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Fulltext Seismic response of a light rail transit station equipped with braced viscous damper

Fateh, A., Hejazi, F., Ramanathan, R.A., Jaffar, M.S.

Pertanika Journal of Science & Technology, 2016;24(2):273-283.
MyJurnal

The use of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) system is currently preferred because LRT is sustainable,
improves travel options and facilitates swift mobility in urban areas. Hence, the structural stability
and safety of this public transportation system against seismic occurrences are indispensable. Given
that these structures cannot be considered conventional frames because of their complex architectural
design, focussing meticulously on reliable seismic design codes and structural rehabilitation techniques
is vital for the design of the lateral resistance system. One Malaysian LRT station is considered in this
study, and the seismic response of this train station when equipped with supplementary viscous damper
devices is evaluated. Thus, the LRT station is modelled through finite element simulation. The methods
of seismic analysis are limited to linear seismic analyses, namely, response spectrum and time history
analyses. Results derived in this study show a significant improvement in structural response when the
station is fitted with dampers; approximately 40% reduction in displacement is observed at the top joint
of the roof. Furthermore, the lateral base shears decrease by approximately 70%.

Matched MeSH terms: Transportation
Fulltext Efficient and Stable Routing Algorithm Based on User Mobility and Node Density in Urban Vehicular Network

Al-Mayouf YR, Ismail M, Abdullah NF, Wahab AW, Mahdi OA, Khan S, et al.

PLoS One, 2016;11(11):e0165966.
PMID: 27855165 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0165966

Vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs) are considered an emerging technology in the industrial and educational fields. This technology is essential in the deployment of the intelligent transportation system, which is targeted to improve safety and efficiency of traffic. The implementation of VANETs can be effectively executed by transmitting data among vehicles with the use of multiple hops. However, the intrinsic characteristics of VANETs, such as its dynamic network topology and intermittent connectivity, limit data delivery. One particular challenge of this network is the possibility that the contributing node may only remain in the network for a limited time. Hence, to prevent data loss from that node, the information must reach the destination node via multi-hop routing techniques. An appropriate, efficient, and stable routing algorithm must be developed for various VANET applications to address the issues of dynamic topology and intermittent connectivity. Therefore, this paper proposes a novel routing algorithm called efficient and stable routing algorithm based on user mobility and node density (ESRA-MD). The proposed algorithm can adapt to significant changes that may occur in the urban vehicular environment. This algorithm works by selecting an optimal route on the basis of hop count and link duration for delivering data from source to destination, thereby satisfying various quality of service considerations. The validity of the proposed algorithm is investigated by its comparison with ARP-QD protocol, which works on the mechanism of optimal route finding in VANETs in urban environments. Simulation results reveal that the proposed ESRA-MD algorithm shows remarkable improvement in terms of delivery ratio, delivery delay, and communication overhead.

Matched MeSH terms: Transportation*
Development of a dry-reagent-based nucleic acid-sensing platform by coupling thermostabilised LATE-PCR assay to an oligonucleotide-modified lateral flow biosensor

Ang GY, Yu CY, Chan KG, Singh KK, Chan Yean Y

J Microbiol Methods, 2015 Nov;118:99-105.
PMID: 26342435 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2015.08.024

In this study, we report for the first time the development of a dry-reagent-based nucleic acid-sensing platform by combining a thermostabilised linear-after-the-exponential (LATE)-PCR assay with a one-step, hybridisation-based nucleic acid lateral flow biosensor. The nucleic acid-sensing platform was designed to overcome the need for stringent temperature control during transportation or storage of reagents and reduces the dependency on skilled personnel by decreasing the overall assay complexity and hands-on time. The platform was developed using toxigenic Vibrio cholerae as the model organism due to the bacterium's propensity to cause epidemic and pandemic cholera. The biosensor generates result which can be visualised with the naked eyes and the limit of detection was found to be 1pg of pure genomic DNA and 10CFU/ml of toxigenic V. cholerae. The dry-reagent-based nucleic acid-sensing platform was challenged with 95 toxigenic V. cholerae, 7 non-toxigenic V. cholerae and 66 other bacterial strains in spiked stool sample and complete agreement was observed when the results were compared to that of monosialoganglioside (GM1)-ELISA. Heat-stability of the thermostabilised LATE-PCR reaction mixes at different storage temperatures (4-56°C) was investigated for up to 90days. The dry-reagent-based genosensing platform with ready-to-use assay components provides an alternative method for sequence-specific detection of nucleic acid without any cold chain restriction that is associated with conventional molecular amplification techniques.

