Comparison of Anticipatory Glancing and Risk Mitigation of Novice Drivers and Exemplary Drivers when Approaching Curves

Novice drivers are overrepresented in run-off-the-road crashes. Indeed, the previous literature demonstrates that novice drivers are less likely to anticipate hazards or maintain attention to the forward roadway and as a result fail to mitigate hazards by slowing. This research was an effort to compare the linked hazard anticipation and hazard mitigation behaviors of novice drivers with exemplary experienced drivers at curves, locations that are known to have a greater crash risk. Each driver navigated three drives in a driving simulator, one of which included a moderate curve left and one of which included a tightening curve right. Experienced drivers made more anticipatory glances and began slowing significantly earlier in the curves than did novice drivers. However, novice drivers who anticipated hazards were much more likely to also mitigate the hazard. The use of these results in a PC-based driver hazard mitigation training program will be discussed

Lessons from a Marine Spatial Planning data management process for Ireland

Peer-reviewedThis paper presents a framework containing ten components to deliver a data management process for the storage and management of data used for Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) in Ireland. The work includes a data process flow and a recommended solution architecture. The architecture includes a central data catalogue and a spatial storage system. The components of the process are presented to maximise the reuse potential of any dataset within an MSP context. The terms ‘Suitability’ and ‘Readiness’ in the MSP context are offered as both formal and considered assessments of data, as is the applicability of a data stewardship maturity matrix. How data contained in such a storage system can be published externally to potential consumers of these data is also explored. The process presents a means of managing data and metadata to ensure data lineage is optimised by carrying information about the origin of and the processing applied to the data; to evaluate the quality and relevance of geospatial datasets for use in MSP decisions in Ireland. The process was piloted in the National Marine Planning Framework for Ireland in the development of draft map products; feedback from the public consultation is ongoing and not presented

Using the Framingham Risk Score to Evaluate Immigrant Effect on Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Mexican Americans

Background—This study uses the Framingham Risk Score (FRS) for 10-year cardiovascular disease (CVD) to evaluate differences between Mexican American immigrants and the U.S.-born population. Methods and Results—Data from the Cameron County Hispanic Cohort (N=1,559). Average total risk scores were generated by age group for each gender. Regression analysis was conducted adjusting for covariates and interaction effects. Both women and men in the CCHC sample who were long-term immigrant residents (mean FRS scores women 4.2 with p\u3c.001 vs. men 4.0 with p\u3c.001) or born in the U.S. (mean FRS scores women 4.6 with p\u3c.001 vs. men 3.3 with p\u3c.001) had significantly higher risk scores than immigrants who had only been in this country for less than 10 years. The interaction model indicates that differences between immigrant and native-born Mexican Americans are most greatly felt at lowest levels of socioeconomic status for men in the CCHC. Conclusions—This study suggests that in terms of immigrant advantage in CVD risk, on whom, where, and how the comparisons are being made have important implications for the degree of difference observed

Results of the 2016 Indianapolis Biodiversity Survey, Marion County, Indiana

Surprising biodiversity can be found in cities, but urban habitats are understudied. We report on a bioblitz conducted primarily within a 24-hr period on September 16 and 17, 2016 in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. The event focused on stretches of three waterways and their associated riparian habitat: Fall Creek (20.6 ha; 51 acres), Pleasant Run (23.5 ha; 58 acres), and Pogue’s Run (27.1 ha; 67 acres). Over 75 scientists, naturalists, students, and citizen volunteers comprised 14 different taxonomic teams. Five hundred ninety taxa were documented despite the rainy conditions. A brief summary of the methods and findings are presented here. Detailed maps of survey locations and inventory results are available on the Indiana Academy of Science website (https://www.indianaacademyofscience.org/)

Altered motor, anxiety-related and attentional task performance at baseline associate with multiple gene copies of the vesicular acetylcholine transporter and related protein overexpression in ChAT::Cre+ rats

Abstract: Transgenic rodents expressing Cre recombinase cell specifically are used for exploring mechanisms regulating behavior, including those mediated by cholinergic signaling. However, it was recently reported that transgenic mice overexpressing a bacterial artificial chromosome containing choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) gene, for synthesizing the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, present with multiple vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) gene copies, resulting in altered cholinergic tone and accompanying behavioral abnormalities. Since ChAT::Cre+ rats, used increasingly for understanding the biological basis of CNS disorders, utilize the mouse ChAT promotor to control Cre recombinase expression, we assessed for similar genotypical and phenotypical differences in such rats compared to wild-type siblings. The rats were assessed for mouse VAChT copy number, VAChT protein expression levels and for sustained attention, response control and anxiety. Rats were also subjected to a contextual fear conditioning paradigm using an unconditional fear-inducing stimulus (electrical foot shocks), with blood samples taken at baseline, the fear acquisition phase and retention testing, for measuring blood plasma markers of hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal gland (HPA)-axis activity. ChAT::Cre+ rats expressed multiple mouse VAChT gene copies, resulting in significantly higher VAChT protein expression, revealed anxiolytic behavior, hyperlocomotion and deficits in tasks requiring sustained attention. The HPA-axis was intact, with unaltered circulatory levels of acute stress-induced corticosterone, leptin and glucose. Our findings, therefore, reveal that in ChAT::Cre+ rats, VAChT overexpression associates with significant alterations of certain cognitive, motor and affective functions. Although highly useful as an experimental tool, it is essential to consider the potential effects of altered cholinergic transmission on baseline behavior in ChAT::Cre rats

