CAMPO (Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization) is undergoing a revision of the regional transportation plan for Central Texas. The key goal of the plan is achieving sustainable development through integrating a multimodal transportation system with dense mixed land use. The CAMPO Plan has incorporated the growth management tool of jobs-housing balance to guide future land use development. To improve jobs-housing proximity and encourage compact growth, the concept of an activity center connected by high capacity transit corridors was employed in the plan, targeting the accommodation of 31 percent of the population and 38 percent of employment in Central Texas by 2035 (CAMPO 2035 Plan 2010). At the time when CAMPO was attempting to define appropriate ratios of jobs-housing balance for the activity centers, critical questions arose: what is a good ratio? Further, how should jobs-housing balance be quantified for guiding land use development? And to what extent could jobs-housing ratio be effectively used as an intervention instrument? This report attempts to provide theoretical and empirical evidence of jobs-housing balance and examine the applicability of jobs-housing balance ratio for different planning purpose in local context. Based on a rich literature review, the report removed the "deceptive simple concept" (Cervero 1991, p. 10) of jobs-housing balance on the surface and gathered insights on jobs-housing balance from existing exemplary studies. Absent a single consensus of a good jobs-housing balance ratio, the goal of this report is to present the possible ways of measuring and defining jobs-housing balance in complex urban development. This report analyzed existing jobs-housing balance of the Austin Region, presenting the truth of commute distance and jobs-housing balance ratio. Local municipalities might consider more factors in terms of the application of jobs-housing balance ratio in local context. / text

Meteorological and environmental (i.e. soil water content) data measured from semiarid watersheds (Lucky Hills and Kendall) during the summer rainy and winter periods were used to study the interrelationships between variables, and to evaluate the effects of variables on the daily estimation of actual evapotranspiration (AET). The relationship between AET and potential evapotranspiration (PET) as a function of an environmental factor was the major consideration of this research. The relationship between AET and PET as a function of soil water content as suggested by Thornthwaite-Mather, Morton and Priestley-Taylor was studied to determine its applicability to the study area. Furthermore, multiple linear regression (MLR) analysis was employed to evaluate the order of importance of the meteorological and soil water factors involved. Finally, the information gained was used for MLR model development. The results of MLR analysis showed that the combined effects of available energy, soil water content and wind speed were responsible for 77 % of the observed variations in AET at Lucky Hills watershed and 70 % at Kendall watershed during the summer rainy period. The analyses also indicated that the combined effects of available energy, vapor pressure deficit and wind speed were responsible for 70 % of the observed variations in AET at Lucky Hills watershed and 72 % at Kendall watershed during the winter period. However, the test results of three different approaches, using the relationships between AET and PET as a function of soil water content indicated some inadequacy. The low correlation between PET, AET, and soil moisture conditions raised some doubt concerning the validity of methods developed elsewhere, and indicated the effects of energy availability on the relationship between PET, AET, and soil water content regardless of the soil water condition. In contrast, agreement between observed AET and estimated AET from MLR models during the summer rainy and winter periods at both watersheds indicated that MLR models can give reasonable estimates of AET, at least under the climatic conditions in which the formulae were developed.

Bank storage is defined as a volume of water that periodically infiltrates a river's banks during increases in stream stage. It is a potentially critical variable for accurately modeling the water budget in semi-arid riparian systems, but is particularly difficult to assess and quantify. It is especially essential for understanding ground-water/surface-water interactions. In collaboration with other projects, a field-scale vadose monitoring effort took place in the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area (SPRNCA), Arizona. The San Pedro River flows north from Mexico into the United States, and SPRNCA is a 60 km stretch of U.S.-protected ecosystem north of the border. In addition to a progressive climate of ecological conservation, hydrological research that leads to an improved understanding of the water budget will ultimately improve the prospects for improved water policy decisions. Soil moisture, stream stage, and soil tension data were collected for over 8 consecutive months in both 1997 and 1998, and the data were used as input into a software program called HYDRUS-2D (§imiinek et al. 1996), which models two-dimensional, variably saturated flow. Field-collected data and subsequent modeling efforts suggest that the effects of bank storage were estimated to contribute approximately 8.5% of the river's total flow for 147 days in 1997. Accordingly, bank storage and its effects should be considered in future water-balance simulations of stream-aquifer interaction, and of the San Pedro River in particular. In addition, model estimates of root water uptake match favorably with other estimates of evapotranspiration in the cottonwood-willow forest gallery of the SPRNCA.

