Jeffrey Lidicker - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Jeffrey Lidicker

Findings

This paper synthesizes insights from a workshop on fleet electrification at the 2023 Transportati... more This paper synthesizes insights from a workshop on fleet electrification at the 2023 Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting, which included participants from transit agencies, national labs, industry, government and academia. Participants identified barriers to fleet electrification including lack of knowledge on fleet electrification, high utility demand charges, lack of charging infrastructure, delays in grid infrastructure upgrades and high up-front costs. To overcome these challenges, panelists emphasized partnering with OEMs and utilities, and having flexible charging infrastructure with software support tools. Finally, participants identified opportunities for integrating with electricity markets on peak demand management, time-of-use charging, participation in wholesale markets, and various vehicle-to-grid solutions. Based on these findings, we propose specific steps that various stakeholders like fleet operators, utilities and regulatory authorities could take.

Lecture notes in mobility, Jul 10, 2022

In recent decades pavement management optimization has been designed with the objective of minimi... more In recent decades pavement management optimization has been designed with the objective of minimizing user and agency life-cycle costs. However, pavement management decisions also have significant impacts on life-cycle energy use and environmental emissions from pavement management activity and user vehicles. This study expands beyond optimizing pavement rehabilitation strategy for minimization of life-cycle costs to also include greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. We extend previous work on the single-facility, continuous-state, continuous-time optimal pavement resurfacing problem to solve the multi-criteria optimization problem with the two objectives of minimizing costs and GHG emissions. The balance between the potentially two different optimal rehabilitation policies is found through the use of a Pareto frontier, which exists in the span between the cost- and emission- optimal strategies. The Pareto frontier provides decision makers with the dollars per tonne of GHG emissions saved...

This sailing vessel testing, data collection and analysis project examined the “real world” poten... more This sailing vessel testing, data collection and analysis project examined the “real world” potential for a novel carbon-fiber “wingsail” technology to reduce fuel use in potential passenger ferryboat applications. In the study, a series of controlled tests were performed, accomplished by using a wingsail wind-assist technology developed by Wind+Wing Technologies. The project involved building a carbon fiber wingsail that was then mounted on a 42-foot (14-meter) trimaran test vessel. The test vessel was outfitted with a complete instrumentation package with data-recording capability. The vessel was then operated on the San Francisco Bay on a daily basis over a three-month period. Data from polar routes and actual ferry routes were captured, compiled, and used for statistical analysis. This was a real world test, with a fully capable vessel and actual winds and tidal currents. The test results were conclusive that for a test vessel traveling at seven knots through water, up to 25 to 40 percent of the fuel burned can be saved through the use of the wingsail, depending on wind speed, with a corresponding reduction in greenhouse gases, toxic and criteria pollutant emissions, and fuel costs. These estimated fuel efficiency gains at a speed through water of seven knots will not necessarily translate directly to those at actual ferryboat service speeds (at 17 or more knots) but may due to the inherent ability of larger boats to sail at higher speeds at optimal efficiency points. Additional exploration of this scaling effect by boat size is suggested for further investigation.

Journal of Pelvic Medicine and Surgery, 2006

Obstetrics & Gynecology, 2007

To compare two commonly used modifications to the standard Q-tip test for urethral hypermobility:... more To compare two commonly used modifications to the standard Q-tip test for urethral hypermobility: catheter alone and catheter with Q-tip. All women referred for the evaluation of urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse were included in the study. A postvoid residual urine was collected on each patient and the angle of the urethra with the horizontal plane was measured at rest and with Valsalva with the Q-tip, catheter alone, and catheter with Q-tip. The test was considered positive if the angle of excursion was 30 degrees or more. In this group of 100 consecutive women with urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse, the mean change in the angle was significantly different from the standard Q-tip test (51 degrees) when catheter alone (35 degrees, P<.001) or catheter with Q-tip modifications were used (44 degrees, P<.001). This difference was due to a significant reduction in the resting and Valsalva maneuver angles with the catheter alone, and a significant decrease only in the Valsalva maneuver angle with the catheter with Q-tip method (P<.001). The percentage of positive tests for the standard Q-tip test (92%) was significantly different from the catheter only method (63%, P<.001), and from the catheter with Q-tip technique (83%, P=.021). The "best match" values of 10 degrees for the catheter alone, and 15 degrees for the catheter with Q-tip methods produce the best equivalent results at this time. The use of a catheter, instead of a Q-tip, in the evaluation of urethral hypermobility resulted in reduced angles of excursion from resting to Valsalva maneuver. III.

