Track Length Research Articles

Improving the safety indicators of Ukrainian railways: A study of the longitudinal stability of the railway track

The article considers the problem of improving safety indicators on the railways of Ukraine, in particular, with regard to the temperature-stressed jointless track, which makes up more than 75% of the total length of the main tracks. During the operation of this structure, there is a risk of dangerous failures, such as “track ejection” and “rail and sleeper grid displacement”, which can lead to a rolling stock derailment. The article considers various aspects of this problem and analyses the stress state of the jointless track in the context of loss of longitudinal stability, investigating the factors that affect this risk. The purpose of the article is to propose comprehensive solutions to reduce the risk of loss of longitudinal stability of the continuous track and improve safety on Ukrainian railways. The study is based on the analysis of actual cases of rolling stock derailments due to loss of rail and sleeper grid stability. The article also examines the regulatory approach to determining the conditions of longitudinal stability of continuous track in Ukraine and the European Union and compares their approaches. Finally, the authors of the article offer proposals for improving the safety performance of railways, including the introduction of: the European approach to authorization of the subsystem “infrastructure”; modern systems for diagnostics and monitoring of the state of infrastructure; and an approach to work planning based on the assessment of the probability of the risk of loss of rail and sleeper stability. The general context of the article is to improve traffic safety on Ukrainian railways and to avoid transportation accidents associated with the loss of longitudinal stability of the rail and sleeper grid of a jointless track.

Spatial and Temporal Exhumation of the Northeastern China: Insights From Low Temperature Thermochronology

ABSTRACTThe northeastern (NE) China has undergone a long‐term tectonic history involving subduction–accretion of the Siberian Craton, North China Craton, and Western Pacific Plate, providing an ideal target for understanding the interactions between cratons and the Pacific oceanic lithosphere. However, the Mesozoic‐Cenozoic geological and topographic evolutions of the NE China remain unclear. Here, we present new apatite fission track data from Precambrian metamorphic rocks in the Lesser Hinggan Mountains. Apatite fission track dating yielded a group of central ages ranging from 130 ± 18 to 151 ± 11 Ma with mean track lengths varying between 13.67 ± 0.13 and 14.49 ± 0.08 μm. Thermal modeling results revealed a rapid cooling event at ca. 165–140 Ma, which was related to compressional deformations driven by shallow subduction of the Paleo‐Pacific Ocean Plate beneath the northeastern China. Furthermore, regional low temperature thermochronological datasets in NE China show additional three rapid exhumation stages, including the Early Jurassic (ca. 200–180 Ma), Early Cretaceous (ca. 120–100 Ma), and Late Cretaceous (ca. 80–60 Ma). They were associated with closure of the Mudanjiang Ocean, slab rollback of the Paleo‐Pacific Plate, and collision between the Okhotomorsk Block and southeastern Asia. As the Cenozoic, slow exhumation has emerged throughout the northeastern China.

CD8α-CI-M6PR Particle Motility Assay to Study the Retrograde Motion of CI-M6PR Receptors in Cultured Living Cells.

The cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptors (CI-M6PR) bind newly synthesized mannose 6-phosphate (Man-6-P)-tagged enzymes in the Golgi and transport them to late endosomes/lysosomes, providing them with degradative functions. Following the cargo delivery, empty receptors are recycled via early/recycling endosomes back to the trans-Golgi network (TGN) retrogradely in a dynein-dependent motion. One of the most widely used methods for studying the retrograde trafficking of CI-M6PR involves employing the CD8α-CI-M6PR chimera. This chimera, comprising a CD8 ectodomain fused with the cytoplasmic tail of the CI-M6PR receptor, allows for labeling at the plasma membrane, followed by trafficking only in a retrograde direction. Previous studies utilizing the CD8α-CI-M6PR chimera have focused mainly on colocalization studies with various endocytic markers under steady-state conditions. This protocol extends the application of the CD8α-CI-M6PR chimera to live cell imaging, followed by a quantitative analysis of its motion towards the Golgi. Additionally, we present an approach to quantify parameters such as speed and track lengths associated with the motility of CD8α-CI-M6PR endosomes using the Fiji plugin TrackMate. Key features • This assay is adapted from the methodology by Prof. Matthew Seaman for studying the retrograde trafficking of CI-M6PR by expressing CD8α-CI-M6PR chimera in HeLa cells. • The experiments include live-cell imaging of surface-labeled CD8α-CI-M6PR molecules, followed by a chase in cells. • Allows the monitoring of real-time motion of CD8α-CI-M6PR endosomes and facilitates calculation of kinetic parameters associated with endosome trajectories, e.g., speed and distance (run lengths).

