Microscopic traffic hysteresis in traffic oscillations : a behavioral perspective

This paper studies traffic hysteresis arising in traffic oscillations from a behavioral perspective. It is found that the occurrence and type of traffic hysteresis is closely correlated with driver behavior when experiencing traffic oscillations and with the time driver reaction begins relative to the starting deceleration wave. Statistical results suggest that driver behavior is different depending on its position along the oscillation. This suggests that different car-following models should be used inside the different stages of an oscillation in order to replicate realistic congestion features.

The role of epigenetics in resistance to cisplatin chemotherapy in lung cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common cause of cancer related death in the world. Cisplatin and carboplatin are the most commonly used cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents to treat the disease. These agents, usually combined with drugs such as gemcitabine or pemetrexed, induce objective tumor responses in only 20-30% of patients. Aberrant epigenetic regulation of gene expression is a frequent event in NSCLC. In this article we review the emerging evidence that epigenetics and the cellular machinery involved with this type of regulation may be key elements in the development of cisplatin resistance in NSCLC. © 2011 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Prospective ten-month exercise intervention in premenarcheal girls: Positive effects on bone and lean mass

Enhancement of bone mineral acquisition during growth may be a useful preventive strategy against osteoporosis. The aim of this study was to explore the lean mass, strength, and bone mineral response to a 10-month, high-impact, strength-building exercise program in 71 premenarcheal girls, aged 9–10 years. Lean body mass, total body (TB), lumbar spine (LS), proximal femur (PF), and femoral neck (FN) bone mineral were measured using the Hologic QDR 2000+ bone densitometer. Strength was assessed using a grip dynamometer and the Cybex isokinetic dynamometer (Cybex II). At baseline, no significant difference in body composition, pubertal development, calcium intake, physical activity, strength, or bone mineral existed between groups. At completion, there were again no differences in height, total body mass, pubertal development, calcium intake, or external physical activity. In contrast, the exercise group gained significantly more lean mass, less body fat content, greater shoulder, knee and grip strength, and greater TB, LS, PF, and FN BMD (exercise: TB 3.5%, LS 4.8%, PF 4.5%, and FN 12.0%) compared with the controls (controls: TB 1.2%, LS 1.2%, PF 1.3%, and FN 1.7%). TB bone mineral content (BMC), LS BMC, PF BMC, FN BMC, LS bone mineral apparent density (BMAD), and FN bone area also increased at a significantly greater rate in the exercise group compared with the controls. In multiple regression analysis, change in lean mass was the primary determinant of TB, FN, PF, and LS BMD accrual. Although a large proportion of bone mineral accrual in the premenarcheal skeleton was related to growth, an osteogenic effect was associated with exercise. These results suggest that high-impact, strength building exercise is beneficial for premenarcheal strength, lean mass gains, and bone mineral acquisition.

The Influence of Constantinople on Middle Byzantine Architecture (843-1204) : A typological and morphological approach at the provincial level.

The influence of the architecture of the Byzantine capital spread to the Mediterranean provinces with travelling masters and architects. In this study the architecture of the Constantinopolitan School has been detected on the basis of the typology of churches, completed by certain morphological aspects when necessary. The impact of the Constantinopolitan workshops appears to have been more important than previously realized. This research revealed that the Constantinopolitan composite domed inscribed-cross type or cross-in-square spread everywhere to the Balkans and it was assumed soon by the local schools of architecture. In addition, two novel variants were invented on the basis of this model: the semi-composite type and the so-called Athonite type. In the latter variant lateral conches, choroi, were added for liturgical reasons. Instead, the origin of the domed ambulatory church was partly provincial. One result of this study is that the origin of the Middle Byzantine domed octagonal types was traced to Constantinople. This is attested on the basis of the archaeological evidence. Also some other architectural elements that have not been preserved in the destroyed capital have survived at the provincial level: the domed hexagonal type, the multi-domed superstructure, the pseudo-octagon and the narthex known as the lite. The Constantinopolitan architecture during the period in question was based on the Early Christian and Late Antique forms, practices and innovations and this also emerges at the provincial level.