International Journal of Gynecological Pathology, 2010

To evaluate the influence of BMI on the prevalence of fibroids and uterine weight. Uterine pathol... more To evaluate the influence of BMI on the prevalence of fibroids and uterine weight. Uterine pathology specimens of all the women who underwent hysterectomy for benign indications from 1995 to 2002 were studied. Patient characteristics such as age, race, body mass index (BMI), and parity were collected by chart review. The data were statistically analyzed using a 1-way analysis of variance and regression analysis. Uterine weight and fibroids were the dependent variables and BMI, age, and parity were the independent variables. The correlation between BMI and the presence/number of fibroids and their size was also studied. Among the 873 patients who underwent hysterectomy for benign indications, 47.1% were obese and these women had the highest mean uterine weight of 349.53 g. Overall, BMI had a significant correlation with the uterine size (P<0.0001). For every 1-point increase in BMI, uterine weight increased by 7.56 g. BMI positively correlated with uterine size both in the women with fibroids (P=0.038) and in those without fibroids (P=0.016). After controlling for fibroids, every 1-point increase in BMI resulted in an increase of 4.56 g in uterine weight (P<0.0001). In addition, there was a significant correlation between BMI and the presence of fibroids (P<0.0001), but not with the size of fibroids (P=0.11). A significant correlation was found between BMI and uterine weight in all the women, independent of age and parity. For every 1-point increase in BMI, there was a 7.56 g increase in uterine weight. This association needs to be further assessed in healthy women without uterine pathology.

Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 2010

The Journal of reproductive medicine, 2009

To evaluate the impact of rapid weight loss following bariatric surgery on urinary symptom freque... more To evaluate the impact of rapid weight loss following bariatric surgery on urinary symptom frequency and overall quality of life. Validated questionnaires (Urinary Distress Inventory [UDI-6] and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire [IIQ-7]), were mailed to all women who underwent bariatric surgery at Temple University Hospital between January 2004 and March 2006. McNemar test of paired proportions was used for analysis. Mean body mass index prior to surgery was 47.5 and after surgery was 31.0, with an average weight loss of 49.2 kg. About half the subjects had stress incontinence, 32% had frequency and 24.8% had urgency at baseline. Twenty-six percent of the subjects were frustrated and emotionally distressed by the urinary symptoms at baseline, while one fifth reported interference with performing household chores, travel and other activities. There was a significant improvement in stress incontinence (p < 0.001), frequency and leakage of any degree and overall quality of life subs...

on behalf of the NO-06 Investigators T he acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remains a co... more on behalf of the NO-06 Investigators T he acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remains a considerable clinical challenge (1-10). Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) decreases pulmonary artery pressure and increases arterial oxygenation in a variety of conditions, including . Although initial trials in ARDS did not improve clinical outcome (18 -20), iNO at 5 ppm improved gas exchange, prompting a larger phase III study in the United States that excluded subjects with nonpulmonary acute organ failure or sepsis and set the primary end point as 28-day allcause mortality. Concurrently with this study, we conducted a prospective evaluation of the effects of iNO on healthcare costs, 1-year survival, and quality of life. The goals of the concurrent study were a) to test the hypotheses that, through mitigation of ARDS-associated morbidity, iNO decreased healthcare costs and improved long-term quality of life, functional status, and quality-adjusted survival; and b) to conduct a cost-effectivene...

