Process for bonding elastomers to metals

A process for bonding elastomeric material to a metal part includes coating a heat curable adhesive on the surfaces of the metal part to be bonded. The metal part is placed in a mold, a bottom plate and an upper transfer pot of a transfer molding machine is preheated to a predetermined cure temperature. A predetermined quantity of uncured elastomeric material is loaded into the transfer pot. The mold containing the adhesive coated metal part is clamped to the bottom plate, and almost contemporaneously, the uncured elastomeric material is pressed into the mold while maintaining heat and pressure in the mold for a time sufficient to vulcanize and thereby cure the elastomeric material simultaneously with the adhesive, whereby contacting surfaces of the metal part are strongly bonded to the vulcanized elastomeric material

Bus Rapid Transit: A Handbook for Partners, MTI Report 06-02

In April 2005, the Caltrans Division of Research and Innovation (DRI) asked MTI to assist with the research for and publication of a guidebook for use by Caltrans employees who work with local transit agencies and jurisdictions in planning, designing, and operating Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems that involve state facilities. The guidebook was also to assist to transit operators, local governments, community residents, and other stakeholders dealing with the development of BRT systems. Several areas in the state have experienced such projects ( San Diego , Los Angeles , San Francisco , and Alameda County ) and DRI wished to use that experience to guide future efforts and identify needed changes in statutes, policies, and other state concerns. Caltrans convened a Task Team from the Divisions of Research and Innovation, Mass Transportation, and Operations, together with stakeholders representing many of those involved with the BRT activities around the state. Prior to MTI’s involvement, this group produced a white paper on the topic, a series of questions, and an outline of the guidebook that MTI was to write. The MTI team conducted case studies of the major efforts in California, along with less developed studies of some of the other BRT programs under development or in early implementation phases around the state. The purpose was to clarify those issues that need to be addressed in the guidebook, as well as to compile information that would identify items needing legislative or regulatory action and items that Caltrans will need to address through district directives or other internal measures. A literature scan was used to develop a bibliography for future reference. The MTI team also developed a draft Caltrans director’s policy document, which provides the basis for Caltrans’ actions. This ultimately developed to be a project within a project. MTI submitted a draft document to Caltrans as a final product from the Institute. Task team members and Caltrans staff and leadership provided extensive review of the draft Bus Rapid Transit: A Handbook for Partners. Caltrans adopted a new Director’s Policy and published the document, BRT Caltrans. The MTI “wraparound” report presented below discusses in more detail the process that was followed to produce the draft report. The process was in many ways as much a project as the report itself

Effects of Diet, Aerobic Exercise, or Both on Non-HDL-C in Adults: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Purpose. To use the meta-analytic approach to examine the effects of diet (D), aerobic exercise (E), or both (DE) on non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) in adults. Methods. Randomized controlled trials in adults ≥18 years of age were included. A mixed-effect model was used to combine effect size (ES) results within each subgroup and to compare subgroups (Qb). Heterogeneity was examined using the Q and I2 statistics, and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were also calculated. Statistical significance was set at P≤0.05, while a trend for statistical significance was set between P>0.05, and ≤0.10. Results. A statistically significant exercise minus control group decrease in non-HDL-C was found for DE (7 ESs, 389 participants, x¯=-11.1 mg/dL, 95%  CI=−21.7 to −0.6, P=0.04, Q=2.4, P=0.88, I2=0%), a trend for the D group (7 ESs, 402 participants, x¯=−8.5 mg/dL, 95%  CI=−18.6 to 1.6, P=0.10, Q=0.76, P=0.99, I2=0%), and no change for the E group (7 ESs, 387 participants, x¯=3.0 mg/dL, 95%   CI=−7.1 to 13.1, P=0.56, Q=0.78, P=0.99, I2=0%). Overall, no statistically significant between-group differences were found (Qb=4.1, P=0.12). Conclusions. Diet combined with aerobic exercise may reduce non-HDL-C among adults in some settings

Community-deliverable exercise and depression in adults with arthritis: Confirmatory evidence of a meta-analysis using the IVhet model

Objective—Using the traditional random-effects model, a recently reported standardized effect size (g) reduction of −0.42 (95% CI, −0.58 to −0.27) was observed as a result of communitydeliverable exercise in adults with arthritis and other rheumatic diseases (AORD). However, a recently proposed alternative model (IVhet) has been shown to have superior coverage probability to the random-effects model. The purpose of this brief report was to compare these previous random-effects results with the IVhet model. Methods—Based on a previous meta-analysis of 35 g’s representing 2,449 participants, results were pooled using the IVhet model. Influence analysis, number needed-to-treat (NNT), percentile improvement, and gross estimates of the number of inactive adults with arthritis who could benefit from exercise were also calculated. Results—The IVhet model yielded statistically significant reductions in depressive symptoms (g = −0.30, 95% CI, −0.49 to −0.11), a difference that was −0.12 (28.7%) smaller than the randomeffects model. With each study deleted from the model once, results remained statistically significant, ranging from −0.28 to −0.34. The percentile improvement, NNT, and estimated number of people with arthritis in the United States who could improve their depressive symptoms by participating in a regular exercise program was, respectively, 11.8% (95% CI, 4.5% to 18.8%), 8 (95% CI, 5 to 23) and 2.7 million (95% CI, 1.0 to 4.4 million). Conclusions—These findings provide more conservative and accurate evidence that community-deliverable exercise improves depressive symptoms in adults with AORD. Future meta-analyses may want to consider using the IVhet versus traditional random-effects model

