Analysis of Policy Issues Relating to Public Investment in Private Freight Infrastructure, MTI Report 99-03

The Norman Y. Mineta International Institute for Surface Transportation Policy Studies (IISTPS) at San José State University conducted this study to review the issues and implications involved in the investment of public funds in private freight infrastructure. After thorough legal research, the project team reached the following conclusions: LEGAL ANALYSIS: The California legislature has the legal power to invest public funds in privately-owned freight infrastructure projects State Highway funds, excepting gas tax revenues, may be used for investment in freight infrastructure projects. Gas tax revenues are restricted to highway use by current interpretations of the California Constitution. A challenge to this interpretation is not recommended. Gas tax revenues may be invested in roadway segments of freight infrastructure projects. RECOMMENDATIONS An analytical system of guidelines should be developed to score and evaluate any proposed freight infrastructure project. Economic development must be included in these scoring guidelines. Public agencies should maintain political contacts in order to control the political short-circuits of the planning process. The California Department of Transportation should develop a Freight Improvement Priority System for the purpose of prioritizing all freight improvement projects

Bus Rapid Transit: A Handbook for Partners, MTI Report 06-02

In April 2005, the Caltrans Division of Research and Innovation (DRI) asked MTI to assist with the research for and publication of a guidebook for use by Caltrans employees who work with local transit agencies and jurisdictions in planning, designing, and operating Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems that involve state facilities. The guidebook was also to assist to transit operators, local governments, community residents, and other stakeholders dealing with the development of BRT systems. Several areas in the state have experienced such projects ( San Diego , Los Angeles , San Francisco , and Alameda County ) and DRI wished to use that experience to guide future efforts and identify needed changes in statutes, policies, and other state concerns. Caltrans convened a Task Team from the Divisions of Research and Innovation, Mass Transportation, and Operations, together with stakeholders representing many of those involved with the BRT activities around the state. Prior to MTI’s involvement, this group produced a white paper on the topic, a series of questions, and an outline of the guidebook that MTI was to write. The MTI team conducted case studies of the major efforts in California, along with less developed studies of some of the other BRT programs under development or in early implementation phases around the state. The purpose was to clarify those issues that need to be addressed in the guidebook, as well as to compile information that would identify items needing legislative or regulatory action and items that Caltrans will need to address through district directives or other internal measures. A literature scan was used to develop a bibliography for future reference. The MTI team also developed a draft Caltrans director’s policy document, which provides the basis for Caltrans’ actions. This ultimately developed to be a project within a project. MTI submitted a draft document to Caltrans as a final product from the Institute. Task team members and Caltrans staff and leadership provided extensive review of the draft Bus Rapid Transit: A Handbook for Partners. Caltrans adopted a new Director’s Policy and published the document, BRT Caltrans. The MTI “wraparound” report presented below discusses in more detail the process that was followed to produce the draft report. The process was in many ways as much a project as the report itself

Prospectus, December 1, 2010

PARKLAND SERVICE LEARNING GIVES BACK TO COMMUNITY; Parkland stands out at national summit; Chuck Shepherd\u27s News of Weird; My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy raises a toast to the jerks, Kanye included; Tony Noel Diesel Technology addition up and running; Training better teachers; Better than a Gift; Just a Little Food tor Thought; Prospectus Pick: Tumblr; In this league, \u27mediocre\u27 is the new \u27good\u27; Dr. Gina Walls recognized for teaching excellence; Give the Gift of Techhttps://spark.parkland.edu/prospectus_2010/1031/thumbnail.jp

Quasi-pseudo-metrization of topological preordered spaces

We establish that every second countable completely regularly preordered space (E,T,\leq) is quasi-pseudo-metrizable, in the sense that there is a quasi-pseudo-metric p on E for which the pseudo-metric p\veep^-1 induces T and the graph of \leq is exactly the set {(x,y): p(x,y)=0}. In the ordered case it is proved that these spaces can be characterized as being order homeomorphic to subspaces of the ordered Hilbert cube. The connection with quasi-pseudo-metrization results obtained in bitopology is clarified. In particular, strictly quasi-pseudometrizable ordered spaces are characterized as being order homeomorphic to order subspaces of the ordered Hilbert cube.Comment: Latex2e, 20 pages. v2: minor changes in the proof of theorem 2.

