Symmetry Breaking in Jetting

In the bubble-jet printing process, it has been observed that the drop that ultimately pinches off from the ink jet sometimes moves sideways rather than straight relative to the symmetry axis of the liquid jet. We examined various mechanisms that might lead to the deflection of the ink drop. In particular, we focused on whether the liquid filament that connects the lead drop to the nozzle is capable of supporting lateral waves which might propagate from the nozzle toward the lead drop and break the symmetry at pinch-off

Using Connected Vehicle Data to Reassess Dilemma Zone Performance of Heavy Vehicles

The rate of fatalities at signalized intersections involving heavy vehicles is nearly five times higher than for passenger vehicles in the US. Previous studies in the US have found that heavy vehicles are twice as likely to violate a red light compared with passenger vehicles. Current technologies leverage setback detection to extend green time for a particular phase and are based upon typical deceleration rates for passenger cars. Furthermore, dilemma zone detectors are not effective when the max out time expires and forces the onset of yellow. This study proposes the use of connected vehicle (CV) technology to trigger force gap out (FGO) before a vehicle is expected to arrive within the dilemma zone limit at max out time. The method leverages position data from basic safety messages (BSMs) to map-match virtual waypoints located up to 1,050 ft in advance of the stop bar. For a 55 mph approach, field tests determined that using a 6 ft waypoint radius at 50 ft spacings would be sufficient to match 95% of BSM data within a 5% lag threshold of 0.59 s. The study estimates that FGOs reduce dilemma zone incursions by 34% for one approach and had no impact for the other. For both approaches, the total dilemma zone incursions decreased from 310 to 225. Although virtual waypoints were used for evaluating FGO, the study concludes by recommending that trajectory-based processing logic be incorporated into controllers for more robust support of dilemma zone and other emerging CV applications

Next Generation Traffic Signal Performance Measures: Leveraging Connected Vehicle Data

High-resolution connected vehicle (CV) trajectory and event data has recently become commercially available. With over 500 billion vehicle position records generated each month in the United States, these data sets provide unique opportunities to build on and expand previous advances on traffic signal performance measures and safety evaluation. This report is a synthesis of research focused on the development of CV-based performance measures. A discussion is provided on data requirements, such as acquisition, storage, and access. Subsequently, techniques to reference vehicle trajectories to relevant roadways and movements are presented. This allows for performance analyses that can range from the movement- to the system-level. A comprehensive suite of methodologies to evaluate signal performance using vehicle trajectories is then provided. Finally, uses of CV hard-braking and hard-acceleration event data to assess safety and driver behavior are discussed. To evaluate scalability and test the proposed techniques, performance measures for over 4,700 traffic signals were estimated using more than 910 million vehicle trajectories and 14 billion GPS points in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. The contents of this report will help the industry transition towards a hybrid blend of detector- and CV-based signal performance measures with rigorously defined performance measures that have been peer-reviewed by both academics and industry leaders

Weichselzeitliche Kryocalcite als Hinweise für Eisseen in der Hüttenbläserschachthöhle (Iserlohn/NRW)

C/O-stable isotope composition (VPDB) of speleothems from the Makkaronihalle of the Hüttenbläserschacht Cave in Iserlohn shows a clear separation between glacial and interglacial calcites. In contrast to normal speleothems (stalagmites, excentriques, crystals in cave ponds, draperies; δ18O: –4.0 to –6.1 ‰, δ13C: –4.9 to –10.9 ‰), rhombohedral crystal sinter and spherulitic speleoparticles are characterised by lower δ18O (–8.9 to –17.9 ‰) and higher δ13C values (+0.7 to –6.1 ‰). This suggests that these speleogenetic particles were formed in slowly freezing waterpools on ice during the transition from a stadial to an interstadial phase. Precise 230Th/U-dating shows younger Weichselian ages of 28.6 to 33.0 ka for these speleogenetic particles from north-west Germany. These formation periods indicate freezing conditions overlain by 34 m of hostrock and provide the minimum depth of permafrost penetration for the younger Weichselian in the area of the northern Sauerland (north-west Germany).researc

Recovering piecewise smooth functions from nonuniform Fourier measurements

In this paper, we consider the problem of reconstructing piecewise smooth functions to high accuracy from nonuniform samples of their Fourier transform. We use the framework of nonuniform generalized sampling (NUGS) to do this, and to ensure high accuracy we employ reconstruction spaces consisting of splines or (piecewise) polynomials. We analyze the relation between the dimension of the reconstruction space and the bandwidth of the nonuniform samples, and show that it is linear for splines and piecewise polynomials of fixed degree, and quadratic for piecewise polynomials of varying degree

