bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Marseille, city of refuge: international solidarity, American humanitarianism, and Vichy France (1940-1942)
Authors: Tortel Emilien
Published: August 2021

Anchored in the port of Marseille, this article studies encounters between international solidarity, American humanitarianism, and Vichy France’s nationalism in times of war and exile. Being the main free harbour in France after the country’s defeat against Germany in the spring of 1940, Marseille saw hundreds of thousands of refugees seeking refuge and exile on its shores. This massive flux gave rise to a local internationalism of humanitarian and solidarity networks bonded by an anti-fascist ideology. American humanitarians, diplomats, and radical leftist militants shaped this eclectic internationalism by providing crucial support for European refugees escaping the Nazi-backed state repression in France. Using the local archives of the department of Bouches-du-Rhône, this paper analyses how these actors and their ideologies met in Marseille and interacted with or against Vichy France’s nationalism. In the end, the extended historiography on refugees, American humanitarianism, solidarity networks, and French nationalism will be used to analyse global ideologies in a local context during the Second World War.
Overexpression of miR-221-3p effecting cell proliferation, apoptosis and inflammation by targeting Toll-like receptors 4 in propofol-induced rat astrocytes
Authors: Qi Shuang , Li Zinan , Yu Shanshan
Published: August 2021

Introduction

Growing evidence indicated that propofol has neurotoxic effects on the brains of developing rodents, leading to neuronal cell death, neurodegeneration, and brain injury.

Material and methods

Ectopic miR-221-3p was transfected into rat astrocytes, and Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and flow cytometry were performed to evaluate cell growth and apoptosis. The mRNA levels of Toll-like receptors 4 (TLR4), nuclear factor kappa B, interleukin-6, interleukin-1β, myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88), caspase-3, caspase-12, STAT3, and GRP78 were detected using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The proteins of TLR4 and MyD88 were determined using Western blotting. The association between miR-221-3p and TLR4 was measured using Dual-Luciferase Reporter Assay (Promega Corporation, Wisconsin, USA). Then, siTLR4 was transfected with 293T cells to study the role of TLR4 in astrocytes with propofol treatment.

Results

The miR-221-3p expression in rat astrocytes was markedly suppressed by propofol treatment. The miR-221-3p mimics transfection in propofol-treated astrocytes effectively reduced the suppressive effect of propofol on astrocyte growth, repressed the propofol-induced apoptosis in rat astrocytes, and decreased the cell number during the G2–M phase. The expression of MyD88 and TLR4 was induced by propofol, whereas the transfection of miR-221-3p mimics dramatically reduced these genes expression at the mRNA and protein expression. After that, TLR4 was found to be target of miR-221-3p using Dual-Luciferase Reporter Assay. Furthermore, knockdown of TLR4 could suppress the apoptosis rate in propofol-treated astrocytes.

Conclusions

This study revealed that miR-221-3p might prevent astrocytes from propofol-induced damage by targeting TLR4.
Design and Analysis of Non-Uniformly Spaced Dipole Array Antenna
Authors:   Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering., Soujanya N , A Dr. Mahesh ,   Department of Electronics and Communication RV College of Engineering, Bengaluru, India.
Published: August 2021

Dipole antenna array is designed at operating frequency of 450MHz using FR4 substrate. Uniform circularly polarized (UCP) and non-uniform circularly polarized (NUCP) dipole arrays are designed. NUCP array is achieved by placing antenna elements at unequal distance from the reference element. Low side lobe level is necessary to reduce interference with other frequencies in the band which is achieved in case of NUCP array compared UCP array. The simulation is carried out using EM flow solver HFSS. The simulation results indicate that there is a reduction in the side lobe level for the 1×7 NUCP array as compared to UCP array. To enhance the gain of the dipole array dielectric lens is used as the secondary radiator which also acts as a radome to protect the array. The maximum gain achieved is 1.59dB with lens. Return loss less than -15dB is achieved in all cases. Axial ratio less than 3dB achieved for circular polarized arrays. The designed NUCP array with lens can be used in SAR (synthetic aperture radar) applications.
Reflexiones críticas sobre el nacionalismo
Authors: Editor El
Published: August 2021

No hay resúmenes disponibles.

ECA Estudios Centroamericanos, Vol. 56, No. 630, 2001: 313-331.
Mensaje del presidente Flores en conmemoración del 15 de septiembre
Authors: Editor El
Published: August 2021

No hay resúmenes disponibles.

ECA Estudios Centroamericanos, Vol. 56, No. 635, 2001: 881-882.
Influence of electromagnetic fields on the human organism
Authors:   ООО ", Saakian Alexander ,   БАЛАНС ПРОФИ"
Published: August 2021

The article presents measures to reduce the negative impact of electromagnetic fields emanating from cell phones on the human organism. The topic of the work is relevant, since at present the role of mobile devices in the life of the modern person is rapidly increasing. The analysis of the measured electromagnetic field levels of the telephones of various brands in the "standby" and "ringing" modes was carried out. Poll that was conducted among students of the Azov-Black Sea Engineering Institute on the usage of mobile devices was also analyzed. Keywords: ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD, MOBILE PHONE, NEGATIVE EFFECT, MEASUREMENT, POLL
DU LỊCH Y TẾ VÀ NHỮNG VẤN ĐỀ ĐẶT RA CHO HOẠT ĐỘNG DU LỊCH Y TẾ CỦA VIỆT NAM HẬU COVID-19
Authors: Nguyễn Ngọc Diệp
Published: August 2021

