Local failure mechanism of sand-blocking fence in latticed dune along desert roads

The latticed dunes in the Tengger Desert are widely distributed,and the sand-blocking fence placed here are highly susceptible to local failure due to complex wind-sand activities,posing a serious threat to the safe operation of the highway.To explore the local failure mechanism of sand-blocking fence in the latticed dune area,the local failure of sand-blocking fence in the latticed dune areas along the Wuhai-Maqin Highway in China was observed.Taking the first main ridge of the latticed dune as the placement location,the structure of the wind-sand flow field of sand-blocking fence placed at top,the bottom and the middle of windward slope was analyzed by Computational Fluid Dynamics(CFD).The results show that when placed at top of the first main ridge,the wind speed near the sand-blocking fence is the highest,up to 15.23 m/s.Therefore,the wind load strength on the sand barrier is correspondingly larger,up to 232.61 N∙m-2.As the strength of material continues to decrease,the nylon net is prone to breakage.The roots of the angle steel posts are susceptible to hollowing by vortex action,which can cause sand-blocking fence to fall over in strong wind conditions.When placed at the bottom of windward slope,wind speed drop near sand-blocking fence is greatest,with the decrease of 12.48-14.32 m/s compared to the original wind speed.This is highly likely to lead to large-scale deposition of sand particles and burial of the sand-blocking fence.When placed in the middle of windward slope,sand-blocking fence is subjected to less wind load strength(168.61N∙m-2)and sand particles are mostly deposited at the bottom of windward slope,with only a small amount of sand accumulating at the root of sand-blocking fence.Based on field observations and numerical modelling results,when the sand-blocking fence is placed in latticed dune area,it should be placed in the middle of the windward slope of the first main ridge as a matter of priority.Besides the sand-blocking fence should be placed at the top of the first main ridge,and sand fixing measures should be added.

基于ROADS的面向场景业务架构建模方法

ROAD元架构通过业务架构指导整个企业架构体系开发过程,是一组简单明确且高效的模型表达。针对已有的元架构体系中业务活动模型所采用的IDEF0图存在对多组件系统之间丰富的活动触发序列和信息交互场景描述能力不足的问题,提出在ROAD元架构基础上引入场景模型,与原来基于IDEF0的活动模型融合成为面向场景的活动模型,同时具备层次化描述能力和场景化时序表达能力。扩展后的ROADS元架构保留原架构的整体性和灵活性,且补充面向场景的系统建模能力,实现业务架构设计中的场景管理。最后以一个情景化外语教学系统为例,使用ROADS元架构方法建立场景化业务架构模型组,并对其进行讨论,为现有架构体系提供一种面向场景的扩展思路。

Landslide susceptibility mapping of mountain roads based on machine learning combined model

Landslide susceptibility mapping of mountain roads is frequently confronted by insufficient historical landslide sample data,multicollinearity of existing evaluation index factors,and inconsistency of evaluation factors due to regional environmental variations.Then,a single machine learning model can easily become overfitting,thus reducing the accuracy and robustness of the evaluation model.This paper proposes a combined machine-learning model to address the issues.The landslide susceptibility in mountain roads were mapped by using factor analysis to normalize and reduce the dimensionality of the initial condition factor and generating six new combination factors as evaluation indexes.The mountain roads in the Youxi County,Fujian Province,China were used for the landslide susceptibility mapping.Three most frequently used machine learning techniques,support vector machine(SVM),random forest(RF),and artificial neural network(ANN)models,were used to model the landslide susceptibility of the study area and validate the accuracy of this evaluation index system.The global minimum variance portfolio was utilized to construct a machine learning combined model.5-fold cross-validation,statistical indexes,and AUC(Area Under Curve)values were implemented to evaluate the predictive accuracy of the landslide susceptibility model.The mean AUC values for the SVM,RF,and ANN models in the training stage were 89.2%,88.5%,and 87.9%,respectively,and 78.0%,73.7%,and 76.7%,respectively,in the validating stage.In the training and validation stages,the mean AUC values of the combined model were 92.4% and 87.1%,respectively.The combined model provides greater prediction accuracy and model robustness than one single model.

