bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Puzzling Radiocarbon Dates for the Upper Paleolithic Site of Sungir (Central Russian Plain)
Authors: Kuzmin Yaroslav V , van der Plicht Johannes , Sulerzhitsky Leopold D
Published: January 2014

A summary is presented of more than a decade-long study of direct radiocarbon dating for one of the most important human burials in Eurasia, the Sungir site in eastern Europe. Eighteen 14C dates were produced before early 2014 on three skeletons (Sungir 1–3), and there is still no consistency in the results. In the absence of other independent methods to establish the antiquity of Sungir, a careful analysis is performed of the site's stratigraphy, paleoenvironment, and 14C dates run on animal bones from the same layer as the burials. Although the conclusions of this work cannot be guaranteed to be absolutely correct, we suggest that at the present stage of research the age range of ∼26,000–27,210 BP is the most probable time for the creation of the elaborate human burials at the Sungir site.
Analyzing Radiocarbon Reservoir Offsets Through Stable Nitrogen Isotopes and Bayesian Modeling: A Case Study Using Paired Human and Faunal Remains from the Cis-Baikal Region, Siberia
Authors: Ramsey Christopher Bronk , Schulting Rick , Goriunova Olga I , Bazaliiskii Vladimir I , Weber Andrzej W
Published: January 2014

Dietary offsets in radiocarbon dates are becoming increasingly interesting to researchers, not only because of their impact on the reliability of chronologies but also because of the possibilities for extracting further dietary information from the14C data itself. This is the case with the cemeteries of the Cis-Baikal region being studied as part of the international Baikal-Hokkaido Archaeology Project set up to examine hunter-gatherer cultural dynamics in eastern Asia. Fortunately, to control for a freshwater reservoir offset, we were able to obtain a number of paired terrestrial herbivore and human material for14C dating. This article tests the correspondence between stable isotope evidence and the offsets seen in14C values and the implications for the analysis of the14C measurements as “chronometric dates.” This is an unusually well-documented example of freshwater reservoir offsets, providing an ideal case study to test different approaches to analyzing such offset information. Here, a purely Bayesian approach is compared with the more frequently applied linear regression analysis.
New Data from Fortified Coastal Settlement of Cap de Forma, Mahon, Menorca (Balearic Islands)
Authors: Depalmas Anna
Published: January 2014

This article presents new radiometric data from archaeological layers of the inhabited structures adjacent to the cyclopean monument of Cap de Forma (Mahon, Menorca). The archaeological site is located on a narrow isthmus that links a 30-m-high coastal promontory to the mainland. It is next to an excellent natural harbor on the south coast of the island. The protohistorical complex consists of a cyclopean monument surrounded by a necropolis of rock-cut tombs (cuevas) that are dug into the cliff. The monument is an atypical example of Talayotic architecture. The excavations carried out since 1997 have discovered three living spaces. These lean against the southern wall of the cyclopean structure. The artifacts are almost all pan of a chronological horizon that corresponds to the beginning of the Talayotic period. This study uses radiometric data to help interpret the recent findings from the three living spaces that flank the wall of the central monument.
Vegetation Changes Viewed from Pollen Analysis in Rarotonga, Southern Cook Islands, Eastern Polynesia
Authors: Fujiki Toshiyuki , Okuno Mitsuru , Moriwaki Hiroshi , Nakamura Toshio , Kawai Kei , McCormack Gerald , Cowan George , Maoate Paul T
Published: January 2014

This study presents accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dates and pollen assemblages of 400-cm core sediments collected from the Karekare Swamp in Rarotonga, Southern Cook Islands, to investigate vegetation changes on the island, in particular those induced by human impacts. Eight 14C dates of charcoal and higher plant fragment samples indicate that the sediments accumulated since ∼6.0 cal kBP, with an apparent interruption of deposition (hiatus) from 130 to 132 cm in depth, corresponding to ∼2.8 to 0.7 cal kBP. The appearance of Chenopodiaceae pollen from upland weeds, and Cucurbitaceae and Vigna pollen grains from cultivated plants suggest that human influence existed in core sediments above 130 cm in depth. The increased abundance of Pandanus pollen and monolate-type fern spores also implies the existence of human activity.
Tell Sabi Abyad, Syria: Dating of Neolithic Cemeteries
Authors: Plug H , van der Plicht J , Akkermans P M M G
Published: January 2014

Late Neolithic graves excavated at Tell Sabi Abyad, Syria, have been dated by radiocarbon. This series of 46 human bone dates represents a sequence of cemeteries that is analyzed by Bayesian methodology. The dates show continuous use of the northeastern slope of the mound as a burial ground throughout the Initial Pottery Neolithic to the Halaf period.
Radiocarbon Dating of the Neolithic Lakeside Settlement of Dispilio, Kastoria, Northern Greece
Authors: Facorellis Yorgos , Sofronidou Marina , Hourmouziadis Giorgos
Published: January 2014

