Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (Spain)

Driven by globalization, informatization, and intelligence, the traditional productivity paradigm is no longer able to fully cope with today s complex economic environment and technological changes. New quality productivity has gradually become a key element of modern economic development. However, new quality productivity is not just a single breakthrough in technology, but involves systematic improvement in multiple dimensions such as resource integration, innovation driven, and intelligent applications. In the face of this challenge, systems philosophy, as a theoretical approach that emphasizes holism and dynamism, provides an effective path for a deeper understanding and optimization of new quality productivity. Through the perspective of systems philosophy, the linkage effects between various factors of productivity can be better coordinated, and the overall efficiency and flexibility of the production system can be improved. This article will analyze the constituent elements of new quality productivity from the perspective of systems philosophy, and explore its generation path, in order to provide theoretical guidance and practical reference for the continuous optimization of productivity.

This paper investigates hydrogen storage and refueling technologies that were used in rail vehicles over the past 20 years as well as planned activities as part of demonstration projects or feasibility studies. Presented are details of the currently available technology and its vehicle integration, market availability as well as standardization and research and development activities. A total of 80 international studies, corporate announcements as well as vehicle and refueling demonstration projects were evaluated with regard to storage and refueling technology, pressure level, hydrogen amount and installation concepts inside rolling stock. Furthermore, current hydrogen storage systems of worldwide manufacturers were analyzed in terms of technical data.We found that large fleets of hydrogen-fueled passenger railcars are currently being commissioned or are about to enter service along with many more vehicles on order worldwide. 35 MPa compressed gaseous storage system technology currently dominates in implementation projects. In terms of hydrogen storage requirements for railcars, sufficient energy content and range are not a major barrier at present (assuming enough installation space is available). For this reason, also hydrogen refueling stations required for 35 MPa vehicle operation are currently being set up worldwide.A wide variety of hydrogen demonstration and retrofit projects are currently underway for freight locomotive applications around the world, in addition to completed and ongoing feasibility studies. Up to now, no prevailing hydrogen storage technology emerged, especially because line-haul locomotives are required to carry significantly more energy than passenger trains. The 35 MPa compressed storage systems commonly used in passenger trains offer too little energy density for mainline locomotive operation - alternative storage technologies are not yet established. Energy tender solutions could be an option to increase hydrogen storage capacity here.

This study analyzes the life cycle costs of railway projects involving hybrid diesel-electric multiple units, focusing on the influence of lithium-ion battery technologies and energy management strategies. Specifically, 3 lithium-ion battery technologies and 6 energy management strategies are proposed, leading to a sensitivity analysis composed of 18 cases. In addition, for each case an approach for the optimal sizing of the diesel generator and lithium-ion battery is proposed. A scenario based on a real railway line is introduced and the results are compared to a traditional diesel-electric multiple unit. Potential life cycle cost savings of 16.0% are obtained when deploying a global optimization-based energy management strategy and LTO batteries.

A novel eco-friendly halogen-free cardanol-based flame retardant with P, Si, and N on the chain backbone (PSNCFR) was synthesized and incorporated into phenolic foams (PFs). PSNCFR was comprehensively investigated via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance. PSNCFR endowed PFs with flame retardancy, contributed to generating a composite char defense against flames, and efficiently prevented smoking from PFs. PSNCFR introduction improved the flexural strength of the PFs to approximately 155% of that of pristine PF. PSNCFR-modified PFs displayed a high limiting oxygen index value of 41.9%. The results of cone calorimeter show that the mean heat release rate, mean effective heat of combustion, and total heat release of the PSNCFR-modified PFs reduced by 26.92%, 35.71%, and 31.25%, respectively. In particular, the total smoke production of the PSNCFR-modified PFs decreased by 64.55%, indicating excellent smoke inhibition. As for the mechanism, the condensation and gas phases during pyrolysis were responsible for the synergistic flame retardancy in the modified PFs. The findings demonstrate that PSNCFR can be used in PF preparation to overcome their drawbacks of internal brittleness and flammability.

