Process for preparing polyimide adhesives

High bonding strengths are obtained for metals and fiber-reinforced organic resin composites with no significant loss in thermo-oxidative stability of the adhesive resin

Archeological and Historical Investigations for the Proposed 323.0-acre City of Pflugerville Community Park and Athletic Complex, Pflugerville, Travis County, Texas

Horizon Environmental Services, Inc. (Horizon) was selected by Schrickel, Rollins and Associates, Inc. (SRA) on behalf of the City of Pflugerville to conduct an intensive cultural resources inventory and assessment of an approximately 130.7-hectare (323.0-acre) tract in Pflugerville, Travis County, Texas. This tract represents the proposed location of the City of Pflugerville Community Park and Athletic Complex, and it is located off the northeast side of Cameron Road approximately 1.9 miles (3.1 kilometers) southeast of its intersection with State Highway (SH) 130. For purposes of the cultural resources investigations, the project area was considered to consist of the entire 130.7-hectare (323.0-acre) tract. The proposed undertaking is being sponsored by the City of Pflugerville, which represents a political subdivision of the state of Texas, on land owned by the City of Pflugerville; as such, the project falls under the jurisdiction of the Antiquities Code of Texas (Texas Natural Resources Code of 1977, Title 9, Chapter 191). No federal jurisdiction has been identified for the project at this time; however, the cultural resources investigations conducted within the project area would be suitable for review under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966 in the event that any federal jurisdiction is identified in the future. As the project represents a publicly sponsored undertaking with the potential to impact significant cultural resources, the City of Pflugerville was required to provide for a cultural resources inventory of the project area. From April 5 to 6, 2016, Horizon archeologists Russell K. Brownlow, Jeffrey D. Owens, and Briana N. Smith, under the overall direction of Jeffrey D. Owens, Principal Investigator, performed an intensive cultural resources survey of the southern 98.3 hectares (243.0 acres) of the project area, which represented the portion of the larger project area to which the City of Pflugerville was able to provide access at that time. From July 20 to 22, Horizon archeologists Briana N. Smith and Jared Wiersema conducted an intensive cultural resources survey of the northern 32.4 hectares (80.0 acres) of the project area, which became accessible subsequent to completion of the initial fieldwork in April 2016. Horizon’s archeologists traversed the project area in parallel, linear transects spaced no more than 30.5 meters (100.0 feet) apart and thoroughly inspected the modern ground surface for aboriginal and historic-age cultural resources. The majority of the project area consists of a mix of cattle pastures and active agricultural fields that had been plowed but not yet planted for the season. Moderately densely wooded areas are present along the banks and terraces of Wilbarger Creek and one of its tributaries, which meander through the northern portion of the project area. Visibility of the modern ground surface was excellent in the agricultural fields (100%), though ground surface visibility in pastures and forested areas was obscured by vegetation (\u3c30%). In addition to pedestrian walkover, the Texas State Minimum Archeological Survey Standards (TSMASS) require the excavation of one shovel test per three acres for project areas measuring more than 80.9 hectares (200.0 acres) in size; thus, a minimum of 108 shovel tests were required within the 130.7-hectare (323.0-acre) project area to meet the TSMASS. Horizon excavated a total of 202 shovel tests during the survey, thereby exceeding the TSMASS for a project area of this size. The cultural resources survey was conducted under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 7608. Five newly recorded archeological sites—41TV2518, 41TV2519, 41TV2520, 41TV2521, and 41TV2522—were documented within the project area during the survey, and one previously recorded archeological site—41TV2453—was reinvestigated and its boundaries were expanded. In addition, one cemetery—the Pfluger Cemetery (TV-C077)—was investigated during the survey. While prehistoric cultural components are present on two of the sites (41TV2453 and 41TV2520), the majority of the cultural resources documented during the survey are associated with mid-19th- to mid-20th-century farmsteads related to two of the founding German immigrant families of the area—the Pflugers and the Bohls. The City of Pflugerville intends not to disturb the Pfluger Cemetery during the proposed development and use of the property and to maintain