bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Thomas Rae , Sanders Sharon , Doust Jenny , Beller Elaine , Glasziou Paul
Published: March 2015

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

Overdiagnosis and underdiagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are widely debated, fueled by variations in prevalence estimates across countries, time, and broadening diagnostic criteria. We conducted a meta-analysis to: establish a benchmark pooled prevalence for ADHD; examine whether estimates have increased with publication of different editions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM); and explore the effect of study features on prevalence.

METHODS:

Medline, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Embase, and Web of Science were searched for studies with point prevalence estimates of ADHD. We included studies of children that used the diagnostic criteria from DSM-III, DSM-III-R and DSM-IV in any language. Data were extracted on sampling procedure, sample characteristics, assessors, measures, and whether full or partial criteria were met.

RESULTS:

The 175 eligible studies included 179 ADHD prevalence estimates with an overall pooled estimate of 7.2% (95% confidence interval: 6.7 to 7.8), and no statistically significant difference between DSM editions. In multivariable analyses, prevalence estimates for ADHD were lower when using the revised third edition of the DSM compared with the fourth edition (P = .03) and when studies were conducted in Europe compared with North America (P = .04). Few studies used population sampling with random selection. Most were from single towns or regions, thus limiting generalizability.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our review provides a benchmark prevalence estimate for ADHD. If population estimates of ADHD diagnoses exceed our estimate, then overdiagnosis may have occurred for some children. If fewer, then underdiagnosis may have occurred.
The Analysis of Chemical Processes in Reservoirs on the Basis of the Identification of Injection-Water Fraction in Produced Brine
Authors: Ishkov Oleg , Mackay Eric , Sorbie Ken
Published: March 2015

The time and subsequent evolution of injection-water breakthrough are two of the main indicators monitored by production chemists. After injected water breaks through, the risk of scaling may change significantly, and scale-mitigation procedures should be planned accordingly. The fraction of the injection water in the produced brine may be ascertained only from analysis of the produced-water samples. However, to date, there has been little discussion about other applications of injection-water-fraction tracking. In this paper, new applications that follow on from accurate knowledge of injection-water fraction are proposed.

The calculated injection-water fraction may be applied

To quickly and accurately identify when injection-water breakthrough has taken place, at which time remedial action to prevent scale damage needs to be implemented. To identify which ions are involved in in-situ geochemical reactions, and the degree of relative ion deviations (i.e., to identify ion-exchange reactions). To detect the formation or formations from which a well is producing, and to determine (potentially) the amount of flow from each layer without the use of downhole flowmetering.

Strong evidence of the involvement of barium, sulfate, and magnesium ions in reactions, on the basis of the calculations of the relative ion deviations, has been shown for field data. In another case, application of injection-water fraction prompted a re-evaluation of formation-water compositions, and as a result, it was discovered that the well was producing from a different formation after reperforation.

The significant new developments presented in this paper allow analysts to obtain an indication of which ions are involved in the reactions, and the degree of relative ion deviations. Additionally, a technique is proposed that identifies the formation or formations from which the well is producing.
New Technology Yields Ultrahigh-Strength Proppant
Authors: Palisch T.. , Duenckel R.. , Wilson B..
Published: March 2015

Nearly all of the proppant available on the market today can be classified into one of three tiers—sand, resin-coated sand, or ceramic. The products contained in these three tiers have served the industry well and have typically covered the broad spectrum of applications required by completions engineers. However, with the development of deeper reservoirs and the ongoing look at geothermal and steamflood applications, there now exists a gap in proppant technology. No conventional proppant can provide sufficient conductivity at the 20,000-psi (and higher) closure stresses anticipated in the Lower Tertiary formations in the deep Gulf of Mexico. Similarly, no conventional proppant can adequately withstand the harsh chemical conditions in many geothermal and steamflood applications.

The industry has begun to address this gap in performance with the development of higher-strength proppants. One such proppant has been developed and commercialized to meet these challenges. It achieves twice the baseline conductivity of any conventional proppant at these high stresses, and should also provide additional advantages because of increased durability. This paper will review the step-change advancements achieved by this new proppant, including improvements in both raw materials and manufacturing processes. It will present properties never seen before in regard to proppant shape, sizing, and strength. Extensive laboratory testing has been completed and will be presented to demonstrate the superior performance of the proppant in harsh conditions.

The paper will also outline the expected applications for this product, including areas in which increased production rates, superior estimated ultimate recovery, lower erosivity, and reduced equipment wear are primary concerns. Field applications are under way to properly assess the implications of these findings.