Du lịch y tế không còn là mô hình kinh doanh mới trên thế giới với nhiều thành công từ các quốc gia trong khu vực. Tuy nhiên tại Việt Nam hoạt động này còn hoạt động đơn lẻ, chưa hình thành một sản phẩm hoàn chỉnh khiến cho ngành du lịch và y tế chưa đạt được doanh thu như tiềm lực vốn có. Với những tổng hợp thực tế, phân tích và đánh giá thực trạng nghiên cứu, bài viết như một góp ý định hướng cho việc kinh doanh du lịch y tế của Việt Nam trong giai đoạn y tế - sức khỏe đang là “mặt hàng” kinh doanh mang nhiều ý nghĩa về kinh tế, uy tín và chính trị ngoại giao cho nước ta trong tương lai.
PHÁT HIỆN LẠI LOÀI ỐC CẠN Chloritis remoratrix (Morlet, 1893) SAU GẦN 120 NĂM Ở VIỆT NAM (GASTROPODA: CAMAENIDAE)
Authors: Đỗ Đức Sáng , Nguyễn Thanh Sơn
Published: August 2021

Loài ốc cạn có phổi Chloritis remoratrix (Morlet, 1893) thuộc họ Camaenidae được phát hiện đầu tiên từ khu vực biên giới giữa Lào (tỉnh Champasak) và Campuchia (tỉnh Stung Treng). Dựa trên nguồn mẫu vật thu được từ huyện Phong Thổ, tỉnh Lai Châu, chúng tôi trình bày một mô tả lại loài này, gồm các dẫn liệu về đặc điểm cấu trúc hình thái vỏ, kích thước và môi trường sống. Ngoài ra, phạm vi phân bố mới và hệ thống phân loại cũng được giới thiệu và thảo luận. Loài C. remoratrix  được đặc trưng bởi kích thước lớn, vỏ hình nón, màu vàng đến vàng nâu, có các dải màu nâu sẫm ở ngoại vi; vòng xoắn cuối tạo gờ xoắn ở ngoại vi; miệng vỏ hình bán nguyệt, vành miệng dày và mở rộng; lỗ rốn rộng và sâu.
Evaluating Fire-Damaged Masonry Chimneys Using Video-Recording Technology
Authors: Hutchison Earl C.
Published: August 2021

Chimney fires, like structure fires, almost always leave important evidence behind. Unlike structure fires, however, the evidence from a chimney fire may be located in the inaccessible boundaries of the chimney flue. To examine this evidence, special video inspection equipment, designed for confined space applications, is required. Modem camcorders, adapted for the same purpose, can be used to achieve the same result. This paper discusses chimneys, creosote accumulation, chimney fires, and chimney fire damage, and then describes a technique for using camcorders to conduct detailed engineering evaluations of chimneys. The paper concludes by discussing field interpretation of masonry chimney damage.
Walking Surface Hazards And The Codes
Authors: Kravitz Michael
Published: August 2021

The Object Of This Paper Is To Call Attention To The American National Standards Institute Standard, Ansi A117.1, Titled, Providing Accessibility And Usability For Physically Handicapped People, And How It Can Be Applied To Sidewalks And Crosswalks That Lead To And From Handicapped Curb Ramps. The Premise Considered Herein Is That A Change In Level Greater Than One-Half (In) Inch Should Be The Threshold Height For Defective Walking Surfaces. These Surfaces Should Be Repaired According To Ansi A117.1. The Paper Refers, Generally, To New York City And Examines Prior Notice Requirements For Defects.
Development Of Reasonable Doubt - Slip/Fall Hunting Accident Or Murder?
Authors: Jacobson Jon O.
Published: August 2021

On New Years Day Kimberly And Bruce Went Hunting In A Wooded Area With Their Newly Assembled Muzzle-Loading Rifles. After Climbing Up The Hill And Through Some Lightly Reforested Woods, They Entered The Replacement Grove Forest Where They Stopped At A Small Clearing To Rest. Bruce Then Continued Up The Hill For About Fifty Feet To Attempt To Locate An Elk. He Believes That He Saw One In The Distance And Fired, But Did Not Hit His Target. He Then Heard A Second Shot From The Region Where His Wife Had Stopped To Rest Behind Him. Upon Returning To The Small Clearing He Found His Wife Lying On Her Back Having Been Shot In The Middle Of The Chest. Her Rifle Was Across A Log Slightly Uphill. Bruce Picked Up Kimberlys Rifle To See If Had Been Fired And, Upon Seeing That It Had Been Fired, Dropped It. He Sought Help, Notified The Local Authorities And Returned With The Authorities To Assist His Wife, And Later Carried His Wifes Body From The Woods. During The Time That Law Enforcement, Emts, And Others Attempted To Assist Kimberly, Bruce Vented His Anger/Emotions By Picking Up Kimberlys Rifle From Its Position On The Ground And Pounded It Into The First Log Kimberly Had Slipped And Fallen...
F.E. Analysis Of Fire Hazards From Metal Oxide Varistor Failures
Authors: Brugger Richard D.
Published: August 2021

There Are Benefits In Using Metal Oxide Varistors (Mov, Movistors) In Electrical Circuits. Principally, The Mov Acts As A Sponge That Absorbs Short Duration Electrical Voltage Surges. A Typical Surge That The Mov Application Is Intended To Absorb Is Lightning, Which Is Characterized By A High Voltage And Potentially High Current Flow, But With A Short Time Duration. When The Energy Absorbing Capability Is Exceeded, The Mov Fails Catastrophically, Damaging Itself And Its Surroundings. The Amount Of Energy Which A Given Mov Can Absorb Without Exploding In A Flaming Fire Depends Upon The Voltage, Current. And Time Duration Imposed Upon It, And Also The History Of Prior Energy. This Article Describes The Mov And Explains How And Why It May Fail And Cause Subsequent Damage.
Forensic Engineering Square Of Factors
Authors: Ruggieri James A.
Published: August 2021

