Observed Traffic Pattern Changes Due to Variable Tolls

Author(s):  
Mark Burris ◽  
Michael C. Pietrzyk ◽  
Chris R. Swenson

In August 1998 the Midpoint and Cape Coral Bridges in Lee County, Florida, began charging variable tolls based on the time of day. Traffic data collected at these two bridges are examined, including the number of vehicles, by transaction payment type and by time of day. These data were analyzed to determine if variable pricing toll discounts have changed traffic patterns at the toll bridges. Data collected from January through July 1998 (before the implementation of variable pricing) were compared to data collected from August through December 1998 (during variable pricing). The data were examined in both aggregate and half-hour time increments throughout the day. This allowed for initial analysis of ways that traffic volumes have shifted by time of day due to discounted tolls. Data were also collected on the payment methods of all bridge users. This information is critical, since only those users paying their toll electronically (approximately 23 percent of transactions) are eligible for the variable pricing toll discounts. Therefore, two groups were examined separately—eligible users (the test group) and ineligible users (the control group). Variable pricing was found to have caused significant changes in the travel behavior of eligible users. On the Cape Coral and Midpoint Bridges, the number of eligible users increased significantly during the discount periods and decreased significantly during the peak periods. In contrast, changes in the traffic patterns of ineligible users were found to be statistically insignificant.

Author(s):  
Md Mehedi Hasan ◽  
Jun-Seok Oh

Traffic count stations play a key role in measuring roadway characteristics and traffic performance by collecting and monitoring travel behavior and vehicle data. Continuous counting stations (CCSs), which count traffic volumes continuously throughout the year, are used to develop seasonal adjustment factors to convert short-term traffic counts (average daily traffic) to annual average daily traffic (AADT). As data collection is conducted at limited locations, many state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) group the CCSs based on different traffic patterns and estimate the AADT at specific locations by considering seasonal adjustment factors. Computer-based clustering approaches are widely used in grouping continuous traffic data for their accuracy in traffic pattern recognition. However, most of the clustering techniques do not consider the spatial constraints and therefore overlooked the locational proximity and inference from nearby traffic data. In this study, a GIS-based multivariate spatial clustering approach was developed to recognize statewide traffic patterns based on temporal and spatial variables. A total of 12 optimal clusters were automatically computed and labeled based on the proposed clustering algorithm. The proposed clustering approach was compared and validated based on machine learning classifiers. The results showed that it outperformed the traditional Michigan DOT clustering approach and was consistent in nature across different years. The model was applied to estimate the AADT, and good accuracy was detected relative to other approaches. The proposed clustering method offers a new approach to group traffic patterns by simultaneously incorporating proximity and similarity of traffic data.


Author(s):  
Andrew R. Dattel ◽  
Francis T. Durso ◽  
Raynald Bédard

Forty-eight student pilots and recently licensed private pilots were randomly assigned to one of three training groups: procedural, conceptual, and control. Participants in the procedural group spent approximately two hours reading text and watching videos specific to the step-by-step procedures of how to fly traffic patterns and land an airplane. Participants in the conceptual group spent approximately two hours reading reasoning explanations, everyday metaphors to aviation, and viewing diagrams of traffic patterns and landings. Participants in the control group spent approximately two hours watching aviation-themed videos and reading aviation-themed text, but unrelated to traffic patterns, landings, or any other flight task. During training, participants answered questions specific to the material they were reading or watching. At the conclusion of the training participants were tested on typical and atypical traffic pattern performance, typical and atypical landing performance, and routine and non routine situations for 20 minutes in a medium fidelity flight simulator. Conceptual training was best for traffic pattern performance and atypical landings. Additionally, the conceptual group had better situation awareness than the procedural and control groups for landing situations and non routine traffic pattern situations. Finally, the procedural group did not show better performance than the control group on any test.