This paper should be beneficial to all completions engineers and production technologists currently working in regions with high-stress applications (≥ 14,000 psi) or other harsh conditions such as those of steamflooding and geothermal applications.
Structure, Stoichiometry, and Modeling of Mixed Calcium Magnesium Phosphonate Precipitation Squeeze-Inhibitor Complexes
Authors: Shaw S.S.. S. , Sorbie K.S.. S.
Published: March 2015

In this paper, the properties of precipitated “mixed” calcium and magnesium phosphonate scale-inhibitor (SI) complexes formed by nine common phosphonate species are investigated. These complexes are of the form SI–CaN1–MgN2, where the stoichiometry (Ca2+/SI and Mg2+/SI molar ratios; i.e., N1 and N2, respectively) in various precipitates is established experimentally, and the effect of solution pH on the stoichiometry is determined. Static precipitation tests were performed by varying the amounts of Ca2+ and Mg2+ present in the system (at a constant ionic strength) at test temperatures ranging from 20 to 95°C and at a fixed [SI] = 2,000 ppm. The stoichiometries of the solid precipitates were determined by assaying for Ca2+, Mg2+, and P in the supernatant liquid, under each test condition, by inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy. It is shown experimentally that for all nine phosphonates tested, these stoichiometries (i.e., N1 and N2 in SI–CaN1–MgN2) depend on (1) the nature of the SI (i.e., Mg2+ binding sites per molecule); (2) the solution pH, which affects the speciation of the SI; (3) the relative magnitude of the SI binding constants to Ca2+ and Mg2+ at the test pH (Kb1 and Kb2, respectively); and (4) the solution molar ratio of Mg2+/Ca2+. It is found that, as pH increases, the combined molar ratio of Ca2+ and Mg2+ to SI (i.e., Nt = N1 + N2 in the complex) increases up to a theoretical maximum Nt,max, depending on the chemical structure of the phosphonate [corroborating earlier work SPE-155114-MS (Shaw et al. 2012c) and SPE-164051-PA (Shaw and Sorbie 2014a)]. These functionality data are useful in a practical sense when performing SI-squeeze treatments in combination with Ca2+. In addition, the precipitation behavior of the various compounds is modeled theoretically by developing and solving a set of simplified equilibrium equations. Very good agreement is seen between the modeling and experimental results. Such models can be used directly in the simulation of field phosphonate precipitation-squeeze treatments to design and optimize squeeze lifetimes.
Synergistic Properties of Phosphonate and Polymeric Scale-Inhibitor Blends for Barium Sulfate Scale Inhibition
Authors: Shaw S.S.. S. , Sorbie K.S.. S.
Published: March 2015

Barium sulfate is one of the most-difficult types of scale to inhibit in oil- and gas-production systems because of its physical hardness and its chemical and thermal stability. Barium sulfate is most commonly inhibited with either phosphonate or polymeric scale inhibitors (SIs) deployed at substoichiometric concentrations. What is less well-known in the oil industry is the effect resulting from the use of combinations of two (or more) SIs synergistically for enhanced scale-inhibition performance. A positive “synergistic” effect would be one in which, for example, 5 ppm of A + 5 ppm of B performed better than 10 ppm of either A or B. In this paper, a series of static barium sulfate inhibition-efficiency (IE) test results are presented, in which a series of pairs of SIs have been tested to determine their synergistic properties at pH 5.5 and 95°C. Polymers can be blended with phosphonates or, alternatively, pairs of phosphonates or polymers may be applied. In all cases, the synergistic IE is compared with the IE of each SI tested independently at the mass dosage (i.e., the same concentration in mg/L or ppm). Each separate single SI used in the work has been tested previously for barium sulfate IE at pH 5.5 and 95°C to determine the minimum inhibitor concentration (MIC) for each species (Shaw et al 2012a, b). Previously, nine phosphonate and nine polymeric SIs were tested individually; in this work, 34 SI combinations have been tested to examine their synergistic properties. The MICs of the synergistic blends are compared with the normal MICs of the individual SIs. Surprisingly, in most cases, the IE of the blends is usually higher over the range of SI concentrations tested (i.e., the MIC of the blend is lower), compared with that of each SI tested separately. Certain “pairs” of SIs used together yield a significantly beneficial effect (e.g., DETPMP and HMTPMP, both pentaphosphonates). Some mechanistic reasons for these synergistic pairs working particularly well are suggested.
A New Simulation Model for a Beam-Pumping System Applied in Energy Saving and Resource-Consumption Reduction
Authors: Xing Mingming , Dong Shimin
Published: March 2015

There are nearly 920,000 oil-producing wells worldwide, approximately 87% of which are operated with an artificial-lift method. A rough distribution of these wells shows that 71% use a beam-pumping system, 16% use electrical submersible pumps, 7% use gas lift, and 6% use other forms of lifting systems (Alemi et al. 2011; Liu and Qi. 2011; Ghareeb et al. 2007; Xu et al. 2012). The great majority of the world's oil wells are on artificial lift; therefore, they require large amounts of external electric energy to produce hydrocarbons because the available formation energy is not sufficient to move the well fluids to the surface. On the basis of the 920,000 wells, with 10 kW/hr of consumed power for each well and oil production for 350 days of the year, beam-pumping systems consume approximately 4.77×1010 kW-hr of power per year worldwide. If the power consumption can be decreased by 20% with an energy-saving technique, that alone will help to save 0.95×1010 kW-hr of electricity per year around the world. Therefore, enormous economic benefits will be created by enhancing the system efficiency and reducing the consumption of energy.

