47 CFR 76.946 - Advertising of rates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 47 Telecommunication 4 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Advertising of rates. 76.946 Section 76.946... CABLE TELEVISION SERVICE Cable Rate Regulation § 76.946 Advertising of rates. Cable operators that advertise rates for basic service and cable programming service tiers shall be required to advertise rates...

47 CFR 76.946 - Advertising of rates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... 47 Telecommunication 4 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Advertising of rates. 76.946 Section 76.946... CABLE TELEVISION SERVICE Cable Rate Regulation § 76.946 Advertising of rates. Cable operators that advertise rates for basic service and cable programming service tiers shall be required to advertise rates...

47 CFR 76.946 - Advertising of rates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 47 Telecommunication 4 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Advertising of rates. 76.946 Section 76.946... CABLE TELEVISION SERVICE Cable Rate Regulation § 76.946 Advertising of rates. Cable operators that advertise rates for basic service and cable programming service tiers shall be required to advertise rates...

47 CFR 76.946 - Advertising of rates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 47 Telecommunication 4 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Advertising of rates. 76.946 Section 76.946... CABLE TELEVISION SERVICE Cable Rate Regulation § 76.946 Advertising of rates. Cable operators that advertise rates for basic service and cable programming service tiers shall be required to advertise rates...

47 CFR 76.946 - Advertising of rates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 47 Telecommunication 4 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Advertising of rates. 76.946 Section 76.946... CABLE TELEVISION SERVICE Cable Rate Regulation § 76.946 Advertising of rates. Cable operators that advertise rates for basic service and cable programming service tiers shall be required to advertise rates...

Web mapping system for complex processing and visualization of environmental geospatial datasets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Titov, Alexander; Gordov, Evgeny; Okladnikov, Igor

2016-04-01

Environmental geospatial datasets (meteorological observations, modeling and reanalysis results, etc.) are used in numerous research applications. Due to a number of objective reasons such as inherent heterogeneity of environmental datasets, big dataset volume, complexity of data models used, syntactic and semantic differences that complicate creation and use of unified terminology, the development of environmental geodata access, processing and visualization services as well as client applications turns out to be quite a sophisticated task. According to general INSPIRE requirements to data visualization geoportal web applications have to provide such standard functionality as data overview, image navigation, scrolling, scaling and graphical overlay, displaying map legends and corresponding metadata information. It should be noted that modern web mapping systems as integrated geoportal applications are developed based on the SOA and might be considered as complexes of interconnected software tools for working with geospatial data. In the report a complex web mapping system including GIS web client and corresponding OGC services for working with geospatial (NetCDF, PostGIS) dataset archive is presented. There are three basic tiers of the GIS web client in it: 1. Tier of geospatial metadata retrieved from central MySQL repository and represented in JSON format 2. Tier of JavaScript objects implementing methods handling: --- NetCDF metadata --- Task XML object for configuring user calculations, input and output formats --- OGC WMS/WFS cartographical services 3. Graphical user interface (GUI) tier representing JavaScript objects realizing web application business logic Metadata tier consists of a number of JSON objects containing technical information describing geospatial datasets (such as spatio-temporal resolution, meteorological parameters, valid processing methods, etc). The middleware tier of JavaScript objects implementing methods for handling geospatial metadata, task XML object, and WMS/WFS cartographical services interconnects metadata and GUI tiers. The methods include such procedures as JSON metadata downloading and update, launching and tracking of the calculation task running on the remote servers as well as working with WMS/WFS cartographical services including: obtaining the list of available layers, visualizing layers on the map, exporting layers in graphical (PNG, JPG, GeoTIFF), vector (KML, GML, Shape) and digital (NetCDF) formats. Graphical user interface tier is based on the bundle of JavaScript libraries (OpenLayers, GeoExt and ExtJS) and represents a set of software components implementing web mapping application business logic (complex menus, toolbars, wizards, event handlers, etc.). GUI provides two basic capabilities for the end user: configuring the task XML object functionality and cartographical information visualizing. The web interface developed is similar to the interface of such popular desktop GIS applications, as uDIG, QuantumGIS etc. Web mapping system developed has shown its effectiveness in the process of solving real climate change research problems and disseminating investigation results in cartographical form. The work is supported by SB RAS Basic Program Projects VIII.80.2.1 and IV.38.1.7.

47 CFR 76.923 - Rates for equipment and installation used to receive the basic service tier.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... (CONTINUED) BROADCAST RADIO SERVICES MULTICHANNEL VIDEO AND CABLE TELEVISION SERVICE Cable Rate Regulation...) The equipment regulated under this section consists of all equipment in a subscriber's home, provided... categorization may be made, provided that each category includes only equipment of the same type, regardless of...

47 CFR 76.923 - Rates for equipment and installation used to receive the basic service tier.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... (CONTINUED) BROADCAST RADIO SERVICES MULTICHANNEL VIDEO AND CABLE TELEVISION SERVICE Cable Rate Regulation...) The equipment regulated under this section consists of all equipment in a subscriber's home, provided... categorization may be made, provided that each category includes only equipment of the same type, regardless of...

47 CFR 76.923 - Rates for equipment and installation used to receive the basic service tier.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... (CONTINUED) BROADCAST RADIO SERVICES MULTICHANNEL VIDEO AND CABLE TELEVISION SERVICE Cable Rate Regulation...) The equipment regulated under this section consists of all equipment in a subscriber's home, provided... categorization may be made, provided that each category includes only equipment of the same type, regardless of...

47 CFR 76.923 - Rates for equipment and installation used to receive the basic service tier.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... (CONTINUED) BROADCAST RADIO SERVICES MULTICHANNEL VIDEO AND CABLE TELEVISION SERVICE Cable Rate Regulation...) The equipment regulated under this section consists of all equipment in a subscriber's home, provided... categorization may be made, provided that each category includes only equipment of the same type, regardless of...

47 CFR 76.941 - Rate prescription.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 47 Telecommunication 4 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Rate prescription. 76.941 Section 76.941... CABLE TELEVISION SERVICE Cable Rate Regulation § 76.941 Rate prescription. A franchising authority may prescribe a reasonable rate for the basic service tier or associated equipment after it determines that a...

47 CFR 76.941 - Rate prescription.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 47 Telecommunication 4 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Rate prescription. 76.941 Section 76.941... CABLE TELEVISION SERVICE Cable Rate Regulation § 76.941 Rate prescription. A franchising authority may prescribe a reasonable rate for the basic service tier or associated equipment after it determines that a...

47 CFR 76.941 - Rate prescription.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 47 Telecommunication 4 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Rate prescription. 76.941 Section 76.941... CABLE TELEVISION SERVICE Cable Rate Regulation § 76.941 Rate prescription. A franchising authority may prescribe a reasonable rate for the basic service tier or associated equipment after it determines that a...

47 CFR 76.941 - Rate prescription.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... 47 Telecommunication 4 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Rate prescription. 76.941 Section 76.941... CABLE TELEVISION SERVICE Cable Rate Regulation § 76.941 Rate prescription. A franchising authority may prescribe a reasonable rate for the basic service tier or associated equipment after it determines that a...

Computer-based information collection and feedback for Norwegian municipal health and social services.

PubMed

Yang, J J

1995-01-01

Norway is governed by a three-tier parliamentary system where each tier is governed by a popularly selected body: the national parliament, the county councils, and the municipality councils. This three-tier system is in many ways also reflected in the organization, management, and financing of health and social services. A large amount of information (e.g.,statistics and annual reports) flows between the three levels of management. In order to have a proper and efficient information flow, The Norwegian Ministry of Health and Social Affairs has, since 1992, been conducting a nation-wide project for information collection from and feedback to municipal health and social services (see Figure 1). In this presentation, we will present the basic idea behind The Wheel. We will also discuss some of the major activities in and experiences from the project of using Information Technology to implement an electronic Wheel. The following are basic issues to consider in implementing such a system, related to the following basic issues in implementing such a system [1]: Obtaining a unified information basis to: increase the data quality, and compile "definition catalogs" that contain commonly agreed-upon definitions of central concepts and data sets that are used in the municipal health and social services [2]. Achieving electronic data collection, both in terms of the automatic selection and aggregation of relevant data from operational systems in the municipalities and in terms of using Electronic Forms. Experiments with various ways of electronically feeding back the statistics and other comparative data to the municipalities. Providing the municipal users with appropriate tools for using the statistics that are fed back.

Just healthcare? The moral failure of single-tier basic healthcare.

PubMed

Meadowcroft, John

2015-04-01

This article sets out the moral failure of single-tier basic healthcare. Single-tier basic healthcare has been advocated on the grounds that the provision of healthcare should be divorced from ability to pay and unequal access to basic healthcare is morally intolerable. However, single-tier basic healthcare encounters a host of catastrophic moral failings. Given the fact of human pluralism it is impossible to objectively define "basic" healthcare. Attempts to provide single-tier healthcare therefore become political processes in which interest groups compete for control of scarce resources with the most privileged possessing an inherent advantage. The focus on outputs in arguments for single-tier provision neglects the question of justice between individuals when some people provide resources for others without reciprocal benefits. The principle that only healthcare that can be provided to everyone should be provided at all leads to a leveling-down problem in which advocates of single-tier provision must prefer a situation where some individuals are made worse-off without any individual being made better-off compared to plausible multi-tier alternatives. Contemporary single-tier systems require the exclusion of noncitizens, meaning that their universalism is a myth. In the light of these pathologies, it is judged that multi-tier healthcare is morally required. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press, on behalf of the Journal of Medicine and Philosophy Inc. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Extending access to essential services against constraints: the three-tier health service delivery system in rural China (1949-1980).

PubMed

Feng, Xing Lin; Martinez-Alvarez, Melisa; Zhong, Jun; Xu, Jin; Yuan, Beibei; Meng, Qingyue; Balabanova, Dina

2017-05-23

China has made remarkable progress in scaling up essential services during the last six decades, making health care increasingly available in rural areas. This was partly achieved through the building of a three-tier health system in the 1950s, established as a linked network with health service facilities at county, township and village level, to extend services to the whole population. We developed a Theory of Change to chart the policy context, contents and mechanisms that may have facilitated the establishment of the three-tier health service delivery system in rural China. We systematically synthesized the best available evidence on how China achieved universal access to essential services in resource-scarce rural settings, with a particular emphasis on the experiences learned before the 1980s, when the country suffered a particularly acute lack of resources. The search identified only three peered-reviewed articles that fit our criteria for scientific rigor. We therefore drew extensively on government policy documents, and triangulated them with other publications and key informant interviews. We found that China's three-tier health service delivery system was established in response to acute health challenges, including high fertility and mortality rates. Health system resources were extremely low in view of the needs and insufficient to extend access to even basic care. With strong political commitment to rural health and a "health-for-all" policy vision underlying implementation, a three-tier health service delivery model connecting villages, townships and counties was quickly established. We identified several factors that contributed to the success of the three-tier system in China: a realistic health human resource development strategy, use of mass campaigns as a vehicle to increase demand, an innovative financing mechanisms, public-private partnership models in the early stages of scale up, and an integrated approach to service delivery. An implementation process involving gradual adaptation and incorporation of the lessons learnt was also essential. China's 60 year experience in establishing a de-professionalized, community-based, health service delivery model that is economically feasible, institutionally and culturally appropriate mechanism can be useful to other low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) seeking to extend essential services. Lessons can be drawn from both reform content and from its implementation pathway, identifying the political, institutional and contextual factors shaping the three-tier delivery model over time.

Health Services in Afghanistan: USAID Continues Providing Millions of Dollars to the Ministry of Public Health Despite the Risk of Misuse of Funds

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-09-01

funding to the MoPH for the delivery of health services throughout Afghanistan, ranging from immunizations and prenatal care to hospital services...for the Afghan people through a two-tiered system : • Basic Package of Health Services provides primary health care services—such as immunizations and... prenatal care —at small and rural health clinics and forms the core of health service delivery for all primary care facilities in Afghanistan

78 FR 64213 - Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-10-28

....1621, Equipment Compatibility Offer; Section 76.1622, Consumer Education of Equipment Compatibility... Commission, Media Bureau, Washington, DC 20554, and should include the name of the cable operator to whom the... on encryption of the basic service tier. This rule change allows all- digital cable operators to...

38 CFR 36.4318 - Servicer tier ranking-temporary procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 38 Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief 2 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Servicer tier ranking... § 36.4318 Servicer tier ranking—temporary procedures. (a) The Secretary shall assign to each servicer a “Tier Ranking” based upon the servicer's performance in servicing guaranteed loans. There shall be four...

75 FR 22591 - Notice of Public Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-04-29

...: Extension of a currently approved collection. Respondents: Businesses or other for-profit entities; State... collection of information. Needs and Uses: 47 CFR 76.934(e) states that small cable systems may obtain an... addressed to the local franchising authorities (``LFAs'') concerning rates for basic service tiers and...

Estimating implementation and operational costs of an integrated tiered CD4 service including laboratory and point of care testing in a remote health district in South Africa.

PubMed

Cassim, Naseem; Coetzee, Lindi M; Schnippel, Kathryn; Glencross, Deborah K

2014-01-01

An integrated tiered service delivery model (ITSDM) has been proposed to provide 'full-coverage' of CD4 services throughout South Africa. Five tiers are described, defined by testing volumes and number of referring health-facilities. These include: (1) Tier-1/decentralized point-of-care service (POC) in a single site; Tier-2/POC-hub servicing processing < 30-40 samples from 8-10 health-clinics; Tier-3/Community laboratories servicing ∼ 50 health-clinics, processing < 150 samples/day; high-volume centralized laboratories (Tier-4 and Tier-5) processing < 300 or > 600 samples/day and serving > 100 or > 200 health-clinics, respectively. The objective of this study was to establish costs of existing and ITSDM-tiers 1, 2 and 3 in a remote, under-serviced district in South Africa. Historical health-facility workload volumes from the Pixley-ka-Seme district, and the total volumes of CD4 tests performed by the adjacent district referral CD4 laboratories, linked to locations of all referring clinics and related laboratory-to-result turn-around time (LTR-TAT) data, were extracted from the NHLS Corporate-Data-Warehouse for the period April-2012 to March-2013. Tiers were costed separately (as a cost-per-result) including equipment, staffing, reagents and test consumable costs. A one-way sensitivity analyses provided for changes in reagent price, test volumes and personnel time. The lowest cost-per-result was noted for the existing laboratory-based Tiers- 4 and 5 ($6.24 and $5.37 respectively), but with related increased LTR-TAT of > 24-48 hours. Full service coverage with TAT < 6-hours could be achieved with placement of twenty-seven Tier-1/POC or eight Tier-2/POC-hubs, at a cost-per-result of $32.32 and $15.88 respectively. A single district Tier-3 laboratory also ensured 'full service coverage' and < 24 hour LTR-TAT for the district at $7.42 per-test. Implementing a single Tier-3/community laboratory to extend and improve delivery of services in Pixley-ka-Seme, with an estimated local ∼ 12-24-hour LTR-TAT, is ∼ $2 more than existing referred services per-test, but 2-4 fold cheaper than implementing eight Tier-2/POC-hubs or providing twenty-seven Tier-1/POCT CD4 services.

Estimating Implementation and Operational Costs of an Integrated Tiered CD4 Service including Laboratory and Point of Care Testing in a Remote Health District in South Africa

PubMed Central

Cassim, Naseem; Coetzee, Lindi M.; Schnippel, Kathryn; Glencross, Deborah K.

2014-01-01

Background An integrated tiered service delivery model (ITSDM) has been proposed to provide ‘full-coverage’ of CD4 services throughout South Africa. Five tiers are described, defined by testing volumes and number of referring health-facilities. These include: (1) Tier-1/decentralized point-of-care service (POC) in a single site; Tier-2/POC-hub servicing processing <30–40 samples from 8–10 health-clinics; Tier-3/Community laboratories servicing ∼50 health-clinics, processing <150 samples/day; high-volume centralized laboratories (Tier-4 and Tier-5) processing <300 or >600 samples/day and serving >100 or >200 health-clinics, respectively. The objective of this study was to establish costs of existing and ITSDM-tiers 1, 2 and 3 in a remote, under-serviced district in South Africa. Methods Historical health-facility workload volumes from the Pixley-ka-Seme district, and the total volumes of CD4 tests performed by the adjacent district referral CD4 laboratories, linked to locations of all referring clinics and related laboratory-to-result turn-around time (LTR-TAT) data, were extracted from the NHLS Corporate-Data-Warehouse for the period April-2012 to March-2013. Tiers were costed separately (as a cost-per-result) including equipment, staffing, reagents and test consumable costs. A one-way sensitivity analyses provided for changes in reagent price, test volumes and personnel time. Results The lowest cost-per-result was noted for the existing laboratory-based Tiers- 4 and 5 ($6.24 and $5.37 respectively), but with related increased LTR-TAT of >24–48 hours. Full service coverage with TAT <6-hours could be achieved with placement of twenty-seven Tier-1/POC or eight Tier-2/POC-hubs, at a cost-per-result of $32.32 and $15.88 respectively. A single district Tier-3 laboratory also ensured ‘full service coverage’ and <24 hour LTR-TAT for the district at $7.42 per-test. Conclusion Implementing a single Tier-3/community laboratory to extend and improve delivery of services in Pixley-ka-Seme, with an estimated local ∼12–24-hour LTR-TAT, is ∼$2 more than existing referred services per-test, but 2–4 fold cheaper than implementing eight Tier-2/POC-hubs or providing twenty-seven Tier-1/POCT CD4 services. PMID:25517412

A comparison of Tier 1 and Tier 3 medical homes under Oklahoma Medicaid program.

PubMed

Kumar, Jay I; Anthony, Melody; Crawford, Steven A; Arky, Ronald A; Bitton, Asaf; Splinter, Garth L

2014-04-01

The patient-centered medical home (PCMH) is a team-based model of care that seeks to improve quality of care and control costs. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) directs Oklahoma's Medicaid program and contracts with 861 medical home practices across the state in one of three tiers of operational capacity: Tier 1 (Basic), Tier 2 (Advanced) and Tier 3 (Optimal). Only 13.5% (n = 116) homes are at the optimal level; the majority (59%, n = 508) at the basic level. In this study, we sought to determine the barriers that prevented Tier 1 homes from advancing to Tier 3 level and the incentives that would motivate providers to advance from Tier 1 to 3. Our hypotheses were that Tier 1 medical homes were located in smaller practices with limited resources and the providers are not convinced that the expense of advancing from Tier 1 status to Tier 3 status was worth the added value. We analyzed OHCA records to compare the 508 Tier 1 (entry-level) with 116 Tier 3 (optimal) medical homes for demographic differences with regards to location: urban or rural, duration as medical home, percentage of contracts that were group contracts, number of providers per group contract, panel age range, panel size, and member-provider ratio. We surveyed all 508 Tier 1 homes with a mail-in survey, and with focused follow up visits to identify the barriers to, and incentives for, upgrading from Tier 1 to Tier 2 or 3. We found that Tier 1 homes were more likely to be in rural areas, run by solo practitioners, serve exclusively adult panels, have smaller panel sizes, and have higher member-to-provider ratios in comparison with Tier 3 homes. Our survey had a 35% response rate. Results showed that the most difficult changes for Tier 1 homes to implement were providing 4 hours of after-hours care and a dedicated program for mental illness and substance abuse. The results also showed that the most compelling incentives for encouraging Tier 1 homes to upgrade their tier status were less"red tape"with prior authorizations, higher pay, and help with panel member follow-up. Multiple interventions may help medical homes in Oklahoma advance from the basic to the optimal level such as sharing of resources among nearby practices, expansion of OHCA online resources to help with preauthorizations and patient follow up, and the generation and transmission of data on the benefits of medical homes.

An Integrated Tiered Service Delivery Model (ITSDM) Based on Local CD4 Testing Demands Can Improve Turn-Around Times and Save Costs whilst Ensuring Accessible and Scalable CD4 Services across a National Programme

PubMed Central

Glencross, Deborah K.; Coetzee, Lindi M.; Cassim, Naseem

2014-01-01

Background The South African National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) responded to HIV treatment initiatives with two-tiered CD4 laboratory services in 2004. Increasing programmatic burden, as more patients access anti-retroviral therapy (ART), has demanded extending CD4 services to meet increasing clinical needs. The aim of this study was to review existing services and develop a service-model that integrated laboratory-based and point-of-care testing (POCT), to extend national coverage, improve local turn-around/(TAT) and contain programmatic costs. Methods NHLS Corporate Data Warehouse CD4 data, from 60–70 laboratories and 4756 referring health facilities was reviewed for referral laboratory workload, respective referring facility volumes and related TAT, from 2009–2012. Results An integrated tiered service delivery model (ITSDM) is proposed. Tier-1/POCT delivers CD4 testing at single health-clinics providing ART in hard-to-reach areas (<5 samples/day). Laboratory-based testing is extended with Tier-2/POC-Hubs (processing ≤30–40 CD4 samples/day), consolidating POCT across 8–10 health-clinics with other HIV-related testing and Tier-3/‘community’ laboratories, serving ≤40 health-clinics, processing ≤150 samples/day. Existing Tier-4/‘regional’ laboratories serve ≤100 facilities and process <350 samples/day; Tier-5 are high-volume ‘metro’/centralized laboratories (>350–1500 tests/day, serving ≥200 health-clinics). Tier-6 provides national support for standardisation, harmonization and quality across the organization. Conclusion The ITSDM offers improved local TAT by extending CD4 services into rural/remote areas with new Tier-3 or Tier-2/POC-Hub services installed in existing community laboratories, most with developed infrastructure. The advantage of lower laboratory CD4 costs and use of existing infrastructure enables subsidization of delivery of more expensive POC services, into hard-to-reach districts without reasonable access to a local CD4 laboratory. Full ITSDM implementation across 5 service tiers (as opposed to widespread implementation of POC testing to extend service) can facilitate sustainable ‘full service coverage’ across South Africa, and save>than R125 million in HIV/AIDS programmatic costs. ITSDM hierarchical parental-support also assures laboratory/POC management, equipment maintenance, quality control and on-going training between tiers. PMID:25490718

The Development and Validation of a Three-Tier Diagnostic Test Measuring Pre-Service Elementary Education and Secondary Science Teachers' Understanding of the Water Cycle

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schaffer, Dannah Lynn

2013-01-01

The main goal of this research study was to develop and validate a three-tier diagnostic test to determine pre-service teachers' (PSTs) conceptual knowledge of the water cycle. For a three-tier diagnostic test, the first tier assesses content knowledge; in the second tier, a reason is selected for the content answer; and the third tier allows…

75 FR 73166 - Publication of the Tier 2 Tax Rates

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-11-29

... DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Internal Revenue Service Publication of the Tier 2 Tax Rates AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service, Treasury. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: Publication of the tier 2 tax rates for...). Tier 2 taxes on railroad employees, employers, and employee representatives are one source of funding...

76 FR 71623 - Publication of the Tier 2 Tax Rates

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-11-18

... DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Internal Revenue Service Publication of the Tier 2 Tax Rates AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: Publication of the tier 2 tax rates for...). Tier 2 taxes on railroad employees, employers, and employee representatives are one source of funding...

76 FR 33380 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-08

... Two New Pricing Tiers, Investor Tier 1 and Investor Tier 2 June 3, 2011. Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1... Services (the ``Schedule'') to introduce two new pricing tiers, Investor Tier 1 and Investor Tier 2. The... proposes to introduce two new pricing tier levels, Investor Tier 1 and Investor Tier 2. Investor Tier 1...

76 FR 79221 - Penske Logistics, LLC, Customer Service Department General Motors and Tier Finished Goods...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-12-21

..., Customer Service Department General Motors and Tier Finished Goods/Finished Goods Division; a Subsidiary of... Manpower El Paso, TX; Amended Certification Regarding Eligibility To Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance... should read Penske Logistics, LLC, Customer Service Department, General Motors and Tier Finished Goods...

Tier identification (TID) for tiered memory characteristics

DOEpatents

Chang, Jichuan; Lim, Kevin T; Ranganathan, Parthasarathy

2014-03-25

A tier identification (TID) is to indicate a characteristic of a memory region associated with a virtual address in a tiered memory system. A thread may be serviced according to a first path based on the TID indicating a first characteristic. The thread may be serviced according to a second path based on the TID indicating a second characteristic.

7 CFR 1710.114 - TIER, DSC, OTIER and ODSC requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 11 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false TIER, DSC, OTIER and ODSC requirements. 1710.114... AND GUARANTEES Loan Purposes and Basic Policies § 1710.114 TIER, DSC, OTIER and ODSC requirements. (a) General. Requirements for coverage ratios are set forth in the borrower's mortgage, loan contract, or...

76 FR 40974 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-07-12

... Two New Pricing Tiers, Step-Up Tier 1 and Step-Up Tier 2 July 6, 2011. Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of... Services (the ``Schedule'') to introduce two new pricing tiers, Step-Up Tier 1 and Step-Up Tier 2. The text... Arca proposes to introduce two new pricing tier levels, Step-Up Tier 1 and Step-Up Tier 2. Step-Up Tier...

A Stratified Study of Students' Understanding of Basic Optics Concepts in Different Contexts Using Two-Tier Multiple-Choice Items

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chu, Hye-Eun; Treagust, David F.; Chandrasegaran, A. L.

2009-01-01

A large scale study involving 1786 year 7-10 Korean students from three school districts in Seoul was undertaken to evaluate their understanding of basic optics concepts using a two-tier multiple-choice diagnostic instrument consisting of four pairs of items, each of which evaluated the same concept in two different contexts. The instrument, which…

A socio-technical critique of tiered services: implications for interprofessional care.

PubMed

Hood, Rick

2015-01-01

In the health and social care sector, tiered services have become an increasingly influential way of organising professional expertise to address the needs of vulnerable people. Drawing on its application to UK child welfare services, this paper discusses the merits of the tiered model from a socio-technical perspective - an approach that has emerged from the fields of accident analysis and systems design. The main elements of a socio-technical critique are outlined and used to explore how tiered services provide support to families and prevent harm to children. Attention is drawn to the distribution of expertise and resources in a tiered system, and to the role of referral and gate-keeping procedures in dispersing accountability for outcomes. An argument is made for designing systems "against demand", and the paper concludes by discussing some alternative models of multi-agency provision.

47 CFR 76.1605 - New product tier.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 47 Telecommunication 4 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false New product tier. 76.1605 Section 76.1605 Telecommunication FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (CONTINUED) BROADCAST RADIO SERVICES MULTICHANNEL VIDEO AND CABLE TELEVISION SERVICE Notices § 76.1605 New product tier. (a) Within 30 days of the offering of an...

Research and development of web oriented remote sensing image publication system based on Servlet technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Juanle, Wang; Shuang, Li; Yunqiang, Zhu

2005-10-01

According to the requirements of China National Scientific Data Sharing Program (NSDSP), the research and development of web oriented RS Image Publication System (RSIPS) is based on Java Servlet technique. The designing of RSIPS framework is composed of 3 tiers, which is Presentation Tier, Application Service Tier and Data Resource Tier. Presentation Tier provides user interface for data query, review and download. For the convenience of users, visual spatial query interface is included. Served as a middle tier, Application Service Tier controls all actions between users and databases. Data Resources Tier stores RS images in file and relationship databases. RSIPS is developed with cross platform programming based on Java Servlet tools, which is one of advanced techniques in J2EE architecture. RSIPS's prototype has been developed and applied in the geosciences clearinghouse practice which is among the experiment units of NSDSP in China.

77 FR 36027 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-15

... Rates; and For Investor Tiers 1-3, the applicable rate based on an ETP Holder's qualifying levels. The... applicable Tier, Step Up Tier or Basic Rate and would be based on an ETP Holder's qualifying levels, as...-listed Tape B securities based on an ETP Holder's qualifying levels. $0.0026 per share fee for Tape B...

A systems relations model for Tier 2 early intervention child mental health services with schools: an exploratory study.

PubMed

van Roosmalen, Marc; Gardner-Elahi, Catherine; Day, Crispin

2013-01-01

Over the last 15 years, policy initiatives have aimed at the provision of more comprehensive Child and Adolescent Mental Health care. These presented a series of new challenges in organising and delivering Tier 2 child mental health services, particularly in schools. This exploratory study aimed to examine and clarify the service model underpinning a Tier 2 child mental health service offering school-based mental health work. Using semi-structured interviews, clinician descriptions of operational experiences were gathered. These were analysed using grounded theory methods. Analysis was validated by respondents at two stages. A pathway for casework emerged that included a systemic consultative function, as part of an overall three-function service model, which required: (1) activity as a member of the multi-agency system; (2) activity to improve the system working around a particular child; and (3) activity to universally develop a Tier 1 workforce confident in supporting children at risk of or experiencing mental health problems. The study challenged the perception of such a service serving solely a Tier 2 function, the requisite workforce to deliver the service model, and could give service providers a rationale for negotiating service models that include an explicit focus on improving the children's environments.

Adolescent and young adult medicine in Australia and New Zealand: towards specialist accreditation.

PubMed

Sawyer, Susan M; Farrant, Bridget; Hall, Anganette; Kennedy, Andrew; Payne, Donald; Steinbeck, Kate; Vogel, Veronica

2016-08-01

In Australia and New Zealand, a critical mass of academic and clinical leadership in Adolescent Medicine has helped advance models of clinical services, drive investments in teaching and training, and strengthen research capacity over the past 30 years. There is growing recognition of the importance of influencing the training of adult physicians as well as paediatricians. The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) is responsible for overseeing all aspects of specialist physician training across the two countries. Following advocacy from adolescent physicians, the RACP is advancing a three-tier strategy to build greater specialist capacity and sustain leadership in adolescent and young adult medicine (AYAM). The first tier of the strategy supports universal training in adolescent and young adult health and medicine for all basic trainees in paediatric and adult medicine through an online training resource. The second and third tiers support advanced training in AYAM for specialist practice, based on an advanced training curriculum that has been approved by the RACP. The second tier is dual training; advanced trainees can undertake 2 years training in AYAM and 2 years training in another area of specialist practice. The third tier consists of 3 years of advanced training in AYAM. The RACP is currently seeking formal recognition from the Australian Government to have AYAM accredited, a process that will be subsequently undertaken in New Zealand. The RACP is expectant that the accreditation of specialist AYAM physicians will promote sustained academic and clinical leadership in AYAM to the benefit of future generations of young Australasians.

SLA-based optimisation of virtualised resource for multi-tier web applications in cloud data centres

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bi, Jing; Yuan, Haitao; Tie, Ming; Tan, Wei

2015-10-01

Dynamic virtualised resource allocation is the key to quality of service assurance for multi-tier web application services in cloud data centre. In this paper, we develop a self-management architecture of cloud data centres with virtualisation mechanism for multi-tier web application services. Based on this architecture, we establish a flexible hybrid queueing model to determine the amount of virtual machines for each tier of virtualised application service environments. Besides, we propose a non-linear constrained optimisation problem with restrictions defined in service level agreement. Furthermore, we develop a heuristic mixed optimisation algorithm to maximise the profit of cloud infrastructure providers, and to meet performance requirements from different clients as well. Finally, we compare the effectiveness of our dynamic allocation strategy with two other allocation strategies. The simulation results show that the proposed resource allocation method is efficient in improving the overall performance and reducing the resource energy cost.

77 FR 56683 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-09-13

... the Tape A Step Up Tier, Modify the Remaining Tape Step Up Tiers and Introduce an Alternative Method... and Charges for Exchange Services (``Fee Schedule'') to (i) eliminate the Tape A Step Up Tier; (ii) modify the remaining Tape Step Up Tiers to exclude ETP Holders that qualify for the Cross-Asset Tier or...

Systematic Implementation of a Tier 2 Behavior Intervention

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carter, Deborah Russell; Carter, Gabriel M.; Johnson, Evelyn S.; Pool, Juli L.

2013-01-01

Schools are increasingly adopting tiered models of prevention to meet the needs of diverse populations of students. This article outlines the steps involved in designing and implementing a systematic Tier 2 behavior intervention within a tiered service delivery model. An elementary school example is provided to outline the identification,…

Integration of Cloud Technologies for Data Stewardship at the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Casey, K. S.; Hausman, S. A.

2016-02-01

In the last year, the NOAA National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC) and its siblings, the National Climatic Data Center and National Geophysical Data Center, were merged into one organization, the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). Combining its expertise under one management has helped NCEI accelerate its efforts to embrace and integrate private, public, and hybrid cloud environments into its range of data stewardship services. These services span a range of tiers, from basic, long-term preservation and access, through enhanced access and scientific quality control, to authoritative product development and international-level services. Throughout these tiers of stewardship, partnerships and pilot projects have been launched to identify technological and policy-oriented challenges, to establish solutions to these problems, and to highlight success stories for emulation during operational integration of the cloud into NCEI's data stewardship activities. Some of these pilot activities including data storage, access, and reprocessing in Amazon Web Services, the OneStop data discovery and access framework project, and a set of Cooperative Research and Development Agreements under the Big Data Project with Amazon, Google, IBM, Microsoft, and the Open Cloud Consortium. Progress in these efforts will be highlighted along with a future vision of how NCEI could leverage hybrid cloud deployments and federated systems across NOAA to enable effective data stewardship for its oceanographic, atmospheric, climatic, and geophysical Big Data.

20 CFR 226.11 - Employee tier II.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

.... The tier II of an employee annuity is based only on railroad service. For annuities awarded after... of the tier II benefit for age. The result cannot be less than zero. (c) If the railroad retirement...

25 CFR 542.30 - What is a Tier B gaming operation?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 25 Indians 2 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false What is a Tier B gaming operation? 542.30 Section 542.30 Indians NATIONAL INDIAN GAMING COMMISSION, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HUMAN SERVICES MINIMUM INTERNAL CONTROL STANDARDS § 542.30 What is a Tier B gaming operation? A Tier B gaming operation is one with gross...

25 CFR 542.40 - What is a Tier C gaming operation?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 25 Indians 2 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false What is a Tier C gaming operation? 542.40 Section 542.40 Indians NATIONAL INDIAN GAMING COMMISSION, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HUMAN SERVICES MINIMUM INTERNAL CONTROL STANDARDS § 542.40 What is a Tier C gaming operation? A Tier C gaming operation is one with annual...

25 CFR 542.20 - What is a Tier A gaming operation?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 25 Indians 2 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false What is a Tier A gaming operation? 542.20 Section 542.20 Indians NATIONAL INDIAN GAMING COMMISSION, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HUMAN SERVICES MINIMUM INTERNAL CONTROL STANDARDS § 542.20 What is a Tier A gaming operation? A Tier A gaming operation is one with annual...

Development of Three-Tier Heat, Temperature and Internal Energy Diagnostic Test

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gurcay, Deniz; Gulbas, Etna

2015-01-01

Background: Misconceptions are major obstacles to learning physics, and the concepts of heat and temperature are some of the common misconceptions that are encountered in daily life. Therefore, it is important to develop valid and reliable tools to determine students' misconceptions about basic thermodynamics concepts. Three-tier tests are…

[Influence of contractual medical association on inpatient service performance].

PubMed

Wu, Zhi-jun; Jian, Wei-yan

2015-06-18

To study the influence of contractual medical association on inpatient service performance. The data came from "Database of Inpatient Record" administered by Department of Medical Insurance. Using diagnosis related groups (DRG) as the tool of risk-adjustment, the third-tier general hospitals and second-tier general hospitals in medical alliance as the intervention group, and the average level of the same grade local hospitals as the control group, the influence of medical alliance on inpatient service performance was evaluated. The difference in difference (DID) method was used for the data analysis. The assessing indicators included the number of DRG group, case mix index (CMI), the total weight, cost efficiency index and time efficiency index. After the establishment of medical association, compared with the average level of the same grade local hospitals, in the third-tier general hospitals of medical alliance, the growth rate of the total weight had declined, and cost efficiency index had increased, while in the second-tier general hospitals of medical alliance, the CMI value had declined, and the cost efficiency index had increased. Contractual medical association played a role of triage patients, and improved the service levels and management efficiency of the second-tier general hospitals.

Prospective Environmental Risk Assessment for Sediment-Bound Organic Chemicals: A Proposal for Tiered Effect Assessment.

PubMed

Diepens, Noël J; Koelmans, Albert A; Baveco, Hans; van den Brink, Paul J; van den Heuvel-Greve, Martine J; Brock, Theo C M

A broadly accepted framework for prospective environmental risk assessment (ERA) of sediment-bound organic chemicals is currently lacking. Such a framework requires clear protection goals, evidence-based concepts that link exposure to effects and a transparent tiered-effect assessment. In this paper, we provide a tiered prospective sediment ERA procedure for organic chemicals in sediment, with a focus on the applicable European regulations and the underlying data requirements. Using the ecosystem services concept, we derived specific protection goals for ecosystem service providing units: microorganisms, benthic algae, sediment-rooted macrophytes, benthic invertebrates and benthic vertebrates. Triggers for sediment toxicity testing are discussed.We recommend a tiered approach (Tier 0 through Tier 3). Tier-0 is a cost-effective screening based on chronic water-exposure toxicity data for pelagic species and equilibrium partitioning. Tier-1 is based on spiked sediment laboratory toxicity tests with standard benthic test species and standardised test methods. If comparable chronic toxicity data for both standard and additional benthic test species are available, the Species Sensitivity Distribution (SSD) approach is a more viable Tier-2 option than the geometric mean approach. This paper includes criteria for accepting results of sediment-spiked single species toxicity tests in prospective ERA, and for the application of the SSD approach. We propose micro/mesocosm experiments with spiked sediment, to study colonisation success by benthic organisms, as a Tier-3 option. Ecological effect models can be used to supplement the experimental tiers. A strategy for unifying information from various tiers by experimental work and exposure-and effect modelling is provided.

Response to Intervention within Tier 3: A Model for Data Teams

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sgouros, Ilana; Walsh, Karen

2012-01-01

There is increasing evidence that a significant number of children in America are not learning important basic reading skills. Response to intervention (RTI) for support in reading is appropriate, but what does a school district do about students who are in Tier 3 and not making progress? Teachers and psychologists at the Special School District…

A Three-Tier Diagnostic Test to Assess Pre-Service Teachers' Misconceptions about Global Warming, Greenhouse Effect, Ozone Layer Depletion, and Acid Rain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ozge Arslan, Harika; Cigdemoglu, Ceyhan; Moseley, Christine

2012-07-01

This study describes the development and validation of a three-tier multiple-choice diagnostic test, the atmosphere-related environmental problems diagnostic test (AREPDiT), to reveal common misconceptions of global warming (GW), greenhouse effect (GE), ozone layer depletion (OLD), and acid rain (AR). The development of a two-tier diagnostic test procedure as described by Treagust constitutes the framework for this study. To differentiate a lack of knowledge from a misconception, a certainty response index is added as a third tier to each item. Based on propositional knowledge statements, related literature, and the identified misconceptions gathered initially from 157 pre-service teachers, the AREPDiT was constructed and administered to 256 pre-service teachers. The Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient of the pre-service teachers' scores was estimated to be 0.74. Content and face validations were established by senior experts. A moderate positive correlation between the participants' both-tiers scores and their certainty scores indicated evidence for construct validity. Therefore, the AREPDiT is a reliable and valid instrument not only to identify pre-service teachers' misconceptions about GW, GE, OLD, and AR but also to differentiate these misconceptions from lack of knowledge. The results also reveal that a majority of the respondents demonstrated limited understandings about atmosphere-related environmental problems and held six common misconceptions. Future studies could test the AREPDiT as a tool for assessing the misconceptions held by pre-service teachers from different programs as well as in-service teachers and high school students.

26 CFR 1.444-4 - Tiered structure.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 6 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Tiered structure. 1.444-4 Section 1.444-4 Internal Revenue INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY (CONTINUED) INCOME TAX (CONTINUED) INCOME TAXES Accounting Periods § 1.444-4 Tiered structure. (a) Electing small business trusts. For...

Technical Criteria and Procedures for Evaluating the Crashworthiness and Occupant Protection Performance of Alternatively Designed Passenger Rail Equipment for Use in Tier I Service

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2011-10-01

Criteria and procedures have been developed for assessing crashworthiness and occupant protection performance of alternatively designed trainsets to be used in Tier I (not exceeding 125 mph) passenger service. These criteria and procedures take advan...

Development of a Three-Tier Test as a Valid Diagnostic Tool for Identification of Misconceptions Related to Carbohydrates

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Milenkovic, Dusica D.; Hrin, Tamara N.; Segedinac, Mirjana D.; Horvat, Sasa

2016-01-01

This study describes the development and application of a three-tier test as a valid and reliable tool in diagnosing students' misconceptions regarding some basic concepts about carbohydrates. The test was administrated to students of the Pharmacy Department at the University of Bijeljina (Serb Republic). The results denoted construct and content…

47 CFR 76.921 - Buy-through of other tiers prohibited.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 47 Telecommunication 4 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Buy-through of other tiers prohibited. 76.921... video programming offered on a per channel or per program charge basis. A cable operator may, however, require the subscription to one or more tiers of cable programming services as a condition of access to...

77 FR 71481 - Publication of the Tier 2 Tax Rates

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-11-30

... DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Internal Revenue Service Publication of the Tier 2 Tax Rates AGENCY... tax rates for calendar year 2013 as required by section 3241(d) of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 3241). Tier 2 taxes on railroad employees, employers, and employee representatives are one source of...

50 CFR 86.53 - What are funding tiers?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 50 Wildlife and Fisheries 9 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false What are funding tiers? 86.53 Section 86.53 Wildlife and Fisheries UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR... (BIG) PROGRAM How States Apply for Grants § 86.53 What are funding tiers? (a) This grant program will...

A component-based, distributed object services architecture for a clinical workstation.

PubMed

Chueh, H C; Raila, W F; Pappas, J J; Ford, M; Zatsman, P; Tu, J; Barnett, G O

1996-01-01

Attention to an architectural framework in the development of clinical applications can promote reusability of both legacy systems as well as newly designed software. We describe one approach to an architecture for a clinical workstation application which is based on a critical middle tier of distributed object-oriented services. This tier of network-based services provides flexibility in the creation of both the user interface and the database tiers. We developed a clinical workstation for ambulatory care using this architecture, defining a number of core services including those for vocabulary, patient index, documents, charting, security, and encounter management. These services can be implemented through proprietary or more standard distributed object interfaces such as CORBA and OLE. Services are accessed over the network by a collection of user interface components which can be mixed and matched to form a variety of interface styles. These services have also been reused with several applications based on World Wide Web browser interfaces.

A component-based, distributed object services architecture for a clinical workstation.

PubMed Central

Chueh, H. C.; Raila, W. F.; Pappas, J. J.; Ford, M.; Zatsman, P.; Tu, J.; Barnett, G. O.

1996-01-01

Attention to an architectural framework in the development of clinical applications can promote reusability of both legacy systems as well as newly designed software. We describe one approach to an architecture for a clinical workstation application which is based on a critical middle tier of distributed object-oriented services. This tier of network-based services provides flexibility in the creation of both the user interface and the database tiers. We developed a clinical workstation for ambulatory care using this architecture, defining a number of core services including those for vocabulary, patient index, documents, charting, security, and encounter management. These services can be implemented through proprietary or more standard distributed object interfaces such as CORBA and OLE. Services are accessed over the network by a collection of user interface components which can be mixed and matched to form a variety of interface styles. These services have also been reused with several applications based on World Wide Web browser interfaces. PMID:8947744

Novel tradable instruments in the conservation of coral reefs, based on the coral gardening concept for reef restoration.

PubMed

Rinkevich, Baruch

2015-10-01

Nearly all coral reefs bordering nations have experienced net losses in reef biodiversity, goods and services, even without considering the ever-developing global change impacts. In response, this overview wishes to reveal through prospects of active reef-restoration, the currently non-marketed or poorly marketed reef services, focusing on a single coral species (Stylophora pistillata). It is implied that the integration of equity capitals and other commodification with reef-restoration practices will improve total reef services. Two tiers of market-related activities are defined, the traditional first-tier instruments (valuating costs/gains for extracting tradable goods and services) and novel second-tier instruments (new/expanded monetary tools developed as by-products of reef restoration measures). The emerging new suite of economic mechanisms based on restoration methodologies could be served as an incentive for ecosystem conservation, enhancing the sum values of all services generated by coral reefs, where the same stocks of farmed/transplanted coral colonies will be used as market instruments. I found that active restoration measures disclose 12 classes of second-tier goods and services, which may partly/wholly finance restoration acts, bringing to light reef capitalizations that allow the expansion of markets with products that have not been considered before. The degree to which the second tier of market-related services could buffer coral-reef degradation is still unclear and would vary with different reef types and in various reef restoration scenarios; however, reducing the uncertainty associated with restoration. It is expected that the expansion of markets with the new products and the enhancement of those already existing will be materialized even if reef ecosystems will recover into different statuses. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

77 FR 67053 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; New York Stock Exchange LLC; Order Granting Approval of Proposed...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-11-08

... Tier Two, at each such issuer's election, the Exchange offers either market analytics or Web-hosting... One, the Exchange offers market surveillance and Web-hosting products and services to U.S. issuers... Tier One offerings, the Exchange proposes to permit a Tier One issuer to choose market analytics...

Using Regression Discontinuity to Test the Impact of a Tier 2 Reading Intervention in First Grade

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Baker, Scott K.; Smolkowski, Keith; Chaparro, Erin A.; Smith, Jean L. M.; Fien, Hank

2015-01-01

Multitiered systems of reading instruction and intervention, including response to intervention, are widely used in early reading by schools to provide more intense services to students who need them. Research using randomized controlled trials has compared innovative Tier 2 interventions to business-as-usual Tier 2 approaches and established a…

75 FR 57958 - Solicitation of Written Comments on Draft Tier 2 Strategies/Modules for Inclusion in the “HHS...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-09-23

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Solicitation of Written Comments on Draft Tier 2...'' AGENCY: Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Office of....'' To further the HHS mission to protect the health and well-being of the nation, the HHS Steering...

Incorporating a Multi-Tiered System of Supports into School Counselor Preparation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sink, Christopher A.

2016-01-01

With the advent of a multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) in schools, counselor preparation programs are once again challenged to further extend the education and training of pre-service and in-service school counselors. To introduce and contextualize this special issue, an MTSS's intent and foci, as well as its theoretical and research…

50 CFR 86.54 - How must I submit proposals?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... (CONTINUED) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE-WILDLIFE SPORT FISH RESTORATION PROGRAM BOATING INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT (BIG... from Tier Two projects. (e) You must describe each project in Tier Two separately, so that the Service...

12 CFR Appendix D to Part 225 - Capital Adequacy Guidelines for Bank Holding Companies: Tier 1 Leverage Measure

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... Consolidated Financial Statements (FR Y-9C Report), less goodwill; amounts of mortgage servicing assets... part. b. The tier 1 leverage guidelines apply on a consolidated basis to any bank holding company with consolidated assets of $500 million or more. The tier 1 leverage guidelines also apply on a consolidated basis...

Development and Application of a Four-Tier Test to Assess Pre-Service Physics Teachers' Misconceptions about Geometrical Optics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kaltakci-Gurel, Derya; Eryilmaz, Ali; McDermott, Lillian Christie

2017-01-01

Background: Correct identification of misconceptions is an important first step in order to gain an understanding of student learning. More recently, four-tier multiple choice tests have been found to be effective in assessing misconceptions. Purpose: The purposes of this study are (1) to develop and validate a four-tier misconception test to…

12 CFR Appendix D to Part 225 - Capital Adequacy Guidelines for Bank Holding Companies: Tier 1 Leverage Measure

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... CONTROL (REGULATION Y) Pt. 225, App. D Appendix D to Part 225—Capital Adequacy Guidelines for Bank Holding..., nonmortgage servicing assets, and purchased credit card relationships that, in the aggregate, are in excess of 100 percent of Tier 1 capital; amounts of nonmortgage servicing assets and purchased credit card...

Exploring Pre-Service Elementary Science Teachers' Conceptual Understanding of Particulate Nature of Matter through Three-Tier Diagnostic Test

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Aydeniz, Mehmet; Bilican, Kader; Kirbulut, Zubeyde Demet

2017-01-01

The purpose of this study was to explore Pre-service Elementary Science Teachers' (PSTs) conceptual understanding of Particulate Nature of Matter (PNM) through a three-tier diagnostic test. Participants were 215 PSTs from Turkey. Data consisted of participants' responses to the Particulate Nature of Matter Test (PNMT). The PNMT consists of…

A Three-Tier Diagnostic Test to Assess Pre-Service Teachers' Misconceptions about Global Warming, Greenhouse Effect, Ozone Layer Depletion, and Acid Rain

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Arslan, Harika Ozge; Cigdemoglu, Ceyhan; Moseley, Christine

2012-01-01

This study describes the development and validation of a three-tier multiple-choice diagnostic test, the atmosphere-related environmental problems diagnostic test (AREPDiT), to reveal common misconceptions of global warming (GW), greenhouse effect (GE), ozone layer depletion (OLD), and acid rain (AR). The development of a two-tier diagnostic test…

7 CFR 1794.16 - Tiering.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... where better decision making will be fostered (40 CFR 1502.20). ... 7 Agriculture 12 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Tiering. 1794.16 Section 1794.16 Agriculture Regulations of the Department of Agriculture (Continued) RURAL UTILITIES SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE...

Fostering SMART partnerships to develop an effective continuum of behavioral health services and supports in schools.

PubMed

Bruns, Eric J; Duong, Mylien T; Lyon, Aaron R; Pullmann, Michael D; Cook, Clayton R; Cheney, Douglas; McCauley, Elizabeth

2016-03-01

The education sector offers compelling opportunities to address the shortcomings of traditional mental health delivery systems and to prevent and treat youth mental, emotional, and behavioral (MEB) problems. Recognizing that social and emotional wellness is intrinsically related to academic success, schools are moving to adopt multi-tier frameworks based on the public health model that provide a continuum of services to all children, including services to address both academic and MEB problems. In this article, we review the potential value of multi-tier frameworks in facilitating access to, and increasing the effectiveness of, mental health services in schools, and review the empirical support for school-based mental health interventions by tier. We go on to describe a community-academic partnership between the Seattle Public Schools and the University of Washington School Mental Health Assessment, Research, and Training (SMART) Center that exemplifies how multi-tier educational frameworks, research and evidence, and purposeful collaboration can combine to improve development and implementation of a range of school-based strategies focused on MEB needs of students. Finally, we present a set of 10 recommendations that may help guide other research and practice improvement efforts to address MEB problems in youth through effective school mental health programming. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved).

Constructing and Implementing a Four Tier Test about Static Electricity to Diagnose Pre-service Elementary School Teacher’ Misconceptions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hermita, N.; Suhandi, A.; Syaodih, E.; Samsudin, A.; Isjoni; Johan, H.; Rosa, F.; Setyaningsih, R.; Sapriadil; Safitri, D.

2017-09-01

We have already constructed and implemented the diagnostic test formed in the four tier test to diagnose pre-service elementary teachers’ misconceptions about static electricity. The method which is utilized in this study is 3D-1I (Define, Design, Develop and Implementation) conducted to the pre-service elementary school teachers. The number of respondents involved in the study is 78 students of PGSD FKIP Universitas Riau. The data was collected by administering diagnostic test items in the form of four tier test. The result indicates that there are several misconceptions related to static electricity concept, these include: 1) Electrostatic objects cannot attract neutral objects, 2) A neutral object is an object that does not contain an electrical charge, and 3) the magnitude of the tensile force between two charged objects depends on the size of the charge. Moreover, the research’s results establish that the diagnostic test is able to analyse number of misconceptions and classify level of understanding pre-service elementary school teachers that is scientific knowledge, misconception, lack knowledge, and error. In conclusion, the diagnostic test item in the form of four tier test has already been constructed and implemented to diagnose students’ conceptions on static electricity.

