Evaluating Contributing Factors to Collision Types through Discrete Choice Analysis : An Application to Large-Truck Crashes in Washington State

While there have been several efforts to understand large-truck crashes, the relationship between crash factors, crash severity and collision type is not clearly understood. Past studies have utilized different statistical or econometric models to predict the manner of collision at intersections, yet not much attention has been paid to the factors that lead to injury severity by different types of collisions on state and interstate highways. Studying collision types is crucial when identifying potential safety improvements for state and interstate systems. In this study six collision types are explored they are: angled collisions, fixed object collisions, rear end collision both vehicles moving forward, rear end collisions on moving vehicle, sideswipe collision same direction and sideswipe collisions different directions. With these in mind, the aim of this research is to perform exploratory analyses of large truck-involved crashes through the use of advanced econometric techniques that can shed insights on the factors influencing crashes by collision type. Namely, this research utilizes the mixed multinomial logit model to uncover the effects of unobservable factors (unobserved heterogeneity) across crash observations underlying the data generating process. The results of this thesis indicate that complex interactions of various human, vehicle, and road-environment factors due in fact contribute and that some of the model variables varied across observations, validating the choice of the mixed multinomial logit model and separation of data by collision type

Promoting greater Federal energy productivity [Final report]

This document is a close-out report describing the work done under this DOE grant to improve Federal Energy Productivity. Over the four years covered in this document, the Alliance To Save Energy conducted liaison with the private sector through our Federal Energy Productivity Task Force. In this time, the Alliance held several successful workshops on the uses of metering in Federal facilities and other meetings. We also conducted significant research on energy efficiency, financing, facilitated studies of potential energy savings in energy intensive agencies, and undertook other tasks outlined in this report

Newsletter 20

INHIGEO produces an annual publication that includes information on the commission's activities, national reports, book reviews, interviews and occasional historical articles.N

The changes of surface potential and built-in charge in alumina films after the anodization process

We have shown that the surface potential of anodic alumina films changes in time: immediately after the anodization process it was positively followed by the substantial decrease to negative values. Such variations of the surface potential can be associated with the negative built-in electric charge in alumina. The highest negative charge density occurs in the films formed in citric and phosphoric electrolytes

Effects of alpha fetoprotein on escape of Bel 7402 cells from attack of lymphocytes

BACKGROUND: Involvement of AFP against apoptosis of tumor cell has been implicated in its evasion of immune surveillance. However, the molecular events of immune escape mechanisms are still unknown. The major observations reported here relate to a possible mechanism by which heptoloma Bel 7402 cells escape immune surveillance in vitro. METHODS: Western blotting and a well-characterized cofocal scanning image were performed to analyze the expression of Fas/FasL and caspase-3 in co-cultured Bel 7402 and Jurkat cells. RESULTS: After co-culture with Jurkat cells, up-regulated Fas and reduced FasL expression could be observed. Treatment with AFP could remarkably inhibit the elevated Fas and, whereas, induce the FasL expression in co-cultured Bel 7402 cells. Cells co-culture could induce the expression of caspase-3 in both cells line. The elevated caspase-3 in Bel 7402 cells was abolished following the treatment of AFP. The expression of caspase-3 was elevated in co-cultured Jurkat cells treated with AFP. No detectable change on the expression of survivin was examined in both cells line. Monoclonal antibody against AFP treatment alone did not obviously influence the growth of cells, as well as the expression of Fas/FasL and caspase-3. However, the effect of AFP could be blocked by antibody. CONCLUSIONS: our results provide evidence that AFP could promote the escape of liver cancer cells from immune surveillance through blocking the caspase signal pathway of tumor cells and triggering the Fas/FasL interaction between tumor cells and lymphocytes

Deep Learning in Processing Medical Images and Calculating the Orbit Volume

A software tool for calculating the volume of a soft-tissue eye orbit using the deep learning of neural network Mask R-CNN has been developed and tested. The result of the development will be in demand when evaluating the results of surgical intervention for the reconstruction of the thin bones of the orbit. It was established that the inaccuracy in constructing the contour of a soft-tissue orbit is 4–8%

Влияние поверхностного потенциала анодных алюмооксидных пленок на их зарядовые свойства

The surface potential of anodic alumina films and their charge properties have been studied. The surface potential of anodic alumina films after anodic process has positive values, but then this potential is decreased to zero level with subsequent transition to negative values. The negative displacement of the surface potential is associated with a negative built-in electric charge of aluminum anodic oxide. The mechanism of transition from the positive built-in electric charge to the negative one inside the anodic oxides is proposed. The highest density of the negative charge is observed in the films formed in electrolytes based on the aqueous solutions of the citric and phosphoric acids.Представлены результаты исследования поверхностного потенциала анодных алюмооксидных пленок и их зарядовых свойств. Показано, что поверхностный потенциал анодных алюмооксидных пленок сразу после окончания анодного процесса имеет положительное значение, но с течением времени этот потенциал уменьшается до нулевого уровня с последующим переходом в область отрицательных значений. Установлено, что отрицательное смещение поверхностного потенциала связано с отрицательным встроенным электрическим зарядом анодного оксида алюминия. Предложен механизм перехода от положительного встроенного электрического заряда к отрицательному внутри анодных оксидов. Установлено, что наибольшая плотность отрицательного заряда наблюдается в пленках, сформированных в электролитах на основе водных растворов лимонной и ортофосфорной кислот