Improving Safety for Slow Moving Vehicles on Iowa's High-Speed Rural Roadways, TR-572, 2009

Among the variety of road users and vehicle types that travel on U.S. public roadways, slow moving vehicles (SMVs) present unique safety and operations issues. SMVs include vehicles that do not maintain a constant speed of 25 mph, such as large farm equipment, construction vehicles, or horse-drawn buggies. Though the number of crashes involving SMVs is relatively small, SMV crashes tend to be severe. Additionally, SMVs can be encountered regularly on non-Interstate/non-expressway public roadways, but motorists may not be accustomed to these vehicles. This project was designed to improve transportation safety for SMVs on Iowa’s public roadway system. This report includes a literature review that shows various SMV statistics and laws across the United States, a crash study based on three years of Iowa SMV crash data, and recommendations from the SMV community.

Models for vertical wood density of Scots pine, Norway spruce and birch stems, and their application to determine average wood density

Abstract

Moving to the development of an HIA methodology : the effects of air pollution in Ticino, Switzerland

This chapter describes the profile of the HIA, provides insight into the process and gives an example of how political decisions may be made on behalf of a concerned population through an HIA approach. [Introduction p. 284]

Low-cost MR-compatible moving heart phantom.

For the development and evaluation of cardiac magnetic resonance (MR) imaging sequences and methodologies, the availability of a periodically moving phantom to model respiratory and cardiac motion would be of substantial benefit. Given the specific physical boundary conditions in an MR environment, the choice of materials and power source of such phantoms is heavily restricted. Sophisticated commercial solutions are available; however, they are often relatively costly and user-specific modifications may not easily be implemented. We therefore sought to construct a low-cost MR-compatible motion phantom that could be easily reproduced and had design flexibility. A commercially available K'NEX construction set (Hyper Space Training Tower, K'NEX Industries, Inc., Hatfield, PA) was used to construct a periodically moving phantom head. The phantom head performs a translation with a superimposed rotation, driven by a motor over a 2-m rigid rod. To synchronize the MR data acquisition with phantom motion (without introducing radiofrequency-related image artifacts), a fiberoptic control unit generates periodic trigger pulses synchronized to the phantom motion. Total material costs of the phantom are US$ < 200.00, and a total of 80 man-hours were required to design and construct the original phantom. With schematics of the present solution, the phantom reproduction may be achieved in approximately 15 man-hours. The presented MR-compatible periodically moving phantom can easily be reproduced, and user-specific modifications may be implemented. Such an approach allows a detailed investigation of motion-related phenomena in MR images.

Standards and service offshoring in India: Moving beyond industry and institutional specificities

Résumé Cet article examine le rôle joué par les normes internationales techniques dans la mondialisation des activités de service. Différentes approches d'économie considèrent que les spécificités des activités de services sont un frein à leur délocalisation, à leur industrialisation et à leur normalisation. A l'opposé de ces approches centrées sur les spécificités des activités de services, les approches d'économie politique internationale mettent en avant l'existence de configurations conflictuelles de pouvoir à l'oeuvre dans l'internationalisation des activités de services et ce, au-delà des limites sectorielles et nationales. Cet article examine le cas du secteur des centres d'appels et, plus généralement, celui de la sous-traitance des services aux entreprises (BPO) en Inde. Nos résultats suggèrent que les normes techniques sont importantes dans le secteur étudié, alors même que ces types de services sont conventionnellement identifiés comme étant peu susceptibles d'être soumis à des normes. Une perspective d'économie politique sur la normalisation des activités de service souligne comment la problématique du pouvoir investit la normalisation technique d'une dimension plus progressive à travers les thématiques du "travailleur", du "consommateur", ou de "l'environnement". Abstract This paper explores the role of international standards in the much-debated globalisation of the service economy. Various strands of economic analyses consider that core attributes of services affect their ability to be reliably delocalised, industrialised, and standardised. In contrast, international political economy approaches draw attention to power configurations supporting conflicting use of standards across industries and nations. The paper examines the case of the rising Indian service industry in customer centres and business process outsourcing to probe these opposing views. Our findings suggest that standards matter in types of services that conventional economic analyses identify as unlikely to be standardised, and that the standards used in the Indian BPO industry are widely accepted. Despite little conflict in actual definitions of market requirements, an international political economy perspective on service standardisation highlights the importance of potential power issues related to workers', consumers', and environmental concerns likely to be included in more progressive forms of standardisation.