Fostering SMART Partnerships to Develop an Effective Continuum of Behavioral Health Services and Supports in Schools

PubMed Central

Bruns, Eric J.; Duong, Mylien T.; Lyon, Aaron R.; Pullmann, Michael D.; Cook, Clayton R.; Cheney, Douglas; McCauley, Elizabeth

2015-01-01

The education sector offers compelling opportunities to address the shortcomings of traditional mental health delivery systems and to prevent and treat youth mental, emotional, and behavioral (MEB) problems. Recognizing that social and emotional wellness is intrinsically related to academic success, schools are moving to adopt multi-tier frameworks based on the public health model that provide a continuum of services to all children, including services to address both academic and MEB problems. In this paper, we review the potential value of multi-tier frameworks in facilitating access to, and increasing the effectiveness of, mental health services in schools and review the empirical support for school-based mental health interventions by tier. We go on to describe a community-academic partnership between the Seattle Public Schools and the University of Washington School Mental Health Assessment, Research, and Training (SMART) Center that exemplifies how multi-tier educational frameworks, research and evidence, and purposeful collaboration can combine to improve development and implementation of a range of school-based strategies focused on MEB needs of students. Finally, we present a set of 10 recommendations that may help guide other research and practice improvement efforts to address MEB problems in youth through effective school mental health programming. PMID:26963185

A distributed Tier-1

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fischer, L.; Grønager, M.; Kleist, J.; Smirnova, O.

2008-07-01

The Tier-1 facility operated by the Nordic DataGrid Facility (NDGF) differs significantly from other Tier-1s in several aspects: firstly, it is not located at one or a few premises, but instead is distributed throughout the Nordic countries; secondly, it is not under the governance of a single organization but instead is a meta-center built of resources under the control of a number of different national organizations. We present some technical implications of these aspects as well as the high-level design of this distributed Tier-1. The focus will be on computing services, storage and monitoring.

Retrospective economic analysis of the transfer of services from hospitals to the community: an application to an enhanced eye care service.

PubMed

Mason, Thomas; Jones, Cheryl; Sutton, Matt; Konstantakopoulou, Evgenia; Edgar, David F; Harper, Robert A; Birch, Stephen; Lawrenson, John G

2017-07-10

This research aims to evaluate the wider health system effects of the introduction of an intermediate-tier service for eye care. This research employs the Minor Eye Conditions Scheme (MECS), an intermediate-tier eye care service introduced in two London boroughs, Lewisham and Lambeth, in April 2013. Retrospective difference-in-differences analysis comparing changes over time in service use and costs between April 2011 and October 2014 in two commissioning areas that introduced an intermediate-tier service programme with changes in a neighbouring area that did not introduce the programme. MECS audit data; unit costs for MECS visits; volumes of first and follow-up outpatient attendances to hospital ophthalmology; the national schedule of reference costs. Volumes and costs of patients treated. In one intervention area (Lewisham), general practitioner (GP) referrals to hospital ophthalmology decreased differentially by 75.2% (95% CI -0.918% to -0.587%) for first attendances, and by 40.3% for follow-ups (95% CI -0.489% to -0.316%). GP referrals to hospital ophthalmology decreased differentially by 30.2% (95% CI -0.468% to -0.137%) for first attendances in the other intervention area (Lambeth). Costs increased by 3.1% in the comparison area between 2011/2012 and 2013/2014. Over the same period, costs increased by less (2.5%) in one intervention area and fell by 13.8% in the other intervention area. Intermediate-tier services based in the community could potentially reduce volumes of patients referred to hospitals by GPs and provide replacement services at lower unit costs. © Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2017. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

47 CFR 76.933 - Franchising authority review of basic cable rates and equipment costs.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... the imposition of, or increase in, franchise fees or Commission cable television system regulatory..., the increased rate attributable to Commission regulatory fees or franchise fees shall be treated as an... increase in basic tier rates exceeds the increase in regulatory fees or in franchise fees allocable to the...

47 CFR 76.933 - Franchising authority review of basic cable rates and equipment costs.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... the imposition of, or increase in, franchise fees or Commission cable television system regulatory..., the increased rate attributable to Commission regulatory fees or franchise fees shall be treated as an... increase in basic tier rates exceeds the increase in regulatory fees or in franchise fees allocable to the...

47 CFR 76.933 - Franchising authority review of basic cable rates and equipment costs.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... the imposition of, or increase in, franchise fees or Commission cable television system regulatory..., the increased rate attributable to Commission regulatory fees or franchise fees shall be treated as an... increase in basic tier rates exceeds the increase in regulatory fees or in franchise fees allocable to the...

47 CFR 76.933 - Franchising authority review of basic cable rates and equipment costs.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... the imposition of, or increase in, franchise fees or Commission cable television system regulatory..., the increased rate attributable to Commission regulatory fees or franchise fees shall be treated as an... increase in basic tier rates exceeds the increase in regulatory fees or in franchise fees allocable to the...

7 CFR 1717.850 - General.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... Earned Ratio (TIER), Debt Service Coverage (DSC), and other case-specific economic and financial factors; (ii) The variability and uncertainty of future revenues, costs, margins, TIER, DSC, and other case... construction work orders and other records, all moneys disbursed from the separate subaccount during the period...

40 CFR 86.094-13 - Light-duty exhaust durability programs.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... requirements. (5) In-use verification. The Standard Self-Approval Durability Program includes no requirement... selection methods, durability data vehicle compliance requirements, in-use verification requirements... Accumulation Carryover. Light-duty Trucks Tier 1 & Tier 0 Standard Self-Approval Carryover. Alternative Service...

A SOA-Based Platform to Support Clinical Data Sharing.

PubMed

Gazzarata, R; Giannini, B; Giacomini, M

2017-01-01

The eSource Data Interchange Group, part of the Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium, proposed five scenarios to guide stakeholders in the development of solutions for the capture of eSource data. The fifth scenario was subdivided into four tiers to adapt the functionality of electronic health records to support clinical research. In order to develop a system belonging to the "Interoperable" Tier, the authors decided to adopt the service-oriented architecture paradigm to support technical interoperability, Health Level Seven Version 3 messages combined with LOINC (Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes) vocabulary to ensure semantic interoperability, and Healthcare Services Specification Project standards to provide process interoperability. The developed architecture enhances the integration between patient-care practice and medical research, allowing clinical data sharing between two hospital information systems and four clinical data management systems/clinical registries. The core is formed by a set of standardized cloud services connected through standardized interfaces, involving client applications. The system was approved by a medical staff, since it reduces the workload for the management of clinical trials. Although this architecture can realize the "Interoperable" Tier, the current solution actually covers the "Connected" Tier, due to local hospital policy restrictions.

A SOA-Based Platform to Support Clinical Data Sharing

PubMed

Gazzarata, R; Giannini, B; Giacomini, M

2017-01-01

The eSource Data Interchange Group, part of the Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium, proposed five scenarios to guide stakeholders in the development of solutions for the capture of eSource data. The fifth scenario was subdivided into four tiers to adapt the functionality of electronic health records to support clinical research. In order to develop a system belonging to the “Interoperable” Tier, the authors decided to adopt the service-oriented architecture paradigm to support technical interoperability, Health Level Seven Version 3 messages combined with LOINC (Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes) vocabulary to ensure semantic interoperability, and Healthcare Services Specification Project standards to provide process interoperability. The developed architecture enhances the integration between patient-care practice and medical research, allowing clinical data sharing between two hospital information systems and four clinical data management systems/clinical registries. The core is formed by a set of standardized cloud services connected through standardized interfaces, involving client applications. The system was approved by a medical staff, since it reduces the workload for the management of clinical trials. Although this architecture can realize the “Interoperable” Tier, the current solution actually covers the “Connected” Tier, due to local hospital policy restrictions. © 2017 R. Gazzarata et al.

A SOA-Based Platform to Support Clinical Data Sharing

PubMed Central

Gazzarata, R.; Giannini, B.

2017-01-01

The eSource Data Interchange Group, part of the Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium, proposed five scenarios to guide stakeholders in the development of solutions for the capture of eSource data. The fifth scenario was subdivided into four tiers to adapt the functionality of electronic health records to support clinical research. In order to develop a system belonging to the “Interoperable” Tier, the authors decided to adopt the service-oriented architecture paradigm to support technical interoperability, Health Level Seven Version 3 messages combined with LOINC (Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes) vocabulary to ensure semantic interoperability, and Healthcare Services Specification Project standards to provide process interoperability. The developed architecture enhances the integration between patient-care practice and medical research, allowing clinical data sharing between two hospital information systems and four clinical data management systems/clinical registries. The core is formed by a set of standardized cloud services connected through standardized interfaces, involving client applications. The system was approved by a medical staff, since it reduces the workload for the management of clinical trials. Although this architecture can realize the “Interoperable” Tier, the current solution actually covers the “Connected” Tier, due to local hospital policy restrictions. PMID:29065576

Methods and apparatus for constructing and implementing a universal extension module for processing objects in a database

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Li, Chung-Sheng (Inventor); Smith, John R. (Inventor); Chang, Yuan-Chi (Inventor); Jhingran, Anant D. (Inventor); Padmanabhan, Sriram K. (Inventor); Hsiao, Hui-I (Inventor); Choy, David Mun-Hien (Inventor); Lin, Jy-Jine James (Inventor); Fuh, Gene Y. C. (Inventor); Williams, Robin (Inventor)

2004-01-01

Methods and apparatus for providing a multi-tier object-relational database architecture are disclosed. In one illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a multi-tier database architecture comprises an object-relational database engine as a top tier, one or more domain-specific extension modules as a bottom tier, and one or more universal extension modules as a middle tier. The individual extension modules of the bottom tier operationally connect with the one or more universal extension modules which, themselves, operationally connect with the database engine. The domain-specific extension modules preferably provide such functions as search, index, and retrieval services of images, video, audio, time series, web pages, text, XML, spatial data, etc. The domain-specific extension modules may include one or more IBM DB2 extenders, Oracle data cartridges and/or Informix datablades, although other domain-specific extension modules may be used.

Exploring the evidence base for Tier 3 specialist weight management interventions for children aged 2-18 years in the UK: a rapid systematic review.

PubMed

Brown, Tamara; O'Malley, Claire; Blackshaw, Jamie; Coulton, Vicki; Tedstone, Alison; Summerbell, Carolyn; Ells, Louisa J

2017-12-08

The impact of specialist weight management services (Tier 3) for children with severe and complex obesity in the UK is unclear. This review aims to examine the impact of child Tier 3 services in the UK, exploring service characteristics and implications for practice. Rapid systematic review of any study examining specialist weight management interventions in any UK setting including children (2-18 years) with a body mass index >99.6th centile or >98th centile with comorbidity. Twelve studies (five RCTs and seven uncontrolled) were included in a variety of settings. Study quality was moderate or low and mean baseline body mass index z-score ranged from 2.7 to 3.6 units. Study samples were small and children were predominantly older (10-14 years), female and white. Multidisciplinary team composition and eligibility criteria varied; dropout ranged from 5 to 43%. Improvements in zBMI over 1-24 months ranged from -0.13 to -0.41 units. Specialist weight management interventions for children with severe obesity demonstrated a reduction in zBMI, across a variety of UK settings. Studies were heterogeneous in content and thus conclusions on service design cannot be drawn. There is a paucity of evidence for Tier 3 services for children, and further research is required. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Faculty of Public Health. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com

A framework for integration of scientific applications into the OpenTopography workflow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nandigam, V.; Crosby, C.; Baru, C.

2012-12-01

The NSF-funded OpenTopography facility provides online access to Earth science-oriented high-resolution LIDAR topography data, online processing tools, and derivative products. The underlying cyberinfrastructure employs a multi-tier service oriented architecture that is comprised of an infrastructure tier, a processing services tier, and an application tier. The infrastructure tier consists of storage, compute resources as well as supporting databases. The services tier consists of the set of processing routines each deployed as a Web service. The applications tier provides client interfaces to the system. (e.g. Portal). We propose a "pluggable" infrastructure design that will allow new scientific algorithms and processing routines developed and maintained by the community to be integrated into the OpenTopography system so that the wider earth science community can benefit from its availability. All core components in OpenTopography are available as Web services using a customized open-source Opal toolkit. The Opal toolkit provides mechanisms to manage and track job submissions, with the help of a back-end database. It allows monitoring of job and system status by providing charting tools. All core components in OpenTopography have been developed, maintained and wrapped as Web services using Opal by OpenTopography developers. However, as the scientific community develops new processing and analysis approaches this integration approach is not scalable efficiently. Most of the new scientific applications will have their own active development teams performing regular updates, maintenance and other improvements. It would be optimal to have the application co-located where its developers can continue to actively work on it while still making it accessible within the OpenTopography workflow for processing capabilities. We will utilize a software framework for remote integration of these scientific applications into the OpenTopography system. This will be accomplished by virtually extending the OpenTopography service over the various infrastructures running these scientific applications and processing routines. This involves packaging and distributing a customized instance of the Opal toolkit that will wrap the software application as an OPAL-based web service and integrate it into the OpenTopography framework. We plan to make this as automated as possible. A structured specification of service inputs and outputs along with metadata annotations encoded in XML can be utilized to automate the generation of user interfaces, with appropriate tools tips and user help features, and generation of other internal software. The OpenTopography Opal toolkit will also include the customizations that will enable security authentication, authorization and the ability to write application usage and job statistics back to the OpenTopography databases. This usage information could then be reported to the original service providers and used for auditing and performance improvements. This pluggable framework will enable the application developers to continue to work on enhancing their application while making the latest iteration available in a timely manner to the earth sciences community. This will also help us establish an overall framework that other scientific application providers will also be able to use going forward.

Optimal Resource Allocation under Fair QoS in Multi-tier Server Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akai, Hirokazu; Ushio, Toshimitsu; Hayashi, Naoki

Recent development of network technology realizes multi-tier server systems, where several tiers perform functionally different processing requested by clients. It is an important issue to allocate resources of the systems to clients dynamically based on their current requests. On the other hand, Q-RAM has been proposed for resource allocation in real-time systems. In the server systems, it is important that execution results of all applications requested by clients are the same QoS(quality of service) level. In this paper, we extend Q-RAM to multi-tier server systems and propose a method for optimal resource allocation with fairness of the QoS levels of clients’ requests. We also consider an assignment problem of physical machines to be sleep in each tier sothat the energy consumption is minimized.

Securing the Borders: Creation of the Border Patrol Auxiliary

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-05-05

auxiliary members will be the elite members of the BPA who will attend training at the Border Patrol Academy to gain the knowledge and skills required to...recruits and greatly reducing start-up costs for the Border Patrol. It would appeal directly to ideal candidates for the elite tier-two service: new...program, which is a small, elite , and highly selective service. Tier-two members will have to be recruited from specific target populations. Based on the

Development of Web GIS for complex processing and visualization of climate geospatial datasets as an integral part of dedicated Virtual Research Environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gordov, Evgeny; Okladnikov, Igor; Titov, Alexander

2017-04-01

For comprehensive usage of large geospatial meteorological and climate datasets it is necessary to create a distributed software infrastructure based on the spatial data infrastructure (SDI) approach. Currently, it is generally accepted that the development of client applications as integrated elements of such infrastructure should be based on the usage of modern web and GIS technologies. The paper describes the Web GIS for complex processing and visualization of geospatial (mainly in NetCDF and PostGIS formats) datasets as an integral part of the dedicated Virtual Research Environment for comprehensive study of ongoing and possible future climate change, and analysis of their implications, providing full information and computing support for the study of economic, political and social consequences of global climate change at the global and regional levels. The Web GIS consists of two basic software parts: 1. Server-side part representing PHP applications of the SDI geoportal and realizing the functionality of interaction with computational core backend, WMS/WFS/WPS cartographical services, as well as implementing an open API for browser-based client software. Being the secondary one, this part provides a limited set of procedures accessible via standard HTTP interface. 2. Front-end part representing Web GIS client developed according to a "single page application" technology based on JavaScript libraries OpenLayers (http://openlayers.org/), ExtJS (https://www.sencha.com/products/extjs), GeoExt (http://geoext.org/). It implements application business logic and provides intuitive user interface similar to the interface of such popular desktop GIS applications, as uDIG, QuantumGIS etc. Boundless/OpenGeo architecture was used as a basis for Web-GIS client development. According to general INSPIRE requirements to data visualization Web GIS provides such standard functionality as data overview, image navigation, scrolling, scaling and graphical overlay, displaying map legends and corresponding metadata information. The specialized Web GIS client contains three basic tires: • Tier of NetCDF metadata in JSON format • Middleware tier of JavaScript objects implementing methods to work with: o NetCDF metadata o XML file of selected calculations configuration (XML task) o WMS/WFS/WPS cartographical services • Graphical user interface tier representing JavaScript objects realizing general application business logic Web-GIS developed provides computational processing services launching to support solving tasks in the area of environmental monitoring, as well as presenting calculation results in the form of WMS/WFS cartographical layers in raster (PNG, JPG, GeoTIFF), vector (KML, GML, Shape), and binary (NetCDF) formats. It has shown its effectiveness in the process of solving real climate change research problems and disseminating investigation results in cartographical formats. The work is supported by the Russian Science Foundation grant No 16-19-10257.

Supporting Families to Support Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kelly, John; Rossen, Eric; Cowan, Katherine C.

2018-01-01

Collaboration between students' families and the school is an essential component to promoting student mental and behavioral health. Many schools structure their mental health services using a Multi-Tiered System of Supports that offers three different tiers of support from universal supports to personalized help for students with serious…

Idaho's Three-Tiered System for Speech-Language Paratherapist Training and Utilization.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Longhurst, Thomas M.

1997-01-01

Discusses the development and current implementation of Idaho's three-tiered system of speech-language paratherapists. Support personnel providing speech-language services to learners with special communication needs in educational settings must obtain one of three certification levels: (1) speech-language aide, (2) associate degree…

48 CFR 215.203-70 - Requests for proposals-tiered evaluation of offers.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE CONTRACTING METHODS AND CONTRACT TYPES CONTRACTING BY... shall be consistent with FAR part 19. (b) Consideration shall be given to the tiers of small businesses (e.g., 8(a), HUBZone small business, service-disabled veteran-owned small business, small business...

47 CFR 76.921 - Buy-through of other tiers prohibited.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... MULTICHANNEL VIDEO AND CABLE TELEVISION SERVICE Cable Rate Regulation § 76.921 Buy-through of other tiers prohibited. (a) No cable system operator, other than an operator subject to effective competition, may... video programming offered on a per channel or per program charge basis. A cable operator may, however...

47 CFR 76.921 - Buy-through of other tiers prohibited.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... MULTICHANNEL VIDEO AND CABLE TELEVISION SERVICE Cable Rate Regulation § 76.921 Buy-through of other tiers prohibited. (a) No cable system operator, other than an operator subject to effective competition, may... video programming offered on a per channel or per program charge basis. A cable operator may, however...

47 CFR 76.921 - Buy-through of other tiers prohibited.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... MULTICHANNEL VIDEO AND CABLE TELEVISION SERVICE Cable Rate Regulation § 76.921 Buy-through of other tiers prohibited. (a) No cable system operator, other than an operator subject to effective competition, may... video programming offered on a per channel or per program charge basis. A cable operator may, however...

General Framework for Animal Food Safety Traceability Using GS1 and RFID

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cao, Weizhu; Zheng, Limin; Zhu, Hong; Wu, Ping

GS1 is global traceability standard, which is composed by the encoding system (EAN/UCC, EPC), the data carriers identified automatically (bar codes, RFID), electronic data interchange standards (EDI, XML). RFID is a non-contact, multi-objective automatic identification technique. Tracing of source food, standardization of RFID tags, sharing of dynamic data are problems to solve urgently for recent traceability systems. The paper designed general framework for animal food safety traceability using GS1 and RFID. This framework uses RFID tags encoding with EPCglobal tag data standards. Each information server has access tier, business tier and resource tier. These servers are heterogeneous and distributed, providing user access interfaces by SOAP or HTTP protocols. For sharing dynamic data, discovery service and object name service are used to locate dynamic distributed information servers.

A stepped-care model of post-disaster child and adolescent mental health service provision.

PubMed

McDermott, Brett M; Cobham, Vanessa E

2014-01-01

From a global perspective, natural disasters are common events. Published research highlights that a significant minority of exposed children and adolescents develop disaster-related mental health syndromes and associated functional impairment. Consistent with the considerable unmet need of children and adolescents with regard to psychopathology, there is strong evidence that many children and adolescents with post-disaster mental health presentations are not receiving adequate interventions. To critique existing child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) models of care and the capacity of such models to deal with any post-disaster surge in clinical demand. Further, to detail an innovative service response; a child and adolescent stepped-care service provision model. A narrative review of traditional CAMHS is presented. Important elements of a disaster response - individual versus community recovery, public health approaches, capacity for promotion and prevention and service reach are discussed and compared with the CAMHS approach. Difficulties with traditional models of care are highlighted across all levels of intervention; from the ability to provide preventative initiatives to the capacity to provide intense specialised posttraumatic stress disorder interventions. In response, our over-arching stepped-care model is advocated. The general response is discussed and details of the three tiers of the model are provided: Tier 1 communication strategy, Tier 2 parent effectiveness and teacher training, and Tier 3 screening linked to trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy. In this paper, we argue that traditional CAMHS are not an appropriate model of care to meet the clinical needs of this group in the post-disaster setting. We conclude with suggestions how improved post-disaster child and adolescent mental health outcomes can be achieved by applying an innovative service approach.

Primary health care, mental health, and the dietitian's role.

PubMed

Davison, Karen

2006-01-01

Individuals with mental illness are at nutritional risk because of health, social, and economic factors. To address this problem, the Canadian Collaborative Mental Health Initiative (CCMHI) and Dietitians of Canada (DC) commissioned the development of a toolkit that outlines the role of the registered dietitian (RD) and advocates for RDs in primary health care (PHC) mental health programs. The development of the toolkit followed a four-stage process: a comprehensive literature review, a focus group discussion with a national working group, interviews with consumers about RD services, and evaluation of the toolkit. The costs of mental illness in Canada are at least US dollars 6.85 billion per year. Currently, little evidence exists on how RD services can reduce these expenses. The focus group identified accessibility as the predominant issue facing individuals with mental illness. To explain consumer experiences with RD services, a three-tier theory based on in-depth interviews was developed. Consumer experiences with RDs occur in five categories: financial concerns, perception of service, status of mental illness, engagement, and self-esteem (tier 1). These are further influenced by five individual and contextual factors, e.g., social environment, the mental illness (tier 2), which are weighed as benefits and barriers instrumental in determining actions (tier 3). The evaluation of the final draft of the RD toolkit confirmed that it reflected the visions of PHC. The toolkit is intended to act as a blueprint for action. Dietitians are encouraged to use its contents to advocate for positions in mental health PHC settings.

US LHCNet: Transatlantic Networking for the LHC and the U.S. HEP Community

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Newman, Harvey B; Barczyk, Artur J

2013-04-05

US LHCNet provides the transatlantic connectivity between the Tier1 computing facilities at the Fermilab and Brookhaven National Labs and the Tier0 and Tier1 facilities at CERN, as well as Tier1s elsewhere in Europe and Asia. Together with ESnet, Internet2, and other R&E Networks participating in the LHCONE initiative, US LHCNet also supports transatlantic connections between the Tier2 centers (where most of the data analysis is taking place) and the Tier1s as needed. Given the key roles of the US and European Tier1 centers as well as Tier2 centers on both continents, the largest data flows are across the Atlantic, wheremore » US LHCNet has the major role. US LHCNet manages and operates the transatlantic network infrastructure including four Points of Presence (PoPs) and currently six transatlantic OC-192 (10Gbps) leased links. Operating at the optical layer, the network provides a highly resilient fabric for data movement, with a target service availability level in excess of 99.95%. This level of resilience and seamless operation is achieved through careful design including path diversity on both submarine and terrestrial segments, use of carrier-grade equipment with built-in high-availability and redundancy features, deployment of robust failover mechanisms based on SONET protection schemes, as well as the design of facility-diverse paths between the LHC computing sites. The US LHCNet network provides services at Layer 1(optical), Layer 2 (Ethernet) and Layer 3 (IPv4 and IPv6). The flexible design of the network, including modular equipment, a talented and agile team, and flexible circuit lease management, allows US LHCNet to react quickly to changing requirements form the LHC community. Network capacity is provisioned just-in-time to meet the needs, as demonstrated in the past years during the changing LHC start-up plans.« less

Sustainable Energy Solutions for Rural Alaska

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Allen, Riley; Brutkoski, Donna; Farnsworth, David

2016-04-22

The state of Alaska recognizes the challenges these rural communities face and provides financial support via the Power Cost Equalization (PCE) program. The PCE subsidizes the electricity prices paid by customers of these high-cost utilities. The PCE program is designed to spread the benefits of Alaska’s natural resources more evenly throughout the state. Yet even with this subsidy, electricity is still much more expensive for these rural customers. And beyond the PCE, other forms of assistance to rural utilities are becoming scarce given the state’s current fiscal environment. Nearly 90 percent of Alaska’s unrestricted budget funds in recent years havemore » been tied to oil royalties—a sector experiencing significant declines in production and oil prices. Consequently, as Alaska looks to tighten budgets, the challenge of lowering rural utility costs, while encouraging self-sufficiency, has become more urgent.This study examines reliability, capital and strategic planning, management, workforce development, governance, financial performance and system efficiency in the various communities visited by the research team. Using those attributes, a tier system was developed to categorize rural Alaska utilities into Leading and Innovating Systems (Tier I), Advanced Diesel Systems (Tier II), Basic Systems (Tier III), and Underperforming Systems (Tier IV). The tier approach is not meant to label specific utilities, but rather to provide a general set of benchmarks and guideposts for improvement.« less

5 CFR 919.330 - What requirements must I pass down to persons at lower tiers with whom I intend to do business?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... persons at lower tiers with whom I intend to do business? 919.330 Section 919.330 Administrative Personnel OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT (CONTINUED) CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS (CONTINUED) GOVERNMENTWIDE DEBARMENT AND SUSPENSION (NONPROCUREMENT) Responsibilities of Participants Regarding Transactions Doing Business...

Helping Children with Emotional Difficulties: A Response to Intervention Investigation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pearce, Lee R.

2009-01-01

This article describes a Response to Intervention (RTI) model of service delivery implemented within a rural elementary school for students in kindergarten through fifth grade experiencing significant emotional and behavioral difficulties. A multi-tiered model is presented that includes school wide interventions in Tier 1, as well as a six…

Multi-Tier Mental Health Program for Refugee Youth

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ellis, B. Heidi; Miller, Alisa B.; Abdi, Saida; Barrett, Colleen; Blood, Emily A.; Betancourt, Theresa S.

2013-01-01

Objective: We sought to establish that refugee youths who receive a multi-tiered approach to services, Project SHIFA, would show high levels of engagement in treatment appropriate to their level of mental health distress, improvements in mental health symptoms, and a decrease in resource hardships. Method: Study participants were 30 Somali and…

Three-Tiered Support for Students with E/BD: Highlights of the Universal Tier

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

George, Michael P.; George, Nancy L.; Kern, Lee; Fogt, Julie B.

2013-01-01

The scant data available suggest there is a critical need for improving service delivery within alternative education (AE) settings for children and youth with emotional and behavioral disorders (E/BD). A promising approach for improving student outcomes in AE settings is school-wide positive behavior interventions and supports (SWPBIS), an…

The Best Mental Health Programs Start with All Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Desrochers, John E.

2015-01-01

The most efficient and effective framework for organizing mental health services in schools is through a multitiered system of support. This framework typically features three increasingly intense tiers intervention providing a continuum of care for all students in the school, not simply those identified as having a disability. Tier 1 universal…

47 CFR 76.921 - Buy-through of other tiers prohibited.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... MULTICHANNEL VIDEO AND CABLE TELEVISION SERVICE Cable Rate Regulation § 76.921 Buy-through of other tiers... video programming offered on a per channel or per program charge basis. A cable operator may, however... regard to the rates charged for video programming offered on a per-channel or per-program charge basis...

Comparison of tiered formularies and reference pricing policies: a systematic review

PubMed Central

Morgan, Steve; Hanley, Gillian; Greyson, Devon

2009-01-01

Objectives To synthesize methodologically comparable evidence from the published literature regarding the outcomes of tiered formularies and therapeutic reference pricing of prescription drugs. Methods We searched the following electronic databases: ABI/Inform, CINAHL, Clinical Evidence, Digital Dissertations & Theses, Evidence-Based Medicine Reviews (which incorporates ACP Journal Club, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Methodology Register, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effectiveness, Health Technology Assessments and NHS Economic Evaluation Database), EconLit, EMBASE, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, MEDLINE, PAIS International and PAIS Archive, and the Web of Science. We also searched the reference lists of relevant articles and several grey literature sources. We sought English-language studies published from 1986 to 2007 that examined the effects of either therapeutic reference pricing or tiered formularies, reported on outcomes relevant to patient care and cost-effectiveness, and employed quantitative study designs that included concurrent or historical comparison groups. We abstracted and assessed potentially appropriate articles using a modified version of the data abstraction form developed by the Cochrane Effective Practice and Organisation of Care Group. Results From an initial list of 2964 citations, 12 citations (representing 11 studies) were deemed eligible for inclusion in our review: 3 studies (reported in 4 articles) of reference pricing and 8 studies of tiered formularies. The introduction of reference pricing was associated with reduced plan spending, switching to preferred medicines, reduced overall drug utilization and short-term increases in the use of physician services. Reference pricing was not associated with adverse health impacts. The introduction of tiered formularies was associated with reduced plan expenditures, greater patient costs and increased rates of non-compliance with prescribed drug therapy. From the data available, we were unable to examine the hypothesis that tiered formulary policies result in greater use of physician services and potentially worse health outcomes. Conclusion The available evidence does not clearly differentiate between reference pricing and tiered formularies in terms of policy outcomes. Reference pricing appears to have a slight evidentiary advantage, given that patients’ health outcomes under tiered formularies have not been well studied and that tiered formularies are associated with increased rates of medicine discontinuation. PMID:21603047

Awakening consumer stewardship of health benefits: prevalence and differentiation of new health plan models.

PubMed

Rosenthal, Meredith; Milstein, Arnold

2004-08-01

Despite widespread publicity of consumer-directed health plans, little is known about their prevalence and the extent to which their designs adequately reflect and support consumerism. We examined three types of consumer-directed health plans: health reimbursement accounts (HRAs), premium-tiered, and point-of-care tiered benefit plans. We sought to measure the extent to which these plans had diffused, as well as to provide a critical look at the ways in which these plans support consumerism. Consumerism in this context refers to efforts to enable informed consumer choice and consumers' involvement in managing their health. We also wished to determine whether mainstream health plans-health maintenance organization (HMO), point of service (POS), and preferred provider organization (PPO) models-were being influenced by consumerism. Our study uses national survey data collected by Mercer Human Resource Consulting from 680 national and regional commercial health benefit plans on HMO, PPO, POS, and consumer-directed products. We defined consumer-directed products as health benefit plans that provided (1) consumer incentives to select more economical health care options, including self-care and no care, and (2) information and support to inform such selections. We asked health plans that offered consumer-directed products about 2003 enrollment, basic design features, and the availability of decision support. We also asked mainstream health plans about their activities that supported consumerism (e.g., proactive outreach to inform or influence enrollee behavior, such as self-management or preventive care, reminders sent to patients with identified medical conditions.) We analyzed survey responses for all four product lines in order to identify those plans that offer health reimbursement accounts (HRAs), premium-tiered, or point-of-care tiered models as well as efforts of mainstream health plans to engage informed consumer decision making. The majority of enrollees in consumer-directed health plans are in tiered models (primarily point-of-care tiered networks) rather than HRAs. Tiers are predominantly determined based on both cost and quality criteria. Enrollment in HRAs has grown substantially, in part because of the entry of mainstream managed care plans into the consumer-directed market. Health reimbursement accounts, tiered networks, and traditional managed care plans vary in their capacity to support consumers in managing their health risks and selection of provider and treatment options, with HRAs providing the most and mainstream plans the least. While enrollment in consumer-directed health plans continues to grow steadily, it remains a tiny fraction of all employer-sponsored coverage. Decision support in these plans, a critical link to help consumers make more informed choices, is also still limited. This lack may be of concern in light of the fact that only a minority of such plans report that they monitor claims to protect against underuse. Tiered benefit models appear to be more readily accepted by the market than HRAs. If they are to succeed in optimizing consumers' utility from health benefit spending, careful attention needs to be paid to how well these models inform consumers about the consequences of their selections.

Awakening Consumer Stewardship of Health Benefits: Prevalence and Differentiation of New Health Plan Models

PubMed Central

Rosenthal, Meredith; Milstein, Arnold

2004-01-01

Context Despite widespread publicity of consumer-directed health plans, little is known about their prevalence and the extent to which their designs adequately reflect and support consumerism. Objective We examined three types of consumer-directed health plans: health reimbursement accounts (HRAs), premium-tiered, and point-of-care tiered benefit plans. We sought to measure the extent to which these plans had diffused, as well as to provide a critical look at the ways in which these plans support consumerism. Consumerism in this context refers to efforts to enable informed consumer choice and consumers' involvement in managing their health. We also wished to determine whether mainstream health plans—health maintenance organization (HMO), point of service (POS), and preferred provider organization (PPO) models—were being influenced by consumerism. Data Sources/Study Setting Our study uses national survey data collected by Mercer Human Resource Consulting from 680 national and regional commercial health benefit plans on HMO, PPO, POS, and consumer-directed products. Study Design We defined consumer-directed products as health benefit plans that provided (1) consumer incentives to select more economical health care options, including self-care and no care, and (2) information and support to inform such selections. We asked health plans that offered consumer-directed products about 2003 enrollment, basic design features, and the availability of decision support. We also asked mainstream health plans about their activities that supported consumerism (e.g., proactive outreach to inform or influence enrollee behavior, such as self-management or preventive care, reminders sent to patients with identified medical conditions.) Data Collection/Extraction Methods We analyzed survey responses for all four product lines in order to identify those plans that offer health reimbursement accounts (HRAs), premium-tiered, or point-of-care tiered models as well as efforts of mainstream health plans to engage informed consumer decision making. Principal Findings The majority of enrollees in consumer-directed health plans are in tiered models (primarily point-of-care tiered networks) rather than HRAs. Tiers are predominantly determined based on both cost and quality criteria. Enrollment in HRAs has grown substantially, in part because of the entry of mainstream managed care plans into the consumer-directed market. Health reimbursement accounts, tiered networks, and traditional managed care plans vary in their capacity to support consumers in managing their health risks and selection of provider and treatment options, with HRAs providing the most and mainstream plans the least. Conclusions While enrollment in consumer-directed health plans continues to grow steadily, it remains a tiny fraction of all employer-sponsored coverage. Decision support in these plans, a critical link to help consumers make more informed choices, is also still limited. This lack may be of concern in light of the fact that only a minority of such plans report that they monitor claims to protect against underuse. Tiered benefit models appear to be more readily accepted by the market than HRAs. If they are to succeed in optimizing consumers' utility from health benefit spending, careful attention needs to be paid to how well these models inform consumers about the consequences of their selections. PMID:15230911

How to Make the Neighbourhood School a School for All?: Finnish Teachers' Perceptions of Educational Reform Aiming towards Inclusion

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lakkala, Suvi; Uusiautti, Satu; Määttä, Kaarina

2016-01-01

A new special education strategy was launched in Finland by the Ministry of Education in 2007. The new Basic Act was enacted in 2010 and the new national core curriculum concerning three-tiered support for pupils in 2011. Since the 1990s, teachers across Finland have participated in developing Finnish basic education towards greater inclusion. The…

Comparison of emergency medical services systems across Pan-Asian countries: a Web-based survey.

PubMed

Shin, Sang Do; Ong, Marcus Eng Hock; Tanaka, Hideharu; Ma, Matthew Huei-Ming; Nishiuchi, Tatsuya; Alsakaf, Omer; Karim, Sarah Abdul; Khunkhlai, Nalinas; Lin, Chih-Hao; Song, Kyoung Jun; Ryoo, Hyun Wook; Ryu, Hyun Ho; Tham, Lai Peng; Cone, David C

2012-01-01

There are great variations in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survival outcomes among different countries and different emergency medical services (EMS) systems. The impact of different systems and their contribution to enhanced survival are poorly understood. This paper compares the EMS systems of several Asian sites making up the Pan-Asian Resuscitation Outcomes Study (PAROS) network. Some preliminary cardiac arrest outcomes are also reported. This is a cross-sectional descriptive survey study addressing population demographics, service levels, provider characteristics, system operations, budget and finance, medical direction (leadership), and oversight. Most of the systems are single-tiered. Fire-based EMS systems are predominant. Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur have hospital-based systems. Service level is relatively low, from basic to intermediate in most of the communities. Korea, Japan, Singapore, and Bangkok have intermediate emergency medical technician (EMT) service levels, while Taiwan and Dubai have paramedic service levels. Medical direction and oversight have not been systemically established, except in some communities. Systems are mostly dependent on public funding. We found variations in available resources in terms of ambulances and providers. The number of ambulances is 0.3 to 3.2 per 100,000 population, and most ambulances are basic life support (BLS) vehicles. The number of human resources ranges from 4.0 per 100,000 population in Singapore to 55.7 per 100,000 population in Taipei. Average response times vary between 5.1 minutes (Tainan) and 22.5 minutes (Kuala Lumpur). We found substantial variation in 11 communities across the PAROS EMS systems. This study will provide the foundation for understanding subsequent studies arising from the PAROS effort.

Making Practice Visible: A Collaborative Self-Study of Tiered Teaching in Teacher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Garbett, Dawn; Heap, Rena

2011-01-01

In this article we document the impact of tiered teaching on making the complexity of pedagogy transparent when teaching science education to pre-service primary teachers. Teaching science methods classes together and researching our teaching has enabled us to reframe our assumptions and move beyond the simplistic and misleading idea that teacher…

Identifying Preschool Children for Higher Tiers of Language and Early Literacy Instruction within a Response to Intervention Framework

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carta, Judith J.; Greenwood, Charles R.; Atwater, Jane; McConnell, Scott R.; Goldstein, Howard; Kaminski, Ruth A.

2014-01-01

Response to Intervention (RTI) or Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) is beginning to be implemented in preschool programs to improve outcomes and to reduce the need for special education services. The proportions of children in programs identified as struggling learners through universal screening have important implications for the…

A cloud medication safety support system using QR code and Web services for elderly outpatients.

PubMed

Tseng, Ming-Hseng; Wu, Hui-Ching

2014-01-01

Drug is an important part of disease treatment, but medication errors happen frequently and have significant clinical and financial consequences. The prevalence of prescription medication use among the ambulatory adult population increases with advancing age. Because of the global aging society, outpatients need to improve medication safety more than inpatients. The elderly with multiple chronic conditions face the complex task of medication management. To reduce the medication errors for the elder outpatients with chronic diseases, a cloud medication safety supporting system is designed, demonstrated and evaluated. The proposed system is composed of a three-tier architecture: the front-end tier, the mobile tier and the cloud tier. The mobile tier will host the personalized medication safety supporting application on Android platforms that provides some primary functions including reminders for medication, assistance with pill-dispensing, recording of medications, position of medications and notices of forgotten medications for elderly outpatients. Finally, the hybrid technology acceptance model is employed to understand the intention and satisfaction level of the potential users to use this mobile medication safety support application system. The result of the system acceptance testing indicates that this developed system, implementing patient-centered services, is highly accepted by the elderly. This proposed M-health system could assist elderly outpatients' homecare in preventing medication errors and improving their medication safety.

CMS tier structure and operation of the experiment-specific tasks in Germany

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nowack, A.

2008-07-01

In Germany, several university institutes and research centres take part in the CMS experiment. Concerning the data analysis, a couple of computing centres at different Tier levels, ranging from Tier 1 to Tier 3, exists at these places. The German Tier 1 centre GridKa at the research centre at Karlsruhe serves all four LHC experiments as well as four non-LHC experiments. With respect to the CMS experiment, GridKa is mainly involved in central tasks. The Tier 2 centre in Germany consists of two sites, one at the research centre DESY at Hamburg and one at RWTH Aachen University, forming a federated Tier 2 centre. Both parts cover different aspects of a Tier 2 centre. The German Tier 3 centres are located at the research centre DESY at Hamburg, at RWTH Aachen University, and at the University of Karlsruhe. Furthermore the building of a German user analysis facility is planned. Since the CMS community in German is rather small, a good cooperation between the different sites is essential. This cooperation includes physical topics as well as technical and operational issues. All available communication channels such as email, phone, monthly video conferences, and regular personal meetings are used. For example, the distribution of data sets is coordinated globally within Germany. Also the CMS-specific services such as the data transfer tool PhEDEx or the Monte Carlo production are operated by people from different sites in order to spread the knowledge widely and increase the redundancy in terms of operators.

Evolution and diversification of National Cleaner Production Centres (NCPCs).

PubMed

Van Berkel, Rene

2010-07-01

Since 1994 UNIDO and UNEP cooperate in a Programme to establish National Cleaner Production Centres (NCPCs) as a mechanism for delivery of Cleaner Production (CP) services to businesses, governments and other organisations. In 2007, 38 NCPCs were operational in 37 developing and transition countries. While initially set up in near-identical ways in each country, over time NCPCs evolved in response to both programme-internal and country-level factors. The resulting diversity among NCPCs is described and analysed here. Differentiation and specialisation had occurred in service areas or topics both within and between NCPCs, however without a clear strategy for integration and synergy. NCPCs were becoming part of expanding networks of business services providers nationally forcing some to focus on audit and training services (tier 1), and others on specialist services in CP technology and/or policy (tier 2) and/or networking services (tier 3). All NCPCs were on a trajectory from a project management organisation to a nationally-owned entity. The different management requirements were not proactively managed and technical aspects of CP service delivery overshadowed institutional and governance aspects of establishing and operating the NCPC institution. Differences in service delivery methods between NCPCs are most evident in three service areas: CP assessments; policy advice; and transfer of Environmentally Sound Technologies. It is argued here that understanding root causes and benefits of this presently-observed differentiation, could lay the foundation for capturing and advancing best practice CP concepts, methods and policies. This in turn would enable strategic planning for customised interventions and support at the national level. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

RTI in a Middle School: Findings and Practical Implications of a Tier 2 Reading Comprehension Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Faggella-Luby, Michael; Wardwell, Michelle

2011-01-01

Response to intervention (RTI) has received considerable attention from both researchers and practitioners as a schoolwide model for service delivery. However, research is limited on RTI applications in middle and high schools. The purpose of this article is to describe the outcomes of an experimental examination of a secondary (Tier 2) literacy…

12 CFR Appendix B to Part 208 - Capital Adequacy Guidelines for State Member Banks: Tier 1 Leverage Measure

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... RESERVE SYSTEM (REGULATION H) Pt. 208, App. B Appendix B to Part 208—Capital Adequacy Guidelines for State..., and purchased credit card relationships that, in the aggregate, are in excess of 100 percent of Tier 1 capital; amounts of nonmortgage servicing assets and purchased credit card relationships that, in the...

Response to Intervention (RtI) in the Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Domains: Current Challenges and Emerging Possibilities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Saeki, Elina; Jimerson, Shane R.; Earhart, James; Hart, Shelley R.; Renshaw, Tyler; Singh, Renee D.; Stewart, Kaitlyn

2011-01-01

As many schools move toward a three-tier model that incorporates a Response to Intervention (RtI) service delivery model in the social, emotional, and behavioral domains, school psychologists may provide leadership. The decision-making process for filtering students through multiple tiers of support and intervention and examining change is an area…

Return to learn: Transitioning to school and through ascending levels of academic support for students following a concussion.

PubMed

McAvoy, Karen; Eagan-Johnson, Brenda; Halstead, Mark

2018-01-01

The purpose of this article is to familiarize healthcare providers and parents with educational language, laws, and processes as they relate to a comprehensive ascending level of academic supports as it pertains to promoting a smooth and supported transition to school following a concussion. Returning to learn (RTL) following a concussion is of parallel importance to returning to sport (RTS). A successful RTL is a critical part of concussion management. Many RTL articles advise healthcare providers and parents to request formalized educational supports, also known as Tier 2 or Tier 3 services, for children with concussion as they return to school. Premature requests for formal (Tier 2 or 3) educational services, rather than allowing for immediate informal educational supports (known as Tier 1), can actually delay academic supports and have the potential to cause adversarial relationships between parents and schools. Additionally, this practice contradicts current research demonstrating the need for fast, flexible, temporary academic supports within the first month post-injury. Allowing school districts to direct the application of existing ascending levels of educational support for students with concussion as they return to school can promote robust and positive outcomes.

Partnering with women collectives for delivering essential women's nutrition interventions in tribal areas of eastern India: a scoping study.

PubMed

Sethi, Vani; Bhanot, Arti; Bhalla, Surbhi; Bhattacharjee, Sourav; Daniel, Abner; Sharma, Deepika Mehrish; Gope, Rajkumar; Mebrahtu, Saba

2017-05-22

We examined the feasibility of engaging women collectives in delivering a package of women's nutrition messages/services as a funded stakeholder in three tribal-dominated districts of Odisha, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh States, in eastern India. These districts have high prevalence of child stunting and poor government service outreach. Conducted between July 2014 and March 2015, an exploratory mix-methods design was adopted (review of coverage data and government reports, field interviews and focus group discussion with multiple stakeholders and intended communities) to assess coverage of women's nutrition services. A capacity assessment tool was developed to map all types of community collectives and assess their awareness, institutional and programme capacity as a funded stakeholder for delivering women's nutrition services/behaviour promotion. Limited targeting of pre-pregnancy period, delays in first trimester registration of pregnant women, and low micronutrient supplementation supply and awareness issues emerged as key bottlenecks in improving women's nutrition in these districts. Amongst the 18 different types of community collectives mapped, Self Help Groups (SHGs) and their federations (tier 2 and tier 3), with total membership of over 650,000, emerged as the most promising community collective due to their vast network, governance structure, bank linkage, and regular interface. Nearly 400,000 (or 20% of women) in these districts can be reached through the mapped 31,919 SHGs. SHGs with organisational readiness for receiving and managing grants for income generation and community development activities varied from 41 to 94% across study districts. Stakeholders perceived that SHGs federations managing grants from government and be engaged for nutrition promotion and service delivery and SHG weekly meetings can serve as community interface for discussing/resolving local issues impeding access to services. Women SHGs (with tier 2 and tier 3) can become direct grantees for strengthening coverage of women's nutrition interventions in these tribal districts/pockets, provided they are capacitated, supervised and given safe guards against exploitation and violence.

Infrastructural challenges to better health in maternity facilities in rural Kenya: community and healthworker perceptions.

PubMed

Essendi, Hildah; Johnson, Fiifi Amoako; Madise, Nyovani; Matthews, Zoe; Falkingham, Jane; Bahaj, Abubakr S; James, Patrick; Blunden, Luke

2015-11-09

The efforts and commitments to accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals for maternal and newborn health (MDGs 4 and 5) in low and middle income countries have focused primarily on providing key medical interventions at maternity facilities to save the lives of women at the time of childbirth, as well as their babies. However, in most rural communities in sub-Saharan, access to maternal and newborn care services is still limited and even where services are available they often lack the infrastructural prerequisites to function at the very basic level in providing essential routine health care services, let alone emergency care. Lists of essential interventions for normal and complicated childbirth, do not take into account these prerequisites, thus the needs of most health facilities in rural communities are ignored, although there is enough evidence that maternal and newborn deaths continue to remain unacceptably high in these areas. This study uses data gathered through qualitative interviews in Kitonyoni and Mwania sub-locations of Makueni County in Eastern Kenya to understand community and provider perceptions of the obstacles faced in providing and accessing maternal and newborn care at health facilities in their localities. The study finds that the community perceives various challenges, most of which are infrastructural, including lack of electricity, water and poor roads that adversely impact the provision and access to essential life-saving maternal and newborn care services in the two sub-locations. The findings and recommendations from this study are important for the attention of policy makers and programme managers in order to improve the state of lower-tier health facilities serving rural communities and to strengthen infrastructure with the aim of making basic routine and emergency obstetric and newborn care services more accessible.

A self-configuring control system for storage and computing departments at INFN-CNAF Tierl

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gregori, Daniele; Dal Pra, Stefano; Ricci, Pier Paolo; Pezzi, Michele; Prosperini, Andrea; Sapunenko, Vladimir

2015-05-01

The storage and farming departments at the INFN-CNAF Tier1[1] manage approximately thousands of computing nodes and several hundreds of servers that provides access to the disk and tape storage. In particular, the storage server machines should provide the following services: an efficient access to about 15 petabytes of disk space with different cluster of GPFS file system, the data transfers between LHC Tiers sites (Tier0, Tier1 and Tier2) via GridFTP cluster and Xrootd protocol and finally the writing and reading data operations on magnetic tape backend. One of the most important and essential point in order to get a reliable service is a control system that can warn if problems arise and which is able to perform automatic recovery operations in case of service interruptions or major failures. Moreover, during daily operations the configurations can change, i.e. if the GPFS cluster nodes roles can be modified and therefore the obsolete nodes must be removed from the control system production, and the new servers should be added to the ones that are already present. The manual management of all these changes is an operation that can be somewhat difficult in case of several changes, it can also take a long time and is easily subject to human error or misconfiguration. For these reasons we have developed a control system with the feature of self-configure itself if any change occurs. Currently, this system has been in production for about a year at the INFN-CNAF Tier1 with good results and hardly any major drawback. There are three major key points in this system. The first is a software configurator service (e.g. Quattor or Puppet) for the servers machines that we want to monitor with the control system; this service must ensure the presence of appropriate sensors and custom scripts on the nodes to check and should be able to install and update software packages on them. The second key element is a database containing information, according to a suitable format, on all the machines in production and able to provide for each of them the principal information such as the type of hardware, the network switch to which the machine is connected, if the machine is real (physical) or virtual, the possible hypervisor to which it belongs and so on. The last key point is a control system software (in our implementation we choose the Nagios software), capable of assessing the status of the servers and services, and that can attempt to restore the working state, restart or inhibit software services and send suitable alarm messages to the site administrators. The integration of these three elements was made by appropriate scripts and custom implementation that allow the self-configuration of the system according to a decisional logic and the whole combination of all the above-mentioned components will be deeply discussed in this paper.

Using container orchestration to improve service management at the RAL Tier-1

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lahiff, Andrew; Collier, Ian

2017-10-01

In recent years container orchestration has been emerging as a means of gaining many potential benefits compared to a traditional static infrastructure, such as increased utilisation through multi-tenancy, improved availability due to self-healing, and the ability to handle changing loads due to elasticity and auto-scaling. To this end we have been investigating migrating services at the RAL Tier-1 to an Apache Mesos cluster. In this model the concept of individual machines is abstracted away and services are run in containers on a cluster of machines, managed by schedulers, enabling a high degree of automation. Here we describe Mesos, the infrastructure deployed at RAL, and describe in detail the explicit example of running a batch farm on Mesos.

5 CFR 919.300 - What must I do before I enter into a covered transaction with another person at the next lower tier?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... Personnel OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT (CONTINUED) CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS (CONTINUED) GOVERNMENTWIDE... Business with Other Persons § 919.300 What must I do before I enter into a covered transaction with another... lower tier, you must verify that the person with whom you intend to do business is not excluded or...

25 CFR 542.32 - What are the minimum internal control standards for internal audit for Tier B gaming operations?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 25 Indians 2 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false What are the minimum internal control standards for internal audit for Tier B gaming operations? 542.32 Section 542.32 Indians NATIONAL INDIAN GAMING COMMISSION, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HUMAN SERVICES MINIMUM INTERNAL CONTROL STANDARDS § 542.32 What are the minimum internal control standards for...

25 CFR 542.22 - What are the minimum internal control standards for internal audit for Tier A gaming operations?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 25 Indians 2 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false What are the minimum internal control standards for internal audit for Tier A gaming operations? 542.22 Section 542.22 Indians NATIONAL INDIAN GAMING COMMISSION, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HUMAN SERVICES MINIMUM INTERNAL CONTROL STANDARDS § 542.22 What are the minimum internal control standards for...

25 CFR 542.22 - What are the minimum internal control standards for internal audit for Tier A gaming operations?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 25 Indians 2 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false What are the minimum internal control standards for internal audit for Tier A gaming operations? 542.22 Section 542.22 Indians NATIONAL INDIAN GAMING COMMISSION, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HUMAN SERVICES MINIMUM INTERNAL CONTROL STANDARDS § 542.22 What are the minimum internal control standards for...

