Road Trials Research Articles

Analysis on the Long Term Effect of Trial Test Road Constructed on Batu Pahat Soft Clay (BPSC) at Recess UTHM

The reinforcement used in soil for construction of roads on the soft clay is very important as it will determine the level of service of the road after it was built. Damage or defects on the road surface to be an indicator of the level of the road has dropped and shows the deformation of the road. For this research, an analysis has carried out on the long-term effect of trial test road constructed on Batu Pahat Soft Clay (BPSC) at RECESS UTHM. Through this research, the reinforcement using Rawell Geosynthetic Clay Liner (RGCL) was the best with the stability is 14964 N, a low flow is 2.69mm, stiffness modulus is 1766 MPa, the peak load is 739.4 N and a lower horizontal deformation which is 1.71 µm compared Woven Geotextile section and section without geotextile [1] [9]. In terms of deformation can be seen clearly from physical observations that section without geotextile suffered significant damage than others. Settlement of road can also be analyzed by a longitudinal section that plotted based on the result of leveling work. After that, settlements are more visible way on the right side of the road trial. Through lab tests conducted, it indicate that the coring samples obtained from sites of each section meets the specifications set by the Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR) in terms of stability, flow and stiffness [1]. Through this study, a trial road built on soft soil can be used as a test site because of the uniqueness of these roads which has three different types of reinforcements.

THE PREDICTIVE UTILITY OF COGNITIVE MEASURES AT SCREENING FOR DETERMINATION OF CSF ABETA (1-42) STATUS IN SUBJECTS WITH PRODROMAL ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: DATA FROM THE SCARLET ROAD TRIAL

THE PREDICTIVE UTILITY OF COGNITIVE MEASURES AT SCREENING FOR DETERMINATION OF CSF ABETA (1-42) STATUS IN SUBJECTS WITH PRODROMAL ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: DATA FROM THE SCARLET ROAD TRIAL

Crowdsourcing good landmarks for in-vehicle navigation systems

ABSTRACTAugmenting navigation systems with landmarks has been posited as a method of improving the effectiveness of the technology and enhancing drivers’ engagement with the environment. However, good navigational landmarks are both laborious to collect and difficult to define. This research aimed to devise a game concept which could be played by passengers in cars, and would collect useful landmark data as a by-product. The paper describes how a virtual graffiti tagging game concept was created and tested during on-road trials with 38 participants. The data collected in the road trials were then validated using a survey, in which 100 respondents assessed the quality of the landmarks collected and their potential for reuse in navigation applications. Players of the game displayed a consensus in choosing where to place their graffiti tags, with over 30% of players selecting the same object to tag in 10 of the 12 locations. Furthermore, significant correlation was found between how highly landmarks were rated in the survey and how frequently they were tagged during the game. The research provides evidence that using crowdsourcing games to collect landmarks does not require large numbers of people, or extensive coverage of an area, to produce suitable candidate landmarks for navigation.

Hydrophobic Polymer Additive for Stabilization of Aggregates in Local Government Roads

In Australia, the road network is extensive and consists chiefly of unbound granular material overlain by a thin layer of asphalt. With trafficking and adverse environmental conditions, roads may become unserviceable quite quickly. So there is a need to re-condition granular roads through in-situ recycling to achieve the sustainability goals of re-use of materials and reduction of greenhouse gases by minimizing transport of materials. Bitumen, in the form of either cold emulsion or foamed bitumen, has been used for this purpose quite successfully, but there exist situations where it is too expensive for the road authority, given the nature of the road, or bitumen may not be suitable if plastic fines exist in the pavement material. Environmental conditions such as poor drainage of primarily flat land may also have local government looking for alternative treatments. Hydrophobic dry powder polymers (DPP) mixed with lime can serve to provide an improved road base quickly at relatively low cost. Unfortunately the literature on polymer additives in aggregates is quite limited and so research has commenced with the aid of local government agencies in Adelaide, South Australia. In this paper a field trial and laboratory investigation are presented on the comparative engineering properties of treated and untreated aggregates from a road trial. Testing has included hydraulic conductivity, large column capillary rise tests and repeated loading triaxial testing. Performance of the road sections will be monitored in the coming years through La Croix Deflectograph testing.