PATH research report, 2010

This report examines the usefulness of Changeable Message Signs (CMSs), also called dynamic or va... more This report examines the usefulness of Changeable Message Signs (CMSs), also called dynamic or variable message signs, to improve safety. Typically, these programmable highway signs provide traffic updates or warnings about roadwork or road closures. More recently, they have been used to remind drivers to fasten seatbelts, but there has been little data on the signs’ effectiveness for such purposes. There was some concern, too, that drivers slowing down to read CMS messages may be interrupting traffic flow. Positive safety messages do get through to the public, and only a small percentage of drivers slow in the presence of safety campaign messages. Their slowing did not appear to disrupt overall traffic flow.

This report presents the results of a “ride-and-drive” clinic held in 2007 in Sacramento and Rich... more This report presents the results of a “ride-and-drive” clinic held in 2007 in Sacramento and Richmond, California, with a Mercedes-Benz A-Class “F-Cell” hydrogen fuel cell vehicle (FCV). The purpose of the clinic was to evaluate participant reactions to driving and riding in an FCV, as well as witnessing a vehicle-refueling event. Pre- and post-clinic surveys were used to evaluate changes in the particpants' responses to driving and refueling a hydrogen vehicle. The study examines issues related to the techno-economic barriers to FCV deployment such as fuel cell system cost reduction and durability, hydrogen storage, as well as the costs and technical complexities associated with developing a hydrogen refueling infrastructure. Additional issues examined include potential challenges for consumer exposure and acceptance. Results of the study offer insights into consumer response and reaction to using hydrogen as a transportation fuel.

Carsharing has grown considerably in North America during the past decade and has flourished in m... more Carsharing has grown considerably in North America during the past decade and has flourished in metropolitan regions across the United States and Canada. The new transportation landscape offers urban residents an alternative to automobility, one without car ownership. As carsharing has expanded, there has been a growing demand to understand its environmental effects. This paper presents the results of a North American carsharing member survey (N ‫؍‬ 6,281). A before-and-after analytical design is established with a focus on carsharing's effects on household vehicle holdings and the aggregate vehicle population. The results show that carsharing members reduce their vehicle holdings to a degree that is statistically significant. The average number of vehicles per household of the sample drops from 0.47 to 0.24. Most of this shift constitutes onecar households becoming carless. The average fuel economy of carsharing vehicles used most often by respondents is 10 mi/gal more efficie...

In this study, the results of an on-line survey of electronic locker (“eLocker”) users at transit... more In this study, the results of an on-line survey of electronic locker (“eLocker”) users at transit stations in California are used to develop models of utilitarian bicycling that test the significance of factors contributing to the 1) choice to continue bicycling, or not, in the absence of eLockers, and 2) the frequency of eLocker use. To date, there has been limited research on factors influencing frequency of utilitarian bicycling. This study is unique in that a consistent set of policy relevant variables are tested—in both choice and frequency models—to understand their relative importance in different decision contexts. The results contribute insight into the significance of different bicycle infrastructure investments choices (e.g., secure and available bicycle parking and quality of the bicycle access route); market segments (e.g., age, sex, auto ownerships, and trip purpose); as well at attitudinal factors (e.g., level of commitment to cycling) that should be addressed in the ...

PATH research report, 2008

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) launched a field operational test of wirel... more The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) launched a field operational test of wireless Internet access (WiFi) at two Safety Roadside Rest Areas (SRRAs) in an effort to meet the demand for Internet access by the traveling public. This report presents the results of a study which evaluated the potential of WiFi at California’s SRRAs sp that recommendations could be made for future public agency participation in SRRA WiFi partnerships. Researchers used a number of methods for gaining insight into the potential of WiFi at SRRAs. Expert interviews were conducted with public agency representatives and private WiFi service providers in order to identify the range of possible business models and lessons learned to date. Focus groups which were conducted throughout California in order to understand the needs of the traveling public for WiFi services at SRRAs. Data recorded from the actual use of WiFi service at the pilot demonstration was analyzed. Finally, a survey was conduct...