25 CFR 542.22 - What are the minimum internal control standards for internal audit for Tier A gaming operations?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 25 Indians 2 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false What are the minimum internal control standards for internal audit for Tier A gaming operations? 542.22 Section 542.22 Indians NATIONAL INDIAN GAMING COMMISSION, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HUMAN SERVICES MINIMUM INTERNAL CONTROL STANDARDS § 542.22 What are the minimum internal control standards for...

25 CFR 542.22 - What are the minimum internal control standards for internal audit for Tier A gaming operations?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 25 Indians 2 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false What are the minimum internal control standards for internal audit for Tier A gaming operations? 542.22 Section 542.22 Indians NATIONAL INDIAN GAMING COMMISSION, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HUMAN SERVICES MINIMUM INTERNAL CONTROL STANDARDS § 542.22 What are the minimum internal control standards for...

25 CFR 542.32 - What are the minimum internal control standards for internal audit for Tier B gaming operations?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 25 Indians 2 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false What are the minimum internal control standards for internal audit for Tier B gaming operations? 542.32 Section 542.32 Indians NATIONAL INDIAN GAMING COMMISSION, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HUMAN SERVICES MINIMUM INTERNAL CONTROL STANDARDS § 542.32 What are the minimum internal control standards for...

25 CFR 542.32 - What are the minimum internal control standards for internal audit for Tier B gaming operations?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 25 Indians 2 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false What are the minimum internal control standards for internal audit for Tier B gaming operations? 542.32 Section 542.32 Indians NATIONAL INDIAN GAMING COMMISSION, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HUMAN SERVICES MINIMUM INTERNAL CONTROL STANDARDS § 542.32 What are the minimum internal control standards for...

25 CFR 542.32 - What are the minimum internal control standards for internal audit for Tier B gaming operations?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 25 Indians 2 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false What are the minimum internal control standards for internal audit for Tier B gaming operations? 542.32 Section 542.32 Indians NATIONAL INDIAN GAMING COMMISSION, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HUMAN SERVICES MINIMUM INTERNAL CONTROL STANDARDS § 542.32 What are the minimum internal control standards for...

Reading Instruction in Tier 1: Bridging the Gaps by Nesting Evidence-Based Interventions within Differentiated Instruction

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jones, Ruth E.; Yssel, Nina; Grant, Christina

2012-01-01

Response to Intervention (RtI) has brought about many changes in the way educational services are being provided to students who are at risk of school failure. Schools are seeking strategies that will be beneficial to more and more students, including those students whose instruction is primarily in the core, or Tier 1. Nesting proven,…

MNA TO ACHIEVE SITE OBJECTIVES: BACK TO BASICS

EPA Science Inventory

The U.S. EPA recognizes a three-tiered approach to evaluate site specific data in support of monitored natural attenuation (1) historical groundwater and/or soil chemistry data that demonstrate a clean and meaningful trend of decreasing contaminant mass and/or concentration over ...

Implementation of Grid Tier 2 and Tier 3 facilities on a Distributed OpenStack Cloud

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Limosani, Antonio; Boland, Lucien; Coddington, Paul; Crosby, Sean; Huang, Joanna; Sevior, Martin; Wilson, Ross; Zhang, Shunde

2014-06-01

The Australian Government is making a AUD 100 million investment in Compute and Storage for the academic community. The Compute facilities are provided in the form of 30,000 CPU cores located at 8 nodes around Australia in a distributed virtualized Infrastructure as a Service facility based on OpenStack. The storage will eventually consist of over 100 petabytes located at 6 nodes. All will be linked via a 100 Gb/s network. This proceeding describes the development of a fully connected WLCG Tier-2 grid site as well as a general purpose Tier-3 computing cluster based on this architecture. The facility employs an extension to Torque to enable dynamic allocations of virtual machine instances. A base Scientific Linux virtual machine (VM) image is deployed in the OpenStack cloud and automatically configured as required using Puppet. Custom scripts are used to launch multiple VMs, integrate them into the dynamic Torque cluster and to mount remote file systems. We report on our experience in developing this nation-wide ATLAS and Belle II Tier 2 and Tier 3 computing infrastructure using the national Research Cloud and storage facilities.

Human service delivery in a multi-tier system: the subtleties of collaboration among partners.

PubMed

Mayhew, Fred

2012-01-01

This article examines the nature of interorganizational relationships that are formed within a multi-tier human service delivery system. Taking into account the hierarchical structure of a statewide initiative to support early childhood education, the study investigates the differences in the relationships between organizations at the service and administrative levels of the system. Forty-nine administrative level and 146 service delivery level relationships are evaluated. Findings indicate that organizations involved in direct service delivery form more collaborative relationships. Thus, when government provides funding for human services, policymakers must seek to balance public accountability with the advantages believed to be inherent in devolved service delivery. Furthermore, practitioners who appreciate the importance and nuances of interorganizational relationships will be in a position to better manage their organizations in an environment of increased collaborative activity and joint delivery of services. Going forward, human service systems will continue to involve organizations from the public, nonprofit, and private sector. A better understanding of how these organizations work together is crucial to the effective delivery of these essential services.

48 CFR 925.7004 - Contract clause.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... FOREIGN ACQUISITION Acquisition of Nuclear Hot Cell Services 925.7004 Contract clause. The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 952.225-70, Subcontracting for Nuclear Hot Cell Services, in solicitations and contracts involving nuclear hot cell services. This clause does not flow down to second-tier...

48 CFR 925.7004 - Contract clause.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... FOREIGN ACQUISITION Acquisition of Nuclear Hot Cell Services 925.7004 Contract clause. The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 952.225-70, Subcontracting for Nuclear Hot Cell Services, in solicitations and contracts involving nuclear hot cell services. This clause does not flow down to second-tier...

48 CFR 925.7004 - Contract clause.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... FOREIGN ACQUISITION Acquisition of Nuclear Hot Cell Services 925.7004 Contract clause. The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 952.225-70, Subcontracting for Nuclear Hot Cell Services, in solicitations and contracts involving nuclear hot cell services. This clause does not flow down to second-tier...

48 CFR 925.7004 - Contract clause.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... FOREIGN ACQUISITION Acquisition of Nuclear Hot Cell Services 925.7004 Contract clause. The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 952.225-70, Subcontracting for Nuclear Hot Cell Services, in solicitations and contracts involving nuclear hot cell services. This clause does not flow down to second-tier...

48 CFR 925.7004 - Contract clause.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... FOREIGN ACQUISITION Acquisition of Nuclear Hot Cell Services 925.7004 Contract clause. The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 952.225-70, Subcontracting for Nuclear Hot Cell Services, in solicitations and contracts involving nuclear hot cell services. This clause does not flow down to second-tier...

The deployment of a large scale object store at the RAL Tier-1

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dewhurst, A.; Johnson, I.; Adams, J.; Canning, B.; Vasilakakos, G.; Packer, A.

2017-10-01

Since 2014, the RAL Tier-1 has been working on deploying a Ceph backed object store. The aim is to replace Castor for disk-only storage. This new service must be scalable to meet the data demands of the LHC to 2020 and beyond. As well as offering access protocols the LHC experiments currently use, it must also provide industry standard access protocols. In order to keep costs down the service must use erasure coding rather than replication to ensure data reliability. This paper will present details of the storage service setup, which has been named Echo, as well as the experience gained from running it. The RAL Tier-1 has also been developing XrootD and GridFTP plugins for Ceph. Both plugins are built on top of the same libraries that write striped data into Ceph and therefore data written by one protocol will be accessible by the other. In the long term we hope the LHC experiments will migrate to industry standard protocols, therefore these plugins will only provide the features needed by the LHC experiments. This paper will report on the development and testing of these plugins.

A cluster randomized trial to evaluate external support for the implementation of positive behavioral interventions and supports by school personnel

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Urban schools lag behind non-urban schools in attending to the behavioral health needs of their students. This is especially evident with regard to the level of use of evidence-based interventions with school children. Increased used of evidence-based interventions in urban schools would contribute to reducing mental health services disparities in low-income communities. School-wide positive behavioral interventions and supports (SWPBIS) is a service delivery framework that can be used to deliver universal preventive interventions and evidence-based behavioral health treatments, such as group cognitive behavioral therapy. In this article, we describe our ongoing research on creating internal capacity for program implementation. We also examine the cost-effectiveness and resulting school climate when two different levels of external support are provided to personnel as they implement a two-tier SWPBIS program. Methods/Design The study follows six K – 8 schools in the School District of Philadelphia randomly assigned to consultation support or consultation-plus-coaching support. Participants are: approximately 48 leadership team members, 180 school staff and 3,900 students in Tier 1, and 12 counselors, and 306 child participants in Tier 2. Children who meet inclusion criteria for Tier 2 will participate in group cognitive behavioral therapy for externalizing or anxiety disorders. The study has three phases, baseline/training, implementation, and sustainability. We will measure implementation outcomes, service outcomes, child outcomes, and cost. Discussion Findings from this study will provide evidence as to the appropriateness of school-wide prevention and treatment service delivery models for addressing services disparities in schools. The effectiveness and cost-effectiveness analyses of the two levels of training and consultation should help urban school districts and policymakers with the planning and deployment of cost-effective strategies for the implementation of evidence-based interventions for some of the most common behavioral health problems in school children. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01941069 PMID:24428904

A cluster randomized trial to evaluate external support for the implementation of positive behavioral interventions and supports by school personnel.

PubMed

Eiraldi, Ricardo; McCurdy, Barry; Khanna, Muniya; Mautone, Jennifer; Jawad, Abbas F; Power, Thomas; Cidav, Zuleyha; Cacia, Jaclyn; Sugai, George

2014-01-15

Urban schools lag behind non-urban schools in attending to the behavioral health needs of their students. This is especially evident with regard to the level of use of evidence-based interventions with school children. Increased used of evidence-based interventions in urban schools would contribute to reducing mental health services disparities in low-income communities. School-wide positive behavioral interventions and supports (SWPBIS) is a service delivery framework that can be used to deliver universal preventive interventions and evidence-based behavioral health treatments, such as group cognitive behavioral therapy. In this article, we describe our ongoing research on creating internal capacity for program implementation. We also examine the cost-effectiveness and resulting school climate when two different levels of external support are provided to personnel as they implement a two-tier SWPBIS program. The study follows six K - 8 schools in the School District of Philadelphia randomly assigned to consultation support or consultation-plus-coaching support. Participants are: approximately 48 leadership team members, 180 school staff and 3,900 students in Tier 1, and 12 counselors, and 306 child participants in Tier 2. Children who meet inclusion criteria for Tier 2 will participate in group cognitive behavioral therapy for externalizing or anxiety disorders. The study has three phases, baseline/training, implementation, and sustainability. We will measure implementation outcomes, service outcomes, child outcomes, and cost. Findings from this study will provide evidence as to the appropriateness of school-wide prevention and treatment service delivery models for addressing services disparities in schools. The effectiveness and cost-effectiveness analyses of the two levels of training and consultation should help urban school districts and policymakers with the planning and deployment of cost-effective strategies for the implementation of evidence-based interventions for some of the most common behavioral health problems in school children. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01941069.

Interoperability Across the Stewardship Spectrum in the DataONE Repository Federation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jones, M. B.; Vieglais, D.; Wilson, B. E.

2016-12-01

Thousands of earth and environmental science repositories serve many researchers and communities, each with their own community and legal mandates, sustainability models, and historical infrastructure. These repositories span the stewardship spectrum from highly curated collections that employ large numbers of staff members to review and improve data, to small, minimal budget repositories that accept data caveat emptor and where all responsibility for quality lies with the submitter. Each repository fills a niche, providing services that meet the stewardship tradeoffs of one or more communities. We have reviewed these stewardship tradeoffs for several DataONE member repositories ranging from minimally (KNB) to highly curated (Arctic Data Center), as well as general purpose (Dryad) to highly discipline or project specific (NEON). The rationale behind different levels of stewardship reflect resolution of these tradeoffs. Some repositories aim to encourage extensive uptake by keeping processes simple and minimizing the amount of information collected, but this limits the long-term utility of the data and the search, discovery, and integration systems that are possible. Other repositories require extensive metadata input, review, and assessment, allowing for excellent preservation, discovery, and integration but at the cost of significant time for submitters and expense for curatorial staff. DataONE recognizes these different levels of curation, and attempts to embrace them to create a federation that is useful across the stewardship spectrum. DataONE provides a tiered model for repositories with growing utility of DataONE services at higher tiers of curation. The lowest tier supports read-only access to data and requires little more than title and contact metadata. Repositories can gradually phase in support for higher levels of metadata and services as needed. These tiered capabilities are possible through flexible support for multiple metadata standards and services, where repositories can incrementally increase their requirements as they want to satisfy more use cases. Within DataONE, metadata search services support minimal metadata models, but significantly expanded precision and recall become possible when repositories provide more extensively curated metadata.

Tier 1 and Tier 3 eAdjudication Business Rule Validation

DTIC Science & Technology

2018-04-01

Approved for Public Distribution Defense Personnel and Security Research Center Office of People Analytics OPA-2018-038 PERSEREC-TR-18-06 April...Northrop Grumman Technology Services Leissa C. Nelson, Ph.D. Susan C. Reed Defense Personnel and Security Research Center Office of People Analytics...Defense Personnel and Security Research Center Office of People Analytics 400 Gigling Road, Seaside, CA 93955 OPA-2018-038 PERSEREC-TR-06 April

Quality Assurance Framework for Mini-Grids

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Baring-Gould, Ian; Burman, Kari; Singh, Mohit

Providing clean and affordable energy services to the more than 1 billion people globally who lack access to electricity is a critical driver for poverty reduction, economic development, improved health, and social outcomes. More than 84% of populations without electricity are located in rural areas where traditional grid extension may not be cost-effective; therefore, distributed energy solutions such as mini-grids are critical. To address some of the root challenges of providing safe, quality, and financially viable mini-grid power systems to remote customers, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) teamed with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to develop a Qualitymore » Assurance Framework (QAF) for isolated mini-grids. The QAF for mini-grids aims to address some root challenges of providing safe, quality, and affordable power to remote customers via financially viable mini-grids through two key components: (1) Levels of service: Defines a standard set of tiers of end-user service and links them to technical parameters of power quality, power availability, and power reliability. These levels of service span the entire energy ladder, from basic energy service to high-quality, high-reliability, and high-availability service (often considered 'grid parity'); (2) Accountability and performance reporting framework: Provides a clear process of validating power delivery by providing trusted information to customers, funders, and/or regulators. The performance reporting protocol can also serve as a robust monitoring and evaluation tool for mini-grid operators and funding organizations. The QAF will provide a flexible alternative to rigid top-down standards for mini-grids in energy access contexts, outlining tiers of end-user service and linking them to relevant technical parameters. In addition, data generated through implementation of the QAF will provide the foundation for comparisons across projects, assessment of impacts, and greater confidence that will drive investment and scale-up in this sector. The QAF implementation process also defines a set of implementation guidelines that help the deployment of mini-grids on a regional or national scale, helping to insure successful rapid deployment of these relatively new remote energy options. Note that the QAF is technology agnostic, addressing both alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) mini-grids, and is also applicable to renewable, fossil-fuel, and hybrid systems.« less

38 CFR 36.4319 - Servicer loss-mitigation options and incentives.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 38 Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief 2 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Servicer loss-mitigation... Reporting § 36.4319 Servicer loss-mitigation options and incentives. (a) The Secretary will pay a servicer in tiers one, two, or three an incentive payment for each of the following successful loss-mitigation...

38 CFR 36.4319 - Servicer loss-mitigation options and incentives.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 38 Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief 2 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Servicer loss-mitigation... Reporting § 36.4319 Servicer loss-mitigation options and incentives. (a) The Secretary will pay a servicer in tiers one, two, or three an incentive payment for each of the following successful loss-mitigation...

38 CFR 36.4319 - Servicer loss-mitigation options and incentives.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 38 Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief 2 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Servicer loss-mitigation... Reporting § 36.4319 Servicer loss-mitigation options and incentives. (a) The Secretary will pay a servicer in tiers one, two, or three an incentive payment for each of the following successful loss-mitigation...

38 CFR 36.4319 - Servicer loss-mitigation options and incentives.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 38 Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief 2 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Servicer loss-mitigation... Reporting § 36.4319 Servicer loss-mitigation options and incentives. (a) The Secretary will pay a servicer in tiers one, two, or three an incentive payment for each of the following successful loss-mitigation...

Service Migration from Cloud to Multi-tier Fog Nodes for Multimedia Dissemination with QoE Support

PubMed Central

Camargo, João; Rochol, Juergen; Gerla, Mario

2018-01-01

A wide range of multimedia services is expected to be offered for mobile users via various wireless access networks. Even the integration of Cloud Computing in such networks does not support an adequate Quality of Experience (QoE) in areas with high demands for multimedia contents. Fog computing has been conceptualized to facilitate the deployment of new services that cloud computing cannot provide, particularly those demanding QoE guarantees. These services are provided using fog nodes located at the network edge, which is capable of virtualizing their functions/applications. Service migration from the cloud to fog nodes can be actuated by request patterns and the timing issues. To the best of our knowledge, existing works on fog computing focus on architecture and fog node deployment issues. In this article, we describe the operational impacts and benefits associated with service migration from the cloud to multi-tier fog computing for video distribution with QoE support. Besides that, we perform the evaluation of such service migration of video services. Finally, we present potential research challenges and trends. PMID:29364172

Service Migration from Cloud to Multi-tier Fog Nodes for Multimedia Dissemination with QoE Support.

PubMed

Rosário, Denis; Schimuneck, Matias; Camargo, João; Nobre, Jéferson; Both, Cristiano; Rochol, Juergen; Gerla, Mario

2018-01-24

A wide range of multimedia services is expected to be offered for mobile users via various wireless access networks. Even the integration of Cloud Computing in such networks does not support an adequate Quality of Experience (QoE) in areas with high demands for multimedia contents. Fog computing has been conceptualized to facilitate the deployment of new services that cloud computing cannot provide, particularly those demanding QoE guarantees. These services are provided using fog nodes located at the network edge, which is capable of virtualizing their functions/applications. Service migration from the cloud to fog nodes can be actuated by request patterns and the timing issues. To the best of our knowledge, existing works on fog computing focus on architecture and fog node deployment issues. In this article, we describe the operational impacts and benefits associated with service migration from the cloud to multi-tier fog computing for video distribution with QoE support. Besides that, we perform the evaluation of such service migration of video services. Finally, we present potential research challenges and trends.

Scaling up ATLAS Event Service to production levels on opportunistic computing platforms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Benjamin, D.; Caballero, J.; Ernst, M.; Guan, W.; Hover, J.; Lesny, D.; Maeno, T.; Nilsson, P.; Tsulaia, V.; van Gemmeren, P.; Vaniachine, A.; Wang, F.; Wenaus, T.; ATLAS Collaboration

2016-10-01

Continued growth in public cloud and HPC resources is on track to exceed the dedicated resources available for ATLAS on the WLCG. Examples of such platforms are Amazon AWS EC2 Spot Instances, Edison Cray XC30 supercomputer, backfill at Tier 2 and Tier 3 sites, opportunistic resources at the Open Science Grid (OSG), and ATLAS High Level Trigger farm between the data taking periods. Because of specific aspects of opportunistic resources such as preemptive job scheduling and data I/O, their efficient usage requires workflow innovations provided by the ATLAS Event Service. Thanks to the finer granularity of the Event Service data processing workflow, the opportunistic resources are used more efficiently. We report on our progress in scaling opportunistic resource usage to double-digit levels in ATLAS production.

Design and Use of a Joint Order Vocabulary Knowledge Representation Tier in a Multi-tier CPOE Architecture

PubMed Central

Rucker, Donald W.; Steele, Andrew W.; Douglas, Ivor S.; Couderc, Carmela A.; Hardel, Gary G.

2006-01-01

Two major barriers to adoption of computerized physician order entry (CPOE) systems are the initial physician effort to learn the system and ongoing time costs to use the system. These barriers stem from the CPOE system’s need to reformulate physician orders into services that can be electronically communicated to ancillary clinical systems such as pharmacy, nursing, lab or radiology as well as to billing systems. Typical CPOE systems use significant custom user interface programming to match the terms used by physicians to order services as well as the aggregation of those orders into order sets with the underlying orderable services. We describe the design and implementation of a commercial CPOE system that has a formal separate intermediate mapping layer to match physician screen vocabulary and ordering behaviors to underlying services, both individually and in groups, supported by powerful search tools. PMID:17238425

Pooling the resources of the CMS Tier-1 sites

DOE PAGES

Apyan, A.; Badillo, J.; Cruz, J. Diaz; ...

2015-12-23

The CMS experiment at the LHC relies on 7 Tier-1 centres of the WLCG to perform the majority of its bulk processing activity, and to archive its data. During the first run of the LHC, these two functions were tightly coupled as each Tier-1 was constrained to process only the data archived on its hierarchical storage. This lack of flexibility in the assignment of processing workflows occasionally resulted in uneven resource utilisation and in an increased latency in the delivery of the results to the physics community.The long shutdown of the LHC in 2013-2014 was an opportunity to revisit thismore » mode of operations, disentangling the processing and archive functionalities of the Tier-1 centres. The storage services at the Tier-1s were redeployed breaking the traditional hierarchical model: each site now provides a large disk storage to host input and output data for processing, and an independent tape storage used exclusively for archiving. Movement of data between the tape and disk endpoints is not automated, but triggered externally through the WLCG transfer management systems.With this new setup, CMS operations actively controls at any time which data is available on disk for processing and which data should be sent to archive. Thanks to the high-bandwidth connectivity guaranteed by the LHCOPN, input data can be freely transferred between disk endpoints as needed to take advantage of free CPU, turning the Tier-1s into a large pool of shared resources. The output data can be validated before archiving them permanently, and temporary data formats can be produced without wasting valuable tape resources. Lastly, the data hosted on disk at Tier-1s can now be made available also for user analysis since there is no risk any longer of triggering chaotic staging from tape.In this contribution, we describe the technical solutions adopted for the new disk and tape endpoints at the sites, and we report on the commissioning and scale testing of the service. We detail the procedures implemented by CMS computing operations to actively manage data on disk at Tier-1 sites, and we give examples of the benefits brought to CMS workflows by the additional flexibility of the new system.« less

Pooling the resources of the CMS Tier-1 sites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Apyan, A.; Badillo, J.; Diaz Cruz, J.; Gadrat, S.; Gutsche, O.; Holzman, B.; Lahiff, A.; Magini, N.; Mason, D.; Perez, A.; Stober, F.; Taneja, S.; Taze, M.; Wissing, C.

2015-12-01

The CMS experiment at the LHC relies on 7 Tier-1 centres of the WLCG to perform the majority of its bulk processing activity, and to archive its data. During the first run of the LHC, these two functions were tightly coupled as each Tier-1 was constrained to process only the data archived on its hierarchical storage. This lack of flexibility in the assignment of processing workflows occasionally resulted in uneven resource utilisation and in an increased latency in the delivery of the results to the physics community. The long shutdown of the LHC in 2013-2014 was an opportunity to revisit this mode of operations, disentangling the processing and archive functionalities of the Tier-1 centres. The storage services at the Tier-1s were redeployed breaking the traditional hierarchical model: each site now provides a large disk storage to host input and output data for processing, and an independent tape storage used exclusively for archiving. Movement of data between the tape and disk endpoints is not automated, but triggered externally through the WLCG transfer management systems. With this new setup, CMS operations actively controls at any time which data is available on disk for processing and which data should be sent to archive. Thanks to the high-bandwidth connectivity guaranteed by the LHCOPN, input data can be freely transferred between disk endpoints as needed to take advantage of free CPU, turning the Tier-1s into a large pool of shared resources. The output data can be validated before archiving them permanently, and temporary data formats can be produced without wasting valuable tape resources. Finally, the data hosted on disk at Tier-1s can now be made available also for user analysis since there is no risk any longer of triggering chaotic staging from tape. In this contribution, we describe the technical solutions adopted for the new disk and tape endpoints at the sites, and we report on the commissioning and scale testing of the service. We detail the procedures implemented by CMS computing operations to actively manage data on disk at Tier-1 sites, and we give examples of the benefits brought to CMS workflows by the additional flexibility of the new system.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Apyan, A.; Badillo, J.; Cruz, J. Diaz

The CMS experiment at the LHC relies on 7 Tier-1 centres of the WLCG to perform the majority of its bulk processing activity, and to archive its data. During the first run of the LHC, these two functions were tightly coupled as each Tier-1 was constrained to process only the data archived on its hierarchical storage. This lack of flexibility in the assignment of processing workflows occasionally resulted in uneven resource utilisation and in an increased latency in the delivery of the results to the physics community.The long shutdown of the LHC in 2013-2014 was an opportunity to revisit thismore » mode of operations, disentangling the processing and archive functionalities of the Tier-1 centres. The storage services at the Tier-1s were redeployed breaking the traditional hierarchical model: each site now provides a large disk storage to host input and output data for processing, and an independent tape storage used exclusively for archiving. Movement of data between the tape and disk endpoints is not automated, but triggered externally through the WLCG transfer management systems.With this new setup, CMS operations actively controls at any time which data is available on disk for processing and which data should be sent to archive. Thanks to the high-bandwidth connectivity guaranteed by the LHCOPN, input data can be freely transferred between disk endpoints as needed to take advantage of free CPU, turning the Tier-1s into a large pool of shared resources. The output data can be validated before archiving them permanently, and temporary data formats can be produced without wasting valuable tape resources. Lastly, the data hosted on disk at Tier-1s can now be made available also for user analysis since there is no risk any longer of triggering chaotic staging from tape.In this contribution, we describe the technical solutions adopted for the new disk and tape endpoints at the sites, and we report on the commissioning and scale testing of the service. We detail the procedures implemented by CMS computing operations to actively manage data on disk at Tier-1 sites, and we give examples of the benefits brought to CMS workflows by the additional flexibility of the new system.« less

The development and validation of a three-tier diagnostic test measuring pre-service elementary education and secondary science teachers' understanding of the water cycle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schaffer, Dannah Lynn

The main goal of this research study was to develop and validate a three-tier diagnostic test to determine pre-service teachers' (PSTs) conceptual knowledge of the water cycle. For a three-tier diagnostic test, the first tier assesses content knowledge; in the second tier, a reason is selected for the content answer; and the third tier allows test-takers to select how confident they are in their answers for the first two tiers. The second goal of this study was to diagnose any alternative conceptions PSTs might have about the water cycle. The Water Cycle Diagnostic Test (WCDT) was developed using the theoretical framework by Treagust (1986, 1988, and 1995), and in similar studies that developed diagnostic tests (e.g., Calean & Subramaniam, 2010a; Odom & Barrow, 2007; Pesman & Eryilmaz, 2010). The final instrument consisted of 15 items along with a demographic survey that examined PSTs' weather-related experiences that may or may not have affected the PSTs' understanding of the water cycle. The WCDT was administered to 77 PSTs enrolled in science methods courses during the fall of 2012. Among the 77 participants, 37 of the PSTs were enrolled in elementary education (EPST) and 40 in secondary science (SPST). Using exploratory factor analysis, five categories were factored out for the WCDT: Phase Change of Water; Condensation and Storage; Clouds; Global Climate Change; and Movement through the Water Cycle. Analysis of the PSTs' responses demonstrated acceptable reliability (alpha = 0.62) for the instrument, and acceptable difficulty indices and discrimination indices for 12 of the items. Analysis indicated that the majority of the PSTs had a limited understanding of the water cycle. Of the PSTs sampled, SPSTs were significantly more confident in their answers' on the WCDT than the EPSTs. Completion of an undergraduate atmospheric science and/or meteorology course, as well as a higher interest in listening and/or viewing weather-related programs, resulted in PSTs having greater understanding and confidence in their answers on the WCDT. The analysis of the PSTs' responses revealed 49 potential alternative conceptions and areas where PSTs' lack of knowledge was revealed from the WCDT.

Progress toward a Semantic eScience Framework; building on advanced cyberinfrastructure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McGuinness, D. L.; Fox, P. A.; West, P.; Rozell, E.; Zednik, S.; Chang, C.

2010-12-01

The configurable and extensible semantic eScience framework (SESF) has begun development and implementation of several semantic application components. Extensions and improvements to several ontologies have been made based on distinct interdisciplinary use cases ranging from solar physics, to biologicl and chemical oceanography. Importantly, these semantic representations mediate access to a diverse set of existing and emerging cyberinfrastructure. Among the advances are the population of triple stores with web accessible query services. A triple store is akin to a relational data store where the basic stored unit is a subject-predicate-object tuple. Access via a query is provided by the W3 Recommendation language specification SPARQL. Upon this middle tier of semantic cyberinfrastructure, we have developed several forms of semantic faceted search, including provenance-awareness. We report on the rapid advances in semantic technologies and tools and how we are sustaining the software path for the required technical advances as well as the ontology improvements and increased functionality of the semantic applications including how they are integrated into web-based portals (e.g. Drupal) and web services. Lastly, we indicate future work direction and opportunities for collaboration.

Second-Tier Database for Ecosystem Focus, 2003-2004 Annual Report.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

University of Washington, Columbia Basin Research, DART Project Staff,

2004-12-01

The Second-Tier Database for Ecosystem Focus (Contract 00004124) provides direct and timely public access to Columbia Basin environmental, operational, fishery and riverine data resources for federal, state, public and private entities essential to sound operational and resource management. The database also assists with juvenile and adult mainstem passage modeling supporting federal decisions affecting the operation of the FCRPS. The Second-Tier Database known as Data Access in Real Time (DART) integrates public data for effective access, consideration and application. DART also provides analysis tools and performance measures for evaluating the condition of Columbia Basin salmonid stocks. These services are critical tomore » BPA's implementation of its fish and wildlife responsibilities under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).« less

The Barrie Jones Lecture—Eye care for the neglected population: challenges and solutions

PubMed Central

Rao, G N

2015-01-01

Globally, pockets of ‘neglected populations' do not have access to basic health-care services and carry a much greater risk of blindness and visual impairment. While large-scale public health approaches to control blindness due to vitamin A deficiency, onchocerciasis, and trachoma are successful, other causes of blindness still take a heavy toll in the population. High-quality comprehensive eye care that is equitable is the approach that needs wide-scale application to alleviate this inequity. L V Prasad Eye Institute of India developed a multi-tier pyramidal model of eye care delivery that encompasses all levels from primary to advanced tertiary (quaternary). This has demonstrated the feasibility of ‘Universal Eye Health Coverage' covering promotive, preventive, corrective, and rehabilitative aspects of eye care. Using human resources with competency-based training, effective and cost-effective care could be provided to many disadvantaged people. PMID:25567375

Primary care in a new era: disillusion and dissolution?.

PubMed

Sandy, Lewis G; Schroeder, Steven A

2003-02-04

The current dilemmas in primary care stem from 1) the unintended consequences of forces thought to promote primary care and 2) the "disruptive technologies of care" that attack the very function and concept of primary care itself. This paper suggests that these forces, in combination with "tiering" in the health insurance market, could lead to the dissolution of primary care as a single concept, to be replaced by alignment of clinicians by economic niche. Evidence already exists in the marketplace for both tiering of health insurance benefits and corresponding practice changes within primary care. In the future, primary care for the top tier will cater to the affluent as "full-service brokers" and will be delivered by a wide variety of clinicians. The middle tier will continue to grapple with tensions created by patient demand and bureaucratic systems but will remain most closely aligned to primary care as a concept. The lower tier will become increasingly concerned with community health and social justice. Each primary care specialty will adapt in a unique way to a tiered world, with general internal medicine facing the most challenges. Given this forecast for the future, those concerned about primary care should focus less on workforce issues and more on macro health care financing and organization issues (such as Medicare reform); appropriate training models; and the development of a conception of primary care that emphasizes values and ethos, not just function.

The INFN-CNAF Tier-1 GEMSS Mass Storage System and database facility activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ricci, Pier Paolo; Cavalli, Alessandro; Dell'Agnello, Luca; Favaro, Matteo; Gregori, Daniele; Prosperini, Andrea; Pezzi, Michele; Sapunenko, Vladimir; Zizzi, Giovanni; Vagnoni, Vincenzo

2015-05-01

The consolidation of Mass Storage services at the INFN-CNAF Tier1 Storage department that has occurred during the last 5 years, resulted in a reliable, high performance and moderately easy-to-manage facility that provides data access, archive, backup and database services to several different use cases. At present, the GEMSS Mass Storage System, developed and installed at CNAF and based upon an integration between the IBM GPFS parallel filesystem and the Tivoli Storage Manager (TSM) tape management software, is one of the largest hierarchical storage sites in Europe. It provides storage resources for about 12% of LHC data, as well as for data of other non-LHC experiments. Files are accessed using standard SRM Grid services provided by the Storage Resource Manager (StoRM), also developed at CNAF. Data access is also provided by XRootD and HTTP/WebDaV endpoints. Besides these services, an Oracle database facility is in production characterized by an effective level of parallelism, redundancy and availability. This facility is running databases for storing and accessing relational data objects and for providing database services to the currently active use cases. It takes advantage of several Oracle technologies, like Real Application Cluster (RAC), Automatic Storage Manager (ASM) and Enterprise Manager centralized management tools, together with other technologies for performance optimization, ease of management and downtime reduction. The aim of the present paper is to illustrate the state-of-the-art of the INFN-CNAF Tier1 Storage department infrastructures and software services, and to give a brief outlook to forthcoming projects. A description of the administrative, monitoring and problem-tracking tools that play a primary role in managing the whole storage framework is also given.

Tier 3 multidisciplinary medical weight management improves outcome of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery.

PubMed

Patel, P; Hartland, A; Hollis, A; Ali, R; Elshaw, A; Jain, S; Khan, A; Mirza, S

2015-04-01

In 2013 the Department of Health specified eligibility for bariatric surgery funded by the National Health Service. This included a mandatory specification that patients first complete a Tier 3 medical weight management programme. The clinical effectiveness of this recommendation has not been evaluated previously. Our bariatric centre has provided a Tier 3 programme six months prior to bariatric surgery since 2009. The aim of our retrospective study was to compare weight loss in two cohorts: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass only (RYGB only cohort) versus Tier 3 weight management followed by RYGB (Tier 3 cohort). A total of 110 patients were selected for the study: 66 in the RYGB only cohort and 44 in the Tier 3 cohort. Patients in both cohorts were matched for age, sex, preoperative body mass index and pre-existing co-morbidities. The principal variable was therefore whether they undertook the weight management programme prior to RYGB. Patients from both cohorts were followed up at 6 and 12 months to assess weight loss. The mean weight loss at 6 months for the Tier 3 cohort was 31% (range: 18-69%, standard deviation [SD]: 0.10 percentage points) compared with 23% (range: 4-93%, SD: 0.12 percentage points) for the RYGB only cohort (p=0.0002). The mean weight loss at 12 months for the Tier 3 cohort was 34% (range: 17-51%, SD: 0.09 percentage points) compared with 27% (range: 14-48%, SD: 0.87 percentage points) in the RYGB only cohort (p=0.0037). Our study revealed that in our matched cohorts, patients receiving Tier 3 specialist medical weight management input prior to RYGB lost significantly more weight at 6 and 12 months than RYGB only patients. This confirms the clinical efficacy of such a weight management programme prior to gastric bypass surgery and supports its inclusion in eligibility criteria for bariatric surgery.

Students' Understanding of Acid, Base and Salt Reactions in Qualitative Analysis.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tan, Kim-Chwee Daniel; Goh, Ngoh-Khang; Chia, Lian-Sai; Treagust, David F.

2003-01-01

Uses a two-tier, multiple-choice diagnostic instrument to determine (n=915) grade 10 students' understanding of the acid, base, and salt reactions involved in basic qualitative analysis. Reports that many students did not understand the formation of precipitates and the complex salts, acid/salt-base reactions, and thermal decomposition involved in…

Developing the architecture for the Climate Information Portal for Copernicus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Som de Cerff, Wim; Thijsse, Peter; Plieger, Maarten; Pascoe, Stephen; Jukes, Martin; Leadbetter, Adam; Goosen, Hasse; de Vreede, Ernst

2015-04-01

Climate change is impacting the environment, society and policy decisions. Information about climate change is available from many sources, but not all of them are reliable. The CLIPC project is developing a portal to provide a single point of access for authoritative scientific information on climate change. This ambitious objective is made possible through the Copernicus Earth Observation Programme for Europe, which will deliver a new generation of environmental measurements of climate quality. The data about the physical environment which is used to inform climate change policy and adaptation measures comes from several categories: satellite measurements, terrestrial observing systems, model projections and simulations and from re-analyses (syntheses of all available observations constrained with numerical weather prediction systems). These data categories are managed by different communities: CLIPC will provide a single point of access for the whole range of data. Information on data value and limitations will be provided as part of a knowledge base of authoritative climate information. The impacts of climate change on society will generally reflect a range of different environmental and climate system changes, and different sectors and actors within society will react differently to these changes. The CLIPC portal will provide some a number of indicators showing impacts on specific sectors which have been generated using a range of factors selected through structured expert consultation. It will also, as part of the transformation services, allow users to explore the consequences of using different combinations of driving factors which they consider to be of particular relevance to their work or life. The portal will provide information on the scientific quality and pitfalls of such transformations to prevent misleading usage of the results. The CLIPC project will not be able to process a comprehensive range of climate change impacts on the physical environment and society, but will develop an end to end processing chain (indicator toolkit), from comprehensive information on the climate state through to highly aggregated decision relevant products. This processing chain will be demonstrated within three thematic areas: water, rural and urban. Indicators of climate change and climate change impact will be provided, and a toolkit to update and post process the collection of indicators will be integrated into the portal. For the indicators three levels (Tiers) have been loosely defined: Tier 1: field summarising properties of the climate system; e.g. temperature change; Tier 2: expressed in terms of environmental properties outside the climate system; e.g. flooding change; Tier 3: expressed in social and economic impact. For the architecture, CLIPC has two interlocked themes: 1. Harmonised access to climate datasets derived from models, observations and re-analyses 2. A climate impact toolkit to evaluate, rank and aggregate indicators For development of the CLIPC architecture an Agile 'storyline' approach is taken. The storyline is a real world use case and consists of producing a Tier 3 indicator (Urban Heat Vulnerability) and making it available through the CLIPC infrastructure for a user group. In this way architecture concepts can be directly tested and improved. Also, the produced indicator can be shown to users to refine requirements. Main components of the CLIPC architecture are 1) Data discovery and access, 2) Data processing, 3) Data visualization, 4) Knowledge base and 5) User Management. The Data discovery and access component main challenge is to provide harmonized access to various sources of climate data (ngEO, EMODNET/SeaDataNet, ESGF, MyOcean). The discovery service concept will be provided using a CLIPC data and data product catalogue and via a structured data search on selected infrastructures, using NERC vocabulary services and mappings. Data processing will be provided using OGC WPS services, linking/re-using existing processing services from climate4impact.eu. The processing services will allow users to calculate climate impact indicators (Tier 1, 2 and 3). Processing wizards will guide users in processing indicators. The PyWPS framework will be used. The CLIPC portal will have its own central viewing service, using OGC standards for interoperability. For the WMS server side the ADAGUC framework will be used. For Tier 3 visualizations specific tailored visualisations will be developed. Tier 3 can be complicated to build and require manual work from specialists to provide meaningful results before they can be published as e.g. interactive maps. The CLIPC knowledge base is a set of services that supply explanatory information to the users when working with CLIPC services. It is structured around 1) a catalogue, containing ISO standardized metadata, citations, background information, links to data; 2) Commentary information, e.g. FAQ, annotation URLs , version information, disclaimers; 3) Technical documents, e.g. using vocabularies and mappings 4) Glossaries, adding and using existing glossaries from e.g. EUPORIAS/IS-ENES, IPCC; 5) literature references. CLIPC will have a very light weight user management system, providing as little barriers to the user as possible. We will make use of OpenID, accepting from selected OpenID providers such as Google and ESGF. In the presentation we will show the storyline implementation: the first results of the Tier 3 indicator, the architecture in development and the lessons learned.

Maximizing data holdings and data documentation with a hierarchical system for sample-based geochemical data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hsu, L.; Lehnert, K. A.; Walker, J. D.; Chan, C.; Ash, J.; Johansson, A. K.; Rivera, T. A.

2011-12-01

Sample-based measurements in geochemistry are highly diverse, due to the large variety of sample types, measured properties, and idiosyncratic analytical procedures. In order to ensure the utility of sample-based data for re-use in research or education they must be associated with a high quality and quantity of descriptive, discipline-specific metadata. Without an adequate level of documentation, it is not possible to reproduce scientific results or have confidence in using the data for new research inquiries. The required detail in data documentation makes it challenging to aggregate large sets of data from different investigators and disciplines. One solution to this challenge is to build data systems with several tiers of intricacy, where the less detailed tiers are geared toward discovery and interoperability, and the more detailed tiers have higher value for data analysis. The Geoinformatics for Geochemistry (GfG) group, which is part of the Integrated Earth Data Applications facility (http://www.iedadata.org), has taken this approach to provide services for the discovery, access, and analysis of sample-based geochemical data for a diverse user community, ranging from the highly informed geochemist to non-domain scientists and undergraduate students. GfG builds and maintains three tiers in the sample based data systems, from a simple data catalog (Geochemical Resource Library), to a substantially richer data model for the EarthChem Portal (EarthChem XML), and finally to detailed discipline-specific data models for petrologic (PetDB), sedimentary (SedDB), hydrothermal spring (VentDB), and geochronological (GeoChron) samples. The data catalog, the lowest level in the hierarchy, contains the sample data values plus metadata only about the dataset itself (Dublin Core metadata such as dataset title and author), and therefore can accommodate the widest diversity of data holdings. The second level includes measured data values from the sample, basic information about the analytical method, and metadata about the samples such as geospatial information and sample type. The third and highest level includes detailed data quality documentation and more specific information about the scientific context of the sample. The three tiers are linked to allow users to quickly navigate to their desired level of metadata detail. Links are based on the use of unique identifiers: (a) DOI at the granularity of datasets, and (b) the International Geo Sample Number IGSN at the granularity of samples. Current developments in the GfG sample-based systems include new registry architecture for the IGSN to advance international implementation, growth and modification of EarthChemXML to include geochemical data for new sample types such as soils and liquids, and the construction of a hydrothermal vent data system. This flexible, tiered, model provides a solution for offering varying levels of detail in order to aggregate a large quantity of data and serve the largest user group of both disciplinary novices and experts.

75 FR 17918 - Submission for OMB Review; American Recovery and Reinvestment Act-One-Time Reporting Requirements...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-04-08

... DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE... Recovery and Reinvestment Act--One-Time Reporting Requirements for First-Tier Subcontractors AGENCY: Department of Defense (DOD), General Services Administration (GSA), and National Aeronautics and Space...

75 FR 22805 - Submission for OMB Review; American Recovery and Reinvestment Act-One-Time Reporting Requirements...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-04-30

... DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE... Recovery and Reinvestment Act--One-Time Reporting Requirements for First-Tier Subcontractors AGENCIES: Department of Defense (DoD), General Services Administration (GSA), and National Aeronautics and Space...

Blending the Trends: A Holistic Approach to Reference Services

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dempsey, Megan

2011-01-01

The growing trends of tiered reference, roving librarians, and virtual reference offer academic libraries several options for providing the most effective reference service. Increased enrollment at community colleges has prompted a reconsideration of how librarians can balance reference, teaching, and faculty responsibilities. This article…

Influence of Particle Theory Conceptions on Pre-Service Science Teachers' Understanding of Osmosis and Diffusion

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

AlHarbi, Nawaf N. S.; Treagust, David F.; Chandrasegaran, A. L.; Won, Mihye

2015-01-01

This study investigated the understanding of diffusion, osmosis and particle theory of matter concepts among 192 pre-service science teachers in Saudi Arabia using a 17-item two-tier multiple-choice diagnostic test. The data analysis showed that the pre-service teachers' understanding of osmosis and diffusion concepts was mildly correlated with…

The Use of Proxy Caches for File Access in a Multi-Tier Grid Environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brun, R.; Duellmann, D.; Ganis, G.; Hanushevsky, A.; Janyst, L.; Peters, A. J.; Rademakers, F.; Sindrilaru, E.

2011-12-01

The use of proxy caches has been extensively studied in the HEP environment for efficient access of database data and showed significant performance with only very moderate operational effort at higher grid tiers (T2, T3). In this contribution we propose to apply the same concept to the area of file access and analyse the possible performance gains, operational impact on site services and applicability to different HEP use cases. Base on a proof-of-concept studies with a modified XROOT proxy server we review the cache efficiency and overheads for access patterns of typical ROOT based analysis programs. We conclude with a discussion of the potential role of this new component at the different tiers of a distributed computing grid.

The Use of Proxy Caches for File Access in a Multi-Tier Grid Environment

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Brun, R.; Dullmann, D.; Ganis, G.

2012-04-19

The use of proxy caches has been extensively studied in the HEP environment for efficient access of database data and showed significant performance with only very moderate operational effort at higher grid tiers (T2, T3). In this contribution we propose to apply the same concept to the area of file access and analyze the possible performance gains, operational impact on site services and applicability to different HEP use cases. Base on a proof-of-concept studies with a modified XROOT proxy server we review the cache efficiency and overheads for access patterns of typical ROOT based analysis programs. We conclude with amore » discussion of the potential role of this new component at the different tiers of a distributed computing grid.« less

47 CFR 76.980 - Charges for customer changes.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

....980 Telecommunication FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (CONTINUED) BROADCAST RADIO SERVICES... charge for customer changes in service tiers effected solely by coded entry on a computer terminal or by... involve more than coded entry on a computer or other similarly simple method shall be based on actual cost...

47 CFR 76.980 - Charges for customer changes.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

....980 Telecommunication FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (CONTINUED) BROADCAST RADIO SERVICES... charge for customer changes in service tiers effected solely by coded entry on a computer terminal or by... involve more than coded entry on a computer or other similarly simple method shall be based on actual cost...

47 CFR 76.980 - Charges for customer changes.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

....980 Telecommunication FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (CONTINUED) BROADCAST RADIO SERVICES... charge for customer changes in service tiers effected solely by coded entry on a computer terminal or by... involve more than coded entry on a computer or other similarly simple method shall be based on actual cost...

47 CFR 76.980 - Charges for customer changes.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

....980 Telecommunication FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (CONTINUED) BROADCAST RADIO SERVICES... charge for customer changes in service tiers effected solely by coded entry on a computer terminal or by... involve more than coded entry on a computer or other similarly simple method shall be based on actual cost...

47 CFR 76.980 - Charges for customer changes.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

....980 Telecommunication FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (CONTINUED) BROADCAST RADIO SERVICES... charge for customer changes in service tiers effected solely by coded entry on a computer terminal or by... involve more than coded entry on a computer or other similarly simple method shall be based on actual cost...

Teaching basic life support to school children using medical students and teachers in a 'peer-training' model--results of the 'ABC for life' programme.

PubMed

Toner, P; Connolly, M; Laverty, L; McGrath, P; Connolly, D; McCluskey, D R

2007-10-01

The 'ABC for life' programme was designed to facilitate the wider dissemination of basic life support (BLS) skills and knowledge in the population. A previous study demonstrated that using this programme 10-12-year olds are capable of performing and retaining these vital skills when taught by medical students. There are approximately 25,000 year 7 school children in 900 primary schools in Northern Ireland. By using a pyramidal teaching approach involving medical students and teachers, there is the potential to train BLS to all of these children each year. To assess the effectiveness of a programme of CPR instruction using a three-tier training model in which medical students instruct primary school teachers who then teach school children. School children and teachers in the Western Education and Library Board in Northern Ireland. A course of instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)--the 'ABC for life' programme--specifically designed to teach 10-12-year-old children basic life support skills. Medical students taught teachers from the Western Education and Library Board area of Northern Ireland how to teach basic life support skills to year 7 pupils in their schools. Pupils were given a 22-point questionnaire to assess knowledge of basic life support immediately before and after a teacher led training session. Children instructed in cardiopulmonary resuscitation using this three-tier training had a significantly improved score following training (57.2% and 77.7%, respectively, p<0.001). This study demonstrates that primary school teachers, previously trained by medical students, can teach BLS effectively to 10-12-year-old children using the 'ABC for life' programme.

School as the Entry Point: Assessing Adherence to the Basic Tenets of the Wraparound Approach

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Epstein, Michael H.; Nordness, Philip D.; Gallagher, Ken; Nelson, J. Ron; Lewis, Linda; Schrepf, Sheryl

2005-01-01

In an effort to address the problem behaviors of children and youth, professionals have advocated for the implementation of three-tiered prevention programs: primary, secondary, and tertiary. The wraparound approach has been advanced as an appropriate tertiary program that can be used to address the complex behaviors and needs of students and…

Evaluation of Decision Rules in a Tiered Assessment of Inhalation Exposure to Nanomaterials.

PubMed

Brouwer, Derk; Boessen, Ruud; van Duuren-Stuurman, Birgit; Bard, Delphine; Moehlmann, Carsten; Bekker, Cindy; Fransman, Wouter; Klein Entink, Rinke

2016-10-01

Tiered or stepwise approaches to assess occupational exposure to nano-objects, and their agglomerates and aggregates have been proposed, which require decision rules (DRs) to move to a next tier, or terminate the assessment. In a desk study the performance of a number of DRs based on the evaluation of results from direct reading instruments was investigated by both statistical simulations and the application of the DRs to real workplace data sets. A statistical model that accounts for autocorrelation patterns in time-series, i.e. autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA), was used as 'gold' standard. The simulations showed that none of the proposed DRs covered the entire range of simulated scenarios with respect to the ARIMA model parameters, however, a combined DR showed a slightly better agreement. Application of the DRs to real workplace datasets (n = 117) revealed sensitivity up to 0.72, whereas the lowest observed specificity was 0.95. The selection of the most appropriate DR is very much dependent on the consequences of the decision, i.e. ruling in or ruling out of scenarios for further evaluation. Since a basic assessment may also comprise of other type of measurements and information, an evaluation logic was proposed which embeds the DRs, but furthermore supports decision making in view of a tiered-approach exposure assessment. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Occupational Hygiene Society.

Pilot proficiency testing study for second tier congenital adrenal hyperplasia newborn screening.

PubMed

De Jesús, Víctor R; Simms, David A; Schiffer, Jarad; Kennedy, Meredith; Mei, Joanne V; Hannon, W Harry

2010-11-11

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is caused by inherited defects in steroid biosynthesis. The Newborn Screening Quality Assurance Program (NSQAP) initiated a pilot, dried-blood spot (DBS)-based proficiency testing program designed to investigate materials and laboratory performance for second tier CAH screening by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). The ratio of 17-α-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), androstenedione (4-AD) and cortisol is used as an indicator of CAH in laboratory protocols for second tier analysis of DBS specimens. DBS prepared by NSQAP contained a range of steroid concentrations resulting in different clinical ratios. Laboratories received blind-coded DBS specimens and reported results to NSQAP for evaluation. Quantitative values reported by participants for 17-OHP, 4-AD, and cortisol, reflected small differences in their analytical methods. Average quantitative values for 17-OHP increased from 81% to 107% recovery over the 3.5-year period; cortisol recoveries increased from 61.9% to 89.5%; and 4-AD recoveries decreased from 184% to 68%. Laboratory participation in the CAH second tier proficiency testing program has resulted in improved analyte recoveries and enhanced sample preparation methodologies. NSQAP services for the second tier CAH analysis in DBS demonstrate the need for surveillance to ensure harmonization and continuous improvements, and to achieve sustained high-performance of newborn screening laboratories worldwide. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Using Integrated Student Supports to Keep Kids in School: A Quasi-Experimental Evaluation of Communities in Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Somers, Marie-Andrée; Haider, Zeest

2017-01-01

The Communities In Schools (CIS) Model of Integrated Student Supports aims to reduce dropout rates by providing students with integrated and tiered support services based on their levels of need. The model includes preventive services that are available to all students (Level 1 services) as well as intensive, targeted, and sustained services…

Using Integrated Student Supports to Keep Kids in School: A Quasi-Experimental Evaluation of Communities in Schools. Executive Summary

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Somers, Marie-Andrée; Haider, Zeest

2017-01-01

The Communities In Schools (CIS) Model of Integrated Student Supports aims to reduce dropout rates by providing students with integrated and tiered support services based on their levels of need. The model includes preventive services that are available to all students (Level 1 services) as well as intensive, targeted, and sustained services…

ATM over hybrid fiber-coaxial cable networks: practical issues in deploying residential ATM services

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Laubach, Mark

1996-11-01

Residential broadband access network technology based on asynchronous transfer modem (ATM) will soon reach commercial availability. The capabilities provided by ATM access network promise integrated services bandwidth available in excess of those provided by traditional twisted pair copper wire public telephone networks. ATM to the side of the home placed need quality of service capability closest to the subscriber allowing immediate support for Internet services and traditional voice telephony. Other services such as desktop video teleconferencing and enhanced server-based application support can be added as part of future evolution of the network. Additionally, advanced subscriber home networks can be supported easily. This paper presents an updated summary of the standardization efforts for the ATM over HFC definition work currently taking place in the ATM forum's residential broadband working group and the standards progress in the IEEE 802.14 cable TV media access control and physical protocol working group. This update is fundamental for establishing the foundation for delivering ATM-based integrated services via a cable TV network. An economic model for deploying multi-tiered services is presenting showing that a single-tier service is insufficient for a viable cable operator business. Finally, the use of an ATM based system lends itself well to various deployment scenarios of synchronous optical networks (SONET).