Analysis of stability differences in road and time trial bicycles with instantaneous and delayed control

Bicycle stability has been of interest to dynamicists and athletes since before J. W. Whipple described the canonical model for bicycle motion in 1899. Since then, the subject has fascinated many who sought to find a simple way to describe the essence of stability for a hands-free bicycle at a prescribed forward speed. Caster and gyroscopic effects have been shown to be helpful, but not necessary for there to exist a stable range of forward speeds. This work focuses on showing how using the eigenvalues of the linearized equations for roll and steer (with and without an instantaneous or delayed steering torque) can illuminate the stabilizing and destabilizing effects of changing bicycle geometry and rider position. The results of altering aspects of the control law and bicycle geometry are demonstrated, and a primary cause of the decreased stability a cyclist on a time trial bike experiences when in the aerodynamic position, as opposed to riding with hands on the brake hoods or bull horns, is proposed.

Research on Preparation and High Temperature Behavior of High-Modulus Asphalt

An unanticipated sideeffect of China’s developing economy was the increase in heavy road trafficvehicles utilizing high pressure tires on both new and old infrastructure.Today the extent of rutting has become one of the main forms of asphalt road surfacebreakage. To improve the robustness and high temperature properties of roadsurfacing asphalt, a new high-modulus material has been developed and used tomodify normal road petroleum asphalt. The results from laboratory experimentsconducted at the Jiangsu Baoli Asphalt Co., LTD and real road trials inPeople's Democratic Republic of Algeria, Shanghai, Shanxi and Jiangsu provincein China, indicate that the high-modulus asphalt performed significantly betterat higher-temperatures when compared to samples of more commonly used asphaltmixtures. The high-modulus additive (No. ZQ-1) was prepared in Jiangsu BaoliAsphalt Co. LTD, and the basic production process, the basic properties as wellas the effection to base bitumen was analysed in the paper. And the DynamicStability was evaluated using an automated rut-depth measuring system. Thewater stability and low temperature properties were also discussed. Themodified asphalt material has comparable storage and usage costs to existingutilized asphalts though with enhanced high-temperature properties.

Rifabutin, Omeprazole, Alinia, and Doxycycline Therapy for Prior Treatment Failure Helicobacter pylori Population: A Randomized, Open-Label Clinical Pilot Study ROAD Trial

Purpose:Helicobacter pylori infection is a global problem with a large spectrum of clinical syndromes like dyspepsia, ulcer, MALT, and gastric cancer. WHO considers Helicobacter pylori a carcinogen. Multibacterial regiments have been established to eradicate Helicobacter pylori. Treatment failure remains a clinical challenge due to microbial resistance, recrudescence, or reinfection. Bacterial genomic resistance confers a series of antimicrobials with species specificity. This study evaluates the efficacy of a novel regiment against treatment failure population. Methods: Seventy-six patients (n=76) were recruited with treatment failure with metronidazole (Mtz), clarithromycin (Cltx), amoxicillin (Amx), levofloxacin (Lvx), tetracycline (Tcx) with bismuth, in non-sequential therapy. Group A (n=36): Mtz 30/36 (83%), Amx 29/36(80%), Cltx 30/36 (83%), bismuth 23/36 (64%), Tcx 21/36 (58%), NTZ 6/36 (16%), Dox 6/36 (16%). Group B (n= 40): Mtz 31/40 (77%), Cltx 30/40 (75%), Amx 32/40 (80%), Tcx 13/40 (32%), Lvx 9/40 (22%), NTZ 9/40 (22%), Dox 9/40 (22%), bismuth 21/40 (52%). Group A received oral rifabutin 300 mg QD, alinia 500 mg BID, Dox 200 mg nightly, and omeprazole 40 mg prior to breakfast for 10 days. Group B received oral macrodantin (Mcd) 300 mg daily, Dox 200 mg nightly, alinia (Ntz) 500 mg bid, and omeprazole 40 mg for 10 days. All underwent endoscopy with four quadrant biopsies. Helicobacter pylori pre- and post-stool antigen. Group A: intestinal metaplasia (IM) 9/36 (25%), antral erosion 3/36 (8%), duodenitis 7/40 (17%). Group B: IM 11/40 (28%), duodenal ulcer 2/40 (5%), peptic ulcer 4/40 (10%). Exclusion: pregnancy, recent Clostridium difficile infection, NSAIDs, bismuth, PPI, or any antibiotics use within 2 months, gastric cancer, any hypersensitivity to study drugs, or recent chemotherapy. Results: Group A: ROAD 29/36 (72%). Stopped for itching 2/36 (8%) and 1/36 (3%) atypical chest pain. 1/36 (3%) took for 7 days. Side events in Group A: 11/36 (30%) nausea, 3/36 (8%) constipation, 4/36 (11%) headache, 2/36 (5%) diarrhea, 2/36 (5%) vomiting, 1/36 (3%) dizziness, 1/36 (3%) abdominal pain, 1/36 (3%) palpitations, and no skin rash. Group B: MOAD 21/40 (52%) eradicated. Stopped: 4/40 (10%). Side events in Group B: 13/40 (32%) nausea, 2/40 (5%) dysgeusia, 3/40 (7%) vomiting, 4/40 (10%) constipation, 2/40 (5%) diarrhea, 3/40 (7%) headache, 2/40 (5%) dizziness, 2/40 (5%) atypical chest pain, 3/40 (7%) abdominal pain, 2/40 (5%) itching, 2/40 (5%) palpitations, and no skin rash. Conclusion: Optimal eradication of Helicobacter pylori is aimed to prevent MALT or gastric cancer over time with significant morbidity and QOL. ROAD therapy has exceeded the eradication rate over MOAD in prior treatment experienced or failed therapy with symptoms. Larger trial to validate.

