Modeling phase changes of road networks

Adopting an agent-based approach, this paper explores the topological evolution of road networks from a microscopic perspective. We assume a decentralized decision-making mechanism where roads are built by self-interested land parcel owners. By building roads, parcel owners hope to increase their parcelsÕ accessibility and economic value. The simulation model is performed on a grid-like land use layer with a downtown in the center, whose structure is similar to the early form of many Midwestern and Western (US) cities. The topological attributes for the networks are evaluated by multiple centrality measures such as degree centrality, closeness centrality, and betweenness centrality. Our findings disclose that the growth of road network experiences an evolutionary process where tree-like structure first emerges around the centered parcel before the network pushes outward to the periphery. In addition, road network topology undergoes obvious phase changes as the economic values of parcels vary. The results demonstrate that even without a centralized authority, road networks have the property of self-organization and evolution; furthermore, the rise-and-fall of places in terms of their economic/social values may considerably impact road network topology.road network, land parcel, network evolution, network growth, phase change

Race, Religion, and Immigration: Experimental Evidence from the Labor Market

In this project, we examine employers’ response to Black immigrants compared to native-born Black Americans. Between July 2017 and December 2018, we applied to publicly advertised positions using fictitious resumes that are manipulated on perceived race and ethnicity (Somali American, African American, and white American). We examine the proportion of resumes that are contacted by employers. We find that male African American applicants are 5 percentage points less likely to be contacted than equivalent white American applicants. Somali American applicants are 11 percentage points less likely to be contacted by employers than equivalent white American applicants and 6 percentage points less likely to be contacted than equivalent African American applicants. For female applicants, the effects followed a similar pattern, but were muted. Signals of language ability, education, and religiosity showed little impact on the proportion contacted by an employer

Winona Currents Magazine

WSU on Top of the World after NCAA Title.https://openriver.winona.edu/winonacurrents/1000/thumbnail.jp

The Healthiest vs. Greenest Path: Comparing the Effects of Internal and External Costs of Motor Vehicle Pollution on Route Choice

On-road emissions, a dominant source of urban air pollution, damage human health. The 'healthiest path' and the 'greenest path' are proposed as alternative patterns of traffic route assignment to minimize the costs of pollution exposure and emission, respectively. As a proof-of-concept, the framework of a link-based emission cost analysis is built for both internal and external environmental costs and is applied to the road network in the Minneapolis - St. Paul Metropolitan Area based on the EPA MOVES and RLINE models. The healthiest and the greenest paths are skimmed for all work-trip origin-destination pairs and then aggregated into work trip flows to identify the healthier or greener roads in a comparative statics analysis. The estimates show that highways have higher emission concentrations due to higher traffic flow, on which, but that the internal and external emission costs are lower. The emission cost that commuters impose on others greatly exceeds that which they bear. In addition, the greenest path is largely consistent with the traditional shortest path which implies that highways tend to be both greener and shorter (in travel time) for commuters than surface streets. Use of the healthiest path would generate more detours, and higher travel times.US Federal Highway Administration, Accessibility Observator

F.B. Heron Foundation Annual Report 2006

A report on Foundation activities in 2006

Defining the collaborative design process between landscape architects, engineers, and the public: constructed wetland case studies in Minnesota

Environmental concerns, such as air and water quality as well as global warming, are on the minds of many landscape architects. These concerns are prompting landscape architects to integrate sustainable design practices into many of their projects. Integrated storm water management is one specific practice that is gaining in importance, especially in urban areas. Constructed storm water wetlands are one method being implemented to mitigate the impact of pollutants carried in storm water on surface waters. Where once engineering firms primarily designed and built constructed wetlands, landscape architects are actively seeking opportunities to become more involved with these projects. Public agencies are also becoming more involved in storm water management by integrating constructed wetlands within public lands. Constructed wetland projects offer an opportunity for landscape architects, engineers, and the public agencies to collaborate on the project design and work with the public during the process. This research reports the results of an inquiry into the collaborative design process in three constructed wetland projects in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Professional landscape architecture and engineering firms, public agencies, and a neighborhood association member were interviewed either in person or over the phone using a consistent set of questions to guide the data collection. All questions were open-ended to elicit each subject to reveal their perceptions of each project. Two themes which emerged from the data analysis were public participation and the role of the landscape architect in each project. The data specific to public participation is presented in two parts: the participation within the design process in which each project is compared to two different models and the professional interaction with the public. The role of the landscape architect focuses on one project to better understand the skills that contributed to the completion of the project

Comment: Cultural eutrophication of natural lakes in the United States is real and widespread

This is the published version

The Chronicle [September 29, 2008]

The Chronicle, September 29, 2008https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/chron/4808/thumbnail.jp

Bentall procedure: quarter century of clinical experiences of a single surgeon

BACKGROUND: We retrospectively analyzed 25 years of experiences with the button Bentall procedure in patients with aortic root pathologies. Even though this procedure has become widespread, there are only a few very long term follow-ups available in the clinical literature, especially regarding single surgeon results. METHODS: Between 1988 and 2013, a total of 147 patients underwent the Bentall procedure by the same surgeon. Among them there were 62 patients with Marfan syndrome. At the time of the surgery the mean age was 46.5 +/- 17.6 years. The impact of surgical experience on long-term survival was evaluated using a cumulative sum analysis chart. RESULTS: The Kaplan-Meier estimated overall survival rates for the 147 patients were 91.8 +/- 2.3 %, 84.3 +/- 3.1 %, 76.3 +/- 4.9 % and 59.5 +/- 10.7 % at 1,5,10 and 20 years, respectively. Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified EuroSCORE II over 3 % (OR 4.245, 95 % CI, 1.739-10.364, p = 0.002), acute indication (OR 2.942, 95 % CI, 1.158-7.480, p = 0.023), use of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (OR 3.267, 95 % CI, 1.283-8.323, p = 0.013), chronic kidney disease (OR 6.865, 95 % CI, 1.339-35.189, p = 0.021) and early complication (OR 3.134, 95 % CI, 1.246-7.883, p = 0.015) as significant risk factors for the late overall death. The survival rate for freedom from early complication was 94.3 +/- 2.2 %, 88.0 +/- 3.3 %, 82.9 +/- 4.7 % and 69.2 +/- 8.4 % at 1,5,10 and 20 years. The main pathological findings of the aortic wall were cystic medial degeneration in 75 %, fibrosis in 6 %, atherosclerosis in 13 % and no pathological alteration in 6 % of the samples. The overall survival rate was significantly lower in patients operated in first 15 years compared to patients operated in the last decade (log-rank p = 0.011). CONCLUSION: According to our long-term follow-up the Bentall operation provides an appropriate functional result by resolving the lesions of the ascending aorta. Based on our results, 25-30 operations done is necessary to gain such a level of confidence and experince to aquire better results on long-term survival. In addition, we discussed that there were no co-morbidities affecting on the survival of Marfan patients and prophylactic aortic root replacement ensures a longer survival among patients with Marfan syndrome