"Priority of liberty" and the design of a two-tier health care system.

PubMed

Breyer, Friedrich; Kliemt, Hartmut

2015-04-01

Libertarian views on rights tend to rule out coercive redistribution for purposes of public health care guarantees, whereas liberal conceptions support coercive funding of potentially unlimited access to medical services in the name of medical needs. Taking the "priority of liberty" seriously as supreme political value, a plausible prudential argument can avoid these extremes by providing systematic reasons for both delivering and limiting publicly financed guarantees. Given impending demographic change and rapid technical progress in medicine, only a two-tier system with explicitly limited public guarantees and optional privately financed health services seems acceptable. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press, on behalf of the Journal of Medicine and Philosophy Inc. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

A retrospective tiered environmental assessment of the Mount Storm Wind Energy Facility, West Virginia,USA

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Efroymson, Rebecca Ann; Day, Robin; Strickland, M. Dale

Bird and bat fatalities from wind energy projects are an environmental and public concern, with post-construction fatalities sometimes differing from predictions. Siting facilities in this context can be a challenge. In March 2012 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) released Land-based Wind Energy Guidelines to assess collision fatalities and other potential impacts to species of concern and their habitats to aid in siting and management. The Guidelines recommend a tiered approach for assessing risk to wildlife, including a preliminary site evaluation that may evaluate alternative sites, a site characterization, field studies to document wildlife and habitat and to predictmore » project impacts, post construction studies to estimate impacts, and other post construction studies. We applied the tiered assessment framework to a case study site, the Mount Storm Wind Energy Facility in Grant County, West Virginia, USA, to demonstrate the use of the USFWS assessment approach, to indicate how the use of a tiered assessment framework might have altered outputs of wildlife assessments previously undertaken for the case study site, and to assess benefits of a tiered ecological assessment framework for siting wind energy facilities. The conclusions of this tiered assessment for birds are similar to those of previous environmental assessments for Mount Storm. This assessment found risk to individual migratory tree-roosting bats that was not emphasized in previous preconstruction assessments. Differences compared to previous environmental assessments are more related to knowledge accrued in the past 10 years rather than to the tiered structure of the Guidelines. Benefits of the tiered assessment framework include good communication among stakeholders, clear decision points, a standard assessment trajectory, narrowing the list of species of concern, improving study protocols, promoting consideration of population-level effects, promoting adaptive management through post-construction assessment and mitigation, and sharing information that can be used in other assessments.« less

Negotiation-based Order Lot-Sizing Approach for Two-tier Supply Chain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chao, Yuan; Lin, Hao Wen; Chen, Xili; Murata, Tomohiro

This paper focuses on a negotiation based collaborative planning process for the determination of order lot-size over multi-period planning, and confined to a two-tier supply chain scenario. The aim is to study how negotiation based planning processes would be used to refine locally preferred ordering patterns, which would consequently affect the overall performance of the supply chain in terms of costs and service level. Minimal information exchanges in the form of mathematical models are suggested to represent the local preferences and used to support the negotiation processes.

Multi-tiered S-SOA, Parameter-Driven New Islamic Syariah Products of Holistic Islamic Banking System (HiCORE): Virtual Banking Environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Halimah, B. Z.; Azlina, A.; Sembok, T. M.; Sufian, I.; Sharul Azman, M. N.; Azuraliza, A. B.; Zulaiha, A. O.; Nazlia, O.; Salwani, A.; Sanep, A.; Hailani, M. T.; Zaher, M. Z.; Azizah, J.; Nor Faezah, M. Y.; Choo, W. O.; Abdullah, Chew; Sopian, B.

The Holistic Islamic Banking System (HiCORE), a banking system suitable for virtual banking environment, created based on universityindustry collaboration initiative between Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Fuziq Software Sdn Bhd. HiCORE was modeled on a multitiered Simple - Services Oriented Architecture (S-SOA), using the parameterbased semantic approach. HiCORE's existence is timely as the financial world is looking for a new approach to creating banking and financial products that are interest free or based on the Islamic Syariah principles and jurisprudence. An interest free banking system has currently caught the interest of bankers and financiers all over the world. HiCORE's Parameter-based module houses the Customer-information file (CIF), Deposit and Financing components. The Parameter based module represents the third tier of the multi-tiered Simple SOA approach. This paper highlights the multi-tiered parameter- driven approach to the creation of new Islamiic products based on the 'dalil' (Quran), 'syarat' (rules) and 'rukun' (procedures) as required by the syariah principles and jurisprudence reflected by the semantic ontology embedded in the parameter module of the system.

Evaluation of a multidisciplinary Tier 3 weight management service for adults with morbid obesity, or obesity and comorbidities, based in primary care

PubMed Central

Jennings, A; Hughes, C A; Kumaravel, B; Bachmann, M O; Steel, N; Capehorn, M; Cheema, K

2014-01-01

A multidisciplinary Tier 3 weight management service in primary care recruited patients with a body mass index ≥40 kg·m−2, or 30 kg·m−2 with obesity-related co-morbidity to a 1-year programme. A cohort of 230 participants was recruited and evaluated using the National Obesity Observatory Standard Evaluation Framework. The primary outcome was weight loss of at least 5% of baseline weight at 12 months. Diet was assessed using the two-item food frequency questionnaire, activity using the General Practice Physical Activity questionnaire and quality of life using the EuroQol-5D-5L questionnaire. A focus group explored the participants' experiences. Baseline mean weight was 124.4 kg and mean body mass index was 44.1 kg·m−2. A total of 102 participants achieved 5% weight loss at 12 months. The mean weight loss was 10.2 kg among the 117 participants who completed the 12-month programme. Baseline observation carried forward analysis gave a mean weight loss of 5.9 kg at 12 months. Fruit and vegetable intake, activity level and quality of life all improved. The dropout rate was 14.3% at 6 months and 45.1% at 1 year. Focus group participants described high levels of satisfaction. It was possible to deliver a Tier 3 weight management service for obese patients with complex co-morbidity in a primary care setting with a full multidisciplinary team, which obtained good health outcomes compared with existing services. PMID:25825858

Modeling Market Shares of Competing (e)Care Providers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Ooteghem, Jan; Tesch, Tom; Verbrugge, Sofie; Ackaert, Ann; Colle, Didier; Pickavet, Mario; Demeester, Piet

In order to address the increasing costs of providing care to the growing group of elderly, efficiency gains through eCare solutions seem an obvious solution. Unfortunately not many techno-economic business models to evaluate the return of these investments are available. The construction of a business case for care for the elderly as they move through different levels of dependency and the effect of introducing an eCare service, is the intended application of the model. The simulation model presented in this paper allows for modeling evolution of market shares of competing care providers. Four tiers are defined, based on the dependency level of the elderly, for which the market shares are determined. The model takes into account available capacity of the different care providers, in- and outflow distribution between tiers and churn between providers within tiers.

77 FR 50728 - International Mail Rates

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-22

...-tiered rate structure for Inbound Expedited Services to the EMS Cooperative's expectation that all members will participate in the Pay- for-Performance Plan, and (2) a 2012 listing of countries indicating...

Guidance for commissioning NHS England dental conscious sedation services: a framework tool.

PubMed

Howlett, Paul

2014-01-01

Conscious sedation is an integral part of modern day dental care and should be delivered through a high quality, effective and evidence-based approach. Commissioning of NHS dental services in England is currently under review by NHS England and the National Dental Commissioning Group. This group has identified the management of vulnerable people including anxious patients, as one of its priorities. The Society for the Advancement of Anaesthesia in Dentistry (SAAD) believes this provides an opportunity to influence the commissioning of NHS conscious sedation services. With this aim in mind,"Guidance for Commissioning NHS England Dental Conscious Sedation Services: A Framework Tool" was developed. This guidance proposes a common approach to the organisation of NHS dental conscious sedation services in England, advocating the provision of Tier 1 and Tier 2 services in all regions. Its ethos is a"hub and spoke" model of service delivery with patient assessment delivered by experienced and well trained dental sedationists at its core. In line with the recent Francis Report fundamental standards for all aspects of dental conscious sedation practice are outlined, supported by a robust and predictable quality assurance process. This work has been shared with key stakeholders in NHS England including the Chief Dental Officer and the Head of Primary Care Commissioning.

The Transportation Security Administration’s Four Major Security Programs for Mass Transit--How They Can Be Improved to Address the Needs of Tier II Mass Transit Agencies

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-03-01

suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington headquarters Services , Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway...56 2. U.S. Coast Guard (U.S.C.G)..............................................................56 3. U.S. Secret Service (USSS...57 4. Federal Protective Service (FPS)......................................................57 G

High School Students' Proficiency and Confidence Levels in Displaying Their Understanding of Basic Electrolysis Concepts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sia, Ding Teng; Treagust, David F.; Chandrasegaran, A. L.

2012-01-01

This study was conducted with 330 Form 4 (grade 10) students (aged 15-16 years) who were involved in a course of instruction on electrolysis concepts. The main purposes of this study were (1) to assess high school chemistry students' understanding of 19 major principles of electrolysis using a recently developed 2-tier multiple-choice diagnostic…

Evaluation of an Intervention Instructional Program to Facilitate Understanding of Basic Particle Concepts among Students Enrolled in Several Levels of Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Treagust, David F.; Chandrasegaran, A. L.; Zain, Ahmad N. M.; Ong, Eng Tek; Karpudewan, Mageswary; Halim, Lilia

2011-01-01

The efficacy of an intervention instructional program was evaluated to facilitate understanding of particle theory concepts among students (N = 190) using a diagnostic instrument consisting of eleven two-tier multiple-choice items in a pre-test--post-test design. The students involved were high school students, undergraduates and postgraduates…

Quality and Utility of the Multi-Tiered Instruction Self-Efficacy Scale

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barnes, Susan K.; Burchard, Melinda S.

2011-01-01

Response to Intervention (RTI) is an educational approach that integrates ongoing assessment of individual student progress with targeted instruction. Administrators and teachers in P-12 schools expressed a need for colleagues in higher education to provide training to general education pre-service and in-service teachers in selecting appropriate…

41 CFR 105-68.355 - What information must I provide to a higher tier participant before entering into a covered...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 41 Public Contracts and Property Management 3 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false What information must I...-68.355 Section 105-68.355 Public Contracts and Property Management Federal Property Management Regulations System (Continued) GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION Regional Offices-General Services...

Democratizing Authority in the Built Environment

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Andersen, Michael P; Kolb, John; Chen, Kaifei

Operating systems and applications in the built environment have relied upon central authorization and management mechanisms which restrict their scalability, especially with respect to administrative overhead. We propose a new set of primitives encompassing syndication, security, and service execution that unifies the management of applications and services across the built environment, while enabling participants to individually delegate privilege across multiple administrative domains with no loss of security or manageability. We show how to leverage a decentralized authorization syndication platform to extend the design of building operating systems beyond the single administrative domain of a building. The authorization system leveraged ismore » based on blockchain smart contracts to permit decentralized and democratized delegation of authorization without central trust. Upon this, a publish/subscribe syndication tier and a containerized service execution environment are constructed. Combined, these mechanisms solve problems of delegation, federation, device protection and service execution that arise throughout the built environment. We leverage a high-fidelity city-scale emulation to verify the scalability of the authorization tier, and briefly describe a prototypical democratized operating system for the built environment using this foundation.« less

Federated Giovanni: A Distributed Web Service for Analysis and Visualization of Remote Sensing Data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lynnes, Chris

2014-01-01

The Geospatial Interactive Online Visualization and Analysis Interface (Giovanni) is a popular tool for users of the Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (GES DISC) and has been in use for over a decade. It provides a wide variety of algorithms and visualizations to explore large remote sensing datasets without having to download the data and without having to write readers and visualizers for it. Giovanni is now being extended to enable its capabilities at other data centers within the Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS). This Federated Giovanni will allow four other data centers to add and maintain their data within Giovanni on behalf of their user community. Those data centers are the Physical Oceanography Distributed Active Archive Center (PO.DAAC), MODIS Adaptive Processing System (MODAPS), Ocean Biology Processing Group (OBPG), and Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center (LP DAAC). Three tiers are supported: Tier 1 (GES DISC-hosted) gives the remote data center a data management interface to add and maintain data, which are provided through the Giovanni instance at the GES DISC. Tier 2 packages Giovanni up as a virtual machine for distribution to and deployment by the other data centers. Data variables are shared among data centers by sharing documents from the Solr database that underpins Giovanni's data management capabilities. However, each data center maintains their own instance of Giovanni, exposing the variables of most interest to their user community. Tier 3 is a Shared Source model, in which the data centers cooperate to extend the infrastructure by contributing source code.

Secure anonymous mutual authentication for star two-tier wireless body area networks.

PubMed

Ibrahim, Maged Hamada; Kumari, Saru; Das, Ashok Kumar; Wazid, Mohammad; Odelu, Vanga

2016-10-01

Mutual authentication is a very important service that must be established between sensor nodes in wireless body area network (WBAN) to ensure the originality and integrity of the patient's data sent by sensors distributed on different parts of the body. However, mutual authentication service is not enough. An adversary can benefit from monitoring the traffic and knowing which sensor is in transmission of patient's data. Observing the traffic (even without disclosing the context) and knowing its origin, it can reveal to the adversary information about the patient's medical conditions. Therefore, anonymity of the communicating sensors is an important service as well. Few works have been conducted in the area of mutual authentication among sensor nodes in WBAN. However, none of them has considered anonymity among body sensor nodes. Up to our knowledge, our protocol is the first attempt to consider this service in a two-tier WBAN. We propose a new secure protocol to realize anonymous mutual authentication and confidential transmission for star two-tier WBAN topology. The proposed protocol uses simple cryptographic primitives. We prove the security of the proposed protocol using the widely-accepted Burrows-Abadi-Needham (BAN) logic, and also through rigorous informal security analysis. In addition, to demonstrate the practicality of our protocol, we evaluate it using NS-2 simulator. BAN logic and informal security analysis prove that our proposed protocol achieves the necessary security requirements and goals of an authentication service. The simulation results show the impact on the various network parameters, such as end-to-end delay and throughput. The nodes in the network require to store few hundred bits. Nodes require to perform very few hash invocations, which are computationally very efficient. The communication cost of the proposed protocol is few hundred bits in one round of communication. Due to the low computation cost, the energy consumed by the nodes is also low. Our proposed protocol is a lightweight anonymous mutually authentication protocol to mutually authenticate the sensor nodes with the controller node (hub) in a star two-tier WBAN topology. Results show that our protocol proves efficiency over previously proposed protocols and at the same time, achieves the necessary security requirements for a secure anonymous mutual authentication scheme. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Some Aspects of the State-of-the-Arts in Biomedical Science Research: A Perspective for Organizational Change in African Academia.

PubMed

John, Theresa Adebola

2014-12-29

In the biomedical sciences, there is need to generate solutions for Africa's health and economic problems through the impact of university research. To guide organizational transformation, the author here presents some aspects of the state-of-the-arts of biomedical science research in advanced countries using a perspective derived from the FASEB journal publications. The author examines the thirty three peer reviewed scientific research articles in a centennial (April 2012) issue of the FASEB Journal [Volume 26(4)] using the following parameters: number of authors contributing to the paper; number of academic departments contributing to the paper; number of academic institutions contributing to the paper; funding of the research reported in the article. The articles were written by 7.97±0.61 authors from 3.46±0.3 departments of 2.79±0.29 institutions. The contributors were classified into four categories: basic sciences, clinical sciences, institutions and centers, and programs and labs. Amongst the publications, 21.2% were single disciplinary. Two tier collaboration amongst any two of the four categories were observed in 16/33 (48.5%) of the articles. Three tier and four tier collaborations were observed amongst 7/33 (21.2%) and 3/33 (9%) of the articles respectively. Therefore 26/33 (78.7%) of the articles were multidisciplinary. Collaborative efforts between basic science and clinical science departments were observed in 9/33 (27.3%) articles. Public funding through government agencies provided 85 out of a total of 143 (59.5%) grants. The collaborative and multidisciplinary nature and government support are characteristic of biomedical science in the US where research tends to result in solutions to problems and economic benefits.

Demographic trends of sick leave absenteeism among civil service employees at a federal agency from 2004 to 2012.

PubMed

Gajewski, Kim; Burris, Dara; Spears, D Ross; Sullivan, Kevin; Oyinloye, Oluremi; McNeil, Carrie; Meechan, Paul; Warnock, Eli; Trapp, Jonathan; Decker, K C; Chapman, Sandy

2015-03-01

To investigate the associations between demographic variables and sick leave use. We analyzed sick leave use among civil servants at a federal agency (FA) from 2004 to 2012 by demographic and FA-specific variables. We used a mixed methods approach and type III analysis to build a descriptive model of sick leave proportions and demographic variables. Sick absenteeism usage varied significantly (variation of greater than one sick day per year) by sex, Emergency Operations Center response tier, length of service at the FA, age, and general schedule pay grade level. Our final descriptive model contained age, sex, response tier and an interaction term between age and sex. Future studies should examine these associations on smaller time scales, perhaps breaking the data down by month or day of the week.

A Tiered Approach to Evaluating Salinity Sources in Water at Oil and Gas Production Sites.

PubMed

Paquette, Shawn M; Molofsky, Lisa J; Connor, John A; Walker, Kenneth L; Hopkins, Harley; Chakraborty, Ayan

2017-09-01

A suspected increase in the salinity of fresh water resources can trigger a site investigation to identify the source(s) of salinity and the extent of any impacts. These investigations can be complicated by the presence of naturally elevated total dissolved solids or chlorides concentrations, multiple potential sources of salinity, and incomplete data and information on both naturally occurring conditions and the characteristics of potential sources. As a result, data evaluation techniques that are effective at one site may not be effective at another. In order to match the complexity of the evaluation effort to the complexity of the specific site, this paper presents a strategic tiered approach that utilizes established techniques for evaluating and identifying the source(s) of salinity in an efficient step-by-step manner. The tiered approach includes: (1) a simple screening process to evaluate whether an impact has occurred and if the source is readily apparent; (2) basic geochemical characterization of the impacted water resource(s) and potential salinity sources coupled with simple visual and statistical data evaluation methods to determine the source(s); and (3) advanced laboratory analyses (e.g., isotopes) and data evaluation methods to identify the source(s) and the extent of salinity impacts where it was not otherwise conclusive. A case study from the U.S. Gulf Coast is presented to illustrate the application of this tiered approach. © 2017, National Ground Water Association.

Multiple sclerosis in US veterans of the Vietnam era and later military service: race, sex, and geography.

PubMed

Wallin, Mitchell T; Page, William F; Kurtzke, John F

2004-01-01

We identified 5345 cases of multiple sclerosis (MS) among US veterans who first entered military service between 1960 and 1994, and who were "service-connected" for MS by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Two controls per case were matched on age, date of service entry, and branch of service. Available for service and VA files were demographic and military data for 4951 cases and 9378 controls. Versus white men, relative risk of MS was significantly higher for all women, at 2.99 for whites, 2.86 for blacks, and 3.51 for those of other races. This was a significant increase from our prior series of veterans of World War II and the Korean Conflict, where white women had a relative risk of 1.79. Risk for black men was higher now (0.67 vs 0.44), while other men remained low (0.30 vs 0.22). Residence at service entry in the northern tier of states had a relative risk of 2.02 versus the southern tier, which was significantly less than the 2.64 for the earlier series. Residence by individual state at birth and service entry for white men further supported this decreasing geographic differential. Such marked changes in geography, sex, and race in such a short interval strongly imply a primary environmental factor in the cause or precipitation of this disease.

A data skimming service for locally resident analysis data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cranshaw, J.; Gardner, R. W.; Gieraltowski, J.; Malon, D.; Mambelli, M.; May, E.

2008-07-01

A Data Skimming Service (DSS) is a site-level service for rapid event filtering and selection from locally resident datasets based on metadata queries to associated 'tag' databases. In US ATLAS, we expect most if not all of the AOD-based datasets to be replicated to each of the five Tier 2 regional facilities in the US Tier 1 'cloud' coordinated by Brookhaven National Laboratory. Entire datasets will consist of on the order of several terabytes of data, and providing easy, quick access to skimmed subsets of these data will be vital to physics working groups. Typically, physicists will be interested in portions of the complete datasets, selected according to event-level attributes (number of jets, missing Et, etc) and content (specific analysis objects for subsequent processing). In this paper we describe methods used to classify data (metadata tag generation) and to store these results in a local database. Next we discuss a general framework which includes methods for accessing this information, defining skims, specifying event output content, accessing locally available storage through a variety of interfaces (SRM, dCache/dccp, gridftp), accessing remote storage elements as specified, and user job submission tools through local or grid schedulers. The advantages of the DSS are the ability to quickly 'browse' datasets and design skims, for example, pre-adjusting cuts to get to a desired skim level with minimal use of compute resources, and to encode these analysis operations in a database for re-analysis and archival purposes. Additionally the framework has provisions to operate autonomously in the event that external, central resources are not available, and to provide, as a reduced package, a minimal skimming service tailored to the needs of small Tier 3 centres or individual users.

Evaluation of a multidisciplinary Tier 3 weight management service for adults with morbid obesity, or obesity and comorbidities, based in primary care.

PubMed

Jennings, A; Hughes, C A; Kumaravel, B; Bachmann, M O; Steel, N; Capehorn, M; Cheema, K

2014-10-01

A multidisciplinary Tier 3 weight management service in primary care recruited patients with a body mass index ≥40 kg·m(-2) , or 30 kg·m(-2) with obesity-related co-morbidity to a 1-year programme. A cohort of 230 participants was recruited and evaluated using the National Obesity Observatory Standard Evaluation Framework. The primary outcome was weight loss of at least 5% of baseline weight at 12 months. Diet was assessed using the two-item food frequency questionnaire, activity using the General Practice Physical Activity questionnaire and quality of life using the EuroQol-5D-5L questionnaire. A focus group explored the participants' experiences. Baseline mean weight was 124.4 kg and mean body mass index was 44.1 kg·m(-2) . A total of 102 participants achieved 5% weight loss at 12 months. The mean weight loss was 10.2 kg among the 117 participants who completed the 12-month programme. Baseline observation carried forward analysis gave a mean weight loss of 5.9 kg at 12 months. Fruit and vegetable intake, activity level and quality of life all improved. The dropout rate was 14.3% at 6 months and 45.1% at 1 year. Focus group participants described high levels of satisfaction. It was possible to deliver a Tier 3 weight management service for obese patients with complex co-morbidity in a primary care setting with a full multidisciplinary team, which obtained good health outcomes compared with existing services. © 2014 The Authors. Clinical Obesity published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of World Obesity.

77 FR 49854 - Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement for the Oregon Portion of the Pacific Northwest Rail...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-17

... represents other transportation modes such as auto, air travel, intercity bus, and existing rail and the... well as making decisions regarding the level of intercity passenger rail service provided in the... growth of 139% between 2000 and 2008. Current intercity passenger rail service in Oregon includes two...

Elements of Success: How Type of Secondary Education Credential Helps Predict Enlistee Attrition

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Burkhauser, Susan; Hanser, Lawrence M.; Hardison, Chaitra M.

2014-01-01

The U.S. military services have traditionally used a tiering system, including education credentials such as high school diplomas, in combination with Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) scores to help gauge the likelihood of a recruit persevering through his or her first term of service. But what about less traditional credentials, such as…

77 FR 69920 - Notice of Availability for Public Review of the Draft Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement for...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-11-21

... would provide an alternative to automobile, bus, and air travel by decreasing travel times, increasing... and need criteria by: decreasing travel times; increasing frequency of service; improving service... current and future demand for travel in the Study area. The need stems from travel demand and increasing...

Lessons from the Social Innovation Fund: Supporting Evaluation to Assess Program Effectiveness and Build a Body of Research Evidence

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zandniapour, Lily; Deterding, Nicole M.

2018-01-01

Tiered evidence initiatives are an important federal strategy to incentivize and accelerate the use of rigorous evidence in planning, implementing, and assessing social service investments. The Social Innovation Fund (SIF), a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service, adopted a public-private partnership approach to tiered…

Providing Educationally Related Mental Health Services in California Schools: The Roles of School Psychologists

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sosa-Estrella, Olga

2017-01-01

Although there is a great need for school-based mental health services (SBMH), these needs are not adequately met in California's public schools. To meet these needs better, evidence-based methods have been used, including multi-tiered systems of support, training and workforce development, cultural competence, and family and youth engagement and…

Perceptions of Pre-Service Teachers Regarding the Response-to-Intervention Model

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Arroyo, Kimberly A.

2014-01-01

A Response-to-Intervention (RTI) model of educational service delivery is a multi-tiered, preventative approach designed to meet the educational and behavioral needs of all learners. While the New York State (NYS) Department of Education has mandated the use of this model in grades K-4, the extent to which RTI competencies are taught within…

76 FR 11363 - Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement; Government Support Contractor Access to...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-03-02

... management and oversight of a program or effort (rather than to directly furnish an end item or service to... prime contractor or any such first-tier subcontractor in furnishing end items or services of the type.... 2320, which applies to technical data, but not to computer software (which is expressly excluded from...

Nursing staff connect libraries with improving patient care but not with achieving organisational objectives: a grounded theory approach.

PubMed

Chamberlain, David; Brook, Richard

2014-03-01

Health organisations are often driven by specific targets defined by mission statements, aims and objectives to improve patient care. Health libraries need to demonstrate that they contribute to organisational objectives, but it is not clear how nurses view that contribution. To investigate ward nursing staff motivations, their awareness of ward and organisational objectives; and their attitudes towards the contribution of health library services to improving patient care. Qualitative research using focus group data was combined with content analysis of literature evidence and library statistics (quantitative data). Data were analysed using thematic coding, divided into five group themes: understanding of Trust, Ward and Personal objectives, use of Library, use of other information sources, quality and Issues. Four basic social-psychological processes were then developed. Behaviour indicates low awareness of organisational objectives despite patient-centric motivation. High awareness of library services is shown with some connection made by ward staff between improved knowledge and improved patient care. There was a two-tiered understanding of ward objectives and library services, based on level of seniority. However, evidence-based culture needs to be intrinsic in the organisation before all staff benefit. Libraries can actively engage in this at ward and board level and improve patient care by supporting organisational objectives. © 2014 The author. Health Information and Libraries Journal © 2014 Health Libraries Group.

The Metadata Cloud: The Last Piece of a Distributed Data System Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

King, T. A.; Cecconi, B.; Hughes, J. S.; Walker, R. J.; Roberts, D.; Thieman, J. R.; Joy, S. P.; Mafi, J. N.; Gangloff, M.

2012-12-01

Distributed data systems have existed ever since systems were networked together. Over the years the model for distributed data systems have evolved from basic file transfer to client-server to multi-tiered to grid and finally to cloud based systems. Initially metadata was tightly coupled to the data either by embedding the metadata in the same file containing the data or by co-locating the metadata in commonly named files. As the sources of data multiplied, data volumes have increased and services have specialized to improve efficiency; a cloud system model has emerged. In a cloud system computing and storage are provided as services with accessibility emphasized over physical location. Computation and data clouds are common implementations. Effectively using the data and computation capabilities requires metadata. When metadata is stored separately from the data; a metadata cloud is formed. With a metadata cloud information and knowledge about data resources can migrate efficiently from system to system, enabling services and allowing the data to remain efficiently stored until used. This is especially important with "Big Data" where movement of the data is limited by bandwidth. We examine how the metadata cloud completes a general distributed data system model, how standards play a role and relate this to the existing types of cloud computing. We also look at the major science data systems in existence and compare each to the generalized cloud system model.

Implications of limiting mechanical thrombectomy to patients with emergent large vessel occlusion meeting top tier evidence criteria.

PubMed

Bhole, Rohini; Goyal, Nitin; Nearing, Katherine; Belayev, Andrey; Doss, Vinodh T; Elijovich, Lucas; Hoit, Daniel A; Tsivgoulis, Georgios; Alexandrov, Andrei V; Arthur, Adam S; Alexandrov, Anne W

2017-03-01

Recent guidelines for endovascular management of emergent large vessel occlusion (ELVO) award top tier evidence to the same selective criteria in recent trials. We aimed to understand how guideline adherence would have impacted treatment numbers and outcomes in a cohort of patients from a comprehensive stroke center. A retrospective observational study was conducted using consecutive emergent endovascular patients. Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) was performed with stent retrievers or large bore clot aspiration catheters. Procedural outcomes were compared between patients meeting, and those failing to meet, top tier evidence criteria. 126 patients receiving MT from January 2012 to June 2015 were included (age 31-89 years, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score 2-38); 62 (49%) patients would have been excluded if top tier criteria were upheld: pretreatment NIHSS score <6 (10%), Alberta Stroke Program Early CT score <6 (6.5%), premorbid modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score ≥2 (27%), M2 occlusion (10%), posterior circulation (32%), symptom to groin puncture >360 min (58%). 26 (42%) subjects had more than one top tier exclusion. Symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) and systemic hemorrhage rates were similar between the groups. 3 month mortality was 45% in those lacking top tier evidence compared with 26% (p=0.044), and 3 month mRS score 0-2 was 33% versus 46%, respectively (NS). After adjusting for potential confounders, top tier treatment was not associated with neurological improvement during hospitalization (β -8.2; 95% CI -24.6 to -8.2; p=0.321), 3 month mortality (OR=0.38; 95% CI 0.08 to 1.41), or 3 month favorable mRS (OR=0.97; 95% CI 0.28 to 3.35). Our study showed that with strict adherence to top tier evidence criteria, half of patients may not be considered for MT. Our data indicate no increased risk of sICH and a potentially higher mortality that is largely due to treatment of patients with basilar occlusions and those treated at an extended time window. Despite this, good functional recovery is possible, and consideration of MT in patients not meeting top tier evidence criteria may be warranted. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.

The rising prevalence of severe poverty in America: a growing threat to public health.

PubMed

Woolf, Steven H; Johnson, Robert E; Geiger, H Jack

2006-10-01

The U.S. poverty rate has increased since 2000, but the depth of poverty experienced by Americans has been inadequately studied. Of particular concern is whether severe poverty is increasing, a trend that would carry important public health implications. Income-to-poverty (I/P) ratios and income deficits/surpluses were examined for the 1990-2004 period. The severely poor, moderately poor, and near-poor were classified as those with I/P ratios of less than 0.5, 0.5 to 1.0, or 1.0 to 2.0, respectively. Income deficits/surpluses were classified relative to the poverty threshold as Tier I (deficit Dollars 8000 or more), Tier II (deficit or surplus less than Dollars 8000), or Tier III (surplus more than Dollars 8000). Odds ratios for severe poverty and Tier I were also calculated. Severe poverty increased between 2000 and 2004-those with I/P ratios of less than 0.5 grew by 20%, and Tier I grew by 45% to 55%-while the prevalence of higher levels of income diminished. The population in severe poverty was over-represented by children (odds ratio [OR] = 1.69, confidence interval [CI] = 1.63-1.75), African Americans (OR = 2.84, CI = 2.74-2.95), and Hispanics (OR = 1.64, CI = 1.58-1.71). From 2000 to 2004, the prevalence of severe poverty increased sharply while the proportion of Americans in higher income tiers diminished. These trends have broad societal implications. Likely health consequences include a higher prevalence of chronic illnesses, more frequent and severe disease complications, and increased demands and costs for healthcare services. Adverse effects on children warrant special concern. The growth in the number of Americans living in poverty calls for the re-examination of policies enacted in recent years to foster economic progress.

Development of a safe ground to space laser propagation system for the optical communications telescope laboratory

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wu, Janet P.

2003-01-01

Furthering pursuits in high bandwidth communications to future NASA deep space and neat-Earth probes, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is building the Optical communications Telescope Laboratory (OCTL) atop Table Mountain in Southern California. This R&D optical antenna will be used to develop optical communication strategies for future optical ground stations. Initial experiments to be conducted include propagating high-powered, Q-switched laser beams to retro-reflecting satellites. Yet laser beam propagation from the ground to space is under the cognizance of various government agencies, namely: the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (ISHA) that is responsible for protecting workforce personnel; the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) responsible for protecting pilots and aircraft; and the Laser Clearinghouse of Space Command responsible for protecting space assets. To ensure that laser beam propagation from the OCTL and future autonomously operated ground stations comply with the guidelines of these organizations, JPL is developing a multi-tiered safety system that will meet the coordination, monitoring, and reporting functions required by the agencies. At Tier 0, laser operators will meet OSHA safety standards for protection and access to the high power lasers area will be restricted and interlocked. Tier 1, the area defined from the telescope dome out to a range of 3.4-km, will utilize long wave infrared camera sensors to alert operators of at risk aircraft in the FAA controlled airspace. Tier 2, defined to extend from 3.4-km out to the aircraft service ceiling in FAA airspace, will detect at risk aircraft by radar. Lastly, beam propagation into space, defined as Tier 3, will require coordination with the Laser Clearinghouse. A detailed description of the four tiers is presented along with the design of the integrated monitoring and beam transmission control system.

The Clinician-Educator Pathway in Radiology: An Analysis of Institutional Promotion Criteria.

PubMed

Jhala, Khushboo; Kim, Jisoo; Chetlen, Alison; Nickerson, Joshua P; Lewis, Petra J

2017-12-01

To provide radiology departmental promotional committees and vice chairs of education with a more global perspective on the types of academic activity valued by institutions to aid in their faculty mentoring and standardizing of the Clinician-Educator (ClinEd) pathway. Ninety-two research schools were ranked into three tiers. Ranking was correlated with the presence of a ClinEd track. Thirty promotion documents (ten from each tier) were analyzed to identify common criteria. Differences in guidelines between tiers were assessed by the frequency distribution of criteria. Tier 1 had a significantly greater proportion of schools with a ClinEd track than tier 2 (73% versus 44%, p < 0.05). Thirty-nine criteria were identified and organized into four categories teaching (13), scholarship (12), service/clinical excellence (7), and research (7). The top five included meeting presentations, trainee evaluations, leadership in committees, development of teaching methodologies and materials, and publication of book chapters. First and second tier schools were most similar in frequency distribution. The criteria for the ClinEd promotion track still vary across institutions, though many commonalities exist. A handful of innovative criteria reflect the changing structure of modern health care systems, such as incorporation of online teaching modules and quality improvement efforts. As health care changes, guidelines and incentive structures for faculty should change as well. The information gathered may provide promotion committees with a more global perspective on the types of academic activity valued by modern-day institutions to aid in the national standardization of this pathway and to assist in faculty mentoring. Copyright © 2017 American College of Radiology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Population study of hearing disorders in adults: preliminary communication.

PubMed Central

1981-01-01

The Institute of Hearing Research is embarked upon a study of the prevalence, characteristics and determinants of hearing problems and tinnitus in the adult population of the UK. One of its objectives is to ascertain the size of the problem in terms both of numbers of people affected and the degrees to which they are affected. Such knowledge is highly relevant to any consideration of the services needed for the adult hearing impaired. The overall plan for the study and the results of its pilot study are outlined. In Tier A, a questionnaire on hearing difficulties and tinnitus was sent to 6804 persons living in Cardiff, Glasgow, Nottingham and Southampton. This enabled stratification of respondents by age groups and reported impairments, and thereby permitted appropriate sampling ratios from those strata to be invited to attend the clinics for the Tier B clinical and audiological investigations. Response rates were around 80% at Tier A and 50% at Tier B; domiciliary follow up showed the biases in non-responders and non-attenders to be minimal. About 25% of the sample reported some hearing difficulty, and about 17% reported an experience of tinnitus that was more than transitory or temporary noise-induced. Taking a criterion of over 25 dB hearing level in the better ear, averaged across 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 kHz, a prevalence estimate for the UK population is that 19.9 +/- 4.4% of adults are so affected. About 0.5-1% of adults appear to be severely affected by tinnitus; this amounts to about 200 000 persons in the UK. The scale of the problem has not been fully appreciated before and points to an urgent need to develop further the clinical services and research effort in the field of tinnitus. PMID:7299784

Integrating Puppet and Gitolite to provide a novel solution for scalable system management at the MPPMU Tier2 centre

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Delle Fratte, C.; Kennedy, J. A.; Kluth, S.; Mazzaferro, L.

2015-12-01

In a grid computing infrastructure tasks such as continuous upgrades, services installations and software deployments are part of an admins daily work. In such an environment tools to help with the management, provisioning and monitoring of the deployed systems and services have become crucial. As experiments such as the LHC increase in scale, the computing infrastructure also becomes larger and more complex. Moreover, today's admins increasingly work within teams that share responsibilities and tasks. Such a scaled up situation requires tools that not only simplify the workload on administrators but also enable them to work seamlessly in teams. In this paper will be presented our experience from managing the Max Planck Institute Tier2 using Puppet and Gitolite in a cooperative way to help the system administrator in their daily work. In addition to describing the Puppet-Gitolite system, best practices and customizations will also be shown.

Horizontally scaling dChache SRM with the Terracotta platform

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Perelmutov, T.; Crawford, M.; Moibenko, A.

2011-01-01

The dCache disk caching file system has been chosen by a majority of LHC experiments Tier 1 centers for their data storage needs. It is also deployed at many Tier 2 centers. The Storage Resource Manager (SRM) is a standardized grid storage interface and a single point of remote entry into dCache, and hence is a critical component. SRM must scale to increasing transaction rates and remain resilient against changing usage patterns. The initial implementation of the SRM service in dCache suffered from an inability to support clustered deployment, and its performance was limited by the hardware of a singlemore » node. Using the Terracotta platform, we added the ability to horizontally scale the dCache SRM service to run on multiple nodes in a cluster configuration, coupled with network load balancing. This gives site administrators the ability to increase the performance and reliability of SRM service to face the ever-increasing requirements of LHC data handling. In this paper we will describe the previous limitations of the architecture SRM server and how the Terracotta platform allowed us to readily convert single node service into a highly scalable clustered application.« less

Experience with Multi-Tier Grid MySQL Database Service Resiliency at BNL

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wlodek, Tomasz; Ernst, Michael; Hover, John; Katramatos, Dimitrios; Packard, Jay; Smirnov, Yuri; Yu, Dantong

2011-12-01

We describe the use of F5's BIG-IP smart switch technology (3600 Series and Local Traffic Manager v9.0) to provide load balancing and automatic fail-over to multiple Grid services (GUMS, VOMS) and their associated back-end MySQL databases. This resiliency is introduced in front of the external application servers and also for the back-end database systems, which is what makes it "multi-tier". The combination of solutions chosen to ensure high availability of the services, in particular the database replication and fail-over mechanism, are discussed in detail. The paper explains the design and configuration of the overall system, including virtual servers, machine pools, and health monitors (which govern routing), as well as the master-slave database scheme and fail-over policies and procedures. Pre-deployment planning and stress testing will be outlined. Integration of the systems with our Nagios-based facility monitoring and alerting is also described. And application characteristics of GUMS and VOMS which enable effective clustering will be explained. We then summarize our practical experiences and real-world scenarios resulting from operating a major US Grid center, and assess the applicability of our approach to other Grid services in the future.

Impact of a Value-based Formulary on Medication Utilization, Health Services Utilization, and Expenditures.

PubMed

Yeung, Kai; Basu, Anirban; Hansen, Ryan N; Watkins, John B; Sullivan, Sean D

2017-02-01

Value-based benefit design has been suggested as an effective approach to managing the high cost of pharmaceuticals in health insurance markets. Premera Blue Cross, a large regional health plan, implemented a value-based formulary (VBF) for pharmaceuticals in 2010 that explicitly used cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) to inform medication copayments. The objective of the study was to determine the impact of the VBF. Interrupted time series of employer-sponsored plans from 2006 to 2013. Intervention group: 5235 beneficiaries exposed to the VBF. 11,171 beneficiaries in plans without any changes in pharmacy benefits. The VBF-assigned medications with lower value (estimated by CEA) to higher copayment tiers and assigned medications with higher value to lower copayment tiers. Primary outcome was medication expenditures from member, health plan, and member plus health plan perspectives. Secondary outcomes were medication utilization, emergency department visits, hospitalizations, office visits, and nonmedication expenditures. In the intervention group after VBF implementation, member medication expenditures increased by $2 per member per month (PMPM) [95% confidence interval (CI), $1-$3] or 9%, whereas health plan medication expenditures decreased by $10 PMPM (CI, $18-$2) or 16%, resulting in a net decrease of $8 PMPM (CI, $15-$2) or 10%, which translates to a net savings of $1.1 million. Utilization of medications moved into lower copayment tiers increased by 1.95 days' supply (CI, 1.29-2.62) or 17%. Total medication utilization, health services utilization, and nonmedication expenditures did not change. Cost-sharing informed by CEA reduced overall medication expenditures without negatively impacting medication utilization, health services utilization, or nonmedication expenditures.

Can basic life support personnel safely determine that advanced life support is not needed?

PubMed

Cone, D C; Wydro, G C

2001-01-01

To determine whether firefighter/emergency medical technicians-basic (FF/EMT-Bs) staffing basic life support (BLS) ambulances in a two-tiered emergency medical services (EMS) system can safely determine when advanced life support (ALS) is not needed. This was a prospective, observational study conducted in two academic emergency departments (EDs) receiving patients from a large urban fire-based EMS system. Runs were studied to which ALS and BLS ambulances were simultaneously dispatched, with the patient transported by the BLS unit. Prospectively established criteria for potential need for ALS were used to determine whether the FF/EMT-B's decision to cancel the ALS unit was safe, and simple outcomes (admission rate, length of stay, mortality) were examined. In the system studied, BLS crews may cancel responding ALS units at their discretion; there are no protocols or medical criteria for cancellation. A convenience sample of 69 cases was collected. In 52 cases (75%), the BLS providers indicated that they cancelled the responding ALS unit because they did not feel ALS was needed. Of these, 40 (77%) met study criteria for ALS: 39 had potentially serious chief complaints, nine had abnormal vital signs, and ten had physical exam findings that warranted ALS. Forty-five (87%) received an intervention immediately upon ED arrival that could have been provided in the field by an ALS unit, and 16 (31%) were admitted, with a median length of stay of 3.3 days (range 1.1-73.4 days). One patient died. Firefighter/EMT-Bs, working without protocols or medical criteria, cannot always safely determine which patients may require ALS intervention.

A procedure for classifying textural facies in gravel‐bed rivers

USGS Publications Warehouse

Buffington, John M.; Montgomery, David R.

1999-01-01

Textural patches (i.e., grain‐size facies) are commonly observed in gravel‐bed channels and are of significance for both physical and biological processes at subreach scales. We present a general framework for classifying textural patches that allows modification for particular study goals, while maintaining a basic degree of standardization. Textures are classified using a two‐tier system of ternary diagrams that identifies the relative abundance of major size classes and subcategories of the dominant size. An iterative procedure of visual identification and quantitative grain‐size measurement is used. A field test of our classification indicates that it affords reasonable statistical discrimination of median grain size and variance of bed‐surface textures. We also explore the compromise between classification simplicity and accuracy. We find that statistically meaningful textural discrimination requires use of both tiers of our classification. Furthermore, we find that simplified variants of the two‐tier scheme are less accurate but may be more practical for field studies which do not require a high level of textural discrimination or detailed description of grain‐size distributions. Facies maps provide a natural template for stratifying other physical and biological measurements and produce a retrievable and versatile database that can be used as a component of channel monitoring efforts.

48 CFR 908.7106 - Security cabinets.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

....7106 Section 908.7106 Federal Acquisition Regulations System DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY COMPETITION ACQUISITION PLANNING REQUIRED SOURCES OF SUPPLIES AND SERVICES Acquisition of Special Items 908.7106 Security...) Fixed-price prime contractors and lower tier subcontractors may use GSA acquisition sources for security...

42 CFR 423.600 - Reconsideration by an independent review entity (IRE).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... all covered Part D drugs on any tier of the formulary for treatment of the same condition would not be... made by a physician with expertise in the field of medicine that is appropriate for the services at...

Implementation of a new 'community' laboratory CD4 service in a rural health district in South Africa extends laboratory services and substantially improves local reporting turnaround time.

PubMed

Coetzee, L M; Cassim, N; Glencross, D K

2015-12-16

The CD4 integrated service delivery model (ITSDM) provides for reasonable access to pathology services across South Africa (SA) by offering three new service tiers that extend services into remote, under-serviced areas. ITSDM identified Pixley ka Seme as such an under-serviced district. To address the poor service delivery in this area, a new ITSDM community (tier 3) laboratory was established in De Aar, SA. Laboratory performance and turnaround time (TAT) were monitored post implementation to assess the impact on local service delivery. Using the National Health Laboratory Service Corporate Data Warehouse, CD4 data were extracted for the period April 2012-July 2013 (n=11,964). Total mean TAT (in hours) was calculated and pre-analytical and analytical components assessed. Ongoing testing volumes, as well as external quality assessment performance across ten trials, were used to indicate post-implementation success. Data were analysed using Stata 12. Prior to the implementation of CD4 testing at De Aar, the total mean TAT was 20.5 hours. This fell to 8.2 hours post implementation, predominantly as a result of a lower pre-analytical mean TAT reducing from a mean of 18.9 to 1.8 hours. The analytical testing TAT remained unchanged after implementation and monthly test volumes increased by up to 20%. External quality assessment indicated adequate performance. Although subjective, questionnaires sent to facilities reported improved service delivery. Establishing CD4 testing in a remote community laboratory substantially reduces overall TAT. Additional community CD4 laboratories should be established in under-serviced areas, especially where laboratory infrastructure is already in place.

Financial Regulatory Reform: Systemic Risk and the Federal Reserve

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-05-26

financial holding company. The Fed would be required to consider the following criteria when determining if a firm should be designated Tier 1: “(i) the ...Systemic Risk and the Federal Reserve Congressional Research Service 17 Regulation of “Systemically Important ” Payment, Clearing, and Settlement...Federal Reserve Congressional Research Service 19 The council would also identify systemically important firms to be subject to stricter prudential

A Case Study in Software Adaptation

DTIC Science & Technology

2002-01-01

1 A Case Study in Software Adaptation Giuseppe Valetto Telecom Italia Lab Via Reiss Romoli 274 10148, Turin, Italy +39 011 2288788...configuration of the service; monitoring of database connectivity from within the service; monitoring of crashes and shutdowns of IM servers; monitoring of...of the IM server all share a relational database and a common runtime state repository, which make up the backend tier, and allow replicas to

Predictive performance of universal termination of resuscitation rules in an Asian community: are they accurate enough?

PubMed

Chiang, Wen-Chu; Ko, Patrick Chow-In; Chang, Anna Marie; Liu, Sot Shih-Hung; Wang, Hui-Chih; Yang, Chih-Wei; Hsieh, Ming-Ju; Chen, Shey-Ying; Lai, Mei-Shu; Ma, Matthew Huei-Ming

2015-04-01

Prehospital termination of resuscitation (TOR) rules have not been widely validated outside of Western countries. This study evaluated the performance of TOR rules in an Asian metropolitan with a mixed-tier emergency medical service (EMS). We analysed the Utstein registry of adult, non-traumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs) in Taipei to test the performance of TOR rules for advanced life support (ALS) or basic life support (BLS) providers. ALS and BLS-TOR rules were tested in OHCAs among three subgroups: (1) resuscitated by ALS, (2) by BLS and (3) by mixed ALS and BLS. Outcome definition was in-hospital death. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value and decreased transport rate (DTR) among various provider combinations were calculated. Of the 3489 OHCAs included, 240 were resuscitated by ALS, 1727 by BLS and 1522 by ALS and BLS. Overall survival to hospital discharge was 197 patients (5.6%). Specificity and PPV of ALS-TOR and BLS-TOR for identifying death ranged from 70.7% to 81.8% and 95.1% to 98.1%, respectively. Applying the TOR rules would have a DTR of 34.2-63.9%. BLS rules had better predictive accuracy and DTR than ALS rules among all subgroups. Application of the ALS and BLS TOR rules would have decreased OHCA transported to the hospital, and BLS rules are reasonable as the universal criteria in a mixed-tier EMS. However, 1.9-4.9% of those who survived would be misclassified as non-survivors, raising concern of compromising patient safety for the implementation of the rules. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

Wind energy development: methods for assessing risks to birds and bats pre-construction

USGS Publications Warehouse

Katzner, Todd E.; Bennett, Victoria; Miller, Tricia A.; Duerr, Adam E.; Braham, Melissa A.; Hale, Amanda

2016-01-01

Wind power generation is rapidly expanding. Although wind power is a low-carbon source of energy, it can impact negatively birds and bats, either directly through fatality or indirectly by displacement or habitat loss. Pre-construction risk assessment at wind facilities within the United States is usually required only on public lands. When conducted, it generally involves a 3-tier process, with each step leading to more detailed and rigorous surveys. Preliminary site assessment (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Tier 1) is usually conducted remotely and involves evaluation of existing databases and published materials. If potentially at-risk wildlife are present and the developer wishes to continue the development process, then on-site surveys are conducted (Tier 2) to verify the presence of those species and to assess site-specific features (e.g., topography, land cover) that may influence risk from turbines. The next step in the process (Tier 3) involves quantitative or scientific studies to assess the potential risk of the proposed project to wildlife. Typical Tier-3 research may involve acoustic, aural, observational, radar, capture, tracking, or modeling studies, all designed to understand details of risk to specific species or groups of species at the given site. Our review highlights several features lacking from many risk assessments, particularly the paucity of before-and-after-control- impact (BACI) studies involving modeling and a lack of understanding of cumulative effects of wind facilities on wildlife. Both are essential to understand effective designs for pre-construction monitoring and both would help expand risk assessment beyond eagles.

Impact of a Value-Based Formulary on Medication Utilization, Health Services Utilization, and Expenditures

PubMed Central

Yeung, Kai; Basu, Anirban; Hansen, Ryan N.; Watkins, John B.; Sullivan, Sean D.

2016-01-01

Background Value-based benefit design has been suggested as an effective approach to managing the high cost of pharmaceuticals in health insurance markets. Premera Blue Cross, a large regional health plan, implemented a Value-Based Formulary (VBF) for pharmaceuticals in 2010 that explicitly used cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) to inform medication copayments. Objective To determine the impact of the VBF. Design Interrupted time-series of employer-sponsored plans from 2006 to 2013. Subjects Intervention group: 5,235 beneficiaries exposed to the VBF. Control group: 11,171 beneficiaries in plans without any changes in pharmacy benefits. Intervention The VBF assigned medications with lower value (estimated by CEA) to higher copayment tiers and assigned medications with higher value to lower copayment tiers. Measures Primary outcome was medication expenditures from member, health plan, and member plus health plan perspectives. Secondary outcomes were medication utilization, emergency department visits, hospitalizations, office visits, and non-medication expenditures. Results In the intervention group after VBF implementation, member medication expenditures increased by $2 per member per month (PMPM) (95% CI, $1 to $3) or 9%, while health plan medication expenditures decreased by $10 PMPM (CI, $18 to $2) or 16%, resulting in a net decrease of $8 PMPM (CI, $15 to $2) or 10%, which translates to a net savings of $1.1 million. Utilization of medications moved into lower copayment tiers increased by 1.95 days’ supply (CI, 1.29 to 2.62) or 17%. Total medication utilization, health services utilization and non-medication expenditures did not change. Conclusions Cost-sharing informed by CEA reduced overall medication expenditures without negatively impacting medication utilization, health services utilization or non-medication expenditures. PMID:27579915

Innovations in primary mental healthcare.

