Pharmacoeconomic analysis of consolidation therapy with pemetrexed after first-line chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer.

PubMed

Tsuchiya, Takanori; Fukuda, Takashi; Furuiye, Masashi; Kawabuchi, Koichi

2011-12-01

Prolongation of progression-free survival and overall survival have been reported with consolidation therapy after first-line chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer, but only a few pharmacoeconomic analyses have been performed. We performed a pharmacoeconomic analysis to assess the cost-effectiveness of consolidation therapy with pemetrexed compared with non-consolidation therapy. We developed a Markov model to evaluate the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of consolidation therapy with pemetrexed compared with non-consolidation therapy based on previous reports. We analyzed all histology groups together, and individually analyzed non-squamous cell carcinoma, in which pemetrexed has been shown to be more effective, and squamous cell carcinoma, in which pemetrexed has been shown to be less effective. We conducted a Monte-Carlo simulation to assess the uncertainty for our analysis model and the willingness to pay using thresholds. The ICER for consolidation therapy with pemetrexed was about US$ 109,024/life years gained (LYG) (JPY 12.5 million/LYG) and US$ 203,022/quality-adjusted life years (QALY) (JPY 23.3 million/QALY) for all histology. For non-squamous cell carcinoma, respective values were US$ 80,563/LYG (JPY 9.3 million/LYG) and US$ 150,115/QALY (JPY 17.3 million/QALY). Both % of probability at a threshold of JPY 5.0 million (US$ 43,478) for all histology and non-squamous cell carcinoma were less than 0.1%. This result indicates that it is difficult to use consolidation therapy as the standard of care in Japan while being covered by general medical insurance. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Analysis of the cost-effectiveness of using vonoprazan-amoxicillin-clarithromycin triple therapy for first-line Helicobacter pylori eradication.

PubMed

Kajihara, Yusaku; Shimoyama, Tadashi; Mizuki, Ichiro

2017-02-01

Vonoprazan (VPZ)-based triple therapy has been reported to have greater efficacy than a proton pump inhibitor (PPI)-based triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication. However, because VPZ is more expensive than PPIs such as rabeprazole (RPZ), economic evaluation is essential. We performed a retrospective study on 209 patients who underwent first-line eradication of H. pylori infection in Fuyoukai Murakami Hospital from 1 March 2015 to 31 March 2016. Patients who received VPZ, amoxicillin (AMPC) and clarithromycin (CAM) were assigned to the VPZ/AC group (n = 111) and patients who received RPZ, AMPC and CAM to the RPZ/AC group (n = 98). We compared the patients' backgrounds, including age, gender, use of high-dose CAM, past history of peptic ulcer, smoking and drug-related adverse events between the two groups. We defined cost as direct medical costs per patient and effectiveness as the first-line eradication rate in the intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis and analyzed the cost-effectiveness using the cost-effectiveness ratio (CER) and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). There was no significant difference in the patients' backgrounds. The ITT analysis revealed an eradication rate of 94.6% for VPZ/AC and 86.7% for RPZ/AC. VPZ/AC cost 1155.4 Japanese yen (JPY) higher than RPZ/AC (34063.4 vs. 32908.0, JPY). CER of VPZ/AC was less than that of RPZ/AC (360.1 vs. 379.4, JPY per percent) and ICER of VPZ/AC was 147.0 JPY (1.28 Euro (EUR), 1 EUR =115 JPY) per percent. VPZ/AC was more cost-effective than RPZ/AC as first-line therapy for H. pylori eradication.

Burkholderia diazotrophica sp. nov., isolated from root nodules of Mimosa spp.

PubMed

Sheu, Shih-Yi; Chou, Jui-Hsing; Bontemps, Cyril; Elliott, Geoffrey N; Gross, Eduardo; dos Reis Junior, Fabio Bueno; Melkonian, Rémy; Moulin, Lionel; James, Euan K; Sprent, Janet I; Young, J Peter W; Chen, Wen-Ming

2013-02-01

Five strains, JPY461(T), JPY359, JPY389, DPU-3 and STM4206 were isolated from nitrogen-fixing nodules on the roots of Mimosa spp. and their taxonomic positions were investigated using a polyphasic approach. All five strains grew at 15-40 °C (optimum, 30-37 °C), at pH 4.0-8.0 (optimum, pH 6.0-7.0) and with 0-1 % (w/v) NaCl [optimum, 0 % (w/v)]. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, a representative strain (JPY461(T)) showed 97.2 % sequence similarity to the closest related species Burkholderia acidipaludis SA33(T), a similarity of 97.2 % to Burkholderia terrae KMY02(T), 97.1 % to Burkholderia phymatum STM815(T) and 97.1 % to Burkholderia hospita LMG 20598(T). The predominant fatty acids of the five novel strains were summed feature 2 (comprising C(16 : 1) iso I and/or C(14 : 0) 3-OH), summed feature 3 (comprising C(16 : 1)ω7c and/or C(16 : 1)ω6c), C(16 : 0) , C(16 : 0) 3-OH, C(17 : 0) cyclo, C(18 : 1)ω7c and C(19 : 0) cyclo ω8c. The major isoprenoid quinone was Q-8 and the DNA G+C content of the strains was 63.0-65.0 mol%. The polar lipid profile consisted of a mixture of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified aminophospholipid, an unidentified aminolipid and several unidentified phospholipids. The DNA-DNA relatedness of the novel strain with respect to recognized species of the genus Burkholderia was less than 54 %. On the basis of 16S rRNA and recA gene sequence similarities, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic data, the five strains represent a novel species in the genus Burkholderia, for which the name Burkholderia diazotrophica sp. nov. is proposed with the type strain, JPY461(T) ( = LMG 26031(T) = BCRC 80259(T) = KCTC 23308(T)).

Characteristic time scales of tick quotes on foreign currency markets: an empirical study and agent-based model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sato, A.-H.

2006-03-01

Power spectrum densities for the number of tick quotes per minute (market activity) on three currency markets (USD/JPY, EUR/USD, and JPY/EUR) for periods from January 1999 to December 2000 are analyzed. We find some peaks on the power spectrum densities at a few minutes. We develop the double-threshold agent model and confirm that stochastic resonance occurs for the market activity of this model. We propose a hypothesis that the periodicities found on the power spectrum densities can be observed due to stochastic resonance.

An economic assessment of foot and mouth disease in Japan.

PubMed

Hayama, Y; Osada, Y; Oushiki, D; Tsutsui, T

2017-04-01

A large-scale foot and mouth disease (FMD) epidemic in Japan in 2010 caused severe economic losses for livestock and related industries. In this paper, the authors develop a clear and usable framework to estimate the economic impact of this FMD outbreak. An economic analysis is then conducted by combining this framework with an epidemiological model. The framework estimates the direct and indirect costs to livestock and related industries by applying an input-output model, as well as by addressing expenditure on disease control. The direct cost to the livestock industry was estimated at 51.2 billion Japanese yen (JPY), engendering an indirect cost to related industries of JPY 25.5 billion. The expenditure for disease control activities was estimated at JPY 8.2 billion. The total impact of the 2010 FMD epidemic was estimated at almost JPY 85 billion. Within the economic analysis, the authors evaluate several control measure scenarios: a baseline scenario, which assumes that the rapid disease spread observed in the early phase of the 2010 FMD epidemic would continue; prompt culling within 24 hours; early detection of the first case; and emergency vaccination within a radius of 10 km around the affected farms in either seven or 28 days. Prompt culling and early detection were superior from an economic point of view, reducing the total economic impact to 30% and 2% of that in the baseline scenario, respectively. Compared with these scenarios, vaccination was less cost effective. However, vaccination suppressed the speed of disease spread and shortened the duration of the epidemic, suggesting its potential effectiveness in curbing rapid disease spread in a densely populated area.

Analysis of bubbles and crashes in the TRY/USD, TRY/EUR, TRY/JPY and TRY/CHF exchange rate within the scope of econophysics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deviren, Bayram; Kocakaplan, Yusuf; Keskin, Mustafa; Balcılar, Mehmet; Özdemir, Zeynel Abidin; Ersoy, Ersan

2014-09-01

In this study, we analyze the Turkish Lira/US Dollar (TRY/USD), Turkish Lira/Euro (TRY/EUR), Turkish Lira/Japanese Yen (TRY/JPY) and Turkish Lira/Swiss Franc (TRY/CHF) exchange rates in the global financial crisis period to detect the bubbles and crashes in the TRY by using a mathematical methodology developed by Watanabe et al. (2007). The methodology defines the bubbles and crashes in financial market price fluctuations by considering an exponential fitting of the associated data. This methodology is applied to detect the bubbles and crashes in the TRY/USD, TRY/EUR, TRY/JPY and TRY/CHF exchange rates from January, 1, 2005 to December, 20, 2013. In this mathematical methodology, the whole period of bubbles and crashes can be determined purely from past data, and the start of bubbles and crashes can be identified even before its bursts. In this way, the periods of bubbles and crashes in the TRY/USD, TRY/EUR, TRY/JPY and TRY/CHF are determined, and the beginning and end points of these periods are detected. The results show that the crashes in the TRY/CHF exchange rate are commonly finished earlier than in the other exchange rates; hence it is probable that the crashes in the other exchange rates would be finished soon when the crashes in the TRY/CHF exchange rate ended. We also find that the periods of crashes in the TRY/EUR exchange rate take longer time than in the other exchange rates. This information can be used in risk management and/or speculative gain. The crashes' periods in the TRY/EUR and TRY/USD exchange rates are observed to be relatively longer than in the other exchange rates.

Validation of the 3-day rule for stool bacterial tests in Japan.

PubMed

Kobayashi, Masanori; Sako, Akahito; Ogami, Toshiko; Nishimura, So; Asayama, Naoki; Yada, Tomoyuki; Nagata, Naoyoshi; Sakurai, Toshiyuki; Yokoi, Chizu; Kobayakawa, Masao; Yanase, Mikio; Masaki, Naohiko; Takeshita, Nozomi; Uemura, Naomi

2014-01-01

Stool cultures are expensive and time consuming, and the positive rate of enteric pathogens in cases of nosocomial diarrhea is low. The 3-day rule, whereby clinicians order a Clostridium difficile (CD) toxin test rather than a stool culture for inpatients developing diarrhea >3 days after admission, has been well studied in Western countries. The present study sought to validate the 3-day rule in an acute care hospital setting in Japan. Stool bacterial and CD toxin test results for adult patients hospitalized in an acute care hospital in 2008 were retrospectively analyzed. Specimens collected after an initial positive test were excluded. The positive rate and cost-effectiveness of the tests were compared among three patient groups. The adult patients were divided into three groups for comparison: outpatients, patients hospitalized for ≤3 days and patients hospitalized for ≥4 days. Over the 12-month period, 1,597 stool cultures were obtained from 992 patients, and 880 CD toxin tests were performed in 529 patients. In the outpatient, inpatient ≤3 days and inpatient ≥4 days groups, the rate of positive stool cultures was 14.2%, 3.6% and 1.3% and that of positive CD toxin tests was 1.9%, 7.1% and 8.5%, respectively. The medical costs required to obtain one positive result were 9,181, 36,075 and 103,600 JPY and 43,200, 11,333 and 9,410 JPY, respectively. The 3-day rule was validated for the first time in a setting other than a Western country. Our results revealed that the "3-day rule" is also useful and cost-effective in Japan.

Evaluation of the treatment patterns and economic burden of dysmenorrhea in Japanese women, using a claims database.

PubMed

Akiyama, Sayako; Tanaka, Erika; Cristeau, Olivier; Onishi, Yoshie; Osuga, Yutaka

2017-01-01

This study aimed to describe treatment patterns and estimate health care resource utilization and associated costs among Japanese women with dysmenorrhea, using a claims database. This was a retrospective analysis using health insurance data from the Japan Medical Data Center, assessing female patients aged 18-49 years with newly diagnosed primary or secondary dysmenorrhea. Treatment pattern analyses focused on hormonal medications, analgesics, hemostatic agents, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and gynecological surgeries. Data were collected on health care resource utilization and costs associated with medications, imaging procedures, and inpatient and outpatient care in both patients and matched controls. The analysis included 6,315 women with dysmenorrhea (3,441 primary; 2,874 secondary). The most commonly prescribed initial therapies were low-dose estrogen progestins (LEPs, 37.7%) and TCM (30.0%), with substantial differences between primary (LEPs: 27.4%, TCM: 38.8%) and secondary (LEPs: 50.2%, TCM: 19.5%) dysmenorrhea cohorts. Surgery was conducted in <5% of all patients. Both primary and secondary cohorts of dysmenorrhea had significantly higher mean total health care costs compared to controls within the 1-year period following diagnosis (Case-primary: 191,680 JPY [1,916 USD]; secondary: 246,488 JPY [2,465 USD], Control-primary: 83,615 JPY [836 USD]; secondary: 90,711 JPY [907 USD]) ( p <0.0001). After adjusting for baseline characteristics, these costs were 2.2 and 2.9 times higher for primary and secondary dysmenorrhea cohorts, respectively, compared with matched controls, (both p <0.0001). The main driver of these excess costs was outpatient care, with eight additional physician visits per year among dysmenorrhea patients compared to controls ( p <0.0001). Considerable heterogeneity in treatment patterns was observed, with relatively low utilization of LEPs in patients with primary dysmenorrhea and those treated by internal medicine physicians. Total annual health care costs were approximately 2-3 times higher in patients with dysmenorrhea compared to women without the condition.

