The Integrated Kinetic Energy Recoup Drive (i-KERD): An Optimized Powertrain for EVs, HEVs and FCEVs

In this paper, a particular form of flywheel hybrid powertrain, namely, the Integrated Kinetic Energy Recoup Drive (i-KERD) is fully explored and its applications for EVs, HEVs and FCEVs in recent years to show the energy-savings and performance enhancement potential of this innovative powertrain technology. It is shown that the i-KERD is a small highspeed flywheel integrated into an e-CVT, or power-split hybrid drive. Under NEDC or WLTC, typically it can achieve some 40% energy savings and >50% gain in 0–100 kph acceleration due to effective regenerative braking mechanism of the integrated flywheel power system. In addition to its “peak-shaving” capability, the highly-efficient, long-life flywheel power on-board, is able to keep the kinetic energy of the vehicle fully recycled, rather than dissipated during braking. The i-KERD technology has also been applied to urban railway transportation (i.e., underground railway) and off-road heavy construction equipment, where regenerative braking plays a great role on energy efficiency.

Directivos ante situaciones de crisis. El uso de LinkedIn por parte de la CEO de Metro de Madrid durante la borrasca Filomena / Senior managers in crisis situations. The use of LinkedIn by the CEO of Metro de Madrid during the storm Filomena

In January 2021, the storm Filomena paralysed Spain. One of the most affected cities was Madrid, which suffered a general collapse for several days. Metro de Madrid (underground railway company and one of the most popular public services in the city) continued to provide service to its users. Silvia Roldan (CEO of Metro de Madrid) wrote a daily post on LinkedIn to explain to users what problems they were facing, how they were being solved and how the service was ensured. Metro de Madrid is an underground railway company that was inaugurated in 1919. It extends over 294 kilometres distributed in 302 stations. It employs 7,000 persons. Other data of Metro de Madrid are: 2,400 cars, 8,758 security cameras, 1,263 vending machines, 2,424 tele-indicators, 1,703 escalators, 541 lifts and 5,386 intercoms. "LinkedIn is a social network that has a great attraction, you are addressing a professional audience, which judges you on the basis of the work you do", says the CEO of Metro de Madrid in an interview conducted to illustrate this research. This research is based on two hypotheses: 1) In a crisis context, direct communication between a company's executive and stakeholders reduces uncertainty and helps to restore institutional equilibrium; and 2) It is possible to find a paradigmatic model in this type of communication with specific stakeholders. This research carried out a quantitative and qualitative analysis using a content analysis of Roldan’s posts on LinkedIn during this crisis and an interview with the CEO of Metro de Madrid. This case gives us some lessons in communication as main results. LinkedIn is an optimal platform for crisis communication, especially if we want to transmit moderately long messages, with nuances, aimed at a professional audience willing to listen and dialogue. Roldan’s colloquial and friendly tone used in her posts are justified in this case (Filomena crisis). She is CEO of the company, direct witness of the facts and responsible for the solutions that are implemented. She uses the first-person narrative, which produces closeness and is a good remedy against uncertainty. It complements institutional messages, transmitted through institutional media and channels, which use a more aseptic and formal tone. The use of photographs in the published posts establishes an emotional links between the author of the post and readers. Readers feel like a direct witness of the facts, especially when the photograph is a subjective close-up. LinkedIn, despite not being Metro de Madrid's main communication channel, is a useful and valuable platform for communicating in emergency situations, even in a more personal and less institutional way than other platforms. Perhaps its greatest virtue is to target a professional and specialised audience, which can be proactive in the resolution of an emergency. The use of LinkedIn in emergency situations is still under-researched compared to other social platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp or Instagram. This article is part of the competitive research project: “Crisis and emergency communication in Social Media. Study of its use in Spain and design of information protocols for institutions and media (COMCRISIS - PID2019-109064GB-I00)” granted and funded by the Ministry of Science and Innovation of the Spanish Government.

ANALYSIS OF FACTORS INFLUENCING THE NUMBER OF CALLS FOR EMERGENCY TEAMS TO PHARMACIES OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS

The article is devoted to the study of factors influencing the number of calls for emergency teams (Emergency Teams - hereinafter ETs) to pharmacies in Minsk and regional centers of the Republic of Belarus. The data about the number of calls to ETs are provided by the city or regional emergency medical settings (hereinafter referred as EMS). A retrospective analysis of ETs calls to pharmacies was carried out during 01.01.2013-31.12.2018. The study covered 2,214 ETs calls and 1,386 pharmacies were included. The factors studied were considered: the number of population living in Minsk and regional centers, the form of pharmacies ownership, their category and location, the distance from health care institutions, the presence of traffiс bus stops (including underground railway stations) and shopping facilities near pharmacies. We used the correlation analysis and 2 x 2 contingency tables to study the relationship between the number of ETs calls to pharmacies. As a result of the study, it was found out that with an increase in the population and the number of pharmacies of the 1^st, 2^nd and 5^th categories the number of calls to pharmacies increased; more calls were from pharmacies of the 1^st and 2^nd categories compared to pharmacies of the 5^th category in Minsk and regional centers. There is a tendency to the decrease of ETs calls to pharmacies as to their distance from healthcare institutions. The other factors (pharmacy location, traffic bus stops and trade organizations locations near it) influence the number of ETs calls to pharmacies in different ways depending on the region. It is concluded that at any pharmacy a customer may have a health problem requiring medical care.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE METHODOLOGY FOR MEASURING NOISE LEVELS IN THE UNDERGROUND ROLLING STOCK

This document specifies the methodology for measuring equivalent sound pressure levels in octave frequency bands (in dB rel. 20 μPa), equivalent and maximum A-corrected sound levels (in dB rel. to 20 μPa), generated in the rolling stock in the driver’s cabins and in the passenger rooms of the salons, using acoustic meters - multifunctional analyzers Ecophysics, noise and vibration meters, spectrum analyzers Ecophysics 110A, Oktava 110A Eco, Oktava 110A, Oktava 111, B&K 2250, 2250L, 2270, noise and vibration analyzers ASSISTANT, noise and vibration meters, digital spectrum analyzers Algorithm-05, SVAN979. This methodology is applicable for noise measurements in the driver’s cabins and in the passenger rooms of the rolling stock of both new and old models operated by the underground railway.