scholarly journals Evidence from Urban Roads without Bicycle Lanes on the Impact of Bicycle Traffic on Passenger Car Travel Speeds

Author(s):  
Jaclyn S. Schaefer ◽  
Miguel A. Figliozzi ◽  
Avinash Unnikrishnan

A concern raised by some motorists in relation to the presence of bicycles on urban roads without bicycle lanes, discussed in part of the traffic literature, is that cyclists will slow down motorized vehicles and therefore create congestion. This research answers this question: do bicycles reduce passenger car travel speeds on urban roads without bicycle lanes? To answer this question, a detailed comparative analysis of the travel speeds of passenger car (class two vehicles) on lower volume urban roads without bicycle lanes is presented. Speed distributions, the mean, and the 50th and 85th percentile speeds for two scenarios were examined: (i) a passenger car that was preceded by a bicycle and (ii) a passenger car that was preceded by another passenger car. Peak hour traffic and 24-h traffic speeds were analyzed using t-tests and confidence intervals. Although a few statistically significant differences between scenarios (i) and (ii) were found, the actual speed differences were generally in the order of 1 mph or less. Therefore, differences in class two (motorized passenger) vehicle speeds with and without cyclists were found to be negligible from a practical perspective.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dil Rowshan

This study aimed to explore the impact of the Places to Grow Plan 2006 on travel behavior of the work commuters living in GTHA. A comparative analysis was done between the year 2001 and 2011 which represent the situations five year before and after the implementation of the Plan. Data were collected from Transportation Tomorrow Survey. The study revealed that in 2011, energy consumption by motorized vehicles increased in the Traffic Assessment Zones of GTHA around the Growth Centres designated by the Places to Grow Plan. Active transportation increased mainly in Toronto in 2011. It is apprehended that the intensification strategy of the Places to Grow Plan contributed in increasing the energy consumption of work commuters either by increasing the number of trips or length of trips made by motorized vehicles (including cars and different forms of transit) which also affect the Greenhouse Gas emissions in the atmosphere.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dil Rowshan

This study aimed to explore the impact of the Places to Grow Plan 2006 on travel behavior of the work commuters living in GTHA. A comparative analysis was done between the year 2001 and 2011 which represent the situations five year before and after the implementation of the Plan. Data were collected from Transportation Tomorrow Survey. The study revealed that in 2011, energy consumption by motorized vehicles increased in the Traffic Assessment Zones of GTHA around the Growth Centres designated by the Places to Grow Plan. Active transportation increased mainly in Toronto in 2011. It is apprehended that the intensification strategy of the Places to Grow Plan contributed in increasing the energy consumption of work commuters either by increasing the number of trips or length of trips made by motorized vehicles (including cars and different forms of transit) which also affect the Greenhouse Gas emissions in the atmosphere.


Author(s):  
M. Al Saji ◽  
J. J. O'Sullivan ◽  
A. O'Connor

Abstract. Stationarity in hydro-meteorological records is often investigated through an assessment of the mean value of the tested parameter. This is arguably insufficient for capturing fully the non-stationarity signal, and parameter variance is an equally important indicator. This study applied the Mann-Kendall linear and Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon step change trend detection techniques to investigate the changes in the mean and variance of annual maximum daily rainfalls at eight stations in Dublin, Ireland, where long and high quality daily rainfall records were available. The eight stations are located in a geographically similar and spatially compact region (< 950 km2) and their rainfalls were shown to be well correlated. Results indicate that while significant positive step changes were observed in mean annual maximum daily rainfalls (1961 and 1997) at only two of the eight stations, a significant and consistent shift in the variance was observed at all eight stations during the 1980's. This period saw a widely noted positive shift in the winter North Atlantic Oscillation that greatly influences rainfall patterns in Northern Europe. Design estimates were obtained from a frequency analysis of annual maximum daily rainfalls (AM series) using the Generalised Extreme Value distribution, identified through application of the Modified Anderson Darling Goodness of Fit criterion. To evaluate the impact of the observed non-stationarity in variance on rainfall design estimates, two sets of depth-frequency relationships at each station for return periods from 5 to 100-years were constructed. The first was constructed with bootstrapped confidence intervals based on the full AM series assuming stationarity and the second was based on a partial AM series commencing in the year that followed the observed shift in variance. Confidence intervals distinguish climate signals from natural variability. Increases in design daily rainfall estimates obtained from the depth-frequency relationship developed from the truncated AM series, as opposed to those using the full series, ranged from 5 to 16% for the 5-year event and from 20 to 41% for the 100-year event. Results indicate that the observed trends exceed the envelopes of natural climate variability and suggest that the non-stationarity in variance is associated with a climate change signal. Results also illustrate the importance of considering trends in higher order moments (e.g. variance) of hydro-meteorological variables in assessing non-stationarity influences.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-91
Author(s):  
Amy Price ◽  
Maria Yulmetova ◽  
Sarah Khalil

