated retrospectively regarding BUS, clinical, and electrophysiological parameters (A-waves, sural nerve sparing pattern, sensory ratio>1). Phase 2: All parameters were evaluated prospectively in 10 patients with subacute polyradiculoneuropathy. Phase 1: A sum score of ≥2 points in BUS and the presence of sensory symptoms were significantly more frequent in the subacute CIDP group than in the AIDP group (P<0.001).The electrophysiological parameters showed no significant changes between the 2 groups. Phase 2: BUS (83.3%; 100%;), sensory symptoms (100%; 75%), absence of autonomic nervous system dysfunction (83.3%; 75%), or bulbar palsy (83.3%; 50%) showed the best sensitivity and specificity in distinguishing subacute CIDP from AIDP. BUS is a useful diagnostic tool for distinguishing subacute CIDP from AIDP. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Side Object Detection Systems Evaluation : Final Evaluation Report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2008-12-15

Nearly 46 percent of bus accidents across the United States each year occur on the left or right side of the bus. These collisions result in property damage, and they can negatively impact on revenue operations and public perception. The first commer...

Design, development, and evaluation of truck and bus driver wellness programs

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2000-06-01

In May 1997, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) began a research project to design, develop, and evaluate a model truck and bus driver wellness program. This wellness program was developed to provide a resource for addressing tru...

Glacier Going to the Sun Road Rehabilitation Mitigation Shuttle Bus Evaluation.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2008-03-31

As a mitigation measure during reconstruction of the Going to the Sun Road, Glacier National Park operated a shuttle bus system along three routes during the 2007 season. This report presents a multi-dimensional evaluation of the transportation servi...

Bus use and older people: a literature review applying the Person-Environment-Occupation model in macro practice.

PubMed

Broome, Kieran; McKenna, Kryss; Fleming, Jennifer; Worrall, Linda

2009-03-01

The same reasons that prompt older people to give up driving can also result in difficulties with accessing public transport. Difficulties using public transport can limit older people's participation in society, thereby impacting negatively on their health. Focusing on public buses, this review explicates the link between bus usability and the health of older people and frames existing evidence on bus usability issues. The Person-Environment-Occupation (PEO) model offers a framework by which bus usability can be assessed. A combination of person-centred, environmental, and occupation-related factors, including bus design, service provision and performance, information, and the attitudes of staff and the community, impact on older people's ability to catch buses. More systematic research needs to take place in order to develop a comprehensive understanding of bus usability. Occupational therapy has a key role to play in conceptualizing, implementing, and evaluating improvements in bus usability for older people.

Cool Science: Using Children's Art to Communicate Climate Change (Invited)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lustick, D. S.; Lohmeier, J.; Chen, R. F.

2013-12-01

Cool Science is a K-12 Climate Change Science Art Competition. Working with teachers, parents, and students, the project aims to identify outstanding works of art by students about climate change and display the art throughout public mass transit. Cool Science has three distinct goals: 1) provide a convenient means for art and science teachers to incorporate climate change into their curriculum, 2) support teacher/student learning about climate change science, and 3) foster informal learning about climate change among people riding mass transit. By efficiently connecting formal and informal learning with one project, Cool Science is an innovative project that expands the way we engage and evaluate students. Using children's artwork to communicate complex scientific issues such as climate change is a powerful learning experience for the artist, teacher, and audience. Last year, Cool Science received nearly 600 entries from students representing 36 teachers from 32 school districts. Six winning entries went on public display with one highlighted each month from January through June. In addition, there were 6 Runner Ups and 12 Honorable Mentions. For the winning students, it is an unforgettable experience to see a nine-foot version of their artwork traveling around the streets on the side of a bus!

Analysis of real-time variables affecting children's exposure to diesel-related pollutants during school bus commutes in Los Angeles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sabin, Lisa D.; Kozawa, Kathleen; Behrentz, Eduardo; Winer, Arthur M.; Fitz, Dennis R.; Pankratz, David V.; Colome, Steven D.; Fruin, Scott A.

Variables affecting children's exposure during school bus commutes were investigated using real-time measurements of black carbon (BC), particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PB-PAH) and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2) inside 3 conventional diesel school buses, a particle trap-outfitted (TO) diesel school bus and a compressed natural gas (CNG) school bus, while traveling along an urban Los Angeles Unified School District bus route. A video camera was mounted at the front of each bus to record roadway conditions ahead of the bus during each commute. The videotapes from 12 commutes, in conjunction with pollutant concentration time series, were used to determine the influence of variables such as vehicles being followed, bus type and roadway type on pollutant concentrations inside the bus. For all buses tested, the highest concentrations of BC, PB-PAH and NO 2 were observed when following a diesel school bus, especially if that bus was emitting visible exhaust. This result was important because other diesel school buses were responsible for the majority of the diesel vehicle encounters, primarily due to caravanning with each other when leaving a school at the same time. Compared with following a gasoline vehicle or no target, following a smoky diesel school bus yielded BC and PB-PAH concentrations inside the cabin 8 and 11 times higher, respectively, with windows open, and ˜1.8 times higher for both pollutants with windows closed. When other diesel vehicles were not present, pollutant concentrations were highest inside the conventional diesel buses and lowest inside the CNG bus, while the TO diesel bus exhibited intermediate concentrations. Differences in pollutant concentrations between buses were most pronounced with the bus windows closed, and were attributed to a combination of higher concentrations in the exhaust and higher exhaust gas intrusion rates for the conventional diesel buses. Conventional diesel school buses can have a double exposure impact on commuting children: first, exposures to the exhaust from other nearby diesel school buses and, second, exposure to the bus's own exhaust through "self-pollution".

Multi-channel temperature measurement system for automotive battery stack

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lewczuk, Radoslaw; Wojtkowski, Wojciech

2017-08-01

A multi-channel temperature measurement system for monitoring of automotive battery stack is presented in the paper. The presented system is a complete battery temperature measuring system for hybrid / electric vehicles that incorporates multi-channel temperature measurements with digital temperature sensors communicating through 1-Wire buses, individual 1-Wire bus for each sensor for parallel computing (parallel measurements instead of sequential), FPGA device which collects data from sensors and translates it for CAN bus frames. CAN bus is incorporated for communication with car Battery Management System and uses additional CAN bus controller which communicates with FPGA device through SPI bus. The described system can parallel measure up to 12 temperatures but can be easily extended in the future in case of additional needs. The structure of the system as well as particular devices are described in the paper. Selected results of experimental investigations which show proper operation of the system are presented as well.

Pilot Evaluation of a Walking School Bus Program in a Low-Income Urban Community

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

To evaluate the impact of a walking school bus (WSB) program on the proportion of students walking to school in a low-income, urban neighborhood, we conducted a controlled, quasi-experimental trial in urban, socioeconomically disadvantaged, public elementary schools (one intervention and two control...

Pilot evaluation of a walking school bus program in a low-income, urban community

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Our objective was to evaluate the impact of a walking school bus (WSB) program on student transport in a low-income, urban neighborhood. The design was a controlled, quasi-experimental trial with consecutive cross-sectional assessments. The setting was three urban, socioeconomically disadvantaged, p...

American Fuel Cell Bus Project Evaluation. Second Report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Eudy, Leslie; Post, Matthew

2015-09-01

This report presents results of the American Fuel Cell Bus (AFCB) Project, a demonstration of fuel cell electric buses operating in the Coachella Valley area of California. The prototype AFCB was developed as part of the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA's) National Fuel Cell Bus Program. Through the non-profit consortia CALSTART, a team led by SunLine Transit Agency and BAE Systems developed a new fuel cell electric bus for demonstration. SunLine added two more AFCBs to its fleet in 2014 and another in 2015. FTA and the AFCB project team are collaborating with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and DOE'smore » National Renewable Energy Laboratory to evaluate the buses in revenue service. This report summarizes the performance results for the buses through June 2015.« less

Evaluating a GPS-Based Transportation Device to Support Independent Bus Travel by People with Intellectual Disability

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Davies, Daniel K.; Stock, Steven E.; Holloway, Shane; Wehmeyer, Michael L.

2010-01-01

We examined the utility of a PDA-based software system with integrated GPS technology for providing location-aware visual and auditory prompts to enable people with intellectual disability to successfully navigate a downtown bus route. Participants using the system were significantly more successful at completing a bus route than were people in a…

Classifying the Diversity of Bus Mapping Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Said, Mohd Shahmy Mohd; Forrest, David

2018-05-01

This study represents the first stage of an investigation into understanding the nature of different approaches to mapping bus routes and bus network, and how they may best be applied in different public transport situations. In many cities, bus services represent an important facet of easing traffic congestion and reducing pollution. However, with the entrenched car culture in many countries, persuading people to change their mode of transport is a major challenge. To promote this modal shift, people need to know what services are available and where (and when) they go. Bus service maps provide an invaluable element of providing suitable public transport information, but are often overlooked by transport planners, and are under-researched by cartographers. The method here consists of the creation of a map evaluation form and performing assessment of published bus networks maps. The analyses were completed by a combination of quantitative and qualitative data analysis of various aspects of cartographic design and classification. This paper focuses on the resulting classification, which is illustrated by a series of examples. This classification will facilitate more in depth investigations into the details of cartographic design for such maps and help direct areas for user evaluation.

Evaluation of Candidate Measures for Home-Based Screening of Sleep Disordered Breathing in Taiwanese Bus Drivers

PubMed Central

Ting, Hua; Huang, Ren-Jing; Lai, Ching-Hsiang; Chang, Shen-Wen; Chung, Ai-Hui; Kuo, Teng-Yao; Chang, Ching-Haur; Shih, Tung-Sheng; Lee, Shin-Da

2014-01-01

Background: Sleepiness-at-the-wheel has been identified as a major cause of highway accidents. The aim of our study is identifying the candidate measures for home-based screening of sleep disordered breathing in Taiwanese bus drivers, instead of polysomnography. Methods: Overnight polysomnography accompanied with simultaneous measurements of alternative screening devices (pulse oximetry, ApneaLink, and Actigraphy), heart rate variability, wake-up systolic blood pressure and questionnaires were completed by 151 eligible participants who were long-haul bus drivers with a duty period of more than 12 h a day and duty shifting. Results: 63.6% of professional bus drivers were diagnosed as having sleep disordered breathing and had a higher body mass index, neck circumference, systolic blood pressure, arousal index and desaturation index than those professional bus drivers without evidence of sleep disordered breathing. Simple home-based candidate measures: (1) Pulse oximetry, oxygen-desaturation indices by ≥3% and 4% (r = 0.87∼0.92); (2) Pulse oximetry, pulse-rising indices by ≥7% and 8% from a baseline (r = 0.61∼0.89); and (3) ApneaLink airflow detection, apnea-hypopnea indices (r = 0.70∼0.70), based on recording-time or Actigraphy-corrected total sleep time were all significantly correlated with, and had high agreement with, corresponding polysomnographic apnea-hypopnea indices [(1) 94.5%∼96.6%, (2) 93.8%∼97.2%, (3) 91.1%∼91.3%, respectively]. Conversely, no validities of SDB screening were found in the multi-variables apnea prediction questionnaire, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, night-sleep heart rate variability, wake-up systolic blood pressure and anthropometric variables. Conclusions: The indices of pulse oximetry and apnea flow detection are eligible criteria for home-based screening of sleep disordered breathing, specifically for professional drivers. PMID:24803198

Research and design of intelligent distributed traffic signal light control system based on CAN bus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Yu

2007-12-01

Intelligent distributed traffic signal light control system was designed based on technologies of infrared, CAN bus, single chip microprocessor (SCM), etc. The traffic flow signal is processed with the core of SCM AT89C51. At the same time, the SCM controls the CAN bus controller SJA1000/transceiver PCA82C250 to build a CAN bus communication system to transmit data. Moreover, up PC realizes to connect and communicate with SCM through USBCAN chip PDIUSBD12. The distributed traffic signal light control system with three control styles of Vehicle flux, remote and PC is designed. This paper introduces the system composition method and parts of hardware/software design in detail.

[Diagnostic performance of biliary ultrasound vs. magnetic resonance cholangiogram in patients with recurrent biliary obstruction.].

PubMed

Chávez-Valencia, V; Espinosa-Ortega, H F; Espinoza-Peralta, D; Arce-Salinas, C A

2009-01-01

Obstructive jaundice in patients with previous cholecystectomy requires a precise diagnosis. In the diagnostic algorithm, biliary ultrasound (BUS) and magnetic resonance cholangiogram (MRC) are used, although the accuracy of each method is unknown in our setting. No previous comparison of US and MRC in subjects with cholecystectomy has been made. To determine diagnostic accuracy of BUS and MRC in patients with recurrent biliary obstruction. Patients with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopacreatography (ERCP) demonstrating recurrent biliary obstruction by stones were included. All patients underwent BUS and MRC. We determined the diagnostic performance of each image study compared with ERCP. Twenty-seven patients with a mean age of 62.9 +/- 17.3 years-old were included. Sensitivity and specificity of BUS were 0.12 and 0.58, respectively. Figures for MRC were 0.88 and 0.82. Diagnostic agreement between ERCP and MRC was k= 0.66 whereas BUS had a k of only 0.26. MRC had good diagnostic performance for recurrent choledocolithiasis. BUS demonstrated lower accuracy compared with previous reports, so should not be considered in the initial approach of recurrent choledocus obstruction.

Magnitude and correlates of bird collisions at glass bus shelters in an urban landscape.

PubMed

Barton, Christine M; Riding, Corey S; Loss, Scott R

2017-01-01

Wildlife residing in urban landscapes face many human-related threats to their survival. For birds, collision with glass on manmade structures has been identified as a major hazard, causing hundreds of millions of avian fatalities in North America every year. Although research has investigated factors associated with bird-glass collision mortality at buildings, no prior studies have focused on bird fatalities at glass-walled bus shelters. Our objectives in this study were to describe the magnitude of bird-bus shelter collisions in the city of Stillwater, Oklahoma and assess potential predictors of collision risk, including characteristics of shelters (glass area) and surrounding land cover (e.g., vegetative features). We surveyed for bird carcasses and indirect collision evidence at 18 bus shelters over a five-month period. Linear regression and model selection results revealed that the amount of glass on shelters and the area of lawn within 50 m of shelters were both positively related to fatal bird collisions; glass area was also positively associated with observations of collision evidence on glass surfaces. After accounting for scavenger removal of carcasses, we estimate that a minimum of 34 birds are killed each year between May and September by collision with the 36 bus shelters in the city of Stillwater. While our study provides an initial look at bird fatalities at bus shelters, additional research is needed to generate a large-scale estimate of collision mortality and to assess species composition of fatalities at a national scale. Designing new bus shelters to include less glass and retrofitting existing shelters to increase visibility of glass to birds will likely reduce fatal bird collisions at bus shelters and thus reduce the cumulative magnitude of anthropogenic impacts to birds in cities.

Bus drivers' exposure to bullying at work: an occupation-specific approach.

PubMed

Glasø, Lars; Bele, Edvard; Nielsen, Morten Birkeland; Einarsen, Ståle

2011-10-01

The present study employs an occupation-specific approach to examine bus drivers' exposure to bullying and their trait anger, job engagement, job satisfaction and turnover intentions. A total of 1,023 bus drivers from a large public transport organization participated in the study. The findings show that bus driving can be a high risk occupation with regard to bullying, since 70% of the bus drivers had experienced one or more acts typical of bullying during the last six months. As many as 11% defined themselves as victims of bullying, 33% of whom (i.e. 3.6% of the total sample) see themselves as victims of frequent bullying. Colleagues were most frequently reported as perpetrators. Exposure to bullying was negatively related to job engagement and job satisfaction and positively related to turnover intentions. Job engagement and job satisfaction mediated the relationship between bullying and intention to leave, respectively. Trait anger had an interaction effect on the relationship between bullying and turnover intentions. This study indicates that workplace bullying has context-specific aspects that require increased use of context-specific policies and intervention methods. © 2011 The Authors. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology © 2011 The Scandinavian Psychological Associations.

Improved estimation of commuter waiting times using headway and commuter boarding information

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramli, Muhamad Azfar; Jayaraman, Vasundhara; Kwek, Hyen Chee; Tan, Kian Heong; Lee Kee Khoon, Gary; Monterola, Christopher

2018-07-01

The average amount of waiting time spent by commuters is one of the key indicators of service quality for public bus operations. While actual measurements of actual waiting time is difficult to be done en masse, models of waiting time can be derived from bus headways and these models have been adopted by transport planners in monitoring and regulating service reliability of operators. However, these models are founded on several assumptions on the patterns of commuter arrival which may not be applicable for bus services that experience high demand and heavily fluctuating commuter patterns. Given the availability of granular data on commuter boarding from automated fare collection systems, we propose a new methodology to better estimate the average waiting time of commuters. The formulation is anchored and validated using a three-month dataset from ten selected bus routes in Singapore. Finally, we discuss how our new measure allows for minimization of commuter waiting time through schedule optimization.

Express bus-fringe parking planning methodology.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1975-01-01

The conception, calibration, and evaluation of alternative disaggregate behavioral models of the express bus-fringe parking travel choice situation are described. Survey data collected for the Parham Express Service in Richmond, Virginia, are used to...

Bus Stops and Pedestrian-Motor Vehicle Collisions in Lima, Peru: A Matched Case-Control Study

PubMed Central

Quistberg, D. Alex; Koepsell, Thomas D.; Johnston, Brian D.; Boyle, Linda Ng; Miranda, J. Jaime; Ebel, Beth E.

2015-01-01

Objective To evaluate the relationship between bus stop characteristics and pedestrian-motor vehicle collisions. Design Matched case-control study where the units of study were pedestrian crossing. Setting Random sample of 11 police commissaries in Lima, Peru. Data collection occurred from February, 2011 to September, 2011. Participants 97 intersection cases representing 1,134 collisions and 40 mid-block cases representing 469 collisions that occurred between October, 2010 and January, 2011 and their matched controls. Main Exposures Presence of a bus stop and specific bus stop characteristics. Main Outcome Occurrence of a pedestrian-motor vehicle collision. Results Intersections with bus stops were three times more likely to have a pedestrian-vehicle collision (OR 3.28, 95% CI 1.53-7.03), relative to intersections without bus stops. Both formal and informal bus stops were associated with a higher odds of a collision at intersections (OR 6.23, 95% CI 1.76-22.0 and OR 2.98, 1.37-6.49). At mid-block sites, bus stops on a bus-dedicated transit lane were also associated with collision risk (OR 2.36, 95% CI 1.02-5.42). All bus stops were located prior to the intersection, contrary to practices in most high income countries. Conclusions In urban Lima, the presence of a bus stop was associated with a three-fold increase in risk of a pedestrian collision. The highly competitive environment among bus companies may provide an economic incentive for risky practices such as dropping off passengers in the middle of traffic and jockeying for position with other buses. Bus stop placement should be considered to improve pedestrian safety. PMID:24357516

EMI/EMP Resistant Data Bus

DTIC Science & Technology

1976-09-01

Control Multiplex Terminal Unit (CMTU) 1 each MTU Test Set 2 each CMTU Test Set 1 each 9 port Radial Coupler 1 each Fiber Optics Radial...Introduction 3 2 . MTU 11 3. CMTU 1 ? 4. SSIU and Controller ?! 5. Optical Data Bus 21 II System Design Construction 24 1 . Optoelectronic...8217 TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) SECTION TITLE PAGE IV System Test and Operation 1 . Test Equipment 2 . Evaluation a. Optical Bus b. Optoelectronic

Electrical Design and Evaluation of Asynchronous Serial Bus Communication Network of 48 Sensor Platform LSIs with Single-Ended I/O for Integrated MEMS-LSI Sensors.

PubMed

Shao, Chenzhong; Tanaka, Shuji; Nakayama, Takahiro; Hata, Yoshiyuki; Muroyama, Masanori

2018-01-15

For installing many sensors in a limited space with a limited computing resource, the digitization of the sensor output at the site of sensation has advantages such as a small amount of wiring, low signal interference and high scalability. For this purpose, we have developed a dedicated Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) Large-Scale Integration (LSI) (referred to as "sensor platform LSI") for bus-networked Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems (MEMS)-LSI integrated sensors. In this LSI, collision avoidance, adaptation and event-driven functions are simply implemented to relieve data collision and congestion in asynchronous serial bus communication. In this study, we developed a network system with 48 sensor platform LSIs based on Printed Circuit Board (PCB) in a backbone bus topology with the bus length being 2.4 m. We evaluated the serial communication performance when 48 LSIs operated simultaneously with the adaptation function. The number of data packets received from each LSI was almost identical, and the average sampling frequency of 384 capacitance channels (eight for each LSI) was 73.66 Hz.

Occupation exposed to road-traffic emissions and respiratory health among Congolese transit workers, particularly bus conductors, in Kinshasa: a cross-sectional study.

PubMed

Mbelambela, Etongola Papy; Hirota, Ryoji; Eitoku, Masamitsu; Muchanga, Sifa Marie Joelle; Kiyosawa, Hidenori; Yasumitsu-Lovell, Kahoko; Lawanga, Ontshick Leader; Suganuma, Narufumi

2017-03-20

Road-traffic emissions (RTE) induce adverse health effects, notably respiratory symptoms and respiratory diseases, as a result of pollutants deposited into the respiratory tract. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between occupation groups of Congolese transit workers exposed to RTE, particularly bus conductors and respiratory health, in Kinshasa. A cross-sectional study was conducted from 2015 April 20 th to May 14 th , whose participants were bus conductors (n = 110), bus drivers (n = 107), taxi-motorcyclists (n = 102) and high school teachers (control group; n = 106). Subjects had completed the American Thoracic Society respiratory symptom questionnaire. Lung function test was performed by spirometry. Air pollutants levels of PM 2.5 , NO 2 and SO 2 were measured between 7:30 and 8:30 and 16:30-17:30 using a portable gas monitor. Multivariate analysis was performed to evaluate the association between occupation exposed to RTE and impaired pulmonary function, after adjustment by plausible confounders. The prevalence of mixed syndrome was 21.9% for bus conductors, 10.9% for bus drivers, 15.4% for taxi-motorcyclists and 7.1% for high school teachers with (p < 0.05). The risk of developing a mixed syndrome was seven times higher among bus conductors [OR = 7.64; 95% CI: 1.83-31.67; p < 0.05] than other groups. Additionally, the prevalence of respiratory syndromes increased with the duration of exposure. Occupation exposed to RTE is associated with impaired pulmonary function and the prevalence of respiratory symptoms among transit workers, especially bus conductors. Furthermore, this association increases with the duration of exposure suggesting the necessity to regulate these categories of occupations and to apply preventives measures.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chandler, K.; Eudy, L.

This report provides preliminary results from a National Renewable Energy Laboratory evaluation of a protoptye fuel cell transit bus operating at Connecticut Transit in Hartford. Included are descriptions of the planned fuel cell bus demonstration and equipment; early results and agency experience are also provided.

Stability improvement of wind turbine penetrated using power system stabilizer (PSS) on South Sulawesi transmission system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Siswanto, Agus; Gunadin, Indar Chaerah; Said, Sri Mawar; Suyuti, Ansar

2018-03-01

The purpose of this research is to improve the stability of interconnection of South Sulawesi system caused by penetration new wind turbine in Sidrap area on bus 2 and in Jeniponto area on bus 34. The method used in this research was via software Power System analysis Toolbox (PSAT) under MATLAB. In this research, there are two problems that are evaluated, the stability of the system before and after penetration wind turbine into the system South Sulawesi system. From the simulation result shows that penetration of wind turbine on bus 2 Sidrap, bus 37 Jeniponto give effect oscillation on the system. The oscillation was damped by installation of Power System Stabilizer (PSS) on bus 29 area Sungguminasa, that South Sulawesi system stable according to normal condition.

Effects of the window openings on the micro-environmental condition in a school bus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Fei; Lee, Eon S.; Zhou, Bin; Liu, Junjie; Zhu, Yifang

2017-10-01

School bus is an important micro-environment for children's health because the level of in-cabin air pollution can increase due to its own exhaust in addition to on-road traffic emissions. However, it has been challenging to understand the in-cabin air quality that is associated with complex airflow patterns inside and outside a school bus. This study conducted Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling analyses to determine the effects of window openings on the self-pollution for a school bus. Infiltration through the window gaps is modeled by applying variable numbers of active computational cells as a function of the effective area ratio of the opening. The experimental data on ventilation rates from the literature was used to validate the model. Ultrafine particles (UFPs) and black carbon (BC) concentrations were monitored in ;real world; field campaigns using school buses. This modeling study examined the airflow pattern inside the school bus under four different types of side-window openings at 20, 40, and 60 mph (i.e., a total of 12 cases). We found that opening the driver's window could allow the infiltration of exhaust through window/door gaps in the back of school bus; whereas, opening windows in the middle of the school bus could mitigate this phenomenon. We also found that an increased driving speed (from 20 mph to 60 mph) could result in a higher ventilation rate (up to 3.4 times) and lower mean age of air (down to 0.29 time) inside the bus.

Study on emission characteristics of hybrid bus under driving cycles in typical Chinese city

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xie, Yongdong; Xu, Guangju

2017-09-01

In this study, hybrid city bus was taken as the research object, through the vehicle drum test, the vehicle emissions of hybrid bus, the transient emissions of gas pollutants, as well as the particle size and number distribution were surveyed. The results of the studies are listed as follows: First, compared to traditional fuel bus, hybrid bus could reduce about 44% of the NOx emissions, 33% of the total hydrocarbon emissions, and 51% of the particles emissions. Furthermore, the distribution of particles number concentration of test vehicle became high in middle and low in both sides. More specifically, the particle number concentration was mainly concentrated in the range from 0.021 to 0.755μm, the maximum was 0.2μm, and particle size of particulate matter (PM) less than 1.2μm accounted for 95% of the total number concentration. Particulate mass concentration was increased with increment of particle size, and the maximum of particulate mass (PM) concentration was 6.2μm. On average, whether traditional fuel bus or hybrid bus, the particle size of particulate matter(PM) less than 2.5μm accounted for more than 98% in the particles emission. It is found that the particles are more likely to deposit to the lung, respiratory bronchioles and alveoli, causing respiratory and lung diseases. Therefore, how to control the PM emissions of hybrid bus is the key factor of the study.

Methodology of mixed load customized bus lines and adjustment based on time windows

PubMed Central

Song, Rui

2018-01-01

Custom bus routes need to be optimized to meet the needs of a customized bus for personalized trips of different passengers. This paper introduced a customized bus routing problem in which trips for each depot are given, and each bus stop has a fixed time window within which trips should be completed. Treating a trip as a virtual stop was the first consideration in solving the school bus routing problem (SBRP). Then, the mixed load custom bus routing model was established with a time window that satisfies its requirement and the result were solved by Cplex software. Finally, a simple network diagram with three depots, four pickup stops, and five delivery stops was structured to verify the correctness of the model, and based on the actual example, the result is that all the buses ran 124.42 kilometers, the sum of kilometers was 10.35 kilometers less than before. The paths and departure times of the different busses that were provided by the model were evaluated to meet the needs of the given conditions, thus providing valuable information for actual work. PMID:29320505

Exact and Metaheuristic Approaches for a Bi-Objective School Bus Scheduling Problem.

PubMed

Chen, Xiaopan; Kong, Yunfeng; Dang, Lanxue; Hou, Yane; Ye, Xinyue

2015-01-01

As a class of hard combinatorial optimization problems, the school bus routing problem has received considerable attention in the last decades. For a multi-school system, given the bus trips for each school, the school bus scheduling problem aims at optimizing bus schedules to serve all the trips within the school time windows. In this paper, we propose two approaches for solving the bi-objective school bus scheduling problem: an exact method of mixed integer programming (MIP) and a metaheuristic method which combines simulated annealing with local search. We develop MIP formulations for homogenous and heterogeneous fleet problems respectively and solve the models by MIP solver CPLEX. The bus type-based formulation for heterogeneous fleet problem reduces the model complexity in terms of the number of decision variables and constraints. The metaheuristic method is a two-stage framework for minimizing the number of buses to be used as well as the total travel distance of buses. We evaluate the proposed MIP and the metaheuristic method on two benchmark datasets, showing that on both instances, our metaheuristic method significantly outperforms the respective state-of-the-art methods.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chandler, K.; Eudy, L.

This report describes operations at Connecticut Transit (CTTRANSIT) in Hartford for one prototype fuel cell bus and three new diesel buses operating from the same location. The prototype fuel cell bus was manufactured by Van Hool and ISE Corp. and features an electric hybrid drive system with a UTC Power PureMotion 120 Fuel Cell Power System and ZEBRA batteries for energy storage. The fuel cell bus started operation in April 2007, and evaluation results through October 2009 are provided in this report.

King County Metro Battery Electric Bus Demonstration: Preliminary Project Results

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

The U.S. Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds a variety of research projects that support the commercialization of zero-emission bus technology. To evaluate projects funded through these programs, FTA has enlisted the help of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to conduct third-party evaluations of the technologies deployed under the FTA programs. NREL works with the selected agencies to evaluate the performance of the zero-emission buses compared to baseline conventional buses in similar service. The evaluation effort will advance the knowledge base of zero-emission technologies in transit bus applications and provide 'lessons learned' to aid other fleets in incrementally introducing nextmore » generation zero-emission buses into their operations. This report provides preliminary performance evaluation results from a demonstration of three zero-emission battery electric buses at King County Metro in King County, Washington. NREL developed this preliminary results report to quickly disseminate evaluation results to stakeholders. Detailed evaluation results will be published in future reports.« less

Crashworthiness evaluation of mass transit buses.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2008-11-01

Mass transit bus systems are an integral part of the national transportation network, serving more than 20.6 billion passenger-miles per year with a relatively low fatality rate. Bus occupant injuries are evenly distributed among crashes on all sides...

Aircraft Alerting Systems Standardization Study. Volume I. Candidate System Validation and Time-Critical Display Evaluation.

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-01-01

SELCAL FLT ALT ATNI AUO ALT BRK CANSELCAL OVSO CALL CONTRL ALRT _ I7CT be SPLR b 0 11CALL Figure 5.4.4-1 Pilot’s Response Panel Figure 5.4.4-2 Flight...Galley bus off 27 GLY BUS OFF A RP ELEC CYCLE SWITCH Utility bus off 28 UTIL BUS OFF A RP ELEC CYCLE SWITCH Right engine 29 R ENG HYD PUMP A RP HYD...CYCLE SWITCH hydraulic pump Left engine 30 L ENG FIRE DET A RP FIRE RP FIRE fire detector Left brake overheat 31 L BRAKE OVHT A RP BRK RP BRK Right

[Investigation on events of bus on fire in 6 years in the mainland of China].

PubMed

Wang, X G; Liu, Y; Cen, Y; Wu, P; Zhou, H L; Han, C M

2016-12-20

Objective: To retrospectively analyze the characteristics of events of bus on fire in 6 years in the mainland of China. Methods: Events of bus on fire happened between January 2009 and December 2014 were retrieved through Baidu search engine, Chinese Journals Full - text Database, and PubMed database in the search strategy with " bus" and " fire" or " arson" as keywords combined with the name of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities of the mainland of China. The occurrence time, region, cause of fire, casualties of each event were recorded, and the correlative analysis was conducted. Data were processed with Microsoft Excel software. Results: Totally 287 events of bus on fire were retrieved, among which 49 events happened in 2009, 36 events happened in 2010, 35 events happened in 2011, 37 events happened in 2012, and respectively 65 events happened in 2013 and 2014. The events of bus on fire most frequently happened in June and July, respectively 49 and 39 events. Among the distribution of occurrence regions of events of bus on fire, there were 78 events (27.18%) in east China, 52 events (18.12%) in northeast China, 41 events (14.29%) both in north China and south China. Among the causes of events of bus on fire, spontaneous combustion of bus ranked in the first (267 events, accounting for 93.03%), followed by arson (13 events, accounting for 4.53%). Among the 13 events of bus on fire caused by arson, 7 events happened between 16: 00 and 20: 00, and 3 events happened between 8: 00 and 10: 00. Totally 27 events of bus on fire (9.41%) were with casualties, among which 13 events (48.15%) were caused by spontaneous combustion of bus, 10 events (37.04%) were caused by arson, and 4 events (14.81%) were caused by traffic accidents. Arson caused the most severe casualties (at least 88 deaths and 287 injuries), followed by spontaneous combustion of bus (at least 35 deaths and 140 injuries) and traffic accidents (at least 9 deaths and 20 injuries). Conclusions: Events of bus on fire happened more frequently in recent years in the mainland of China, and the frequencies were much higher especially in June and July. Most events were caused by spontaneous combustion of bus, followed by arson. Most of the events of bus on fire caused by arson happened in the morning and evening rush hours of urban traffic, and althouth the occurrence rate was not high, the casualties were most severe.

BC Transit Fuel Cell Bus Project : Evaluation Results Report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2014-02-02

British Columbia Transit (BC Transit) has been leading a demonstration of fuel cell electric buses (FCEB) in Whistler, Canada, since early 2010. This 20-bus demonstration was introduced during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games and is the worlds larges...

SunLine Test Drives Hydrogen Bus

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2003-08-01

SunLine collaborated with the U.S. Department of Energys (DOE) Hydrogen, Fuel Cells & Infrastructure Technologies (HFC&IT) Program on the evaluation of the 30-foot hybrid fuel cell bus that was developed by ThunderPower LLC, a joint venture by Tho...

American Fuel Cell Bus Project Evaluation : Second Report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2015-09-01

This report presents results of the American Fuel Cell Bus (AFCB) Project, a demonstration of fuel cell electric buses (FCEB) operating in the Coachella Valley area of California. The prototype AFCB was developed as part of the Federal Transit Admini...

Analysis of movable bus stop boarding and alighting areas.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-05-01

This study explored the feasibility of using movable and reusable boarding and alighting (B&A) pads at bus stops. : Potential design alternatives in terms of materials and structural support for these pads were evaluated. The review : focused on the ...

Foothill Transit Battery Electric Bus Demonstration Results : Second Report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2017-06-01

This report summarizes results of a battery electric bus (BEB) evaluation at Foothill Transit, located in the San Gabriel and Pomona Valley region of Los Angeles County, California. Foothill Transit began a demonstration of three Proterra BEBs in Oct...

An Optimal Control Strategy for DC Bus Voltage Regulation in Photovoltaic System with Battery Energy Storage

PubMed Central

Daud, Muhamad Zalani; Mohamed, Azah; Hannan, M. A.

2014-01-01

This paper presents an evaluation of an optimal DC bus voltage regulation strategy for grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) system with battery energy storage (BES). The BES is connected to the PV system DC bus using a DC/DC buck-boost converter. The converter facilitates the BES power charge/discharge to compensate for the DC bus voltage deviation during severe disturbance conditions. In this way, the regulation of DC bus voltage of the PV/BES system can be enhanced as compared to the conventional regulation that is solely based on the voltage-sourced converter (VSC). For the grid side VSC (G-VSC), two control methods, namely, the voltage-mode and current-mode controls, are applied. For control parameter optimization, the simplex optimization technique is applied for the G-VSC voltage- and current-mode controls, including the BES DC/DC buck-boost converter controllers. A new set of optimized parameters are obtained for each of the power converters for comparison purposes. The PSCAD/EMTDC-based simulation case studies are presented to evaluate the performance of the proposed optimized control scheme in comparison to the conventional methods. PMID:24883374

Electrical Design and Evaluation of Asynchronous Serial Bus Communication Network of 48 Sensor Platform LSIs with Single-Ended I/O for Integrated MEMS-LSI Sensors

PubMed Central

Shao, Chenzhong; Tanaka, Shuji; Nakayama, Takahiro; Hata, Yoshiyuki

2018-01-01

For installing many sensors in a limited space with a limited computing resource, the digitization of the sensor output at the site of sensation has advantages such as a small amount of wiring, low signal interference and high scalability. For this purpose, we have developed a dedicated Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) Large-Scale Integration (LSI) (referred to as “sensor platform LSI”) for bus-networked Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems (MEMS)-LSI integrated sensors. In this LSI, collision avoidance, adaptation and event-driven functions are simply implemented to relieve data collision and congestion in asynchronous serial bus communication. In this study, we developed a network system with 48 sensor platform LSIs based on Printed Circuit Board (PCB) in a backbone bus topology with the bus length being 2.4 m. We evaluated the serial communication performance when 48 LSIs operated simultaneously with the adaptation function. The number of data packets received from each LSI was almost identical, and the average sampling frequency of 384 capacitance channels (eight for each LSI) was 73.66 Hz. PMID:29342923

An optimal control strategy for DC bus voltage regulation in photovoltaic system with battery energy storage.

PubMed

Daud, Muhamad Zalani; Mohamed, Azah; Hannan, M A

2014-01-01

This paper presents an evaluation of an optimal DC bus voltage regulation strategy for grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) system with battery energy storage (BES). The BES is connected to the PV system DC bus using a DC/DC buck-boost converter. The converter facilitates the BES power charge/discharge to compensate for the DC bus voltage deviation during severe disturbance conditions. In this way, the regulation of DC bus voltage of the PV/BES system can be enhanced as compared to the conventional regulation that is solely based on the voltage-sourced converter (VSC). For the grid side VSC (G-VSC), two control methods, namely, the voltage-mode and current-mode controls, are applied. For control parameter optimization, the simplex optimization technique is applied for the G-VSC voltage- and current-mode controls, including the BES DC/DC buck-boost converter controllers. A new set of optimized parameters are obtained for each of the power converters for comparison purposes. The PSCAD/EMTDC-based simulation case studies are presented to evaluate the performance of the proposed optimized control scheme in comparison to the conventional methods.

Microbial air quality in mass transport buses and work-related illness among bus drivers of Bangkok Mass Transit Authority.

PubMed

Luksamijarulkul, Pipat; Sundhiyodhin, Viboonsri; Luksamijarulkul, Soavalug; Kaewboonchoo, Orawan

2004-06-01

The air quality in mass transport buses, especially air-conditioned buses may affect bus drivers who work full time. Bus numbers 16, 63, 67 and 166 of the Seventh Bus Zone of Bangkok Mass Transit Authority were randomly selected to investigate for microbial air quality. Nine air-conditioned buses and 2-4 open-air buses for each number of the bus (36 air-conditioned buses and 12 open-air buses) were included. Five points of in-bus air samples in each studied bus were collected by using the Millipore A ir Tester Totally, 180 and 60 air samples collected from air-conditioned buses and open-air buses were cultured for bacterial and fungal counts. The bus drivers who drove the studied buses were interviewed towards histories of work-related illness while working. The results revealed that the mean +/- SD of bacterial counts in the studied open-air buses ranged from 358.50 +/- 146.66 CFU/m3 to 506 +/- 137.62 CFU/m3; bus number 16 had the highest level. As well as the mean +/- SD of fungal counts which ranged from 93.33 +/- 44.83 CFU/m3 to 302 +/- 294.65 CFU/m3; bus number 166 had the highest level. Whereas, the mean +/- SD of bacterial counts in the studied air-conditioned buses ranged from 115.24 +/- 136.01 CFU/m3 to 244.69 +/- 234.85 CFU/m3; bus numbers 16 and 67 had the highest level. As well as the mean +/- SD of fungal counts which rangedfrom 18.84 +/- 39.42 CFU/m3 to 96.13 +/- 234.76 CFU/m3; bus number 166 had the highest level. When 180 and 60 studied air samples were analyzed in detail, it was found that 33.33% of the air samples from open-air buses and 6.11% of air samples from air-conditioned buses had a high level of bacterial counts (> 500 CFU/m3) while 6.67% of air samples from open-air buses and 2.78% of air samples from air-conditioned buses had a high level of fungal counts (> 500 CFU/m3). Data from the history of work-related illnesses among the studied bus drivers showed that 91.67% of open-air bus drivers and 57.28% of air-conditioned bus drivers had symptoms of work-related illnesses, p = 0.0185.

Evaluation of bus transit reliability in the District of Columbia.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-11-01

Several performance metrics can be used to assess the reliability of a transit system. These include on-time arrivals, travel-time : adherence, run-time adherence, and customer satisfaction, among others. On-time arrival at bus stops is one of the pe...

Evaluation of Effective Factors on Travel Time in Optimization of Bus Stops Placement Using Genetic Algorithm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bargegol, Iraj; Ghorbanzadeh, Mahyar; Ghasedi, Meisam; Rastbod, Mohammad

2017-10-01

In congested cities, locating and proper designing of bus stops according to the unequal distribution of passengers is crucial issue economically and functionally, since this subject plays an important role in the use of bus system by passengers. Location of bus stops is a complicated subject; by reducing distances between stops, walking time decreases, but the total travel time may increase. In this paper, a specified corridor in the city of Rasht in north of Iran is studied. Firstly, a new formula is presented to calculate the travel time, by which the number of stops and consequently, the travel time can be optimized. An intended corridor with specified number of stops and distances between them is addressed, the related formulas to travel time are created, and its travel time is calculated. Then the corridor is modelled using a meta-heuristic method in order that the placement and the optimal distances of bus stops for that are determined. It was found that alighting and boarding time along with bus capacity are the most effective factors affecting travel time. Consequently, it is better to have more concentration on indicated factors for improving the efficiency of bus system.

Exact and Metaheuristic Approaches for a Bi-Objective School Bus Scheduling Problem

PubMed Central

Chen, Xiaopan; Kong, Yunfeng; Dang, Lanxue; Hou, Yane; Ye, Xinyue

2015-01-01

As a class of hard combinatorial optimization problems, the school bus routing problem has received considerable attention in the last decades. For a multi-school system, given the bus trips for each school, the school bus scheduling problem aims at optimizing bus schedules to serve all the trips within the school time windows. In this paper, we propose two approaches for solving the bi-objective school bus scheduling problem: an exact method of mixed integer programming (MIP) and a metaheuristic method which combines simulated annealing with local search. We develop MIP formulations for homogenous and heterogeneous fleet problems respectively and solve the models by MIP solver CPLEX. The bus type-based formulation for heterogeneous fleet problem reduces the model complexity in terms of the number of decision variables and constraints. The metaheuristic method is a two-stage framework for minimizing the number of buses to be used as well as the total travel distance of buses. We evaluate the proposed MIP and the metaheuristic method on two benchmark datasets, showing that on both instances, our metaheuristic method significantly outperforms the respective state-of-the-art methods. PMID:26176764

Fuel Cell Transit Buses : ThunderPower Bus Evaluation at SunLine Transit Agency

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2003-11-01

This report provides an overview of the ThunderPower fuel cell bus demonstration at SunLine Transit Agency in Thousand Palms, California. Under contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) evaluat...

Evaluation of transit operations : data applications of Tri-Met's automated bus dispatching system

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2001-02-01

This paper presents an analysis of operating performance for Tri-Met, the transit provider for the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area. The analysis draws on data recovered by Tri-Met's automated Bus Dispatching System (BDS) and focuses on two main su...

V.C.3 Technology Validation : Fuel Cell Bus Evaluations

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2005-01-06

Based on the results of this analysis and the response from the project partners, the SunLine demonstration was deemed to be a success. Although it was a prototype (or pre-commercial) vehicle, the ThunderPower bus operated in revenue service at a rel...

SunLine Transit Agency Advanced Technology Fuel Cell Bus Evaluation: Fourth Results Report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-01-01

SunLine Transit Agency provides public transit services to the Coachella Valley area of California. SunLine has demonstrated hydrogen and fuel cell bus technologies for more than 10 years. In May 2010, SunLine began demonstrating the advanced technol...

School bus’s level of service in Malang City

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hariyani, S.

2017-06-01

School Bus began operated on the 12th of January 2015. Provision of school buses is expected to reduce not only the use of vehicles by students, but it is also to reduce the number of traffic jams. Malang school bus facilities provided by the Department of Transport in cooperation with the Department of Education to serve students in elementary school, junior and senior high schools. After the service running two years, based on the preliminary observation not all students are interested in using the school bus. The research objective was to measure the school bus’s level service. The method to measure school bus’s level of service was used Importance Performance analysis (IPA). The results showed that through IPA, it can be concluded that school bus’s level of service in Malang City have been able to serve students/customers with the mean of degree suitability (Tki) is 111. Meanwhile it must be observed and get more attention to improve by government, attributes which is lies in the first quadrant or concentrate here (attribute Adequate space, Seating capacity, Availability trash can, Passenger facility down in points, The availability of information boards in each bus stop, Availability public telephone in each bus stop, and Availability CCTV in each bus), in order to increase its performance.

National Fuel Cell Bus Program: Accelerated Testing Evaluation Report #2, Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) and Appendices

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Eudy, L.; Chandler, K.

2010-06-01

This is an evaluation of hydrogen fuel cell transit buses operating at AC Transit in revenue service since March 20, 2006, comparing similar diesel buses operating from the same depot. It covers November 2007 through February 2010. Results include implementation experience, fueling station operation, evaluation results at AC Transit (bus usage, availability, fuel economy, maintenance costs, and road calls), and a summary of achievements and challenges encountered during the demonstration.

Performance Evaluation of UHF RFID Technologies for Real-Time Bus Recognition in the Taipei Bus Station

PubMed Central

Own, Chung-Ming; Lee, Da-Sheng; Wang, Ti-Ho; Wang, De-Jun; Ting, Yu-Lun

2013-01-01

Transport stations such as airports, ports, and railways have adopted blocked-type pathway management to process and control travel systems in a one-directional manner. However, this excludes highway transportation where large buses have great variability and mobility; thus, an instant influx of numerous buses increases risks and complicates station management. Focusing on Taipei Bus Station, this study employed RFID technology to develop a system platform integrated with modern information technology that has numerous characteristics. This modern information technology comprised the following systems: ultra-high frequency (UHF) radio-frequency identification (RFID), ultrasound and license number identification, and backstage graphic controls. In conclusion, the system enabled management, bus companies, and passengers to experience the national bus station's new generation technology, which provides diverse information and synchronization functions. Furthermore, this technology reached a new milestone in the energy-saving and efficiency-increasing performance of Taiwan's buses. PMID:23778192

Study of the impact of automation on productivity in bus-maintenance facilities. Final report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sumanth, D.J.; Weiss, H.J.; Adya, B.