Despite extensive research into the etiology and treatment of severe sepsis, little is known abou... more Despite extensive research into the etiology and treatment of severe sepsis, little is known about its epidemiology in children. We sought to determine the age- and sex-adjusted incidence, outcome, and associated hospital costs of severe sepsis in U.S. children using 1995 hospital discharge and population data from 7 states (24% of the US population). Of 1,586,253 hospitalizations in children < 19 years old, 9,675 met ICD-9-CM based severe sepsis criteria, or 42,364 cases of pediatric severe sepsis per year nationally (0.56 cases/1000 population/year). Incidence was highest in infants (5.16/1000), fell dramatically in older children (0.20/1000 in 10 to 14 year olds), and was 15% higher in boys than in girls (0.60 vs. 0.52/1000, p<0.001). Hospital mortality was 10.3%, or 4,383 deaths nationally (6.2/100,000 population). Half of cases had underlying disease (49.0%), and over one-fifth (22.9%) were low birth weight newborns. Respiratory infections (37%) and primary bacteremia (25...

Law, 2007

Empirical legal scholars have traditionally modeled trial court judicial opinion writing by assum... more Empirical legal scholars have traditionally modeled trial court judicial opinion writing by assuming that judges act rationally, seeking to maximize their influence by writing opinions in politically important cases. Support for this hypothesis has reviewed published trial court opinions, finding that civil rights and other "hot" topics are more likely to be explained than purportedly ordinary legal problems involved in resolving social security and commercial law cases. This orthodoxy comforts consumers of legal opinions, because it suggests that they are largely representative of judicial work. To test such views, we collected data from a thousand cases in four different jurisdictions. We recorded information about every judicial action over each case's life, ranging the demographic characteristics, workload, and experience of the writing judge; to information about the case, including its jurisdictional basis, complexity, attorney characteristics, and motivating leg...

This sailing vessel testing, data collection and analysis project examined the “real world” poten... more This sailing vessel testing, data collection and analysis project examined the “real world” potential for a novel carbon-fiber “wingsail” technology to reduce fuel use in potential passenger ferryboat applications. In the study, a series of controlled tests were performed, accomplished by using a wingsail wind-assist technology developed by Wind+Wing Technologies. The project involved building a carbon fiber wingsail that was then mounted on a 42-foot (14-meter) trimaran test vessel. The test vessel was outfitted with a complete instrumentation package with data-recording capability. The vessel was then operated on the San Francisco Bay on a daily basis over a three-month period. Data from polar routes and actual ferry routes were captured, compiled, and used for statistical analysis. This was a real world test, with a fully capable vessel and actual winds and tidal currents. The test results were conclusive that for a test vessel traveling at seven knots through water, up to 25 to ...

PATH research report, 2010

EasyConnect II explored the introduction and integration of multi-modal transportation services, ... more EasyConnect II explored the introduction and integration of multi-modal transportation services, employing both traditional and innovative technologies, at the Pleasant Hill Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) District station during the initial construction phase of the Contra Costa Centre Transit Village, a transit-oriented development, in the San Francisco Bay Area. The project explored the integration of the following features: shared-use, low-speed modes vehicles; electronic lockers with reservation capabilities; smart transit-based parking technology; a protocol for a system to obtain information via the web about available modal options and transportation services; and innovative distributed power generation technologies to help meet growing electrical loads associated with the introduction of advanced electronic transportation and information technology systems.

Carsharing has grown considerably in North America during the past decade and has flourished with... more Carsharing has grown considerably in North America during the past decade and has flourished within metropolitan regions across the United States and Canada. The result has been a new transportation landscape, which offers urban residents an alternative to automobility without car ownership. As carsharing has expanded, there has been a growing demand to understand its environmental impacts. This paper presents the results of a North American carsharing member survey (N = 6,281). The authors establish a “before-and-after” analytical design with a focus on carsharing’s impacts on household vehicle holdings and the aggregate vehicle population. The results show that carsharing members reduce their vehicle holdings to a degree that is statistically significant. The average vehicles per household of the sample drops from 0.47 to 0.24. Most of this shift constitutes one-car households becoming carless. The average fuel economy of carsharing vehicles used most often by respondents is 10 mi...

