Thesis (D.Min.)--South Florida Center for Theological Studies, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Michigan State University. Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, 2008. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on July 22, 2009) Includes bibliographical references (p. 243-249). Also issued in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, Dept. of Sociology, August 2002 / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

Driving the wrong way on freeways has been a nagging traffic safety problem since the interstate highway system was founded in the 1950s. Despite four decades of highway striping and sign improvements at freeway interchanges, the problem persists. This paper is to determine the contributing factors to wrong-way driving on freeways and to develop promising, cost-conscious countermeasures to reduce this driving errors and related crashes. Wrong-way crash data from Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) crash database were collected with 632 possible wrong-way crashes. The real wrong-way crashes were further identified by reviewing the wrong-way crash reports hardcopies and information from other resources. Characteristics of wrong-way driving behaviors were analyzed and statistical analyses were conducted to identify the contributing factors of wrong-way crashes on freeway. The state-of-the-art roadway safety management process recommended by the Highway Safety Manual (HSM) was adopted to diagnose the wrong-way driving behavior on Illinois freeway and develop the specific wrong-way crashes management procedures. The first three steps, network screening, diagnosis and countermeasure selection was developed in details. The whole procedure developed could be used to guide the management of freeway wrong-way crashes in the future. The specific procedure of transportation network review, candidate location identification and site ranking for freeway wrong-way crashes was established firstly. Based on the collected wrong-way crash data, the safety performance function (SPF) for wrong-way crashes on freeway was developed with the annual average daily traffic (AADT) and segment length being the independent variables. The procedures for candidate wrong-way crash sites diagnoses with crash data, historic site data, field condition and other information were described step by step. The methods for contributing factors identification were proposed and the Haddon matrix for wrong-way crashes on freeway was constructed finally. Methods for selecting wrong-way crash countermeasures from the perspective of "four E's" based on crash analysis finding, site-specific contributing factors and geographical characteristics were discussed, and research needs on wrong-way crash management in the future were recommended finally.

The Rhodes/HartRAO SKYMAP survey is the highest frequency (2326 MHz) and highest resolution (20 arcmin) large-area pencil-beam survey of the celestial radio continuum emission. The survey covers 67 % of the entire sky and is one of only two radio continuum surveys that cover the southern sky. These attributes make the survey eminently suitable for studying the extended radio continuum emission from the Milky Way. This thesis describes the methodology used to produce the SKYMAP survey map and presents an analysis of the galactic radio continuum emission. Mountfort (1989, PhD thesis, Rhodes University) designed and implemented the original SKYMAP observing and data reduction procedures. These original procedures have been modified and extended to accommodate instrumentation upgrades at HartRAO and take advantage of new computer technologies that have become available. A new procedure was developed to perform the merging of the ten individual target-area maps into a self-consistent combined map without discontinuities at the component map boundaries. Calibration and data quality procedures were devised and implemented in order to validate the temperature scale and pointing accuracy of the map data. The uncertainty in the relative full-beam temperature scale is estimated to be 2 % and the RMS pixel noise is less than 30 mK. The uncertainty in the zero-level of the survey map is conservatively estimated to be 80 mK. The RMS pointing accuracy is better than 1.9 arcmin. The diffuse galactic background (DGB) emission is shown to be consistent with four-arm spiral models for the Milky Way. The Gould Belt system and the galactic warp beyond the solar-circle are seen as non-symmetrical distortions in the DGB. An empirical model of the DGB was subtracted from the 2326 MHz map data in order to accentuate faint, extended radio sources. A new technique was devised to discriminate between thermal and non-thermal radio continuum emission on the basis of FIR/radio flux ratios. This procedure was used to reduce the source confusion near the galactic plane. 42 new shell-like radio sources with angular diameters ranging from 1.6 deg to 26 deg are identified in the SKYMAP 2326 MHz map. These sources are probably large-diameter supernova remnants (SNRs) that partially redress the incompleteness in existing SNR catalogues caused by limited surface brightness selection effects. The shells of some of these faint, extended sources are incomplete towards high-latitudes. This morphology suggests that these objects are breaking out of the galactic disk and are releasing hot gas into the halo. There is no evidence for linear worm- and chimney-like features in the non-thermal galactic emission. The spectral index of the diffuse galactic emission is calculated to be beta = 2.72 +/- 0.18 between 408 MHz and 2326 MHz and beta = 2.95 +/- 0.08 between 2326 MHz and 31 GHz, confirming previous work showing that the synchrotron spectrum steepens with increasing frequency. The high frequency spectral index is used to estimate upper limits on the galactic synchrotron foreground contamination of cosmic microwave background radiation measurements. The high-latitude 2326 MHz galactic emission is shown to correlate weakly with the far-infrared galactic cirrus clouds. This correlation is due to thermal free-free radio emission from extended, low-density HII regions associated with the cirrus dust. The RMS level of this thermal signal is estimated to be 1 mK at 2326 MHz. Two further experiments that need to be performed in order to complete the SKYMAP project are discussed: (a) the region of sky near the southern equatorial pole (SEP) needs to be mapped at HartRAO to complete the coverage of the entire southern sky, and (b) independent horn telescope (broad-beam) measurements of the sky temperature are required in order to reduce the baseline uncertainties in the current SKYMAP data.