1988-12-01

Whether or not the various types of automation and new technologies introduced in a bus-transit system really have an impact on productivity is the question addressed in the study. The report describes a new procedure of productivity measurement and evaluation for a county-transit system and provides an objective perspective on the impact of automation on productivity in bus maintenance facilities. The research objectives were: to study the impact of automation on total productivity in transit maintenance facilities; to develop and apply a methodology for measuring the total productivity of a Floridian transit maintenance facility (Bradenton-Manatee County bus maintenance facility whichmore » has been introducing automation since 1983); and to develop a practical step-by-step implementation scheme for the total productivity-based productivity measurement system that any bus manager can use. All 3 objectives were successfully accomplished.« less

SAE for the prediction of road traffic status from taxicab operating data and bus smart card data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhengfeng, Huang; Pengjun, Zheng; Wenjun, Xu; Gang, Ren

Road traffic status is significant for trip decision and traffic management, and thus should be predicted accurately. A contribution is that we consider multi-modal data for traffic status prediction than only using single source data. With the substantial data from Ningbo Passenger Transport Management Sector (NPTMS), we wished to determine whether it was possible to develop Stacked Autoencoders (SAEs) for accurately predicting road traffic status from taxicab operating data and bus smart card data. We show that SAE performed better than linear regression model and Back Propagation (BP) neural network for determining the relationship between road traffic status and those factors. In a 26-month data experiment using SAE, we show that it is possible to develop highly accurate predictions (91% test accuracy) of road traffic status from daily taxicab operating data and bus smart card data.

Lung cancer and exposure to diesel exhaust among bus garage workers.

PubMed

Gustavsson, P; Plato, N; Lidström, E B; Hogstedt, C

1990-10-01

Mortality and cancer incidence was investigated among the 695 bus garage workers employed as mechanics, servicemen, or hostlers for at least six months in five bus garages in Stockholm between 1945 and 1970. The exposure to diesel exhaust and asbestos was estimated by industrial hygienists. A small excess of lung cancer mortality was found in the cohort when occupationally active men in Stockholm were used as the reference group. A case-referent study was performed within the cohort, six referents being selected for each of the 20 lung cancer cases. The lung cancer risk increased with increasing cumulative exposure to diesel exhaust, but not with cumulative asbestos exposure. The relative risk for lung cancer among the highly exposed men was 2.4 (95% CI 1.3-4.5) as compared with those with low exposure. The study indicates that exposure to diesel exhaust increases the risk for lung cancer.

Damage Detection Sensitivity of a Vehicle-based Bridge Health Monitoring System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miyamoto, Ayaho; Yabe, Akito; Lúcio, Válter J. G.

2017-05-01

As one solution to the problem for condition assessment of existing short and medium span (10-30m) reinforced/prestressed concrete bridges, a new monitoring method using a public bus as part of a public transit system (called “Bus monitoring system”) was proposed, along with safety indices, namely, “characteristic deflection”, which is relatively free from the influence of dynamic disturbances due to such factors as the roughness of the road surface, and a structural anomaly parameter. In this study, to evaluate the practicality of the newly developed bus monitoring system, it has been field-tested over a period of about four years by using an in-service fixed-route bus operating on a bus route in the city of Ube, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. In here, although there are some useful monitoring methods for short and medium span bridges based on the qualitative or quantitative information, the sensitivity of damage detection was newly discussed for safety assessment based on long term health monitoring data. The verification results thus obtained are also described in this paper, and also evaluates the sensitivity of the “characteristic deflection”, which is a bridge (health) condition indicator used by the bus monitoring system, in damage detection. Sensitivity of “characteristic deflection” is verified by introducing artificial damage into a bridge that has ended its service life and is awaiting removal. Furthermore, the sensitivity of “characteristic deflection” is verified by 3D FEM analysis.

Task Analysis Assessment on Intrastate Bus Traffic Controllers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yen Bin, Teo; Azlis-Sani, Jalil; Nur Annuar Mohd Yunos, Muhammad; Ismail, S. M. Sabri S. M.; Tajedi, Noor Aqilah Ahmad

2016-11-01

Public transportation acts as social mobility and caters the daily needs of the society for passengers to travel from one place to another. This is true for a country like Malaysia where international trade has been growing significantly over the past few decades. Task analysis assessment was conducted with the consideration of cognitive ergonomic view towards problem related to human factors. Conducting research regarding the task analysis on bus traffic controllers had allowed a better understanding regarding the nature of work and the overall monitoring activities of the bus services. This paper served to study the task analysis assessment on intrastate bus traffic controllers and the objectives of this study include to conduct task analysis assessment on the bus traffic controllers. Task analysis assessment for the bus traffic controllers was developed via Hierarchical Task Analysis (HTA). There are a total of five subsidiary tasks on level one and only two were able to be further broken down in level two. Development of HTA allowed a better understanding regarding the work and this could further ease the evaluation of the tasks conducted by the bus traffic controllers. Thus, human error could be reduced for the safety of all passengers and increase the overall efficiency of the system. Besides, it could assist in improving the operation of the bus traffic controllers by modelling or synthesizing the existing tasks if necessary.

Call-A-Bus Demonstration Project - Specialized Transportation for the Elderly and Handicapped in Syracuse, New York

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1977-06-01

This report describes, analyzes and evaluates the conduct and results of the Syracuse Call-A-Bus demonstration, in which special transit services were provided for the elderly and handicapped populations of Onondaga County, New York. These services i...

SunLine Transit Agency Advanced Technology Fuel Cell Bus Evaluation : Third Results Report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-05-01

SunLine Transit Agency provides public transit services to the Coachella Valley area of California. SunLine has demonstrated hydrogen and fuel cell bus technologies for more than 10 years. This report describes operations at SunLine for a prototype f...

Statistical Analysis of Bus Networks in India

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

In this paper, we model the bus networks of six major Indian cities as graphs in L-space, and evaluate their various statistical properties. While airline and railway networks have been extensively studied, a comprehensive study on the structure and growth of bus networks is lacking. In India, where bus transport plays an important role in day-to-day commutation, it is of significant interest to analyze its topological structure and answer basic questions on its evolution, growth, robustness and resiliency. Although the common feature of small-world property is observed, our analysis reveals a wide spectrum of network topologies arising due to significant variation in the degree-distribution patterns in the networks. We also observe that these networks although, robust and resilient to random attacks are particularly degree-sensitive. Unlike real-world networks, such as Internet, WWW and airline, that are virtual, bus networks are physically constrained. Our findings therefore, throw light on the evolution of such geographically and constrained networks that will help us in designing more efficient bus networks in the future. PMID:27992590

Orbiter multiplexer-demultiplexer (MDM)/Space Lab Bus Interface Unit (SL/BIU) serial data interface evaluation, volume 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tobey, G. L.

1978-01-01

Tests were performed to evaluate the operating characteristics of the interface between the Space Lab Bus Interface Unit (SL/BIU) and the Orbiter Multiplexer-Demultiplexer (MDM) serial data input-output (SIO) module. This volume contains the test equipment preparation procedures and a detailed description of the Nova/Input Output Processor Simulator (IOPS) software used during the data transfer tests to determine word error rates (WER).

High-resolution quantization based on soliton self-frequency shift and spectral compression in a bi-directional comb-fiber architecture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Xuyan; Zhang, Zhiyao; Wang, Shubing; Liang, Dong; Li, Heping; Liu, Yong

2018-03-01

We propose and demonstrate an approach that can achieve high-resolution quantization by employing soliton self-frequency shift and spectral compression. Our approach is based on a bi-directional comb-fiber architecture which is composed of a Sagnac-loop-based mirror and a comb-like combination of N sections of interleaved single-mode fibers and high nonlinear fibers. The Sagnac-loop-based mirror placed at the terminal of a bus line reflects the optical pulses back to the bus line to achieve additional N-stage spectral compression, thus single-stage soliton self-frequency shift (SSFS) and (2 N - 1)-stage spectral compression are realized in the bi-directional scheme. The fiber length in the architecture is numerically optimized, and the proposed quantization scheme is evaluated by both simulation and experiment in the case of N = 2. In the experiment, a quantization resolution of 6.2 bits is obtained, which is 1.2-bit higher than that of its uni-directional counterpart.

Design of limited-stop service based on the degree of unbalance of passenger demand

PubMed Central

2018-01-01

This paper presents a limited-stop service for a bus fleet to meet the unbalanced demand of passengers on a bus route and to improve the transit service of the bus route. This strategy includes two parts: a degree assessment of unbalanced passenger demand and an optimization of the limited-stop service. The degree assessment of unbalanced passenger demand, which is based on the different passenger demand between stations and the unbalance of passengers within the station, is used to judge whether implementing the limited-stop service is necessary for a bus route. The optimization of limited-stop service considers the influence of stop skipping action and bus capacity on the left-over passengers to determine the proper skipping stations for the bus fleet serving the entire route by minimizing both the waiting time and in-vehicle time of passengers and the running time of vehicles. A solution algorithm based on genetic algorithm is also presented to evaluate the degree of unbalanced passenger demand and optimize the limited-stop scheme. Then, the proper strategy is tested on a bus route in Changchun city of China. The threshold of degree assessment of unbalanced passenger demand can be calibrated and adapted to different passenger demands. PMID:29505585

Design of limited-stop service based on the degree of unbalance of passenger demand.

PubMed

Zhang, Hu; Zhao, Shuzhi; Liu, Huasheng; Liang, Shidong

2018-01-01

This paper presents a limited-stop service for a bus fleet to meet the unbalanced demand of passengers on a bus route and to improve the transit service of the bus route. This strategy includes two parts: a degree assessment of unbalanced passenger demand and an optimization of the limited-stop service. The degree assessment of unbalanced passenger demand, which is based on the different passenger demand between stations and the unbalance of passengers within the station, is used to judge whether implementing the limited-stop service is necessary for a bus route. The optimization of limited-stop service considers the influence of stop skipping action and bus capacity on the left-over passengers to determine the proper skipping stations for the bus fleet serving the entire route by minimizing both the waiting time and in-vehicle time of passengers and the running time of vehicles. A solution algorithm based on genetic algorithm is also presented to evaluate the degree of unbalanced passenger demand and optimize the limited-stop scheme. Then, the proper strategy is tested on a bus route in Changchun city of China. The threshold of degree assessment of unbalanced passenger demand can be calibrated and adapted to different passenger demands.

Road traffic injuries to children during the school commute in Hyderabad, India: cross-sectional survey.

PubMed

Tetali, Shailaja; Edwards, P; Murthy, G V S; Roberts, I

2016-06-01

India is motorising rapidly. With increasing motorisation, road traffic injuries are predicted to increase. A third of a billion children travel to school every day in India, but little is known about children's safety during the school commute. We investigated road traffic injury to children during school journeys. We conducted a cross-sectional survey in Hyderabad using a two-stage stratified cluster sampling design. We used school travel questionnaires to record any road injury in the past 12 months that resulted in at least 1 day of school missed or required treatment by a doctor or nurse. We estimated the prevalence of road injury by usual mode of travel and distance to school. The total sample was 5842 children, of whom 5789 (99.1%) children answered the question on road injury. The overall prevalence of self-reported road injury in the last 12 months during school journeys was 17% (95% CI 12.9% to 21.7%). A higher proportion of boys (25%) reported a road injury than girls (11%). There was a strong association between road injury, travel mode and distance to school. Children who cycled to school were more likely to be injured compared with children who walked (OR 1.5; 95% CI 1.2 to 2.0). Travel by school bus was safer than walking (OR 0.5; 95% CI 0.3 to 0.9). A sixth of the children reported a road traffic injury in the past 12 months during school journeys in Hyderabad. Injury prevention interventions should focus on making walking and cycling safer for children. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/

Road traffic injuries to children during the school commute in Hyderabad, India: cross-sectional survey

PubMed Central

Tetali, Shailaja; Murthy, G V S; Roberts, I

2016-01-01

Background India is motorising rapidly. With increasing motorisation, road traffic injuries are predicted to increase. A third of a billion children travel to school every day in India, but little is known about children's safety during the school commute. We investigated road traffic injury to children during school journeys. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey in Hyderabad using a two-stage stratified cluster sampling design. We used school travel questionnaires to record any road injury in the past 12 months that resulted in at least 1 day of school missed or required treatment by a doctor or nurse. We estimated the prevalence of road injury by usual mode of travel and distance to school. Results The total sample was 5842 children, of whom 5789 (99.1%) children answered the question on road injury. The overall prevalence of self-reported road injury in the last 12 months during school journeys was 17% (95% CI 12.9% to 21.7%). A higher proportion of boys (25%) reported a road injury than girls (11%). There was a strong association between road injury, travel mode and distance to school. Children who cycled to school were more likely to be injured compared with children who walked (OR 1.5; 95% CI 1.2 to 2.0). Travel by school bus was safer than walking (OR 0.5; 95% CI 0.3 to 0.9). Conclusions A sixth of the children reported a road traffic injury in the past 12 months during school journeys in Hyderabad. Injury prevention interventions should focus on making walking and cycling safer for children. PMID:26701985

Public transit research: Rail, bus, and new technology, 1991. Transportation Research Record

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kassabian, N.C.; Tobias, A.G.; Crayton, L.

1991-01-01

The report contains: Image of Rail Transit; Train Operations Computer Simulation Case Study: Single-Tracking Operations for Philadelphia's Market-Frankford Subway Elevated Rail Rapid Transit Line; Transit Railcar Quantities: Scale Economies; Evaluation of Training Programs in Rail Transit: Its Role and Status; Methodology for Evaluating Out-of-Direction Bus Route Segments; Integration of Fixed- and Flexible-Route Bus Systems; Downtown Space for Buses--The Manhattan Experience; Implications of Transit Drug Testing and Maintenance Service Procurement for Small Urban and Rural Systems; Challenges for Integration of Alternative Fuels in the Transit Industry; Short History of the Transbay Transit Terminal and the Relocation of the San Francisco Greyhoundmore » Depot Thereto; Airport Development with Automated People Mover Systems; Review of Four Alternative Airport Terminal Passenger Mobility Systems.« less

Correlation between Driver Subjective Fatigue and Bus Lateral Position in a Driving Simulator.

PubMed

Gharagozlou, Faramarz; Mazloumi, Adel; Saraji, Gebraeil Nasl; Nahvi, Ali; Ashouri, Mohammadreza; Mozaffari, Hamed

2015-08-01

Driver fatigue as a leading cause of death in the transportation industry can impair the driving performance in long-distance driving task. Studies on the links of driver subjective fatigue and the bus lateral position are still an exploratory issue that requires further investigation. This study aimed to determine the correlation between the driver subjective fatigue and the bus lateral position in a driving simulator. This descriptive-analytical research was conducted on 30 professional male bus drivers participated in a two-hour driving session. The driver subjective fatigue was assessed by the Fatigue Visual Analogue Scale (F-VAS) at 10-min intervals. Simultaneously, the performance measures of lane drifting as the mean and standard deviation of the bus lateral position (SDLP) were calculated during the simulated driving task. Descriptive statistics and the Spearman correlation coefficient were used to describe and analyze the data. Fatigue levels had an increasing trend as the time-on-task of driving increased. Time-on-task of driving had the greatest effect on the fatigue self-evaluation (r = 0.605, p < 0.0001). The results showed a significant correlation between fatigue self-evaluation and bus lateral position (r = 0.567, p < 0.0001). As the time of driving increased, driving performance was affected adversely, as shown by the increase in the SDLP. Even so, the effect of individual differences on driving performance should not be overlooked. This work concludes that predicting the state of a driver fatigue based on the group mean data has some complications for any application.

Correlation between Driver Subjective Fatigue and Bus Lateral Position in a Driving Simulator

PubMed Central

Gharagozlou, Faramarz; Mazloumi, Adel; Saraji, Gebraeil Nasl; Nahvi, Ali; Ashouri, Mohammadreza; Mozaffari, Hamed

2015-01-01

Background: Driver fatigue as a leading cause of death in the transportation industry can impair the driving performance in long-distance driving task. Studies on the links of driver subjective fatigue and the bus lateral position are still an exploratory issue that requires further investigation. This study aimed to determine the correlation between the driver subjective fatigue and the bus lateral position in a driving simulator. Methods: This descriptive-analytical research was conducted on 30 professional male bus drivers participated in a two-hour driving session. The driver subjective fatigue was assessed by the Fatigue Visual Analogue Scale (F-VAS) at 10-min intervals. Simultaneously, the performance measures of lane drifting as the mean and standard deviation of the bus lateral position (SDLP) were calculated during the simulated driving task. Descriptive statistics and the Spearman correlation coefficient were used to describe and analyze the data. Results: Fatigue levels had an increasing trend as the time-on-task of driving increased. Time-on-task of driving had the greatest effect on the fatigue self-evaluation (r = 0.605, p < 0.0001). The results showed a significant correlation between fatigue self-evaluation and bus lateral position (r = 0.567, p < 0.0001). Conclusion: As the time of driving increased, driving performance was affected adversely, as shown by the increase in the SDLP. Even so, the effect of individual differences on driving performance should not be overlooked. This work concludes that predicting the state of a driver fatigue based on the group mean data has some complications for any application. PMID:26396734

Building the Clean Energy Future of States and Local Communities | NREL

Science.gov Websites

Partnership Successes Photo of a hand holding an ecobee smart thermostat Bringing Comfort, Convenience, and adoption-a win-win for both homeowners and utilities. Learn more. Blue electric bus in California's Santa Clara Valley Evaluating Electric Bus Grid Integration Performance in California's Santa Clara Valley

The Walking School Bus and children's physical activity: A pilot cluster randomized controlled trial

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

To evaluate the impact of a "walking school bus" program on children's rates of active commuting to school and physical activity. We conducted a pilot cluster randomized controlled trial among 4th-graders from 8 schools in Houston, Texas (N = 149). Random allocation to treatment or control condition...

The electrical performance of Ag Zn batteries for the Venus multi-probe mission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Palandati, C.

1975-01-01

An evaluation of 5 Ah and 21 Ah Silver-Zinc batteries was made to determine their suitability to meet the energy storage requirements of the bus vehicle, 3 small probes and large probe for the Venus multi-probe mission. The evaluation included a 4 Ah battery for the small probe, a 21 Ah battery for the large probe, one battery of each size for the bus vehicle power, a periodic cycling test on each size battery and a wet stand test of charged and discharged cells of both cell designs. The study on the probe batteries and bus vehicle batteries included both electrical and thermal simulation for the entire mission. The effects on silver migration and zinc penetration of the cellophane separators caused by the various test parameters were determined by visual and X-ray fluorescence analysis. The 5 Ah batteries supported the power requirements for the bus vehicle and small probe. The 21 Ah large probe battery supplied the required mission power. Both probe batteries delivered in excess of 132 percent of rated capacity at the completion of the mission simulation.

Effects of scapula-upward taping using kinesiology tape in a patient with shoulder pain caused by scapular downward rotation

PubMed Central

Kim, Byeong-Jo; Lee, Jung-Hoon

2015-01-01

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of scapula-upward taping (SUT) in a patient with shoulder pain caused by scapular downward rotation (SDR). [Subject] A 26-year-old male with SDR experienced severe pain in the left shoulder when he lifted his left upper extremity to hold the handle in a bus and during and after push-up exercise. [Methods] The patient underwent SUT for a period of 1 month, 5 times per week, for an average of 9 h/d. [Results] The patient’s radiographs showed that the degree of SDR had decreased; the left shoulder pain also decreased in the resting state and during and after push-up exercise. The manual muscle strength test grades of the upper trapezius, lower trapezius, and serratus anterior had increased. The patient was able to lift the left upper extremity to hold the handle in a bus and perform the push-up exercise without experiencing any pain. [Conclusion] Repeated SUT application may be a beneficial treatment method for alleviating the degree of SDR and shoulder pain in SDR patients. PMID:25729213

Systems evaluation of thermal bus concepts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stalmach, D. D.

1982-01-01

Thermal bus concepts, to provide a centralized thermal utility for large, multihundred kilowatt space platforms, were studied and the results are summarized. Concepts were generated, defined, and screened for inclusion in system level thermal bus trades. Parametric trade studies were conducted in order to define the operational envelope, performance, and physical characteristics of each. Two concepts were selected as offering the most promise for thermal bus development. All of four concepts involved two phase flow in order to meet the required isothermal nature of the thermal bus. Two of the concepts employ a mechanical means to circulate the working fluid, a liquid pump in one case and a vapor compressor in another. Another concept utilizes direct osmosis as the driving force of the thermal bus. The fourth concept was a high capacity monogroove heat pipe. After preliminary sizing and screening, three of these concepts were selected to carry into the trade studies. The monogroove heat pipe concept was deemed unsuitable for further consideration because of its heat transport limitations. One additional concept utilizing capillary forces to drive the working fluid was added. Parametric system level trade studies were performed. Sizing and weight calculations were performed for thermal bus sizes ranging from 5 to 350 kW and operating temperatures in the range of 4 to 120 C. System level considerations such as heat rejection and electrical power penalties and interface temperature losses were included in the weight calculations.

Combined comfort model of thermal comfort and air quality on buses in Hong Kong.

PubMed

Shek, Ka Wing; Chan, Wai Tin

2008-01-25

Air-conditioning settings are important factors in controlling the comfort of passengers on buses. The local bus operators control in-bus air quality and thermal environment by conforming to the prescribed levels stated in published standards. As a result, the settings are merely adjusted to fulfill the standards, rather than to satisfy the passengers' thermal comfort and air quality. Such "standard-oriented" practices are not appropriate; the passengers' preferences and satisfaction should be emphasized instead. Thus a "comfort-oriented" philosophy should be implemented to achieve a comfortable in-bus commuting environment. In this study, the achievement of a comfortable in-bus environment was examined with emphasis on thermal comfort and air quality. Both the measurement of physical parameters and subjective questionnaire surveys were conducted to collect practical in-bus thermal and air parameters data, as well as subjective satisfaction and sensation votes from the passengers. By analyzing the correlation between the objective and subjective data, a combined comfort models were developed. The models helped in evaluating the percentage of dissatisfaction under various combinations of passengers' sensation votes towards thermal comfort and air quality. An effective approach integrated the combined comfort model, hardware and software systems and the bus air-conditioning system could effectively control the transient in-bus environment. By processing and analyzing the data from the continuous monitoring system with the combined comfort model, air-conditioning setting adjustment commands could be determined and delivered to the hardware. This system adjusted air-conditioning settings depending on real-time commands along the bus journey. Therefore, a comfortable in-bus air quality and thermal environment could be achieved and efficiently maintained along the bus journey despite dynamic outdoor influences. Moreover, this model can help optimize air-conditioning control by striking a beneficial balance between energy conservation and passengers' satisfaction level.

In-use fuel economy of hybrid-electric school buses in Iowa.

PubMed

Hallmark, Shauna; Sperry, Bob; Mudgal, Abhisek

2011-05-01

Although it is much safer and more fuel-efficient to transport children to school in buses than in private vehicles, school buses in the United States still consume 822 million gal of diesel fuel annually, and school transportation costs can account for a significant portion of resource-constrained school district budgets. Additionally, children in diesel-powered school buses may be exposed to higher levels of particulates and other pollutants than children in cars. One solution to emission and fuel concerns is use of hybrid-electric school buses, which have the potential to reduce emissions and overall lifecycle costs compared with conventional diesel buses. Hybrid-electric technologies are available in the passenger vehicle market as well as the transit bus market and have a track record indicating fuel economy and emissions benefits. This paper summarizes the results of an in-use fuel economy evaluation for two plug-in hybrid school buses deployed in two different school districts in Iowa. Each school district selected a control bus with a route similar to that of the hybrid bus. Odometer readings, fuel consumption, and maintenance needs were recorded for each bus. The buses were deployed in 2008 and data were collected through May 2010. Fuel consumption was calculated for each school district. In Nevada, IA, the overall average fuel economy was 8.23 mpg for the hybrid and 6.35 mpg for the control bus. In Sigourney, IA, the overall average fuel economy was 8.94 mpg for the hybrid and 6.42 mpg for the control bus. The fuel consumption data were compared for the hybrid and control buses using a Wilcoxon signed rank test. Results indicate that fuel economy for the Nevada hybrid bus was 29.6% better than for the Nevada control bus, and fuel economy for the Sigourney hybrid bus was 39.2% higher than for the Sigourney control bus. Both differences were statistically significant.

Evaluation of transit signal priority strategies for bus rapid transit project on 3500 South Street in Salt Lake County, UT.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-07-01

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is becoming one of the most popular transit services in the United States. BRT is a viable option for many cities and can offer commuters travel times comparable to those experienced in private cars. With about 100 miles of BR...

A program downloader and other utility software for the DATAC bus monitor unit

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Novacki, Stanley M., III

1987-01-01

A set or programs designed to facilitate software testing on the DATAC Bus Monitor is described. By providing a means to simplify program loading, firmware generation, and subsequent testing of programs, the overhead involved in software evaluation is reduced and that time is used more productively in performance, analysis and improvement of current software.

Cost Effectiveness Analysis of Quasi-In-Motion Wireless Power Transfer for Plug-In Hybrid Electric Transit Buses from Fleet Perspective

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wang, Lijuan; Gonder, Jeff; Brooker, Aaron

This study evaluated the costs and benefits associated with the use of stationary-wireless-power-transfer-enabled plug-in hybrid electric buses and determined the cost effectiveness relative to conventional buses and hybrid electric buses. A factorial design was performed over a number of different battery sizes, charging power levels, and f bus stop charging stations. The net present costs were calculated for each vehicle design and provided the basis for design evaluation. In all cases, given the assumed economic conditions, the conventional bus achieved the lowest net present cost while the optimal plug-in hybrid electric bus scenario beat out the hybrid electric comparison scenario.more » The parameter sensitivity was also investigated under favorable and unfavorable market penetration assumptions.« less

Assessing paratransit eligibility under the Americans With Disabilities Act in the rehabilitation setting.

PubMed

Griffin, Jeanne; Priddy, David A

2005-06-01

To assess the usefulness of a rehabilitation-based assessment program designed to determine the eligibility, according to Americans With Disabilities Act criteria, of applicants for paratransit bus services. Retrospective summary statistics on 500 consecutive paratransit evaluations. Outpatient physical medicine and rehabilitation center. Applicants for a community paratransit bus service. Not applicable. Clinical assessment of each applicants functional physical and cognitive ability to ride a fixed-route or paratransit bus system. Of the 500 applicants for specialized paratransit services, 38 (8%) were found to be ineligible, based on rehabilitation professionals evaluations of their physical and cognitive abilities. Mass transit organizations must adjust to the rapidly growing demand for paratransit services. Rehabilitation-based assessment programs, because of the expertise they provide in assessing functional abilities, are uniquely qualified to provide objective determinations of paratransit eligibility.

Application of new electro-optic technology to Space Station Freedom data management system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Husbands, C. R.; Girard, M. M.

1993-01-01

A low risk design methodology to permit the local bus structures to support increased data carrying capacities and to speed messages and data flow between nodes or stations on the Space Station Freedom Data Management System in anticipation of growing requirements was evaluated and recommended. The recommended design employs a collateral fiber optic technique that follows a NATO avionic standard that is developed, tested, and available. Application of this process will permit a potential 25 fold increase in data transfer performance on the local wire bus network with a fiber optic network, maintaining the functionality of the low-speed bus and supporting all of the redundant transmission and fault detection capabilities designed into the existing system. The application of wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) technology to both the local data bus and global data bus segments of the Data Management System to support anticipated additional highspeed data transmission requirements was also examined. Techniques were examined to provide a dual wavelength implementation of the fiber optic collateral networks. This dual wavelength implementation would permit each local bus to support two simultaneous high-speed transfers on the same fiber optic bus structure and operate within the limits of the existing protocol standard. A second WDM study examined the use of spectral sliced technology to provide a fourfold increase in the Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI) global bus networks without requiring modifications to the existing installed cable plant. Computer simulations presented indicated that this data rate improvement can be achieved with commercially available optical components.

A resolution designating September 2014 as "School Bus Safety Month".

THOMAS, 113th Congress

Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT

2014-09-17

Senate - 09/17/2014 Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status Agreed to in SenateHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

A resolution designating October 2013 as "School Bus Safety Month".

THOMAS, 113th Congress

Sen. Thune, John [R-SD

2013-10-30

Senate - 10/30/2013 Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status Agreed to in SenateHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Boeing's STAR-FODB test results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fritz, Martin E.; de la Chapelle, Michael; Van Ausdal, Arthur W.

1995-05-01

Boeing has successfully concluded a 2 1/2 year, two phase developmental contract for the STAR-Fiber Optic Data Bus (FODB) that is intended for future space-based applications. The first phase included system analysis, trade studies, behavior modeling, and architecture and protocal selection. During this phase we selected AS4074 Linear Token Passing Bus (LTPB) protocol operating at 200 Mbps, along with the passive, star-coupled fiber media. The second phase involved design, build, integration, and performance and environmental test of brassboard hardware. The resulting brassboard hardware successfully passed performance testing, providing 200 Mbps operation with a 32 X 32 star-coupled medium. This hardware is suitable for a spaceflight experiment to validate ground testing and analysis and to demonstrate performace in the intended environment. The fiber bus interface unit (FBIU) is a multichip module containing transceiver, protocol, and data formatting chips, buffer memory, and a station management controller. The FBIU has been designed for low power, high reliability, and radiation tolerance. Nine FBIUs were built and integrated with the fiber optic physical layer consisting of the fiber cable plant (FCP) and star coupler assembly (SCA). Performance and environmental testing, including radiation exposure, was performed on selected FBIUs and the physical layer. The integrated system was demonstrated with a full motion color video image transfer across the bus while simultaneously performing utility functions with a fiber bus control module (FBCM) over a telemetry and control (T&C) bus, in this case AS1773.

Prevalence of and factors associated with distraction among public transit bus drivers

PubMed Central

Griffin, Russell; Huisingh, Carrie; McGwin, Gerald

2015-01-01

Objective Recent research has suggested that driver distraction is a major cause of driving performance impairment and motor vehicle collisions. Research on the topic has focused on passenger vehicles, with studies suggesting that drivers may be distracted nearly 33% of the time spent driving. To date, no study has examined the prevalence of distraction specifically among public transit bus drivers. Methods Over a three-month period, trained investigators observed and recorded distraction behaviors of bus drivers. Distraction prevalence was compared by route characteristics (e.g., geographic area, travel speed) using chi-square test. A general estimating equation logistic regression was used to estimate p-values for distraction prevalence by driver demographics. Results Overall, there was a 39% prevalence of distraction. The most prevalent distractions were due to interactions with another passenger. Distractions were more prevalent among drivers <30 years of age or ≥50 years of age, on city streets or highways (relative to residential streets), and when there were more than 20 passengers. Distractions were the least prevalent in suburban areas, with the highest prevalence observed in city centers and rural areas. Conclusions Driver distraction is a common problem for public transit bus drivers, mainly due to other passengers. Drivers should be educated on the hazards of distracted driving and on ways to avoid distraction. PMID:24433192

Evaluation of changes in pelvic belt tension during 2 weight-bearing functional tasks.

PubMed

Arumugam, Ashokan; Milosavljevic, Stephan; Woodley, Stephanie; Sole, Gisela

2012-06-01

The purposes of this study were to evaluate changes in pelvic belt tension during 2 weight-bearing functional tasks (transition from bipedal to unipedal stance [BUS] and walking) and to evaluate the reliability and the percentage variation for belt tension scores from trial to trial. A cross-sectional repeated-measures study was conducted with 10 healthy male participants (mean age, 28.3 ± 8.8years). Participants performed 10 trials of BUS and walking while wearing a nonelastic pelvic compression belt (PCB) applied distal to the anterior superior iliac spines, with a load cell positioned in the center of the belt. The load cell was calibrated using known weights (1-10kg) to define the relationship between the applied tension and voltage change (R(2) = 0.99). Load cell tension values were recorded in voltage signals and then converted to newtons of force using appropriate conversion values (0.012V = 10N). Mean and standard deviation values, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC 3,1), and percentage standard error of measurements (% SEM) were analyzed for PCB tension recorded during the BUS and walking trials. The mean tension achieved with a PCB was found to be 41.02 (±4.23) N during BUS and 44.07 (±5.80) N during walking. The trial-to-trial reliability (ICC 3,1) was high (ICC ≥0.9), and the variation in PCB tension across 10 trials (% SEM) was 4% or less. The mean tension achieved during the tasks was 44 N or less. The reliability is high, and the variation is low across the trials, which implies that a PCB could be used to produce consistent effects during repetition of the tasks (BUS and walking). Copyright © 2012 National University of Health Sciences. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene and mutagenicity in bus drivers and mail carriers exposed to urban air pollution in Denmark.

PubMed

Hansen, Ase Marie; Wallin, Håkan; Binderup, Mona Lise; Dybdahl, Marianne; Autrup, Herman; Loft, Steffen; Knudsen, Lisbeth Ehlert

2004-01-10

Previous studies in Denmark have shown that bus drivers and tramway employees were at an increased risk for developing several types of cancer and that bus drives from central Copenhagen have high levels of biomarkers of DNA damage. The present study evaluates 1-hydroxypyrene concentrations and mutagenic activity in urine as biomarkers of exposure in non-smoking bus drivers in city and rural areas on a work day and a day off and in non-smoking mail carriers working outdoors (in the streets) and indoors (in the office). Twenty-four hour urine samples were collected on a working day and a day off from 60 non-smoking bus drivers in city and rural areas and from 88 non-smoking mail carriers working outdoors (in the streets) and indoors (in the office). The concentration of 1-hydroxypyrene was measured by means of HPLC and the mutagenic activity was assessed by the Ames assay with Salmonella tester strain YG1021 and S9 mix. The N-acetyltransferase (NAT2) phenotype was used as a biomarker for susceptibility to mutagenic/carcinogenic compounds. Bus drivers excreted more 1-hydroxypyrene in urine than did mail carriers. The differences were slightly smaller when NAT2 phenotype, cooking at home, exposure to vehicle exhaust, and performing physical exercise after work were included. The NAT2 slow acetylators had 29% (1.29 [CI: 1.15-1.98]) higher 1-hydroxypyrene concentrations in urine than the fast acetylators. Male bus drivers had 0.92 revertants/mol creatinine [CI: 0.37-1.47] and female bus drivers 1.90 revertants/mol creatinine [CI: 1.01-2.79] higher mutagenic activity in urine than mail carriers. The present study indicates that bus drivers are more exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and mutagens than mail carriers. Mail carriers who worked outdoors had higher urinary concentration of 1-hydroxypyrene, a marker of exposure to PAH, than those working indoors. The individual levels of urinary mutagenic activity were not correlated to excretion of 1-hydroxypyrene. This might be due to the fact that the most potent mutagenic compounds in diesel exhaust are not PAH but dinitro-pyrenes. Among bus drivers, fast NAT2 acetylators had higher mutagenic activity in urine than slow NAT2 acetylators and female bus drivers had higher mutagenic activity than male bus drivers.

Spanish version of Bus Drivers' Job Demands Scale (BDJD-24).

PubMed

Boada-Grau, Joan; Prizmic-Kuzmica, Aldo-Javier; González-Fernández, Marcos-David; Vigil-Colet, Andreu

2013-01-01

Karasek and Theorell's Job Demands-Control Model argues that adverse health-related outcomes, both psychological and physiological, arise from a combination of high job demand and a low level of job control. The objective was to adapt Meijman and Kompier's Bus Drivers' Job Demands Scale (BDJD-24), which enables us to assess the job demands of bus drivers, to Spanish. The final version of the Spanish adaptation was applied to a sample made up of 287 bus drivers living in Spain (80.1% men and 19.9% women), whose average age was 40.44 (SD= 11.78). The results yielded a three-factor structure for the scale used: Time Pressure, Safety, and Passengers. These findings confirm that the Spanish version replicates the factor structure of the original English scale. The reliability of the three subscales was acceptable, ranging from .75 to .84. Furthermore, the subscales were also related to different external correlates and to other scales and showed good convergent and criterion validity. The present instrument can be used to evaluate job demands of bus drivers, as its psychometrics are substantially sound.

JPRS Report, Science & Technology, Japan, 27th Aircraft Symposium, Part 3

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-02-14

Kaoru Wakairo, et al.] Aircraft-Mounted Optical Data Bus (3): Bus Control Software, Performance Evaluation Test [Mitsumi Mayanägi, Minoru...Article by Hiroyasu Kawahara, Kaoru Wakairo, and Akira Watanabe, National Aerospace Laboratory; Tomoyuli Udagawa, Kengo Takeda, and Noboru Shobayashi...89 pp 518-521 [Article by Tadao Uchida, Mitsumi Mayanagi, Minoru Takizawa, Toshiharu Inagaki, Koki Hozumi, and Kazutoshi Ishikawa , National

Expedition 9 Landing

NASA Image and Video Library

2004-10-24

Renita Fincke, left, watches her husband, NASA astronaut Michael Fincke and Expedition 9 Flight Engineer depart from the crew bus while holding her 4 month-old baby Tarali Fincke, Sunday, October 24, 2004 in Star City, Russia. Astronaut Terry Virts helps by holding Chandra Fincke. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Methodology for measurement of diesel particle size distributions from a city bus working in real traffic conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Armas, O.; Gómez, A.; Mata, C.

2011-10-01

The study of particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxides emissions of diesel engines is nowadays a necessary step towards pollutant emission reduction. For a complete evaluation of PM emissions and its size characterization, one of the most challenging goals is to adapt the available techniques and the data acquisition procedures to the measurement and to propose a methodology for the interpretation of instantaneous particle size distributions (PSD) of combustion-derived particles produced by a vehicle during real driving conditions. In this work, PSD from the exhaust gas of a city bus operated in real driving conditions with passengers have been measured. For the study, the bus was equipped with a rotating disk diluter coupled to an air supply thermal conditioner (with an evaporating tube), the latter being connected to a TSI Engine Exhaust Particle Sizer spectrometer. The main objective of this work has been to propose an alternative procedure for evaluating the influence of several transient sequences on PSD emitted by a city bus used in real driving conditions with passengers. The transitions studied were those derived from the combination of four possible sequences or categories during real driving conditions: idle, acceleration, deceleration with fuel consumption and deceleration without fuel consumption. The analysis methodology used in this work proved to be a useful tool for a better understanding of the phenomena related to the determination of PSD emitted by a city bus during real driving conditions with passengers.

Testing of Environmental Satellite Bus-Instrument Interfaces Using Engineering Models

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gagnier, Donald; Hayner, Rick; Nosek, Thomas; Roza, Michael; Hendershot, James E.; Razzaghi, Andrea I.

2004-01-01

This paper discusses the formulation and execution of a laboratory test of the electrical interfaces between multiple atmospheric scientific instruments and the spacecraft bus that carries them. The testing, performed in 2002, used engineering models of the instruments and the Aura spacecraft bus electronics. Aura is one of NASA s Earth Observatory System missions. The test was designed to evaluate the complex interfaces in the command and data handling subsystems prior to integration of the complete flight instruments on the spacecraft. A problem discovered during the flight integration phase of the observatory can cause significant cost and schedule impacts. The tests successfully revealed problems and led to their resolution before the full-up integration phase, saving significant cost and schedule. This approach could be beneficial for future environmental satellite programs involving the integration of multiple, complex scientific instruments onto a spacecraft bus.

Investigation of short-circuit failure mechanisms of SiC MOSFETs by varying DC bus voltage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Namai, Masaki; An, Junjie; Yano, Hiroshi; Iwamuro, Noriyuki

2018-07-01

In this study, the experimental evaluation and numerical analysis of short-circuit mechanisms of 1200 V SiC planar and trench MOSFETs were conducted at various DC bus voltages from 400 to 800 V. Investigation of the impact of DC bus voltage on short-circuit capability yielded results that are extremely useful for many existing power electronics applications. Three failure mechanisms were identified in this study: thermal runaway, MOS channel current following device turn-off, and rupture of the gate oxide layer (gate oxide layer damage). The SiC MOSFETs experienced lattice temperatures exceeding 1000 K during the short-circuit transient; as Si insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) are not typically subject to such temperatures, the MOSFETs experienced distinct failure modes, and the mode experienced was significantly influenced by the DC bus voltage. In conclusion, suggestions regarding the SiC MOSFET design and operation methods that would enhance device robustness are proposed.

Economic Load Dispatch Using Adaptive Social Acceleration Constant Based Particle Swarm Optimization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jain, N. K.; Nangia, Uma; Jain, Jyoti

2018-04-01

In this paper, an Adaptive Social Acceleration Constant based Particle Swarm Optimization (ASACPSO) has been developed which uses the best value of social acceleration constant (Csg). Three formulations of Csg have been used to search for the best value of Csg. These three formulations led to the development of three algorithms-ALDPSO, AELDPSO-I and AELDPSO-II which were implemented for Economic Load Dispatch of IEEE 5 bus, 14 bus and 30 bus systems. The best value of Csg was selected based on the minimum number of Kounts i.e. number of function evaluations required to minimize the function. This value of Csg was directly used in basic PSO algorithm which led to the development of ASACPSO algorithm. ASACPSO was found to converge faster and give more accurate results compared to BPSO for IEEE 5, 14 and 30 bus systems.

Comparison of the application of B-mode and strain elastography ultrasound in the estimation of lymph node metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma based on a radiomics approach.

PubMed

Liu, Tongtong; Ge, Xifeng; Yu, Jinhua; Guo, Yi; Wang, Yuanyuan; Wang, Wenping; Cui, Ligang

2018-06-21

B-mode ultrasound (B-US) and strain elastography ultrasound (SE-US) images have a potential to distinguish thyroid tumor with different lymph node (LN) status. The purpose of our study is to investigate whether the application of multi-modality images including B-US and SE-US can improve the discriminability of thyroid tumor with LN metastasis based on a radiomics approach. Ultrasound (US) images including B-US and SE-US images of 75 papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) cases were retrospectively collected. A radiomics approach was developed in this study to estimate LNs status of PTC patients. The approach included image segmentation, quantitative feature extraction, feature selection and classification. Three feature sets were extracted from B-US, SE-US, and multi-modality containing B-US and SE-US. They were used to evaluate the contribution of different modalities. A total of 684 radiomics features have been extracted in our study. We used sparse representation coefficient-based feature selection method with 10-bootstrap to reduce the dimension of feature sets. Support vector machine with leave-one-out cross-validation was used to build the model for estimating LN status. Using features extracted from both B-US and SE-US, the radiomics-based model produced an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) [Formula: see text] 0.90, accuracy (ACC) [Formula: see text] 0.85, sensitivity (SENS) [Formula: see text] 0.77 and specificity (SPEC) [Formula: see text] 0.88, which was better than using features extracted from B-US or SE-US separately. Multi-modality images provided more information in radiomics study. Combining use of B-US and SE-US could improve the LN metastasis estimation accuracy for PTC patients.

Test Bus Evaluation

DTIC Science & Technology

1998-04-01

selected is statistically based on the total number of faults and the failure rate distribution in the system under test. The fault set is also...implemented the BPM and system level emulation consolidation logic as well as statistics counters for cache misses and various bus transactions. These...instruction F22 Advanced Tactical Fighter FET Field Effect Transitor FF Flip-Flop FM Failures/Milhon hours C-3 FPGA Field Programmable Gate Array GET

Bedside Ultrasonography as an Adjunct to Routine Evaluation of Acute Appendicitis in the Emergency Department

PubMed Central

Lam, Samuel H.F.; Grippo, Anthony; Kerwin, Chistopher; Konicki, P. John; Goodwine, Diana; Lambert, Michael J.

2014-01-01

Introduction Appendicitis is a common condition presenting to the emergency department (ED). Increasingly emergency physicians (EP) are using bedside ultrasound (BUS) as an adjunct diagnostic tool. Our objective is to investigate the test characteristics of BUS for the diagnosis of appendicitis and identify components of routine ED workup and BUS associated with the presence of appendicitis. Methods Patients four years of age and older presenting to the ED with suspected appendicitis were eligible for enrollment. After informed consent was obtained, BUS was performed on the subjects by trained EPs who had undergone a minimum of one-hour didactic training on the use of BUS to diagnose appendicitis. They then recorded elements of clinical history, physical examination, white blood cell count (WBC) with polymophonuclear percentage (PMN), and BUS findings on a data form. We ascertained subject outcomes by a combination of medical record review and telephone follow-up. Results A total of 125 subjects consented for the study, and 116 had adequate image data for final analysis. Prevalence of appendicitis was 40%. Mean age of the subjects was 20.2 years, and 51% were male. BUS was 100% sensitive (95% CI 87–100%) and 32% specific (95% CI 14–57%) for detection of appendicitis, with a positive predictive value of 72% (95% CI 56–84%), and a negative predictive value of 100% (95% CI 52–100%). Assuming all non-diagnostic studies were negative would yield a sensitivity of 72% and specificity of 81%. Subjects with appendicitis had a significantly higher occurrence of anorexia, nausea, vomiting, and a higher WBC and PMN count when compared to those without appendicitis. Their BUS studies were significantly more likely to result in visualization of the appendix, appendix diameter >6mm, appendix wall thickness >2mm, periappendiceal fluid, visualization of the appendix tip, and sonographic Mcburney’s sign (p<0.05). In subjects with diagnostic BUS studies, WBC, PMN, visualization of appendix, appendix diameter >6mm, appendix wall thickness >2mm, periappendiceal fluid were found to be predictors of appendicitis on logistic regression. Conclusion BUS is moderately useful for appendicitis diagnosis. We also identified several components in routine ED workup and BUS that are associated with appendicitis generating hypothesis for future studies. PMID:25493122

12 CFR 1010.113 - Local services.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... protection. (c) Schools. State whether elementary, junior high and senior high schools are available to residents of the subdivision. Is school bus transportation available from within the subdivision? (d...

12 CFR 1010.113 - Local services.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... protection. (c) Schools. State whether elementary, junior high and senior high schools are available to residents of the subdivision. Is school bus transportation available from within the subdivision? (d...

12 CFR 1010.113 - Local services.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... protection. (c) Schools. State whether elementary, junior high and senior high schools are available to residents of the subdivision. Is school bus transportation available from within the subdivision? (d...

Taking Physics and Now the Stars on the Road With the Magic Physics Bus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bennum, David

2009-05-01

In February 2003 the ``Physics on the Road'' workshop, held at Colorado State University- Fort Collins, Colorado, brought together physics faculty who were experienced in designing and providing year --round mobile physics displays and those who were interested in initiating similar outreach programs. The impetus for the workshop was the upcoming ``World Year of Physics'', but the workshop had much broader impact for many of us who attended. The University of Nevada had a long history of demonstration shows for campus visitors from K-12 students/faculty but the cost of field trips began to limit this for many schools, especially for schools in poorer neighborhoods without large scale parental fundraising. The timing of the workshop was perfect for my developing program to utilize a donated ``electric bus'' as a traveling physics demo showcase. The program has grown to near our current limitations (70 mile range of the bus and time considerations), however we are expanding the ``scope'' of the project to include evening astronomy ``star parties'' as we enter the ``Year of Astronomy''. In addition to the bus transport of portable astronomy equipment to school sites we are adding, through donation, a 22 inch telescope in a domed observatory at a secondary campus location at the edge of Reno where large scale ``star parties'' can be conducted as outreach to K-12 and the community. The ``Physics on the Road'' bus reaches several thousand elementary and middle school students every year now and the potential for similar outreach with ``Stars on the Road'' has excited several of our faculty and physics students into increased participation in these endeavors to introduce our young people to science. It has become one of our most active ``recruitment'' plans and growing numbers of local students entering physics and other science majors is anecdotal evidence of success.