Dispilio is the only excavated Neolithic lakeside settlement in Greece. Archaeological research provided evidence that the site was continuously used from the Early Neolithic (∼6000 BC) to the Late Chalcolithic period (∼1200 BC, Mycenaean period). During several archaeological campaigns, a portion of the settlement has been excavated that enabled a sufficient understanding of the architectural layout of homes, the building materials, and the organization of space, while the finds (fragments of pottery, stone and bone tools, anthropomorphic and zoomorphic clay figurines, miniature representations of objects also on clay, animal and fish bones, charred cereal grains, and other fruits) provided information on the everyday lives of the Neolithic inhabitants. A series of charcoal and wood samples, originating mostly from the Middle and Late Neolithic layers of the site, were radiocarbon dated and their dates range from ∼5470 to 4850 BC. The most unexpected of the finds, a wooden tablet from the lake bearing engraved symbols, was 14C dated to 5260 ± 40 BC. In addition, clay tablets and pottery vessels engraved with similar symbols were also unearthed from layers dated to the same period. If this proves to be a primary source of written communication, the history of writing should be reconsidered and Neolithic societies should not be considered “societies without writing.”
Radiocarbon Dating of the Necropolis of the Early Christian Site of Son Peretó (Mallorca, Balearic Islands)
Authors: Cau Miguel Á , Rullan Mateu Riera , Salas Magdalena , Van Strydonck Mark
Published: January 2014

Radiocarbon dates, obtained from different human bones found in several tombs of the site of Son Peretó, are presented and discussed together with the stratigraphical evidence and the study of the material culture. The calibrated dates show that the tombs were built earlier than the main phase of occupation of the West Sector, therefore belonging to a necropolis linked to the Christian building prior to the transformation of the area into a habitation nucleus. The necropolis is 14C dated mainly to the 6th century AD. This is in good agreement with the chronology provided by ceramic materials.
Dating Historical Contexts: Issues, Plant Material, and Methods to Date the Late Roman Site of Faragola, Apulia (SE Italy)
Authors: Caracuta V , Fiorentino G , Turchiano M , Volpe G
Published: January 2014

Charred plant materials found in archaeological contexts are usually considered the most reliable remains for radiocarbon dating. Usually, seeds and fruits are preferred to wood fragments because their short lifecycle reduces the range of uncertainty of the14C measurement. A selection of short-lived samples, mainly from barley and wheat, from the Late Roman site of Faragola (SE Italy) were14C dated; however, the14C dates obtained were not always consistent with the chronology provided by other archaeological evidence. A careful analysis of all the macrobotanical remains found in each of the dated contexts provides insight into the origin of the plant material, helping to distinguish betweenin situand non-in situmaterial. The14C dates are reconsidered in the context of findings and the kind of material selected for dating. Using the archaeological context, a Bayesian model was employed to reduce the range of the calibrated date and thereby refine the chronology of the site on an absolute basis.
Matching Data: Analyzing the Chronological Use Sequence in the Iron Age Necropolis of the Staggered Turriform of Son Ferrer (Balearic Islands, Spain)
Authors: Trias Manuel Calvo , Rosselló Jaume García , Molina David Javaloyas , Santacreu Daniel Albero , Van Strydonck Mark
Published: January 2014

The Son Ferrer archaeological site presents a series of successive occupations spanning a long period of time. At the beginning of the Iron Age (∼850 BC), a staggered turriform structure was built for a ritual purpose over an artificial hypogeum that had already been used as a collective necropolis during the Early Bronze Age (∼1800–1500 BC). Later, in the post-Talayotic phase (Second Iron Age, 550–123 BC), the hypogeum was again reused as a collective burial place. The present work is focused on the chronological and functional analysis of this last phase, which began ∼500 BC and ended ∼180 BC with the saturation and sealing of the hypogeum. The excavation process revealed that significant removal of archaeological material has occurred as a result of complex funerary space management practices, which generated a secondary archaeological context. Given this situation, and in order to establish the different use phases of the post-Talayotic necropolis, a dual strategy of excavation and research was implemented. First, an extensive series of radiocarbon dates on human remains (18 dates) was obtained, which were later analyzed following Bayesian strategies. Second, a detailed spatial analysis was carried out, georeferencing the location of all the archaeological finds. This strategy allowed the reconstruction of the space management processes and movement patterns that took place in the burial space. Despite some initial difficulties, the combination of these research strategies embedded in a contextual analysis provided both material and chronological references that have contributed to define the various use phases of the hypogeum.
Chronology of Wetland Hydrological Dynamics and the Mesolithic-Neolithic Transition along the Lower Scheldt: A Bayesian Approach
Authors: Verhegge Jeroen , Missiaen Tine , van Strydonck Mark , Crombé Philippe
Published: January 2014