A Sphingosine Kinase Form 2 Knockout Sensitizes Mouse Myocardium to Ischemia/Reoxygenation Injury and Diminishes Responsiveness to Ischemic Preconditioning

Sphingosine kinase (SphK) exhibits two isoforms, SphK1 and SphK2. Both forms catalyze the synthesis of sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), a sphingolipid involved in ischemic preconditioning (IPC). Since the ratio of SphK1 : SphK2 changes dramatically with aging, it is important to assess the role of SphK2 in IR injury and IPC. Langendorff mouse hearts were subjected to IR (30 min equilibration, 50 min global ischemia, and 40 min reperfusion). IPC consisted of 2 min of ischemia and 2 min of reperfusion for two cycles. At baseline, there were no differences in left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP), ± dP/dtmax, and heart rate between SphK2 null (KO) and wild-type (WT) hearts. In KO hearts, SphK2 activity was undetectable, and SphK1 activity was unchanged compared to WT. Total SphK activity was reduced by 53%. SphK2 KO hearts subjected to IR exhibited significantly more cardiac damage (37 ± 1% infarct size) compared with WT (28 ± 1% infarct size); postischemic recovery of LVDP was lower in KO hearts. IPC exerted cardioprotection in WT hearts. The protective effect of IPC against IR was diminished in KO hearts which had much higher infarction sizes (35 ± 2%) compared to the IPC/IR group in control hearts (12 ± 1%). Western analysis revealed that KO hearts had substantial levels of phosphorylated p38 which could predispose the heart to IR injury. Thus, deletion of the SphK2 gene sensitizes the myocardium to IR injury and diminishes the protective effect of IPC

Prospectus, September 29, 2010

PYGMALION MUSIC FESTIVAL TAKES OVER C-U; Chuck Shepherd’s News of the Weird; Pygmalion Music Festival, until we meet again..; 45 Seconds with Fang Island; A chat with Pygmalion Music Festival founder Seth Fein; Interview with So Long Forgotten; Current competition among Internet companies is best path for consumers; The media as enabler; Pygmalion highlights in review; A Surgeon’s Wingman: Surgical Technicians; Meet Parkland’s President, Dr. Tom Ramage; Prospectus Pick: Scott Pilgrim; Odessa: interview with Dan Snaith of Caribou; Cobras Volleyball shines during home invitational; A word with Mike Kinsella of Owenhttps://spark.parkland.edu/prospectus_2010/1023/thumbnail.jp

Prospectus, December 8, 2010

THE UNITED STATES DRAFT AND YOU; Looking out for college students; Spirituality finds a home at college; Chuck Shepherd\u27s News of the Weird; Eminem gets 10 Grammy nominations; Remember, its the thought that counts; Parkland Theatre presents: Nuncrackers: Bringing a whole lotta\u27 Nunsense to the community; Decoding Your Final Exam; America\u27s young scientists at risk; 5 ways to avoid family during the holidays; How to survive the winter; Prospectus Pick: Halford III: Winter Songs; Harry Potter\u27s magic brings full house to local theaters; Ask MNN: Is it better to idle or turn your car off?; Gadgets: Headphones, gear to haul your gadgets, a do-it-all printer and a book on best apps; A guide to events over holiday break; Starting teens on plastic can be costly; Cobra Men\u27s winning streak hits 5 with pair of wins; Cobra athletics food drive; #10 Parkland Women surprise #6 Lake Land; Access Success: Meteorologist Jennifer Ketchmark; A dying trend: Holiday movieshttps://spark.parkland.edu/prospectus_2010/1032/thumbnail.jp

Prospectus, September 15, 2010

WHAT A COMMUNITY COLLEGE HAS TO OFFER; Zombies lumber into university curriculum; Chuck Shepherd’s News of the Weird; The greatness of movie soundtracks; Welcome week at Parkland: How it all went down; Socially conscious shoppers look for the fair-trade label, but what does it mean?; A fate worse than death; Fidel Castro, former Cuban president turned Internet junkie; Parkland to take trip to Vienna; Caution children at play: How students can keep their ldds safe at Parkland; Super-sized is the new normal; Prospectus Pick: Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger; Go tech-free for 24 hours and say hello to loved ones; Building from success: Parkland aims high for fall athletics; Parkland Art Gallery Art & Design Faculty Exhibitionhttps://spark.parkland.edu/prospectus_2010/1022/thumbnail.jp

Prospectus, November 17, 2010

THE ORIGIN OF THANKSGIVING; A Cornucopia of Cultures; Chuck Shepherd\u27s News of Weird; Album Review: Matt & Kim\u27s Sidewalks; How to survive group projects; A guide to great holiday buys; Season of Light warms audiences with history of holiday lights, rituals; No, Internet won\u27t kill the video star; Ye Old Letters To the Editor; The Office of Disability Services: A Solution for those in need; Athletes use fame for those who will never be famous; Easy Eats: Thanksgiving recipes to bring to the tablehttps://spark.parkland.edu/prospectus_2010/1030/thumbnail.jp

Prospectus, March 16, 2011

HOW TO TRAVEL SMART DURING SPRING BREAK; As weather shifts, coffee farmers struggle; How to enjoy a stay-cation; Chuck Shepherd\u27s News of the Weird; Album Review: Radiohead\u27s King Of Limbs; Survey shows hesitance in student support for ARIS; Polarization likely to worsen; Selling fake dreams; Piracy near Somalia; Staff create SPARK from student, faculty works; Comic Con Hits the C-U; Bonus Stage! The official gaming column of the Prospectus; News quiz; Cobras stand out in conference honors; Spring sports now underway; Getting helphttps://spark.parkland.edu/prospectus_2011/1030/thumbnail.jp