Cool Science: Year 2 of Using Children's Artwork about Climate Change to Engage Riders on Mass Transit

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lustick, D. S.; Lohmeier, J.; Chen, R. F.

2014-12-01

A team of educators and scientists from the University of Massachusetts Lowell and the University of Massachusetts Boston will report on the second year of an informal science learning research project using mass transit spaces in Lowell, MA. Cool Science (CS) conducts a statewide art competition for K-12 students in the fall challenging them to express climate science understanding through the visual arts. An inter-disciplinary panel of judges evaluates entries and identifies the top 24 works of art. The best six student works of art are then put on public display throughout the spring on the Lowell Regional Transit Authority (LRTA). Displaying student artwork in Out of Home Multi-Media (OHMM) such as bus placards and posters is intended to engage riders with opportunities to learn informally. CS aims to promote and evaluate learning about climate change science among the general public and k-12 students/teachers. The goals of CS are: 1) Engage teachers, students, and parents in a climate change science communication competition. 2) Display the winning 6 artworks from K-12 students throughout the LRTA. 3) Assess the impact of Cool Science on the teaching and learning of climate science in K-12 formal education. 4) Assess the impact of Cool Science artwork on attitudes, awareness, and understanding of climate change among adult bus riders. A naturalistic inquiry employing a mixed methodology approach best describes our research design. The evaluation focuses on providing feedback regarding the potential learning outcomes for the K-12 students who create the media for the project and the general riding public who engage with the student artwork. To identify possible outcomes, data was collected in the several forms: survey, interviews, and online analytics. We see an urgent need to improve both the public's engagement with climate change science and to the profile of climate change science in formal education settings. The Cool Science (CS) project is an opportunity to bring formal and informal science learning settings together for mutual engagement in the science of climate change. The research that will be presented should be of interest to both informal and formal science educators, art and science educators, and environmental education advocates.

Training Manual for School Bus Drivers Transporting the Handicapped. [A Resource Manual for the Development and Evaluation of Special Programs for Exceptional Students, Volume IV-A].

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Florida State Dept. of Education, Tallahassee. Bureau of Education for Exceptional Students.

One of a series designed to help Florida school districts provide special programs for exceptional children, the training packet is intended to be used in a 2-day training session for school bus drivers who transport handicapped students. The manual includes a brief introduction to five disability areas (physical impairments, visual impairments,…

Surface elastic wave detectors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lawson, R. L.

1971-01-01

The potential applications of acoustic surface wave technology to multiplex communication systems such as data-bus, are examined. The goals are primarily to characterize certain aspects of surface wave trapped delay lines, surface wave modulation techniques, and surface wave applications that are relevant to the evaluation of surface wave devices in multiplex systems. The results indicate that there is a potential for the application of surface wave technology in data-bus type systems.

Trend Monitoring System (TMS) graphics software

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brown, J. S.

1979-01-01

A prototype bus communications systems, which is being used to support the Trend Monitoring System (TMS) and to evaluate the bus concept is considered. A set of FORTRAN-callable graphics subroutines for the host MODCOMP comuter, and an approach to splitting graphics work between the host and the system's intelligent graphics terminals are described. The graphics software in the MODCOMP and the operating software package written for the graphics terminals are included.

Fuel Cell Transit Bus Coordination and Evaluation Plan California Fuel Cell Transit Evaluation Team, DRAFT

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2003-10-29

The objective of the DOE/NREL evaluation program is to provide comprehensive, unbiased evaluation results of advanced technology vehicle development and operations, evaluation of hydrogen infrastructure development and operation, and descriptions of ...

Exposure assessment of diesel bus emissions.

PubMed

Yip, Maricela; Madl, Pierre; Wiegand, Aaron; Hofmann, Werner

2006-12-01

The goal of this study was to measure ultrafine particle concentrations with diameters less than 1 mum emitted by diesel buses and to assess resulting human exposure levels. The study was conducted at the Woolloongabba Busway station in Brisbane, Australia in the winter months of 2002 during which temperature inversions frequently occurred. Most buses that utilize the station are fuelled by diesel, the exhaust of which contains a significant quantity of particle matter. Passengers waiting at the station are exposed to these particles emitted from the buses. During the course of this study, passenger census was conducted, based on video surveillance, yielding person-by-person waiting time data. Furthermore, a bus census revealed accurate information about the total number of diesel versus Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) powered buses. Background (outside of the bus station) and platform measurements of ultrafine particulate number size distributions were made to determine ambient aerosol concentrations. Particle number exposure concentration ranges from 10 and 40 to 60% of bus related exhaust fumes. This changes dramatically when considering the particle mass exposure concentration, where most passengers are exposed to about 50 to 80% of exhaust fumes. The obtained data can be very significant for comparison with similar work of this type because it is shown in previous studies that exhaust emissions causes cancer in laboratory animals. It was assumed that significant differences between platform and background distributions were due to bus emissions which, combined with passenger waiting times, yielded an estimate of passenger exposure to ultrafine particles from diesel buses. From an exposure point of view, the Busway station analyzed resembles a street canyon. Although the detected exhaust particle concentration at the outbound platform is found to be in the picogram range, exposure increases with the time passengers spend on the platform along with their breathing frequency.

Formed photovoltaic module busbars

DOEpatents

Rose, Douglas; Daroczi, Shan; Phu, Thomas

2015-11-10

A cell connection piece for a photovoltaic module is disclosed herein. The cell connection piece includes an interconnect bus, a plurality of bus tabs unitarily formed with the interconnect bus, and a terminal bus coupled with the interconnect bus. The plurality of bus tabs extend from the interconnect bus. The terminal bus includes a non-linear portion.

Biomechanical and ergonomic assessment of urban transit operators.

PubMed

Albert, Wayne J; Everson, Donald; Rae, Michelle; Callaghan, Jack P; Croll, Jim; Kuruganti, Usha

2014-01-01

The prevalence of neck and low back musculoskeletal injuries in transit operators has been shown to be high; with work absences exceeding double the National average. There is a lack of biomechanical data generated from field researches to inform on musculoskeletal risk associated with transportation and driving occupations. Instead there has been a reliance on simulated driving and questionnaire-based research. This study was designed to examine the musculoskeletal and biomechanical stresses experienced by urban bus drivers. The main objective was to obtain a baseline understanding of sitting posture, muscle activiation and subjective ratings of stress during regular driving tasks. Fifteen urban city bus drivers were recruited for this study. Bus drivers drove the same 65-minute bus route once, at the same time of day, in the same preselected bus. Wireless surface electromyography monitored muscular activity of the drivers' neck, upper trapezius, and erector spinae and video analysis and seat pressure mapping was used to monitor changes in driving posture. A health and lifestyle questionnaire was administered to record specific neck and back pain experienced by drivers as well as to provide lifestyle habits. Drivers were found to exhibit non-neutral postures for less than 30% of the time while conducting routine tasks of turning and stopping for passenger loading and unloading. The neck posture was the greatest concern in terms of non-neutral posture and this was supported by the higher muscle activation to the neck musculature. There was significant posture adjustment made during the one-hour driving period with the adjustments increasing with driving time. Activities associated with bus driving appear to require the use of non-neutral postures an increase in muscle activation. Significant postural adjustments were needed over the one-hour observation period suggesting that the musculoskeletal demands may increase over a regular 12-hour shift.

Testing of Environmental Satellite Bus-Instrument Interfaces Using Engineering Models

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gagnier, Don; Hayner, Rick; Roza, Michael; Nosek, Thomas; Razzaghi, Andrea

2004-01-01

This paper discusses the formulation and execution of a laboratory test of the electrical interfaces between multiple atmospheric science instruments and the spacecraft bus that carries them. The testing, performed in 2002, used engineering models of the instruments that will be flown on the Aura s p a c m and of the Aura spacecraft bus electronics. Aura is one of NASA's Earth Observing System @OS) Program missions managed by the Goddard Space Flight Center. The test was designed to evaluate the complex interfaces in the spacecraft and instrument command and data handling (C&DH) subsystems prior to integration of the complete flight instruments on the spacecraft. A problem discovered during (and not before) the flight hardware integration phase can cause significant cost and schedule impacts. The testing successfully surfaced problems and led to their resolution before the full-up integration phase, saving significant cost and schedule time. This approach could be used on future environmental satellite programs involving multiple, complex scientific instruments being integrated onto a bus.

Terminals for Suburb Bus Transport in Bratislava

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schlosser, Tibor; Schlosser, Peter; Cápayová, Silvia; Hodáková, Dominika

2017-10-01

The main objective of this article is to describe the strategy for development of the public transport terminals in the city of Bratislava, Capital of Slovak Republic. The reason goes from the private operator Slovak Lines, who operates the suburb bus transport in the agglomeration of the city. For this operator was created a transport model, while placing emphasis on optimizing the compliance of suburban public transport with urban public transport in the city of Bratislava and evaluating the significance of the new Bus Station to be constructed at Mlynské Nivy - in a new down town centre of the city. The main issue is to ensure the best available offer of public transport (PT) to passengers in the Bratislava agglomeration. The subject of the study was oriented to specify and propose changes in the transport infrastructure and integrated public transport organisation on the area of the city in terms of the significant position of the new Mlynské Nivy Bus Station (MN BS), which is under preparation with realization in the year 2017.

Transmission Loss Calculation using A and B Loss Coefficients in Dynamic Economic Dispatch Problem

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jethmalani, C. H. Ram; Dumpa, Poornima; Simon, Sishaj P.; Sundareswaran, K.

2016-04-01

This paper analyzes the performance of A-loss coefficients while evaluating transmission losses in a Dynamic Economic Dispatch (DED) Problem. The performance analysis is carried out by comparing the losses computed using nominal A loss coefficients and nominal B loss coefficients in reference with load flow solution obtained by standard Newton-Raphson (NR) method. Density based clustering method based on connected regions with sufficiently high density (DBSCAN) is employed in identifying the best regions of A and B loss coefficients. Based on the results obtained through cluster analysis, a novel approach in improving the accuracy of network loss calculation is proposed. Here, based on the change in per unit load values between the load intervals, loss coefficients are updated for calculating the transmission losses. The proposed algorithm is tested and validated on IEEE 6 bus system, IEEE 14 bus, system IEEE 30 bus system and IEEE 118 bus system. All simulations are carried out using SCILAB 5.4 (www.scilab.org) which is an open source software.

Report on objective ride quality evaluation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wambold, J. C.; Park, W. H.

1974-01-01

The correlation of absorbed power as an objective ride measure to the subjective evaluation for the bus data was investigated. For some individual bus rides the correlations were poor, but when a sufficient number of rides was used to give reasonable sample base, an excellent correlation was obtained. The following logarithmical function was derived: S = 1.7245 1n (39.6849 AP), where S = one subjective rating of the ride; and AP = the absorbed power in watts. A six-degree-of-freedom method developed for aircraft data was completed. Preliminary correlation of absorbed power with ISO standards further enhances the bus ride and absorbed power correlation numbers since the AP's obtained are of the same order of magnitude for both correlations. While it would then appear that one could just use ISO standards, there is no way to add the effect of three degrees of freedom. The absorbed power provides a method of adding the effects due to the three major directions plus the pitch and roll.

Identifying hub stations and important lines of bus networks: A case study in Xiamen, China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Hui; Zhuge, Chengxiang; Yu, Xiaohua

2018-07-01

Hub stations and important lines play key roles in transfers between stations. In this paper, a node failure model is proposed to identify hub stations. In the model, we introduce two new indicators called neighborhood degree ratio and transfer index to evaluate the importance of stations, which consider neighborhood stations' degree of station and the initial transfer times between stations. Moreover, line accessibility is developed to measure the importance of lines in the bus network. Xiamen bus network in 2016 is utilized to test the model. The results show that the two introduced indicators are more effective to identify hub stations compared with traditional complex network indicators such as degree, clustering coefficient and betweenness.

Bedside ultrasound curriculum for medical students: report of a blended learning curriculum implementation and validation.

PubMed

Blackstock, Uché; Munson, Jaclyn; Szyld, Demian

2015-03-01

Medical students on clinical rotations rarely receive formal bedside ultrasound (BUS) training. We designed, implemented, and evaluated a standardized BUS curriculum for medical students on their Emergency Medicine (EM) rotation. Teaching was aimed toward influencing four cognitive and psychomotor learning domains: BUS instrumentation knowledge, image interpretation, image acquisition, and procedural guidance. Participants viewed three instructional Web-based tutorials on BUS instrumentation, the Focused Assessment for Sonography in Trauma (FAST) examination and ultrasound-guided central venous catheter (CVC) placement. Subsequently, participants attended a 3-hour hands-on training session to discuss the same content area and practice with faculty coaches. A Web-based, multiple-choice questionnaire was administered before and after the session. During the final week of the rotation, students returned for skills assessments on FAST image acquisition and CVC placement. Forty-five medical students on an EM rotation were enrolled. Sonographic knowledge overall mean score improved significantly from 66.6% (SD ±11.2) to 85.7% (SD ±10.0), corresponding to a mean difference of 19.1% (95% CI 15.5-22.7; p < 0.001). There were high pass rates for FAST (89.0%, 40/45) and CVC (96.0%, 43/45) skills assessments. There was no significant difference between medical student posttest and EM resident test scores 85.7% (SD ±10.0) and 88.1% (SD ± 7.6) (p = 0.40), respectively. A formal BUS curriculum for medical students on EM rotation positively influenced performance in several key learning domains. As BUS competency is required for residency in EM and other specialties, medical schools could consider routinely incorporating BUS teaching into their clinical rotation curricula. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Environmental, health, and safety issues of fuel cells in transportation. Volume 1: Phosphoric acid fuel-cell buses

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ring, S

1994-12-01

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) chartered the Phosphoric Acid Fuel-Cell (PAFC) Bus Program to demonstrate the feasibility of fuel cells in heavy-duty transportation systems. As part of this program, PAFC- powered buses are being built to meet transit industry design and performance standards. Test-bed bus-1 (TBB-1) was designed in 1993 and integrated in March 1994. TBB-2 and TBB-3 are under construction and should be integrated in early 1995. In 1987 Phase I of the program began with the development and testing of two conceptual system designs- liquid- and air-cooled systems. The liquid-cooled PAFC system was chosen to continue, throughmore » a competitive award, into Phase H, beginning in 1991. Three hybrid buses, which combine fuel-cell and battery technologies, were designed during Phase III. After completing Phase II, DOE plans a comprehensive performance testing program (Phase HI) to verify that the buses meet stringent transit industry requirements. The Phase III study will evaluate the PAFC bus and compare it to a conventional diesel bus. This NREL study assesses the environmental, health, and safety (EH&S) issues that may affect the commercialization of the PAFC bus. Because safety is a critical factor for consumer acceptance of new transportation-based technologies the study focuses on these issues. The study examines health and safety together because they are integrally related. In addition, this report briefly discusses two environmental issues that are of concern to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The first issue involves a surge battery used by the PAFC bus that contains hazardous constituents. The second issue concerns the regulated air emissions produced during operation of the PAFC bus.« less

TITLE: Environmental, health, and safety issues offuel cells in transportation. Volume 1: Phosphoricacid fuel-cell buses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ring, Shan

1994-12-01

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) chartered the Phosphoric Acid Fuel-Cell (PAFC) Bus Program to demonstrate the feasibility of fuel cells in heavy-duty transportation systems. As part of this program, PAFC- powered buses are being built to meet transit industry design and performance standards. Test-bed bus-1 (TBB-1) was designed in 1993 and integrated in March 1994. TBB-2 and TBB-3 are under construction and should be integrated in early 1995. In 1987 Phase 1 of the program began with the development and testing of two conceptual system designs- liquid- and air-cooled systems. The liquid-cooled PAFC system was chosen to continue, through a competitive award, into Phase H, beginning in 1991. Three hybrid buses, which combine fuel-cell and battery technologies, were designed during Phase 3. After completing Phase 2, DOE plans a comprehensive performance testing program (Phase H1) to verify that the buses meet stringent transit industry requirements. The Phase 3 study will evaluate the PAFC bus and compare it to a conventional diesel bus. This NREL study assesses the environmental, health, and safety (EH&S) issues that may affect the commercialization of the PAFC bus. Because safety is a critical factor for consumer acceptance of new transportation-based technologies the study focuses on these issues. The study examines health and safety together because they are integrally related. In addition, this report briefly discusses two environmental issues that are of concern to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The first issue involves a surge battery used by the PAFC bus that contains hazardous constituents. The second issue concerns the regulated air emissions produced during operation of the PAFC bus.

49 CFR 37.189 - Service requirement for OTRB demand-responsive systems.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... business of transporting people, whose operations affect commerce, and that provide demand-responsive OTRB... all passengers to reserve space on the bus three months before the trip date. This requirement applies... request for space on the trip and an accessible OTRB 48 hours before the trip date, the operator could...

49 CFR 37.189 - Service requirement for OTRB demand-responsive systems.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... business of transporting people, whose operations affect commerce, and that provide demand-responsive OTRB... all passengers to reserve space on the bus three months before the trip date. This requirement applies... request for space on the trip and an accessible OTRB 48 hours before the trip date, the operator could...

49 CFR 37.189 - Service requirement for OTRB demand-responsive systems.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... business of transporting people, whose operations affect commerce, and that provide demand-responsive OTRB... all passengers to reserve space on the bus three months before the trip date. This requirement applies... request for space on the trip and an accessible OTRB 48 hours before the trip date, the operator could...

49 CFR 37.189 - Service requirement for OTRB demand-responsive systems.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... business of transporting people, whose operations affect commerce, and that provide demand-responsive OTRB... all passengers to reserve space on the bus three months before the trip date. This requirement applies... request for space on the trip and an accessible OTRB 48 hours before the trip date, the operator could...

Short-range evaluation of air pollution near bus and railway stations.

PubMed

Corfa, E; Maury, F; Segers, P; Fresneau, A; Albergel, A

2004-12-01

In the early morning, during workdays, intensive activity is observed at both bus and railway stations. This particular time is critical because of the combination of three factors: (1) simultaneous departure of many buses and trains, (2) cold engines, and, quite frequently, (3) stable meteorological conditions. In our approach, we use ARIA Local, a simulation package applying CFD tools to air pollution modeling, to study different scenarios. The CFD model used in this study is the MERCURE model, developed by Electricite de France. For a bus station, we simulate a typical morning peak hour situation and study in detail how the pollution is accumulated in the station courtyard and the impact on the close vicinity. Two scenarios are presented: one with classical diesel engine and one with buses using AQUAZOL or NGV fuel. The definition of the sources inside the Eulerian grid is described as static linear sources. The total emission is averaged over the mean path driven by the bus from the bus stop to the exit of the bus station. For a railway station, we simulate a situation in a real railway station within the city of Paris. The emission from a diesel "locomotive" and its impact on air quality is computed and compared to the impact of other nonmobile emissions. In this case, the definition of sources is described as mobile point sources following the trajectory of the train. These two scenarios are discussed in an urban context, taking into account the flow around buildings and different meteorological conditions.

Performance of school bus retrofit systems: ultrafine particles and other vehicular pollutants.

PubMed

Zhang, Qunfang; Zhu, Yifang

2011-08-01

This study evaluated the performance of retrofit systems for diesel-powered school buses, a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) muffler and a spiracle crankcase filtration system (CFS), regarding ultrafine particles (UFPs) and other air pollutants from tailpipe emissions and inside bus cabins. Tailpipe emissions and in-cabin air pollutant levels were measured before and after retrofitting when the buses were idling and during actual pick-up/drop off routes. Retrofit systems significantly reduced tailpipe emissions with a reduction of 20-94% of total particles with both DOC and CFS installed. However, no unequivocal decrease was observed for in-cabin air pollutants after retrofitting. The AC/fan unit and the surrounding air pollutant concentrations played more important roles for determining the in-cabin air quality of school buses than did retrofit technologies. Although current retrofit systems reduce children's exposure while waiting to board at a bus station, retrofitting by itself does not protect children satisfactorily from in-cabin particle exposures. Turning on the bus engine increased in-cabin UFP levels significantly only when the wind blew from the bus' tailpipe toward its hood with its windows open. This indicated that wind direction and window position are significant factors determining how much self-released tailpipe emissions may penetrate into the bus cabin. The use of an air purifier was found to remove in-cabin particles by up to 50% which might be an alternative short-to-medium term strategy to protect children's health.

Unregulated emissions from compressed natural gas (CNG) transit buses configured with and without oxidation catalyst.

PubMed

Okamoto, Robert A; Kado, Norman Y; Kuzmicky, Paul A; Ayala, Alberto; Kobayashi, Reiko

2006-01-01

The unregulated emissions from two in-use heavy-duty transit buses fueled by compressed natural gas (CNG) and equipped with oxidation catalyst (OxiCat) control were evaluated. We tested emissions from a transit bus powered by a 2001 Cummins Westport C Gas Plus 8.3-L engine (CWest), which meets the California Air Resources Board's (CARB) 2002 optional NOx standard (2.0 g/bhp-hr). In California, this engine is certified only with an OxiCat, so our study did not include emissions testing without it. We also tested a 2000 New Flyer 40-passenger low-floor bus powered by a Detroit Diesel series 50G engine (DDCs50G) that is currently certified in California without an OxiCat. The original equipment manufacturer (OEM) offers a "low-emission" package for this bus that includes an OxiCat for transit bus applications, thus, this configuration was also tested in this study. Previously, we reported that formaldehyde and other volatile organic emissions detected in the exhaust of the DDCs50G bus equipped with an OxiCat were significantly reduced relative to the same DDCs50G bus without OxiCat. In this paper, we examine othertoxic unregulated emissions of significance. The specific mutagenic activity of emission sample extracts was examined using the microsuspension assay. The total mutagenic activity of emissions (activity per mile) from the OxiCat-equipped DDC bus was generally lower than that from the DDC bus without the OxiCat. The CWest bus emission samples had mutagenic activity that was comparable to that of the OxiCat-equipped DDC bus. In general, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emissions were lower forthe OxiCat-equipped buses, with greater reductions observed for the volatile and semivolatile PAH emissions. Elemental carbon (EC) was detected in the exhaust from the all three bus configurations, and we found that the total carbon (TC) composition of particulate matter (PM) emissions was primarily organic carbon (OC). The amount of carbon emissions far exceeded the PM-associated inorganic element emissions, which were detected in all exhaust samples, at comparatively small emission rates. In summary, based on these results and those referenced from our group, the use of OxiCat for the new CWest engine and as a retrofit option for the DDCs50G engine generally results in the reduction of tailpipe toxic emissions. However, the conclusions of this study do not take into account OxiCat durability, deterioration, lubricant consumption, or vehicle maintenance, and these parameters merit further study.

On the carcinogenic risk evaluation of diesel exhaust: benzene in airborne particles and alterations of heme metabolism in lymphocytes as markers of exposure.

PubMed

Muzyka, V; Veimer, S; Schmidt, N

1998-06-30

Diesel exhaust consists of a complex mixture of chemicals which contain known genotoxicants, one of which is benzene. Therefore the concentration of benzene may be used in the evaluation of full external exposure to diesel exhaust. Our attention is focused on the determination of the distribution of benzene between the gas and particulate phases in the breathing zone of bus-garage workers. Bus diesel engine exhaust was the main source of air pollution by benzene and particles. The particulate matter contained benzene in amounts comparable to those usually found for concentrations of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and nitro-PAHs. A much lower concentration of benzene was associated with particulate matter in the winter than in the summer months. The level of benzene in the gas phase showed a dependence on the distance of workplace from the operating diesel motor. The study indicated that benzene associated with diesel exhaust particles (DEP) might be an important factor to consider when studying diesel exhaust exposure from air pollution sources. Since non-genotoxic effects may play an important role in the generation of tumors by genotoxic carcinogens, the level of heme synthesis was proposed as a biomarker of early health effect. Here we present the data on determination of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) synthesis and heme formation in lymphocytes from a group of 45 bus-garage workers and an analogous data from a group of 25 unexposed subjects. The results indicate significant differences in ALA synthesis and heme formation between the exposed workers when compared to the non-exposed individuals. ALA was accumulated and ALA-synthase activity was increased in lymphocytes of garage workers. At the same time ferrochelatase activity was decreased and protoporphyrin contents were elevated. In addition the concentration of porphyrin associated with DNA was significantly increased. Thus, the measurement of some metabolites of heme synthesis in lymphocytes could be a useful biomonitoring index for the determination of a sensitive subgroup of workers who undergo the higher risk of cancer development.

Development of Electronic Load Controllers for Free-Piston Stirling Convertors Aided by Stirling Simulation Model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Regan, Timothy F.

2004-01-01

The free-piston Stirling convertor end-to-end modeling effort at the NASA Glenn Research Center has produced a software-based test bed in which free-piston Stirling convertors can be simulated and evaluated. The simulation model includes all the components of the convertor: the Stirling cycle engine, heat source, linear alternator, controller, and load. So far, it has been used in evaluating the performance of electronic controller designs. Three different controller design concepts were simulated using the model: 1) Controllers with parasitic direct current loading. 2) Controllers with parasitic alternating current loading. 3) Controllers that maintain a reference current. The free-piston Stirling convertor is an electromechanical device that operates at resonance. It is the function of the electronic load controller to ensure that the electrical load seen by the machine is always great enough to keep the amplitude of the piston and alternator oscillation at the rated value. This is done by regulating the load on the output bus. The controller monitors the instantaneous voltage, regulating it by switching loads called parasitic loads onto the bus whenever the bus voltage is too high and removing them whenever the voltage is too low. In the first type of controller, the monitor-ing and switching are done on the direct-current (dc) bus. In the second type, the alternating current bus is used. The model allows designers to test a controller concept before investing time in hardware. The simulation code used to develop the model also offers detailed models of digital and analog electronic components so that the resulting designs are realistic enough to translate directly into hardware circuits.

Battery capacity and recharging needs for electric buses in city transit service

DOE PAGES

Gao, Zhiming; Lin, Zhenhong; LaClair, Tim J.; ...

2017-01-27

Our paper evaluates the energy consumption and battery performance of city transit electric buses operating on real day-to-day routes and standardized bus drive cycles, based on a developed framework tool that links bus electrification feasibility with real-world vehicle performance, city transit bus service reliability, battery sizing and charging infrastructure. The impacts of battery capacity combined with regular and ultrafast charging over different routes have been analyzed in terms of the ability to maintain city transit bus service reliability like conventional buses. These results show that ultrafast charging via frequent short-time boost charging events, for example at a designated bus stopmore » after completing each circuit of an assigned route, can play a significant role in reducing the battery size and can eliminate the need for longer duration charging events that would cause schedule delays. Furthermore, the analysis presented shows that significant benefits can be realized by employing multiple battery configurations and flexible battery swapping practices in electric buses. These flexible design and use options will allow electric buses to service routes of varying city driving patterns and can therefore enable meaningful reductions to the cost of the vehicle and battery while ensuring service that is as reliable as conventional buses.« less

Effects of Self Stretching on Pain and Musculoskeletal Symptom of Bus Drivers

PubMed Central

Lee, Jung-Ho; Gak, Hwang Bo

2014-01-01

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to evaluate the musculoskeletal symptoms, pain and risk of postures as well as the effects of stretching exercise on the work-related symptoms and pain of bus drivers. [Subjects and Methods] Eighty-one drivers were randomly recruited from a bus corporation for this study. Information about pain levels, painful regions, and general characteristics of subjects was obtained using the symptom research form (KOSHA Code H-30-2003). The level of pain was assessed on a scale of numeric rating scale (NRS) which is divided by 10. Ergonomic posture assessment was conducted using the rapid upper limb assessment (RULA). Self-stretching exercise was performed for 4 weeks by the bus drivers who suffered from neck and shoulder pain. [Results] Musculoskeletal symptoms were present in the order of shoulder, neck, lower back and lower extremities. Compared with other jobs, the final score, and the action level of bus drivers were very high, showing 57.6% of action levels 3 and 4. A statistically significant decrease of pain was shown after the self-stretching intervention. There was also a significant decrease of musculoskeletal symptoms in the neck and shoulders after the self-stretching exercise. [Conclusion] Performing stretching for musculoskeletal symptoms had a positive influence on the symptoms and reduced pain. PMID:25540496

Battery capacity and recharging needs for electric buses in city transit service

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gao, Zhiming; Lin, Zhenhong; LaClair, Tim J.

Our paper evaluates the energy consumption and battery performance of city transit electric buses operating on real day-to-day routes and standardized bus drive cycles, based on a developed framework tool that links bus electrification feasibility with real-world vehicle performance, city transit bus service reliability, battery sizing and charging infrastructure. The impacts of battery capacity combined with regular and ultrafast charging over different routes have been analyzed in terms of the ability to maintain city transit bus service reliability like conventional buses. These results show that ultrafast charging via frequent short-time boost charging events, for example at a designated bus stopmore » after completing each circuit of an assigned route, can play a significant role in reducing the battery size and can eliminate the need for longer duration charging events that would cause schedule delays. Furthermore, the analysis presented shows that significant benefits can be realized by employing multiple battery configurations and flexible battery swapping practices in electric buses. These flexible design and use options will allow electric buses to service routes of varying city driving patterns and can therefore enable meaningful reductions to the cost of the vehicle and battery while ensuring service that is as reliable as conventional buses.« less

jsc2017e136097 - At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 54-55 crewmember Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) waves to well-wishers Dec. 4 as he boards a bus to depart for nearby Chkalovsky Ai

NASA Image and Video Library

2017-12-04

jsc2017e136097 - At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 54-55 crewmember Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) waves to well-wishers Dec. 4 as he boards a bus to depart for nearby Chkalovsky Airfield and a flight to his launch site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Shkaplerov, Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Agency (JAXA) and Scott Tingle of NASA will launch Dec. 17 on the Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft for a five-month mission on the International Space Station...Andrey Shelepin/Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

The Validity of Two Neuromotor Assessments for Predicting Motor Performance at 12 Months in Preterm Infants.

PubMed

Song, You Hong; Chang, Hyun Jung; Shin, Yong Beom; Park, Young Sook; Park, Yun Hee; Cho, Eun Sol

2018-04-01

To evaluate the validity of the Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP) and general movements (GMs) assessment for predicting Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) score at 12 months in preterm infants. A total of 44 preterm infants who underwent the GMs and TIMP at 1 month and 3 months of corrected age (CA) and whose motor performance was evaluated using AIMS at 12 months CA were included. GMs were judged as abnormal on basis of poor repertoire or cramped-synchronized movements at 1 month CA and abnormal or absent fidgety movement at 3 months CA. TIMP and AIMS scores were categorized as normal (average and low average and >5th percentile, respectively) or abnormal (below average and far below average or <5th percentile, respectively). Correlations between GMs and TIMP scores at 1 month and 3 months CA and the AIMS classification at 12 months CA were examined. The TIMP score at 3 months CA and GMs at 1 month and 3 months CA were significantly correlated with the motor performance at 12 months CA. However, the TIMP score at 1 month CA did not correlate with the AIMS classification at 12 months CA. For infants with normal GMs at 3 months CA, the TIMP score at 3 months CA correlated significantly with the AIMS classification at 12 months CA. Our findings suggest that neuromotor assessment using GMs and TIMP could be useful to identify preterm infants who are likely to benefit from intervention.

Evaluation of Electronic Registering Fareboxes

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1984-01-01

This report presents the findings of an evaluation of electronic registering fareboxes in use at four transit systems: Dallas Transit, Phoenix Transit, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, and the Metropolitan Suburban Bus Authority of...

An economy of scale system's mensuration of large spacecraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Deryder, L. J.

1981-01-01

The systems technology and cost particulars of using multipurpose platforms versus several sizes of bus type free flyer spacecraft to accomplish the same space experiment missions. Computer models of these spacecraft bus designs were created to obtain data relative to size, weight, power, performance, and cost. To answer the question of whether or not large scale does produce economy, the dominant cost factors were determined and the programmatic effect on individual experiment costs were evaluated.

COM-BUS : A Southern California Subscription Bus Service

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1977-05-01

The evolution and operations of the COM-BUS Subscription Commuter Bus Service are documented. COM-BUS is a privately owned organization operating at a profit without any form of subsidy. COM-BUS serves approximately 2,000 commuters per day on 47 rout...

Metro orange line BRT project evaluation.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2011-10-01

In partnership with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the National Bus Rapid Transit Institute (NBRTI) conducted an evaluation of the Metro Orange Line BRT service, whic...

Combined Simulated Annealing and Genetic Algorithm Approach to Bus Network Design

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Li; Olszewski, Piotr; Goh, Pong-Chai

A new method - combined simulated annealing (SA) and genetic algorithm (GA) approach is proposed to solve the problem of bus route design and frequency setting for a given road network with fixed bus stop locations and fixed travel demand. The method involves two steps: a set of candidate routes is generated first and then the best subset of these routes is selected by the combined SA and GA procedure. SA is the main process to search for a better solution to minimize the total system cost, comprising user and operator costs. GA is used as a sub-process to generate new solutions. Bus demand assignment on two alternative paths is performed at the solution evaluation stage. The method was implemented on four theoretical grid networks of different size and a benchmark network. Several GA operators (crossover and mutation) were utilized and tested for their effectiveness. The results show that the proposed method can efficiently converge to the optimal solution on a small network but computation time increases significantly with network size. The method can also be used for other transport operation management problems.

A land-use regression model for estimating microenvironmental diesel exposure given multiple addresses from birth through childhood.

PubMed

Ryan, Patrick H; Lemasters, Grace K; Levin, Linda; Burkle, Jeff; Biswas, Pratim; Hu, Shaohua; Grinshpun, Sergey; Reponen, Tiina

2008-10-01

The Cincinnati Childhood Allergy and Air Pollution Study (CCAAPS) is a prospective birth cohort whose purpose is to determine if exposure to high levels of diesel exhaust particles (DEP) during early childhood increases the risk for developing allergic diseases. In order to estimate exposure to DEP, a land-use regression (LUR) model was developed using geographic data as independent variables and sampled levels of a marker of DEP as the dependent variable. A continuous wind direction variable was also created. The LUR model predicted 74% of the variability in sampled values with four variables: wind direction, length of bus routes within 300 m of the sample site, a measure of truck intensity within 300 m of the sampling site, and elevation. The LUR model was subsequently applied to all locations where the child had spent more than eight hours per week from through age three. A time-weighted average (TWA) microenvironmental exposure estimate was derived for four time periods: 0-6 months, 7-12 months, 13-24 months, 25-36 months. By age two, one third of the children were spending significant time at locations other than home and by 36 months, 39% of the children had changed their residential addresses. The mean cumulative DEP exposure estimate increased from age 6 to 36 months from 70 to 414 microg/m3-days. Findings indicate that using birth addresses to estimate a child's exposure may result in exposure misclassification for some children who spend a significant amount of time at a location with high exposure to DEP.

49 CFR 605.19 - Approval of school bus operations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 49 Transportation 7 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Approval of school bus operations. 605.19 Section... ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SCHOOL BUS OPERATIONS School Bus Agreements § 605.19 Approval of school bus operations. (a) The Administrator will consider the comments filed by private school bus...

49 CFR 605.18 - Comments by private school bus operators.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 49 Transportation 7 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Comments by private school bus operators. 605.18... ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SCHOOL BUS OPERATIONS School Bus Agreements § 605.18 Comments by private school bus operators. Private school bus operators may file written comments on an applicant's...

49 CFR 605.18 - Comments by private school bus operators.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 49 Transportation 7 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Comments by private school bus operators. 605.18... ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SCHOOL BUS OPERATIONS School Bus Agreements § 605.18 Comments by private school bus operators. Private school bus operators may file written comments on an applicant's...

49 CFR 605.19 - Approval of school bus operations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 49 Transportation 7 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Approval of school bus operations. 605.19 Section... ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SCHOOL BUS OPERATIONS School Bus Agreements § 605.19 Approval of school bus operations. (a) The Administrator will consider the comments filed by private school bus...

A short-term clinical evaluation of IPS Empress 2 crowns.

PubMed

Toksavul, Suna; Toman, Muhittin

2007-01-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical performance of all-ceramic crowns made with the IPS Empress 2 system after an observation period of 12 to 60 months. Seventy-nine IPS Empress 2 crowns were placed in 21 patients. The all-ceramic crowns were evaluated clinically, radiographically, and using clinical photographs. The evaluations took place at baseline (2 days after cementation) and at 6-month intervals for 12 to 60 months. Survival rate of the crowns was determined using Kaplan-Meier statistical analysis. Based on the US Public Health Service criteria, 95.24% of the crowns were rated satisfactory after a mean follow-up period of 58 months. Fracture was registered in only 1 crown. One endodontically treated tooth failed as a result of fracture at the cervical margin area. In this in vivo study, IPS Empress 2 crowns exhibited a satisfactory clinical performance during an observation period ranging from 12 to 60 months.

Intentional replantation of adhesively reattached vertically fractured maxillary single-rooted teeth.

PubMed

Nizam, N; Kaval, M E; Gürlek, Ö; Atila, A; Çalışkan, M K

2016-03-01

To evaluate the clinical outcomes of intentionally replanted maxillary single-rooted teeth with vertical root fractures (VRFs) after being repaired extraorally using 4-methacryloxyethyl trimellitate anhydride/methacrylate-tri-n-butyl borane (4-META/MMA-TBB) resin cement. Twenty-one root filled maxillary single-rooted teeth with VRFs were evaluated. After atraumatic extraction, fractured fragments were adhesively cemented. The teeth were then replanted and splinted to the neighbouring teeth for 2 weeks. Plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), probing depth (PD) and clinical attachment level (CAL) were assessed at baseline, 6 and 12 months, and radiographic evaluations were made using PAI scores at baseline and 12 months. Mobility was evaluated using periotest values (PTV) at baseline, 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. Replanted teeth, contralateral teeth (control teeth) and adjacent teeth were analysed statistically using repeated measures one-way anova, unpaired t-tests and Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank tests. Two teeth were extracted in the first month after surgery. PI, GI, CAL and PD scores of the replanted teeth were significantly lower at 6 month (P < 0.0001 for all) and 12 month (P < 0.0001 for all) postoperatively when compared to baseline, but the values were not significantly different from those of the control and adjacent teeth. PTV of the test teeth increased significantly (P < 0.0001) after the intervention and decreased to baseline levels by month 12. PTVs were significantly higher (P < 0.05) at baseline, 1, 3 and 6 months in the test teeth when compared with the control teeth, but were not significantly different at month 12. PAI scores of teeth with VRF were significantly lower (P < 0.05) at 12 months compared with baseline. Adhesive cementation and intentional replantation were an effective treatment modality for this group of vertically fractured maxillary single-rooted teeth. The clinical periodontal parameters decrease by month 6, and the mobility returned to the physiological limits of natural teeth 12 months after replantation. © 2015 International Endodontic Journal. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

A new bus lane on urban expressway with no-bay bus stop

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tian, Zhao; Jia, Limin

2016-01-01

The sharp increase in residents and vehicles causes heavy traffic pressure in many cities. To ease traffic congestion, it has been the common sense that we should develop public transit system. The priority of the bus appears particularly necessary with the rapid development of the public transport system. The bus lane is an important embodiment of the bus priority. Focusing on the problem of the unreasonable dedicated bus lane (DBL) under the lower ratio of buses, this paper proposed a new bus lane with limited physical length. And this bus lane can reduce the lane-changing conflict caused by the buses and cars running on roads without bus lanes. Based on the cellular automata (CA) traffic flow model and the lane-changing behavior of the vehicle including the optional lane-changing and the mandatory lane-changing, a three-lane traffic model with an isolated no-bay bus stop is proposed. The ordinary three-lane traffic without a bus lane and the cases of traffic with a DBL or the proposed bus lane are simulated, and the comparisons in the form of the fundamental diagrams are made among them. It is shown that the no-bay bus stop can act as a bottleneck on the traffic flow because of the mandatory lane-changing behavior. Under a certain ratio of the bus number to the total vehicles number, (1) the traffic with the proposed bus lane has less lane-changing conflict and can provide higher traffic capacity than the ordinary traffic without a bus lane, (2) compared with the DBL, the proposed bus lane is advantageous in easing congestion on the ordinary lanes when the traffic flow is high and can avoid unreasonable allocation of the road resources.

Bochum ultrasound score allows distinction of chronic inflammatory from multifocal acquired demyelinating polyneuropathies.

PubMed

Kerasnoudis, A; Pitarokoili, K; Gold, R; Yoon, M-S

2015-01-15

The aim of this observational study was to evaluate the applicability of a recently introduced ultrasound score (Bochum ultrasound score; BUS) in distinguishing the chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) from the multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) or the multifocal acquired demyelinating sensory and motor neuropathy (MADSAM). The BUS underwent prospective evaluation of its applicability in a group of 13 patients (mean age 47.2, SD ± 13.7, 9 women), who were referred to our department between January 2012 and August 2013 with the clinical picture of a chronic symmetrical or asymmetrical sensory/sensorimotor neuropathy. The cut-off value of ≥ 2 points in the "Bochum ultrasound score" showed a sensitivity of 80% and specificity of 87.5% (PPV=80%, NPV=87.5%) in distinguishing CIDP from MMN or MADSAM. The BUS seems to allow a reliable distinction of CIDP from multifocal acquired demyelinating polyneuropathies causing predominantly motor nerve dysfunction, such as MMN or MADSAM. Our ultrasound findings indicate a stronger relationship of MADSAM to MMN, than to CIDP. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Recruiting phobic research subjects: effectiveness and cost.

PubMed

Kaakko, T; Murtomaa, H; Milgrom, P; Getz, T; Ramsay, D S; Coldwell, S E

2001-01-01

Efficiently enrolling subjects is one of the most important and difficult aspects of a clinical trial. This prospective study evaluated strategies used in the recruitment of 144 dental injection phobics for a clinical trial evaluating the effectiveness of combining alprazolam with exposure therapy. Three types of recruitment strategies were evaluated: paid advertising, free publicity, and professional referral. Sixty-three percent of subjects were enrolled using paid advertising (the majority of them from bus advertisements [27.0%], posters on the University of Washington campus [20.1%], and newspaper advertisements [13.2%]). Free publicity (eg, television coverage, word of mouth) yielded 18.8% of enrolled subjects and professionaL referrals 14.6% of subjects. The average cost (1996 dollars) of enrolling 1 subject was $79. Bus and poster advertising attracted more initial contacts and yielded the greatest enrollment.

Interim Evaluation Results from New Flyer/Allison Hybrid Buses at King County Metro: Preprint

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chandler, K.; Eberts, E.; Eudy, L.

2005-05-01

This paper prepared for the 2005 American Public Transportation Association Bus & Paratransit Conference discusses NREL/DOE evaluation of hybrid electric articulated transit buses operated by King County Metro.

Shuttle bus services quality assessment Tangerang Selatan toward smart city

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fassa, Ferdinand; Sitorus, Fredy Jhon Philip; Adikesuma, Tri Nugraha

2017-11-01

Around the world, shuttle bus operation played the significant role to accommodate transportation for commuting bus passengers. Shuttle Bus services in cities are provided by various bus agencies with kinds of own specific purposes. For instance, at Tangerang Selatan, Indonesia, it was said that shuttle bus In Trans Bintaro is run and operated by private bus companies hire by Bintaro developer. The aim of this research is to identify factors of satisfaction of shuttle bus service in Kota Tangerang Selatan, Indonesia. Several factors are used to analyze sums of 20 parameters performance indicators of Shuttle Bus. A face to face interview using a questionnaire (N=200) was used to collect data on October and March 2017. Likert and diagram Cartesian were used to model the all the parameters. This research succeeded in finding some categories of Shuttle bus service attributes such as accessibility, comfort, and safety. Users agreed that eight indicators in shuttle bus have the excellent achievement, while three indicators on performance remain low and should receive more attention especially punctuality of the bus.

Study of passenger subjective response to ideal and real-vehicle vibration environments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kirby, R. H.; Mikulka, P. J.

1975-01-01

The stimulus received by subjects tested on the passenger ride quality apparatus (PRQA) is defined. Additional analyses on the data collected from field tests using buses, were conducted to assess the relation between subjective ratings of ride quality and vibrations measured on the buses, and to better define the vibration stimulus measured in the field. The relation of subjective evaluation of simulations of bus rides produced by the DRQA to subjective evaluations of the actual bus rides is discussed. The relative contribution of the seat and floor vibration to human comfort in a simulated aircraft ride environment is discussed along with the determination of equal comfort curves through magnitude estimation.

An Optimization Model for the Selection of Bus-Only Lanes in a City.

PubMed

Chen, Qun

2015-01-01

The planning of urban bus-only lane networks is an important measure to improve bus service and bus priority. To determine the effective arrangement of bus-only lanes, a bi-level programming model for urban bus lane layout is developed in this study that considers accessibility and budget constraints. The goal of the upper-level model is to minimize the total travel time, and the lower-level model is a capacity-constrained traffic assignment model that describes the passenger flow assignment on bus lines, in which the priority sequence of the transfer times is reflected in the passengers' route-choice behaviors. Using the proposed bi-level programming model, optimal bus lines are selected from a set of candidate bus lines; thus, the corresponding bus lane network on which the selected bus lines run is determined. The solution method using a genetic algorithm in the bi-level programming model is developed, and two numerical examples are investigated to demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed model.

Transcutaneous periorbital electrical stimulation in the treatment of dry eye.

PubMed

Pedrotti, Emilio; Bosello, Francesca; Fasolo, Adriano; Frigo, Anna C; Marchesoni, Ivan; Ruggeri, Alfredo; Marchini, Giorgio

2017-06-01

To evaluate efficacy and safety of transcutaneous application of electrical current on symptoms and clinical signs of dry eye (DE). 27 patients with DE underwent transcutaneous electrostimulation with electrodes placed onto the periorbital region of both eyes and manual stimulation with a hand-piece conductor moved by the operator. Each patient underwent 12 sessions of 22 min spread over 2 months, two sessions per week in the first month and one session per week in the second month. Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, tear break-up time (TBUT), fluorescein staining of the cornea, Schirmer I test and adverse events were evaluated at baseline, at end of treatment and at 6 and 12 months. OSDI improved from 43.0±19.2 at baseline to 25.3±22.1 at end of treatment (mean±SD, p=0.001). These effects were substantially maintained at 6-month and 12-month follow-up evaluations. Improvement of the values of TBUT was recorded for the right eye at the end of treatment (p=0.003) and found in the left eye after 12 months (p=0.02). The Oxford scores changed in both eyes at the end of treatment and at the 6-month evaluation (p<0.001), and in the right eye at the 12-month evaluation (p=0.035). Schirmer I improved significantly at the end of treatment in the left eye (p=0.001) and in both eyes at the 12-month evaluation (p=0.004 and p=0.039 for the left and right eye, respectively). A significant reduction of the use of tear substitutes was found at the end of treatment (p=0.003), and was maintained during the follow-up (p<0.001).No complications occurred and patients found the treatment satisfying. Transcutaneous electrical stimulation was shown to improve DE, both subjectively and objectively, without any adverse effects and has the potential to enlarge the armamentarium for treating DE. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.