Findings

This paper synthesizes insights from a workshop on fleet electrification at the 2023 Transportati... more This paper synthesizes insights from a workshop on fleet electrification at the 2023 Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting, which included participants from transit agencies, national labs, industry, government and academia. Participants identified barriers to fleet electrification including lack of knowledge on fleet electrification, high utility demand charges, lack of charging infrastructure, delays in grid infrastructure upgrades and high up-front costs. To overcome these challenges, panelists emphasized partnering with OEMs and utilities, and having flexible charging infrastructure with software support tools. Finally, participants identified opportunities for integrating with electricity markets on peak demand management, time-of-use charging, participation in wholesale markets, and various vehicle-to-grid solutions. Based on these findings, we propose specific steps that various stakeholders like fleet operators, utilities and regulatory authorities could take.

Lecture notes in mobility, Jul 10, 2022

In recent decades pavement management optimization has been designed with the objective of minimi... more In recent decades pavement management optimization has been designed with the objective of minimizing user and agency life-cycle costs. However, pavement management decisions also have significant impacts on life-cycle energy use and environmental emissions from pavement management activity and user vehicles. This study expands beyond optimizing pavement rehabilitation strategy for minimization of life-cycle costs to also include greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. We extend previous work on the single-facility, continuous-state, continuous-time optimal pavement resurfacing problem to solve the multi-criteria optimization problem with the two objectives of minimizing costs and GHG emissions. The balance between the potentially two different optimal rehabilitation policies is found through the use of a Pareto frontier, which exists in the span between the cost- and emission- optimal strategies. The Pareto frontier provides decision makers with the dollars per tonne of GHG emissions saved...

This sailing vessel testing, data collection and analysis project examined the “real world” poten... more This sailing vessel testing, data collection and analysis project examined the “real world” potential for a novel carbon-fiber “wingsail” technology to reduce fuel use in potential passenger ferryboat applications. In the study, a series of controlled tests were performed, accomplished by using a wingsail wind-assist technology developed by Wind+Wing Technologies. The project involved building a carbon fiber wingsail that was then mounted on a 42-foot (14-meter) trimaran test vessel. The test vessel was outfitted with a complete instrumentation package with data-recording capability. The vessel was then operated on the San Francisco Bay on a daily basis over a three-month period. Data from polar routes and actual ferry routes were captured, compiled, and used for statistical analysis. This was a real world test, with a fully capable vessel and actual winds and tidal currents. The test results were conclusive that for a test vessel traveling at seven knots through water, up to 25 to 40 percent of the fuel burned can be saved through the use of the wingsail, depending on wind speed, with a corresponding reduction in greenhouse gases, toxic and criteria pollutant emissions, and fuel costs. These estimated fuel efficiency gains at a speed through water of seven knots will not necessarily translate directly to those at actual ferryboat service speeds (at 17 or more knots) but may due to the inherent ability of larger boats to sail at higher speeds at optimal efficiency points. Additional exploration of this scaling effect by boat size is suggested for further investigation.

Journal of Pelvic Medicine and Surgery, 2006

Obstetrics & Gynecology, 2007

To compare two commonly used modifications to the standard Q-tip test for urethral hypermobility:... more To compare two commonly used modifications to the standard Q-tip test for urethral hypermobility: catheter alone and catheter with Q-tip. All women referred for the evaluation of urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse were included in the study. A postvoid residual urine was collected on each patient and the angle of the urethra with the horizontal plane was measured at rest and with Valsalva with the Q-tip, catheter alone, and catheter with Q-tip. The test was considered positive if the angle of excursion was 30 degrees or more. In this group of 100 consecutive women with urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse, the mean change in the angle was significantly different from the standard Q-tip test (51 degrees) when catheter alone (35 degrees, P&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;.001) or catheter with Q-tip modifications were used (44 degrees, P&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;.001). This difference was due to a significant reduction in the resting and Valsalva maneuver angles with the catheter alone, and a significant decrease only in the Valsalva maneuver angle with the catheter with Q-tip method (P&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;.001). The percentage of positive tests for the standard Q-tip test (92%) was significantly different from the catheter only method (63%, P&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;.001), and from the catheter with Q-tip technique (83%, P=.021). The &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;best match&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; values of 10 degrees for the catheter alone, and 15 degrees for the catheter with Q-tip methods produce the best equivalent results at this time. The use of a catheter, instead of a Q-tip, in the evaluation of urethral hypermobility resulted in reduced angles of excursion from resting to Valsalva maneuver. III.