Project Report / September 1981

The factors that influence gait velocity post-stroke are not clearly understood. This thesis sought to uncover the factors associated with gait velocity, particularly those related to maximum velocity. The first of two studies investigated the associations between physical factors and preferred and maximum gait velocity. Analysis revealed that individuals with stroke were able to increase gait velocity from preferred and that this increase, along with the achieved velocity, were related to functional balance. The second study characterized the strategy individuals used to increase gait velocity, and compared between the stroke and healthy population. It also probed the relationships between cadence, step length, strategy, and post-stroke impairment. This study demonstrated that individuals with stroke rely more on cadence than step length to increase gait velocity. These results revealed the role of balance control on limiting gait velocity and the need for specific measures of impairment in research to direct clinical practice.

The factors that influence gait velocity post-stroke are not clearly understood. This thesis sought to uncover the factors associated with gait velocity, particularly those related to maximum velocity. The first of two studies investigated the associations between physical factors and preferred and maximum gait velocity. Analysis revealed that individuals with stroke were able to increase gait velocity from preferred and that this increase, along with the achieved velocity, were related to functional balance. The second study characterized the strategy individuals used to increase gait velocity, and compared between the stroke and healthy population. It also probed the relationships between cadence, step length, strategy, and post-stroke impairment. This study demonstrated that individuals with stroke rely more on cadence than step length to increase gait velocity. These results revealed the role of balance control on limiting gait velocity and the need for specific measures of impairment in research to direct clinical practice.

Recovery of the ability to maintain balance during standing is one of the primary and essential goals of rehabilitation programs for individuals with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). Regaining functionality during standing by means of a neuroprosthesis would decrease secondary complications and increase independence, and would consequently improve the quality of life of these individuals. However, the development of a standing neuro- prosthesis requires techniques to generate reliable and predictable torque vectors in the lower limbs. We proposed and tested a method based on surface Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) and the idea that three independent muscles can form a basis that would span the joint torque vector space. We tested the proposed stimulation technique on the quadriceps muscles that produce knee extension. The results of this study suggest that the quadriceps muscle basis vectors are insufficient to cover the knee joint vector space.