Analyzing of Total Number of Railway Accidents in Türkiye via Different Computational Models

Accurate prediction of transport-related accidents is considered an important step in assessing the magnitude of the transport-related problems and accelerating decision-making to mitigate them. Therefore, such studies are of great importance for decision makers. In this study, it is aimed to accurately determine (estimate) the annual total number of railway accidents in Türkiye, considering the track length, train-km and Gross National Product (GNP) variables obtained from Türkiye Statistical Institute. In this context, firstly, four different computational models, three of which are optimization-based (one linear, the others nonlinear) and one based on Artificial Neural Network (ANN), are created. Subsequently, the goal was to minimize the Mean Square Error (MSE) between the observed and modeled data for each computational model developed. In the optimization-based models, the selection of the most suitable internal weighting coefficients was accomplished by utilizing the Differential Evolution Algorithm. Finally, within the scope of the study, all statistical results (mean square error, coefficient of determination) obtained for four different calculation models are compared with each other. Consequently, the analysis of the total number of railway accidents in Türkiye reveals that the quadratic model yields more realistic results compared to the other models.

Fission-track age calibration: Phi and Zeta, never the twain shall meet?

The fission-track method was intended to be an autonomous dating method requiring two track counts and a neutron fluence measurement. It became clear that it was beset with methodological problems, and neutron fluence measurements were abandoned in favour of age standards. The coming of mass-spectrometric uranium measurements eliminated the need for irradiations altogether, and stimulated renewed efforts to establish fission-track dating as an autonomous method. This ran into similar problems as before, and recent publications signal a return to age standards. The attempts at independent dating nevertheless revealed that experts agree on the recommended fission constant and the need to consider experimental factors related to the track counts. In spite of that, the renewed reliance on standards makes that fission-track ages are again not independent, but relative, ages with an uncertain meaning, and from their nature untestable.We report an attempt at standardless and standard-based dating of the Durango and Duluth apatites using neutron irradiation and the external detector method. We start from the assumption that neutron fluence measurements are the most precise and accurate achievable in fission-track dating, a consensus on the recommended fission constant, and on the need to consider experimental factors. One factor (ζ0) accounts for the combined experimental influences; ζ0 can be calculated from identifiable contributions related to track registration, etching and counting; ζ0 can also be determined by experiment and calculated from the ages of standards. This gives three separate, consistent, dimensionless calibration factors that, in contrast to Z and ζ, are independent of the neutron fluence or the uranium content of a reference glass; ζ0 remains a personal factor, however.The standardless fission-track ages of the Durango age standard are in agreement with its reference age and the standardless and standard-based ages of the Duluth apatites are consistent with each other. Furthermore, if ζ0 is used to correct conventional Z- (and by implication ζ-) values for experimental effects, the results are consistent with their definitions in terms of physical parameters. Although ζ0 is a personal factor, the small number of measurements to date is consistent with each other. In contrast, annealing corrections based on the fossil and induced confined fission track lengths overestimate the reference age of Durango and produce incompatible standardless and standard-based ages of the dated apatites. We argue that this points to unresolved issues with the relationship between the age and the fossil track length, and suggest a connection with etching.Plots of the single-grain ages against uranium content and radial plots of the data exhibit conspicuous structure. However statistical factors alone account for the nature and magnitude of the observed correlations. This implies that in the case of the Duluth apatites there is no identifiable effect of radiation damage on the single-grain ages despite their high accumulated α-doses and protracted thermal histories. Spurious correlations must be addressed before attempting to interpret the observed data structure in terms of radiation damage, apatite composition or age components.