Work-related stress and role of personality in a sample of Italian bus drivers.

PubMed

Bergomi, Margherita; Modenese, Alberto; Ferretti, Enrica; Ferrari, Angela; Licitra, Giuseppe; Vivoli, Roberto; Gobba, Fabriziomaria; Aggazzotti, Gabriella

2017-01-01

Several studies have shown that professional drivers are at risk of developing work-related stress. Stress may be responsible for a variety of adverse effects and may also be associated with an increased number of accidents. Perform an integrated, objective and subjective evaluation of work-related stress in bus drivers, that also considered the role of personality traits. Salivary α-amylase and cortisol were measured in 42 bus drivers. Subjective stress evaluation was performed with the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and Driver Stress Inventory (DSI). To evaluate personality traits, we administered the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised (EPQ-R) and the Impulsivity Inventory (IVE). Salivary biomarkers showed no associations with PSS-10 and personality traits. Cortisol levels were positively correlated with fatigue (r = 0.44) at the middle of the work-shift and with aggression (r = 0.51) at the end of a day off. At the end of the work-shift, cortisol levels were negatively correlated with hazard monitoring (r = -0.37) and salivary α-amylase was positively correlated with thrill-seeking (r = 0.36). Neuroticism (β= 0.44) and impulsiveness (β= 0.38) were predictors of perceived stress by multiple regression. An integrated method, considering both objective and subjective indicators, seems adequate to evaluate work-related stress in professional drivers. Personality traits are relevant in determining perception of stress.

Autonomous Cryogenics Loading Operations Simulation Software: Knowledgebase Autonomous Test Engineer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wehner, Walter S., Jr.

2013-01-01

Working on the ACLO (Autonomous Cryogenics Loading Operations) project I have had the opportunity to add functionality to the physics simulation software known as KATE (Knowledgebase Autonomous Test Engineer), create a new application allowing WYSIWYG (what-you-see-is-what-you-get) creation of KATE schematic files and begin a preliminary design and implementation of a new subsystem that will provide vision services on the IHM (Integrated Health Management) bus. The functionality I added to KATE over the past few months includes a dynamic visual representation of the fluid height in a pipe based on number of gallons of fluid in the pipe and implementing the IHM bus connection within KATE. I also fixed a broken feature in the system called the Browser Display, implemented many bug fixes and made changes to the GUI (Graphical User Interface).

78 FR 17995 - Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-03-25

... collections: 49 U.S.C. Section 5337--State of Good Repair Program 49 U.S.C. Section 5339--Bus and Bus... on a quarterly basis. The information submitted ensures FTA's compliance with applicable federal laws. Title: 49 U.S.C. Section 5339--Bus and Bus Facilities Program. Abstract: 49 U.S.C. 5339--Bus and Bus...

[Investigation of Legionella pneumophila seropositivity in the professional long distance drivers as a risky occupation].

PubMed

Polat, Yusuf; Ergin, Cağri; Kaleli, Ilknur; Pinar, Ahmet

2007-04-01

Contaminated water sources, reservoirs and systems such as evaporative condensers of air-conditioners are known to be the main transmission routes of Legionella spp. which are ubiquitous aquatic bacteria. By virtue of this point the aim of this study was to investigate the rate of Legionella pneumophila seropositivity in a profession considered as risky due to the direct and prolonged exposure to air-conditioning and air-circulating systems. For this purpose, in the period of February-August 2004 a total of 79 male subjects (63 were bus drivers and 16 were driver assistants) who were continously travelling to two different route (South part as hot climate and Middle/North parts as cold climate of Turkey) from Denizli province coach station (a province located in internal Aegian where accepted as crossroads), were included to the study. The mean age and mean working duration of bus drivers were 43.0 +/- 1.1 years and 20.0 +/- 1.1 years, respectively, while these values were 22.5 +/- 0.9 years and 4.0 +/- 0.6 years, respectively, for the drivers' assistants. The serum samples collected from the subjects were screened by a commercial indirect immunofluorescence method (Euroimmun, Germany) using L. pneumophila serogrup 1-14 antigens for the presence of specific antibodies. Additionally, air-conditioners' moisture exhaust samples of the busses in which seropositive subjects travelling with have been examined by culture and 5S rRNA gene targeted polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods, for the presence of Legionella spp. The overall L. pneumophila seropositivity rate was detected as 15.2% (12/79). This rate was 19% (12/63) for bus drivers while all of the drivers' assistants were found seronegative. The seropositivity rate was found statistically higher in the personnel who were travelling to the hot climates (10/36, 27.8%) than those who travel to cold climates (2/43, 4.6%), (p < 0.05). The culture and PCR yielded negative results for Legionella spp. in the exhaust samples collected from the air-conditioners of the busses in which seropositive drivers travel. Our data indicated that long distance bus drivers were chronically exposed to this pathogen and this may be considered as an occupational risk factor for legionellosis especially for drivers who travel to the west and south parts of our country (mean temperature in August 2004: 30-35 degrees C), since the bus air-conditioning and air-circulating systems are active during the travel. Further studies on air spreading of Legionella in intercity buses can reveal how the exposure occurs for bus drivers.

Interprocessor bus switching system for simultaneous communication in plural bus parallel processing system

DOEpatents

Atac, R.; Fischler, M.S.; Husby, D.E.

1991-01-15

A bus switching apparatus and method for multiple processor computer systems comprises a plurality of bus switches interconnected by branch buses. Each processor or other module of the system is connected to a spigot of a bus switch. Each bus switch also serves as part of a backplane of a modular crate hardware package. A processor initiates communication with another processor by identifying that other processor. The bus switch to which the initiating processor is connected identifies and secures, if possible, a path to that other processor, either directly or via one or more other bus switches which operate similarly. If a particular desired path through a given bus switch is not available to be used, an alternate path is considered, identified and secured. 11 figures.

Interprocessor bus switching system for simultaneous communication in plural bus parallel processing system

DOEpatents

Atac, Robert; Fischler, Mark S.; Husby, Donald E.

1991-01-01

A bus switching apparatus and method for multiple processor computer systems comprises a plurality of bus switches interconnected by branch buses. Each processor or other module of the system is connected to a spigot of a bus switch. Each bus switch also serves as part of a backplane of a modular crate hardware package. A processor initiates communication with another processor by identifying that other processor. The bus switch to which the initiating processor is connected identifies and secures, if possible, a path to that other processor, either directly or via one or more other bus switches which operate similarly. If a particular desired path through a given bus switch is not available to be used, an alternate path is considered, identified and secured.

Recurrent endometrial carcinoma: prognosis for patients with recurrence within 6 to 12 months is worse relative to those relapsing at 12 months or later.

PubMed

Miyake, Takahito; Ueda, Yutaka; Egawa-Takata, Tomomi; Matsuzaki, Shinya; Yokoyama, Takuhei; Miyoshi, Yukari; Kimura, Toshihiro; Yoshino, Kiyoshi; Fujita, Masami; Yamasaki, Masato; Enomoto, Takayuki; Kimura, Tadashi

2011-06-01

We evaluated association of prognosis of endometrial carcinoma patients and treatment-free intervals (TFIs). We compared the effectiveness of second-line chemotherapy performed for patients with TFIs of 6-12 months and 12 or more months following a first-line chemotherapy based on taxane (paclitaxel) and carboplatin, with or without the anthracycline (TC). Progression-free and overall survivals were significantly shorter in patients with TFIs of 6-12 months than those with TFIs of 12 or more months. Among the patients who received similar second-line chemotherapy, response rates of 15 patients with TFIs of 12 or more months and 7 patients with TFIs of 6-12 months were 67% and 43%, respectively. Progression-free survival was significantly worse in those with TFIs of 6-12 months (median, 7 months) than those with TFIs of 12 or more months (median, 12 months). Our small retrospective analysis suggests that recurrent endometrial carcinomas with TFIs of 6-12 months can be regarded as being partially sensitive to TC-based chemotherapy. Copyright © 2011 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Traveling by Bus Instead of Car on Urban Major Roads: Safety Benefits for Vehicle Occupants, Pedestrians, and Cyclists.

PubMed

Morency, Patrick; Strauss, Jillian; Pépin, Félix; Tessier, François; Grondines, Jocelyn

2018-04-01

Some studies have estimated fatality and injury rates for bus occupants, but data was aggregated at the country level and made no distinction between bus types. Also, injured pedestrians and cyclists, as a result of bus travel, were overlooked. We compared injury rates for car and city bus occupants on specific urban major roads, as well as the cyclist and pedestrian injuries associated with car and bus travel. We selected ten bus routes along major urban arterials (in Montreal, Canada). Passenger-kilometers traveled were estimated from vehicle counts at intersections (2002-2010) and from bus passenger counts (2008). Police accident reports (2001-2010) provided injury data for all modes. Injury rates associated with car and bus travel were calculated for vehicle occupants, pedestrians, and cyclists. Injury rate ratios were also computed. The safety benefits of bus travel, defined as the number of vehicle occupant, cyclist, and pedestrian injuries saved, were estimated for each route. Overall, for all ten routes, the ratio between car and bus occupant injury rates is 3.7 (95% CI [3.4, 4.0]). The rates of pedestrian and cyclist injuries per hundred million passenger-kilometers are also significantly greater for car travel than that for bus travel: 4.1 (95% CI [3.5, 4.9]) times greater for pedestrian injuries; 5.3 (95% CI [3.8, 7.6]) times greater for cyclist injuries. Similar results were observed for fatally and severely injured vehicle occupants, cyclists, and pedestrians. At the route level, the safety benefits of bus travel increase with the difference in injury rate associated with car and bus travel but also with the amount of passenger-kilometers by bus. Results show that city bus is a safer mode than car, for vehicle occupants but also for cyclists and pedestrians traveling along these bus routes. The safety benefits of bus travel greatly vary across urban routes; this spatial variation is most likely linked to environmental factors. Understanding the safety benefits of public transit for specific transport routes is likely to provide valuable information for mobilizing city and transportation planners.

Disappearance of Renal Cysts Included in Ice Ball During Cryoablation of Renal-Cell Carcinoma: A Potential Therapy for Symptomatic Renal Cysts?

PubMed

Yodoya, Mitsuko; Hiraki, Takao; Iguchi, Toshihiro; Fujiwara, Hiroyasu; Matsui, Yusuke; Masaoka, Yoshihisa; Sakurai, Jun; Mitsuhashi, Toshiharu; Gobara, Hideo; Kanazawa, Susumu

2017-06-01

To retrospectively evaluate the effect of cryoablation of renal-cell carcinoma on nearby renal cysts with the goal to investigate the potential for an alternative therapy to treat symptomatic renal cysts. The study population comprised 46 cysts (mean size, 12 mm; range, 5-43 mm) that were within or near the ice ball during cryoablation in 22 patients. Size change of each cyst was evaluated via enhanced CT or MR imaging before and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after cryoablation. Forty-one cysts were also followed after 12 months. Variables including positional relationship between the cyst and the ice ball were evaluated via linear regression analysis using generalized estimating equation models to determine which factors affected cyst shrinkage rate at 12 months. Fifteen, 12, and 19 cysts were completely included in, partially included in, or excluded from the ice ball, respectively. The overall shrinkage rate was 62%, and 57% of cysts (26 of 46) had disappeared at 12 months. Only the relationship between the cyst and the ice ball was significantly (P < .001) associated with cyst shrinkage rate. Cyst disappearance rates at 12 months were 100% (15 of 15), 67% (8 of 12), and 16% (3 of 19) for cysts completely included, partially included, and excluded from the ice ball, respectively. Among the 22 cysts that disappeared at 12 months and continued to be followed, none recurred after 12 months. All renal cysts that were completely included in the ice ball disappeared after cryoablation, demonstrating the potential utility of cryoablation as an alternative therapy for symptomatic renal cysts. Copyright © 2017 SIR. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Zero Emission Bay Area (ZEBA) Fuel Cell Bus Demonstration Results : Fourth Report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2015-07-04

This report presents results of a demonstration of fuel cell electric buses (FCEB) operating in Oakland, California. Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) leads the Zero Emission Bay Area (ZEBA) demonstration, which includes 12 advanced-...

Propulsion system for a motor vehicle using a bidirectional energy converter

DOEpatents

Tamor, Michael Alan; Gale, Allan Roy

1999-01-01

A motor vehicle propulsion system includes an electrical energy source and a traction motor coupled to receive electrical energy from the electrical energy source. The system also has a first bus provided electrical energy by the electrical energy source and a second bus of relatively lower voltage than the first bus. In addition, the system includes an electrically-driven source of reaction gas for the electrical energy source, the source of reaction gas coupled to receive electrical energy from the first bus. Also, the system has an electrical storage device coupled to the second bus for storing electrical energy at the lower voltage. The system also includes a bidirectional energy converter coupled to convert electrical energy from the first bus to the second bus and from the second bus to the first bus.

Asymptotically zero power charge-recycling bus architecture for battery-operated ultrahigh data rate ULSI's

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamauchi, Hiroyuki; Akamatsu, Hironori; Fujita, Tsutomu

1995-04-01

An asymptotically zero power charge recycling bus (CRB) architecture, featuring virtual stacking of the individual bus-capacitance into a series configuration between supply voltage and ground, has been proposed. This CRB architecture makes it possible to reduce not only each bus-swing but also a total equivalent bus-capacitance of the ultramultibit buses running in parallel. The voltage swing of each bus is given by the recycled charge-supplying from the upper adjacent bus capacitance, instead of the power line. The dramatical power reduction was verified by the simulated and measured data. According to these data, the ultrahigh data rate of 25.6 Gb/s can be achieved while maintaining the power dissipation to be less than 100 mW, which corresponds to less than 10% that of the previously reported 0.9 V suppressed bus-swing scheme, at V(sub cc) = 3.6 V for the bus width of 512 b with the bus-capacitance of 14 pF per bit operating at 50 MHz.

Dynamic Bus Travel Time Prediction Models on Road with Multiple Bus Routes

PubMed Central

Bai, Cong; Peng, Zhong-Ren; Lu, Qing-Chang; Sun, Jian

2015-01-01

Accurate and real-time travel time information for buses can help passengers better plan their trips and minimize waiting times. A dynamic travel time prediction model for buses addressing the cases on road with multiple bus routes is proposed in this paper, based on support vector machines (SVMs) and Kalman filtering-based algorithm. In the proposed model, the well-trained SVM model predicts the baseline bus travel times from the historical bus trip data; the Kalman filtering-based dynamic algorithm can adjust bus travel times with the latest bus operation information and the estimated baseline travel times. The performance of the proposed dynamic model is validated with the real-world data on road with multiple bus routes in Shenzhen, China. The results show that the proposed dynamic model is feasible and applicable for bus travel time prediction and has the best prediction performance among all the five models proposed in the study in terms of prediction accuracy on road with multiple bus routes. PMID:26294903

Dynamic Bus Travel Time Prediction Models on Road with Multiple Bus Routes.

PubMed

Bai, Cong; Peng, Zhong-Ren; Lu, Qing-Chang; Sun, Jian

2015-01-01

Accurate and real-time travel time information for buses can help passengers better plan their trips and minimize waiting times. A dynamic travel time prediction model for buses addressing the cases on road with multiple bus routes is proposed in this paper, based on support vector machines (SVMs) and Kalman filtering-based algorithm. In the proposed model, the well-trained SVM model predicts the baseline bus travel times from the historical bus trip data; the Kalman filtering-based dynamic algorithm can adjust bus travel times with the latest bus operation information and the estimated baseline travel times. The performance of the proposed dynamic model is validated with the real-world data on road with multiple bus routes in Shenzhen, China. The results show that the proposed dynamic model is feasible and applicable for bus travel time prediction and has the best prediction performance among all the five models proposed in the study in terms of prediction accuracy on road with multiple bus routes.

BBIS: Beacon Bus Information System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kasim, Shahreen; Hafit, Hanayanti; Pei Juin, Kong; Afizah Afif, Zehan; Hashim, Rathiah; Ruslai, Husni; Jahidin, Kamaruzzaman; Syafwan Arshad, Mohammad

2016-11-01

Lack of bus information for example bus timetable, status of the bus and messy advertisement on bulletin board at the bus stop will give negative impact to tourist. Therefore, a real-time update bus information bulletin board provides all information needed so that passengers can save their bus information searching time. Supported with Android or iOS, Beacon Bus Information System (BBIS) provides bus information between Batu Pahat and Kluang area. BBIS is a system that implements physical web technology and interaction on demand. It built on Backend-as-a-Service, a cloud solution and Firebase non relational database as data persistence backend and syncs between user client in the real-time. People walk through bus stop with smart device and do not require any application. Bluetooth Beacon is used to achieve smart device's best performance of data sharing. Intellij IDEA 15 is one of the tools that that used to develop the BBIS system. Multi-language included front end and backend supported Integration development environment (IDE) helped to speed up integration process.

Rethinking impact evaluation and carbon reduction analysis on electric bus vehicles in China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Zhenyu; Li, Chao; Liao, Kai; Yin, Zhifang

2018-02-01

New energy bus vehicles (NEBVs) are expanding in China, but they have some problems such as technology, high cost and safety etc., thus NEBVs should be comprehensively evaluated from costs, technologies, environment, and based on the evaluation results, some changes should be improved. This paper firstly analyses the current status of both vehicle development and existing policies, identifies the main characteristics and the main problems in term of the economic, standard, policy, etc., by scenario analysis, forecasts the future growth from now to 2030 and calculates the emission reduction in low level scenario and high level scenario. In 2020 and 2030, 6 million and 24 million ton of CO2 emission will be reduced respectively. Finally, the paper makes a conclusion of Chinese experiences and gives some measures for the future development.

Recruiting phobic research subjects: effectiveness and cost.

PubMed Central

Kaakko, T.; Murtomaa, H.; Milgrom, P.; Getz, T.; Ramsay, D. S.; Coldwell, S. E.

2001-01-01

Efficiently enrolling subjects is one of the most important and difficult aspects of a clinical trial. This prospective study evaluated strategies used in the recruitment of 144 dental injection phobics for a clinical trial evaluating the effectiveness of combining alprazolam with exposure therapy. Three types of recruitment strategies were evaluated: paid advertising, free publicity, and professional referral. Sixty-three percent of subjects were enrolled using paid advertising (the majority of them from bus advertisements [27.0%], posters on the University of Washington campus [20.1%], and newspaper advertisements [13.2%]). Free publicity (eg, television coverage, word of mouth) yielded 18.8% of enrolled subjects and professionaL referrals 14.6% of subjects. The average cost (1996 dollars) of enrolling 1 subject was $79. Bus and poster advertising attracted more initial contacts and yielded the greatest enrollment. PMID:11495403

Variations of pituitary function over time after brain injuries: the lesson from a prospective study.

PubMed

Giordano, Giulio; Aimaretti, Gianluca; Ghigo, Ezio

2005-01-01

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Subarachnoid Haemorrhage (SAH) are conditions at high risk to develop hypopituitarism as pointed out by many papers in scientific literature. But most of the papers were referred to retrospective evaluations, not considering the possible evolution of the pituitary function over time. Aim of our studies was to clarify whether pituitary deficiencies and normal pituitary function recorded at short term follow-up (3 months), would improve or worsen, respectively, at long term (12 months after the brain injury). In a multicenter study protocol, in patients who suffered TBI (n = 70; 50 Males, 20 Females; age 39.31 +/- 2.4 years; BMI 23.8 +/- 0.4 kg/m(2)) or SAH (n = 32; 12M, 20F; age: 51.9 +/- 2.2 year; BMI: 24.7 +/- 0.6 kg/m(2)) we tested 3 and 12 months after the pathological events the pituitary function. In TBI patients, the 3 month evaluation had shown some degree of hypopituitarism in 32.8% and the 12 months retesting demonstrated some degree of hypopituitarism in 22.7%. Total hypopituitarism was always confirmed at 12 months while Multiple and Isolated deficits recorded at 3 months was confirmed in nearly 25% only of the patients. On the other hand, in 5.5% of TBI with normal pituitary function at 3 months Isolated deficits were recorded at 12 months testing. Moreover, in 13.3% of TBI with Isolated deficit at 3 months Multiple hypopituitarism was demonstrated at 12 months retesting. In SAH patients, the 3 months evaluation had shown some degree of hypopituitarism in 46.8% and the 12 month retesting demonstrated some degree of hypopituitarism in 37.5%. No multiple hypopituitarism recorded at 3 months was confirmed at 12 months, but 2 patients with isolated deficits at 3 months showed multiple hypopituitarism at 12 month retesting. At 12 as well as at 3 months, both in TBI and SAH patients, the most common deficit was severe GHD (>20%) followed by secondary hypogonadism and then hypoadrenalism and hypothyroidism. In all, in patients who experienced TBI or SAH the risk to develop hypopituitarism is very high; early diagnosis of total hypopituitarism is always confirmed at the long term follow-up; however pituitary function in brain injured patients may improve over time, because, isolated and even multiple pituitary insufficiencies recorded at short term can be transient; on the other hand normal pituitary function recorder at short term may, become impaired 12 months after the injury. Thus, brain injured patients must undergo neuroendocrine follow-up over time in order to monitoring pituitary function and eventually providing appropriate placement.

DG Planning with Amalgamation of Operational and Reliability Considerations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Battu, Neelakanteshwar Rao; Abhyankar, A. R.; Senroy, Nilanjan

2016-04-01

Distributed Generation has been playing a vital role in dealing issues related to distribution systems. This paper presents an approach which provides policy maker with a set of solutions for DG placement to optimize reliability and real power loss of the system. Optimal location of a Distributed Generator is evaluated based on performance indices derived for reliability index and real power loss. The proposed approach is applied on a 15-bus radial distribution system and a 18-bus radial distribution system with conventional and wind distributed generators individually.

Scintigraphy at 3 months after single lung transplantation and observations of primary graft dysfunction and lung function.

PubMed

Belmaati, Esther Okeke; Iversen, Martin; Kofoed, Klaus F; Nielsen, Michael B; Mortensen, Jann

2012-06-01

Scintigraphy has been used as a tool to detect dysfunction of the lung before and after transplantation. The aims of this study were to evaluate the development of the ventilation-perfusion relationships in single lung transplant recipients in the first year, at 3 months after transplantation, and to investigate whether scintigraphic findings at 3 months were predictive for the outcome at 12 months in relation to primary graft dysfunction (PGD) and lung function. A retrospective study was carried out on all patients who prospectively and consecutively were referred for a routine lung scintigraphy procedure 3 months after single lung transplantation (SLTX). A total of 41 patients were included in the study: 20 women and 21 men with the age span of patients at transplantation being 38-66 years (mean ± SD: 54.2 ± 6.0). Patient records also included lung function tests and chest X-ray images. We found no significant correlation between lung function distribution at 3 months and PGD at 72 h. There was also no significant correlation between PGD scores at 72 h and lung function at 6 and 12 months. The same applied to scintigraphic scores for heterogeneity at 3 months compared with lung function at 6 and 12 months. Fifty-five percent of all patients had decreased ventilation function measured in the period from 6 to 12 months. Forty-nine percent of the patients had normal perfusion evaluations, and 51% had abnormal perfusion evaluations at 3 months. For ventilation evaluations, 72% were normal and 28% were abnormal. There was a significant difference in the normal versus abnormal perfusion and ventilation scintigraphic images evaluated from the same patients. Ventilation was distributed more homogenously in the transplanted lung than perfusion in the same lung. The relative distribution of perfusion and ventilation to the transplanted lung of patients with and without a primary diagnosis of fibrosis did not differ significantly from each other. We conclude that PGD defined at 72 h does not lead to recognizable changes in ventilation-perfusion scintigrapy at 3 months, and scintigraphic findings do not correlate with development in lung function in the first 12 months.

Bus-stop Based Real Time Passenger Information System - Case Study Maribor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Čelan, Marko; Klemenčič, Mitja; Mrgole, Anamarija L.; Lep, Marjan

2017-10-01

Real time passenger information system is one of the key element of promoting public transport. For the successful implementation of real time passenger information systems, various components should be considered, such as: passenger needs and requirements, stakeholder involvement, technological solution for tracking, data transfer, etc. This article carrying out designing and evaluation of real time passenger information (RTPI) in the city of Maribor. The design phase included development of methodology for selection of appropriate macro and micro location of the real-time panel, development of a real-time passenger algorithm, definition of a technical specification, financial issues and time frame. The evaluation shows that different people have different requirements; therefore, the system should be adaptable to be used by various types of people, according to the age, the purpose of journey, experience of using public transport, etc. The average difference between perceived waiting time for a bus is 35% higher than the actual waiting time and grow with the headway increase. Experiences from Maribor have shown that the reliability of real time passenger system (from technical point of view) must be close to 100%, otherwise the system may have negative impact on passengers and may discourage the use of public transport. Among considered events of arrivals during the test period, 92% of all prediction were accurate. The cost benefit analysis has focused only on potential benefits from reduced perceived users waiting time and foreseen costs of real time information system in Maribor for 10 years’ period. Analysis shows that the optimal number for implementing real time passenger information system at the bus stops in Maribor is set on 83 bus stops (approx. 20 %) with the highest number of passenger. If we consider all entries at the chosen bus stops, the total perceived waiting time on yearly level could be decreased by about 60,000 hours.

Whole-body Vibration Exposure Intervention among Professional Bus and Truck Drivers: A Laboratory Evaluation of Seat-suspension Designs.

PubMed

Blood, Ryan P; Yost, Michael G; Camp, Janice E; Ching, Randal P

2015-01-01

Long-term exposure to seated whole-body vibration (WBV) is one of the leading risk factors for the development of low back disorders. Professional bus and truck drivers are regularly exposed to continuous WBV, since they spend the majority of their working hours driving heavy vehicles. This study measured WBV exposures among professional bus and truck drivers and evaluated the effects of seat-suspension designs using simulated field-collected data on a vibration table. WBV exposures were measured and compared across three different seat designs: an air-ride bus seat, an air-ride truck seat, and an electromagnetically active (EM-active) seat. Air-ride seats use a compressed-air bladder to attenuate vibrations, and they have been in operation throughout the transportation industry for many years. The EM-active seat is a relatively new design that incorporates a microprocessor-controlled actuator to dampen vibration. The vibration table simulated seven WBV exposure scenarios: four segments of vertical vibration and three scenarios that used field-collected driving data on different road surfaces-a city street, a freeway, and a section of rough roadway. The field scenarios used tri-axial WBV data that had been collected at the seat pan and at the driver's sternum, in accordance with ISO 2631-1 and 2631-5. This study found that WBV was significantly greater in the vertical direction (z-axis) than in the lateral directions (x-and y-axes) for each of the three road types and each of the three types of seats. Quantitative comparisons of the results showed that the floor-to-seat-pan transmissibility was significantly lower for the EM-active seat than for either the air-ride bus seat or the air-ride truck seat, across all three road types. This study also demonstrated that seat-suspension designs have a significant effect on the vibrations transmitted to vehicle operators, and the study's results may prove useful in designing future seat suspensions.

75 FR 74134 - State of Good Repair Bus and Bus Facilities Discretionary Program Funds

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-11-30

... public agencies, private companies engaged in public transportation, or private non-profit organizations... public transportation bus fleet, infrastructure, and equipment in a state of good repair. Grantees... DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Transit Administration State of Good Repair Bus and Bus...

49 CFR 655.4 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

...) Carrying a firearm for security purposes. Vehicle means a bus, electric bus, van, automobile, rail car... involved is a bus, electric bus, van, or automobile, one or more vehicles (including non-FTA funded... the public transportation vehicle involved is a rail car, trolley car, trolley bus, or vessel, the...

49 CFR 655.4 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

...) Carrying a firearm for security purposes. Vehicle means a bus, electric bus, van, automobile, rail car... involved is a bus, electric bus, van, or automobile, one or more vehicles (including non-FTA funded... the public transportation vehicle involved is a rail car, trolley car, trolley bus, or vessel, the...

Reliability of the Watch-PAT 200 in Detecting Sleep Apnea in Highway Bus Drivers

PubMed Central

Yuceege, Melike; Firat, Hikmet; Demir, Ahmet; Ardic, Sadik

2013-01-01

Objective: To predict the validity of Watch-PAT (WP) device for sleep disordered breathing (SDB) among highway bus drivers. Method: A total number of 90 highway bus drivers have undergone polysomnography (PSG) and Watch-PAT test simultaneously. Routine blood tests and the routine ear-nose-throat (ENT) exams have been done as well. Results: The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were 89.1%, 76.9%, 82% and 85.7% for RDI > 15, respectively. WRDI, WODI, W < 90% duration and Wmean SaO2 results were well correlated with the PSG results. In the sensitivity and specificity analysis, when diagnosis of sleep apnea was defined for different cut-off values of RDI of 5, 10 and 15, AUC (95%CI) were found as 0.84 (0.74-0.93), 0.87 (95%CI: 0.79-0.94) and 0.91 (95%CI: 0.85-0.97), respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between Stage1+2/Wlight and Stage REM/WREM. The percentage of Stage 3 sleep had difference significant statistically from the percentage of Wdeep. Total sleep times in PSG and WP showed no statistically important difference. Total NREM duration and total WNREM duration had no difference either. Conclusion: Watch-PAT device is helpful in detecting SDB with RDI > 15 in highway bus drivers, especially in drivers older than 45 years, but has limited value in drivers younger than 45 years old who have less risk for OSA. Therefore, WP can be used in the former group when PSG is not easily available. Citation: Yuceege M; Firat F; Demir A; Ardic S. Reliability of the Watch-PAT 200 in detecting sleep apnea in highway bus drivers. J Clin Sleep Med 2013;9(4):339-344. PMID:23585749

Fuel Cell Buses in U.S. Transit Fleets: Current Status 2016

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Eudy, Leslie; Post, Matthew; Jeffers, Matthew

This report, published annually, summarizes the progress of fuel cell electric bus development in the United States and discusses the achievements and challenges of introducing fuel cell propulsion in transit. The report provides a summary of results from evaluations performed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Funding for this effort is provided by the U.S. Department of Energy's Fuel Cell Technologies Office within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration. The 2016 summary results primarily focus on the most recent year for each demonstration, from August 2015 through Julymore » 2016. The results for these buses account for more than 550,000 miles traveled and 59,500 hours of fuel cell power system operation. The primary results presented in the report are from three demonstrations of two different fuel-cell-dominant bus designs: Zero Emission Bay Area Demonstration Group led by Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) in California; American Fuel Cell Bus Project at SunLine Transit Agency in California; and American Fuel Cell Bus Project at the University of California at Irvine.« less

76 FR 68819 - State of Good Repair Bus and Bus Facilities Discretionary Program Funds

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-11-07

... that are public agencies, private companies engaged in public transportation, or private non-profit... Table 1 will provide funds to help maintain the nation's public transportation bus fleet, infrastructure... DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Transit Administration State of Good Repair Bus and Bus...

Bus Training Handbook.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dorny, Audrea; Cole, ChiKay

This manual presents guidelines for teaching students with disabilities necessary skills for safe and independent travel on public buses. Six guidelines for teachers include: (1) participate in bus training; (2) use wise and intelligent judgment; (3) utilize the bus checklist; (4) know and teach bus rules; (5) know bus routes; and (6) know bus…

49 CFR 655.4 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

...) Carrying a firearm for security purposes. Vehicle means a bus, electric bus, van, automobile, rail car... involved is a bus, electric bus, van, or automobile, one or more vehicles (including non-FTA funded... the mass transit vehicle involved is a rail car, trolley car, trolley bus, or vessel, the mass transit...

49 CFR 655.4 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

...) Carrying a firearm for security purposes. Vehicle means a bus, electric bus, van, automobile, rail car... involved is a bus, electric bus, van, or automobile, one or more vehicles (including non-FTA funded... the mass transit vehicle involved is a rail car, trolley car, trolley bus, or vessel, the mass transit...

49 CFR 655.4 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

...) Carrying a firearm for security purposes. Vehicle means a bus, electric bus, van, automobile, rail car... involved is a bus, electric bus, van, or automobile, one or more vehicles (including non-FTA funded... the mass transit vehicle involved is a rail car, trolley car, trolley bus, or vessel, the mass transit...

Forecast analysis of optical waveguide bus performance

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ledesma, R.; Rourke, M. D.

1979-01-01

Elements to be considered in the design of a data bus include: architecture; data rate; modulation, encoding, detection; power distribution requirements; protocol, work structure; bus reliability, maintainability; interterminal transmission medium; cost; and others specific to application. Fiber- optic data bus considerations for a 32 port transmissive star architecture, are discussed in a tutorial format. General optical-waveguide bus concepts, are reviewed. The electrical and optical performance of a 32 port transmissive star bus, and the effects of temperature on the performance of optical-waveguide buses are examined. A bibliography of pertinent references and the bus receiver test results are included.

Massachusetts Fuel Cell Bus Project: Demonstrating a Total Transit Solution for Fuel Cell Electric Buses in Boston

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

The Federal Transit Administration's National Fuel Cell Bus Program focuses on developing commercially viable fuel cell bus technologies. Nuvera is leading the Massachusetts Fuel Cell Bus project to demonstrate a complete transit solution for fuel cell electric buses that includes one bus and an on-site hydrogen generation station for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA). A team consisting of ElDorado National, BAE Systems, and Ballard Power Systems built the fuel cell electric bus, and Nuvera is providing its PowerTap on-site hydrogen generator to provide fuel for the bus.

Electrical system architecture

DOEpatents

Algrain, Marcelo C [Peoria, IL; Johnson, Kris W [Washington, IL; Akasam, Sivaprasad [Peoria, IL; Hoff, Brian D [East Peoria, IL

2008-07-15

An electrical system for a vehicle includes a first power source generating a first voltage level, the first power source being in electrical communication with a first bus. A second power source generates a second voltage level greater than the first voltage level, the second power source being in electrical communication with a second bus. A starter generator may be configured to provide power to at least one of the first bus and the second bus, and at least one additional power source may be configured to provide power to at least one of the first bus and the second bus. The electrical system also includes at least one power consumer in electrical communication with the first bus and at least one power consumer in electrical communication with the second bus.

School bus and children's traffic safety.

PubMed

Pan, Shu-ming; Hargarten, Stephen; Zhu, Shan-kuan

2007-08-01

There is no safer way to transport a child than a school bus. Fatal crashes involving occupants are extremely rare events in the US. In recent years, school bus transportation began to develop in China. We want to bring advanced experience on school bus safety in Western countries such as the US to developing countries. We searched the papers related to school bus safety from Medline, Chinese Scientific Journals Database and the Web of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There were only 9 papers related to school bus safety, which showed that higher levels of safety standards on school buses, school bus-related transportation and environmental laws and injury prevention were the primary reasons for the desired outcome. Few school bus is related to deaths and injuries in the developed countries. The developing countries should make strict environmental laws and standards on school bus safety to prevent children's injury and death.

Available Transfer Capability Determination Using Hybrid Evolutionary Algorithm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jirapong, Peeraool; Ongsakul, Weerakorn

2008-10-01

This paper proposes a new hybrid evolutionary algorithm (HEA) based on evolutionary programming (EP), tabu search (TS), and simulated annealing (SA) to determine the available transfer capability (ATC) of power transactions between different control areas in deregulated power systems. The optimal power flow (OPF)-based ATC determination is used to evaluate the feasible maximum ATC value within real and reactive power generation limits, line thermal limits, voltage limits, and voltage and angle stability limits. The HEA approach simultaneously searches for real power generations except slack bus in a source area, real power loads in a sink area, and generation bus voltages to solve the OPF-based ATC problem. Test results on the modified IEEE 24-bus reliability test system (RTS) indicate that ATC determination by the HEA could enhance ATC far more than those from EP, TS, hybrid TS/SA, and improved EP (IEP) algorithms, leading to an efficient utilization of the existing transmission system.

Mass, surface area and number metrics in diesel occupational exposure assessment.

PubMed

Ramachandran, Gurumurthy; Paulsen, Dwane; Watts, Winthrop; Kittelson, David

2005-07-01

While diesel aerosol exposure assessment has traditionally been based on the mass concentration metric, recent studies have suggested that particle number and surface area concentrations may be more health-relevant. In this study, we evaluated the exposures of three occupational groups-bus drivers, parking garage attendants, and bus mechanics-using the mass concentration of elemental carbon (EC) as well as surface area and number concentrations. These occupational groups are exposed to mixtures of diesel and gasoline exhaust on a regular basis in various ratios. The three groups had significantly different exposures to workshift TWA EC with the highest levels observed in the bus garage mechanics and the lowest levels in the parking ramp booth attendants. In terms of surface area, parking ramp attendants had significantly greater exposures than bus garage mechanics, who in turn had significantly greater exposures than bus drivers. In terms of number concentrations, the exposures of garage mechanics exceeded those of ramp booth attendants by a factor of 5-6. Depending on the exposure metric chosen, the three occupational groups had quite different exposure rankings. This illustrates the importance of the choice of exposure metric in epidemiological studies. If these three occupational groups were part of an epidemiological study, depending on the metric used, they may or may not be part of the same similarly exposed group (SEG). The exposure rankings (e.g., low, medium, or high) of the three groups also changes with the metric used. If the incorrect metric is used, significant misclassification errors may occur.

Traffic signal design and simulation for vulnerable road users safety and bus preemption

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lo, Shih-Ching; Huang, Hsieh-Chu

Mostly, pedestrian car accidents occurred at a signalized interaction is because pedestrians cannot across the intersection safely within the green light. From the viewpoint of pedestrian, there might have two reasons. The first one is pedestrians cannot speed up to across the intersection, such as the elders. The other reason is pedestrians do not sense that the signal phase is going to change and their right-of-way is going to be lost. Developing signal logic to protect pedestrian, who is crossing an intersection is the first purpose of this study. In addition, to improve the reliability and reduce delay of publicmore » transportation service is the second purpose. Therefore, bus preemption is also considered in the designed signal logic. In this study, the traffic data of the intersection of Chong-Qing North Road and Min-Zu West Road, Taipei, Taiwan, is employed to calibrate and validate the signal logic by simulation. VISSIM 5.20, which is a microscopic traffic simulation software, is employed to simulate the signal logic. From the simulated results, the signal logic presented in this study can protect pedestrians crossing the intersection successfully. The design of bus preemption can reduce the average delay. However, the pedestrian safety and bus preemption signal will influence the average delay of cars largely. Thus, whether applying the pedestrian safety and bus preemption signal logic to an intersection or not should be evaluated carefully.« less

Exploring Injury Panorama, Consequences, and Recovery among Bus Crash Survivors: A Mixed-Methods Research Study.

PubMed

Doohan, Isabelle; Björnstig, Ulf; Östlund, Ulrika; Saveman, Britt-Inger

2017-04-01

The aim of this study was to explore physical and mental consequences and injury mechanisms among bus crash survivors to identify aspects that influence recovery. The study participants were the total population of survivors (N=56) from a bus crash in Sweden. The study had a mixed-methods design that provided quantitative and qualitative data on injuries, mental well-being, and experiences. Results from descriptive statistics and qualitative thematic analysis were interpreted and integrated in a mixed-methods analysis. Among the survivors, 11 passengers (20%) sustained moderate to severe injuries, and the remaining 45 (80%) had minor or no physical injuries. Two-thirds of the survivors screened for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) risk were assessed, during the period of one to three months after the bus crash, as not being at-risk, and the remaining one-third were at-risk. The thematic analysis resulted in themes covering the consequences and varying aspects that affected the survivors' recoveries. The integrated findings are in the form of four "core cases" of survivors who represent a combination of characteristics: injury severity, mental well-being, social context, and other aspects hindering and facilitating recovery. Core case Avery represents a survivor who had minor or no injuries and who demonstrated a successful mental recovery. Core case Blair represents a survivor with moderate to severe injuries who experienced a successful mental recovery. Core case Casey represents a survivor who sustained minor injuries or no injuries in the crash but who was at-risk of developing PTSD. Core case Daryl represents a survivor who was at-risk of developing PTSD and who also sustained moderate to severe injuries in the crash. The present study provides a multi-faceted understanding of mass-casualty incident (MCI) survivors (ie, having minor injuries does not always correspond to minimal risk for PTSD and moderate to severe injuries do not always correspond to increased risk for PTSD). Injury mitigation measures (eg, safer roadside material and anti-lacerative windows) would reduce the consequences of bus crashes. A well-educated rescue team and a compassionate and competent social environment will facilitate recovery. Doohan I , Björnstig U , Östlund U , Saveman BI . Exploring injury panorama, consequences, and recovery among bus crash survivors: a mixed-methods research study. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2017;32(2):165-174.

Dry Eye Disease following Refractive Surgery: A 12-Month Follow-Up of SMILE versus FS-LASIK in High Myopia

PubMed Central

Wang, Bingjie; Chu, Renyuan; Dai, Jinhui; Qu, Xiaomei; Zhou, Hao

2015-01-01

Purpose. To compare dry eye disease following SMILE versus FS-LASIK. Design. Prospective, nonrandomised, observational study. Patients. 90 patients undergoing refractive surgery for myopia were included. 47 eyes underwent SMILE and 43 eyes underwent FS-LASIK. Methods. Evaluation of dry eye disease was conducted preoperatively and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively, using the Salisbury Eye Evaluation Questionnaire (SEEQ) and TBUT. Results. TBUT reduced following SMILE at 1 and 3 months (p < 0.001) and at 1, 3, and 6 months following FS-LASIK (p < 0.001). TBUT was greater following SMILE than FS-LASIK at 3, 6, and 12 months (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p = 0.009, resp.). SEEQ scores increased (greater symptoms) following SMILE at 1 month (p < 0.001) and 3 months (p = 0.003) and at 1, 3, and 6 months following FS-LASIK (p < 0.001). SMILE produced lower SEEQ scores (fewer symptoms) than FS-LASIK at 1, 3, and 6 months (p < 0.001). Conclusion. SMILE produces less dry eye disease than FS-LASIK at 6 months postoperatively but demonstrates similar degrees of dry eye disease at 12 months. PMID:26649190

Evaluation of service reliability impacts of traffic signal priority strategies for bus transit

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2003-03-31

Recent progress in technology has facilitated the design, testing, and deployment of traffic signal priority strategies for transit buses. However, a clear consensus has not emerged regarding the evaluation of these strategies. Each agency implementi...

Evaluation of 2006 Kentucky crash data reported to MCMIS crash file.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2007-12-01

This report is part of a series evaluating the data reported to the Motor Carrier Management : Information System (MCMIS) Crash File undertaken by the Center for National Truck and Bus : Statistics at the University of Michigan Transportation Researc...

Cedar Avenue driver assist system evaluation report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2011-12-01

This paper summarizes an evaluation of the Driver Assist System (DAS) used by the Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (MTVA) for bus shoulder operations. The DAS is a GPS-based technology suite that provides lane-position feedback to the driver via a ...

Evaluation of HART MetroRapid BRT.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2015-08-01

This report is a limited scope evaluation of the MetroRapids first two years of operation. The : MetroRapid represents Hillsborough Area Regional Transits first foray into bus rapid transit. Built at a : total cost of $34.75 million, or $1.98 m...

A programmable controller based on CAN field bus embedded microprocessor and FPGA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cai, Qizhong; Guo, Yifeng; Chen, Wenhei; Wang, Mingtao

2008-10-01

One kind of new programmable controller(PLC) is introduced in this paper. The advanced embedded microprocessor and Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) device are applied in the PLC system. The PLC system structure was presented in this paper. It includes 32 bits Advanced RISC Machines (ARM) embedded microprocessor as control core, FPGA as control arithmetic coprocessor and CAN bus as data communication criteria protocol connected the host controller and its various extension modules. It is detailed given that the circuits and working principle, IiO interface circuit between ARM and FPGA and interface circuit between ARM and FPGA coprocessor. Furthermore the interface circuit diagrams between various modules are written. In addition, it is introduced that ladder chart program how to control the transfer info of control arithmetic part in FPGA coprocessor. The PLC, through nearly two months of operation to meet the design of the basic requirements.

Modeling the effect of bus stops on capacity of curb lane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luo, Qingyu; Zheng, Tianyao; Wu, Wenjing; Jia, Hongfei; Li, Jin

With the increase of buses and bus lines, a negative effect on road section capacity is made by the prolonged delay and queuing time at bus stops. However, existing methods of measuring the negative effect pay little attention to different bus stop types in the curb lanes. This paper uses Gap theory and Queuing theory to build models for effect-time and potential capacity in different conditions, including curbside bus stops, bus bays with overflow and bus bays without overflow. In order to make the effect-time models accurate and reliable, two types of probabilities are introduced. One is the probability that the dwell time is less than the headway of curb lane at curbside bus stops; the other is the overflow probability at bus bays. Based on the fundamental road capacity model and effect-time models, potential capacity models of curb lane are designed. The new models are calibrated by the survey data from Changchun City, and verified by the simulation software of VISSIM. Furthermore, with different arrival rates of vehicles, the setting conditions of bus stops are researched. Results show that the potential capacity models have high precision. They can offer a reference for recognizing the effect of bus stops on the capacity of curb lane, which can provide a basis for planning, design and management of urban roads and bus stops.

49 CFR 393.62 - Emergency exits for buses.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... (including a school bus used in interstate commerce for non-school bus operations) with a GVWR of more than 4... manufacture. (2) Each bus (including a school bus used in interstate commerce for non-school bus operations... NECESSARY FOR SAFE OPERATION Glazing and Window Construction § 393.62 Emergency exits for buses. (a) Buses...

49 CFR 393.62 - Emergency exits for buses.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... (including a school bus used in interstate commerce for non-school bus operations) with a GVWR of more than 4... manufacture. (2) Each bus (including a school bus used in interstate commerce for non-school bus operations... NECESSARY FOR SAFE OPERATION Glazing and Window Construction § 393.62 Emergency exits for buses. (a) Buses...

49 CFR 393.62 - Emergency exits for buses.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... (including a school bus used in interstate commerce for non-school bus operations) with a GVWR of more than 4... manufacture. (2) Each bus (including a school bus used in interstate commerce for non-school bus operations... NECESSARY FOR SAFE OPERATION Glazing and Window Construction § 393.62 Emergency exits for buses. (a) Buses...

