Human error in recreational boating

Each year over 600 people die and more than 4000 are reported injured in recreational boating accidents. As with most other accidents, human error is the major contributor. U.S. Coast Guard reports of 3358 accidents were analyzed to identify errors in each of the boat types by which statistics are compiled: auxiliary (motor) sailboats, cabin motorboats, canoes and kayaks, house boats, personal watercraft, open motorboats, pontoon boats, row boats, sail-only boats. The individual errors were grouped into categories on the basis of similarities in the behavior involved. Those presented here are the categories accounting for at least 5% of all errors when summed across boat types. The most revealing and significant finding is the extent to which the errors vary across types. Since boating is carried out with one or two types of boats for long periods of time, effective accident prevention measures, including safety instruction, need to be geared to individual boat types.     

The adhesion of alumina films to metallic alloys and coatings

The adherence of protective oxide scales to alloy substrates is governed by the stored elastic energy in the scale which drives delamination and the fracture resistance of the alloy oxide interface. Clearly, any modifications to the alloy or the exposure environment which decreases the former or increases the latter will improve the durability of a given system. The stored elastic energy is determined by the stress level in the scale and the scale thickness. The stress state in the scale is determined by stresses which arise during the oxide formation (Growth Stresses), stresses produced during temperature changes as the result of thermal expansion mismatch between the oxide and the alloy (Thermal Stresses), and any stress relaxation which occurs as the result of creep of the scale or alloy. The fracture energy of the interface is a function of the composition at the interface, the microstructure in the interfacial region, and the composition of the exposure environment. This paper focuses on the results of studies of a variety of alloys and coatings, all of which form continuous alumina scales, in which it has been attempted to evaluate the effects of various alloy and exposure parameters on the stress state in the scale, the microstructure of the alloy/oxide interface, and the fracture resistance of the interface. The alloy parameters include alloy type, sulfur content, and reactive element content. The exposure parameters include oxidation temperature, temperature profile during exposure, and water vapor and sulfur contents of the atmosphere.     

A Data-Driven Approach to Exploring Future Land Use and Transport Scenarios: The Online What If? Tool

ABSTRACT

In an era of rapid urbanization, there is a need for data-driven tools to guide long-term strategic planning. Online What If? (OWI) is a planning support system (PSS) that helps inform strategic planners about the impact of population growth and other socioeconomic factors will have on the future growth of cities. This research presents its application in metropolitan Perth with a two-part case study, demonstrating a first comprehensive application of the tool. First, OWI tests five scenarios for urban growth through the year 2050, allocating residential land use. Next, OWI alters land use allocations to align residential development with high frequency public transit, while also allocating commercial land use to support higher residential densities. Together, these data-driven scenarios inform city planners and policy makers in guiding the long-term, sustainable growth of Perth. The paper concludes with a review of OWI’s strengths, weaknesses and possibilities for continual development.     

Phenolic compounds in peanut seeds: Enhanced elicitation by chitosan and effects on growth and aflatoxin b1 production by aspergillus flavus

Effects of chitosan and Aspergillus flavus to enhance elicitation of phenolic compounds in viable peanut seeds were conducted at two water activity levels. In vitro effects of phenolic acids on A. flavus growth and aflatoxin B₁ production were also studied. Chitosan enhanced elicitation of free phenolic compounds (FPC) at Aw .85 and .95 levels. A. flavus treatment initially decreased and subsequently increased FPC content, but bound phenolic compounds (BPC) decreased during incubation. Chitosan + A. flavus treatments caused an increase in FPC that reached a plateau between 24–48 h at Aw .85 while BPC levels increased over the same time period at both Aw levels. The major free and bound phenolic acids detected were p‐coumaric and ferulic acids and an unknown phenol that eluted at a retention time of 22 min. Generally, chitosan treatment significantly enhanced elicitation of free ferulic and p‐coumaric acids and bound p‐coumaric acid at Aw .95. Free unknown phenolic and bound ferulic acids at Aw .85 were enhanced by chitosan. A. flavus treatment caused significant induction of bound p‐coumaric and ferulic acids and free unknown phenol at Aw .85. Chitosan + A. flavus treatment measure to reduce or eliminate pre‐harvest contamination by A. flavus and aflatoxins contributes to sustainable agriculture, especially to developing countries.

The enhanced elicitation of preformed phenolic compounds by chitosan may provide seed tissues an additive or synergistic effect in controlling aflatoxin‐producing fungi and preventing aflatoxin contamination. Further, such investigation will help elucidate the biochemical basis of elicitor‐host interaction that contribute to defensive responses of host tissues. Identification of biochemical factors in induced resistance involves a refinement in the separation and identification of induced phenolic compounds. Methodologies such as spectrophotometric assay or reverse‐phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) may be used to evaluate phenolic compound induction by these elicitors. In addition, these compounds can be tested on their effects on A. flavus mycelial growth and subsequent aflatoxin production in vitro.

