An empirical assessment of fixed and random parameter logit models using crash- and non-crash-specific injury data

Traditional crash-severity modeling uses detailed data gathered after a crash has occurred (number of vehicles involved, age of occupants, weather conditions at the time of the crash, types of vehicles involved, crash type, occupant restraint use, airbag deployment, etc.) to predict the level of occupant injury. However, for prediction purposes, the use of such detailed data makes assessing the impact of alternate safety countermeasures exceedingly difficult due to the large number of variables that need to be known. Using 5-year data from interstate highways in Indiana, this study explores fixed and random parameter statistical models using detailed crash-specific data and data that include the injury outcome of the crash but not other detailed crash-specific data (only more general data are used such as roadway geometrics, pavement condition and general weather and traffic characteristics). The analysis shows that, while models that do not use detailed crash-specific data do not perform as well as those that do, random parameter models using less detailed data still can provide a reasonable level of accuracy.     

Economic viability analysis of planned WEC system installations for electrical power production

The aim of this investigation is the development and implementation of a general and systematic procedure for the evaluation of the economic viability of planned installations of wind energy converters (WEC) for the purpose of electrical power production. The procedure is based on: the assessment of wind energy potential of an area (of interest); the limitations involved in selecting specific locations/sites for system installation in this area; the technical specification of a candidate WEC system; and the assessment of the economic viability of such electrical power production systems by applying suitable economic/financial analysis techniques. The proposed procedure was illustrated by applying it in the Thrace area of Greece, taking into consideration the national legislative frame for the exploitation of wind energy resources, and the associated subsidy provided for developing private enterprises with respect to the purchase and installation of the relevant technical equipment. The obtained computational results favor by comparison the installation of medium size WECs (150–500 kW) for the case of independent producers over the case of auto-producers.     

Toward large-area targets for “TRAKULA”

TRAKULA (Transmutationsrelevante kernphysikalische Untersuchungen langlebiger Aktinide, i.e., nuclear physical investigations of long-lived actinides with relevance to transmutation) is a joint research project of the German Federal Ministry of Science and Education (BMBF) on nuclear physics investigations with modern scientific, technological and numerical methods. Experiments concerning the transmutation of radioactive waste are a central topic of the project. For this, large-area samples (≥40 cm²) of ^235,238U and ^239,242Pu compounds are required for the calibration of fission chambers and for fission yield measurements. Another topic within the project requires large-area targets for precise measurements of the half-life, t_1/2, of very long-lived α-particle emitters like ¹⁴⁴Nd (t_1/2≈2×10¹⁵ y). Here, we report on electrodeposition tests with Gd and Nd (used as chemical homologs of the actinides), which were performed to find optimal deposition conditions for small-area targets that should be applicable to future large-area targets.The layers were produced by molecular plating. A new stirring technique, ultrasonic stirring, was adopted and found to be suitable for producing large-area targets. Moreover, two different current densities (namely 0.7 and 1.4 mA/cm²) were studied and found appropriate for target preparation. Characterization of the layers with different analytical techniques played a major role in these studies to gain a deeper understanding of the deposition process itself: neutron activation analysis and γ-spectroscopy were used for yield measurements, radiographic imaging for homogeneity studies, scanning electron microscopy for morphology studies, and atomic force microscopy for roughness studies. According to the obtained results, a new electrochemical cell for the production of large-area targets was designed.     

NECTAR—A fission neutron radiography and tomography facility

NECTAR (Neutron Computerized Tomography and Radiography) is a versatile facility for radiographic and tomographic investigations as well as for neutron activation experiments using fission neutrons.The radiation sources for this facility are two plates of highly enriched uranium situated in the moderator vessel in FRM II. Thermal neutrons originating from the main fuel element of the reactor generate in these plates fast neutrons. These can escape through a horizontal beam tube without moderation. The beam can be filtered and manipulated in order to reduce the accompanying gamma radiation and to match the specific experimental tasks.A summary of the main parameters required for experimental set-up and (quantitative) data evaluation is presented. The (measured) spectra of the neutron and gamma radiations are shown along with the effect of different filters on their behavior. The neutron and gamma fluxes, dose rates, L/D-ratios, etc. and the main parameters of the actually used detection systems for neutron imaging are given, too.     

Fabrication and thermal shock resistance of HfB2-SiC composite with B4C additives

A HfB₂ based ceramic matrix composite containing 20 vol.% SiC particles with 2 vol.% B₄C as sintering additives was fabricated by hot-pressed sintering. The microstructure and properties, especially the thermal shock resistance of the composite were investigated. Results showed that the addition of B4C improved the powder sinterability and led to obtaining nearly full dense composite. The flexural strength and fracture toughness of the composite were 771 MPa and 7.06 MPam^1/2, respectively. The thermal shock resistance tests indicated that the residual strength decreased significantly when the thermal shock temperature difference was higher than 600 °C. The large number of microcracks on the sample surface was the main reason for the catastrophic failure.     

