bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Service Reliability–Based Transit Network Design with Stochastic Demand
Authors: An Kun , Lo Hong K.
Published: March 2015

In the study on which this paper is based, a service reliability–based formulation was developed for the transit network design problem with stochastic demand. The approach considered two types of services: rapid transit services, such as bus or rail, and flexible services, such as taxi or dial-a-ride services. The notion of service reliability was used to address the issue of stochastic demand and formulate the problem as a two-phase stochastic program in which the network and frequencies of the transit lines are determined in Phase 1, and flexible services are determined in Phase 2 depending on the demand realization. The objective was to decide the optimal combination of these two service types to minimize the total expected operating cost while serving all realized origin–destination demands. The transit line alignment and passenger flow distribution pattern were studied under system optimal flows. A gradient solution approach was developed to solve the problem. An illustrative example was constructed to demonstrate the performance of the solution algorithm and the advantages of the combined services as compared with rapid transit or flexible service alone under stochastic demand.
Complex Network Method of Evaluating Resilience in Surface Transportation Networks
Authors: Osei-Asamoah Abigail , Lownes Nicholas E.
Published: March 2015

A complex network analysis methodology was adopted to evaluate structural resilience in surface transportation networks with the use of examples of the U.S. highway and Interstate networks in Connecticut and the Indiana interurban railroad network. Resilience in these networks was evaluated alongside that of a biological network, which through millions of years of evolution had developed an adaptive behavior in which cost, efficiency, and resilience were optimized in the feeding network that was constructed. Disruptions in the networks were simulated by using link-based targeted and random strategies. With simulation results, network performance under disruption was assessed by using two metrics: global efficiency and the relative size of the giant component for each disruption strategy. The biological network exhibits superior resistance to disruption regardless of strategy, a quality attributed to its redundant and cyclic weblike network structure and its innate ability to adapt to disruptions by developing network structures that have been honed through millions of years of evolution. In addition, linear correlations between network structural metrics such as the average degree, density, and average clustering coefficient were explored and analyzed.
Optimizing Ridesharing Services for Airport Access
Authors: Feng Lei , Miller-Hooks Elise , Schonfeld Paul , Mohebbi Matthew
Published: March 2015

This paper addresses the problem of optimally routing and scheduling airport shuttle vehicles that offer pickup and drop-off services to customers through ridesharing. This problem, which is a version of the dial-a-ride problem, is formulated as a mixed integer program. For the solution, an exact approach applying constraint programming in a column generation framework and the adaptation of two existing heuristics are proposed. Implementations of the mathematical program and proposed solution approaches for three operational policies are presented. The performance of the proposed approaches in regard to computational requirements and solution quality was evaluated in a real-world case study involving service records for one service day out of Washington, D.C., Dulles International Airport in Chantilly, Virginia, provided by an actual airport shuttle service provider. Results show that the heuristics provide good approximations to the exact solution.
Modeling the Use of Parking Lots near Motorways by Commuter Carpools
Authors: Heinitz Florian M. , Blasco David Saura
Published: March 2015

Fostering carpools and higher car occupancy levels in general has become a trend in transport policy. The intelligent use of private-vehicle fleets is regarded as a measure to reduce congestion, fossil energy consumption, and negative external impacts, particularly in densely populated areas. Observations in Germany suggest that the provision of sufficiently large and well-equipped park-and-pool lots near motorway access points, which are common match points on work commuter routes, is a critical success factor of rideshare-oriented policies. Moreover, the empirical results of the study presented here indicate that employees coordinate their car trips for long periods of time. This paper presents a novel approach to generalized demand modeling of such parking lots, specifically in rural areas, coupled with an existing travel demand model. The paper includes a literature review, the evaluation of a comprehensive household survey, and a synopsis of the field studies performed to date. The paper then describes a multiphase computation of parking lot use by cars left after work commuters prearranged their carpools. The distinguishing idea was to model the consideration of carpool parking and passenger collection tours jointly in the choice set formation and the subsequent qualification of choice options of participants in rideshares. The conceptual approach and its implementation were tested in a case study on investment needs for park-and-pool facilities in the German federal state of Thuringia.
Travel Demand Management and the Big Scare
Authors: Currie Graham , Jones Adam , Woolley Janet
Published: March 2015