Evaluation of the treatment patterns and economic burden of dysmenorrhea in Japanese women, using a claims database

PubMed Central

Akiyama, Sayako; Tanaka, Erika; Cristeau, Olivier; Onishi, Yoshie; Osuga, Yutaka

2017-01-01

Purpose This study aimed to describe treatment patterns and estimate health care resource utilization and associated costs among Japanese women with dysmenorrhea, using a claims database. Methods This was a retrospective analysis using health insurance data from the Japan Medical Data Center, assessing female patients aged 18–49 years with newly diagnosed primary or secondary dysmenorrhea. Treatment pattern analyses focused on hormonal medications, analgesics, hemostatic agents, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and gynecological surgeries. Data were collected on health care resource utilization and costs associated with medications, imaging procedures, and inpatient and outpatient care in both patients and matched controls. Results The analysis included 6,315 women with dysmenorrhea (3,441 primary; 2,874 secondary). The most commonly prescribed initial therapies were low-dose estrogen progestins (LEPs, 37.7%) and TCM (30.0%), with substantial differences between primary (LEPs: 27.4%, TCM: 38.8%) and secondary (LEPs: 50.2%, TCM: 19.5%) dysmenorrhea cohorts. Surgery was conducted in <5% of all patients. Both primary and secondary cohorts of dysmenorrhea had significantly higher mean total health care costs compared to controls within the 1-year period following diagnosis (Case-primary: 191,680 JPY [1,916 USD]; secondary: 246,488 JPY [2,465 USD], Control-primary: 83,615 JPY [836 USD]; secondary: 90,711 JPY [907 USD]) (p<0.0001). After adjusting for baseline characteristics, these costs were 2.2 and 2.9 times higher for primary and secondary dysmenorrhea cohorts, respectively, compared with matched controls, (both p<0.0001). The main driver of these excess costs was outpatient care, with eight additional physician visits per year among dysmenorrhea patients compared to controls (p<0.0001). Conclusion Considerable heterogeneity in treatment patterns was observed, with relatively low utilization of LEPs in patients with primary dysmenorrhea and those treated by internal medicine physicians. Total annual health care costs were approximately 2–3 times higher in patients with dysmenorrhea compared to women without the condition. PMID:28579813

Emergent properties of nuclei from ab initio coupled-cluster calculations

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

Hagen, G.; Hjorth-Jensen, M.; Jansen, G. R.

Emergent properties such as nuclear saturation and deformation, and the effects on shell structure due to the proximity of the scattering continuum and particle decay channels are fascinating phenomena in atomic nuclei. In recent years, ab initio approaches to nuclei have taken the first steps towards tackling the computational challenge of describing these phenomena from Hamiltonians with microscopic degrees of freedom. Our endeavor is now possible due to ideas from effective field theories, novel optimization strategies for nuclear interactions, ab initio methods exhibiting a soft scaling with mass number, and ever-increasing computational power. We review some of the recent accomplishments. We also present new results. The recently optimized chiral interaction NNLOmore » $${}_{{\\rm{sat}}}$$ is shown to provide an accurate description of both charge radii and binding energies in selected light- and medium-mass nuclei up to 56Ni. We derive an efficient scheme for including continuum effects in coupled-cluster computations of nuclei based on chiral nucleon–nucleon and three-nucleon forces, and present new results for unbound states in the neutron-rich isotopes of oxygen and calcium. Finally, the coupling to the continuum impacts the energies of the $${J}^{\\pi }=1/{2}^{-},3/{2}^{-},7/{2}^{-},3/{2}^{+}$$ states in $${}^{\\mathrm{17,23,25}}$$O, and—contrary to naive shell-model expectations—the level ordering of the $${J}^{\\pi }=3/{2}^{+},5/{2}^{+},9/{2}^{+}$$ states in $${}^{\\mathrm{53,55,61}}$$Ca.« less

Emergent properties of nuclei from ab initio coupled-cluster calculations

DOE PAGES

Hagen, G.; Hjorth-Jensen, M.; Jansen, G. R.; ...

2016-05-17

Emergent properties such as nuclear saturation and deformation, and the effects on shell structure due to the proximity of the scattering continuum and particle decay channels are fascinating phenomena in atomic nuclei. In recent years, ab initio approaches to nuclei have taken the first steps towards tackling the computational challenge of describing these phenomena from Hamiltonians with microscopic degrees of freedom. Our endeavor is now possible due to ideas from effective field theories, novel optimization strategies for nuclear interactions, ab initio methods exhibiting a soft scaling with mass number, and ever-increasing computational power. We review some of the recent accomplishments. We also present new results. The recently optimized chiral interaction NNLOmore » $${}_{{\\rm{sat}}}$$ is shown to provide an accurate description of both charge radii and binding energies in selected light- and medium-mass nuclei up to 56Ni. We derive an efficient scheme for including continuum effects in coupled-cluster computations of nuclei based on chiral nucleon–nucleon and three-nucleon forces, and present new results for unbound states in the neutron-rich isotopes of oxygen and calcium. Finally, the coupling to the continuum impacts the energies of the $${J}^{\\pi }=1/{2}^{-},3/{2}^{-},7/{2}^{-},3/{2}^{+}$$ states in $${}^{\\mathrm{17,23,25}}$$O, and—contrary to naive shell-model expectations—the level ordering of the $${J}^{\\pi }=3/{2}^{+},5/{2}^{+},9/{2}^{+}$$ states in $${}^{\\mathrm{53,55,61}}$$Ca.« less

Association of household income and education with eating behaviors in Japanese adults: a cross-sectional study.

PubMed

Nakamura, Saki; Inayama, Takayo; Hata, Kikuko; Matsushita, Munehiro; Takahashi, Masaki; Harada, Kazuhiro; Arao, Takashi

2016-01-22

Socioeconomic inequalities as social determinants of health are important issues in public health and health promotion. However, the association between socioeconomic status and eating behaviors has been investigated poorly in Japanese adults. To fill this gap, the present study examines the association of eating behaviors with household income and education. The sample comprised 3,137 Japanese adults (1,580 men and 1,557 women) aged 30 to 59 years who responded to an Internet-based cross-sectional survey in 2014. Data on the following eating behaviors were collected via self-report: "taking care of one's diet for health," "eating vegetables," "frequency of eating breakfast," "frequency of family breakfasts," "frequency of family dinners," "using the information on nutrition labels," and "conversations with family or friends during meals." Self-reported data on socioeconomic status (household income and education) and demographic variables (gender, age, district of residence, marital status, residence status, and employment status) were also collected. The associations between eating behaviors and household income or education were tested using binomial logistic regression analysis with eating behaviors as dependent variables and household income and education as independent variables. A trend P -value was calculated for three categories of household income (less than 3,000,000 JPY, 3,000,000-7,000,000 JPY, and over 7,000,000 JPY) and education (junior high/high school, 2-year college, and 4-year college/graduate school). Higher household income and education were significantly associated with higher rates of eating vegetables, using the information on nutrition labels, and conversation with family or friends during meals in Japanese men and women. Higher household incomes were significantly associated with lower rates of frequency of family breakfasts in Japanese men and lower rates of frequency of family dinners in Japanese men and women. Higher socioeconomic status as indicated by household income or education was associated with eating more vegetables and conversation with family or friends during meals in Japanese men and women. Socioeconomic status should be considered in health promotion and diet improvement.

Real-world cost analysis of chemotherapy for colorectal cancer in Japan: detailed costs of various regimens during the entire course of chemotherapy.

PubMed

Yajima, Shuichi; Shimizu, Hisanori; Sakamaki, Hiroyuki; Ikeda, Shunya; Ikegami, Naoki; Murayama, Jun-Ichiro

2016-01-04

Various chemotherapy regimens for advanced colorectal cancer have been introduced to clinical practice in Japan over the past decade. The cost profiles of these regimens, however, remain unclear in Japan. To explore the detailed costs of different regimens used to treat advanced colorectal cancer during the entire course of chemotherapy in patients treated in a practical setting, we conducted a so-called "real-world" cost analysis. A detailed cost analysis was performed retrospectively. Patients with advanced colorectal cancer who had received chemotherapy in a practical healthcare setting from July 2004 through October 2010 were extracted from the ordering system database of Showa University Hospital. Direct medical costs of chemotherapy regimens were calculated from the hospital billing data of the patients. The analysis was conducted from a payer's perspective. A total of 30 patients with advanced colorectal cancer were identified. Twenty patients received up to second-line treatment, and 8 received up to third-line treatment. The regimens identified from among all courses of treatment in all patients were 13 oxaliplatin-based regimens, 31 irinotecan-based regimens, and 11 regimens including molecular targeted agents. The average (95% confidence interval [95% CI]) monthly cost during the overall period from the beginning of treatment to the end of treatment was 308,363 (258,792 to 357,933) Japanese yen (JPY). According to the type of regimen, the average monthly cost was 418,463 (357,413 to 479,513) JPY for oxaliplatin-based regimens, 215,499 (188,359 to 242,639) JPY for irinotecan-based regimens, and 705,460 (586,733 to 824,187) JPY for regimens including molecular targeted agents. Anticancer drug costs and hospital fees accounted for 50 to 77% and 11 to 25% of the overall costs of chemotherapy, respectively. The costs of irinotecan-based regimens were lower than those of oxaliplatin-based regimens and regimens including molecular targeted agents in Japan. Using a lower cost regimen for first-line treatment can potentially reduce the overall cost of chemotherapy. The main cost drivers were the anticancer drug costs and hospitalization costs.

Tailored message interventions versus typical messages for increasing participation in colorectal cancer screening among a non-adherent population: A randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Hirai, Kei; Ishikawa, Yoshiki; Fukuyoshi, Jun; Yonekura, Akio; Harada, Kazuhiro; Shibuya, Daisuke; Yamamoto, Seiichiro; Mizota, Yuri; Hamashima, Chisato; Saito, Hiroshi

2016-05-24

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of a tailored message intervention compared with a non-tailored message intervention for increasing colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates among a non-adherent population, in a community-based client reminder program. After a baseline survey for psychological segmentation, 2140 eligible individuals were randomly assigned either to a group with a tailored matched-message condition (N = 356), a group with a non-tailored unmatched-message condition (N = 355), or to two control groups, one using a typical message with a professional design (N = 717) and one without a professional design (N = 712). The main outcome measure was attendance rates in a community-organized CRC screening program within five months of receiving a print reminder. There was a significant difference in fecal occult blood test (FOBT) attendance rates at follow-up assessments between the tailored matched-message condition (14.0 %) and the control (9.9 %; OR = 1.48, p = 0.026), while there was no significant difference between the unmatched-message condition (11.0 %) and the control (OR = 1.12, p = 0.558), and between the matched-message condition and the unmatched-message condition (OR = 1.32, p = 0.219). The cost of a one-person increase in FOBT screening was 3,740 JPY for the tailored matched-message condition, while it was 2,747 JPY for the control. A tailored-message intervention for segmented individuals designed to increase CRC screening rates in a community-based client reminder program was significantly effective compared to a usual reminder, but not more effective than an unmatched message in a randomized controlled trial, and was not sufficiently effective to highlight its value from a cost perspective. Therefore, the tailored intervention including target segmentation needs to be improved for future implementation in a CRC screening program for a non-adherent population. UMIN Clinical Trials Registry UMIN000004384 . Date of Registration: March 2011.

Assessing cost and effectiveness of radiation decontamination in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.

PubMed

Yasutaka, Tetsuo; Naito, Wataru

2016-01-01

Despite the enormous cost of radiation decontamination in Fukushima Prefecture, it is not clear what levels of reduction in external radiation exposure are possible in the Special Decontamination Area, the Intensive Contamination Survey Areas and the whole of Fukushima. The objective of this study was to evaluate the cost and effectiveness of radiation decontamination in Fukushima Prefecture in its entirety. Using a geographic information system, we calculated the costs of removal, storage containers, transport, and temporary and interim storage facilities as well as the reduction in air dose rate for a cumulative external exposure for 9000 1 km × 1 km mesh units incorporating 51 municipalities. The decontamination cost for the basic scenario, for which forested areas within 20 m of habitation areas were decontaminated, was JPY2.53-5.12 trillion; the resulting reduction in annual external dose was about 2500 person-Sv. The transport, storage, and administrative costs of decontamination waste and removed soil reached JPY1.55-2.12 trillion under this scenario. Although implementing decontamination of all forested areas provides some major reductions in the external radiation dose for the average inhabitant, decontamination costs could potentially exceed JPY16 trillion. These results indicate that technologies for reducing the volume of decontamination waste and removed soil should be considered to reduce storage costs and that further discussions about forest decontamination policies are needed. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Cost-effectiveness of a New Opportunistic Screening Strategy for Walk-in Fingertip HbA1c Testing at Community Pharmacies in Japan.

PubMed

Shono, Aiko; Kondo, Masahide; Hoshi, Shu-Ling; Okubo, Reiko; Yahagi, Naoya

2018-06-01

A new opportunistic community-based strategy was launched in Japan in April 2014 to detect lifestyle-related diseases, including diabetes, by creating Specimen Measurement Offices (SMOs). SMOs offer walk-in fingertip HbA 1c testing. This article aimed to assess the value-for-money of HbA 1c testing services at SMOs by conducting a cost-effectiveness analysis. We compared two scenarios: 1 ) status quo, defined as HbA 1c testing that is available only through conventional screening, and 2 ) HbA 1c testing available at SMOs as a complement to the status quo scenario. The model consisted of a screening module with a decision tree and a disease progression module with a Markov model. We calculated incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (i.e., cost per quality-adjusted life-years [QALYs]) over the lifetime analytic horizon as the primary end point of the cost-effectiveness analysis. In this model, we assumed the participant cohort to be people 40-74 years of age who sought walk-in fingertip HbA 1c testing at SMOs on the premises of community pharmacies. Costs and outcomes were discounted at a rate of 3%. The cost-effectiveness was analyzed from a societal perspective. The incremental cost per individual for those 40-74 years of age was estimated to be -527 U.S. dollars (USD) (-52,722 Japanese yen [JPY]) for HbA 1c testing at SMOs compared with the status quo. Incremental effectiveness was estimated to be 0.0203 QALYs for HbA 1c testing at SMOs compared with the status quo. Therefore, this cost-effectiveness analysis showed that compared with the status quo, HbA 1c testing at SMOs was more effective and had lower cost for the population studied. We consider our results to be robust because most simulations were under the threshold of USD 50,000 (JPY 5,000,000) per QALYs gained, by sensitivity analysis. These results will be useful to managers of pharmacies or other health institutions and/or policy makers in local government. © 2018 by the American Diabetes Association.

Time scale defined by the fractal structure of the price fluctuations in foreign exchange markets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumagai, Yoshiaki

2010-04-01

In this contribution, a new time scale named C-fluctuation time is defined by price fluctuations observed at a given resolution. The intraday fractal structures and the relations of the three time scales: real time (physical time), tick time and C-fluctuation time, in foreign exchange markets are analyzed. The data set used is trading prices of foreign exchange rates; US dollar (USD)/Japanese yen (JPY), USD/Euro (EUR), and EUR/JPY. The accuracy of the data is one minute and data within a minute are recorded in order of transaction. The series of instantaneous velocity of C-fluctuation time flowing are exponentially distributed for small C when they are measured by real time and for tiny C when they are measured by tick time. When the market is volatile, for larger C, the series of instantaneous velocity are exponentially distributed.

77 FR 58899 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc.; Notice of Filing and Order...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-09-24

...; Overnight Index Swaps (``OIS'') denominated in USD, EUR, GBP and Japanese Yen (``JPY'') with Termination... Termination Dates up to 50 years; Overnight Index Swaps (``OIS'') denominated in USD, EUR, GBP and Japanese...

