Temporary Sign Research Articles

Development and Evaluation of a MASH TL-3 Modified Single Wood-Post Skid-Mounted Sign Support System

Previous crash testing determined that the conventional Texas Department of Transportation, U.S., single wood-post, skid-mounted temporary sign support system did not satisfy guidelines included in the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH). Modifications were made to the system to improve impact performance and meet MASH requirements. The modifications included increasing the mounting height of the sign, installing weakening holes in the wood support post at a prescribed height, and adding a wire rope loop around the weakening holes to act as a hinge mechanism when sections of the wood sign support fracture during vehicle impact. Crash tests were performed on the modified system in accordance with the MASH Test Level 3 (TL-3) matrix for work-zone traffic control devices. The modified single wood-post, skid-mounted temporary sign support system with a 90 in. sign mounting height, weakening holes, and tether cable met the performance criteria for MASH TL-3 work-zone traffic control devices.

Lexical-semantic peculiarities of Andrii Kokotiukha’s detective novels

The article touches upon various lexical-semantic peculiarities of Andrii Kokotiukha’s detective novels, specifically the nomination of people – characters of the novel. Such research are presented mostly from the point of view of literary studies. Scientists studied peculiar features of composition, genre, and plot of detective novels. The question of language and style of detective novels would uncommonly become a subject of research as they are regarded to as so-called mass literature, that is one that is focused on literature preferences of a wide circle of readers, in other words – it is a popular, entertaining, trivial literature.
 Linguistic research of detective works were mostly done on the material of literary texts of English and French languages, Ukrainian detectives were not a subject of such analysis. Questions of influence of genre peculiarities on the choice of linguistic units was also left beyond attention of researchers, which predetermines the relevance of the research. The source basis of the research consists of detective novels by Andrii Kokotiukha – one of the most notable Ukrainian detective authors. That is a series of retronovels, where the action takes place at the beginning of XX century in Lviv, and three novels about the modern period as well.
 The aim of the work is to explore lexical units that denote a person in Andrii Kokotiukha’s detective novels in terms of their expressive functions depending on the aim and genre features. Vocabulary of denomination of people is widespread in Kokotiukha’s works. Specifics of detective novels involves agile, dynamic nature of vocabulary and their text.
 Semantics of people’s names is diverse: its affiliation to the biological genus of humans; gender; age; family status; profession and occupation; status from the point of view of law; class and social structure of Ukrainian society; social status; financial situation; nationality or confession; affiliation to political parties; names of dead people, external signs; temporary sign. The author frequently uses descriptive compounds, metaphors, jargon, and colloquial language. A distinctive method of nominating a person which, according to genre requirements, creates mystery and enigma of presentation, is descriptive compounds with pronouns. Quantitative ratio of lexical groups mentioned depends on the peculiarities of the plot of specific novel.
 Nomination of people in A. Kokotiukha’s detective novels are components of dynamic and static descriptions, help convey the cultural-historical background, create the appropriate emotional tint. That is one of the elements which ensures that the text corresponds to the canons of detective genre.

Computational and experimental modification of portable sign structure design following NCHRP 350 criteria

As a follow-up to a study published in 2008 [J.-W. Seo, D.G. Linzell, and Z. Rado, Crash performance of x-shaped support base work zone temporary sign structures, Int. J. Crashworthiness 13 (2008), pp. 437–450], research discussed herein examines effective methods for selecting and modifying portable sign structure designs so that they are deemed acceptable according to National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 350 [H.E. Ross, Jr., D.L. Sicking, J.D. Zimmer, and R.A. Michle, Recommended procedures for the safety performance evaluation of highway features, National Cooperative Highway Research Program Rep. 350, Publication Project 22–7 FY’89, Texas Transportation Institute, Austin, TX, 1993] criteria. Portable sign structures, often used as signage for work zones, are frequently susceptible to vehicular impact. If an impact occurs, a possible safety threat to occupants in the vehicle exists due to sign panel penetration. In this study, the methodology used to select a portable sign structure design from two alternatives, one of which was summarised in the 2008 publication [J.-W. Seo, D.G. Linzell, and Z. Rado, Crash performance of x-shaped support base work zone temporary sign structures, Int. J. Crashworthiness 13 (2008), pp. 437–450], is presented along with the procedure used to optimise the selected design so that it performed acceptably according to the NCHRP 350 standards. The selected design, one having an H-base, was modified to meet the NCHRP 350 criteria by strategically replacing traditional metallic fasteners with nylon fasteners. Procedures used to simulate the impact tests, select the appropriate base design and modify that design to meet the NCHRP criteria are presented.