a surrounding construction buffer of at least 7.6 meters (25.0 feet). Based on the results of the survey-level investigations documented in this report, no potentially significant cultural resources would be affected by the proposed undertaking. In accordance with 36 CFR 800.4, Horizon has made a reasonable and good-faith effort to identify historic properties within the project area. No cultural resources were identified within the project area that meet the criteria for designation as State Antiquities Landmarks (SAL) according to 13 TAC 26, and no further archeological work is recommended in connection with the proposed undertaking. However, human burials, both prehistoric and historic, are protected under the Texas Health and Safety Code. In the event that any human remains or burial objects are inadvertently discovered at any point during construction, use, or ongoing maintenance in the project area, even in previously surveyed areas, all work should cease immediately in the vicinity of the inadvertent discovery, and the Texas Historical Commission (THC) should be notified immediately. With further research to determine the integrity, the project area potentially could be considered part of a rural historic landscape. A rural historic landscape is defined by the National Park Service (NPS) as a geographical area that has historically been shaped or modified by human activity, occupancy, or intervention, and that possesses a significant concentration, linkage, or continuity of areas of land use, vegetation, buildings and structures, roads, waterways, and natural features. This level of evaluation would require a survey extending far beyond the physical boundaries of the current project area (and also including the project area), including intensive archival research to document the integrity of the landscape, historic and current land uses, topography, circulation patterns, vegetation, and archeology. The project area has historically functioned and currently functions as an agricultural property (though the dwellings on the property have been abandoned for decades), a gravel driveway and farm roads connect some of the recorded historic-age resources, the cemetery associated with the early settlers of the property is located within the project area, and neighboring parcels may have been part of the Pfluger family’s holdings at one time. For example, the farm complex located across Cameron Road from the project area was determined to be eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) based on a historical resources survey of northeastern Travis County prepared by Hicks & Company for the Travis County Historical Commission in 2010 entitled Historic Resource Survey of Northeast Travis County, Texas (Bound by SH 130, US 290 North, and East County Lines). The Hicks & Company report identified the Pfluger family farm within the current project area as a possible contributing element of a rural historic landscape requiring further research to document and assess its level of integrity. The project area therefore potentially could be considered part of a larger landscape that possesses historical significance. The Agricultural Theme Study for Central Texas, prepared by the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) Historical Studies Branch of the Environmental Affairs Division, along with the National Park Service’s Guidelines for Evaluating and Documenting Rural Historic Landscapes, Bulletin No. 30, would provide useful guidance on evaluating the property and surrounding parcels as a historic landscape. However, evaluating the eligibility of the project area as a component of a potential rural historic landscape is outside the scope of the current project, and this level of evaluation does not fall within the jurisdiction of the Antiquities Code of Texas. It should be noted that, while the standing National Folk house on site 41TV2453, designated as Resource 2, is herein recommended as ineligible for designation as an SAL and for inclusion in the NRHP, the City of Pflugerville has elected to proactively pursue a limited mitigative strategy regarding this structure. At the City of Pflugerville’s request, Horizon conducted a detailed documentation effort for this house. This process included collecting detailed measurements of the exterior and interior of the house that were used to produce measured drawings of exterior elevations and floor plans; taking numerous photographs of the building and keying the photographs to the measured drawings; and producing a detailed report noting the construction materials, architectural features, building description, and historical context. The architectural renderings and building documentation can be submitted to the THC as a courtesy under separate cover when the final draft of this report is submitted