Forensic Investigators Are Often Placed In The Position Of The Blind Men In Saxes Poem Trying To Explain The Elephant Using Only One Or Two Tangible Clues To Describe An Event Or Phenomenon. All Too Often, A Factor Of Minor Importance Is Given Unmerited Emphasis While Significant Casual Factors Languish Unremarked. This Can Be Very Costly In A Forensic Investigation Or In Preparing A Legal Case, Since The Investigator May Spend Precious Time Chasing Down Inconsequential Red Herring Leads. How Can A Careful Investigator Avoid These Pitfalls And How Can Good Leads Be Identified Early On?
Forensic Engineering Report - A Moisture Litigious Hotel In Florida
Authors: Halyard Paul J. , Raymond Patenaude
Published: August 2021

The Forensic Engineer Was Directed To Seek The Cause Of A Plumbing Related Issue That Affected The Building Envelope. During The Investigation Multiple Causes Of Moisture Intrusion Into The Hotel Were Discovered. This Design Is Very Typical And Represents The Common Causes Of Failure Found In Many Hotels In Florida. The Control Of Moisture In Buildings In Hot And Humid Climates Is The Number One Complaint, And Source Of Litigation From Owners. The Design Professionals And The Contractor Must Understand Moisture Management And Control Strategies To Better Design And Build Buildings And Conditioning Systems. In Reality, The Real Issue Was An Hv Ac Design By A Northern Engineer For A Tropical Location.
Forensic Engineering - Testing Of Hostile Electrical Connections In A Residential Clothes Dryer
Authors: Owens Roger L.
Published: August 2021

A Fire Occurred In A Residence That Was Being Utilized As A Day Care Center. All Parties Involved In The Initial Investigations Into The Fire Cause Agreed That The Fire Originated In The Laundry Room In The Vicinity Of The Electric Clothes Dryer. The Plaintiffs Expert Opined That The Dryer Was Defectively Designed And Hence Caused The Fire. This Writer Was Retained By The Manufacturer Of The Dryer And Asked To Determine The Most Probable Failure Mode And To Test An Exemplar Dryer In Order To Validate Those Observations. The Ignition Point Appeared To Be At A High Resistance Electrical Connection At The Dryer Heater Box Involving Both Copper And Steel. (See Figure 1) Initial Examination Of The Clothes Dryer At The Residence Revealed That The Dryer Heater Circuitry Connection Had Been Modified. One Of The Male Prongs Had Been Removed, The Insulating Material Stripped Back And The #10 Awg Stranded Copper Wire Was Partially Inserted And Held In Place By A Common Steel Wood Screw. (See Figure 2) The Conductor Strands And The Wood Screw Appeared Heavily Heat Stressed And Appeared To Be A Viable Ignition Source. A Few Inches Away Black Electrical Tape Was Deformed By Heat But Not Fully Combusted. (See Figure 3) This Connection Was Duplicated On An Exemplar Dryer Test Stand And Under Operating Conditions Ignited Lightweight Fabrics.
Forensic Investigation Of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning In A Residence
Authors: Haglid Klas C.
Published: August 2021

Two People We Found Dead With No Apparent Cause Of Death And A Third Person Had Injures That Resulted In Multiple Amputations. This Occurred During A Winter Night In A Large Single Family Ski House Used As Rental Property For The Ski Season. The Local Authorities Quickly Found That Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Was The Cause Of The Victims Injuries And Found The Boiler Gave Off Carbon Monoxide. It Was Initially Determined The Boiler Was The Cause Of The Accident. This Is Where The Investigation Starts And Becomes More Complicated And Results In Some Very Surprising Findings. Both High Technology And Common Tools Help Prove The Ultimate Results.
Forensic Engineering Use Of Digital Video
Authors: Shefchick Thomas P.
Published: August 2021

In The Past Few Years, Reasonably Priced Digital Video Equipment Has Become Available To The General Consumer. For A Couple Thousand Dollars, A Digital Camera Can Be Obtained, Which Will Provide Almost Professional Quality Images. The Images Can Be Saved Individually On Memory Sticks, Cards Or Transferred To Cd Or Dvd Discs, Depending Upon The Size Of The Video, With A $200 Multi-Format Disc Recorder. This Paper Will Explore The Advantages Of Digital Video Cameras, Dvd Discs And The Different Dvd Formats.
Forensic Engineering And Laser Scan Technology
Authors: Schorr Steven M.
Published: August 2021

For The First 40+ Years, Folding Rulers, Tape Measures, And Black And White Photography Were The Standard Tools Of The Trade For Collision Reconstruction Engineers. Armed With These Tools, Engineers Collected As Much Data As Possible In Order To Evaluate A Collision Sequence. Then, And Still True Today, The Quality Of The Data Collected Directly Affects The Accuracy And The Depth Of The Analysis. However, Conventional Data Collection Tools Limited The Quality Of The Recorded Data. Typical Problems Encountered In The Past By Collision Reconstruction Engineers Included The Difficulty Associated With Re-Creating Realistic Representations Of The Collision Area And Vehicle(S), As Well As Performing Diagnostic Examinations Of Vehicles And Measuring Roadway Curvature, Elevations, Roadway Friction Factors, Illumination Levels, And Vehicle Dimensions. New Technology Has Provided Forensic Engineers With The Tools To Address These, And Other Reconstruction Needs. Through The Utilization Of Cutting-Edge Laser Scanning Technology, Engineers Can Now Collect Numerous Measurements Cost-Effectively, With Unprecedented Accuracy, At The Speed Of (Laser) Light. This New Technology Has The Ability To Rapidly Advance The Field Of Forensic Engineering, Not Just In The Area Of Collision Reconstruction, But In Any Discipline That Requires Precision Measurements.
Forensic Engineering Investigation Of A Pedestrian Bridge Collapse
Authors: Alterman Philip J.
Published: August 2021