AbstractIce management is critical for safe and efficient operations in ice-covered waters; thus, it is important to understand the impact of the operator’s experience in effective ice management performance. This study evaluated the confidence intervals of the mean and probability distributions of two different sample groups, novice cadets and experienced seafarers, to evaluate if there was a difference in effective ice management depending on the operator’s level of experience. The ice management effectiveness, in this study, is represented by the “clearing-to-distance ratio” that is the ratio between the area of cleared ice (km2) and the distance travelled by an ice management vessel (km) to maintain that cleared area. The data analysed in this study was obtained from a recent study conducted by Memorial University’s “Safety at Sea” research group. With the distribution fitting analysis providing inconclusive results regarding the normality of the data, the confidence intervals of the dataset means were obtained using both parametric approaches, such as t-test, Cox’s method, and Johnson t-approach, and non-parametric methods, namely Jackknife and Bootstrap methods, to examine if the assumption of normality was valid. The comparison of the obtained confidence interval results demonstrates that the mean efficiency of the cadets is more consistent, while it is more varied among seafarers. The noticeable difference in ice management performance between the cadet and seafarer sample groups is revealed, thus, proving that crew experience positively influences ice management effectiveness.


Author(s):  
Samer A. Kharroubi ◽  
Yara Beyh ◽  
Esmail Abdul Fattah ◽  
Tracey Young

Background: The parameter uncertainty in the six-dimensional health state short form (SF-6D) value sets is commonly ignored. There are two sources of parameter uncertainty: uncertainty around the estimated regression coefficients and uncertainty around the model’s specification. This study explores these two sources of parameter uncertainty in the value sets using probabilistic sensitivity analysis (PSA) and a Bayesian approach. Methods: We used data from the original UK/SF-6D valuation study to evaluate the extent of parameter uncertainty in the value set. First, we re-estimated the Brazier model to replicate the published estimated coefficients. Second, we estimated standard errors around the predicted utility of each SF-6D state to assess the impact of parameter uncertainty on these estimated utilities. Third, we used Monte Carlo simulation technique to account for the uncertainty on these estimates. Finally, we used a Bayesian approach to quantifying parameter uncertainty in the value sets. The extent of parameter uncertainty in SF-6D value sets was assessed using data from the Hong Kong valuation study. Results: Including parameter uncertainty results in wider confidence/credible intervals and improved coverage probability using both approaches. Using PSA, the mean 95% confidence intervals widths for the mean utilities were 0.1394 (range: 0.0565–0.2239) and 0.0989 (0.0048–0.1252) with and without parameter uncertainty whilst, using the Bayesian approach, this was 0.1478 (0.053–0.1665). Upon evaluating the impact of parameter uncertainty on estimates of a population’s mean utility, the true standard error was underestimated by 79.1% (PSA) and 86.15% (Bayesian) when parameter uncertainty was ignored. Conclusions: Parameter uncertainty around the SF-6D value set has a large impact on the predicted utilities and estimated confidence intervals. This uncertainty should be accounted for when using SF-6D utilities in economic evaluations. Ignoring this additional information could impact misleadingly on policy decisions.