ДИНАМИКА КОЛЕСНОЙ ПАРЫ ЭКИПАЖА ПРИ ОДНОВРЕМЕННОМ ДЕЙСТВИИ НА НЕЕ ПАРАМЕТРИЧЕСКОГО И КИНЕМАТИЧЕСКОГО ВОЗМУЩЕНИЙ

The results of studying the dynamic behaviour of a railway carriage wheelset, which is simultaneously affected by parametric and kinematic disturbances, are presented, namely the case of the wheelset movement on unequal track length with irregularities on the surface of rolling rails. It is established that the viscous friction force in the system creates a certain threshold for the parametric excitation coefficient. The paper shows that when studying the rolling stock dynamics, it is necessary to switch from the system paradigm of ordinary differential equations with constant coefficients to the paradigm of differential equations with variable (periodic) coefficients.

Enhancing the single-track deposition quality of AISI 308L wire arc additive manufacturing via process optimization and cold forging treatment

Wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) has been established as a promising additive manufacturing technique for fabricating and repairing medium-to-large scale metallic engineering parts. However, achieving an excellent geometrical accuracy and high mechanical properties close to the parent metal require an optimal setting of parameters for every material system and, sometimes, post-processing treatment. In this work, WAAM of 308L stainless steel was performed, using gas metal arc welding as the heat source, at varying values of wire feed rate (WFR) and traverse speed (TS) to investigate its effects on the geometry, microstructure and mechanical properties of the deposited track. Thereafter, post-cold forging treatment was performed on the track deposited at the optimum parametric setting. The track width and height decreased with increasing TS due to reduction in the wire deposition volume per unit length of track. The track height increased as the WFR increased from 61.67 to 95 mm/s, after which the process became unstable, leading to a decline in height. The microstructure of the deposited track mainly comprised δ-ferrite and austenite phases while the hardness of the track deposits (ranging between 124–172 HV) was largely influenced by the presence of carbide precipitates and equiaxed grains size which reduced as the TS and WFR increased. The post-cold forging treatment resulted in strain hardening, which resulted in significant improvement in the track hardness (up to 219 HV) but a fall in its impact strength due to loss of ductility.

The influence of lithospheric inheritance and Cenozoic magmatism on Phanerozoic rock cooling in the São Francisco Craton and adjacent orogens

The South American Platform encompasses the São Francisco Craton (SFC) and the Araçuaí-Ribeira orogenic system (AROS) located in the eastern Brazil. These geologic domains hold records of differential exhumation, sedimentation, volcanic activity, and post-rift reactivation of faults and shear zones. Therefore, these terranes provide outstanding opportunities for studying the dynamics of lithospheric processes, particularly in their interaction zones, characterized by the transition from cratonic to orogenic lithosphere. To investigate the processes involved in the contrasting behavior of the upper crust, we provide 23 new apatite fission track (AFT) ages and thermal histories from the northern segment of the AROS and from the eastern area of the SFC. The AFT ages range from 154.4 ± 20.1 and 37.1 ± 3.0 Ma and the mean track lengths range from 10.9 and 13.2 μm. We compiled thermal information from previous thermochronological analysis from 357 sites and constructed inverse distance weighted maps that depict the spatial distribution of AFT ages and the temperature evolution from 360 to 30 Ma. The results indicate that the SFC experienced its final exhumation within the apatite partial annealing zone (APAZ) at temperatures ranging from 110 °C to 60 °C during the late Paleozoic. In contrast, the AROS went through its last cooling within the APAZ during the Mesozoic or even in the Cenozoic. This suggests that reactivation and reheating, possibly associated with the South Atlantic rift, influenced the orogenic basement of the passive margin. We highlight that the reheating associated to the Abrolhos magmatic province in the northern segment of the AROS caused the youngest AFT ages of the study area. Our work demonstrates the importance of considering contrasting rheology when analyzing regional exhumation patterns, the structural fabric of orogens through reactivation of crustal discontinuities generating heating and exhumation, and how volcanism can disrupt the thermal record, inducing crustal reheating.