The Mesolithic-Neolithic transition in the wetland margins of the southern North Sea basin occurred well over a millennium after the transition in neighboring loess regions. This article investigates the possible role of hydrological dynamics in the presence of the last hunter-gatherer-fishermen in these wetland regions. A Bayesian modeling approach is used to integrate stratigraphic information and radiocarbon dates both from accurately datable archaeological remains and key horizons in peat sequences in the Scheldt floodplain of northwestern Belgium. This study tests whether the Swifterbant occupation of the study area was contemporaneous with hiatuses in peat growth caused by organic clastic sedimentation due to increased tidal influences and local groundwater rise. The results suggest that the appearance of this culture followed shortly after the emergence of a brackish tidal mudflat landscape replacing a freshwater marsh.
Textiles and Radiocarbon Dating
Authors: Hajdas Irka , Cristi Carlo , Bonani Georges , Maurer Mantana
Published: January 2014

Natural textiles provide suitable material for radiocarbon dating. Short-lived organic matter is usually involved and, if 14C dating is applied to pieces that are stylistically well dated, a better understanding of 14C dating of this type of material can be gained. This study presents some examples of dating that support the stylistic dates. Repeated analyses illustrate the robustness of the standard treatment applied to the textiles.
Effects of interleukin-6 and interleukin-1β on expression of growth differentiation factor-5 and Wnt signaling pathway genes in equine chondrocytes
Authors: Svala Emilia , Thorfve Anna I. , Ley Cecilia , Henriksson Helena K. Barreto , Synnergren Jane M. , Lindahl Anders H. , Ekman Stina , Skiöldebrand Eva S. R.
Published: January 2014

Objective—To determine the effects of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β stimulation on expression of growth differentiation factor (GDF)-5 and Wnt signaling pathway genes in equine chondrocytes.

Sample—Macroscopically normal articular cartilage samples from 6 horses and osteochondral fragments (OCFs) from 3 horses.

Procedures—Chondrocyte pellets were prepared and cultured without stimulation or following stimulation with IL-6 or IL-1β for 1, 2, 12, and 48 hours; expression of GDF-5 was determined with a quantitative real-time PCR assay. Expression of genes in various signaling pathways was determined with microarrays for pellets stimulated for 1 and 2 hours. Immunohistochemical analysis was used to detect GDF-5, glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β), and β-catenin proteins in macroscopically normal cartilage samples and OCFs.

Results—Chondrocytes stimulated with IL-6 had significantly higher GDF-5 expression within 2 hours versus unstimulated chondrocytes. Microarray analysis of Wnt signaling pathway genes indicated expression of GSK-3β and coiled-coil domain containing 88C increased after 1 hour and expression of β-catenin decreased after 2 hours of IL-6 stimulation. Results of immunohistochemical detection of proteins were similar to microarray analysis results. Chondrocytes in macroscopically normal articular cartilage and OCFs had immunostaining for GDF-5.

Conclusion and Clinical Relevance—Results indicated IL-6 stimulation decreased chondrocyte expression of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway transactivator β-catenin, induced expression of inhibitors of the Wnt pathway, and increased expression of GDF-5. This suggested IL-6 may inhibit the Wnt signaling pathway with subsequent upregulation of GDF-5 expression. Anabolic extracellular matrix metabolism in OCFs may be attributable to GDF-5 expression. This information could be useful for development of cartilage repair methods.
Effects of pentoxifylline on immediate and late-phase cutaneous reactions in response to anti–immunoglobulin E antibodies in clinically normal dogs
Authors: Pucheu-Haston Cherie M. , Kasparek Kaitlin A. , Stout Rhett W. , Kearney Michael T. , Hammerberg Bruce
Published: January 2014

Objective—To characterize the effects of pentoxifylline on the gross and microscopic variables associated with immediate and late-phase inflammation following injection of IgE-specific antibodies in the skin of clinically normal dogs.

Animals—6 healthy adult mixed-breed dogs.

Procedures—Intradermal injections (0.1 mL each) of PBS solution, histamine phosphate, and cross-linking rabbit-origin anti-canine IgE antibodies (3 injections/dog) were administered at 0 hours on day 0; wheal sizes were evaluated at 20 minutes, 6 hours, and 24 hours. Biopsy specimens of injected and noninjected skin were collected 24 hours after injection. On day 2, treatment with pentoxifylline (20 mg/kg, PO, q 8 h) was initiated and continued until day 30. For each dog, injection, measurement, and biopsy procedures were repeated on days 30 to 31 and on days 37 to 38 (ie, after discontinuation of pentoxifylline administration).

Results—Pentoxifylline administration was associated with a significant decrease in wheal size at 6 and 24 hours (but not at 20 minutes) after injection of anti-canine IgE. Repeated injections performed 1 week after drug discontinuation revealed partial recovery of the 6-hour cutaneous reaction and complete recovery of the 24-hour cutaneous reaction. Pentoxifylline administration was also associated with inhibition of mast cell degranulation and significant decreases in the total numbers of cutaneous inflammatory cells and eosinophils, compared with pretreatment findings.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—In clinically normal dogs, pentoxifylline effectively impaired late-phase reactions but not immediate reactions at sites of intradermal injection of IgE-specific antibodies by inhibiting mast cell degranulation and recruitment of cutaneous inflammatory cells, especially eosinophils.
Assessment of folate receptor expression and folate uptake in multicentric lymphomas in dogs
Authors: Childress Michael O. , Dhawan Deepika , Leamon Christopher P. , Miller Margaret A. , Ramos-Vara José A. , Naughton James F. , Low Philip S. , Knapp Deborah W.
Published: January 2014

Objective—To determine expression of folate receptors (FRs) and folate uptake in multicentric lymphomas in dogs.