Matched MeSH terms: Transportation
Fulltext Work related injury and illness: exploring the return-to-work program in Malaysia

Awang H, Mansor N, Rodrigo SK

Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 2015 Nov;46(6):1124-33.
PMID: 26867371

Illness and injury have a significant impact on employees, their families and employers. The consequences faced by an injured worker could lead to disability, which could then lead to inability to work. This study examined the patterns of the Return to Work (RTW) using data from The Social Security Organisation (SOCSO) of Malaysia RTW database from 2010 to 2013. Factors of successful return to work, employees' salary upon returning to formal employment were also investigated. Gender, age, year of injury, industry, and job hierarchy were found to be significant predictors of employees' salary upon returning to work. Although there are other costs involved on the part of employers and employees, themselves, in the long term the financial returns that can be brought back by injured workers who have successfully returned to work combined with the qualitative benefits substantially outweighs the costs of RTW program.

Matched MeSH terms: Transportation/statistics & numerical data
Application of theory-based evaluation for the critical analysis of national biofuel policy: A case study in Malaysia

Abdul-Manan AF, Baharuddin A, Chang LW

Eval Program Plann, 2015 Oct;52:39-49.
PMID: 25898073 DOI: 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2015.03.007

Theory-based evaluation (TBE) is an effectiveness assessment technique that critically analyses the theory underlying an intervention. Whilst its use has been widely reported in the area of social programmes, it is less applied in the field of energy and climate change policy evaluations. This paper reports a recent study that has evaluated the effectiveness of the national biofuel policy (NBP) for the transport sector in Malaysia by adapting a TBE approach. Three evaluation criteria were derived from the official goals of the NBP, those are (i) improve sustainability and environmental friendliness, (ii) reduce fossil fuel dependency, and (iii) enhance stakeholders' welfare. The policy theory underlying the NBP has been reconstructed through critical examination of the policy and regulatory documents followed by a rigorous appraisal of the causal link within the policy theory through the application of scientific knowledge. This study has identified several weaknesses in the policy framework that may engender the policy to be ineffective. Experiences with the use of a TBE approach for policy evaluations are also shared in this report.

Matched MeSH terms: Transportation/methods; Transportation/standards*
Effect of asymmetrical street aspect ratios on microclimates in hot, humid regions

Qaid A, Ossen DR

Int J Biometeorol, 2015 Jun;59(6):657-77.
PMID: 25108376 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-014-0878-5

Asymmetrical street aspect ratios, i.e. different height-to-width (H1/W-H2/W) ratios, have not received much attention in the study of urban climates. Putrajaya Boulevard (northeast to southwest orientation) in Malaysia was selected to study the influence of six asymmetrical aspect ratio scenarios on the street microclimate using the Envi-met three-dimensional microclimate model (V3.1 Beta). Putrajaya Boulevard suffers from high surface and air temperature during the day due to the orientation, the low aspect ratio and the wide sky view factor. These issues are a common dilemma in many boulevards. Further, low and high symmetrical streets are incompatible with tropical regions as they offer conflicting properties during the day and at night. These scenarios are examined, therefore, to find asymmetrical streets which are able to reduce the impact of the day microclimate on boulevards, and as an alternative strategy fulfilling tropical day and night climatic conditions. Asymmetrical streets are better than low symmetrical streets in enhancing wind flow and blocking solar radiation, when tall buildings confront winds direction or solar altitudes. Therefore, mitigating heat islands or improving microclimates in asymmetrical streets based on tall buildings position which captures wind or caste shades. In northeast to southwest direction, aspect ratios of 0.8-2 reduce the morning microclimate and night heat islands yet the negative effects during the day are greater than the positive effects in the night. An aspect ratio of 2-0.8 reduces the temperature of surfaces by 10 to 14 °C and the air by 4.7 °C, recommended for enhancing boulevard microclimates and mitigating tropical heat islands.