This thesis examines issues surrounding route navigation. Emphasis is on the problems of elderly motorists. Elderly drivers have been said to avoid unfamiliar routes and may have wayfinding problems, but the extent and nature of these problems have not previously been investigated. This thesis aims to determine how drivers plan their routes and find their way in transit. It also seeks to investigate the prevalence and types of driver wayfinding problems, as well as their causes, consequences and psychological implications. Lastly, this thesis aims to measure the impact wayfinding problems have on mobility and identify potential solutions. Three studies were conducted, the first was a preliminary investigation into route navigation issues. Focus group discussions explored driver wayfinding strategies and problems. The second study consisted of a postal questionnaire survey of motorists. Results suggested the most common route planning method was to read a map and take notes of the route. For wayfinding on major roads, drivers stated a preference for road number, place name, and junction information. In cities, they requested information about street names, lane position and landmarks. More drivers under 60 years of age preferred landmark information than did elderly drivers. The most frequent wayfinding errors were: missing a road sign, choosing the wrong lane, and detecting a sign or a turn too late to respond safely. The most frequently reported causes of wayfinding errors were: insufficient, inaccurate, obscured or non-existent traffic signs; inattention or distraction; inaccurate directions; darkness; busy roads and road repairs. As hypothesised, elderly drivers reported more difficulties with wayfinding and this was related to reduced mobility. The third study explored different means of presenting route guidance information. An experiment was conducted to investigate the safety and efficiency of visual, auditory (speech) or a combined visual-auditory display. Driver performance, visual behaviour, subjective mental workload and preferences were recorded. For displaying simple route guidance information to drivers across ages, it is recommended that verbal displays be used as a primary source of guidance information and visual displays as a redundant reminder.

The global over-the-counter derivatives market reached a staggering 14.5 trillion US dollars in gross market value at the end of December 2007. Although OTC derivatives are extremely useful and versatile in transferring risks, it appears to be a double-edged sword. For every derivative transaction concluded in the OTC market, there are two parties involved – each of which is exposed to the other defaulting on the agreed terms and conditions of the contract. Counterparty credit risk is defined as the loss that will be incurred in the event that a counterparty fails to honour its financial obligations. This dissertation provides an overview of counterparty credit risk measurement from a theoretical point of view and puts an emphasis on the demonstration of the current solutions used in practice to address this problem. The author applies a bottom up approach to the problem by defining counterparty credit risk exposure on a contract (single-trade) level and expands this definition on a step-by-step basis to incorporate portfolio effects, such as correlation among underlying market variables as well as credit risk mitigation techniques, such as netting and collateral agreements, in measuring counterparty credit risk exposure on a counterparty level. The author also discusses related concepts which impact counterparty credit risk such as wrong-way risk and proposes an enhancement to the framework introduced by Finger (2000) for incorporating wrong-way risk into existing measures of counterparty credit risk exposure. Finger‟s framework is enhanced by the introduction of a structural model approach which can be used in establishing a functional and intuitive relationship between the probability of default of the counterparty and the underlying market variable to the derivative contract under consideration. This approach is also applied to a typical South African situation through the use of Monte Carlo simulation. The topic of counterparty credit risk modelling is a very relevant topic in modern finance, especially since the advent of Basel 2 which this dissertation also touches on in terms of the applications of counterparty credit risk modelling and how this relates to the minimum regulatory capital requirements set by bank regulators. Copyright / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Mathematics and Applied Mathematics / unrestricted