ABSTRACT This paper reports an examination of the economic contribution to Spain provided by sport hunting. This paper identifies the main stakeholders, the overall expenses and contribution to the Spanish Gross Domestic Product (GDP), tax revenue, and the number of jobs supported. The results confirm that hunting can be considered a key economic activity for the Spanish environment and primary sector, and a measure combatting rural depopulation.

ABSTRACTRail vehicles negotiating curves or in crosswinds are subjected to high lateral forces which provoke high displacements of the lateral suspension. As these displacements need to be limited due to gauging restrictions these forces cause the lateral suspension to reach the bumpstops and consequently the passenger comfort is significantly jeopardized. The paper presents the design of a pneumatic system that allows limiting the lateral displacement during curve negotiation (hold-off device). It describes the different phases of the design process starting from the definition of requirements to be fulfilled. The main components and the effect of their characteristics on the overall performance of the centring system are studied, and completed with an experimental analysis of the centring system. Finally, the described methodology is applied to a typical high speed rail vehicle. The results prove that the concept of a centring system which uses the same technology and components that are used in rail vehicles for the pneumatic height control system of secondary suspensions is possible. This fact is particularly interesting as the market offers this kind of components and has proven their reliability during many hours of service therefore the new hold-off system will be based on in-service validated components.

An efficient pathway to obtain aviation biofuels from triglycerides via thermal chemical conversion.

In this study, the detection method of tea saponin has been studied firstly. Determining the maximum absorption wavelength is 540 nm. Standard curve equation is y = 0.0015x - 0.0885. The correlation coefficient r = 0.9983 (p < 0.01). The relative standard deviation is 1.13%. Reclaimable rate of adding standard sample is 89.5% - 97.7%. Comparing vanille-sulfuric acid of gravimetric determination, the maximum deviation is 3.27%, indicating that vanille-sulfuric acid method is worth of quantitative analysis of tea saponin.

Molecular mechanisms that control the activities of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in the diseased or injured arterial wall remain incompletely understood. The atypical cadherin FAT1 is prominently expressed in VSMCs after vascular injury. In recent work, we found that processing of FAT1, a type I transmembrane protein, releases its intracellular domain, the FAT1ICD; in turn, FAT1ICD fragments accumulate in mitochondria and interact with electron transport complexes I and II to restrict VSMC respiration and control cell growth and neointimal formation. We hypothesized that FAT1 processing (and therefore these VSMC activities) is controlled by extracellular ligands that may interact physically via FAT1’s extended cadherin repeat or transmembrane domains. FAT4 and Dachsous 1 (DCHS1) are leading candidates for such interactions, but these proteins have not been studied in VSMCs or vascular injury response. Accordingly, we analyzed expression profiles of FAT4 and Dachsous 1 (DCHS1) during the vascular response to injury, using a rat carotid artery balloon injury model. Interestingly, FAT4 transcripts increased transiently after injury, peaking at day 7 (6.99±0.21-fold over baseline, P&lt;.001), in a pattern reminiscent of FAT1. In contrast, DCHS1 levels decreased by day 3 after injury (0.49±0.02-fold of baseline, P&lt;.001), remained low through day 14, and recovered by day 30. Physical interactions of FAT4 either with DCHS1 or with FAT1 have both been reported previously; therefore, decreased DCHS1 coincident with increased FAT4 suggest an increase in FAT4 availability and/or interaction with FAT1 during injury response. How this increase in FAT4 affects FAT1 function and VSMC metabolism and growth is the subject of ongoing investigation. FAT1 induction and processing after vascular injury represent an important novel molecular mechanism by which VSMC metabolism and growth are controlled after vascular injury. Increased availability of FAT4 cadherin due to FAT4 induction together with DCHS1 downregulation after vascular injury provides a likely upstream regulatory mechanism to govern FAT1 activities.