Matched MeSH terms: Transportation/statistics & numerical data*
Fulltext A Survey on the Choice of Transportation to come to Emergency Department among Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome of A Community in Malaysia

Chew KS, Wan Masliza WM, Nik Hisamuddin NA, Mohd Hashairi F, Shaik Farid AW, Tuan Hairulnizam TK, et al.

Med J Malaysia, 2015 Feb;70(1):6-11.
PMID: 26032522 MyJurnal

BACKGROUND: Good coronary care begins from the patient's home, including early transportation. As such, it is recommended that the patients activate ambulances, rather than to use their own transportations to reach the hospitals. It is not known whether Malaysian patients prefer to use private transportations or ambulances when they develop chest pain.

OBJECTIVES: This study is conducted to explore the question of the choice of transportation modes among patients with acute coronary syndrome and the reasons behind their choices.

METHODS: This is a structured interview survey on patients diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in emergency department of Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia from April 2012 to September 2012.

RESULTS: Out of the 110 patients surveyed, 105 (95.5%) patients chose to use own transportation when they developed symptoms suggestive of ACS. Only 3 patients (2.7%) came to the emergency department within 1 hour of onset, and all these 3 patients chose to use ambulances as their modes of transportation. None of the patients who chose own transportation came within the first hour of symptoms onset. This is shown to be statistically significant (p<0.001). The level of education as well as past history of ischemic heart disease did not significantly influence the patients' choice of transportation.

CONCLUSION: The admonishment by various international resuscitation councils that patients with chest pain should be transported via ambulances may not be as straightforward as it seems. Numerous local and regional socio-cultural and logistic factors may need to be addressed.

Matched MeSH terms: Transportation*
Establishing and managing a periodontal biobank for research: the sharing of experience

Vaithilingam RD, Safii SH, Baharuddin NA, Karen-Ng LP, Saub R, Ariffin F, et al.

Oral Dis, 2015 Jan;21(1):e62-9.
PMID: 24930489 DOI: 10.1111/odi.12267

Periodontal bio-repositories, which allow banking of clinically validated human data and biological samples, provide an opportunity to derive biomarkers for periodontal diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic activities which are expected to improve patient management. This article presents the establishing of the Malaysian Periodontal Database and Biobank System (MPDBS) which was initiated in 2011 with the aim to facilitate periodontal research. Partnerships were established with collaborating centres. Policies on specimen access, authorship and acknowledgement policies were agreed upon by all participating centres before the initiation of the periodontal biobank. Ethical approval for the collection of samples and data were obtained from institutional ethics review boards. A broad-based approach for informed consent was used, which covered areas related to quality of life impacts, genetics and molecular aspects of periodontal disease. Sample collection and processing was performed using a standardized protocol. Biobanking resources such as equipment and freezers were shared with the Malaysian Oral Cancer Database and Tissue Bank System (MOCDTBS). In the development of the MPDBS, challenges that were previously faced by the MOCDTBS were considered. Future challenges in terms of ethical and legal issues will be faced when international collaborations necessitate the transportation of specimens across borders.