In this paper, a new comprehensive simulation method of efficiency optimization for a sucker-rod pumping system is presented. Our new method combines a slip model of the surface-transmission system (STS) with a closely coupled model of the downhole rod-string vibration to provide an improved method for calculating the motion of a rod string and the power requirements for a conventional sucker-rod pumping system. The new model proposed in this paper will provide an improved prediction of the power requirements for conventional sucker-rod pumping systems, and the results will be significantly improved as the amount of slip in the STS increases. The new model is verified by comparing it with the available analytical solutions, and good agreement is found. Real application in a high-energy-consumption oil field shows that the new model in this paper will result in significant improvements in system design, especially when the oil wells have a small-diameter pump and high stroke frequency.
Voltammetric and theoretical studies of electrochemical behavior of cephalosporins at the mercury electrode
Authors: Nikolic Katarina , Aleksic Mara , Kapetanovic Vera , Agbaba Danica
Published: March 2015

Study of the adsorption and electroreduction behavior of cefpodoxime
proxetil, cefotaxime, desacetylcefotaxime, cefetamet, ceftriaxone,
ceftazidime, and cefuroxime axetile at the mercury electrode surface has been
performed using Cyclic (CV), Differential Pulse (DPV), and Adsorptive
Stripping Differential Pulse Voltammetry (AdSDPV). The Quantitative Structure
Property Relationship (QSPR) study of the seven cephalosporins adsorption at
the mercury electrode has been based on the density functional theory
DFT-B3LYP/6-31G (d,p) calculations of molecular orbitals, partial charges and
electron densities of analytes. The DFT-parameters and QSPR model explain
well the process of adsorption of the examined cephalosporins. QSPR study
defined that cefalosporins with lower charge of sulphur in the thiazine
moiety, lower electron density on the nitrogen atom of the N-O bond, higher
number of hydrogen bond accepting groups, and higher principal moment of
inertia should express high adsorption on the mercury electrode.
Data stream management system for moving sensor object data
Authors: Jovanovic Zeljko
Published: March 2015

Sensor and communication development has led to the development of new types
of applications. Classic database data storage becomes inadequate when data
streams arrive from multiple sensors. Then, data querying and result
presentation are not efficient. The desired results are obtained with a
delay, and the database is filled with a large amount of unnecessary data. To
adequately support the above applications, Data Stream Management System
(DSMS) applications are needed. DSMSs provide real-time data stream
processing. In this paper, a client-server system is presented with DSMS
realized on the Java WebDSMS application server side. WebDSMS functionalities
are tested with simulated data and in real-life usage.
Adenylyl Cyclase Type 5 Deficiency Protects Against Diet-Induced Obesity and Insulin Resistance
Authors: Ho David , Zhao Xin , Yan Lin , Yuan Chujun , Zong Haihong , Vatner Dorothy E. , Pessin Jeffery E. , Vatner Stephen F.
Published: March 2015

Adenylyl cyclase type 5 knockout (AC5KO) mice have increased longevity and share a similar phenotype with calorie-restricted wild-type (WT) mice. To determine the in vivo metabolic properties of AC5 deficiency, we compared the effects of standard diet (SD) and high-fat diet (HFD) on obesity, energy balance, glucose regulation, and insulin sensitivity. AC5KO mice on SD had reduced body weight and adiposity compared with WT mice. Blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels were also significantly reduced in AC5KO mice. Indirect calorimetry demonstrated increased oxygen consumption, respiratory exchange ratio, and energy expenditure in AC5KO compared with WT mice on both SD and HFD. AC5KO mice also displayed improved glucose tolerance and increased whole-body insulin sensitivity, accompanied by decreased liver glycogen stores. Euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp studies confirmed the marked improvement of glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity in AC5KO mice primarily through increased insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscle. Moreover, the genes involved in mitochondrial biogenesis and function were significantly increased in AC5KO skeletal muscle. These data demonstrate that deficiency of AC5 protects against obesity, glucose intolerance, and insulin resistance, supporting AC5 as a potential novel therapeutic target for treatment of obesity and diabetes.
Hyperhexosemia-Induced Retinal Vascular Pathology in a Novel Primate Model of Diabetic Retinopathy
Authors: Chronopoulos Argyrios , Roy Sumon , Beglova Ekaterina , Mansfield Keith , Wachtman Lynn , Roy Sayon
Published: March 2015