This paper presents an independent review of the travel demand management (TDM) program for the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games, including the official TDM plan and a discussion of the undocumented but highly influential aspects of the “big scare” effect. The games were some of the largest planned in history, with more than 20 million additional trips expected in a city renowned for significant daily travel congestion. The network of Olympic lanes was the largest ever (108 mi); a traffic lane was designated for exclusive use by Olympic vehicles over a large proportion of inner London's roads. The TDM program was the largest in history and cost £30 million for extensive advertising, travel planning for 611,000 employees, new trip planning web tools, and the transmission of 107 million travel advice e-mails. This program, along with a substantial transit development program, aimed to encourage public transit use and to reduce base load travel so as to increase the capacity for games-related travel. The TDM program warned Londoners to change their travel patterns during the games. This warning, a range of probably unplanned events, and media hysteria before the games acted to enhance the big scare effect of the games on travel. The impact of the games on travel was impressive. About 20 million (more than 30%) additional transit trips resulted. Road travel itself decreased by 10% to 30%. A 26% change in travel by London residents included a 20% reduction in travel and a 13% change in travel (i.e., retiming 6%, rerouting 4%, and remoding 3%). Significantly, media reporting was highly positive during the time that the games took place. Business surveys corroborated these findings: employee attendance decreased by 30%, and a strong preference was shown to reduce and retime commutes. Implications for policy and future research are identified in the paper.
On-Street Parking Search
Authors: Brooke Sarah , Ison Stephen , Quddus Mohammed
Published: March 2015

Vehicles in search of on-street parking create an environmental and economic impact: they increase network traffic flow and congestion, heighten pollutant emissions levels, create additional noise, give rise to time delays for through vehicles, and lead to potential safety hazards when vehicles maneuver into or out of on-street spaces. Despite extensive negative externalities for individual drivers and society, the search for parking is a little researched area. The aim of this study was to review and identify factors that influenced an individual's on-street parking search decisions. These factors were time cost, pricing, areawide parking policy, and personal and socioeconomic characteristics. The study also examined methodological and modeling approaches applied to on-street parking searches. The paper identifies a research direction to investigate factors that influence parking search behavior across cities and countries, which will enable interspatial comparisons of influencing factors. The quantification of the economic, environmental, and safety impacts of the search for parking is a further important research area, which can be accomplished through an examination of the impact made by vehicles in search of parking, as distinct from the impact of through traffic. The findings of the present study have potential urban parking policy applications, which could reduce the number of vehicles that search for parking, with associated environmental and economic benefits.
Americans with Disabilities Act Cost Savings and Increased Fixed-Route Ridership through Transit Agency Travel Training
Authors: Menninger Heather , Werly Virginia
Published: March 2015

The costs of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) complementary paratransit have risen steadily in the aggregate and on a per trip basis since the act's passage in 1990. Annual costs in 2011 alone were estimated at $3.5 billion nationally. Public transportation providers increasingly use an array of strategies to control costs and manage demand for this expensive service. The Riverside Transit Agency (RTA) travel training program, for persons with disabilities and for older adults in Riverside, California, documented dial-a-ride savings at more than $342,000 from the program's first year of operation. Data presented included GFI-reported trips, which made it possible to monitor actual rider patterns, subsequent to the training, over time. The use of fare media reporting to calculate savings enabled a transit agency to document rather than to estimate cost savings. This paper reports the findings of a case study of the experience of 207 individuals with disabilities who continued to ride a fixed route, and constituted 74% of all persons that RTA's Freedom to Go Program trained to do so since it commenced late in 2012. Although the use varied greatly, on average more than 20 fixed-route trips per month were taken by program participants 7 months after initial training. Trainees included persons who had been ADA dial-a-ride users and others who were likely to have become users but did not. The study focused on the training of persons with disabilities, and reported on trainees’ fixed-route use, including other outcomes associated with the reduction of ADA complementary paratransit costs. RTA developed an increased understanding of barriers to use by its ADA riders. The paper discusses the import of travel training provided by transit agencies. Related opportunities are identified, as well as the ability to report actual, documented cost savings.
Innovative Operating Strategies for Paratransit Services with Zoning
Authors: Lu Wei , Shen Chung-Wei , Quadrifoglio Luca
Published: March 2015

Paratransit services constitute a large industry that provides transportation services to disabled and elderly customers across the country. Demand for these services has been growing since the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law in 1990 and will continue to grow in the foreseeable future. Rather than adopt a centralized operating strategy, some large transit agencies use decentralized zoning for easier management and better overall reliability (i.e., higher percentage of on-time performance). However, this strategy is inefficient, because a service provider's vehicle is not allowed to pick up customers outside its own service zone. This ban hampers ridesharing and increases the empty trip miles driven. To address this issue, the study reported in this paper explored innovative ADA operating strategies that allowed service providers to serve both trips of cross-zonal customers in need of round trip rides. Three innovative policies were proposed. New algorithms were developed to incorporate the proposed strategies into the insertions heuristically. Simulation experiments on the basis of data in Houston, Texas, and Los Angeles, California, were conducted to quantify the performance improvement over current policy. Results showed that, without sacrifices to customer levels of service, the best of the three policies analyzed could significantly reduce the inefficient empty trip miles by up to 25%. As a result, the policy could save up to 6.8% in assigned vehicles and lower the total mileage by 8%; these results implied a significant savings in operating costs with a reasonable level of service quality maintained.
Evaluation of HERO-Coordinated Ramp Metering Installation at M1 and M3 Freeways in Queensland, Australia
Authors: Faulkner Lachlan , Dekker Frans , Gyles David , Papamichail Ioannis , Papageorgiou Markos
Published: March 2015

