bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Foliar Application of Salicylic Acid Improved the Growth, Yield and Leaf's Bioactive Compounds in Red Amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor L.)
Authors: Khandaker Laila , Masum Akond A. , Oba Shinya
Published: August 2011

Foliar Application of Salicylic Acid Improved the Growth, Yield and Leaf's Bioactive Compounds in Red Amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor L.)

This study was conducted to determine the effect of foliar salicylic acid (SA) applications on growth, yield and bioactive compounds of red amaranth grown under greenhouse conditions in 2008 at Gifu University, Japan. SA was applied at three different concentrations (10-3, 10-4 and 10-5 M), three times during the vegetation at 7-day intervals one week after sowing. Growth parameters (plant height, stem length, number and size of leaves, root length) and yield (fresh and dry matter weight) were recorded from treated and control plants on 28 days after sowing. Among bioactive compounds, betacyanins, chlorophyll, total polyphenol and antioxidant activity were the determined from the leaves of treated and control plants. All of three doses SA application enhanced the plant growth, yield and leaf's bioactive compounds compared to the control. The growth parameters and yield of red amaranth was significantly influenced by foliar SA applications. The highest yield, antioxidant activity, amount of betacyanins, chlorophyll and total polyphenol occurred in 10-5 M SA treatment. According to our results, applications SA at rate of 10-5 M should be recommended in order to improve yield and bioactive compounds in red amaranth.
Influence of Nitrogen Fertilization of Cabbage Grown in Mulches of Winter Cover Crops on Reducing the Population of the Cabbage Aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae L.)
Authors: Kotliński Stanisław
Published: August 2011

Influence of Nitrogen Fertilization of Cabbage Grown in Mulches of Winter Cover Crops on Reducing the Population of the Cabbage Aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae L.)

In 2003-2004, the influence of mulches of winter cover crops on the population of the cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae L.) in white cabbage production with two levels of N fertilization was investigated. Winter cover crops (rye, hairy vetch and their mixture) reduced B. brassicae population on cabbage by 86.1% to 100%. The level of nitrogen fertilization of cabbage had no effect on the aphid population. In addition, it was found that higher levels of nitrogen fertilization can cause an increase in the population of B. brassicae when cabbage is grown in bare soil.
Antifungal Activity of Essential Oils from Two Varieties of Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)
Authors: Jakowienko Paulina , Wójcik-Stopczyńska Barbara , Jadczak Dorota
Published: August 2011

Antifungal Activity of Essential Oils from Two Varieties of Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)

The aim of this work was an evaluation of the antifungal activity of essential oils from two cultivars of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.): ‘Wala’ and ‘Fine Verde’. The essential oils from dried, ground herbs were extracted with the hydro-distillation method using Deryng apparatus. The composition of the oils was analyzed by gas chromatography. The antifungal activity of the oils was tested against the following strains: Alternaria sp., Aspergillus flavus, Botrytis cinerea, Cladosporium herbarum, Eurotium amstelodami and Eurotium chevalieri. The disc diffusion agar method was applied. Each oil was used in two doses, 10 and 5 μl/disc. A disc (6 mm dia.), soaked with oil, was placed on agar plates, which had been previously inoculated with spores of the different strains. The diameters of fungal growth inhibition zones were measured after 72h of incubation at 25°C and expressed in millimeters. The obtained results showed that the diameter of the mycelium growth inhibition zone significantly depended on the source of oil, the dose of oil, and the species of fungi. The essential oil from the ‘Wala’ variety was more effective against the tested fungi than the oil from ‘Fine Verde’ and the inhibition zones were greater when the dose of the oils was higher. E. chevalieri was the most sensitive to both of the oils and A. flavus was the most resistant. The differences in the antifungal activity of the tested oils were probably the result of their different chemical compositions. In comparison with the ‘Fine Verde’ oil, the oil from ‘Wala’ had more than twice the amount of linalool, more 1,8-cineole, and contained geraniol and methyl chavicol. In the conditions of the experiment both oils showed greater antifungal activity than cycloheximide (actidion) and methyl thiophanate (Topsin M 500 SC) used as controls.
Comparison of Amino Acid Content in Canned Pleurotus Ostreatus and Agaricus Bisporus Mushrooms
Authors: Jaworska Grażyna , Bernaś Emilia
Published: August 2011

Comparison of Amino Acid Content in Canned Pleurotus Ostreatus and Agaricus Bisporus Mushrooms