The DEEP2 Galaxy Redshift Survey: Clustering of Groups and Group Galaxies at z~1

We study the clustering properties of groups and of galaxies in groups in the DEEP2 Galaxy Redshift Survey dataset at z~1. Four clustering measures are presented: 1) the group correlation function for 460 groups with estimated velocity dispersions of sigma>200 km/s, 2) the galaxy correlation for the full galaxy sample, using a flux-limited sample of 9800 objects between 0.7<z<1.0, 3) the galaxy correlation for galaxies in groups, and 4) the group-galaxy cross-correlation function. Using the observed number density and clustering amplitude of the groups, the estimated minimum group dark matter halo mass is M_min~6 10^12 h^-1 M_Sun for a flat LCDM cosmology. Groups are more clustered than galaxies, with a relative bias of b=1.7 +/-0.04 on scales r_p=0.5-15 Mpc/h. Galaxies in groups are also more clustered than the full galaxy sample, with a scale-dependent relative bias which falls from b~2.5 +/-0.3 at r_p=0.1 Mpc/h to b~1 +/-0.5 at r_p=10 Mpc/h. The correlation functions for all galaxies and galaxies in groups can be fit by a power-law on scales r_p=0.05-20 Mpc/h. We empirically measure the contribution to the projected correlation function for galaxies in groups from a `one-halo' term and a `two-halo' term by counting pairs of galaxies in the same or in different groups. The projected cross-correlation between shows that red galaxies are more centrally concentrated in groups than blue galaxies at z~1. DEEP2 galaxies in groups appear to have a shallower radial distribution than that of mock galaxy catalogs made from N-body simulations, which assume a central galaxy surrounded by satellite galaxies with an NFW profile. We show that the clustering of galaxies in groups can be used to place tighter constraints on the halo model than can be gained from using the usual galaxy correlation function alone.Comment: 22 pages, 12 figures, in emulateapj format, accepted to ApJ, minor changes made to match published versio

Studies of juvenile salmonids off the Oregon and Washington coast, 1983

The School of Oceanography, Oregon State University, conducted three cruises (May 19-June 2, June 7-22, and September 4-14) in 1982 to study the distribution, abundance, migration, growth and feeding habits of juvenile sal­monids during their first summer in the ocean. This is the second year we have had a series of cruises during the summer months and the fourth year that we have sampled the Oregon and Washington coasts during June. The purpose of this report is to describe the sampling area and methods used for the 1982 cruises and to present some preliminary results

Studies of juvenile salmonids off the Oregon and Washington coast, 1982

The School of Oceanography, Oregon State University, conducted three cruises (May 19-June 2, June 7-22, and September 4-14) in 1982 to study the distribution, abundance, migration, growth and feeding habits of juvenile sal­monids during their first summer in the ocean. This is the second year we have had a series of cruises during the summer months and the fourth year that we have sampled the Oregon and Washington coasts during June. The purpose of this report is to describe the sampling area and methods used for the 1982 cruises and to present some preliminary results

Heat Melt Compaction as an Effective Treatment for Eliminating Microorganisms from Solid Waste

One of the technologies being tested at Ames Research Center as part of the logistics and repurposing project is heat melt compaction (HMC) of solid waste to reduce volume, remove water and render a biologically stable and safe product. Studies at Kennedy Space Center have focused on the efficacy of the heat melt compaction process for killing microorganisms in waste and specific compacter operation protocols, i.e., time and temperature required to achieve a sterile, stable product. The work. reported here includes a controlled study to examine the survival and potential re-growth of specific microorganisms over a 6-month period of storage after heating and compaction. Before heating and compaction, ersatz solid wastes were inoculated with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, previously isolated from recovered space shuttle mission food and packaging waste. Compacted HMC tiles were sampled for microbiological analysis at time points between 0 and 180 days of storage in a controlled environment chamber. In addition, biological indicator strips containing spores of Bacillus atrophaeus and Geobacillus stearothermophilus were imbedded in trash to assess the efficacy of the HMC process to achieve sterilization. Analysis of several tiles compacted at 180deg C for times of 40 minutes to over 2 hours detected organisms in all tile samples with the exception of one exposed to 180deg C for approximately 2 hours. Neither of the inoculated organisms was recovered, and the biological indicator strips were negative for growth in all tiles indicating at least local sterilization of tile areas. The findings suggest that minimum time/temperature combination is required for complete sterilization. Microbial analysis of tiles processed at lower temperatures from 130deg C-150deg C at varying times will be discussed, as well as analysis of the bacteria and fungi present on the compactor hardware as a result of exposure to the waste and the surrounding environment. The two organisms inoculated into the waste were among those isolated and identified from the HMC surfaces indicating the possibility of cross contamination

Atomic-Scale Investigation of Graphene Grown on Cu Foil and the Effects of Thermal Annealing

We have investigated the effects of thermal annealing on ex-situ chemically vapor deposited submonolayer graphene islands on polycrystalline Cu foil at the atomic-scale using ultrahigh vacuum scanning tunneling microscopy. Low-temperature annealed graphene islands on Cu foil (at similar to 430 degrees C) exhibit predominantly striped Moire patterns, indicating a relatively weak interaction between graphene and the underlying polycrystalline Cu foil. Rapid high-temperature annealing of the simple (at 700-800 degrees C) gives rise to the removal of Cu oxide and the recovery of crystallographic features of the copper that surrounds the intact graphene. These experimental observations of continuous crystalline features between the underlying copper (beneath the graphene islands). and the surrounding exposed copper areas revealed by high-temperature annealing demonstrates the impenetrable nature of graphene and its potential application as a protective layer against corrosion