The Calibration And Verification Of Simulation Models For Toll Plazas

A great deal of research has been conducted on Central Florida toll roads to better understand the characteristics of the tolling operation. In this thesis, the development and calibration of a toll plaza simulation models will be analyzed using two simulation programs varying mostly in their modeling theory. The two models utilized are, SHAKER, a deterministic queuing model for vehicles utilizing toll collection facilities, and VISSIM, a globally popular stochastic simulation software. The benefits of simulation models leads to the purpose of this thesis, which is to examine the effectiveness of two toll modeling programs that are similar in purpose but vary in approach and methodology. Both SHAKER and VISSIM toll plaza models have the potential to work as a tool that can estimate the maximum throughput and capacity of toll plazas. Major operational benefits resulting from developing these models are to simulate and evaluate how traffic conditions will change when demand increases, when and if queues increase when a lane is closed due to maintenance or construction, the impact of constructing additional lanes, or determining whether or not the best lane type configuration is currently implemented. To effectively calibrate any model available site data must be used to compare simulation results to for model validity. In an effort to correctly calibrate the SHAKER toll plaza tool and VISSIM model, an extensive field collection procedure was conducted at four Florida Turnpike operated toll facilities located in Central Florida. Each site differed from the others in terms of number of lanes, lane configuration, toll base fee, highway location, traffic demand, and vehicle percentage. The sites chosen for data collection were: the Lake Jesup Mainline Plaza along the Seminole Expressway (SR-417), the Beachline West Expressway Toll Plaza along the SR-528, the Daniel Webster Western Beltway Plaza along SR-429, and the Leesburg Toll Plaza along the Florida Turnpike Mainline SR-91. Upon completion of calibration of the two simulation models it is determined that each of the two software are successful in modeling toll plaza capacity and queuing. As expected, each simulation model does possess benefits over the other in terms of set up time, analysis reporting time, and practicality of results. The SHAKER model setup takes mere seconds in order to create a network and input vehicle, another few seconds to calibrate driving parameters, and roughly 10 additional seconds to report analysis. Conversely, setting up the VISSIM model, even for the most experienced user, can take several hours and the report analysis time can take several more hours as it is dependant on the number of required simulation runs and complexity of the network. VISSIM is most beneficial by the fact that its modeling allows for driver variability while SHAKER assumes equilibrium amongst lane choice and queuing. This creates a more realistic condition to observed traffic patterns. Even though differences are prevalent, it is important that in each simulation model the capacity is accurately simulated and each can be used to benefit operational situations related to toll plaza traffic conditions

Synthetic Studies on Quinoline SHIP Inhibitors and New Methods for C-O and C-C Bond Formations Using Trichloroacetimidates

SH2-constaining inositol 5’-phosphatase (SHIP) is an enzyme involved in the PI3K cellular signaling pathway. In response to external stressors, SHIP is recruited to the internal cell membrane of eukaryotic cells to selective hydrolyze the 5’ phosphate group of membrane-bound phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate (P(3,4,5)P3) to generate phosphatidylinositol-3,4,- bisphosphate (PI(3,4)P2). This process, among others such as phosphorylation by PI3K and dephosphorylation by PTEN, is an intermediate in the transmission of signals from the cell membrane to the cell nucleus, effectively influencing cellular growth and development. Aberrations in these processes are known to influence abnormal cellular function and are observed in certain disease states such as cancer and insulin resistance. Modulation of the activity of SHIP has therefore been found to be a potential avenue for the treatment of such states. Indeed, the inhibition of SHIP by small molecules discovered by high-throughput screening of the NCI Diversity Set has been shown to induce apoptosis in cancer cells. This dissertation reports new milligram- to gram-scale synthetic routes for quinoline aminoalcohols NSC13480 and NSC30578 that were discovered to be active SHIP inhibitors. Additionally, analogues were made, and all molecules were assayed in vitro. Up to 46% inhibition was observed in the isoform SHIP1, while up to 66% inhibition was observed in SHIP2, suggesting that quinolines may be more selective SHIP2 inhibitors. Interestingly, the commercially available anti-malarial drug mefloquine was also shown to inhibit both SHIP1 and SHIP2 almost equally. Trichloroacetimidates (TCIs) are well-known and typically commercially available reagents in organic synthesis. They are often used for the installation of protecting groups for heteroatom functional groups such as alcohols, used in carbon-carbon forming reactions such as in Schmidt’s glycosylations in carbohydrate chemistry, or in Overman’s [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of allylic trichloroacetimidates to trichloroacetamides for the stereoselective conversion of chiral alcohols to chiral amines. While these reactions are very typically acid- catalyzed, the reactions of trichloroacetimidates under mild conditions without any added catalysts or promoters is attractive, especially in cases where molecules may be sensitive to the acidic conditions introduced by the typically strong acids used such as BF3 or TMSOTf. This dissertation reports the development of the catalyst-free esterification reaction of a variety of carboxylic acids using 4-methoxybenzyl trichloroacetimidate. Most carboxylic acids were found to be reactive in dichloromethane at room temperature, including sterically hindered acids secondary- and tertiary- substituted carboxylic acids and Boc-protected amino acids. Additionally, a chiral acid such as Naproxen was successfully esterified without racemization, indicating the mild nature of the reaction conditions

ALTERNATIVE ITALIAN AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVE SYSTEMS IN THE CHANGING EU FOOD SYSTEM

The European food system is undergoing significant change driven both by global competitive forces and local conditions. Market globalization and technological innovation are interacting with the reform of EU's agricultural policies (CAP) and a renewed interest by the European society in the social and environmental functions of agriculture. These factors have created a new and challenging economic environment both for farmers and the food industry across Europe (Tarditi, 1997).Agribusiness,

MEMBERS' FINANCIAL EVALUATION AND COOPERATIVES' DECISION PROCESSES

The paper presents an analysis of cooperative investment decision based on the coalition theoretical framework (Staatz 1983, 1987, 1989). According to this framework, cooperatives can be considered as coalitions of groups with different interests. The behavior of any cooperative is determined by the interaction of its many groups (different types of farmers, managers, lenders, input suppliers, buyers, etc.) with different objectives. The group that can impose its will on the coalition will determine the cooperative's strategy. The other parties may accept this leadership, leave the cooperative or try to use their bargaining power to modify the final outcome. The paper discusses the impact of group bargaining on cooperatives' decision process. In particular, the paper addresses the issues related to the consequences of members' heterogeneity on cooperative efficiency. The proposed model utilizes tools from financial theory already successfully applied in the literature (Peterson 1992, Hendrikse 1998) providing a more detailed insight into the determinants of the cooperative decision process. The paper shows that cooperatives evaluate investments differently from IOFs due to the unique characteristics of their patrons compared to other types of investors.Agribusiness, Agricultural Finance,

EFFECTS OF MANAGERS' POWER ON CAPITAL STRUCTURE: A STUDY ON ITALIAN AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVES

Agribusiness,