The work compares the levels of amino acids in canned Pleurotus ostreatus and Agaricus bisporus mushrooms. Compared with A. bisporus, P. ostreatus contained significantly lower levels of ash, total nitrogen and protein nitrogen (by 17-40%), but 12% more total carbohydrates. Protein nitrogen constituted 87% of the total nitrogen in A. bisporus and 72% in P. ostreatus. The conversion factor from total nitrogen to protein was 3.45 in A. bisporus, 15% lower than in P. ostreatus. In both species, glutamine was the most abundant endogenous amino acid while leucine was the most abundant exogenous amino acid. The least abundant endogenous and exogenous amino acids were respectively glycine, and methionine and cysteine. When the results were expressed in terms of per 100 g of fresh matter, P. ostreatus contained significantly higher levels of arginine, tyrosine and valine than A. bisporus (by 14-21%), but lower levels of alanine, asparagine, glutamine, glycine, cysteine and histidine (by 5-38%). In terms of per 100 g of protein, P. ostreatus contained significantly higher levels of alanine, arginine, glycine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, threonine, tyrosine and valine (by 9-40%) than A. bisporus, but lower levels of asparagine, glutamine, proline and cysteine (by 5-37%). Compared with the FAO/WHO reference protein patterns, no limiting amino acids were found in either species. The EAA (Essential Amino Acid) index values for canned P. ostreatus were 11% higher than for canned A. bisporus.
Physical Properties of Potato Tubers CV. Analytic Cultivated in Iran
Authors: Dalvand Mohammad
Published: August 2011

Physical Properties of Potato Tubers CV. Analytic Cultivated in Iran

The objective of the experiments was to study some physical properties of potato tubers, such as dimensions, weight, projected area, sliding and rolling friction properties, in order to determine the best post-harvest options. Mean values of weight, length, width, thickness and CPA were 136.69 g, 78.99 mm, 57.12 mm, 50.44 mm, and 33.12 cm2, respectively. The lowest values of the coefficients of rolling and sliding friction were obtained for sheet glass. Tuber mass was predicted based on the dimensions, projected area and volume. Linear models and nonlinear models were investigated. The results indicated that best model for predicting tuber mass was based on projected area with R2= 0.99.
Effect of Maturity Stage and Short-Term Storage on the Biological Quality of Sweet Pepper Fruits
Authors: Kołton Anna , Wojciechowska Renata , Leja Maria
Published: August 2011

Effect of Maturity Stage and Short-Term Storage on the Biological Quality of Sweet Pepper Fruits

Sweet pepper plants of Spartacus cultivar were grown in plastic tunnel on rockwool using the fertigation technique. The three year experiment was carried out in 2006-2008. Fruits were harvested every year in three maturity stages: green, turning and red. The contents of ascorbic acid, phenols, soluble sugars, nitrate and ammonium ions, total nitrogen, free amino acids and dry matter were determined in freshly harvested fruits as well as after short-term (two weeks) storage.

Red pepper fruits accumulated significantly more ascorbic acid, soluble sugars and phenols in comparison with the green and turning ones. The level of nitrate ions was highest in the green fruits and decreased during their ripening while the ammonium ion concentration increased. The lowest content of amino acids was observed in green fruits.

Two week storage at 5-8°C, followed by two days at room temperature caused the reduction of nitrate ions in green and red fruits. Ammonium ion content as well as phenol and soluble sugar level increased in stored fruits, irrespectively of their maturity stage. Ascorbic acid content increased in the stored turning and red pepper fruits as related to its initial concentration. Dry matter content did not change after storage. Biological quality of harvested pepper fruits depended of their maturity stage, however, their response to short-term storage was similar.
A Revision of School Effectiveness Analysis
Authors: Longford Nicholas T.
Published: August 2011

Statistical modeling of school effectiveness data was originally motivated by the dissatisfaction with the analysis of (school-leaving) examination results that took no account of the background of the students or regarded each school as an isolated unit of analysis. The application of multilevel analysis was generally regarded as a breakthrough, although more recent assessments of how they satisfy the goals of school effectiveness studies, to compare the performances of schools, are much more guarded. This article shows that the association of the school effects with randomness is not necessary, because strength can be borrowed across the analyzed schools even when they are associated with fixed effects. The methods are illustrated on a reanalysis of the data from an early study of school effectiveness. It also addresses the problem of excess zero outcomes by treating them as censored (truncated).
Water Jetting to Mitigate Defects in Drilled Shafts
Authors: Fiegel Gregg L. , Proto Clayton , Jansen Daniel C. , Schaffer Matthew , DeNatale Jay S.
Published: August 2011

A laboratory investigation was designed to examine the effectiveness of water jetting as a means of removing anomalous (deleterious) material from drilled shafts. One objective of the investigation was to establish relationships between jetting parameters and the removal of common anomalous materials, including low-strength concrete, slurry-mixed concrete, grout, and clay soil. The experimental work consisted of blasting test specimens of anomalous material with water by using rotary jets, nozzles, pumping equipment, and testing procedures in current construction practice. During testing, erosion levels and rates were measured as a function of jetting pressure and standoff distance for specimens with compressive strengths ranging between approximately 5 and 6,500 pounds per square inch (psi). Erosion levels, erosion rates, and water-jetting effectiveness were found to correlate with the compressive strength of the anomalous material. Reinforcing steel bars in a drilled shaft influenced erosion levels and water-jetting effectiveness locally by interfering with the jet path. For jetting pressures around 10,000 to 11,000 psi, erosion was observed to a radial distance of approximately 12 in. from the axis of the water jet for the weakest specimen. The erosion distances observed during the investigation were less than half of the maximum design spacing typically used for drilled shaft access tubes installed for nondestructive testing.
Pile Load Test and Implementation of Specifications of Load and Resistance Factor Design
Authors: Yoon Sungmin , Tsai Ching , Melton James Matt
Published: August 2011