A News Item From The Internet Listed The Accident As Marcy New York, October 10, 2002 A Highway Pedestrian Bridge Under Construction Collapsed Thursday, Killing One Worker And Injuring Nine Others, Police Said. (From Associated Press) Newspaper Articles In The Daily Sentinel, Rome, Ny, Utica Observer Dispatch. Photographs Taken At The Accident Scene Were Obtained. See Figure 1. This Project Was Titled 5.5 Km Of Asphalt Construction Of Route #49, Replacement Of Route 291 Bridge Over Route #49 And Pedestrian Bridge Over Route #39. This Is Also Called The Utica/Rome Expressway. The Site Of The Pedestrian Bridge Is Marcy, New York. The Contract Was Awarded By Nysdot On December 18, 2001 For Completion By December 31, 2002. See Figure 2. The Authors Firm Was Contacted By Counsel For The Deceased After Searching The Internet For Consultants That Have Investigated Bridge Collapses. We Were Retained On October 28, 2002 And Inspection By This Author Was Made In
Forensic Engineering Review And Analysis Of Ship Based Belt Conveyor Hazards
Authors: Josephs Harold
Published: August 2021

The History Of Conveyor Systems Goes Back To Antiquity, Yet It Was Not Until 1947 That The American Society Of Mechanical Engineers Sponsored The First Standard Detailing Safety Considerations For Conveyor Systems. It Was Originally Published As American Standard (Now American National Standards Institute Ansi) B20.1-1947, Safety Standard For Conveyors, Cableways And Related Equipment. The Eleventh And Most Recent Issue Of This Ansi Standard Was Published In 2003. It Is Noteworthy That Osha Regulations Are Typically Based On The Relevant Ansi Standards. However, Osha To Date Has Not Adopted The Ansi Safety Standard For Conveyors, Even After Ansi Modified Its Format In Publishing Ansi B20.1-1976 To Agree With The Osha Standard Approach. Consequently, Osha Presently Has No Specific Section In Its Standards That Addresses Conveyor Safety. Therefore, Any Osha Violations Involving Conveyors Or Conveyor Systems Are Usually Cited Under The General Duty Clause.
Forensic Engineering Investigation Of 2005 Us Gulf Coast Hurricane Damages
Authors: Bracken William C.
Published: August 2021

During The Summer And Fall Of 2005 The Us Gulf Coast Once Again Saw Damage From An Onslaught Of Hurricanes, Category 2 And Stronger. In All A Total Of Four Hurricanes Impacted The Us Gulf Coast From Southern Texas To The Southeastern Coast Of Florida. Each Storm Exhibited Very Different Characteristics With Distinct Modes Of Damage And Resulting Structural Failures. This Paper Presents A Summary Of The Damage And Resulting Modes Of Structural Failure Resulting From Each Storm. This Summary Was Made And Compiled By This Author Who Functioned As The State Of Floridas Lead Structures Specialist During The 2005 Storm Season. This Summary Was Based On Immediate Post-Event Reconnaissance As Well As Subsequent In-Depth Professional Investigations
Forensic Engineering Investigations Of Product Liability Cases
Authors: Ziernicki Richard M. , Benjamin T. Railsback
Published: August 2021

Engineers Are Regularly Retained To Perform Investigations To Determine Whether Or Not A Product Is Defective And Liable For Injuries Sustained By An Individual Or Damages By A Commercial Entity. While Engineers Are Trained To Solve Problems Based On Physical Principles, Little Training Is Given To The Graduate Engineer To Determine Whether A Product Is Defective Or Not. Since The Majority Of Product Liability Actions Result From An Injury Sustained By An Individual Using A Product, The Engineer Is Ultimately Evaluating The Safety Of The Product. The Authors Of This Paper Will Detail A General Methodology To Investigate Product Liability Claims Through The Use Of Safety Engineering Principles.
Forensic Engineering Report- Children Falling Through Window/Guardrails
Authors: Cooper Norman L.
Published: August 2021

More Than 1000 Children Are Killed And More Than 6000 Children Are Injured By Falls Through Windows And Guardrails Each Year In The United States. Beginning In 2006, The International Codes (Now Adopted At Least In Part Of All 50 Of The United States) Require 4 Maximum Window Gaps Within 24 Of Floor, And Since The 1990s The Codes Have Required 4 Maximum Guardrail Gaps. Implementation Of These Codes On Many Existing Structures Is Required (Not Grandfathered), But Is Generally Not Enforced Which Would Prevent A High Percentage Of These Tragedies. Relevant History, Grandfathering, And Forensic Engineering Advocacy Are Discussed, Expert Witness Case Examples Are Presented, And Recommendations Are Made For Enforcement And Code Changes.
Forensic Engineering Analysis Of Multi-Vehicle Impact Sequence
Authors: Ogden Jerry S.
Published: August 2021

Forensic Engineers Are Often Called Upon To Reconstruct The Speeds, Severity Levels And Sequence Of Multiple-Vehicle Co-Linear Collisions, Such As Those That Occur In Heavy Traffic Or Resulting From Quick Stops In Response To Traffic Control Devices. Witnesses May Provide Accounts Of The Accident Sequence That Are Incomplete, Inaccurate, Self-Serving Or Simply Events That They Are Not In A Position To See, But May Reconstruct In Their Memories As Occurring, Making The Reliance Upon Witness Or Driver Statements Often Suspect. This Paper Provides A Straight Forward And Proven Methodology Of Determining The Sequence And Speeds Of A Multiple-Vehicle Collision Event Based Upon The Analysis Of Reproducible Collision Data, Scientific Principles And Reliable Analysis Techniques.
Forensic Engineering Analysis Of Firearms Trigger Incidents
Authors: Nixon John R.
Published: August 2021