Intensive Cultural Resources Survey of the 1,753.7-acre Waterstone Tract, San Marcos, Hays County, Texas

Horizon Environmental Services, Inc. (Horizon) was selected by Wolff Enterprises II, LLC (Wolff), on behalf of La Salle Municipal Utility District (MUD) Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, to conduct a cultural resources inventory survey and assessment of the 709.7-hectare (1,753.7-acre) Waterstone tract. The Waterstone tract consists of a series of undeveloped agricultural fields located roughly midway between Kyle and San Marcos in southeastern Hays County, Texas. The proposed undertaking would involve construction of mixed-use commercial and residential development on the tract. The tract is located a short distance east of Interstate Highway (IH) 35 and is bounded on the northeast by Farm-to-Market Road (FM) 158, on the southeast by State Highway (SH) 21 (a.k.a. Camino Road), and on the southwest by Yarrington Road. At the time the cultural resources survey was conducted, design plans were not yet available and the specific locations of utility easements that would be constructed, owned, and operated by La Salle MUD Nos. 1 to 5 were unknown. Consequently, for purposes of the cultural resources survey, the project area was considered to consist of the entire 709.7-hectare (1,753.7-acre) tract. The proposed project includes utility easements that would be constructed, owned, and operated by La Salle MUD Nos. 1 to 5, which represent public utilities within the state of Texas. Consequently, the proposed undertaking falls under the jurisdiction of the Antiquities Code of Texas (Natural Resources Code, Title 9, Chapter 191). At this time, no federal permits or agency involvement have been identified for the project. As the project includes a publicly sponsored undertaking with the potential to impact cultural resources, a cultural resources inventory and assessment of the project area was required. From March 20 to 30, 2017, Horizon Project Archeologist Briana Smith, with the assistance of archeological technicians Jacob Lyons and Ben Johnson and under the overall direction of Jeffrey D. Owens, Principal Investigator, performed an intensive survey of the project area to locate any cultural resources that may be impacted by the proposed undertaking. Kathryn St. Clair, architectural historian, assisted with architectural evaluations and historical research on sites containing standing architecture or remnants of standing structures. Horizon’s archeologists traversed the project area on foot and thoroughly inspected the modern ground surface for aboriginal and historic-age cultural resources. The vast majority of the project area is characterized by active agricultural fields that had recently been planted for the season. Small copses of hackberry and cedar trees are scattered throughout the project area; these are typically associated with historic-age standing structures on archeological sites. The Clear Fork of Plum Creek and two of its tributaries flow eastward through the northern portion of the project area, and unnamed tributaries of Hemphill Creek drain the southern portion of the project area to the south. Typically, the channels associated with these drainages were dry at the time of the survey, though one poorly drained segment of the Clear Fork of Plum Creek retained water. Standing water was also present in scattered, poorly drained areas in the northern portion of the project area, though the agricultural fields that characterize the vast majority of the project area were typically dry. Two large stock ponds or small, artificial lakes are present in the north-central portion of the project area north of the only currently operating farm within the project area (recorded as site 41HY539). Two main roads traverse the project area—FM 158 crosses the project area from southwest to northeast, and a private gravel road crosses the project area between SH 21 on the southeast and FM 158 on the northwest—and a number of ephemeral field roads skirt the edges of the active fields. Visibility of the modern ground surface was characteristically excellent in the agricultural fields (100%), though ground surface visibility in the small forested patches was typically obscured by grasses and shrubs (\u3c30%). In addition to pedestrian walkover, the Texas State Minimum