An instrumented pile load test was performed as part of the foundation design for the Caminada Bay Bridge project in south Louisiana. Both static and dynamic load tests were performed. The load-transfer curve of the test pile was obtained from strain measurements by using sister bar strain gauges at six locations along the pile shaft. The test pile resistance was determined by the Tomlinson method for cohesive soils and by the Nordlund method for cohesionless soils. The dynamic and the static load testing results indicated the test pile did not achieve the desired design resistance. The static analysis model was calibrated on the basis of observations of the pile load testing program. The design pile length was revised to benefit from the shallower scour depths for the revised pile design. The low resistance of the test pile resulted in the engineer's decision to use dynamic testing on the production piles to ensure adequate resistances. Taking advantage of the static load test of the instrumented test pile instead of simply using the smaller resistance factor from dynamic tests, the engineer combined the results of the two test methods and used a combination of resistance factors from both the static and dynamic load tests. This paper presents the evaluation of load test results and the rationale used for the selection of the resistance factor.
Lateral Resistance of Short Rock Sockets in Weak Rock
Authors: Parsons Robert L. , Pierson Matthew C. , Willems Isaac , Han Jie , Brennan James J.
Published: August 2011

The results from full-scale cyclic and repeated lateral load testing of two short rock sockets in weak rock and the recommendations developed for p-y analysis using those results are presented. Two drilled shafts were constructed in rock sockets 42 in. in diameter to depths of approximately 7 ft in limestone in Wyandotte County, Kansas. The shafts were loaded laterally during three tests. The shafts were tested under cyclic loading (load reversal) for loads up to 400 kips, repeated loading in one direction up to 820 kips, and to failure near 1,000 kips. Test data showed that socket behavior was essentially elastic during cyclic loading for loads of 400 kips (40% of nominal resistance) and lower. The shafts experienced permanent, accumulating deformations during repeated loading to 610 and 820 kips. Modeling of the results showed that the lateral load behavior could be effectively modeled in LPILE with the Reese weak-rock model included with LPILE software. Recommendations for use in modeling are presented.
Field Testing and Analyses of a Batter Pile Group Foundation under Lateral Loading
Authors: Abu-Farsakh Murad Y. , Yu Xinbao , Pathak Binay , Alshibli Khalid , Zhang Zhongjie
Published: August 2011

Much of the new I-10 Twin Span Bridge, built over Lake Pontchartrain between New Orleans and Slidell, Louisiana, is supported by driven batter pile group foundations. To assess the methodology used to design and analyze batter pile foundations and to evaluate their performance under lateral loading, a full-scale lateral load test was conducted on an M19 eastbound pier of the new bridge. The M19 pier foundation consisted of 24 precast, prestressed concrete 110-ft-long batter piles; eight piles were instrumented with in-place inclinometers (IPIs), and 12 piles were instrumented with strain gauges. The test was conducted by pulling the M19 eastbound and westbound piers toward each other with high-strength steel tendons. A maximum 1,870-kip lateral load was applied in increments. A high-order polynomial curve-fitting method was applied for each load increment to fit the measured rotation profiles from the IPIs, and the fitted rotation curves were used to deduce the bending moment, shear force, and soil reaction profiles on the basis of specific mathematical derivations. The calculated moments from curve fitting were compared with the moments calculated from strain gauge measurements, and the results showed good agreement. The soils’ p-y curves at different depths were backcalculated from the derived soil reaction profiles. The resulting p-y curves showed no evidence of group effect. The FB-MultiPier program was also used to analyze the behavior of the M19 pier foundation under lateral loading. Comparison of FB-MultiPier results with measured values as well as values calculated from polynomial curve fitting showed that FB-MultiPier overpredicted the lateral deformations of batter pile group foundations.
Forensic Investigation and Remediation of Pavement Performance Affected by Groundwater Seepage
Authors: Daoulas John , Elfino Mohamed , Nair Harikrishnan , Nelson Sean
Published: August 2011

Inadequate drainage of surface water, subsurface water, or both can have a significant impact on pavement performance and long-term maintenance costs. This paper discusses how groundwater (subsurface water) that is not adequately controlled can negatively affect the performance of pavement functionality. Forensic methods used to identify the sources of groundwater and measures that are taken to remediate the problem are explained. Forensic investigation revealed that serious consideration in the design of pavements must be given to regional groundwater conditions and the impact possible on both the integrity and the functionality of the pavement and thus on the safety and the comfort of the traveling public.
Applications and Performance of Geosynthetic-Reinforced Soil Abutments on Soft Subsurface Soil Conditions
Authors: Mohamed Khalid , Abouzakhm Mounir , Elias Mohammed
Published: August 2011