Firearms Trigger Operating Characteristics Have Long Been Evaluated Using Inappropriate Rudimentary Equipment That Yields Incomplete And Inconsistent Data. These Commonly Used, And Widely Accepted, Peak Force Techniques Yield Minimal Data That Are Inappropriate For Their Intended Purpose And, Consequently, Often Result In Erroneous Conclusions Being Drawn. The Majority Of Those Performing The Tests And Presenting Their Analyses In Courts Are Not Engineers, And Typically Refuse To Acknowledge The Shortcomings Of Their Test Procedures And Analytical Techniques, Even After Detailed Explanation Has Been Provided. Historically, Scientifically Valid Trigger Mechanism Evaluation Techniques Were Slow And Labor Intensive To Perform. The Advent Of Micro-Electronics Has Resulted In The Availability Of Cost Effective, Portable, Scientifically Valid, Accurate, Fast, And Reliable, Trigger Mechanism Evaluation Equipment. This Equipment Minimizes The Need For Firearm Disassembly And, Consequently, Greatly Diminishes Evidence Spoliation Concerns. This Paper Contrasts The Results Obtained From The Use Of Inappropriate And Outdated Peak Force Techniques When Compared To Modern Computerized Electromechanical Techniques. Actual Case Studies Are Used To Illustrate How Inappropriately Qualified Crime Lab Personnel Using The Established, Though Scientifically Invalid, Peak Force Evaluation Techniques May Lead To Injustice In Both Criminal And Civil Litigation. It Is Recommended That The Scientifically Invalid Peak Force Test Procedures Be Abandoned, And That Appropriately Qualified And Trained Professionals Adopt The Scientifically Valid Electro-Mechanical Trigger Test And Evaluation Techniques Described In This Paper.
Forensic Engineering Investigation Of Intentional Mis-Calibration Of Vehicle Odometers
Authors: Leshner Michael D.
Published: August 2021

Odometers In Motor Vehicles Record And Display Distance Traveled. In Addition To Informing A Driver Of Trip Distance, This Measurement Is Used To Calculate Service Intervals, Lease Payments, Resale Value, Fuel Economy, And Warranty Limits. Distance Is Calculated From A Digital Accumulation Of Wheel Rotations And Knowledge Of The Tire Circumference. The Tire Circumference May Vary With Speed, Load, Pressure, Tread-Wear And Brand. This Investigation Compares Indicated Odometer Measurements With Simultaneous Measurements Using A Global Positioning System (Gps) Device On A Range Of Vehicle Models. While Some Models Have Odometer Systems With Reasonably Accurate Calibrations, Others Systematically Over-Register Odometer Distance. In The Opinion Of This Investigator, The Mis-Calibration Is Sometimes Intentional And Done For The Economic Benefit Of The Manufacturer.
Forensic Engineering Analysis Of Low Temperature Ignition Of Wood
Authors: Tindal Jerry R. , Jeffrey H. Warren
Published: August 2021

The Phenomena Of Wood Igniting When Exposed For Extended Periods Of Time To Temperatures Below Woods Published Ignition Temperature Value Has Been Of Considerable Interest In Recent Years. The Interest Spans The Fire Investigative, Engineering, And Fire Science Communities All The Way To The Legal System. A Recent Federal Court Ruling Has Introduced Aggravated Controversy On The Subject, Casting Doubt On The Phenomena. While There Are Presently No Scientific Formulas To Reliably Predict The Occurrence, There Is Substantial Empirical Data Which Demonstrates That It Does In Fact Occur. The Purpose Of This Paper Is To Report On Certain Empirical Case Studies, Research Activities, And Experiments Undertaken Which Clearly Demonstrate That Wood Will Ignite When Exposed For An Extended Period Of Time To Temperatures Well Below Its Commonly Recognized Published Ignition Temperature Of Approximately 482 F (250 C). In Particular, It Was Concluded For The Conditions Studied That Ignition Of Wood Occurred Under Exposure Temperatures Of As Low As 256 F When Exposed 12 To 16 Hours Per Day In As Little As 623 Days Or Approximately 21 Months. Data From Three Well-Documented Restaurant Kitchen Fires And Observations Of Wood Located Behind Heated Wall Mounted Appliances In Three Operating Restaurants, Combined With Laboratory And Manufacturer Testing Are Used To Demonstrate That Low Temperature Ignition Of Wood Clearly Occurs.
Forensic Engineering And The Scientific Method
Authors: Liptai Laura L.
Published: August 2021

The Scientific Method Is Utilized In Order To Understand The Relationship Among Observations Of Physical Phenomena, While Minimizing The Influence Of Human Bias And Maximizing Objectivity. Specific Procedures For The Application Of The Scientific Method Vary From One Field Of Science To Another, But The Investigative Technique Universally Provides For An Analytical Framework To Acquire, Collect And/Or Integrate Knowledge. Engineering Forensics Involves The Analysis Of The Parameters Or Cause(S) Of Incidents Or Failures And/Or Hypothetical Prevention Methods. Engineering Analysis Of Forensic Problems Is A Multifaceted, Multidisciplinary Pursuit That Is Often Wide In Scope. Forensic Engineering Generally Applies Existing Science In Conjunction With The Knowledge, Education, Experience, Training And Skill Of The Practitioner To Seek Solution(S). The Scientific Method, Including Definition Of A Null Hypothesis, Is Rarely Utilized In Forensics As New Science Is Rarely Required. A Forensic Engineering Investigation Typically Involves The Application Of Long Established Science (Newtons Laws, For Example). Forensic Engineering Encompasses The Systematic Search For Knowledge Necessitating The Observation And Definition Of A Problem; The Collection Of Data Through Observation, Research, Experimentation And/Or Calculation; The Analysis Of Data; And The Development And Evaluation Of Findings And Opinions. The Ultimate Objective Of A Forensic Engineering Investigation Is Uncompromised Data Collection And Systematically Considered, Iteratively Derived And Objectively Balanced Conclusions.
Forensic Engineering Investigation Of Side Glazing Failure In Rollover Collisions
Authors: Batzer Stephen A.
Published: August 2021