The recently developed traffic-responsive feedback control strategy HERO (heuristic ramp metering coordination), which coordinates local ramp-metering actions in freeway networks, was implemented on the M1 and M3 freeways in Queensland, Australia. HERO employs an extended version of the feedback regulator ALINEA at the local level; it outperforms uncoordinated local ramp metering and approaches the efficiency of sophisticated optimal control schemes. HERO has been implemented by the Department of Transport and Main Roads of the State of Queensland at six on-ramps of the M1 and M3 freeways. The results show significant improvements in traffic throughput and travel times compared with the previously used fixed-rate ramp-metering system. A rapid economic benefit analysis determined a benefit–cost ratio of 13.8:1 at a 7% discount rate and, therefore, an extremely strong economic merit for the implementation of HERO. The economic payback period for the capital expenditure on this pilot is approximately 4 months.
Development of Online Scalable Approach for Identifying Secondary Crashes
Authors: Yang Hong , Ozbay Kaan , Morgui Ender Faruk , Bartin Bekir , Xie Kun
Published: March 2015

Secondary crashes are some of the most critical incidents occurring on highways. Such crashes can induce extra traffic delays and affect highway safety performance. Transportation agencies are interested in understanding the mechanism of the occurrence of secondary crashes and implementing appropriate countermeasures. However, no well-established procedure identifies secondary crashes; this deficiency in turn impedes the possibility of investigating the underlying mechanism of their occurrence. The intent of this study was to develop an online scalable approach for helping to identify secondary crashes for the large number of highways with insufficient traffic surveillance units to collect the continuous traffic data required to classify such crashes accurately. The developed approach consisted of two major components: (a) acquisition of open source traffic data and (b) identification of secondary crashes through the use of these data. Unlike existing approaches based on static thresholds, queuing models, or infrastructure-based sensor data, the developed approach took advantage of various open-source data to identify traffic conditions in the presence of incidents. This study proposed to develop virtual sensors collecting traffic data from private traffic information providers such as Bing Maps, Google Maps, and MapQuest. The availability of such data greatly expands the ability of transportation agencies to cover more highways without installing infrastructure sensors. The virtual-sensor output provides the basic input to run the developed automatic identification algorithm for identifying secondary crashes. The algorithm is described step by step to provide a readily deployable approach for transportation agencies interested in identifying secondary crashes on their highway networks.
Microsimulation-Based Framework for Freeway Travel Time Forecasting
Authors: Chilukuri Bhargava Rama , Laval Jorge A. , Guin Angshuman
Published: March 2015

This paper presents a microsimulation-based framework for generating short-term forecasts of travel time on freeway corridors. The microsimulation model that was developed replicated freeway capacity drop and relaxation phenomena critical for modeling non–steady state conditions. This framework was evaluated offline on a real-world freeway corridor by using data from manual counts and the Georgia Department of Transportation's video detection system. The travel time forecasts were compared with ground truth travel time data; the comparison demonstrated the efficacy of this framework to produce realistic forecasts.
Real-Time Queue-End Detection on Freeways with Floating Car Data
Authors: Dinh Tu-Uyen J. , Billot Romain , Pillet Eric , El Faouzi Nour-Eddin
Published: March 2015

This paper is a contribution toward an operational use of large floating car data in traffic management. The work focused on a practice-ready approach on highways. The goal was to detect in real time the end of a perturbation. As an entire highway network is not fully equipped with cameras or loop detectors, floating car data have the potential to help detect the end of a moving bottleneck better. This specific zone represents a significant road safety risk. Better real-time detection of the end of congestion is needed. To address this issue, real-world data were analyzed from a French freeway with recurrent congestion patterns. After the quality and the precision of floating car data were discussed, a dynamic spatial segmentation of the network highlighted the relevance of this data source from an operational standpoint. In addition to the empirical network characterization, a systematic detection algorithm able to detect the queue end in real time with a 500-m precision was introduced. Assuming a growing penetration rate of floating car data, the algorithm used only floating car data with simple detection rules and few parameters. The method was validated on real congestion cases. Results proved the accuracy of the detection. The paper discusses the precision of floating car data, and recommendations for road operators are introduced.
Mainstream Traffic Flow Control at Sags
Authors: Ros Bernat Goñi , Knoop Victor L. , van Arem Bart , Hoogendoorn Serge P
Published: March 2015