Sample—10 dogs with histopathologically confirmed multicentric lymphoma and 20 archival lymph node biopsy specimens from dogs with multicentric lymphoma.

Procedures—Multicentric lymphomas in 10 dogs were prospectively evaluated for FR expression by use of immunohistochemical analysis and for in vivo folate uptake by use of nuclear scintigraphy. Dogs with FR-expressing tumors were eligible for FR-targeted chemotherapy. Twenty archival lymphoma biopsy specimens were also evaluated with immunohistochemical analysis.

Results—FRs were not detected with immunohistochemical analysis in lymph node samples obtained from the 10 dogs or in archival biopsy specimens. However, nuclear scintigraphy revealed uptake of radioactive tracer in 6 of 10 dogs. Five of these 6 dogs were treated with an FR-targeted chemotherapeutic agent; results of treatment were complete remission in 1 dog, stable disease in 2 dogs, and progressive disease in 2 dogs. Treatment-related toxicoses generally were mild.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—This study provided strong evidence for folate uptake in a substantial portion of multicentric lymphomas of dogs and indicated the antitumor activity of FR-targeted chemotherapeutics for these cancers. Use of FR-targeted chemotherapeutics may be promising for the treatment of FR-expressing multicentric lymphomas in dogs. Further studies are needed to determine reasons for lack of immunoreactivity to currently identified anti-FR antibodies and to develop improved methods for detecting FRs in lymphomas of dogs.
Rates of Concussion Are Lower in National Football League Games Played at Higher Altitudes
Authors: Myer Gregory D. , Smith David , Barber Foss Kim D. , Dicesare Christopher A. , Kiefer Adam W. , Kushner Adam M. , Thomas Staci M. , Sucharew Heidi , Khoury Jane C.
Published: January 2014

Study Design

Retrospective epidemiologic investigation.

Objective

To investigate the relationship between altitude and concussion rate in the National Football League (NFL). Because of the physiologic responses that occur during acclimatization to altitude, it was hypothesized that games played on fields at a higher altitude would have reduced concussion rates compared to games played on fields at a lower altitude.

Background

Recent research indicates that the elevation above sea level at which football games are played may be associated with the likelihood of a concussion in high school football athletes.

Methods

Data on incident concussions and athlete exposures for the first 16 weeks of the NFL 2012 and 2013 regular seasons were obtained from publicly available web-based sources and used to calculate competition concussion rates for each NFL stadium. Concussion rates were analyzed in relation to game elevation.

Results

During the first 16 weeks of the 2012 and 2013 NFL regular seasons, 300 concussions, involving 284 players, were reported (64.3 primary cases per 10 000 game exposures). The odds of a concussion were 30% lower when playing at a higher elevation (equal to or greater than 644 ft [196.3 m] above sea level) compared to a lower elevation (odds ratio = 0.70; 95% confidence interval: 0.53, 0.94). A multivariable generalized linear model controlling for season, week, and clustering of team at home and away confirmed these results, showing that the odds of at least 1 concussion were reduced by 32% in games played at higher elevation.

Conclusion

The results of this epidemiological investigation indicate that increased altitude was associated with a reduction in the odds of a sport-related concussion in NFL athletes. The reported relationship of concussion incidence and field elevation should be further investigated, and, if verified, further work will be needed to understand why that relationship exists.

Level of Evidence

Prognosis, level 2c. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2014;44(3):164–172. Epub 28 January 2014. doi:10.2519/jospt.2014.5298
Comparative Analyses of Stated Behavioral Responses to Off-Hour Delivery Policies
Authors: Jaller Miguel , Holguín-Veras José
Published: January 2014

The analyses reported in this paper show the benefits of using behavioral research to understand the stated behavioral responses of different economic agents (receivers and carriers) to off-hour delivery policies in two major business areas in New York City: Manhattan and Brooklyn. These policies include shipping discounts and a tax deduction for receivers and customer requests combined with either financial rewards or toll discounts for carriers. Given the relatively small amount of research conducted into stated and revealed behavioral responses, the results for Manhattan and Brooklyn provide insights into the operations of receiver and carrier companies in areas with similar characteristics.
Bikes for Urban Freight?
Authors: Lenz Barbara , Riehle Ernst
Published: January 2014