A Novel Network Screening Methodology for Rural Low-Volume Roads

Low-volume roads (LVRs) are an integral part of the rural transportation network providing access to remote rural areas and facilitating the movement of goods from farms to markets. These roads pose unique challenges for highway agencies including those related to safety management on the highway network. Specifically, traditional network screening methods using crash history can be effective in screening rural highways with higher traffic volumes and more frequent crashes. However, these traditional methods are often ineffective in screening LVR networks due to low traffic volumes and the sporadic nature of crash occurrence. Further, many of the LVRs are owned and operated by local agencies that may lack access to detailed crash, traffic and roadway data and the technical expertise within their staff. Therefore, there is a need for more efficient and practical network screening approaches to facilitate safety management programs on these roads. This study proposes one such approach which utilizes a heuristic scoring scheme in assessing the level of risk/safety for the purpose of network screening. The proposed scheme is developed based on the principles of US Highway Safety Manual (HSM) analysis procedures for rural highways and the fundamentals in safety science. The primary application of the proposed scheme is for ranking sites in network screening applications or for comparing multiple improvement alternatives at a specific site. The proposed approach does not require access to detailed databases, technical expertise, or exact information, making it an invaluable tool for small agencies and local governments (e.g. counties, townships, tribal governments, etc.).

Sino-Uzbek Joint Archaeology:Adhering to the Spirit of Silk Road,Exploring the Pearl of Silk Road

Since 2012,a joint archaeological team of Chinese and Uzbek archaeologists has conducted eight archaeological excavations at the site of the ancient city of Mintepa in Uzbekistan,making a series of important archaeological discoveries and restoring the status of Mintepa ancient city in the Ferghana Basin and in the history of ancient Central Asia.

Regeneration Potential of Woody Species at the Side of Secondary Roads Post-Logging of Loundoungou-Toukoulaka Forest Management Unit, Republic of the Congo

Natural regeneration is the basis of a dynamic and demographic balance of plant populations. The objective of this study was to assess the natural regeneration potential of woody species along secondary roads post-logging abandoned since 2008 and 2018. In the two Annual Allowable Cuts (AAC 2008 and AAC 2018), 24 regenerating sub-plots (i.e. 12 sub-plots for AAC 2008 and 12 sub-plots for AAC 2018) with a unit area of 5 m × 5 m were delimited with a total area of 0.06 ha (i.e. 0.03 ha for each AAC). The abundance and diversity of woody species were respectively inventoried and estimated. Two estimators of the specific richness were used to estimate the floristic diversity of each Annual Allowable Cuts (AAC). The results reveal globally 88 woody species in the AAC 2008 and 241 woody species in the AAC 2018, with respective average densities of 2933 stem/ha and 8033 stem/ha. There was a very highly significant difference between the mean densities of the two AAC (Kruskal-Wallis test;H = 2.36, p-value < 0.000). The results also highlight a great diversity and a relatively high abundance of woody species in the 2018 AAC compared to the 2008 AAC. Also, the spatial structuring of the sub-plots on the basis of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) demonstrates that the floristic composition of the two AAC is globally different. The study suggests silvicultural interventions and the long-term assessment of regenerating woody species along abandoned secondary roads in order to guarantee the sustainable management of their population.

3D Road Network Modeling and Road Structure Recognition in Internet of Vehicles

Internet of Vehicles (IoV) is a new system that enables individual vehicles to connect with nearby vehicles,people, transportation infrastructure, and networks, thereby realizing amore intelligent and efficient transportationsystem. The movement of vehicles and the three-dimensional (3D) nature of the road network cause the topologicalstructure of IoV to have the high space and time complexity.Network modeling and structure recognition for 3Droads can benefit the description of topological changes for IoV. This paper proposes a 3Dgeneral roadmodel basedon discrete points of roads obtained from GIS. First, the constraints imposed by 3D roads on moving vehicles areanalyzed. Then the effects of road curvature radius (Ra), longitudinal slope (Slo), and length (Len) on speed andacceleration are studied. Finally, a general 3D road network model based on road section features is established.This paper also presents intersection and road section recognition methods based on the structural features ofthe 3D road network model and the road features. Real GIS data from a specific region of Beijing is adopted tocreate the simulation scenario, and the simulation results validate the general 3D road network model and therecognitionmethod. Therefore, thiswork makes contributions to the field of intelligent transportation by providinga comprehensive approach tomodeling the 3Droad network and its topological changes in achieving efficient trafficflowand improved road safety.