Sa1928 Rifabutin, Omeprazole, Alinia and Doxycycline Therapy for Prior Treatment Failure Helicobacter pylori (HP) Population - A Randomized Open Label Clinical Pilot Study -Road Trial

Sa1928 Rifabutin, Omeprazole, Alinia and Doxycycline Therapy for Prior Treatment Failure Helicobacter pylori (HP) Population - A Randomized Open Label Clinical Pilot Study -Road Trial

Ultra long life low noise porous asphalt

This New Zealand laboratory study and field trial forms part of a larger collaborative research programme conducted under the auspices of the OECD/ECMT (European Conference of Ministers of Transport) Joint Transport Research Centre, focused on the economic evaluation of long-life pavements. The aim of the research was to investigate the potential of epoxy-modified asphalt as a low-maintenance long-life (>30 years) low noise surfacing material. The New Zealand Transport Agency's contribution to the research focused on the potential benefits of epoxy-modified open-graded porous asphalt (OGPA). Investigations into the cohesive properties and oxidation resistance of an acid-cured, epoxy-modified OGPA were undertaken, and an associated field trial constructed on State Highway 1 in Christchurch in December 2007. Results from the Cantabro Test at 10° C indicated that the cohesive properties of the oxidised epoxy OGPA were markedly superior to those of conventional OGPA. On the basis of the Cantabro test results, lifetimes of up 144 years were estimated for an increase in cost of up to 2.3 times that of conventional OGPA. Similarly, the fatigue life of oxidised epoxy OGPA was found to be more than 25 times that of the control. Experiments were also conducted with epoxy modified bitumen diluted with up to 75% standard 80–100 penetration grade bitumen, as a possible means of reducing costs. OGPA made with the 75% diluted material had an estimated life of up to 93 years for 1.3 times the cost of conventional OGPA. The fatigue lives of the oxidised diluted OGPA mixes were similar to that of the control. An initial CAPTIF trial and a later field trial demonstrated that full-scale manufacture and surfacing construction with epoxy OGPA, could be easily undertaken without any significant modification to plant or operating procedures. A road trial to evaluate (undiluted) epoxy OGPA sections with 20% and 30% air voids was constructed and initial noise monitoring using the statistical pass by method has produced good results. The trial has been in place for almost 4 years and is performing well.

Design and testing of a series hybrid vehicle with an ultracapacitor energy buffer

This paper describes the propulsion modeling, systems design, and conversion of a General Motors EV1 electric vehicle into a series hybrid. The vehicle is refitted with a gasoline engine generator set and ultracapacitor-only electrical storage system. A detailed propulsion model was developed using the vehicular physical and electrical properties and the desired control characteristics. This model was refined through experimental road trials and generator set testing with electronic loads to determine the fuel consumption at various power levels, thereby predicting the vehicle fuel economy. The series hybrid design allows an excellent fuel economy to be attained for a variety of driving schedules, and ultracapacitors are shown to be an effective standalone electrical storage medium for hybrid vehicles designed to maximize the fuel economy rather than for the electric-only driving range.

Furfural—A Promising Platform for Lignocellulosic Biofuels

Furfural offers a promising, rich platform for lignocellulosic biofuels. These include methylfuran and methyltetrahydrofuran, valerate esters, ethylfurfuryl and ethyltetrahydrofurfuryl ethers as well as various C(10)-C(15) coupling products. The various production routes are critically reviewed, and the needs for improvements are identified. Their relative industrial potential is analysed by defining an investment index and CO(2) emissions as well as determining the fuel properties for the resulting products. Finally, the most promising candidate, 2-methylfuran, was subjected to a road trial of 90,000 km in a gasoline blend. Importantly, the potential of the furfural platform relies heavily on the cost-competitive production of furfural from lignocellulosic feedstock. Conventional standalone and emerging coproduct processes-for example, as a coproduct of cellulosic ethanol, levulinic acid or hydroxymethyl furfural-are expensive and energetically demanding. Challenges and areas that need improvement are highlighted. In addition to providing a critical review of the literature, this paper also presents new results and analysis in this area.