Society Influencing Science: The role of the Transdisciplinary Advisory Board (TAB) of the European Joint Programming Initiative on Climate.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Noone, K. J.; Manderscheid, P.; Monfray, P.

2017-12-01

It is becoming increasingly apparent that the separation between science and the rest of society is not helping us find solutions to "wicked" problems like climate change or achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. It is clear that a broader approach to research is necessary - one that includes stakeholders in the research process itself. What is unclear is how best to do this. The Transdisciplinary Advisory Board (TAB) of the European Joint Programming Initiative on Climate (JPI Climate) is an example of scientists and stakeholders working together to frame climate research and move the results of scientific research into decision support. JPI Climate is a consortium of 12 European countries (with partners from nine more countries) and is a major funding channel and forum for climate research in Europe. The TAB has an equal number of stakeholders and researchers from 10 different European countries, has an even gender balance, and its members have widely differing backgrounds. The TAB provides input and advice to the governing board of JPI Climate, and influences both the strategic planning for this funding initiative as well as specific calls for proposals issued through the consortium. In addition to its advisory role, the TAB explores the transdisciplinary process itself, expanding the boundaries of how stakeholders and science can interact positively. The TAB is a two-way mechanism through which stakeholders can help improve research and science can help improve society. We will give examples of the spectrum of how the TAB provides mutual influence between stakeholders and science - from helping to draft 10-year research strategies to helping advance the uptake of climate research into the private and policy sectors.

Productivity loss of caregivers of schizophrenia patients: a cross-sectional survey in Japan.

PubMed

Sruamsiri, Rosarin; Mori, Yasuhiro; Mahlich, Jörg

2018-04-27

When a family member is diagnosed with schizophrenia, it causes stress to the caregiver that can eventually result in missed work days and lower work performance. This study aims at revealing productivity costs for caregivers of schizophrenia patients in Japan. A cross-sectional survey of caregivers was conducted and resulted in 171 respondents. The assessment of work productivity included calculating the costs of absenteeism, presenteeism and total productivity costs. This was accomplished using the "Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire" (WPAI). A relative majority of caregivers in the sample provided care for their spouse (47%), 18% cared for their brother or sister and 16% provided care for their child. Per capita productivity costs totaled JPY 2.42 million, with JPY 2.36 million (97%) of that amount being due to presenteeism. The burden on caregivers is substantial enough to warrant structured support programs aimed at maintaining careers' physical and mental health, helping them provide more effective care to schizophrenia patients and eventually increase productivity at work.

E 5 decay from the J π = 11 / 2 - isomer in Ba 137

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

Moran, K.; McCutchan, E. A.; Lister, C. J.

2014-10-01

A new gamma-decay branch has been found from the well-known 661.659(3)-keV J(pi) = 11/2(-), T-1/2 = 2.552(1) min isomer in Ba-137 which is populated in the beta decay of Cs-137. The new 377.9(3)-keV gamma ray connects the isomer to the low-lying 283.5 keV, J(pi) = 1/2(-) state. It is of near-pure E5 character. The decay has a gamma branching ratio (Br-gamma = Gamma(gamma)/Gamma(tot)) of 1.12(9) x 10(-7). The new decay has a B(E5) of 0.71(6) W.u. [ B(E5) down arrow= 6.5(6) x 10(5) e(2) fm(10)], a value consistent with other "single-particle" E5 decays in the region. The new decay branchmore » is of topical interest, as it competes with the much-sought "two-photon" second-order electromagnetic decay from this state.« less

An improved shuffled frog leaping algorithm based evolutionary framework for currency exchange rate prediction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dash, Rajashree

2017-11-01

Forecasting purchasing power of one currency with respect to another currency is always an interesting topic in the field of financial time series prediction. Despite the existence of several traditional and computational models for currency exchange rate forecasting, there is always a need for developing simpler and more efficient model, which will produce better prediction capability. In this paper, an evolutionary framework is proposed by using an improved shuffled frog leaping (ISFL) algorithm with a computationally efficient functional link artificial neural network (CEFLANN) for prediction of currency exchange rate. The model is validated by observing the monthly prediction measures obtained for three currency exchange data sets such as USD/CAD, USD/CHF, and USD/JPY accumulated within same period of time. The model performance is also compared with two other evolutionary learning techniques such as Shuffled frog leaping algorithm and Particle Swarm optimization algorithm. Practical analysis of results suggest that, the proposed model developed using the ISFL algorithm with CEFLANN network is a promising predictor model for currency exchange rate prediction compared to other models included in the study.

Cost-effectiveness of direct-acting antiviral regimen ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir in treatment-naïve and treatment-experienced patients infected with chronic hepatitis C virus genotype 1b in Japan.

PubMed

Virabhak, Suchin; Yasui, Kikuo; Yamazaki, Kiyotaka; Johnson, Scott; Mitchell, Dominic; Yuen, Cammy; Samp, Jennifer C; Igarashi, Ataru

2016-12-01

This study compared the cost-effectiveness of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1b (GT1b) therapy ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir (OBV/PTV/r) vs daclatasvir + asunaprevir (DCV/ASV) and no treatment in patients without cirrhosis. Cost-effectiveness analyses (CEAs) that compared OBV/PTV/r against DCV/ASV and sofosbuvir/ledipasvir (SOF/LDV) in Y93H mutation-negative, GT1b patients with and without cirrhosis were also included. A health state transition model was developed to capture the natural history of HCV. A CEA over a lifetime horizon was performed from the perspective of the public healthcare payer in Japan. Costs, health utilities, and rates of disease progression were derived from published studies. Sustained virologic response (SVR) rates of OBV/PTV/r and DCV/ASV were extracted from Japanese clinical trials. Analyses were performed for treatment-naïve and -experienced patients. Alternative scenarios and input parameter uncertainty on the results were tested. OBV/PTV/r exhibited superior clinical outcomes vs comparators. For OBV/PTV/r, DCV/ASV, and no treatment, the lifetime risk of decompensated cirrhosis in treatment-naïve patients without cirrhosis was 0.4%, 1.4%, and 9.2%, and hepatocellular carcinoma was 6.5%, 11.4%, and 49.9%, respectively. Quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were higher in treatment-naïve and -experienced patients without cirrhosis treated with OBV/PTV/r (16.41 and 16.22) vs DCV/ASV (15.83 and 15.66) or no treatment (11.34 and 11.23). In treatment-naïve and -experienced patients without cirrhosis, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) of OBV/PTV/r vs DCV/ASV were JPY 1,684,751/QALY and JPY 1,836,596/QALY, respectively; OBV/PTV/r was dominant compared with no treatment. In scenario analysis, including GT1b patients with and without cirrhosis who were Y93H mutation-negative, the ICER of OBV/PTV/r vs DCV/ASV was below the Japanese willingness-to-pay threshold of JPY 5 million/QALY, while the ICER of SOF/LDV vs OBV/PTV/r was above this threshold; thus, OBV/PTV/r was cost-effective. OBV/PTV/r appears to be a cost-effective treatment for chronic HCV GT1b infection against DCV/ASV. OBV/PTV/r dominates no treatment in patients without cirrhosis.

Maternal Personality and Parenting Cognitions in Cross-Cultural Perspective

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bornstein, Marc H.; Hahn, Chun-Shin; Haynes, O. Maurice; Belsky, J.; Azuma, Hiroshi; Kwak, Keumjoo; Maital, Sharone; Painter, Kathleen M.; Varron, Cheryl; Pascual, Liliana; Toda, Sueko; Venuti, Paola; Vyt, Andre; de Galperin, Celia Zingman

2007-01-01

A total of 467 mothers of firstborn 20-month-old children from 7 countries (103 Argentine, 61 Belgian, 39 Israeli, 78 Italian, 57 Japanese, 69 Korean, and 60 US American) completed the "Jackson Personality Inventory" (JPI), measures of parenting cognitions (self-perceptions and knowledge), and a social desirability scale. Our first…

The Limited Use Policy: Review, Analysis and Proposals for Change. Volume 1.

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-06-02

responsibility for any deficiencies. 4 -. -* . - - - * - - - - .*. w- -. - * .* --. *. CHAPTER I ENDNOTES I. William Shakespeare , " Hamlet ," Act 2, ,,-cnP 2...Lirses 207-108 Britannica Great Books - Shakespeare II, 1952, Vol. 27, p. 42. 5 5 ’ : - - ./;-J:p--I , ii . 4I jI -5- 5*. •a \\ m ? • CHAPTER I THE EARLY

77 FR 15440 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Order Granting Approval of Proposed Rule Change...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-03-15

... currencies are the euro, Japanese yen, British pound, Canadian dollar, Swedish krona, and Swiss franc. The component currencies do not have the same weight. The euro has a weighting of 57.6%, the Japanese yen a... inverse multiple of the daily performance of the Japanese yen spot price versus the U.S. dollar (``JPY/USD...

Dynamic relationship between Japanese Yen exchange rates and market anxiety: A new perspective based on MF-DCCA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Xinsheng; Sun, Xinxin; Ge, Jintian

2017-05-01

This paper investigates the dynamic relationship between Japanese Yen exchange rates and market anxiety during the period from January 5, 1998 to April 18, 2016. A quantitative technique of multifractal detrended cross-correlation analysis (MF-DCCA) is used to explore the multifractal features of the cross-correlations between USD/JPY, AUD/JPY exchange rates and the market anxiety gauge VIX. The investigation shows that the causal relationship between Japanese Yen exchange rates and VIX are bidirectional in general, and the cross-correlations between the two sets of time series are multifractal. Strong evidence suggests that the cross-correlation exponents tend to exhibit different volatility patterns in response to diverse external shocks such as financial distress and widening in interest rate spread, suggesting that the cross-correlated behavior between Japanese Yen exchange rates and VIX are susceptible to economic uncertainties and risks. In addition, the performances of two market anxiety gauges, the VIX and the TED spread, are compared and the sources of multifractality are also traced. Thus, this paper contributes to the literature by shedding light on the unique driving forces of the Yen exchange rate fluctuations in the international foreign exchange market.

The cost effectiveness of rapid-acting insulin aspart compared with human insulin in type 2 diabetes patients: an analysis from the Japanese third-party payer perspective.

PubMed

Pollock, R F; Valentine, W J; Pilgaard, T; Nishimura, H

2011-01-01

The Nippon Ultra-Rapid Insulin and Diabetic Complication Evaluation Study (NICE Study) (NCT00575172) was a 5-year, open-label, randomised controlled trial which compared cardiovascular outcomes in Japanese type 2 diabetes patients intensively treated with regular human insulin or insulin aspart (NovoRapid; Novo Nordisk A/S, Bagsvaerd, Denmark), a rapid-acting insulin analogue. The aim of the present analysis was to evaluate the cost effectiveness of insulin aspart versus regular human insulin from the perspective of a Japanese third-party healthcare payer. A discrete event-simulation model was developed in Microsoft Excel to assess the within-trial cost effectiveness and make longer-term clinical projections in patients treated with regular human insulin or insulin aspart. In addition to severe hypoglycaemia, the model captured myocardial and cerebral infarction events and percutaneous coronary intervention and coronary artery bypass graft procedures. Within-trial mortality, incidence of severe hypoglycaemia and cardiovascular event probabilities were derived from the annual rates observed during the trial period, while post-trial outcomes were calculated using the event rates from the trial, adjusted for increasing patient age. Event costs were accounted from the healthcare payer perspective and expressed in 2008 Japanese yen (JPY), while health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was captured using event and state utilities. Future costs and clinical benefits were discounted at 3% annually. Life expectancy, quality-adjusted life expectancy, cardiovascular event rates and costs were evaluated over 5- and 10-year time horizons and sensitivity analyses were performed to assess variability in model outcomes. Over 5 years of treatment, insulin aspart dominated human insulin both in incremental life expectancy and in incremental quality-adjusted life-years (QALYS). Insulin aspart was associated with a small improvement in discounted life expectancy of 0.005 years (4.688 vs. 4.684 years) and an increase of 0.023 quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) (3.800 vs. 3.776 QALYs) when compared with regular human insulin. Insulin aspart also incurred lower costs (JPY 481,586 vs. 594,717, difference -113,131) which resulted from the decreased incidence of cardiovascular events with insulin aspart (0.013 events per patient year vs. 0.030 on regular human insulin). Breakdown of costs indicated that pharmacy costs were higher with insulin aspart (JPY 346,608 vs. 278,468), but these costs were more than offset by the reduced costs associated with cardiovascular complications and hypoglycaemia over 5 years of treatment (JPY 134,978 vs. 316,249). Sensitivity analysis showed that insulin aspart was still cost-effective in the case where only 18% of the within-trial cardiovascular and mortality benefit over regular human insulin was captured in the model (assuming a willingness-to-pay threshold of JPY 5,000,000). The NICE study cohort was relatively small (n = 325), meaning that caution should be exercised when calculating and interpreting the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio. Also, despite the differences in cardiovascular risk profile between the Japanese and UK populations, UKPDS-derived risk equations were used to project MI outcomes and PCI and CABG procedures and UKPDS HRQoL scores were applied to all health states. While these risk formulas and HRQoL utilities may not be directly applicable to the Japanese population, no equivalent Japanese-specific data are currently available. In a Japanese type 2 diabetes population, prescribing rapid-acting insulin aspart significantly reduced cardiovascular complications over 5- and 10-year time horizons, resulting in increased quality of life and decreased costs when compared with human insulin.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of microdose clinical trials in drug development.

PubMed

Yamane, Naoe; Igarashi, Ataru; Kusama, Makiko; Maeda, Kazuya; Ikeda, Toshihiko; Sugiyama, Yuichi

2013-01-01

Microdose (MD) clinical trials have been introduced to obtain human pharmacokinetic data early in drug development. Here we assessed the cost-effectiveness of microdose integrated drug development in a hypothetical model, as there was no such quantitative research that weighed the additional effectiveness against the additional time and/or cost. First, we calculated the cost and effectiveness (i.e., success rate) of 3 types of MD integrated drug development strategies: liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, accelerator mass spectrometry, and positron emission tomography. Then, we analyzed the cost-effectiveness of 9 hypothetical scenarios where 100 drug candidates entering into a non-clinical toxicity study were selected by different methods as the conventional scenario without MD. In the base-case, where 70 drug candidates were selected without MD and 30 selected evenly by one of the three MD methods, incremental cost-effectiveness ratio per one additional drug approved was JPY 12.7 billion (US$ 0.159 billion), whereas the average cost-effectiveness ratio of the conventional strategy was JPY 24.4 billion, which we set as a threshold. Integrating MD in the conventional drug development was cost-effective in this model. This quantitative analytical model which allows various modifications according to each company's conditions, would be helpful for guiding decisions early in clinical development.