International Journal of Gynecological Pathology, 2010

To evaluate the influence of BMI on the prevalence of fibroids and uterine weight. Uterine pathol... more To evaluate the influence of BMI on the prevalence of fibroids and uterine weight. Uterine pathology specimens of all the women who underwent hysterectomy for benign indications from 1995 to 2002 were studied. Patient characteristics such as age, race, body mass index (BMI), and parity were collected by chart review. The data were statistically analyzed using a 1-way analysis of variance and regression analysis. Uterine weight and fibroids were the dependent variables and BMI, age, and parity were the independent variables. The correlation between BMI and the presence/number of fibroids and their size was also studied. Among the 873 patients who underwent hysterectomy for benign indications, 47.1% were obese and these women had the highest mean uterine weight of 349.53 g. Overall, BMI had a significant correlation with the uterine size (P&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;0.0001). For every 1-point increase in BMI, uterine weight increased by 7.56 g. BMI positively correlated with uterine size both in the women with fibroids (P=0.038) and in those without fibroids (P=0.016). After controlling for fibroids, every 1-point increase in BMI resulted in an increase of 4.56 g in uterine weight (P&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;0.0001). In addition, there was a significant correlation between BMI and the presence of fibroids (P&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;0.0001), but not with the size of fibroids (P=0.11). A significant correlation was found between BMI and uterine weight in all the women, independent of age and parity. For every 1-point increase in BMI, there was a 7.56 g increase in uterine weight. This association needs to be further assessed in healthy women without uterine pathology.

Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 2010

The Journal of reproductive medicine, 2009

To evaluate the impact of rapid weight loss following bariatric surgery on urinary symptom freque... more To evaluate the impact of rapid weight loss following bariatric surgery on urinary symptom frequency and overall quality of life. Validated questionnaires (Urinary Distress Inventory [UDI-6] and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire [IIQ-7]), were mailed to all women who underwent bariatric surgery at Temple University Hospital between January 2004 and March 2006. McNemar test of paired proportions was used for analysis. Mean body mass index prior to surgery was 47.5 and after surgery was 31.0, with an average weight loss of 49.2 kg. About half the subjects had stress incontinence, 32% had frequency and 24.8% had urgency at baseline. Twenty-six percent of the subjects were frustrated and emotionally distressed by the urinary symptoms at baseline, while one fifth reported interference with performing household chores, travel and other activities. There was a significant improvement in stress incontinence (p < 0.001), frequency and leakage of any degree and overall quality of life subs...

on behalf of the NO-06 Investigators T he acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remains a co... more on behalf of the NO-06 Investigators T he acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remains a considerable clinical challenge (1-10). Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) decreases pulmonary artery pressure and increases arterial oxygenation in a variety of conditions, including . Although initial trials in ARDS did not improve clinical outcome (18 -20), iNO at 5 ppm improved gas exchange, prompting a larger phase III study in the United States that excluded subjects with nonpulmonary acute organ failure or sepsis and set the primary end point as 28-day allcause mortality. Concurrently with this study, we conducted a prospective evaluation of the effects of iNO on healthcare costs, 1-year survival, and quality of life. The goals of the concurrent study were a) to test the hypotheses that, through mitigation of ARDS-associated morbidity, iNO decreased healthcare costs and improved long-term quality of life, functional status, and quality-adjusted survival; and b) to conduct a cost-effectivene...

