Net Effects of Gasoline Price Changes on Transit Ridership in U.S. Urban Areas, MTI Report 12-19

Using panel data of transit ridership and gasoline prices for ten selected U.S. urbanized areas over the time period of 2002 to 2011, this study analyzes the effect of gasoline prices on ridership of the four main transit modes—bus, light rail, heavy rail, and commuter rail—as well as their aggregate ridership. Improving upon past studies on the subject, this study accounts for endogeneity between the supply of services and ridership, and controls for a comprehensive list of factors that may potentially influence transit ridership. This study also examines short- and long-term effects and non-constant effects at different gasoline prices. The analysis found varying effects, depending on transit modes and other conditions. Strong evidence was found for positive short-term effects only for bus and the aggregate: a 0.61-0.62 percent ridership increase in response to a 10 percent increase in current gasoline prices (elasticity of 0.061 to 0.062). The long-term effects of gasoline prices, on the other hand, was significant for all modes and indicated a total ridership increase ranging from 0.84 percent for bus to 1.16 for light rail, with commuter rail, heavy rail, and the aggregate transit in response to a 10 percent increase in gasoline prices. The effects at the higher gasoline price level of over $3 per gallon were found to be more substantial, with a ridership increase of 1.67 percent for bus, 2.05 percent for commuter rail, and 1.80 percent for the aggregate for the same level of gasoline price changes. Light rail shows even a higher rate of increase of 9.34 percent for gasoline prices over$4. In addition, a positive threshold boost effect at the $3 mark of gasoline prices was found for commuter and heavy rails, resulting in a substantially higher rate of ridership increase. The results of this study suggest that transit agencies should prepare for a potential increase in ridership during peak periods that can be generated by substantial gasoline price increases over$3 per gallon for bus and commuter rail modes, and over $4 per gallon for light rail, in order to accommodate higher transit travel needs of the public through pricing strategies, general financing, capacity management, and operations planning of transit services

Examination of Regional Transit Service Under Contracting: A Case Study in the Greater New Orleans Region, Research Report 10-09

Many local governments and transit agencies in the United States face financial difficulties in providing adequate public transit service in individual systems, and in providing sufficient regional coordination to accommodate transit trips involving at least one transfer between systems. These difficulties can be attributed to the recent economic downturn, continuing withdrawal of the state and federal funds that help support local transit service, a decline in local funding for transit service in inner cities due to ongoing suburbanization, and a distribution of resources that responds to geographic equity without addressing service needs. This study examines two main research questions: (1) the effect of a “delegated management” contract on efficiency and effectiveness within a single transit system, and (2) the effects of a single private firm—contracted separately by more than one agency in the same region—on regional coordination, exploring the case in Greater New Orleans. The current situation in New Orleans exhibits two unique transit service conditions. First, New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA) executed a “delegated management” contract with a multinational private firm, outsourcing more functions (e.g., management, planning, funding) to the contractor than has been typical in the U.S. Second, as the same contractor has also been contracted by another transit agency in an adjacent jurisdiction—Jefferson Transit (JeT), this firm may potentially have economic incentives to improve regional coordination, in order to increase the productivity and effectiveness of its own transit service provision. Although the limited amount of available operation and financial data has prevented us from drawing more definitive conclusions, the findings of this multifaceted study should provide valuable information on a transit service contracting approach new to the U.S.: delegated management. This study also identified a coherent set of indices with which to evaluate the regional coordination of transit service, the present status of coordination among U.S. transit agencies, and barriers that need to be resolved for regional transit coordination to be successful

Neutron Irradiation Effects of V-Ti Binary Alloys

Mechanical Properties and microstructures of four kinds of V-Ti binary alloys were examined before and after neutron irradiation. The neutron irradiation was done in JMTR (Japan Material Testing Reactor) at an ambient temperature up to 1.5xl0^ n/m^2 (E>0.1MeV) and in RTNS-II (Rotating Target Neutron Source-II) at room temperature up to 5x10^n/m^2 (14MeV). The tensile yield strength of unirradiated V-Ti alloys increased with Ti contents, it indicated a maximum value at near V-40Ti and slightly decreased at V-60Ti. The yield strength of high Ti contents V alloys were slightly affected by neutron irradiations. JMTR irradiation gave many effects on the tensile property, while RTNS-II irradiation affected only the elongation

A. Bronson Alcott: Transcendentalist Educator

An abstract was not provided

Demographic trends in the Okinawa Dialysis Study (OKIDS) registry (1971–2000)