During Automotive Rollover Collisions, Full Containment Is Critical To Occupant Safety. Conventional 3-Point Safety Belts Cannot Ensure Full Containment. Tempered Glazing Failure Results In Open Portals, Leading To Numerous Avoidable Deaths And Serious Injuries As Occupant Heads, Shoulders, Arms, And Even Legs Are Ejected And Interact With The Environment And Vehicle Exterior. This Paper Surveys The Forensic Aspects Of Side Window Glazing During Rollover Collisions, To Include Failure Mechanisms, Fractography, And Legal Aspects. Both The Level Of Expected Duty And Current State Of Technology Are Reviewed. Occupant Retention Glazing Design Is Discussed Along With Case Studies.
Forensic Engineering Investigation Of Lumber Temporary Guardrails
Authors: Leffler John P. , H. Robinson
Published: August 2021

During Intermediate Stages Of Building Construction, Temporary Guardrails Are Required For Unfinished Openings On Balconies, Decks, Elevated Walkways, Pits, And Excavations. Osha Requires That These Temporary Guardrails Be Able To Withstand 200 Pounds Of Load, But Does Not Specify Guardrail Mounting Methods. A Forensic Case Involved Failure Of A 2x4 Lumber Guardrail Nailed To A Wood-Frame Building, Where It Was Alleged That The Mounting Method Was Inadequate. Full-Scale Testing Was Conducted To Analyze The Adequacy Of This Fastening Method And Its Reliability When Subjected To The Repeated Removal And Replacement That Commonly Occurs On Worksites.
Forensic Engineering Studies Using Exemplar Vehicles And Surrogates In Vehicle Impact Cases
Authors: Lee William E.
Published: August 2021

As Part Of Their Event Reconstruction, Accident Reconstructionists Often Inspect Exemplar Motor Vehicles. xemplarmeans A Vehicle Of The Same Model, Production Series, Etc. In Terms Of The Vehicle Of Interest. In The Analysis Of The Injury Aspects Of Vehicular Collisions, Biomechanics Experts Can Also Benefit From Exemplar Studies, Especially When A Surrogate (Individual Of The Same Gender, Age Group, Body Stature, Etc.) Is Incorporated Into The Study. This Is Often An Important Activity Since Available Physical Evidence Is Often Limited. For Example, Photo Documentation May Focus Almost Exclusively On The Outside Of The Subject Vehicle, Whereas The Injury Event(S) Often Occur Within The Vehicle. Also, Providers Of Vehicle Specifications Typically Provide Limited (If Any) Vehicle Interior Information. Finally, Depositional Information May Be Very Limited, Providing Few Details On Events And Conditions That May Have Contributed (Or Not) To Claimed Injuries. Thus, Exemplar/Surrogate Studies Can Provide A Wealth Of Information In The Analysis Of What Injuries May (Or May Not) Have Occurred Knowing The Physics Of The Accident Reconstruction And The Resulting Occupant Kinematics, Geometric Considerations, Claimant Characteristics, And The Associated Injury Mechanisms. A Series Of Situations Will Be Presented As Examples Of How Exemplar/Surrogate Studies Can Be Useful In Injury Analysis, Including Seat Belt Issues, Rear-End Collisions, And Pedestrian/Vehicle Incidents. General Protocol Considerations Will Also Be Presented.
Forensic Engineering Analysis Of Golf Course Cart Club And Ball Accidents
Authors: Liptai Laura L. , Michael Johnstone
Published: August 2021

With Over 27.8 Million Golfers And More Than 16,000 Golf Facilities In The United States, Golf Is A Non-Contact Sport With Statistically Low Risk For Injury. However, Research Has Documented Golf Related Injuries Can Be Disproportionally Serious Or Even Fatal. Federal Regulations And Countermeasures To Improve Golf Safety Are Outlined. A Spectrum Of Forensic Engineering Analysis Of Golf-Related Incidents Illustrates The Broad Range Of Resulting Trauma. Categories Of Golf Incidents Include: Cart Collisions With Other Vehicles Resulting From Mixed Use On Automotive Roadways, Cart Solo Incidents Including Ejection With And Without Rollover, Errant Golf Ball Impacts, Inadvertent Golf Club Impacts, Trip And Fall Incidents As Well As Golf Cart Fires.
Beware of Embrittled Automotive Rear Axle Drive Shafts
Authors: Glater Irving W.
Published: August 2021

In the late 1960s, a novel engineering idea was introduced into American automobiles-Oldsmobile, for example, began implementation of it in 1968. Prior to that time, the outboard ends of automotive rear axle drive shafts were, in most cases, supported by conventional roller bearing assemblies. Then some clever chap came up with the idea that the inner races of the bearing assemblies could be eliminated if the surfaces of the axle shafts could be made as hard as the bearing races. This was accomplished by choosing an axle shaft material which could be induction hardened to produce a layer of sufficient thickness and hardness, thus effectively integrating the bearing inner race with the axle shaft. The rollers ran directly on the axle shaft surface. The new axle shafts displayed superior torsional strength over the old style. Undoubtedly, other engineering and design benefits accrued to this idea.
OSHA and the Forensic Engineer
Authors: Brickman Morley
Published: August 2021

To understand how a forensic engineer can best utilize or interface with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration it is necessary to understand something of the agency and its purpose. Congress in enacting PL91-596, also known as the Williams-Stieger or Occupational Safety and Health Act, stated as the purpose to assure so far as possible every working man and woman in the Nation safe and healthful working conditions and to preserve our human resources. There then follows thirteen mandates of the congress all of which cannot be gone into detail here. People are most familiar with the enforcement aspects of the Agency but are not so familiar with the research, consultation, training and standard making areas which, other than enforcement, are of the most interest to forensic engineers.
Small Steel Plates on Highway Pavements
Authors: Kravitz Michael
Published: August 2021