Matched MeSH terms: Transportation
Fulltext An M/M/c/K State-Dependent Model for Pedestrian Flow Control and Design of Facilities

Rahman K, Abdul Ghani N, Kamil AA, Mustafa A, Chowdhury MA

PLoS One, 2015;10(7):e0133229.
PMID: 26196124 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0133229

Pedestrian overflow causes queuing delay and in turn, is controlled by the capacity of a facility. Flow control or blocking control takes action to avoid queues from building up to extreme values. Thus, in this paper, the problem of pedestrian flow control in open outdoor walking facilities in equilibrium condition is investigated using M/M/c/K queuing models. State dependent service rate based on speed and density relationship is utilized. The effective rate of the Poisson arrival process to the facility is determined so as there is no overflow of pedestrians. In addition, the use of the state dependent queuing models to the design of the facilities and the effect of pedestrian personal capacity on the design and the traffic congestion are discussed. The study does not validate the sustainability of adaptation of Western design codes for the pedestrian facilities in the countries like Bangladesh.

Matched MeSH terms: Transportation
Fulltext A study of occupational noise exposure among public transportation workers in Malaysia

Siti Norhafiza Abd Razak, Nurul Hazwani Mohd Yusoff, Farah Hana Mukhtar, Norsehah Abdul Karim, Noor Hasyimah Abu Rahim

Journal of Occupational Safety and Health, 2015;12(1):69-72.
MyJurnal

Working for a minimum of 8 hours, 6 days a week might have exposed the workers of public transportation to
high noise risks. However, occupational exposures in their workplace have not been adequately characterized and
identified. Assessment of occupational noise exposure among workers at five public transportation stations was made
using Sound Level Meter and through questionnaire survey. The data obtained was combined to estimate the work
shift exposure level and health impacts to the workers by using statistical analysis. The respondents participated in the
survey to identify the symptoms of noise-induced hearing loss and other health-related problems. Results of the study
indicated that occupational noise exposure among workers for Mean Continuous Equivalent Level, Leq= 76.17 dB(A)
presents small risks of developing a hearing disability. Some of the workers show symptoms of noise-induced hearing
loss and are annoyed by the sources of noise present at the public transportation.

Matched MeSH terms: Transportation
Fulltext Production of spray-dried Sarawak pineapple (Ananas comosus) powder from enzyme liquefied puree

Pui, L. P., Ng. J. M. L., Wong, C. W.

International Food Research Journal, 2015;22(4):1631-1636.
MyJurnal

Spray drying is used widely for converting liquid food products into powder form as the dried powder is known to have a longer shelf life at ambient temperature, convenience to use and low transportation expenditure. In this study, the Sarawak pineapple puree was spray-dried and the characterization of the resulting powder was performed. The process of enzyme liquefaction was optimized with Pectinex® Ultra SP-L and Celluclast® 1.5 L (single and combined treatment) at different concentrations (0–2.5 %) and incubation time (0-2.5 hours). The combined treatment with both enzymes (1.5% v/w Pectinex® Ultra SP-L + 0.5% v/w Celluclast® 1.5 L, 1.5 hour) was found to be the best parameter, which produced purees with the lowest viscosity of 67.98 ± 4.27 cp. Optimization of spray drying process was carried out using different inlet temperatures (150-180°C) and maltodextrin concentrations (15-30 % w/w). Results indicated that the spraydried powder produced at 160°C with 15% w/w of maltodextrin has the highest yield (31.63 %). The spray-dried powder was further characterized for the moisture content (6.00 ± 0.63%), water activity (0.36 ± 0.01 Aw), hygroscopicity (17.35 ± 0.64%), bulk density (0.46 ± 0.04 g/ cm3 ) and solubility (87.33 ± 2.08 seconds). The fruit powder of this study can be incorporated into different fruit added –value products, such as fruit juice, yogurt, jelly and other beverages.

Matched MeSH terms: Transportation
Assessment of GHG emission reduction potential from Source-separated Organic Waste (SOW) management: case study in a Higher Educational Institution in Malaysia

Chee GN, Sumiani Yusoff

Sains Malaysiana, 2015;44:187-192.