49 CFR 393.62 - Emergency exits for buses.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... (including a school bus used in interstate commerce for non-school bus operations) with a GVWR of more than 4... manufacture. (2) Each bus (including a school bus used in interstate commerce for non-school bus operations... NECESSARY FOR SAFE OPERATION Glazing and Window Construction § 393.62 Emergency exits for buses. (a) Buses...

Classroom Activities in School Bus and Pedestrian Safety Education. Bulletin No. 93138.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wisconsin State Dept. of Transportation, Madison.

School bus and related pedestrian safety education is prevention-oriented so that students will learn how to avoid bus-related accidents. This manual provides lesson plans emphasizing the school bus stop, loading and unloading zones, emergency evacuation drills, and appropriate behavior on the school bus. The guide also recognizes demographic…

An effective approach of lesion segmentation within the breast ultrasound image based on the cellular automata principle.

PubMed

Liu, Yan; Cheng, H D; Huang, Jianhua; Zhang, Yingtao; Tang, Xianglong

2012-10-01

In this paper, a novel lesion segmentation within breast ultrasound (BUS) image based on the cellular automata principle is proposed. Its energy transition function is formulated based on global image information difference and local image information difference using different energy transfer strategies. First, an energy decrease strategy is used for modeling the spatial relation information of pixels. For modeling global image information difference, a seed information comparison function is developed using an energy preserve strategy. Then, a texture information comparison function is proposed for considering local image difference in different regions, which is helpful for handling blurry boundaries. Moreover, two neighborhood systems (von Neumann and Moore neighborhood systems) are integrated as the evolution environment, and a similarity-based criterion is used for suppressing noise and reducing computation complexity. The proposed method was applied to 205 clinical BUS images for studying its characteristic and functionality, and several overlapping area error metrics and statistical evaluation methods are utilized for evaluating its performance. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method can handle BUS images with blurry boundaries and low contrast well and can segment breast lesions accurately and effectively.

Ergonomic evaluation of a wheelchair transportation securement system.

PubMed

Ahmed, Madiha; Campbell-Kyureghyan, Naira; Frost, Karen; Bertocci, Gina

2012-01-01

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) specifies guidelines covering the securement system and environment for wheeled mobility device (WhMD) passengers on the public bus system in the United States, referred to as the wheelchair tiedown and occupant restraint system (WTORS). The misuse or disuse of the WTORS system can be a source of injury for WhMD passengers riding the buses. The purpose of this study was to quantify the risks posed to the bus driver while performing the WTORS procedure using traditional ergonomic analysis methods. Four bus drivers completed the WTORS procedure for a representative passenger seated in three different WhMDs: manual wheelchair (MWC), scooter (SCTR), and power wheelchair (PWC). Potential work-related risks were identified using the four most applicable ergonomic assessment tools: PLIBEL, RULA, REBA, and iLMM. Task evaluation results revealed high levels of risk to be present to drivers during the WTORS procedure. The securement station space design and equipment layout were identified as contributing factors forcing drivers to adopt awkward postures while performing the WTORS task. These risk factors are known contributors to injury and the drivers could opt to improperly secure the passengers to avoid that risk.

Characterisation of an urban bus network for environmental purposes.

PubMed

André, Michel; Villanova, André

2004-12-01

Since pollutant emissions are closely related to the operating conditions of vehicles, their evaluation usually involves studying these operating conditions (through bus instrumentation and monitoring under actual operation), the design of representative driving or engine test cycles and the measurement of pollutant emissions. A preliminary characterisation of the routes on a bus network should make it possible to identify typical routes, the driving conditions and pollutant emissions of which are then studied. Two approaches are envisaged and applied to the Paris area, for which a wealth of information is available, which should be transferable to other bus networks. Both approaches are based on factorial analysis and automatic clustering, to allow optimum description and the identification of a pertinent typology of the bus routes in several classes. The first attempt at characterisation is based on statistics relating to bus operations: route characteristics (length, dedicated bus lanes, number of stops, location of stops: schools, tourist sites, hospitals, railways or underground stations), travel time, commercial speed, annual statistics (number of passengers, number of vehicles per hour, total kilometres), the irregularity of travel (variation of travel times, injuries, congestion.), as well as information on the problems encountered (congestion, distribution of the passenger load, junctions, bends). A second approach is based on the analysis of the "urban context" in which buses are driven. Population, employment, housing, road network, traffic and places that generate or disturb traffic (schools, railway stations, shopping areas, etc.) are calculated for the Ile de France region, by cells of 100 x 100 m, and collected in a geographical information system (GIS). Statistical analyses enable a typology of these urban cells to be established, the main parameters being density, type of housing, road types and traffic levels. The bus routes are then analysed according to their itineraries across these typical areas (distances travelled in each type of area) using a similar approach. A comparison of the typologies obtained from operational data and from urban data highlights the advantages and disadvantages of the two approaches. The first result from these typologies is the selection of routes which are representative of the different classes, in order to instrument buses and record driving patterns. This method should also make it possible to link driving conditions and urban characteristics, and then to allocate pollutant emission factors to given geographical situations, in particular, in the context of emission inventories or impact studies.

Bacterial contamination of ultrasound probes in different radiological institutions before and after specific hygiene training: do we have a general hygienical problem?

PubMed

Sartoretti, Thomas; Sartoretti, Elisabeth; Bucher, Candid; Doert, Aleksis; Binkert, Christoph; Hergan, Klaus; Meissnitzer, Matthias; Froehlich, Johannes; Kolokythas, Orpheus; Matoori, Simon; Orasch, Christina; Kos, Sebastian; Sartoretti-Schefer, Sabine; Gutzeit, Andreas

2017-10-01

Aim was to investigate hygienic conditions of ultrasound probes before and after hygiene training in radiology institutions in comparison to bacterial contamination in public places. In three radiology departments, bacterial contamination was evaluated using baseline agar plates for cultures taken from 36 ultrasound probes. Afterwards teams were trained by a hygiene service centre and 36 ultrasound probes were routinely disinfected with regular disinfecting wipes and then evaluated. In comparison, bacterial contamination in public places (bus poles, n = 11; toilet seats, n = 10) were analysed. Plates were routinely incubated and the number of colony forming units (CFU) analysed. Cultures taken from the probes showed a median of 53 CFU before and 0 CFU after training (p < 0.001). Cultures taken from public places showed a median of 4 CFU from toilets and 28 from bus poles and had lower bacterial load in comparison to ultrasound probes before training (p = 0.055, toilets; p = 0.772, bus poles), without statistical significance. Bacterial contamination of ultrasound probes prior to hygiene training proved to be high and showed higher bacterial load than toilets seats or bus poles. Radiologists should be aware that the lack of hygiene in the field of ultrasound diagnostics puts patients at risk of healthcare-associated infections. • Hospital-associated infections are a problem for patient care. • Hygiene training of staff prevents bacterial contamination of ultrasound probes. • Disinfection of ultrasound probes is an easy method to protect patients.

Measuring In-Cabin School Bus Tailpipe and Crankcase PM2.5: A New Dual Tracer Method.

PubMed

Ireson, Robert G; Ondov, John M; Zielinska, Barbara; Weaver, Christopher S; Easter, Michael D; Lawson, Douglas R; Hesterberg, Thomas W; Davey, Mark E; Liu, L-J Sally

2011-05-01

Exposures of occupants in school buses to on-road vehicle emissions, including emissions from the bus itself, can be substantially greater than those in outdoor settings. A dual tracer method was developed and applied to two school buses in Seattle in 2005 to quantify in-cabin fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) concentrations attributable to the buses' diesel engine tailpipe (DPM tp ) and crankcase vent (PM ck ) emissions. The new method avoids the problem of differentiating bus emissions from chemically identical emissions of other vehicles by using a fuel-based organometallic iridium tracer for engine exhaust and by adding deuterated hexatriacontane to engine oil. Source testing results showed consistent PM:tracer ratios for the primary tracer for each type of emissions. Comparisons of the PM:tracer ratios indicated that there was a small amount of unburned lubricating oil emitted from the tailpipe; however, virtually no diesel fuel combustion products were found in the crankcase emissions. For the limited testing conducted here, although PM ck emission rates (averages of 0.028 and 0.099 g/km for the two buses) were lower than those from the tailpipe (0.18 and 0.14 g/km), in-cabin PM ck concentrations averaging 6.8 μg/m 3 were higher than DPM tp (0.91 μg/m 3 average). In-cabin DPM tp and PM ck concentrations were significantly higher with bus windows closed (1.4 and 12 μg/m 3 , respectively) as compared with open (0.44 and 1.3 μg/m 3 , respectively). For comparison, average closed- and open-window in-cabin total PM 2.5 concentrations were 26 and 12 μg/m 3 , respectively. Despite the relatively short in-cabin sampling times, very high sensitivities were achieved, with detection limits of 0.002 μg/m 3 for DPM tp and 0.05 μg/m 3 for PM ck . [Box: see text].

Measuring in-cabin school bus tailpipe and crankcase PM2.5: a new dual tracer method.

PubMed

Ireson, Robert G; Ondov, John M; Zielinska, Barbara; Weaver, Christopher S; Easter, Michael D; Lawson, Douglas R; Hesterberg, Thomas W; Davey, Mark E; Liu, L-J Sally

2011-05-01

Exposures of occupants in school buses to on-road vehicle emissions, including emissions from the bus itself, can be substantially greater than those in outdoor settings. A dual tracer method was developed and applied to two school buses in Seattle in 2005 to quantify in-cabin fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations attributable to the buses' diesel engine tailpipe (DPMtp) and crankcase vent (PMck) emissions. The new method avoids the problem of differentiating bus emissions from chemically identical emissions of other vehicles by using a fuel-based organometallic iridium tracer for engine exhaust and by adding deuterated hexatriacontane to engine oil. Source testing results showed consistent PM:tracer ratios for the primary tracer for each type of emissions. Comparisons of the PM:tracer ratios indicated that there was a small amount of unburned lubricating oil emitted from the tailpipe; however, virtually no diesel fuel combustion products were found in the crankcase emissions. For the limited testing conducted here, although PMck emission rates (averages of 0.028 and 0.099 g/km for the two buses) were lower than those from the tailpipe (0.18 and 0.14 g/km), in-cabin PMck concentrations averaging 6.8 microg/m3 were higher than DPMtp (0.91 microg/m3 average). In-cabin DPMtp and PMck concentrations were significantly higher with bus windows closed (1.4 and 12 microg/m3, respectively) as compared with open (0.44 and 1.3 microg/m3, respectively). For comparison, average closed- and open-window in-cabin total PM2.5 concentrations were 26 and 12 microg/m3, respectively. Despite the relatively short in-cabin sampling times, very high sensitivities were achieved, with detection limits of 0.002 microg/m3 for DPMtp and 0.05 microg/m3 for PMck.

Fault-tolerant processing system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Palumbo, Daniel L. (Inventor)

1996-01-01

A fault-tolerant, fiber optic interconnect, or backplane, which serves as a via for data transfer between modules. Fault tolerance algorithms are embedded in the backplane by dividing the backplane into a read bus and a write bus and placing a redundancy management unit (RMU) between the read bus and the write bus so that all data transmitted by the write bus is subjected to the fault tolerance algorithms before the data is passed for distribution to the read bus. The RMU provides both backplane control and fault tolerance.

The Compubus Evaluation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Klimko, Ivan P.

The Computer Bus Program (Compubus Program) of the Modesto City Schools (California) was evaluated to determine the effectiveness of the computer literacy program for fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students at eight elementary compensatory education schools. The program provided instruction on computer vocabulary, knowledge, and applications in a…

Evaluation of 2008 Mississippi crash data reported to the MCMIS Crash File.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-01-01

This report is part of a series evaluating the data reported to the Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS) Crash File undertaken by the Center for National Truck and Bus Statistics at the University of Michigan Transportation Research In...

Evaluation of 2008 Kansas crash data reported to the MCMIS Crash File.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-02-01

This report is part of a series evaluating the data reported to the Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS) Crash File undertaken by the Center for National Truck and Bus Statistics at the University of Michigan Transportation Research In...

National Fuel Cell Bus Program : Accelerated Testing Report, AC Transit

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-01-01

This is an evaluation of hydrogen fuel cell transit buses operating at AC Transit in revenue service since March 20, 2006 compared to similar diesel buses operating from the same depot. This evaluation report includes results from November 2007 throu...

Evaluation of 2008 Vermont crash data reported to the MCMIS crash file

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-09-01

This report is part of a series evaluating the data reported to the Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS) Crash File undertaken by the Center for National Truck and Bus Statistics at the University of Michigan Transportation Research In...

Evaluation of 2007 Minnesota crash data reported to the MCMIS crash file

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-03-01

This report is part of a series evaluating the data reported to the Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS) Crash File undertaken by the Center for National Truck and Bus Statistics at the University of Michigan Transportation Research In...

Evaluation of 2008 North Dakota crash data reported to the MCMIS crash file

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-07-01

This report is part of a series evaluating the data reported to the Motor Carrier Management : Information System (MCMIS) Crash File undertaken by the Center for National Truck and Bus : Statistics at the University of Michigan Transportation Researc...

Evaluation of 2007 Oklahoma crash data reported to the MCMIS crash file

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-06-01

This report is part of a series evaluating the data reported to the Motor Carrier Management : Information System (MCMIS) Crash File undertaken by the Center for National Truck and Bus : Statistics at the University of Michigan Transportation Researc...

Evaluation of 2008 Florida crash data reported to the MCMIS crash file.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-09-01

This report is part of a series evaluating the data reported to the Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS) Crash File undertaken by the Center for National Truck and Bus Statistics at the University of Michigan Transportation Research In...

Evaluation of 2007 Texas crash data reported to the MCMIS crash file.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-11-01

This report is part of a series evaluating the data reported to the Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS) Crash File undertaken by the Center for National Truck and Bus Statistics at the University of Michigan Transportation Research In...

Economic Benefit of Introducing a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in Kano State Nigeria

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahmad, K. A.; Afolabi, S.; Nda, M.; Daura, H. A.

2018-04-01

The objective of this study is to know the variables use in quantifying economic benefits of public transport project, contribution of public transport to economic productivity This paper attempts to provide a Road User Cost (RUC) comparison of current usage of Buses and Cars in three different stages which are the present time, do nothing and the introduction of new modes. Vehicle operating cost (VOC), value of time (VOT), pollution cost, accident cost and environmental cost are calculated in other to know the benefits for their abilities to ensure accessibility and mobility, reduce accidents and reduce environmental loss. The study stretch involves an 11.1 km of 2-lane divided carriageway road connecting Kabuga bus stop to Janguza market. Social costs which included accident costs, accident cost of cars (private modes) were found to be 50 times the accident cost of bus accidents. California Air Resource Board (CARB) model was adopted to evaluate Environmental costs. The total road user costs were then obtained to provide comparative evaluation among the study modes. Furthermore, the multiple future scenarios were created to provide understanding about the need for inclusion of other modes. In this regard, this paper provided a framework for the cost evaluation for an urban area and results indicate that buses are more cost-effective in transportation of equivalent number of passengers.

Integer programming model for optimizing bus timetable using genetic algorithm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wihartiko, F. D.; Buono, A.; Silalahi, B. P.

2017-01-01

Bus timetable gave an information for passengers to ensure the availability of bus services. Timetable optimal condition happened when bus trips frequency could adapt and suit with passenger demand. In the peak time, the number of bus trips would be larger than the off-peak time. If the number of bus trips were more frequent than the optimal condition, it would make a high operating cost for bus operator. Conversely, if the number of trip was less than optimal condition, it would make a bad quality service for passengers. In this paper, the bus timetabling problem would be solved by integer programming model with modified genetic algorithm. Modification was placed in the chromosomes design, initial population recovery technique, chromosomes reconstruction and chromosomes extermination on specific generation. The result of this model gave the optimal solution with accuracy 99.1%.

Electrical system architecture having high voltage bus

DOEpatents

Hoff, Brian Douglas [East Peoria, IL; Akasam, Sivaprasad [Peoria, IL

2011-03-22

An electrical system architecture is disclosed. The architecture has a power source configured to generate a first power, and a first bus configured to receive the first power from the power source. The architecture also has a converter configured to receive the first power from the first bus and convert the first power to a second power, wherein a voltage of the second power is greater than a voltage of the first power, and a second bus configured to receive the second power from the converter. The architecture further has a power storage device configured to receive the second power from the second bus and deliver the second power to the second bus, a propulsion motor configured to receive the second power from the second bus, and an accessory motor configured to receive the second power from the second bus.

Design of a CAN bus interface for photoelectric encoder in the spaceflight camera

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Ying; Wan, Qiu-hua; She, Rong-hong; Zhao, Chang-hai; Jiang, Yong

2009-05-01

In order to make photoelectric encoder usable in a spaceflight camera which adopts CAN bus as the communication method, CAN bus interface of the photoelectric encoder is designed in this paper. CAN bus interface hardware circuit of photoelectric encoder consists of CAN bus controller SJA 1000, CAN bus transceiver TJA1050 and singlechip. CAN bus interface controlling software program is completed in C language. A ten-meter shield twisted pair line is used as the transmission medium in the spaceflight camera, and speed rate is 600kbps.The experiments show that: the photoelectric encoder with CAN bus interface which has the advantages of more reliability, real-time, transfer rate and transfer distance overcomes communication line's shortcomings of classical photoelectric encoder system. The system works well in automatic measuring and controlling system.

Working conditions of bus drivers in the private sector and bus crashes in Kandy district, Sri Lanka: a case-control study.

PubMed

Jayatilleke, A U; Nakahara, S; Dharmaratne, S D; Jayatilleke, A C; Poudel, K C; Jimba, M

2009-04-01

To explore the effects of working conditions of private-bus drivers on bus crashes in Kandy district, Sri Lanka. A case-control study was carried out from August to September 2006. All private-bus drivers registered in Kandy district and involved in crashes reported to the police between November 2005 and April 2006 (n = 63) were selected as cases. Two control groups were included: private-bus drivers working on the same routes as the case drivers (n = 90) and private-bus drivers selected randomly from other routes of the district (n = 111). Data were collected using an anonymous self-administered questionnaire. Associations between working conditions and crashes were analysed using logistic regression. A strong association was observed between drivers' disagreements about working hours and bus crashes (matched controls, adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 5.98, 95% CI 1.02 to 34.90; unmatched controls, AOR 18.74, 95% CI 2.00 to 175.84). A significant association was also observed between low salaries (

Determination of an Optimal Commercial Data Bus Architecture for a Flight Data System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Crawford, Kevin; Johnson, Martin; Humphries, Rick (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) is continually looking for methods to reduce cost and schedule while keeping the quality of work high. MSFC is NASA's lead center for space transportation and microgravity research. When supporting NASA's programs several decisions concerning the avionics system must be made. Usually many trade studies must be conducted to determine the best ways to meet the customer's requirements. When deciding the flight data system, one of the first trade studies normally conducted is the determination of the data bus architecture. The schedule, cost, reliability, and environments are some of the factors that are reviewed in the determination of the data bus architecture. Based on the studies, the data bus architecture could result in a proprietary data bus or a commercial data bus. The cost factor usually removes the proprietary data bus from consideration. The commercial data bus's range from Versa Module Eurocard (VME) to Compact PCI to STD 32 to PC 104. If cost, schedule and size are prime factors, VME is usually not considered. If the prime factors are cost, schedule, and size then Compact PCI, STD 32 and PC104 are the choices for the data bus architecture. MSFC's center director has funded a study from his discretionary fund to determine an optimal low cost commercial data bus architecture. The goal of the study is to functionally and environmentally test Compact PCI, STD 32 and PC 104 data bus architectures. This paper will summarize the results of the data bus architecture study.

Foothill Transit Battery Electric Bus Demonstration Results: Second Report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Eudy, Leslie; Jeffers, Matthew

This report summarizes results of a battery electric bus (BEB) evaluation at Foothill Transit, located in the San Gabriel and Pomona Valley region of Los Angeles County, California. Foothill Transit is collaborating with the California Air Resources Board and the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) National Renewable Energy Laboratory to evaluate its fleet of Proterra BEBs in revenue service. The focus of this evaluation is to compare performance of the BEBs to that of conventional technology and to track progress over time toward meeting performance targets. This project has also provided an opportunity for DOE to conduct a detailed evaluationmore » of the BEBs and charging infrastructure. This is the second report summarizing the results of the BEB demonstration at Foothill Transit and it provides data on the buses from August 2015 through December 2016. Data are provided on a selection of compressed natural gas buses as a baseline comparison.« less

The Researching on Evaluation of Automatic Voltage Control Based on Improved Zoning Methodology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiao-jun, ZHU; Ang, FU; Guang-de, DONG; Rui-miao, WANG; De-fen, ZHU

2018-03-01

According to the present serious phenomenon of increasing size and structure of power system, hierarchically structured automatic voltage control(AVC) has been the researching spot. In the paper, the reduced control model is built and the adaptive reduced control model is researched to improve the voltage control effect. The theories of HCSD, HCVS, SKC and FCM are introduced and the effect on coordinated voltage regulation caused by different zoning methodologies is also researched. The generic framework for evaluating performance of coordinated voltage regulation is built. Finally, the IEEE-96 stsyem is used to divide the network. The 2383-bus Polish system is built to verify that the selection of a zoning methodology affects not only the coordinated voltage regulation operation, but also its robustness to erroneous data and proposes a comprehensive generic framework for evaluating its performance. The New England 39-bus network is used to verify the adaptive reduced control models’ performance.

77 FR 27277 - FTA Supplemental Fiscal Year 2012 Apportionments, Allocations, and Program Information

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-05-09

... allocates Section 5309 Bus and Bus Facilities funds to bus testing and the Fuel Cell program. Tables... Fuel Cell program. FTA will issue a supplemental notice at a later date if additional contract... allocated CA, GA, MA E2012-BUSP-018 Fuel Cell Bus Program..... $13,500,000 PA E2012-BUSP-019 Bus Testing 3...

40 CFR 85.1404 - Maintenance of records for urban bus operators; submittal of information; right of entry.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 19 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Maintenance of records for urban bus... SOURCES Urban Bus Rebuild Requirements § 85.1404 Maintenance of records for urban bus operators; submittal of information; right of entry. (a) The operator of any urban bus for which this subpart is...

40 CFR 85.1404 - Maintenance of records for urban bus operators; submittal of information; right of entry.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 19 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Maintenance of records for urban bus... SOURCES Urban Bus Rebuild Requirements § 85.1404 Maintenance of records for urban bus operators; submittal of information; right of entry. (a) The operator of any urban bus for which this subpart is...

40 CFR 85.1404 - Maintenance of records for urban bus operators; submittal of information; right of entry.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 19 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Maintenance of records for urban bus... SOURCES Urban Bus Rebuild Requirements § 85.1404 Maintenance of records for urban bus operators; submittal of information; right of entry. (a) The operator of any urban bus for which this subpart is...

40 CFR 85.1404 - Maintenance of records for urban bus operators; submittal of information; right of entry.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 18 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Maintenance of records for urban bus... SOURCES Urban Bus Rebuild Requirements § 85.1404 Maintenance of records for urban bus operators; submittal of information; right of entry. (a) The operator of any urban bus for which this subpart is...

Common Traffic Violations of Bus Drivers in Urban China: An Observational Study.

PubMed

Wang, Qiqi; Zhang, Wei; Yang, Rendong; Huang, Yuanxiu; Zhang, Lin; Ning, Peishan; Cheng, Xunjie; Schwebel, David C; Hu, Guoqing; Yao, Hongyan

2015-01-01

To report common traffic violations in bus drivers and the factors that influence those violations in urban China. We conducted an observational study to record three types of traffic violations among bus drivers in Changsha City, China: illegal stopping at bus stations, violating traffic light signals, and distracted driving. The behaviors of bus drivers on 32 routes (20% of bus routes in the city) were observed. A two-level Poisson regression examined factors that predicted bus driver violations. The incidence of illegal stopping at bus stations was 20.2%. Illegal stopping was less frequent on weekends, sunny days, and at stations with cameras, with adjusted incidence rate ratios (IRRs) of 0.81, 0.65 and 0.89, respectively. The incidence of violating traffic light signals was 2.2%, and was lower on cloudy than sunny days (adjusted IRR: 0.60). The incidence of distracted driving was 3.3%. The incidence of distracted driving was less common on cloudy days, rainy or snowy days, and foggy/windy/dusty days compared to sunny days, with adjusted IRRs of 0.54, 0.55 and 0.07, respectively. Traffic violations are common in bus drivers in urban China and they are associated with the date, weather, and presence of traffic cameras at bus station. Further studies are recommended to understand the behavioral mechanisms that may explain bus driver violations and to develop feasible prevention measures.

Continuation Power Flow with Variable-Step Variable-Order Nonlinear Predictor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kojima, Takayuki; Mori, Hiroyuki

This paper proposes a new continuation power flow calculation method for drawing a P-V curve in power systems. The continuation power flow calculation successively evaluates power flow solutions through changing a specified value of the power flow calculation. In recent years, power system operators are quite concerned with voltage instability due to the appearance of deregulated and competitive power markets. The continuation power flow calculation plays an important role to understand the load characteristics in a sense of static voltage instability. In this paper, a new continuation power flow with a variable-step variable-order (VSVO) nonlinear predictor is proposed. The proposed method evaluates optimal predicted points confirming with the feature of P-V curves. The proposed method is successfully applied to IEEE 118-bus and IEEE 300-bus systems.

The 30-cm ion thruster power processor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Herron, B. G.; Hopper, D. J.

1978-01-01

A power processor unit for powering and controlling the 30 cm Mercury Electron-Bombardment Ion Thruster was designed, fabricated, and tested. The unit uses a unique and highly efficient transistor bridge inverter power stage in its implementation. The system operated from a 200 to 400 V dc input power bus, provides 12 independently controllable and closely regulated dc power outputs, and has an overall power conditioning capacity of 3.5 kW. Protective circuitry was incorporated as an integral part of the design to assure failure-free operation during transient and steady-state load faults. The implemented unit demonstrated an electrical efficiency between 91.5 and 91.9 at its nominal rated load over the 200 to 400 V dc input bus range.

Reconsidering the role of temporal order in spoken word recognition.

PubMed

Toscano, Joseph C; Anderson, Nathaniel D; McMurray, Bob

2013-10-01

Models of spoken word recognition assume that words are represented as sequences of phonemes. We evaluated this assumption by examining phonemic anadromes, words that share the same phonemes but differ in their order (e.g., sub and bus). Using the visual-world paradigm, we found that listeners show more fixations to anadromes (e.g., sub when bus is the target) than to unrelated words (well) and to words that share the same vowel but not the same set of phonemes (sun). This contrasts with the predictions of existing models and suggests that words are not defined as strict sequences of phonemes.

An Approach for Transmission Loss and Cost Allocation by Loss Allocation Index and Co-operative Game Theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khan, Baseem; Agnihotri, Ganga; Mishra, Anuprita S.

2016-03-01

In the present work authors proposed a novel method for transmission loss and cost allocation to users (generators and loads). In the developed methodology transmission losses are allocated to users based on their usage of the transmission line. After usage allocation, particular loss allocation indices (PLAI) are evaluated for loads and generators. Also Cooperative game theory approach is applied for comparison of results. The proposed method is simple and easy to implement on the practical power system. Sample 6 bus and IEEE 14 bus system is used for showing the effectiveness of proposed method.

Reanalysis of Asteroid Families Structure Through Visible Spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mothé-Diniz, T.; Carvano, J.; Roig, F.; Lazzaro, D.

In this work we re-analyse the presence of interlopers in asteroid families based on a larger spectral database and on a family determination which makes use of a larger set of proper elements. The asteroid families were defined using the HCM method (Zappalà et al. 1995) on the set of proper elements for 110,000 asteroids available at the Asteroid Dynamic Site (AstDyS http://hamilton.dm.unipi.it/astdys )). The spectroscopic analysis is performed using spectra on the 0.44-0.92 μ m range observed by the SMASS Xu et al. 1995, SMASSII (Bus and Binzel, 2002) and 3OS2 (Lazzaro et al. 2002) surveys, which together total around 2140 asteroids with observed spectra. The asteroid taxonomy used is the Bus taxonomy (Bus et al. 2000). A total of 22 two families were analysed . The families of Vesta, Eunomia, Hoffmeister, Dora, Merxia, Agnia, and Koronis were found to be spectrally homogeneous, which confirms previous studies. The Veritas family, on the other hand, which is quoted in the literature as an heterogeneous family was found to be quite homogeneous in the present work. The Eos family is noteworthy for being at one time spectrally heterogeneous and quite different from the background population. References Bus, S. J., and R. P. Binzel 2002. Phase II of the Small Main-Belt Asteroid Spectroscopic Survey - The Observations. Icarus 158, 106-145. Bus, S. J., R. P. Binzel, and T. H. Burbine 2000. A New Generation of Asteroid Taxonomy. Meteoritics and Planetary Science, vol. 35, Supplement, p.A36 35, 36 +. Lazzaro, D., C. A. Angeli, T. Mothe-Diniz, J. M. Carvano, R. Duffard, and M. Florczak 2002. The superficial characterization of a large sample of asteroids: the S3OS2. Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society 34, 859 +. Xu, S., R. P. Binzel, T. H. Burbine, and S. J. Bus 1995. Small main-belt asteroid spectroscopic survey: Initial results. Icarus 115, 1-35. Zappala, V., P. Bendjoya, A. Cellino, P. Farinella, and C. Froeschle 1995. Asteroid families: Search of a 12,487-asteroid sample using two different clustering techniques. Icarus 116, 291-314.

Quality of life and functional evaluation in patients with tongue base tumors treated exclusively with transoral robotic surgery: A 1-year follow-up study.

PubMed

Mercante, Giuseppe; Masiello, Alessandra; Sperduti, Isabella; Cristalli, Giovanni; Pellini, Raul; Spriano, Giuseppe

2015-10-01

To evaluate quality-of-life (QoL), swallowing and voice in patients with base of tongue (BOT) tumors treated with transoral robotic surgery (TORS) alone without any adjuvant treatment. The study was a prospective, single-center cohort trial. Swallowing, QoL and voice were evaluated in 13 patients with T1 or T2 oropharyngeal carcinomas of the BOT. Patients underwent evaluation using the following: a dysphagia score (DS); fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation-of-swallowing with the penetration aspiration scale (PAS); the MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI); and the Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10). Subjective (DS) and objective (PAS) evaluation of swallowing produced mean scores of 1.08, 2.23 and 1.46 before surgery and at 6 and 12 months after surgery, respectively, for both tests. A significant difference was found when comparing DS and PAS data at baseline and 6 months after surgery; while no difference was observed between the baseline and 12 months after surgery. The mean values of the MDADI and VHI scores recorded before surgery, and at 6 and 12 months after surgery did not show any statistical difference. Objective swallowing deterioration in the first 6 months after TORS alone for BOT tumors was possible, but complete recovery of deglutition was observed within 12 months. No changes were reported in the patients' self-perceived status of swallowing and voice dysfunction, and related QoL after 1 year. Copyright © 2015 European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Oregon regional intelligent transportation systems (ITS) integration program. Final phase III report, transit tracker information displays

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2003-11-14

Transit Tracker uses global positioning system (GPS) technology to track how far a bus is along its scheduled route. This document presents the evaluation strategies and objectives, the data collection methodologies, and the results of the evaluation...

Efficacy and Safety of Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Polidocanol Sclerotherapy in Benign Cystic Thyroid Nodules: Preliminary Results.

PubMed

Gong, Xiaohua; Zhou, Qi; Wang, Fang; Wu, Wenjun; Chen, Xiaojun

2017-01-01

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous polidocanol injection (PPI) in treating cystic thyroid nodules. A total of 158 cystic or predominantly cystic thyroid nodules (>80% cystic component) in 143 patients were evaluated. 114 patients with compressive symptoms or aesthetic complaints were offered PPI. 44 individuals without compressive symptoms and aesthetic complaints who were only followed up clinically were used as the control group. The efficacy and safety of PPI were evaluated for 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months of follow-up. In the PPI group, the mean baseline volume of 15.6 ± 18.9 cm 3 reduced at the 1-month follow-up to 5.1 ± 5.6 cm 3 ( p < 0.001) and 0.6 ± 0.9 ( p < 0.001), and nodules shrunk according to the time after PPI ( p < 0.001). A complete response (if ≥70% decrease) to PPI at the 12-month follow-up occurred in 100% of the cystic or predominant cystic nodules. None of the nodules recurred at the 12-month follow-up after PPI. The side effects were mild. Twenty patients (17.5%) developed mild localized pain, and fourteen cases (12.3%) experienced mild or moderate fever after PPI. PPI is a safe and effective alternative to treat benign cystic or predominant cystic thyroid nodules.

Bus-stop shelters : improved safety (phases 1 and 2).

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-07-01

This research was undertaken to 1) design and construct a wall and basic subassembly of an emergency : storm shelter comprised entirely of wood that could resist a missile (15 lb [6.8 kg], 12-ft [3.66 m] long : 2x4 from FEMA 361 specifications)...

Virtual Field Trips.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Walter, Virginia A.

1997-01-01

Virtual field trips can provide experiences beyond the reach of average K-12 students. Describes multimedia products for school use: Africa Trail, Dinosaur Hunter, Louvre Museum, Magic School Bus Explores the Rainforest, and Up to the Himalayas: Kingdoms in the Clouds and provides book and Internet connections for additional learning, highlighting…

7. YOSEMITE VALLEY SHUTTLE BUS AT SENTINEL BRIDGE SHUTTLE BUS ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

7. YOSEMITE VALLEY SHUTTLE BUS AT SENTINEL BRIDGE SHUTTLE BUS AND PARKING LOT AREA. LOOKING WNW. GIS: N-37 40 36.2 / W-119 44 45.0 - Yosemite National Park Roads & Bridges, Yosemite Village, Mariposa County, CA

GO Bus impact analysis.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-08-01

NJ TRANSIT launched two relatively new enhanced bus services: GO 25 serving the : Springfield Avenue corridor in 2008 and GO 28 serving the Bloomfield Avenue corridor in 2009. : As an enhanced but not full Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service, GO Bus feat...

Bus Crashworthiness Issues. Highway Special Investigation Report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1999-09-01

School bus and motorcoach travel are two of the safest forms of transportation in the United States. Each year, on average, nine school bus passengers and four motorcoach passengers are fatally injured in bus crashes, according to the National Highwa...

Network Extender for MIL-STD-1553 Bus

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Marcus, Julius; Hanson, T. David

2003-01-01

An extender system for MIL-STD-1553 buses transparently couples bus components at multiple developer sites. The bus network extender is a relatively inexpensive system that minimizes the time and cost of integration of avionic systems by providing a convenient mechanism for early testing without the need to transport the usual test equipment and personnel to an integration facility. This bus network extender can thus alleviate overloading of the test facility while enabling the detection of interface problems that can occur during the integration of avionic systems. With this bus extender in place, developers can correct and adjust their own hardware and software before products leave a development site. Currently resident at Johnson Space Center, the bus network extender is used to test the functionality of equipment that, although remotely located, is connected through a MILSTD- 1553 bus. Inasmuch as the standard bus protocol for avionic equipment is that of MIL-STD-1553, companies that supply MIL-STD-1553-compliant equipment to government or industry and that need long-distance communication support might benefit from this network bus extender

Development of the science of mass casualty incident management: reflection on the medical response to the Wenchuan earthquake and Hangzhou bus fire*

PubMed Central

Shen, Wei-feng; Jiang, Li-bing; Jiang, Guan-yu; Zhang, Mao; Ma, Yue-feng; He, Xiao-jun

2014-01-01

Objective: In this paper, we review the previous classic research paradigms of a mass casualty incident (MCI) systematically and reflect the medical response to the Wenchuan earthquake and Hangzhou bus fire, in order to outline and develop an improved research paradigm for MCI management. Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, China Wanfang, and China Biology Medicine (CBM) databases for relevant studies. The following key words and medical subject headings were used: ‘mass casualty incident’, ‘MCI’, ‘research method’, ‘Wenchuan’, ‘earthquake’, ‘research paradigm’, ‘science of surge’, ‘surge’, ‘surge capacity’, and ‘vulnerability’. Searches were performed without year or language restriction. After searching the four literature databases using the above listed key words and medical subject headings, related articles containing research paradigms of MCI, 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, July 5 bus fire, and science of surge and vulnerability were independently included by two authors. Results: The current progresses on MCI management include new golden hour, damage control philosophy, chain of survival, and three links theory. In addition, there are three evaluation methods (medical severity index (MSI), potential injury creating event (PICE) classification, and disaster severity scale (DSS)), which can dynamically assess the MCI situations and decisions for MCI responses and can be made based on the results of such evaluations. However, the three methods only offer a retrospective evaluation of MCI and thus fail to develop a real-time assessment of MCI responses. Therefore, they cannot be used as practical guidance for decision-making during MCI. Although the theory of surge science has made great improvements, we found that a very important factor has been ignored—vulnerability, based on reflecting on the MCI response to the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake and July 5 bus fire in Hangzhou. Conclusions: This new paradigm breaks through the limitation of traditional research paradigms and will contribute to the development of a methodology for disaster research. PMID:25471837

Nurse confidence in gynaecological oncology practice and the evaluation of a professional development module.

PubMed

Philp, Shannon; Barnett, Catherine; D'Abrew, Natalie; White, Kate

2017-04-01

A tertiary-based education program on gynaecological oncology was attended by 62 registered nurses (RN). The program aimed to update nurses' knowledge, improve skills and ability to manage common situations and to assess program efficacy. Evaluation framework with specifically designed pre-post questionnaire about program content and nurse confidence. RN interested in gynaecological oncology were invited to attend. Nurses rated their confidence about gynaecological oncology skills one week prior to the program, immediately post-course, 3 months post and 12 months post. Speaker presentations were evaluated immediately post-course. Participants indicated improved confidence immediately after participating in the course (z = -6.515, p < .001); whilst confidence subsequently declined and stabilised up to 12 months post-course, it still remained significantly higher than before the course: 3 months post- (z = -5.284, p < .001) and 12 months post- (z = -4.155, p < .001). Results support the value of continuing professional education for improving nurse confidence in the gynaecological oncology setting.

Particles exposure while sitting at bus stops of hot and humid Singapore

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Velasco, Erik; Tan, Sok Huang

2016-10-01

Transport microenvironments represent hotspots of personal exposure to airborne toxics, particularly of ultrafine particles. Thus, a large exposure may be experienced during daily commuting trips. Amongst these microenvironments, bus stops are critical because of the commuters' close proximity to fresh fumes rich in particles emitted by passing, idling and accelerating buses and motor vehicles, in general. Standing at a bus stop may represent a period of disproportionately high exposure and it is, therefore, essential to know the number, chemical composition and physical characteristics of such particles for a proper public health assessment and design of mobility strategies. On this account, a set of portable and battery operated sensors were used to evaluate a number of properties of the traffic particles to which thousands of citizens are daily exposed at bus stops of Singapore. In terms of fine particles, the exposure concentration was on average 1.5-3 times higher than the mean concentration at ambient level reported by the local authorities. On average 60% of those particles corresponded to black carbon. An important presence of particle-bound polycyclic aromatics was observed. The particle number concentration and active surface area were effective metrics to quantify ultrafine particles, as expected both showed strong correlations. The number of particles at bus stops was on average 3.5 times higher than at ambient level. The most alarming issue was probably the size of the particles. Assuming spherical particles, a median of 27 nm was estimated based on the active surface area and particle number data. Particles of this size form the nucleation mode, which is related to harmful health effects.

Method for in-use measurement and evaluation of the activity, fuel use, electricity use, and emissions of a plug-in hybrid diesel-electric school bus.

PubMed

Choi, Hyung-Wook; Frey, H Christopher

2010-05-01

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate a methodology for characterizing at high resolution the energy use and emissions of a plug-in parallel-hybrid diesel-electric school bus (PHSB) to support assessments of sensitivity to driving cycles and comparisons to a conventional diesel school bus (CDSB). Data were collected using onboard instruments for a first-of-a-kind prototype PHSB and a CDSB of the same chassis and engine, operated on actual school bus routes. The engine load was estimated on the basis of vehicle specific power (VSP) and an empirically derived relationship between VSP and engine manifold absolute pressure (MAP). VSP depends on speed, acceleration, and road grade. For the PHSB, the observed electrical discharge or recharge to the traction motor battery was characterized on the basis of VSP. The energy use and emission rates of the PHSB from tailpipe and electricity use were estimated for five real-world driving cycles and compared to the engine fuel use and emissions of the CDSB. The PHSB had the greatest advantage on arterial routes and less advantage on highway or local routes. The coupled VSP-MAP modeling approach enables assessment of a wide variety of driving conditions and comparisons of vehicles with different propulsion technologies.

Minimizing the health and climate impacts of emissions from heavy-duty public transportation bus fleets through operational optimization.

PubMed

Gouge, Brian; Dowlatabadi, Hadi; Ries, Francis J

2013-04-16

In contrast to capital control strategies (i.e., investments in new technology), the potential of operational control strategies (e.g., vehicle scheduling optimization) to reduce the health and climate impacts of the emissions from public transportation bus fleets has not been widely considered. This case study demonstrates that heterogeneity in the emission levels of different bus technologies and the exposure potential of bus routes can be exploited though optimization (e.g., how vehicles are assigned to routes) to minimize these impacts as well as operating costs. The magnitude of the benefits of the optimization depend on the specific transit system and region. Health impacts were found to be particularly sensitive to different vehicle assignments and ranged from worst to best case assignment by more than a factor of 2, suggesting there is significant potential to reduce health impacts. Trade-offs between climate, health, and cost objectives were also found. Transit agencies that do not consider these objectives in an integrated framework and, for example, optimize for costs and/or climate impacts alone, risk inadvertently increasing health impacts by as much as 49%. Cost-benefit analysis was used to evaluate trade-offs between objectives, but large uncertainties make identifying an optimal solution challenging.

Low-floor bus design preferences of walking aid users during simulated boarding and alighting.

PubMed

D'souza, Clive; Paquet, Victor; Lenker, James; Steinfeld, Edward; Bareria, Piyush

2012-01-01

Low-floor buses represent a significant improvement in accessible public transit for passengers with limited mobility. However, there is still a need for research on the inclusive design of transit buses to identify specific low-floor bus design conditions that are either particularly accommodating or challenging for passengers with functional and mobility impairments. These include doorway locations, seating configuration and the large front wheel-well covers that collectively impact boarding, alighting and interior movement of passengers. Findings from a laboratory study using a static full-scale simulation of a lowfloor bus to evaluate the impact of seating configuration and crowding on interior movement and accessibility for individuals with and without walking aids are presented (n=41). Simulated bus journeys that included boarding, fare payment, seating, and alighting were performed. Results from video observations and subjective assessments showed differences in boarding and alighting performance and users' perceptions of task difficulty. The need for assistive design features (e.g. handholds, stanchions), legroom and stowage space for walking aids was evident. These results demonstrate that specific design conditions in low-floor buses can significantly impact design preference among those who use walking aids. Consideration of ergonomics and inclusive design can therefore be used to improve the design of low-floor buses.

Bias of averages in life-cycle footprinting of infrastructure: truck and bus case studies.

PubMed

Taptich, Michael N; Horvath, Arpad

2014-11-18

The life-cycle output (e.g., level of service) of infrastructure systems heavily influences their normalized environmental footprint. Many studies and tools calculate emission factors based on average productivity; however, the performance of these systems varies over time and space. We evaluate the appropriate use of emission factors based on average levels of service by comparing them to those reflecting a distribution of system outputs. For the provision of truck and bus services where fuel economy is assumed constant over levels of service, emission factor estimation biases, described by Jensen's inequality, always result in larger-than-expected environmental impacts (3%-400%) and depend strongly on the variability and skew of truck payloads and bus ridership. Well-to-wheel greenhouse gas emission factors for diesel trucks in California range from 87 to 1,500 g of CO2 equivalents per ton-km, depending on the size and type of trucks and the services performed. Along a bus route in San Francisco, well-to-wheel emission factors ranged between 53 and 940 g of CO2 equivalents per passenger-km. The use of biased emission factors can have profound effects on various policy decisions. If average emission rates must be used, reflecting a distribution of productivity can reduce emission factor biases.

Transit Bus Fuel Economy and Performance Simulation

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1984-01-01

This report presents the results of bus simulation studies to determine the effects of various design and operating parameters on bus fuel economy and performance. The bus components are first described in terms of how they are modeled. Then a variat...

The NASA bus communications listening device software

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Allen, M. A.

1979-01-01

The development of the bus listener is presented. Special software was developed to control the 'bus interface units' (BIU) connecting each of these devices to a communications cable to form the bus communication network. The code used in the BTU is described.

75 FR 52054 - Bus and Bus Facilities Discretionary Program Funds

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-08-24

... engaged in public transportation, or private non-profit organizations. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT... DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Transit Administration Bus and Bus Facilities Discretionary... program announcement of project selections. SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Federal...

American Fuel Cell Bus Project : First Analysis Report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-06-01

This report summarizes the experience and early results from the American Fuel Cell Bus Project, a fuel cell electric bus demonstration funded by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) under the National Fuel Cell Bus Program. A team led by CALSTAR...

American fuel cell bus project : first analysis report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-06-01

This report summarizes the experience and early results from the American Fuel Cell Bus Project, a fuel cell electric bus demonstration : funded by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) under the National Fuel Cell Bus Program. A team led by CALST...

Optical technology for flight control systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mayanagi, M.

1986-01-01

Optical applications to the flight control system including optical data bus, sensors, and transducers are analyzed. Examples of optical data bus include airborne light optical fiber technology (ALOFT), F-5E, YA-7D, MIL-STD-1553 fiber optic data bus and NAL-optic data bus. This NAL-optic data bus is applied to STOL, and its characteristics are stressed. Principles and advantages of optical pulse-digital transducers are discussed.

Analyzing the Relationship Between Bus Pollution Policies and Morbidity Using a Quasi-Experiment

PubMed Central

Ngo, Nicole S.

2015-01-01

Abstract Transit buses are used by millions of commuters every day, but they emit toxic diesel fumes. In 1988, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency implemented emission standards for transit buses, which have been continually updated. Yet there is no quantitative evidence of the health benefits from these bus pollution policies due to data constraints and confounding variables. In this study, a quasi-experiment is used to exploit the geographic and temporal variation in emission standards by using bus vintage as a proxy for bus emissions. This is accomplished using a unique, rich panel data set, which includes daily information on bus vintage and route for the New York City Transit bus fleet between 2006 and 2009. This information is merged with daily data on emergency department (ED) visits for respiratory illnesses, which include patients’ residences at the census block level and exact admission date. Economic benefits resulting from these bus pollution policies are then estimated. Results show that stricter transit bus emission standards by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for particulate matter are associated with reduced ED visits for respiratory diseases for patients living within a few hundred feet of a bus route. These findings demonstrate that bus pollution policies have made critical improvements to public health. PMID:26376392

Analyzing the Relationship Between Bus Pollution Policies and Morbidity Using a Quasi-Experiment.