PATH research report, 2010

This report examines the usefulness of Changeable Message Signs (CMSs), also called dynamic or va... more This report examines the usefulness of Changeable Message Signs (CMSs), also called dynamic or variable message signs, to improve safety. Typically, these programmable highway signs provide traffic updates or warnings about roadwork or road closures. More recently, they have been used to remind drivers to fasten seatbelts, but there has been little data on the signs’ effectiveness for such purposes. There was some concern, too, that drivers slowing down to read CMS messages may be interrupting traffic flow. Positive safety messages do get through to the public, and only a small percentage of drivers slow in the presence of safety campaign messages. Their slowing did not appear to disrupt overall traffic flow.

This report presents the results of a “ride-and-drive” clinic held in 2007 in Sacramento and Rich... more This report presents the results of a “ride-and-drive” clinic held in 2007 in Sacramento and Richmond, California, with a Mercedes-Benz A-Class “F-Cell” hydrogen fuel cell vehicle (FCV). The purpose of the clinic was to evaluate participant reactions to driving and riding in an FCV, as well as witnessing a vehicle-refueling event. Pre- and post-clinic surveys were used to evaluate changes in the particpants' responses to driving and refueling a hydrogen vehicle. The study examines issues related to the techno-economic barriers to FCV deployment such as fuel cell system cost reduction and durability, hydrogen storage, as well as the costs and technical complexities associated with developing a hydrogen refueling infrastructure. Additional issues examined include potential challenges for consumer exposure and acceptance. Results of the study offer insights into consumer response and reaction to using hydrogen as a transportation fuel.

Carsharing has grown considerably in North America during the past decade and has flourished in m... more Carsharing has grown considerably in North America during the past decade and has flourished in metropolitan regions across the United States and Canada. The new transportation landscape offers urban residents an alternative to automobility, one without car ownership. As carsharing has expanded, there has been a growing demand to understand its environmental effects. This paper presents the results of a North American carsharing member survey (N ‫؍‬ 6,281). A before-and-after analytical design is established with a focus on carsharing's effects on household vehicle holdings and the aggregate vehicle population. The results show that carsharing members reduce their vehicle holdings to a degree that is statistically significant. The average number of vehicles per household of the sample drops from 0.47 to 0.24. Most of this shift constitutes onecar households becoming carless. The average fuel economy of carsharing vehicles used most often by respondents is 10 mi/gal more efficie...

In this study, the results of an on-line survey of electronic locker (“eLocker”) users at transit... more In this study, the results of an on-line survey of electronic locker (“eLocker”) users at transit stations in California are used to develop models of utilitarian bicycling that test the significance of factors contributing to the 1) choice to continue bicycling, or not, in the absence of eLockers, and 2) the frequency of eLocker use. To date, there has been limited research on factors influencing frequency of utilitarian bicycling. This study is unique in that a consistent set of policy relevant variables are tested—in both choice and frequency models—to understand their relative importance in different decision contexts. The results contribute insight into the significance of different bicycle infrastructure investments choices (e.g., secure and available bicycle parking and quality of the bicycle access route); market segments (e.g., age, sex, auto ownerships, and trip purpose); as well at attitudinal factors (e.g., level of commitment to cycling) that should be addressed in the ...

PATH research report, 2008

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) launched a field operational test of wirel... more The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) launched a field operational test of wireless Internet access (WiFi) at two Safety Roadside Rest Areas (SRRAs) in an effort to meet the demand for Internet access by the traveling public. This report presents the results of a study which evaluated the potential of WiFi at California’s SRRAs sp that recommendations could be made for future public agency participation in SRRA WiFi partnerships. Researchers used a number of methods for gaining insight into the potential of WiFi at SRRAs. Expert interviews were conducted with public agency representatives and private WiFi service providers in order to identify the range of possible business models and lessons learned to date. Focus groups which were conducted throughout California in order to understand the needs of the traveling public for WiFi services at SRRAs. Data recorded from the actual use of WiFi service at the pilot demonstration was analyzed. Finally, a survey was conduct...

