Abstract

In recent years, the high probability of large-scale earthquakes occurring in Japan has become a major social concern; and thus, it is urgent that countermeasures and maintenance be implemented for the protection of large-scale societal infrastructures from damage due to these earthquakes. When large-scale societal infrastructures are inspected, an internal diagnosis is required to evaluate the damage condition of the structures in order to see what countermeasures should be planned ahead of the occurrence of any earthquakes. However, conventional methods of diagnosis, such as groundpenetrating radar, have their limitations. Namely, they provide high-precision results in shallow areas, but results with reduced resolution in deeper regions. To overcome the shortcomings associated with these conventional methods of exploring depths out of the investigation range, one approach is to use muography1). This paper investigates the applicability of muon exploration techniques, using cosmic-ray muons, to probe the density of structures inside earth-fill dams.

Abstract

The paper explores the transportation-land use policy connection. More specifically, it considers the question, can land use policy be used to alter transportation behavior? The answer is of some importance. If the answer is yes, then there is hope that land use policies can be designed and implemented that will bring some relief to the congestion and complex transportation problems that are facing US metropolitan areas. This is the underlying assumption behind most smart growth policy reforms. If the answer is no, then land use policy may still be important, but is not likely to play an important role in resolving transportation issues. The paper then offers a schematic that identifies necessary conditions for land use policy to play a role in addressing transportation issues. Specifically, the paper argues that for land use policy to play an effective role, three conditions must hold. First, land use must be able to alter transportation behavior; secondly, transportation infrastructure must not fully determine land use; and thirdly, the condition on which the authors consider most extensively, land use policy must significantly and constructively affect land use. After presenting the schematic, the paper considers the evidence on each of these conditions. Based on the review of the evidence, the paper concludes that land use policy can play an effective role in transportation issues, but that the role is likely to be small, often counter productive, and most effective at the neighborhood scale.

Abstract

utomobile industry is one of the most developed industries in Ukraine and in the world today. The ever-increasing demand for transportation leads to an increase in demand for fuel, which in turn increases its deficit and value. Therefore, the high cost of traditional hydrocarbon fuels and the constant reduction of their world reserves compels scientists to find renewable biofuels. The objective of this paper is to present results of a study aimed at investigating the possibility of using alternative fuels derived from the alcohol industry waste, in pure form and as additives to hydrocarbon fuels. According to the results, the main technical and operational properties of alternative fuels received on the basis of A-92 petrol and fusel oils, experimental values of density, viscosity, distillation temperature on the ENGLER machine, temperature of formation steam congestion, their optimal percentages in the mix for different types were obtained in internal combustion engines. The findings of the research also indicate that an addition of fusel oils to A-92 gasoline leads to improvement of the viscosity-temperature characteristics of formed mixtures and increase in the temperature of formation steam cork, which ultimately reduces the consumption of fuels by 10-12% and also contributes to solving the problem of recycling fusel oils.