PubMed

Ngo, Nicole S

2015-09-01

Transit buses are used by millions of commuters every day, but they emit toxic diesel fumes. In 1988, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency implemented emission standards for transit buses, which have been continually updated. Yet there is no quantitative evidence of the health benefits from these bus pollution policies due to data constraints and confounding variables. In this study, a quasi-experiment is used to exploit the geographic and temporal variation in emission standards by using bus vintage as a proxy for bus emissions. This is accomplished using a unique, rich panel data set, which includes daily information on bus vintage and route for the New York City Transit bus fleet between 2006 and 2009. This information is merged with daily data on emergency department (ED) visits for respiratory illnesses, which include patients' residences at the census block level and exact admission date. Economic benefits resulting from these bus pollution policies are then estimated. Results show that stricter transit bus emission standards by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for particulate matter are associated with reduced ED visits for respiratory diseases for patients living within a few hundred feet of a bus route. These findings demonstrate that bus pollution policies have made critical improvements to public health.

Buses retrofitting with diesel particle filters: Real-world fuel economy and roadworthiness test considerations.

PubMed

Fleischman, Rafael; Amiel, Ran; Czerwinski, Jan; Mayer, Andreas; Tartakovsky, Leonid

2018-05-01

Retrofitting older vehicles with diesel particulate filter (DPF) is a cost-effective measure to quickly and efficiently reduce particulate matter emissions. This study experimentally analyzes real-world performance of buses retrofitted with CRT DPFs. 18 in-use Euro III technology urban and intercity buses were investigated for a period of 12months. The influence of the DPF and of the vehicle natural aging on buses fuel economy are analyzed and discussed. While the effect of natural deterioration is about 1.2%-1.3%, DPF contribution to fuel economy penalty is found to be 0.6% to 1.8%, depending on the bus type. DPF filtration efficiency is analyzed throughout the study and found to be in average 96% in the size range of 23-560nm. Four different load and non-load engine operating modes are investigated on their appropriateness for roadworthiness tests. High idle is found to be the most suitable regime for PN diagnostics considering particle number filtration efficiency. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Evaluation of an HIV risk reduction intervention among African-American homosexual and bisexual men.

PubMed

Peterson, J L; Coates, T J; Catania, J; Hauck, W W; Acree, M; Daigle, D; Hillard, B; Middleton, L; Hearst, N

1996-03-01

To provide the first data which evaluates an HIV risk reduction intervention designed to reduce HIV high-risk sexual behavior in African-American homosexual and bisexual men. Participants (n = 318) were recruited from bars, bathhouses, and erotic bookstores, and through homosexual African-American organizations, street out-reach, media advertisements, and personal referrals of individuals aware of the study. Participants were randomized into a single or triple session experimental group or a wait-list control group. Both experimental interventions included AIDS risk education, cognitive-behavioral self-management training, assertion training, and attempts to develop self-identity and social support. Data collection involved assessments of self-reported changes in sexual behavior at 12- and 18-month follow-up. Participants in the triple session intervention greatly reduced their frequency of unprotected anal intercourse (from 46 to 20%) at the 12-month follow-up evaluation and (from 45% to 20%) at the 18-month follow-up evaluation. However, levels of risky behavior for the control group remained constant (from 26 to 23% and from 24 to 18%) at 12- and 18-month follow-up evaluations, respectively. In addition, levels of risky behavior for the single session intervention decreased only slightly (from 47 to 38% and from 50 to 38%) at the 12- and 18-month follow-up evaluations, respectively. Results were interpreted to demonstrate the superiority of a triple session over a single session intervention in reducing risky sexual behavior in this cohort.

Myocardial infarction among male bus, taxi, and lorry drivers in middle Sweden.

PubMed Central

Gustavsson, P; Alfredsson, L; Brunnberg, H; Hammar, N; Jakobsson, R; Reuterwall, C; Ostlin, P

1996-01-01

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present case-referent study was to investigate the incidence of myocardial infarction among male professional drivers, taking the type of vehicles and area of residence into account. METHODS: The study base comprised all men aged 30-74 in five counties in middle Sweden during 1976-81 or 1976-84. Incident cases of the first episode of myocardial infarction were identified from registers of hospital admissions and causes of deaths. Referents were selected randomly from the study base. Information about occupation was obtained from the national censuses in 1970 and 1975. The possible impact from tobacco smoking and overweight were evaluated by simulations in combination with indirect data on these factors. RESULTS: The incidence of myocardial infarction was increased among bus drivers in Stockholm (relative risk (RR) = 1.53, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.15-2.05), and among taxi drivers both in Stockholm (RR 1.65, 95% CI 1.30-2.11) and in the surrounding rural counties (RR 1.82, 95% CI 1.17-2.82). A smaller increase was found among long distance lorry drivers, whereas the relative risk among short distance lorry drivers was close to unity. Indirect comparisons make it unlikely that the excess among bus drivers in Stockholm could be explained by uncontrolled confounding from tobacco smoking or overweight. A very high proportion (more than 80%) of urban bus drivers in Sweden report a combination of high psychological demands and low control at work. CONCLUSIONS: Different types of drivers are at different risk of myocardial infarction. Bus drivers in urban areas seem to be at an increased risk, which is unlikely to be explained by uncontrolled confounding from tobacco smoking or overweight. Psychosocial work conditions may play a part in the increased incidence of myocardial infarction among urban bus drivers and should be investigated further. PMID:8664960

Traffic rule violations of private bus drivers and bus crashes in Sri Lanka: a case-control study.

PubMed

Jayatilleke, Achala Upendra; Poudel, Krishna C; Nakahara, Shinji; Dharmaratne, Samath D; Jayatilleke, Achini Chinthika; Jimba, Masamine

2010-06-01

To explore the association between self-reported traffic rule violations of private sector bus drivers and bus crashes in the Kandy district, Sri Lanka. We carried out a case-control study from August to September 2006. Cases were all the private bus drivers registered in the Kandy district and involved in crashes reported to the police between November 2005 and April 2006 (n = 63). We included two control groups: the private bus drivers working on the same routes of the cases (n = 90; matched controls) and the drivers selected randomly from the other routes of the district (n = 111; unmatched controls). We used a self-administered questionnaire to collect data on the self-reported traffic rule violations and analyzed the association between the self-reported traffic rule violations and crashes using logistic regression. The following variables showed significant associations with private bus crashes: illegal overtaking (matched controls, adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 14.78, unmatched controls, AOR = 1.04), taking passengers outside the bus bays (matched controls, AOR = 3.96, unmatched controls, AOR = 2.29), and overloading (matched controls, AOR = 10.26, unmatched controls, AOR = 1.93). However, we did not observe an association between high-speed driving and bus crashes matched controls, AOR = 1.22, unmatched controls, AOR = 0.81. Traffic rule violations, such as illegal overtaking, overloading, and taking passengers outside the bus bays, are significant risk factors for private bus crashes in Sri Lanka.

Common Traffic Violations of Bus Drivers in Urban China: An Observational Study

PubMed Central

Yang, Rendong; Huang, Yuanxiu; Zhang, Lin; Ning, Peishan; Cheng, Xunjie; Schwebel, David C.

2015-01-01

Objective To report common traffic violations in bus drivers and the factors that influence those violations in urban China. Methods We conducted an observational study to record three types of traffic violations among bus drivers in Changsha City, China: illegal stopping at bus stations, violating traffic light signals, and distracted driving. The behaviors of bus drivers on 32 routes (20% of bus routes in the city) were observed. A two-level Poisson regression examined factors that predicted bus driver violations. Results The incidence of illegal stopping at bus stations was 20.2%. Illegal stopping was less frequent on weekends, sunny days, and at stations with cameras, with adjusted incidence rate ratios (IRRs) of 0.81, 0.65 and 0.89, respectively. The incidence of violating traffic light signals was 2.2%, and was lower on cloudy than sunny days (adjusted IRR: 0.60). The incidence of distracted driving was 3.3%. The incidence of distracted driving was less common on cloudy days, rainy or snowy days, and foggy/windy/dusty days compared to sunny days, with adjusted IRRs of 0.54, 0.55 and 0.07, respectively. Conclusion Traffic violations are common in bus drivers in urban China and they are associated with the date, weather, and presence of traffic cameras at bus station. Further studies are recommended to understand the behavioral mechanisms that may explain bus driver violations and to develop feasible prevention measures. PMID:26372105

Trends in bus transit operations, 1960-1974

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1977-01-01

This report analyzes the historical patterns of bus transit operations from 1960 to 1974 using data from 50 bus operations. Because of limitations on the available data, the analyzed data do not represent the universe of bus operations, nor is it a r...

Effect of bus-stop spacing on mobile emissions in urban areas.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2003-01-01

The operational effect of bus-stop spacing has been a critical issue. Closely spaced bus stops : disrupt the traffic flow on the bus route, particularly during peak hours because buses make frequent stops : to provide services to customers. The disru...

Modular Cooling Components

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Eastman, G. Yale; Dussinger, Peter M.; Hartenstine, John R.

1994-01-01

Three modular heat-transfer components designed for use together or separately. Simple mechanical connections facilitate assembly of these and related heat-transfer components into cooling systems of various configurations, such as to cool laboratory equipment rearranged for different experiments. Components are clamp-on cold plate, cold plate attached to flexible heat pipe, and thermal-bus receptacle. Clamp-on cold plate moved to any convenient location for attachment of equipment cooled by it, then clamped onto thermal bus. Heat from equipment conducted through plate and into coolant. Thermal-bus receptacle integral with thermal bus. Includes part of thermal bus to which clamp-on cold plate attached, plus tapered socket into which condenser end of flexible heat pipe plugged. Thermal-bus receptacle includes heat-pipe wick structure using coolant in bus to enhance transfer of heat from cold plate.

Relative importance of school bus-related microenvironments to children's pollutant exposure.

PubMed

Behrentz, Eduardo; Sabin, Lisa D; Winer, Arthur M; Fitz, Dennis R; Pankratz, David V; Colome, Steven D; Fruin, Scott A

2005-10-01

Real-time concentrations of black carbon, particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, nitrogen dioxide, and fine particulate counts, as well as integrated and real-time fine particulate matter (PM2.5) mass concentrations were measured inside school buses during long commutes on Los Angeles Unified School District bus routes, at bus stops along the routes, at the bus loading/unloading zone in front of the selected school, and at nearby urban "background" sites. Across all of the pollutants, mean concentrations during bus commutes were higher than in any other microenvironment. Mean exposures (mean concentration times time spent in a particular microenvironment) in bus commutes were between 50 and 200 times greater than those for the loading/unloading microenvironment, and 20-40 times higher than those for the bus stops, depending on the pollutant. Although the analyzed school bus commutes represented only 10% of a child's day, on average they contributed one-third of a child's 24-hr overall black carbon exposure during a school day. For species closely related to vehicle exhaust, the within- cabin exposures were generally dominated by the effect of surrounding traffic when windows were open and by the bus's own exhaust when windows were closed. Low-emitting buses generally exhibited high concentrations only when traveling behind a diesel vehicle, whereas high-emitting buses exhibited high concentrations both when following other diesel vehicles and when idling without another diesel vehicle in front of the bus. To reduce school bus commute exposures, we recommend minimizing commute times, avoiding caravanning with other school buses, using the cleanest buses for the longest bus routes, maintaining conventional diesel buses to eliminate visible emissions, and transitioning to cleaner fuels and advanced particulate control technologies as soon as possible.

[Auditory processing evaluation in children born preterm].

PubMed

Gallo, Júlia; Dias, Karin Ziliotto; Pereira, Liliane Desgualdo; Azevedo, Marisa Frasson de; Sousa, Elaine Colombo

2011-01-01

To verify the performance of children born preterm on auditory processing evaluation, and to correlate the data with behavioral hearing assessment carried out at 12 months of age, comparing the results to those of auditory processing evaluation of children born full-term. Participants were 30 children with ages between 4 and 7 years, who were divided into two groups: Group 1 (children born preterm), and Group 2 (children born full-term). The auditory processing results of Group 1 were correlated to data obtained from the behavioral auditory evaluation carried out at 12 months of age. The results were compared between groups. Subjects in Group 1 presented at least one risk indicator for hearing loss at birth. In the behavioral auditory assessment carried out at 12 months of age, 38% of the children in Group 1 were at risk for central auditory processing deficits, and 93.75% presented auditory processing deficits on the evaluation. Significant differences were found between the groups for the temporal order test, the PSI test with ipsilateral competitive message, and the speech-in-noise test. The delay in sound localization ability was associated to temporal processing deficits. Children born preterm have worse performance in auditory processing evaluation than children born full-term. Delay in sound localization at 12 months is associated to deficits on the physiological mechanism of temporal processing in the auditory processing evaluation carried out between 4 and 7 years.

Systems design study of the Pioneer Venus spacecraft. Volume 1: Technical analyses and tradeoffs, sections 8-12 (part 4 of 4)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1973-01-01

The probe bus and orbiter subsystems are defined, and tradeoffs analyzed. Subsystems discussed include: communications, electric power, data handling, attitude determination and control, propulsion, thermal control, structure and mechanisms, NASA/ESRO orbiter interface, mission operation, and flight support.

Evaluation of retrofit crankcase ventilation controls and diesel oxidation catalysts for reducing air pollution in school buses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Trenbath, Kim; Hannigan, Michael P.; Milford, Jana B.

2009-12-01

This study evaluates the effect of retrofit closed crankcase ventilation filters (CCFs) and diesel oxidation catalysts (DOCs) on the in-cabin air quality in transit-style diesel school buses. In-cabin pollution levels were measured on three buses from the Pueblo, CO District 70 fleet. Monitoring was conducted while buses were driven along their regular routes, with each bus tested three times before and three times after installation of control devices. Ultrafine number concentrations in the school bus cabins were 33-41% lower, on average, after the control devices were installed. Mean mass concentrations of particulate matter less than 2.5 μm in diameter (PM2.5) were 56% lower, organic carbon (OC) 41% lower, elemental carbon (EC) 85% lower, and formaldehyde 32% lower after control devices were installed. While carbon monoxide concentrations were low in all tests, mean concentrations were higher after control devices were installed than in pre-retrofit tests. Reductions in number, OC, and formaldehyde concentrations were statistically significant, but reductions in PM2.5 mass were not. Even with control devices installed, during some runs PM2.5 and OC concentrations in the bus cabins were elevated compared to ambient concentrations observed in the area. OC concentrations inside the bus cabins ranged from 22 to 58 μg m -3 before and 13 to 33 μg m -3 after control devices were installed. OC concentrations were correlated with particle-bound organic tracers for lubricating oil emissions (hopanes) and diesel fuel and tailpipe emissions (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and aliphatic hydrocarbons). Mean concentrations of hopanes, PAH, and aliphatic hydrocarbons were lower by 37, 50, and 43%, respectively, after the control devices were installed, suggesting that both CCFs and DOCs were effective at reducing in-cabin OC concentrations.

Comparison of on-road emissions for hybrid and regular transit buses.

PubMed

Hallmark, Shauna L; Wang, Bo; Sperry, Robert

2013-10-01

Hybrid technology offers an attractive option for transit buses, since it has the potential to significantly reduce operating costs for transit agencies. The main impetus behind use of hybrid transit vehicles is fuel savings and reduced emissions. Laboratory tests have indicated that hybrid transit buses can have significantly lower emissions compared with conventional transit buses. However the number of studies is limited and laboratory tests may not represent actual driving conditions, since in-use vehicle operation differs from laboratory test cycles. This paper describes an on-road evaluation of in-use emission differences between hybrid-electric and conventional transit buses for the Ames, Iowa transit authority, CyRide. Emissions were collected on-road using a portable emissions monitoring system (PEMS) for three hybrid and two control buses. Emissions were collected for at least one operating bus day. Each bus was evaluated over the same route pattern, which utilizes the same driver. The number of passengers embarking or disembarking at each stop was collected by an on-board data collector so that passenger load could be included. Vehicle emissions are correlated to engine load demand, which is a function of factors such as vehicle load, speed, and acceleration. PEMS data are provided second by second and vehicle-specific power (VSP) was calculated for each row of data. Instantaneous data were stratified into the defined VSP bins and then average modal emission rates and standard errors were calculated for each bus for each pollutant. Pollutants were then compared by bus type. Carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbon emissions were higher for the regular buses across most VSP bins than for the hybrid buses. Nitrogen oxide emissions were unexpectedly higher for the hybrid buses than for the control buses.

Measuring self-pollution in school buses using a tracer gas technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Behrentz, Eduardo; Fitz, Dennis R.; Pankratz, David V.; Sabin, Lisa D.; Colome, Steven D.; Fruin, Scott A.; Winer, Arthur M.

A potentially important, but inadequately studied, source of children's exposure to pollutants during school bus commutes is the introduction of a bus's own exhaust into the passenger compartment. We developed and applied a method to determine the amount of a bus's own exhaust penetrating into the cabin in a study of six in-use school buses over a range of routes, roadway types, fuels, and emission control technologies. A tracer gas, SF 6, was metered into the bus's exhaust system using a mass flow controller whose flow rate was logged by a data acquisition system and processed with the concurrent real-time pollutant measurement data. At the same time, the SF 6 concentration inside the bus was measured using an AeroVironment CTA-1000 continuous analyzer connected to a series of solenoids that switched the sample inlet between the front and rear of the bus cabin. To account for a baseline drift of the CTA-1000, SF 6-free air was also drawn through a line located outside at the front of the bus. Although this third sample line generally provided a reference zero value, it also showed that under certain wind conditions (i.e., wind from the rear) when the bus was stopped and was idling, significant amounts of the bus's own exhaust reached this location at the front of the bus. Self-pollution, the percentage of a bus's own exhaust that can be found inside its cabin, was a function of bus type and age, and a strong function of window position (i.e., open or closed). We estimated up to 0.3% of the air inside the cabin was from the bus's own exhaust in older buses, approximately 10 times the percentage observed for newer buses, and 25% of the black carbon concentration variance was explained by the buses' self-pollution. Analysis of the tracer gas concentrations provided a powerful tool for identifying potentially high-exposure conditions.

Employment Outcomes after Critical Illness: An Analysis of the BRAIN-ICU Cohort

PubMed Central

Norman, Brett C.; Jackson, James C.; Graves, John A.; Girard, Timothy D.; Pandharipande, Pratik P.; Brummel, Nathan E.; Wang, Li; Thompson, Jennifer L.; Chandrasekhar, Rameela; Ely, E. Wesley

2016-01-01

Objective To characterize survivors’ employment status after critical illness and to determine if duration of delirium during hospitalization and residual cognitive function are each independently associated with decreased employment. Design Prospective cohort investigation with baseline and in-hospital clinical data and follow up at 3 and 12 months. Setting Medical and surgical intensive care units (ICUs) at two tertiary-care hospitals. Patients Previously employed patients from the BRAIN-ICU study who survived a critical illness due to respiratory failure or shock and were evaluated for global cognition and employment status at 3- and 12-month follow-up. Measurements We used multivariable logistic regression to evaluate independent associations between employment at both 3 and 12 months and global cognitive function at the same time point, and delirium during the hospital stay. Main Results At 3-month follow-up, 113 of the total survival cohort of 448 (25%) were identified as being employed at study enrollment. Of these, 94 survived to 12-month follow-up. At 3 and 12months follow-up, 62% and 49% had a decrease in employment, 57% and 49% of whom, respectively, were newly unemployed. After adjustment for physical health status, depressive symptoms, marital status, level of education, and severity of illness, we did not find significant predictors of employment status at 3 months, but better cognition at 12 months was marginally associated with lower odds of employment reduction at 12 months, OR 0.49, p=0.07). Conclusions Reduction in employment after critical illness was present in the majority of our ICU surivors, approximately half of which was new unemployment. In this potentially underpowered pilot study, delirium at either 3 or 12 months was not a predictor yet cognitive function at 12 months was a predictor of subsequent employment status. Further research is needed into the potential relationship between the impact of critical illness on cognitive function and employment status. PMID:27171492

Transit bus life cycle cost and year 2007 emissions estimation.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2007-06-01

The report presents a study of transit bus life cycle cost (LCC) analysis, and projected transit bus emissions and fuel economy for 2007 : model year buses. It covers four bus types: diesel buses using ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD), diesel buses usi...

75 FR 20034 - Over-the-Road Bus Accessibility Program Grants: Corrections

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-04-16

... DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Transit Administration Over-the-Road Bus Accessibility... ``Over-the-Road Bus Accessibility Program Grants,'' extends the application deadline, and allows... comply with the terms and conditions of the Special Warranty for the Over-the-Road Bus Accessibility...

Large school bus design vehicle dimensions

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1998-09-01

A survey of United States school bus operators and manufacturers was conducted to define the larger sizes of school buses in regular use. A mid-60 passenger type-c bus (SB-C) and a mid-80 passenger type-D bus (SB-D) were selected as design vehicles. ...

National fuel cell bus program : proterra fuel cell hybrid bus report, Columbia demonstration.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2011-10-01

This report summarizes the experience and early results from a fuel cell bus demonstration funded by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) under the National Fuel Cell Bus Program. A team led by the Center for Transportation and the Environment an...

Analysis of Arthroscopic Therapy for hip Pathologies.

PubMed

Przybył, Michał; Walenczak, Krzysztof; Lebiedziński, Radosław; Domżalski, Marcin

2017-05-10

[b]Background. [/b]This paper analyses the outcomes of treatment of avascular necrosis (AVN), femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), hip labral tear (HLT) and snapping hip syndrome (SHS). Moreover, the results of individual groups are also compared. The study group consisted of 70 persons (surgeries of 72 hips). AVN - 14 patients, FAI - 38 patients (39 hips), HLT - 12 patients (13 hips), SHS - 6 patients. Two questionnaires, namely the MHHS (Modified Harris Hip Score) and NAHS (Non Arthritic Hip Score), were used to evaluate the patients before the surgery and at 6- and 12-month follow-up.[b]Results. [/b]AVN : local improvement was recorded at both 6 and 12 months, FAI: local improvement was recorded at both 6 and 12 months, HLT: local improvement was recorded at both 6 and 12 months, SHS: local improvement was recorded at both 6 and 12 months. Comparison of the results between the groups showed that: At baseline, local status in AVN was poorer than in FAI. At 6- and 12-month follow-up, local status in AVN was poorer than in FAI, HLT and SHS.[b]Conclusions.[/b] AVN Group 1. The study demonstrates that arthroscopic treatment of avascular necrosis produced fairly good outcomes at 6 and 12 months after the surgery. 2. Treatment of avascular necrosis showed significantly poorer results than therapy of femoroacetabular impingement, hip labral tear and snapping hip syndrome at 6 and 12 months. FAI Group 1. Arthroscopic treatment of femoroacetabular impingement produced good outcomes at 6 and 12 months after the surgery. HLT Group 1. Arthroscopic treatment of hip labral tear produced excellent outcomes at 6 and 12 months after the surgery. SHS Group 1. Arthroscopic treat ment of snapping hip syndrome produced excellent outcomes at 6 and 12 months after the surgery.Additional conclusions. 1. Studies showing long-term effect of arthroscopic treatment of selected conditions are necessary to further assess the effectiveness of this treatment. 2. It is necessary to evaluate the influence of the patients' age and severity of osteo arthritis on treatment outcomes in FAI. 3. It is necessary to assess the influence of the severity of pre-operative necrosis according to Ficat and Arlet classification on treatment outcomes in AVN.

Distributed photovoltaic architecture powering a DC bus: Impact of duty cycle and load variations on the efficiency of the generator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Allouache, Hadj; Zegaoui, Abdallah; Boutoubat, Mohamed; Bokhtache, Aicha Aissa; Kessaissia, Fatma Zohra; Charles, Jean-Pierre; Aillerie, Michel

2018-05-01

This paper focuses on a photovoltaic generator feeding a load via a boost converter in a distributed PV architecture. The principal target is the evaluation of the efficiency of a distributed photovoltaic architecture powering a direct current (DC) PV bus. This task is achieved by outlining an original way for tracking the Maximum Power Point (MPP) taking into account load variations and duty cycle on the electrical quantities of the boost converter and on the PV generator output apparent impedance. Thereafter, in a given sized PV system, we analyze the influence of the load variations on the behavior of the boost converter and we deduce the limits imposed by the load on the DC PV bus. The simultaneous influences of 1- the variation of the duty cycle of the boost converter and 2- the load power on the parameters of the various components of the photovoltaic chain and on the boost performances are clearly presented as deduced by simulation.

Multi-Antenna Data Collector for Smart Metering Networks with Integrated Source Separation by Spatial Filtering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Quednau, Philipp; Trommer, Ralph; Schmidt, Lorenz-Peter

2016-03-01

Wireless transmission systems in smart metering networks share the advantage of lower installation costs due to the expandability of separate infrastructure but suffer from transmission problems. In this paper the issue of interference of wireless transmitted smart meter data with third party systems and data from other meters is investigated and an approach for solving the problem is presented. A multi-channel wireless m-bus receiver was developed to separate the desired data from unwanted interferers by spatial filtering. The according algorithms are presented and the influence of different antenna types on the spatial filtering is investigated. The performance of the spatial filtering is evaluated by extensive measurements in a realistic surrounding with several hundreds of active wireless m-bus transponders. These measurements correspond to the future environment for data-collectors as they took place in rural and urban areas with smart gas meters equipped with wireless m-bus transponders installed in almost all surrounding buildings.

Changes in Secondhand Smoke Exposure After Smoke-Free Legislation (Spain, 2006-2011).

PubMed

Fernández, Esteve; Fu, Marcela; Pérez-Ríos, Mónica; Schiaffino, Anna; Sureda, Xisca; López, María J

2017-11-01

In 2011, the Spanish partial smoke-free legislation was extended to affect all enclosed settings, including hospitality venues and selected outdoor areas. This study evaluated the change in self-reported exposure to secondhand smoke among the adult, nonsmoking population. Two cross-sectional surveys were conducted on nationally representative samples of the adult (≥18 years) nonsmoking Spanish population. One was conducted in 2006 (6 months after the first ban) and the other in 2011, 6 months after the new ban was implemented. We assessed the prevalence and 95% confidence interval (CI) of self-reported exposure to secondhand smoke in various settings, and the corresponding adjusted prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% CIs. Overall, the self-reported exposure to secondhand smoke fell from 71.9% (95% CI: 70.1%-73.7%) in 2006 to 45.2% (95% CI: 43.1%-47.3%) in 2011 (PR = 0.43; 95% CI: 0.39-0.47). Specifically, self-reported exposure significantly decreased from 29.2% to 12.7% (PR = 0.36; 95% CI: 0.31-0.42) in the home, from 35.0% to 13.0% (PR = 0.40; 95% CI: 0.33-0.49) at work/education venues, from 56.2% to 32.2% (PR = 0.44; 95% CI: 0.39-0.48) during leisure time (mainly hospitality venues, but also venues other than work/education venues and home), and from 40.6% to 12.7% (PR = 0.24; 95% CI: 0.21-0.29) in transportation vehicles/stations. The prevalence of secondhand smoke exposure among nonsmokers decreased after implementation of a comprehensive smoke-free legislation in Spain. In addition to the expected reduction in exposure during leisure time, we observed reductions in settings that were not subject to the new legislation, such as homes, outdoor bus stops, and train stations. Exposure to secondhand smoke in selected outdoor settings may be further reduced by extending smoke-free legislation. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Multiple output power supply circuit for an ion engine with shared upper inverter

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cardwell, Jr., Gilbert I. (Inventor); Phelps, Thomas K. (Inventor)

2001-01-01

A power supply circuit for an ion engine suitable for a spacecraft is coupled to a bus having a bus input and a bus return. The power supply circuit has a first primary winding of a first transformer. An upper inverter circuit is coupled to the bus input and the first primary winding. The power supply circuit further includes a first lower inverter circuit coupled to the bus return and the first primary winding. The second primary winding of a second transformer is coupled to the upper inverter circuit. A second lower inverter circuit is coupled to the bus return and the second primary winding.

Bus accident analysis of routes with/without bus priority.

PubMed

Goh, Kelvin Chun Keong; Currie, Graham; Sarvi, Majid; Logan, David

2014-04-01

This paper summarises findings on road safety performance and bus-involved accidents in Melbourne along roads where bus priority measures had been applied. Results from an empirical analysis of the accident types revealed significant reduction in the proportion of accidents involving buses hitting stationary objects and vehicles, which suggests the effect of bus priority in addressing manoeuvrability issues for buses. A mixed-effects negative binomial (MENB) regression and back-propagation neural network (BPNN) modelling of bus accidents considering wider influences on accident rates at a route section level also revealed significant safety benefits when bus priority is provided. Sensitivity analyses done on the BPNN model showed general agreement in the predicted accident frequency between both models. The slightly better performance recorded by the MENB model results suggests merits in adopting a mixed effects modelling approach for accident count prediction in practice given its capability to account for unobserved location and time-specific factors. A major implication of this research is that bus priority in Melbourne's context acts to improve road safety and should be a major consideration for road management agencies when implementing bus priority and road schemes. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Bus drivers' mental conditions and their relation to bus passengers' accidents with a focus on the psychological stress concept.

PubMed

Yamada, Yasuyuki; Mizuno, Motoki; Sugiura, Miyuki; Tanaka, Sumio; Mizuno, Yuki; Yanagiya, Toshio; Hirosawa, Masataka

2008-06-01

The purpose of this study was to clarify the psychological factors of bus drivers' instability that were related to bus passengers' accidents according to the hypothesis model based on the stress concept of Lazarus and Folkman (1984). This research was carried out in 2006. Participants of the study were 39 Japanese male bus drivers. Their average age was 40.2 (SD: 11.1). The average duration of employment was 4.5 (SD:6.1) years. A questionnaire was used that was composed of items concerning the frequency of bus passengers' accidents, performance of safe driving, job stressors, stress reaction and recognition from others. Based on the results, a model assuming that stress reaction caused by job stressors disturbed the bus driver's safe driving and was associated with passengers' accidents in the bus was verified to some degree. Especially, melancholy and tired feeling toward passengers showed a strong relation to the passengers' accidents in the bus. This suggested much room for intervention. Moreover, the recognition from others of their job was confirmed to act as a control factor of the stress reaction.

Survey on the implementation and reliability of CubeSat electrical bus interfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bouwmeester, Jasper; Langer, Martin; Gill, Eberhard

2017-06-01

This paper provides results and conclusions on a survey on the implementation and reliability aspects of CubeSat bus interfaces, with an emphasis on the data bus and power distribution. It provides recommendations for a future CubeSat bus standard. The survey is based on a literature study and a questionnaire representing 60 launched CubeSats and 44 to be launched CubeSats. It is found that the bus interfaces are not the main driver for mission failures. However, it is concluded that the Inter Integrated Circuit (I2C) data bus, as implemented in a great majority of the CubeSats, caused some catastrophic satellite failures and a vast amount of bus lockups. The power distribution may lead to catastrophic failures if the power lines are not protected against overcurrent. A connector and wiring standard widely implemented in CubeSats is based on the PC/104 standard. Most participants find the 104 pin connector of this standard too large. For a future CubeSat bus interface standard, it is recommended to implement a reliable data bus, a power distribution with overcurrent protection and a wiring harness with smaller connectors compared with PC/104.

Immunogenicity and Safety of a Booster Dose of a Live Attenuated Japanese Encephalitis Chimeric Vaccine Given 1 Year After Primary Immunization in Healthy Children in the Republic of Korea.

PubMed

Kim, Dong Soo; Jang, Gwang Cheon; Cha, Sung-Ho; Choi, Soo-Han; Kim, Hwang Min; Kim, Ji Hong; Kang, Jin Han; Kim, Jong-Hyun; Kim, Ki Hwan; Bang, Joon; Naimi, Zulaikha; Bouckenooghe, Alain; Bosch-Castells, Valérie; Houillon, Guy

2016-02-01

This study evaluated the effect of a booster vaccination of a new, live attenuated, Japanese encephalitis chimeric vaccine (JE-CV). Previously this vaccine has been used as a booster 12 months after priming with an inactivated vaccine and at >24 months after priming with the same JE-CV. This study evaluates the immunogenicity and safety of the JE-CV given at 12-24 months after JE-CV priming. Phase III, open-label study in the Republic of Korea in which 119 children previously vaccinated with JE-CV at 12-24 months of age received a JE-CV booster at 12-24 months after primary vaccination. JE neutralizing antibody titers were measured using >50% plaque reduction neutralization test prebooster and 1 month postbooster vaccination. Seroprotection (SP) was defined as ≥10 (1/dil). Safety was assessed for 28 days postvaccination by parental reports. Serious adverse events were monitored for 6 months postvaccination. Antibody persistence was high prebooster (SP rate 93.5%). There was a strong anamnestic response postbooster vaccination, with an SP rate of 100% and a >50-fold increase in geometric mean titer from the prebooster level. Both antibody persistence and the booster response were independent of whether the booster was given at 12-17 or 18-24 months. The safety profile was good and comparable with the primary vaccination; there were no vaccine-related serious adverse events and no deaths. This study confirms the suitability of a JE-CV booster vaccination at 12-24 months after a primary dose of the same vaccine given at 12-24 months of age in children in the Republic of Korea.

GeoBus: sharing science research with schools

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roper, Kathryn; Robinson, Ruth; Moorhouse, Ben

2016-04-01

GeoBus (www.geobus.org.uk) is an educational outreach project that was developed in 2012 by the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of St Andrews, and it is currently sponsored by industry, NERC, The Crown Estate, and the Scottish Government. The aims of GeoBus are to support the teaching of Earth Science in secondary (middle and high) schools by providing teaching support to schools that have little or no experience in teaching this subject. This is, in part, done through the sharing of new science research outcomes and the experiences of young researchers with school pupils to provide a bridge between industry, higher education institutions, research councils and schools. Since its launch, over 40,000 pupils will have been involved in experiential Earth science learning activities in 190 different schools (over 400 separate visits) across the length and breadth of Scotland: many of these schools are in remote and disadvantaged regions. A new GeoBus project is under development within the Department of Earth Sciences at UCL in London. A key aim of GeoBus is to incorporate new research into our workshops with the main challenge being the development of appropriate resources that incorporate the key learning aims and requirements of the science and geography curricula. GeoBus works closely with researchers, teachers and educational practitioners to tailor the research outcomes to the curricula as much as possible. Over the past four years, GeoBus has developed 17 workshops, 5 challenge events and extensive field trips and each of these activities are trialled and evaluated within the university, and adjustments are made before the activities are delivered in schools. Activities are continually reviewed and further developments are made in response to both teacher and pupil feedback. This critical reflection of the project's success and impact is important to insure a positive and significant contribution to the science learning in schools. Two case studies will be introduced in the presentation: 1) an overview of the working relationship between GeoBus and a researcher from the School of Physics and Astronomy at St Andrews, Dr David MacFarlane, which resulted in the development of the Monitoring Volcanoes workshop for Level 3 (Curriculum for Excellence, Scotland) and Key Stage 3 (England, Wales, Northern Ireland) pupils; and 2) the development of two new all-day activities on Carbon Capture and Storage that closely involved two of our sponsors (Shell and The Crown Estate).

Short-term exposure to PM 10, PM 2.5, ultrafine particles and CO 2 for passengers at an intercity bus terminal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, Yu-Hsiang; Chang, Hsiao-Peng; Hsieh, Cheng-Ju

2011-04-01

The Taipei Bus Station is the main transportation hub for over 50 bus routes to eastern, central, and southern Taiwan. Daily traffic volume at this station is about 2500 vehicles, serving over 45,000 passengers daily. The station is a massive 24-story building housing a bus terminal, a business hotel, a shopping mall, several cinemas, offices, private residential suites, and over 900 parking spaces. However, air quality inside this bus terminal is a concern as over 2500 buses are scheduled to run daily. This study investigates the PM 10, PM 2.5, UFP and CO 2 levels inside and outside the bus terminal. All measurements were taken between February and April 2010. Measurement results show that coarse PM inside the bus terminal was resuspended by the movement of large numbers of passengers. The fine and ultrafine PM in the station concourse were from outside vehicles. Moreover, fine and ultrafine PM at waiting areas were exhausted directly from buses in the building. The CO 2 levels at waiting areas were likely elevated by bus exhaust and passengers exhaling. The PM 10, PM 2.5 and CO 2 levels at the bus terminal were lower than Taiwan's EPA suggested standards for indoor air quality. However, UFP levels at the bus terminal were significantly higher than those in the urban background by about 10 times. Therefore, the effects of UFPs on the health of passengers and workers must be addressed at this bus terminal since the levels of UFPs are higher than >1.0 × 10 5 particles cm -3.

Knowledge, Risk Perception and Practice Regarding Tuberculosis Transmission among Long Distance Bus Drivers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A Cross Sectional Study.

PubMed

Gebrehiwot, Tsegaye Tewelde; Tesfamichael, Fessahaye Alemseged

2017-11-01

Window opening during bus transportation is recommended as a tuberculosis prevention strategy.Yet, drivers are affected by lack knowledge and risk perception of passengers and assistants. Boosting knowledge of and notifying the high risk of tuberculosis transmission for every passenger could be too costly. However, strategies targeting bus drivers as key agents unlike targeting all passengers might be less costly for window opening. Data were collected from November 18/2014 to December 21/2014 in inter-region bus stations of Addis Ababa using cross sectional study design. Samples of 306 participants were selected using simple random sampling, and data were collected through face-to-face interview. Data were entered into Epi-data version 3.1 andanalyzed using IBM SPSS version 21. From a sample of 306 bus drivers, 303 were interviewed. Nine in ten and nearly half of participants believed in the need for opening all windows and avoiding overcrowding of passengers as TB preventive measures respectively. Few bus drivers (7.3%) believed that bus drivers and their assistants could be at risk of tuberculosis. The majority (85.7%) of bus drivers opened side window the whole day without precondition. Hearing tuberculosis related information from radio was a promoting factor for tuberculosis preventive measures among bus drivers. Tuberculosis preventive practices and knowledge of bus drivers seempositive (opportunities), despite their low risk perception (challenge). Using the opportunity, further empowering bus drivers to persuade passengers and assistants to open all the rest of the windows is needed.

Analysis, operation and maintenance of a fuel cell/battery series-hybrid bus for urban transit applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bubna, Piyush; Brunner, Doug; Gangloff, John J.; Advani, Suresh G.; Prasad, Ajay K.

The fuel cell hybrid bus (FCHB) program was initiated at the University of Delaware in 2005 to demonstrate the viability of fuel cell vehicles for transit applications and to conduct research and development to facilitate the path towards their eventual commercialization. Unlike other fuel cell bus programs, the University of Delaware's FCHB design features a battery-heavy hybrid which offers multiple advantages in terms of cost, performance and durability. The current fuel cell hybrid bus is driven on a regular transit route at the University of Delaware. The paper describes the baseline specifications of the bus with a focus on the fuel cell and the balance of plant. The fuel cell/battery series-hybrid design is well suited for urban transit routes and provides key operational advantages such as hydrogen fuel economy, efficient use of the fuel cell for battery recharging, and regenerative braking. The bus is equipped with a variety of sensors including a custom-designed cell voltage monitoring system which provide a good understanding of bus performance under normal operation. Real-time data collection and analysis have yielded key insights for fuel cell bus design optimization. Results presented here illustrate the complex flow of energy within the various subsystems of the fuel cell hybrid bus. A description of maintenance events has been included to highlight the issues that arise during general operation. The paper also describes several modifications that will facilitate design improvements in future versions of the bus. Overall, the fuel cell hybrid bus demonstrates the viability of fuel cells for urban transit applications in real world conditions.

Evaluation of patient-reported outcome in subjects treated medically for acute pancreatitis: a follow-up study.

PubMed

Pezzilli, R; Morselli-Labate, A M; Campana, D; Casadei, R; Brocchi, E; Corinaldesi, R

2009-01-01

To explore the quality of life in patients treated medically during the acute phase of pancreatitis as well as at 2 and 12 months after discharge from the hospital. 40 patients were studied. The etiology of the pancreatitis was biliary causes in 31 patients and non-biliary causes in 9; mild disease was present in 29 patients and severe disease in 11. 30 patients completed the two surveys at 2 and 12 months after hospital discharge. The SF-12 and EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaires were used for the purpose of the study. The two physical and mental component summaries of SF-12, all the domains of EORTC QLQ-C30 (except for physical functioning and cognitive functioning) and some symptom scales of EORTC QLQ-C30 (fatigue, nausea/vomiting, pain, and constipation) were significantly impaired during the acute phase of pancreatitis. There was a significant improvement in the SF-12 physical component summary, and global health, role functioning, social functioning, nausea/vomiting, pain, dyspnea, and financial difficulties (EORTC QLQ-C30) at 2 months after discharge as compared to the basal evaluation. Similar results were found after 12 months except for the mental component score at 12-month evaluation, which was significantly impaired in acute pancreatitis patients in comparison to the norms. The physical functioning of the EORTC QLQ-C30 at basal evaluation was significantly impaired in patients with severe pancreatitis in comparison to patients with mild pancreatitis. Two different patterns can be recognized in the quality of life of patients with acute pancreatitis: physical impairment is immediately present followed by mental impairment which appears progressively in the follow-up period. Copyright 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Security awareness for public bus transportation : case studies of attacks against the Israeli public bus system [research brief].

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-03-01

Government regulators and transportation operators of public bus systems are concerned about terrorist attacks. Bus attacks in Israel between late September 2000 and the end of 2006, a period known as the Second Intifada, are particularly well known....

Security awareness for public bus transportation : case studies of attacks against the Israeli public bus system.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-03-01

This report presents 16 case studies of attacks planned or carried out against Israeli bus targets, along with statistical data on the number, frequency, and lethality of attacks against bus targets that have taken place in Israel since 1970 and duri...

Research Electrical Distribution Bus | Energy Systems Integration Facility

Science.gov Websites

| NREL Research Electrical Distribution Bus Research Electrical Distribution Bus The research electrical distribution bus (REDB) is the heart of the Energy Systems Integration Facility electrical system throughout the laboratories. Photo of a technician performing maintenance on the Research Electrical

Alternative Fuels Data Center

Science.gov Websites

School Bus Clean School Bus is a public-private partnership that focuses on reducing children's exposure to harmful diesel exhaust by limiting school bus idling, implementing pollution reduction technologies, improving route logistics, and switching to clean fuels. Clean School Bus is part of the U.S

Recommendations for yield-to-bus traffic control devices and bus pullout bays design characteristics : [research summary].

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-04-01

Bus pullout bays are being installed increasingly : on Floridas roads as a safety factor and so that : stopped buses do not impede traffic. In Florida, : state law requires car drivers to yield to buses : when a bus needs to reenter the roadway af...

49 CFR 571.220 - Standard No. 220; School bus rollover protection.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 49 Transportation 6 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Standard No. 220; School bus rollover protection... STANDARDS Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards § 571.220 Standard No. 220; School bus rollover protection. S1. Scope. This standard establishes performance requirements for school bus rollover protection. S2...

Reducing transit bus emissions: Alternative fuels or traffic operations?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alam, Ahsan; Hatzopoulou, Marianne

2014-06-01

In this study, we simulated the operations and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of transit buses along a busy corridor and quantified the effects of two different fuels (conventional diesel and compressed natural gas) as well as a set of driving conditions on emissions. Results indicate that compressed natural gas (CNG) reduces GHG emissions by 8-12% compared to conventional diesel, this reduction could increase to 16% with high levels of traffic congestion. However, the benefits of switching from conventional diesel to CNG are less apparent when the road network is uncongested. We also investigated the effects of bus operations on emissions by applying several strategies such as transit signal priority (TSP), queue jumper lanes, and relocation of bus stops. Results show that in congested conditions, TSP alone can reduce GHG emissions by 14% and when combined with improved technology; a reduction of 23% is achieved. The reduction benefits are even more apparent when other transit operational improvements are combined with TSP. Finally a sensitivity analysis was performed to investigate the effect of operational improvements on emissions under varying levels of network congestion. We observe that under “extreme congestion”, the benefits of TSP decrease.

Power-balancing instantaneous optimization energy management for a novel series-parallel hybrid electric bus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Dongye; Lin, Xinyou; Qin, Datong; Deng, Tao

2012-11-01

Energy management(EM) is a core technique of hybrid electric bus(HEB) in order to advance fuel economy performance optimization and is unique for the corresponding configuration. There are existing algorithms of control strategy seldom take battery power management into account with international combustion engine power management. In this paper, a type of power-balancing instantaneous optimization(PBIO) energy management control strategy is proposed for a novel series-parallel hybrid electric bus. According to the characteristic of the novel series-parallel architecture, the switching boundary condition between series and parallel mode as well as the control rules of the power-balancing strategy are developed. The equivalent fuel model of battery is implemented and combined with the fuel of engine to constitute the objective function which is to minimize the fuel consumption at each sampled time and to coordinate the power distribution in real-time between the engine and battery. To validate the proposed strategy effective and reasonable, a forward model is built based on Matlab/Simulink for the simulation and the dSPACE autobox is applied to act as a controller for hardware in-the-loop integrated with bench test. Both the results of simulation and hardware-in-the-loop demonstrate that the proposed strategy not only enable to sustain the battery SOC within its operational range and keep the engine operation point locating the peak efficiency region, but also the fuel economy of series-parallel hybrid electric bus(SPHEB) dramatically advanced up to 30.73% via comparing with the prototype bus and a similar improvement for PBIO strategy relative to rule-based strategy, the reduction of fuel consumption is up to 12.38%. The proposed research ensures the algorithm of PBIO is real-time applicability, improves the efficiency of SPHEB system, as well as suite to complicated configuration perfectly.

Design of a High Speed Data Capture Device for a Coherent Radar Application

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-11-01

of the RGASM is discussed, then the primary differences between coherent and non-coherent processing are compared. A basic digital receiver is then...IPP. 19 In-Phase Data Transfer Quadrature Data Transfer Label: Fuction : IQ-Sel Signifies whether data present on the bus is In-Phase or Quadrature...430S_IIZ _ l -.. t....!.... Label: Fuction : ADRS 16-bit address bus value DATA Actual 16-bit value of the data on the bus BUSEN* Bus enable READY* Bus

Surveillance of colorectal cancer: effectiveness of early detection of intraluminal recurrences on prognosis and survival of patients treated for cure.