The use of geosynthetic-reinforced soil (GRS) as a bridge abutment foundation has been adapted by the Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division in several projects. This adaptation is considered ideal and appropriate because of the nature of these projects. The design, construction, and performance of a GRS abutment system to support two bridges in the Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge in Hyde County, North Carolina, are illustrated. The bridge foundations were constructed over soft, silty fat clay (A-7-6[CH]) soils. The GRS abutment alternative was favored over a deep foundation system of driven prestressed concrete piles for economic and constructability reasons. A cellular confinement system (CCS) filled with gravel was used for the GRS abutment facing instead of the types of flexible facings typically used with GRS abutments. CCS facing has the advantage of providing abutment face protection against erosion and shallow scour, and the outer cell on both sides of the abutment can be filled with topsoil and seed to provide an aesthetically pleasing vegetated face. A geotechnical instrumentation monitoring program consisting of settlement plates and piezometers was established to evaluate the GRS abutment system performance during and after completion of construction. The foundation soils supporting the GRS abutments were preloaded before construction of the bridge footings to reduce anticipated long-term settlement and improve bridge performance. Design procedures and initial performance monitoring results indicated that the GRS abutments were performing satisfactorily.
Mechanisms of Distress Associated with Sulfate-Induced Heaving in Lime-Treated Soils
Authors: Nair Syam , Little Dallas
Published: August 2011

Field observations suggest that ettringite-induced swell in lime-treated soils may manifest rapidly after placement and compaction or after months or even years after lime treatment. In either case, forensic investigations have identified the presence of the mineral ettringite in distressed sections. However, the time window between the observation of distress and the subsequent forensic evaluations has left room for doubt as to whether the ettringite caused the observed distress or was formed between the time of the observed distress and the time of the forensic investigation. The study focuses on identifying alternative, probable mechanisms of swelling when sulfate-laden soils are stabilized with lime. The research addresses the hypothesis that swelling in sulfate-bearing fine-grained soils results from one or a combination of three mechanisms: (a) volumetric expansion during ettringite formation, (b) water movement triggered by a high osmotic suction caused by sulfate salts, and (c) the ability of the ettringite mineral to absorb water and contribute to the swelling process. The data validate the conclusion that a synergy of the mechanisms discussed contributes to swelling distress. The study also addresses the impact of matrix strength of the stabilized soil on damage potential.
Strength and Deformation Characteristics of Cement-Treated Reclaimed Pavement with a Chip Seal
Authors: Wilson Bryan T. , Guthrie W. Spencer
Published: August 2011

The objective of this research was to analyze the strength and deformation characteristics of a cement-treated base (CTB) constructed with full-depth reclamation, microcracked, and then surfaced with a single chip seal. In this field study, strength characteristics of the CTB layer were determined at the time of construction, and both strength and deformation characteristics were evaluated after 9 months of low-volume, heavy truck traffic. Observed distresses at 9 months included transverse cracking, rutting, and chip seal joint failure. The loss of the chip seal was caused by poor chip seal construction practices and not a deficiency in the CTB layer. The average ride qualities in and out of the wheelpath were in the fair ride category; the roughness was not likely caused by trafficking but probably resulted from construction or climatic factors. Structural testing performed after 9 months of service indicated that CTB stiffness and modulus were greater than the values measured after microcracking at the time of construction, indicating continued strength gain. However, trafficking over the 9 months had caused significantly lower stiffness in the wheelpaths than between the wheelpaths. The average unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of the cores tested at 9 months did not differ significantly from the average UCS of the field-compacted specimens tested at 6 weeks. Recommendations for improved CTB performance include the use of a thicker, stiffer, or both, CTB layer to ensure a smooth CTB surface during construction and application of a double chip seal or equivalent.
Evaluation and Mix Design of Cement-Treated Base Materials with High Content of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement
Authors: Yuan Deren , Nazarian Soheil , Hoyos Laureano R. , Puppala Anand J.
Published: August 2011

Reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) and granular base materials were collected from stockpiles throughout Texas to evaluate the feasibility of using mixes containing high RAP content for base course applications. Mixes containing 100%, 75%, and 50% RAP treated with 0%, 2%, 4%, and 6% of portland cement were evaluated in a full-factorial laboratory experiment. For mixes of 75% and 50% RAP, both virgin and salvage base materials were used. Experimental results indicated that besides the cement content, the RAP content and finer aggregate content significantly affected the properties of the RAP mixes, but the effects of RAP type and asphalt content in RAP were limited. To achieve a 300-psi unconfined compressive strength as required by the Texas Department of Transportation, the optimum cement contents were statistically about 4%, 3%, and 2% for mixes of 100%, 75%, and 50% RAP, respectively. Because the achievement of any specified strength or stiffness might not always ensure the durability of a mix, other parameters that might be relevant to performance and long-term durability were evaluated through laboratory testing. These parameters included modulus, indirect tensile strength, and moisture susceptibility as well as cement leaching.
Estimating Embankment Settlement from Piezocone Penetration Test Data
Authors: Abu-Farsakh Murad Y. , Pant Rohit , Gautreau Gavin , Chen Qiming , Yu Xinbao , Zhang Zhongjie
Published: August 2011