Author(s):  
Jaclyn S. Schaefer ◽  
Miguel A. Figliozzi ◽  
Avinash Unnikrishnan

Higher bicycle mode share has been suggested as part of a solution to reduce the burden of congestion in urban areas. As strategies to promote cycling are implemented, concerns have been raised by some road users and stakeholders citing simulation-based traffic studies that indicate that an increase in the bicycle mode share generates major travel time delays via reduced vehicle speeds unless bicycle lanes are provided. The current research investigates the effects bicycles may have on motorized vehicle speeds on a variety of lower speed and volume urban roads without bicycle lanes. A detailed comparative analysis of passenger car speeds was performed using two vehicle scenarios: (i) a passenger car that was preceded by a bicycle; and (ii) a passenger car that was preceded by another passenger car. The mean and 85th percentile speeds of scenarios (i) and (ii) were analyzed using t-tests. Relationships between speed and gap times with oncoming (opposite direction) traffic were also investigated. The results indicate that, at most sites (92%), bicycles do not reduce passenger car mean speeds by more than 1 mph. Speed reductions are not generally observed in local streets or facilities with adequate gaps in oncoming traffic for overtaking.


Author(s):  
Isaac Eguarkhide Ogah ◽  
Ekpete A. Ozioma

Introduction: Pollution of the environment by heavy metals has caused serious environmental problems, which threatens the existence of various ecological system, agriculture and human health. This study assessed the comparative analysis of some heavy metals levels in leaves, peels and tubers of cassava planted along East-West Road Rivers State. Materials/Methods: Cassava leaves and tubers samples were collected from farmlands along East-West road (SX, SY and SZ communities, in Emohua, Tai, and Ahoada West LGA respectively), Rivers state, Nigeria. The samples were monitored for heavy metals levels to assess the impact of automobiles on cassava peels, leaves and tubers using Solar Thermo Elementary Atomic Absorption Spectrometer, ModelSG 71906. Metals studied were Lead (Pb), Nickel (Ni), Chromium (Cr), Cadmium (Cd), and Arsenic (As). Results: The mean concentration of Ni present in leaf was 2.81±0.104 mg/kg, tubers recorded 2.23±0.073 mg/kg and peels 3.20±0.06 mg/kg. The highest concentration (4.064±0.035 mg/kg) of Ni was observed in peels while the least concentration (1.80±1.023 mg/kg) was recorded in the tubers. The mean values of Pb in leaves, tubers and peels were 2.22±1.023 mg/kg, 1.80±1.023 mg/kg and 2.64±0.32, highest concentration was recorded in tubers. Arsenic values were 0.16±0.020 mg/kg > 0.51±0.021 mg/kg > 0.38±0.203 mg/kg in peels, tubers and leaves respectively. The values of As were above WHO safe limit of 0.1mg/kg. Also, the mean values of cadmium in leaves, tubers and peels were 0.054±0.570 mg/kg, 0.046±0.057 mg/kg and 0.16±0.609 mg/kg respectively. The highest concentration (0.138±0.109 mg/kg) was in the tubers. Finally, chromium was found to be present in all the cassava samples (leaves, peels and tubers). The mean concentration of chromium (Cr) was 3.58±0.023 mg/kg, 2.76±0.005 mg/kg and 3.83±0.203 mg/kg in leaves, tubers and peels respectively. Conclusion: From the findings, heavy metals were found in the samples and thus, crops should be cultivated far away from major roads.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 19
Author(s):  
Rimsha Naz ◽  
Danish Ahmed Siddiqui