Research and Design of Small-Engine LPG Motorcycle Fuel System

By the analysis and comparison of LPG motorcycle and LPG automobile, the similarities and differences of them are expounded. Based on the components and structure of LPG automobile fuel system, the LPG motorcycle gas phase positive pressure fuel system and LPG motorcycle liquid phase positive pressure fuel system are designed, and the advantages and disadvantages are analyzed and compared. The engine cylinder cover is enhanced and setted maze channels, so the liquid state LPG can be pre-heated using the remaind head of engine before enter the decompressor, the frozen of decompressor is solved effectively. The road trial and testing show that the LPG motorcycle liquid positive pressure fuel system is simple in structure, stabilize and reliable, the comprehensive performance can satisfied the demand of national standard.

Magnesium sulfate for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: the end of the road or more trials?

Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) is a feared complication and an important cause of poor outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). In the current study, Wong and colleagues performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials that investigated the efficacy of magnesium sulfate in patients with aneurysmal SAH. Outcome measures were DCI, cerebral infarction, and functional outcome 3 and 6 months after SAH. Magnesium sulfate decreased the rate of cerebral infarction, but not of DCI or poor functional outcome. Regarding outcome, a beneficial effect of magnesium sulfate on outcome can not be ruled out because of sample size limitations. Even if this meta-analysis had shown an effect on outcome, the question remains which treatment protocol should be applied in daily practice, since the administration of magnesium sulfate differed between most included studies. The present meta-analysis also underlines the importance of defining clinically relevant endpoints in SAH trials. Clinical deterioration due to DCI is more subject to inter-observer bias compared to cerebral infarction, which represents the ultimate outcome of the ischemic event. The Magnesium in Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage-II (MASH-II: ISRCTN68742385) phase III clinical trial nears completion. It aims to include 1,200 patients, and its results are urgently awaited.

Fuel Cell Hybrid Taxi Well-to-Wheel Life-Cycle Analysis

In a collaboration led by hydrogen fuel cell developer Intelligent Energy, a fleet of classic London cabs fitted out with hydrogen fuel cell power systems will be produced, with the objective of having a small fleet ready for full road trials in time for the 2012 Olympics. This research develops the Well-to-Wheel (WTW) Life-Cycle Analysis (LCA) for two hydrogen powered vehicle powertrain options (fuel cell plug-in hybrid vehicle, PHEV-FC; and fuel cell hybrid vehicle, HEV-FC), in comparison to the conventional ICE Diesel Taxi and a full electric vehicle (EV). In terms of energy pathways, the introduction of these different vehicle technologies is associated with alternative energy sources in a Taxi fleet so the following fuel pathways are compared: diesel, considering the average European diesel fuel characteristics; electricity, considering the 2008 UK electricity generation mix; and hydrogen, considering the compressed hydrogen option from centralized natural gas reforming. This Well-to-Wheel analysis combines the Tank-to-Wheel (TTW), which accounts for the emissions and fuel consumption that result from moving the vehicle through its drive cycle, with the Well-to-Tank (WTT), which accounts for the fuel production stage. For the European certification driving cycle (NEDC), the PHEV-FC Taxi resulted in the lower WTW energy and CO2 emissions results (2.99 MJ/km and 159 g/km), followed by the HEV-FC Taxi (3.28 MJ/km and 174 g/km), and by the EV (3.21 MJ/km and 173 g/km), compared to the ICE Diesel (3.60 MJ/km and 280 g/km). For a more demanding London driving cycle a 33, 28, 54 and 154% increase in the WTW energy consumption and CO2 emissions is observed for the PHEV-FC Taxi, HEV-FC Taxi, EV and ICE Diesel respectively.

Verfahren zur Verbesserung des Fahrverhaltens schnelllaufender Traktor-Geräte-Kombinationen

Due to the steady increase of traveling longer distances with tractors, vehicle dynamics are becoming more and more important. The research activities presented here show an approach for improving the lateral dynamic behavior of tractors with heavy duty implements mounted at the rear. This can be done by decoupling the implement and tractor in combination with intelligent implement movements during cornering. The method was investigated during extensive road trials, which verified the positive effect.

