Analysis of High-Speed Rail Implementation Alternatives in the Northeast Corridor: the Role of Institutional and Technological Flexibility

In this paper, an engineering systems framework using the CLIOS Process, scenario analysis, and flexibility analysis is used to study the implementation of a high-speed rail corridor in the Northeast Corridor of the United States. Given the tremendous uncertainty that characterizes high-speed rail projects, the implementation of the alternatives proposed, which are very similar to other commonly accepted ways to implement high-speed rail in the corridor, are analyzed under different scenarios. The results motivate incorporation of flexibility into the alternatives to allow decision makers to adapt as situations evolve. While designing-in this flexibility has a cost, it may facilitate the implementation of the alternatives by enabling adaptation to uncertain outcomes, thereby improving performance

Selection of Post-Acute Care for Stroke Patients

Background: Significant variation exists in post-acute care for stroke survivors. This study examines referral practices of occupational and physical therapists for patients after acute stroke. Method: Occupational therapists (OTs) and physical therapists (PTs) were surveyed either electronically or in person at a national conference. The respondents selected the most appropriate referral for each of five case vignettes. The referral choices included Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF), Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF), Long-Term Acute Care Hospital (LTACH), home with home services, or home with outpatient services. Demographic data included practice location, setting, and duration. The respondents were also asked to rate how strongly 15 clinical factors influence their referral decisions. Results: The 33 OTs and 41 PTs favored similar referrals. Consensus was observed in four of the five cases. No differences were observed among the respondents based on practice location, practice setting, or number of years in practice and the referrals. Prognosis for functional improvement and pre-stroke functional status were identified as the most important factors influencing referral decisions. Conclusion: Further studies are needed to define areas of broad consensus as well as areas of disagreement, with subsequent efforts to clarify optimal treatment algorithms for patients who currently receive variable rehabilitative care

Balancing Surface Passivation and Catalysis with Integrated BiVO_4/(Fe-Ce)O_x Photoanodes in pH 9 Borate Electrolyte

The performance of oxygen-evolving photoanodes based on bismuth vanadate (BiVO_4) is critically determined by the surface coating. While these coatings passivate surface defects, transport photogenerated holes, protect against corrosion, and aid catalysis, their optimal composition changes with operating pH, thus affecting overall performance. We use high-throughput photoelectrochemistry methods to map photoanode performance to enable the discovery of optimal composition and loading of Ce-rich sputter-deposited (Fe–Ce)O_x overlayers on undoped BiVO_4 in pH 9 borate buffer electrolyte. The optimal composition is found to be 20% Fe and 80% Ce with an optimal Fe + Ce metal loading of 0.9 nmol mm^(–2). Analysis of the composition and loading dependence of (i) the photocurrent transients upon illumination toggling, (ii) stabilized photocurrent densities, and (iii) photogenerated hole-transfer efficiency reveals the confluence of phenomena that gives rise to the optimal performance yielding nearly perfect transfer efficiency over a narrow composition window

NEC FUTURE Tier I Scoping Process: Public Comment

Utilizing its special expertise, the Regional Transportation Planning and High Speed Rail Research Group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) sought to provide input via public comment to the NEC FUTURE Tier I scoping process. Earlier in 2012, we completed a comprehensive look at the complexities and challenges associated with mobility in the NEC. This submittal is based on a report prepared for and funded by the Institute for Transportation Policy Studies (ITPS) in Tokyo, Japan, entitled Transportation in the Northeast Corridor of the U.S.: A Multimodal and Intermodal Conceptual Framework. We applied novel combinations of system analysis methods to seek new insights for planning in this corridor. With the lessons learned from this account, we seek to provide input to the NEC FUTURE scoping process, and enrich the NEC FUTURE Tier I EIS study. We recognize that the Purpose and Need and a comprehensive and carefully articulated range of alternatives are of utmost importance for the EIS process, and we are focusing our comments in these two areas. With our lessons learned, we hope to offer insights useful in formulating and refining the project’s Purpose and Need, and as well in defining the alternatives to be considered

NEC FUTURE Preliminary Alternatives Report: Public Comment

The United States Department of Transportation's Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is currently in the early stages of a planning process to define a 30-year passenger rail investment plan for the Northeast Corridor (NEC), between Boston and Washington, D.C. In the Spring of 2013, NEC FUTURE (the name of the planning process), released a Preliminary Alternatives Report, containing 15 possible alternatives for passenger rail infrastructure investment. This working paper contains a memo from the Regional Transportation Planning and High Speed Rail Research Group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) responding to the Preliminary Alternatives Report, as well as following up on the group's previous public comments to NEC FUTURE (ESD-WP-2012-27 NEC FUTURE Tier I Scoping Process: Public Comment). The memo focuses on the group's reactions in three areas: “goals and objectives, and evaluation of the alternatives,” “planning under uncertainty and flexible alternatives,” and “institutional assumptions.” These comments also build on the knowledge gained from report prepared for and funded by the Institute for Transportation Policy Studies (ITPS) in Tokyo, Japan, entitled Transportation in the Northeast Corridor of the U.S.: A Multimodal and Intermodal Conceptual Framework

Ariel - Volume 9 Number 3

Executive Editor Emily Wofford Business Manager Fredric Jay Matlin University News John Patrick Welch World News George Robert Coar Editorials Editor Steve Levine Features Mark Rubin Brad Feldstein Photo Rick Spaide Circulation Victor Onufreiczuk Lee Wugofski Graphics and Art Steve Hulkower Commons Editor Brenda Peterso

The Long-Term Impact of Physical and Emotional Trauma: The Station Nightclub Fire

Background: Survivors of physical and emotional trauma experience enduring occupational, psychological and quality of life impairments. Examining survivors from a large fire provides a unique opportunity to distinguish the impact of physical and emotional trauma on long-term outcomes. The objective is to detail the multi-dimensional long-term effects of a large fire on its survivor population and assess differences in outcomes between survivors with and without physical injury. Methods and Findings: This is a survey-based cross-sectional study of survivors of The Station fire on February 20, 2003. The relationships between functional outcomes and physical injury were evaluated with multivariate regression models adjusted for pre-injury characteristics and post-injury outcomes. Outcome measures include quality of life (Burn Specific Health Scale–Brief), employment (time off work), post-traumatic stress symptoms (Impact of Event Scale–Revised) and depression symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory). 104 fire survivors completed the survey; 47% experienced a burn injury. There was a 42% to 72% response rate range. Although depression and quality of life were associated with burn injury in univariate analyses (p<0.05), adjusted analyses showed no significant relationship between burn injury and these outcomes (p = 0.91; p = .51). Post-traumatic stress symptoms were not associated with burn injury in the univariate (p = 0.13) or adjusted analyses (p = 0.79). Time off work was the only outcome in which physical injury remained significant in the multivariate analysis (p = 0.03). Conclusions: Survivors of this large fire experienced significant life disruption, including occupational, psychological and quality of life sequelae. The findings suggest that quality of life, depression and post-traumatic stress outcomes are related to emotional trauma, not physical injury. However, physical injury is correlated with employment outcomes. The long-term impact of this traumatic event underscores the importance of longitudinal and mental health care for trauma survivors, with attention to those with and without physical injuries