PubMed

Reifels, Lennart; Bassilios, Bridget; King, Kylie E; Fletcher, Justine R; Blashki, Grant; Pirkis, Jane E

2013-06-01

We review the evidence on innovations in Tier 2 of the Access to Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS) program, which is designed to facilitate the provision of primary mental healthcare to hard-to-reach and at-risk population groups (including women with perinatal depression, people at risk of self-harm or suicide, people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, people affected by the 2009 Victorian bushfires, people in remote locations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and children with mental disorders) and the trialling of new modalities of service delivery (e.g. telephone-based or web-based CBT). The primary focus is on the uptake, outcomes and issues associated with the provision of ATAPS Tier 2. Drawing on data from an ongoing national ATAPS evaluation, including a national minimum dataset, key informant interviews and surveys, the impact of ATAPS innovations is analysed and illustrated through program examples. ATAPS Tier 2 facilitates access to, uptake of and positive clinical outcomes from primary mental healthcare for population groups with particular needs, although it requires periods of time to implement locally. Relatively simple innovations in mental health program design can have important practical ramifications for service provision, extending program reach and improving mental health outcomes for target populations. What is known about the topic? It is recognised that innovative approaches are required to tailor mental health programs for hard-to-reach and at-risk population groups. Divisions of General Practice have implemented innovations in the Access to Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS) program for several years. What does this paper add? Drawing on data from an ongoing national ATAPS evaluation, this paper presents a systematic analysis of the uptake, outcomes and issues associated with provision of the innovative ATAPS program. What are the implications for practitioners? The findings highlight the benefits of introducing innovations in primary mental healthcare in terms of increased access to care and positive consumer outcomes. They also identify challenges to and facilitators of the implementation process, which can inform innovation efforts in other primary care contexts.

Can developing countries leapfrog the centralized electrification paradigm?

DOE PAGES

Levin, Todd; Thomas, Valerie M.

2016-02-04

Due to the rapidly decreasing costs of small renewable electricity generation systems, centralized power systems are no longer a necessary condition of universal access to modern energy services. Developing countries, where centralized electricity infrastructures are less developed, may be able to adopt these new technologies more quickly. We first review the costs of grid extension and distributed solar home systems (SHSs) as reported by a number of different studies. We then present a general analytic framework for analyzing the choice between extending the grid and implementing distributed solar home systems. Drawing upon reported grid expansion cost data for three specificmore » regions, we demonstrate this framework by determining the electricity consumption levels at which the costs of provision through centralized and decentralized approaches are equivalent in these regions. We then calculate SHS capital costs that are necessary for these technologies provide each of five tiers of energy access, as defined by the United Nations Sustainable Energy for All initiative. Our results suggest that solar home systems can play an important role in achieving universal access to basic energy services. The extent of this role depends on three primary factors: SHS costs, grid expansion costs, and centralized generation costs. Given current technology costs, centralized systems will still be required to enable higher levels of consumption; however, cost reduction trends have the potential to disrupt this paradigm. Furthermore, by looking ahead rather than replicating older infrastructure styles, developing countries can leapfrog to a more distributed electricity service model.« less

Restructuring health services in Canada: challenges for policy makers, planners and managers in the eighties.

PubMed

Crichton, A

1985-11-01

Is downsizing the latest jargon word applied to rationalization, a new concept or a different manifestation of a long term trend in health services management? At present, Canada is struggling to implement feasible reductions of expansionary pressures in the health care system. While provincial governments tend to see the issue as one of controlling chronic excess demand, federal government is still concerned to ensure free access to care on an equitable basis. Thus the problems of downsizing can be expressed by the provinces in terms of an ideological struggle with an unfeeling central government which does not understand their problems; although all know they are really about the feasibility of continuing to provide a service to meet demand. The present economic recession enables provincial governments to appeal to their voters for supporting a new way. Earlier, the appeal was to consumers to become involved in health service organization management and this policy succeeded, to a degree, where there were fluorishing grass roots communities; albeit that the service continued to be driven by professionals. Now the appeal is to taxpayers for their strong support in cost cutting. This has been more successful. Provincial governments are now permitted to 'touch the untouchables', that is to downsize the medical profession and previously sacrosanct health care institutions. They also are exploring the feasibility of introducing a two-tier system which would provide basic care for everyone and extra care for those able to pay, thus side-stepping federal conditions. By reorganizing support in this way, provincial governments have extended the range of policy choices, and two types of planning, the rational and the political, have now become combined into strategic management activity.

75 FR 70248 - Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program; Second List of Chemicals for Tier 1 Screening

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-11-17

...., persons who manufacture, import or process chemical substances. Pesticide, fertilizer, and other... pesticide, fertilizer and agricultural chemicals. Scientific research and development services (NAICS code... water contaminants, such as halogenated organic chemicals, dioxins, flame retardants (PBDEs, PCBs, PFCs...

44 CFR 18.105 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... services in the private sector. (o) Recipient includes all contractors, subcontractors at any tier, and... 44 Emergency Management and Assistance 1 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Definitions. 18.105 Section... HOMELAND SECURITY GENERAL NEW RESTRICTIONS ON LOBBYING General § 18.105 Definitions. For purposes of this...

78 FR 64287 - Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement Open Season

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-10-28

... program. Participants operating vessels in international trade may receive top tier consideration in the... clearance process with DSS. Participants must have a FCL and security clearances at a minimum of SECRET.../intermodal service and resource requirements against industry commitments. JPAG meetings are often SECRET...

Web Service for Positional Quality Assessment: the Wps Tier

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xavier, E. M. A.; Ariza-López, F. J.; Ureña-Cámara, M. A.

2015-08-01

In the field of spatial data every day we have more and more information available, but we still have little or very little information about the quality of spatial data. We consider that the automation of the spatial data quality assessment is a true need for the geomatic sector, and that automation is possible by means of web processing services (WPS), and the application of specific assessment procedures. In this paper we propose and develop a WPS tier centered on the automation of the positional quality assessment. An experiment using the NSSDA positional accuracy method is presented. The experiment involves the uploading by the client of two datasets (reference and evaluation data). The processing is to determine homologous pairs of points (by distance) and calculate the value of positional accuracy under the NSSDA standard. The process generates a small report that is sent to the client. From our experiment, we reached some conclusions on the advantages and disadvantages of WPSs when applied to the automation of spatial data accuracy assessments.

Software Product Lines: Report of the 2010 US Army Software Product Line Workshop

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-06-01

requirements and statement of work ( SOW ) tasks can be in- cluded in the request for proposal (RFP) and the contract. 2.2.1 Basic Product Line Acquisition... SOW tasks in Figure 1. Two additional tasks (at the third tier level) ac- count for sustaining the production capability over the life cycle and...Acquisition Strategy RFP and SOW Initial Product Line Scope Product Line Business Case Capability Description Document Teaming Product Line

Development and implementation of the Caribbean Laboratory Quality Management Systems Stepwise Improvement Process (LQMS-SIP) Towards Accreditation.

PubMed

Alemnji, George; Edghill, Lisa; Guevara, Giselle; Wallace-Sankarsingh, Sacha; Albalak, Rachel; Cognat, Sebastien; Nkengasong, John; Gabastou, Jean-Marc

2017-01-01

Implementing quality management systems and accrediting laboratories in the Caribbean has been a challenge. We report the development of a stepwise process for quality systems improvement in the Caribbean Region. The Caribbean Laboratory Stakeholders met under a joint Pan American Health Organization/US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention initiative and developed a user-friendly framework called 'Laboratory Quality Management System - Stepwise Improvement Process (LQMS-SIP) Towards Accreditation' to support countries in strengthening laboratory services through a stepwise approach toward fulfilling the ISO 15189: 2012 requirements. This approach consists of a three-tiered framework. Tier 1 represents the minimum requirements corresponding to the mandatory criteria for obtaining a licence from the Ministry of Health of the participating country. The next two tiers are quality improvement milestones that are achieved through the implementation of specific quality management system requirements. Laboratories that meet the requirements of the three tiers will be encouraged to apply for accreditation. The Caribbean Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality hosts the LQMS-SIP Secretariat and will work with countries, including the Ministry of Health and stakeholders, including laboratory staff, to coordinate and implement LQMS-SIP activities. The Caribbean Public Health Agency will coordinate and advocate for the LQMS-SIP implementation. This article presents the Caribbean LQMS-SIP framework and describes how it will be implemented among various countries in the region to achieve quality improvement.

School Neuropsychology Consultation in Neurodevelopmental Disorders

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Decker, Scott L.

2008-01-01

The role of school psychologists with training in neuropsychology is examined within the context of multitiered models of service delivery and educational reform policies. An expanded role is suggested that builds on expertise in the assessment of neurodevelopmental disorders and extends to broader tiers through consultation practice. Changes in…

Montgomery County Maryland

Science.gov Websites

information including Alternative Format Requests for Disabled Users are provided on this page. Alert Complaint Get a License or Permit Make a Payment Obtain Social Services Request Bus Information Request -menu tier. Ride On Real Time Arrival Information Requests to Discuss Property Tax Bill* Bulk Trash

7 CFR 3018.105 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... services in the private sector. (o) Recipient includes all contractors, subcontractors at any tier, and... 7 Agriculture 15 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Definitions. 3018.105 Section 3018.105 Agriculture... AGRICULTURE NEW RESTRICTIONS ON LOBBYING General § 3018.105 Definitions. For purposes of this part: (a) Agency...

45 CFR 1230.105 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... services in the private sector. (o) Recipient includes all contractors, subcontractors at any tier, and... 45 Public Welfare 4 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Definitions. 1230.105 Section 1230.105 Public... NEW RESTRICTIONS ON LOBBYING General § 1230.105 Definitions. For purposes of this part: (a) Agency, as...

Agreement of three interpretation systems of intrapartum foetal heart rate monitoring by different levels of physicians.

PubMed

Pruksanusak, Ninlapa; Thongphanang, Putthaporn; Chainarong, Natthicha; Suntharasaj, Thitima; Kor-Anantakul, Ounjai; Suwanrath, Chitkasaem; Petpichetchian, Chusana

2017-11-01

A prospective study was conducted in centre in Southern Thailand, to evaluate agreement in EFM interpretation among various physicians in order to find out the most practical system for daily use. We found strong agreement of very normal FHR tracings among the FIGO, NICHD 3-tier and 5-tier systems. The NICHD 3-tier was more compatible with the FIGO system than 5-tier system. Overall inter-observer agreement was moderate for the NICHD 3-tier system while inter-observer agreement of 5-tier system was fair also the intra-observer agreement was higher in the NICHD 3-tier system. So the 3-tier systems are more suitable than the 5-tier system in general obstetric practice. Impact statement What is already known on this subject: The 3-tier and 5-tier systems were widely used in general obstetrics practice. What the results of this study add: The inter- and intra-observer agreement of NICHD 3-tier system was higher than the 5-tier system. What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research: The 3-tier systems were more suitable than the 5-tier systems in general obstetrics practice.

Application of elements of microbiological risk assessment in the food industry via a tiered approach.

PubMed

van Gerwen, Suzanne J C; Gorris, Leon G M

2004-09-01

Food safety control is a matter for concern for all parts of the food supply chain, including governments that develop food safety policy, food industries that must control potential hazards, and consumers who need to keep to the intended use of the food. In the future, food safety policy may be set using the framework of risk analysis, part of which is the development of (inter)national microbiological risk assessment (MRA) studies. MRA studies increase our understanding of the impact of risk management interventions and of the relationships among subsequent parts of food supply chains with regard to the safety of the food when it reaches the consumer. Application of aspects of MRA in the development of new food concepts has potential benefits for the food industry. A tiered approach to applying MRA can best realize these benefits. The tiered MRA approach involves calculation of microbial fate for a product and process design on the basis of experimental data (e.g., monitoring data on prevalence) and predictive microbiological models. Calculations on new product formulations and novel processing technologies provide improved understanding of microbial fate beyond currently known boundaries, which enables identification of new opportunities in process design. The outcome of the tiered approach focuses on developing benchmarks of potential consumer exposure to hazards associated with new products by comparison with exposure associated with products that are already on the market and have a safe history of use. The tiered prototype is a tool to be used by experienced microbiologists as a basis for advice to product developers and can help to make safety assurance for new food concepts transparent to food inspection services.

Club convergence of house prices: Evidence from China’s ten key cities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meng, Hao; Xie, Wen-Jie; Zhou, Wei-Xing

2015-09-01

The latest global financial tsunami and its follow-up global economic recession has uncovered the crucial impact of housing markets on financial and economic systems. The Chinese stock market experienced a marked fall during the global financial tsunami and China’s economy has also slowed down by about 2%-3% when measured in GDP. Nevertheless, the housing markets in diverse Chinese cities seemed to continue the almost nonstop mania for more than 10 years. However, the structure and dynamics of the Chinese housing market are less studied. Here, we perform an extensive study of the Chinese housing market by analyzing 10 representative key cities based on both linear and nonlinear econophysical and econometric methods. We identify a common collective driving force which accounts for 96.5% of the house price growth, indicating very high systemic risk in the Chinese housing market. The 10 key cities can be categorized into clubs and the house prices of the cities in the same club exhibit an evident convergence. These findings from different methods are basically consistent with each other. The identified city clubs are also consistent with the conventional classification of city tiers. The house prices of the first-tier cities grow the fastest and those of the third- and fourth-tier cities rise the slowest, which illustrates the possible presence of a ripple effect in the diffusion of house prices among different cities.

78 FR 48724 - Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station, Units 2 and 3; South Carolina Electric and Gas; Change to the...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-09

...The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is granting an exemption to allow a departure from the certification information of Tier 1 of the generic design control document (DCD) and issuing License Amendment No. 7 to Combined Licenses (COL), NPF-93 and NPF-94. The COLs were issued to South Carolina Electric and Gas (SCE&G) and South Carolina Public Service Authority (Santee Cooper) (the licensee), for construction and operation of the Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station (VCSNS), Units 2 and 3 located in Fairfield County, South Carolina. The amendment changes requested revise the design of the bracing used to support the Turbine Building structure. This request requires changing Tier 1 information found in the Design Description portion of Updated Final Safety Analysis Report (UFSAR) section 3.3, ``Buildings.'' The granting of the exemption allows the changes to Tier 1 information asked for in the amendment. Because the acceptability of the exemption was determined in part by the acceptability of the amendment, the exemption and amendment are being issued concurrently.

A cloud-based system for automatic glaucoma screening.

PubMed

Fengshou Yin; Damon Wing Kee Wong; Ying Quan; Ai Ping Yow; Ngan Meng Tan; Gopalakrishnan, Kavitha; Beng Hai Lee; Yanwu Xu; Zhuo Zhang; Jun Cheng; Jiang Liu

2015-08-01

In recent years, there has been increasing interest in the use of automatic computer-based systems for the detection of eye diseases including glaucoma. However, these systems are usually standalone software with basic functions only, limiting their usage in a large scale. In this paper, we introduce an online cloud-based system for automatic glaucoma screening through the use of medical image-based pattern classification technologies. It is designed in a hybrid cloud pattern to offer both accessibility and enhanced security. Raw data including patient's medical condition and fundus image, and resultant medical reports are collected and distributed through the public cloud tier. In the private cloud tier, automatic analysis and assessment of colour retinal fundus images are performed. The ubiquitous anywhere access nature of the system through the cloud platform facilitates a more efficient and cost-effective means of glaucoma screening, allowing the disease to be detected earlier and enabling early intervention for more efficient intervention and disease management.

The impact of socioeconomic status on stage specific prostate cancer survival and mortality before and after introduction of PSA test in Finland.

PubMed

Seikkula, Heikki A; Kaipia, Antti J; Ryynänen, Heidi; Seppä, Karri; Pitkäniemi, Janne M; Malila, Nea K; Boström, Peter J

2018-03-01

Socioeconomic status (SES) has an impact on prostate cancer (PCa) outcomes. Men with high SES have higher incidence and lower mortality of PCa versus lower SES males. PCa cases diagnosed in Finland in 1985-2014 (N = 95,076) were identified from the Finnish Cancer Registry. Information on education level (EL) was obtained from Statistics Finland. EL was assessed with three-tiered scale: basic, upper secondary and higher education. PCa stage at diagnosis was defined as localized, metastatic or unknown. Years of diagnosis 1985-1994 were defined as pre-PSA period and thereafter as post-PSA period. We report PCa-specific survival (PCSS) and relative risks (RR) for PCa specific mortality (PCSM) among cancer cases in Finland, where healthcare is 100% publicly reimbursed and inequality in healthcare services low. Men with higher EL had markedly better 10-year PCSS: 68 versus 63% in 1985-1994 and 90 versus 85% in 1995-2004 compared to basic EL in localized PCa. The RR for PCSM among men with localized PCa and higher EL compared to basic EL was 0.76(95%confidence interval (CI) 0.66-0.88) in 1985-1994 and 0.61(95%CI 0.53-0.70) in 1995-2004. Variation in PCSS and PCSM between EL categories was evident in metastatic PCa, too. The difference in PCSM between EL categories was larger in the first 10-year post-PSA period than before that but decreased thereafter in localized PCa, suggesting PSA testing became earlier popular among men with high EL. In summary, higher SES/EL benefit PCa survival both in local and disseminated disease and the effect of EL was more pronounced in early post-PSA period. © 2017 UICC.

School Psychology in New Brunswick in 2016

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mureika, Juanita

2016-01-01

School psychology in New Brunswick experienced a surge of growth and development in the early part of the 21st century; however, dwindling numbers and recent government initiatives are presenting serious challenges to our ability to continue to provide the quality tiered services that we want to offer to the school community.

32 CFR 28.105 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... services in the private sector. (o) Recipient includes all contractors, subcontractors at any tier, and... 32 National Defense 1 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Definitions. 28.105 Section 28.105 National... RESTRICTIONS ON LOBBYING General § 28.105 Definitions. For purposes of this part: (a) Agency, as defined in 5 U...

29 CFR 93.105 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... services in the private sector. (o) Recipient includes all contractors, subcontractors at any tier, and... 29 Labor 1 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 true Definitions. 93.105 Section 93.105 Labor Office of the Secretary of Labor NEW RESTRICTIONS ON LOBBYING General § 93.105 Definitions. For purposes of this part: (a...

18 CFR 1315.105 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... services in the private sector. (o) Recipient includes all contractors, subcontractors at any tier, and... 18 Conservation of Power and Water Resources 2 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Definitions. 1315.105... LOBBYING General § 1315.105 Definitions. For purposes of this part: (a) Agency, as defined in 5 U.S.C. 552...

40 CFR 34.105 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... services in the private sector. (o) Recipient includes all contractors, subcontractors at any tier, and... 40 Protection of Environment 1 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Definitions. 34.105 Section 34.105... RESTRICTIONS ON LOBBYING General § 34.105 Definitions. For purposes of this part: (a) Agency, as defined in 5 U...

24 CFR 87.105 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... services in the private sector. (o) Recipient includes all contractors, subcontractors at any tier, and... 24 Housing and Urban Development 1 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Definitions. 87.105 Section 87.105... RESTRICTIONS ON LOBBYING General § 87.105 Definitions. For purposes of this part: (a) Agency, as defined in 5 U...

41 CFR 105-69.105 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... services in the private sector. (o) Recipient includes all contractors, subcontractors at any tier, and... 41 Public Contracts and Property Management 3 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Definitions. 105-69.105... RESTRICTIONS ON LOBBYING General § 105-69.105 Definitions. For purposes of this part: (a) Agency, as defined in...

12 CFR 559.5 - How much may a savings association invest in service corporations or lower-tier entities?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

...(c)(4)(B) of the HOLA, you may invest up to 3% of your assets in the capital stock, obligations, and... under other provisions of section 5(c) of the HOLA and part 560 of this chapter, and available capacity...

12 CFR 559.5 - How much may a savings association invest in service corporations or lower-tier entities?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

...(c)(4)(B) of the HOLA, you may invest up to 3% of your assets in the capital stock, obligations, and... under other provisions of section 5(c) of the HOLA and part 560 of this chapter, and available capacity...

Sensitivity to Change and Concurrent Validity of Direct Behavior Ratings for Academic Anxiety

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

von der Embse, Nathaniel P.; Scott, Emma-Catherine; Kilgus, Stephen P.

2015-01-01

Multitiered frameworks of service delivery have traditionally underserved students with mental health needs. Whereas research has supported the assessment and intervention of social and academic behavior across tiers, evidence is limited with regard to mental health concerns including internalizing behaviors (e.g., anxiety and depression). In…

77 FR 46776 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; International Securities Exchange, LLC; Notice of Filing and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-06

... with greater ease. \\4\\ Trading Application Software fees include Installation fees, Software License... Application Software fees; \\4\\ Proposed Section VI contains Access Service fees; \\5\\ Proposed Section VII... the QCC and Solicitation Rebate, Index License Surcharge, Market Maker Tiers, Payment for Order Flow...

77 FR 42485 - Notice Is Given of the Names of Members of the Performance Review Board for the Department of the...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-07-19

..., Director, Defense Finance and Accounting Service. 10. Mr. Williams, Principle Deputy Director for Air Force..., all career status Air Force Tier 3 SES members not included in the above list are eligible to serve on...

Tier Two Interventions Implemented within the Context of a Tiered Prevention Framework

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mitchell, Barbara S.; Stormont, Melissa; Gage, Nicholas A.

2011-01-01

Despite a growing body of evidence demonstrating the value of Tier 1 and Tier 3 interventions, significantly less is known about Tier 2 level treatments when they are added within the context of a tiered continuum of support. The purpose of this article is to systematically review the existing research base for Tier 2 small group intervention…

How decentralisation influences the retention of primary health care workers in rural Nigeria.

PubMed

Abimbola, Seye; Olanipekun, Titilope; Igbokwe, Uchenna; Negin, Joel; Jan, Stephen; Martiniuk, Alexandra; Ihebuzor, Nnenna; Aina, Muyi

2015-01-01

In Nigeria, the shortage of health workers is worst at the primary health care (PHC) level, especially in rural communities. And the responsibility for PHC - usually the only form of formal health service available in rural communities - is shared among the three tiers of government (federal, state, and local governments). In addition, the responsibility for community engagement in PHC is delegated to community health committees. This study examines how the decentralisation of health system governance influences retention of health workers in rural communities in Nigeria from the perspective of health managers, health workers, and people living in rural communities. The study adopted a qualitative approach, and data were collected using semi-structured in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The multi-stakeholder data were analysed for themes related to health system decentralisation. The results showed that decentralisation influences the retention of rural health workers in two ways: 1) The salary of PHC workers is often delayed and irregular as a result of delays in transfer of funds from the national to sub-national governments and because one tier of government can blame failure on another tier of government. Further, the primary responsibility for PHC is often left to the weakest tier of government (local governments). And the result is that rural PHC workers are attracted to working at levels of care where salaries are higher and more regular - in secondary care (run by state governments) and tertiary care (run by the federal government), which are also usually in urban areas. 2) Through community health committees, rural communities influence the retention of health workers by working to increase the uptake of PHC services. Community efforts to retain health workers also include providing social, financial, and accommodation support to health workers. To encourage health workers to stay, communities also take the initiative to co-finance and co-manage PHC services in order to ensure that PHC facilities are functional. In Nigeria and other low- and middle-income countries with decentralised health systems, intervention to increase the retention of health workers in rural communities should seek to reform and strengthen governance mechanisms, using both top-down and bottom-up strategies to improve the remuneration and support for health workers in rural communities.

How decentralisation influences the retention of primary health care workers in rural Nigeria

PubMed Central

Abimbola, Seye; Olanipekun, Titilope; Igbokwe, Uchenna; Negin, Joel; Jan, Stephen; Martiniuk, Alexandra; Ihebuzor, Nnenna; Aina, Muyi

2015-01-01

Background In Nigeria, the shortage of health workers is worst at the primary health care (PHC) level, especially in rural communities. And the responsibility for PHC – usually the only form of formal health service available in rural communities – is shared among the three tiers of government (federal, state, and local governments). In addition, the responsibility for community engagement in PHC is delegated to community health committees. Objective This study examines how the decentralisation of health system governance influences retention of health workers in rural communities in Nigeria from the perspective of health managers, health workers, and people living in rural communities. Design The study adopted a qualitative approach, and data were collected using semi-structured in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The multi-stakeholder data were analysed for themes related to health system decentralisation. Results The results showed that decentralisation influences the retention of rural health workers in two ways: 1) The salary of PHC workers is often delayed and irregular as a result of delays in transfer of funds from the national to sub-national governments and because one tier of government can blame failure on another tier of government. Further, the primary responsibility for PHC is often left to the weakest tier of government (local governments). And the result is that rural PHC workers are attracted to working at levels of care where salaries are higher and more regular – in secondary care (run by state governments) and tertiary care (run by the federal government), which are also usually in urban areas. 2) Through community health committees, rural communities influence the retention of health workers by working to increase the uptake of PHC services. Community efforts to retain health workers also include providing social, financial, and accommodation support to health workers. To encourage health workers to stay, communities also take the initiative to co-finance and co-manage PHC services in order to ensure that PHC facilities are functional. Conclusions In Nigeria and other low- and middle-income countries with decentralised health systems, intervention to increase the retention of health workers in rural communities should seek to reform and strengthen governance mechanisms, using both top-down and bottom-up strategies to improve the remuneration and support for health workers in rural communities. PMID:25739967

Ascending in healthcare. Roman Catholic Ascension Health has made a Fortune 500 name for itself with business acumen, risk-taking and efficiency.

PubMed

Evans, Melanie

2007-05-14

In less than a decade, Ascension Health has risen to the top tier of U.S. healthcare systems, with operating revenue that bests household names like Google and Amazon.com. Helping lead the system's meteoric rise is CEO Anthony Tersigni, left. "We are a ministry. We're not a business. We do business practices for one basic reason: We have bondholders who are counting on us to repay the bonds."

Concept of a spatial data infrastructure for web-mapping, processing and service provision for geo-hazards

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weinke, Elisabeth; Hölbling, Daniel; Albrecht, Florian; Friedl, Barbara

2017-04-01

Geo-hazards and their effects are distributed geographically over wide regions. The effective mapping and monitoring is essential for hazard assessment and mitigation. It is often best achieved using satellite imagery and new object-based image analysis approaches to identify and delineate geo-hazard objects (landslides, floods, forest fires, storm damages, etc.). At the moment, several local/national databases and platforms provide and publish data of different types of geo-hazards as well as web-based risk maps and decision support systems. Also, the European commission implemented the Copernicus Emergency Management Service (EMS) in 2015 that publishes information about natural and man-made disasters and risks. Currently, no platform for landslides or geo-hazards as such exists that enables the integration of the user in the mapping and monitoring process. In this study we introduce the concept of a spatial data infrastructure for object delineation, web-processing and service provision of landslide information with the focus on user interaction in all processes. A first prototype for the processing and mapping of landslides in Austria and Italy has been developed within the project Land@Slide, funded by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency FFG in the Austrian Space Applications Program ASAP. The spatial data infrastructure and its services for the mapping, processing and analysis of landslides can be extended to other regions and to all types of geo-hazards for analysis and delineation based on Earth Observation (EO) data. The architecture of the first prototypical spatial data infrastructure includes four main areas of technical components. The data tier consists of a file storage system and the spatial data catalogue for the management of EO-data, other geospatial data on geo-hazards, as well as descriptions and protocols for the data processing and analysis. An interface to extend the data integration from external sources (e.g. Sentinel-2 data) is planned for the possibility of rapid mapping. The server tier consists of java based web and GIS server. Sub and main services are part of the service tier. Sub services are for example map services, feature editing services, geometry services, geoprocessing services and metadata services. For (meta)data provision and to support data interoperability, web standards of the OGC and the rest-interface is used. Four central main services are designed and developed: (1) a mapping service (including image segmentation and classification approaches), (2) a monitoring service to monitor changes over time, (3) a validation service to analyze landslide delineations from different sources and (4) an infrastructure service to identify affected landslides. The main services use and combine parts of the sub services. Furthermore, a series of client applications based on new technology standards making use of the data and services offered by the spatial data infrastructure. Next steps include the design to extend the current spatial data infrastructure to other areas and geo-hazard types to develop a spatial data infrastructure that can assist targeted mapping and monitoring of geo-hazards on a global context.

Comparison of emergency medical services systems in the pan-Asian resuscitation outcomes study countries: Report from a literature review and survey.

PubMed

Ong, Marcus E H; Cho, Jungheum; Ma, Matthew Huei-Ming; Tanaka, Hideharu; Nishiuchi, Tatsuya; Al Sakaf, Omer; Abdul Karim, Sarah; Khunkhlai, Nalinas; Atilla, Ridvan; Lin, Chih-Hao; Shahidah, Nur; Lie, Desiree; Shin, Sang Do

2013-02-01

Asia-Pacific countries have unique prehospital emergency care or emergency medical services (EMS) systems, which are different from European or Anglo-American models. We aimed to compare the EMS systems of eight Asia-Pacific countries/regions as part of the Pan Asian Resuscitation Outcomes Study (PAROS), to provide a basis for future comparative studies across systems of care. In the first phase, a systematic literature review of EMS system within the eight PAROS countries/regions of interest was conducted. In the second phase, PAROS site directors were surveyed for additional information about the demographics and characteristics of EMS services at their sites. The database and bibliography search identified 25 eligible articles. The survey of EMS systems was completed by seven PAROS directors. By combining information sources from phases 1 and 2, we found that all PAROS EMS systems were single-tiered, and most were public (vs private) and fire-based (Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, Korea). Ambulance personnel were primarily emergency medical technicians and paramedics, except for Thailand and Turkey, whose personnel include nurses and physicians. Personnel were trained to use automated external defibrillators and have basic cardiac life support certification. The service capability of each EMS system in terms of dispatch, airway management and medications, for example, varied greatly. We found variation in the EMS systems across the eight Asia-Pacific countries/regions studied. The findings will inform the construction of a multinational Asia-Pacific research network for future comparative studies and could serve as a model for international research networks. © 2012 The Authors. EMA © 2012 Australasian College for Emergency Medicine and Australasian Society for Emergency Medicine.

Design and implementation of a reliable and cost-effective cloud computing infrastructure: the INFN Napoli experience

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Capone, V.; Esposito, R.; Pardi, S.; Taurino, F.; Tortone, G.

2012-12-01

Over the last few years we have seen an increasing number of services and applications needed to manage and maintain cloud computing facilities. This is particularly true for computing in high energy physics, which often requires complex configurations and distributed infrastructures. In this scenario a cost effective rationalization and consolidation strategy is the key to success in terms of scalability and reliability. In this work we describe an IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) cloud computing system, with high availability and redundancy features, which is currently in production at INFN-Naples and ATLAS Tier-2 data centre. The main goal we intended to achieve was a simplified method to manage our computing resources and deliver reliable user services, reusing existing hardware without incurring heavy costs. A combined usage of virtualization and clustering technologies allowed us to consolidate our services on a small number of physical machines, reducing electric power costs. As a result of our efforts we developed a complete solution for data and computing centres that can be easily replicated using commodity hardware. Our architecture consists of 2 main subsystems: a clustered storage solution, built on top of disk servers running GlusterFS file system, and a virtual machines execution environment. GlusterFS is a network file system able to perform parallel writes on multiple disk servers, providing this way live replication of data. High availability is also achieved via a network configuration using redundant switches and multiple paths between hypervisor hosts and disk servers. We also developed a set of management scripts to easily perform basic system administration tasks such as automatic deployment of new virtual machines, adaptive scheduling of virtual machines on hypervisor hosts, live migration and automated restart in case of hypervisor failures.

A Forecast Skill Comparison between CliPAS One-Tier and Two-Tier Hindcast Experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, J.; Wang, B.; Kang, I.

2006-05-01

A 24-year (1981-2004) MME hindcast experimental dataset is produced under the "Climate Prediction and Its Application to Society" (CliPAS) project sponsored by Korean Meteorological Administration (KMA). This dataset consists of 5 one-tier model systems from National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP), Frontier Research Center for Global Change (FRCGC), Seoul National University (SNU), and University of Hawaii (UH) and 5 two-tier model systems from Florida State University (FSU), Geophysical Fluid Dynamic Lab (GFDL), SNU, and UH. Multi-model Ensemble (MME) Forecast skills of seasonal precipitation and atmospheric circulation are compared between CliPAS one-tier and two-tier hindcast experiments for seasonal mean precipitation and atmospheric circulation. For winter prediction, two-tier MME has a comparable skill to one-tier MME. However, it is demonstrated that in the Asian-Australian monsoon (A-AM) heavy precipitation regions, one-tier systems are superior to two-tier systems in summer season. The reason is that inclusion of the local warm pool- monsoon interaction in the one-tier system improves the ENSO teleconnection with monsoon regions. Both one-tier and two-tier MME fail to predict Indian monsoon circulation, while they have a significantly good skill for the broad scale monsoon circulation defined by Webster and Yang index. One-tier system has a much better skill to predict the monsoon circulation over the western North pacific where air-sea interaction plays an important role than two-tier system.

An integrated approach to assess broad-scale condition of coastal wetlands - The Gulf of Mexico Coastal Wetlands pilot survey

USGS Publications Warehouse

Nestlerode, J.A.; Engle, V.D.; Bourgeois, P.; Heitmuller, P.T.; Macauley, J.M.; Allen, Y.C.

2009-01-01

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) initiated a two-year regional pilot survey in 2007 to develop, test, and validate tools and approaches to assess the condition of northern Gulf of Mexico (GOM) coastal wetlands. Sampling sites were selected from estuarine and palustrine wetland areas with herbaceous, forested, and shrub/scrub habitats delineated by the US Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetlands Inventory Status and Trends (NWI S&T) program and contained within northern GOM coastal watersheds. A multi-level, stepwise, iterative survey approach is being applied to multiple wetland classes at 100 probabilistically-selected coastal wetlands sites. Tier 1 provides information at the landscape scale about habitat inventory, land use, and environmental stressors associated with the watershed in which each wetland site is located. Tier 2, a rapid assessment conducted through a combination of office and field work, is based on best professional judgment and on-site evidence. Tier 3, an intensive site assessment, involves on-site collection of vegetation, water, and sediment samples to establish an integrated understanding of current wetland condition and validate methods and findings from Tiers 1 and 2. The results from this survey, along with other similar regional pilots from the Mid-Atlantic, West Coast, and Great Lakes Regions will contribute to a design and implementation approach for the National Wetlands Condition Assessment to be conducted by EPA's Office of Water in 2011. ?? Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2008.

Development and implementation of the Caribbean Laboratory Quality Management Systems Stepwise Improvement Process (LQMS-SIP) Towards Accreditation

PubMed Central

Alemnji, George; Edghill, Lisa; Wallace-Sankarsingh, Sacha; Albalak, Rachel; Cognat, Sebastien; Nkengasong, John; Gabastou, Jean-Marc

2017-01-01

Background Implementing quality management systems and accrediting laboratories in the Caribbean has been a challenge. Objectives We report the development of a stepwise process for quality systems improvement in the Caribbean Region. Methods The Caribbean Laboratory Stakeholders met under a joint Pan American Health Organization/US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention initiative and developed a user-friendly framework called ‘Laboratory Quality Management System – Stepwise Improvement Process (LQMS-SIP) Towards Accreditation’ to support countries in strengthening laboratory services through a stepwise approach toward fulfilling the ISO 15189: 2012 requirements. Results This approach consists of a three-tiered framework. Tier 1 represents the minimum requirements corresponding to the mandatory criteria for obtaining a licence from the Ministry of Health of the participating country. The next two tiers are quality improvement milestones that are achieved through the implementation of specific quality management system requirements. Laboratories that meet the requirements of the three tiers will be encouraged to apply for accreditation. The Caribbean Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality hosts the LQMS-SIP Secretariat and will work with countries, including the Ministry of Health and stakeholders, including laboratory staff, to coordinate and implement LQMS-SIP activities. The Caribbean Public Health Agency will coordinate and advocate for the LQMS-SIP implementation. Conclusion This article presents the Caribbean LQMS-SIP framework and describes how it will be implemented among various countries in the region to achieve quality improvement. PMID:28879149

Storageless and caching Tier-2 models in the UK context

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cadellin Skipsey, Samuel; Dewhurst, Alastair; Crooks, David; MacMahon, Ewan; Roy, Gareth; Smith, Oliver; Mohammed, Kashif; Brew, Chris; Britton, David

2017-10-01

Operational and other pressures have lead to WLCG experiments moving increasingly to a stratified model for Tier-2 resources, where “fat” Tier-2s (“T2Ds”) and “thin” Tier-2s (“T2Cs”) provide different levels of service. In the UK, this distinction is also encouraged by the terms of the current GridPP5 funding model. In anticipation of this, testing has been performed on the implications, and potential implementation, of such a distinction in our resources. In particular, this presentation presents the results of testing of storage T2Cs, where the “thin” nature is expressed by the site having either no local data storage, or only a thin caching layer; data is streamed or copied from a “nearby” T2D when needed by jobs. In OSG, this model has been adopted successfully for CMS AAA sites; but the network topology and capacity in the USA is significantly different to that in the UK (and much of Europe). We present the result of several operational tests: the in-production University College London (UCL) site, which runs ATLAS workloads using storage at the Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) site; the Oxford site, which has had scaling tests performed against T2Ds in various locations in the UK (to test network effects); and the Durham site, which has been testing the specific ATLAS caching solution of “Rucio Cache” integration with ARC’s caching layer.

Middle School Students' Responses to Two-Tier Tasks

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Haja, Shajahan; Clarke, David

2011-01-01

The structure of two-tier testing is such that the first tier consists of a multiple-choice question and the second tier requires justifications for choices of answers made in the first tier. This study aims to evaluate two-tier tasks in "proportion" in terms of students' capacity to write and select justifications and to examine the effect of…

Understanding the T2 traffic in CMS during Run-1

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

T, Wildish

2015-12-01

In the run-up to Run-1 CMS was operating its facilities according to the MONARC model, where data-transfers were strictly hierarchical in nature. Direct transfers between Tier-2 nodes was excluded, being perceived as operationally intensive and risky in an era where the network was expected to be a major source of errors. By the end of Run-1 wide-area networks were more capable and stable than originally anticipated. The original data-placement model was relaxed, and traffic was allowed between Tier-2 nodes. Tier-2 to Tier-2 traffic in 2012 already exceeded the amount of Tier-2 to Tier-1 traffic, so it clearly has the potential to become important in the future. Moreover, while Tier-2 to Tier-1 traffic is mostly upload of Monte Carlo data, the Tier-2 to Tier-2 traffic represents data moved in direct response to requests from the physics analysis community. As such, problems or delays there are more likely to have a direct impact on the user community. Tier-2 to Tier-2 traffic may also traverse parts of the WAN that are at the 'edge' of our network, with limited network capacity or reliability compared to, say, the Tier-0 to Tier-1 traffic which goes the over LHCOPN network. CMS is looking to exploit technologies that allow us to interact with the network fabric so that it can manage our traffic better for us, this we hope to achieve before the end of Run-2. Tier-2 to Tier-2 traffic would be the most interesting use-case for such traffic management, precisely because it is close to the users' analysis and far from the 'core' network infrastructure. As such, a better understanding of our Tier-2 to Tier-2 traffic is important. Knowing the characteristics of our data-flows can help us place our data more intelligently. Knowing how widely the data moves can help us anticipate the requirements for network capacity, and inform the dynamic data placement algorithms we expect to have in place for Run-2. This paper presents an analysis of the CMS Tier-2 traffic during Run 1.

46 CFR 154.330 - Openings to accommodation, service, or control spaces.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... DANGEROUS CARGOES SAFETY STANDARDS FOR SELF-PROPELLED VESSELS CARRYING BULK LIQUEFIED GASES Design... and in the first tier of the superstructure must be a fixed type. (e) Air intakes and openings into... at not less than 207 kPa gauge (30 psig). (f) On liquefied toxic gas vessels, the closures required...

46 CFR 154.330 - Openings to accommodation, service, or control spaces.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... DANGEROUS CARGOES SAFETY STANDARDS FOR SELF-PROPELLED VESSELS CARRYING BULK LIQUEFIED GASES Design... and in the first tier of the superstructure must be a fixed type. (e) Air intakes and openings into... at not less than 207 kPa gauge (30 psig). (f) On liquefied toxic gas vessels, the closures required...

46 CFR 154.330 - Openings to accommodation, service, or control spaces.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... DANGEROUS CARGOES SAFETY STANDARDS FOR SELF-PROPELLED VESSELS CARRYING BULK LIQUEFIED GASES Design... and in the first tier of the superstructure must be a fixed type. (e) Air intakes and openings into... at not less than 207 kPa gauge (30 psig). (f) On liquefied toxic gas vessels, the closures required...

46 CFR 154.330 - Openings to accommodation, service, or control spaces.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... DANGEROUS CARGOES SAFETY STANDARDS FOR SELF-PROPELLED VESSELS CARRYING BULK LIQUEFIED GASES Design... and in the first tier of the superstructure must be a fixed type. (e) Air intakes and openings into... at not less than 207 kPa gauge (30 psig). (f) On liquefied toxic gas vessels, the closures required...

46 CFR 154.330 - Openings to accommodation, service, or control spaces.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... DANGEROUS CARGOES SAFETY STANDARDS FOR SELF-PROPELLED VESSELS CARRYING BULK LIQUEFIED GASES Design... and in the first tier of the superstructure must be a fixed type. (e) Air intakes and openings into... at not less than 207 kPa gauge (30 psig). (f) On liquefied toxic gas vessels, the closures required...

Ionization Energy: Implications of Preservice Teachers' Conceptions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tan, Kim Chwee Daniel; Taber, Keith S.

2009-01-01

The results from a study to explore pre-service teachers' understanding of ionization energy, a topic that features in A-level (grade 11 and 12) chemistry courses. in Singapore , is described. A previous study using a two-tier multiple choice diagnostic test has shown that Singapore A-level students have considerable difficulty understanding the…

Response to Intervention (RTI) for Students Presenting with Behavioral Difficulties: Culturally Responsive Guiding Questions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Abou-Rjaily, Kathleen; Stoddard, Susan

2017-01-01

Response to Intervention (RTI) is a tiered intervention that assists school personnel in determining eligibility for special education services. Studies support the use of RTI as an early intervention for addressing significant learning disabilities (SLD) and social emotional behaviors, as well as for students who are culturally and linguistically…

An Autonomic Framework for Integrating Security and Quality of Service Support in Databases

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alomari, Firas

2013-01-01

The back-end databases of multi-tiered applications are a major data security concern for enterprises. The abundance of these systems and the emergence of new and different threats require multiple and overlapping security mechanisms. Therefore, providing multiple and diverse database intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDPS) is a critical…

Understanding Mental Health Intervention and Assessment within a Multi-Tiered Framework: Contemporary Science, Practice, and Policy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kilgus, Stephen P.; Reinke, Wendy M.; Jimerson, Shane R.

2015-01-01

This special topic section features research regarding practices that will support mental health service delivery within a school-based multitiered framework. The articles include data and discussions regarding the evaluation of universal, targeted, or intensive intervention addressing mental health concerns and assessment tools intended for use…

Mapping of the US Domestic Influenza Virologic Surveillance Landscape.

PubMed

Jester, Barbara; Schwerzmann, Joy; Mustaquim, Desiree; Aden, Tricia; Brammer, Lynnette; Humes, Rosemary; Shult, Pete; Shahangian, Shahram; Gubareva, Larisa; Xu, Xiyan; Miller, Joseph; Jernigan, Daniel

2018-07-17

Influenza virologic surveillance is critical each season for tracking influenza circulation, following trends in antiviral drug resistance, detecting novel influenza infections in humans, and selecting viruses for use in annual seasonal vaccine production. We developed a framework and process map for characterizing the landscape of US influenza virologic surveillance into 5 tiers of influenza testing: outpatient settings (tier 1), inpatient settings and commercial laboratories (tier 2), state public health laboratories (tier 3), National Influenza Reference Center laboratories (tier 4), and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention laboratories (tier 5). During the 2015-16 season, the numbers of influenza tests directly contributing to virologic surveillance were 804,000 in tiers 1 and 2; 78,000 in tier 3; 2,800 in tier 4; and 3,400 in tier 5. With the release of the 2017 US Pandemic Influenza Plan, the proposed framework will support public health officials in modeling, surveillance, and pandemic planning and response.

Can developing countries leapfrog the centralized electrification paradigm?

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Levin, Todd; Thomas, Valerie M.

Due to the rapidly decreasing costs of small renewable electricity generation 'systems, centralized power systems are no longer a necessary condition of universal access to modern energy services. Developing countries, where centralized electricity infrastructures are less developed, may be able to adopt these new technologies more quickly. We first review the costs of grid extension and distributed solar home systems (SHSs) as reported by a number of different studies. We then present a general analytic framework for analyzing the choice between extending the grid and implementing distributed solar home systems. Drawing upon reported grid expansion cost data for three specificmore » regions, we demonstrate this framework by determining the electricity consumption levels at which the costs of provision through centralized and decentralized approaches are equivalent in these regions. We then calculate SHS capital costs that are necessary for these technologies provide each of five tiers of energy access, as defined by the United Nations Sustainable Energy for All initiative. Our results suggest that solar home systems can play an important role in achieving universal access to basic energy services. The extent of this role depends on three primary factors: SHS costs, grid expansion costs, and centralized generation costs. Given current technology costs, centralized systems will still be required to enable higher levels of consumption; however, cost reduction trends have the potential to disrupt this paradigm. By looking ahead rather than replicating older infrastructure styles, developing countries can leapfrog to a more distributed electricity service model. (C) 2016 International Energy Initiative. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.« less

Implementing cognitive remediation therapy (CRT) in a mental health service: staff training.

PubMed

Dark, Frances; Newman, Ellie; Harris, Meredith; Cairns, Alice; Simpson, Michael; Gore-Jones, Victoria; Whiteford, Harvey; Harvey, Carol; Crompton, David

2016-04-01

This paper describes the establishment of training in cognitive remediation for psychosis within a community mental health service. Clinical staff working in the community of a mental health service were surveyed to ascertain their interest in cognitive aspects of psychosis and skills training in cognitive remediation (CR). Based on the results of the survey a tiered training programme was established with attendance figures reported for each level of training. Fidelity assessment was conducted on the five CR programmes operating. Of 106 clinical staff working in the community with people diagnosed with a psychotic illness 51 completed the survey (48% response rate). The training needs varied with all 106 staff receiving the fundamental (mandatory) training and 51 staff receiving CR facilitator training. Thirty three percent of staff trained as facilitators were delivering CR. Up skilling the mental health workforce to incorporate an understanding of the cognitive aspects of psychosis into care delivery can be facilitated by a tiered training structure. Fundamental training on the psychosocial aspects of psychosis can act as a platform for focussed CR skills based training. There is also a need for accessible therapy based supervision for staff wishing to develop competencies as CR therapists. © The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists 2015.

CRAB3: Establishing a new generation of services for distributed analysis at CMS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cinquilli, M.; Spiga, D.; Grandi, C.; Hernàndez, J. M.; Konstantinov, P.; Mascheroni, M.; Riahi, H.; Vaandering, E.

2012-12-01

In CMS Computing the highest priorities for analysis tools are the improvement of the end users’ ability to produce and publish reliable samples and analysis results as well as a transition to a sustainable development and operations model. To achieve these goals CMS decided to incorporate analysis processing into the same framework as data and simulation processing. This strategy foresees that all workload tools (TierO, Tier1, production, analysis) share a common core with long term maintainability as well as the standardization of the operator interfaces. The re-engineered analysis workload manager, called CRAB3, makes use of newer technologies, such as RESTFul based web services and NoSQL Databases, aiming to increase the scalability and reliability of the system. As opposed to CRAB2, in CRAB3 all work is centrally injected and managed in a global queue. A pool of agents, which can be geographically distributed, consumes work from the central services serving the user tasks. The new architecture of CRAB substantially changes the deployment model and operations activities. In this paper we present the implementation of CRAB3, emphasizing how the new architecture improves the workflow automation and simplifies maintainability. In particular, we will highlight the impact of the new design on daily operations.

50 CFR 86.53 - What are funding tiers?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 50 Wildlife and Fisheries 9 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false What are funding tiers? 86.53 Section 86... (BIG) PROGRAM How States Apply for Grants § 86.53 What are funding tiers? (a) This grant program will consist of two tiers of funding. (i) You may apply for one or both tiers. (ii) The two tiers will allow...

Optimizing Libraries’ Content Findability Using Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) With Multi-Tier Architecture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lahinta, A.; Haris, I.; Abdillah, T.

2017-03-01

The aim of this paper is to describe a developed application of Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) as a model for improving libraries’ digital content findability on the library web. The study applies XML text-based protocol tools in the collection of data about libraries’ visibility performance in the search results of the book. Model from the integrated Web Service Document Language (WSDL) and Universal Description, Discovery and Integration (UDDI) are applied to analyse SOAP as element within the system. The results showed that the developed application of SOAP with multi-tier architecture can help people simply access the website in the library server Gorontalo Province and support access to digital collections, subscription databases, and library catalogs in each library in Regency or City in Gorontalo Province.

Tier One: Draft Environmental Impact Statement. Volume 2. Realignment of Mountain Home Air Force Base and Proposed Expanded Range Capability

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-02-01

in section S3.1, Airspace Management. oue ORNL 1988 data. S3.10-2 S3.10.4 Community Services Community services provided at the county level include...Under the Base Realignment Project. Mountain Home City Clerk’s Office. 1989. Proposed Fiscal 1990 Budget. Oak Ridge National Laboratory ( ORNL ). 1988. Low...Altitude Airspace Database. Submitted to the U.S. Air Force. ORNL and Consultants. 1988. Reviews of Scientific Literatures on the Environmental

Large scale commissioning and operational experience with tier-2 to tier-2 data transfer links in CMS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Letts, J.; Magini, N.

2011-12-01

Tier-2 to Tier-2 data transfers have been identified as a necessary extension of the CMS computing model. The Debugging Data Transfers (DDT) Task Force in CMS was charged with commissioning Tier-2 to Tier-2 PhEDEx transfer links beginning in late 2009, originally to serve the needs of physics analysis groups for the transfer of their results between the storage elements of the Tier-2 sites associated with the groups. PhEDEx is the data transfer middleware of the CMS experiment. For analysis jobs using CRAB, the CMS Remote Analysis Builder, the challenges of remote stage out of job output at the end of the analysis jobs led to the introduction of a local fallback stage out, and will eventually require the asynchronous transfer of user data over essentially all of the Tier-2 to Tier-2 network using the same PhEDEx infrastructure. In addition, direct file sharing of physics and Monte Carlo simulated data between Tier-2 sites can relieve the operational load of the Tier-1 sites in the original CMS Computing Model, and already represents an important component of CMS PhEDEx data transfer volume. The experience, challenges and methods used to debug and commission the thousands of data transfers links between CMS Tier-2 sites world-wide are explained and summarized. The resulting operational experience with Tier-2 to Tier-2 transfers is also presented.

Characteristics and safety assessment of intractable proteins in genetically modified crops.