Demographic trends in the Okinawa Dialysis Study (OKIDS) registry (1971–2000).BackgroundThe clinical demographics of chronic dialysis patients are changing worldwide. However, long-term data from regional dialysis registries have not yet been analyzed and reported.MethodsThe Okinawa Dialysis Study (OKIDS) registry included all chronic dialysis patients treated in Okinawa, Japan, since 1971. Data for the years 1971 to 1990 were analyzed to predict trends for 1991 to 2000. The predicted values were then compared to the actual values and analyzed statistically, with particular attention being paid to relative risk of death. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis was done to analyze the time factors of relative risk of death.ResultsA total of 5246 patients (2981 men and 2265 women) were registered and the total duration of observation was 28,431 patient-years. The prevalence and incidence of dialysis patients expressed per million population were 2320 and 297, respectively, in 2000, values that were significantly higher (P < 0.02 for both) than the predicted values. The gross mortality rate per 1000 patient-years was 118.4 for 1971 to 1980, 63.3 for 1981 to 1990, and 77.7 for 1991 to 2000. The adjusted hazards ratio (95% confidence interval) for mortality was 0.743 (0.650 to 0.862) for 1981–1990 and 0.721 (0.659 to 0.790) for 1991 to 2000 in comparison to the risk of mortality in 1971 to 1980. The decrease in mortality rate was largely due to the drop in cardiac deaths from 71.0 for 1971 to 1980 to 17.2 for 1991 to 2000.ConclusionsThe incidence and prevalence of chronic dialysis patients increased more than expected over the past decade in Okinawa, Japan. Despite the rapid change in patient demographics, the survival rate did not decrease significantly

A Step Towards Global Education: Collaborative Learning Activities Using Social Network Sites

In teaching a foreign language, learners are often encouraged to use the target language to communicate with other learners and native speakers. With rapid technology and Internet progression in recent years, a number of communication tools are now available for foreign language learners and native speakers. Social network sites (SNSs) and Chat alike provide opportunities for learners to engage in social interactions. The demand for, and use of, SNS and online discussion forums for educational purposes are rapidly increasing as is evident in the quick growth of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). The Globally engaged means of education such as MOOCs form an online community and create a learning space in ways that are becoming a center of attention. Sociocultural theory (Vygotsky, 1978) can be applied to understand such learning since it emphasizes that the role of social interactions is core to learning. However, the complex issues of learning using a SNS, especially language learning are underexplored. This study investigated learners’ behavior in a virtual learning environment by examining the interactions of Japanese language learners and native speakers using a SNS. Both native speakers and learners assisted each other while they participated in a series of discussion forums on Japanese topics in Japanese language. The interactions were analyzed using a modified activity system (Engeström, 2001; Wells, 2002) created by the researcher called the Online Joint Activity System (OJAS). The OJAS allowed the study to reflect how the participants were influenced by a number of constituent components in their virtual learning environment. This paper discusses a number of factors that influenced development of discussion forums and the importance of roles played by the native speakers and the discussion leader. This paper focuses on two issues from its main findings: role of discussion leaders and discussion topics. By doing so, the paper offers recommendations for future online discussion forums so as to construct active collaborative forums

キュウセイ コキュウ アッパク ショウコウグン ニタイスル サイシン ノ コキュウ カンリ

The mortality rate of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has been still high.　A many kinds of strategies for ARDS are being tried in the world. The important factors which influence for pathological-physiology of ARDS during the mechanical ventilation are gravity consolidation, atelectasis, and ventilator induced lung injury (VILI). VILI is caused by shear stress that is induced by the repeated collapse and recruit of alveolus. Alveolar over-distention caused by large tidal volume also induces VILI. To prevent the VILI, the open lung strategy (The lung protective strategies for ARDS) is recommended. The high positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) that prevents the shear stress and a small tidal volume are necessary for ARDS treatment.　The concept of the open lung strategy is re-open of alveolus and keeping the recruited alveolus. Recruitment maneuver, preventive therapy by PEEP, and prone positioning are lately proposed in the world. Recruitment maneuver is likely to inspire the gas at the level of vital capacity. Preventive PEEP is useful for the secondary lung injury of sepsis, burn and trauma. Prone position in Intensive Care Unit that is recognized to increase the oxygenation for lung injury patients may improve the mortality of severe ARDS patients.　Key words ： Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, acute lung injury, recruitment maneuver, pressure volume curve, prone positio