Sags are freeway sections along which the gradient changes significantly from downward to upward. The capacity of sags is considerably lower than the capacity of normal sections. Consequently, sags are often freeway bottlenecks. Recently, several control measures have been proposed to improve traffic flow efficiency at sags. Those measures generally aim to increase the capacity of the bottleneck, to prevent traffic flow perturbations in nearly saturated conditions, or both. This paper presents an alternative type of measure based on the concept of mainstream traffic flow control. The proposed control measure regulates traffic density at the bottleneck area to keep it below the critical density and hence prevent traffic from breaking down while maximizing outflow. Density is regulated by means of a variable speed limit section that regulates the inflow to the bottleneck. Speed limits are selected on the basis of a feedback control law. The authors evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy by means of a simple case study by using microscopic traffic simulation. The results show a significant increase in bottleneck outflow, particularly during periods of high demand, which leads to a considerable decrease in total delay. This finding suggests that mainstream traffic flow control strategies that use variable speed limits have the potential to improve substantially the performance of freeway networks containing sags.
Integrated Approach Combining Ramp Metering and Variable Speed Limits to Improve Motorway Performance
Authors: Li Duo , Ranjitkar Prakash , Ceder Avishai (Avi)
Published: March 2015

Ramp metering (RM) and variable speed limits (VSLs) are two widely used intelligent transportation system (ITS) means to improve and manage motorway traffic. The former controls the flow of traffic into motorways from on-ramps, and the latter affects the speed of traffic on the motorway main line. An integrated approach to the prudent use of these two ITS measures can help to achieve optimal utilization of motorways. This study proposed a new method to integrate RM with VSL controllers to attain an efficient and equitable motorway system. The proposed method was used to combine a local and a coordinated RM strategy, namely ALINEA and Heuristic Ramp Metering Coordination (HERO), with VSLs. The method developed was assessed with a case study in Auckland, New Zealand. The analysis of the case study was based on a critical bottleneck section of Auckland Motorway by using the AIMSUN microsimulator. The outcome performance was assessed in relation to the efficiency and equity of the motorway system. The efficiency was measured by total vehicle travel time, average number and duration of stops, and emission levels; the equity of the motorway system was measured by the Gini coefficient. The main results were that the modified VSLs and the HERO + VSL control scenarios outperformed all other control scenarios in improving vehicular emissions, total travel time, and the equity measure, respectively. This outcome provides prospects for the developed method.
Identification of Congestion Factors for Active Transportation and Demand Management
Authors: Mize Jonathan , Park Seri , Matkowski Laurie , West Matthew
Published: March 2015

Traffic congestion is getting progressively worse in the United States, and transportation agencies are looking for ways to alleviate it. Extensive research has determined the need for the use of active transportation and demand management rather than the traditional technique of responding to congestion and traffic changes after an incident has occurred. For the full implementation of this new congestion management concept, a study featuring a comprehensive database review must be conducted to identify congestion factors as well as to estimate the likelihood of the occurrence of congestion. This paper introduces a pilot study that included an analysis to identify congestion contribution factors by examining several traffic data sources obtained in the Greater Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, area. The objectives of this study were to identify congestion factors and to provide insights as well as to support the metro-polilan planning organization's (MPO's) long-term regional planning. Weekly speed data per month in 2012 were analyzed. The study site of this paper, a segment of I-95, showed slightly higher recurrent congestion levels than national average values. For nonrecurrent congestion factors, crash occurrences and holidays were two major elements contributing to total congestion. The congestion mitigation measures examined were consistent with the MPO's transportation improvement plan and transportation operations master plan.
Evaluation Framework for Rigorous Exploration of Potential Benefits of Integrated Corridor Management
Authors: Asare Sampson K. , Smith Brian L.
Published: March 2015

Highway congestion continues to be a major problem in urban transportation, and the search for feasible mitigation measures continues to evolve with the advancement in technology and a better understanding of traveler behavior. Integrated corridor management (ICM) has recently emerged as a potential mitigation measure; however, for this potential to be fully harnessed, research into the ways to identify ICM strategies that best fit the particular circumstances of a transportation corridor is necessary. This study proposed an ICM evaluation framework that was based on which strategies critical to congestion mitigation in a corridor could be identified. The proposed evaluation framework was demonstrated by using the I-95–I-395 ICM corridor in northern Virginia, where the effectiveness of selected ICM strategies was tested under both incident and nonincident conditions through a microscopic simulation model. An analysis of the simulation results identified variable speed limits, an increase in transit and parking capacities, high-occupancy vehicle–high-occupancy vehicle bypass lanes, and high-occupancy toll lanes as the most beneficial ICM strategies for both incident and nonincident traffic conditions. However, the benefits of ICM determined through the strategies modeled were confirmed to be more significant under incident conditions than nonincident conditions. As a result of the ICM strategies implemented, an average flow increment in the corridor of 6,860 persons per hour (+ 37.8%) was experienced during incident conditions compared with 3,286 persons per hour (+ 14.4%) for nonincident conditions. Improvements were also observed in average travel times and vehicle emissions.
I-85 High-Occupancy Toll Lane's Impact on Commuter Bus and Vanpool Occupancy in Atlanta, Georgia
Authors: Castrillon Felipe , Roell Maria , Khoeini Sara , Guensler Randall
Published: March 2015