Tyrimo objektas: pacientų, persirgusių galvos smegenų insultu pusiausvyra. Problema: Lietuvoje klinikinėje praktikoje nėra plačiai taikomi pusiausvyrą vertinantys testai ar skalės. Darbo tikslas: įvertinti pusiausvyros testų informatyvumą pacientams, persirgusiems galvos smegenų insultu. Uždaviniai: įvertinti pacientų pusiausvyros sutrikimus Bergo, Brunelio pusiausvyros bei liemens kontrolės įvertinimo skalėmis praėjus 2, 4, 6 savaitėm po insulto bei palyginti šių skalių rodiklius. Tyrimo metodika: naudojant Bergo ir Brunelio pusiausvyros bei liemens kontrolės įvertinimo skales buvo vertinama pacientų, persirgusių išeminiu smegenų insultu, pusiausvyros sutrikimai ir jos pokyčiai reabilitacijos eigoje. Tyrimo duomenys statistiškai buvo apdoroti naudojantis kompiuterine programa SPSS 13,0 for Windows. Rezultatai: testuojant ligonius liemens kontrolės įvertinimo skale po 2 savaičių nagrinėjamos funkcijos vidutiniškai sudarė 48,2%, po 4 savaičių 76,8%, o po 6 – 91,8% maksimalios balų sumos (p<0,05). Bergo skalės rezultatai po 2 savaičių tesudarė 17,8%, po 4 savaičių nagrinėjamo rodiklio vidutinė reikšmė ženkliai padidėjo ir tapo lygi 37,3%, o po 6 savaičių registruota reikšmė buvo didesnė (p<0,05) nei po 4 savaičių ir sudarė 59,2%. Brunelio skalės vertinimo rezultatų kaita po 2 savaičių buvo 26,3%, po 4 savaičių tiriamųjų pateiktų užduočių vertinimas siekė 54,2%, o tyrimo pabaigoje – 72,5% (p<0,05). Išvados: 1. Liemens kontrolės įvertinimo skalės didžiausias pusiausvyros... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Object of the study: balance of patients after stroke. Problem of the study: there are no widely used balance tests and scales in the clinical practice in Lithuania. Aim of the study: to evaluate informative of balance scales for patients after stroke. Objectives: to evaluate balance disability of patients after stroke during 2, 4, 6 weeks with Brunel, Berg balance and postural assessment scales and compare their indexes. Methods: balance disability was measured with the use of the trunk control and balance items of the Postural Assessment, Berg’s and Brunel’s balance scales for patients after stroke. Research data was analyzed using SPSS 13,0 for Windows. Results: the results of postural assessment scale for stroke patients after 2 weeks post stroke average makes 48,2%, after 4 weeks it was 76,8%, and the last – 91,8% of maximal total points (p<0,05). Evaluation of Berg balance scale after 2 weeks reach 17,8%, after 4 weeks indexes value improve a lot and makes 37,3%, after 6 weeks this value was bigger and makes 59,2% (p<0,05). The results fluctuation of Brunel balance scale after 2 weeks were 26,3%, after 4 weeks improve twice – 54,2% and 72,5% in the end of evaluation. Conclusions: 1. The biggest improvement of balance of postural assessment scale for stroke patients observed after 2 stroke weeks, between 2-6 weeks – gradually slow down, but approach maximal indexes in the end of the search. 2. Berg balance scale indexes during three evaluations improve gradually, though... [to full text]

A mass-balance modeling approach has been applied to gain an improved understanding of the relative contributions of phosphorus loading from various sources into a freshwater lake with cage-aquaculture in Ontario. All cage-aquaculture in Ontario is located within Lake Huron and Georgian Bay of the Great Lakes where concerns about potential environmental issues are constraining growth of the industry. Phosphorus is of particular concern for cage-aquaculture operations in Ontario since this nutrient may accelerate eutrophication of freshwater. Sound scientific information is needed for the Ministry of Environment lake managers to make defensible decisions to move the industry forward in a sustainable manner. Lake Wolsey is located on Manitoulin Island in Lake Huron, Ontario. The lake is connected to the North Channel by a small inlet where water exchanges periodically. A cage-aquaculture operation was established in 1986 and has an average annual production of approximately 250 metric tonnes of rainbow trout. We have estimated total phosphorus loadings from eight sources of inputs and three sinks from the lake. We then applied a sensitivity analysis to establish parameters that require empirical measurement and field validation. Results show non-point sources as the leading contributor of total phosphorus to Lake Wolsey (40%, 1120 kg) followed by the farm (32%, 915 kg), groundwater (11%, 305 kg), and dwellings (8%, 219 kg), internal phosphorus load from the hypoxic hypolimnion mid-lake (7%, 186 kg), precipitation (3%, 79 kg) and leaf litter (0.3%, 8 kg). Results of the sensitivity analysis show non point sources to be the most significant parameter in terms of total phosphorus loading, followed by the lake sedimentation, then the contribution by the aquaculture operation. This is followed by the exchange via the inlet, groundwater, dwellings, the internal phosphorus, sportfishing, precipitation and leaf litter. Information from this project will provide water quality managers with scientific information to aid in decisions pertaining to policy and regulatory approaches for water quality risk assessment and management of cage-aquaculture in Ontario. / Great Lakes Sustainablility Fund, Great Lakes Action Plan V, Ontario Sustainable Aquaculture Working Group

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