Factors influencing the release and establishment of weed biological control agents

Mike Day and colleagues recently published their paper 'Factors influencing the release and establishment of weed biocontrol agents' in Proceedings of the 16th Australian Weeds Conference. The CRC for Australian Weed Management facilitated an investigation into the factors influencing the release and establishment of weed biological control agents on a wide variety of Australian weeds. The investigation improved the understanding of post-release ecology of biocontrol agents and generated recommendations for best practice. Factors affecting successful establishment on the weed include host plant characteristics, size of releases, dispersal power of the agent, predation and parasitism, and climate. A best practice guide was produced by the CRC to assist practitioners in designing robust release strategies to increase rates of establishment.

Mesospheric temperature response to variations in geomagnetic activity

Temperature data collected over several years from rocket grenade and other experiments at Point Barrow (Alaska), Fort Churchill (Canada) and Wallops Island (Virginia) have been analysed to determine the effect of geomagnetic activity on the neutral temperature in the mesosphere and to study the latitudinal variation of this effect. An analysis carried out has revealed almost certainly significant correlations between the temperature and the geomagnetic indicies Kp and Ap at Fort Churchill and marginally significant correlations at Barrow and Wallops. This has also been substantiated by a linear regression analysis. The results indicate two types of interdependence between mesospheric temperature and geomagnetic field variations. The first type is the direct heating effect, during a geomagnetic disturbance, which has been observed in the present analysis with a time lag of 3–15 hr at the high latitudes and 36 hr at the middle latitudes. The magnitude of this heating effect has been found to decrease at the lower altitudes. The second type of interrelation which has been observed is temperature perturbations preceding geomagnetic field variations, both presumably caused by a disturbance in atmospheric circulation at these levels.

On the low temperature deformation mechanism in polycrystalline cadmium

The thermally activated plastic flow of polycrystalline cadmium was investigated by differentialstress creep tests at 86°K and tensile tests in the temperature range 86°–473°K. The activation energy (0.55 eV) at zero effective stress and the activation volume as a function of effective stress were obtained. It is concluded that intersection of glide and forest dislocations becomes rate controlling for low temperature deformation. The approximate stacking-fault width in cadmium is deduced to be “1.5b”.

Cyclopentac]thiophene oligomers based solution processable D-A copolymers and their application as FET materials

Two new solution processable, low band gap donor-acceptor (D-A) copolymers (P1 and P2) comprising a cyclopentac] thiophene (CPT) based oligomers as donors and benzoc]1,2,5] selenadiazole (BDS) and 2-dodecyl1,2,3]-benzotriazole (BTAz) as acceptors were synthesized and characterized and their field effect transistor properties were studied. The internal charge transfer interaction between the electron-donating CPT based oligothiophene and the electron-accepting BDS or BTAz unit effectively reduces the band gap in polymers to 1.3 and 1.66 eV with low lying highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO). The absorption spectrum of P1 was found to be more red shifted than that of P2 because of incorporation of the more electron-withdrawing BDS unit. The color of neutral P1 was found to be green in both solution and film states with two major bands in the absorption spectra; however, neutral P2 revealed one dominant absorption exhibiting red color in both solution and film state which could be attributed to the less electron-withdrawing effect of the BTAz unit. The polymers were further characterized by GPC, TGA, DSC and cyclic voltammetry. P1 and P2 exhibited charge carrier mobilities as high as 9 x 10(-3) cm(2) V-1 s(-1) and 2.56 x 10(-3) cm 2 V-1 s(-1), respectively with the current on/off ratio (I-on/I-off) in the order of 10(2).

BILATERAL EDGE DETECTORS

We propose to employ bilateral filters to solve the problem of edge detection. The proposed methodology presents an efficient and noise robust method for detecting edges. Classical bilateral filters smooth images without distorting edges. In this paper, we modify the bilateral filter to perform edge detection, which is the opposite of bilateral smoothing. The Gaussian domain kernel of the bilateral filter is replaced with an edge detection mask, and Gaussian range kernel is replaced with an inverted Gaussian kernel. The modified range kernel serves to emphasize dissimilar regions. The resulting approach effectively adapts the detection mask according as the pixel intensity differences. The results of the proposed algorithm are compared with those of standard edge detection masks. Comparisons of the bilateral edge detector with Canny edge detection algorithm, both after non-maximal suppression, are also provided. The results of our technique are observed to be better and noise-robust than those offered by methods employing masks alone, and are also comparable to the results from Canny edge detector, outperforming it in certain cases.