Brief Report: Exercise and Blood Pressure in Older Adults—An Updated Look

Background/Objectives. Raised blood pressure is a major problem in older adults. Using a random-effects model, a recent meta- analysis reported statistically significant reductions in both resting systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) as a result of aerobic, resistance, and combined aerobic and resistance exercise in adults ≥65 years. To provide more objective information regarding this nonpharmacologic approach, this study applied more robust methods to this data. Design. Meta-analysis of 41 randomized controlled trials representing 96 groups (52 exercise; 44 control). Setting. Any location where a randomized controlled trial could be conducted. Participants. Adults ≥65 years. Intervention. Trials ≥2 weeks that included aerobic, resistance, and/or combined aerobic and resistance exercise as the intervention. Measurements. The recently developed inverse heterogeneity model (IVhet) was used to pool findings and the Doi plot was used to examine for small-study effects. Absolute and relative differences between the IVhet and random-effects model were also calculated. Data were reported using the mean difference (exercise minus control) with nonoverlapping 95% confidence intervals considered statistically significant. Results. Statistically significant reductions in resting blood pressure were found as a result of aerobic exercise (SBP, -4.7 mmHg, 95% CI, -7.7 to -1.8; DBP, -2.0 mmHg, 95% CI -3.13 to -0.9), SBP but not DBP for resistance training (SBP, -7.0 mmHg, 95% CI, -10.5 to -3.4; DBP, -1.2 mmHg, 95% CI -2.7 to 0.3), and both SBP and DBP for combined aerobic and resistance training (SBP, -5.5 mmHg, 95% CI, -8.3 to -2.7; DBP, -3.7 mmHg, 95% CI -4.8 to -2.7). Conclusions. Exclusive of changes in DBP congruent with resistance training, exercise (aerobic, resistance, and combined aerobic and resistance) reduces resting SBP and DBP in older adults. These findings have practical implications when considering exercise for the prevention and treatment of raised blood pressure in older adults

Evidential Value That Exercise Improves BMI -Score in Overweight and Obese Children and Adolescents

Background. Given the cardiovascular disease (CVD) related importance of understanding the true effects of exercise on adiposity in overweight and obese children and adolescents, this study examined whether there is evidential value to rule out excessive and inappropriate reporting of statistically significant results, a major problem in the published literature, with respect to exercise-induced improvements in BMI -score among overweight and obese children and adolescents. Methods. Using data from a previous meta-analysis of 10 published studies that included 835 overweight and obese children and adolescents, a novel, recently developed approach (-curve) was used to test for evidential value and rule out selective reporting of findings. Chi-squared tests () were used to test for statistical significance with alpha () values \u3c0.05 considered statistically significant. Results. Six of 10 findings (60%) were statistically significant. Statistically significant right-skew to rule out selective reporting was found ( = 38.8, = 0.0001). Conversely, studies neither lacked evidential value ( = 6.8, = 0.87) nor lacked evidential value and were intensely -hacked ( = 4.3, = 0.98). Conclusion. Evidential value results confirm that exercise reduces BMI -score in overweight and obese children and adolescents, an important therapeutic strategy for treating and preventing CVD

Alien Registration- George, Kelley J. (Waterville, Kennebec County)

https://digitalmaine.com/alien_docs/15641/thumbnail.jp

Alien Registration- Kelley, George H. (Limestone, Aroostook County)

https://digitalmaine.com/alien_docs/35100/thumbnail.jp

The economic value of viewing migratory shorebirds on the Delaware Bay: An application of the single site travel cost model using on-site data

We estimated a count data model of recreation demand using data from an on-site survey of recreational birders who had visited southern Delaware during the month–long annual horseshoe crab/shorebird spring migration in 2008. We analyzed daytrips only. Our estimates from the models ranged from $32 to$142/trip/household or about $131 to$582/season/household (2008$). The variation was due to differences in the value of time. The average household size was 1.66. We found that the valuation results were sensitive to the inclusion of covariates in the model. Our results are useful for damage assessments and benefit–cost analyses where birdwatching is affected.recreational birding, economic value, shorebird migration, onsite sampling, endogenous stratification

Measuring the Recreational Use Value of Migratory Shorebirds on the Delaware Bay

In this article we estimate the recreational use value of household trips to view shorebirds during the annual horseshoe crab/shorebird migration on the Delaware Bay. We use contingent valuation to estimate the value of day and overnight trips separately and use a discrete choice question followed by a payment-card question to generate our valuation data. Our best estimates for the value of a day trip are about $66–$90/household and for an overnight trip about $200–$425/household (2008$). Our data are from the 2008 season, and our average household size is 1.66. For some context, estimates from four other studies report values that vary from$63/trip/person to $442/trip/person. These studies vary in method and specific birding populations studied and mix day and overnight trips.Contingent valuation, discrete choice, bird watching, use value, Environmental Economics and Policy, Public Economics, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods, Q5,