The value and feasibility of implementing the Corridor concept has been debated for over twenty years. A corridor provides land for the coordinated placement of future linear facilities such as highways, railways, pipelines, powerlines and municipal services. Few corridors have been established, although there has been obvious interest in the concept. A number of studies into the feasibility of establishing corridors have been completed in the United States, Alberta and British Columbia. This thesis examines the benefits, disadvantages and implementation problems associated with the corridor concept. Through a literature review, the factors influencing linear facility right-of-way location and width are examined. Also, from the literature, the benefits and disadvantages associated with corridor implementation and the key factors which have inhibited corridor implementation are identified. The Alberta corridor program is studied and the corridor origins, design, institutional framework and implementation mechanism identified. The case study indicated that a set of unusual circumstances allowed for the establishment of the Alberta corridors. This thesis concludes that corridors do provide net benefits for the community in the long term but that they are difficult to implement. The major planning implication of corridors is that they bring right-of-way planning into the sphere of land use planning and reduce the emphasis on economics and engineering. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

Runoff during the revegetation of roadsides can transport sediment and nutrients offsite, leading to surface water quality reductions. Two field experiments were conducted near Starkville, MS in 2011 and 2012 to evaluate the influence of N and P sources and rates, fertilization timing, and mulch type on vegetative establishment and nutrient and sediment runoff losses. Stainless steel runoff frames (0.75 x 2.0 m) were installed on 10% and 15% slopes for Experiment I and Experiment II, respectively. A bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flugge), tall fescue [Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort., nom. cons.], sericea lespedeza [Lespedeza cuneata (Dum. Cours.) G. Don], and common bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] mixture was seeded within each frame during Experiment I. Crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) was added for Experiment II. Experiment I treatments consisted of 73.5 or 147 kg N ha-1 as 13-13-13, poultry litter, ammonium nitrate, stabilized urea, polymer coated urea, or diammonium phosphate. Experiment II treatments consisted of wheat straw and six hydromulches; paper fiber, wood fiber, wood/paper fiber blend, flexible growth medium (FGM), extended term-FGM (ET-FGM), bonded fiber matrix (BFM). Runoff from natural and simulated rainfall was analyzed for PO43--P, total P (TP), NH4+-N, NO3- -N, total N (TN), and total solids (TS). Experiment I results suggest the greatest N and P runoff losses occurred during the first runoff event following fertilization. Splitting 147 kg N ha-1 into two equal applications increased nutrient losses compared to one application. Application of organic plus inorganic P increased PO43--P in runoff compared to inorganic P alone. Experiment II results indicate straw was the most effective mulch for increasing vegetative establishment and limiting solids and nutrients in runoff. However, lack of fertilizer prill dissolution may have influenced nutrient runoff losses during dry conditions. The FGM, ET-FGM, and BFM mulch treatments were more effective than the paper, wood, and paper/wood fiber treatments in reducing solids and nutrients in runoff. It was apparent during both experiments that timing, intensity, and duration of rainfall events following fertilization have an influence on runoff losses. However, further research is needed to quantify the influence of those rainfall parameters.

No description available.