DEFROSTING AMERICA : ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY FOR ANTI-ICING IN THE USA

This article looks at anti-icing technologies and how they have replaced de-icing technologies during the past five years. It describes passive and active pavement sensors and thermal mapping, and discusses how reliable measurements and predictions of road icing are critical to effective anti-icing practices.

Ozone transport in the mid-latitudes of South America in ozone hole conditions

In 1993 a network of differential optical absorption instruments was deployed in Argentina and Chile to study the evolution of the ozone layer in the mid latitudes of South America. The data obtained by this network were compared with the data provided by TOMS (NASA) and TOVS (NOAA) satellite instruments and a good correlation was found. NCAR meteorological data were also used to study in detail the ozone transport in the stratosphere under ozone hole conditions. The data provided by both, the ground based and the spaceborne instruments, revealed that sudden and transient decreases of total ozone column values took place in the mid-latitudes of South America each spring in the period 1993 - 1998. These low ozone events occurred quasi- simultaneously at quite different latitudes. The analysis of potential vorticity maps showed that the lower stratosphere polar vortex penetrated up to approximately latitude 50S in South America every spring since 1993. In addition it was found that the low ozone events were accompanied by sudden air temperature decreases in the lower stratosphere. The computation of the 3D back-trajectories of air parcels showed that air from the surroundings of the ozone hole were transported to the mid latitudes regions. An anti- correlation between air parcels height and total ozone along the trajectory was found suggesting that vertical displacement of air also contributed to the observed ozone and temperature decreases.

JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS RESEARCH SOCIETY OF AMERICA VOLUME 2 May , 1954 NUMBER 2 TRAFFIC DELAYS AT TOLL BOOTHS

The collection of vehicular tolls at Port Authority tunnels and bridges is one of the most important operations conducted by the police personnel. More than 250 traffic officers are utilized, and the payroll costs exceed a million dollars annually. In staffing its toll plazas the Port Authority attempts to handle traffic with a minimum number of toll collectors consistent with uniformly good service to the public and properly spaced relief periods for the toll collectors. This requires finding the level of traffic delays that gives the best compromise between the conflicting objectives of economy and service. In the past the number of toll collectors provided for operating a toll plaza was determined by judgment based on experience and a rule-of-thumb work standard which had not been related to service. Judgment was likewise used to allocate manpower and control the number of toll booths opened at any time. This method resulted in patron delays observed to vary from 2 to 50 sec. The tools of probability theory provide methods for dealing with the problem in quantitative terms. They enable determination of the relations between traffic volumes, number of toll booths, and grade of service. With this knowledge the optimum grade of service can be established in a logical manner and the number of toll booths required at any time of day can be specified in advance. Use of this method permitted savings in toll collection expenses and better service.

Population Genetic Consequences of the Allee Effect and the Role of Offspring-Number Variation

A strong demographic Allee effect in which the expected population growth rate is negative below a certain critical population size can cause high extinction probabilities in small introduced populations. But many species are repeatedly introduced to the same location and eventually one population may overcome the Allee effect by chance. With the help of stochastic models, we investigate how much genetic diversity such successful populations harbor on average and how this depends on offspring-number variation, an important source of stochastic variability in population size. We find that with increasing variability, the Allee effect increasingly promotes genetic diversity in successful populations. Successful Allee-effect populations with highly variable population dynamics escape rapidly from the region of small population sizes and do not linger around the critical population size. Therefore, they are exposed to relatively little genetic drift. It is also conceivable, however, that an Allee effect itself leads to an increase in offspring-number variation. In this case, successful populations with an Allee effect can exhibit less genetic diversity despite growing faster at small population sizes. Unlike in many classical population genetics models, the role of offspring-number variation for the population genetic consequences of the Allee effect cannot be accounted for by an effective-population-size correction. Thus, our results highlight the importance of detailed biological knowledge, in this case on the probability distribution of family sizes, when predicting the evolutionary potential of newly founded populations or when using genetic data to reconstruct their demographic history.