Maternal exposure to bisphenol S reduces anxiety and impairs collective antipredator behavior of male zebrafish (Danio rerio) offspring through dysregulation of their serotonergic system

Bisphenol S (BPS) is a common endocrine-disrupting chemical globally used in several consumer and industrial products. Although previous studies suggested that BPS induces multiple effects in exposed organisms, very little is known about its intergenerational effect on offspring behavior and/or the potential underlying mechanisms. To this end, adult female zebrafish Danio rerio were exposed to BPS (0, 10, 30 µg/L) and 1 µg/L of 17-β-estradiol (E2) as a positive control for 60 days. Afterwards, female fish were bred with untreated males, and their offspring were raised to 6 months old in control water. Maternal exposure to BPS decreased male offspring anxiety and antipredator behaviors while boldness remained unaffected. Specifically, maternal exposure to 10 and 30 µg/L BPS and 1 µg/L E2 were found to impact male offspring anxiety levels as they decreased the total time that individuals spent in the dark zone in the light/dark box test and increased the total track length in the center of the open field test. In addition, maternal exposure to all concentrations of BPS and E2 disrupted antipredator responses of male offspring by decreasing shoal cohesion in the presence of chemical alarm cues derived from conspecifics, which communicated high risk. To elucidate the possible molecular mechanism underlying these neuro-behavioral effects of BPS, we assessed the serotonergic system via changes in mRNA expression of serotonin receptors, including the 5-HT1A, 5-HT1B, and 5-HT1D subtypes, the serotonin transporter and monoamine oxidase (MAO). The impaired anxiety and antipredator responses were associated with reduced levels of 5-HT1A subtype and MAO mRNA expression within the brain of adult male offspring. Collectively, the results of this study demonstrate that maternal exposure to environmental concentrations of BPS can interfere with the serotonergic signaling pathway in the developing brain, subsequently leading to the onset of a suite of behavioral deficits in adult offspring.

Unexpected Differences in the Speed of Non-Malignant versus Malignant Cell Migration Reveal Differential Basal Intracellular ATP Levels

Cellular locomotion is required for survival, fertility, proper embryonic development, regeneration, and wound healing. Cell migration is a major component of metastasis, which accounts for two-thirds of all solid tumor deaths. While many studies have demonstrated increased energy requirements, metabolic rates, and migration of cancer cells compared with normal cells, few have systematically compared normal and cancer cell migration as well as energy requirements side by side. Thus, we investigated how non-malignant and malignant cells migrate, utilizing several cell lines from the breast and lung. Initial screening was performed in an unbiased high-throughput manner for the ability to migrate/invade on collagen and/or Matrigel. We unexpectedly observed that all the non-malignant lung cells moved significantly faster than cells derived from lung tumors regardless of the growth media used. Given the paradigm-shifting nature of our discovery, we pursued the mechanisms that could be responsible. Neither mass, cell doubling, nor volume accounted for the individual speed and track length of the normal cells. Non-malignant cells had higher levels of intracellular ATP at premigratory-wound induction stages. Meanwhile, cancer cells also increased intracellular ATP at premigratory-wound induction, but not to the levels of the normal cells, indicating the possibility for further therapeutic investigation.

Tectonic–thermal evolution since the Mesozoic in the Suhongtu Depression, Yingen–Ejina Basin: Constraints from Apatite fission track and vitrinite reflectance

The Yingen–Ejina Basin (YEB) located in the western part of the North China Plate is a significant area for petroleum exploration. During the Early Cretaceous, the YEB witnessed the extensive development of source rocks. However, the subsequent tectonic evolution and multi‐stage thermal history of these source rocks have posed challenges to oil and gas exploration in the basin. This study focuses on the Mesozoic and Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the YEB, utilizing Apatite fission track (AFT) and vitrinite reflectance (Ro) data of samples from Well BC‐1 in the Suhongtu Depression, northern YEB. The central ages of six AFT samples ranged from 28 ± 2 to 49 ± 3 Ma with corresponding track lengths between 10.8 ± 1.9 and 12.3 ± 1.5 μm. Combining with the study of Ro and thermal history simulation, the thermal history of the YEB is summarized as follows: In the late Early Cretaceous, the study area experienced tectonic elevation, as evidenced by the discontinuous change in Ro values along the vertical column. Towards the end of the Late Cretaceous, there was a subsidence in the study area. The Ro data indicate that the Early Cretaceous source rocks, although experiencing several tectonic uplifts, had remained within the hydrocarbon generation temperature range, and reached the maximum thermal uplifts before the end of the Late Cretaceous. Therefore, hydrocarbon generation from early Cretaceous source rocks is an important exploration target in the study area and will be the focus of oil and gas exploration in the future.