In October 2011, Atlanta, Georgia, opened its first high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes, which were converted from high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes. In partnership with the Georgia Department of Transportation, the Georgia Institute of Technology established a research team to assess changes in vehicle throughput, vehicle occupancy, and passenger throughput associated with the I-85 HOV-to-HOT lane conversion. For the assessment of these measures, commuter bus ridership, which carries a significant portion of ridership, could not be collected through the applied efforts to collect field data. Moreover, the effects of ridership and vehicle throughput on vanpools, which also use the managed lanes, are unknown. The purpose of this research was to estimate the change in vehicle and person throughput of alternative modes before and after the HOV-to-HOT lane conversion. The results indicate that person throughput remained relatively stable for commuter buses, even with an increase in vehicle throughput. The vehicle throughput of vanpools was not substantial and increased slightly after the conversion. The commuter bus results were unexpected, as ridership was expected to increase because of the related travel time saving and reliability. Behavioral research is needed to understand the underlying effects of ridership to separate the underlying effects from external factors such as gas prices, travel times, employment, and others.
Spatio-temporal influence of tundra snow properties on Ku-band (17.2 GHz) backscatter
Authors: King Joshua , Kelly Richard , Kasurak Andrew , Duguay Claude , Gunn Grant , Rutter Nick , Watts Tom , Derksen Chris
Published: March 2015

During the 2010/11 boreal winter, a distributed set of backscatter measurements was collected using a ground-based Ku-band (17.2 GHz) scatterometer system at 26 open tundra sites. A standard snow-sampling procedure was completed after each scan to evaluate local variability in snow layering, depth, density and water equivalent (SWE) within the scatterometer field of view. The shallow depths and large basal depth hoar encountered presented an opportunity to evaluate backscatter under a set of previously untested conditions. Strong Ku-band response was found with increasing snow depth and snow water equivalent (SWE). In particular, co-polarized vertical backscatter increased by 0.82 dB for every 1 cm increase in SWE (R2 = 0.62). While the result indicated strong potential for Ku-band retrieval of shallow snow properties, it did not characterize the influence of sub-scan variability. An enhanced snow-sampling procedure was introduced to generate detailed characterizations of stratigraphy within the scatterometer field of view using near-infrared photography along the length of a 5 m trench. Changes in snow properties along the trench were used to discuss variations in the collocated backscatter response. A pair of contrasting observation sites was used to highlight uncertainties in backscatter response related to short length scale spatial variability in the observed tundra environment.
Lacuna band (surface depressions) occurrence and conditions of formation, Bering Glacier, Alaska
Authors: Fleisher P. Jay
Published: March 2015

Bering Glacier lacunas are steep-sided flat-floored depressions ranging from 40 to 60 m wide, 80 to 120 m long and 35 to 50 m deep. They are confined within a band of debris-free ice (1.5 km wide, 5 km long) parallel to the eastern margin of the Bering piedmont lobe. After the 1993–95 surge displaced the lacuna band several kilometers onto the foreland, a new band of lacunas began to form 5–6 years later in the same location as occupied by the displaced band. Conditions essential to lacuna formation were initiated during the surge, as overriding ice was thrust into position across the trend of a subglacial trough, leading to stagnation deep within the trough. It is proposed that stagnation combined with englacial water movement altered ice crystal fabric and resistance to ablation. Exposure of this ice through normal ablation led to differential ablation and the formation of lacunas.
Bangladeshi Anatomists Perception for Structuring the Embryology and Genetics Oral Exam of M Phil Anatomy Course
Authors: Nahar Lutfun , Shamim Khondker Manzare , Sultana Rubina , Bepari Muhammad Abdul Jalil
Published: March 2015

Context: Embryology and Genetics is a compulsory paper in the Master of Philosophy (MPhil) course in Anatomy in Bangladesh. Assessment of the knowledge, skills and attitudes of the students is a key component of a curriculum that is an integral part of any course design. Proper implementation of the assessment exams based on organized documents like exam format or card can make the course meaningful. The purpose of this study was to develop an exam format for structuring the oral exam to be followed by the examiners of the Embryology and Genetics paper of the MPhil Anatomy course. Materials & Methods: The descriptive study having both qualitative and quantitative components was carried out from January 2004 to June 2005 in the Department of Anatomy, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Dhaka, Bangladesh. The questionnaire was distributed to all the postgraduate anatomists (sixty) all over the country excepting eleven who were participated in focus group discussion. Results: The exam format is an important tool for structuring the oral exam but from time to time it should be modified depending upon the needs and situation. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bja.v12i1.22616 Bangladesh Journal of Anatomy, January 2014, Vol. 12 No. 1 pp 30-34
Variation and change in instrument noun formation in Hebrew and its relation to the verbal system
Authors: Laks Lior
Published: March 2015