Empirical Models of Herding Behaviour for Asian Countries with Confucian Culture

The purpose of this study is to investigate the insights of herding behavior in the Confucian markets by conducting a set of empirical tests. More specifically this study investigates a sample of 7 countries and 13 markets to gain a deeper understanding of the causes of herding behavior and the potential factors that cause investors to behave in a group manner. Following a comprehensive review of the existing methodologies on herding behavior this study employs return dispersion approaches and herding tests developed by Chang et al. (2000) and Tan et al. (2008). This study investigates a sample of 13 stock markets of seven Asian economies with three different hypotheses. Those economies, which are considered to have Confucian culture, are mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, and Vietnam. The hypotheses of this study aim to investigate formation of herding behavior in different market and economic circumstances. In testing the empirical models, this study uses OLS regression for the main test as well as regression with Newey and West (1987) for the robustness test of each result from OLS regression analysis. Data of this study consists of 13 index returns (Shanghai A and B share, Shenzhen A and B share, Hang Seng index, NIKKEI225, TOPIX, KOSDAQ, KOSPI, Straits Times Index, TAIEX, and indices of Hanoi and Hochiminh city Stock Exchanges) and returns of their constituent stocks. The time period of the sample data is from January 01, 1999 to December 31, 2014. All data were collected from the Thomson Reuters Datastream database. According to the empirical findings, all hypotheses are accepted. The sample markets demonstrate significant herding behavior in general and significant herding behavior in different markets conditions, such as in rising-falling markets and high-low market volatility states. This study has some major contributions to the literature of herding behavior and the link between herding behavior and cultural aspects. First, this study uses dataset of 13 Confucian stock markets of seven Asian economies, with time range from 1999 to 2014. Second, this research developed and tested three different hypotheses, and all of them are accepted. Third, this study adds the new dimension of the cultural aspects in order try to explain the root causes to herding behavior among investors in the equity markets. Recognizing that the Confucian culture appears to be one of the most influential cultural aspects in management, this study examines herding behavior of Confucian culture in stock markets under the umbrella of one empirical study. According to the findings of this study, Confucian culture has a positive and significant effect on herding behavior among investors in equity markets.

Inbreeding depression affects life-history traits but not infection by Plasmodium gallinaceum in the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus.

Emerging and re-emerging vector-borne diseases represent an increasingly significant public health challenge. While geographic variation among populations of vector species for susceptibility to pathogen infection and vector competence has been thoroughly documented, relatively little attention has been devoted to understanding the ultimate evolutionary causes of this intraspecific variation. Local genetic drift is known to influence genetic differentiation among populations for a variety of container-inhabiting mosquito species, including Aedes albopictus. Because genetic drift is expected to reduce genetic variation and lead to the accumulation of (partially) recessive deleterious alleles, we hypothesized that reduced genetic variation might affect susceptibility to pathogen infection in a model pathogen-vector system. We therefore created replicate inbred (two generations of full-sib mating, expected f=0.375) and control (expected f approximately 0.07) lines of Ae. albopictus and measured life-history traits including larval survivorship, adult longevity, and female wing length (body size) as well as susceptibility to infection by a model pathogen, Plasmodium gallinaceum. Inbred mosquitoes had significantly reduced larval survivorship and female adult longevity but inbreeding did not affect male adult longevity or female wing length (body size). Furthermore, there was no effect of inbreeding on susceptibility to infection by P. gallinaceum. Therefore, while our results did not support the hypothesis that reduced genetic variation influences susceptibility to pathogen infection in this system, we did find evidence for an effect of reduced genetic variation on female adult longevity, an important component of vectorial capacity. We suggest that additional research is needed to elucidate the genetic underpinnings of intraspecific variation in traits related to disease transmission and discuss the implications of our results for the efficacy of creating transgenic strains refractory to disease transmission.