In Malaysia, the greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions reduction via composting of source-separated organic waste (SOW) in municipal solid waste (MSW) has not been assessed. Assessment of GHG emissions reduction via composting of SOW is important as environmental impacts from waste management are waste-specific and local-specific. The study presents the case study for potential carbon reduction via composting of SOW in University of Malaya (UM). In this study, a series of calculations were used to evaluate the GHG emission of different SOW management scenarios. The calculations based on IPCC calculation methods (AM0025) include GHGs emissions from landfilling, fuel consumption in transportation and SOW composting activity. The methods were applied to assess the GHG emissions from five alternative SOW management scenarios in UM. From the baseline scenario (S0), a total of 1,636.18 tCO2e was generated. In conjunction with target of 22% recycling rate, as shown in S1, 14% reduction in potential GHG emission can be achieved. The carbon reduction can be further enhanced by increasing the SOW composting capacity. The net GHG emission for S1, S2, S3 and S4 were 1,399.52, 1,161.29, 857.70 and 1,060.48 tCO2e, respectively. In general, waste diversion for composting proved a significant net GHG emission reduction as shown in S3 (47%), S4 (35%) and S2 (29%). Despite the emission due to direct on-site activity, the significant reduction in methane generation at landfill has reduced the net GHG emission. The emission source of each scenario was studied and analysed.

Matched MeSH terms: Transportation
Fulltext Cost analysis of periodontitis management in public sector specialist dental clinics

Mohd-Dom T, Ayob R, Mohd-Nur A, Abdul-Manaf MR, Ishak N, Abdul-Muttalib K, et al.

BMC Oral Health, 2014 May 20;14:56.
PMID: 24884465 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6831-14-56

BACKGROUND: The objective of this paper is to quantify the cost of periodontitis management at public sector specialist periodontal clinic settings and analyse the distribution of cost components.
METHODS: Five specialist periodontal clinics in the Ministry of Health represented the public sector in providing clinical and cost data for this study. Newly-diagnosed periodontitis patients (N = 165) were recruited and followed up for one year of specialist periodontal care. Direct and indirect costs from the societal viewpoint were included in the cost analysis. They were measured in 2012 Ringgit Malaysia (MYR) and estimated from the societal perspective using activity-based and step-down costing methods, and substantiated by clinical pathways. Cost of dental equipment, consumables and labour (average treatment time) for each procedure was measured using activity-based costing method. Meanwhile, unit cost calculations for clinic administration, utilities and maintenance used step-down approach. Patient expenditures and absence from work were recorded via diary entries. The conversion from MYR to Euro was based on the 2012 rate (1€ = MYR4).
RESULTS: A total of 2900 procedures were provided, with an average cost of MYR 2820 (€705) per patient for the study year, and MYR 376 (€94) per outpatient visit. Out of this, 90% was contributed by provider cost and 10% by patient cost; 94% for direct cost and 4% for lost productivity. Treatment of aggressive periodontitis was significantly higher than for chronic periodontitis (t-test, P = 0.003). Higher costs were expended as disease severity increased (ANOVA, P = 0.022) and for patients requiring surgeries (ANOVA, P

Matched MeSH terms: Transportation/economics
The ameliorative effect of ascorbic acid on the oxidative status, live weight and recovery rate in road transport stressed goats in a hot humid tropical environment

