Simulation Modeling and Analysis of Coal Shipping Operations

Computer simulations are increasingly powerful and realistic models for complex real-world scenarios, and our project applies this technology to model a coal transportation case study. Given a baseline scenario of fourteen carriers transporting coal from three U.S. locations to four international locations, we optimize operations in terms of product flow, time required for shipments, and total operation costs. Implementing the case study\u27s factors into modular code, we introduce several potential changes to current operations and develop specific scenarios. Further, in analyzing these scenarios we test for robustness and sensitivity, by changing values such as demand and bad weather occurrences, and noting how well the model responds. We ultimately gain a better intuition of the factors at play, identify optimizations, and develop a more efficient configuration. Also, we note several areas of potential improvement and suggest several directions for future work. Finally, taking advantage of modern graphical software, we present the optimized scenario in an animated interface, including a 3D view of the model and real-time data charts. While delving into complex data to reach the desired results, our model is accessible to a broad audience and presents an intriguing glimpse into the future of computational modeling

TECHNICAL BARRIERS IN THE GLOBAL POULTRY MARKET: A SEARCH FOR 'MISSING TRADE'

This paper was presented at the INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN LIVESTOCK PRODUCTS SYMPOSIUM in Auckland, New Zealand, January 18-19, 2001. The Symposium was sponsored by: the International Agricultural Trade Research Consortium, the Venture Trust, Massey University, New Zealand, and the Centre for Applied Economics and Policy Studies, Massey University. Dietary changes, especially in developing countries, are driving a massive increase in demand for livestock products. The objective of this symposium was to examine the consequences of this phenomenon, which some have even called a "revolution." How are dietary patterns changing, and can increased demands for livestock products be satisfied from domestic resources? If so, at what cost? What will be the flow-on impacts, for example, in terms of increased demands for feedgrains and the pressures for change within marketing systems? A supply-side response has been the continued development of large-scale, urban-based industrial livestock production systems that in many cases give rise to environmental concerns. If additional imports seem required, where will they originate and what about food security in the importing regions? How might market access conditions be re-negotiated to make increased imports achievable? Other important issues discussed involved food safety, animal health and welfare and the adoption of biotechnology, and their interactions with the negotiation of reforms to domestic and trade policies. Individual papers from this conference are available on AgEcon Search. If you would like to see the complete agenda and set of papers from this conference, please visit the IATRC Symposium web page at: http://www1.umn.edu/iatrc.intro.htmInternational Relations/Trade,

A Framework for Analyzing Technical Trade Barriers in Agricultural Markets

Technical trade barriers are increasingly important in the international trade of agricultural products. Designing technical trade measures that can satisfy the growing demand for food safety, product differentiation, environmental amenities, and product information at the lowest cost to the consumer and to the international trading system requires an understanding of the complex economics of regulatory import barriers. This report proposes a definition and classification scheme to frame discussion and evaluation of such measures. Open-economy models that complement the classification scheme are developed graphically to highlight the basic elements that affect the economic impacts of changes in technical trade barriers.technical trade barriers, sanitary and phytosanitary, agricultural trade policy, environmental trade measures, International Relations/Trade,

FOOD REGULATION AND TRADE: TOWARD A SAFE AND OPEN GLOBAL SYSTEM -- AN OVERVIEW AND SYNOPSIS

A synopsis is presented of challenges faced and WTO performance in disciplining national technical measures to achieve legitimate objectives in a least-trade-distorting manner. Importance of the measures and international disciplines are reviewed and evidence presented from multiple perspectives that suggests a limited constructive WTO role.International Relations/Trade,

Paper Session I-B - A New Fundamental Mission for the US Space Program

The first thirty seven years of American exploration and exploitation of space has been marked by two fundamental things - the forcing function of the Cold War and the resulting relative abundance of funding for space activities. In the public\u27s mind, the Cold War ended six years ago. They and their representatives in Congress have been waiting for the Executive Branch to see this fact for some time and have become increasingly impatient with a lack of appropriate response. Frankly, they have been promised a peace dividend and they want it - NOW. Since the Executive Branch has been unable to deliver it as desired, Congress has been in the process of taking it. The immediate consequences of these actions are the precipitous drops in space funding for DoD and NASA in the Fiscal Year 1995 budgets. A clear example has been the signal inability of the DoD and NASA to get Congressional support - and therefore funding - for new spacelift and satellite systems. The successive fates of the Advanced Launch System, the National Launch System, Spacelifter, and various Single-Stage-to-Orbit programs are instructive. One reason for this failure is the lack of a generally accepted reason for being in space and therefore needing more cost-effective systems. As far as can be seen, the public no longer accepts the old, Cold War answers for being in space. A fundamental truth that we are being faced with is that the American people, in the guide of their representatives in Congress, demand a clear rationale for spending public monies. We\u27re finding out that pure science and Cold War national security requirements as arguments for space spending are failing in the face of National health care or environmental clean-up, for example. To at least maintain our share of the Federal budget, and, incidentally, continue to perform those space missions we feel are essential, we are going to have to provide an obvious, unarguable reason to spend $14 billion a year in space. What is necessary, then, is a new reason for America to be in space. As the Air Force Association\u27s Advisory Group on Military Roles and Missions states in their 1994 report, There is little to be gained by arguing the need for increased space budgets. Rather, we must look toward achieving improved efficiency by eliminating areas of duplication and redundancy. (1:51

Factors Affecting Graduation with Honors: A Case Study in Bumpers College

This study aims to understand the factors influencing the graduation rate with honors in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food, and Life Sciences (Bumpers College) at the University of Arkansas Fayetteville (UAF). Utilizing data from 2004 to 2014 provided by the Office of Strategic Analytics & Insights at UAF, this research investigates several demographic and academic variables to potentially identify predictors of successfully graduating from the Bumpers Honors Program. The methodology involved cleaning the data, statistical analyses including T-test and Chi-square tests, and logit regression models to determine significant factors impacting graduating with honors. After chi-square and t-tests and seven iterations of logit models, three factors were found to significantly increase a Bumpers College student’s chances of graduating with honors: remaining in Bumpers College through their entire college career, ACT score, and third term GPA in college. The results provide valuable insight for Bumpers College administrators to better adapt interactions and incentives aimed to enhance the graduation rates of incoming freshmen from the honors college. Future research could incorporate additional factors, such as student engagement and funding for high-impact programs, to better refine the model and predict honors success

The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Law Enforcement Protocols in Middle Appalachian States

The COVID-19 pandemic is changing the operational procedures of law enforcement organizations across the United States. The COVID-19 virus has forced police administrators to rethink strategies and procedures dealing with law enforcement’s multiple functions and roles in society. The pandemic is causing unprecedented challenges for law enforcement administrators to balance the organization’s priorities and the safety of officers under their command. The police functions are adapting to include personal protection to prevent the spread of the virus among the law enforcement community. This multiple case qualitative study aimed to show the immediate operational changes in law enforcement since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data from interviews with law enforcement officers were analyzed in this study to identify themes and patterns. The data showed significant changes in law enforcement policies and procedures occurring after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The interviews included law enforcement officers with a minimum of five years of experience as full-time officers in the middle Appalachia region of the United States. Results provided details about operational procedures and how these changes affected law enforcement

Ratiocination, Romanticism and Realism in the Detective Story: A Study of Poe, Doyle and Hammet

A thesis presented to the faculty of the School of Humanities at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts by Timothy Jay Roberts on December 3, 1984