The in situ piezocone penetration test (PCPT) has been widely used by the geotechnical engineering community for subsurface soil identification and classification and for the evaluation of many engineering soil properties, such as consolidation parameters. PCPT-derived consolidation properties can be used to estimate the magnitude and time rate of the consolidation settlement of loaded soils. This paper presents a case study on implementing PCPT technology to evaluate the embankment settlement at the Juban Road-I-12 Interchange Bridge in Louisiana. The soil underneath each embankment site of the bridge was instrumented with a horizontal inclinometer and vertical magnet extensometers. In each embankment site, PCPT tests were performed, and the soundings of cone tip resistance were used to estimate the constrained modulus (M) profiles. Dissipation tests were conducted at specified penetration depths and used to estimate the vertical coefficient of consolidation (cv). Shelby tube soil samples were collected and tested in the laboratory to evaluate the consolidation properties. The embankments’ consolidation settlements were monitored with time, and the field-measured values were compared with the magnitude and rate of settlements estimated with parameters derived from PCPT data and laboratory consolidation tests. The piezocone penetration and dissipation data reasonably estimated the magnitude and rate of consolidation settlement of both embankment sites. The backcalculated M and cv parameters from field measurements were in good agreement with PCPT-derived values.
Do Americans Oppose Controversial Evidence-Based Road Safety Policies?
Authors: Munnich Lee W. , Loveland Joseph D.
Published: August 2011

Six safety improvement systems based on legislation have proved to reduce rural roadway fatalities. But their legislative enactment has been limited in part by a perception of journalists and policy makers that the policies are controversial and unpopular with the general public. However, a national public opinion survey found that an overwhelming proportion of Americans support all six policies. Strong support exists across all major demographic, geographic, gender, and ideological groups and calls that perception into question. These findings are instructive for those who attempt to reduce rural roadway fatalities through evidence-based rural roadway safety public policies.
Reducing Crash Fatalities on Rural Roadways
Authors: Knapp Keith K.
Published: August 2011

Many factors that contribute to fatal crashes are related to human behavior. One way to adjust these behaviors is to enact and enforce legislation-based safety improvement measures (LSIMs). The objective of the project documented in this paper was to investigate the feasibility and application of a research-based rural safety policy improvement index (RSPII) framework that could be used to quantify the state-by-state impacts of LSIMs on crash fatalities on rural roadways. During this project, NCHRP Report 622 was published. It categorized 23 behavioral highway safety countermeasures as proven with high-quality research. A review of the research and NCHRP Report 622 showed that a RSPII was feasible. A six-step RSPII framework was developed, and six LSIMs were selected for further consideration: primary enforcement of seat belt use, universal motorcycle helmet use, regular application of sobriety checkpoints, graduated driver licensing program upgrades, mandatory ignition interlock installation, and automated speed enforcement. A state-by-state estimate (based on current research) of how enactment and proper implementation and enforcement of these LSIMs could reduce crash fatalities on rural roadways was completed. The national fatality reductions estimated for each LSIM ranged from 120 to 699. This paper describes the RSPII feasibility investigation, summarizes the six-step RSPII framework, presents the national results from the framework application, discusses the challenges related to the framework application, and gives recommendations for using and improving the RSPII framework.
Low-Volume Roads and Road Safety Audits
Authors: Gross Frank , Eccles Kimberly , Nabors Daniel
Published: August 2011

Low-volume roads, paved and unpaved, pose a safety concern for various road users. Changes in roadway ownership, diverse user groups, traffic patterns, and new developments often create conditions unanticipated in the original roadway design. This problem is particularly true for low-volume roads, many of which were not formally designed. Low-volume roads represent a large portion of the national roadway network and crash problem. It is difficult to quantify the crash problem on low-volume roads, but 40% of fatal crashes in the United States occur on local roads, many of which are rural and low volume. Rural roads also have much higher crash rates than urban roads. Although the magnitude of crashes on this network is relatively large, crashes are fairly disbursed because of the vast mileage. Thus, it is difficult to identify crash clusters and trends with traditional engineering studies. Also, crash data may not be maintained, and allocation may not be referenced for these roadways. Road safety audits (RSAs) are one way to overcome several shortcomings of traditional engineering studies that analyze low-volume roads. RSAs are an effective tool for proactively improving the safety performance of a road. This paper discusses applying RSAs to identify and address safety issues on low-volume paved roads by considering their unique characteristics. In addition, unpaved roads are discussed with respect to the potential for RSAs to address safety concerns at these locations. The paper summarizes common safety issues identified on low-volume roads through 10 years of RSA experience. Potential low-cost safety strategies are also identified.
Identifying Promising Highway Segments for Safety Improvement through Speed Management
Authors: Kweon Young-Jun , Oh Cheol
Published: August 2011