The paucity of animal models exhibiting full pathology of diabetic retinopathy (DR) has impeded understanding of the pathogenesis of DR and the development of therapeutic interventions. Here, we investigated whether hyperhexosemic marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) develop characteristic retinal vascular lesions including macular edema (ME), a leading cause of vision loss in DR. Marmosets maintained on 30% galactose (gal)-rich diet for 2 years were monitored for retinal vascular permeability, development of ME, and morphological characteristics including acellular capillaries (AC) and pericyte loss (PL), vessel tortuosity, and capillary basement membrane (BM) thickness. Excess vascular permeability, increased number of AC and PL, vascular BM thickening, and increased vessel tortuosity were observed in the retinas of gal-fed marmosets. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) images revealed significant thickening of the retinal foveal and the juxtafoveal area, and histological analysis showed incipient microaneurysms in retinas of gal-fed marmosets. Findings from this study indicate that hyperhexosemia can trigger retinal vascular changes similar to those seen in human DR including ME and microaneurysms. The striking similarities between the marmoset retina and the human retina, and the exceptionally small size of the monkey, offer significant advantages to this primate model of DR.
Successful Desensitization of a Patient with Aplastic Anemia to Antithymocyte Globulin
Authors: Wolanin Stephanie A. , Demain Jeffrey G. , Meier Eric A.
Published: March 2015

Antithymocyte globulin (ATG) is a polyclonal gamma immunoglobulin derived from either rabbit or equine serum that serves as therapy for aplastic anemia; however, ATG causes serum sickness in up to 70% and anaphylaxis in up to 5% of recipients. Intradermal (ID) skin testing has been the primary technique used to evaluate for a preexisting Gell and Coombs type I hypersensitivity reaction to ATG. There are no data reporting the predictive value of delayed reactions to ID testing on the risk of serum sickness. This study was designed to establish the importance of epicutaneous and ID skin testing before the administration of ATG through a case report and literature discussion. We report a patient with severe aplastic anemia that was successfully desensitized to ATG after a negative epicutaneous skin test and positive ID skin test. The patient had neither systemic nor localized reactions during the desensitization. Desensitization to ATG in patients with positive epicutaneous skin testing has been shown to be associated with serious and potentially life-threatening complications and should only be considered when the benefits outweigh the risks. Epicutaneous skin testing should be considered in conjunction with ID skin testing when screening for potential sensitivity to ATG. Because of the serious risk of anaphylaxis, desensitization should be performed in an intensive care unit setting in conjunction with a physician familiar with drug desensitization and the management of anaphylaxis.
Dye-sensitized Solar Cells: New Approaches with Organic Solid-state Hole Conductors
Authors: Vlachopoulos Nick , Zhang Jinbao , Hagfeldt Anders
Published: March 2015

Solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (sDSCs) in which a solid organic charge-transfer medium, or hole conductor (HC), is interposed between a dye-coated mesoporous oxide electrode and a conductive counter electrode, have attracted considerable interest as viable alternatives to the
more ubiquitous mediator-electrolyte DSC. Of particular importance to efficient operation are, in addition to the useful processes contributing to current generation (light harvesting, electron injection and current collection), the recombinative deleterious processes. The organic HCs are
highly reactive toward electrons in the oxide or the conducting glass support, therefore necessitating the inclusion of a carefully prepared thin blocking oxide underlayer support as well as the molecular design of special dark current-suppressing dyes. Initially (mid-1990s) sDSCs with organic
small molecular weight hole conductors have undergone systematic investigation. At the same time the first tests of sDSCs with conducting polymer hole conductors were published, with subsequent emphasis on the in situ generation of the HC inside the pores. For both types of devices
a light-to-electricity conversion efficiency, in the 5-10% range for several dye-HC combinations, approaches that of the most efficient DSCs with non-volatile liquid electrolytes, thereby encouraging further efforts for obtaining stable, efficient and inexpensive sDSCs.
Making Sense of Student Performance Data
Authors: Horn Ilana Seidel , Kane Britnie Delinger , Wilson Jonee
Published: March 2015

In the accountability era, educators are pressed to use evidence-based practice. In this comparative case study, we examine the learning opportunities afforded by teachers’ data use conversations. Using situated discourse analysis, we compare two middle school mathematics teacher workgroups interpreting data from the same district assessment. Despite similarities in their contexts, the workgroups invoked different data use logics that shaped teachers’ learning opportunities. The first workgroup’s instructional management logic linked increasing student achievement to individualization. The second workgroup’s instructional improvement logic focused on students’ thinking and linked it to instructional changes but was limited by broader instructional management logics. Evidence-based practice cannot be understood apart from the data use logics in teachers’ communities, which are shaped by policy constraints.
Operational Comparison of Transit Signal Priority Strategies
Authors: Rodriguez Adriana , Danaher Alan R.
Published: March 2015