PubMed

Bushey, Dean F; Bannon, Gary A; Delaney, Bryan F; Graser, Gerson; Hefford, Mary; Jiang, Xiaoxu; Lee, Thomas C; Madduri, Krishna M; Pariza, Michael; Privalle, Laura S; Ranjan, Rakesh; Saab-Rincon, Gloria; Schafer, Barry W; Thelen, Jay J; Zhang, John X Q; Harper, Marc S

2014-07-01

Genetically modified (GM) crops may contain newly expressed proteins that are described as "intractable". Safety assessment of these proteins may require some adaptations to the current assessment procedures. Intractable proteins are defined here as those proteins with properties that make it extremely difficult or impossible with current methods to express in heterologous systems; isolate, purify, or concentrate; quantify (due to low levels); demonstrate biological activity; or prove equivalency with plant proteins. Five classes of intractable proteins are discussed here: (1) membrane proteins, (2) signaling proteins, (3) transcription factors, (4) N-glycosylated proteins, and (5) resistance proteins (R-proteins, plant pathogen recognition proteins that activate innate immune responses). While the basic tiered weight-of-evidence approach for assessing the safety of GM crops proposed by the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) in 2008 is applicable to intractable proteins, new or modified methods may be required. For example, the first two steps in Tier I (hazard identification) analysis, gathering of applicable history of safe use (HOSU) information and bioinformatics analysis, do not require protein isolation. The extremely low level of expression of most intractable proteins should be taken into account while assessing safety of the intractable protein in GM crops. If Tier II (hazard characterization) analyses requiring animal feeding are judged to be necessary, alternatives to feeding high doses of pure protein may be needed. These alternatives are discussed here. Copyright © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Genomic sequencing in cystic fibrosis newborn screening: what works best, two-tier predefined CFTR mutation panels or second-tier CFTR panel followed by third-tier sequencing?

PubMed

Currier, Robert J; Sciortino, Stan; Liu, Ruiling; Bishop, Tracey; Alikhani Koupaei, Rasoul; Feuchtbaum, Lisa

2017-10-01

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to model the performance of several known two-tier, predefined mutation panels and three-tier algorithms for cystic fibrosis (CF) screening utilizing the ethnically diverse California population.MethodsThe cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) mutations identified among the 317 CF cases in California screened between 12 August 2008 and 18 December 2012 were used to compare the expected CF detection rates for several two- and three-tier screening approaches, including the current California approach, which consists of a population-specific 40-mutation panel followed by third-tier sequencing when indicated.ResultsThe data show that the strategy of using third-tier sequencing improves CF detection following an initial elevated immunoreactive trypsinogen and detection of only one mutation on a second-tier panel.ConclusionIn a diverse population, the use of a second-tier panel followed by third-tier CFTR gene sequencing provides a better detection rate for CF, compared with the use of a second-tier approach alone, and is an effective way to minimize the referrals of CF carriers for sweat testing. Restricting screening to a second-tier testing to predefined mutation panels, even broad ones, results in some missed CF cases and demonstrates the limited utility of this approach in states that have diverse multiethnic populations.

Development, deployment and operations of ATLAS databases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vaniachine, A. V.; Schmitt, J. G. v. d.

2008-07-01

In preparation for ATLAS data taking, a coordinated shift from development towards operations has occurred in ATLAS database activities. In addition to development and commissioning activities in databases, ATLAS is active in the development and deployment (in collaboration with the WLCG 3D project) of the tools that allow the worldwide distribution and installation of databases and related datasets, as well as the actual operation of this system on ATLAS multi-grid infrastructure. We describe development and commissioning of major ATLAS database applications for online and offline. We present the first scalability test results and ramp-up schedule over the initial LHC years of operations towards the nominal year of ATLAS running, when the database storage volumes are expected to reach 6.1 TB for the Tag DB and 1.0 TB for the Conditions DB. ATLAS database applications require robust operational infrastructure for data replication between online and offline at Tier-0, and for the distribution of the offline data to Tier-1 and Tier-2 computing centers. We describe ATLAS experience with Oracle Streams and other technologies for coordinated replication of databases in the framework of the WLCG 3D services.

The JINR Tier1 Site Simulation for Research and Development Purposes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Korenkov, V.; Nechaevskiy, A.; Ososkov, G.; Pryahina, D.; Trofimov, V.; Uzhinskiy, A.; Voytishin, N.

2016-02-01

Distributed complex computing systems for data storage and processing are in common use in the majority of modern scientific centers. The design of such systems is usually based on recommendations obtained via a preliminary simulated model used and executed only once. However big experiments last for years and decades, and the development of their computing system is going on, not only quantitatively but also qualitatively. Even with the substantial efforts invested in the design phase to understand the systems configuration, it would be hard enough to develop a system without additional research of its future evolution. The developers and operators face the problem of the system behaviour predicting after the planned modifications. A system for grid and cloud services simulation is developed at LIT (JINR, Dubna). This simulation system is focused on improving the effciency of the grid/cloud structures development by using the work quality indicators of some real system. The development of such kind of software is very important for making a new grid/cloud infrastructure for such big scientific experiments like the JINR Tier1 site for WLCG. The simulation of some processes of the Tier1 site is considered as an example of our application approach.

An Energy-Efficient Multi-Tier Architecture for Fall Detection Using Smartphones.

PubMed

Guvensan, M Amac; Kansiz, A Oguz; Camgoz, N Cihan; Turkmen, H Irem; Yavuz, A Gokhan; Karsligil, M Elif

2017-06-23

Automatic detection of fall events is vital to providing fast medical assistance to the causality, particularly when the injury causes loss of consciousness. Optimization of the energy consumption of mobile applications, especially those which run 24/7 in the background, is essential for longer use of smartphones. In order to improve energy-efficiency without compromising on the fall detection performance, we propose a novel 3-tier architecture that combines simple thresholding methods with machine learning algorithms. The proposed method is implemented on a mobile application, called uSurvive, for Android smartphones. It runs as a background service and monitors the activities of a person in daily life and automatically sends a notification to the appropriate authorities and/or user defined contacts when it detects a fall. The performance of the proposed method was evaluated in terms of fall detection performance and energy consumption. Real life performance tests conducted on two different models of smartphone demonstrate that our 3-tier architecture with feature reduction could save up to 62% of energy compared to machine learning only solutions. In addition to this energy saving, the hybrid method has a 93% of accuracy, which is superior to thresholding methods and better than machine learning only solutions.

The benefits of convergence.

PubMed

Chang, Gee-Kung; Cheng, Lin

2016-03-06

A multi-tier radio access network (RAN) combining the strength of fibre-optic and radio access technologies employing adaptive microwave photonics interfaces and radio-over-fibre (RoF) techniques is envisioned for future heterogeneous wireless communications. All-band radio spectrum from 0.1 to 100 GHz will be used to deliver wireless services with high capacity, high link speed and low latency. The multi-tier RAN will improve the cell-edge performance in an integrated heterogeneous environment enabled by fibre-wireless integration and networking for mobile fronthaul/backhaul, resource sharing and all-layer centralization of multiple standards with different frequency bands and modulation formats. In essence, this is a 'no-more-cells' architecture in which carrier aggregation among multiple frequency bands can be easily achieved with seamless handover between cells. In this way, current and future mobile network standards such as 4G and 5G can coexist with optimized and continuous cell coverage using multi-tier RoF regardless of the underlying network topology or protocol. In terms of users' experience, the future-proof approach achieves the goals of system capacity, link speed, latency and continuous heterogeneous cell coverage while overcoming the bandwidth crunch in next-generation communication networks. © 2016 The Author(s).

Toward a National Early Warning System for Forest Disturbances Using Remotely Sensed Canopy Phenology

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

HargroveJr., William Walter; Spruce, Joe; Gasser, Gerry

2009-01-01

Imagine a national system with the ability to quickly identify forested areas under attack from insects or disease. Such an early warning system might minimize surprises such as the explosion of caterpillars referred to in the quotation to the left. Moderate resolution (ca. 500m) remote sensing repeated at frequent (ca. weekly) intervals could power such a monitoring system that would respond in near real-time. An ideal warning system would be national in scope, automated, able to improve its prognostic ability with experience, and would provide regular map updates online in familiar and accessible formats. Such a goal is quite ambitiousmore » - analyzing vegetation change weekly at a national scale with moderate resolution is a daunting task. The foremost challenge is discerning unusual or unexpected disturbances from the normal backdrop of seasonal and annual changes in vegetation conditions. A historical perspective is needed to define a 'baseline' for expected, normal behavior against which detected changes can be correctly interpreted. It would be necessary to combine temperature, precipitation, soils, and topographic information with the remotely sensed data to discriminate and interpret the changing vegetation conditions on the ground. Conterminous national coverage implies huge data volumes, even at a moderate resolution (250-500m), and likely requires a supercomputing capability. Finally, such a national warning system must carefully balance the rate of successful threat detection with false positives. Since 2005, the USDA Forest Service has partnered with the NASA Stennis Space Center and Oak Ridge National Laboratory to develop methods for monitoring environmental threats, including native insects and diseases, wildfire, invasive pests and pathogens, tornados, hurricanes, and hail. These tools will be instrumental in helping the Forest Service's two Environmental Threat Assessment Centers better meet their Congressional mandate to help track the health of the Nation's forests and rangelands. We envision two scales of forest monitoring: (1) a strategic, satellite-based monitoring of broad regions to identify particular locations where threats are suspected (i.e., early warning), and (2) a fine-scale, tactical tier consisting of airborne overflights and on-the-ground monitoring to check the validity of warnings from the upper tier. The tactical tier is already largely in place within the Forest Service and its State collaborators, consisting of aerial detection surveys (sketch mapping from aircraft), ground surveys, and trapping programs. However, these efforts are expensive and labor-intensive, can be dangerous, and may not provide sufficient broad-area coverage. Far from replacing the tactical tier, the national system will rely on the finer-scale efforts to confirm, validate, and attribute causes of detected forest disturbances. One important objective of the national warning system will be to help direct the focus of the tactical tier, making their efforts more cost efficient and effective.« less

The impact of tiered physician networks on patient choices.

PubMed

Sinaiko, Anna D; Rosenthal, Meredith B

2014-08-01

To assess whether patient choice of physician or health plan was affected by physician tier-rankings. Administrative claims and enrollment data on 171,581 nonelderly beneficiaries enrolled in Massachusetts Group Insurance Commission health plans that include a tiered physician network and who had an office visit with a tiered physician. We estimate the impact of tier-rankings on physician market share within a plan of new patients and on the percent of a physician's patients who switch to other physicians with fixed effects regression models. The effect of tiering on consumer plan choice is estimated using logistic regression and a pre-post study design. Physicians in the bottom (least-preferred) tier, particularly certain specialist physicians, had lower market share of new patient visits than physicians with higher tier-rankings. Patients whose physician was in the bottom tier were more likely to switch health plans. There was no effect of tier-ranking on patients switching away from physicians whom they have seen previously. The effect of tiering appears to be among patients who choose new physicians and at the lower end of the distribution of tiered physicians, rather than moving patients to the "best" performers. These findings suggest strong loyalty of patients to physicians more likely to be considered their personal doctor. © Health Research and Educational Trust.

An Examination of Multi-Tier Designs for Legacy Data Access

DTIC Science & Technology

1997-12-01

heterogeneous relational database management systems. The first test system incorporates a two-tier architecture design using Java, and the second system...employs a three-tier architecture design using Java and CORBA. Data on replication times for the two-tier and three-tier designs are presented

78 FR 38074 - Announcement Regarding a Change in Eligibility for Unemployment Insurance (UI) Claimants in...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-06-25

...Announcement regarding a change in eligibility for Unemployment Insurance (UI) claimants in Alabama, Alaska, Delaware, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Ohio, the Virgin Islands and Wisconsin in the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC08) program, and the Federal-State Extended Benefits (EB) program. The U.S. Department of Labor (Department) produces trigger notices indicating which states qualify for both EB and EUC08 benefits, and provides the beginning and ending dates of payable periods for each qualifying state. The trigger notices covering state eligibility for these programs can be found at: http://ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/claims-- arch.asp. The following changes have occurred since the publication of the last notice regarding states EUC08 and EB trigger status: Alabama's trigger value had fallen below the 7.0% threshold and has triggered ``off'' Tier 3 of EUC08. Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on March 18, 2013, the three month average, seasonally adjusted total unemployment rate (TUR) in Alabama was 6.9%, falling below the 7.0% trigger threshold necessary to remain ``on'' Tier 3 of EUC08. The week ending April 13, 2013, was the last week in which EUC08 claimants in Alabama could exhaust Tier 2 and establish Tier 3 eligibility. Under the phase-out provisions, claimants could receive any remaining entitlement they had for Tier 3 after April 13, 2013. Alaska's insured unemployment rate (IUR) has fallen below the 6.0% trigger threshold and has triggered ``off'' of EB. Based on data from Alaska for the week ending April 13, 2013, the 13 week IUR in Alaska fell below the 6.0% trigger threshold necessary to remain ``on'' EB. The payable period in EB for Alaska ended May 4, 2013. Alaska's IUR has fallen below the 6.0% trigger threshold and has triggered ``off'' Tier 4 of EUC08. Based on data from Alaska for the week ending April 13, 2013, the 13 week IUR in Alaska fell below the 6.0% trigger rate threshold to remain ``on'' Tier 4 of EUC08. The week ending May 4, 2013, was the last week in which EUC08 claimants in Alaska could exhaust Tier 3, and establish Tier 4 eligibility. Under the phase-out provisions, claimants could receive any remaining entitlement they had for Tier 4 after May 4, 2013. Delaware's trigger value exceeds the 7.0% trigger threshold and has triggered ``on'' Tier 3 of EUC08. Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on March 18, 2013, the three month average, seasonally adjusted TUR in Delaware was 7.1%, exceeding the 7.0% threshold necessary to trigger ``on'' Tier 3 of EUC08. The week beginning April 7, 2013, was the first week in which EUC08 claimants in Delaware who had exhausted Tier 2, and are otherwise eligible, could establish Tier 3 eligibility. Illinois' trigger value met the 9.0% trigger threshold and has triggered ``on'' Tier 4 of EUC08. Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on March 29, 2013, the three month average, seasonally adjusted TUR in Illinois met the 9.0% trigger threshold to trigger ``on'' Tier 4 of EUC08. The week beginning April 14, 2013, was the first week in which EUC08 claimants in Illinois who had exhausted Tier 3, and were otherwise eligible, could establish Tier 4 eligibility. Louisiana's trigger value has fallen below the 6.0% trigger threshold and has triggered ``off'' Tier 2 of EUC08. Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on March 18, 2013, the three month average, seasonally adjusted TUR in Louisiana was 5.8%, falling below the 6.0% trigger threshold to remain ``on'' Tier 2 of EUC08. The week ending April 13, 2013, was the last week in which EUC08 claimants in Louisiana could exhaust Tier 1, and establish Tier 2 eligibility. Under the phase-out provisions, claimants could receive any remaining entitlement they had in Tier 2 after April 13, 2013. Michigan's trigger value has fallen below the 9.0% trigger threshold and has triggered ``off'' Tier 4 of EUC08. Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on March 18, 2013, the three month average, seasonally adjusted TUR for Michigan was 8.9%, falling below the 9.0% trigger threshold to remain ``on'' Tier 4 of EUC08. The week ending April 13, 2013, was the last week in which EUC08 claimants in Michigan could exhaust Tier 3, and establish Tier 4 eligibility. Under the phase-out provisions, claimants could receive any remaining entitlement they had in Tier 4 after April 13, 2013. Mississippi's trigger value exceeds the 9.0% trigger threshold and has triggered ``on'' Tier 4 of EUC08. Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on March 29, 2013, the three month average, seasonally adjusted TUR in Mississippi was 9.3%, exceeding the 9.0% trigger threshold to trigger ``on'' Tier 4 of EUC08. The week beginning April 14, 2013, was the first week in which EUC08 claimants in Mississippi who had exhausted Tier 3, and are otherwise eligible, could establish Tier 4 eligibility. Ohio's trigger value met the 7.0% trigger threshold and has triggered ``on'' Tier 3 of EUC08. Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on April 19, 2013, the three month average, seasonally adjusted total unemployment rate in Ohio had met 7.0% trigger threshold to trigger ``on'' in Tier 3 of EUC08. The week beginning May 5, 2013, was the first week in which EUC08 claimants in Ohio who had exhausted Tier 2, and were otherwise eligible, could establish Tier 3 eligibility. The Virgin Islands' estimated trigger rate fell below the 6.0% threshold and has triggered ``off'' both Tier 2 and Tier 3 of EUC08. Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on March 8, 2013, the estimated three month average, seasonally adjusted TUR in the Virgin Islands fell below the 6.0% trigger threshold rate to remain ``on'' both Tier 2 and Tier 3 of EUC08. That triggered the Virgin Islands off both Tier 2 and Tier 3 of EUC08. The week ending March, 30 2013, was the last week in which EUC08 claimants in the Virgin Islands could exhaust Tier 1 and establish Tier 2 eligibility, or exhaust Tier 2 and establish Tier 3 eligibility. Wisconsin's trigger value met the 7.0% threshold and has triggered ``on'' Tier 3 of EUC08, however mandatory 13 week ``off'' period delayed effective date. Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on April 19, 2013, the three month average, seasonally adjusted TUR for Wisconsin has met the 7.0% trigger rate threshold to trigger ``on'' Tier 3 of EUC08. However, Wisconsin was in a 13 week mandatory ``off'' period that started February 9, 2013, and did not conclude until May 11, 2013. As a result, Wisconsin remained in an ``off'' period for Tier 3 of EUC08 through May 11, 2013, and triggered ``on'' Tier 3 of EUC08 effective May 12, 2013. The week beginning May 12, 2013, was the first week in which EUC08 claimants in Wisconsin who have exhausted Tier 2, and are otherwise eligible, can establish Tier 3 eligibility.

Tiered Pricing: Implications for Library Collections

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hahn, Karla

2005-01-01

In recent years an increasing number of publishers have adopted tiered pricing of journals. The design and implications of tiered-pricing models, however, are poorly understood. Tiered pricing can be modeled using several variables. A survey of current tiered-pricing models documents the range of key variables used. A sensitivity analysis…

24 CFR 203.605 - Loss mitigation performance.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... performance. (1) HUD will measure and advise mortgagees of their loss mitigation performance through the Tier... mitigation attempts, defaults, and claims. Based on the ratios, HUD will group mortgagees in four tiers (Tiers 1, 2, 3, and 4), with Tier 1 representing the highest or best ranking mortgagees and Tier 4...

Understanding Suicidal Behaviour in Young People Referred to Specialist CAMHS: A Qualitative Psychoanalytic Clinical Research Project

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Anderson, Jan; Hurst, Margaret; Marques, Ana; Millar, David; Moya, Sue; Pover, Lesley; Stewart, Sue

2012-01-01

A qualitative psychoanalytic clinical research project using a post-Kleinian contemporary approach was undertaken by a team of seven qualified and experienced child psychotherapists working in community Tier 3 Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). A number of referred young people who deliberately harmed themselves or attempted…

An Examination of an Online Tutoring Program's Impact on Low-Achieving Middle School Students' Mathematics Achievement

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chappell, Shanan; Arnold, Pamela; Nunnery, John; Grant, Melva

2015-01-01

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to determine the impact of synchronous online tutoring services on struggling middle school students' mathematics achievement. The online tutoring was provided as a response to intervention (RTI) Tier 3 support (intensive, individualized intervention) in schools implementing a school-wide mathematics…

48 CFR 52.226-6 - Promoting excess food donation to nonprofit organizations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... quality and labeling standards imposed by Federal, State, and local laws and regulations even though the... the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and (2) Exempt from tax under section 501(a) of that Code. (b) In... tier, who will perform, under this contract, the provision, service, or sale of food in the United...

Fort Hamilton High School. Project ELITES: Education for Life Through Extended Services. O.E.E. Evaluation Report, 1981-1982.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Torres, Judith A.; And Others

Project ELITES provides bilingual education to 307 Spanish-speaking, Arabic-speaking, and Greek-speaking students at Fort Hamilton High School, Brooklyn, New York. Project ELITES's philosophy is to mainstream students after two years of participation. The program's individualized approach is obtained through a 3-tiered instructional format:…

Role of Professional Development and Multi-Level Coaching in Promoting Evidence-Based Practice in Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wood, Charles L.; Goodnight, Crystalyn I.; Bethune, Keri S.; Preston, Angela I.; Cleaver, Samantha L.

2016-01-01

Professional development through in-service training may not be of sufficient duration, intensity, and specificity to improve teachers' instructional skills. Due to the increased need to support teachers' use of evidence-based practices in multi-tiered systems of support such as RTI [Response to Intervention] and PBIS [Positive Behavior…

UAV Annual Report, FY 1996.

DTIC Science & Technology

1996-11-06

Tracor; Vector; Cl Fiberite; Hexcel; Honeywell Cannon; Tamam; IntegriNautics; Lockheed Martin; Carlyle Gp; Northrop Grumman (SAR); Hbroux; Hughes...Aerospace; Group; Teftec Inc. Northrop Grumman ; Williams Internations Developmental estimates Developmental estimates 09 31 UAV ANNUAL REPORT UAV Tier 11...Rosemount Aerospace; Northrop Grumman ; Williams International Developmental estimates 31 UAVANNUAL REPORT A U.S. Customs Service P-3 AEW and Predator

20 CFR 210.3 - Month of service.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... for that year by an amount equal to one-twelfth of the current annual maximum for non-tier I... one or more employers or serves as an employee representative in the month or months to be deemed. For...,000 (6) Subtract line (4) from line (5). Enter the result (but not less than zero). This is the...

25 CFR 542.42 - What are the minimum internal control standards for internal audit for Tier C gaming operations?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... reconciliation process; (ii) Pull tabs, including but not limited to, statistical records, winner verification... 25 Indians 2 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false What are the minimum internal control standards for... COMMISSION, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HUMAN SERVICES MINIMUM INTERNAL CONTROL STANDARDS § 542.42 What are...

20 CFR 226.72 - Benefits that do not cause a reduction.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... and Disability Benefits Under a Federal, State, or Local Law or Plan § 226.72 Benefits that do not cause a reduction. The tier I is not reduced for the following types of benefits: (a) A benefit paid... disability insurance benefit under the Social Security Act. (b) A Federal disability benefit based on service...

41 CFR 105-68.425 - When do I check to see if a person is excluded or disqualified?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 41 Public Contracts and Property Management 3 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false When do I check to see... Management Federal Property Management Regulations System (Continued) GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION... disqualified before you— (a) Enter into a primary tier covered transaction; (b) Approve a principal in a...

FAST: A fully asynchronous and status-tracking pattern for geoprocessing services orchestration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Huayi; You, Lan; Gui, Zhipeng; Gao, Shuang; Li, Zhenqiang; Yu, Jingmin

2014-09-01

Geoprocessing service orchestration (GSO) provides a unified and flexible way to implement cross-application, long-lived, and multi-step geoprocessing service workflows by coordinating geoprocessing services collaboratively. Usually, geoprocessing services and geoprocessing service workflows are data and/or computing intensive. The intensity feature may make the execution process of a workflow time-consuming. Since it initials an execution request without blocking other interactions on the client side, an asynchronous mechanism is especially appropriate for GSO workflows. Many critical problems remain to be solved in existing asynchronous patterns for GSO including difficulties in improving performance, status tracking, and clarifying the workflow structure. These problems are a challenge when orchestrating performance efficiency, making statuses instantly available, and constructing clearly structured GSO workflows. A Fully Asynchronous and Status-Tracking (FAST) pattern that adopts asynchronous interactions throughout the whole communication tier of a workflow is proposed for GSO. The proposed FAST pattern includes a mechanism that actively pushes the latest status to clients instantly and economically. An independent proxy was designed to isolate the status tracking logic from the geoprocessing business logic, which assists the formation of a clear GSO workflow structure. A workflow was implemented in the FAST pattern to simulate the flooding process in the Poyang Lake region. Experimental results show that the proposed FAST pattern can efficiently tackle data/computing intensive geoprocessing tasks. The performance of all collaborative partners was improved due to the asynchronous mechanism throughout communication tier. A status-tracking mechanism helps users retrieve the latest running status of a GSO workflow in an efficient and instant way. The clear structure of the GSO workflow lowers the barriers for geospatial domain experts and model designers to compose asynchronous GSO workflows. Most importantly, it provides better support for locating and diagnosing potential exceptions.

A mixed method evaluation of adult tier 2 lifestyle weight management service provision across a county in Northern England.

PubMed

Ells, L; Watson, P; Carlebach, S; O'Malley, C; Jones, D; Machaira, T; Whittaker, V; Clements, H; Walker, P; Needham, K; Summerbell, C; Coulton, V; Araujo-Soares, V

2018-06-01

Adult obesity in the UK remains a public health priority. Current guidance recommends local areas provide multicomponent interventions to treat adults with overweight and obesity; however, there is currently a dearth of published evidence on the evaluation of these programmes. This study reports on a mixed method evaluation of seven tier 2 weight management programmes funded by a local authority in the North of England through their public health grant (a lifestyle multicomponent weight management programme for the treatment of adults with overweight and obesity, but not severe obesity, or obesity with severe co-morbidities). Data collected from over 2000 participants demonstrated that the proportion of participants achieving 5% initial body weight loss was comparable to that reported in recent UK weight management trials. Two services exceeded national criteria of 30% of participants achieving 5% initial body weight loss at 12 weeks, although long term data was limited. Greater weight loss was also observed in participants aged 35-44 and those without co-morbidities. This study provides important learning points for improvements in real world weight management services, these include: standardised data collection and management tools; staff training and communication requirements; the importance of programmes that are joined up to wider support services; and the importance of providing ongoing peer and provider support, continuous monitoring and feedback, and physical activities tailored to user needs. © 2018 World Obesity Federation.

Real-Time and Secure Wireless Health Monitoring

PubMed Central

Dağtaş, S.; Pekhteryev, G.; Şahinoğlu, Z.; Çam, H.; Challa, N.

2008-01-01

We present a framework for a wireless health monitoring system using wireless networks such as ZigBee. Vital signals are collected and processed using a 3-tiered architecture. The first stage is the mobile device carried on the body that runs a number of wired and wireless probes. This device is also designed to perform some basic processing such as the heart rate and fatal failure detection. At the second stage, further processing is performed by a local server using the raw data transmitted by the mobile device continuously. The raw data is also stored at this server. The processed data as well as the analysis results are then transmitted to the service provider center for diagnostic reviews as well as storage. The main advantages of the proposed framework are (1) the ability to detect signals wirelessly within a body sensor network (BSN), (2) low-power and reliable data transmission through ZigBee network nodes, (3) secure transmission of medical data over BSN, (4) efficient channel allocation for medical data transmission over wireless networks, and (5) optimized analysis of data using an adaptive architecture that maximizes the utility of processing and computational capacity at each platform. PMID:18497866

Optimal distribution of medical backpacks and health surveillance assistants in Malawi.

PubMed

Kunkel, Amber G; Van Itallie, Elizabeth S; Wu, Duo

2014-09-01

Despite recent progress, Malawi continues to perform poorly on key health indicators such as child mortality and life expectancy. These problems are exacerbated by a severe lack of access to health care. Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs) help bridge this gap by providing community-level access to basic health care services. However, the success of these HSAs is limited by a lack of supplies and long distances between HSAs and patients. To address this issue, we used large-scale weighted p-median and capacitated facility location problems to create a scalable, three-tiered plan for optimal allocation of HSAs, HSA designated medical backpacks, and backpack resupply centers. Our analysis uses real data on the location and characteristics of hospitals, health centers, and the general population. In addition to offering specific recommendations for HSA, backpack, and resupply center locations, it provides general insights into the scope of the proposed HSA backpack program scale-up. In particular, it demonstrates the importance of local health centers to the resupply network. The proposed assignments are robust to changes in the underlying population structure, and could significantly improve access to medical supplies for both HSAs and patients.

Structure of eukaryotic CMG helicase at a replication fork and implications to replisome architecture and origin initiation

PubMed Central

Georgescu, Roxana; Yuan, Zuanning; Bai, Lin; de Luna Almeida Santos, Ruda; Sun, Jingchuan; Zhang, Dan; Yurieva, Olga; Li, Huilin; O’Donnell, Michael E.

2017-01-01

The eukaryotic CMG (Cdc45, Mcm2–7, GINS) helicase consists of the Mcm2–7 hexameric ring along with five accessory factors. The Mcm2–7 heterohexamer, like other hexameric helicases, is shaped like a ring with two tiers, an N-tier ring composed of the N-terminal domains, and a C-tier of C-terminal domains; the C-tier contains the motor. In principle, either tier could translocate ahead of the other during movement on DNA. We have used cryo-EM single-particle 3D reconstruction to solve the structure of CMG in complex with a DNA fork. The duplex stem penetrates into the central channel of the N-tier and the unwound leading single-strand DNA traverses the channel through the N-tier into the C-tier motor, 5′-3′ through CMG. Therefore, the N-tier ring is pushed ahead by the C-tier ring during CMG translocation, opposite the currently accepted polarity. The polarity of the N-tier ahead of the C-tier places the leading Pol ε below CMG and Pol α-primase at the top of CMG at the replication fork. Surprisingly, the new N-tier to C-tier polarity of translocation reveals an unforeseen quality-control mechanism at the origin. Thus, upon assembly of head-to-head CMGs that encircle double-stranded DNA at the origin, the two CMGs must pass one another to leave the origin and both must remodel onto opposite strands of single-stranded DNA to do so. We propose that head-to-head motors may generate energy that underlies initial melting at the origin. PMID:28096349

Accelerating chronically unresponsive children to tier 3 instruction: what level of data is necessary to ensure selection accuracy?

PubMed

Compton, Donald L; Gilbert, Jennifer K; Jenkins, Joseph R; Fuchs, Douglas; Fuchs, Lynn S; Cho, Eunsoo; Barquero, Laura A; Bouton, Bobette

2012-01-01

Response-to-intervention (RTI) approaches to disability identification are meant to put an end to the so-called wait-to-fail requirement associated with IQ discrepancy. However, in an unfortunate irony, there is a group of children who wait to fail in RTI frameworks. That is, they must fail both general classroom instruction (Tier 1) and small-group intervention (Tier 2) before becoming eligible for the most intensive intervention (Tier 3). The purpose of this article was to determine how to predict accurately which at-risk children will be unresponsive to Tiers 1 and 2, thereby allowing unresponsive children to move directly from Tier 1 to Tier 3. As part of an efficacy study of a multitier RTI approach to prevention and identification of reading disabilities (RD), 129 first-grade children who were unresponsive to classroom reading instruction were randomly assigned to 14 weeks of small-group, Tier 2 intervention. Nonresponders to this instruction (n = 33) were identified using local norms on first-grade word identification fluency growth linked to a distal outcome of RD at the end of second grade. Logistic regression models were used to predict membership in responder and nonresponder groups. Predictors were entered as blocks of data from least to most difficult to obtain: universal screening data, Tier 1 response data, norm referenced tests, and Tier 2 response data. Tier 2 response data were not necessary to classify students as responders and nonresponders to Tier 2 instruction, suggesting that some children can be accurately identified as eligible for Tier 3 intervention using only Tier 1 data, thereby avoiding prolonged periods of failure to instruction.

Regulatory Compliance in Multi-Tier Supplier Networks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Goossen, Emray R.; Buster, Duke A.

2014-01-01

Over the years, avionics systems have increased in complexity to the point where 1st tier suppliers to an aircraft OEM find it financially beneficial to outsource designs of subsystems to 2nd tier and at times to 3rd tier suppliers. Combined with challenging schedule and budgetary pressures, the environment in which safety-critical systems are being developed introduces new hurdles for regulatory agencies and industry. This new environment of both complex systems and tiered development has raised concerns in the ability of the designers to ensure safety considerations are fully addressed throughout the tier levels. This has also raised questions about the sufficiency of current regulatory guidance to ensure: proper flow down of safety awareness, avionics application understanding at the lower tiers, OEM and 1st tier oversight practices, and capabilities of lower tier suppliers. Therefore, NASA established a research project to address Regulatory Compliance in a Multi-tier Supplier Network. This research was divided into three major study efforts: 1. Describe Modern Multi-tier Avionics Development 2. Identify Current Issues in Achieving Safety and Regulatory Compliance 3. Short-term/Long-term Recommendations Toward Higher Assurance Confidence This report presents our findings of the risks, weaknesses, and our recommendations. It also includes a collection of industry-identified risks, an assessment of guideline weaknesses related to multi-tier development of complex avionics systems, and a postulation of potential modifications to guidelines to close the identified risks and weaknesses.

Habitability as a Tier One Criterion in Exploration Mission and Vehicle Design. Part 1; Habitability

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Adams, Constance M.; McCurdy, Matthew Riegel

1999-01-01

Habitability and human factors are necessary criteria to include in the iterative process of Tier I mission design. Bringing these criteria in at the first, conceptual stage of design for exploration and other human-rated missions can greatly reduce mission development costs, raise the level of efficiency and viability, and improve the chances of success. In offering a rationale for this argument, the authors give an example of how the habitability expert can contribute to early mission and vehicle architecture by defining the formal implications of a habitable vehicle, assessing the viability of units already proposed for exploration missions on the basis of these criteria, and finally, by offering an optimal set of solutions for an example mission. In this, the first of three papers, we summarize the basic factors associated with habitability, delineate their formal implications for crew accommodations in a long-duration environment, and show examples of how these principles have been applied in two projects at NASA's Johnson Space Center: the BIO-Plex test facility, and TransHab.

Tools and Strategies for Product Life Cycle Management ñ A Case Study in Foundry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Patil, Rajashekar; Kumar, S. Mohan; Abhilash, E.

2012-08-01

Advances in information and communication technology (ICT) have opened new possibilities of collaborations among the customers, suppliers, manufactures and partners to effectively tackle various business challenges. Product Life Cycle Management(PLM) has been a proven approach for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to increase their productivity, improve their product quality, speed up delivery, and increase their profit and to become more efficient. However, their Tier 2 and Tier 3 suppliers like foundry industries are still in their infancy without adopting PLM. Hence to enhance their understanding, the basic concepts, the tools and strategies for PLM are presented is this paper. By selecting and implementing appropriate PLM strategies in a small foundry, an attempt was also made to understand the immediate benefits of using PLM tools (commercial PLM software and digital manufacturing tools). This study indicated a reduction in lead time and improved utilization of organizational resources in the production of automobile impeller. These observations may be further extrapolated to other multiproduct, multi-discipline and multi-customer companies to realize the advantages of using PLM technology

Miniature thermo-electric cooled cryogenic pump

DOEpatents

Keville, R.F.

1997-11-18

A miniature thermo-electric cooled cryogenic pump is described for removing residual water molecules from an inlet sample prior to sample analysis in a mass spectroscopy system, such as ion cyclotron resonance (ICR) mass spectroscopy. The cryogenic pump is a battery operated, low power (<1.6 watts) pump with a {Delta}T=100 C characteristic. The pump operates under vacuum pressures of 5{times}10{sup {minus}4} Torr to ultra high vacuum (UHV) conditions in the range of 1{times}10{sup {minus}7} to 3{times}10{sup {minus}9} Torr and will typically remove partial pressure, 2{times}10{sup {minus}7} Torr, residual water vapor. The cryogenic pump basically consists of an inlet flange piece, a copper heat sink with a square internal bore, four two tier Peltier (TEC) chips, a copper low temperature square cross sectional tubulation, an electronic receptacle, and an exit flange piece, with the low temperature tubulation being retained in the heat sink at a bias angle of 5{degree}, and with the TECs being positioned in parallel to each other with a positive potential being applied to the top tier thereof. 2 figs.

Miniature thermo-electric cooled cryogenic pump

DOEpatents

Keville, Robert F.

1997-01-01

A miniature thermo-electric cooled cryogenic pump for removing residual water molecules from an inlet sample prior to sample analysis in a mass spectroscopy system, such as ion cyclotron resonance (ICR) mass spectroscopy. The cryogenic pump is a battery operated, low power (<1.6 watts) pump with a .DELTA.T=100.degree. C. characteristic. The pump operates under vacuum pressures of 5.times.10.sup.-4 Torr to ultra high vacuum (UHV) conditions in the range of 1.times.10.sup.-7 to 3.times.10.sup.-9 Torr and will typically remove partial pressure, 2.times.10.sup.-7 Torr, residual water vapor. The cryogenic pump basically consists of an inlet flange piece, a copper heat sink with a square internal bore, four two tier Peltier (TEC) chips, a copper low temperature square cross sectional tubulation, an electronic receptacle, and an exit flange piece, with the low temperature tubulation being retained in the heat sink at a bias angle of 5.degree., and with the TECs being positioned in parallel to each other with a positive potential being applied to the top tier thereof.

40 CFR 87.23 - Exhaust emission standards for Tier 6 and Tier 8 engines.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... and Tier 8 engines. 87.23 Section 87.23 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) AIR PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) CONTROL OF AIR POLLUTION FROM AIRCRAFT AND AIRCRAFT ENGINES Exhaust Emissions (New Aircraft Gas Turbine Engines) § 87.23 Exhaust emission standards for Tier 6 and Tier 8...

40 CFR 87.23 - Exhaust emission standards for Tier 6 and Tier 8 engines.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... and Tier 8 engines. 87.23 Section 87.23 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) AIR PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) CONTROL OF AIR POLLUTION FROM AIRCRAFT AND AIRCRAFT ENGINES Exhaust Emissions (New Aircraft Gas Turbine Engines) § 87.23 Exhaust emission standards for Tier 6 and Tier 8...

Which Tier? Effects of Linear Assessment and Student Characteristics on GCSE Entry Decisions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vitello, Sylvia; Crawford, Cara

2018-01-01

In England, students obtain General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) qualifications, typically at age 16. Certain GCSEs are tiered; students take either higher-level (higher tier) or lower-level (foundation tier) exams, which may have different educational, career and psychological consequences. In particular, foundation tier entry, if…

50 CFR 660.211 - Fixed gear fishery-definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... vessel registered to a limited entry fixed gear permit(s) with a Tier 1, Tier 2, and/or Tier 3... fishery or sablefish tier limit fishery means, for the limited entry fixed gear sablefish fishery north of... tier limit and when they are not eligible to fish in the DTL fishery. Sablefish primary season means...

How do quality information and cost affect patient choice of provider in a tiered network setting? Results from a survey.

PubMed

Sinaiko, Anna D

2011-04-01

To assess how quality information from multiple sources and financial incentives affect consumer choice of physicians in tiered physician networks. Survey of a stratified random sample of Massachusetts state employees. Respondents were assigned a hypothetical structure with differential copayments for "Tier 1" (preferred) and "Tier 2" (nonpreferred) physicians. Half of respondents were told they needed to select a cardiologist, and half were told they needed to select a dermatologist. Patients were asked whether they would choose a Tier 1 doctor, a Tier 2 doctor, or had no preference in a case where they had no further quality information, a case where a family member or friend recommended a Tier 2 doctor, and a case where their personal physician recommended a Tier 2 doctor. The effects of copayments, recommendations, physician specialty, and patient characteristics on the reported probability of selecting a Tier 1 doctor are analyzed using multinomial logit and logistic regression. Relative to a case where there is no copayment differential between tiers, copayment differences of U.S.$10-U.S.$35 increase the number of respondents indicating they would select a Tier 1 physician by 3.5-11.7 percent. Simulations suggest copayments must exceed U.S.$300 to counteract the recommendation for a lower tiered physician from friends, family, or a referring physician. Sensitivity to the copayments varied with physician specialty. Tiered provider networks with these copayment levels appear to have limited influence on physician choice when contradicted by other trusted sources. Consumers' response likely varies with physician specialty. © Health Research and Educational Trust.

Acute tier-1 and tier-2 effect assessment approaches in the EFSA Aquatic Guidance Document: are they sufficiently protective for insecticides?

PubMed

van Wijngaarden, René P A; Maltby, Lorraine; Brock, Theo C M

2015-08-01

The objective of this paper is to evaluate whether the acute tier-1 and tier-2 methods as proposed by the Aquatic Guidance Document recently published by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) are appropriate for deriving regulatory acceptable concentrations (RACs) for insecticides. The tier-1 and tier-2 RACs were compared with RACs based on threshold concentrations from micro/mesocosm studies (ETO-RAC). A lower-tier RAC was considered as sufficiently protective, if less than the corresponding ETO-RAC. ETO-RACs were calculated for repeated (n = 13) and/or single pulsed applications (n = 17) of 26 insecticides to micro/mesocosms, giving a maximum of 30 insecticide × application combinations (i.e. cases) for comparison. Acute tier-1 RACs (for 24 insecticides) were lower than the corresponding ETO-RACs in 27 out of 29 cases, while tier-2 Geom-RACs (for 23 insecticides) were lower in 24 out of 26 cases. The tier-2 SSD-RAC (for 21 insecticides) using HC5 /3 was lower than the ETO-RAC in 23 out of 27 cases, whereas the tier-2 SSD-RAC using HC5 /6 was protective in 25 out of 27 cases. The tier-1 and tier-2 approaches proposed by EFSA for acute effect assessment are sufficiently protective for the majority of insecticides evaluated. Further evaluation may be needed for insecticides with more novel chemistries (neonicotinoids, biopesticides) and compounds that show delayed effects (insect growth regulators). © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry.

Experiences and reflections of patients with motor neuron disease on breaking the news in a two-tiered appointment: a qualitative study.

PubMed

Seeber, Antje A; Pols, A Jeannette; Hijdra, Albert; Grupstra, Hepke F; Willems, Dick L; de Visser, Marianne

2016-02-02

Breaking bad news should be fine-tuned to the individual patient, contain intelligible information, include emotional support and offer a tailor-made treatment plan. To achieve this goal in motor neuron disease (MND), neurologists of the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) centre Amsterdam deliver the message on 2 separate visits within 14 days. To evaluate how patients with MND react to and view disclosure of the diagnosis, in this 2-tiered approach. Non-participating observations and in-depth interviews with patients were conducted in 1 tertiary ALS referral centre. Qualitative analysis consisted of inductive analysis of observation reports and verbatim typed out interviews. 10 2-tiered appointments were observed and 21 Dutch patients with MND interviewed. They experienced the straightforward message to be suffering from a fatal disease as devastating, yet unavoidable. The prospect of a short-term second appointment offered structure for the period immediately following the diagnosis. The time between appointments provided the opportunity for a first reorientation on their changed perspective on their life. The second appointment allowed for detailed discussions about various aspects of MND and a tailor-made treatment plan. The 2-tiered approach fits well with the way in which Dutch patients with MND process the disclosure of their diagnosis, gather information and handle the changed perspective on their life. It may serve as a model for other life-limiting diseases. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/

MADGE: scalable distributed data management software for cDNA microarrays.

PubMed

McIndoe, Richard A; Lanzen, Aaron; Hurtz, Kimberly

2003-01-01

The human genome project and the development of new high-throughput technologies have created unparalleled opportunities to study the mechanism of diseases, monitor the disease progression and evaluate effective therapies. Gene expression profiling is a critical tool to accomplish these goals. The use of nucleic acid microarrays to assess the gene expression of thousands of genes simultaneously has seen phenomenal growth over the past five years. Although commercial sources of microarrays exist, investigators wanting more flexibility in the genes represented on the array will turn to in-house production. The creation and use of cDNA microarrays is a complicated process that generates an enormous amount of information. Effective data management of this information is essential to efficiently access, analyze, troubleshoot and evaluate the microarray experiments. We have developed a distributable software package designed to track and store the various pieces of data generated by a cDNA microarray facility. This includes the clone collection storage data, annotation data, workflow queues, microarray data, data repositories, sample submission information, and project/investigator information. This application was designed using a 3-tier client server model. The data access layer (1st tier) contains the relational database system tuned to support a large number of transactions. The data services layer (2nd tier) is a distributed COM server with full database transaction support. The application layer (3rd tier) is an internet based user interface that contains both client and server side code for dynamic interactions with the user. This software is freely available to academic institutions and non-profit organizations at http://www.genomics.mcg.edu/niddkbtc.

47 CFR 69.119 - Basic service element expedited approval process.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 47 Telecommunication 3 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Basic service element expedited approval... CARRIER SERVICES (CONTINUED) ACCESS CHARGES Computation of Charges § 69.119 Basic service element... approval of new basic service elements are those indicated in § 1.45 of the rules, except as specified...

47 CFR 69.119 - Basic service element expedited approval process.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 47 Telecommunication 3 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Basic service element expedited approval... CARRIER SERVICES (CONTINUED) ACCESS CHARGES Computation of Charges § 69.119 Basic service element... approval of new basic service elements are those indicated in § 1.45 of the rules, except as specified...

47 CFR 69.119 - Basic service element expedited approval process.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 47 Telecommunication 3 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Basic service element expedited approval... CARRIER SERVICES (CONTINUED) ACCESS CHARGES Computation of Charges § 69.119 Basic service element... approval of new basic service elements are those indicated in § 1.45 of the rules, except as specified...

47 CFR 69.119 - Basic service element expedited approval process.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... 47 Telecommunication 3 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Basic service element expedited approval... CARRIER SERVICES (CONTINUED) ACCESS CHARGES Computation of Charges § 69.119 Basic service element... approval of new basic service elements are those indicated in § 1.45 of the rules, except as specified...

Planning for complementarity : an examination of the role and opportunities of first-tier and second-tier cities along the high-speed rail network in California.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-03-01

The coming of California High-Speed Rail (HSR) offers opportunities for positive urban transformations in both first-tier and second-tier cities. The research in this report explores the different but complementary roles that first-tier and second-ti...

50 CFR 86.53 - What are funding tiers?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 50 Wildlife and Fisheries 6 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false What are funding tiers? 86.53 Section 86... project merits. (d) We describe the two tiers as follows: (1) Tier One Projects. (i) You may submit a... $100,000 of Federal funds for any given fiscal year. (ii) Tier One projects must meet the eligibility...

Effects of a Tier 3 Self-Management Intervention Implemented with and without Treatment Integrity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lower, Ashley; Young, K. Richard; Christensen, Lynnette; Caldarella, Paul; Williams, Leslie; Wills, Howard

2016-01-01

This study investigated the effects of a Tier 3 peer-matching self-management intervention on two elementary school students who had previously been less responsive to Tier 1 and Tier 2 interventions. The Tier 3 self-management intervention, which was implemented in the general education classrooms, included daily electronic communication between…

Tier 2 Interventions in Positive Behavior Support: A Survey of School Implementation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rodriguez, Billie Jo; Loman, Sheldon L.; Borgmeier, Christopher

2016-01-01

As increasing numbers of schools implement Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), schools are looking for and implementing evidence-based practices for students whose needs are not fully met by Tier 1 supports. Although there is relative consistency and clarity in what constitutes Tier 1 behavior support within MTSS, Tier 2 supports may be more…

Train the trainer? A randomized controlled trial of a multi-tiered oral health education programme in community-based residential services for adults with intellectual disability.

PubMed

Mac Giolla Phadraig, Caoimhin; Guerin, Suzanne; Nunn, June

2013-04-01

To assess the impact of a multi-tiered oral health education programme on care staff caring for people with intellectual disability (ID). Postal questionnaires were sent to all care staff of a community-based residential care service for adults, randomly assigned to control and intervention groups. A specifically developed training programme was delivered to residential staff nominees, who then trained all staff within the intervention group. The control group received no training. Post-test questionnaires were sent to both groups. Paired-samples t-test was used to compare oral health-related knowledge (K) and behaviour, attitude and self-efficacy (BAS) scores. Of the initial 219 respondents, 154 (response rate between 40% and 35.8%, with attrition rate of 29.7% from baseline to repeat) returned completed questionnaires at post-test (M=8.5 months, range=6.5-11 months). Control and intervention groups were comparable for general training, employment and demographic variables. In the intervention group, mean Knowledge Index score rose from K=7.2 to K=7.9 (P<0.001) and mean BAS scale score rose from BAS=4.7 to BAS=5.4 (P<0.001). There was no statistically significant increase in mean scores from test (K=7.0, BAS=4.7) to post-test (K=7.2, BAS=4.9) for the control group. Mean scores regarding knowledge, attitude, self-efficacy and reported behaviour increased significantly at 8.5 months in staff where training was provided. The results indicate that a multi-tiered training programme improved knowledge, attitude, self-efficacy and reported behaviour amongst staff caring for people with ID. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Spectacle dispensing in Timor-Leste: tiered-pricing, cross-subsidization and financial viability.

PubMed

Ramke, Jacqueline; Brian, Garry; Palagyi, Anna

2012-08-01

To examine the financial viability of the Timor-Leste National Spectacle Program as it increases spectacle availability, affordability and uptake, particularly for Timor's poor. In rural areas, three models of ready-made spectacles were dispensed according to a tiered pricing structure of US$3.00, 1.00, 0.10 and 0.00. In addition, custom-made spectacles were available in the capital, Dili. Spectacle costs, dispensing data and income for the National Spectacle Program for 18 months from March 2007 were analyzed. Rural services dispensed 3415 readymade spectacles: 47.1% to women, and 51.4% at subsidized prices, being 39.8% at US$0.10 and 11.6% free. A profit of US$1,529 was generated, mainly from the sale of US$3.00 spectacles. Women (odds ratio, OR, 1.3, 95% confidence interval, CI, 1.1-1.4) and consumers aged ≥65 years (OR 2.1; 95% CI 1.7-2.6) were more likely to receive subsidized spectacles. Urban services dispensed 2768 spectacles; mostly US$3.00 readymade (52.8%) and custom-made single vision (29.6%) units. Custom-made spectacles accounted for 36.7% of dispensing, but 73.1% of the US$12,264 urban profit. The combined rural and urban profit covered all rural costs, leaving US$2,200 to meet administration and other urban expenses. It is instructive and encouraging that a national spectacle dispensing program in one of the ten poorest countries of the world can use tiered-pricing based on willingness-to-pay information to cover spectacle stock replacement costs and produce profit, while using cross-subsidization to provide spectacles to the poor.

Substantiation of basic scheme of grain cleaning machine for preparation of agricultural crops seeds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Giyevskiy, A. M.; Orobinsky, V. I.; Tarasenko, A. P.; Chernyshov, A. V.; Kurilov, D. O.

2018-03-01

The article presents data on the feasibility of the concept of a high-efficiency seed cleaner with the consistent use of the air flow in aspiration and the multi-tier placement of the sorting grids in grating mills. As a result of modeling, the directions for further improvement of air-screen seed cleaning machines have been identified: an increase in the proportion of sorting grids in the mills up to 70 ... 80% and an increase in the speed of the air flow in the channel of the pre-filter cleaning up to 8.0 m / s. Experiments have established the competence of using mathematical modeling of airflow in the pneumatic system with the use of a finite-volume method for solving hydrodynamic equations for substantiating the basic parameters of the pneumatic system.

The changing role of the medical technologist from technologist to information specialist.

PubMed

Miller, W G

2000-01-01

Pathology laboratory services are dependent on the laboratory information system (LIS) to organize the work, manage the operation, and communicate the results for effective laboratory medicine. For maximum efficiency, staffing for the LIS should be an integral component of laboratory operations and is facilitated by a two-tier structure. A core LIS staff provides system support and continuous services. A group of bench medical technologists have multitasking responsibilities, including LIS support for a specific laboratory work area. The two components form a team that uses staff efficiently to provide ongoing operational services and flexibility for problem solving and new functionality implementation.

Effects of Tier 2 and Tier 3 Mathematics Interventions for Second Graders with Mathematics Difficulties

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dennis, Minyi Shih

2015-01-01

Two studies were conducted to examine the effects of Tier 2 and Tier 3 mathematics interventions on students with mathematics learning difficulties. In the first study, the work of Bryant et al. was replicated and expanded upon by documenting the sustained effects of a Tier 2 mathematics intervention on mathematics performance by second graders.…

Building Tier 3 Intervention for Long-Term Slow Growers in Grades 3-4: A Pilot Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sanchez, Victoria; O'Connor, Rollanda E.

2015-01-01

Tier 3 interventions are necessary for students who fail to respond adequately to Tier 1 general education instruction and Tier 2 supplemental reading intervention instruction. We identified 8 students in 3rd and 4th grade who had demonstrated a slow response to Tier 2 reading interventions for three years. Students participated in a…

40 CFR 1033.102 - Transition to the standards of this part.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... Tier 0 and Tier 1 standards of § 1033.101 apply for new locomotives beginning January 1, 2010, except as specified in § 1033.150(a). The Tier 0 and Tier 1 standards of 40 CFR part 92 apply for earlier... locomotives beginning January 1, 2013. The Tier 2 standards of 40 CFR part 92 apply for earlier model years...

Assessment of the concordance among 2-tier, 3-tier, and 5-tier fetal heart rate classification systems.