Colorimetric detection of melamine based on the size effect of AuNPs

A simple colorimetric detection of melamine was studied using 15 nm (AuNPs-I), 30 nm (AuNPs-II), and 40 nm (AuNPs-III) citrate-capped gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The AuNPs aggregated in aqueous solution in the presence of melamine, showing a visual color change from red to blue. This color change led to a shift in the absorption peak from 527 nm, 526 nm, and 525 nm to 638 nm, 626 nm, and 680 nm for AuNPs-I, AuNPs-II, and AuNPs-III, respectively. For all the three AuNPs, linearity was observed between the melamine concentration in aqueous solution and the absorbance ratios, A(638/527), A(626/525), and A(680/526), respectively. The limit of detection (LOD) for melamine for the AuNPs-II was found to be 2.37 x 10(-8) M (correlation coefficient R-2 = 0.9745), which showed better sensitivity as compared to the LOD of the AuNPs-I and AuNPs-III, which were 3.3 x 10(-8) M and 8.9 x 10(-8) M, respectively. The synthesis of AuNPs-II also involved a lower HAuCl4 concentration compared with the other two types of AuNPs, which may reduce the process cost. The AuNPs-II was selected to analyze melamine in pre-treated milk samples, and the recovery percentage was in the range of 91-106%. Thus, the efficient detection of melamine was possible using AuNPs-II for the on-site detection without the aid of expensive instruments.

Investigation on Laser Cladding MOSi2 Powder on Steel

The feasibility of the fabrication of coatings for elevated-temperature structural applications by laser cladding MoSi2 powder on steel was investigated. A dense and crack-free fine coating, well-bonded with the substrate has been obtained by this technique. This coating consists of FeMoSi, Fe2Si and a small amount of Mo5Si3 due to dilution of the substrate in the coating. The microstruelure of the coating is characterized of typical fine dendrites. The dendrites are composed of FeMoSi primary phase, and the interdendritic areas are two eutectic phases of FeMoSi and Fe2Si. The hardness of the coating reaches 845 Hv(0.5), 3.7 times larger than that of the steel substrate (180Hv(0.5)).

Prevalencia de Coccidiosis en lechones de patio de el casco urbano de Siguate-Olancho, Honduras

La Coccidiosis neonatal es una de las enfermedades producidas por protozoarios, cuyo agente causal en la especie porcina es la Isospora Suis. Se caracteriza por una invasión aguda al intestino delgado, con frecuencia atacando animales jóvenes, produciendo destrucción de los enterositos y la consiguiente diarrea blanca amarillenta cremosa en los lechones. En Honduras la aldea de Siguate se desconoce el impacto por Coccidiosis. Lo cual motivo a la realización de este trabajo que tiene por titulo: “PREVALENCIA DE COCCIDIOSIS EN LECHONES DE PATIO EN EL CASCO URBANO DE SIGUATE-OLANCHO, HONDURAS”, este estudio se realizo en la aldea de Siguate, municipio de Catacamas departamento de Olancho a 264 kilómetros sur este de la ciudad de Tegucigalpa Francisco Morazán, Honduras C.A., con una población de 71 mil habitantes y ubicado a 14ª 56” y 14ª 23” latitud norte y 86ª 19” longitud oeste, a una altura de 350msnm, presenta una temperatura promedio de 25ªc, con una humedad relativa de 67.66%, precipitación pluvial promedio anual de 1311.25, siendo el objetivo principal, Realizar un diagnostico parasitologico en las especie porcina através de la técnica de flotación, así como, también determinar la prevalencia en porcinos de patio en el casco urbano e identificar el comportamiento de la enfermedad en los porcinos de Siguate-Olancho, Honduras. Para lo cual se elaboraron formatos específicos para obtener datos generales de los lechones, se seleccionó una muestra de 171 lechones, elegidos solamente los que presentaban diarreas, a cada lechón se le realizo valoración clínica, se efectúo encuesta para valorar el historial de esta patología en el área de estudio, concluyendo con una muestra de heces diarreicas para ser analizadas posteriormente obteniendo los siguiente resultados. Que la Coccidiosis en lechones en el casco urbano de Siguate se presento mayormente en lechones menores de un mes con una prevalencia del 65%, que la enfermedad suele ser mortal cuando se presentaba con otras patologías ,como rotavirus, y en muchos casos se determinaron lechones positivos a Coccidiosis también resultaban positivos a rotavirus. No obviando que los cerdos que permanecían en hacinamiento y con prácticas de destete precoz, presentaron mayor numero de casos positivos de diarreas ocasionadas por Coccidiosis. En vista de ello se recomienda que la higiene y el control sanitario debe de ser integral (Limpieza química y limpieza mecánica), por lo que es saludable que residuos de alimentos (maschigue) sean revisados antes de su entrega y levantados los desperdicios al terminar para evitar la presencia de moscas. Aunque es de vital importancia para la producción de alimentos sano, confiable y seguro al consumo humano que tome control el Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería y desarrolle capacitaciones sobre la seguridad alimenticia para la comunidad de Siguate Honduras.