Priority strategies for bus transit are implemented with the purpose of expediting transit flow by reducing travel times and delay while providing a more reliable system that may attract new riders and increase transit capacity. Such strategies are a critical component of bus rapid transit, although the strategies can also be applied to regular local bus operations. The interference of general traffic when buses are operating in mixed traffic results in a reduction in speed and capacity. Intersection priority treatments reduce signal delay and result in travel time savings to transit. Transit signal priority (TSP) strategies may be applied across several intersections, depending on the level of service and lane configuration characteristics of the signalized intersections along a corridor, and can be combined in the same signal operation for each approach serving transit. This paper presents a methodology for evaluating the impacts of TSP treatments on transit operations at a specific intersection by comparing various treatment options. The effectiveness of the transit priority treatment was measured by the travel time savings for bus operations given in minutes of reduced delay. The applicability of this methodology in the planning of TSP strategies for transit service is explained in two sample calculations, and the results are compared to determine the feasibility of the TSP treatment that would give the highest travel time savings for signalized intersections along the study corridor.
Examining the Characteristics of Intercity Bus Passengers in Michigan
Authors: Sperry Benjamin R. , Warner Jeffery E. , Pearson Robert G.
Published: March 2015

The Michigan Department of Transportation (DOT) supports a state-wide network of intercity bus services, including five routes operated under the FTA Section 5311 (f) program. To assist with planning activities for the state's intercity bus network, the Michigan DOT conducted an onboard survey of intercity bus passengers in the state in spring 2011. The Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) was retained to analyze the 533 surveys obtained from this effort. This paper presents the results of the TTI analysis of the Michigan DOT spring 2011 intercity bus surveys. The survey results showed that three-quarters of the intercity bus passengers were from urban areas and the remaining one-quarter were from rural areas. Most passengers were traveling for personal reasons such as visits to family or friends or vacation. One-third of the surveyed passengers were from zero-vehicle households. If the bus service were not available, 59% of the passengers would drive, 19% would use an airplane, and 22% would not make the trip. Of zero-vehicle households, 31% of passengers would not make the trip; this result indicated a key role for the intercity bus service in supporting personal mobility. Other demographic groups that benefitted from the service included females and persons with annual household income less than $20,000; both groups had a higher propensity not to make the trip in the absence of the bus service. The findings from the survey suggested that the Michigan intercity bus network was a critical transportation option for residents and visitors in the state and that bus passenger onboard surveys provided valuable information to support planning efforts.
Issues Affecting Performance of Adaptive Traffic Control Systems in Oversaturated Conditions
Authors: Campbell Robert , Skabardonis Alexander
Published: March 2015

This paper identifies three broad issues that may negatively affect the performance of an adaptive traffic control system operating a coordinated arterial when oversaturated conditions arise on at least one intersection approach. The first issue is underallocating green time to the critical (oversaturated) approach at the bottleneck intersection. Second, more green time than necessary may be given to the peak (critical) direction at intersections upstream of the bottleneck, and offsets that favor progression in the critical direction may be used inappropriately when the active bottleneck counters any benefits associated with green waves in the peak direction. Finally, offsets at intersections downstream of the bottleneck may be set inefficiently and result in additional delays for traffic departing the bottleneck and creating the potential for queue spillbacks to the bottleneck itself. Possible remedial actions involve reallocating green time to the critical approach until residual queues form on conflicting approaches (Issue 1), reducing green time at signals upstream of the bottleneck in the peak direction so that signal capacities are equivalent to the bottleneck capacity (Issue 2), and manually designing an offset plan that gives priority to traffic departing the bottleneck and protects the traffic's full green bandwidth (Issue 3). These problems are validated and analyzed on a 5-mi adaptively controlled segment of Pacific Coast Highway in Los Angeles, California, with field data from March through June 2013. The Los Angeles adaptive traffic control system is used for the validation and analysis.
Permeability of Porous Friction Course Pavements
Authors: Coleri Erdem , Kayhanian Masoud , Harvey John T.
Published: March 2015

This study investigates the effect of permanent deformation on the permeability of different asphalt porous friction course (PFC) pavements with heavy vehicle simulator (HVS) testing. The testing was performed under controlled temperatures, speeds, and loads. HVS rutting tests were performed with single and dual wheels. Under dual-wheel loading, dust was added to one of the tire tracks to determine the impact of aerially deposited dust on surface clogging of permeable pavements. Permeability measurements were performed to evaluate clogging related to dust and permanent deformation. Measurements were made on each test section before and after HVS operation with both ASTM C1701 and the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) methods. Results obtained from this study showed that ( a) permeability measured by ASTM and NCAT methods were correlated, especially when a smaller ASTM ring was used, but generally the values measured by the ASTM method were larger than those by the NCAT method; ( b) sections with thinner PFC layers were more prone to clogging, with after-HVS permeabilities close to zero; ( c) the majority of reduction in permeability values (40% to 60%) occurred after about 2,000 repetitions (less than 6-mm downward rut depth) and in most cases the permeability was reduced to near zero after 5,000 to 30,000 repetitions; and ( d) the addition of dust particles (<38 μm) did not significantly change the permeability of PFC layers; this finding indicated that the loss of permeability was primarily because of permanent deformation accumulated during the HVS operation. For this reason, the rutting performance of PFC pavements should be considered to assess the long-term effectiveness of permeable pavements for stormwater runoff control and management.
New and Innovative Concrete Pavements with Structural Dome Formwork System
Authors: Kivi Aleks , Tighe Susan L. , Hein David K.
Published: March 2015