PubMed

Barillari, P; Ramacciato, G; Manetti, G; Bovino, A; Sammartino, P; Stipa, V

1996-04-01

The authors evaluate the effectiveness of routine colonoscopy and marker evaluation in diagnosis of intraluminal recurrent cancer. Chart review was conducted on 481 patients who underwent curative resection for colorectal cancer between 1980 and 1990. Clinical visits were scheduled and carcinoembryonic antigen evaluation was performed every three months, and colonoscopy was performed preoperatively, 12 to 15 months after surgical treatment, and then with intervals of 12 to 24 months or when symptoms appeared. About 10 percent of patients developed intraluminal recurrences. More than one-half of metachronous lesions arose within the first 24 months, and median time to diagnosis was 25 months. Patients with left-sited tumors in the advanced stage had a higher risk of developing recurrent intraluminal disease. Twenty-nine patients underwent a second surgical operation, of which 17 cases were radical. In this group, the five-year survival was 70.6 percent, although no nonradically treated or nonresected patients survived longer than 31 months. Twenty-two patients were asymptomatic at time of diagnosis of recurrence, and of these, 12 patients underwent radical operation; on the other hand, of the 24 symptomatic patients, only 5 were treated radically. Carcinoembryonic antigen was the first sign of recurrence in eight cases. Colonoscopy must be performed within the first 12 to 15 months after operation, whereas an interval of 24 months between examinations seems sufficient to guarantee early detection of metachronous lesions. Serial tumor marker evaluation is of help in earlier diagnosis of local recurrences. Asymptomatic patients more frequently undergo another operation for cure and thus have a better survival rate.

PEACE I all-comers registry: patency evaluation after implantation of the 4-French Pulsar-18 self-expanding nitinol stent in femoropopliteal lesions.

PubMed

Lichtenberg, Michael; Kolks, Oliver; Hailer, Birgit; Stahlhoff, Wilhelm-Friedrich; Tiefenbacher, Christiane; Nolte-Ernsting, Claus; Arjumand, Jawed; Wittenberg, Guenther

2014-06-01

To evaluate the 1-year patency of the 4-F Pulsar-18 self-expanding nitinol stent for treatment of femoropopliteal occlusive disease in a national, prospective, multicenter, all-comers registry. Between January and June 2012, the German PEACE I all-comers prospective registry enrolled 148 patients with symptomatic femoropopliteal lesions (Rutherford category 2-5) undergoing recanalization and implantation of the Pulsar-18 SE nitinol stent at 6 clinical centers. Thirty patients did not have the 12-month follow-up visit (18 declined reevaluation, 5 withdrew consent, and 7 died), leaving 118 patients (64 men; mean 71.9±9.6 age years) for the 1-year evaluation. The average lesion length was 111.5±71.4 mm, and 38 of the 118 lesions were classified as TASC II D. More than half the lesions (67, 56.7%) were chronic total occlusions (CTO). The popliteal segment was involved in 22 (18.7%) lesions. The mean stented length was 122.7±64.5 mm. Routine follow-up included duplex ultrasound at 6 and 12 months. Outcome measures were primary patency and no clinically driven target lesion revascularization (TLR) within 12 months. The overall primary patency rates after 6 and 12 months were 87.4% and 79.5%, respectively; in the popliteal segments, the rate was 71.4% after 12 months. The overall freedom from TLR was 93.2% after 6 months and 81% after 12 months. Ankle-brachial index, pain-free walking distance, and Rutherford category all improved significantly (p<0.0001) after 6 and 12 months. The primary patency rates in patients with diabetes (p=1.0) and those with renal insufficiency (p=0.8) were not significantly lower compared to the overall rate. There was no significant difference (p=0.67) in restenosis rate for recanalization of CTOs compared to non-CTO lesions. In this all-comers registry, the use of the Pulsar-18 self-expanding nitinol stent in femoropopliteal lesions averaging 111.5 mm long showed promising primary patency and freedom from TLR after 6 and 12 months. Diabetes had no negative impact on patency. Primary patency in the popliteal segments was acceptable at 12 months.

Bus current analysis of high power cryocooler's controller

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jin, Zhanlei; Sun, Qiyang; Dai, Liqun; Dong, Jie

2016-03-01

Current analysis was an important research content for reducing power of cryocooler's controller. Simulation was done among load current, H bridge current and power current refer to 42V bus power voltage. Then relationship among IL1, IC1, ρ and IM1 was established. Simulation results indicate that IL1-max, IL1-ave, IL1-rms, IC1-min and IC1-ave were linearly increasing to ρ and IM1, especially IL1-rms ≈ 0.612ρ IM1-max . IC1-rms increase firstly then decrease with the increasing of ρ. IC1-rms reaches maximum when ρ=0.8, then ICL-rms =(12.32/RM1 + 0.98) exp -((ρ-0.78)/0.57)2. The results were useful for miniaturizing cryocooler's controller.

Effect of a Traditional Chinese Medicine combined therapy on adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Wei, Hui; Xu, Jinyuan; Jiang, Zhong; Ye, Shuliang; Song, Hongquan; Ning, Xitao; Huang, Huanmin; Chen, Wei; Pei, Jianwei; Jiang, Nengyi; Chen, Shao; Du, Honggen

2015-10-01

To evaluate the effectiveness of a combined Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) therapy versus conventional treatment on adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. One hundred twenty outpatients with mild and moderate adolescent idiopathic scoliosis were randomly divided into a TCM group (TCMG) and a brace group (CG). TCMG patients underwent Daoyin, Tuina, and acupotomology therapies. CG patients were treated with a Milwaukee brace. Each patient's Cobb angle was measured after 12 and 24 months of treatment, and pulmonary function was determined after 12 months of treatment. Average electromyogram (AEMG) ratio of the surface electromyogram was measured after 6 and 12 months of treatment and followed-up after 18 and 24 months. The Cobb angle significantly decreased in both groups after 12 months of treatment compared with before treatment (P< 0.05). The percentages of original Cobb angle in TCMG and CG were 51.4% and 47.8% (P > 0.05) after 12 months and 62.5% and 34.7% (P < 0.05) after 24 months, respectively. Pulmonary function significantly improved after 12 months in TCMG (P < 0.05) but significantly decreased in CG (P < 0.05). The AEMG ratio was significantly lower (P < 0.01) and tended to remain at 1 after stopping treatment in TCMG, but increased in CG (P < 0.05). TCM combined therapy can prevent the progression of scoliosis. The AEMG ratio is a promising index that could replace radiography in the evaluation of treatment effect and progression in scoliosis.

A series of small scientific satellite with flexible standard bus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saito, Hirobumi; Sawai, Syujiro; Sakai, Shin-ichiro; Fukuda, Seisuke; Kitade, Kenji

2009-11-01

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency has a plan to develop the small satellite standard bus for various scientific missions and disaster monitoring missions. The satellite bus is a class of 250-400 kg mass with three-axis control capability of 0.02∘ accuracy. The science missions include X-ray astronomy missions, planetary telescope missions, and magnetosphere atmosphere missions. In order to adapt the wide range of mission requirements, the satellite bus has to be provided with flexibility. The concepts of modularization, reusability, and product line are applied to the standard bus system. This paper describes the characteristics of the small satellite standard bus which will be firstly launched in 2011.

Combined Quarterly Technical Report Number 25. SATNET Development and Operation, Pluribus Satellite IMP Development, Remote Site Maintenance, Internet Operations and Maintenance, Mobile Access Terminal Network, TCP for the HP3000, TCP for VAX-UNIX.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-05-01

the F-Bus. The two possible SuperSUE I Pollers, SSPE and SSPF, are on the E and F buses, respectively. P13 is the P13 Poller. A PSAT will have at... SSPE and SSPF are again the two possible SuperSUE Pollers. HPOL is an abbrevation for the HINPOL and HOUTPOL routines. -44- jReport No. 5003 Bolt...I IS I E-Bus,F-Bus I E-Bus Only I F-Bus only I s -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - P E-Bus ISMIE/ SSPE ISMIE/ SSPE ISMIF/SSPF IF-Bu3

A software bus for thread objects

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Callahan, John R.; Li, Dehuai

1995-01-01

The authors have implemented a software bus for lightweight threads in an object-oriented programming environment that allows for rapid reconfiguration and reuse of thread objects in discrete-event simulation experiments. While previous research in object-oriented, parallel programming environments has focused on direct communication between threads, our lightweight software bus, called the MiniBus, provides a means to isolate threads from their contexts of execution by restricting communications between threads to message-passing via their local ports only. The software bus maintains a topology of connections between these ports. It routes, queues, and delivers messages according to this topology. This approach allows for rapid reconfiguration and reuse of thread objects in other systems without making changes to the specifications or source code. A layered approach that provides the needed transparency to developers is presented. Examples of using the MiniBus are given, and the value of bus architectures in building and conducting simulations of discrete-event systems is discussed.

MIL-STD-1553 dynamic bus controller/remote terminal hybrid set

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Friedman, S. N.

This paper describes the performance, physical and electrical requirements of a Dual Redundant BUS Interface Unit (BIU) acting as a BUS Controller Interface Unit (BCIU) or Remote Terminal Unit (RTU) between a Motorola 68000 VME BUS and MIL-STD-1553B Multiplex Data Bus. A discussion of how the BIU Hybrid set is programmed, and operates as a BCIU or RTU, will be included. This paper will review Dynamic Bus Control and other Mode Code capabilities. The BIU Hybrid Set interfaces to a 68000 Microprocessor with a VME Bus using programmed I/O transfers. This special interface will be discussed along with the internal Dual Access Memory (4K x 16) used to support the data exchanges between the CPU and the BIU Hybrid Set. The hybrid set's physical size and power requirements will be covered. This includes the present Double Eurocard the BIU function is presently being offered on.

Hydrogen-oxygen driven Zero Emissions bus draws attention at KSC

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1999-01-01

KSC workers, with Center Director Roy Bridges (at right next to bus), head for the open door of the Zero Emissions (ZE) transit bus and a ride around the center. Provided by dbb fuel cell engines inc. of Vancouver, Canada, the ZE bus was brought to KSC as part of the Center's Alternative Fuel Initiatives Program. The bus uses a Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cell in which hydrogen and oxygen, from atmospheric air, react to produce electricity that powers an electric motor drive system. The by-product 'exhaust' from the fuel cell is water vapor, thus zero harmful emissions. A typical diesel-powered bus emits more than a ton of harmful pollutants from its exhaust every year. Available to employees for viewing and a ride, the ZE bus is also being used on tour routes at the KSC Visitor Complex Oct. 26-27.

Quarterly repeat cycles of onabotulinumtoxinA in chronic migraine patients: the benefits of the prolonged treatment on the continuous responders and quality-of-life conversion rate in a real-life setting.

PubMed

Santoro, Antonio; Fontana, Andrea; Miscio, Anna M; Zarrelli, Michele M; Copetti, Massimiliano; Leone, Maurizio A

2017-10-01

OnabotulinumtoxinA was approved for treatment of chronic migraine (CM) after publication of Phase 3 Research Evaluating Migraine Prophylaxis Therapy (PREEMPT) trials. However, the PREEMPT trials lasted only up to 1 year. The main aim of our retrospective study was to evaluate whether a prolonged treatment of onabotulinumtoxinA (18 months, six quarterly cycles) will sustain or further improve the efficacy results and the quality of life achieved at 6 and 12 months. Patients were adults with CM with or without overuse of drugs, with at least six regularly repeat onabotulinumtoxinA treatments, administered according to the PREEMPT protocol. The outcomes were investigated after 6, 12, and 18 months of treatment with respect to baseline and with respect to each previous study time point. Headache days and hours, and dosage of headache medication taken with latency period, were collected from the patients daily. Quality of life was evaluated by means of the Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) questionnaire. At each study time point, the proportion of responder patients with respect to baseline was evaluated. For all measures, the baseline data were referred to the previous month before starting. Forty-seven patients were evaluated. Our data show a decrease in the monthly headache days and hours, at each study evaluation, with respect to the previous one. They showed that beyond the first year, a statistically significant difference in the monthly days of headache compared at 18 vs. 12 months is observed. A significantly higher proportion of patients (with a response greater than 75% decrease from baseline in the frequency of headache days and hours) was observed at month 18 compared to month 12. The proportion of patients in MIDAS grade I increased over time, and a statistically significant improvement in MIDAS I score was obtained from month 12 to month 18. A positive modification in the consumption of analgesics over time was observed (p for trend <0.001). The mean acute drug latency strongly decreased over time. Our study confirmed that onabotulinumtoxinA is an effective treatment to reduce headache-related disability and improve patients' quality of life, highlighting that upon repeated administration, the therapy efficacy increases significantly and a progressive trend of "first-time response" is observed for the entire period under consideration.

One-Step Treatment for Patellar Cartilage Defects With a Cell-Free Osteochondral Scaffold: A Prospective Clinical and MRI Evaluation.

PubMed

Perdisa, Francesco; Filardo, Giuseppe; Sessa, Andrea; Busacca, Maurizio; Zaffagnini, Stefano; Marcacci, Maurilio; Kon, Elizaveta

2017-06-01

The treatment of symptomatic cartilage defects of the patella is particularly challenging, and no gold standard is currently available. To evaluate the clinical results of a biphasic cell-free collagen-hydroxyapatite scaffold and to evaluate osteochondral tissue regeneration with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Thirty-four patients (18 men and 16 women; mean ± SD: age, 30.0 ± 10 years) were treated by scaffold implantation for knee chondral or osteochondral lesions of the patella (area, 2.1 ± 1 cm 2 ). The clinical evaluation was performed prospectively at 12 and 24 months via the IKDC (International Knee Documentation Committee; objective and subjective) and Tegner scores. MRI evaluation was performed at both follow-ups in 18 lesions through the MOCART score (magnetic resonance observation of cartilage repair tissue) and specific subchondral bone parameters. A statistically significant improvement in all the scores was observed at 12- and 24-month follow-up as compared with the basal evaluation. The IKDC subjective score improved from 39.5 ± 14.5 to 61.9 ± 14.5 at 12 months ( P > .0005) with a further increase to 67.6 ± 17.4 at 24 months of follow-up (12-24 months, P = .020). The MRI evaluation showed a stable value of the MOCART score between 12 and 24 months, with a complete filling of the cartilage in 87.0% of the lesions, complete integration of the graft in 95.7%, and intact repair tissue surface in 69.6% at final follow-up. The presence of osteophytes or more extensive bony overgrowth was documented in 47.8% of the patients of this series, but no correlation was found between MRI findings and clinical outcome. The implantation of a cell-free collagen-hydroxyapatite osteochondral scaffold provided a clinical improvement at short-term follow-up for the treatment of patellar cartilage defects. Women had lower outcomes, and the need for realignment procedures led to a slower recovery. MRI evaluation showed some abnormal findings with the presence of bone overgrowth, but no correlation has been found with the clinical outcome.

75 FR 5847 - Section 5309 Bus and Bus Facilities Livability Initiative and Urban Circulator Program Grants

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-02-04

... Livability Initiative and Urban Circulator Program Grants AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT. ACTION: Notice to Extend Application Deadline for the Bus and Bus Facilities and Urban Circulator..., Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), Public Law 109-59, August 10, 2005. The Urban...

The Role of the Coroner in School Bus Accident Prevention: Some Recommendations.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fox, Michael

1995-01-01

Following the deaths of two elementary school students in bus-related accidents in 1992, the Coroner of Quebec held extensive hearings investigating school bus safety and accident prevention. A subsequent report addressed responsibilities of government and school board officials to correct deficiencies in school bus services and provided…

School Bus Safety: What Can Our Schools Do to Protect Our Children?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dargan, Thomas J.; Silverstone, Adam H.

2014-01-01

School districts and school bus contractors are entrusted with the most important of all road users--our nation's children. In the wake of recent newsworthy accidents and attention grabbing headlines regarding unfit bus drivers, claims premised upon school bus accidents have become increasingly tangential and, in turn, personal injury attorneys…

49 CFR 383.123 - Requirements for a school bus endorsement.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 49 Transportation 5 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Requirements for a school bus endorsement. 383.123... Requirements for a school bus endorsement. (a) An applicant for the school bus endorsement must satisfy the... for school buses by State or Federal law or regulation. (ii) Emergency exits and procedures for safely...

Drive Cycle Analysis, Measurement of Emissions and Fuel Consumption of a PHEV School Bus: Preprint

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Barnitt, R.; Gonder, J.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) collected and analyzed real-world school bus drive cycle data and selected similar standard drive cycles for testing on a chassis dynamometer. NREL tested a first-generation plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) school bus equipped with a 6.4L engine and an Enova PHEV drive system comprising a 25-kW/80 kW (continuous/peak) motor and a 370-volt lithium ion battery pack. A Bluebird 7.2L conventional school bus was also tested. Both vehicles were tested over three different drive cycles to capture a range of driving activity. PHEV fuel savings in charge-depleting (CD) mode ranged from slightly more than 30%more » to a little over 50%. However, the larger fuel savings lasted over a shorter driving distance, as the fully charged PHEV school bus would initially operate in CD mode for some distance, then in a transitional mode, and finally in a charge-sustaining (CS) mode for continued driving. The test results indicate that a PHEV school bus can achieve significant fuel savings during CD operation relative to a conventional bus. In CS mode, the tested bus showed small fuel savings and somewhat higher nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions than the baseline comparison bus.« less

Risk factors affecting fatal bus accident severity: Their impact on different types of bus drivers.

PubMed

Feng, Shumin; Li, Zhenning; Ci, Yusheng; Zhang, Guohui

2016-01-01

While the bus is generally considered to be a relatively safe means of transportation, the property losses and casualties caused by bus accidents, especially fatal ones, are far from negligible. The reasons for a driver to incur fatalities are different in each case, and it is essential to discover the underlying risk factors of bus fatality severity for different types of drivers in order to improve bus safety. The current study investigates the underlying risk factors of fatal bus accident severity to different types of drivers in the U.S. by estimating an ordered logistic model. Data for the analysis are retrieved from the Buses Involved in Fatal Accidents (BIFA) database from the USA for the years 2006-2010. Accidents are divided into three levels by counting their equivalent fatalities, and the drivers are classified into three clusters by the K-means cluster analysis. The analysis shows that some risk factors have the same impact on different types of drivers, they are: (a) season; (b) day of week; (c) time period; (d) number of vehicles involved; (e) land use; (f) manner of collision; (g) speed limit; (h) snow or ice surface condition; (i) school bus; (j) bus type and seating capacity; (k) driver's age; (l) driver's gender; (m) risky behaviors; and (n) restraint system. Results also show that some risk factors only have impact on the "young and elder drivers with history of traffic violations", they are: (a) section type; (b) number of lanes per direction; (c) roadway profile; (d) wet road surface; and (e) cyclist-bus accident. Notably, history of traffic violations has different impact on different types of bus drivers. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Changes in Astigmatism, Densitometry, and Aberrations After SMILE for Low to High Myopic Astigmatism: A 12-Month Prospective Study.

PubMed

Pedersen, Iben Bach; Ivarsen, Anders; Hjortdal, Jesper

2017-01-01

To evaluate 12-month changes in refraction, visual outcome, corneal densitometry, and postoperative aberrations after small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) for myopic astigmatism. This 12-month prospective clinical trial comprised 101 eyes (101 patients) treated with SMILE for myopic astigmatism with cylinder of 0.75 to 4.00 diopters (D). The preoperative, 1-week, and 1-, 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-month examinations included measurement of manifest refraction, uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), and corrected (CDVA) distance visual acuity. Astigmatic error vector analysis was performed using Al-pin's method. Densitometry and aberrations were evaluated with Pentacam HR (Oculus Optikgeräte, Wetzlar, Germany). Preoperative spherical equivalent averaged -6.78 ± 1.90 D with 1.81 ± 1.00 D in cylinder correction. After 12 months, 74% and 93% of the eyes were within ±0.50 and ±1.00 D of the attempted refraction, respectively. The logMAR UDVA and CDVA averaged 0.03 ± 0.16 and -0.08 ± 0.09, respectively. Vector analysis showed a with-the-rule undercorrection at 12 months with a mean difference vector of 0.31 D @ 91°. There was a minor counterclockwise rotation of the axis, with an arithmetic angle of error of 0.34° ± 14°. An undercorrection of approximately 11% per diopter of attempted correction was seen at 12 months. Spherical aberrations, coma, and higher order aberrations remained stable during the postoperative period (P < .09). After 12 months, no increase in densitometry could be identified. Treatment of astigmatism with SMILE seems to be predictable and effective, but with an astigmatic undercorrection of approximately 11% and a small counterclockwise rotation of the axis. [J Refract Surg. 2017;33(1):11-17.]. Copyright 2017, SLACK Incorporated.

[Early prediction of the neurological result at 12 months in newborns at neurological risk].

PubMed

Herbón, F; Garibotti, G; Moguilevsky, J

2015-08-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate the Amiel-Tison neurological examination (AT) and cranial ultrasound at term for predicting the neurological result at 12 months in newborns with neurological risk. The study included 89 newborns with high risk of neurological damage, who were discharged from the Neonatal Intensive Care of the Hospital Zonal Bariloche, Argentina. The assessment consisted of a neurological examination and cranial ultrasound at term, and neurological examination and evaluation of development at 12 months. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictor value was calculated. The relationship between perinatal factors and neurodevelopment at 12 month of age was also calculated using logistic regression models. Seventy children completed the follow-up. At 12 months of age, 14% had an abnormal neurological examination, and 17% abnormal development. The neurological examination and the cranial ultrasound at term had low sensitivity to predict abnormal neurodevelopment. At 12 months, 93% of newborns with normal AT showed normal neurological results, and 86% normal development. Among newborns with normal cranial ultrasound the percentages were 90 and 81%, respectively. Among children with three or more perinatal risk factors, the frequency of abnormalities in the neurological response was 5.4 times higher than among those with fewer risk factors, and abnormal development was 3.5 times more frequent. The neurological examination and cranial ultrasound at term had low sensitivity but high negative predictive value for the neurodevelopment at 12 months. Three or more perinatal risk factors were associated with neurodevelopment abnormalities at 12 months of age. Copyright © 2014 Asociación Española de Pediatría. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

Asymmetry in gait pattern following tibial shaft fractures - a prospective one-year follow-up study of 49 patients.

PubMed

Larsen, Peter; Laessoe, Uffe; Rasmussen, Sten; Graven-Nielsen, Thomas; Berre Eriksen, Christian; Elsoe, Rasmus

2017-01-01

Despite the high number of studies evaluating the outcomes following tibial shaft fractures, the literature lacks studies including objective assessment of patients' recovery regarding gait pattern. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate whether gait patterns at 6 and 12 months post-operatively following intramedullary nailing of a tibial shaft fracture are different compared with a healthy reference population. The study design was a prospective cohort study. The primary outcome measurement was the gait patterns at 6 and 12 months post-operatively measured with a 6-metre-long pressure-sensitive mat. The mat registers footprints and present gait speed, cadence as well as temporal and spatial parameters of the gait cycle. Gait patterns were compared to a healthy reference population. 49 patients were included with a mean age of 43.1 years (18-79 years). Forty-three patients completed the 12-month follow-up (88%). Gait speed and cadence were significantly increased between the 6- and 12-month follow-up (P<0.001). At 6-month follow-up, patients showed considerable asymmetry in the injured leg compared with the non-injured leg: single-support time 12.8% shorter, swing-time 12.8% longer, step-length 11.9% shorter, and rotation of the foot increased by 32.3%. At the 12-month follow-up, gait asymmetry become almost normalized compared to a healthy reference group. In patients treated by intramedullary nailing following a tibial shaft fracture, gait asymmetry accompanied with slower speed and cadence are common during the first 6 months and become normalized compared with a healthy reference population between 6 and 12 months post-operatively. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Characterizing the range of children's air pollutant exposure during school bus commutes.

PubMed

Sabin, Lisa D; Behrentz, Eduardo; Winer, Arthur M; Jeong, Seong; Fitz, Dennis R; Pankratz, David V; Colome, Steven D; Fruin, Scott A

2005-09-01

Real-time and integrated measurements of gaseous and particulate pollutants were conducted inside five conventional diesel school buses, a diesel bus with a particulate trap, and a bus powered by compressed natural gas (CNG) to determine the range of children's exposures during school bus commutes and conditions leading to high exposures. Measurements were made during 24 morning and afternoon commutes on two Los Angeles Unified School District bus routes from South to West Los Angeles, with seven additional runs on a rural/suburban route, and three runs to test the effect of window position. For these commutes, the mean concentrations of diesel vehicle-related pollutants ranged from 0.9 to 19 microg/m(3) for black carbon, 23 to 400 ng/m(3) for particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PB-PAH), and 64 to 220 microg/m(3) for NO(2). Concentrations of benzene and formaldehyde ranged from 0.1 to 11 microg/m(3) and 0.3 to 5 microg/m(3), respectively. The highest real-time concentrations of black carbon, PB-PAH and NO(2) inside the buses were 52 microg/m(3), 2000 ng/m(3), and 370 microg/m(3), respectively. These pollutants were significantly higher inside conventional diesel buses compared to the CNG bus, although formaldehyde concentrations were higher inside the CNG bus. Mean black carbon, PB-PAH, benzene and formaldehyde concentrations were higher when the windows were closed, compared with partially open, in part, due to intrusion of the bus's own exhaust into the bus cabin, as demonstrated through the use of a tracer gas added to each bus's exhaust. These same pollutants tended to be higher on urban routes compared to the rural/suburban route, and substantially higher inside the bus cabins compared to ambient measurements. Mean concentrations of pollutants with substantial secondary formation, such as PM(2.5), showed smaller differences between open and closed window conditions and between bus routes. Type of bus, traffic congestion levels, and encounters with other diesel vehicles contributed to high exposure variability between runs.

Fine urban and precursor emissions control for diesel urban transit buses.

PubMed

Lanni, Thomas

2003-01-01

Particulate emission from diesel engines is one of the most important pollutants in urban areas. As a result, particulate emission control from urban bus diesel engines using particle filter technology is being evaluated at several locations in the US. A project entitled "Clean Diesel Air Quality Demonstration Program" has been initiated by the New York City Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) under the supervision of New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and with active participation from Johnson Matthey, Corning, Equilon, Environment Canada and RAD Energy. Under this program, several MTA transit buses with DDC Series 50 engines were equipped with Continuously Regenerating Technology (CRTTM) particulate filter systems and have been operated with ultra low sulfur diesel (<30 ppm S) in transit service in Manhattan since February 2000. These buses were evaluated over a 9-month period for durability and maintainability of the particulate filter. In addition, an extensive emissions testing program was carried out using transient cycles on a chassis dynamometer to evaluate the emissions reductions obtained with the particle filter. In this paper, the emissions testing data from the Clean Diesel Air Quality Demonstration Program are discussed in detail.

SunLine Expands Horizons with Fuel Cell Bus Demo

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2006-05-01

The primary objective of this project is to develop multiple simulation Testbeds/transportation models to evaluate the impacts of DMA connected vehicle applications and the active and dynamic transportation management (ATDM) strategies. The outputs (...

Zion National Park Propane-to-Electric Shuttle Bus Testing | Transportation

Science.gov Websites

storage requirements based on the fleet's unique operation. NREL will process and analyze the data using specialized tools-including the Drive-Cycle Rapid Investigation, Visualization, and Evaluation (DRIVE) tool

A portable toolbox to monitor and evaluate signal operations.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2011-10-01

Researchers from the Texas Transportation Institute developed a portable tool consisting of a fieldhardened : computer interfacing with the traffic signal cabinet through special enhanced Bus Interface Units. : The toolbox consisted of a monitoring t...

High-Speed Ring Bus

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wysocky, Terry; Kopf, Edward, Jr.; Katanyoutananti, Sunant; Steiner, Carl; Balian, Harry

2010-01-01

The high-speed ring bus at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) allows for future growth trends in spacecraft seen with future scientific missions. This innovation constitutes an enhancement of the 1393 bus as documented in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1393-1999 standard for a spaceborne fiber-optic data bus. It allows for high-bandwidth and time synchronization of all nodes on the ring. The JPL ring bus allows for interconnection of active units with autonomous operation and increased fault handling at high bandwidths. It minimizes the flight software interface with an intelligent physical layer design that has few states to manage as well as simplified testability. The design will soon be documented in the AS-1393 standard (Serial Hi-Rel Ring Network for Aerospace Applications). The framework is designed for "Class A" spacecraft operation and provides redundant data paths. It is based on "fault containment regions" and "redundant functional regions (RFR)" and has a method for allocating cables that completely supports the redundancy in spacecraft design, allowing for a complete RFR to fail. This design reduces the mass of the bus by incorporating both the Control Unit and the Data Unit in the same hardware. The standard uses ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) packets, standardized by ITU-T, ANSI, ETSI, and the ATM Forum. The IEEE-1393 standard uses the UNI form of the packet and provides no protection for the data portion of the cell. The JPL design adds optional formatting to this data portion. This design extends fault protection beyond that of the interconnect. This includes adding protection to the data portion that is contained within the Bus Interface Units (BIUs) and by adding to the signal interface between the Data Host and the JPL 1393 Ring Bus. Data transfer on the ring bus does not involve a master or initiator. Following bus protocol, any BIU may transmit data on the ring whenever it has data received from its host. There is no centralized arbitration or bus granting. The JPL design provides for autonomous synchronization of the nodes on the ring bus. An address-synchronous latency adjust buffer (LAB) has been designed that cannot get out of synchronization and needs no external input. Also, a priority-driven cable selection behavior has been programmed into each unit on the ring bus. This makes the bus able to connect itself up, according to a maximum redundancy priority system, without the need for computer intervention at startup. Switching around a failed or switched-off unit is also autonomous. The JPL bus provides a map of all the active units for the host computer to read and use for fault management. With regard to timing, this enhanced bus recognizes coordinated timing on a spacecraft as critical and addresses this with a single source of absolute and relative time, which is broadcast to all units on the bus with synchronization maintained to the tens of nanoseconds. Each BIU consists of up to five programmable triggers, which may be programmed for synchronization of events within the spacecraft of instrument. All JPL-formatted data transmitted on the ring bus are automatically time-stamped.

Beyond the Yellow Bus: Promising Practices for Maximizing Access to Opportunity through Innovations in Student Transportation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vincent, Jeffrey M.; Makarewicz, Carrie; Miller, Ruth; Ehrman, Julia; McKoy, Deborah L.

2014-01-01

Access to safe, affordable, and convenient transportation shapes the 'geography of opportunity' for many children and youth. This study looks at how ?localities acrossthe country are implementing new and innovative alternative approaches to student transportation that expand regionaltransportation access for K-12 students, improve…

Perceptions of Crisis Management in a K-12 School District

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tucker, Joy

2012-01-01

This multiple-case qualitative study was conducted to examine the perceptions of community members, students, and staff regarding school crisis management following a 2006 tornado and 2010 bus accident in a small rural school district in Missouri. Online surveys were collected from 66 participants, and 10 follow-up interviews were completed with…

Where on Earth...?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

O'Hanlon, Charlene

2007-01-01

Ask any college student attending a university in the Northeast or Midwest, and one will discover that in the world of frigid-winter academia, there is nothing worse than just missing the campus shuttle bus in 12-degree weather. Today, however, students at a handful of colleges can stay warm and cozy inside their dorm rooms while they track the…

Alternative Fuels Data Center: Smart Car Shopping

Science.gov Websites

vehicle charging stations. Rental Cars Go Electric in Florida Feb. 15, 2014 Renzenberger Inc Saves Money Help Kansas City Save Money Nov. 12, 2011 Metropolitan Utilities District Fuels Vehicles With Natural Free Rides in Maryland June 18, 2010 Fisher Coachworks Develops Plug-In Electric Bus in Michigan June 3

Reliability of the Watch-PAT 200 in detecting sleep apnea in highway bus drivers.

PubMed

Yuceege, Melike; Firat, Hikmet; Demir, Ahmet; Ardic, Sadik

2013-04-15

To predict the validity of Watch-PAT (WP) device for sleep disordered breathing (SDB) among highway bus drivers. A total number of 90 highway bus drivers have undergone polysomnography (PSG) and Watch-PAT test simultaneously. Routine blood tests and the routine ear-nose-throat (ENT) exams have been done as well. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were 89.1%, 76.9%, 82% and 85.7% for RDI > 15, respectively. WRDI, WODI, W < 90% duration and Wmean SaO2 results were well correlated with the PSG results. In the sensitivity and specificity analysis, when diagnosis of sleep apnea was defined for different cut-off values of RDI of 5, 10 and 15, AUC (95%CI) were found as 0.84 (0.74-0.93), 0.87 (95%CI: 0.79-0.94) and 0.91 (95%CI: 0.85-0.97), respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between Stage1+2/Wlight and Stage REM/WREM. The percentage of Stage 3 sleep had difference significant statistically from the percentage of Wdeep. Total sleep times in PSG and WP showed no statistically important difference. Total NREM duration and total WNREM duration had no difference either. Watch-PAT device is helpful in detecting SDB with RDI > 15 in highway bus drivers, especially in drivers older than 45 years, but has limited value in drivers younger than 45 years old who have less risk for OSA. Therefore, WP can be used in the former group when PSG is not easily available.

Remote infrared signage evaluation for transit stations and intersections.

PubMed

Crandall, W; Brabyn, J; Bentzen, B L; Myers, L

1999-10-01

Opportunities for education and employment depend upon effective and independent travel. For mainstream society, this is accomplished to a large extent by printed signs. People who are print disabled, visually impaired, or totally blind are at a disadvantage because they do not have access to signage. Remote infrared signage, such as the Talking Signs (TS) system, provides a solution to this need by labeling the environment for distant viewing. The system uses a transmitting "sign" and a hand-held receiver to tell people about their surroundings. In a seamless infrared signage environment, a visually impaired traveler could: walk safely across an intersection to an ATM or fare machine, from fare machine to bus stop, from bus stop to bus; from bus to building, from building to elevator, from elevator to office, from office to restroom, and so forth. This paper focuses on two problems that are among the most challenging and dangerous faced by blind travelers: negotiating complex transit stations and controlled intersections. We report on human factors studies of TS in these critical tasks, examining such issues as how much training is needed to use the system, its impact on performance and safety, benefits for different population subgroups and user opinions of its value. Results indicate that blind people can quickly and easily learn to use remote infrared signage effectively, and that its use improves travel safety, efficiency, and independence.

School Bus Rider Safety Education Modules for Use with Drills on School Buses.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

New York State Education Dept., Albany. Div. of Physical Education, Fitness, Health, Nutrition and Safety Services.

Developed for teachers and members of the pupil transportation staff who conduct school bus drills, these 10 lesson outlines are intended for classroom instruction on school bus safety. Lessons may be adapted to fit the grade level, intelligence, and special needs of students. Topics covered are: preparing to ride the bus, boarding and proceeding…

Increasing security in inter-chip communication

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Edwards, Nathan J.; Hamlet, Jason; Bauer, Todd

An apparatus for increasing security in inter-chip communication includes a sending control module, a communication bus, and a receiving control module. The communication bus is coupled between the sending control module and the receiving control module. The sending control module operates to send data on the communication bus, disable the communication bus when threats are detected, or both.

Bus-Programmable Slave Card

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hall, William A.

1990-01-01

Slave microprocessors in multimicroprocessor computing system contains modified circuit cards programmed via bus connecting master processor with slave microprocessors. Enables interactive, microprocessor-based, single-loop control. Confers ability to load and run program from master/slave bus, without need for microprocessor development station. Tristate buffers latch all data and information on status. Slave central processing unit never connected directly to bus.

School Bus Accidents and Driver Age.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McMichael, Judith

The study examines the rates and types of school bus accidents according to the age of the school bus driver. Accident rates in North Carolina for the school year 1971-72 were analyzed using three sources of data: accident reports, driver and mileage data, and questionnaires administered to a sample of school bus drivers. Data were obtained on…

Increasing security in inter-chip communication

DOEpatents

Edwards, Nathan J; Hamlet, Jason; Bauer, Todd; Helinski, Ryan

2014-10-28

An apparatus for increasing security in inter-chip communication includes a sending control module, a communication bus, and a receiving control module. The communication bus is coupled between the sending control module and the receiving control module. The sending control module operates to send data on the communication bus, disable the communication bus when threats are detected, or both.

49 CFR 571.222 - Standard No. 222; School bus passenger seating and crash protection.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 49 Transportation 6 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Standard No. 222; School bus passenger seating and... VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards § 571.222 Standard No. 222; School bus... requirements for school bus passenger seating and restraining barriers. S2. Purpose. The purpose of this...

Development and Implementation of a Bus Driver Training Program.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Buchovecky, John G.

A bus driver training program was developed and implemented in a rural school district in an effort to improve the driving skills of the bus drivers. The program was tailored to meet the needs of the bus drivers and utilized various community agencies for demonstration and teaching purposes. The subject areas included in the program were driver…

The SMART MIL-STD-1553 bus adapter hardware manual

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ton, T. T.

1981-01-01

The SMART Multiplexer Interface Adapter, (SMIA) a complete system interface for message structure of the MIL-STD-1553, is described. It provides buffering and storage for transmitted and received data and handles all the necessary handshaking to interface between parallel 8-bit data bus and a MIL-STD serial bit stream. The bus adapter is configured as either a bus controller of a remote terminal interface. It is coupled directly to the multiplex bus, or stub coupled through an additional isolation transformer located at the connection point. Fault isolation resistors provide short circuit protection.

Employment Outcomes After Critical Illness: An Analysis of the Bringing to Light the Risk Factors and Incidence of Neuropsychological Dysfunction in ICU Survivors Cohort.

PubMed

Norman, Brett C; Jackson, James C; Graves, John A; Girard, Timothy D; Pandharipande, Pratik P; Brummel, Nathan E; Wang, Li; Thompson, Jennifer L; Chandrasekhar, Rameela; Ely, E Wesley

2016-11-01

To characterize survivors' employment status after critical illness and to determine if duration of delirium during hospitalization and residual cognitive function are each independently associated with decreased employment. Prospective cohort investigation with baseline and in-hospital clinical data and follow-up at 3 and 12 months. Medical and surgical ICUs at two tertiary-care hospitals. Previously employed patients from the Bringing to Light the Risk Factors and Incidence of Neuropsychological Dysfunction in ICU Survivors study who survived a critical illness due to respiratory failure or shock were evaluated for global cognition and employment status at 3- and 12-month follow-up. We used multivariable logistic regression to evaluate independent associations between employment at both 3 and 12 months and global cognitive function at the same time point, and delirium during the hospital stay. At 3-month follow-up, 113 of the total survival cohort of 448 (25%) were identified as being employed at study enrollment. Of these, 94 survived to 12-month follow-up. At 3- and 12-month follow-up, 62% and 49% had a decrease in employment, 57% and 49% of whom, respectively, were newly unemployed. After adjustment for physical health status, depressive symptoms, marital status, level of education, and severity of illness, we did not find significant predictors of employment status at 3 months, but better cognition at 12 months was marginally associated with lower odds of employment reduction at 12 months (odds ratio, 0.49; p = 0.07). Reduction in employment after critical illness was present in the majority of our ICU survivors, approximately half of which was new unemployment. Cognitive function at 12 months was a predictor of subsequent employment status. Further research is needed into the potential relationship between the impact of critical illness on cognitive function and employment status.

CHIPSat spacecraft design: significant science on a low budget

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Janicik, Jeffrey; Wolff, Jonathan

2003-12-01

The Cosmic Hot Interstellar Plasma Spectrometer satellite (CHIPSat) was launched on January 12, 2003 and is successfully accomplishing its mission. CHIPS is NASA"s first-ever University-Class Explorer (UNEX) project, and is performed through a grant to the University of California at Berkeley (UCB) Space Sciences Laboratory (SSL). As a small start-up aerospace company, SpaceDev was awarded responsibility for a low-cost spacecraft and mission design, build, integration and test, and mission operations. The company leveraged past small satellite mission experiences to help design a robust small spacecraft system architecture. In addition, they utilized common industry hardware and software standards to facilitate design implementation, integration, and test of the bus, including the use of TCP/IP protocols and the Internet for end-to-end satellite communications. The approach called for a single-string design except in critical areas, the use of COTS parts to incorporate the latest proven technologies in commercial electronics, and the establishment of a working system as quickly as possible in order to maximize test hours prior to launch. Furthermore, automated ground systems were combined with table-configured onboard software to allow for "hands-off" mission operations. During nominal operations, the CHIPSat spacecraft uses a 3-axis stabilized zero-momentum bias "Nominal" mode. The secondary mode is a "Safehold" mode where fixed "keep-alive" arrays maintain enough power to operate the essential spacecraft bus in any attitude and spin condition, and no a-priori attitude knowledge is required to recover. Due to the omnidirectional antenna design, communications are robust in "Safehold" mode, including the transmission of basic housekeeping data at a duty cycle that is adjusted based on available solar power. This design enables the entire mission to be spent in "Observation Mode" with timed pointing files mapping the sky as desired unless an anomalous event upsets the health of the bus such that the spacecraft system toggles back to "Safehold". In all conditions, spacecraft operations do not require any time-critical operator involvement. This paper will examine the results of the first six months of CHIPSat on-orbit operations and measure them against the expectations of the aforementioned design architecture. The end result will be a "lessons learned" account of a 3-axis sun-pointing small spacecraft design architecture that will be useful for future science missions.

Users' demographic profile and quality attributes of bus services: The perspectives of users, operators and local authorities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Noh, Nur'Amirah Mhd.; Hamid, Ahmad Hilmy Abd

2017-10-01

Bus services that can help meet almost every bus user's needs are the goals of bus operators. Despite such an idealistic view, the operators themselves, users and even the local authorities have been found to hold different views about the quality of service that the bus should deliver. As the users i.e., customers are considered as important stakeholders, understanding their characteristics, profile and pattern is very crucial. To this end, the present study has attempted to gauge the perspectives of all the above-mentioned stakeholders. For the users, a customer satisfaction survey was employed to look into the relative influence of service attributes. In addition, surveys were also administered to bus operators and local authorities to study their perspectives in relation to this matter. 450 randomly selected respondents were surveyed. Identification of the service level was analyzed through the Likert scale whereas the perspectives of the operators and authorities were dealt with through mean value Analysis. Specifically, this study aims to identify the crucial attributes in determining the quality of the bus services. Findings of the study indicated that different attributes were selected by users, operators and authorities, which clearly enlightened the variations of the important attributes in determining the level of bus service quality. In its attempt to compare the service level attributes from three perspectives, this study has helped advance better improvement and strategies for the urban public bus operators and planners, in addition to the authorities in delivering user-friendly bus services by taking into account the local context, user profile and demographic characteristics.

Fuel Cell Demonstration Project at a Sunline Transit Agency

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hsiung, S.

2001-09-01

This is the final report summarizing the Fuel Cell Demonstration Project activities of the XCELLSIS Zebus (zero emissions bus) performance at the SunLine Transit Agency in Thousand Palms, California. Under this demonstration project, SunLine participated with XCELLSIS in the fueling, training, operating, and testing of this prototype fuel cell bus. The report presents a summary of project activities, including the results of the 13-month test of the XCELLSIS Zebus performance at SunLine Transit. This final report includes data relating to Zebus performance, along with the successes achieved beyond the technical realm. The study concludes that the project was very useful in establishing operating parameters and environmental testing in extreme heat conditions and in transferring technology to a transit agency. At the end of the 13-month test period, the Zebus ran flawlessly in the Michelin Challenge Bibendum from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, a 275-mile trek. SunLine refueled the Zebus in transit to Baker, California, 150 miles from its home base. Everyone who encountered or rode the Zebus was impressed with its smoothness, low engine noise, and absence of emissions. The study states that the future for the Zebus looks very bright. Fuel cell projects are anticipated to continue in California and Europe with the introduction new buses equipped with Ballard P5 and other fuel cell engines as early as the first half of 2003.

Molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH): conservative treatment management to restore affected teeth.

PubMed

Fragelli, Camila Maria Bullio; Souza, Juliana Feltrin de; Jeremias, Fabiano; Cordeiro, Rita de Cássia Loiola; Santos-Pinto, Lourdes

2015-01-01

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the 12-month clinical performance of glass ionomer restorations in teeth with MIH. First permanent molars affected by MIH (48) were restored with glass ionomer cement (GIC) and evaluated at baseline, at 6 and at 12 months, by assessing tooth enamel breakdown, GIC breakdown and caries lesion associations. The data were analyzed using the chi-square test and actuarial survival analysis. The likelihood of a restored tooth remaining unchanged at the end of 12 months was 78%. No statistically significant difference was observed in the association between increased MIH severity and caries at baseline (p > 0.05) for a 6-month period, or between increased MIH severity and previous unsatisfactory treatment at baseline (p > 0.05) for both a 6- and 12-month period. A statistically significant difference was observed in the association between increased MIH severity and extension of the restoration, involving 2 or more surfaces (p < 0.05) at both periods, and between increased MIH severity and caries at baseline (p < 0.05) at a 12-month period. Because the likelihood of maintaining the tooth structures with GIC restorations is high, invasive treatment should be postponed until the child is sufficiently mature to cooperate with the treatment, mainly of teeth affected on just one face.

Objective Analysis of Poly-L-Lactic Acid Injection Efficacy in Different Settings.

PubMed

Byun, Sang-Young; Seo, Koo-Il; Shin, Jung-Won; Kwon, Soon-Hyo; Park, Mi-Sook; Lee, Joshua; Park, Kyoung-Chan; Na, Jung-Im; Huh, Chang-Hun

2015-12-01

Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) filler is known to have continuous volume effect. The objective of this study is to analyze objective volume effect of PLLA in different settings of injection schedule on the cheek. A split-face, evaluator-blind randomized study in 24 volunteers was conducted. One side was injected 3 times with 4 cc dose and the other side was injected 2 times with 6 cc dose per visit. Facial volume loss scale (FVLS) and Vectra were evaluated. Measured average FVLS showed statistically significant improvement both in 3 and 2 times injection sides and maintained efficacy until 12 months. Vectra showed volume difference (cc) between before and after injection. In 3 times injection side, it was increased 2.12 (after 1 month) to 3.17 (after 12 months). In 2 times injection side, it was increased 2.26 (after 1 month) to 3.19 (after 12 months). Gradual volume improvement over 12 months was statistically significant in both sides. There was no statistically significant difference between 3 and 2 times injection in FVLS and Vectra. There was no severe adverse event. Poly-L-lactic acid has continuous volume effect and there was no significant difference by injection times at the same total injection volume.