Archeological Survey Standards (TSMASS) require a minimum of 1 shovel test per 1.2 hectares (3.0 acres) within project areas measuring more than 40.5 hectares (100.0 acres) in size. As such, 585 shovel tests would be required within the 709.7-hectare (1,753.7-acre) project area. Horizon excavated a total of 223 shovel tests during the survey. While the shovel testing density did not meet the TSMASS requirements, the shovel testing regimen is considered to be more than adequate to assess the subsurface cultural resources potential of the project area. The vast majority of the project area consists of recently plowed fields, and visibility of the modern ground surface was excellent across most of the project area, with the exception of a few isolated stands of vegetation. As such, shovel testing was employed judgmentally to determine whether or not the potential existed for intact archeological deposits to occur below the active plowzone, which averaged approximately 30.0 to 35.0 centimeters (11.8 to 13.8 inches) in depth within the project area. The majority of the cultural materials observed during the survey were constrained to the modern ground surface, and all of the subsurface cultural materials observed were found within the plowzone. As such, the shovel testing confirmed that all cultural materials within the project area are confined to disturbed contexts on the modern ground surface and within the active plowzone. Eleven newly recorded archeological sites were documented during the survey— 41HY536 to 41HY546. Nine of the 11 sites (41HY436 to 41HY543 and 41HY546) consist of the remnants of early to mid-20th-century farmsteads and/or scatters of historic-age domestic debris. Two of the 11 sites (41HY544 and 41HY545) consist exclusively of aboriginal artifact scatters dated to unspecified prehistoric timeframes, and secondary cultural components composed of sparse scatters of aboriginal artifacts were also observed on three of the nine historic-age sites (41HY537, 41HY540, and 41HY543). All 11 sites are recommended as ineligible for designation as State Antiquities Landmarks (SAL) and for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) based on the poor condition of the sites and their low potential to contribute meaningfully to an understanding of the historic and/or prehistoric past No further investigations are warranted on these sites in connection with the proposed undertaking. In addition, the mapped location of one previously recorded site located within the project area, 41HY426, was revisited in an attempt to re-locate and re-investigate the site. When it was originally recorded in 2006, this site consisted only of an ephemeral field scatter of early 20thcentury domestic debris, including two glass shards. Horizon inspected the modern ground surface at the mapped site location and excavated several shovel tests in the surrounding area. No cultural resources were observed at the mapped location of site 41HY426. The two isolated artifacts that composed the site in 2006 have probably been reincorporated into the plowzone. Site 41HY426 was previously determined to be ineligible for inclusion in the NRHP, and no further archeological investigations are warranted on this site. Based on the results of the survey-level investigations documented in this report, no potentially significant cultural resources would be affected by the proposed undertaking. In accordance with 36 CFR 800.4, Horizon has made a reasonable and good-faith effort to identify historic properties within the project area. No cultural resources were identified that meet the criteria for designation as SALs according to 13 TAC 26 or for inclusion in the NRHP according to 36 CFR 60.4. Horizon recommends a finding of “no historic properties affected,” and no further archeological work is recommended in connection with the proposed undertaking. However, human burials, both prehistoric and historic, are protected under the Texas Health and Safety Code. In the event that any human remains or burial objects are inadvertently discovered at any point during construction, use, or ongoing maintenance in the project area, even in previously surveyed areas, all work should cease immediately in the vicinity of the inadvertent discovery, and the Texas Historical Commission (THC) should be notified immediately

Chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometer for the in situ measurement of methyl hydrogen peroxide

A new approach for measuring gas-phase methyl hydrogen peroxide [(MHP) CH_3OOH] utilizing chemical ionization mass spectrometry is presented. Tandem mass spectrometry is used to avoid mass interferences that hindered previous attempts to measure atmospheric CH_3OOH with CF_3O− clustering chemistry. CH_3OOH has been successfully measured in situ using this technique during both airborne and ground-based campaigns. The accuracy and precision for the MHP measurement are a function of water vapor mixing ratio. Typical precision at 500 pptv MHP and 100 ppmv H_2O is ±80 pptv (2 sigma) for a 1 s integration period. The accuracy at 100 ppmv H_2O is estimated to be better than ±40%. Chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry shows considerable promise for the determination of in situ atmospheric trace gas mixing ratios where isobaric compounds or mass interferences impede accurate measurements

Ears in motion: designing a toolkit for the sounds of sport

Athletes hear many different sounds while playing sport: the sounds of teammates, crowds, equipment, their own body, and their mind at work. Some hear nothing at all - a complete sonic blackout. This PhD outlines the design of a new “toolkit” for describing, recording, and representing this richly varied terrain. This toolkit has two components. The first is a notation system for describing the auditory experiences of athletes. The second is a wearable microphone system for capturing these sounds in new ways. The toolkit been used by the author and other athletes to create new works of sound design that represent the body in motion. In the design of this toolkit, I draw on a variety of disciplines that each touch on a particular aspect of sound in sport, including psychoacoustics, sports studies, anthropology, and media studies. While the auditory experience of athletes exists at the margins these disciplines, this PhD is an effort to draw these disparate fields together for a more comprehensive approach. The notation system, the first element in the toolkit, draws on these varied disciplines and defines new ways to identify specific sounds and their relationship to athletic performance. The majority of the design work in this PhD is devoted to creating new microphone systems for capturing the sounds of sport. While existing technologies tend to capture these sounds from the side-lines, these new microphones are worn on the athlete’s body or mounted to the athlete’s equipment. To enable recordings from the athlete’s body itself, these new microphones have been designed from the “ground up” – from circuit design to PCB fabrication to software to industrial design to 3D fabrication. These microphones isolate specific sounds in the athlete’s environment to be re-assembled in the recording studio. This synthetic process of isolating and re-assembling sound allows listeners to examine these individual sounds in new levels of detail. For the sound designer, this presents new creative possibilities. For the athlete, this process can teach them to hear their sport in new ways. The toolkit is both diagnostic and creative. The research findings sit across three closely integrated advances: the toolkit comprising new notation and microphone design, insights into the auditory experience of athletes, and a framework for a transdisciplinary field in sport, media, and sound studies

Paraoxonase gene polymorphisms and haplotype analysis in a stroke population

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Algorithms to automatically quantify the geometric similarity of anatomical surfaces

We describe new approaches for distances between pairs of 2-dimensional surfaces (embedded in 3-dimensional space) that use local structures and global information contained in inter-structure geometric relationships. We present algorithms to automatically determine these distances as well as geometric correspondences. This is motivated by the aspiration of students of natural science to understand the continuity of form that unites the diversity of life. At present, scientists using physical traits to study evolutionary relationships among living and extinct animals analyze data extracted from carefully defined anatomical correspondence points (landmarks). Identifying and recording these landmarks is time consuming and can be done accurately only by trained morphologists. This renders these studies inaccessible to non-morphologists, and causes phenomics to lag behind genomics in elucidating evolutionary patterns. Unlike other algorithms presented for morphological correspondences our approach does not require any preliminary marking of special features or landmarks by the user. It also differs from other seminal work in computational geometry in that our algorithms are polynomial in nature and thus faster, making pairwise comparisons feasible for significantly larger numbers of digitized surfaces. We illustrate our approach using three datasets representing teeth and different bones of primates and humans, and show that it leads to highly accurate results.Comment: Changes with respect to v1, v2: an Erratum was added, correcting the references for one of the three datasets. Note that the datasets and code for this paper can be obtained from the Data Conservancy (see Download column on v1, v2

Facilitation Differentially Affects Competitive Responses of Aspen and Subalpine Fir Through Stages of Stand Development

Spatial interactions between trees influence forest community succession. The objective of this study was to investigate how shifts in forest composition and proximity between tree species affect stand development over time in mixed forest systems. At six locations across the Fishlake National Forest, Utah, USA, in stands where facilitation has been documented previously, tree-ring samples were collected from aspen and subalpine fir trees. Basal area increment was calculated to characterize the effects of the proximity of overstory trees on multidecadal growth responses of aspen and subalpine fir in aspen-dominant and mixed aspen–conifer stands. Subalpine fir seedlings were established next to aspen (within 10 cm) when aspen was between 15 and 120 years old with a mean age of 60 years. Aspen and subalpine fir growth rates were reduced with increasing conifer abundance. Aspen trees growing next to a proximate subalpine fir tree had slower growth rates over time than aspen trees growing independently. Growth rates of subalpine fir in aspen-dominated stands were similar when growing independently or near aspen trees. However, subalpine fir in conifer-dominated stands maintained higher growth rates when growing next to an aspen tree than when growing independently. The data suggest that as stand competition increases with conifer abundance, the proximity of overstory trees increases competitive exclusion of aspen while having a beneficial growth effect on subalpine fir. These results underscore the importance of maintaining natural fire regimes in forest systems that keep competitive interactions in balance