Suggestion for linkage of chromosome 1p35.2 and 3q28 to plasma adiponectin concentrations in the GOLDN Study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Adiponectin is inversely associated with obesity, insulin resistance, and atherosclerosis, but little is known about the genetic pathways that regulate the plasma level of this protein. To find novel genes that influence circulating levels of adiponectin, a genome-wide linkage scan was performed on plasma adiponectin concentrations before and after 3 weeks of treatment with fenofibrate (160 mg daily) in the Genetics of Lipid Lowering Drugs and Diet Network (GOLDN) Study. We studied Caucasian individuals (n = 1121) from 190 families in Utah and Minnesota. Of these, 859 individuals from 175 families had both baseline and post-fenofibrate treatment measurements for adiponectin. Plasma adiponectin concentrations were measured with an ELISA assay. All participants were typed for microsatellite markers included in the Marshfield Mammalian Genotyping Service marker set 12, which includes 407 markers spaced at approximately 10 cM regions across the genome. Variance components analysis was used to estimate heritability and to perform genome-wide scans. Adiponectin was adjusted for age, sex, and field center. Additional models also included BMI adjustment.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Baseline and post-fenofibrate adiponectin measurements were highly correlated (r = 0.95). Suggestive (LOD > 2) peaks were found on chromosomes 1p35.2 and 3q28 (near the location of the adiponectin gene).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Two candidate genes, <it>IL22RA1 </it>and <it>IL28RA</it>, lie under the chromosome 1 peak; further analyses are needed to identify the specific genetic variants in this region that influence circulating adiponectin concentrations.</p

Mechanical environment alters tissue formation patterns during fracture repair

Fracture repair has previously been shown to be sensitive to mechanical environment, yet the specific relationship between strain character, magnitude and frequency, as well as other mechanical parameters, and tissue formation is not well understood. This study aimed to correlate strain distribution within the healing fracture gap with patterns of tissue formation using a rat model of a healing osteotomy subject to mechanical stimulation in bending. Finite element models based on realistic tissue distributions were used to estimate both the magnitude and spatial distribution of strains within the fracture gap. The spatial distribution of regenerating tissue was determined by microcomputed tomography and histology, and was confirmed using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results suggest that tensile strains suppress chondrogenesis during the mechanical stimulation period. After stimulation ends, however, tensile strains increased chondrogenesis followed by rapid bone formation. In contrast, in compressive environments, bone is formed primarily via intramembranous ossification. Taken together, these results suggest that intermittent tensile strains during fracture repair stimulate endochondral ossification and promote eventual bone healing compared to intermittent compressive strains and unstimulated fractures. Further understanding of these relationships may allow proposal of optimal therapeutic strategies for improvement of the fracture repair process. © 2004 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published y Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/34921/1/1100220523_ftp.pd

Suppression of the Nrf2-Dependent Antioxidant Response by Glucocorticoids and 11β-HSD1-Mediated Glucocorticoid Activation in Hepatic Cells

Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) is a key transcription factor regulating a plethora of detoxifying enzymes and antioxidant genes involved in drug metabolism and defence against oxidative stress. The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is a ligand-induced transcription factor involved in the regulation of energy supply for metabolic needs to cope with various stressors. GR activity is controlled by glucocorticoids, which are synthesized in the adrenal glands and regenerated mainly in the liver from inactive cortisone by 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-1 (11β-HSD1).; Using transfected HEK-293 cells and hepatic H4IIE cells we show that glucocorticoids, activated by 11β-HSD1 and acting through GR, suppress the Nrf2-dependent antioxidant response. The expression of the marker genes NQO1, HMOX1 and GST2A was suppressed upon treatment of 11β-HSD1 expressing cells with cortisone, an effect that was reversed by 11β-HSD1 inhibitors. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that elevated glucocorticoids lowered the ability of cells to detoxify H(2)O(2). Moreover, a comparison of gene expression in male and female rats revealed an opposite sexual dimorphism with an inverse relationship between 11β-HSD1 and Nrf2 target gene expression.; The results demonstrate a suppression of the cellular antioxidant defence capacity by glucocorticoids and suggest that elevated 11β-HSD1 activity may lead to impaired Nrf2-dependent antioxidant response. The gender-specific differences in hepatic expression levels of 11β-HSD1 and Nrf2 target genes and the impact of pharmacological inhibition of 11β-HSD1 on improving cellular capacity to cope with oxidative stress warrants further studies in vivo