Using the Geoelectric Method to Identify Groundwater Schlumberger Configuration Resistivity in the Gambesi and Sasa Villages, South Ternate District, North Maluku Province

One of the geophysical techniques that may be used to define subsurface lithology is the geoelectric approach. The Schlumberger configuration's resistivity technique is used on the assumption that the distance between the potential electrodes is fixed. In contrast, the distance between the current electrodes progressively varies following the resistivity-to-depth curve and the resistivity table. This study aims to determine the lithology of the soil layer and the lithology of the soil layer that serves as an aquifer based on their respective resistivity values. The acquired data demonstrate the presence of multiple layers, including alluvium, sand, gravel, and andesite, in the subsurface lithology at two sites with a depth of 25 meters and a track length of 50 and 100 meters. Based on the resistivity curve to depth and the findings of data processing at the two data collecting sites, groundwater at location 1 (Gambesi Village) could not be identified in the resistivity table because of the location's hilly terrain and alluvial rock types. However, at location 2 (Sasa Village), groundwater was present at depths of 12.8 meters with thicknesses of 6.24 cm and 0.57 Ωm and at depths of 12.8 meters with thicknesses of 4.91 meters and 297 Ωm, respectively. This region slopes down from this position.

Ballistic armor—a study on the impact of air gun pellets on jean cloth

BackgroundBallistics deals with the study of projectile propulsion, flight, and impact in any medium. Different garment materials can have varying effects when it comes to the penetration of pellets into the body. Body armor has been around for a long time. Dhal, a curving strip of rhino hide, was possibly the first armor in India, used for sword fighting or defense against arrows and spears. It gave way to steel armor, which protected the body’s essential organs from spear and arrow strikes.The current study is primarily concerned with how jeans material, when employed as body armor, contributes to the inquiry. The present study also examines how airgun pellets fired at various ranges affect jeans clothing wrapped around gel blocks.ResultsThe study concluded that when fired at varied ranges, there was no significant variation in the diameters of the entry holes on clothing material. The gel block covered with jeans clothing was not found to be more damaged.ConclusionsThe findings also indicate that pellets had larger track lengths regardless of the range from which they were fired.

A Universal Volumetric Haptic Actuation Platform

In this paper, we report a method of implementing a universal volumetric haptic actuation platform which can be adapted to fit a wide variety of visual displays with flat surfaces. This platform aims to enable the simulation of the 3D features of input interfaces. This goal is achieved using four readily available stepper motors in a diagonal cross configuration with which we can quickly change the position of a surface in a manner that can render these volumetric features. In our research, we use a Microsoft Surface Go tablet placed on the haptic enhancement actuation platform to replicate the exploratory features of virtual keyboard keycaps displayed on the touchscreen. We ask seven participants to explore the surface of a virtual keypad comprised of 12 keycaps. As a second task, random key positions are announced one at a time, which the participant is expected to locate. These experiments are used to understand how and with what fidelity the volumetric feedback could improve performance (detection time, track length, and error rate) of detecting the specific keycaps location with haptic feedback and in the absence of visual feedback. Participants complete the tasks with great success (p < 0.05). In addition, their ability to feel convex keycaps is confirmed within the subjective comments.

A data-driven hybrid approach to generate synthetic data for unavailable damage scenarios in welded rails for ultrasonic guided wave monitoring