Descriptive Summaries of the Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Army Appropriaion FY 1978. Supporting Data FY 1978, Budget Estimate Submitted to Congress January 1977. Volume I

DTIC Science & Technology

1977-01-01

aCca oi c o. 4) T3 a 3 a a IH o x a a a h o w a oi ■o ,* <o 0) 3 a eflpiHa-oooa...8217*’^ A^iimmn»Lißirmmmmmitn. » [m< «^n^ ffm ^^nmmmmm^^ 11 HI I 3 a s a. < El 3 f < o 91 9 u o G Ü v o c I •a 0 g > 5 o 00 01...o • in i K ON K i 00 ON ITl 00 n I i I ■ MM - I i)ii|ii, npH.i.t -’«"•W’-J.’H..I«II i wj inn« \\ ffm «.jpiLiMii in

Willingness to Pay for Elderly Telecare Service Using the Internet and Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting

PubMed Central

Kaga, Satoshi; Suzuki, Teppei

2017-01-01

Background In Japan over the past few years, more attention has been focused on unnoticed solitary death in the context of an aging society and the trend toward nuclear family. A number of institutions and companies have implemented a prevention measure with digital terrestrial broadcasting telecare services for the elderly: Hokkaido University; TV-Asahi Corporation; Hitachi, Ltd; Iwamizawa City; Hokkaido Television Broadcasting Co, Ltd; and Hamanasu Information Co, Ltd. Although this system is provided free of charge as a demonstration test, determining the appropriate price for the service is required for its sustainable operation. Objective The aim of this study was to quantify individual willingness to pay (WTP) so as to test the tenability of digital terrestrial broadcasting service for elderly telecare. Methods We used the contingent valuation method (CVM) to estimate the WTP for this service among 305 citizens (valid response rate 76.0%) living in Japan. A questionnaire survey was conducted for people aged 18 to 100 years according to Japanese age distribution from September 2016. To elicit WTP, we adopted a double-bound dichotomous choice method to ask the respondents whether they agree or disagree with the price we offered. Results The median WTP for this service’s monthly fee is estimated to be 431 JPY (approximately US $3.7). The finding suggests that gender (0.66, P=.01), health consciousness (1.08, P=.01), willingness to use (2.38, P<.001), and seeing others less than once a week (1.00, P=.06) made a positive effect on WTP. Conclusions We conclude that reliable WTP was elicited by CVM based on an Internet survey. Calculated median WTP for digital terrestrial broadcasting service for elderly telecare was 431 JPY (approximately US $3.7). In the analysis of factors that affect WTP, constant factors, log-bid, health consciousness, gender, see others less than one time for week, and willingness to use made positive effect to probability of acceptance. In comparison of WTP in different groups, age groups showed that WTP of the elderly group was higher than WTP of the middle age group and younger age group. However, WTP surveys need to be carefully conducted to minimize the sampling bias and allocate accurate structure of gender distribution. PMID:29066428

Willingness to Pay for Elderly Telecare Service Using the Internet and Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting.

PubMed

Kaga, Satoshi; Suzuki, Teppei; Ogasawara, Katsuhiko

2017-10-24

In Japan over the past few years, more attention has been focused on unnoticed solitary death in the context of an aging society and the trend toward nuclear family. A number of institutions and companies have implemented a prevention measure with digital terrestrial broadcasting telecare services for the elderly: Hokkaido University; TV-Asahi Corporation; Hitachi, Ltd; Iwamizawa City; Hokkaido Television Broadcasting Co, Ltd; and Hamanasu Information Co, Ltd. Although this system is provided free of charge as a demonstration test, determining the appropriate price for the service is required for its sustainable operation. The aim of this study was to quantify individual willingness to pay (WTP) so as to test the tenability of digital terrestrial broadcasting service for elderly telecare. We used the contingent valuation method (CVM) to estimate the WTP for this service among 305 citizens (valid response rate 76.0%) living in Japan. A questionnaire survey was conducted for people aged 18 to 100 years according to Japanese age distribution from September 2016. To elicit WTP, we adopted a double-bound dichotomous choice method to ask the respondents whether they agree or disagree with the price we offered. The median WTP for this service's monthly fee is estimated to be 431 JPY (approximately US $3.7). The finding suggests that gender (0.66, P=.01), health consciousness (1.08, P=.01), willingness to use (2.38, P<.001), and seeing others less than once a week (1.00, P=.06) made a positive effect on WTP. We conclude that reliable WTP was elicited by CVM based on an Internet survey. Calculated median WTP for digital terrestrial broadcasting service for elderly telecare was 431 JPY (approximately US $3.7). In the analysis of factors that affect WTP, constant factors, log-bid, health consciousness, gender, see others less than one time for week, and willingness to use made positive effect to probability of acceptance. In comparison of WTP in different groups, age groups showed that WTP of the elderly group was higher than WTP of the middle age group and younger age group. However, WTP surveys need to be carefully conducted to minimize the sampling bias and allocate accurate structure of gender distribution. ©Satoshi Kaga, Teppei Suzuki, Katsuhiko Ogasawara. Originally published in the Interactive Journal of Medical Research (http://www.i-jmr.org/), 24.10.2017.

Demand for pneumococcal vaccination under subsidy program for the elderly in Japan.

PubMed

Kondo, Masahide; Yamamura, Mariko; Hoshi, Shu-Ling; Okubo, Ichiro

2012-09-12

Vaccination programs often organize subsidies and public relations in order to obtain high uptake rates and coverage. However, effects of subsidies and public relations have not been studied well in the literature. In this study, the demand function of pneumococcal vaccination among the elderly in Japan is estimated, incorporating effects of public relations and subsidy. Using a data from a questionnaire survey sent to municipalities, the varying and constant elasticity models were applied to estimate the demand function. The response variable is the uptake rate. Explanatory variables are: subsidy supported shot price, operating years of the program, target population size for vaccination, shot location intensity, income and various public relations tools. The best model is selected by c-AIC, and varying and constant price elasticities are calculated from estimation results. The vaccine uptake rate and the shot price have a negative relation. From the results of varying price elasticity, the demand for vaccination is elastic at municipalities with a shot price higher than 3,708 JPY (35.7 USD). Effects of public relations on the uptake rate are not found. It can be suggested that municipalities with a shot price higher than 3,708 JPY (35.7 USD) could subsidize more and reduce price to increase the demand for vaccination. Effects of public relations are not confirmed in this study, probably due to measurement errors of variables used for public relations, and studies at micro level exploring individual's response to public relations would be required.

Acculturation of Personality: A Three-Culture Study of Japanese, Japanese Americans, and European Americans

PubMed Central

Güngör, Derya; Bornstein, Marc H.; De Leersnyder, Jozefien; Cote, Linda; Ceulemans, Eva; Mesquita, Batja

2013-01-01

The present study tests the hypothesis that involvement with a new culture instigates changes in personality of immigrants that result in (a) better fit with the norms of the culture of destination and (b) reduced fit with the norms of the culture of origin. Participants were 40 Japanese first-generation immigrants to the United States, 57 Japanese monoculturals, and 60 U.S. monoculturals. All participants completed the Jackson Personality Inventory (JPI) as a measure of the Big Five; immigrants completed the Japanese American Acculturation Scale. Immigrants’ fits with the cultures of destination and origin were calculated by correlating Japanese American mothers’ patterns of ratings on the Big Five with the average patterns of ratings of European Americans and Japanese on the same personality dimensions. Japanese Americans became more “American” and less “Japanese” in their personality as they reported higher participation in the U.S. culture. The results support the view that personality can be subject to cultural influence. PMID:23935211

Acculturation of Personality: A Three-Culture Study of Japanese, Japanese Americans, and European Americans.

PubMed

Güngör, Derya; Bornstein, Marc H; De Leersnyder, Jozefien; Cote, Linda; Ceulemans, Eva; Mesquita, Batja

2013-07-01

The present study tests the hypothesis that involvement with a new culture instigates changes in personality of immigrants that result in (a) better fit with the norms of the culture of destination and (b) reduced fit with the norms of the culture of origin. Participants were 40 Japanese first-generation immigrants to the United States, 57 Japanese monoculturals, and 60 U.S. monoculturals. All participants completed the Jackson Personality Inventory (JPI) as a measure of the Big Five; immigrants completed the Japanese American Acculturation Scale. Immigrants' fits with the cultures of destination and origin were calculated by correlating Japanese American mothers' patterns of ratings on the Big Five with the average patterns of ratings of European Americans and Japanese on the same personality dimensions. Japanese Americans became more "American" and less "Japanese" in their personality as they reported higher participation in the U.S. culture. The results support the view that personality can be subject to cultural influence.

Retrospective analysis of first-line treatment for follicular lymphoma based on outcomes and medical economics.

PubMed

Muneishi, Manaka; Nakamura, Ayaka; Tachibana, Katsumi; Suemitsu, Junko; Hasebe, Shinji; Takeuchi, Kazuto; Yakushijin, Yoshihiro

2018-04-01

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is the most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), with indolent progression. Several treatment options are selected, based not only on disease status, quality of life (QOL), and age of patient, but also on recent increasing medical costs. We retrospectively analysed the first-line treatment of FL with regard to treatment outcomes and medical economics, and discuss the appropriate strategies for FL. Data on a total of 69 newly-diagnosed patients with FL was retrospectively collected from 2001 to 2015. The median age of the patients was 60 years and the median follow-up was 58 months. A total of 25 cases with FL were treated with R monotherapy, and 28 cases were treated with R-CHOP as first-line treatment. The factors affecting the decision of physicians to use R or R-CHOP treatment were serum level of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and disease stage. The first-line treatment-associated survival did not show any statistical differences between R and R-CHOP. The average hospitalization and average of all medical costs during the first-line treatment were 4.1 days (R) versus 55.7 days (R-CHOP), and JPY 1,707,693 (USD 15,324) (R) versus JPY 2,136,117 (USD 19,170) (R-CHOP), respectively. R monotherapy for patients whose diseases show low tumor burden and who are not candidates for local treatment has benefits as a first-line treatment compared to R-CHOP, based on the patients' QOL and medical economics.

Demand for pneumococcal vaccination under subsidy program for the elderly in Japan

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Vaccination programs often organize subsidies and public relations in order to obtain high uptake rates and coverage. However, effects of subsidies and public relations have not been studied well in the literature. In this study, the demand function of pneumococcal vaccination among the elderly in Japan is estimated, incorporating effects of public relations and subsidy. Methods Using a data from a questionnaire survey sent to municipalities, the varying and constant elasticity models were applied to estimate the demand function. The response variable is the uptake rate. Explanatory variables are: subsidy supported shot price, operating years of the program, target population size for vaccination, shot location intensity, income and various public relations tools. The best model is selected by c-AIC, and varying and constant price elasticities are calculated from estimation results. Results The vaccine uptake rate and the shot price have a negative relation. From the results of varying price elasticity, the demand for vaccination is elastic at municipalities with a shot price higher than 3,708 JPY (35.7 USD). Effects of public relations on the uptake rate are not found. Conclusions It can be suggested that municipalities with a shot price higher than 3,708 JPY (35.7 USD) could subsidize more and reduce price to increase the demand for vaccination. Effects of public relations are not confirmed in this study, probably due to measurement errors of variables used for public relations, and studies at micro level exploring individual’s response to public relations would be required. PMID:22970727

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

Lovato, A.; Gandolfi, S.; Carlson, J.

Here, the longitudinal and transverse electromagnetic response functions ofmore » $$^{12}$$C are computed in a ``first-principles'' Green's function Monte Carlo calculation, based on realistic two- and three-nucleon interactions and associated one- and two-body currents. We find excellent agreement between theory and experiment and, in particular, no evidence for the quenching of measured versus calculated longitudinal response. This is further corroborated by a re-analysis of the Coulomb sum rule, in which the contributions from the low-lying $$J^\\pi\\,$$=$$\\, 2^+$$, $0^+$ (Hoyle), and $4^+$ states in $$^{12}$$C are accounted for explicitly in evaluating the total inelastic strength.« less

Cost-effectiveness analysis: controlled-release nifedipine and valsartan combination therapy in patients with essential hypertension: the adalat CR and valsartan cost-effectiveness combination (ADVANCE-Combi) study.

PubMed

Saito, Ikuo; Fujikawa, Keita; Saruta, Takao

2008-07-01

As recommended by the guidelines such as JSH 2004, combination therapy with multiple agents is now being applied to many patients with hypertension. However, a pharmacoeconomic analysis of each therapy has not been fully undertaken in Japan, despite increasing societal interest. In this study, the cost-effectiveness of two calcium channel blockers, each coadministered with an angiotensin receptor blockade, was compared using data from the ADVANCE-Combi study. The ADVANCE-Combi study was a 16-week double-blind, randomized clinical trial to compare the efficacy and safety of two combination therapies (controlled-release nifedipine [nifedipine CR] plus valsartan vs. amlodipine plus valsartan) on blood pressure (BP) control in patients with moderate to severe essential hypertension. The incremental cost effectiveness of each cohort was compared from the perspective of insurers. The average total cost per patient was Japanese yen (JPY) 31,615 for the nifedipine CR treatment group and JPY 35,399 for the amlodipine treatment group (p < 0.001). The achievement rate of the target BP (SBP/DBP < 130/85 mmHg for patients aged under 60 years; SBP/DBP < 140/90 mmHg for those aged 60 years and over) was significantly higher in the nifedipine CR treatment group (61.2%) than in the amlodipine treatment group (34.6%) (p < 0.001), with no difference in the incidence of drug-related adverse events. Accordingly, the base case economic analysis demonstrated that the nifedipine CR treatment group was dominant (more efficacious and less costly) to the amlodipine treatment group. This result was supported by univariate and probabilistic sensitivity analyses. These results indicate that nifedipine CR-based combination therapy is superior to amlodipine-based combination therapy for the management of essential hypertension in the Japanese population.