The concrete pavement industry is actively seeking new and modern solutions to the construction of more economical, more sustainable, and more durable roads. One innovative product being evaluated for use in pavement applications consists of interlocking modular, dome-shaped plastic units that serve as a permanent formwork. The result is a concrete slab with a system of interconnected vaultlike voids below the surface. The dome shape is capable of providing carrying capacities equivalent to those of conventional slabs but requires less concrete to do so and also provides additional drainage and ventilation benefits. To evaluate the feasibility of using this structural dome formwork system in road and highway applications, a collaborative research effort was undertaken. As part of this study, a full-scale, instrumented trial section was built for testing and evaluation in an accelerated loading scenario. Details about the design and construction of the experimental pavement sections are presented. A preliminary evaluation of pavement performance during the first year of service is provided as well as discussion about this product's feasibility as pavement technology. The results obtained to date suggest that this technology has great potential in concrete pavement applications. The trial pavement sections are performing well after more than 1 year of service and are carrying heavily loaded aggregate trucks in the harsh Canadian climate. More than 1.34 million cumulative equivalent single-axle loads have been applied to the pavement to date without any significant pavement degradation. The findings obtained also indicate that the dome-shaped technology can provide significant material and cost savings as compared with conventional jointed plain concrete pavements.
Flexural Capacity of Full-Depth and Two-Lift Concrete Slabs with Recycled Aggregates
Authors: Brand Alexander S. , Amirkhanian Armen N. , Roesler Jeffery R.
Published: March 2015

Full-depth and two-lift concrete slabs were cast with fractionated reclaimed asphalt pavement and recycled concrete aggregate as partial and full replacements of the coarse aggregate in a ternary blend concrete containing cement, slag, and fly ash. These large-scale slabs were monotonically loaded at the edge to quantify the effect of recycled aggregates on the slab's flexural capacity. Although the introduction of these recycled aggregates into the concrete reduced the compressive, split tensile, and flexural strengths as well as the elastic modulus of the concrete relative to virgin aggregate concrete, fracture testing demonstrated that recycled concrete aggregate can have fracture properties statistically similar to those of virgin aggregate concrete. Testing of the flexural capacity of the slabs revealed that concrete with recycled aggregates had peak loads at failure similar to or greater than those of virgin aggregate concrete despite a significant difference in beam flexural strength. The calculated tensile stress in the slab at flexural failure was underpredicted by the beam flexural strength by a factor of 1.5 for virgin aggregate concrete and 1.9 to 2.7 for concrete with recycled aggregates; these findings demonstrate that the beam flexural strength results are not always reliable predictors of slab capacity, especially with recycled aggregates. Because of lower beam flexural strengths with recycled aggregates, pavement engineers should compare the fracture properties of concrete containing recycled aggregate with those of typical virgin aggregate concrete before deciding whether to increase the required concrete slab thickness.
Engineering Cost–Benefit Analysis of Thin, Durable Asphalt Overlays
Authors: Son Songsu , Al-Qadi Imad L.
Published: March 2015

Use of sustainable and cost-effective pavement overlays as a rehabilitation technique has been emphasized for several years as oil prices continue their instability in the United States. Since the 1980s, significant advances have been introduced in asphalt pavements regarding material selection, mix design, and construction technology that improve pavement performance. Some of these improvements require the use of a highly modified asphalt binder and expensive high-quality aggregates to achieve the desired performance. This study developed four potentially cost-effective asphalt mixtures and efficient cross sections for asphalt wearing surfaces. The newly developed asphalt mixes incorporated locally available aggregates, special binder additives such as fibers, innovative surfacing technologies, or all of these techniques. The cost-effectiveness of the newly developed asphalt mixtures is presented, and the improved performance is considered. Deterministic and probabilistic life-cycle cost analysis was performed on the considered mixes. The performance of the considered mixes was investigated in the laboratory and on site under actual traffic. The engineering cost–benefit analysis showed that the new mixtures performed better and were more cost-effective than the control mixes considered.
Cold In-Place Recycling in Nevada
Authors: Sanjeevan Selvaratnam , Piratheepan Murugaiyah , Hajj Elie Y. , Bush Anita K.
Published: March 2015