Automation in road distress detection,diagnosis and treatment

Road transportation plays a crucial role in society and daily life,as the functioning and durability of roads can significantly impact a nation's economic development.In the whole life cycle of the road,the emergence of disease is unavoidable,so it is necessary to adopt relevant technical means to deal with the disease.This study comprehensively reviews the advancements in computer vision,artificial intelligence,and mobile robotics in the road domain and examines their progress and applications in road detection,diagnosis,and treatment,especially asphalt roads.Specifically,it analyzes the research progress in detecting and diagnosing surface and internal road distress and related techniques and algorithms are compared.In addition,also introduces various road gover-nance technologies,including automated repairs,intelligent construction,and path planning for crack sealing.Despite their proven effectiveness in detecting road distress,analyzing diagnoses,and planning maintenance,these technologies still confront challenges in data collection,parameter optimization,model portability,system accuracy,robustness,and real-time performance.Consequently,the integration of multidisciplinary technologies is imperative to enable the development of an integrated approach that includes road detection,diagnosis,and treatment.This paper addresses the challenges of precise defect detection,condition assessment,and unmanned construction.At the same time,the efficiency of labor liberation and road maintenance is achieved,and the automation level of the road engineering industry is improved.

Application of Modified Asphalt in Municipal Roads

The article expounds modified asphalt technology by introducing commonly used modifiers and fillers and analyzing the construction technology of modified asphalt.The use of modified asphalt in municipal roads provides new alternatives for asphalt pavement materials,but also solves the existing construction problems and reduces project costs.Therefore,the research and application of modified asphalt using new materials and new processes is a crucial aspect in road construction.

Design Strategy of Municipal Roads and Bridges Using BIM Technology

Under the rapid development of socio-economy and urbanization,the state’s attention toward urban infrastructure continues to increase.The construction of municipal road and bridge projects is related to people’s daily travel and transport safety,and it also plays an important role in promoting urban economic development.Therefore,modern technology should be fully utilized in the design of municipal roads and bridges to strengthen construction cost control and increase their social and economic benefits.In this paper,the characteristics and application status of BIM technology in municipal road and bridge design are analyzed,and corresponding road and bridge design strategies are explored to promote the healthy development of municipal road and bridge projects.

Analysis of the Application of Windbreak and Sand Fixation Technology in Desert Roads

In order to solve the problems in the construction of desert roads and improve the quality of desert roads in China,this paper discusses the current windbreak and sand fixation technologies in desert areas in China,and puts forward relevant suggestions and corresponding solutions for each problem.This paper is written with hopes of contributing to the development of windbreak and sand fixation technologies in China as well as the development of the economy,society and environment in China's deserts.

Exploring the Factors Associated with 12-Month Non-Return to Work among Motorcyclists Involved in Road Accidents

Introduction: Motorcyclists bear a disproportionate burden of morbidity and mortality from road accidents. In addition, the consequences of these accidents affect the ability of victims to return to work. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with non-return to work among surviving motorcyclists involved in road accidents 12 months after the event. Materials and Methods: It was a cross-sectional study conducted using data from a cohort of motorcyclists involved in accidents and recruited in five hospitals in Benin from July 2019 to January 2020. The dependent variable was non-return to work 12 months after the accident (yes vs no). The independent variables were categorized into two groups: baseline and 12-month follow-up variables. Logistic regression was used to determine the factors associated with non-return to work at 12 months among the participants. Results: Among the 362 participants, 55 (15.19%, 95% CI = 11.84 - 19.29) had not returned to work 12 months after the accident. Risk factors for non-return to work identified were: smoking (aOR = 4.41, 95% CI = 1.44 - 13.56, p = 0.010), hospitalization (aOR = 2.87, 95% CI = 1.14 - 7.24, p Conclusion: The prevalence of non-return to work at 12 months was high among surviving motorcyclists involved in road accidents in Benin. Integrated support for patients based on identified risk factors should effectively improve their return to work.

Research Progress of Epoxy Asphalt Material for Roads

Asphalt is a semi-solid or solid mixture formed by hydrocarbons and non-metallic elements.It is widely applied in the fields of building waterproofing and road paving.Asphalt is a low noise,durable,and renewable pavement material.However,asphalt materials have some shortcomings such as liquefying at high temperatures and brittleness at low temperatures,which are less adaptable to different environments.Therefore,people have gradually shifted their focus to asphalt modification.This paper presents an in-depth analysis and research on the composition,structure,and performance of epoxy asphalt materials for roads,so that this material can be widely used.