Author(s):  
Ashley Yelds ◽  
Mark Burris

Variable time-of-day toll pricing was introduced in Lee County, Florida, in August 1998, on two of the area’s five bridges. Discounted tolls were offered to drivers with transponders (required for electronic toll collection) traveling in time periods just before and after typical peak demand travel periods. A telephone survey of 400 Lee County residents was conducted in late 1998. This survey was designed to collect information on driver travel behavior and determine participation levels in the variable pricing program. The survey found that the true participation level in the variable pricing program is in the range of 2.25 percent to 9.25 percent of survey respondents. The survey also examined potential adverse effects of changes in toll prices (induced demand, changes in mode of travel); perceptions of inequity by those unable to benefit from time-of-day toll pricing; and the socioeconomic characteristics of variable pricing participants. Eligibility for the discounted tolls was restricted to only those drivers who pay their tolls electronically. Participants and nonparticipants in the variable pricing program appear to differ by type of employment and household type. Those stating they do participate in variable pricing were less likely to be employed full time than those who do not participate. Differences were also found in the primary trip purposes of participants and nonparticipants. Commuters and drivers on work-related travel were less likely to participate in the program. It can be inferred that those with flexibility in their travel plans can, and do, change their travel to take advantage of the variably priced tolls.


Author(s):  
VARSHA PALLED ◽  
DR. JITENDRA RAO ◽  
DR. RAGHUWAR DAYAL SINGH ◽  
DR. SHUCHI TRIPATHI ◽  
DR. KALPANA SINGH ◽  
...  

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) improves the healing of the implant surgical site with clinical and biochemical parameters.Thirty patients with an edentulous space spanning a single tooth were selected. The patients were randomly allocated to two groups - the control group and the test group. The test group received laser energy at a power of 2J/cm 2 with a total of 4-6J energy over each implant. Clinical parameters (Implant Stability Quotient, probing index, modified sulcus bleeding index)and osteoprotegerin (OPG) were assessed at baseline and follow-up intervals (2 weeks, 6 weeks, and 3 months).The test group showed significantly higher implant stability quotient compared to thecontrol group at 2 weeks(57.93±3.95 and 35.67±3.08; p<0.01) and 3months(58.86±3.75 and 67.06±3.78; p<0.01). A significant rise in OPG levels of the test group(686.30±125.36pg/ml at baseline and 784.25±108.30pg/ml at 3months;p<0.01) was seen contrary to significant decline in the control group (839.50±249.08pg/ml at baseline,415.30±78.39pg/ml at 3months;p<0.01). Within the limitations of the study, the study suggests that the healing of peri-implant hard and soft tissues may be enhanced with the use of LLLT as an explicit modality during the post-operative period.


2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 22
Author(s):  
Nazli Zainuddin ◽  
Nurul Azira Mohd Shah ◽  
Rosdan Salim

Introduction: The role of virgin coconut oil in the treatment of allergic rhinitis is controversial. Thus, the aim of the present study is to determine the effects of virgin coconut oil ingestion, in addition to standard medications, on allergic rhinitis. We also studied the side effects of consumption of virgin coconut oil. Methods: Fifty two subjects were equally divided into test and control groups. All subjects received a daily dose of 10mg of loratadine for 28 days. The test group was given 10ml of virgin coconut oil three times a day in addition to loratadine. The symptoms of allergic rhinitis were scored at the beginning and end of the study. Results:, the symptom score were divided into nasal and non-nasal symptom scores. Sneezing score showed a significant difference, however the score was more in control group than test group, indicating that improvement in symptom was more in control group. The rest of the nasal symptom and non-nasal symptom score showed no significant difference between test and control groups. Approximately 58% of the test subjects developed side effects from consumption of virgin coconut oil, mainly gastrointestinal side effects. Conclusion: In the present study, ingestion of virgin coconut oil does not improve the overall and individual symptoms of allergic rhinitis, furthermore it has side effects.


