1,022 research outputs found
The Rational Locator: Why Travel Times Have Remained Stable
No full textThis paper evaluates household travel surveys for the Washington metropolitan region conducted in 1968 and 1988, and shows that commuting times remain stable or decline over the twenty year period despite an increase in average travel distance, after controlling for trip purpose and mode of travel. The average automobile work-to-home time of 32.5 minutes in both 1968 and 1988 is, moreover, very consistent with a 1957 survey showing an average time of 33.5 minutes in metropolitan Washington. Average trip speeds increased by more than 20 percent, countering the effect of increased travel distance. This change was observed during a period of rapid suburban growth in the region. With the changing distributional composition of trip origins and destinations, overall travel times have remained relatively constant. The hypothesis that jobs and housing mutually co-locate to optimize travel times is lent further support by these data. .
An orthorhombic polymorph of (E)-1-(benzo[d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl)-3-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)prop-2-en-1-one
No full textThe title compound, C16H10Cl2O3, is almost planar with a dihedral angle of 0.14 (16)° between the benzodioxole ring system and the dichlorobenzene ring that are bridged by the olefinic double bond. The corresponding value reported for the monoclinic polymorph is [5.57 (9)° (Lokeshwari et al. (2017[Lokeshwari, D. M., Pavithra, G., Renuka, N., Lokanath, N. K., Naveen, S. & Ajay Kumar, K. (2017). IUCrData, 2, x170103.]). IUCrData, 2, x170103). The carbonyl group lies almost in the plane of the olefinic double bond and is twisted slightly from the benzodioxole ring plane. In the crystal, the molecules are linked by weak C—H⋯O and C—H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds, forming a chain propagating along the b-axis direction
Integrating Feedback into the Transportation Planning Mode
No full textThis research develops and applies a new structure for the transportation planning model that includes feedback between demand, assignment, and traffic control. New methods, combined with a renewed interest in transportation planning models prompted by the Clean Air Act of 1990 and the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991, warrant a reconsideration of the traditional "four-step" transportation planning model. This paper presents an algorithm for feedback which results in consistent travel times as input to travel demand and output from route assignment. The model, including six stages of Trip Generation, Destination Choice, Mode Choice, Departure Time Choice, Route Assignment and Intersection Control is briefly outlined. This is followed by an application comparing a base year 1990 application with a forecast year of 2010. The 2010 forecast is solved both with and without feedback for comparison purposes. Incorporation of feedback gives significantly different results than the standard model. l.
A Multi-modal Trip Distribution Model
No full textThis paper presents a multimodal trip distribution function estimated and validated for the metropolitan Washington region. In addition, a methodology for measuring accessibility, which is used as a measure of effectiveness for networks, using the impedance curves in the distribution model is described. This methodology is applied at the strategic planning level to alternative HOV alignments to select alignments for further study and Right-of-Way preservation. .
MYH9-related disease mutations cause abnormal red blood cell morphology through increased myosin-actin binding at the membrane
No full textMYH9-related disease (MYH9-RD) is a rare, autosomal dominant disorder caused by mutations in MYH9, the gene encoding the actin-activated motor protein non-muscle myosin IIA (NMIIA). MYH9-RD patients suffer from bleeding syndromes, progressive kidney disease, deafness, and/or cataracts, but the impact of MYH9 mutations on other NMIIA-expressing tissues remains unknown. In human red blood cells (RBCs), NMIIA assembles into bipolar filaments and binds to actin filaments (F-actin) in the spectrin-F-actin membrane skeleton to control RBC biconcave disk shape and deformability. Here, we tested the effects of MYH9 mutations in different NMIIA domains (motor, coiled-coil rod, or non-helical tail) on RBC NMIIA function. We found that MYH9-RD does not cause clinically significant anemia and that patient RBCs have normal osmotic deformability as well as normal membrane skeleton composition and micron-scale distribution. However, analysis of complete blood count data and peripheral blood smears revealed reduced hemoglobin content and elongated shapes, respectively, of MYH9-RD RBCs. Patients with mutations in the NMIIA motor domain had the highest numbers of elongated RBCs. Patients with mutations in the motor domain also had elevated association of NMIIA with F-actin at the RBC membrane. Our findings support a central role for motor domain activity in NMIIA regulation of RBC shape and define a new sub-clinical phenotype of MYH9-RD
Orlistat augments differentiation of BMDM associated with increased expression of M-CSF and M-CSFR.
