FORWARD SHIPPING OPTIONS FOR GRAIN BY RAIL: A STRATEGIC RISK ANALYSIS

Grain hauling railroads began offering shipping alternatives in the late 1980s that have made transportation decisions more strategic. Shippers now confront alternatives ranging from nearby and unguaranteed ordering to various durations of forward and guaranteed shipment. A dynamic stochastic simulation model was developed to analyze grain shipping and merchandising strategies that integrate these alternatives.railroads, grain merchandising, logistics, simulation, risk analysis, Crop Production/Industries, Marketing,

Identity Implications of Influence Goals: Similarities in Perceived face Threats and Facework Across Sex and Close Relationships

Abstract OnlyThis study tests the generalizability of Wilson, Aleman, & Leatham’s revised analysis of face threats and facework during compliance-gaining episodes. According to this revised analysis, threats to face arise from tacit knowledge about (a) specific influence goals (e.g., giving advice, asking favors) and (b) the rules for directives (e.g., requests) that underlie any attempt to seek compliance. Both types of knowledge are shared widely; hence, the distinct face threats of advice versus favors should generalize across sex and close relationships. Message sources give reasons as facework to redress particular face threats in an episode defined by a specific influence goal; hence, patterns of reason giving also should differ in advice versus favor episodes. Participants (N = 231 undergraduates) recalled an actual conversation in which they either gave advice to or asked a favor of a close same-sex friend, opposite-sex friend, or romantic partner and then rated threats to the message target’s face and their own. Results for both perceived face threats and reason giving are consistent with the revised analysis. Comparisons with Brown and Levinson’s politeness theory, as well as implications for future research, are drawn

A Semantically Motivated Gestural Interface for the Control of Audio Dynamic Range

This paper proposes and tests the efficacy of a 2D gestural interface as a means of controlling audio processing parameters. The process of parameter mapping and subsequent optimisation can be applied within a 3D environment. Highly immersive computer interfaces, such as those found in modern virtual reality systems, offer an alternative platform suitable for 'virtual mixing desk' implementation, using a mixture of familiar controls and novel gestural control. By focusing on a small element of the proposed 'virtual mixing desk', audio dynamic range compression, this paper aims to evaluate the efficacy and practicality of a global gesture set. Following a large scale gesture elicitation exercise utilising a common 2D touch pad and analysis of semantic audio control parameters, a set of reduced multi-modal parameters are proposed which offers both workflow efficiency and a much simplified method of control for dynamic range compression

Embedded piezoelectrics for sensing and energy harvesting in total knee replacement units

The knee replacement is the second most common orthopedic surgical intervention in the United States, but currently only 1 in 5 knee replacement patients are satisfied with their level of pain reduction one year after surgery. It is imperative to make the process of knee replacement surgery more objective by developing a data driven approach to ligamentous balance, which increases implant life. In this work, piezoelectric materials are considered for both sensing and energy harvesting applications in total knee replacement implants. This work aims to embed piezoelectric material in the polyethylene bearing of a knee replacement unit to act as self-powered sensors that will aid in the alignment and balance of the knee replacement by providing intraoperative feedback to the surgeon. Postoperatively, the piezoelectric sensors can monitor the structural health of the implant in order to perceive potential problems before they become bothersome to the patient. Specifically, this work will present on the use of finite element modeling coupled with uniaxial compression testing to prove that piezoelectric stacks can be utilized to harvest sufficient energy to power sensors needed for this application. © (2015) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only

Nighttime chemistry at a high altitude site above Hong Kong

Nighttime reactions of nitrogen oxides influence ozone, volatile organic compounds, and aerosol and are thus important to the understanding of regional air quality. Despite large emissions and rapid recent growth of nitrogen oxide concentrations, there are few studies of nighttime chemistry in China. Here we present measurements of nighttime nitrogen oxides, NO3 and N2O5, from a coastal mountaintop site in Hong Kong adjacent to the megacities of the Pearl River Delta region. This is the first study of nighttime chemistry from a site within the residual layer in China. Key findings include the following. First, highly concentrated urban NOx outflow from the Pearl River Delta region was sampled infrequently at night, with N2O5 mixing ratios up to 8 ppbv (1 min average) or 12 ppbv (1 s average) in nighttime aged air masses. Second, the average N2O5 uptake coefficient was determined from a best fit to the available steady state lifetime data as γ(N2O5) = 0.014 ± 0.007. Although this determination is uncertain due to the difficulty of separating N2O5 losses from those of NO3, this value is in the range of previous residual layer determinations of N2O5 uptake coefficients in polluted air in North America. Third, there was a significant contribution of biogenic hydrocarbons to NO3 loss inferred from canister samples taken during daytime. Finally, daytime N2O5 mixing ratios were in accord with their predicted photochemical steady state. Heterogeneous uptake of N2O5 in fog is determined to be an important production mechanism for soluble nitrate, even during daytime. Key Points Large (up to 12 ppbv N2O5) but infrequent nocturnal NOx outflow from the Pearl River Delta Average N2O5 uptake coefficients 0.014 ± 0.007, in line with residual layer measurements in the U.S. Daytime N2O5 follows predicted steady state but rapidly produces soluble nitrate in fog.Department of Civil and Environmental Engineerin