Author(s):  
Sherif S. Ishak ◽  
Haitham M. Al-Deek

Pattern recognition techniques such as artificial neural networks continue to offer potential solutions to many of the existing problems associated with freeway incident-detection algorithms. This study focuses on the application of Fuzzy ART neural networks to incident detection on freeways. Unlike back-propagation models, Fuzzy ART is capable of fast, stable learning of recognition categories. It is an incremental approach that has the potential for on-line implementation. Fuzzy ART is trained with traffic patterns that are represented by 30-s loop-detector data of occupancy, speed, or a combination of both. Traffic patterns observed at the incident time and location are mapped to a group of categories. Each incident category maps incidents with similar traffic pattern characteristics, which are affected by the type and severity of the incident and the prevailing traffic conditions. Detection rate and false alarm rate are used to measure the performance of the Fuzzy ART algorithm. To reduce the false alarm rate that results from occasional misclassification of traffic patterns, a persistence time period of 3 min was arbitrarily selected. The algorithm performance improves when the temporal size of traffic patterns increases from one to two 30-s periods for all traffic parameters. An interesting finding is that the speed patterns produced better results than did the occupancy patterns. However, when combined, occupancy–speed patterns produced the best results. When compared with California algorithms 7 and 8, the Fuzzy ART model produced better performance.


Author(s):  
M.T. SABITOV ◽  
A.R. FARKHUTDINOVA ◽  
M.G. MALIKOVA ◽  
N.G. FENCHENKO ◽  
N.I. KHAIRULLINA ◽  
...  

Изучена целесообразность использования в рационах телят черно-пестрой породы комплексной минерально-витаминной кормовой добавки (КМВКД). Установлено пониженное содержание в кормах таких элементов, как кальций, фосфор, магний, сера, марганец, медь, цинк и кобальт. Соотношение питательных и минеральных веществ, степень их доступности для усвоения организмом не обеспечивают их потребность. Использование КМВКД способствовало улучшению всех гематологических показателей. Все испытываемые рецепты, имеющие в своем составе разные варианты макро-, микроэлементов и витаминов положительно влияют на обменные про- цессы в организме животных. У молодняка опытной группы, получавшей подкормку по рецепту 1, количество эритроцитов в сравнении с животными контрольной группы увеличилось на 6,6, гемоглобина на 6,93 соответственно, по рецепту 2 11,05 и 11,39 по рецепту 3 16,75 и 15,27, то есть соотношение макро- и микроэлементов, имеющихся в составе КМВКД и взаимодействие между собой меди, железа и кобальта сыграли особую роль на концентрацию форменных элементов. У молодняка, получавшего подкормку по рецепту 1 количество общего белка в сравнении с животными контрольной группы увеличилось на 1,99, кальция на 16,02, каротина на 10,92 соответственно, по рецепту 2 4,91, 25,96 и 19,12 по рецепту 3 на 3,58, 27,07 и 20,21. Значительное повышение содержания белка, кальция, фосфора и каротина по сравнению с животными контрольной группы объясняется тем, что недостаток их в рационах восполнялся за счет используемой подкормки, в результате их содержание увеличилось в сыворотке, но не выходило за пределы нормативных данных и соответствовало физиологическим нормам.Practicability of using a complex mineral and vitamin feed additive (CMVFA) in the ration of black-and-white calf breed was studied. Decreased content of such elements as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sulfur, manganese, copper, zinc, and cobalt was registered. The correlation of nutritive and mineral substances, and the level of their availability for digestion did not provide for their need. CMVFA use facilitated the increase of all hematologic parameters. Tested recipes which had different content of sapropel and zeolite, as well as various types of macronutrients, microelements, and vitamins, positively influenced the digestive processes in animal bodies. Young stock from the test group that was receiving food additives according to recipe No. 1 showed 6.6 increase in the quantity of red blood cells compared to control group animals, and 6.93 increase in hemoglobin quantity the ones who were fed according to recipe No. 2 demonstrated the increase by 11.05 and 11.39 recipe No. 3 showed 16.75 and 15.27 increase, which means that the ratio of macronutrients and microelements present in CMVFA and the mutual interaction of copper, iron, and cobalt played a special role in the concentration of formed elements due to the fact that they are integral elements of blood. Total protein of young stock that was receiving food additives according to recipe No. 1 was 1.99 higher than in test group animals calcium 16.02 higher carotene 10.92 as for recipe No. 2 the values were increased by 4.91, 25.96, and 19.12 recipe No. 3 3.58, 27.07, and 20.21. Substantial increase in the content of protein, calcium, phosphorus, and carotene compared to control group animals can be explained by the fact that their insufficiency in animal feed was replenished due to the use of feed additives, and as a result their content increased in the serum but did not go beyond the norm and corresponded to physiological norms.