Hence, a study on the possible role of phenols on the natural resistance of peanuts to A. flavus invasion was conducted with the following objectives: 1) to quantitate changes in free and bound phenolic compounds influenced by chitosan, A. flavus, and water activity (Aw) levels by Folin‐Ciocalteu assay; 2) to separate, identify, and quantitate free and bound phenolic acids influenced by elicitors and Aw levels; and 3) to determine the effects of phenolic acids in liquid cultures at different concentrations on mycelial growth and aflatoxin B₁ production by A. flavus.     

Violent children: Bridging development, intervention, and public policy.

Childhood violence is a major public health and social policy concern in the United States. Scientists and policymakers alike have increasingly turned their attention to the causes of childhood violence and the extent to which its course can be modified through well-planned preventive interventions. However, it is not apparent that policymakers draw upon basic research findings in formulating their priorities and policies, nor is it apparent that developmental scientists incorporate policy considerations and prevention findings into their research frameworks and designs. The goal of this special issue on violent children is to begin to bridge the gaps among basic developmental science, prevention science, and public policy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Characterization of the interaction of cryptophycin 1 with tubulin: binding in the Vinca domain, competitive inhibition of dolastatin 10 binding, and an unusual aggregation reaction

The antimitotic depsipeptide cryptophycin 1 (CP1) was compared to the antimitotic peptide dolastatin 10 (D10) as an antiproliferative agent and in its interactions with purified tubulin. The potent activity of CP1 as an inhibitor of cell growth was confirmed. The agent had an IC50 of 20 pM against L1210 murine leukemia cells versus 0.5 nM for D10. Both drugs were comparable as inhibitors of the glutamate-induced assembly of purified tubulin, with D10 being slightly more potent. CP1, like D10, was a noncompetitive inhibitor of the binding of [3H]vinblastine to tubulin (apparent Ki, 3.9 microM); and the depsipeptide was a competitive inhibitor of the binding of [3H]D10 to tubulin (apparent Ki, 2.1 microM). CP1 was less potent than D10 as an inhibitor of nucleotide exchange on tubulin, but the two drugs were equivalent in stabilizing the colchicine binding activity of tubulin. CP1, like D10, caused the formation of extensive structured aggregates of tubulin when present in stoichiometric amounts relative to the protein. Whereas at lower concentrations the drugs were equivalent in causing formation of small oligomers detected by gel permeation high-performance liquid chromatography, there were notable differences in the aggregation reactions induced by the two drugs. The electron micrographic appearance of the D10-induced aggregate differed substantially from that of the CP1-induced aggregate. With D10, but not CP1, aggregate morphology was greatly altered in the presence of microtubule-associated proteins. Finally, although CP1 caused the formation of massive aggregates, as did D10, there was little turbidity change with the depsipeptide as opposed to the peptide.     

The development of attitudes about physical punishment: An 8-year longitudinal study.

We examined young adolescents' endorsement of parental use of corporal punishment to elucidate processes underlying the intergenerational transmission of discipline strategies. The community sample was ethnically and socioeconomically diverse. Mothers completed interviews and questionnaires when the target children were entering kindergarten (n = 566) and views in 6th and 8th grades. Adolescents completed questionnaires when they were in 8th grade (n = 425). Adolescents' attitudes about corporal punishment varied widely. Those adolescents who had been spanked by their own mothers were more approving of this discipline cents method, regardless of the overall frequency, timing, or chronicity of physical discipline they had received. However, there was no correlation among adolescents for whom physical maltreatment in early or middle childhood was suspected. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Some water vapor effects during the oxidation of alloys that are <Emphasis Type="Italic">α</Emphasis>-Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> formers

Oxidation studies were performed at 1100 °C in dry air and air containing fixed partial pressures of water vapor on a number of alloys and coatings that form α-Al₂O₃ scales under oxidizing conditions. The alloys investigated included RENé N5, PWA 1484, diffusion aluminide coatings (with and without Pt modification) on RENé N5, and a Ni-8 wt pct Cr-6 wt pct Al model alloy. The water vapor affected the oxidation of the alloys in three important ways: (1) The scales spalled more profusely during cyclic oxidation in wet air than in dry air, particularly for those alloys with alumina scales, which are only moderately adherent under dry conditions. The results were consistent with the mechanism previously proposed (Reference 1), whereby the water molecules decrease the fracture toughness of the alumina/alloy interface. (2) Thicker oxides are formed during oxidation in wet air than dry air. This effect comes primarily from accelerated transient oxidation during exposure in wet air. (3) Spinel was found to form on top of the alumina scales during long-term exposure. This phenomenon occurred in all atmospheres but was much more pronounced for exposures in wet atmospheres. Mechanisms for the preceding observations are proposed.     

Social information processing mediates the intergenerational transmission of aggressiveness in romantic relationships.

This study explored the K. A. Dodge (1986) model of social information processing as a mediator of the association between interparental relationship conflict and subsequent offspring romantic relationship conflict in young adulthood. The authors tested 4 social information processing stages (encoding, hostile attributions, generation of aggressive responses, and positive evaluation of aggressive responses) in separate models to explore their independent effects as potential mediators. There was no evidence of mediation for encoding and attributions. However, there was evidence of significant mediation for both the response generation and response evaluation stages of the model. Results suggest that the ability of offspring to generate varied social responses and effectively evaluate the potential outcome of their responses at least partially mediates the intergenerational transmission of relationship conflict. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)