Speed variation is closely related to the occurrence of traffic crashes. Thus, speed management strategies that reduce speed variation are expected to reduce crash frequency and not only improve safety but also prevent congestion due to crash occurrence. This study developed a modeling approach to identify promising road segments for safety improvement through speed management strategies and to illustrate how to select segments on the basis of model results. With the application of four statistical techniques (generalized additive model, negative binomial model, linear model, and empirical Bayes method) in three sequential steps to data collected on a 190-km section of expressway in South Korea, the study developed empirical models for selecting promising segments for safety improvement by the speed management strategies. This paper presents the five most-promising segments for implementing such strategies.
Understanding Crash Mechanisms and Selecting Interventions to Mitigate Real-Time Hazards on Urban Expressways
Authors: Hossain Moinul , Muromachi Yasunori
Published: August 2011

The concept of dynamic black spot identification has matured substantially over the past decade. Rather than being confined to improving prediction accuracy, the concept has expanded to understanding the crash mechanism by using sensor data and devising real-time countermeasures. A major drawback of most studies has been considering a crash as a generic mechanism throughout the expressway. Consequently, proposed countermeasures, such as warning messages, variable speed limits, and ramp metering, have been independent of location. Some studies have incorporated ramps as variables, but little progress has been made in investigating variation in the crash mechanism or evaluating the effectiveness of countermeasures separately for the basic freeway segments and ramp vicinities. This paper divides expressways into five segments: basic freeway, upstream and downstream of exits, and entrance ramps. The paper uses high-resolution detector data and advanced ensemble learning methods such as random forest and classification and regression trees to identify important factors and understand the crash mechanism. The outcome advocates lane-based speed management to improve the safety of basic freeway segments. Although ramp flows were found to contribute to crashes in ramp vicinities, the flows caused little concern for basic freeway segments. The findings will be valuable for researchers in predicting real-time crashes, investigating crash mechanisms, and designing proactive countermeasures.
Assessment of Traffic Safety Training for Local Agency Technical Staff and Elected and Appointed Officials
Authors: Colling Timothy , McNinch Terance , Lighthizer Dale R.
Published: August 2011

This paper provides an overview of a study that investigated the impact of traffic safety training for two specific audiences in local agencies in Michigan: technical staff and elected and appointed officials. The impact of the training was assessed by measuring changes in attitudes and behavior with regard to traffic safety after both groups attended specialized training. The study was limited to local agencies in Michigan as a way to reduce the number of variables that could influence the outcome. Learning assessments, workshop evaluations, follow-up surveys, and innovative ethnographic interview techniques were used to verify learning and to detect changes in attitude and behavior. The study revealed significant positive attitudinal and behavior changes in both technical staff and elected and appointed officials that were attributed to what they learned in the training. The study indicates that there are significant benefits to traffic safety on local roads when local agency staff and elected and appointed officials are appropriately trained.
Directing Traffic to Increase Passenger Drop-Off Capacity
Authors: von Bartheld Natasha R. , Budhecha Sonia K. , von Bartheld Christopher S.
Published: August 2011

Many schools have a designated student drop-off area for private vehicles, but the capacity rarely meets demand during peak drop-off times. To determine whether drop-off capacity could be effectively increased when school personnel direct traffic flow, a case study was performed at an urban elementary school. Total drop-off time per vehicle consisted of both the stopping time of the vehicle (the time it stopped for unloading) and the maneuvering-idle time. Mean stopping time was measured and calculated for representative samples during peak drop-off time in the morning. Stopping times ranged from 2 to 55 s. When the school principal was present and directed traffic, mean stopping time was reduced from 26.5 to 19.7 s. This reduction was statistically significant with p <.025. The mean maneuvering-idle time during the period of peak drop-off was estimated to be 33.3 s; with the principal guiding traffic, it was reduced to 28.1 s. Taken together, the mean drop-off time (stopping time plus maneuvering time) was estimated at 59.8 s without human guidance and 47.8 s with human guidance of traffic flow. This difference predicts an increase in drop-off capacity of 21.7% during the peak drop-off period. Dispatching school personnel to guide traffic flow during peak times can provide an efficient and cost-effective means to increase drop-off capacity at schools that do not have the space or cannot afford the capital expense to make major structural improvements to school access roads.
Model for Children's School Travel Mode Choice
Authors: Sidharthan Raghuprasad , Bhat Chandra R. , Pendyala Ram M. , Goulias Konstadinos G.
Published: August 2011