A decentralized software bus based on IP multicas ting

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Callahan, John R.; Montgomery, Todd

1995-01-01

We describe decentralized reconfigurable implementation of a conference management system based on the low-level Internet Protocol (IP) multicasting protocol. IP multicasting allows low-cost, world-wide, two-way transmission of data between large numbers of conferencing participants through the Multicasting Backbone (MBone). Each conference is structured as a software bus -- a messaging system that provides a run-time interconnection model that acts as a separate agent (i.e., the bus) for routing, queuing, and delivering messages between distributed programs. Unlike the client-server interconnection model, the software bus model provides a level of indirection that enhances the flexibility and reconfigurability of a distributed system. Current software bus implementations like POLYLITH, however, rely on a centralized bus process and point-to-point protocols (i.e., TCP/IP) to route, queue, and deliver messages. We implement a software bus called the MULTIBUS that relies on a separate process only for routing and uses a reliable IP multicasting protocol for delivery of messages. The use of multicasting means that interconnections are independent of IP machine addresses. This approach allows reconfiguration of bus participants during system execution without notifying other participants of new IP addresses. The use of IP multicasting also permits an economy of scale in the number of participants. We describe the MULITIBUS protocol elements and show how our implementation performs better than centralized bus implementations.

Preliminary Investigation of Workload on Intrastate Bus Traffic Controllers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yen Bin, Teo; Azlis-Sani, Jalil; Nur Annuar Mohd Yunos, Muhammad; Ismail, S. M. Sabri S. M.; Tajedi, Noor Aqilah Ahmad

2016-11-01

The daily routine of bus traffic controller which involves high mental processes would have a direct impact on the level of workload. To date, the level of workload on the bus traffic controllers in Malaysia is relatively unknown. Excessive workload on bus traffic controllers would affect the control and efficiency of the system. This paper served to study the workload on bus traffic controllers and justify the needs to conduct further detailed research on this field. The objectives of this research are to identify the level of workload on the intrastate bus traffic controllers. Based on the results, recommendations will be proposed for improvements and future studies. The level of workload for the bus traffic controllers is quantified using questionnaire adapted from NASA TLX. Interview sessions were conducted for validation of workload. Sixteen respondents were involved and it was found that the average level of workload based on NASA TLX was 6.91. It was found that workload is not affected by gender and marital status. This study also showed that the level of workload and working experience of bus traffic controllers has a strong positive linear relationship. This study would serve as a guidance and reference related to this field. Since this study is a preliminary investigation, further detailed studies could be conducted to obtain a better comprehension regarding the bus traffic controllers.

Activities of four bus terminals of Semarang City gateway and the related GHG emission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huboyo, H. S.; Wardhana, I. W.; Sutrisno, E.; Wangi, L. S.; Lina, R. A.

2018-01-01

The activities of the bus terminal, including loading-unloading passengers, bus idling, and bus movements at the terminal, will emit GHG’s emission. This research analyzes GHG emission from four terminals, i.e., Mangkang, Terboyo, Penggaron, and Sukun in Semarang City. The emission was estimated by observing detail activities of public transport means, especially for moving and idling time. The emission was calculated by Tier 2 method based on the vehicle type as well as fuel consumption. The highest CO2e during vehicle movements at Sukun area was contributed by large bus about 2.08 tons/year, while at Terboyo terminal was contributed by medium bus about 347.97 tons/year. At Mangkang terminals, the highest emission for vehicle movements was attributed by medium bus as well of about 53.18 tons/year. At last, Penggaron terminal’s highest GHG emission was attributed by BRT about 26.47 tons/year. During idling time, the highest contributor to CO2e was the large bus at the three terminals, i.e., Sukun of 43.53 tons/year, Terboyo of 196.56 tons/year, and Mangkang of 84.26 tons/year, while at Penggaron, BRT dominated with CO2e of 26.47 tons/year. The management of public transport in terminals is crucial to mitigate the emission related to bus terminals activities.

Get off the bus: sound strategy for injury prevention during a tornado?

PubMed

Comstock, R Dawn; Mallonee, Sue

2005-01-01

On 08 May 2003, a tornado categorized as an F-3 on the Fujita Tornado Scale (the "F Scale") struck an Oklahoma City, Oklahoma commuter bus carrying 24 passengers. The driver evacuated several passengers before the tornado struck. The tornado rolled the bus, and pelted it with debris. A case-series investigation of tornado-related injuries was conducted among passengers who were evacuated to a ditch and those who remained on the bus when the tornado struck. Nineteen of 24 passengers sought care for injuries at hospital emergency departments (injury rate = 79.2%). While a greater number of passengers who were outside the bus when the tornado struck (11) sought care for injuries than did those who remained on the bus (8); passengers outside of the bus suffered fewer injuries than did those who remained on the bus (median number of injuries 3 versus 4), and their injuries were less severe (median injury severity score (ISS) 1 versus 4). For persons caught in motor vehicles during tornado events, this study supports currently accepted recommendations to immediately evacuate and lie in a low-lying area away from motor vehicles if other shelter is unavailable. However, generalizing the experience of bus passengers to automobile drivers might be inappropriate because buses lack the safety features that might protect automobile drivers from tornado-related injuries.

The effect of providing a USB syllabus on resident reading of landmark articles

PubMed Central

Chahla, Mayy; Eberlein, Michael; Wright, Scott

2010-01-01

Background The acquisition of new knowledge is a primary goal of residency training. Retrieving and retaining influential primary and secondary medical literature can be challenging for house officers. We set out to investigate the effect of a Universal Serial Bus (USB) drive loaded with landmark scientific articles on housestaff education in a pilot study. Methods We created a USB syllabus that contains 187 primary scientific research articles. The electronic syllabus had links to the full-text articles and was organized using an html webpage with a table of contents according to medical subspecialties. We performed a prospective cohort study of 53 house officers in the internal medicine residency program who received the USB syllabus. We evaluated the impact of the USB syllabus on resident education with surveys at the beginning and conclusion of the nine-month study period. Results All 50 respondents (100%) reported to have used the USB syllabus. The self-reported number of original articles read each month was higher at the end of the nine-month study period compared to baseline. Housestaff rated original articles as being a more valuable educational resource after the intervention. Conclusions An electronic syllabus with landmark scientific articles placed on a USB drive was widely utilized by housestaff, increased the self-reported reading of original scientific articles and seemed to have positively influenced residents' attitude toward original medical literature. PMID:20165697

Effect of storage solutions on microhardness of crown enamel and dentin.

PubMed

Aydın, Berdan; Pamir, Tijen; Baltaci, Aysun; Orman, Mehmet N; Turk, Tugba

2015-01-01

The aim of this study was to determine alterations in microhardness of crown dentin and enamel, after 2 and 12-month storage in de-ionized water, 0.2% glutaraldehyde, Hanks' Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS), 0.1% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) or 0.1% thymol. Freshly extracted, nonsterile 60 intact human premolars were distributed to five groups. Six teeth from each group were evaluated after two, and other six teeth were evaluated after 12 months storage. After grinding and polishing of teeth, Vickers hardness was evaluated with making indentations on enamel and dentin, using a pyramid diamond indenter tip exerting 100 g load for 15 s. After 2 months storage in solutions, range of the hardness values (HV) of enamel and dentin were in between 315-357 and 64-67, respectively. However, 12 months storage of the teeth resulted in a statistically significant decrease in microhardness when compared to microhardness of teeth stored for 2 months (P = 0.001). Although the differences were not significant regarding solutions, all solutions decreased the microhardness both in enamel and dentin (P > 0.05). However, decrease in microhardness was relatively less in de-ionized water and thymol solutions while glutaraldehyde decreased microhardness the most: 63% for enamel and 53% for dentin. Microhardness of enamel and dentin was in an acceptable range when teeth were stored for 2 months in de-ionized water, glutaraldehyde, HBSS, NaOCl or in thymol; thus, teeth kept up to 2 months in these solutions can be used for mechanical in vitro tests. However, 12 months storage significantly decreased the microhardness of enamel and dentin.

A Safe Ride to School; A Safe Ride Home.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Illinois State Board of Education, Springfield.

Text and illustrations are used to teach safe school bus riding practices. The guide begins with instructions to parents or guardians to set a good example of safe behavior, and to help children learn safety rules and be on time. Instructions to children concern obeying the bus driver, boarding the bus, riding the bus, crossing the road, and using…

Perceptions of Heat Risk to Health: A Qualitative Study of Professional Bus Drivers and Their Managers in Jinan, China

PubMed Central

Zhou, Lin; Xin, Zheng; Bai, Li; Wan, Fangjun; Wang, Yongming; Sang, Shaowei; Liu, Shouqin; Zhang, Ji; Liu, Qiyong

2014-01-01

Summer extreme heat threatens the health of individuals, especially persons who are involved in outdoor activities. Ensuring the normal function of a city, bus drivers are among those who participate in outdoor physical activities and are exposed to excessive heat in hot summer weather. This qualitative study was performed to explore professional bus drivers’ in-depth views of extreme heat risks to their health, and ultimately develop targeted advice and policy interventions for city bus drivers. An interview-based study was performed among professional bus drivers in Jinan, China, including four focus groups with professional bus drivers (n = 37) and three interviews with their managers (n = 14). Five central themes or categories from the bus driver interviews were found: concerns about summer heat; health effects related to extreme heat; adaptive measures; barriers in implementing these adaptive measures; and suggested interventions. The beneficial role of cooling facilities (particularly air-conditioning) during extreme heat are addressed. The barriers not only impede the implementation of behavioral adaptive measures but also enhance the negative attitudes of bus drivers towards their effectiveness. The responsibilities of managers in promoting preventive actions are addressed. PMID:24477213

Power inverter with optical isolation

DOEpatents

Duncan, Paul G.; Schroeder, John Alan

2005-12-06

An optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit that includes an input electrical power source, a heat pipe, a power electronic switch or plurality of interconnected power electronic switches, a mechanism for connecting the switch to the input power source, a mechanism for connecting comprising an interconnecting cable and/or bus bar or plurality of interconnecting cables and/or input bus bars, an optically isolated drive circuit connected to the switch, a heat sink assembly upon which the power electronic switch or switches is mounted, an output load, a mechanism for connecting the switch to the output load, the mechanism for connecting including an interconnecting cable and/or bus bar or plurality of interconnecting cables and/or output bus bars, at least one a fiber optic temperature sensor mounted on the heat sink assembly, at least one fiber optic current sensor mounted on the load interconnection cable and/or output bus bar, at least one fiber optic voltage sensor mounted on the load interconnection cable and/or output bus bar, at least one fiber optic current sensor mounted on the input power interconnection cable and/or input bus bar, and at least one fiber optic voltage sensor mounted on the input power interconnection cable and/or input bus bar.

A prospective clinical study to evaluate the performance of zirconium dioxide dental implants in single-tooth gaps.

PubMed

Gahlert, Michael; Kniha, Heinz; Weingart, Dieter; Schild, Sabine; Gellrich, Nils-Claudius; Bormann, Kai-Hendrik

2016-12-01

Dental implants have traditionally been made from titanium or its alloys, but recently full-ceramic implants have been developed with comparable osseointegration properties and functional strength properties to titanium. These ceramic implants may have advantages in certain patients and situations, for example, where esthetic outcomes are particularly important. The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the performance of a newly developed full-ceramic ZrO 2 monotype implant design (PURE Ceramic Implant; Institut Straumann AG, Basel, Switzerland) in single-tooth gaps in the maxilla and mandible. This was a prospective, open-label, single-arm study in patients requiring implant rehabilitation in single-tooth gaps. Full-ceramic implants were placed, with provisional and final prostheses inserted after 3 and 6 months, respectively. Crestal bone level was measured at implant placement and after 6 and 12 months. Implant survival and success were evaluated after 6 and 12 months. Further evaluations are planned after 24 and 36 months. Forty-six patients were screened for potential study participation, of whom 44 (17 men and 27 women, mean age 48 ± 14 years) were recruited into the study. The majority of implants (90.9%) were placed in the maxilla. The implant survival and implant success rate after 12 months were 97.6%. A minor change of the mean bone level occurred between implant loading (final prosthesis insertion after 6 months) and 12 months (-0.14 mm) after initial bone remodeling was observed between implant placement and loading (-0.88 mm). The results indicated that monotype ceramic implants can achieve clinical outcomes comparable to published outcomes of equivalent titanium implants. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Field Testing of Electronic Registering Fareboxes

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1987-02-01

This report presents the findings of an evaluation of electronic registering fareboxes in field testing at the Detroit Department of Transportation. Thirty-two fareboxes were tested on one bus route, Woodward Avenue, which was selected because it gen...

Evaluation of bus management options for Independence National Historical Site

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2000-07-06

This project analyzes options and identifies preferred designs for a new transportation center in Independence National Historical Park. The Independence Transportation Center will be part of a planned National Constitution Center at Independence Mal...

Rochester New York Integrated Transit Demonstration : Volume 2. Evaluation Report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1979-03-01

The Rochester Integrated Transit Demonstration (RITD) was designed to assess the roles of demand-responsive transit services in a regionwide transit system that includes an extensive fixed-route bus network. The demonstration extended transit service...

Air Conditioning Modifications to AMG Buses

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1983-12-01

This report presents the documentation and evaluation of air conditioning system modifications devised by Miami (Florida) Metrobus and Los Angeles SCRTD for the AM General Model B bus. The objective of these modifications was to reduce the frequency ...

Evaluation of the Salt Lake City Computerized Rider Information System

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1985-11-01

The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) Computerized Rider Information System (CRIS) project involved the installation of an automated telephone service to quickly provide bus stop-specific schedule and service information to residents throughout the Author...

The Westport Connecticut Integrated Transit System : service and methods demonstration program

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1979-07-01

Report evaluates the implementation, operations and impacts of the Westport Transit District's demonstration grant to examine the feasibility of combining shared ride taxi service and other paratransit services with conventional bus services. Report ...

Alternative Fuel Transit Bus Evaluation Program Results

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1996-05-06

The objective of this program, which is supported by the U.S. Department of : Energy (DOE) through the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), is to : provide an unbiased and comprehensive comparison of transit buses operating on : alternative f...

Development and Evaluation of Smart Bus System

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2016-12-13

Due to stochastic traffic conditions and fluctuated demand, transit passengers often suffer from unreliable services. Especially for buses, keeping on-time schedules is challenging as they share the right of way with non-transit traffic. With the adv...

Assessing Bus Performance Rating in Kajang, Selangor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Norhisham, S.; Ismail, A.; Sidek, L. M.; Borhan, M. N.; Zaini, N.; Yen, A. T. G.

2018-04-01

The Transit Capacity and Quality of Service Manual (TCQSM) was chosen based on the review with four manuals and guidelines for the method will be applied. Six (6) attributes, namely Hours of Service, Passenger Load, Transit Auto Travel Time, Service Frequency, Punctuality Performance and Service Coverage were chosen for evaluation.[6][7][8]. A total of three (3) operators with seven (7) routes were identified in Kajang. Based on the final results, the Quality of Service (QOS) findings was rated as D, which was regarded as minimum or satisfactory. Most stakeholders’ recommendations were: for the operators to provide information on bus scheduling and have accurate information for the passengers. It was suggested that in future this study can be extended to all routes and could be repeated after the opening of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) stations in Kajang, so as to provide a comparison and better evaluation of the public buses in Kajang.

Fault tolerant data management system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gustin, W. M.; Smither, M. A.

1972-01-01

Described in detail are: (1) results obtained in modifying the onboard data management system software to a multiprocessor fault tolerant system; (2) a functional description of the prototype buffer I/O units; (3) description of modification to the ACADC and stimuli generating unit of the DTS; and (4) summaries and conclusions on techniques implemented in the rack and prototype buffers. Also documented is the work done in investigating techniques of high speed (5 Mbps) digital data transmission in the data bus environment. The application considered is a multiport data bus operating with the following constraints: no preferred stations; random bus access by all stations; all stations equally likely to source or sink data; no limit to the number of stations along the bus; no branching of the bus; and no restriction on station placement along the bus.

Genetic Algorithm for Multiple Bus Line Coordination on Urban Arterial

PubMed Central

Yang, Zhen; Wang, Wei; Chen, Shuyan; Ding, Haoyang; Li, Xiaowei

2015-01-01

Bus travel time on road section is defined and analyzed with the effect of multiple bus lines. An analytical model is formulated to calculate the total red time a bus encounters when travelling along the arterial. Genetic algorithm is used to optimize the offset scheme of traffic signals to minimize the total red time that all bus lines encounter in two directions of the arterial. The model and algorithm are applied to the major part of Zhongshan North Street in the city of Nanjing. The results show that the methods in this paper can reduce total red time of all the bus lines by 31.9% on the object arterial and thus improve the traffic efficiency of the whole arterial and promote public transport priority. PMID:25663837

Bus driving assistance system for town area by using ATmega328P microcontroller

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zakaria, Mohamad Fauzi; Soon, Tan Jiah; Rohani, Munzilah Md

2017-09-01

Recently, several bus accidents happened because of bus driver's behavior. In fact, there is no dedicated tool for assisting them to drive safely. This project gives solutions to this by assisting the driver, according to the speed and acceleration of the bus. These data are collected by using a motion processing unit (MPU-6050) and a global positioning system (GPS) and then indicate the driving mode status on the LEDs. All data and status are recorded in a secure digital (SD) card for the authority or the bus company to analyze the driving behavior of a bus driver. This system has been successfully developed and tested in two different areas which includes the UTHM main campus and the road from Parit Raja to Batu Pahat.

Hydrogen-oxygen driven Zero Emissions bus drives around KSC Visitor Complex

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1999-01-01

The Zero Emissions (ZE) transit bus passes a mock-up orbiter named Explorer on a trek through the KSC Visitor Complex. Provided by dbb fuel cell engines inc. of Vancouver, Canada, the ZE bus was brought to KSC as part of the Center's Alternative Fuel Initiatives Program. The bus uses a Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cell in which hydrogen and oxygen, from atmospheric air, react to produce electricity that powers an electric motor drive system. The by-product 'exhaust' from the fuel cell is water vapor, thus zero harmful emissions. A typical diesel-powered bus emits more than a ton of harmful pollutants from its exhaust every year. The ZE bus is being used on tour routes at the KSC Visitor Complex for two days to introduce the public to the concept.

Pilot study of a multidisciplinary gout patient education and monitoring program.

PubMed

Fields, Theodore R; Rifaat, Adam; Yee, Arthur M F; Ashany, Dalit; Kim, Katherine; Tobin, Matthew; Oliva, Nicole; Fields, Kara; Richey, Monica; Kasturi, Shanthini; Batterman, Adena

2017-04-01

Gout patient self-management knowledge and adherence to treatment regimens are poor. Our objective was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a multidisciplinary team-based pilot program for the education and monitoring of gout patients. Subjects completed a gout self-management knowledge exam, along with gout flare history and compliance questionnaires, at enrollment and at 6 and 12 months. Each exam was followed by a nursing educational intervention via a structured gout curriculum. Structured monthly follow-up calls from pharmacists emphasized adherence to management programs. Primary outcomes were subject and provider program evaluation questionnaires at 6 and 12 months, program retention rate and success in reaching patients via monthly calls. Overall, 40/45 subjects remained in the study at 12 months. At 12 months, on a scale of 1 (most) to 5 (least), ratings of 3 or better were given by 84.6% of subjects evaluating the usefulness of the overall program in understanding and managing their gout, 81.0% of subjects evaluating the helpfulness of the nursing education program, and 50.0% of subjects evaluating the helpfulness of the calls from the pharmacists. Knowledge exam questions that were most frequently answered incorrectly on repeat testing concerned bridge therapy, the possibility of being flare-free, and the genetic component of gout. Our multidisciplinary program of gout patient education and monitoring demonstrates feasibility and acceptability. We identified variability in patient preference for components of the program and persistent patient knowledge gaps. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Predictive factors for acute stress disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder after motor vehicle accidents.

PubMed

Yaşan, Aziz; Guzel, Aslan; Tamam, Yusuf; Ozkan, Mustafa

2009-01-01

Since traffic accidents are more common in developing countries than in developed countries, we aimed to investigate the association of several factors with the development and persistence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after traffic accidents. In the study,95 participants with injuries from traffic accidents were evaluated at 4 different times: in the beginning, and after 3, 6 and 12 months. During the first evaluation, 41.1% (39) of our participants had acute stress disorder (ASD). It was found that lower perceived social support (OR = 0.0908, 95% CI = 0.834-0.989, p = 0.027) and higher peritraumatic dissociative experience scores (OR = 1.332, 95% CI = 1.170-1.516, p < 0.001) were significant predictors of ASD. In the evaluations after 3, 6 and 12 months after the accident, we found PTSD affected 29.8, 23.1 and 17.9% of the participants, respectively. Although limitations at work and in social life after a traffic accident were not related to PTSD at 3 months (OR = 122.43, 95% CI = 0.000, p = 0.999) or at 6 months (OR = 63.438, 95% CI = 0.529-76.059, p = 0.089), limitations at work and in social life were predictors of PTSD at 12 months (OR = 155.514, 95% CI = 2.321-104.22, p = 0.019). The persistence of PTSD at the 12-month evaluation is related to ASD, limitations in work and social life, and lower social support scores. In developing countries like Turkey, long-term PTSD is commonly seen after traffic accidents. 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Training community mental health staff in Guangzhou, China: evaluation of the effect of a new training model.

PubMed

Li, Jie; Li, Juan; Thornicroft, Graham; Yang, Hui; Chen, Wen; Huang, Yuanguang

2015-10-26

Increasing numbers of people with mental disorders receive services at primary care in China. The aims of this study are to evaluate impact of a new training course and supervision for community mental health staff to enhance their levels of mental health knowledge and to reduce their stigmatization toward people with mental illness. A total of 77 community mental health staff from eight regions in Guangzhou in China were recruited for the study.4 regions were randomly allocated to the new training model group, and 4 to the old training model group. Levels of mental health knowledge were measured by purpose-made assessment schedule and by the Mental Health Knowledge Schedule (MAKS). Stigma was evaluated by the Mental Illness: Clinicians' Attitudes Scale (MICA) and the Reported and Intended Behavior Scale (RIBS). Evaluation questionnaires were given at the beginning of course, at the end, and at 6 month and at 12 month follow-up. After the training period, the 6-month, and the 12-month, knowledge scores of the intervention group were higher than the control group. At 6-month and 12-month follow-up, means scores of MAKS of the intervention group increased more than the control group (both p < 0.05) when age, sex, marriage status, title and time were controlled for. At 6-month follow-up, means scores of MICA of the intervention group decreased more than that of the control group (p < 0.01). At after-training, at 6-months, and at 12-months, mean scores of RIBS of the intervention group increased more than the control (p < 0.01, p < 0.001, p < 0.001) when age, sex, marriage status, title and time were controlled for. Compared with the traditional training course and supervision, the new course improved community mental health staff knowledge of mental disorders, improving their attitudes toward people with mental disorder, and increasing their willingness to have contact with people with mental disorder.

Clinical Outcome Following Radiofrequency Denervation for Refractory Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction Using the Simplicity III Probe: A 12-Month Retrospective Evaluation.

PubMed

Hegarty, Dominic

2016-01-01

Sacroiliac joint syndrome (SIJ) is diagnosed in 10% to 25% of cases of lower back pain. The response to traditional radiofrequency (RF) denervation of the SIJ has being inconsistent. The Simplicity III RF probe (Neruotherm. Inc.) offers a novel treatment option. To evaluate the long-term clinical outcome (12 months) refractory SIJ syndrome in terms of pain intensity and functional improvement. A 50% reduction in intensity pain intensity (VAS) at 12 months was deemed clinically significant. A 12-month retrospective observational evaluation all of adults treated with RF for refractory SIJ. Chronic pain management center. The medical records of all adults treated with this technique was retrospectively reviewed. The primary outcome was pain intensity scores (VAS) over a 12 months period; Secondary outcomes included Roland-Morris Functional scores (RMF), Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), general health assessment (Sf12), and patient satisfaction scores (GPI), which were recorded pre and post denervation. Pain Intensity improved by 4.7 points compared to pre-treatment representing a 61% reduction in pain at 12 months (n=11, P < 0.001). Significant improvements in (a) RMF (P < 0.01, W2 = 0.63 (large effect size); (b) BPI (P < 0.001, W2 = 0.72 (strong effect size); and (c) Sf12 (P < 0.01) were noted. Overall patients were satisfied with the outcome (GPI = 77.7%). The retrospective in nature of the study and the small sample size are limitations. As it was our policy to monitor the progress of the individuals since the introduction of this technique a reliable method of recording the baseline and outcome variables at each point of contact was in place. Access to a complete set of variables in all individuals over a 12-month period was therefore possible, which we feel contributes to the quality of the dataset. By creating a consistent radiofrequency lesion between the sacral foramen and the SIJ will reliably capture the innervation to the SIJ with significant long-term clinical improvement. This technique should be considered earlier in the treatment algorithm of individuals suffering from SIJ symptoms.

[3T magnetic resonance T2 mapping for evaluation of cartilage repair after matrix-associated autologous chondrocyte transplantation].

PubMed

Zhang, Jun; Xu, Xian; Li, Xue; Chen, Min; Dong, Tian-Ming; Zuo, Pan-Li; An, Ning-Yu

2015-01-01

To assess the value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T2 mapping in quantitative evaluation of cartilage repair following matrix-associated autologous chondrocyte transplantation (MACT). Six patients (with 9 plug cartilages) following MACT underwent MRI on a 3.0 Tesla MR scan system at 3, 6 and 12 months after the surgery. The full-thickness and zonal areas (deep and superficial layers) T2 values were calculated for the repaired cartilage and control cartilage. The mean T2 values of the repaired cartilage after MACT were significantly higher than that of the control cartilages at 3 and 6 months (P<0.05), but not at 12 months (P=0.063). At 6 and 12 months, the T2 values of the superficial layers were significantly higher than those of the deep layers in the repaired cartilages (P<0.05). The zonal (deep and superficial layers) T2 values of the repaired cartilages decreased significantly over time at 6 and 12 months as compared to those at 3 months after the surgery (P<0.05). MRI T2 mapping can serve as an important modality for assessing the repair of the articular cartilage following MACT.

Prognostic implications of serial risk score assessments in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension: a Registry to Evaluate Early and Long-Term Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Disease Management (REVEAL) analysis.

PubMed

Benza, Raymond L; Miller, Dave P; Foreman, Aimee J; Frost, Adaani E; Badesch, David B; Benton, Wade W; McGoon, Michael D

2015-03-01

Data from the Registry to Evaluate Early and Long-Term Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Disease Management (REVEAL) were used previously to develop a risk score calculator to predict 1-year survival. We evaluated prognostic implications of changes in the risk score and individual risk-score parameters over 12 months. Patients were grouped by decreased, unchanged, or increased risk score from enrollment to 12 months. Kaplan-Meier estimates of subsequent 1-year survival were made based on change in the risk score during the initial 12 months of follow-up. Cox regression was used for multivariable analysis. Of 2,529 patients in the analysis cohort, the risk score was decreased in 800, unchanged in 959, and increased in 770 at 12 months post-enrollment. Six parameters (functional class, systolic blood pressure, heart rate, 6-minute walk distance, brain natriuretic peptide levels, and pericardial effusion) each changed sufficiently over time to improve or worsen risk scores in ≥5% of patients. One-year survival estimates in the subsequent year were 93.7%, 90.3%, and 84.6% in patients with a decreased, unchanged, and increased risk score at 12 months, respectively. Change in risk score significantly predicted future survival, adjusting for risk at enrollment. Considering follow-up risk concurrently with risk at enrollment, follow-up risk was a much stronger predictor, although risk at enrollment maintained a significant effect on future survival. Changes in REVEAL risk scores occur in most patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension over a 12-month period and are predictive of survival. Thus, serial risk score assessments can identify changes in disease trajectory that may warrant treatment modifications. Copyright © 2015 International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation. All rights reserved.

Content-addressable memory based enforcement of configurable policies

DOEpatents

Berg, Michael J

2014-05-06

A monitoring device for monitoring transactions on a bus includes content-addressable memory ("CAM") and a response policy unit. The CAM includes an input coupled to receive a bus transaction tag based on bus traffic on the bus. The CAM stores data tags associated with rules of a security policy to compare the bus transaction tag to the data tags. The CAM generates an output signal indicating whether one or more matches occurred. The response policy unit is coupled to the CAM to receive the output signal from the CAM and to execute a policy action in response to the output signal.

Prospective evaluation of the effect of deferasirox on hematologic response in transfusion-dependent patients with low-risk MDS and iron overload.

PubMed

Rose, Christian; Lenoir, Caroline; Gyan, Emmanuel; Hacini, Maya; Amé, Shanti; Corront, Bernadette; Beyne-Rauzy, Odile; Adiko, Didier; Loppinet, Elena; Ali-Ammar, Nadia; Laribi, Kamel; Wattel, Eric; Dreyfus, François; Roué, Claire S; Cheze, Stephane

2018-05-02

To assess the reduction of transfusions rate in transfusion-dependent patients with low-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with iron overload treated with deferasirox. Prospective observational study. Primary endpoint was reduction in transfusion requirements (RTR) at 3 months, (assessed on 8-week period). Secondary endpoints were hematologic improvement according to International Working Group (IWG) 2006 criteria at 3, 6, and 12 months. Fifty-seven patients were evaluable. After 3 months of chelation, no effect was seen on transfusion requirement (5.9 packed red blood cells (PRBC) vs 5.8 before chelation). According to the Kaplan-Meier analysis, the probability of RTR at 3, 6, and 12 months was assessed as 3.5%, 9.1%, and 18.7%, respectively. Median duration of RTR was 182 days. However, during the 12-month follow-up after deferasirox initiation, 17 patients (31.5%) achieved minor erythroid response [HI-E] according to IWG criteria, 10 of whom having achieved Hb improvement at month 12. After 3 months of treatment, deferasirox had no impact on transfusion requirement in regularly transfused patients with low-risk MDS. However, deferasirox could induce 31% of erythroid response during the 12-month follow-up period thus suggesting that iron chelation therapy with deferasirox may induce an effect on hematopoiesis in a subset of patients with MDS and iron overload. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Comparative study of gastric emptying and nutritional status after pylorus-preserving vs. subtotal stomach-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy.

PubMed

Hiyoshi, Masahide; Chijiiwa, Kazuo; Ohuchida, Jiro; Imamura, Naoya; Nagano, Motoaki

2012-06-01

Delayed gastric emptying (DGE) is a specific, worrisome complication after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PPPD), whereas subtotal stomach-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (SSPPD) that excises the pylorus ring seems to be effective in reducing DGE. This study compared gastric emptying and nutritional status between PPPD and SSPPD over 1 year. From June 2003 to December 2007, 41 patients (PPPD: 33, SSPPD: 8) were enrolled in this study to evaluate differences in gastric emptying and nutritional status at 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after pancreaticoduodenectomy. Gastric emptying was evaluated by 13C-acetate breath test. Nutritional status (body weight, serum levels of total protein, albumin and total cholesterol) was similarly assessed. At 1 month, gastric emptying evaluated at T1/2 (half-emptying time) was significantly prolonged in the PPPD but not in the SSPPD compared to the preoperative level. Thereafter, T1/2 was decreased and showed function significantly better preserved at 3, 6 and 12 months after PPPD than after SSPPD. Body weight recovery was significantly better at 6 and 12 months after PPPD than after SSPPD. Other nutritional parameters were better preserved in the PPPD during 1-year follow-up. PPPD seems to be a more suitable surgical procedure than SSPPD in regard to gastric emptying and nutritional status.

Ten bar probe technical summary. [feasibility of outer planet common atmospheric probe

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ellis, T. R.

1974-01-01

The feasibility of an outer planet common atmospheric probe is studied with emphasis on entry heating rates and improved ephemeris. It is concluded that a common probe design is possible except for Jupiter; the basic technology exists except for Jupiter heat shielding. A Mariner class bus provides for better bus science and probe bus communications than a Pioneer class bus.

Multi-access fiber optic data bus using FDM/FSK

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zanger, H.

1984-01-01

The major thrust was to develop a T coupler with very low (0.1 0.2dB) in-line loss. This is essential to any multiaccess bus structure where the word multi implies fifteen or more nodes on the bus, and it is tacitly assumed to be a passive bus. (Reliability considerations tend to exclude the use of active nodes - repeater nodes.)

TMS communications hardware. Volume 2: Bus interface unit

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brown, J. S.; Hopkins, G. T.

1979-01-01

A prototype coaxial cable bus communication system used in the Trend Monitoring System to interconnect intelligent graphics terminals to a host minicomputer is described. The terminals and host are connected to the bus through a microprocessor-based RF modem termed a Bus Interface Unit (BIU). The BIU hardware and the Carrier Sense Multiple Access Listen-While-Talk protocol used on the network are described.

Behavior Modification of Aggressive Behavior on a Nursery School Bus: A Case Study.1

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Whitehurst, Carol; Miller, Edward

1973-01-01

A case study is presented in which aggressive behavior of two pre-school boys on a nursery school bus was modified by the introduction of a negative punishment contingency in which the Ss were told they would be detained on the bus until the second time the bus passed their house (delay of reinforcement) if abusive behavior occurred. (Author)

Impact of mycophenolate mofetil dose posttransplantation on 12-month renal function: analysis of the MOST database.

PubMed

Salvadori, M; Bock, A; Chapman, J; Dussol, B; Fritsche, L; Kliem, V; Lebranchu, Y; Oppenheimer, F; Pohanka, E; Tufveson, G; Rosati, A; Puig, X; Corbetta, G

2005-01-01

Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) has greatly reduced the risk of acute rejection episodes (ARE) after renal transplantation, but dose reductions/withdrawals could jeopardize long-term results. The MOST database of "de novo" patients treated with MMF at month 1 and functioning grafts at month 12 were divided into 2 groups: groups 1, 2 g MMF at month 1 and month 12; and group 2, 2 g MMF at month 1 but MMF <2 g at month 12 to evaluate renal function glonerular filtration rate (GFR). In this study, 1136 patients were receiving 2 g MMF at month 1. On month 12, 645 were on 2 g (56.8%, group 1) and 431 were on <2 g (43.2%, group 2). Group 1 included younger recipients of younger donors with fewer patients with delayed graft function (DGF). Group 1 showed more ARE during month 1 and more patients who received induction. Mean Neoral daily doses at month 1/month 12 were 5.3/3.0 and 5.3/3.1 mg/kg in group 1 and group 2, respectively (P = .05 at month 12). GFR in group 1 and group 2 were 59.06 (CI 57.10-60.60) and 53.81 (CI 52-55.7) at month 1 (P < .001); 63.7 (CI 62.1-65.30) and 55.9 (CI 54.1-57.7) mL/min*1.73 m(2) at month 12 (P < .001). The mean increases in GFR between month 1 and month 12 were 4.64 and 1.94 mL/min*1.73 m(2), respectively (P < .05). A multivariate analysis also included 795 patients from the "maintenance" patient database with retrospective detailed information. The following parameters were highly predictive for good renal function at month 12: donor age younger than 60 years, recipient age younger than 60 years, immediate graft function, 12-month MMF dose = 2 g, absence of CMV infection, and 12-month Neoral dose <3 mg/kg/d. Maintenance of MMF dose at 2 g/d during the first year appears to facilitate the attainment of optimal renal function at 12-months after kidney transplantation.

The ins and outs of terrorist bus explosions: injury profiles of on-board explosions versus explosions occurring adjacent to a bus.

PubMed

Golan, Ron; Soffer, Dror; Givon, Adi; Peleg, Kobi

2014-01-01

Terrorist explosions occurring in varying settings have been shown to lead to significantly different injury patterns among the victims, with more severe injuries generally arising in confined space attacks. Increasing numbers of terrorist attacks have been targeted at civilian buses, yet most studies focus on events in which the bomb was detonated within the bus. This study focuses on the injury patterns and hospital utilisation among casualties from explosive terrorist bus attacks with the bomb detonated either within a bus or adjacent to a bus. All patients hospitalised at six level I trauma centres and four large regional trauma centres following terrorist explosions that occurred in and adjacent to buses in Israel between November 2000 and August 2004 were reviewed. Injury severity scores (ISS) were used to assess severity. Hospital utilisation data included length of hospital stay, surgical procedures performed, and intensive care unit (ICU) admission. The study included 262 victims of 22 terrorist attacks targeted at civilian bus passengers and drivers; 171 victims were injured by an explosion within a bus (IB), and 91 were injured by an explosion adjacent to a bus (AB). Significant differences were noted between the groups, with the IB population having higher ISS scores, more primary blast injury, more urgent surgical procedures performed, and greater ICU utilisation. Both groups had percentages of nearly 20% for burn injury, had high percentages of injuries to the head/neck, and high percentages of surgical wound and burn care. Explosive terrorist attacks detonated within a bus generate more severe injuries among the casualties and require more urgent surgical and intensive level care than attacks occurring adjacent to a bus. The comparison and description of the outcomes to these terrorist attacks should aid in the preparation and response to such devastating events. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

[The development of musicality in children after cochlear implantation].

PubMed

Zheng, Yan; Liu, Bo; Dong, Ruijuan; Xu, Tianqiu; Chen, Jing; Chen, Xuejing; Zhong, Yan; Meng, Chao; Wang, Hong; Chen, Xueqing

2014-08-01

The purpose of this study is to analyze the development of musicality in children after cochlear implantation, and provide a clinical database for the evaluation of their musicality. Twenty-six children with cochlear implants (CI group) participated in this research. They received cochlear implants at the age of 11 to 68 months with a mean of 35.6 months. Seventy-six infants as a control group aged from 1 to 24 months with a mean of 6.1 months participated in this study, whose hearing were considered normal by passing the case history collection, high-risk registers for hearing loss and hearing screening using DPOAE. The music and young children with CIs: Musicality Rating Scale was used to evaluate their musicality. The evaluation was performed before cochlear implantation and 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 24 months after cochlear implantation for children with cochlear implants. The evaluation was also performed at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 24 months for children with normal hearing. The mean scores of musicality showed significant improvements with time of CI use for CI group (P<0.05). The mean scores of musicality also showed significant improvements with time for control group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in mean scores between CI group and control group at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12 months of hearing age by rank sum test (P>0.05). Significant difference was noted between the two groups at 24 months (P<0.05). The musicality of children with cochlear implants improved significantly with time after cochlear implantation. The most rapid growth was found in the first year after cochlear implantation.

The Bus Stops Here.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Milshtein, Amy

1999-01-01

Explores some of the factors to consider before school planners decide to buy new school buses. Provides a checklist to help build and maintain a bus fleet. Concludes by addressing bus safety and advertising. (GR)

Design and test of a prototype thermal bus evaporator reservoir aboard the KC-135 0-g aircraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brown, Richard F.; Gustafson, Eric; Long, W. Russ

1987-01-01

The Thermal Bus Zero-G Reservoir Demonstration Experiment (RDE) has currently undergone two flights on the NASA-JSC KC-135 Reduced Gravity Aircraft. The objective of the experiment, which uses a smaller version of the evaporator reservoirs being designed for the Prototype Thermal Bus for Space Station, is to demonstrate proper 0-g operation of the reservoir in terms of fluid positioning, draining, and filling. The KC-135 was chosen to provide a cost-effective and timely evaluation of 0-g design issues that would be difficult to predict analytically. A total of fifty 0-g parabolas have been flown, each providing approximately 25-30 seconds of 0-g time. While problems have been encountered, the experiment has provided valuable design data on the 0-g operation of the reservoir. This paper documents the design of the experiment; the results of both flights, based on the high-speed movies taken during the flight and the visual observations of the experimenters; and the design modifications made as a result of the first flight and planned as a result of the second flight.

Interfacing external sensors with Android smartphones through near field communication

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leikanger, Tore; Häkkinen, Juha; Schuss, Christian

2017-04-01

In this paper, we present and evaluate a new approach to communicate with inter-integrated circuit (I2C) enabled circuits such as sensors over near field communication (NFC). The NFC-to-I2C interface was designed using a non-standard NFC command to control the I2C bus directly from a smartphone, which was controlling both, the read and write operations on the I2C bus. The NFC-to-I2C interface was reporting back the data bytes on the bus to the smartphone when the transaction was completed successfully. The proposed system was tested experimentally, both, with write and read requests to a commercial microcontroller featuring a hardware I2C port, as well as reading a commercial I2C enabled humidity and temperature sensor. We present experimental results of the system which show that our approach enables an easy interface between smartphones and external sensors. Interfacing external sensors is useful and beneficial for smartphone users, especially, if certain types of sensors are not available on smartphones.

Performance evaluation of Platform Data ManagementSystem under various degrees of protocol implementation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Arozullah, Mohammed

1991-01-01

The Platform Data Management System (DMS) collects Housekeeping (H/K), Payload (P/L) Engineering, and Payload Science data from various subsystems and payloads on the platform for transmission to the ground through the downlink via TDRSS. The DMS also distributes command data received from the ground to various subsystems and payloads. In addition, DMS distributes timing and safemode data. The function of collection and distribution of various types of data is performed by the Command and Data Handling (C&DH) subsystem of DMS. The C&DH subsystem uses for this purpose a number of data buses namely, Housekeeping, Payload Engineering, Payload Science, and Time and Safemode buses. Out of these buses, the H/K, P/L Engineering, and P/L Science buses are planned to be implemented by using MIL-STD 1553 bus. Most of the period covered was spent in developing a queue theoretic model of the 1553 Bus as used in the DMS. The aim is to use this model to test the performance and suitability of the 1553 Bus to the DMS under a number of alternative design scenarios.

A new assessment method of outdoor tobacco smoke (OTS) exposure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cho, Hyeri; Lee, Kiyoung

2014-04-01

Outdoor tobacco smoke (OTS) is concerned due to potential health effects. An assessment method of OTS exposure is needed to determine effects of OTS and validate outdoor smoking policies. The objective of this study was to develop a new method to assess OTS exposure. This study was conducted at 100 bus stops including 50 centerline bus stops and 50 roadside bus stops in Seoul, Korea. Using real-time aerosol monitor, PM2.5 was measured for 30 min at each bus stop in two seasons. ‘Peak analysis' method was developed to assess short term PM2.5 exposure by OTS. The 30-min average PM2.5 exposure at each bus stop was associated with season and bus stop location but not smoking activity. The PM2.5 peak occurrence rate by the peak analysis method was significantly associated with season, bus stop location, observed smoking occurrence, and the number of buses servicing a route. The PM2.5 peak concentration was significantly associated with season, smoking occurrence, and the number of buses servicing a route. When a smoker was standing still at the bus stop, magnitude of peak concentrations were significantly higher than when the smoker walking-through the bus stop. People were exposed to high short-term PM2.5 peak levels at bus stops, and the magnitude of peak concentrations were highest when a smoker was located close to the monitor. The magnitude of peak concentration was a good indicator helped distinguish nearby OTS exposure. Further research using ‘peak analysis' is needed to measure smoking-related exposure to PM2.5 in other outdoor locations.

Bus 54 -- Where are you? A school bus intelligent information system

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Truett, L.F.; Moore, S.; Tonn, B.

1998-07-01

Although major accidents involving school buses are rare (only about 0.3% of all fatal crashes since 1986 are classified as school-bus-related), even minor accidents and breakdowns cause a great deal of parental anxiety. The objective of this research is to design an efficient, cost-effective, accurate, and secure system that will track individual school buses and communicate appropriate information to the school system`s central administration unit, to the school transportation administrator, and to parents of children on the bus. The greatest benefit of the proposed information system is that parents and officials can always know the location and condition (these conditionsmore » would vary depending on the needs of a particular school system) of the school buses. In case of an accident or mechanical problem, when emergency crews are needed, they can be dispatched almost immediately with a good understanding of the problem and the exact location of the bus. In addition to being able to track the bus while the child is on board, parents will be able to determine the location of their child`s bus prior to its arrival in the morning in order to prevent the child from needing to wait outside in inclement weather. The information available to parents can also be expanded to include maps of limited routes (e.g., snow routes). Basically, the Bus 54 concept consists of a bus component and a central data processing unit. Each bus will be outfitted with a global positioning satellite (GPS) device, a wireless communication device, and wireless data communication service. The central data processing unit will receive and process information from the buses and provide information access to parents and officials via an Internet link.« less

Evaluation of Automatic Vehicle Location accuracy

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1999-01-01

This study assesses the accuracy of the Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) data provided for the buses of the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority with Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. In a sample of eighty-nine bus trips two kinds of accuracy...

Duluth Variable Work Hours/Transit Fare Prepayment Demonstration

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1984-04-01

This report describes the evaluation results of the Duluth Variable Work Hours/Transit Fare Prepayment Demonstration. The demonstration project was intended to reduce severe peaks in demand on the bus routes of the Duluth Transit Authority (DTA). It ...

Review and Evaluation of Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) for Electric Transit Applications

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2014-08-01

This research report provides a status review of emerging and existing Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) technologies applicable to electric bus (EB) and rail transit. The WPT technology options discussed, especially Inductive Power Transfer (IPT), enabl...

Smart infrared inspection system field operational test : [technology brief].

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2014-04-01

One of the main goals of the Commercial Vehicle : Roadside Technology Corridor (CMVRTC) is to : support and evaluate the use of innovative : technologies that improve commercial truck and bus : safety. The Smart Infrared Inspection System : (SIRIS) w...

Evaluation of transit bus turn warning systems for pedestrians and cyclists.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2015-05-01

As part of a cooperative agreement with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) conducted a demonstration test of three commercially-available pedestrian turn warning systems fo...

Effects of Heavy Vehicle Characteristics on Pavement Response and Performance---Phase II

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1991-12-31

The objective of this research was to analyze and evaluate the interaction between heavy vehicle characteristics and pavement performance for application in pavement management. Heavy vehicle (truck and bus) characteristics include tire types (bias p...

12 CFR 390.272 - Re-evaluation of real estate owned.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... 12 Banks and Banking 5 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Re-evaluation of real estate owned. 390.272....272 Re-evaluation of real estate owned. A State savings association shall appraise each parcel of real... apply to any parcel of real estate that is sold and reacquired less than 12 months subsequent to the...

12 CFR 390.272 - Re-evaluation of real estate owned.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... 12 Banks and Banking 5 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Re-evaluation of real estate owned. 390.272....272 Re-evaluation of real estate owned. A State savings association shall appraise each parcel of real... apply to any parcel of real estate that is sold and reacquired less than 12 months subsequent to the...

12 CFR 390.272 - Re-evaluation of real estate owned.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... 12 Banks and Banking 5 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Re-evaluation of real estate owned. 390.272....272 Re-evaluation of real estate owned. A State savings association shall appraise each parcel of real... apply to any parcel of real estate that is sold and reacquired less than 12 months subsequent to the...

Beyond the Yellow Bus: Promising Practices for Maximizing Access to Opportunity through Innovations in Student Transportation. Policy Brief 2014

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Center for Cities & Schools, 2014

2014-01-01

Access to safe, affordable, and convenient transportation shapes the "geography of opportunity" for many children and youth. This study looks at how ?localities across the country are implementing new and innovative alternative approaches to student transportation that expand regional transportation access for K-12 students, improve…