Average performance analysis of circular and hyperbolic geolocation

A comparative performance analysis of four geolocation methods in terms of their theoretical root mean square positioning errors is provided. Comparison is established in two different ways: strict and average. In the strict type, methods are examined for a particular geometric configuration of base stations(BSs) with respect to mobile position, which determines a givennoise profile affecting the respective time-of-arrival (TOA) or timedifference-of-arrival (TDOA) estimates. In the average type, methodsare evaluated in terms of the expected covariance matrix ofthe position error over an ensemble of random geometries, so thatcomparison is geometry independent. Exact semianalytical equationsand associated lower bounds (depending solely on the noiseprofile) are obtained for the average covariance matrix of the positionerror in terms of the so-called information matrix specific toeach geolocation method. Statistical channel models inferred fromfield trials are used to define realistic prior probabilities for therandom geometries. A final evaluation provides extensive resultsrelating the expected position error to channel model parametersand the number of base stations.

Prevalence of iodine inadequacy in Switzerland assessed by the estimated average requirement cut-point method in relation to the impact of iodized salt.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the iodine status of Swiss population groups and to evaluate the influence of iodized salt as a vector for iodine fortification. DESIGN: The relationship between 24 h urinary iodine and Na excretions was assessed in the general population after correcting for confounders. Single-day intakes were estimated assuming that 92 % of dietary iodine was excreted in 24 h urine. Usual intake distributions were derived for male and female population groups after adjustment for within-subject variability. The estimated average requirement (EAR) cut-point method was applied as guidance to assess the inadequacy of the iodine supply. SETTING: Public health strategies to reduce the dietary salt intake in the general population may affect its iodine supply. SUBJECTS: The study population (1481 volunteers, aged ≥15 years) was randomly selected from three different linguistic regions of Switzerland. RESULTS: The 24 h urine samples from 1420 participants were determined to be properly collected. Mean iodine intakes obtained for men (n 705) and women (n 715) were 179 (sd 68.1) µg/d and 138 (sd 57.8) µg/d, respectively. Urinary Na and Ca, and BMI were significantly and positively associated with higher iodine intake, as were men and non-smokers. Fifty-four per cent of the total iodine intake originated from iodized salt. The prevalence of inadequate iodine intake as estimated by the EAR cut-point method was 2 % for men and 14 % for women. CONCLUSIONS: The estimated prevalence of inadequate iodine intake was within the optimal target range of 2-3 % for men, but not for women.

Tipping the scales: Evolution of the allometric slope independent of average trait size.

The scaling of body parts is central to the expression of morphology across body sizes and to the generation of morphological diversity within and among species. Although patterns of scaling-relationship evolution have been well documented for over one hundred years, little is known regarding how selection acts to generate these patterns. In part, this is because it is unclear the extent to which the elements of log-linear scaling relationships-the intercept or mean trait size and the slope-can evolve independently. Here, using the wing-body size scaling relationship in Drosophila melanogaster as an empirical model, we use artificial selection to demonstrate that the slope of a morphological scaling relationship between an organ (the wing) and body size can evolve independently of mean organ or body size. We discuss our findings in the context of how selection likely operates on morphological scaling relationships in nature, the developmental basis for evolved changes in scaling, and the general approach of using individual-based selection experiments to study the expression and evolution of morphological scaling.

Validation of plant dynamic model by online and laboratory measurements – a tool to predict online COD loads out of production of mechanical printing papers

COD discharges out of processes have increased in line with elevating brightness demands for mechanical pulp and papers. The share of lignin-like substances in COD discharges is on average 75%. In this thesis, a plant dynamic model was created and validated as a means to predict COD loading and discharges out of a mill. The assays were carried out in one paper mill integrate producing mechanical printing papers. The objective in the modeling of plant dynamics was to predict day averages of COD load and discharges out of mills. This means that online data, like 1) the level of large storage towers of pulp and white water 2) pulp dosages, 3) production rates and 4) internal white water flows and discharges were used to create transients into the balances of solids and white water, referred to as “plant dynamics”. A conversion coefficient was verified between TOC and COD. The conversion coefficient was used for predicting the flows from TOC to COD to the waste water treatment plant. The COD load was modeled with similar uncertainty as in reference TOC sampling. The water balance of waste water treatment was validated by the reference concentration of COD. The difference of COD predictions against references was within the same deviation of TOC-predictions. The modeled yield losses and retention values of TOC in pulping and bleaching processes and the modeled fixing of colloidal TOC to solids between the pulping plant and the aeration basin in the waste water treatment plant were similar to references presented in literature. The valid water balances of the waste water treatment plant and the reduction model of lignin-like substances produced a valid prediction of COD discharges out of the mill. A 30% increase in the release of lignin-like substances in the form of production problems was observed in pulping and bleaching processes. The same increase was observed in COD discharges out of waste water treatment. In the prediction of annual COD discharge, it was noticed that the reduction of lignin has a wide deviation from year to year and from one mill to another. This made it difficult to compare the parameters of COD discharges validated in plant dynamic simulation with another mill producing mechanical printing papers. However, a trend of moving from unbleached towards high-brightness TMP in COD discharges was valid.