PubMed

Gyamfi Bannerman, Cynthia; Grobman, William A; Antoniewicz, Leah; Hutchinson, Maria; Blackwell, Sean

2011-09-01

In 2008, a National Institute of Child Health and Human Development/Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine-sponsored workshop on electronic fetal monitoring recommended a new fetal heart tracing interpretation system. Comparison of this 3-tier system with other systems is lacking. Our purpose was to determine the relationships between fetal heart rate categories for the 3 existing systems. Three Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialists reviewed 120 fetal heart rates. All tracings were from term, singleton pregnancies with known umbilical artery pH. The fetal heart rates were classified by a 2-tier, 3-tier, and 5-tier system. Each Maternal-Fetal Medicine examiner reviewed 120 fetal heart rate segments. When compared with the 2-tier system, 0%, 54%, and 100% tracings in categories 1, 2, and 3 were "nonreassuring." There was strong concordance between category 1 and "green" as well as category 3 and "red" tracings. The 3-tier and 5-tier systems were similar in fetal heart rate interpretations for tracings that were either very normal or very abnormal. Whether one system is superior to the others in predicting fetal acidemia remains unknown. Copyright © 2011 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Visual query tool for finding patient cohorts from a clinical data warehouse of the partners HealthCare system

PubMed Central

Murphy, SN; Barnett, GO; Chueh, HC

2000-01-01

The patient base of the Partners HealthCare System in Boston exceeds 1.8 million. Many of these patients are desirable for participation in research studies. To facilitate their discovery, we developed a data warehouse to contain clinical characteristics of these patients. The data warehouse contains diagnosis and procedures from administrative databases. The patients are indexed across institutions and their demographics provided by an Enterprise Master Patient Indexing service. Characteristics of the diagnoses and procedures such as associated providers, dates of service, inpatient/outpatient status, and other visit-related characteristics are also fed from the administrative systems. The targeted users of this system are research clinician s interested in finding patient cohorts for research studies. Their data requirements were analyzed and have been reported elsewhere. We did not expect the clinicians to become expert users of the system. Tools for querying healthcare data have traditionally been text based, although graphical interfaces have been pursued. In order to support the simple drag and drop visual model, as well as the identification and distribution of the patient data, a three-tier software architecture was developed. The user interface was developed in Visual Basic and distributed as an ActiveX object embedded in an HTML page. The middle layer was developed in Java and Microsoft COM. The queries are represented throughout their lifetime as XML objects, and the Microsoft SQL7 database is queried and managed in standard SQL. PMID:11080028

Visual query tool for finding patient cohorts from a clinical data warehouse of the partners HealthCare system

PubMed

Murphy; Barnett; Chueh

2000-01-01

The patient base of the Partners HealthCare System in Boston exceeds 1.8 million. Many of these patients are desirable for participation in research studies. To facilitate their discovery, we developed a data warehouse to contain clinical characteristics of these patients. The data warehouse contains diagnosis and procedures from administrative databases. The patients are indexed across institutions and their demographics provided by an Enterprise Master Patient Indexing service. Characteristics of the diagnoses and procedures such as associated providers, dates of service, inpatient/outpatient status, and other visit-related characteristics are also fed from the administrative systems. The targeted users of this system are research clinician s interested in finding patient cohorts for research studies. Their data requirements were analyzed and have been reported elsewhere. We did not expect the clinicians to become expert users of the system. Tools for querying healthcare data have traditionally been text based, although graphical interfaces have been pursued. In order to support the simple drag and drop visual model, as well as the identification and distribution of the patient data, a three-tier software architecture was developed. The user interface was developed in Visual Basic and distributed as an ActiveX object embedded in an HTML page. The middle layer was developed in Java and Microsoft COM. The queries are represented throughout their lifetime as XML objects, and the Microsoft SQL7 database is queried and managed in standard SQL.

Modular and scalable RESTful API to sustain STAR collaboration's record keeping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arkhipkin, D.; Lauret, J.; Shanmuganathan, P. V.

2015-12-01

STAR collaboration's record system is a collection of heterogeneous and sparse information associated to each members and institutions. In its original incarnation, only flat information was stored revealing many restrictions such as the lack of historical change information, the inability to keep track of members leaving and re-joining STAR, or the ability to easily extend the saved information as new requirements appeared. In mid-2013, a new project was launched covering an extensive set of revisited requirements. The requirements led us to a design based on a RESTful API, back-end storage engine relying on key/value pair data representation model coupled with a tiered architecture design. This design was motivated by the fact that unifying many STAR tools, relying on the same business logic and storage engine, was a key and central feature for the maintainability and presentation of records. This central service API would leave no ambiguities and provide easy service integration between STAR tools. The new design stores the changes in records dynamically and allows tracking the changes chronologically. The storage engine is extensible as new field of information emerges (member specific or general) without affecting the presentation or the business logic layers. The new record system features a convenient administrative interface, fuzzy algorithms for data entry and search, and provides basic statistics and graphs. Finally, this modular approach is supplemented with access control, allowing private information and administrative operations to be hidden away from public eyes.

Army Air Force Exchange Service Service (AAFES) Station Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida Final Tiered Environmental Assessment

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-04-20

Unts orl!i_gh t operations : t ~cr£_fore._l]~_i mpact~ to airspau: usc and management. Noise Increased noi se from construct ion and de mol it ion...DEP Northwest District Branch Office in Panama City confirms that a storm water managemen t system and storm water environmental resource permit...il ities and to construc t one bu ildi ng (7,320 square feet) to replace these old and inadequate fac iliti es. The new fac ili ty would include a

Protocol for Tier 2 Evaluation of Vapor Intrusion at Corrective Action Sites

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-07-01

622.92 600.12 437.08 433.44 411.1 Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6) by NIOSH 6602 Modified Sulfur Hexafluoride 600 130 380 290 120 370 Notes: 1. VOC and SF6...6602 Modified Sulfur Hexafluoride 2400 2600 24 1500 260 14 18 1000 Notes: 1. VOC and SF6 samples were analyzed by Columbia Analytical Services, Inc. in...NIOSH 6602 Modified Sulfur Hexafluoride 3900 15 1800 1700 24 1600 Notes: 1. VOC and SF6 samples were analyzed by Columbia Analytical Services, Inc. in

The advantage of calculating emission reduction with local emission factor in South Sumatera region

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Buchari, Erika

2017-11-01

Green House Gases (GHG) which have different Global Warming Potential, usually expressed in CO2 equivalent. German has succeeded in emission reduction of CO2 in year 1990s, while Japan since 2001 increased load factor of public transports. Indonesia National Medium Term Development Plan, 2015-2019, has set up the target of minimum 26% and maximum 41% National Emission Reduction in 2019. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), defined three types of accuracy in counting emission of GHG, as tier 1, tier 2, and tier 3. In tier 1, calculation is based on fuel used and average emission (default), which is obtained from statistical data. While in tier 2, calculation is based fuel used and local emission factors. Tier 3 is more accurate from those in tier 1 and 2, and the calculation is based on fuel used from modelling method or from direct measurement. This paper is aimed to evaluate the calculation with tier 2 and tier 3 in South Sumatera region. In 2012, Regional Action Plan for Greenhouse Gases of South Sumatera for 2020 is about 6,569,000 ton per year and with tier 3 is about without mitigation and 6,229,858.468 ton per year. It was found that the calculation in tier 3 is more accurate in terms of fuel used of variation vehicles so that the actions of mitigation can be planned more realistically.

A Two-Tier Multiple Choice Questions to Diagnose Thermodynamic Misconception of Thai and Laos Students

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kamcharean, Chanwit; Wattanakasiwich, Pornrat

The objective of this study was to diagnose misconceptions of Thai and Lao students in thermodynamics by using a two-tier multiple-choice test. Two-tier multiple choice questions consist of the first tier, a content-based question and the second tier, a reasoning-based question. Data of student understanding was collected by using 10 two-tier multiple-choice questions. Thai participants were the first-year students (N = 57) taking a fundamental physics course at Chiang Mai University in 2012. Lao participants were high school students in Grade 11 (N = 57) and Grade 12 (N = 83) at Muengnern high school in Xayaboury province, Lao PDR. As results, most students answered content-tier questions correctly but chose incorrect answers for reason-tier questions. When further investigating their incorrect reasons, we found similar misconceptions as reported in previous studies such as incorrectly relating pressure with temperature when presenting with multiple variables.

Tier II Interventions within the Framework of School-Wide Positive Behavior Support: Essential Features for Design, Implementation, and Maintenance.

PubMed

Anderson, Cynthia M; Borgmeier, Chris

2010-01-01

To meet the complex social behavioral and academic needs of all students, schools benefit from having available multiple evidence-based interventions of varying intensity. School-wide positive behavior support provides a framework within which a continuum of evidence-based interventions can be implemented in a school. This framework includes three levels or tiers of intervention; Tier I (primary or universal), Tier II (secondary or targeted), and Tier III (tertiary or individualized) supports. In this paper we review the logic behind school-wide positive behavior support and then focus on Tier II interventions, as this level of support has received the least attention in the literature. We delineate the key features of Tier II interventions as implemented within school-wide positive behavior support, provide guidelines for matching Tier II interventions to school and student needs, and describe how schools plan for implementation and maintenance of selected interventions.

Take the Community College Route to a Selective Public University Degree. Student Affairs Research & Information. AIR 2001 Annual Forum Paper.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chatman, Steve

This document, from the University of California, Davis, reports that California's three-tiered higher education system is committed to both open-access and selective admissions. Community college to four-year institution transfer programs are being pressed into service to meet both anticipated population growth and increased demand and to…

A Preliminary Investigation into the Added Value of Multiple Gates and Informants in Universal Screening for Behavioral and Emotional Risk

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dowdy, Erin; Dever, Bridget V.; Raines, Tara C.; Moffa, Kathryn

2016-01-01

Mental health screening in schools is a progressive practice to identify students for prevention and intervention services. Multiple gating procedures, in which students are provided more intensive assessments following initial identification of risk, are aligned with prevention science and poised to enhance multi-tiered systems of support. Yet,…

Comparison Between Navy and Army Implementation of SIOH and Recommendations for Navy Implementation

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-12-01

8 Figure 3. NAVFAC Matrix Organization and Relationship .......................................9 Figure 4. Matrix Roles...Program DFAS Defense Finance and Accounting Service DOD Department of Defense DOH Departmental Overhead EFA Engineering Field Activity EFD...Command (NAVFAC). (2015). Concept of operations. Washington, DC: Author. p. 8 8 NAVFAC is organized both as a tiered organization, and as a matrix

Accountability Steps for Highly Reluctant Speech: Tiered-Services Consultation in a Head Start Classroom

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Howe, Heather; Barnett, David

2013-01-01

This consultation description reports parent and teacher problem solving for a preschool child with no typical speech directed to teachers or peers, and, by parent report, normal speech at home. This child's initial pattern of speech was similar to selective mutism, a low-incidence disorder often first detected during the preschool years, but…

A Four-Level Hierarchy for Organizing Wildland Stream Resource Information

Treesearch

Harry Parrott; Daniel A. Marion; R. Douglas Perkinson

1989-01-01

An analysis of current USDA Forest Service methods of collecting and using wildland stream resource data indicates that required information can be organized into a four-level hierarchy. Information at each level is tiered with information at the preceding level. Level 1 is the ASSOCIATION, which is differentiated by stream size and flow regime. Level 2, STREAM TYPE,...

High Performance Computing Multicast

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-02-01

responsiveness, first-tier applications often implement replicated in- memory key-value stores , using them to store state or to cache data from services...alternative that replicates data , combines agreement on update ordering with amnesia freedom, and supports both good scalability and fast response. A...alternative that replicates data , combines agreement on update ordering with amnesia freedom, and supports both good scalability and fast response

25 CFR 542.22 - What are the minimum internal control standards for internal audit for Tier A gaming operations?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... but not limited to, bingo card control, payout procedures, and cash reconciliation process; (ii) Pull... 25 Indians 2 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false What are the minimum internal control standards for... COMMISSION, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HUMAN SERVICES MINIMUM INTERNAL CONTROL STANDARDS § 542.22 What are...

25 CFR 542.32 - What are the minimum internal control standards for internal audit for Tier B gaming operations?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... but not limited to, bingo card control, payout procedures, and cash reconciliation process; (ii) Pull... 25 Indians 2 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false What are the minimum internal control standards for... COMMISSION, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HUMAN SERVICES MINIMUM INTERNAL CONTROL STANDARDS § 542.32 What are...

Special Education Reform Towards Inclusive Education: Blurring or Expanding Boundaries of Special and Regular Education in China

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Deng, Meng; Zhu, Xinhua

2016-01-01

China has developed a three-tier special education service delivery system consisting of an array of placement options of special schools, special classes and learning in regular classrooms (LRC) (with the LRC as the major initiative) to serve students with disabilities after 1980s responding to the international trend of inclusive education…

FY2012 National Defense Authorization Act: Selected Military Personnel Policy Issues

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-01-05

16 Policy on Military Recruitment and Enlistment of Graduates of Secondary Schools ...Secondary Schools Background: Prior to 1987, the Services had differing policies with regard to how they treated secondary educational credentials in the...complete his/her first term. Those most likely to finish their first term are in tier one and include recruits with a traditional high school diploma

78 FR 26836 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-05-08

... SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34-69503; File No. SR-NYSEArca-2013-44] Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Amending Its Schedule of Fees and Charges for Exchange Services To Amend Step Up Tier 2 to Reduce the Volume Threshold Requirements Needed To...

An MBS-Assisted Femtocell Transmit Power Control Scheme with Mobile User QoS Guarantee in 2-Tier Heterogeneous Femtocell Networks

PubMed Central

Yang, Chih-Cheng; Sheu, Shiann-Tsong

2013-01-01

This study investigates how to adjust the transmit power of femto base station (FBS) to mitigate interference problems between the FBSs and mobile users (MUs) in the 2-tier heterogeneous femtocell networks. A common baseline of deploying the FBS to increase the indoor access bandwidth requires that the FBS operation will not affect outdoor MUs operation with their quality-of-service (QoS) requirements. To tackle this technical problem, an FBS transmit power adjustment (FTPA) algorithm is proposed to adjust the FBS transmit power (FTP) to avoid unwanted cochannel interference (CCI) with the neighboring MUs in downlink transmission. FTPA reduces the FTP to serve its femto users (FUs) according to the QoS requirements of the nearest neighboring MUs to the FBS so that the MU QoS requirement is guaranteed. Simulation results demonstrate that FTPA can achieve a low MU outage probability as well as serve FUs without violating the MU QoS requirements. Simulation results also reveal that FTPA has better performance on voice and video services which are the major trend of future multimedia communication in the NGN. PMID:24391461

UPM: unified policy-based network management

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Law, Eddie; Saxena, Achint

2001-07-01

Besides providing network management to the Internet, it has become essential to offer different Quality of Service (QoS) to users. Policy-based management provides control on network routers to achieve this goal. The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) has proposed a two-tier architecture whose implementation is based on the Common Open Policy Service (COPS) protocol and Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP). However, there are several limitations to this design such as scalability and cross-vendor hardware compatibility. To address these issues, we present a functionally enhanced multi-tier policy management architecture design in this paper. Several extensions are introduced thereby adding flexibility and scalability. In particular, an intermediate entity between the policy server and policy rule database called the Policy Enforcement Agent (PEA) is introduced. By keeping internal data in a common format, using a standard protocol, and by interpreting and translating request and decision messages from multi-vendor hardware, this agent allows a dynamic Unified Information Model throughout the architecture. We have tailor-made this unique information system to save policy rules in the directory server and allow executions of policy rules with dynamic addition of new equipment during run-time.

Epidemiology of multiple sclerosis in U.S. veterans: 1. Race, sex, and geographic distribution.

PubMed

Kurtzke, J F; Beebe, G W; Norman, J E

1979-09-01

Five thousand three hundred five World War II and Korean conflict veterans who have been compensated by the Veterans Administration for multiple sclerosis (MS) were matched to controls on the basis of age, date of entry into military service, and branch of service. Case/control ratios for white males, white females, and black males were 1.04, 1.86, and 0.45, respectively. The coterminous 48 states, divided into three tiers on the basis of latitude, exhibited the well-known north-south gradient in risk: For all races and both sexes, case/control ratios were 1.41, 1.00, and 0.53 for the North, Middle, and South tiers. Both white females and black males showed this same north-to-south variation in risk. The case/control ratio for males of races other than black or white was 0.23, with possible deficits in risk for American Indians and Japanese-Americans. Filipinos and Hawaiian Japanese were significantly low-risk groups. These findings suggest that both a racial and a possibly genetic predisposition, as well as a geographically determined differential exposure to an environmental agent, are related to the risk of MS.

An MBS-assisted femtocell transmit power control scheme with mobile user QoS guarantee in 2-tier heterogeneous femtocell networks.

PubMed

Chen, Jenhui; Yang, Chih-Cheng; Sheu, Shiann-Tsong

2013-01-01

This study investigates how to adjust the transmit power of femto base station (FBS) to mitigate interference problems between the FBSs and mobile users (MUs) in the 2-tier heterogeneous femtocell networks. A common baseline of deploying the FBS to increase the indoor access bandwidth requires that the FBS operation will not affect outdoor MUs operation with their quality-of-service (QoS) requirements. To tackle this technical problem, an FBS transmit power adjustment (FTPA) algorithm is proposed to adjust the FBS transmit power (FTP) to avoid unwanted cochannel interference (CCI) with the neighboring MUs in downlink transmission. FTPA reduces the FTP to serve its femto users (FUs) according to the QoS requirements of the nearest neighboring MUs to the FBS so that the MU QoS requirement is guaranteed. Simulation results demonstrate that FTPA can achieve a low MU outage probability as well as serve FUs without violating the MU QoS requirements. Simulation results also reveal that FTPA has better performance on voice and video services which are the major trend of future multimedia communication in the NGN.

40 CFR 1043.50 - Approval of methods to meet Tier 1 retrofit NOX standards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 32 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Approval of methods to meet Tier 1... SUBJECT TO THE MARPOL PROTOCOL § 1043.50 Approval of methods to meet Tier 1 retrofit NOX standards... enable Pre-Tier 1 engines to meet the Tier 1 NOX standard of regulation 13 of Annex VI. Any person may...

40 CFR 92.305 - Credit generation and use calculation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... and Tier 1 PM line-haul credits; Std=0.59 g/kW-hr, for Tier 0 and Tier 1 PM switch credits; and Std.... For Tier 1 and Tier 2 engine families, the FEL may not exceed the limit established in § 92.304(k) for...). Consistent units are to be used throughout the calculation. (1) When useful life is expressed in terms of...

Building Tier 3 Intervention for Long-Term Slow Growers in Grades 3-4: A Pilot Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sanchez, Victoria M.; O'Connor, Rollanda E.

2015-01-01

Tier 3 interventions are necessary for improving the reading performance of students who fail to respond adequately to Tier 1 general education instruction and Tier 2 supplemental reading intervention. In this pilot study, we identified 8 students in 3rd and 4th grade who had demonstrated slow response to Tier 2 reading interventions for three…

Tier-specific evolution of match performance characteristics in the English Premier League: it's getting tougher at the top.

PubMed

Bradley, Paul S; Archer, David T; Hogg, Bob; Schuth, Gabor; Bush, Michael; Carling, Chris; Barnes, Chris

2016-01-01

This study investigated the evolution of physical and technical performances in the English Premier League (EPL), with special reference to league ranking. Match performance observations (n = 14,700) were collected using a multiple-camera computerised tracking system across seven consecutive EPL seasons (2006-07 to 2012-13). Final league rankings were classified into Tiers: (A) 1st-4th ranking (n = 2519), (B) 5th-8th ranking (n = 2965), (C) 9th-14th ranking (n = 4448) and (D) 15th-20th ranking (n = 4768). Teams in Tier B demonstrated moderate increases in high-intensity running distance while in ball possession from the 2006-07 to 2012-13 season (P < 0.001; effect size [ES]: 0.68), with Tiers A, C and D producing less pronounced increases across the same period (P < 0.005; ES: 0.26, 0.41 and 0.33, respectively). Large increases in sprint distance were observed from the 2006-07 to 2012-13 season for Tier B (P < 0.001; ES: 1.21), while only moderate increases were evident for Tiers A, C and D (P < 0.001; ES: 0.75, 0.97 and 0.84, respectively). Tier B demonstrated large increases in the number of passes performed and received in 2012-13 compared to 2006-07 (P < 0.001; ES: 1.32-1.53) with small-to-moderate increases in Tier A (P < 0.001; ES: 0.30-0.38), Tier C (P < 0.001; ES: 0.46-0.54) and Tier D (P < 0.001; ES: 0.69-0.87). The demarcation line between 4th (bottom of Tier A) and 5th ranking (top of Tier B) in the 2006-07 season was 8 points, but this decreased to just a single point in the 2012-13 season. The data demonstrate that physical and technical performances have evolved more in Tier B than any other Tier in the EPL and could indicate a narrowing of the performance gap between the top two Tiers.

The advantages of intermediate-tier, inter-optometric referral of low risk pigmented lesions.

PubMed

Ly, Angelica; Nivison-Smith, Lisa; Hennessy, Michael; Kalloniatis, Michael

2017-11-01

Pigmented ocular lesions are commonly encountered by eye-care professionals, and range from benign to sight or life-threatening. After identifying a lesion, the primary care professional must establish the likely diagnosis and decide either to reassure, to monitor or to refer. The increasing use of ocular imaging technologies has contributed to an increase in the detection rate of pigmented lesions and a higher number of referrals, which may challenge existing pathways of health-care delivery. Specialist services may be over-burdened by referring all patients with pigmented lesions for an opinion, while inter-optometric referrals are underutilised. The aim of this study was to describe the referral patterns of pigmented lesions to an optometry led intermediate-tier collaborative care clinic. We performed a retrospective review of patient records using the list of patients examined at Centre for Eye Health (CFEH) for an initial or follow up pigmented lesion assessment between the 1/7/2013 and the 30/6/2016. Analysis was performed on: patient demographic characteristics, the referrer's tentative diagnosis, CFEH diagnosis and recommended management plan. Across 182 patient records, the primary lesion prompting referral was usually located in the posterior segment: choroidal naevus (105/182, 58%), congenital hypertrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium (CHRPE; 11/182, 6%), chorioretinal scarring (10/182, 5%) or not specified (52/182, 29%). Referrals described a specific request for ocular imaging in 25 instances (14%). The number of cases with a non-specific diagnosis was reduced after intermediate-tier care assessment (from 29% to 10%), while the number of diagnoses with less common conditions rose (from 2% to 21%). There was a 2% false positive referral rate to intermediate-tier care and a first visit discharge rate of 35%. A minority required on-referral to an ophthalmologist (22/182, 12%), either for unrelated incidental ocular findings, or suspicious choroidal naevi. Conditions most amenable to optometric follow up included: 1) chorioretinal scarring, 2) choroidal naevus, and 3) CHRPE. Intermediate-tier optometric eye-care in pigmented lesions (following opportunistic primary care screening) has the potential to reduce the number of cases with non-specific diagnoses and to increase those with less common diagnoses. The majority of cases seen under this intermediate-tier model required only ongoing optometric surveillance. © 2017 The Authors. Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of College of Optometrists.

Incentive pricing and cost recovery at the basin scale.

PubMed

Ward, Frank A; Pulido-Velazquez, Manuel

2009-01-01

Incentive pricing programs have potential to promote economically efficient water use patterns and provide a revenue source to compensate for environmental damages. However, incentive pricing may impose disproportionate costs and aggravate poverty where high prices are levied for basic human needs. This paper presents an analysis of a two-tiered water pricing system that sets a low price for subsistence needs, while charging a price equal to marginal cost, including environmental cost, for discretionary uses. This pricing arrangement can promote efficient and sustainable water use patterns, goals set by the European Water Framework Directive, while meeting subsistence needs of poor households. Using data from the Rio Grande Basin of North America, a dynamic nonlinear program, maximizes the basin's total net economic and environmental benefits subject to several hydrological and institutional constraints. Supply costs, environmental costs, and resource costs are integrated in a model of a river basin's hydrology, economics, and institutions. Three programs are compared: (1) Law of the River, in which water allocations and prices are determined by rules governing water transfers; (2) marginal cost pricing, in which households pay the full marginal cost of supplying treated water; (3) two-tiered pricing, in which households' subsistence water needs are priced cheaply, while discretionary uses are priced at efficient levels. Compared to the Law of the River and marginal cost pricing, two-tiered pricing performs well for efficiency and adequately for sustainability and equity. Findings provide a general framework for formulating water pricing programs that promote economically and environmentally efficient water use programs while also addressing other policy goals.

Effects of a consumer driven health plan on pharmaceutical spending and utilization.

PubMed

Parente, Stephen T; Feldman, Roger; Chen, Song

2008-10-01

To compare pharmaceutical spending and utilization in a consumer driven health plan (CDHP) with a three-tier pharmacy benefit design, and to examine whether the CDHP creates incentives to reduce pharmaceutical spending and utilization for chronically ill patients, generic or brand name drugs, and mail-order drugs. Retrospective insurance claims analysis from a large employer that introduced a CDHP in 2001 in addition to a point of service (POS) plan and a preferred provider organization (PPO), both of which used a three-tier pharmacy benefit. Difference-in-differences regression models were estimated for drug spending and utilization. Control variables included the employee's income, age, and gender, number of covered lives per contract, election of flexible spending account, health status, concurrent health shock, cohort, and time trend. Results. CDHP pharmaceutical expenditures were lower than those in the POS cohort in 1 year without differences in the use of brand name drugs. We find limited evidence of less drug consumption by CDHP enrollees with chronic illnesses, and some evidence of less generic drug use and more mail-order drug use among CDHP members. The CDHP is cost-neutral or cost-saving to both the employer and the employee compared with three-tier benefits with no differences in brand name drug use. © Health Research and Educational Trust.

Rural Clinician Evaluation of Children's Health Care Quality Measures: An Oregon Rural Practice-based Research Network (ORPRN) Study.

PubMed

Fagnan, Lyle J; Michaels, LeAnn; Ramsey, Katrina; Shearer, Stefan; Droppers, Oliver; Gallia, Charles

2015-01-01

Responding to quality metrics is an accepted and expected component of the current health care environment. Little is known about which measures physicians identify as a priority when reporting the quality of care to their patients, especially the care of children in rural settings. The objective of this study is for physicians caring for children in rural communities to identify which of the initial core sets of 24 child health quality measures are useful and are a priority for reporting and improving care. A survey was sent to rural Oregon physicians who provide care to children. Of 955 eligible physicians, 172 (18%) completed the survey. The majority of respondents were family physicians (84%), and most respondents (58%) were in private practice. The child health measures stratified into 3 priority tiers: high, medium, and low priority. The top-tier priority measures included childhood immunization status, well-child visits, adolescent immunization status, body mass index assessment, and developmental screening. Dental treatment services, adequate prenatal care, and lower-birth-weight infants were among the lower-tier measures. The priority measures identified by rural family physicians reflect the relevance of the selected measures to their daily practice responsibilities, with missed opportunities to improve community health. © Copyright 2015 by the American Board of Family Medicine.

Pediatric blood volumes: a one-page reference guide.

PubMed

Smiley, J; Reitan, J

1998-10-01

At our institution, a multidisciplinary team met to work out a blood volume policy for our pediatric patients' laboratory testing. Because we are a cancer center, many of our patients are on protocols and/or are in the hospital for an extended period of time. These factors result in multiple blood draws. It is important to manage the volumes used so that we do not compromise the hematological status of our pediatric patients. The concerns of nurses and laboratory technologists were discussed and a three-tiered system was designed consisting of adult volumes, volumes for < 20-kg patients, and volumes for < 10-kg patients. Each tier consists of less blood than the one above it but the cost for such a procedure is increased. Time to conduct the draw, the cost of equipment to do the draw, and inflexibility to verify or add to the original order without resticking the patient increase at each tier. It is imperative to the overall quality of care for all patients that discretion is used when following these guidelines. When it is medically prudent to restrict the blood volumes taken from any patient, it should be done. However, when it is not medically necessary, the increased costs and potential decrease in the quality of laboratory service outweighs the desire to use smaller blood volumes.

An Energy-Efficient Multi-Tier Architecture for Fall Detection on Smartphones

PubMed Central

Guvensan, M. Amac; Kansiz, A. Oguz; Camgoz, N. Cihan; Turkmen, H. Irem; Yavuz, A. Gokhan; Karsligil, M. Elif

2017-01-01

Automatic detection of fall events is vital to providing fast medical assistance to the causality, particularly when the injury causes loss of consciousness. Optimization of the energy consumption of mobile applications, especially those which run 24/7 in the background, is essential for longer use of smartphones. In order to improve energy-efficiency without compromising on the fall detection performance, we propose a novel 3-tier architecture that combines simple thresholding methods with machine learning algorithms. The proposed method is implemented on a mobile application, called uSurvive, for Android smartphones. It runs as a background service and monitors the activities of a person in daily life and automatically sends a notification to the appropriate authorities and/or user defined contacts when it detects a fall. The performance of the proposed method was evaluated in terms of fall detection performance and energy consumption. Real life performance tests conducted on two different models of smartphone demonstrate that our 3-tier architecture with feature reduction could save up to 62% of energy compared to machine learning only solutions. In addition to this energy saving, the hybrid method has a 93% of accuracy, which is superior to thresholding methods and better than machine learning only solutions. PMID:28644378

76 FR 11381 - Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries Off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-03-02

... calculate the fixed gear primary sablefish fishery tier limits for 2011 at a level that will reduce concerns..., 2011, NMFS is implementing the following decrease in the annual tier limits for sablefish for 2011 and beyond: From Tier 1 at 56,081-lb (25,437 kg), Tier 2 at 25,492-lb (11,562 kg), and Tier 3 at 14,567-lb (6...

Identifying Students for Secondary and Tertiary Prevention Efforts: How Do We Determine Which Students Have Tier 2 and Tier 3 Needs?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lane, Kathleen Lynne; Oakes, Wendy Peia; Ennis, Robin Parks; Hirsch, Shanna Eisner

2014-01-01

In comprehensive, integrated, three-tiered models, it is essential to have a systematic method for identifying students who need supports at Tier 2 or Tier 3. This article provides explicit information on how to use multiple sources of data to determine which students might benefit from these supports. First, the authors provide an overview of how…

Deficiencies in the availability of essential musculoskeletal surgical services at 883 health facilities in 24 low- and lower-middle-income countries.

PubMed

Spiegel, D A; Nduaguba, A; Cherian, M N; Monono, M; Kelley, E T

2015-06-01

The sequelae of acute musculoskeletal conditions, especially injuries and infections, are responsible for significant disability in low- and middle-income countries. This study characterizes the availability of selected musculoskeletal surgical services at different tiers of the health system in a convenience sample of 883 health facilities from 24 low- and lower-middle-income countries. Selected data points from the World Health Organization's (WHO) tool of situational analysis of surgical availability were extracted from the WHO's database in December, 2013. These included infrastructure, physical resources and supplies, interventions, and human resources. For a descriptive analysis, facilities were divided into two groups based on number of beds (<100, 100-300, and >300) and level of facility (primary referral, secondary/tertiary, and Private/NGO/Mission). Statistical comparison was made between public and Private/NGO/Mission facilities based on number of beds (≤100, 100-300, and >300) using a Chi-Square analysis, with statistical significance at p < 0.05. Significant deficiencies were noted in infrastructure, physical resources and supplies, and human resources for the provision of essential orthopedic surgical services at all tiers of the health system. Availability was significantly lower in public versus Private/NGO/Mission facilities for nearly all categories in facilities with ≤100 beds, and in a subset of measures in facilities with between 100 and 300 beds. Deficiencies in the availability of orthopedic surgical services were observed at all levels of health facility and were most pronounced at facilities with ≤100 beds in the public sector. Strengthening the delivery of essential surgical services, including orthopedics, at the primary referral level must be prioritized if we are to reduce the burden of death and disability from a variety of emergent health conditions. There were no sources of funding.

How do pre-service teachers picture various electromagnetic phenomenon? A qualitative study of pre-service teachers' conceptual understanding of fundamental electromagnetic interaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beer, Christopher P.

This study analyzes the nature of pre-service teachers' conceptual models of various electromagnetic phenomena, specifically electrical current, electrical resistance, and light/matter interactions. This is achieved through the students answering the three questions on electromagnetism using a free response approach including both verbal and pictorial representation. The student responses are then analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively utilizing a multi-tiered approach. These analyses include epistemological representation, misconceptions, correct conceptions, and the impact of high school physics exposure on student conceptions. This study is unique in three primary respects; the free response questionnaire approach, a subject group that consists of pre-service teachers, and a primarily female demographic.

A Five-Tier System for Improving the Categorization of Transplant Program Performance.

PubMed

Wey, Andrew; Salkowski, Nicholas; Kasiske, Bertram L; Israni, Ajay K; Snyder, Jon J

2018-06-01

To better inform health care consumers by better identifying differences in transplant program performance. Adult kidney transplants performed in the United States, January 1, 2012-June 30, 2014. In December 2016, the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients instituted a five-tier system for reporting transplant program performance. We compare the differentiation of program performance and the simulated misclassification rate of the five-tier system with the previous three-tier system based on the 95 percent credible interval. Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients database. The five-tier system improved differentiation and maintained a low misclassification rate of less than 22 percent for programs differing by two tiers. The five-tier system will better inform health care consumers of transplant program performance. © Health Research and Educational Trust.

Evaluation of bioMérieux's Dissociated Vidas Lyme IgM II and IgG II as a First-Tier Diagnostic Assay for Lyme Disease

PubMed Central

Delorey, Mark J.; Replogle, Adam; Sexton, Christopher; Schriefer, Martin E.

2017-01-01

ABSTRACT The recommended laboratory diagnostic approach for Lyme disease is a standard two-tiered testing (STTT) algorithm where the first tier is typically an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) that if positive or equivocal is reflexed to Western immunoblotting as the second tier. bioMérieux manufactures one of the most commonly used first-tier EIAs in the United States, the combined IgM/IgG Vidas test (LYT). Recently, bioMérieux launched its dissociated first-tier tests, the Vidas Lyme IgM II (LYM) and IgG II (LYG) EIAs, which use purified recombinant test antigens and a different algorithm than STTT. The dissociated LYM/LYG EIAs were evaluated against the combined LYT EIA using samples from 471 well-characterized Lyme patients and controls. Statistical analyses were conducted to assess the performance of these EIAs as first-tier tests and when used in two-tiered algorithms, including a modified two-tiered testing (MTTT) approach where the second-tier test was a C6 EIA. Similar sensitivities and specificities were obtained for the two testing strategies (LYT versus LYM/LYG) when used as first-tier tests (sensitivity, 83 to 85%; specificity, 85 to 88%) with an observed agreement of 80%. Sensitivities of 68 to 69% and 76 to 77% and specificities of 97% and 98 to 99% resulted when the two EIA strategies were followed by Western immunoblotting and when used in an MTTT, respectively. The MTTT approach resulted in significantly higher sensitivities than did STTT. Overall, the LYM/LYG EIAs performed equivalently to the LYT EIA in test-to-test comparisons or as first-tier assays in STTT or MTTT with few exceptions. PMID:28330884

A Prescription for Drug Formulary Evaluation: An Application of Price Indexes

PubMed Central

Glazer, Jacob; Huskamp, Haiden A.; McGuire, Thomas G.

2012-01-01

Existing economic approaches to the design and evaluation of health insurance do not readily apply to coverage decisions in the multi-tiered drug formularies characterizing drug coverage in private health insurance and Medicare. This paper proposes a method for evaluating a change in the value of a formulary to covered members based on the economic theory of price indexes. A formulary is cast as a set of demand-side prices, and our measure approximates the compensation (positive or negative) that would need to be paid to consumers to accept the new set of prices. The measure also incorporates any effect of the formulary change on plan drug acquisition costs and “offset effects” on non-drug services covered by the plan. Data needed to calculate formulary value are known or can be forecast by a health plan. We illustrate the method with data from a move from a two- to a three-tier formulary. PMID:23372543

Three Tier-Level Architecture Data Warehouse Design of Civil Servant Data in Minahasa Regency

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tangkawarow, I. R. H. T.; Runtuwene, J. P. A.; Sangkop, F. I.; Ngantung, L. V. F.

2018-02-01

Minahasa Regency is one of the regencies in North Sulawesi Province. In running the government in Minahasa Regency, a Regent is assisted by more than 6000 people Civil Servants (PNS) scattered in 60 SKPD. Badan Kepegawaian Diklat Daerah (BKDD) of Minahasa Regency is SKPD that performs data processing of all civil servants and is responsible for arranging and formatting civil servants. In the process of arranging and determining the formation of civil servants, many obstacles faced by BKDD. One of the obstacles is the unavailability of accurate data about the amount of educational background of civil servants based on rank/class, age, length of service, department, and so forth. The way to overcome the availability of data quickly and accurately is to do Business analytical. This process can be done by designing the data warehouse first. The design of data warehouse will be done by dividing it into three tiers of level.

LHCb experience with LFC replication

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bonifazi, F.; Carbone, A.; Perez, E. D.; D'Apice, A.; dell'Agnello, L.; Duellmann, D.; Girone, M.; Re, G. L.; Martelli, B.; Peco, G.; Ricci, P. P.; Sapunenko, V.; Vagnoni, V.; Vitlacil, D.

2008-07-01

Database replication is a key topic in the framework of the LHC Computing Grid to allow processing of data in a distributed environment. In particular, the LHCb computing model relies on the LHC File Catalog, i.e. a database which stores information about files spread across the GRID, their logical names and the physical locations of all the replicas. The LHCb computing model requires the LFC to be replicated at Tier-1s. The LCG 3D project deals with the database replication issue and provides a replication service based on Oracle Streams technology. This paper describes the deployment of the LHC File Catalog replication to the INFN National Center for Telematics and Informatics (CNAF) and to other LHCb Tier-1 sites. We performed stress tests designed to evaluate any delay in the propagation of the streams and the scalability of the system. The tests show the robustness of the replica implementation with performance going much beyond the LHCb requirements.

A protocol for the development of Mediterranean climate services based on the experiences of the CLIM-RUN case studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goodess, Clare; Ruti, Paolo; Rousset, Nathalie

2014-05-01

During the closing stages of the CLIM-RUN EU FP7 project on Climate Local Information in the Mediterranean region Responding to User Needs, the real-world experiences encountered by the case-study teams are being assessed and synthesised to identify examples of good practice and, in particular, to produce the CLIM-RUN protocol for the development of Mediterranean climate services. The specific case studies have focused on renewable energy (Morocco, Spain, Croatia, Cyprus), tourism (Savoie, Tunisia, Croatia, Cyprus) and wild fires (Greece) as well as one cross-cutting case study (Veneto region). They have been implemented following a common programme of local workshops, questionnaires and interviews, with Climate Expert Team and Stakeholder Expert Team members collaborating to identify and translate user needs and subsequently develop climate products and information. Feedback from stakeholders has been essential in assessing and refining these products. The protocol covers the following issues: the overall process and methodological key stages; identification and selection of stakeholders; communication with stakeholders; identification of user needs; translation of needs; producing products; assessing and refining products; methodologies for evaluating the economic value of climate services; and beyond CLIM-RUN - the lessons learnt. Particular emphasis is given to stakeholder analysis in the context of the participatory, bottom-up approach promoted by CLIM-RUN and to the iterative approach taken in the development of climate products. Recommendations are also made for an envisioned three-tier business model for the development of climate services involving climate, intermediary and stakeholder tiers.

A single, continuous metric to define tiered serum neutralization potency against HIV

DOE PAGES

Hraber, Peter Thomas; Korber, Bette Tina Marie; Wagh, Kshitij; ...

2018-01-19

HIV-1 Envelope (Env) variants are grouped into tiers by their neutralization-sensitivity phenotype. This helped to recognize that tier 1 neutralization responses can be elicited readily, but do not protect against new infections. Tier 3 viruses are the least sensitive to neutralization. Because most circulating viruses are tier 2, vaccines that elicit neutralization responses against them are needed. While tier classification is widely used for viruses, a way to rate serum or antibody neutralization responses in comparable terms is needed. Logistic regression of neutralization outcomes summarizes serum or antibody potency on a continuous, tier-like scale. It also tests significance of themore » neutralization score, to indicate cases where serum response does not depend on virus tiers. The method can standardize results from different virus panels, and could lead to high-throughput assays, which evaluate a single serum dilution, rather than a dilution series, for more efficient use of limited resources to screen samples from vaccinees.« less

A single, continuous metric to define tiered serum neutralization potency against HIV

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hraber, Peter Thomas; Korber, Bette Tina Marie; Wagh, Kshitij

HIV-1 Envelope (Env) variants are grouped into tiers by their neutralization-sensitivity phenotype. This helped to recognize that tier 1 neutralization responses can be elicited readily, but do not protect against new infections. Tier 3 viruses are the least sensitive to neutralization. Because most circulating viruses are tier 2, vaccines that elicit neutralization responses against them are needed. While tier classification is widely used for viruses, a way to rate serum or antibody neutralization responses in comparable terms is needed. Logistic regression of neutralization outcomes summarizes serum or antibody potency on a continuous, tier-like scale. It also tests significance of themore » neutralization score, to indicate cases where serum response does not depend on virus tiers. The method can standardize results from different virus panels, and could lead to high-throughput assays, which evaluate a single serum dilution, rather than a dilution series, for more efficient use of limited resources to screen samples from vaccinees.« less

A Pharmaceutical Bioethics Consultation Service: Six-Year Descriptive Characteristics and Results of a Feedback Survey.

PubMed

Van Campen, Luann E; Allen, Albert J; Watson, Susan B; Therasse, Donald G

2015-04-03

Background : Bioethics consultations are conducted in varied settings, including hospitals, universities, and other research institutions, but there is sparse information about bioethics consultations conducted in corporate settings such as pharmaceutical companies. The purpose of this article is to describe a bioethics consultation service at a pharmaceutical company, to report characteristics of consultations completed by the service over a 6-year period, and to share results of a consultation feedback survey. Methods : Data on the descriptive characteristics of bioethics consultations were collected from 2008 to 2013 and analyzed in Excel 2007. Categorical data were analyzed via the pivot table function, and time-based variables were analyzed via formulas. The feedback survey was administered to consultation requesters from 2009 to 2012 and also analyzed in Excel 2007. Results : Over the 6-year period, 189 bioethics consultations were conducted. The number of consultations increased from five per year in 2008 to approximately one per week in 2013. During this time, the format of the consultation service was changed from a committee-only approach to a tiered approach (tailored to the needs of the case). The five most frequent topics were informed consent, early termination of a clinical trial, benefits and risks, human biological samples, and patient rights. The feedback survey results suggest the consultation service is well regarded overall and viewed as approachable, helpful, and responsive. Conclusions : Pharmaceutical bioethics consultation is a unique category of bioethics consultation that primarily focuses on pharmaceutical research and development but also touches on aspects of clinical ethics, business ethics, and organizational ethics. Results indicate there is a demand for a tiered bioethics consultation service within this pharmaceutical company and that advice was valued. This company's experience indicates that a bioethics consultation service raises awareness about bioethics, empowers employees to raise bioethical concerns, and helps them reason through challenging issues.

A Pharmaceutical Bioethics Consultation Service: Six-Year Descriptive Characteristics and Results of a Feedback Survey

PubMed Central

Van Campen, Luann E.; Allen, Albert J.; Watson, Susan B.; Therasse, Donald G.

2015-01-01

Background: Bioethics consultations are conducted in varied settings, including hospitals, universities, and other research institutions, but there is sparse information about bioethics consultations conducted in corporate settings such as pharmaceutical companies. The purpose of this article is to describe a bioethics consultation service at a pharmaceutical company, to report characteristics of consultations completed by the service over a 6-year period, and to share results of a consultation feedback survey. Methods: Data on the descriptive characteristics of bioethics consultations were collected from 2008 to 2013 and analyzed in Excel 2007. Categorical data were analyzed via the pivot table function, and time-based variables were analyzed via formulas. The feedback survey was administered to consultation requesters from 2009 to 2012 and also analyzed in Excel 2007. Results: Over the 6-year period, 189 bioethics consultations were conducted. The number of consultations increased from five per year in 2008 to approximately one per week in 2013. During this time, the format of the consultation service was changed from a committee-only approach to a tiered approach (tailored to the needs of the case). The five most frequent topics were informed consent, early termination of a clinical trial, benefits and risks, human biological samples, and patient rights. The feedback survey results suggest the consultation service is well regarded overall and viewed as approachable, helpful, and responsive. Conclusions: Pharmaceutical bioethics consultation is a unique category of bioethics consultation that primarily focuses on pharmaceutical research and development but also touches on aspects of clinical ethics, business ethics, and organizational ethics. Results indicate there is a demand for a tiered bioethics consultation service within this pharmaceutical company and that advice was valued. This company's experience indicates that a bioethics consultation service raises awareness about bioethics, empowers employees to raise bioethical concerns, and helps them reason through challenging issues. PMID:26740962

Validity and reliability of an application review process using dedicated reviewers in one stage of a multi-stage admissions model.

PubMed

Zeeman, Jacqueline M; McLaughlin, Jacqueline E; Cox, Wendy C

2017-11-01

With increased emphasis placed on non-academic skills in the workplace, a need exists to identify an admissions process that evaluates these skills. This study assessed the validity and reliability of an application review process involving three dedicated application reviewers in a multi-stage admissions model. A multi-stage admissions model was utilized during the 2014-2015 admissions cycle. After advancing through the academic review, each application was independently reviewed by two dedicated application reviewers utilizing a six-construct rubric (written communication, extracurricular and community service activities, leadership experience, pharmacy career appreciation, research experience, and resiliency). Rubric scores were extrapolated to a three-tier ranking to select candidates for on-site interviews. Kappa statistics were used to assess interrater reliability. A three-facet Many-Facet Rasch Model (MFRM) determined reviewer severity, candidate suitability, and rubric construct difficulty. The kappa statistic for candidates' tier rank score (n = 388 candidates) was 0.692 with a perfect agreement frequency of 84.3%. There was substantial interrater reliability between reviewers for the tier ranking (kappa: 0.654-0.710). Highest construct agreement occurred in written communication (kappa: 0.924-0.984). A three-facet MFRM analysis explained 36.9% of variance in the ratings, with 0.06% reflecting application reviewer scoring patterns (i.e., severity or leniency), 22.8% reflecting candidate suitability, and 14.1% reflecting construct difficulty. Utilization of dedicated application reviewers and a defined tiered rubric provided a valid and reliable method to effectively evaluate candidates during the application review process. These analyses provide insight into opportunities for improving the application review process among schools and colleges of pharmacy. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

6 CFR 27.220 - Tiering.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 6 Domestic Security 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Tiering. 27.220 Section 27.220 Domestic Security DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY CHEMICAL FACILITY ANTI-TERRORISM STANDARDS Chemical Facility Security Program § 27.220 Tiering. (a) Preliminary Determination of Risk-Based Tiering. Based on...

Analytical Study on Multi-Tier 5G Heterogeneous Small Cell Networks: Coverage Performance and Energy Efficiency.

PubMed

Xiao, Zhu; Liu, Hongjing; Havyarimana, Vincent; Li, Tong; Wang, Dong

2016-11-04

In this paper, we investigate the coverage performance and energy efficiency of multi-tier heterogeneous cellular networks (HetNets) which are composed of macrocells and different types of small cells, i.e., picocells and femtocells. By virtue of stochastic geometry tools, we model the multi-tier HetNets based on a Poisson point process (PPP) and analyze the Signal to Interference Ratio (SIR) via studying the cumulative interference from pico-tier and femto-tier. We then derive the analytical expressions of coverage probabilities in order to evaluate coverage performance in different tiers and investigate how it varies with the small cells' deployment density. By taking the fairness and user experience into consideration, we propose a disjoint channel allocation scheme and derive the system channel throughput for various tiers. Further, we formulate the energy efficiency optimization problem for multi-tier HetNets in terms of throughput performance and resource allocation fairness. To solve this problem, we devise a linear programming based approach to obtain the available area of the feasible solutions. System-level simulations demonstrate that the small cells' deployment density has a significant effect on the coverage performance and energy efficiency. Simulation results also reveal that there exits an optimal small cell base station (SBS) density ratio between pico-tier and femto-tier which can be applied to maximize the energy efficiency and at the same time enhance the system performance. Our findings provide guidance for the design of multi-tier HetNets for improving the coverage performance as well as the energy efficiency.

Analytical Study on Multi-Tier 5G Heterogeneous Small Cell Networks: Coverage Performance and Energy Efficiency

PubMed Central

Xiao, Zhu; Liu, Hongjing; Havyarimana, Vincent; Li, Tong; Wang, Dong

2016-01-01

In this paper, we investigate the coverage performance and energy efficiency of multi-tier heterogeneous cellular networks (HetNets) which are composed of macrocells and different types of small cells, i.e., picocells and femtocells. By virtue of stochastic geometry tools, we model the multi-tier HetNets based on a Poisson point process (PPP) and analyze the Signal to Interference Ratio (SIR) via studying the cumulative interference from pico-tier and femto-tier. We then derive the analytical expressions of coverage probabilities in order to evaluate coverage performance in different tiers and investigate how it varies with the small cells’ deployment density. By taking the fairness and user experience into consideration, we propose a disjoint channel allocation scheme and derive the system channel throughput for various tiers. Further, we formulate the energy efficiency optimization problem for multi-tier HetNets in terms of throughput performance and resource allocation fairness. To solve this problem, we devise a linear programming based approach to obtain the available area of the feasible solutions. System-level simulations demonstrate that the small cells’ deployment density has a significant effect on the coverage performance and energy efficiency. Simulation results also reveal that there exits an optimal small cell base station (SBS) density ratio between pico-tier and femto-tier which can be applied to maximize the energy efficiency and at the same time enhance the system performance. Our findings provide guidance for the design of multi-tier HetNets for improving the coverage performance as well as the energy efficiency. PMID:27827917

An Evaluation of "Number Rockets": A Tier-2 Intervention for Grade 1 Students at Risk for Difficulties in Mathematics. Final Report. NCEE 2012-4007

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rolfhus, Eric; Gersten, Russell; Clarke, Ben; Decker, Lauren E.; Wilkins, Chuck; Dimino, Joseph

2012-01-01

The 2004 reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) approved schools' use of alternative methods for determining student eligibility for special education services. IDEA encourages schools to intervene as soon as there is a valid indication that a student might experience academic difficulties, rather than after…

26 CFR 1.1446-5 - Tiered partnership structures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 12 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Tiered partnership structures. 1.1446-5 Section...-Free Covenant Bonds § 1.1446-5 Tiered partnership structures. (a) In general. The rules of this section... prescribes rules applicable to a publicly traded partnership in a tiered partnership structure. Paragraph (e...

26 CFR 1.1503-2 - Dual consolidated loss.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... tiers of separate units. If a separate unit of a domestic corporation is owned indirectly through... upper-tier separate unit were a subsidiary of the domestic corporation and the lower-tier separate unit were a lower-tier subsidiary. (4) Examples. The following examples illustrate the application of this...

Community-based field implementation scenarios of a short message service reporting tool for lymphatic filariasis case estimates in Africa and Asia.

PubMed

Mableson, Hayley E; Martindale, Sarah; Stanton, Michelle C; Mackenzie, Charles; Kelly-Hope, Louise A

2017-01-01

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) targeted for global elimination by 2020. Currently there is considerable international effort to scale-up morbidity management activities in endemic countries, however there remains a need for rapid, cost-effective methods and adaptable tools for obtaining estimates of people presenting with clinical manifestations of LF, namely lymphoedema and hydrocele. The mHealth tool ' MeasureSMS-Morbidity ' allows health workers in endemic areas to use their own mobile phones to send clinical information in a simple format using short message service (SMS). The experience gained through programmatic use of the tool in five endemic countries across a diversity of settings in Africa and Asia is used here to present implementation scenarios that are suitable for adapting the tool for use in a range of different programmatic, endemic, demographic and health system settings. A checklist of five key factors and sub-questions was used to determine and define specific community-based field implementation scenarios for using the MeasureSMS-Morbidity tool in a range of settings. These factors included: (I) tool feasibility (acceptability; community access and ownership); (II) LF endemicity (high; low prevalence); (III) population demography (urban; rural); (IV) health system structure (human resources; community access); and (V) integration with other diseases (co-endemicity). Based on experiences in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Malawi, Nepal and Tanzania, four implementation scenarios were identified as suitable for using the MeasureSMS-Morbidity tool for searching and reporting LF clinical case data across a range of programmatic, endemic, demographic and health system settings. These include: (I) urban, high endemic setting with two-tier reporting; (II) rural, high endemic setting with one-tier reporting; (III) rural, high endemic setting with two-tier reporting; and (IV) low-endemic, urban and rural setting with one-tier reporting. A decision-making framework built from the key factors and questions, and the resulting four implementation scenarios is proposed as a means of using the MeasureSMS-Morbidity tool. This framework will help national LF programmes consider appropriate methods to implement a survey using this tool to improve estimates of the clinical burden of LF. Obtaining LF case estimates is a vital step towards the elimination of LF as a public health problem in endemic countries.