Fission–fusion processes weaken dominance networks of female Asian elephants in a productive habitat

Dominance hierarchies are expected to form in response to socioecological pressures and competitive regimes. We assess dominance relationships among free-ranging female Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) and compare them with those of African savannah elephants (Loxodonta africana), which are known to exhibit age-based dominance hierarchies. Both species are generalist herbivores, however, the Asian population occupies a more productive and climatically stable environment relative to that of the African savannah population. We expected this would lower competition relative to the African taxon, relaxing the need for hierarchy. We tested whether 1) observed dominance interactions among individuals were transitive, 2) outcomes were structured either by age or by social unit according to 4 independent ranking methods, and 3) hierarchy steepness among classes was significant using David’s score. Elephas maximus displayed less than a third the number of dominance interactions as observed in L. africana, with statistically insignificant transitivity among individuals. There was weak but significant order as well as steepness among age-classes but no clear order among social units. Loxodonta africana showed significant transitivity among individuals, with significant order and steepness among age-classes and social units. Elephas maximus had a greater proportion of age-reversed dominance outcomes than L. africana. When dominance hierarchies are weak and nonlinear, signals of dominance may have other functions, such as maintaining social exclusivity. We propose that resource dynamics reinforce differences via influence on fission–fusion processes, which we term “ecological release.” We discuss implications of these findings for conservation and management when animals are spatially constrained.

Simulating Climate over Western North America Using Stochastic Weather Generators

Varieties of export-oriented entrepreneurship in Asia

This paper explores differences in the proportion of export-oriented early-stage entrepreneurial activity in 12 Asian countries. Drawing on varieties of capitalism theory, we find that Asian countries with high quality institutions are more likely to have higher proportions of young export-oriented firms. However, analysis on a 51 country data set indicates that Asian countries have significantly fewer young export-oriented firms than do non-Asian countries. Furthermore, the multi-country study reveals that countries with higher proportions of export-oriented entrepreneurial activity tend to have flexible industrial relations, high quality vocational training, and confrontational labor–employer relations, however the proportion of export-oriented new ventures is not related to the quality of corporate governance and inter-firm relations.

The effects of currency depreciation on stock returns: evidence from five East Asian economies

By using stock daily data for Thailand and the four Asian Tigers, this paper provides clear evidence that currency depreciation affects adversely stock returns and/or increases market volatility over the period of the Asian crisis 1997–1999. The implication is that international investors and fund managers who plan to invest in the East Asian newly emerging stock markets have to evaluate the stability of the foreign exchange markets before taking action.

Colonization of the Americas, ‘Little Ice Age’ climate, and bomb-produced carbon: Their role in defining the Anthropocene

A recently published analysis by Lewis and Maslin (Lewis SL and Maslin MA (2015) Defining the Anthropocene. Nature 519: 171–180) has identified two new potential horizons for the Holocene−Anthropocene boundary: 1610 (associated with European colonization of the Americas), or 1964 (the peak of the excess radiocarbon signal arising from atom bomb tests). We discuss both of these novel suggestions, and consider that there is insufficient stratigraphic basis for the former, whereas placing the latter at the peak of the signal rather than at its inception does not follow normal stratigraphical practice. Wherever the boundary is eventually placed, it should be optimized to reflect stratigraphical evidence with the least possible ambiguity.

Movement and Habitat Selection by Invasive Asian Carps in a Large River

Abstract We evaluated the habitat use and movements of 50 adult bighead carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis and 50 silver carp H. molitrix by means of ultrasonic telemetry during spring-summer 2004 and 2005 to gain insight into the conditions that facilitate their establishment, persistence, and dispersal in the lower Illinois River (river kilometer 0-130). Movement and habitat use were monitored with stationary receivers and boat-mounted tracking. The relative availability of four macrohabitat categories (main channel, island side channel, channel border, and connected backwater) was quantified to determine selection; discriminant function analysis was used to evaluate changes in physical characteristics within each category. A flood pulse occurred in spring through early summer of 2004 but not 2005. Movement rates (km/week) of both species were positively correlated with flow but not with temperature. Including data from stationary receivers greatly increased estimates of daily movement. During low summer f...