Assessment of the Performance of Warm Mix Asphalts in Road Pavements

Several processes and products are available to produce warm mix asphalt (WMA). These may reduce the mixing and compaction temperatures in relation to hot mix asphalt (HMA), ensuring the necessary performance in the pavement. Lower plant mixing temperatures mean reduction in fuel consumption and lower emissions, possibly contributing to diminish health and odour problems and to decrease costs. During this work, two commercial additives (Sasobit® and Cecabase®) were used to produce WMAs, which were compared with a conventional HMA. Initially, the mixtures were designed, the amount of additive was selected (based on the binder characterization) and the mixing temperatures of the WMAs were chosen by means of EN 12697-10 compactability comparison. Then, a road trial was built and test specimens were collected (both of HMA and WMA) for volumetric composition and mechanical behaviour assessment. This study essentially provides a better understanding of the good performance capabilities of WMA mixtures.

Influencicing vehicle dynamics by means of controlled air spring dampers

To achieve improved comfort as well as good handling characteristics when tuning the chassis suspension, the Technische Universitat Darmstadt and the Vibracoustic GmbH & Co. KG have researched the use of controlled air spring dampers. Virtual road trials show that the course control by means of adaptive air spring dampers allows a decisive improvement in self-steering behaviour towards more agile handling and simultaneously ensures the stability.

Desktop software to identify patients eligible for recruitment into a clinical trial: using SARMA to recruit to the ROAD feasibility trial

Recruitment to trials in primary care is often difficult, particularly when practice staff need to identify study participants with acute conditions during consultations. The Scottish Acute Recruitment Management Application (SARMA) system is linked to general practice electronic medical record (EMR) systems and is designed to provide recruitment support to multi-centre trials by screening patients against trial inclusion criteria and alerting practice staff if the patient appears eligible. For patients willing to learn more about the trial, the software allows practice staff to send the patient's contact details to the research team by text message. To evaluate the ability of the software to support trial recruitment. Software evaluation embedded in a randomised controlled trial. Five general practices in Tayside and Fife, Scotland. SARMA was used to support recruitment to a feasibility trial (the Response to Oral Agents in Diabetes, or ROAD trial) looking at users of oral therapy in diabetes. The technical performance of the software and its utility as a recruitment tool were evaluated. The software was successfully installed at four of the five general practices and recruited 11 of the 29 participants for ROAD (other methods were letter and direct invitation by a practice nurse) and had a recruitment return of 35% (11 of 31 texts sent led to a recruitment). Screen failures were relatively low (7 of 31 referred). Practice staff members were positive about the system. An automated recruitment tool can support primary care trials in Scotland and has the potential to support recruitment in other jurisdictions. It offers a low-cost supplement to other trial recruitment methods and is likely to have a much lower screen failure rate than blanket approaches such as mailshots and newspaper campaigns.

The effects of ramie blended car seat covers on thermal comfort during road trials

The main objective of this study was to investigate the thermal comfort effects of ramie blended seat cover (RBSC) material on drivers. In the experiment, polyester seat covers (PSC) were compared to RBSCs. Both quantitative (measured) and qualitative (perceived) thermal comfort data were collected under normal traffic conditions. Ten volunteer subjects (seven males and three females) who had at least 5 years driving experience and were between 30 and 35 years of age were selected to participate in the study. During trials, temperature was measured at four points that have direct contact between the driver and the seat. Skin wettedness was measured at the back of the subject's torso. During the trials, subjects provided qualitative data by responding to a five question survey administered at 5 min intervals. A significance level of 0.001 inferred that subjects preferred RBSC over PSC seat covers. Relevance to industry This study demonstrates the effects of ramie blended seat cover material (RBSC) and real traffic conditions in thermal comfort. Industries can use our findings to evaluate their ergonomic seat comfort in vehicles and the results of this study can be applied to related industrial applications.

Car talk - [update

Under pressure to improve safety and reduce traffic congestion, fuel consumption, and carbon dioxide emissions, the European Union has spawned a batch of projects to give cars the ability to communicate wirelessly with the road and among themselves. The effort, similar to some in Japan and the United States, has reached a major milestone following a June EU ruling that set aside RF spectrum for vehicle-to-vehicle communication. Those developing car- and road-communications systems will begin testing their wares this fall ahead of large-scale road trials at six sites in Europe, which will begin in early 2009. Experts expect the technologies to begin commercial deployment as soon as 2011.