Designing a Demand Forecasting Process in the Fast Moving Consumer Goods Context

The purpose of this thesis was to study the design of demand forecasting processes. A literature review in the field of forecasting was conducted, including general forecasting process design, forecasting methods and techniques, the role of human judgment in forecasting and forecasting performance measurement. The purpose of the literature review was to identify the important design choices that an organization aiming to design or re-design their demand forecasting process would have to make. In the empirical part of the study, these choices and the existing knowledge behind them was assessed in a case study where a demand forecasting process was re-designed for a company in the fast moving consumer goods business. The new target process is described, as well as the reasoning behind the design choices made during the re-design process. As a result, the most important design choices are highlighted, as well as their immediate effect on other processes directly tied to the demand forecasting process. Additionally, some new insights on the organizational aspects of demand forecasting processes are explored. The preliminary results indicate that in this case the new process did improve forecasting accuracy, although organizational issues related to the process proved to be more challenging than anticipated.

Adaptive Routing Approaches for Networked Many-Core Systems

Through advances in technology, System-on-Chip design is moving towards integrating tens to hundreds of intellectual property blocks into a single chip. In such a many-core system, on-chip communication becomes a performance bottleneck for high performance designs. Network-on-Chip (NoC) has emerged as a viable solution for the communication challenges in highly complex chips. The NoC architecture paradigm, based on a modular packet-switched mechanism, can address many of the on-chip communication challenges such as wiring complexity, communication latency, and bandwidth. Furthermore, the combined benefits of 3D IC and NoC schemes provide the possibility of designing a high performance system in a limited chip area. The major advantages of 3D NoCs are the considerable reductions in average latency and power consumption. There are several factors degrading the performance of NoCs. In this thesis, we investigate three main performance-limiting factors: network congestion, faults, and the lack of efficient multicast support. We address these issues by the means of routing algorithms. Congestion of data packets may lead to increased network latency and power consumption. Thus, we propose three different approaches for alleviating such congestion in the network. The first approach is based on measuring the congestion information in different regions of the network, distributing the information over the network, and utilizing this information when making a routing decision. The second approach employs a learning method to dynamically find the less congested routes according to the underlying traffic. The third approach is based on a fuzzy-logic technique to perform better routing decisions when traffic information of different routes is available. Faults affect performance significantly, as then packets should take longer paths in order to be routed around the faults, which in turn increases congestion around the faulty regions. We propose four methods to tolerate faults at the link and switch level by using only the shortest paths as long as such path exists. The unique characteristic among these methods is the toleration of faults while also maintaining the performance of NoCs. To the best of our knowledge, these algorithms are the first approaches to bypassing faults prior to reaching them while avoiding unnecessary misrouting of packets. Current implementations of multicast communication result in a significant performance loss for unicast traffic. This is due to the fact that the routing rules of multicast packets limit the adaptivity of unicast packets. We present an approach in which both unicast and multicast packets can be efficiently routed within the network. While suggesting a more efficient multicast support, the proposed approach does not affect the performance of unicast routing at all. In addition, in order to reduce the overall path length of multicast packets, we present several partitioning methods along with their analytical models for latency measurement. This approach is discussed in the context of 3D mesh networks.