Del combate singular al singular combate sexual en la sátira trovadoresca medieval gallego-portuguesa

Integran este número de la revista ponencias presentadas en Studia Hispanica Medievalia VIII: Actas de las IX Jornadas Internacionales de Literatura Española Medieval, 2008, y de Homenaje al Quinto Centenario de Amadis de Gaula.

Jet:progress in performance and understanding

In 1990 JET operated with a number of technical improvements which led to advances in performance and permitted the carrying out of experiments specifically aimed at improving physics understanding of selected topics relevant to the "NEXT STEP". The new facilities include beryllium antenna screens, a prototype lower hybrid current drive system, and modification of the NI system to enable the injection of He-3 and He-4. Continued investigation of the hot-ion H-mode produced a value of n(D)(0)tau-E(T)(i)(0) = 9 x 10(20)m-3s keV, which is near conditions required for Q(DT) = 1, while a new peaked density profile H-mode was developed with only slightly lower performance. Progress towards steady state operation has been made by achieving ELMy H-modes under certain operating conditions, while maintaining good tau-E values. Experimental simulation of He ash transport indicates effective removal of alpha-particles from the plasma core for both L and H mode plasmas. Detailed analyses of particle and energy transport have helped establish a firmer link between particle and energy transport, and have suggested a connection between reduced energy transport and reversed shear. Numerical and analytic studies of divertor physics carried out for the pumped divertor phase of JET have helped clarify the key parameters governing impurity retention, and an intensive model validation effort has begun. Experimental simulation of alpha-particle effects with beta-fast up to 8% have shown that the slowing down processes are classical, and have given no evidence of deleterious collective effects.

Lengua y derecho a la educación en la Comunidad Autónoma del País Vasco : reflexiones jurídicas sobre el tránsito hacia un nuevo modelo

The article analyzes the legal regime of Euskara in the education system of the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country (capv). In the capv, the legislation recognizes the right to choose the language of study during the educational cycle. The students are separated into different classrooms based on their language preference. This system of separation (of language models) has made it possible to make great strides, although its implementation also suggests aspects which, from the perspective of a pluralistic Basque society on its way towards greater social, political and language integration, call for further reflection The general model for language planning in the capv was fashioned in the eighties as a model characterized by the guarantee of spaces of language freedom, and the educational system was charged with making the learning of the region’s autochthonous language more widespread. At this point, we already have a fair degree of evidence on which to base an analysis of the system of language models and we are in a position to conclude that perhaps the educational system was given too heavy a burden. Official studies on language performance of Basque schoolchildren show (in a way that is now fully verified) that not all the students who finish their mandatory period of schooling achieve the level of knowledge of Euskara required by the regulations. When faced with this reality, it becomes necessary for us to articulate some alternative to the current configuration of the system of language models, one that will make it possible in the future to have a Basque society that is linguistically more integrated, thereby avoiding having the knowledge or lack of knowledge of one of the official languages become a language barrier between two communities. Many sides have urged a reconsideration of the system of language models. The Basque Parliament itself has requested the Department of Education to design a new system. This article analyzes the legal foundations on which the current system is built and explores the potential avenues for legal cooperation that would make it possible to move towards a new system aimed at guaranteeing higher rates of bilingualism. The system would be sufficiently flexible so as to be able to respond to and accommodate the different sociolinguistic realities of the region.