Race, gender, class, and sexual orientation: intersecting axes of inequality and self-rated health in Canada

Spectrum of Breast Cancer in Asian Women

IntroductionBreast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Asia, and in recent years is emerging as the commonest female malignancy in the developing Asian countries, overtaking cancer of the uterine cervix. There have been no studies objectively comparing data and facts relating to breast cancer in the developed, newly developed, and developing Asian countries thus far.Material and MethodsThis multi-national collaborative study retrospectively compared the demographic, clinical, pathological and outcomes data in breast cancer patients managed at participating breast cancer centers in India, Malaysia and Hong Kong. Data, including those on the availability of breast screening, treatment facilities and outcomes from other major cancer centers and cancer registries of these countries and from other Asian countries were also reviewed.ResultsDespite an increasing trend, the incidence of breast cancer is lower, yet the cause-specific mortality is significantly higher in developing Asian countries compared with developed countries in Asia and the rest of the world. Patients are about one decade younger in developing countries than their counterparts in developed nations. The proportions of young patients (< 35 years) vary from about 10% in developed to up to 25% in developing Asian countries, which carry a poorer prognosis. In the developing countries, the majority of breast cancer patients continue to be diagnosed at a relatively late stage, and locally advanced cancers constitute over 50% of all patients managed. The stage-wise distribution of the disease is comparatively favorable in developed Asian countries. Pathology of breast cancers in young Asian women and the clinical picture are different from those of average patients managed elsewhere in the world. Owing to lack of awareness, lack of funding, lack of infrastructure, and low priority in public health schemes, breast cancer screening and early detection have not caught up in these under-privileged societies.ConclusionsThe inadequacies of health care infrastructures and standards, sociocultural barriers, economic realities, illiteracy, and the differences in the clinical and pathological attributes of this disease in Asian women compared with the rest of the world together result in a different spectrum of the disease. Better socioeconomic conditions, health awareness, and availability of breast cancer screening in developed Asian countries seem to be the major causes of a favorable clinical picture and outcomes in these countries.

Asian American Students' Cultural Values, Stigma, and Relational Self-construal: Correlates of Attitudes Toward Professional Help Seeking

In this study, we investigated how adherence to Asian values, stigma of receiving psychological help, relational-interdependent self-construal, age and gender, for Asian American college and graduate students, singly and in concert predicted attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help. We also examined how stigma mediates the effect of adherence to Asian values on help-seeking attitudes. Correlational and multiple regression analyses determined that lower adherence to Asian values, lower levels of stigma, a higher relational-interdependent self-construal were associated with more positive help-seeking attitudes. Also, female and older students possessed more positive help-seeking attitudes. The mediational model was not significant. We discuss potential barriers to seeking professional help across sociocultural levels. We address implications for research and practice in mental health counseling.

Projected Distribution of the Zebra Mussel, Dreissena polymorpha, in North America

An analysis of the European distribution of the zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha, shows that the species probably will spread over much of North America. Only softwater districts and the extreme northern and southern parts of the continent are unlikely to be colonized. Within this range, D. polymorpha is most likely to be found in large, hardwater lakes and in running waters more than 30 m wide. Populations of D. polymorpha probably will spread over a larger part of the lake bottom in shallow, warm lakes than in deep, cold lakes. I could not make any predictions about the expected population densities of D. polymorpha in either lakes or streams.

Asian American Women And Racialized Femininities

Integrating race and gender in a social constructionist framework, the authors examine the way that second-generation Asian American young women describe doing gender across ethnic and mainstream settings, as well as their assumptions about the nature of Asian and white femininities. This analysis of interviews with 100 daughters of Korean and Vietnamese immigrants finds that respondents narratively construct Asian and Asian American cultural worlds as quintessentially and uniformly patriarchal and fully resistant to change. In contradistinction, mainstream white America is constructed as the prototype of gender equality. Hence, Asian American and white American women serve in these accounts as uniform categorical representations of the opposing forces of female oppression and egalitarianism. The authors consider how the relational construction of hegemonic and subordinated femininities, as revealed through controlling images that denigrate Asian forms of gender, contribute to internalized oppression and shape the doing of ethnicity.