Developing reliable ultrasonic-guided wave monitoring systems requires a significant amount of inspection data for each application scenario. Experimental investigations are fundamental but require a long period and are costly, especially for real-life testing. This is exacerbated by a lack of experimental data that includes damage. In some guided wave applications, such as pipelines, it is possible to introduce artificial damage and perform lab experiments on the test structure. However, in rail track applications, laboratory experiments are either not possible or meaningful. The generation of synthetic data using modelling capabilities thus becomes increasingly important. This paper presents a variational autoencoder (VAE)-based deep learning approach for generating synthetic ultrasonic inspection data for welded railway tracks. The primary aim is to use a VAE model to generate synthetic data containing damage signatures at specified positions along the length of a rail track. The VAE is trained to encode an input damage-free baseline signal and decode to reconstruct an inspection signal with damage by adding a damage signature on either side of the transducer by specifying the distance to the damage signature as an additional variable in the latent space. The training data was produced from a physics-based model that computes virtual experimental response signals using the semi-analytical finite element and the traditional finite element procedures. The VAE reconstructed response signals containing damage signatures were almost identical to the original target signals simulated using the physics-based model. The VAE was able to capture the complex features in the signals resulting from the interaction of multiple propagating modes in a multi-discontinuous waveguide. The VAE model successfully generated synthetic inspection data by fusing reflections from welds with the reflection from a crack model at specified distances from the transducer on either the right or left side. In some cases, the VAE did not exactly reconstruct the peak amplitude of the reflections. This study demonstrated the potential and highlighted the benefit of using a VAE to generate synthetic data with damage signatures as opposed to using superposition to fuse the damage-free responses containing reflections from welds with a damage signature. The results show that it is possible to generate realistic inspection data for unavailable damage scenarios.

Validation of the six-minute walking distance measured by FeetMe® insoles

BackgroundThe six-minute walk test (6MWT) is widely used to assess functional capacity in patients with various diseases. Use of wearable devices can make this test more accurate and easier to administer, and may even enhance it by providing additional information. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity of FeetMe® insoles for assessing the total six-minute walking distance (6MWD) by comparing the FeetMe® estimates and those obtained by a rater to the ground truth measured with a surveyor’s wheel.ResultsData were analyzed from healthy volunteers who performed the 6MWT on 10-m and 30-m tracks while wearing FeetMe® insoles (n = 32), and being simultaneously assessed by a rater (n = 33) and followed by an investigator with a surveyor’s wheel. The mean average error (MAE) of the estimates was below 13 m on both tracks for FeetMe®, whereas it ranged from 16.24 m to 38.88 m on the 30-m and 10-m tracks for the rater.ConclusionThe FeetMe® insoles provided a more accurate estimate and showed greater agreement with the ground truth than the rater, and the accuracy of the FeetMe® estimates did not vary according to the track length. We conclude that the FeetMe insoles are a valid solution for measuring the 6MWD.

Stiffness profile spectral composition & geometry deterioration of railway tracks

This work addresses the contribution of the wavelength composition of the spectrum of the rail support stiffness profile to the expected long-term settlement. To that aim, purely harmonic stiffness variations of different wavelength are studied. The frequency-domain model with a double periodicity level previously developed by the first and last authors is adopted to embed the stiffness profile in one of the periodicity layers. Additional resonance velocities at which the resonance frequency of the track system coincides with the support-passing frequency or its multiples are found. The susceptibility to degradation is assessed both by quantifying the mechanical energy dissipated in the substructure under a moving train axle within one wavelength of the support stiffness variation, and the work performed by the wheel-rail contact force. It is shown that shorter wavelengths and larger standard deviations of varying ballast/subgrade stiffness result in an increasing energy dissipation in the substructure, and increase the work performed by the wheel-rail contact force, therefore leading to a reduced lifetime of the track. The energetic quantities increase for lower mean values of the stiffness profile, confirming the proneness of tracks on soft soils to degradation. The influence of varying stiffness vanishes for wavelengths of approximately 16 times the sleeper span, which is equivalent to a track length of about 10 m. High railpad stiffness values result in increased energy dissipation but the influence is limited. In general, an increasing train velocity amplifies the rate of track degradation, with no stabilizing trend in the high-speed regime (300 km/h).