Fast Assessment of Available Transfer Capability Using Synchrophasor Measurements

In an electricity market, power transmission networks allow power flow that is required to meet different bilateral and pool contracts between customers and suppliers. To ensure power system security, transactions are permitted to the point that the system design and operating conditions are not violated. This article presents a new method for determining the available transfer capability of the transmission system with respect to a particular transaction or flow gate using synchrophasor measurements. The method also utilizes a DC power flow based sensitivity concept. The proposed method is simple, fast, and well suited for real-time applications. The effectiveness of the proposed method is tested on the New England 39-bus test system, IEEE 24-bus reliability test system, and 246-bus Northern Region Power Grid Indian systems.     

Mise en place d'un modèle in vitro d'étude du vieillissement cellulaire sur fibroblaste dermique humain

The normal dermal human fibroblastic cell (NDHF) was used to determine a cellular ageing pattern. Cells were cultured in monolayers until the 30th passage. First of all, the following cell growth characteristics were studied: growth rate, fluorimetric DNA determination, DNA repair after UV irradiation. Secondly, metabolism characteristics were examined: lysosomal enzymatic activity and type I and III collagen biosynthesis. Strains were obtained from 10,30,43 and 69-year-old donors to favour a comparison between in vitro and in vivo ageing.
Cell growth ability is modified in vitro only for the oldest strain which shows a significant decrease in the cellular density at the 30th passage. The DNA rate and its repairing ability are not changed by in vitro ageing whatever the strain age.
Lysosomal activity increases during in vitro ageing whereas the collagen I synthesis decreases.
In vitro proliferating potentialities do not reflect in vivo ageing. On the other hand, in this study, metabolic potentialities evolve in the same way in vitro as in vivo and could be a good enough pattern to select anti-ageing products.     

The DGAT1 K232A mutation is not solely responsible for the milk production quantitative trait locus on the bovine chromosome 14

The gene, acyl-CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase1 (DGAT1), was recently identified as the one underlying the quantitative trait locus (QTL) for milk production traits in the centromeric region of the bovine chromosome 14. Until now, 2 alleles, the lysine variant (increasing fat yield, fat and protein percentage) and the alanine variant (increasing protein and milk yield), were postulated at DGAT1. This study investigated whether the diallelic DGAT1 polymorphism is responsible for all the genetic variation at the centromeric region of this chromosome for milk, fat, and protein yield and fat and protein percentage. A statistical model was applied to a granddaughter design to analyze 16 German Holstein families. The model included the diallelic DGAT1 effect and the QTL transition probability estimated for each chromosomal position by a multiple marker approach. Because the regression coefficient of this probability was corrected for the diallelic DGAT1 polymorphism, it represented a putative conditional QTL effect. The effect of the DGAT1 gene was always highly significant. The conditional QTL effect was significant genomewise for fat percentage at the proximal end of the chromosome and for protein percentage at a more distal chromosomal region. Additional chromosomewise significance was found for fat and protein yield. Our results suggest an additional source of genetic variance on this chromosome for these traits; either one or more additional alleles segregating at DGAT1 that were not previously detected, a second quantitative trait locus affecting these traits, or both.     

Simplistic hydrothermal synthesis approach for fabricating photoluminescent carbon dots and its potential application as an efficient sensor probe for toxic lead(II) ion detection

The past decade has witnessed a variety of members of the carbon family along with exposure of carbon dots due to their magnificent properties in sensing, bioimaging, catalytic applications, biomedical fields, and so on. Herein, we report the simple hydrothermal method to fabricate photoluminescent doped carbon quantum dots for the detection of noxious lead(II) ions. Lead(II) ion is very venomous for both the environment and human health for which its detection is demanded area in the research field. The as-prepared carbon dots show excellent photostability, low toxicity and significant photoluminescence properties along with good water solubility. Along with these properties, carbon dots have a quantum yield of approximately 15%. In the practical field of application, these carbon dots have been used as sensing probes for the detection of lead(II) ions with a detection limit of 60 nmol·L^–1. The fluorescence intensity of carbon dots was remarkably quenched in the presence of the lead(II) ion selectively among all the tested metal ions. Furthermore, we have studied the Stern–Volmer relationship for lead(II) quenching along with the explanation of the probable quenching mechanism. Ability of the doped carbon dots in heavy metal ions sensing in an environmental sample was demonstrated.