Author(s):  
E.R. Mukhametova ◽  
A.D. Militskova ◽  
T.V. Baltina

There are many reasons for postural disorder development, but dysfunction of the cervical spine muscles is the most disputable reason. The purpose of the study is to reveal the influence of latent myogenic trigger zones of the cervical muscles on postural resistance. Materials and Methods. The authors used the method of computer posturography. Latent myogenic trigger zones (LMTZs) were determined by an indurated nodule or bundle in the neck muscle and by hyperesthesia in this zona. Assessment of postural resistance in subjects with LMTZs was carried out using standard posturography tests and Romberg test. Both classical and vector indicators were evaluated in a standard sample. Results. In fact, only vector indicators changed significantly in subjects with multiple LMTZs (4 or more). Thus, a decrease in the equilibrium function quality was established, as well as an increase in the average linear velocity of the pressure center and an increase in the normalized vectorogram area if compared with the indices in the control group and the group with sporadic LMTZs (from 1 to 3). The obtained results indicate a postural control decrease in individuals with multiple LMTZs. Subjects with sporadic LMTZs demonstrated a significant decrease in classical and a number of vector indicators, which shows the improvement in postural resistance in this test group. In Romberg test, all subjects with LMTZs, regardless of the zone number, showed an increasd Romberg coefficient. Conclusion. Multiple LMTZs of cervical muscles can reduce postural stability through increased afferentation from the cervical proprioreceptors. It is more obvious during in case of eye control elimination. Keywords: latent myogenic trigger points, postural control, posturography, Romberg test. Выделяют множество причин развития постуральных нарушений, среди которых дисфункция мышц шейного отдела позвоночника является наиболее спорной. Цель исследования. Выявить влияние латентных миогенных триггерных зон шейной мускулатуры на постуральную устойчивость. Материалы и методы. Использовался метод компьютерной стабилографии. Латентные миогенные триггерные зоны (лМТЗ) определялись по наличию в мышце шеи уплотненного узелка или пучка и по повышенной болевой чувствительности в этой области. Оценка постуральной устойчивости у испытуемых с лМТЗ осуществлялась с помощью стандартного стабилографического тестирования и теста Ромберга. В стандартной пробе оценивались как классические, так и векторные показатели. Результаты. Показано, что у испытуемых с множественными лМТЗ (4 и более) достоверно изменяются только векторные показатели. Так, установлено снижение качества функции равновесия, а также повышение средней линейной скорости центра давления и увеличение нормированной площади векторограммы по сравнению показателями в группе контроля и группе с единичными лМТЗ (от 1 до 3), что указывает на снижение постурального контроля у лиц с множественными лМТЗ. У испытуемых с единичными лМТЗ отмечено достоверное снижение классических показателей и ряда векторных, что свидетельствует об улучшении постуральной устойчивости в данной группе испытуемых. В пробе Ромберга все субъекты с лМТЗ независимо от количества последних показали повышение коэффициента Ромберга. Выводы. Множественные лМТЗ шейной мускулатуры могут снизить постуральную устойчивость через усиление афферентации от шейных проприорецепторов, что наиболее выражено при элиминации зрительного контроля. Ключевые слова: латентные миогенные триггерные точки, постуральный контроль, стабилография, тест Ромберга.