Executive Summary: Implementing an Antibiotic Stewardship Program: Guidelines by the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.

Evidence-based guidelines for implementation and measurement of antibiotic stewardship interventions in inpatient populations including long-term care were prepared by a multidisciplinary expert panel of the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. The panel included clinicians and investigators representing internal medicine, emergency medicine, microbiology, critical care, surgery, epidemiology, pharmacy, and adult and pediatric infectious diseases specialties. These recommendations address the best approaches for antibiotic stewardship programs to influence the optimal use of antibiotics.

Emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases over Asian regions during 2000–2008: Regional Emission inventory in ASia (REAS) version 2

Abstract. We have updated the Regional Emission inventory in ASia (REAS) as version 2.1. REAS 2.1 includes most major air pollutants and greenhouse gases from each year during 2000 and 2008 and following areas of Asia: East, Southeast, South, and Central Asia and the Asian part of Russia. Emissions are estimated for each country and region using updated activity data and parameters. Monthly gridded data with a 0.25° × 0.25° resolution are also provided. Asian emissions for each species in 2008 are as follows (with their growth rate from 2000 to 2008): 56.9 Tg (+34%) for SO2, 53.9 Tg (+54%) for NOx, 359.5 Tg (+34%) for CO, 68.5 Tg (+46%) for non-methane volatile organic compounds, 32.8 Tg (+17%) for NH3, 36.4 Tg (+45%) for PM10, 24.7 Tg (+42%) for PM2.5, 3.03 Tg (+35%) for black carbon, 7.72 Tg (+21%) for organic carbon, 182.2 Tg (+32%) for CH4, 5.80 Tg (+18%) for N2O, and 16.0 Pg (+57%) for CO2. By country, China and India were respectively the largest and second largest contributors to Asian emissions. Both countries also had higher growth rates in emissions than others because of their continuous increases in energy consumption, industrial activities, and infrastructure development. In China, emission mitigation measures have been implemented gradually. Emissions of SO2 in China increased from 2000 to 2006 and then began to decrease as flue-gas desulphurization was installed to large power plants. On the other hand, emissions of air pollutants in total East Asia except for China decreased from 2000 to 2008 owing to lower economic growth rates and more effective emission regulations in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. Emissions from other regions generally increased from 2000 to 2008, although their relative shares of total Asian emissions are smaller than those of China and India. Tables of annual emissions by country and region broken down by sub-sector and fuel type, and monthly gridded emission data with a resolution of 0.25° × 0.25° for the major sectors are available from the following URL: http://www.nies.go.jp/REAS/ .

Changes in precipitation and temperature extremes in Central America and northern South America, 1961–2003

[1] In November 2004, a regional climate change workshop was held in Guatemala with the goal of analyzing how climate extremes had changed in the region. Scientists from Central America and northern South America brought long-term daily temperature and precipitation time series from meteorological stations in their countries to the workshop. After undergoing careful quality control procedures and a homogeneity assessment, the data were used to calculate a suite of climate change indices over the 1961–2003 period. Analysis of these indices reveals a general warming trend in the region. The occurrence of extreme warm maximum and minimum temperatures has increased while extremely cold temperature events have decreased. Precipitation indices, despite the large and expected spatial variability, indicate that although no significant increases in the total amount are found, rainfall events are intensifying and the contribution of wet and very wet days are enlarging. Temperature and precipitation indices were correlated with northern and equatorial Atlantic and Pacific Ocean sea surface temperatures. However, those indices having the largest significant trends (percentage of warm days, precipitation intensity, and contribution from very wet days) have low correlations to El Nino–Southern Oscillation. Additionally, precipitation indices show a higher correlation with tropical Atlantic sea surface temperatures.