Numerous programs aimed at enhancing the choice of bicycling and walking as modes of choice for children's trips to and from school are being implemented by public agencies around the world. Disaggregate models that can account for the myriad of factors that influence the school mode choice of children are needed to forecast the potential impacts of such programs and policies. This paper presents a model for school mode choice that can capture the unobserved spatial interaction effects that may influence household decision making in choosing a mode of transportation for children's trips to and from school. For example, households that are geographically close together in a neighborhood may interact or observe one another and be influenced by each other's actions. To overcome the computational intractability associated with estimating a discrete choice model with spatial interaction effects, the paper proposes a maximum approximated composite marginal likelihood approach for estimating model parameters. The model is applied to a sample of children in Southern California whose households responded to the 2009 National Household Travel Survey in the United States. Spatial correlation effects are statistically significant, and they arise from interactions among households that are geographically close to one another. The findings suggest that public policy programs aimed at enhancing the use of bicycle and walk modes may have a greater impact if directed toward the local neighborhood level as opposed to a more diffuse regional level.
Identifying Parent Perspectives to Guide Active Travel Intervention with Small Populations
Authors: Zuniga Kelly Draper
Published: August 2011

This paper investigates a strategy for guiding school-based active travel intervention. School-based active travel programs address the travel behaviors and perceptions of small target populations (i.e., at individual schools) so they can encourage people to walk or bike. Thus, planners need to know as much as possible about the behaviors and perceptions of their target populations. However, existing strategies for modeling travel behavior and segmenting audiences typically work with larger populations and may not capture the attitudinal diversity of smaller groups. This case study used Q technique to identify salient travel-related attitude types among parents at an elementary school in Denver, Colorado; 161 parents presented their perspectives about school travel by rank-ordering 36 statements from strongly disagree to strongly agree in a normalized distribution, single centered around no opinion. Thirty-nine respondents’ cases were selected for case-wise cluster analysis in SPSS according to criteria that made them most likely to walk: proximity to school, grade, and bus service. Analysis revealed five core perspectives that were then correlated with the larger respondent pool: optimistic walkers, fair-weather walkers, drivers of necessity, determined drivers, and fence sitters. Core perspectives are presented–characterized by parents’ opinions, personal characteristics, and reported travel behaviors–and recommendations are made for possible intervention approaches. The study concludes that Q technique provides a fine-grained assessment of travel behavior for small populations, which would benefit small-scale behavioral interventions.
Effect of School Quality and Residential Environment on Mode Choice of School Trips
Authors: He Sylvia
Published: August 2011

Trips to school are increasingly taken in automobiles. Smart growth and health advocates suggest that a better-designed built environment in a neighborhood can promote walking and biking to school and that children's walking and biking improve the environment, lower obesity, and increase physical activity. The effects of school variables on travel behavior, however, have rarely been documented. The objective of this research is to examine the impact of school location and characteristics on students’ choice of travel mode. The argument is that if the local school is good, then a child is more likely to attend it. The chance increases that the child will commute actively to a school within a short distance, all else equal. School trips from the 2001 Post Census Regional Household Travel Survey of the Los Angeles, California, region were analyzed in relation to school quality in the area of the traveler's origin (residence) and destination. Results revealed that for young travelers who attended kindergarten to sixth grade, school quality and residential environment had no significant effect on nonmotorized modes. In addition, school quality had little impact on mode choice. Nonetheless, the distance from home to the nearest high school significantly increased the probability that students who attended seventh to 12th grades would choose the bus over a private vehicle. A 10% increase in the distance from home to the nearest high school raised the probability of taking the bus by 2.86%, while an identical increase in residential density increased the probability of walking or biking by 1.09%.
Return of spinal reflex after spinal cord surgery for brachial plexus avulsion injury
Authors: Carlstedt Thomas , Misra V. Peter , Papadaki Anastasia , McRobbie Donald , Anand Praveen
Published: August 2011

Motor but not sensory function has been described after spinal cord surgery in patients with brachial plexus avulsion injury. In the featured case, motor-related nerve roots as well as sensory spinal nerves distal to the dorsal root ganglion were reconnected to neurons in the ventral and dorsal horns of the spinal cord by implanting nerve grafts. Peripheral and sensory functions were assessed 10 years after an accident and subsequent spinal cord surgery. The biceps stretch reflex could be elicited, and electrophysiological testing demonstrated a Hoffman reflex, or Hreflex, in the biceps muscle when the musculocutaneous nerve was stimulated. Functional MR imaging demonstrated sensory motor cortex activities on active as well as passive elbow flexion. Quantitative sensory testing and contact heat evoked potential stimulation did not detect any cutaneous sensory function, however. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this case represents the first time that spinal cord surgery could restore not only motor function but also proprioception completing a spinal reflex arch.
Memorialising and Forgetting: Corporeal Generosity and the Gift of the Intersexed Other
Authors: Cadwallader Jessica Robyn
Published: August 2011

