Removing observational noise from fisheries-independent time series data using ARIMA models

Abundance indices derived from fishery-independent surveys typically exhibit much higher interannual variability than is consistent with the within-survey variance or the life history of a species. This extra variability is essentially observation noise (i.e. measurement error); it probably reflects environmentally driven factors that affect catchability over time. Unfortunately, high observation noise reduces the ability to detect important changes in the underlying population abundance. In our study, a noise-reduction technique for uncorrelated observation noise that is based on autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) time series modeling is investigated. The approach is applied to 18 time series of finfish abundance, which were derived from trawl survey data from the U.S. northeast continental shelf. Although the a priori assumption of a random-walk-plus-uncorrelated-noise model generally yielded a smoothed result that is pleasing to the eye, we recommend that the most appropriate ARIMA model be identified for the observed time series if the smoothed time series will be used for further analysis of the population dynamics of a species

Estimating the relationship between local, public and private investment

A discussion of whether public outlays influence private investment, modeling the timing and effectiveness of public infrastructure as a local policy instrument.Infrastructure (Economics) ; Economic development ; Municipal finance

Substance use in school going teenagers in Kildare and west Wicklow.

This document reported on research on young people and drug misuse funded by the Eastern Health Board and the Action South Kildare Partnership. The aim was to collect data on the extent and type of drug use, both legal and illegal, in the secondary-school-going population of Kildare and west Wicklow. This was carried out by giving a self-administered questionnaire to a sample of 1,838 pupils from 29 schools in the area. The mean age of respondents was 14.7 years; 53% were male and 47% were female. The researchers found that 86% of those surveyed had used at least one drug. The principal drugs were alcohol, cigarettes, cannabis, and solvents, with LSD, amphetamines and magic mushrooms mentioned. Heroin was far less commonly used. Those who reported using cigarettes, cannabis or alcohol were found to have been more likely to have tried other substances, and males had a higher risk of having taken any illegal drugs. Significantly more vocational school than secondary school pupils were found to persist in using ecstasy and amphetamines, and they were also found to have a lower mean age of initiation into heroin use

Critical current degradation in HTS wires due to cyclic mechanical strain

HTS wires, which may be used in many devices such as magnets and rotating machines, may be subjected to mechanical strains from electromagnetic, thermal and centripetal forces. In some applications these strains will be repeated several thousand times during the lifetime of the device. We have measured critical current degradation due to repeated strain cycles for both compressive and tensile strains. Results for BSCCO-2223 HTS conductor samples are presented for strain values up to 0.5% and cycle numbers up to and beyond 10/sup 4/

X-Ray Flux/Spectral Variability of the Gravitationally Lensed Blazar PKS 1830-211

From the Washington University Office of Undergraduate Research Digest (WUURD), Vol. 12, 05-01-2017. Published by the Office of Undergraduate Research. Joy Zalis Kiefer, Director of Undergraduate Research and Associate Dean in the College of Arts & Sciences; Lindsey Paunovich, Editor; Helen Human, Programs Manager and Assistant Dean in the College of Arts and Sciences Mentor: Henric Krawcynsk

The Formation of Stars: From Clouds to Cores

High resolution simulations were conducted to investigate different stages of the star formation process, from molecular cloud formation to single protostellar collapse. The simulations were performed using AstroBEAR, a state-of-the-art, multiphysics, adaptive mesh refinement code for astrophysical fluid dynamics. In each of the cases, the fluid dynamical properties of the potentially star forming gas were investigated to reveal the relative roles of gravity, magnetic fields, turbulence, and shocks. The models successfully produce many of the structural characteristics of star forming regions. While the simulations modeled isolated, or semi-isolated, phases of the star formation process, cumulatively they represent over 5 orders of magnitude change in spatial scale. Insights provided from this work will aid the development and interpretation of the next generation of simulations -- those which will model star formation through the phases using self-consistent, hierarchical frameworks

Analysis of tissue transglutaminase function in the migration of swiss 3T3 fibroblasts - the active-state conformation of the enzyme does not affect cell motility but is important for its secretion

Increasing evidence suggests that tissue transglutaminase (tTGase; type II) is externalized from cells, where it may play a key role in cell attachment and spreading and in the stabilization of the extracellular matrix (ECM) through protein cross-linking. However, the relationship between these different functions and the enzyme’s mechanism of secretion is not fully understood. We have investigated the role of tTGase in cell migration using two stably transfected fibroblast cell lines in which expression of tTGase in its active and inactive (C277S mutant) states is inducible through the tetracycline-regulated system. Cells overexpressing both forms of tTGase showed increased cell attachment and decreased cell migration on fibronectin. Both forms of the enzyme could be detected on the cell surface, but only the clone overexpressing catalytically active tTGase deposited the enzyme into the ECM and cell growth medium. Cells overexpressing the inactive form of tTGase did not deposit the enzyme into the ECM or secrete it into the cell culture medium. Similar results were obtained when cells were transfected with tTGase mutated at Tyr274 (Y274A), the proposed site for the cis- ,trans peptide bond, suggesting that tTGase activity and/or its tertiary conformation dependent on this bond may be essential for its externalization mechanism. These results indicate that tTGase regulates cell motility as a novel cell-surface adhesion protein rather than as a matrix-cross-linking enzyme. They also provide further important insights into the mechanism of externalization of the enzyme into the extracellular matrix

Chipping Away at the Gendered Wall Implications for Being a Woman Sociologist

The purpose of this study was to investigate what factors may determine productivity among sociology professors and factors that-affect promotions and hiring. In today\u27s academic institutions, the gender barrier is considered nonexistent; however, the actual existence of the gender barrier is often apparent in departmental hiring decisions and university tenure policies. With knowledge of current, often subtle, biased standards, the gender barrier can begin to be dismantled to offer true equality for all potential and current professors. The data was collected in 2001, during the fall academic semester from departments of sociology (n=2 l 8). This thesis looks at the impact of departmental hierarchy, individual productivity level and demographic factors on professors\u27 academic position and productivity. The research found that there are some differences in article productivity between males and females and also differences in productivity based on years of experience and what type of institution in which one is working. The research also found that women with children produce more books than women without children, and that gender differences in hours teaching, hours preparing for classes and hours spent working outside of the class were not significant related