This literature investigated the impact of corporate reputation on companies’ performance and their market valuation in the Pakistan stock market. We attempted to explore whether companies with a high reputation for sustainability also perform better in the Pakistan stock market. Verifying signaling theory and asset-based theories on the Pakistani market, we explained why associations signal their promise to practicality to influence the outer point of view on reputation. A company's standing for being focused on supportability is a theoretical asset that can expand the estimation of an association's normal cash flows or potentially lessen the inconstancy of its cash flows. For finding out the companies with a reputation with sustainability, we used the PSX criteria of the award list. Data was taken from 2014 to 2018 (five years) from the award list announced by Pakistan stock exchange limited. We classify a company as an award company if it continuously got included in the PSX award list in a specified period of four out of five times. Similarly, a non-award company was classified as an accompanying with the same market capitalization as Award Company but not included in the list. In this way, 12 awards and 24 non-award companies were shortlisted. We also include 12 non-award companies of the same sector and market capitalization for sector analysis between reputation and non-reputation. Comparative analysis was carried out through 1-way ANOVA and factor affecting and market valuation of the two groups were explored using regression analysis. These factors included net income (NI), book value of equity (BV), Size, ROE, ROA, and Leverage (LEV) represented by debt ratio. According to expectation, our results of t-test suggested that the mean of all variables for award and non-award companies are significantly different and the mean of award companies are higher than their counter part. One way Anova consequences of sectorial examination demonstrated that concerning net gain, there is huge contrast between the methods for trustworthy organizations and non-respectable organizations in seven out of nine areas. Regression Analysis prove our equation that independent variable has significant impact on dependent variable. Our findings showed that the overall firms with incredible sustainability reputation and managed to name on award list of our sample year has greater valuation by the market when stood out from their counterparty (non-award companies). Hence, our results imply that organizations have to focus on their reputation for corporate sustainability which in turn improve their financial position and enhance their market valuation.


MOJ Surgery ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 35-38
Author(s):  
Belén Matías-García ◽  
Ana Sánchez-Gollarte ◽  
Ana Quiroga-Valcárcel ◽  
Fernando Mendoza-Moreno ◽  
Javier Mínguez-García ◽  
...  

Introduction: COVID-19 infection has spread throughout the world and is considered a pandemic. Since its appearance, the number of non-COVID-19 patients admitted to hospitals has decreased and patients differ care for emergency diseases. We analyze the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic on the management of acute cholecystitis. Material and methods: Retrospective observational study that includes all patients diagnosed with acute cholecystitis during the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic (period between March 11th and June 21st, 2020) and patients diagnosed with acute cholecystitis in the same period, the previous year in our center. Patient’s features, management, postoperative complications and mean hospital stay were compared. Results: In 2020, 19 patients with acute cholecystitis were diagnosed compared to 21 who were registered in the same period in 2019. The mean number of days from symptoms onset in 2020 was 2.42±1.8 days, while in 2019 it was 3.5±3.1 days (p=0.32). The percentage of cholecystectomies, percutaneous cholecystostomies and conservative management was similar in both periods. Among patients who underwent cholecystectomy in 2020, 37.5% had no complications, 62.5% had accidental opening of the gallbladder, and none had bleeding. Among patients who underwent cholecystectomy in 2019, 81.8% had no complications, 9.09% had accidental opening of the gallbladder, and 9.09% presented bleeding. The mean stay in 2020 was 4.21±3.2 days, compared to 8.57±7.4 days in 2019 (p=0.005). Two patients of 19 diagnosed with acute cholecystitis in 2020 had COVID-19 disease. Conclusion: The mean stay of the patients was shorter in 2020 period. These results can be explained by an early surgical management. So, early laparoscopic cholecystectomy should be considered as a treatment for acute cholecystitis in COVID-19 times if the clinical and hospital situation allows it. We found no differences in the number of patients diagnosed with acute cholecystitis between the two periods, nor in the mean number of days from the onset of symptoms.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 691-703
Author(s):  
Raj K. Kohli ◽  
◽  
Anurag Pant

Assurance of Learning (AOL) has become an increasingly important dimension in Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) evaluation standards. In this case study, the authors developed and used a distinct AOL model to measure the impact on students learning in a capstone finance course at a state university in Indiana. Direct assessment of students learning is tested in closely controlled classroom environment through exam. A comparative analysis is completed using AOL developed model for the years 2017 and 2018. The findings suggest the mean non-AOL grade (85.67%) is significantly higher than the mean AOL grade (58.60%) in the year 2017. The same was observed in 2018, the mean non-AOL (85.53%) was significantly greater than the mean AOL grade (70.96). A poor performance in AOL model category indicates that the AOL model developed for this study successfully measures Assessment Process.


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