No full text<p>BMC (1x10<sup>4</sup> cells/ml) harvested from control or orlistat-administered tumor-bearing mice were cultured in vitro in the presence of L929 culture medium (20%v/v) as a source of M-CSF, for 10 days to allow the BMC to differentiate into colonies. Colonies were counted based on cellular morphology of each colony forming unit (CFU) displaying features of CFU-M, CFU-GM and CFU-G phenotype (a). CFU-M obtained from the BMC of control group displayed lesser number of Mϕ-like cells compared to orlistat-treated group where the colonies were denser with larger macrophage like cells, as indicated by arrows (b). BMC (1x10<sup>6</sup> cells/ml) obtained from control or orlistat-administered tumor-bearing mice were also processed for RT-PCR to detect expression of mRNA for MCSF and M-CSFR. Bars shown in (e) are densitometric scan of bands shown in (d), which are from a representative experiments out of 3 experiments with similar results. BMDM grown on glass cover slips in petri-dishes were stained with Wright Giemsa stain (c upper panel) and F4/80 FITC-conjugated antibody (c lower panel). As indicated by arrows BMDM of orlistat administered group showed increased size, spreading and cytoplasmic extensions. Plates shown are from a representative experiment. Values shown in (a) are mean ± SD of three independent experiments done in triplicate.*<i>p<0</i>.<i>05 </i><i>vs</i>. values of respective control.</p
PLoS One
No full textBackgroundPrivate Practitioners (PP) are the primary source of health care for patients in India. Limited representative information is available on TB management practices of Indian PP or on the efficacy of India\u2019s Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) to improve the quality of TB management through training of PP.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional survey of a systematic random sample of PP in one urban area in Western India (Pune, Maharashtra). We presented sample clinical vignettes and determined the proportions of PPs who reported practices consistent with International Standards of TB Care (ISTC). We examined the association between RNTCP training and adherence to ISTC by calculating odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals.ResultsOf 3,391 PP practicing allopathic medicine, 249 were interviewed. Of these, 55% had been exposed to RNTCP. For new pulmonary TB patients, 63% (158/249) of provider responses were consistent with ISTC diagnostic practices, and 34% (84/249) of responses were consistent with ISTC treatment practices. However, 48% (120/249) PP also reported use of serological tests for TB diagnosis. In the new TB case vignette, 38% (94/249) PP reported use of at least one second line anti-TB drug in the treatment regimen. RNTCP training was not associated with diagnostic or treatment practices.ConclusionIn Pune, India, despite a decade of training activities by the RNTCP, high proportions of providers resorted to TB serology for diagnosis and second-line anti-TB drug use in new TB patients. Efforts to achieve universal access to quality TB management must account for the low quality of care by PP and the lack of demonstrated effect of current training efforts.20141023
Exchange reform, parallel markets, and inflation in Africa : the case of Ghana
No full textThis paper presents a theoretical framework to analyze the issue of exchange rate reform in the presence of parallel markets. In Ghana, which has carried out one of the most thorough structural adjustment programs in Africa, an increasingly high inflation rate has been attributed to major devaluations of the official exchange rate. The authors dispute this conclusion based on careful testing and simulations using a macroeconomic model estimated with Ghanaian data. This model also shows that there is no direct relationship between the official exchange rate and inflation. The results also show that official devaluation had a postive effect on Ghana's budget. Revenue improvements came from three channels: the higher grant aid disbursed at a more depreciated exchange rate, a reduction in the subsidies that had accrued to importers through an overvalued exchange rate, and an increase in export taxes as cocoa farmers increasingly marketed their output through official channels. The official devaluation therefore did not produce higher budget deficits, demand pressure did not spill onto the parallel market, and the exchange premium narrowed considerably. The key to the success of the program was the adequate level of foreign financing, combined with a coherent set of fiscal policies.Access to Markets,Economic Theory&Research,Environmental Economics&Policies,Economic Stabilization,Markets and Market Access
Solvent templated luminescent metal-organic frameworks for specific detection of vitamin C in aqueous media
No full textTwo novel polymeric coordination compounds of same stoichiometry [Zn(2,6-ndc)(api)]n (where H2ndc = naphthalene-2,6-dicarboxylic acid and api = 1-(3-aminopropyl)-imidazole) have been synthesized. The two compounds PUC3 and PUC4 have been separated by a different mixture of solvents, namely DMA/MeOH/H2O and DMF/MeOH/H2O, respectively, leading to a different solid-state architecture. The single crystal structural analysis of PUC3 evidenced a four-fold interpenetrated 3D framework, while PUC4 is a porous framework formed by 2D corrugated layers. Thus, the two coordination polymers are an example of supramolecular isomerism induced by the template effect of solvent and flexibility of the aminopropyl-imidazole molecule. The synthesized PUC3 and PUC4 compounds have been successfully characterized with the help of single crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD), PXRD, FTIR, TGA, DSC and XPS. The two MOF's, applied as sensitive and selective probes for ascorbic acid (AA) detection in aqueous phase, appeared to react only with AA and not with any of the reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) tested. The calculated quenching constant (Ksv) values, of 0.4 × 105 M−1 (PUC3) and 0.5 × 105 M−1 (PUC4), indicate strong interaction between each metal organic framework (MOFs) and AA. They disclosed an excellent detection limit of 0.032 and 0.025 μM, respectively. Moreover, fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) process is proposed as quenching mechanism and validated by DFT results.No Full Tex
Family altruism and incentives
No full textThe author builds on the altruistic model of the family, to explore the strategic interaction between altruistic parents, and selfish children, when children's efforts are endogenous. If there is uncertainty about the amount of income the children will realize, and if parents have imperfect information, the children have an incentive to exert little effort, and to rely on their parent's altruistically motivated transfers. Because of this, parents face a tradeoff between the insurance that bequests implicitly provide their children, and the disincentive to work prompted by their altruism. The author shows that if parents can credibly commit to a pattern of transfers, they will choose not to compensate children in bad outcomes, as much as predicted by the standard (no uncertainty, no asymmetric information) dynastic model of the family. Alternatively, parents may choose to forgo any insurance, and offer a fixed level of bequest, to elicit greater effort from their children. The optimal transfers structure that the author derives, reconciles the predictions of the altruistic family model, with much of the existing evidence on inter-generational transfers, which suggests that parents compensate only partially, or not at all, for earnings differentials among their children. Moreover, the author shows that Ricardian equivalence holds in this setup, except when non-negativity constraints are binding.Economic Theory&Research,Environmental Economics&Policies,Health Economics&Finance,Educational Sciences,Safety Nets and Transfers
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