Crafting biochars to reduce N2O and CO2 emissions while also improving soil quality

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Novak, Jeff; Ippolito, Jim; Spokas, Kurt; Sigua, Gilbert; Kammann, Claudia; Wrage-Monnig, Nicole; Borchard, Nils; Schirrmann, Michael; Estavillo, Jose Maria; Fuertes-Mendizabal, Teresa; Menendez, Sergio; Cayuela, Maria Luz

2017-04-01

Biochar used as an amendment has been linked to nitrous oxide (N2O) emission reductions, a decrease in nitrogen (N) leaching, and soil quality improvements (e.g., soil carbon sequestration, pH, etc.). While numerous articles will support these three facts, conversely, there are reports of no to marginal influences. One reason for the mixed biochar performance could be related to applying biochar with incorrect chemical and physical characteristics. As a means to increase biochar efficiency, we introduced the concept of crafting biochars with properties attuned to specific soil deficiencies. Implementing this concept requires a literature review to identify salient biochar characteristics that reduces N2O emissions, impacts N availability, while also improving soil quality. Thus, scientists from the USDA-ARS and through a coalition of European scientists under the FACCE-JPI umbrella have conceived the DesignChar4food (d4f) project. In this project, scientists are working collaboratively to further this concept to match the appropriate biochar for selective soil quality improvement, retain N for crops, and promote greenhouse gas reductions. This presentation will highlight results from the d4f team compromising a meta-analysis of articles on biochar:N2O dynamics, N availability, and how designer biochars can target specific soil quality improvements.

Detection and localisation of protein-protein interactions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae using a split-GFP method.

PubMed

Barnard, Emma; McFerran, Neil V; Trudgett, Alan; Nelson, John; Timson, David J

2008-05-01

An alternative method for monitoring protein-protein interactions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been developed. It relies on the ability of two fragments of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) to reassemble and fluoresce when fused to interacting proteins. Since this fluorescence can be detected in living cells, simultaneous detection and localisation of interacting pairs is possible. DNA sequences encoding N- and C-terminal EGFP fragments flanked by sequences from the genes of interest were transformed into S. cerevisiae JPY5 cells and homologous recombination into the genome verified by PCR. The system was evaluated by testing known interacting proteins: labelling of the phosphofructokinase subunits, Pfk1p and Pfk2p, with N- and C-terminal EGFP fragments, respectively, resulted in green fluorescence in the cytoplasm. The system works in other cellular compartments: labelling of Idh1p and Idh2p (mitochondrial matrix), Sdh3p and Sdh4p (mitochondrial membrane) and Pap2p and Mtr4p (nucleus) all resulted in fluorescence in the appropriate cellular compartment.

A NASTRAN Vibration Model of the AH-1G Helicopter Airframe. Volume 2

DTIC Science & Technology

1974-06-01

8217 ; - 5 .- .- .- a "i ^ r. i A. f\\ n i, ft. . - •• H-16.1 i n.iMim—ta^nmniMiir HlPPmf^f^^"^^—^PPPPP^ BPP ^WPPilWPiJPiP l"IMWI I^P^I...ff-*«’M-o<r’«ffNO*ffff^ff^-a>-*ff nM^j + ^^^o-öin — -»ff^»*»rMOx|M^.o-»Off-aff’* ffa ".«ri’ftjir’ff- — ^^-ff-» ■»■♦ **’Mtvj’"«r*0 Off^f^^iM^n^^—O

Electromagnetic response of C 12 : A first-principles calculation

DOE PAGES

Lovato, A.; Gandolfi, S.; Carlson, J.; ...

2016-08-15

Here, the longitudinal and transverse electromagnetic response functions ofmore » $$^{12}$$C are computed in a ``first-principles'' Green's function Monte Carlo calculation, based on realistic two- and three-nucleon interactions and associated one- and two-body currents. We find excellent agreement between theory and experiment and, in particular, no evidence for the quenching of measured versus calculated longitudinal response. This is further corroborated by a re-analysis of the Coulomb sum rule, in which the contributions from the low-lying $$J^\\pi\\,$$=$$\\, 2^+$$, $0^+$ (Hoyle), and $4^+$ states in $$^{12}$$C are accounted for explicitly in evaluating the total inelastic strength.« less

Dynamical analyses of the time series for three foreign exchange rates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Sehyun; Kim, Soo Yong; Jung, Jae-Won; Kim, Kyungsik

2012-05-01

In this study, we investigate the multifractal properties of three foreign exchange rates (USD-KRW, USD-JPY, and EUR-USD) that are quoted with different economic scales. We estimate and analyze both the generalized Hurst exponent and the autocorrelation function in three foreign exchange rates. The USD-KRW is shown to have the strongest of the Hurst exponents when compared with the other two foreign exchange rates. In particular, the autocorrelation function of the USD-KRW has the largest memory behavior among three foreign exchange rates. It also exhibits a long-memory property in the first quarter, more than those in the other quarters.

Time-series analysis of multiple foreign exchange rates using time-dependent pattern entropy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ishizaki, Ryuji; Inoue, Masayoshi

2018-01-01

Time-dependent pattern entropy is a method that reduces variations to binary symbolic dynamics and considers the pattern of symbols in a sliding temporal window. We use this method to analyze the instability of daily variations in multiple foreign exchange rates. The time-dependent pattern entropy of 7 foreign exchange rates (AUD/USD, CAD/USD, CHF/USD, EUR/USD, GBP/USD, JPY/USD, and NZD/USD) was found to be high in the long period after the Lehman shock, and be low in the long period after Mar 2012. We compared the correlation matrix between exchange rates in periods of high and low of the time-dependent pattern entropy.

Probing the Single-Particle Character of Rotational States in F 19 Using a Short-Lived Isomeric Beam

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

Santiago-Gonzalez, D.; Auranen, K.; Avila, M. L.

2018-03-01

A beam containing a substantial component of both the J(pi) = 5(+), T-1/2 = 162 ns isomeric state of F-18 and its 1(+), 109.77-min ground state is utilized to study members of the ground-state rotational band in F-19 through the neutron transfer reaction (d,p) in inverse kinematics. The resulting spectroscopic strengths confirm the single-particle nature of the 13/2(+) band-terminating state. The agreement between shell-model calculations using an interaction constructed within the sd shell, and our experimental results reinforces the idea of a single-particle-collective duality in the descriptions of the structure of atomic nuclei.

Superallowed Beta Decay Studies at TRIUMF --- Nuclear Structure and Fundamental Symmetries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zganjar, E. F.; Achtzehn, T.; Albers, D.; Andreoiu, C.; Andreyev, A. N.; Austin, R. A. E.; Ball, G. C.; Behr, J. A.; Biosvert, G. C.; Bricault, P.; Bishop, S.; Chakrawarthy, R. S.; Churchman, R.; Cross, D.; Cunningham, E.; D'Auria, J. M.; Dombsky, M.; Finlay, P.; Garrett, P. E.; Grinyer, G. F.; Hackman, G.; Hanemaayer, V.; Hardy, J. C.; Hodgson, D. F.; Hyland, B.; Iacob, V.; Klages, P.; Koopmans, K. A.; Kulp, W. D.; Lassen, J.; Lavoie, J. P.; Leslie, J. R.; Linder, T.; MacDonald, J. A.; Mak, H.-B.; Melconian, D.; Morton, A. C.; Ormand, W. E.; Osborne, C. J.; Pearson, C. J.; Pearson, M. R.; Phillips, A. A.; Piechaczek, A.; Ressler, J.; Sarazin, F.; Savard, G.; Schumaker, M. A.; Scraggs, H. C.; Svensson, C. E.; Valiente-Dobon, J. J.; Towner, I. S.; Waddington, J. C.; Walker, P. M.; Wendt, K.; Wood, J. L.

2007-04-01

Precision measurement of the beta -decay half-life, Q-value, and branching ratio between nuclear analog states of Jpi = 0+ and T=1 can provide critical and fundamental tests of the Standard Model's description of electroweak interactions. A program has been initiated at TRIUMF-ISAC to measure the ft values of these superallowed beta transitions. Two Tz = 0, A > 60 cases, 74Rb and 62Ga, are presented. These are particularly relevant because they can provide critical tests of the calculated nuclear structure and isospin-symmetry breaking corrections that are predicted to be larger for heavier nuclei, and because they demonstrate the advance in the experimental precision on ft at TRIUMF-ISAC from 0.26% for 74Rb in 2002 to 0.05% for 62Ga in 2006. The high precision world data on experimental ft and corrected Ft values are discussed and shown to be consistent with CVC at the 10-4 level, yielding an average Ft = 3073.70(74) s. This Ft leads to Vud = 0.9737(4) for the up-down element of the Standard Model's CKM matrix. With this value and the Particle Data Group's 2006 values for Vus and Vub, the unitarity condition for the CKM matrix is met. Additional measurements and calculations are needed, however, to reduce the uncertainties in that evaluation. That objective is the focus of the continuing program on superallowed-beta decay at TRIUMF-ISAC.

A call for improved transparency in financial aspects of clinical trials: a case study of the CREATE-X trial in the New England Journal of Medicine.

PubMed

Ozaki, Akihiko; Takita, Morihito; Tanimoto, Tetsuya

2018-06-01

Introduction Globally, laws and guidelines for managing conflict of interest are increasingly implemented to achieve transparency in financial ties between physicians and pharmaceutical and medical device industries, yet little information is available regarding the limitations of the current frameworks for disclosing these financial ties. Case In June 2017, the Capecitabine for Residual Cancer as Adjuvant Therapy (CREATE-X) trial was published in the New England Journal of Medicine. In this study, which suggested the post-surgery addition of capecitabine would improve survival of high-risk breast cancer patients, the cost of capecitabine for off-label use was illegally claimed to the Japanese public health insurance system, rather than being covered by the research budget. This illegal claim led to the profit of more than 100,000,000 JPY (approximately 0.91 million USD) for Chugai Pharmaceutical Company (CPC), which manufactures capecitabine. Additional evidence suggests that the CPC made donations of at least 100,000,000 JPY (approximately 0.91 million USD) and 236,000,000 JPY (approximately 2.1 million USD) to the Japan Breast Cancer Research Group (JBCRG), the study's sponsor and funder where the majority of the Japanese authors served high-level positions, and the Advanced Clinical Research Organization, the other study funder, respectively, during the study period, though the total amount has not been clarified. Neither the CPC's involvement nor its undue profit was mentioned in the published article. Conclusion This case report highlights the lack of financial transparency in the CREATE-X trial, and discusses the potential limitations that may exist in the current frameworks for disclosing financial ties between physicians and relevant industries in clinical trials. Achieving improved transparency is essential to heighten credibility in the findings of clinical trials.

Tick size reduction and price clustering in a FX order book

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lallouache, Mehdi; Abergel, Frédéric

2014-12-01

We investigate the statistical properties of the EBS order book for the EUR/USD and USD/JPY currency pairs and the impact of a ten-fold tick size reduction on its dynamics. A large fraction of limit orders are still placed right at or halfway between the old allowed prices. This generates price barriers where the best quotes lie for much of the time, which causes the emergence of distinct peaks in the average shape of the book at round distances. Furthermore, we argue that this clustering is mainly due to manual traders who remained set to the old price resolution. Automatic traders easily take price priority by submitting limit orders one tick ahead of clusters, as shown by the prominence of buy (sell) limit orders posted with rightmost digit one (nine).

Estimating risk of foreign exchange portfolio: Using VaR and CVaR based on GARCH-EVT-Copula model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Zong-Run; Chen, Xiao-Hong; Jin, Yan-Bo; Zhou, Yan-Ju

2010-11-01

This paper introduces GARCH-EVT-Copula model and applies it to study the risk of foreign exchange portfolio. Multivariate Copulas, including Gaussian, t and Clayton ones, were used to describe a portfolio risk structure, and to extend the analysis from a bivariate to an n-dimensional asset allocation problem. We apply this methodology to study the returns of a portfolio of four major foreign currencies in China, including USD, EUR, JPY and HKD. Our results suggest that the optimal investment allocations are similar across different Copulas and confidence levels. In addition, we find that the optimal investment concentrates on the USD investment. Generally speaking, t Copula and Clayton Copula better portray the correlation structure of multiple assets than Normal Copula.

Relationship between health promotion volunteer experience and medical costs: Hoken-hodouin activities in Suzaka, Nagano.

PubMed

Imamura, Haruhiko; Murakami, Yoshitaka; Okamura, Tomonori; Nishiwaki, Yuji

2017-01-01

Objectives This study demonstrated the relationship between experience as a health promotion volunteer (Hoken-hodouin) and medical costs in Japan. The study area was Suzaka City (March 2016 population: 51,637) in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, where a total of about 300 women have been engaged and trained as health promotion volunteers since 1958.Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2014 using a self-administered questionnaire, which included items on experiences as a health promotion volunteer, age at engagement, leadership status, and satisfaction with the experience. Eligible study participants were all residents of Suzaka aged 65 years or over. Medical cost data from April 2013 to March 2014 were collected for women aged 65-74 years who were beneficiaries of the Japanese National Health Insurance (n=2,304). Medical consultation rates and costs for treatment at outpatient and inpatient clinics were analyzed as outcomes. Adjustments were made for age, marital status, educational level, cohabitation status, equivalent income, alcohol use, smoking status, awareness about a healthy diet, and walking time per day.Results Of the 2,304 study participants, 1,274 (55.3%) had experience as health promotion volunteers. Poisson regression analysis revealed that volunteers' experience was positively associated with outpatient care rates (adjusted relative risk [RR]=1.04; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.02-1.07), and negatively associated with inpatient care rates (RR=0.74; 95% CI=0.56-0.98). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that the adjusted geometric means of outpatient and inpatient care costs were 7% and 23% lower, respectively, among participants with volunteer experience than that among those with no volunteer experience (140,588-151,465 JPY for outpatient costs; 418,457-539,971 JPY for inpatient costs). These associations were stronger among participants who began health promotion volunteer at age 60 years or more, those who had leadership roles, and participants who had high levels of satisfaction regarding their volunteer experience.Conclusion These results suggest that experience as a health promotion volunteer is associated with lower medical costs, particularly for inpatient care.

Interdisciplinary Data Fusion for Diachronic 3d Reconstruction of Historic Sites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Micoli, L. L.; Gonizzi Barsanti, S.; Guidi, G.

2017-02-01

In recent decades, 3D reconstruction has progressively become a tool to show archaeological and architectural monuments in their current state, presumed past aspect and to predict their future evolution. The 3D representations trough time can be useful in order to study and preserve the memory of Cultural Heritage and to plan maintenance and promotion of the historical sites. This paper represent a case study, at architectonic and urbanistic scale, based on methodological approach for CH time-varying representations proposed by JPI-CH European Project called Cultural Heritage Through Time (CHT2). The work is focused on the area of Milan Roman circus, relatively to which was conducted both a thorough philological research based on several sources and a 3D survey campaign of still accessible remains, aiming at obtaining the monumental representation of the area in 3 different ages.

Are EUR and GBP different words for the same currency?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ivanova, K.; Ausloos, M.