This paper examines morphological variation and change in the formation of instrument nouns in Hebrew. The change is always from one of the non-participle templates into a participle template and never the other way around. Nonetheless, not all instrument nouns (INs) change their template. I contend that the transition to the participle templates can be predicted based on systematic criteria. Such a change targets both morphological and thematic transparency between the IN and the related verb. Thematically, the participle IN corresponds to a thematic role that the verb assigns. The IN has to be agentive in order to be thematically transparent and undergo morphological change. The more transparent the thematic relation between the verb and the IN is, the greater the chance for morphological change. Morphologically, the formation of the participle form is also more transparent as it requires fewer changes between the verb and the IN. The only changes that occur are affixation and changing the vowels of the base verb, and the formation in the participle templates preserves the prosodic structure of the base verb. The analysis also provides further support to the stem modification theory and shows that the formation of the instrument noun is based on internal changes on the verbal base form without separate reference to the consonantal root.
The status of so-called linking elements in German: Arguments in favor of a non-functional analysis
Authors: Neef Martin
Published: March 2015

Linking elements are typically regarded as such segments occurring within complex words (predominantly in compounds) that belong neither to the basic form of the first nor to that of the second constituent. It is a truism in morphological theory that linking elements have some function. In this article, several functions assumed in the pertinent literature are reviewed, based on a clarification of the notion ‘function in linguistics’. This review shows that a valid functional analysis of linking elements has not been given yet. The consequence drawn from this situation is that linking elements should be analyzed in a non-functional way. A viable approach is sketched, based on the well-established concept of stem form paradigms. As a result, it turns out that so-called linking elements can be reanalyzed as being part of a more comprehensive concept. Thus, linking elements are not a primary category in morphological theory.
The use of the ph1b mutant to induce recombination between the chromosomes of wheat and barley
Authors: Rey María-Dolores , Calderón María C. , Prieto Pilar
Published: March 2015

Intensive breeding has led to a narrowing in the genetic base of our major crops. In wheat, access to the extensive gene pool residing in its many and varied relatives (some cultivated, others wild) is hampered by the block on recombination imposed by the Ph1 (Pairing homoeologous 1) gene. Here, the ph1b mutant has been exploited to induced allosyndesis between wheat chromosomes and those of both Hordeum vulgare (cultivated barley) and H. chilense (a wild barley). A number of single chromosome Hordeum sp. substitution and addition lines in wheat were crossed and backcrossed to the ph1b mutant to produce plants in which pairing between the wheat and the non-wheat chromosomes was not suppressed by the presence of Ph1. Genomic in situ hybridization was applied to almost 500 BC1F2 progeny as a screen for allosyndetic recombinants. Chromosome rearrangements were detected affecting H. chilense chromosomes 4Hch, 5Hch, 6Hch, and 7Hch and H. vulgare chromosomes 4Hv, 6Hv, and 7Hv. Two of these were clearly the product of a recombination event involving chromosome 4Hch and a wheat chromosome.
Recent Progress and Advances in HGF/MET-Targeted Therapeutic Agents for Cancer Treatment
Authors: Zhang Yilong , Jain Rajul , Zhu Min
Published: March 2015

The hepatocyte growth factor (HGF): MET axis is a ligand-mediated receptor tyrosine kinase pathway that is involved in multiple cellular functions, including proliferation, survival, motility, and morphogenesis. Aberrancy in the HGF/MET pathway has been reported in multiple tumor types and is associated with tumor stage and prognosis. Thus, targeting the HGF/MET pathway has become a potential therapeutic strategy in oncology development in the last two decades. A number of novel therapeutic agents—either as therapeutic proteins or small molecules that target the HGF/MET pathway—have been tested in patients with different tumor types in clinical studies. In this review, recent progress in HGF/MET pathway-targeted therapy for cancer treatment, the therapeutic potential of HGF/MET-targeted agents, and challenges in the development of such agents will be discussed.
Design of Cobalt Nanoparticles with Tailored Structural and Morphological Properties via O/W and W/O Microemulsions and Their Deposition onto Silica
Authors: Carlo Gabriella , Lualdi Matteo , Venezia Anna , Boutonnet Magali , Sanchez-Dominguez Margarita
Published: March 2015