Autonomous Vehicle Platoons In Urban Road Networks:A Joint Distributed Reinforcement Learning and Model Predictive Control Approach

In this paper, platoons of autonomous vehicles operating in urban road networks are considered. From a methodological point of view, the problem of interest consists of formally characterizing vehicle state trajectory tubes by means of routing decisions complying with traffic congestion criteria. To this end, a novel distributed control architecture is conceived by taking advantage of two methodologies: deep reinforcement learning and model predictive control. On one hand, the routing decisions are obtained by using a distributed reinforcement learning algorithm that exploits available traffic data at each road junction. On the other hand, a bank of model predictive controllers is in charge of computing the more adequate control action for each involved vehicle. Such tasks are here combined into a single framework:the deep reinforcement learning output(action) is translated into a set-point to be tracked by the model predictive controller;conversely, the current vehicle position, resulting from the application of the control move, is exploited by the deep reinforcement learning unit for improving its reliability. The main novelty of the proposed solution lies in its hybrid nature: on one hand it fully exploits deep reinforcement learning capabilities for decisionmaking purposes;on the other hand, time-varying hard constraints are always satisfied during the dynamical platoon evolution imposed by the computed routing decisions. To efficiently evaluate the performance of the proposed control architecture, a co-design procedure, involving the SUMO and MATLAB platforms, is implemented so that complex operating environments can be used, and the information coming from road maps(links,junctions, obstacles, semaphores, etc.) and vehicle state trajectories can be shared and exchanged. Finally by considering as operating scenario a real entire city block and a platoon of eleven vehicles described by double-integrator models, several simulations have been performed with the aim to put in light the main f eatures of the proposed approach. Moreover, it is important to underline that in different operating scenarios the proposed reinforcement learning scheme is capable of significantly reducing traffic congestion phenomena when compared with well-reputed competitors.

A Brief Discussion on the Development of the Silk-Weaving Industry Along the “Southern Silk Road” in Yunnan

Ancient Yunnan was one of the most significant regions along China’s ancient“Southern Silk Road.”During the Nanzhao period(738–902)of the late Tang Dynasty,Yunnan’s silk-weaving industry underwent a qualitative leap as skilled silk craftsmen from the Bashu area migrated to Yunnan and introduced mulberry planting,silkworm breeding,and advanced silk-weaving techniques from Sichuan to the region.Consequently,people in Yunnan gradually acquired expertise in brocade weaving and embroidery.Many even mastered complex silk-weaving techniques.The development and progress of the silk-weaving industry in the ancient Yunnan region were intricately linked to the economic function and value of silk as both a commodity and currency along the“Southern Silk Road.”The local government in ancient Yunnan was greatly motivated by the economic interests brought by the development of silk-related industries and recognized the significance of developing the local silk industry.They even initiated a campaign to capture skilled silk craftsmen from Sichuan,aiming to foster the growth of the silk-weaving industry in Yunnan.After years of dedicated efforts from the local government in ancient Yunnan,the region emerged as a significant hub for silk production along China’s ancient“Southern Silk Road.”Despite the devastation caused by the wars in other parts of the country,Yunnan’s silk industry continued to thrive and provide ample silk products to sustain trade along this renowned route.In the contemporary era,amidst the decline of the silk-weaving industry in eastern China,Yunnan has proposed an industrial development strategy known as“relocating the silk-weaving industry from east to west.”This involves introducing advanced silk production techniques from the eastern regions into Yunnan to enhance and enrich its local silk industry,thereby establishing it as a traditional national sector and securing a competitive position within the global silk market.The historical experience of Yunnan’s silk industry demonstrated that economic development opportunities can only be seized through proactive endeavors rather than passive anticipation.The modern Yunnan silk industry,which upholds its historical traditions,continues to actively engage in international high-end technical cooperation,thus ensuring the enduring vitality of the ancient“Southern Silk Road.”

The coordinated evolution of ecological environment,public service,and tourism economy along the Silk Road Economic Belt,using the Dual-Carbon Targets

Carbon peak and carbon neutrality(dual-carbon)are important targets for the international response to climate change.The Silk Road Economic Belt is a strategic resource region and is important for future ecological environment and tourism development.Based on the“dual-carbon”targets,the Single index quantification,Multiple index synthesis,and Poly-criteria integration evaluation model were used in this study to measure the coordinated development index of the ecological environment,public service,and tourism economy along the Silk Road Economic Belt and to analyze its spatial and temporal evolution.Further,it explores the dynamic evolution and development trend of the three systems using the Kernel Density and Grey Markov Prediction Model.The results show that the coordinated development index along this region needs to be improved during the study period.Furthermore,the coordinated development index of the Southwest region is relatively higher than that of the Northwest region.From the development trend of the three systems,all of them develop in a stable manner;however,the tourism economy system is easily affected by external disturbances.The coordinated development index of the three systems changes dynamically and tends to be in a good state of coordination.There is a certain spatial and temporal heterogeneity.The gravity center of the coordinated development index has been in the Southwest region.During the forecast period,the coordinated development index along this region will improve significantly,while insufficient and unbalanced development will continue.