Nwunuji TP, Mayowa OO, Yusoff SM, Bejo SK, Salisi S, Mohd EA

Anim Sci J, 2014 May;85(5):611-6.
PMID: 24612236 DOI: 10.1111/asj.12174

The ameliorative effect of ascorbic acid (AA) on live weight following transportation is vital in animal husbandry. This study investigated the influence of AA on live weight, rectal temperature (rt), and oxidative status of transport stressed goats in a hot humid tropical environment. Twenty-four goats were divided into four groups, A, B, C and D of six animals each. Group A were administered AA 100 mg/kg intramuscularly 30 min prior to 3.5 h transportation. Group B was administered AA following transportation. Group C were transported but not administered AA as positive controls while group D were not transported but were administered normal saline as negative controls. Live weight, rt and blood samples were collected before, immediately post-transport (pt), 24 h, 3 days, 7 days and 10 days pt. Plasma was used for malondialdehyde (MDA) analysis while hemolysates were used for superoxide dismutase (SOD) analysis. There was minimal live weight loss in group A compared to groups B and C. Group A recorded reduced MDA activities and increased SOD activities compared to groups B and C which recorded significantly high MDA activities. This study revealed that AA administration ameliorated the stress responses induced by transportation in animals in hot humid tropical environments. The administration of AA to goats prior to transportation could ameliorate stress and enhance productivity.

Matched MeSH terms: Transportation*
Solid waste bin detection and classification using Dynamic Time Warping and MLP classifier

Islam MS, Hannan MA, Basri H, Hussain A, Arebey M

Waste Manag, 2014 Feb;34(2):281-90.
PMID: 24238802 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2013.10.030

The increasing requirement for Solid Waste Management (SWM) has become a significant challenge for municipal authorities. A number of integrated systems and methods have introduced to overcome this challenge. Many researchers have aimed to develop an ideal SWM system, including approaches involving software-based routing, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Radio-frequency Identification (RFID), or sensor intelligent bins. Image processing solutions for the Solid Waste (SW) collection have also been developed; however, during capturing the bin image, it is challenging to position the camera for getting a bin area centralized image. As yet, there is no ideal system which can correctly estimate the amount of SW. This paper briefly discusses an efficient image processing solution to overcome these problems. Dynamic Time Warping (DTW) was used for detecting and cropping the bin area and Gabor wavelet (GW) was introduced for feature extraction of the waste bin image. Image features were used to train the classifier. A Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) classifier was used to classify the waste bin level and estimate the amount of waste inside the bin. The area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves was used to statistically evaluate classifier performance. The results of this developed system are comparable to previous image processing based system. The system demonstration using DTW with GW for feature extraction and an MLP classifier led to promising results with respect to the accuracy of waste level estimation (98.50%). The application can be used to optimize the routing of waste collection based on the estimated bin level.

Matched MeSH terms: Transportation/methods
Fulltext Predicting the use of public transportation: a case study from Putrajaya, Malaysia

Borhan MN, Syamsunur D, Akhir NM, Yazid MR, Ismail A, Rahmat RA

ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:784145.
PMID: 25110744 DOI: 10.1155/2014/784145

Putrajaya is a new federal administrative capital of Malaysia which has been set to achieve a 70% share of all travels by public transport in the city area. However, the current modal split between the public transport and private transport is 15:85. In order to understand travelers' willingness to use the public transport, a conceptual model has been developed to determine the factors that affect them to use the public transport instead of travelling in their own cars. Various variables such as service quality, environmental impact, attitude, and behavior intention were analyzed and tested using structural equation model (SEM). Results indicate that the service quality and attitude are found to have positive effects on the behavioral intention of taking the public transport. Other than this, this study also shows that the service quality and environmental impact have some positive influences on the attitude to using the public transport. However, environmental impact has no significant, positive, and direct effect on behavioral intention. The results of this study demonstrate that the model that was developed is useful in predicting the public transport and it could provide a more complete understanding of behavioral intention towards public transport use.