2002-05-01

The British Pound (GBP) is not part of the Euro (EUR) monetary system. In order to find out arguments on whether GBP should join the EUR or not correlations are calculated between GBP exchange rates with respect to various currencies: USD, JPY, CHF, DKK, the currencies forming EUR and a reconstructed EUR for the time interval from 1993 till June 30, 2000. The distribution of fluctuations of the exchange rates is Gaussian for the central part of the distribution, but has fat tails for the large size fluctuations. Within the Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (DFA) statistical method the power law behavior describing the root-mean-square deviation from a linear trend of the exchange rate fluctuations is obtained as a function of time for the time interval of interest. The time-dependent exponent evolution of the exchange rate fluctuations is given. Statistical considerations imply that the GBP is already behaving as a true EUR.

Are pound and euro the same currency?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matsushita, Raul; Gleria, Iram; Figueiredo, Annibal; da Silva, Sergio

2007-08-01

Based on long-range dependence, some analysts claim that the exchange rate time series of the pound sterling and of an artificially extended euro have been locked together for years despite daily changes [M. Ausloos, K. Ivanova, Physica A 286 (2000) 353; K. Ivanova, M. Ausloos, False EUR exchange rates vs DKK, CHF, JPY and USD. What is a strong currency? in: H. Takayasu (Ed.), Empirical Sciences in Financial Fluctuations: The Advent of Econophysics, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 2002, pp. 62 76]. They conclude that pound and euro are in practice the same currency. We assess the long-range dependence over time through Hurst exponents of pound dollar and extended euro dollar exchange rates employing three alternative techniques, namely rescaled range analysis, detrended fluctuation analysis, and detrended moving average. We find the result above (which is based on detrended fluctuation analysis) not to be robust to the changing techniques and parameterizing.

Neutron Capture Measurements on 97Mo with the DANCE Array

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Walker, Carrie L.

Neutron capture is a process that is crucial to understanding nucleosynthesis, reactors, and nuclear weapons. Precise knowledge of neutron capture cross-sections and level densities is necessary in order to model these high-flux environments. High-confidence spin and parity assignments for neutron resonances are of critical importance to this end. For nuclei in the A=100 mass region, the p-wave neutron strength function is at a maximum, and the s-wave strength function is at a minimum, producing up to six possible Jpi combinations. Parity determination becomes important to assigning spins in this mass region, and the large number of spin groups adds complexity to the problem. In this work, spins and parities for 97Mo resonances are assigned, and best fit models for photon strength function and level density are determined. The neutron capture-cross section for 97Mo is also determined, as are resonance parameters for neutron energies ranging from 16 eV to 2 keV.

Estimation of time-dependent Hurst exponents with variational smoothing and application to forecasting foreign exchange rates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garcin, Matthieu

2017-10-01

Hurst exponents depict the long memory of a time series. For human-dependent phenomena, as in finance, this feature may vary in the time. It justifies modelling dynamics by multifractional Brownian motions, which are consistent with time-dependent Hurst exponents. We improve the existing literature on estimating time-dependent Hurst exponents by proposing a smooth estimate obtained by variational calculus. This method is very general and not restricted to the sole Hurst framework. It is globally more accurate and easier than other existing non-parametric estimation techniques. Besides, in the field of Hurst exponents, it makes it possible to make forecasts based on the estimated multifractional Brownian motion. The application to high-frequency foreign exchange markets (GBP, CHF, SEK, USD, CAD, AUD, JPY, CNY and SGD, all against EUR) shows significantly good forecasts. When the Hurst exponent is higher than 0.5, what depicts a long-memory feature, the accuracy is higher.

Nuclear Data Sheets for A = 80

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

Singh, Balraj

Nuclear spectroscopic information for known nuclides of mass number 80 (Cu,Zn,Ga,Ge,As,Se,Br,Kr,Rb,Sr,Y,Zr) with Z = 29 to 40 and N = 51 to 40 have been evaluated and presented together with adopted energies and J{pi} of levels in these nuclei. No excited state data are yet available for {sup 80}Cu and {sup 80}Zn. In {sup 80}Sr, four superdeformed bands have been reported. The half-life of fully-ionized {sup 80}Y isomer at 228.5 keV has been measured as 6.8 s 5, as compared to 4.8 s 3 for the neutral atom. This evaluation supersedes previous full evaluations of A = 80 published bymore » 1982Si20 and 1975Gr19, a midstream evaluation of A = 80 published in 'up-date mode' by 1992Si19, and an update of {sup 80}Y nuclide for ENSDF by J.K. Tuli in August 2003.« less

Phase correlation of foreign exchange time series

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Ming-Chya

2007-03-01

Correlation of foreign exchange rates in currency markets is investigated based on the empirical data of USD/DEM and USD/JPY exchange rates for a period from February 1 1986 to December 31 1996. The return of exchange time series is first decomposed into a number of intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) by the empirical mode decomposition method. The instantaneous phases of the resultant IMFs calculated by the Hilbert transform are then used to characterize the behaviors of pricing transmissions, and the correlation is probed by measuring the phase differences between two IMFs in the same order. From the distribution of phase differences, our results show explicitly that the correlations are stronger in daily time scale than in longer time scales. The demonstration for the correlations in periods of 1986-1989 and 1990-1993 indicates two exchange rates in the former period were more correlated than in the latter period. The result is consistent with the observations from the cross-correlation calculation.

Burkholderia susongensis sp. nov., a mineral-weathering bacterium isolated from weathered rock surface.

PubMed

Gu, Jia-Yu; Zang, Sheng-Gang; Sheng, Xia-Fang; He, Lin-Yan; Huang, Zhi; Wang, Qi

2015-03-01

A novel type of mineral-weathering bacterium was isolated from the weathered surface of rock (mica schist) collected from Susong (Anhui, China). Cells of strain L226(T) were Gram-stain-negative. The strain grew optimally at 30 °C, with 1 % (w/v) NaCl and at pH 7.0 in trypticase soy broth. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene phylogeny, strain L226(T) was shown to belong to the genus Burkholderia and the closest phylogenetic relatives were Burkholderia sprentiae WSM5005(T) (98.3 %), Burkholderia acidipaludis NBRC 101816(T) (98.2 %), Burkholderia tuberum STM678(T) (97.2 %) and Burkholderia diazotrophica JPY461(T) (97.1 %). The DNA G+C content was 63.5 mol% and the respiratory quinone was Q-8. The major fatty acids were C16 : 0, C17 : 0 cyclo and C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c. The polar lipid profile of strain L226(T) consisted of a mixture of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, unknown lipids and unidentified aminophospholipids. Based on the low level of DNA-DNA relatedness (ranging from 25.8 % to 34.4 %) to the tested type strains of species of the genus Burkholderia and unique phenotypic characteristics, it is suggested that strain L226(T) represents a novel species of the genus Burkholderia, for which the name Burkholderia susongensis sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is L226(T) ( = CCTCC AB2014142(T) = JCM 30231(T)). © 2015 IUMS.

Quantitative assessment of urban and industrial symbiosis in Kawasaki, Japan.

PubMed

Van Berkel, Rene; Fujita, Tsuyoshi; Hashimoto, Shizuka; Fujii, Minoru

2009-03-01

Colocated firms can achieve environmental benefit and competitive advantage from exchanging physical resources (known as industrial symbiosis) with each other or with residential areas (referenced here as urban symbiosis). Past research illustrated that economic and environmental benefits appear self-evident, although detailed quantification has only been attempted of symbioses for energy and water utilities. This article provides a complimentary case studyfor Kawasaki, Japan. The 14 documented symbioses connect steel, cement, chemical, and paperfirms and their spin-off recycling businesses. Seven key material exchanges divert annually at least 565 000 tons of waste from incineration or landfill. Four of these collectively present an estimated economic opportunity of 13.3 billion JPY (approximately 130 million USD) annually. Five symbioses involve utilization of byproduct and two sharing of utilities. The others are traditional or new recycling industries that do not specifically benefit from geographic proximity. The synergistic effect of urban and industrial symbiosis is unique. The legislative framework for a recycling-oriented society has contributed to realization of the symbioses, as has the availability of government subsidies through the Eco-Town program.

Introducing False EUR and False EUR exchange rates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ausloos, M.; Ivanova, K.

2000-10-01

The Euro ( EUR) is a new currency introduced by the European Community. Its exchange rate is very puzzling. We have invented a false Euro ( FEUR) dating back to 1993 and have derived the exchange rates of the FEUR with respect to currencies not belonging to the EUR, i.e., DKK, CHF, JPY and USD. This allows us to search for correlations between the fluctuations preexisting to the introduction of EUR and present ones in such financial data. The detrended fluctuation analysis ( DFA) statistical method is used. This leads to assume a power-law behavior, i.e., a scaling hypothesis, through an exponent α. The latter has demonstrated its usefulness for the investigations of long-range power-law correlations in several types of financial sequences. Our findings show that the α exponent interestingly characterizes fractional Brownian motion of the currency exchange rates between EUR and DKK over a 25 day interval, and usual Brownian motion otherwise and for the three other investigated exchange rates. We can devise an investment strategy based on the localα technique and obtain appreciable gains for the time being.

Cross-sample entropy of foreign exchange time series

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Li-Zhi; Qian, Xi-Yuan; Lu, Heng-Yao

2010-11-01

The correlation of foreign exchange rates in currency markets is investigated based on the empirical data of DKK/USD, NOK/USD, CAD/USD, JPY/USD, KRW/USD, SGD/USD, THB/USD and TWD/USD for a period from 1995 to 2002. Cross-SampEn (cross-sample entropy) method is used to compare the returns of every two exchange rate time series to assess their degree of asynchrony. The calculation method of confidence interval of SampEn is extended and applied to cross-SampEn. The cross-SampEn and its confidence interval for every two of the exchange rate time series in periods 1995-1998 (before the Asian currency crisis) and 1999-2002 (after the Asian currency crisis) are calculated. The results show that the cross-SampEn of every two of these exchange rates becomes higher after the Asian currency crisis, indicating a higher asynchrony between the exchange rates. Especially for Singapore, Thailand and Taiwan, the cross-SampEn values after the Asian currency crisis are significantly higher than those before the Asian currency crisis. Comparison with the correlation coefficient shows that cross-SampEn is superior to describe the correlation between time series.

STEEP STREAMS - Solid Transport Evaluation and Efficiency in Prevention: Sustainable Techniques of Rational Engineering and Advanced MethodS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Armanini, Aronne; Cardoso, Antonio H.; Di Baldassarre, Giuliano; Bellin, Alberto; Breinl, Korbinian; Canelas, Ricardo B.; Larcher, Michele; Majone, Bruno; Matos, Jorges; Meninno, Sabrina; Nucci, Elena; Rigon, Riccardo; Rosatti, Giorgio; Zardi, Dino

2017-04-01

The STEEP STREAMS (Solid Transport Evaluation and Efficiency in Prevention: Sustainable Techniques of Rational Engineering and Advanced MethodS) project consists of a collaboration among the Universities of Trento, Uppsala and Lisbon, who joined in a consortium within the ERANET Water JPI call WaterWorks2014. The aim of the project is to produce new rational criteria for the design of protection works against debris flows, a phenomenon consisting in hyper-concentrated flows of water and sediments, classified as catastrophic events typical of small mountainous basins (area <10 km2) and triggered by intense rainstorms. Such events are non-stationary phenomena that arise in a very short time, and their recurrence is rather difficult to determine. Compared to flash floods, they are more difficult to anticipate, mostly since they are triggered by convective precipitation events, posing a higher risk of damage and even loss of human lives. These extreme events occur almost annually across Europe, though the formal return period in an exposed site is much larger. Recently, an increase in intensity and frequency of small-scale storm events, leading to extreme solid transport in steep channels, are recognized as one of the effects of climate change. In this context, one of the key challenges of this project is the use of comparatively coarse RCM projections to the small catchments examined in STEEP STREAMS. Given these changes, conventional protection works and their design criteria may not suffice to provide adequate levels of protection to human life and urban settlements. These structures create a storage area upstream the alluvial fans and the settlements, thereby reducing the need of channelization in areas often constrained by urban regulations. To optimize the lamination, and in particular to reduce the peak of solid mass flux, it is necessary that the deposition basin is controlled by a slit check dam, capable of inducing a controlled sedimentation of the solid mas flux. In order to achieve that, reliable design tools are needed. Driftwood represents another important factor increasing the risk, as clogging induced by the vegetal material represents a major problem for the operational reliability of slit check dams. Current procedures in compiling hazardous maps do not account for such effects. The STEEPS STREAMS project aims at developing structural innovative solutions and design criteria reliable to mitigate the impacts of flash floods and debris flows especially in presence of intense woody material transport, typical of mountain catchments.

Protection from JP-8 jet fuel induced immunotoxicity by administration of aerosolized substance P.

PubMed

Harris, D T; Sakiestewa, D; Robledo, R F; Witten, M

1997-01-01

Chronic exposure to jet fuel has been shown to cause human liver dysfunction, emotional dysfunction, abnormal electroencephalograms, shortened attention spans, and decreased sensorimotor speed. The United States Air Force has decided to implement the widespread use of JP-8 jet fuel in its operations, although a thorough understanding of its potential effects upon exposed personnel is unclear. Exposure to potential environment toxicants such as JP-8 may have significant effects on host physiology. Previous studies in mice have shown that short-term, low concentration JP-8 exposure had significant effects on the immune system; e.g., decreased viable immune cell numbers, decreased immune organ weights, and loss on immune function that persisted for extended periods of time (i.e., up to 4 weeks post-exposure). Previous studies have shown that JP-8 induced pulmonary dysfunction was associated with a decrease in levels of the neuropeptide substance P (SP) in lung lavage fluids. It was found that administration of aerosolized SP was able to protect exposed animals from such JP-8 induced pulmonary changes. In the current study, aerosolized SP was analyzed for its effects on JP-i induced immunotoxicity in exposed mice. It was observed that SP administration could protect JP-8 exposed animals from losses of viable immune cell numbers, but not losses in immune organ weights. Further, exposure of animals to SP inhibitors generally increased the immunotoxicity of JP-8 exposure. SP appeared to act on all immune cell populations equally as analyzed by flow cytometry, as no one immune cell population appeared to be preferentially protected by SP. Also, SP administration was capable of protecting JP-8 exposed animals from loss of immune function at all concentrations of JP-8 utilized (250-2500 mg/m3). Significantly, SP only needed to be administered for 15 minutes after JP-8 exposure, and was active at both 1 microM and 1 nM concentrations. Thus, SP administration appears to be a relatively simple and efficient means to reverse the immunotoxicity due to hydrocarbon exposure.