Developing Bioimage Informatics – from Microscopy to Software Solutions – with alpha2beta1 Integrin as a Case Study

Biokuvainformatiikan kehittäminen – mikroskopiasta ohjelmistoratkaisuihin – sovellusesimerkkinä α2β1-integriini Kun ihmisen genomi saatiin sekvensoitua vuonna 2003, biotieteiden päätehtäväksi tuli selvittää eri geenien tehtävät, ja erilaisista biokuvantamistekniikoista tuli keskeisiä tutkimusmenetelmiä. Teknologiset kehitysaskeleet johtivat erityisesti fluoresenssipohjaisten valomikroskopiatekniikoiden suosion räjähdysmäiseen kasvuun, mutta mikroskopian tuli muuntua kvalitatiivisesta tieteestä kvantitatiiviseksi. Tämä muutos synnytti uuden tieteenalan, biokuvainformatiikan, jonka on sanottu mahdollisesti mullistavan biotieteet. Tämä väitöskirja esittelee laajan, poikkitieteellisen työkokonaisuuden biokuvainformatiikan alalta. Väitöskirjan ensimmäinen tavoite oli kehittää protokollia elävien solujen neliulotteiseen konfokaalimikroskopiaan, joka oli yksi nopeimmin kasvavista biokuvantamismenetelmistä. Ihmisen kollageenireseptori α2β1-integriini, joka on tärkeä molekyyli monissa fysiologisissa ja patologisissa prosesseissa, oli sovellusesimerkkinä. Työssä saavutettiin selkeitä visualisointeja integriinien liikkeistä, yhteenkeräytymisestä ja solun sisään siirtymisestä, mutta työkaluja kuvainformaation kvantitatiiviseen analysointiin ei ollut. Väitöskirjan toiseksi tavoitteeksi tulikin tällaiseen analysointiin soveltuvan tietokoneohjelmiston kehittäminen. Samaan aikaan syntyi biokuvainformatiikka, ja kipeimmin uudella alalla kaivattiin erikoistuneita tietokoneohjelmistoja. Tämän väitöskirjatyön tärkeimmäksi tulokseksi muodostui näin ollen BioImageXD, uudenlainen avoimen lähdekoodin ohjelmisto moniulotteisten biokuvien visualisointiin, prosessointiin ja analysointiin. BioImageXD kasvoi yhdeksi alansa suurimmista ja monipuolisimmista. Se julkaistiin Nature Methods -lehden biokuvainformatiikkaa käsittelevässä erikoisnumerossa, ja siitä tuli tunnettu ja laajalti käytetty. Väitöskirjan kolmas tavoite oli soveltaa kehitettyjä menetelmiä johonkin käytännönläheisempään. Tehtiin keinotekoisia piidioksidinanopartikkeleita, joissa oli "osoitelappuina" α2β1-integriinin tunnistavia vasta-aineita. BioImageXD:n avulla osoitettiin, että nanopartikkeleilla on potentiaalia lääkkeiden täsmäohjaussovelluksissa. Tämän väitöskirjatyön yksi perimmäinen tavoite oli edistää uutta ja tuntematonta biokuvainformatiikan tieteenalaa, ja tämä tavoite saavutettiin erityisesti BioImageXD:n ja sen lukuisten julkaistujen sovellusten kautta. Väitöskirjatyöllä on merkittävää potentiaalia tulevaisuudessa, mutta biokuvainformatiikalla on vakavia haasteita. Ala on liian monimutkainen keskimääräisen biolääketieteen tutkijan hallittavaksi, ja alan keskeisin elementti, avoimen lähdekoodin ohjelmistokehitystyö, on aliarvostettu. Näihin seikkoihin tarvitaan useita parannuksia,

Validation of transit-time flowmetry for chronic measurements of regional blood flow in resting and exercising rats

The objective of the present study was to validate the transit-time technique for long-term measurements of iliac and renal blood flow in rats. Flow measured with ultrasonic probes was confirmed ex vivo using excised arteries perfused at varying flow rates. An implanted 1-mm probe reproduced with accuracy different patterns of flow relative to pressure in freely moving rats and accurately quantitated the resting iliac flow value (on average 10.43 ± 0.99 ml/min or 2.78 ± 0.3 ml min-1 100 g body weight-1). The measurements were stable over an experimental period of one week but were affected by probe size (resting flows were underestimated by 57% with a 2-mm probe when compared with a 1-mm probe) and by anesthesia (in the same rats, iliac flow was reduced by 50-60% when compared to the conscious state). Instantaneous changes of iliac and renal flow during exercise and recovery were accurately measured by the transit-time technique. Iliac flow increased instantaneously at the beginning of mild exercise (from 12.03 ± 1.06 to 25.55 ± 3.89 ml/min at 15 s) and showed a smaller increase when exercise intensity increased further, reaching a plateau of 38.43 ± 1.92 ml/min at the 4th min of moderate exercise intensity. In contrast, exercise-induced reduction of renal flow was smaller and slower, with 18% and 25% decreases at mild and moderate exercise intensities. Our data indicate that transit-time flowmetry is a reliable method for long-term and continuous measurements of regional blood flow at rest and can be used to quantitate the dynamic flow changes that characterize exercise and recovery