Small steel plates are used to cover catch basins holes that are in the process of being repaired on highway pavements. They are placed over the hole and the edges of the plate are feathered with cold patch asphalt to limit the bump effect on vehicles riding over the plate. The plates are thought to be over designed with respect to static loads. However, the dynamic effects of tires rolling over the plates at speeds of 50 mph or greater are usually not considered. It is common belief that the weight of the plate is sufficient to keep the plate in place along with the asphalt feathering. This paper will consider the effect of Sudden Loading on short plates temporarily covering these types of holes.
A Determination of the Causal Factors in Bicycle Accidents at Railroad Crossings
Authors: Green James M.
Published: August 2021

The purpose of this analysis is to define the causal factors of bicycle accidents at railroad crossings. Bicycle accidents at railroad crossings usually result in a fall with serious upper body injuries to the cyclist. This paper excludes cyclist collisions with a train or motor vehicle. Emphasis on reconstructing railroad crossing cyclist accidents will center around the cyclist falling for the following reasons
An Efficient Design Procedure to Implement the Fractional-Order Chaotic Jerk Systems with the Programmable Analog Platform
Authors: KORKMAZ Nimet , SAÇU İbrahim Ethem
Published: August 2021

An effective design procedure has been introduced for implementing the fractional order integrator structures with a modified low pass filters (LPFs) and its functionality is verified by realizing a fractional-order chaotic system. In these applications, the state variables of the fractional-order Sprott’s Jerk system are emulated by these first order LPFs. Since the discrete device based designs have the hard adjustment features and the circuit complexities; the realizations of these LPFs are carried out with the Field Programmable Analog Arrays (FPAAs), sensitively. Hence, the introduced LPF based method has been applied to the fractional order Sprott’s Jerk systems and these fractional-order systems, which are built by the several nonlinear functions, have been implemented with a programmable analog device. In this context, the minimum fractional-orders of the Sprott’s Jerk systems are calculated by considering the stability of the fractional-order nonlinear systems. After that, these systems are simulated by employing the Grünwald-Letnikov (G-L) fractional derivative method by using a common fractional-order. Thus, the stability analyses of the fractional-order Sprott’s Jerk system are supported by the numerical simulation results. After the numerical simulation stage, the design procedures of the FPAA based implementations of the Sprott’s Jerk systems have been dealt with in detail. Finally, thanks to the introduced first-order LPF method, the hardware realizations of the Sprott’s Jerk systems have been achieved successfully with a single FPAA device.
China’s Robotics Patent Landscape
Authors:   Center for Security and Emerging Technology, Abdulla Sara
Published: August 2021

Since 2011, China has dramatically grown its robotics sector as part of its mission to achieve technological leadership. The Chinese government has encouraged this growth through incentives and, in some cases, subsidies. Patents in robotics have surged, particularly at Chinese universities; by contrast, private companies comprise the bulk of robotics patent filers around the world. China has also seen a corresponding growth in robotics purchasing and active robotics stock. This data brief explores the trends in robotics patent families published from China as a measure of robotics advancement and finds that China is on track to emerge as a world leader in robotics.
Soil and Water Pollution Awareness and Fare Purchasing Behaviour of Passengers in Air Carriers
Authors: Ölçen Olcay , Önler Büşra
Published: August 2021

In this sustainability age, like every sector, also civil aviation transportation should find solutions in order to sustain its own presence. Therefore, international aviational organizations and other players of this industry try to find some solutions recent environmental problems such as Greenhouse Gases Emissions. But also, civil aviation related soil and water pollution problems have got especially decisive and disruptive impacts on environment, human and animal health. What makes this paper more distinct is that it is clearly make an evaluation on water and soil pollution in civil aviation transportation context with real data therefore it serves as a baseline for next papers. 389 people are participated in the survey for this article from Turkey sample. According to article conclusions, the information levels of Turkish passengers toward soil and water pollution are mature level without suspicion, but especially their awareness level toward civil aviation related water and soil pollution can include some problems, for example, consciousness of kerosene is very low. For these reasons, subjects of this article are so illuminative, and findings are interesting.
The Berkeley Environmental Air-quality and CO2 Network: field calibrations of sensor temperature dependence and assessment of network scale CO2 accuracy
Authors: Delaria Erin R. , Kim Jinsol , Fitzmaurice Helen L. , Newman Catherine , Wooldridge Paul J. , Worthington Kevin , Cohen Ronald C.
Published: August 2021

Abstract. The majority of global anthropogenic CO2 emissions originate in cities. We have proposed that dense networks are a strategy for tracking changes to the processes contributing to urban CO2 emissions and suggested that a network with ∼ 2 km measurement spacing and ∼ 1 ppm node-to-node precision would be effective at constraining point, line, and area sources within cities. Here, we report on an assessment of the accuracy of the Berkeley Environmental Air-quality and CO2 Network (BEACO2N) CO2 measurements over several years of deployment. We describe a new procedure for improving network accuracy that accounts for and corrects the temperature-dependent zero offset of the Vaisala CarboCap GMP343 CO2 sensors used. With this correction we show that a total error of 1.6 ppm or less can be achieved for networks that have a calibrated reference location and 3.6 ppm for networks without a calibrated reference.
Impact of ozone and inlet design on the quantification of isoprene-derived organic nitrates by thermal dissociation cavity ring-down spectroscopy (TD-CRDS)
Authors: Dewald Patrick , Dörich Raphael , Schuladen Jan , Lelieveld Jos , Crowley John N.
Published: August 2021