Crash performance of X-shaped support base work zone temporary sign structures

Results from numerical analyses of temporary sign structure crash tests are compared with test data to assess both their crashworthiness and numerical model effectiveness. In addition, a parametric study is performed to investigate the influence of various parameters that would affect crash performance. Sign structures supported with an X-shaped base configuration in plan (‘X-base’) were examined, with all tests being performed following National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) 350, ‘Recommended Procedures for the Safety Performance Evaluation of Highway Features’ guidelines [16]. Simulations and tests were completed at a speed of 98.7 km/h (61.3 mph) as directed by NCHRP 350 with the signs oriented perpendicular and parallel to the vehicle's direction of travel. Results from the study indicated that numerical simulations properly predicted the crash behaviour. In addition, both the numerical model and crash tests showed that orienting the X-base structure parallel to the vehicle direction would result in sign penetration into the vehicle compartment and, subsequently, an unsatisfactory condition according to NCHRP 350.

Determining Design Wind Loads for Work Zone Traffic-Control Devices

Proper traffic control and delineation are critical to achieving safety in work zones. In addition to being crashworthy, a barricade or temporary sign support should have the ability to withstand anticipated service loads. If a barricade or temporary sign support fails or overturns, it cannot perform its intended function and the safety of the work zone may be compromised. Currently, no guidance is provided on the service loads that should be used in the design of these work zone devices. Recommendations are provided for design wind loads for work zone traffic-control devices. The results from field trials indicate that truck-induced wind loading is not a critical design issue for barricades and barricades with signs. The recommendations are thus based on an analytical determination of design wind speeds associated with different recurrence intervals that correspond to the duration of work zone activities. Analytical case studies are presented for two common barricade designs, with consideration given to both structural capacity and overturn. Guidance on the amount of ballast required to prevent overturn is provided as a function of wind speed, barricade length, and sign mounting height.

Crash Testing and Evaluation of Work Zone Barricades

Proper traffic control and delineation are critical to achieving safety in work zones. However, the work zone traffic control devices themselves may pose a safety hazard to vehicle occupants or work crews when impacted by errant vehicles. Thus, there was a need to research the safety performance of work zone traffic control devices to ensure that they perform satisfactorily and meet NCHRP Report 350 guidelines. Several research studies sponsored by the Texas Department of Transportation evaluated the impact performance of various work zone traffic control devices, such as temporary and portable sign supports, plastic drums, sign substrates for use with plastic drums, traffic cones, and vertical panels. Specifically addressed are the studies on barricades. Standard wooden barricade construction was found to be unacceptable due to a demonstrated potential for intrusion of fractured members into the occupant compartment. In response to deficiencies identified in the wooden barricade tests, several alternate barricade designs were developed and successfully tested.

On the Momentum Correction Factor in Pulsatile Blood Flow

The time-varying expression of the momentum correction factor for the study of wave propagation in pulsatile blood flow is modified to take into account the temporary sign reversal of the velocity. A constant value for this factor is also proposed as a possible alternative to usually adopted values.

ADVERSE REACTIONS TO INTRATHECAL SALINE INJECTION FOR CONTROL OF PAIN

✓ The authors report the results of a questionnaire regarding the use of hypertonic saline for the control of pain. Of 2105 patients so treated, nearly 11% had an adverse temporary symptom or sign, reported as an untoward reaction; slightly over 1% suffered a significant morbidity, of which paraplegia or quadriplegia was by far the most common, and two patients died (0.1%).