”Kielestä kiinni”. Kuudesluokkalaisten maahanmuuttajaoppilaiden suomen kielen tason vaihtelut

Tämän tutkimuksen tarkoituksena on selvittää, minkälaista vaihtelua esiintyy maahanmuuttajaoppilaiden suomen kielen taidoissa peruskoulun kuudennella luokalla. Tutkimuksen tavoitteena on myös selvittää, minkälainen yhteys taustamuuttujilla (sukupuoli, äidinkieli, maahantuloikä, maahantulon syy, maassaoloaika ja vanhempien koulutausta) ja opetusjärjestelyillä, kuten perusopetukseen valmistavalla opetuksella, suomi toisena kielenä -opetuksella ja oman äidinkielen opetuksella, on suomen kielen taidon tasoon. Lisäksi tutkimuksen tavoitteena on selvittää oppilaan käyttämän kielen (suomen kieli ja äidinkieli) yhteyttä suomen kielen taidon tasoon. Tutkimusmetodina toimi mixed methods -tutkimus, ja tutkimuksen lähestymistapoja olivat kvantitatiivinen survey-tutkimus ja kvalitatiivinen sisällön analyysi. Tutkimukseen osallistui 219 maahanmuuttajaoppilasta 20:stä Turun koulusta. Tutkimusaineisto kerättiin Turun erityisopettajien ja suomi toisena kielenä -opettajien laatiman kielitestipaketin avulla. Oppilaan suullista ja kirjallista tuottamista arvioivat lasta opettavat opettajat eurooppalaisen viitekehyksen kielitaitotasojen kriteereitä käyttäen. Oppilaat arvioivat omaa äidinkielen ja suomen kielen taitoaan. Lisäksi oppilaat ja vanhemmat täyttivät tutkijan laatimat taustatietolomakkeet. Kielitestien tulosten mukaan oppilaista yli puolella oli tyydyttävä suomen kielen taito. Kaikista neljästä kielellisestä osiosta maahanmuuttajataustaiset oppilaat menestyivät parhaiten rakennekokeessa ja sanelussa, kun taas kuullun ja luetun ymmärtämisen tulokset olivat heikompia. Opettajien arviointien perusteella oppilaiden suulliset taidot vastasivat keskimäärin itsenäisen kielenkäyttäjän osaajan tasoa (B2) ja kirjoittamistaidot kynnystasoa (B1). Oppilaiden suomi toisena kielenä -arvosanan keskiarvo oli 7,26. Suomessa asumisen kestolla, maahantulon syyllä, äidinkielellä, maahantuloiällä, ja vanhempien koulutaustaustalla oli tilastollisesti merkitsevä yhteys suomen kielen taidon tasoon. Mitä kauemmin oppilaat olivat asuneet Suomessa ja mitä nuorempina he olivat tulleet Suomeen, sitä paremmin he menestyivät kielitesteissä. Paluumuuttajat menestyivät kielitaitotehtävissä kaikkein parhaiten ja pakolaiset heikoiten. Somalinkieliset erottuivat muista kieliryhmän edustajista heikoimpina suomen kielen taidon tasoltaan. Venäjänkieliset ja vietnaminkieliset saavuttivat parhaat tulokset kaikissa mittareissa. Erityisesti äidin korkeampi koulutustaso oli yhteydessä oppilaiden korkeampaan suomen kielen taidon tasoon. Oppilaat arvioivat suomen kielen taitonsa omaa äidinkieltään paremmaksi puhumisessa, lukemisessa ja kirjoittamisessa. Parhaiten eri mittareissa menestyivät oppilaat, jotka eivät olleet osallistuneet perusopetukseen valmistavaan opetukseen eivätkä erilliseen suomi toisena kielenä -opetukseen. Omaa äidinkieltään enemmän opiskelleet menestyivät kielitaitotehtävissä paremmin kuin vähän aikaa omaa äidinkieltään opiskelleet, mutta yhtä hyvin kuin ne, jotka eivät olleet opiskelleet omaa äidinkieltään lainkaan. Oppilaat, jotka puhuivat kaveriensa kanssa sekä omaa äidinkieltään että suomen kieltä, osoittautuivat kielitaidon tasoltaan paremmiksi kielitesteissä ja opettajien arvioinneissa.