In light of the necessity of reducing motorized road traffic in Europe, above all in city centers, focus is switching more and more to cycle freight. At present there is little research or systematically prepared findings in this area. This paper demonstrates that the use of cycle freight is already widespread, though restricted to larger cities, which have the density necessary to create demand. The existing firms that use cycle freight operate primarily as pure cycle freight operators. The parallel operation of cargo cycles within fleets of otherwise motorized vehicles has, however, been tried successfully on several occasions. The availability of city center hubs that ensure the necessary efficiency is one of the special requirements associated with the use of cargo cycles. Customers still have reservations, although it may be assumed that these reservations are more a case of initial resistance and could be overcome through information and advertising campaigns. In total, it is expected that around a quarter of city center freight transport could be carried by bike. Bike freight will work only if this mode of delivery is given greater consideration in city and transport planning. Initial estimates indicate that the reduction in air and noise pollution created by cycle-based commercial traffic could be quite significant, although systematic analysis is lacking in this area. To date, there have been no studies on the effects of cycle freight on city center traffic.
Economic Analysis of Onboard Monitoring Systems in Commercial Vehicles
Authors: Pitera Kelly , Boyle Linda Ng , Goodchild Anne V.
Published: January 2014

Onboard monitoring systems (OBMSs) can be used in commercial vehicle operations to monitor driving behavior, with the goal of enhancing safety. Although improved safety produces an economic benefit to carriers, understanding how this benefit compares with the cost of the system is an important factor for carrier acceptance. In addition to the safety benefits provided from the use of OBMSs, operational improvements may have economic benefits. This research provides, through a benefit–cost analysis, a better understanding of the economic implications of OBMSs from the perspective of the carrier. In addition to the benefits of reduced crashes, the benefits associated with reduced mileage, reduced fuel costs, and the electronic recording of hours of service (HOS) are considered. A sensitivity analysis demonstrates that OBMSs are economically viable under a wide range of conditions. The results indicate that for some types of fleets, a reduction in crashes and an improvement in HOS recording provides a net benefit of close to $300,000 over the 5-year expected life span of the system. Furthermore, when additional benefits, such as reduced fuel consumption and reduced vehicle miles, are explored, the operation-related benefits can be upward of seven times more than the safety-related benefits. This research also shows that net positive benefits are possible in large and small fleets. The results can be used to inform policies that motivate or mandate carriers to use such systems and to inform carriers about the value of system investment.
Time-Variant Travel Time Prediction Model and Its Application in a Cooperative Traffic Control System
Authors: Cai Chen , Wang Yang , Geers Glenn
Published: January 2014

This paper presents a travel time prediction model and an application of this model to vehicle cooperative control systems. The travel time prediction model considers vehicle delay because of downstream queue formation and traffic signal operation. For estimation of traffic signal–induced delay, this model uses a time-variant nonlinear probability function that maps the vehicle arrival time at a downstream stop line to the probability that it will receive a green signal on arrival. The probability function is determined iteratively. The travel time prediction model can be applied to any phase-based traffic controller. The road vehicle cooperative control system is developed on the basis of vehicle-to-infrastructure communication. The control system optimizes signal timing according to data transmitted in real time and sends speed adjustment recommendations to selected vehicles on the road. Results from numerical tests validate the accuracy of the travel time prediction model and demonstrate the benefits of the cooperative control system.
Path Clearance for Emergency Vehicles through the Use of Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communication
Authors: Jordan Craig A. , Cetin Mecit , Robinson R. Michael
Published: January 2014

The study described in this paper evaluated and tested a new strategy to enable emergency response vehicles (EVs) to navigate through congestion at signalized intersections more efficiently. The proposed strategy involves the use of vehicle-to-vehicle communication to send messages to alert vehicles to the approach of the EV and to provide specific instructions on maneuvering to allow the EV to proceed through congested signalized intersections as quickly as possible. This movement is achieved by creation of a split in the vehicle queue in one lane at a critical location to allow the EV to proceed at its desired speed but minimize the disruption to the rest of the traffic. The proposed method uses kinematic wave theory (i.e., shock wave theory) to determine the critical point in the vehicle queue. The proposed method is simulated in a microscopic traffic simulator for evaluation. The results show that this strategy can significantly shorten the travel time for EVs through congested signalized intersections.
Enhancing Roundabout Operations via Vehicle Connectivity
Authors: Zohdy Ismail H. , Rakha Hesham A.
Published: January 2014

With in-vehicle automation and vehicle connectivity gaining momentum, cooperative adaptive cruise control (CACC) systems are expected to enter the market in the near future. Given that the number of roundabouts in the United States has increased significantly, this research effort investigated the potential benefits of the use of CACC systems and vehicle-to-infrastructure connectivity to optimize the trajectories of vehicles approaching a single-lane roundabout. The optimization ensures that vehicles can enter the roundabout when gaps in the circulating roadway are available. The proposed idea is generally similar to the concept of metering single-lane entrance ramps. The system is simulated on a single-lane roundabout for different traffic demands and CACC market penetration levels. The study demonstrates that CACC systems can produce savings in total delay and fuel consumption levels of up to 80% and 40%, respectively, relative to the levels for traditional roundabout control. Further benefits are also achievable if one considers the potential to reduce the time headway between CACC-equipped vehicles and thus increase lane capacity.
Geographic Distribution of E-Shopping
Authors: Cao Xinyu (Jason) , Chen Qian , Choo Sangho
Published: January 2014