Modeling continuous traffic flow with the average velocity effect of multiple vehicles ahead on gyroidal roads

In the future connected vehicle environment,the information of multiple vehicles ahead can be readily collected in real-time,such as the velocity or headway,which provides more opportunities for information exchange and cooperative control.Meanwhile,gyroidal roads are one of the fundamental road patterns prevalent in mountainous areas.To effectively control the system,it is therefore significant to explore the evolution mechanism of traffic flow on gyroidal roads under a connected vehicle environment.In this paper,we present a new continuum model with the average velocity of multiple vehicles ahead on gyroidal roads.The stability criterion and KdV-Burger equation are deduced via linear and nonlinear stability analysis,respectively.Solving the above KdV-Burger equation yields the density wave solution,which explores the formation and propagation property of traffic jams near the neutral stability curve.Simulation examples verify that the model can reproduce complex phenomena,such as shock waves and rarefaction waves.The analysis of the local cluster effect shows that the number of vehicles ahead and the radius information,and the slope information of gyroidal roads can exert a great influence on traffic jams.The effect of the first and second terms are positive,while the last term is negative.

From“Car Priority”to“People Priority”: Exploring New Ideas for Refined Road Space Design

Roads are crucial public spaces in cities and serve as a window to showcase the city’s characteristics.They serve not only as a means of urban transportation but also as a crucial spatial carrier for urban communication activities and a significant location for meeting the increasing demands of people for a better quality of life.The current road infrastructure prioritizes the right of way for cars,neglecting the design of sidewalks and green belts within the road’s boundaries,and extension spaces between buildings and boundary lines of roads.There is a pressing need to improve street space in response to the demand for development transformation and the creation of a warmer city.This paper summarizes common problems in current road spaces,draws on the experience of excellent urban road spaces in foreign countries,discusses new ideas for the refined design of road spaces based on the transformation of road planning concepts,and suggests a reference standard for guiding detailed design.Simultaneously,the review of road construction will incorporate the detailed design of road space to enhance the role of planning in guiding and controlling the construction of road works.

‘Silk Road Artists’Rendezvous’ Exhibition

The"Silk Road Artists'Rendezvous"exhibition kicked off in Mengqi Town,Yuhang District,Hangzhou,where 152 artworks of 84 artists from 83 countries are on show.As a key sideline event of the Liangzhu Forum,the exhibition is hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China,People's Government of Zhejiang Province,and China International Culture Association(CiCA),and organized by the Bureau of International Exchanges and Cooperation of Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China,Publicity Department of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee,Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism,Hangzhou Municipal Government,and China Academy of Art(CAA)on December 3,2023 in Hangzhou,Zhejiang Province,China.

From Rejection to Embracement:The Catholic Perception of Spiritism in Brazil

The history of the relationship between Spiritism and Catholicism in Brazil can be traced through pivotal moments in the trajectory of the First Republic and the religious field since the 19th century,reflecting Brazil’s evolution into a modern,urban,and industrial society.Introduced to Brazil in the 1880s,Spiritism initially faced severe opposition from the Catholic Church,being dismissed as superstition and demon worship due to its engagement with death and spirits.Unlike Christianity,Spiritism denies the divinity of Jesus,the resurrection,and the sanctity of Church sacraments,viewing demons and angels merely as disembodied souls at different spiritual stages.Early perceptions were further complicated by the mixing of Spiritism with African and indigenous rites,which led critics to associate it with madness and mental health threats.However,the relationship between Catholicism and Spiritism in Brazil has evolved positively,particularly following the popularization of Spiritism by figures like Chico Xavier.Modern Brazilian society,characterized by increased education and religious syncretism,has grown more tolerant of diverse practices and beliefs,diminishing historical prejudices against Spiritists.This qualitative study,drawing on scholarly research and first-hand interviews,reveals that Spiritism's acceptance among Brazilian Catholics is due to its convergence with contemporary social values and the evolving profile of the average Catholic.Despite possessing a religion-like character,Spiritism is seen less as a distinct religion and more as a complementary set of practices and beliefs that enhance Catholic faith.This phenomenon mirrors the integration of Agama Hindu practices,reinforcing rather than undermining traditional religious identities.