Cobalt nanostructures with different size and morphology, i.e., spherical nanoparticles, nanorods, and particles arranged into elongated structures, were prepared using micelles and microemulsions as confined reaction media. The syntheses were carried out using three types of systems: aqueous surfactant solutions, oil-in water (O/W), and water-in-oil (W/O) microemulsions. The influence of the surfactant and the precipitating agent used for synthesis was also investigated. For this purpose, cobalt nanostructures were prepared using different non-ionic surfactants, namely Synperonic® 10/6, Pluronic® P123 and a mixture of SPAN 20–TWEEN 80. Three different precipitating agents were used: sodium borohydride, sodium hydroxide, and oxalic acid. Our findings revealed that by changing the type of reaction media as well as the precipitating agent it is possible to modify the shape and size of the cobalt nanostructures. Moreover, the use of O/W microemulsion generates better results in terms of colloidal stability and uniformity of particle size with respect to W/O microemulsion. The different cobalt nanostructures were supported on commercial and mesoporous silica; transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images showed that after deposition the Co nanocrystals remain well dispersed on the silica supports. This behavior suggests their great potential in catalytic applications.
The Optimal Fix-Free Code for Anti-Uniform Sources
Authors: Zaghian Ali , Aghajan Adel , Gulliver T.
Published: March 2015

An \(n\) symbol source which has a Huffman code with codelength vector \(L_{n}=(1,2,3,\cdots,n-2,n-1,n-1)\) is called an anti-uniform source. In this paper, it is shown that for this class of sources, the optimal fix-free code and symmetric fix-free code is \(C_{n}^{*}=(0,11,101,1001,\cdots,1\overbrace{0\cdots0}^{n-2}1) \)
Entropy Generation Analysis for a CNT Suspension Nanofluid in Plumb Ducts with Peristalsis
Authors: Akbar Noreen
Published: March 2015

The purpose of the current investigation was to discuss the entropy generation analysis for a carbon nanotube (CNT) suspension nanofluid in a plumb duct with peristalsis. The entropy generation number due to heat transfer and fluid friction is formulated. The velocity and temperature distributions across the tube are presented along with pressure attributes. Exact analytical solution for velocity and temperature profile are obtained. It is found that the entropy generation number attains high values in the region close to the walls of the tube, while it attains low values near the center of the tube.
China’s National Monitoring Program on Ecological Functions of Forests: An Analysis of the Protocol and Initial Results
Authors: Yang Jun , Dai Guanghui , Wang Shurong
Published: March 2015

Information on the ecological functions of forests is important for sustainable forest management. In this study, we introduced the national monitoring program which has been used in China to evaluate the overall health status and ecological functions of forests. We also compared it to similar monitoring programs operating in Europe and the United States of America. We revealed the strength and drawbacks of China’s monitoring program by analyzing the initial evaluation results. Our analysis showed that among the three programs, the European program gives the most detailed measurements of conditions of forests while the U.S. program generates the most detailed information on individual trees. In comparison, China’s monitoring program has a higher spatial resolution but is narrowly focused on trees and uses coarse classifications of indicators. The health status of forests in China suggested that more resources should be invested to improve the health of existing forests, especially plantations. The limitations in China’s monitoring program need to be addressed to improve the accuracy of future assessments.
Knowledge of the Population about Visceral Leishmaniasis Transmission in Endemic Areas near the Banks of the Mossoró River in Northeastern Brazil
Authors: De Amorim Camila , Amóra Sthenia , Kazimoto Thaís , De Lima Costa Kalídia , Silva Luanna , De Sousa Maressa , Freitas Yannara , Alves Nilza , Feijó Francisco
Published: March 2015

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is an anthropozoonosis with high prevalence and incidence in the Northeastern region of Brazil. This study aimed to determine whether people living near the Mossoró River in the city of Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, have knowledge of VL and to characterize the environmental properties of this region. Questionnaires were administered to 478 residents in three neighborhoods near the Mossoró River, addressing the population’s knowledge about VL and environmental characteristics. Most survey participants were female, with ages between 18 and 40 years, 53.8% had completed primary education, and 61.5% owned pet dogs (p < 0.05). The majority (95.9%) showed little knowledge about the characteristics inherent to sandflies, and 85.3% were unaware of the environments preferred by this vector (p < 0.05). Sewage from the homes of respondents was mainly dumped into the river (44.6%), and 76.6% of the respondents complained about the accumulation of garbage in the streets (p < 0.05). The association between education and knowledge about the transmission of VL and preferred vector locations was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The lack of knowledge in the population about VL and the residential environment indicates a risk of maintaining sand fly habitats and hence disease transmission.
Effects of Family Ownership, Debt and Board Composition on Mexican Firms Performance
Authors: San Martin-Reyna Juan , Duran-Encalada Jorge
Published: March 2015