The proliferation of Internet shopping has imposed enormous pressure on traditional stores. Few studies have examined the geographic distribution of online buyers and its implications on retail development and transportation. Using 585 Internet users in the Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota, metropolitan area, this study develops structural equation models to test two competing hypotheses regarding the connections between spatial attributes and e-shopping: diffusion of innovation and efficiency. The results demonstrate that the influence of shopping accessibility on e-shopping is not uniform and depends on the locations in metropolitan areas. Specifically, Internet users living in urban areas, areas with greater shopping accessibility, or both tend to purchase online more often than their counterparts in other areas because the former are better educated and use the Internet more than the latter. However, low shopping accessibility in exurban areas does promote the use of e-shopping as compared with exurban areas with relatively high shopping accessibility.
Semantic Annotation of Global Positioning System Traces
Authors: Reumers Sofie , Liu Feng , Janssens Davy , Cools Mario , Wets Geert
Published: January 2014

Because of the rapid development of technology, larger data sets on activity travel behavior have become available. These data sets often lack semantic interpretation. This lack of interpretation implies that annotation of activity type and transportation mode is necessary. This paper aims to infer activity types from Global Positioning System (GPS) traces by developing a decision tree–based model. The model considers only activity start times and activity durations. On the basis of the decision tree classification, a probability distribution and a point prediction model were constructed. The probability matrix described the probability of each activity type for each class (i.e., combination of activity start time and activity duration). In each class, the point prediction model selected the activity type that had the highest probability. Two types of data were collected in 2006 and 2007 in Flanders, Belgium (i.e., activity travel data and GPS data). The optimal classification tree constructed contained 18 leaves. Consequently, 18 if–then rules were derived. An accuracy of 74% was achieved when the tree was trained. The accuracy of the model for the validation set (72.5%) showed that overfitting was minimal. When the model was applied to the test set, the accuracy was almost 76%. The models indicated the importance of time information in the semantic enrichment process. This study contributes to future data collection in that it enables researchers to infer activity types directly from activity start time and duration information obtained from GPS data. Because no location information is needed, this research can be easily and readily applied to millions of individual agents.
Using Smartphones and Sensor Technologies to Automate Collection of Travel Data
Authors: Abdulazim Tamer , Abdelgawad Hossam , Habib Khandker M. Nurul , Abdulhai Baher
Published: January 2014

This paper presents a data collection framework and its prototype application for personal activity–travel surveys through the use of smartphone sensors. The core components of the framework run on smartphones backed by cloud-based (online) services for data storage, information dissemination, and decision support. The framework employs machine-learning techniques to infer automatically activity types and travel modes with minimum interruption for the respondents. The three main components of the framework are (a) 24-h location data collection, (b) a dynamic land use database, and (c) a transportation mode identification component. The location logger is based on the smartphone network and can run for 24 h with minimal impact on smartphone battery life. The location logger is applicable equally in places where Global Positioning System signals are and are not available. The land use information is continuously updated from Internet location services such as Foursquare. The transportation mode identification module is able to distinguish six modes with 98.85% accuracy. The prototype application is conducted in the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and the results clearly indicate the viability of this framework.
Charging Choices and Fuel Displacement in a Large-Scale Demonstration of Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles
Authors: Zoepf Stephen , MacKenzie Don , Keith David , Chernicoff William
Published: January 2014

Because relatively few plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) have been deployed to date, existing analyses of the effects of PHEVs on gasoline and electricity demand have been based on the travel patterns of conventional vehicles and assumption-driven charging scenarios. A comprehensive analysis of a real-world fleet of 125 instrumented PHEV prototypes deployed in the United States over a 1-year period—likely the first application of a discrete choice model to the empirical analysis of plug-in vehicle charging—is presented. First, the trial is introduced, and the patterns of travel, charging behavior, and observed energy consumption are analyzed. Then, a mixed logit model of the decision to charge at the end of each trip is estimated. Results indicate that charging usually is done after the day's last trip when ending at home and when the next trip will occur in more than 3 h, even though significant heterogeneity exists between drivers. Finally, the performance of this fleet is simulated with different vehicle designs and charging patterns. Results indicate that aggressive opportunistic charging after every trip results in approximately the same fuel savings as increasing the battery size by a factor of five. However, fast charging provides only marginal changes in energy use for the observed use patterns.
Biodiesel from Lagoon Microalgae
Authors: Coelho Margarida C. , Dutta Smritikana , da Silva Fernando Neto
Published: January 2014

One main reason for the popularity of microalgae as an acceptable fuel source is their potential to maximize productivity (e.g., gallons of oil or fuel produced per acre per year) by converting the energy of solar photons during the process of carbon dioxide fixation into biomass energy, benefiting the environment. Marketing the coproducts generated (i.e., postextraction algal residue) could make transportation fuel from microalgae a viable product. The biofuel obtained from microalgae is qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed, with a focus on the energetic and environmental feasibility of this fuel for use in the transportation sector. Obstacles to and limitations of the process, in terms of energy and environmental performance, are identified. An important aspect of this issue is the need to improve product processing and recovery, which include mechanical and energy-intensive processes such as centrifugation, filtration, flocculation, and cell disruption. Results obtained so far indicate that the various strains of microalgae obtained from lagoons in Portugal and Spain offer a huge prospect for biodiesel production. However, results of life-cycle analysis with the Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation model (updated with Portuguese data) lead to the conclusion that, at this stage, biodiesel from microalgae is not a valid option for the large-scale replacement of conventional fuels. Specifically, the extraction step for biodiesel production is detrimental in terms of energy and solvent use and must be refined.
Sustainable Biofuel Supply Chain Planning and Management under Uncertainty
Authors: Xie Fei , Huang Yongxi
Published: January 2014