The Nevada Department of Transportation has long used CMS-2S emulsion for cold in-place recycling (CIR) projects and has recently introduced solvent-free (Reflex) emulsion and polymerized asphalt surface sealer (PASS) emulsion. An observed difference in CIR performance with changing emulsion technology prompted the assessment of long-term performance of CIR pavements throughout Nevada. The evaluated CIR projects were divided on the basis of rehabilitation type and then subdivided on the basis of emulsion technology. The study revealed that CIR followed by a hot-mix asphalt (HMA) overlay and a surface treatment performed much better on high-volume roads than did CIR with surface treatment on low-volume roads. Transverse and longitudinal cracking were the major types of distresses in CIR pavements. Approximately 50% of pavements constructed with HMA overlay and surface treatment and 95% of pavements constructed with only surface treatment experienced transverse cracking during service life. About 30% of pavements constructed with HMA overlay and surface treatment and 70% of pavements constructed with only surface treatment experienced longitudinal cracking. The CIR technology with HMA overlay and surface treatment significantly improved rutting resistance and pavement roughness. Climatic condition, CIR layer thickness, and surface treatment types were found not to affect performance of roads with CIR. The CMS-2S projects constructed with surface treatment and 1.5- to 2.5-in. HMA overlay were predicted to reach a pavement condition index value of 60 for rehabilitation in 15 years. The CMS-2S projects constructed with 3 to 4 in. of HMA overlay performed excellently up to 9 years and were expected to last more than 20 years before rehabilitation. The CIR with CMS-2S and PASS emulsions constructed with surface treatment were predicted to reach the index value of 60 after 15 and 19 years, respectively. However, Reflex emulsion was predicted to need rehabilitation after only 6 years.
Importance of Normal Confinement to Shear Bond Failure of Interface in Multilayer Asphalt Pavements
Authors: Karshenas Afshin , Cho Seong-Hwan , Tayebali Akhtarhusein A. , Guddati Murthy N. , Kim Y. Richard
Published: March 2015

Several direct shear test devices are used to evaluate the shear bond strength of tack coat materials in interlayer bonding in asphalt pavements. Some devices have the capability of evaluating strength in direct shear with normal confinement, whereas other devices do not have that capability or use passive confinement to evaluate the interlayer bond strength. The literature indicates that interlayer bond strength increases with the application of normal confinement. However, the question remains as to the level of normal confinement, if any, that should be used in direct shear testing to evaluate the interlayer bond strength for specification acceptance or design. This study presents a methodology to interpret laboratory bond strength test results in relation to the state of stress at the layer interface in a representative pavement section. The results confirm the importance of normal confinement for shear bond strength evaluation and provide guidance for the selection of the appropriate level of normal confinement.
Fugitive Aesthetics: Embodiment, Sexuality and Escape from Alcatraz
Authors: Chare Nicholas
Published: March 2015

This essay builds on Jacques Rancière's exploration of the relationship between aesthetics and politics to analyse queer sexuality in Don Siegel's prison film Escape from Alcatraz. The film both illustrates and embodies what Rancière refers to as a redistribution of the sensible, an opening up of a new way of making sense of the world. In Escape from Alcatraz this sense-making is bound up with same-sex desire. Rancière is usually concerned with aesthetic practices linked to class struggle. This essay, however, examines how Rancière's ideas are also illuminating in relation to subjugated sexual experiences.
Excavation of a Roman road and discovery of a cup-and-ring marked stone near Crawford, South Lanarkshire
Authors: Mitchell Stuart , Anderson Sue
Published: March 2015

An archaeological excavation was carried out on a section of Roman Road in advance of the installation of an electrical cable between the Clyde windfarm and a substation at Elvanfoot. The road comprised a foundation of large cobbles and sub-rounded stones set directly onto the old ground surface, with the voids packed with angular coarse gravel. It was surfaced with small grained coarse gravel. A large spread of stones located close to the road was excavated and is interpreted as a stockpile for road builders or menders. A shallow pit and a nearby mound of upcast was also discovered and is interpreted as a quarry pit for the road. A cup-and-ring-marked stone in the road points to the robbing of stones for the construction of the road from earlier monuments.
Using Inertial Sensors in Smartphones for Curriculum Experiments of Inertial Navigation Technology
Authors: Niu Xiaoji , Wang Qingjiang , Li You , Li Qingli , Liu Jingnan
Published: March 2015

Inertial technology has been used in a wide range of applications such as guidance, navigation, and motion tracking. However, there are few undergraduate courses that focus on the inertial technology. Traditional inertial navigation systems (INS) and relevant testing facilities are expensive and complicated in operation, which makes it inconvenient and risky to perform teaching experiments with such systems. To solve this issue, this paper proposes the idea of using smartphones, which are ubiquitous and commonly contain off-the-shelf inertial sensors, as the experimental devices. A series of curriculum experiments are designed, including the Allan variance test, the calibration test, the initial leveling test and the drift feature test. These experiments are well-selected and can be implemented simply with the smartphones and without any other specialized tools. The curriculum syllabus was designed and tentatively carried out on 14 undergraduate students with a science and engineering background. Feedback from the students show that the curriculum can help them gain a comprehensive understanding of the inertial technology such as calibration and modeling of the sensor errors, determination of the device attitude and accumulation of the sensor errors in the navigation algorithm. The use of inertial sensors in smartphones provides the students the first-hand experiences and intuitive feelings about the function of inertial sensors. Moreover, it can motivate students to utilize ubiquitous low-cost sensors in their future research.
Efficient Prediction of Progesterone Receptor Interactome Using a Support Vector Machine Model
Authors: Liu Ji-Long , Peng Ying , Fu Yong-Sheng
Published: March 2015