This study examines the relationship between ownership structure and performance of public firms in Mexico, considering debt and the structure of the board of directors as contextual and institutional factors. This research seeks to explain the mixed results about the relationship of ownership and performance presented by other relevant studies in family and non-family businesses, mainly in emerging countries. The results confirm the positive association between family ownership concentration and performance, calculated by Tobin’s Q, showing how the participation of inside shareholders on the board and a low debt level contribute to higher performance. However, the association of these variables with performance shows a contrasting effect in the case of family as compared to non-family businesses. The particular corporate legal context in Mexico could be highlighted as one of the main reasons for these results.
The Role of Hypoxia-Induced miR-210 in Cancer Progression
Authors: Dang Kyvan , Myers Kenneth
Published: March 2015

Prolonged hypoxia, the event of insufficient oxygen, is known to upregulate tumor development and growth by promoting the formation of a neoplastic environment. The recent discovery that a subset of cellular microRNAs (miRs) are upregulated during hypoxia, where they function to promote tumor development, highlights the importance of hypoxia-induced miRs as targets for continued investigation. miRs are short, non-coding transcripts involved in gene expression and regulation. Under hypoxic conditions, miR-210 becomes highly upregulated in response to hypoxia inducing factors (HIFs). HIF-1α drives miR-210’s overexpression and the resultant alteration of cellular processes, including cell cycle regulation, mitochondria function, apoptosis, angiogenesis and metastasis. Here we discuss hypoxia-induced dysregulation of miR-210 and the resultant changes in miR-210 protein targets that regulate cancer progression. Potential methods of targeting miR-210 as a therapeutic tool are also explored.
Effects of T-Cell Depletion on Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Outcomes in AML Patients
Authors: Hobbs Gabriela , Perales Miguel-Angel
Published: March 2015

Graft versus host disease (GVHD) remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality associated with conventional allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT). The use of T-cell depletion significantly reduces this complication. Recent prospective and retrospective data suggest that, in patients with AML in first complete remission, CD34+ selected grafts afford overall and relapse-free survival comparable to those observed in recipients of conventional grafts, while significantly decreasing GVHD. In addition, CD34+ selected grafts allow older patients, and those with medical comorbidities or with only HLA-mismatched donors to successfully undergo transplantation. Prospective data are needed to further define which groups of patients with AML are most likely to benefit from CD34+ selected grafts. Here we review the history of T-cell depletion in AML, and techniques used. We then summarize the contemporary literature using CD34+ selection in recipients of matched or partially mismatched donors (7/8 or 8/8 HLA-matched), and provide a summary of the risks and benefits of using T-cell depletion.
Examining the Conservative Shift from Harsh Justice
Authors: Pollock Joycelyn , Glassner Steven , Krajewski Andrea
Published: March 2015

Recently, a political shift has been observed, in that some political conservatives are now advocating, adjusting, or abandoning draconian drug laws, including mandatory minimums, and funding diversion, re-entry, and drug programs. Vocal proponents of this movement include Grover Norquist, Rand Paul, Edwin Meese, and Mark Levin, from the Texas Public Policy Council. Any movement away from the mass incarceration that has characterized the U.S. correctional policy for the last 30 years is welcomed; however, it is important to note carefully the philosophical foundation of the conservative’s interest in shifting correctional policy. This paper explores the potential factors contributing to this philosophical shift.
Chitin and Chitosan as Direct Compression Excipients in Pharmaceutical Applications
Authors: Badwan Adnan , Rashid Iyad , Omari Mahmoud , Darras Fouad
Published: March 2015

Despite the numerous uses of chitin and chitosan as new functional materials of high potential in various fields, they are still behind several directly compressible excipients already dominating pharmaceutical applications. There are, however, new attempts to exploit chitin and chitosan in co-processing techniques that provide a product with potential to act as a direct compression (DC) excipient. This review outlines the compression properties of chitin and chitosan in the context of DC pharmaceutical applications.
Secondary Metabolite Localization by Autofluorescence in Living Plant Cells
Authors: Talamond Pascale , Verdeil Jean-Luc , Conéjéro Geneviève
Published: March 2015

Autofluorescent molecules are abundant in plant cells and spectral images offer means for analyzing their spectra, yielding information on their accumulation and function. Based on their fluorescence characteristics, an imaging approach using multiphoton microscopy was designed to assess localization of the endogenous fluorophores in living plant cells. This method, which requires no previous treatment, provides an effective experimental tool for discriminating between multiple naturally-occurring fluorophores in living-tissues. Combined with advanced Linear Unmixing, the spectral analysis extends the possibilities and enables the simultaneous detection of fluorescent molecules reliably separating overlapping emission spectra. However, as with any technology, the possibility for artifactual results does exist. This methodological article presents an overview of the applications of tissular and intra-cellular localization of these intrinsic fluorophores in leaves and fruits (here for coffee and vanilla). This method will provide new opportunities for studying cellular environments and the behavior of endogenous fluorophores in the intracellular environment.