Late Cretaceous exhumation of the Little Belt Mountains and regional development of the Helena salient, west-central Montana, USA

The timing of deformation within and adjacent to the Helena salient of west-central Montana is poorly constrained relative to other segments of the Sevier fold-and-thrust belt. This study presents low-temperature thermochronology data from the Little Belt Mountains, a basement-cored Laramide uplift that is juxtaposed with the leading edge of the salient. We analyzed eight samples of Paleoproterozoic basement for apatite fission-track (AFT) and zircon (U-Th)/He (ZHe) thermochronology. Four samples yielded AFT ages ranging from ca. 80 Ma to 73 Ma and associated long, unimodal confined track lengths, indicating rapid cooling and exhumation of Little Belt Mountains basement during the Late Cretaceous. The other four samples are characterized by younger AFT ages (ca. 55 Ma), which suggest a combination of prolonged residence in the apatite partial annealing zone and postexhumation magmatic reheating. In total, 20 new ZHe dates range from ca. 236 Ma to 28 Ma and show a correlation between date and effective uranium. Forward model results for ZHe data are consistent with upper-crustal residence during the Proterozoic followed by Phanerozoic burial and rapid Late Cretaceous cooling. Cross sections across the Little Belt Mountains display the geometry of the Volcano Valley fault zone, an array of down-to-the-south Proterozoic normal faults that profoundly influenced the development of the Cordilleran thrust belt. Our new constraints from the Little Belt Mountains when integrated with published kinematic constraints from the Helena salient reveal significant out-of-sequence deformation in this portion of the thrust belt between ca. 80 Ma and 55 Ma. A kinematic model is proposed that involves Late Cretaceous (ca. 80 Ma) exploitation of rheologically incompetent units at the base of the Belt Supergroup within the Helena Embayment, facilitating early exhumation in the Little Belt Mountains. Our new data and synthesis are consistent with previous interpretations in which an inherited stratigraphic and structural architecture of Proterozoic ancestry was the predominant control on the development of the Helena salient during Cretaceous−early Eocene time.

Driving errors as a function of listening to music and FM radio: A simulator study

Objectives Driving is a dynamic activity that takes place in a constantly changing environment, carrying safety implications not only for the driver but also for other road users. Despite the potentially life-threatening consequences of incorrect driving behavior, drivers often engage in activities unrelated to driving. This study aims to investigate the frequency and types of errors committed by drivers when they are distracted compared to when they are not distracted. Methods A total of 64 young male participants volunteered for the study, completing four driving trials in a driving simulator. The trials consisted of different distraction conditions: listening to researcher-selected music, driver-selected music, FM radio conversation, and driving without any auditory distractions. The simulated driving scenario resembled a semi-urban environment, with a track length of 12 km. Results The findings of the study indicate that drivers are more prone to making errors when engaged in FM radio conversations compared to listening to music. Additionally, errors related to speeding were found to be more prevalent across all experimental conditions. Conclusions These results emphasize the significance of reducing distractions while driving to improve road safety. The findings add to our understanding of the particular distractions that carry higher risks and underscore the necessity for focused interventions to reduce driver errors, especially related to FM radio conversations. Future research can delve into additional factors that contribute to driving errors and develop effective strategies to promote safer driving practices.

Influence of age on static postural control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a cross-sectional study.

It was the aim of this study to assess static postural control characteristics in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) of different ages using a force platform. A relationship was also established between static postural control parameters and age in this study. A total of 706 participants with T2D were included in this study. The participants were stratified into three age groups: Group 1 (<60 years old), Group 2 (60-70 years old), and Group 3 (>70 years old). Static postural control assessment during two-leg stance was performed on a force platform by all participants. The center of pressure (CoP)-related parameters were measured under two stance conditions (eyes open and closed). Kruskal-Wallis tests were applied to explore the difference among the different age groups. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to determine the relation between age and static postural control parameters. Group 1 (<60 years old) had significantly less CoP total tracking length (TTL), sway area (SA), and CoP velocity along the Y direction (V-Y) under both eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions compared with Group 2 (60-70 years old) and Group 3 (>70 years old). Group 1 (<60 years old) had significantly less CoP maximum sway length along the X direction (MSL_X) and longer tracking length each area unit (TTL/SA) under the eyes-open condition compared with Group 2 (60-70 years old) and Group 3 (>70 years old). There was a significantly positive correlation between age and the most static postural parameters such as CoP TTL, SA, MSL-X, MSL-Y, and V-Y. There was a significantly negative correlation between age and TTL/SA. This study suggested that older T2D participants had worse static postural control ability than younger ones. Most static postural parameters presented a significant correlation with age; the higher the age, the worse the static postural control.