International survey on willingness-to-pay (WTP) for one additional QALY gained: what is the threshold of cost effectiveness?

PubMed

Shiroiwa, Takeru; Sung, Yoon-Kyoung; Fukuda, Takashi; Lang, Hui-Chu; Bae, Sang-Cheol; Tsutani, Kiichiro

2010-04-01

Although the threshold of cost effectiveness of medical interventions is thought to be 20 000- 30 000 UK pounds in the UK, and $50 000-$100 000 in the US, it is well known that these values are unjustified, due to lack of explicit scientific evidence. We measured willingness-to-pay (WTP) for one additional quality-adjusted life-year gained to determine the threshold of the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio. Our study used the Internet to compare WTP for the additional year of survival in a perfect status of health in Japan, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Taiwan, Australia, the UK, and the US. The research utilized a double-bound dichotomous choice, and analysis by the nonparametric Turnbull method. WTP values were JPY 5 million (Japan), KWN 68 million (ROK), NT$ 2.1 million (Taiwan), 23 000 UK pounds (UK), AU$ 64 000 (Australia), and US$ 62 000 (US). The discount rates of outcome were estimated at 6.8% (Japan), 3.7% (ROK), 1.6% (Taiwan), 2.8% (UK), 1.9% (Australia), and 3.2% (US). Based on the current study, we suggest new classification of cost-effectiveness plane and methodology for decision making. Copyright (c) 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

First hyperspectral survey of the deep seafloor: DISCOL area, Peru Basin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dumke, Ines; Nornes, Stein M.; Ludvigsen, Martin

2017-04-01

Conventional hyperspectral seafloor surveys using airborne or satellite platforms are typically limited to shallow coastal areas. This limitation is due to the requirement for illumination by sunlight, which does not penetrate into deeper waters. For hyperspectral studies in deeper marine environments, such as the deep sea, a close-range, sunlight-independent survey approach is therefore required. Here, we present the first hyperspectral data from the deep seafloor. The data were acquired in 4200 m water depth in the DISCOL (disturbance-recolonization) area in the Peru Basin (SW Pacific). This area is characterized by seafloor manganese nodules and recolonization by benthic fauna after a seafloor disturbance experiment conducted in 1989, and was revisited in 2015 by the JPI Oceans cruise SO-242. The acquisition setup consisted of a new Underwater Hyperspectral Imager (UHI) mounted on a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), which provided illumination of the seafloor. High spatial and spectral resolution were achieved by an ROV altitude of 1 m and recording of 112 spectral bands between 380 nm and 800 nm (4 nm resolution). Spectral classification was performed to classify manganese nodules and benthic fauna and map their distribution in the study area. The results demonstrate the high potential of underwater hyperspectral imaging in mapping and classifying seafloor deposits and habitats.

Scaling and memory in volatility return intervals in financial markets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamasaki, Kazuko; Muchnik, Lev; Havlin, Shlomo; Bunde, Armin; Stanley, H. Eugene

2005-06-01

For both stock and currency markets, we study the return intervals τ between the daily volatilities of the price changes that are above a certain threshold q. We find that the distribution function Pq(τ) scales with the mean return interval [Formula] as [Formula]. The scaling function f(x) is similar in form for all seven stocks and for all seven currency databases analyzed, and f(x) is consistent with a power-law form, f(x) ˜ x-γ with γ ≈ 2. We also quantify how the conditional distribution Pq(τ|τ0) depends on the previous return interval τ0 and find that small (or large) return intervals are more likely to be followed by small (or large) return intervals. This “clustering” of the volatility return intervals is a previously unrecognized phenomenon that we relate to the long-term correlations known to be present in the volatility. Author contributions: S.H. and H.E.S. designed research; K.Y., L.M., S.H., and H.E.S. performed research; A.B. contributed new reagents/analytic tools; A.B. analyzed data; and S.H. wrote the paper.Abbreviations: pdf, probability density function; S&P 500, Standard and Poor's 500 Index; USD, U.S. dollar; JPY, Japanese yen; SEK, Swedish krona.

49 CFR 239.301 - Operational (efficiency) tests.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 49 Transportation 4 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Operational (efficiency) tests. 239.301 Section... ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PASSENGER TRAIN EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS Operational (Efficiency) Tests; Inspection of Records and Recordkeeping § 239.301 Operational (efficiency) tests. (a) Each...

Evaluations of the nutritional value of Jatropha curcas protein isolate in common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.).

PubMed

Kumar, V; Makkar, H P S; Becker, K

2012-12-01

Jatropha curcas seeds are rich in oil and protein. The oil is used for biodiesel production. Jatropha seed cake (JSC) obtained after oil extraction is rich in protein; however, it is toxic (phorbol esters content 1.3 mg/g) and consists of 50-60% shells, which are indigestible. The principle of isoelectric precipitation was used to obtain Jatropha protein isolate (JPI) from JSC and it was detoxified (DJPI). Carp (n = 45, 20.3 ± 0.13 g) were randomly distributed into five groups with three replicates and for 12-week fed iso-nitrogenous diets (crude protein 38%): Control [fishmeal (FM)-based protein]; J(50) and J(75) (50% and 75% of FM protein replaced by DJPI); S(50) and S(75) (50% and 75% of FM protein replaced by soy protein isolate). Growth performance and nutrient utilisation parameters were highest in S(75) group and not significantly different to those in J(50) and S(50) groups but were significantly higher than those for all other groups. Similar trend was observed for protein and energy digestibilities of experimental diets, whereas opposite trend was observed for the feed to gain ratio. Activities of intestinal digestive enzymes did not different significantly between the five groups. In conclusion, DJPI is a good quality protein source for carp. © 2011 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

Optimal Design of Biomass Utilization System for Rural Area Includes Technical and Economic Dimensions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morioka, Yasuki; Nakata, Toshihiko

In order to design optimal biomass utilization system for rural area, OMNIBUS (The Optimization Model for Neo-Integrated Biomass Utilization System) has been developed. OMNIBUS can derive the optimal system configuration to meet different objective function, such as current account balance, amount of biomass energy supply, and CO2 emission. Most of biomass resources in a focused region e.g. wood biomass, livestock biomass, and crop residues are considered in the model. Conversion technologies considered are energy utilization technologies e.g. direct combustion and methane fermentation, and material utilization technologies e.g. composting and carbonization. Case study in Miyakojima, Okinawa prefecture, has been carried out for several objective functions and constraint conditions. Considering economics of the utilization system as a priority requirement, composting and combustion heat utilization are mainly chosen in the optimal system configuration. However gasification power plant and methane fermentation are included in optimal solutions, only when both biomass energy utilization and CO2 reduction have been set as higher priorities. External benefit of CO2 reduction has large impacts on the system configuration. Provided marginal external benefit of more than 50,000 JPY/t-C, external benefit becomes greater than the revenue from electricity and compost etc. Considering technological learning in the future, expensive technologies such as gasification power plant and methane fermentation will have economic feasibility as well as market competitiveness.

10 CFR 431.16 - Test procedures for the measurement of energy efficiency.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 10 Energy 3 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Test procedures for the measurement of energy efficiency. 431.16 Section 431.16 Energy DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ENERGY CONSERVATION ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAM FOR... Methods of Determining Efficiency § 431.16 Test procedures for the measurement of energy efficiency. For...

10 CFR 431.16 - Test procedures for the measurement of energy efficiency.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 10 Energy 3 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Test procedures for the measurement of energy efficiency. 431.16 Section 431.16 Energy DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ENERGY CONSERVATION ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAM FOR... Methods of Determining Efficiency § 431.16 Test procedures for the measurement of energy efficiency. For...

30 CFR 7.102 - Exhaust gas cooling efficiency test.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 30 Mineral Resources 1 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Exhaust gas cooling efficiency test. 7.102 Section 7.102 Mineral Resources MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR TESTING....102 Exhaust gas cooling efficiency test. (a) Test procedures. (1) Follow the procedures specified in...

76 FR 47178 - Energy Efficiency Program: Test Procedure for Lighting Systems (Luminaires)

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-08-04

...: Test Procedure for Lighting Systems (Luminaires) AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable... (``DOE'' or the ``Department'') is currently evaluating energy efficiency test procedures for luminaires... products. DOE recognizes that well-designed test procedures are important to produce reliable, repeatable...

Understanding Cost-Effectiveness of Energy Efficiency Programs

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Discusses the five standard tests used to assess the cost-effectiveness of energy efficiency, how states are using these tests, and how the tests can be used to determine the cost-effectiveness of energy efficiency measures.

Combining traditional dietary assessment methods with novel metabolomics techniques: present efforts by the Food Biomarker Alliance.

PubMed

Brouwer-Brolsma, Elske M; Brennan, Lorraine; Drevon, Christian A; van Kranen, Henk; Manach, Claudine; Dragsted, Lars Ove; Roche, Helen M; Andres-Lacueva, Cristina; Bakker, Stephan J L; Bouwman, Jildau; Capozzi, Francesco; De Saeger, Sarah; Gundersen, Thomas E; Kolehmainen, Marjukka; Kulling, Sabine E; Landberg, Rikard; Linseisen, Jakob; Mattivi, Fulvio; Mensink, Ronald P; Scaccini, Cristina; Skurk, Thomas; Tetens, Inge; Vergeres, Guy; Wishart, David S; Scalbert, Augustin; Feskens, Edith J M

2017-11-01

FFQ, food diaries and 24 h recall methods represent the most commonly used dietary assessment tools in human studies on nutrition and health, but food intake biomarkers are assumed to provide a more objective reflection of intake. Unfortunately, very few of these biomarkers are sufficiently validated. This review provides an overview of food intake biomarker research and highlights present research efforts of the Joint Programming Initiative 'A Healthy Diet for a Healthy Life' (JPI-HDHL) Food Biomarkers Alliance (FoodBAll). In order to identify novel food intake biomarkers, the focus is on new food metabolomics techniques that allow the quantification of up to thousands of metabolites simultaneously, which may be applied in intervention and observational studies. As biomarkers are often influenced by various other factors than the food under investigation, FoodBAll developed a food intake biomarker quality and validity score aiming to assist the systematic evaluation of novel biomarkers. Moreover, to evaluate the applicability of nutritional biomarkers, studies are presently also focusing on associations between food intake biomarkers and diet-related disease risk. In order to be successful in these metabolomics studies, knowledge about available electronic metabolomics resources is necessary and further developments of these resources are essential. Ultimately, present efforts in this research area aim to advance quality control of traditional dietary assessment methods, advance compliance evaluation in nutritional intervention studies, and increase the significance of observational studies by investigating associations between nutrition and health.

10 CFR 431.324 - Uniform test method for the measurement of energy efficiency of metal halide ballasts.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... efficiency of metal halide ballasts. 431.324 Section 431.324 Energy DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ENERGY CONSERVATION ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT Metal Halide Lamp Ballasts and Fixtures Test Procedures § 431.324 Uniform test method for the measurement of energy efficiency of metal...

DEVELOPMENT OF AN ARMY STATIONARY AXLE TEST STAND FOR LUBRICANT EFFICIENCY EVALUATION-PART II

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-01-13

value was estimated based on the engines maximum peak torque output, multiplied by the transmissions 1st gear ratio, high range transfer case ratio...efficiency test stand to allow for laboratory based investigation of Fuel Efficient Gear Oils (FEGO) and their impact on vehicle efficiency. Development...their impact on vehicle efficiency. The test stand was designed and developed with the following goals: • Provide a lower cost alternative for

10 CFR 431.96 - Uniform test method for the measurement of energy efficiency of commercial air conditioners and...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... efficiency of commercial air conditioners and heat pumps. 431.96 Section 431.96 Energy DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY... Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps Test Procedures § 431.96 Uniform test method for the measurement of energy efficiency of commercial air conditioners and heat pumps. (a) Scope. This section contains test...

10 CFR 431.96 - Uniform test method for the measurement of energy efficiency of commercial air conditioners and...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... efficiency of commercial air conditioners and heat pumps. 431.96 Section 431.96 Energy DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY... Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps Test Procedures § 431.96 Uniform test method for the measurement of energy efficiency of commercial air conditioners and heat pumps. (a) Scope. This section contains test...

The SEAD global efficiency medal competition: accelerating market transformation for efficient televisions

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

Ravi, Kavita; Bennich, Peter; Cockburn, John

2013-10-15

The Global Efficiency Medal competition, a cornerstone activity of the Super-efficient Equipment and Appliance Deployment (SEAD) Initiative, is an awards program that encourages the production and sale of super-efficient products. SEAD is a voluntary multinational government collaboration of the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM). This winner-takes-all competition recognizes products with the best energy efficiency, guides early adopter purchasers towards the most efficient product choices and demonstrates the levels of energy efficiency achievable by commercially available and emerging technologies. The first Global Efficiency Medals were awarded to the most energy-efficient flat panel televisions; an iconic consumer purchase. SEAD Global Efficiency Medals weremore » awarded to televisions that have proven to be substantially more energy efficient than comparable models available at the time of the competition (applications closed in the end of May 2012). The award-winning TVs consume between 33 to 44 percent less energy per 2 unit of screen area than comparable LED-backlit LCD televisions sold in each regional market and 50 to 60 percent less energy than CCFL-backlit LCD TVs. Prior to the launch of this competition, SEAD conducted an unprecedented international round-robin test (RRT) to qualify TV test laboratories to support verification testing for SEAD awards. The RRT resulted in increased test laboratory capacity and expertise around the world and ensured that the test results from participating regional test laboratories could be compared in a fair and transparent fashion. This paper highlights a range of benefits resulting from this first SEAD awards competition and encourages further investigation of the awards concept as a means to promote energy efficiency in other equipment types.« less

Transmission Efficiency Measurements and Correlations with Physical Characteristics of the Lubricant

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Coy, J. J.; Mitchell, A. M.; Hamrock, B. J.

1984-01-01

Data from helicopter transmission efficiency tests were compared to physical properties of the eleven lubricants used in those tests. The tests were conducted with the OH-58 helicopter main rotor transmission. Efficiencies ranged from 98.3 to 98.8 percent. The data was examined for correlation of physical properties with efficiency. There was a reasonable correlation of efficiency with absolute viscosity if the viscosity was first corrected for temperature and pressure in the lubricated contact. Between lubricants, efficiency did not correlate well with viscosity at atmospheric pressure. Between lubricants, efficiency did not correlate well with calculated lubricant film forming capacity. Bench type sliding friction and wear measurements could not be correlated to transmission efficiency and component wear.