The concept of environmental thinking is integrated into sustainable supply chain planning and management for biofuels, and a multiobjective modeling framework is developed. The aim is to seek best-compromise solutions that are economically and environmentally sustainable in supplying biofuels from cellulosic biomasses while satisfying demand, resource, and technology constraints. The least-cost objective and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions are integrated into the modeling framework, and carbon footprints are assessed with the Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation model, a life-cycle assessment framework, to ensure that strategies to mitigate GHG emissions are factored into system planning and management. Biomass-to-biofuel conversion efficiency can be highly variable because of uncertainties inherent in the conversion processes; this uncertainty is considered explicitly in the integrated modeling framework. A multi-objective, mixed-integer, stochastic programming model is proposed and solved by the compromise method, a subclass of the goal programming method. The model is used to evaluate the economic potential and environmental impact of establishing a cellulosic ethanol supply chain based on biowaste (i.e., corn stover and forest residue) in California as a case study. Significant trade-offs exist between economic competitiveness and environmental quality. The uncertainty inherent in biomass-to-biofuel conversion technology has substantial effects on multicriteria decision making, and the effects may vary with the choice of modeling approaches.
Locating Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
Authors: Chen T. Donna , Kockelman Kara M. , Khan Moby
Published: January 2014

Access to electric vehicle (EV) charging stations will affect EV adoption rates, use decisions, electrified mile shares, petroleum demand, and power consumption across times of day. Parking information from more than 30,000 records of personal trips in the Puget Sound, Washington, Regional Council's 2006 Household Activity Survey is used to determine public (nonresidential) parking locations and durations. Regression equations predict parking demand variables (i.e., total vehicle hours per zone or neighborhood and parked time per vehicle trip) as a function of site accessibility, local job and population density, trip attributes, and other variables available in most regions and travel surveys. Several of these variables are key inputs to a mixed-integer programming problem developed to determine optimal location assignments for EV charging stations. The algorithm minimizes EV users' costs for station access while penalizing unmet demand. This useful specification is used to determine the top locations for installing a constrained number of charging stations within 10 mi of the downtown area of Seattle, Washington, and shows how the access costs of charging location schemes respond to parking demand and station location. The models developed here are generalizable to data sets available for almost any region and can be used to make more informed decisions about station locations around the world.
Plug-In Electric Cars for Work Travel
Authors: Santini Danilo , Zhou Yan , Kim Namdoo , Gallagher Kevin , Vyas Anant D.
Published: January 2014

Vehicles with electrified powertrains such as hybrid electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and all-electric vehicles (AEVs, which use grid-supplied battery energy exclusively) are potentially marketable because of their low operating costs. However, each vehicle type incurs a significant initial cost penalty compared with a conventional vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine. Three PHEV cars and an AEV car are selected to assess cost-effectiveness from the consumers' perspective. Daily travel to and from work is isolated from other vehicle travel data from the U.S. National Household Travel Survey, and five daily distance categories are investigated. Three driving cycle runs are used: one developed by following cars in Los Angeles, California, in 1992, the Worldwide Harmonized Light-Duty Test Cycle, and a real driving record selected from the Kansas City metropolitan area in Kansas and Missouri. Probable charging patterns for each PHEV and the AEV are investigated for three of five daily distance categories. Overnight charging and workplace charging also are examined. The possibility for multiple charges at work is considered, as is the possibility of a charge after work, before the day's end. The degree of importance of spending a given pool of money to upgrade a residential (versus workplace) charging station is discussed. Two indicators of effectiveness of battery pack utilization are developed [a charge-depleting effectiveness factor and grid kilowatt-hours used per day per dollar of incremental vehicle expense (cost-effectiveness)], and target markets for cars used for work for each powertrain type are suggested.
New Approach to Modeling Large-Scale Transitions to Alternative Fuels and Vehicles
Authors: Bremson Joel , Meier Alan , Lin C.-Y. Cynthia , Ogden Joan
Published: January 2014

A large-scale transition to alternative fuels and vehicles is challenging. New modeling approaches are necessary to supplement existing models, such as MARKAL. One promising approach is simulation gaming. Simulation gaming has been used extensively in many fields, most conspicuously in military applications, to provide insights into the dynamics of uncertain processes. A large-scale game to simulate transitions to alternative fuels and vehicles was developed to explore the potential of this approach. Preliminary results of the game play suggest a possible counterintuitive dynamic: high energy prices can discourage the wide-scale adoption of alternative fuel vehicles because increased fuel costs reduce consumers' ability to pay for more costly alternative vehicle technologies.
Hockey Concussion Education Project, Part 3. White matter microstructure in ice hockey players with a history of concussion: a diffusion tensor imaging study
Authors: Sasaki Takeshi , Pasternak Ofer , Mayinger Michael , Muehlmann Marc , Savadjiev Peter , Bouix Sylvain , Kubicki Marek , Fredman Eli , Dahlben Brian , Helmer Karl G. , Johnson Andrew M. , Holmes Jeffrey D. , Forwell Lorie A. , Skopelja Elaine N. , Shenton Martha E. , Echlin Paul S. , Koerte Inga K.
Published: January 2014

Object

The aim of this study was to examine the brain's white matter microstructure by using MR diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in ice hockey players with a history of clinically symptomatic concussion compared with players without a history of concussion.

