Convergence of self-report and archival crash involvement data: a two-year longitudinal follow-up

This study constructively extends Arthur et al. (2001) by assessing the convergence of self-report and archival motor vehicle crash involvement and moving violations data in a 2-year longitudinal follow-up. The relationships among these criteria, conscientiousness, and driving speed were also assessed using both predictive and postdictive criterion-related validation designs. Data were collected from a 2-year follow-up sample of 334 participants. Results suggested a lack of convergence between self-report and archival data at both Time 1 and Time 2. In addition, the predictor/criterion relationships varied across research design and data source. An actual application of our findings is that the interpretation of relationships between specified predictors and crash involvement and moving violations must be made within the context of the criterion-related validation design and criterion data source. Specifically, predictive designs may produce results different from those of postdictive designs (which are more commonly used). Furthermore, self-report data appear to include a broader range of incidents (more crashes and tickets), and thus researchers should consider using self-report data when they are interested in including lower threshold crashes and tickets that may not be reported on state records (e.g., because of the completion of a defensive driving course).     

Form coke reaction processes in carbon dioxide

Uncertainty in metallurgical coke supplies has prompted development of form coke from low quality coals and fines. Reaction rates have been measured and mechanisms identified that control carbonaceous briquette reaction rate in CO₂. Three briquette formulations were prepared, characterized and coked in an inert atmosphere at high temperature. A given weight of each formulation was then reacted in a packed bed with CO₂ at 1373 K for 0.5–2 h. Partially reacted briquettes contained a solid core with some internal reaction surrounded by a loosely adhering layer of carbon-containing ash. The reaction rate of briquettes with CO₂ was affected by diffusion of CO₂ through the bulk gas and the ash-carbon layer to the core surface, as well as CO₂–carbon reaction. Key variables governing briquette reaction rate included CO₂ mole fraction and briquette void fraction.     

Public attention to extreme weather as reflected by social media activity

Recent advancements in the development of information and communication technologies have revolutionized risk and crisis communication. This research explored how social media facilitates information seeking, interpretation, and dissemination during extreme weather. Using Twitter data collected during a tornado‐warned storm, this study explored the activity of different actor groups. The findings demonstrate that weather professionals and weather enthusiasts acted as “key stewards” who facilitated discussion during the event. Citizens engaged in the dialogue predominately by retweeting and by sharing personal observations of the storm. The results highlight the usefulness of Twitter for the propagation of both official and unofficial storm‐related information. This study also supports previous research that suggests that tweet activity may be a reliable indicator of public attention.     

Microstructure Evolution and Grain Growth Competition in Directionally Solidified Ternary Al–Ag2Al–Al2Cu Eutectic

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A - Eutectics serve as an interesting material class for fundamental research on solidification as well as holding promise for new, high-tech applications....     

Quantitation of Human Whole‐Body Synthesis‐Secretion Rates of Docosahexaenoic Acid and Eicosapentaenoate Acid from Circulating Unesterified α‐Linolenic Acid at Steady State

The rate at which dietary α‐linolenic acid (ALA) is desaturated and elongated to its longer‐chain n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) in humans is not agreed upon. In this study, we applied a methodology developed using rodents to investigate the whole‐body, presumably hepatic, synthesis‐secretion rates of esterified n‐3 PUFA from circulating unesterified ALA in 2 healthy overweight women after 10 weeks of low‐linoleate diet exposure. During continuous iv infusion of d5‐ALA, 17 arterial blood samples were collected from each subject at ?10, 0, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 150, 180, and 210 min, and at 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 h after beginning infusion. Plasma esterified d5‐n‐3 PUFA concentrations were plotted against the infusion time and fit to a sigmoidal curve using nonlinear regression. These curves were used to estimate kinetic parameters using a kinetic analysis developed using rodents. Calculated synthesis‐secretion rates of esterified eicosapentaenoate, n‐3 docosapentaenoate, docosahexaenoic acid, tetracosapentaenate, and tetracosahexaenoate from circulating unesterified ALA were 2.1 and 2.7; 1.7 and 5.3; 0.47 and 0.27; 0.30 and 0.30; and 0.32 and 0.27 mg/day for subjects S01 and S02, respectively. This study provides new estimates of whole‐body synthesis‐secretion rates of esterified longer‐chain n‐3 PUFA from circulating unesterified ALA in human subjects. This method now can be extended to study factors that regulate human whole‐body PUFA synthesis‐secretion in health and disease.     

Effects of prior aging at 288°C in argon environment on time‐dependent deformation behavior of a thermoset polymer at elevated temperature,part 1: Experiments

The inelastic deformation behavior of PMR‐15 neat resin, a high‐temperature thermoset polymer, aged at 288°C in argon environment for up to 2000 h was investigated. The experimental program was designed to explore the in?uence of prior isothermal aging on monotonic loading and unloading at various strain rates. In addition, the relaxation response and the creep behavior of specimens subjected to prior aging of various durations were evaluated. All tests were performed at 288°C. The time‐dependent mechanical behavior of the PMR‐15 polymer is strongly influenced by prior isothermal aging. The elastic modulus increased and the departure from quasi‐linear behavior was delayed with prior aging time. Stress levels in the region of inelastic flow increased with prior aging time. Furthermore, prior aging significantly decreased the polymer's capacity for inelastic straining, including the material's capacity to accumulate creep strain. Conversely, the relaxation response was not affected by the prior aging. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.? J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Smokers’ thoughts and worries: A study using ecological momentary assessment.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate smokers’ thoughts and worries about their smoking behavior. Researchers have sometimes asked smokers to make such self-assessments but typically using retrospective summary judgments. Design: Using ecological momentary assessment, community and student smokers reported five times daily during two separate 1-week intervals. Main Outcome Measures: Smokers reported their thoughts about smoking, worries about smoking, and level of contemplation to quit smoking. Results: Smokers reported thinking negatively about their smoking 26.8% of the time they had a cigarette. The most frequent thoughts reported by smokers related to immediate reinforcement of smoking (e.g., “How I smell like cigarettes”). However, smokers reported more intense worry about thoughts related to health concerns (e.g., “Symptoms I'm having because of smoking”). The occurrence of negative thoughts was significantly and positively related to contemplation about quitting, worry about smoking, and risk perceptions. Finally, self-reported worry intensity was more strongly related to contemplation of quitting than negative thought occurrence. Conclusion: Our results show that thoughts about smoking (i.e., cognitions) and feelings about smoking (i.e., worry) are loosely connected and it is feelings rather than cognitions that are most related to contemplation to quit. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Flow effects on the dendritic microstructure of AlSi-base alloys

Fluid flow changes heat and mass transport during solidification, thereby affecting the evolution of the microstructure. In order to quantify effects of convection, it is important that fluid flow can be modified experimentally. We performed directional solidification experiments with binary AlSi alloys of different compositions, using a microgravity environment for diffusive solidification and adding rotating magnetic fields to generate flow. Flow velocities up to 10 mm/s and various solidification velocities were realized while maintaining a constant temperature gradient at the solid-liquid interface. The microstructure observed in samples processed on earth and in space is characterized by primary and secondary dendrite arm spacing and the fractal dimension of the dendrites. It is found that fluid flow usually accelerates growth and coarsening of the dendritic structures and leads to new kinetic laws. The branching of dendritic networks, however, is hardly affected by flow.