Rationing health care: what it is, what it is not, and why we cannot avoid it.

PubMed

Reinhardt, U E

1996-01-01

The word "rationing" has come to play a central role in the national health policy debate. Alas, it is also one of the most misunderstood of words. Its injection into the debate has generated far more heat than light. This chapter reviews the definition of "rationing" preferred by the profession that takes as its task the study of how individuals and society respond to and deal with scarcity, namely, the economics profession. It will be shown that economists usually consider all limits on the distribution of a scarce good or services to be "rationing," whether that limit takes the form of a price barrier or some method of non-price allocation--for example, queues or allocation by lottery. To make a distinction between allocation through freely competitive markets and other forms of resource allocation, economists distinguish between "price rationing" and "non-price rationing." This is a meaningful distinction. Adoption of the economist's definition of "rationing" would greatly clarify the national health policy debate. Next, the discussion turns to the controversial proposition, commonly made by most economists and a handful of their allies in the medical profession, that an economically efficient health care system will inevitably engage in the pervasive withholding of services that may be sought by patients and their physicians, and that it will do so to enhance the quality and efficiency of the health care system overall. If managed competition lives up to its current billing, it will entail rationing of precisely that sort. Unfortunately, the individualist tradition of the United States, as it expresses itself in the tort system, may seriously hinder managed competition from achieving its stated goal. Finally, this chapter offers some conjectures on the approach to rationing likely to be taken by the United States health care system in the twenty-first century. It is argued that, far from having been inconclusive, the most recent congressional debate on health care reform actually gave official sanction to a three-tiered health system, with fairly severe rationing in the bottom tier and virtually none in the top tier. While such tiering has always been present in the U.S. health care system, the phenomenon has hitherto been treated as a blemish to be removed by government--now it will probably remain a permanent fixture.

40 CFR 79.54 - Tier 3.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... emission control equipment. (3) A manufacturer or group may be required to conduct biological and/or... Requiring Tier 3 Testing. (1) Tier 3 testing shall be required of a manufacturer or group of manufacturers... products. Tier 3 testing may be conducted either on an individual basis or a group basis. If performed on a...

40 CFR 79.54 - Tier 3.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... emission control equipment. (3) A manufacturer or group may be required to conduct biological and/or... Requiring Tier 3 Testing. (1) Tier 3 testing shall be required of a manufacturer or group of manufacturers... products. Tier 3 testing may be conducted either on an individual basis or a group basis. If performed on a...

40 CFR 79.54 - Tier 3.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... emission control equipment. (3) A manufacturer or group may be required to conduct biological and/or... Requiring Tier 3 Testing. (1) Tier 3 testing shall be required of a manufacturer or group of manufacturers... products. Tier 3 testing may be conducted either on an individual basis or a group basis. If performed on a...

40 CFR 79.54 - Tier 3.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... emission control equipment. (3) A manufacturer or group may be required to conduct biological and/or... Requiring Tier 3 Testing. (1) Tier 3 testing shall be required of a manufacturer or group of manufacturers... products. Tier 3 testing may be conducted either on an individual basis or a group basis. If performed on a...

40 CFR 79.54 - Tier 3.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... emission control equipment. (3) A manufacturer or group may be required to conduct biological and/or... Requiring Tier 3 Testing. (1) Tier 3 testing shall be required of a manufacturer or group of manufacturers... products. Tier 3 testing may be conducted either on an individual basis or a group basis. If performed on a...

Multi-Tiered System of Support: Best Differentiation Practices for English Language Learners in Tier 1

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Izaguirre, Cecilia

2017-01-01

Purpose: This qualitative case study explored the best practices of differentiation of Tier 1 instruction within a multi-tiered system of support for English Language Learners who were predominately Spanish speaking. Theoretical Framework: The zone of proximal development theory, cognitive theory, and the affective filter hypothesis guided this…

40 CFR 87.23 - Exhaust emission standards for Tier 6 and Tier 8 engines.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 21 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Exhaust emission standards for Tier 6 and Tier 8 engines. 87.23 Section 87.23 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) AIR PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) Definitions. Exhaust Emissions (New Aircraft Gas Turbine Engines) § 87...

A Systematic Review of the Empirical Support for Check-in Check-Out

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wolfe, Katie; Pyle, Daniel; Charlton, Cade T.; Sabey, Christian V.; Lund, Emily M.; Ross, Scott W.

2016-01-01

Tier 2 interventions play an important role within the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports framework, bridging the gap between schoolwide Tier 1 interventions and individualized Tier 3 supports. Check-in Check-out (CICO) is a promising Tier 2 intervention for addressing mild problem behavior and potentially preventing the need for more…

76 FR 24872 - California State Nonroad Engine and Vehicle Pollution Control Standards; Authorization of Tier II...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-05-03

... Pollution Control Standards; Authorization of Tier II Marine Inboard/Sterndrive Spark Ignition Engine... for its second tier (``Tier II'') of emission standards for new marine inboard/sterndrive spark... record of this Marine Engine Authorization Request docket. Although a part of the official docket, the...

75 FR 38566 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated; Notice of Filing and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-07-02

...- Demutualization Trading Permits, Tier Appointment and Bandwidth Packets June 25, 2010. Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1...-demutualization Trading Permits, tier appointment and bandwidth packets. The text of the proposed rule change is..., tier appointment and bandwidth packets. These post-demutualization Trading Permits, tier appointment...

76 FR 65307 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.; Notice of Filing of...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-10-20

... Equity Security would fall into one of six tiers rather than nine tiers. Specifically, for OTC Equity... proposing changes to the minimum quotation sizes to, among other things, simplify the tier structure... quotations in this lower- priced tier should result in more substantive dollar-value commitments to the...

SWPBIS Tiered Fidelity Inventory. Version 2.1

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Algozzine, B.; Barrett, S.; Eber, L.; George, H.; Horner, R.; Lewis, T.; Putnam, B.; Swain-Bradway, J.; McIntosh, K.; Sugai, G.

2014-01-01

The purpose of the SWPBIS Tiered Fidelity Inventory (TFI) is to provide a valid, reliable, and efficient measure of the extent to which school personnel are applying the core features of school-wide positive behavioral interventions and supports (SWPBIS). The TFI is divided into three sections (Tier I: Universal SWPBIS Features; Tier II: Targeted…

20 CFR 225.21 - Survivor Tier I PIA.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... INSURANCE AMOUNT DETERMINATIONS PIA's Used in Computing Survivor Annuities and the Amount of the Residual Lump-Sum Payable § 225.21 Survivor Tier I PIA. The Survivor Tier I PIA is used in computing the tier I... Security Act using the deceased employee's combined railroad and social security earnings after 1950 (or...

Tier 1 and Tier 2 Early Intervention for Handwriting and Composing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Berninger, Virginia W.; Rutberg, Judith E.; Abbott, Robert D.; Garcia, Noelia; Anderson-Youngstrom, Marci; Brooks, Allison; Fulton, Cynthia

2006-01-01

Three studies evaluated Tier 1 early intervention for handwriting at a critical period for literacy development in first grade and one study evaluated Tier 2 early intervention in the critical period between third and fourth grades for composing on high stakes tests. The results contribute to knowledge of research-supported handwriting and…

30 CFR 57.5067 - Engines.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

...) light duty truck 0.1 g/mile. 40 CFR 86.094-11(a)(1)(iv)(B) heavy duty highway engine 0.1 g/bhp-hr. 40... g/bhp-hr). tier 1 8≤kWbhp-hr). tier 1 19≤kWbhp-hr). tier 2 37≤kWbhp-hr). tier 2 75≤kW<130...

40 CFR 1033.135 - Labeling.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... Tier 1 and later locomotives. The label on the engine is replaced each time the locomotive is... 0 and Tier 1 locomotives, the label may be made up of more than one piece, as long as all pieces are... to Tier 1+ locomotives.” (4) “This locomotive conforms to U.S. EPA regulations applicable to Tier 2...

Status and Trends in Networking at LHC Tier1 Facilities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bobyshev, A.; DeMar, P.; Grigaliunas, V.; Bigrow, J.; Hoeft, B.; Reymund, A.

2012-12-01

The LHC is entering its fourth year of production operation. Most Tier1 facilities have been in operation for almost a decade, when development and ramp-up efforts are included. LHC's distributed computing model is based on the availability of high capacity, high performance network facilities for both the WAN and LAN data movement, particularly within the Tier1 centers. As a result, the Tier1 centers tend to be on the leading edge of data center networking technology. In this paper, we analyze past and current developments in Tier1 LAN networking, as well as extrapolating where we anticipate networking technology is heading. Our analysis will include examination into the following areas: • Evolution of Tier1 centers to their current state • Evolving data center networking models and how they apply to Tier1 centers • Impact of emerging network technologies (e.g. 10GE-connected hosts, 40GE/100GE links, IPv6) on Tier1 centers • Trends in WAN data movement and emergence of software-defined WAN network capabilities • Network virtualization

First Experiences with CMS Data Storage on the GEMSS System at the INFN-CNAF Tier-1

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andreotti, D.; Bonacorsi, D.; Cavalli, A.; Pra, S. Dal; Dell'Agnello, L.; Forti, Alberto; Grandi, C.; Gregori, D.; Gioi, L. Li; Martelli, B.; Prosperini, A.; Ricci, P. P.; Ronchieri, Elisabetta; Sapunenko, V.; Sartirana, A.; Vagnoni, V.; Zappi, Riccardo

A brand new Mass Storage System solution called "Grid-Enabled Mass Storage System" (GEMSS) -based on the Storage Resource Manager (StoRM) developed by INFN, on the General Parallel File System by IBM and on the Tivoli Storage Manager by IBM -has been tested and deployed at the INFNCNAF Tier-1 Computing Centre in Italy. After a successful stress test phase, the solution is now being used in production for the data custodiality of the CMS experiment at CNAF. All data previously recorded on the CASTOR system have been transferred to GEMSS. As final validation of the GEMSS system, some of the computing tests done in the context of the WLCG "Scale Test for the Experiment Program" (STEP'09) challenge were repeated in September-October 2009 and compared with the results previously obtained with CASTOR in June 2009. In this paper, the GEMSS system basics, the stress test activity and the deployment phase -as well as the reliability and performance of the system -are overviewed. The experiences in the use of GEMSS at CNAF in preparing for the first months of data taking of the CMS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider are also presented.

Strategically Leapfrogging Education in Prehospital Trauma Management: Four-Tiered Training Protocols

PubMed Central

Abraham, Rohit; Vyas, Dinesh; Narayan, Mayur; Vyas, Arpita

2016-01-01

Trauma-related injury in fast developing countries are linked to 90% of international mortality rates, which can be greatly reduced by improvements in often non-existent or non-centralized emergency medical systems (EMS)—particularly in the pre-hospital care phase. Traditional trauma training protocols—such as Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS), International Trauma Life Support (ITLS), and Basic Life Support (BLS)—have failed to produce an effective pre-hospital ground force of medical first responders. To overcome these barriers, we propose a new four-tiered set of trauma training protocols: Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) Trauma Training, Acute Trauma Training (ATT), Broad Trauma Training (BTT), and Cardiac and Trauma Training (CTT). These standards are specifically differentiated to accommodate the educational and socioeconomic diversity found in fast developing settings, where each free course is taught in native, lay language while ensuring the education standards are maintained by fully incorporating high-fidelity simulation, video-recorded debriefing, and retraining. The innovative pedagogy of this trauma education program utilizes MOOC for global scalability and a “train-the-trainer” approach for exponential growth—both components help fast developing countries reach a critical mass of first responders needed for the base of an evolving EMS. PMID:27419222

Strategically Leapfrogging Education in Prehospital Trauma Management: Four-Tiered Training Protocols.

PubMed

Abraham, Rohit; Vyas, Dinesh; Narayan, Mayur; Vyas, Arpita

2015-12-01

Trauma-related injury in fast developing countries are linked to 90% of international mortality rates, which can be greatly reduced by improvements in often non-existent or non-centralized emergency medical systems (EMS)-particularly in the pre-hospital care phase. Traditional trauma training protocols-such as Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS), International Trauma Life Support (ITLS), and Basic Life Support (BLS)-have failed to produce an effective pre-hospital ground force of medical first responders. To overcome these barriers, we propose a new four-tiered set of trauma training protocols: Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) Trauma Training, Acute Trauma Training (ATT), Broad Trauma Training (BTT), and Cardiac and Trauma Training (CTT). These standards are specifically differentiated to accommodate the educational and socioeconomic diversity found in fast developing settings, where each free course is taught in native, lay language while ensuring the education standards are maintained by fully incorporating high-fidelity simulation, video-recorded debriefing, and retraining. The innovative pedagogy of this trauma education program utilizes MOOC for global scalability and a "train-the-trainer" approach for exponential growth-both components help fast developing countries reach a critical mass of first responders needed for the base of an evolving EMS.

Expanding clarity or confusion? Volatility of the 5-tier ratings assessing quality of transplant centers in the United States.

PubMed

Schold, Jesse D; Andreoni, Kenneth A; Chandraker, Anil K; Gaston, Robert S; Locke, Jayme E; Mathur, Amit K; Pruett, Timothy L; Rana, Abbas; Ratner, Lloyd E; Buccini, Laura D

2018-06-01

Outcomes of patients receiving solid organ transplants in the United States are systematically aggregated into bi-annual Program-Specific Reports (PSRs) detailing risk-adjusted survival by transplant center. Recently, the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) issued 5-tier ratings evaluating centers based on risk-adjusted 1-year graft survival. Our primary aim was to examine the reliability of 5-tier ratings over time. Using 10 consecutive PSRs for adult kidney transplant centers from June 2012 to December 2016 (n = 208), we applied 5-tier ratings to center outcomes and evaluated ratings over time. From the baseline period (June 2012), 47% of centers had at least a 1-unit tier change within 6 months, 66% by 1 year, and 94% by 3 years. Similarly, 46% of centers had at least a 2-unit tier change by 3 years. In comparison, 15% of centers had a change in the traditional 3-tier rating at 3 years. The 5-tier ratings at 4 years had minimal association with baseline rating (Kappa 0.07, 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.002 to 0.158). Centers had a median of 3 different 5-tier ratings over the period (q1 = 2, q3 = 4). Findings were consistent for center volume, transplant rate, and baseline 5-tier rating. Cumulatively, results suggest that 5-tier ratings are highly volatile, limiting their utility for informing potential stakeholders, particularly transplant candidates given expected waiting times between wait listing and transplantation. © 2018 The American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons.

Impact of 3-tier formularies on drug treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children.

PubMed

Huskamp, Haiden A; Deverka, Patricia A; Epstein, Arnold M; Epstein, Robert S; McGuigan, Kimberly A; Muriel, Anna C; Frank, Richard G

2005-04-01

Expenditures for medications used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children have increased rapidly. Many employers and health plans have adopted 3-tier formularies in an attempt to control costs for these and other drugs. To assess the effect of copayment increases associated with 3-tier formulary adoption on use and spending patterns for ADHD medications for children. Observational study using quasi-experimental design to compare effects on ADHD medication use and spending for children enrolled as dependents in an employer-sponsored plan that made major changes to its pharmacy benefit design and a comparison group of children covered by the same insurer. The plan simultaneously moved from a 1-tier (same copayment required for all drugs) to a 3-tier formulary and implemented an across-the-board copayment increase. The plan later moved 3 drugs from tier 3 to tier 2. An intervention group of 20 326 and a comparison group of 15 776 children aged 18 years and younger. Monthly probability of using an ADHD medication; plan, enrollee, and total ADHD medication spending; and medication continuation. A 3-tier formulary implementation resulted in a 17% decrease in the monthly probability of using medication (P<.001), a 20% decrease in expected total medication expenditures, and a substantial shifting of costs from the plan to families (P<.001). Intervention group children using medications in the pre-period were more likely to change to a medication in a different tier after 3-tier adoption, relative to the comparison group (P = .08). The subsequent tier changes resulted in increased plan spending (P<.001) and decreased patient spending (P = .003) for users but no differences in continuation. The copayment increases associated with 3-tier formulary implementation by 1 employer resulted in lower total ADHD medication spending, sizeable increases in out-of-pocket expenditures for families of children with ADHD, and a significant decrease in the probability of using these medications.

Experimental investigation of dynamic performance of a prototype hybrid tuned mass damper under human excitation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Noormohammadi, Nima; Reynolds, Paul

2013-04-01

Current sport stadia designs focus mainly on maximizing audience capacity and providing a clear view for all spectators. Hence, incorporation of one or more cantilevered tiers is typical in these designs. However, employing such cantilevered tiers, usually with relatively low damping and natural frequencies, can make grandstands more susceptible to excitation by human activities. This is caused by the coincidence between the activity frequencies (and their lowest three harmonics) and the structural natural frequencies hence raising the possibility of resonant vibration. This can be both a vibration serviceability and a safety issue. Past solutions to deal with observed or anticipated vibration serviceability problems have been mainly passive methods, such as tuned mass dampers (TMDs). These techniques have exhibited problems such as lack of performance and offtuning caused by human-structure interaction. To address this issue, research is currently underway to investigate the possible application of hybrid TMDs (HTMDs), which are a combination of active and passive control, to improve the vibration serviceability of such structures under human excitation. The work presented here shows a comparative experimental investigation of a passive TMD and a prototype HTMD applied on a slab strip structure. The most effective control algorithm to enhance the performance of the HTMD and also deal with the off-tuning problem is investigated. The laboratory structure used here is an in-situ cast simply-supported post-tensioned slab strip excited by forces from a range of human activities.

47 CFR 69.119 - Basic service element expedited approval process.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 47 Telecommunication 3 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Basic service element expedited approval process. 69.119 Section 69.119 Telecommunication FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (CONTINUED) COMMON CARRIER SERVICES (CONTINUED) ACCESS CHARGES Computation of Charges § 69.119 Basic service element...

7 CFR 1416.302 - Eligible crops and producers.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... determine payment rates are as follows: Tier I—75 percent or greater crop loss and associated tree damage. Tier II—50 to 74 percent crop loss and associated tree damage/loss. Tier III—35 to 49 percent crop loss and associated tree damage/loss. Tier IV —15 percent and greater associated tree damage only. (2...

Implementation Challenges for Tier One and Tier Two School-Based Programs for Early Adolescents

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

LaRusso, Maria D.; Donovan, Suzanne; Snow, Catherine

2016-01-01

This mixed-method study examined the implementation and the challenges to implementation for participants in randomized controlled trials of two school-based programs for early adolescents: the Tier One Word Generation (WG) program, and the Tier Two Strategic Adolescent Reading Intervention (STARI). Levels of implementation for WG and STARI varied…

A Responsive Tier 2 Process for a Middle School Student with Behavior Problems

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McDaniel, Sara C.; Bruhn, Allison L.; Mitchell, Barbara S.

2017-01-01

Students requiring Tier 2 behavioral supports frequently display behavioral deficits in multiple domains (e.g., emotional symptoms and peer problems). The Tier 2 framework developed by McDaniel, Bruhn, & Mitchell (2015a) is a responsive structure for identifying and intervening at Tier 2. This process is described with a practical case example…

76 FR 35896 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Guidance for...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-20

... information by August 19, 2011. ADDRESSES: Submit electronic comments on the collection of information to http... Estimate: Based on the number of requests for tier one and tier two DRs received by FDA since the guidance... requests for tier one and tier two DRs. FDA estimates the burden of this collection of information as...

76 FR 3184 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated; Notice of Filing and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-01-19

...); (ii) establish a VIX Tier Appointment; (iii) amend the monthly fee for Floor Broker Trading Permits... demutualization, CBOE amended its Fees Schedule to establish Trading Permit, tier appointment and bandwidth packet... permit ($) 1 permit 10 permits 6,000 Tier 1 11 permits 20 permits 4,800 Tier 2 21 or more permits...

Use of Self-Monitoring to Maintain Program Fidelity of Multi-Tiered Interventions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nelson, J. Ron; Oliver, Regina M.; Hebert, Michael A.; Bohaty, Janet

2015-01-01

Multi-tiered system of supports represents one of the most significant advancements in improving the outcomes of students for whom typical instruction is not effective. While many practices need to be in place to make multi-tiered systems of support effective, accurate implementation of evidence-based practices by individuals at all tiers is…

Combining Tier 2 and Tier 3 Supports for Students with Disabilities in General Education Settings

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

MacLeod, K. Sandra; Hawken, Leanne S.; O'Neill, Robert E.; Bundock, Kaitlin

2016-01-01

Secondary level or Tier 2 interventions such as the Check-in Check-out (CICO) intervention effectively reduce problem behaviors of students who are non-responsive to school-wide interventions. However, some students will not be successful with Tier 2 interventions. This study investigated the effects of adding individualized function-based support…

Effects of a Tier 3 Phonological Awareness Intervention on Preschoolers' Emergent Literacy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Noe, Sean; Spencer, Trina D.; Kruse, Lydia; Goldstein, Howard

2014-01-01

This multiple baseline design study examined the effects of a Tier 3 early literacy intervention on low-income preschool children's phonological awareness (PA). Seven preschool children who did not make progress on identifying first sounds in words during a previous Tier 2 intervention participated in a more intensive Tier 3 intervention. Children…

77 FR 9277 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-02-16

... Change Amending the NYSE Arca Equities Fee Schedule Increasing the Indication of Interest Tier 1 Credit and the Tracking Order Tier 1 Credit for ETP Holders and Market Makers February 10, 2012. Pursuant to... Schedule'') to increase the indication of interest (``IOI'') Tier 1 credit and the Tracking Order Tier 1...

12 CFR 325.2 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... Report.” (m) Leverage ratio means the ratio of Tier 1 capital to total assets, as calculated under this... assets may be included in calculating the bank's Tier 1 capital. (v) Tier 1 capital or core capital means... in excess of the limit set forth in § 325.5(g), minus identified losses (to the extent that Tier 1...

Tier 3 Toxicity Value White Paper

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

The purpose of this white paper is to articulate the issues pertaining to Tier 3 toxicity values and provide recommendations on processes that will improve the transparency and consistency of identifying, evaluating, selecting, and documenting Tier 3 toxicity values for use in the Superfund and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) programs. This white paper will be used to assist regional risk assessors in selecting Tier 3 toxicity values as well as provide the foundation for future regional and national efforts to improve guidance and policy on Tier 3 toxicity values.

Proposed Tier 2 Screening Criteria and Tier 3 Field Procedures for Evaluation of Vapor Intrusion (ESTCP Cost and Performance Report)

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-08-01

Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council, Washington, DC, Copyright 2007. McHugh T.E., D.E. Hammond, T. Nickels , and B. Hartman. 2008. Use of...based corrective action have realized significant cost savings for their corrective action programs (Connor and McHugh , 2002). As described above...Groundwater (Tier 2) VOCs USEPA 8260B 40 mL VOA vial HCl 14 days Vapor (Tier 2 and Tier 3) Radon McHugh et al., 2008 500 mL Tedlar bag None 14

40 CFR Appendix I to Part 1042 - Summary of Previous Emission Standards

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

...: (a) Engines below 37 kW. Tier 1 and Tier 2 standards for engines below 37 kW apply as specified in 40... Engines Below 37 kW (g/kW-hr) Rated power (kW) Tier Model year NMHC + NOX CO PM kWTier 1 2000 10.5 8.0 1.0 Tier 2 2005 7.5 8.0 0.80 8≤kWTier 1 2000 9.5 6.6 0.80 Tier 2 2005 7.5 6.6 0.80 19≤kWTier...

LHCNet: Wide Area Networking and Collaborative Systems for HEP

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Newman, H.B,

2007-08-20

This proposal presents the status and progress in 2006-7, and the technical and financial plans for 2008-2010 for the US LHCNet transatlantic network supporting U.S. participation in the LHC physics program. US LHCNet provides transatlantic connections of the Tier1 computing facilities at Fermilab and Brookhaven with the Tier0 and Tier1 facilities at CERN as well as Tier1s elsewhere in Europe and Asia. Together with ESnet, Internet2, the GEANT pan-European network, and NSF’s UltraLight project, US LHCNet also supports connections between the Tier2 centers (where most of the analysis of the data will take place, starting this year) and the Tier1smore » as needed.See report« less

47 CFR 22.757 - Channels for basic exchange telephone radio systems.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 47 Telecommunication 2 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Channels for basic exchange telephone radio... CARRIER SERVICES PUBLIC MOBILE SERVICES Rural Radiotelephone Service Basic Exchange Telephone Radio Systems § 22.757 Channels for basic exchange telephone radio systems. The channels listed in § 22.725 are...

Storage assignment optimization in a multi-tier shuttle warehousing system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Yanyan; Mou, Shandong; Wu, Yaohua

2016-03-01

The current mathematical models for the storage assignment problem are generally established based on the traveling salesman problem(TSP), which has been widely applied in the conventional automated storage and retrieval system(AS/RS). However, the previous mathematical models in conventional AS/RS do not match multi-tier shuttle warehousing systems(MSWS) because the characteristics of parallel retrieval in multiple tiers and progressive vertical movement destroy the foundation of TSP. In this study, a two-stage open queuing network model in which shuttles and a lift are regarded as servers at different stages is proposed to analyze system performance in the terms of shuttle waiting period (SWP) and lift idle period (LIP) during transaction cycle time. A mean arrival time difference matrix for pairwise stock keeping units(SKUs) is presented to determine the mean waiting time and queue length to optimize the storage assignment problem on the basis of SKU correlation. The decomposition method is applied to analyze the interactions among outbound task time, SWP, and LIP. The ant colony clustering algorithm is designed to determine storage partitions using clustering items. In addition, goods are assigned for storage according to the rearranging permutation and the combination of storage partitions in a 2D plane. This combination is derived based on the analysis results of the queuing network model and on three basic principles. The storage assignment method and its entire optimization algorithm method as applied in a MSWS are verified through a practical engineering project conducted in the tobacco industry. The applying results show that the total SWP and LIP can be reduced effectively to improve the utilization rates of all devices and to increase the throughput of the distribution center.

The role of art education in adult prisons: The Western Australian experience

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Giles, Margaret; Paris, Lisa; Whale, Jacqui

2016-12-01

Incarceration costs are high; in Australia, for example, each prisoner costs an average of AUD 115,000 per year. Other countries are also feeling the fiscal pinch of high incarceration costs, and a number of jurisdictions are now closing some of their prisons. Most prison costs are non-discretionary (accommodation, meals, etc.). But some of the costs relate to discretionary activities, services and facilities (including schooling). In terms of correctional education, many prison managers try to invest any meagre correctional education resources available to them in those classes and courses which have proven to have the best results, such as improved labour market outcomes and reduced recidivism, minimising subsequent re-imprisonment. Course offers for prisoner-students include vocational training, adult basic education (ABE) and art studies. The two-tiered question this paper asks is: do art classes and courses produce these measurable outcomes and, if not, are there other reasons why they should continue to be funded? Addressing these issues, the authors argue that (1) these measurable outcomes are too narrow and do not reflect the complex but less quantifiable benefits to the individual and the community of studying art in prison, and (2) better measures of all impacts of art studies in prisons are needed, including qualitative and humanitarian aspects.

Tier One Performance Screen Initial Operational Test and Evaluation: Early Results

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-04-01

Requirement: In addition to educational, physical , and moral screens, the U.S. Army relies on a composite score from the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude...analyses suggest that the individual TAPAS scales significantly predict a number of criteria of interest. Most notably, the Physical Conditioning scale...predicted Soldiers’ self-reported Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) scores, number of restarts in training, adjustment to Army life, and 3-month

VT-136 Market Research and Sourcing Case Exercise

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-04-30

Josh Parsons (USAF), Army AL&T Magazine, January-February 2005 Web Edition. “The Yoder Three-tier Model for Optimal Planning and Execution of...relevant to pricing and ability to determine “fair and reasonable” price2 Identification of suitable substitutes and alternative products or...Tests for Determining Fair and Reasonable Price By far, the best methodology for making the determination that a product or service cost or price

Digital image archiving: challenges and choices.

PubMed

Dumery, Barbara

2002-01-01

In the last five years, imaging exam volume has grown rapidly. In addition to increased image acquisition, there is more patient information per study. RIS-PACS integration and information-rich DICOM headers now provide us with more patient information relative to each study. The volume of archived digital images is increasing and will continue to rise at a steeper incline than film-based storage of the past. Many filmless facilities have been caught off guard by this increase, which has been stimulated by many factors. The most significant factor is investment in new digital and DICOM-compliant modalities. A huge volume driver is the increase in images per study from multi-slice technology. Storage requirements also are affected by disaster recovery initiatives and state retention mandates. This burgeoning rate of imaging data volume presents many challenges: cost of ownership, data accessibility, storage media obsolescence, database considerations, physical limitations, reliability and redundancy. There are two basic approaches to archiving--single tier and multi-tier. Each has benefits. With a single-tier approach, all the data is stored on a single media that can be accessed very quickly. A redundant copy of the data is then stored onto another less expensive media. This is usually a removable media. In this approach, the on-line storage is increased incrementally as volume grows. In a multi-tier approach, storage levels are set up based on access speed and cost. In other words, all images are stored at the deepest archiving level, which is also the least expensive. Images are stored on or moved back to the intermediate and on-line levels if they will need to be accessed more quickly. It can be difficult to decide what the best approach is for your organization. The options include RAIDs (redundant array of independent disks), direct attached RAID storage (DAS), network storage using RAIDs (NAS and SAN), removable media such as different types of tape, compact disks (CDs and DVDs) and magneto-optical disks (MODs). As you evaluate the various options for storage, it is important to consider both performance and cost. For most imaging enterprises, a single-tier archiving approach is the best solution. With the cost of hard drives declining, NAS is a very feasible solution today. It is highly reliable, offers immediate access to all exams, and easily scales as imaging volume grows. Best of all, media obsolescence challenges need not be of concern. For back-up storage, removable media can be implemented, with a smaller investment needed as it will only be used for a redundant copy of the data. There is no need to keep it online and available. If further system redundancy is desired, multiple servers should be considered. The multi-tier approach still has its merits for smaller enterprises, but with a detailed long-term cost of ownership analysis, NAS will probably still come out on top as the solution of choice for many imaging facilities.

Single-Tier Testing with the C6 Peptide ELISA Kit Compared with Two-Tier Testing for Lyme Disease

PubMed Central

Wormser, Gary P.; Schriefer, Martin; Aguero-Rosenfeld, Maria E.; Levin, Andrew; Steere, Allen C.; Nadelman, Robert B.; Nowakowski, John; Marques, Adriana; Johnson, Barbara J. B.; Dumler, J. Stephen

2014-01-01

Background The two-tier serologic testing protocol for Lyme disease has a number of shortcomings including low sensitivity in early disease; increased cost, time and labor; and subjectivity in the interpretation of immunoblots. Methods The diagnostic accuracy of a single-tier commercial C6 ELISA kit was compared with two-tier testing. Results The C6 ELISA was significantly more sensitive than two-tier testing with sensitivities of 66.5% (95% C.I.:61.7-71.1) and 35.2% (95%C.I.:30.6-40.1), respectively (p<0.001) in 403 sera from patients with erythema migrans. The C6 ELISA had sensitivity statistically comparable to two-tier testing in sera from Lyme disease patients with early neurological manifestations (88.6% vs. 77.3%, p=0.13) or arthritis (98.3% vs. 95.6%, p= 0.38). Te specificities of C6 ELISA and two-tier testing in over 2200 blood donors, patients with other conditions, and Lyme disease vaccine recipients were found to be 98.9% and 99.5%, respectively (p<0.05, 95% C.I. surrounding the 0.6 percentage point difference of 0.04 to 1.15). Conclusions Using a reference standard of two-tier testing, the C6 ELISA as a single step serodiagnostic test provided increased sensitivity in early Lyme disease with comparable sensitivity in later manifestations of Lyme disease. The C6 ELISA had slightly decreased specificity. Future studies should evaluate the performance of the C6 ELISA compared with two-tier testing in routine clinical practice. PMID:23062467

Variations in patient response to tiered physician networks.

PubMed

Sinaiko, Anna D

2016-06-01

Prior studies found that tiered provider networks channel patients to preferred providers in certain contexts. This paper evaluates whether the effects of tiered physician networks vary for different types of patients. Cross-sectional analysis of fiscal year 2009 to 2010 administrative enrollment and claims data on nonelderly beneficiaries in Massachusetts Group Insurance Commission health plans. Main outcome measures are physician market share among new patients and the percent of physician's patients who switch away. We utilized estimated fixed effects linear regression models that were stratified by patient characteristics. Physicians with the worst tier rankings had lower market share among new patients who are older and sicker, or male, representing losses in market share of 10% and 15%, respectively, than other tiered physicians. A poor tier ranking did not affect physician market share of new patients who are female or younger. There was no effect of a physician's tier ranking on the proportion of patients who switch to other doctors among any groups of patients. Loyalty to their own physicians is pervasive across groups of patients. Physicians with poor tier rankings lost market share among new patients who are older and sicker, and among new male patients. Together, these findings suggest that tiered network designs have the potential for the greatest impact on value in healthcare over time, as more patients seek new relationships with physicians.

Neutralization tiers of HIV-1

PubMed Central

Montefiori, David C.; Roederer, Mario; Morris, Lynn; Seaman, Michael S.

2018-01-01

Purpose of review HIV-1 isolates are often classified on the basis of neutralization ‘tier’ phenotype. Tier classification has important implications for the monitoring and interpretation of vaccine-elicited neutralizing antibody responses. The molecular basis that distinguishes the multiple neutralization phenotypes of HIV-1 has been unclear. We present a model based on the dynamic nature of the HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins and its impact on epitope exposure. We also describe a new approach for ranking HIV-1 vaccine-elicited neutralizing antibody responses. Recent findings The unliganded trimeric HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein spike spontaneously transitions through at least three conformations. Neutralization tier phenotypes correspond to the frequency by which the trimer exists in a closed (tiers 2 and 3), open (tier 1A), or intermediate (tier 1B) conformation. An increasing number of epitopes become exposed as the trimer opens, making the virus more sensitive to neutralization by certain antibodies. The closed conformation is stabilized by many broadly neutralizing antibodies. Summary The tier 2 neutralization phenotype is typical of most circulating strains and is associated with a predominantly closed Env trimer configuration that is a high priority to target with vaccines. Assays with tier 1A viruses should be interpreted with caution and with the understanding that they detect many antibody specificities that do not neutralize tier 2 viruses and do not protect against HIV-1 infection. PMID:29266013

Management of Newer Medications for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder In Commercial Health Plans

PubMed Central

Hodgkin, Dominic; Horgan, Constance M.; Quinn, Amity E.; Merrick, Elizabeth; Stewart, Maureen T.; Leslie, Laurel K.

2014-01-01

Purpose In the US, many individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) pay for their medications using private health insurance coverage. As in other drug classes, private insurers are actively seeking to influence utilization and costs, particularly for newer and costlier medications. The approaches that insurers use may have important effects on patients’ access to medications. This paper examines approaches (e.g., copayments, prior authorization, and step therapy) that commercial health plans are employing to manage newer medications used to treat ADHD and changes in approaches since 2003. Methods Data are from a nationally representative survey of commercial health plans in 60 market areas regarding alcohol, drug abuse and mental health services in 2010. Responses were obtained from 389 plans (89% response rate), reporting on 925 insurance products. For each of six branded ADHD medications, respondents were asked whether the plan covered the medication and if so, on what copayment tier each medication was placed, and whether it was subject to prior authorization or step therapy. Measures of management approach were constructed for each medication and for the group of medications. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to test for association of the management approach with various health plan characteristics. Findings There was considerable variation across these 6 medications in how tightly they were managed by health plans, with newer medications being subject to more stringent management. The proportion of insurance products relying solely on copay tiering to manage novel ADHD medications appears to have decreased since 2003. Less than half of insurance products (43%) managed these 6 medications solely by use of Tier 3/4 placement, and most of the remainder (48%) used other restrictions (with or without Tier 3/4 placement). The average insurance product restricted access to at least 3 of the 6 brand-only medications examined, whether through copayment tier placement or other approaches. More ADHD medications were left unrestricted in HMO products than in PPO ones; products with internal or hybrid-internal contracts for behavioral health; those not contracting with pharmacy benefits managers; and those with for-profit ownership. Implications Many plans have supplemented copayment tiering with other approaches such as prior authorization and step therapy to influence utilization and decrease costs. It may be that plans have found copayments to be less effective in redirecting utilization in this medication class. The impact on clinical outcomes was not examined in this study but should be prioritized using other data sources. PMID:25450473

47 CFR 76.930 - Initiation of review of basic cable service and equipment rates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 47 Telecommunication 4 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Initiation of review of basic cable service and...) BROADCAST RADIO SERVICES MULTICHANNEL VIDEO AND CABLE TELEVISION SERVICE Cable Rate Regulation § 76.930 Initiation of review of basic cable service and equipment rates. A cable operator shall file its schedule of...

75 FR 20413 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-04-19

... volume levels in non-Premium Tier Penny Pilot issues. This new tiered pricing structure will replace the.... The Exchange also proposes to introduce a Premium Tier for electronic transactions in certain Penny..., UNG, FAZ, DIA, GDX, and USO will qualify for the Premium Tier, and will receive an additional $.05 per...

Response to Intervention: Evaluation Report and Executive Summary

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gorard, Stephen; Siddiqui, Nadia; See, Beng Huat

2014-01-01

Response to Intervention (RTI) is a targeted programme that uses a tiered approach to identify the needs of low achieving pupils. The approach begins with whole class teaching (Tier 1), followed by small group tuition (Tier 2) for those who need more attention, and one to one tutoring (Tier 3) for those who do not respond to the small group…

76 FR 56248 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-09-12

... this tiered schedule, there were three volume-based Tiers and the rate of applicable take fees and provide credits varied based upon the Tier into which a Participant falls. \\5\\ Through its filing on....0026/share to $0.0025/share for the lowest Tier of activity, from $0.0028/share to $0.0027/share in the...

49 CFR 393.118 - What are the rules for securing dressed lumber or similar building products?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... Shifting and Falling Cargo Specific Securement Requirements by Commodity Type § 393.118 What are the rules... transported using no more than one tier. Bundles carried on one tier must be secured in accordance with the... one tier. Bundles carried in more than one tier must be either: (1) Blocked against lateral movement...

75 FR 39301 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-07-08

...,000 contracts. Payments would be made at the stated rate for each tier for those contracts that fall... increasing the per contract rate on the Tier II and Tier III levels. The Exchange still continues to afford the members [sic] organizations who transact volume in Tier I a benefit as well. Amending the...

26 CFR 1.1248-7 - Taxpayer to establish earnings and profits and foreign taxes.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... shall also show for the first tier corporation, and for each lower tier corporation as to which...) of § 1.1248-2, and (iv) If the amount of earnings and profits of a lower tier corporation... lower tier corporation which the taxpayer owns within the meaning of section 958(a)(2)(b) the total...

A Data-Driven Preschool PD Model for Literacy and Oral Language Instruction

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Abbott, Mary; Atwater, Jane; Lee, Younwoo; Edwards, Liesl

2011-01-01

The purpose of this article is to describe the professional development (PD) model for preschool literacy and language instruction that took place in a 3-year, 2-tiered Early Reading First project in 9 Head Start and community-based school classrooms. In our tiered model, the Tier 1 level was classroom instruction and Tier 2 was intervention…

EDSP Tier 2 test (T2T) guidances and protocols are delivered, including web-based guidance for diagnosing and scoring, and evaluating EDC-induced pathology in fish and amphibian

EPA Science Inventory

The Agency’s Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program (EDSP) consists of two tiers. The first tier provides information regarding whether a chemical may have endocrine disruption properties. Tier 2 tests provide confirmation of ED effects and dose-response information to be us...

29 CFR Appendix D to Part 510 - Municipalities Eligible for Minimum Wage Phase-In

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... other employees are subject to Tier 3. Municipalities which did not submit data are subject to Tier 1... June 1, 1990. If upon review it is determined that the municipality should have been subject to Tier 1... Minimum Wage Phase-In This appendix contains a listing of the municipalities in Puerto Rico and the tier...

A Two-Tiered Model for Analyzing Library Web Site Usage Statistics, Part 1: Web Server Logs.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cohen, Laura B.

2003-01-01

Proposes a two-tiered model for analyzing web site usage statistics for academic libraries: one tier for library administrators that analyzes measures indicating library use, and a second tier for web site managers that analyzes measures aiding in server maintenance and site design. Discusses the technology of web site usage statistics, and…

Development of a tier 1 R5 clade C simian-human immunodeficiency virus as a tool to test neutralizing antibody-based immunoprophylaxis.

PubMed

Siddappa, Nagadenahalli B; Hemashettar, Girish; Wong, Yin Ling; Lakhashe, Samir; Rasmussen, Robert A; Watkins, Jennifer D; Novembre, Francis J; Villinger, François; Else, James G; Montefiori, David C; Ruprecht, Ruth M

2011-04-01

While some recently transmitted HIV clade C (HIV-C) strains exhibited tier 1 neutralization phenotypes, most were tier 2 strains (J Virol 2010; 84:1439). Because induction of neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) through vaccination against tier 2 viruses has proven difficult, we have generated a tier 1, clade C simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV-C) to permit efficacy testing of candidate AIDS vaccines against tier 1 viruses. SHIV-1157ipEL was created by swapping env of a late-stage virus with that of a tier 1, early form. After adaptation to rhesus macaques (RM), passaged SHIV-1157ipEL-p replicated vigorously in vitro and in vivo while maintaining R5 tropism. The virus was reproducibly transmissible intrarectally. Phylogenetically, SHIV-1157ipEL-p Env clustered with HIV-C sequences. All RM chronically infected with SHIV-1157ipEL-p developed high nAb titers against autologous as well as heterologous tier 1 strains. SHIV-1157ipEL-p was reproducibly transmitted in RM, induced cross-clade nAbs, and represents a tool to evaluate anti-HIV-C nAb responses in primates. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Content knowledge development in a chemistry teacher preparation program: A current potentials and challenges

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Widhiyanti, Tuszie; Treagust, David F.; Mocerino, Mauro; Vishnumolakala, Venkat

2017-08-01

One of the essential facets in teacher education program is the development of the teachers' content knowledge and it has been suggested by many scholars that the study to analyse the process of content knowledge development in teacher education program is necessary. Regarding this, the aim of this research is to evaluate the existing program of developing pre-service chemistry teachers' content knowledge, especially in the topic about the particulate nature of matter. The curriculum of content knowledge development was analysed using the forms of the curriculum evaluation (Akker, 1998; Goodlad, Klein, and Tye (1979); Treagust, 1987). Within this framework, the curriculum was evaluated in several aspects including the vision and intention of the curriculum as mentioned in the curriculum documents (intended curriculum), the users' interpretation and perception about the curriculum (perceived curriculum), the actual process of curriculum implementation (implemented curriculum), and the outcomes of the curriculum (achieved curriculum). According to the framework used for this study, the research combined qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection and the interpretation including document analysis, classroom observation, interviews, and two-tier diagnostic test. Through this research we examined the coherence among those aspects. The results reveal that although the content knowledge development is explicitly intended in a curriculum, its implementation and lecturers' perceptions give influence in the results as appear in pre-service teachers' achievements. In general, this research provides basic information about the effectiveness of the program including the challenges and the potentials for a reconsideration of the program in the future.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bobyshev, A.; DeMar, P.; Grigaliunas, V.

The LHC is entering its fourth year of production operation. Most Tier1 facilities have been in operation for almost a decade, when development and ramp-up efforts are included. LHC's distributed computing model is based on the availability of high capacity, high performance network facilities for both the WAN and LAN data movement, particularly within the Tier1 centers. As a result, the Tier1 centers tend to be on the leading edge of data center networking technology. In this paper, we analyze past and current developments in Tier1 LAN networking, as well as extrapolating where we anticipate networking technology is heading. Ourmore » analysis will include examination into the following areas: Evolution of Tier1 centers to their current state Evolving data center networking models and how they apply to Tier1 centers Impact of emerging network technologies (e.g. 10GE-connected hosts, 40GE/100GE links, IPv6) on Tier1 centers Trends in WAN data movement and emergence of software-defined WAN network capabilities Network virtualization« less

From the CMS Computing Experience in the WLCG STEP'09 Challenge to the First Data Taking of the LHC Era

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bonacorsi, D.; Gutsche, O.

The Worldwide LHC Computing Grid (WLCG) project decided in March 2009 to perform scale tests of parts of its overall Grid infrastructure before the start of the LHC data taking. The "Scale Test for the Experiment Program" (STEP'09) was performed mainly in June 2009 -with more selected tests in September- October 2009 -and emphasized the simultaneous test of the computing systems of all 4 LHC experiments. CMS tested its Tier-0 tape writing and processing capabilities. The Tier-1 tape systems were stress tested using the complete range of Tier-1 work-flows: transfer from Tier-0 and custody of data on tape, processing and subsequent archival, redistribution of datasets amongst all Tier-1 sites as well as burst transfers of datasets to Tier-2 sites. The Tier-2 analysis capacity was tested using bulk analysis job submissions to backfill normal user activity. In this talk, we will report on the different performed tests and present their post-mortem analysis.

Groundwater contamination and risk assessment of industrial complex in Busan Metropolitan City, Korea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hamm, S.-Y.; Ryu, S. M.; Cheong, J.-Y.; Woo, Y.-J.

2003-04-01

In Korea, the potential of groundwater contamination in urban areas is increasing by industrial and domestic waste waters, leakage from oil storage tanks and sewage drains, leachate from municipal landfill sites and so on. Nowadays, chlorinated organic compounds such as trichloroethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene (PCE), which are driving residential area as well as industrial area, are recognized as major hazardous contaminants. As well known, TCE is wisely used industrial activities such as degreasing, metal stripping, chemical manufacturing, pesticide production, coal gasification plants, creosote operation, and also used in automobile service centers, photo shops and laundries as cleaning solvent. Thus, groundwater protection in urban areas is important issue in Korea This study is to understand groundwater quality and contamination characteristics and to estimate risk assessment in Sasang industrial complex, Busan Metropolitan City. Busan Metropolitan City is located on southeastern coast of the Korean peninsula and is the second largest city in South Korea with a population of 3.8 millions. The geology of the study area is composed of andesite, andesitic tuff, biotite granite and alluvium (Kim et al., 1998). However, geology cannot be identified on the surface due to pavement and buildings. According to drill logs in the study area, the geologic section consists in landfill, fine sand, clay, gravelly clay, and biotite granite from the surface. Biotite granite appears 5.5- 6 m depth. Groundwater samples were collected at twenty sites in Sasang industrial complex. The groundwater samples are plotted on Piper's trilinear diagram, which indicates Ca-Cl2 type. The groundwater may be influenced by salt water because Sasang industrial complex is located near the mouse of Nakdong river that flows to the South Sea. The Ca-Cl2 water type may be partly influenced by anthropogenic contamination in the study area, since water type in granite area generally belongs Ca-HCO3 or Na-HCO3 types. TDS (107-14,500 /L), EC (225-25,500 μS/cm), salinity (100-15,500 /kg), Na+ (13.39-2,866 /L) and Cl- (15.3-7,066 /L) concentrations are also higher than those of general groundwater. This fact indicates that groundwater in study area was polluted by saline water and/or anthropogenic sources. TCE, PCE, 1.1.1-trichloroethane (TCA) were analyzed by Busan Metropolitan City Institute of Health &Environment. PCE and TCA are not detected most of sites, while TCE is detected most of the sites and exceeds drinking water standard of Korea 0.03 /L. It is considered that TCE was derived from variety contamination sources such as car-washing centers, transportation companies, iron molding factories and waste treating companies. Risk assessment to human health and environmental resources by groundwater contamination was conducted. The RBCA Tool Kit for Chemical Releases can be used for the risk assessment at Tier 1 and Tier 2. The risk assessment determines risk-based concentration of constituents of concerns (COCs) that moves through groundwater, soil and air. It also evaluates carcinogenic risk and toxic effect when receptor exposures to the COCs. Tier 1 analysis determines risk-based screening levels (RBSLs) for one-site exposure. Tier 2 analysis evaluates RBSL and/or site-specific target levels (SSTLs) for both on-site and off-site receptor. RBSLs were calculated as 2.2E-2 /L for TCE and as 4.7E-3 /L for PCE at Tier 1 risk assessment. Average concentrations of TCE and PCE from measuring the groundwater samples were 0.15 mg/L and 0.016 mg/L, respectively. The actual measured values are higher than the RBSLs. Carcinogenic risk of TCE to animals was identified as B2 (inadequate or no human evidence but sufficient animal evidence). From this result, we will conduct the further detail risk assessment at Tier 2 level before conducting groundwater remediation. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The authors wish to acknowledge the financial support of the Korea Science &Engineering Foundation (KOSEF) under the Basic Research Program (grant no: R02-2001-00249).

Vulnerability assessment and risk level of ecosystem services for climate change impacts and adaptation in the High-Atlas mountain of Morocco

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Messouli, Mohammed; Bounoua, Lahouari; Babqiqi, Abdelaziz; Ben Salem, Abdelkrim; Yacoubi-Khebiza, Mohammed

2010-05-01

Moroccan mountain biomes are considered endangered due to climate change that affects directly or indirectly different key features (biodiversity, snow cover, run-off processes, and water availability). The present article describes the strategy for achieving collaboration between natural and social scientists, stakeholders, decision-makers, and other societal groups, in order to carry out an integrated assessment of climate change in the High-Atlas Mountains of Morocco, with an emphasis on vulnerability and adaptation. We will use a robust statistical technique to dynamically downscale outputs from the IPCC climates models to the regional study area. Statistical downscaling provides a powerful method for deriving local-to-regional scale information on climate variables from large-scale climate model outputs. The SDSM will be used to produce the high resolution climate change scenarios from climate model outputs at low resolution. These data will be combined with socio-economic attributes such as the amount of water used for irrigation of agricultural lands, agricultural practices and phenology, cost of water delivery and non-market values of produced goods and services. This study, also analyzed spatial and temporal in land use/land cover changes (LUCC) in a typical watershed covering an area of 203 km2 by comparing classified satellite images from 1976, 1989 and 2000 coupled by GIS analyses and also investigated changes in the shape of land use patches over the period. The GIS-platform, which compiles gridded spatial and temporal information of environmental, socio-economic and biophysical data is used to map vulnerability assessment and risk levels over a wide region of Southern High-Atlas. For each scenario, we will derive and analyze near future (10-15 years) key climate indicators strongly related to sustainable management of ecosystem goods and services. Forest cover declined at an average rate of 0.35 ha per year due to timber extraction, cultivation, grazing, and urbanization processes. Historically, cultivation has resulted in such a high loss of plant communities in lowlands that regional diversity has been threatened. Grazing has increased due to low labor costs and economic policies that provide incentives for cattle production in Morocco. Finally to address the interaction among ecosystem services principles, we will use the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs tool (InVEST) recently developed by the Natural Capital Project. The "Tier 1" modes are theoretically grounded but simple, and are designed for areas where few data are available. The most useful applications of the simple, Tier 1 models are to identify areas of high and low ecosystem service production and biodiversity across the Mountain and illuminate the tradeoffs and synergies among services under current or future conditions. While some Tier 1 models give outputs in absolute terms, others return relative indices of importance.