Abstract. We present measurements of isoprene-derived organic
nitrates (ISOP-NITs) generated in the reaction of isoprene with the nitrate
radical (NO3) in a 1 m3 Teflon reaction chamber. Detection of
ISOP-NITs is achieved via their thermal dissociation to nitrogen dioxide
(NO2), which is monitored by cavity ring-down spectroscopy (TD-CRDS).
Using thermal dissociation inlets (TDIs) made of quartz, the
temperature-dependent dissociation profiles (thermograms) of ISOP-NITs
measured in the presence of ozone (O3) are broad (350 to 700 K), which
contrasts the narrower profiles previously observed for, for example, isopropyl
nitrate (iPN) or peroxy acetyl nitrate (PAN) under the same conditions. The
shape of the thermograms varied with the TDI's surface-to-volume ratio and
with material of the inlet walls, providing clear evidence that ozone and
quartz surfaces catalyse the dissociation of unsaturated organic nitrates
leading to formation of NO2 at temperatures well below 475 K, impeding
the separate detection of alkyl nitrates (ANs) and peroxy nitrates (PNs).
The use of a TDI consisting of a non-reactive material suppresses the
conversion of isoprene-derived ANs at 473 K, thus allowing selective
detection of PNs. The potential for interference by the thermolysis of
nitric acid (HNO3), nitrous acid (HONO) and O3 is assessed.
Heavy metal uptake of near-shore benthic foraminifera during multi-metal culturing experiments
Authors: Schmidt Sarina , Hathorne Edmund Charles , Schönfeld Joachim , Garbe-Schönberg Dieter
Published: August 2021

Abstract. Heavy metal pollution originating from anthropogenic sources, e.g., mining, industry and extensive land use, is increasing in many parts of the world and influences coastal marine environments for a long time. The elevated input of heavy metals into the marine system potentially affects the biota because of their toxicity, persistence and bioaccumulation. An emerging tool for environmental applications is the heavy metal incorporation into foraminiferal tests calcite, which facilitates monitoring of anthropogenic footprints on recent and past environmental systems. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the incorporation of heavy metals in foraminifera is a direct function of their concentration in seawater. Culturing experiments with a mixture of dissolved chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), silver (Ag), cadmium (Cd), tin (Sn), mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb) in artificial seawater were carried out over a wide concentration range to assess the uptake of heavy metals by the near-shore foraminiferal species Ammonia aomoriensis, Ammonia batava and Elphidium excavatum. Seawater analysis exhibited the increasing metal concentrations between culturing phases and revealed high metal concentrations in the beginning of the culturing phases due to the punctual metal addition. Furthermore, a loss of metals during the culturing process was discovered, which lead to a deviation between the expected and the actual concentrations of the metals in seawater. Laser ablation ICP-MS analysis of the newly formed calcite revealed species-specific differences in the incorporation of heavy metals. The foraminiferal calcite of all three species reveals a strong positive correlation with Pb and Ag concentrations in the culturing medium. Ammonia aomoriensis further showed a correlation with Mn and Cu, A. batava with Mn and Hg and E. excavatum with Cr and Ni, and partially also with Hg. Zn, Sn and Cd showed no clear trend for the species studied, which may be caused by the little variation of these metals in seawater. Our calibrations and the calculated partition coefficients render A. aomoriensis, A. batava and E. excavatum as natural archives that enable the direct quantification of metals in polluted and pristine environments. This in turn allows monitoring of the ecosystem status of areas that are potentially under the threat of anthropogenic pollution in order to evaluate contemporary emission reduction measures.
iNRACM: incorporating 15N into the Regional Atmospheric Chemistry Mechanism (RACM) for assessing the role photochemistry plays in controlling the isotopic composition of NOx, NOy, and atmospheric nitrate
Authors: Fang Huan , Walters Wendell W. , Mase David , Michalski Greg
Published: August 2021

Abstract. Nitrogen oxides, classified as NOx (nitric oxide (NO) + nitrogen
dioxide (NO2)) and NOy (NOx+ NO3, N2O5
HNO3, + HNO4+ HONO + Peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) + organic
nitrates + any oxidized N compound), are important trace gases in the
troposphere, which play an important role in the formation of ozone,
particulate matter (PM), and secondary organic aerosols (SOA). There remain
many uncertainties in the origin and fate of atmospheric N compounds including
the understanding of NOy cycling, NOx emission budgets,
unresolved issues within the heterogeneous uptake coefficients of
N2O5, and the formation of organic nitrates in urban forests, to
name a few. A potential tool to resolve some of these uncertainties are
using natural abundance N isotopes in NOy compounds. Here we have
developed a photochemical mechanism used to simulate tropospheric
photochemistry to include 15N compounds and reactions as a means to
simulate δ15N values in NOy compounds. The 16 N compounds
and 96 reactions involving N used in the Regional Atmospheric Chemistry
Mechanism (RACM) were replicated using 15N in a new mechanism called
iNRACM. The 192 N reactions in iNRACM were tested to see if isotope
effects were relevant with respect to significantly changing the δ15N values (±1 ‰) of NOx, HONO, and/or
HNO3. The isotope fractionation factors (α) for relevant
reactions were assigned based on recent experimental or calculated values.
Each relevant reaction in the iNRACM mechanism was tested individually
and in concert in order to assess the controlling reactions. The controlling
reactions and their diurnal importance are discussed. A comparison between
iNRACM predictions and observed δ15N NO3- in
particulate matter from Tucson, Arizona, suggests the model, and isotope
fractionation factors incorporated into it, are accurately capturing the
isotope effects occurring during the photochemistry of NOy. The
implication is that measurements of δ15N in NOy compounds
may be a new way of tracing in situ N chemistry and a means of assessing NOx
emission budgets.