According to the Tambovagrochemcenter data, zinc deficiency in animal rations exceeds 33%. To de-termine the efficiency of ration additives 3 groups of calves were formed, one of which was control and received regular feed, first test group received additional Zinc Sulphate, and second test group received additional Zinc Bioplex. To assess the results, we take into account the following values: chemical com-position and nutritional values of the feed, body mass value, amount of immunoglobulins in blood, bio-chemical and hematological values of blood, morphological values of fur and skin. Noticeable results were achieved in 4 months, with first and second test groups receiving accordingly 3,15% and 6,13% more body mass increase over the control group. A tendency towards higher albumin concentration in both test groups was noted, and calves of the second test group had higher amounts of hemoglobin and higher concentrations of it per erythrocyte. In samples of epidermis and hairs of the second test group the papillary layer was well developed, with the amount of hair and hair follicles exceeding 7 in the field of view, with the thickness of hairs being at least 70 μm. Inner papilla of hair contained 6 to 8 layers of hair, thickness of awn hairs reaching 80-90 μm, down hairs reaching 40 μm, with the hair cortex making up more than 80% of the hair thickness. Thus, introducing zinc salts and chelated zinc compounds to the milk-fed calves’ ration, has resulted in monetary profit increases over the control group by 255,0 and 612,0 roubles accordingly. By all researched values, the highest results were reached from adding zinc bioplex with approximately 360 mg added per animal for the entire duration of the growth process.


This study presents the results of effect of a combination of bismuth subnitrate teat canal sealant (Boviseal® -Bimeda® Animal Health, Ireland) and the antibiotic Ampicillin & Cloxacillin (Bovaclox® DC-Norbrook Laboratories Ltd-UK) when used during the dry period on occurrence of mastitis 100 days post-calving. The objectives of this study were: to determine the effect of Boviseal® teat canal sealant in combination with Bovaclox® DC in control of dairy cow mastitis 100 days after calving; to determine bacterial pathogens causing mastitis in the selected farms and to determine risk factors for occurrence of dairy mastitis in the selected farms. This controlled field trial was carried out in two Kenyan dairy farms: Chemusian Farm in Nakuru County and Gicheha Farm in Kiambu County. 156 dairy cows were used in the study. Healthy cows with no history of mastitis in their current lactation were recruited. They were randomly placed into either of the two study groups: the control and the test group. The Control group received Bovaclox® DC while the Test group received the Bovaclox® DC followed by Boviseal®. The cows were followed during the entire dry period and 100 days post-calving monitoring for mastitis occurrence. Cows in the control group were more susceptible to mastitis 100 days post-calving compared to cows in the treatment group (P<0.001, RR=4.4, OR=17.7). Of the bacterial pathogens, coagulase negative Staphylococci (CNS) were the most common pathogens isolated from mastitic milk at 34.6 % followed by Micrococcus spp. (9.0%). Other bacteria isolated were Streptococcus agalactiae (3.8%), Staphylococcus aureus (1.9%); Escherichia coli (0.6%) and various bacterial mixtures. Results of logistic regressions at P≤0.05 showed that farm, position of the quarter, type of barn floor and type of treatment were significantly associated with occurrence of mastitis. Cows in Gicheha farm whose barn floor was earthen, those cows in the control group and hindquarters were risk factors for mastitis (RR=1.5, 4.4 and 1.18 respectively). The results of this study showed that Bovaclox® DC + Boviseal® teat canal sealant combination applied during the dry period is more effective in controlling bovine mastitis 100 days post-calving compared to the use of Bovaclox® DC alone. The study thus recommends the use of Bovaclox® DC + Boviseal® dry cow combination for control of bovine mastitis.


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