Protein-protein interaction (PPI) is essential for almost all cellular processes and identification of PPI is a crucial task for biomedical researchers. So far, most computational studies of PPI are intended for pair-wise prediction. Theoretically, predicting protein partners for a single protein is likely a simpler problem. Given enough data for a particular protein, the results can be more accurate than general PPI predictors. In the present study, we assessed the potential of using the support vector machine (SVM) model with selected features centered on a particular protein for PPI prediction. As a proof-of-concept study, we applied this method to identify the interactome of progesterone receptor (PR), a protein which is essential for coordinating female reproduction in mammals by mediating the actions of ovarian progesterone. We achieved an accuracy of 91.9%, sensitivity of 92.8% and specificity of 91.2%. Our method is generally applicable to any other proteins and therefore may be of help in guiding biomedical experiments.
DNA-Assisted Solubilization of Carbon Nanotubes and Construction of DNA-MWCNT Cross-Linked Hybrid Hydrogels
Authors: Zinchenko Anatoly , Taki Yosuke , Sergeyev Vladimir , Murata Shizuaki
Published: March 2015

A simple method for preparation of DNA-carbon nanotubes hybrid hydrogel based on a two-step procedure including: (i) solubilization of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) in aqueous solution of DNA, and (ii) chemical cross-linking between solubilized MWCNT via adsorbed DNA and free DNA by ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether is reported. We show that there exists a critical concentration of MWCNT below which a homogeneous dispersion of MWCNT in hybrid hydrogel can be achieved, while at higher concentrations of MWCNT the aggregation of MWCNT inside hydrogel occurs. The strengthening effect of carbon nanotube in the process of hydrogel shrinking in solutions with high salt concentration was demonstrated and significant passivation of MWCNT adsorption properties towards low-molecular-weight aromatic binders due to DNA adsorption on MWCNT surface was revealed.
Associations between Yogurt, Dairy, Calcium, and Vitamin D Intake and Obesity among U.S. Children Aged 8–18 Years: NHANES, 2005–2008
Authors: Keast Debra , Hill Gallant Kathleen , Albertson Ann , Gugger Carolyn , Holschuh Norton
Published: March 2015

The aim of this study was to investigate associations of yogurt and dairy consumption with energy, macronutrient, calcium, and vitamin D intakes, and associations with indicators of overweight/obesity in U.S. children in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 2005–2008). Using 24-hour recall data, children 8–18 years of age were classified to dairy consumption groups of <1, 1 to <2, or 2+ dairy servings, and yogurt consumers were those who reported eating yogurt during at least one of two dietary intake interviews. NHANES anthropometric measurements were used, and BMI and BMI-for-age percentiles were calculated. Yogurt and dairy consumption were associated with higher intakes of calcium, vitamin D and protein. Yogurt intake was associated with lower total fat and saturated fat intakes and body fat as measured by subscapular skinfold thickness. This study supports consumption of yogurt and higher amounts of dairy as eating patterns associated with greater intake of specific shortfall nutrients, and lower body fat in U.S. children.
A Region-Based GeneSIS Segmentation Algorithm for the Classification of Remotely Sensed Images
Authors: Mylonas Stelios , Stavrakoudis Dimitris , Theocharis John , Mastorocostas Paris
Published: March 2015

This paper proposes an object-based segmentation/classification scheme for remotely sensed images, based on a novel variant of the recently proposed Genetic Sequential Image Segmentation (GeneSIS) algorithm. GeneSIS segments the image in an iterative manner, whereby at each iteration a single object is extracted via a genetic-based object extraction algorithm. Contrary to the previous pixel-based GeneSIS where the candidate objects to be extracted were evaluated through the fuzzy content of their included pixels, in the newly developed region-based GeneSIS algorithm, a watershed-driven fine segmentation map is initially obtained from the original image, which serves as the basis for the forthcoming GeneSIS segmentation. Furthermore, in order to enhance the spatial search capabilities, we introduce a more descriptive encoding scheme in the object extraction algorithm, where the structural search modules are represented by polygonal shapes. Our objectives in the new framework are posed as follows: enhance the flexibility of the algorithm in extracting more flexible object shapes, assure high level classification accuracies, and reduce the execution time of the segmentation, while at the same time preserving all the inherent attributes of the GeneSIS approach. Finally, exploiting the inherent attribute of GeneSIS to produce multiple segmentations, we also propose two segmentation fusion schemes that operate on the ensemble of segmentations generated by GeneSIS. Our approaches are tested on an urban and two agricultural images. The results show that region-based GeneSIS has considerably lower computational demands compared to the pixel-based one. Furthermore, the suggested methods achieve higher classification accuracies and good segmentation maps compared to a series of existing algorithms.