‘Modifying bodies’ evokes two different kinds of bodies, too often thought of as separate: those bodies which are modified, and those which call for and enact the modification. This paper seeks to explore the ethical and political significance of the modification of ‘intersexed’ bodies, using Rosalyn Diprose's concept of ‘corporeal generosity’. It argues that the visceral reaction to the bodies of those not recognised within the regimes of sexual dimorphism is shaped by perceptual practices formed through the political memorialising of the generosity of particular, privileged others, and the forgetting of the generosity of othered others. These patterns of memorialising and forgetting also shape the call for surgical intervention, such as ‘corrective’ surgery, performed on the body of the intersexed child, become the means for memorialising the gifts of the sexually dimorphic, and forgetting the gifts of those deemed ‘ambiguous’. This approach enables the ethical and political significance of this technological intervention to be understood as of a piece with larger somatechnics, shared, challenged and perpetuated through corporeal generosity.
Exit from the Regime of Life Control: Biopolitics, Anticipatory Risk and the Excess of Experience
Authors: Stephenson Niamh , Papadopoulos Dimitris
Published: August 2011

In its early 20th century materialisation, risk was calculable and these calculations were primarily based on assessments of the past. By the end of the century, risk was increasingly considered to be fundamentally incalculable and it has become the object of the work of anticipation. This paper elucidates this shift by examining three regimes of life control. The Life/Culture System pervades early 20th century cultural and political thinking: working with the vitalism of life promises a better future. Following WWII, life's vitalism, creativity and potential and are viewed with suspicion. The State is valorised as the guarantor of an objective, accountable and democratic regime of life control. Biopolitics comes to the fore; risk is called forth. Today, there is a renewed interest in life's inherent plasticity, in controlling life by recombining life. Efforts to work with free-floating and incalculable risk signal a new regime of control: the Emergent Formation of Life . However, something is commonly neglected here: the domain of the everyday. This paper argues that the Emergent Formation of Life regulates life by inscribing emergent recombinant practices into people's everyday experience. Exit from the Emergent Formation of Life takes place on same terrain – immanent, ordinary experience. An analysis of shifts in public health efforts to contain infectious disease and of the everyday experience of life beyond population health illustrates this argument.
Assessment of the Evolution of Cancer Treatment Therapies
Authors: Arruebo Manuel , Vilaboa Nuria , Sáez-Gutierrez Berta , Lambea Julio , Tres Alejandro , Valladares Mónica , González-Fernández África
Published: August 2011

Cancer therapy has been characterized throughout history by ups and downs, not only due to the ineffectiveness of treatments and side effects, but also by hope and the reality of complete remission and cure in many cases. Within the therapeutic arsenal, alongside surgery in the case of solid tumors, are the antitumor drugs and radiation that have been the treatment of choice in some instances. In recent years, immunotherapy has become an important therapeutic alternative, and is now the first choice in many cases. Nanotechnology has recently arrived on the scene, offering nanostructures as new therapeutic alternatives for controlled drug delivery, for combining imaging and treatment, applying hyperthermia, and providing directed target therapy, among others. These therapies can be applied either alone or in combination with other components (antibodies, peptides, folic acid, etc.). In addition, gene therapy is also offering promising new methods for treatment. Here, we present a review of the evolution of cancer treatments, starting with chemotherapy, surgery, radiation and immunotherapy, and moving on to the most promising cutting-edge therapies (gene therapy and nanomedicine). We offer an historical point of view that covers the arrival of these therapies to clinical practice and the market, and the promises and challenges they present.
Deacetylation of Chitosan: Material Characterization and in vitro Evaluation via Albumin Adsorption and Pre-Osteoblastic Cell Cultures
Authors: Yuan Youling , Chesnutt Betsy M. , Haggard Warren O. , Bumgardner Joel D.
Published: August 2011

Degree of deacetylation (DDA) and molecular weight (MW) of chitosans are important to their physical and biological properties. In this study, two chitosans, HS (DDA = 73.3%) and AT (DDA = 76.8%), were deacetylated with 45% sodium hydroxide under nitrogen atmosphere at 80 °C or 90 °C for up to 120 min, to obtain two series of chitosans. The polymers produced were characterized for MW by gel permeation chromatography, DDA by titration and UV-vis methods, and crystallinity, hydrophilicity and thermal stability by X-ray diffraction, water contact angle and differential scanning calorimetry respectively. Films, made by solution casting in dilute acetic acid at ambient conditions, were evaluated for biological activity by albumin adsorption and the attachment and growth of a pre-osteoblast cell line. Chitosans with between 80–93% DDA’s (based on titration) were reproducibly obtained. Even though deacetylation under nitrogen was supposed to limit chain degradation during decetylation, MW decreased (by maximum of 37.4% of HS and 63.0% for AT) with increasing deacetylation reaction time and temperature. Crystallinity and decomposition temperature increased and water contact angles decreased with processing to increase DDA. Significantly less albumin was absorbed on films made with 93% DDA chitosans as compared with the original materials and the AT chitosans absorbed less than the HS chitosans. The cells on higher DDA chitosan films grew faster than those on lower DDA films. In conclusion, processing conditions increased DDA and influenced physicochemical and biological properties. However, additional studies are needed to unambiguously determine the influence of DDA or MW on in vitro and in vivo performance of chitosan materials for bone/implant applications.