Methods

Sixteen players with a history of concussion (concussed group; mean age 21.7 ± 1.5 years; 6 female) and 18 players without a history of concussion (nonconcussed group; mean age 21.3 ± 1.8 years, 10 female) underwent 3-T DTI at the end of the 2011–2012 Canadian Interuniversity Sports ice hockey season. Tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) was used to test for group differences in fractional anisotropy (FA), axial diffusivity (AD), radial diffusivity (RD), and the measure “trace,” or mean diffusivity. Cognitive evaluation was performed using the Immediate Postconcussion Assessment and Cognitive Test (ImPACT) and the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool–2 (SCAT2).

Results

TBSS revealed a significant increase in FA and AD, and a significant decrease in RD and trace in several brain regions in the concussed group, compared with the nonconcussed group (p < 0.05). The regions with increased FA and decreased RD and trace included the right posterior limb of the internal capsule, the right corona radiata, and the right temporal lobe. Increased AD was observed in a small area in the left corona radiata. The DTI measures correlated with neither the ImPACT nor the SCAT2 scores.

Conclusions

The results of the current study indicate that a history of concussion may result in alterations of the brain's white matter microstructure in ice hockey players. Increased FA based on decreased RD may reflect neuroinflammatory or neuroplastic processes of the brain responding to brain trauma. Future studies are needed that include a longitudinal analysis of the brain's structure and function following a concussion to elucidate further the complex time course of DTI changes and their clinical meaning.
Polar Microalgae: New Approaches towards Understanding Adaptations to an Extreme and Changing Environment
Authors: Lyon Barbara , Mock Thomas
Published: January 2014

Polar Regions are unique and highly prolific ecosystems characterized by extreme environmental gradients. Photosynthetic autotrophs, the base of the food web, have had to adapt physiological mechanisms to maintain growth, reproduction and metabolic activity despite environmental conditions that would shut-down cellular processes in most organisms. High latitudes are characterized by temperatures below the freezing point, complete darkness in winter and continuous light and high UV in the summer. Additionally, sea-ice, an ecological niche exploited by microbes during the long winter seasons when the ocean and land freezes over, is characterized by large salinity fluctuations, limited gas exchange, and highly oxic conditions. The last decade has been an exciting period of insights into the molecular mechanisms behind adaptation of microalgae to the cryosphere facilitated by the advancement of new scientific tools, particularly “omics” techniques. We review recent insights derived from genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics studies. Genes, proteins and pathways identified from these highly adaptable polar microbes have far-reaching biotechnological applications. Furthermore, they may provide insights into life outside this planet, as well as glimpses into the past. High latitude regions also have disproportionately large inputs into global biogeochemical cycles and are the region most sensitive to climate change.
Loss of STAT3 in Lymphoma Relaxes NK Cell-Mediated Tumor Surveillance
Authors: Putz Eva , Hoelzl Maria , Baeck Julia , Bago-Horvath Zsuzsanna , Schuster Christian , Reichholf Brian , Kern Daniela , Aberger Fritz , Sexl Veronika , Hoelbl-Kovacic Andrea
Published: January 2014

The transcription factors and proto-oncogenes STAT3 and STAT5 are highly activated in hematological malignancies and represent promising therapeutic targets. Whereas the importance of STAT5 as tumor promoter is beyond doubt, the role of STAT3 in hematological cancers is less well understood. Both, enforced as well as attenuated expression of STAT3 were reported in hematopoietic malignancies. Recent evidence implicates STAT3 as key player for tumor immune surveillance as it both mediates the production of and response to inflammatory cytokines. Here we investigated the effects of STAT3 deletion in a BCR/ABL-induced lymphoma model, which is tightly controlled by natural killer (NK) cells in vivo. Upon STAT3 deletion tumor growth is significantly enhanced when compared to STAT3-expressing controls. The increased tumor size upon loss of STAT3 was accompanied by reduced NK cell infiltration and decreased levels of the cytokine IFN-γ and the chemokine RANTES. Upon transplantation into NK cell-deficient mice differences in lymphoma size were abolished indicating that STAT3 expression in the tumor cells controls NK cell-dependent tumor surveillance. Our findings indicate that STAT3 inhibition in lymphoma patients will impair NK cell-mediated tumor surveillance, which needs to be taken into account when testing STAT3 inhibitors in preclinical or clinical trials.