Matched MeSH terms: Transportation*
Fulltext Experimental and numerical investigation of the effect of different shapes of collars on the reduction of scour around a single bridge pier

Jahangirzadeh A, Basser H, Akib S, Karami H, Naji S, Shamshirband S

PLoS One, 2014;9(2):e98592.
PMID: 24919065 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0098592

The scour phenomenon around bridge piers causes great quantities of damages annually all over the world. Collars are considered as one of the substantial methods for reducing the depth and volume of scour around bridge piers. In this study, the experimental and numerical methods are used to investigate two different shapes of collars, i.e, rectangular and circular, in terms of reducing scour around a single bridge pier. The experiments were conducted in hydraulic laboratory at university of Malaya. The scour around the bridge pier and collars was simulated numerically using a three-dimensional, CFD model namely SSIIM 2.0, to verify the application of the model. The results indicated that although, both types of collars provides a considerable decrease in the depth of the scour, the rectangular collar, decreases scour depth around the pier by 79 percent, and has better performance compared to the circular collar. Furthermore, it was observed that using collars under the stream's bed, resulted in the most reduction in the scour depth around the pier. The results also show the SSIIM 2.0 model could simulate the scour phenomenon around a single bridge pier and collars with sufficient accuracy. Using the experimental and numerical results, two new equations were developed to predict the scour depth around a bridge pier exposed to circular and rectangular collars.

Matched MeSH terms: Transportation*
Fulltext Mode choice between private and public transport in Klang Valley, Malaysia

Chiu Chuen O, Karim MR, Yusoff S

ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:394587.
PMID: 24701165 DOI: 10.1155/2014/394587

In 2010, Klang Valley has only 17% trips each day were completed using public transport, with the rest of the 83% trips were made through private transport. The inclination towards private car usage will only get worse if the transport policy continues to be inefficient and ineffective. Under the National Key Economic Area, the priority aimed to stimulate the increase of modal share of public transport in the Klang Valley to 50% by 2020. In the 10th Malaysia Plan, the Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit was proposed, equipped with 141 km of MRT system, and will integrate with the existing rail networks. Nevertheless, adding kilometers into the rail system will not help, if people do not make the shift from private into public transport. This research would like to assess the possible mode shift of travellers in the Klang Valley towards using public transport, based on the utility function of available transport modes. It intends to identify the criteria that will trigger their willingness to make changes in favour of public transport as targeted by the NKEA.

Matched MeSH terms: Transportation*
Fulltext The effect of crumb rubber particle size to the optimum binder content for open graded friction course

Ibrahim MR, Katman HY, Karim MR, Koting S, Mashaan NS

ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:240786.
PMID: 24574875 DOI: 10.1155/2014/240786

The main objective of this paper is to investigate the relations of rubber size, rubber content, and binder content in determination of optimum binder content for open graded friction course (OGFC). Mix gradation type B as specified in Specification for Porous Asphalt produced by the Road Engineering Association of Malaysia (REAM) was used in this study. Marshall specimens were prepared with four different sizes of rubber, namely, 20 mesh size [0.841 mm], 40 mesh [0.42 mm], 80 mesh [0.177 mm], and 100 mesh [0.149 mm] with different concentrations of rubberised bitumen (4%, 8%, and 12%) and different percentages of binder content (4%-7%). The appropriate optimum binder content is then selected according to the results of the air voids, binder draindown, and abrasion loss test. Test results found that crumb rubber particle size can affect the optimum binder content for OGFC.

Matched MeSH terms: Transportation
Fulltext Improving rutting resistance of pavement structures using geosynthetics: an overview

Mirzapour Mounes S, Karim MR, Khodaii A, Almasi MH

ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:764218.
PMID: 24526919 DOI: 10.1155/2014/764218

A pavement structure consists of several layers for the primary purpose of transmitting and distributing traffic loads to the subgrade. Rutting is one form of pavement distresses that may influence the performance of road pavements. Geosynthetics is one type of synthetic materials utilized for improving the performance of pavements against rutting. Various studies have been conducted on using different geosynthetic materials in pavement structures by different researchers. One of the practices is a reinforcing material in asphalt pavements. This paper intends to present and discuss the discoveries from some of the studies on utilizing geosynthetics in flexible pavements as reinforcement against permanent deformation (rutting).

Matched MeSH terms: Transportation/methods*; Transportation/standards

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