Field research planning for driver's license law enforcement. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

A study of hands-off driver license enforcement through rapid communications. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

Field research planning for driver's license law enforcement. Interim report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

Dendritic cells: the driving force behind autoimmunity in rheumatoid arthritis?

Dendritic cells (DC) are likely to play a significant role in immune-mediated diseases such as autoimmunity and allergy. To date there are few treatments capable of inducing permanent remission in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and elucidation of the role of DC may provide specific strategies for disease intervention. Dendritic cells have proven to be powerful tools for immunotherapy and investigations are under way to determine their clinical efficacy in transplantation and viral and tumour immunotherapy. The present review will focus on the current view of DC and their role in autoimmunity, in particular RA. Two possible roles for DC in the pathogenesis of RA will be proposed, based on recent advances in the field.

Modeling volatile organic compounds (voc`s) adsorption onto cup-stacked carbon nanotubes (cscnt) using the linear driving force model

Modeling volatile organic compounds (voc`s) adsorption onto cup-stacked carbon nanotubes (cscnt) using the linear driving force model. Volatile organic compounds (VOC`s) are an important category of air pollutants and adsorption has been employed in the treatment (or simply concentration) of these compounds. The current study used an ordinary analytical methodology to evaluate the properties of a cup-stacked nanotube (CSCNT), a stacking morphology of truncated conical graphene, with large amounts of open edges on the outer surface and empty central channels. This work used a Carbotrap bearing a cup-stacked structure (composite); for comparison, Carbotrap was used as reference (without the nanotube). The retention and saturation capacities of both adsorbents to each concentration used (1, 5, 20 and 35 ppm of toluene and phenol) were evaluated. The composite performance was greater than Carbotrap; the saturation capacities for the composite was 67% higher than Carbotrap (average values). The Langmuir isotherm model was used to fit equilibrium data for both adsorbents, and a linear driving force model (LDF) was used to quantify intraparticle adsorption kinetics. LDF was suitable to describe the curves.

Driving mechanisms for groundwater flow and salt transport in a subterranean estuary

This paper presents field measurements and numerical simulations of groundwater dynamics in the intertidal zone of a sandy meso-tidal beach. The study, focusing on vertical hydraulic gradients and pore water salinities, reveals that tides and waves provide important forcing mechanisms for flow and salt transport in the nearshore aquifer. Such forcing, interacting with the beach morphology, enhances the exchange between the aquifer and ocean. The spatial and temporal variations of vertical hydraulic gradients demonstrate the complexity and dynamic nature of the processes and the extent of mixing between fresh groundwater and seawater in a subterranean estuary''. These results provide evidence of a potentially important reaction zone in the nearshore aquifer driven by oceanic oscillations. Land-derived contaminants may undergo important biogeochemical transformations in this zone prior to discharge.

Experimental evidence that partner choice is a driving force in the payoff distribution among cooperators or mutualists: the cleaner fish case

Supply and demand largely determine the price of goods on human markets. It has been proposed that in animals, similar forces influence the payoff distribution between trading partners in Sexual selection, intraspecific cooperation and interspecific mutualism. Here we present the first experimental evidence supporting biological market theory in it study on cleaner fish, Labroides dimidiatus. Cleaners interact with two classes of clients: choosy client species with access to several cleaners usually do not queue for service and do not return if ignored, while resident client species with access to only one cleaning station do queue or return. We used plexiglas plates with equal amounts of food to stimulate these behaviours of the two client classes. Cleaners soon inspected 'choosy' plates before 'resident' plates. This supports previous field observations that suggest that client species with access to several cleaners exert choice to receive better(immediate) service.

Systems thinking: learning or driving?

The ability to foresee how behaviour of a system arises from the interaction of its components over time - i.e. its dynamic complexity – is seen an important ability to take effective decisions in our turbulent world. Dynamic complexity emerges frequently from interrelated simple structures, such as stocks and flows, feedbacks and delays (Forrester, 1961). Common sense assumes an intuitive understanding of their dynamic behaviour. However, recent researches have pointed to a persistent and systematic error in people understanding of those building blocks of complex systems. This paper describes an empirical study concerning the native ability to understand systems thinking concepts. Two different groups - one, academic, the other, professional – submitted to four tasks, proposed by Sweeney and Sterman (2000) and Sterman (2002). The results confirm a poor intuitive understanding of the basic systems concepts, even when subjects have background in mathematics and sciences.

Systems thinking: learning or driving?

The ability to foresee how behaviour of a system arises from the interaction of its components over time - i.e. its dynamic complexity – is seen an important ability to take effective decisions in our turbulent world. Dynamic complexity emerges frequently from interrelated simple structures, such as stocks and flows, feedbacks and delays (Forrester, 1961). Common sense assumes an intuitive understanding of their dynamic behaviour. However, recent researches have pointed to a persistent and systematic error in people understanding of those building blocks of complex systems. This paper describes an empirical study concerning the native ability to understand systems thinking concepts. Two different groups - one, academic, the other, professional – submitted to four tasks, proposed by Sweeney and Sterman (2000) and Sterman (2002). The results confirm a poor intuitive understanding of the basic systems concepts, even when subjects have background in mathematics and sciences.

Driving Scheme Using MIS Photosensor for Luminance Control of AMOLED Pixel

This paper presents a new driving scheme utilizing an in-pixel metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) photosensor for luminance control of active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) pixel. The proposed 3-TFT circuit is controlled by an external driver performing the signal readout, processing, and programming operations according to a luminance adjusting algorithm. To maintain the fabrication simplicity, the embedded MIS photosensor shares the same layer stack with pixel TFTs. Performance characteristics of the MIS structure with a nc-Si : H/a-Si : H bilayer absorber were measured and analyzed to prove the concept. The observed transient dark current is associated with charge trapping at the insulator-semiconductor interface that can be largely eliminated by adjusting the bias voltage during the refresh cycle. Other factors limiting the dynamic range and external quantum efficiency are also determined and verified using a small-signal model of the device. Experimental results demonstrate the feasibility of the MIS photosensor for the discussed driving scheme.

Simulation model for driving dynamics, energy use and power supply

Dissertação para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia Electrotécnica Ramo de Energia