Despite extensive research into the etiology and treatment of severe sepsis, little is known abou... more Despite extensive research into the etiology and treatment of severe sepsis, little is known about its epidemiology in children. We sought to determine the age- and sex-adjusted incidence, outcome, and associated hospital costs of severe sepsis in U.S. children using 1995 hospital discharge and population data from 7 states (24% of the US population). Of 1,586,253 hospitalizations in children < 19 years old, 9,675 met ICD-9-CM based severe sepsis criteria, or 42,364 cases of pediatric severe sepsis per year nationally (0.56 cases/1000 population/year). Incidence was highest in infants (5.16/1000), fell dramatically in older children (0.20/1000 in 10 to 14 year olds), and was 15% higher in boys than in girls (0.60 vs. 0.52/1000, p<0.001). Hospital mortality was 10.3%, or 4,383 deaths nationally (6.2/100,000 population). Half of cases had underlying disease (49.0%), and over one-fifth (22.9%) were low birth weight newborns. Respiratory infections (37%) and primary bacteremia (25...

Law, 2007

Empirical legal scholars have traditionally modeled trial court judicial opinion writing by assum... more Empirical legal scholars have traditionally modeled trial court judicial opinion writing by assuming that judges act rationally, seeking to maximize their influence by writing opinions in politically important cases. Support for this hypothesis has reviewed published trial court opinions, finding that civil rights and other "hot" topics are more likely to be explained than purportedly ordinary legal problems involved in resolving social security and commercial law cases. This orthodoxy comforts consumers of legal opinions, because it suggests that they are largely representative of judicial work. To test such views, we collected data from a thousand cases in four different jurisdictions. We recorded information about every judicial action over each case's life, ranging the demographic characteristics, workload, and experience of the writing judge; to information about the case, including its jurisdictional basis, complexity, attorney characteristics, and motivating leg...

This sailing vessel testing, data collection and analysis project examined the “real world” poten... more This sailing vessel testing, data collection and analysis project examined the “real world” potential for a novel carbon-fiber “wingsail” technology to reduce fuel use in potential passenger ferryboat applications. In the study, a series of controlled tests were performed, accomplished by using a wingsail wind-assist technology developed by Wind+Wing Technologies. The project involved building a carbon fiber wingsail that was then mounted on a 42-foot (14-meter) trimaran test vessel. The test vessel was outfitted with a complete instrumentation package with data-recording capability. The vessel was then operated on the San Francisco Bay on a daily basis over a three-month period. Data from polar routes and actual ferry routes were captured, compiled, and used for statistical analysis. This was a real world test, with a fully capable vessel and actual winds and tidal currents. The test results were conclusive that for a test vessel traveling at seven knots through water, up to 25 to ...

PATH research report, 2010

EasyConnect II explored the introduction and integration of multi-modal transportation services, ... more EasyConnect II explored the introduction and integration of multi-modal transportation services, employing both traditional and innovative technologies, at the Pleasant Hill Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) District station during the initial construction phase of the Contra Costa Centre Transit Village, a transit-oriented development, in the San Francisco Bay Area. The project explored the integration of the following features: shared-use, low-speed modes vehicles; electronic lockers with reservation capabilities; smart transit-based parking technology; a protocol for a system to obtain information via the web about available modal options and transportation services; and innovative distributed power generation technologies to help meet growing electrical loads associated with the introduction of advanced electronic transportation and information technology systems.

Carsharing has grown considerably in North America during the past decade and has flourished with... more Carsharing has grown considerably in North America during the past decade and has flourished within metropolitan regions across the United States and Canada. The result has been a new transportation landscape, which offers urban residents an alternative to automobility without car ownership. As carsharing has expanded, there has been a growing demand to understand its environmental impacts. This paper presents the results of a North American carsharing member survey (N = 6,281). The authors establish a “before-and-after” analytical design with a focus on carsharing’s impacts on household vehicle holdings and the aggregate vehicle population. The results show that carsharing members reduce their vehicle holdings to a degree that is statistically significant. The average vehicles per household of the sample drops from 0.47 to 0.24. Most of this shift constitutes one-car households becoming carless. The average fuel economy of carsharing vehicles used most often by respondents is 10 mi...