Parabolic trough receiver heat loss and optical efficiency round robin 2015/2016

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pernpeintner, Johannes; Schiricke, Björn; Sallaberry, Fabienne; de Jalón, Alberto García; López-Martín, Rafael; Valenzuela, Loreto; de Luca, Antonio; Georg, Andreas

2017-06-01

A round robin for parabolic trough receiver heat loss and optical efficiency in the laboratory was performed between five institutions using five receivers in 2015/2016. Heat loss testing was performed at three cartridge heater test benches and one Joule heating test bench in the temperature range between 100 °C and 550 °C. Optical efficiency testing was performed with two spectrometric test bench and one calorimetric test bench. Heat loss testing results showed standard deviations at the order of 6% to 12 % for most temperatures and receivers and a standard deviation of 17 % for one receiver at 100 °C. Optical efficiency is presented normalized for laboratories showing standard deviations of 0.3 % to 1.3 % depending on the receiver.

Efficient Testing Combining Design of Experiment and Learn-to-Fly Strategies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Murphy, Patrick C.; Brandon, Jay M.

2017-01-01

Rapid modeling and efficient testing methods are important in a number of aerospace applications. In this study efficient testing strategies were evaluated in a wind tunnel test environment and combined to suggest a promising approach for both ground-based and flight-based experiments. Benefits of using Design of Experiment techniques, well established in scientific, military, and manufacturing applications are evaluated in combination with newly developing methods for global nonlinear modeling. The nonlinear modeling methods, referred to as Learn-to-Fly methods, utilize fuzzy logic and multivariate orthogonal function techniques that have been successfully demonstrated in flight test. The blended approach presented has a focus on experiment design and identifies a sequential testing process with clearly defined completion metrics that produce increased testing efficiency.

75 FR 71596 - Energy Efficiency Program for Certain Commercial and Industrial Equipment: Test Procedures for...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-11-24

... Efficiency Program for Certain Commercial and Industrial Equipment: Test Procedures for Commercial Refrigeration Equipment AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy. ACTION... amendments to its test procedure for commercial refrigeration equipment (CRE). The amendments would update...

Design of efficient and simple interface testing equipment for opto-electric tracking system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Qiong; Deng, Chao; Tian, Jing; Mao, Yao

2016-10-01

Interface testing for opto-electric tracking system is one important work to assure system running performance, aiming to verify the design result of every electronic interface matching the communication protocols or not, by different levels. Opto-electric tracking system nowadays is more complicated, composed of many functional units. Usually, interface testing is executed between units manufactured completely, highly depending on unit design and manufacture progress as well as relative people. As a result, it always takes days or weeks, inefficiently. To solve the problem, this paper promotes an efficient and simple interface testing equipment for opto-electric tracking system, consisting of optional interface circuit card, processor and test program. The hardware cards provide matched hardware interface(s), easily offered from hardware engineer. Automatic code generation technique is imported, providing adaption to new communication protocols. Automatic acquiring items, automatic constructing code architecture and automatic encoding are used to form a new program quickly with adaption. After simple steps, a standard customized new interface testing equipment with matching test program and interface(s) is ready for a waiting-test system in minutes. The efficient and simple interface testing equipment for opto-electric tracking system has worked for many opto-electric tracking system to test entire or part interfaces, reducing test time from days to hours, greatly improving test efficiency, with high software quality and stability, without manual coding. Used as a common tool, the efficient and simple interface testing equipment for opto-electric tracking system promoted by this paper has changed traditional interface testing method and created much higher efficiency.

Evaluation of U.S. southern pine stumpage market informational efficiency

Treesearch

Jeffrey P. Prestemon

2003-01-01

The literature on informational efficiency of southern timber markets conflicts. Part of this conflict is because of differences in how efficiency was tested. In this paper, price behavior tests are based on deflated ("real") southern pine (Pinus spp.) sawtimber stumpage prices, using some of the same data and tests used in previous...

40 CFR Appendix A to Subpart I of... - Alternative Procedures for Measuring Point-of-Use Abatement Device Destruction or Removal Efficiency

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... native AOI concentration (ppm) of the effluent during stable conditions. (14) Post-test calibration. At... or removal efficiencies must be determined while etching a substrate (product, dummy, or test). For... curves for the subsequent destruction or removal efficiency tests. (8) Mass location calibration. A...

Charge Efficiency Tests of Lead/Acid Batteries

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rowlette, J. J.

1984-01-01

Current, voltage, and gas evolution measured during charge/discharge cycles. Series of standarized tests for evaluating charging efficiency of lead/acid storage batteries described in report. Purpose of tests to provide information for design of battery charger that allows maximum recharge efficiency for electric-vehicle batteries consistent with other operating parameters, such as range, water loss, and cycle life.

40 CFR 63.9322 - How do I determine the emission capture system efficiency?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... capture system efficiency? 63.9322 Section 63.9322 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION... capture system efficiency? You must use the procedures and test methods in this section to determine capture efficiency as part of the performance test required by § 63.9310. (a) Assuming 100 percent capture...

10 CFR 431.444 - Test procedures for the measurement of energy efficiency.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 10 Energy 3 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Test procedures for the measurement of energy efficiency. 431.444 Section 431.444 Energy DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ENERGY CONSERVATION ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAM FOR... procedures for the measurement of energy efficiency. (a) Scope. Pursuant to section 346(b)(1) of EPCA, this...

40 CFR 63.9322 - How do I determine the emission capture system efficiency?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... capture system efficiency? 63.9322 Section 63.9322 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION... capture system efficiency? You must use the procedures and test methods in this section to determine capture efficiency as part of the performance test required by § 63.9310. (a) Assuming 100 percent capture...

10 CFR 431.96 - Uniform test method for the measurement of energy efficiency of small, large, and very large...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ENERGY CONSERVATION ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL... measurement of energy efficiency of small, large, and very large commercial package air conditioning and... section contains test procedures for measuring, pursuant to EPCA, the energy efficiency of any small...

10 CFR 431.444 - Test procedures for the measurement of energy efficiency.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 10 Energy 3 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Test procedures for the measurement of energy efficiency. 431.444 Section 431.444 Energy DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ENERGY CONSERVATION ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAM FOR... procedures for the measurement of energy efficiency. (a) Scope. Pursuant to section 346(b)(1) of EPCA, this...

A wind tunnel test of newly developed personal bioaerosol samplers.

PubMed

Su, Wei-Chung; Tolchinsky, Alexander D; Sigaev, Vladimir I; Cheng, Yung Sung

2012-07-01

In this study the performance of two newly developed personal bioaerosol samplers was evaluated. The two test samplers are cyclone-based personal samplers that incorporate a recirculating liquid film. The performance evaluations focused on the physical efficiencies that a personal bioaerosol sampler could provide, including aspiration, collection, and capture efficiencies. The evaluation tests were carried out in a wind tunnel, and the test personal samplers were mounted on the chest of a full-size manikin placed in the test chamber of the wind tunnel. Monodisperse fluorescent aerosols ranging from 0.5 to 20 microm were used to challenge the samplers. Two wind speeds of 0.5 and 2.0 m/sec were employed as the test wind speeds in this study. The test results indicated that the aspiration efficiency of the two test samplers closely agreed with the ACGIH inhalable convention within the size range of the test aerosols. The aspiration efficiency was found to be independent of the sampling orientation. The collection efficiency acquired from these two samplers showed that the 50% cutoff diameters were both around 0.6 microm. However the wall loss of these two test samplers increased as the aerosol size increased, and the wall loss of PAS-4 was considerably higher than that of PAS-5, especially in the aerosol size larger than 5 microm, which resulted in PAS-4 having a relatively lower capture efficiency than PAS-5. Overall, the PAS-5 is considered a better personal bioaerosol sampler than the PAS-4.

Financial Knudsen number: Breakdown of continuous price dynamics and asymmetric buy-and-sell structures confirmed by high-precision order-book information.

PubMed

Yura, Yoshihiro; Takayasu, Hideki; Sornette, Didier; Takayasu, Misako

2015-10-01

We generalize the description of the dynamics of the order book of financial markets in terms of a Brownian particle embedded in a fluid of incoming, exiting, and annihilating particles by presenting a model of the velocity on each side (buy and sell) independently. The improved model builds on the time-averaged number of particles in the inner layer and its change per unit time, where the inner layer is revealed by the correlations between price velocity and change in the number of particles (limit orders). This allows us to introduce the Knudsen number of the financial Brownian particle motion and its asymmetric version (on the buy and sell sides). Not being considered previously, the asymmetric Knudsen numbers are crucial in finance in order to detect asymmetric price changes. The Knudsen numbers allows us to characterize the conditions for the market dynamics to be correctly described by a continuous stochastic process. Not questioned until now for large liquid markets such as the USD-JPY and EUR-USD exchange rates, we show that there are regimes when the Knudsen numbers are so high that discrete particle effects dominate, such as during market stresses and crashes. We document the presence of imbalances of particles depletion rates on the buy and sell sides that are associated with high Knudsen numbers and violent directional price changes. This indicator can detect the direction of the price motion at the early stage while the usual volatility risk measure is blind to the price direction.

Financial Knudsen number: Breakdown of continuous price dynamics and asymmetric buy-and-sell structures confirmed by high-precision order-book information

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yura, Yoshihiro; Takayasu, Hideki; Sornette, Didier; Takayasu, Misako

2015-10-01

We generalize the description of the dynamics of the order book of financial markets in terms of a Brownian particle embedded in a fluid of incoming, exiting, and annihilating particles by presenting a model of the velocity on each side (buy and sell) independently. The improved model builds on the time-averaged number of particles in the inner layer and its change per unit time, where the inner layer is revealed by the correlations between price velocity and change in the number of particles (limit orders). This allows us to introduce the Knudsen number of the financial Brownian particle motion and its asymmetric version (on the buy and sell sides). Not being considered previously, the asymmetric Knudsen numbers are crucial in finance in order to detect asymmetric price changes. The Knudsen numbers allows us to characterize the conditions for the market dynamics to be correctly described by a continuous stochastic process. Not questioned until now for large liquid markets such as the USD-JPY and EUR-USD exchange rates, we show that there are regimes when the Knudsen numbers are so high that discrete particle effects dominate, such as during market stresses and crashes. We document the presence of imbalances of particles depletion rates on the buy and sell sides that are associated with high Knudsen numbers and violent directional price changes. This indicator can detect the direction of the price motion at the early stage while the usual volatility risk measure is blind to the price direction.

Decay studies of a long lived high spin isomer of /sup 210/Bi

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

Tuggle, D.G.

1976-08-01

A source of approximately 30 ..mu..g of pure (> 90%) /sup 210m/Bi (J..pi.. = 9-) was prepared by irradiating /sup 209/Bi in a nuclear reactor. After chemical separations to remove /sup 210/Po from the irradiated bismuth sample were completed, the /sup 210/Bi was electromagnetically separated from the /sup 209/Bi by a series of two isotope separations to create the source mentioned above. This source was then used to conduct alpha, conversion electron, gamma, gamma-gamma coincidence, and alpha-gamma coincidence spectroscopic studies of the decay of /sup 210m/Bi. The partial half life for the alpha decay of /sup 210m/Bi was measured asmore » 3.0 x 10/sup 6/ yr. A lower limit of 10/sup 13/ years was set for the partial half life for the decay of /sup 210m/Bi to /sup 210/Po. Alpha decay of /sup 210m/Bi to 8 excited states of /sup 206/Tl was observed. A lower limit of 10/sup -4/% was set for the branching ratio of the parity forbidden alpha decay of /sup 210/Bi to the /sup 206/Ti ground state. Theoretical decay rates for the alpha decays of /sup 210m/Bi, /sup 210/Bi, /sup 211/Po, and /sup 211m/Po were calculated using the method developed by Hans Mang. A comparison of the calculated and experimentally measured alpha decay rates of /sup 210m/Bi showed good agreement for the relative alpha decay rates.« less

The CHT2 Project: Diachronic 3d Reconstruction of Historic Sites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guidi, G.; Micoli, L.; Gonizzi Barsanti, S.; Malik, U.

2017-08-01

Digital modelling archaeological and architectural monuments in their current state and in their presumed past aspect has been recognized not only as a way for explaining to the public the genesis of a historical site, but also as an effective tool for research. The search for historical sources, their proper analysis and interdisciplinary relationship between technological disciplines and the humanities are fundamental for obtaining reliable hypothetical reconstructions. This paper presents an experimental activity defined by the project Cultural Heritage Through Time - CHT2 (http://cht2-project.eu), funded in the framework of the Joint Programming Initiative on Cultural Heritage (JPI-CH) of the European Commission. Its goal is to develop time-varying 3D products, from landscape to architectural scale, deals with the implementation of the methodology on one of the case studies: the late Roman circus of Milan, built in the era when the city was the capital of the Western Roman Empire (286-402 A.D). The work presented here covers one of the cases in which the physical evidences have now been almost entirely disappeared. The diachronic reconstruction is based on a proper mix of quantitative data originated by 3D surveys at present time, and historical sources like ancient maps, drawings, archaeological reports, archaeological restrictions decrees and old photographs. Such heterogeneous sources have been first georeferenced and then properly integrated according to the methodology defined in the framework of the CHT2 project, to hypothesize a reliable reconstruction of the area in different historical periods.

Adaptive transmission disequilibrium test for family trio design.

PubMed

Yuan, Min; Tian, Xin; Zheng, Gang; Yang, Yaning

2009-01-01

The transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) is a standard method to detect association using family trio design. It is optimal for an additive genetic model. Other TDT-type tests optimal for recessive and dominant models have also been developed. Association tests using family data, including the TDT-type statistics, have been unified to a class of more comprehensive and flexable family-based association tests (FBAT). TDT-type tests have high efficiency when the genetic model is known or correctly specified, but may lose power if the model is mis-specified. Hence tests that are robust to genetic model mis-specification yet efficient are preferred. Constrained likelihood ratio test (CLRT) and MAX-type test have been shown to be efficiency robust. In this paper we propose a new efficiency robust procedure, referred to as adaptive TDT (aTDT). It uses the Hardy-Weinberg disequilibrium coefficient to identify the potential genetic model underlying the data and then applies the TDT-type test (or FBAT for general applications) corresponding to the selected model. Simulation demonstrates that aTDT is efficiency robust to model mis-specifications and generally outperforms the MAX test and CLRT in terms of power. We also show that aTDT has power close to, but much more robust, than the optimal TDT-type test based on a single genetic model. Applications to real and simulated data from Genetic Analysis Workshop (GAW) illustrate the use of our adaptive TDT.

10 CFR 431.107 - Uniform test method for the measurement of energy efficiency of commercial heat pump water...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 10 Energy 3 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Uniform test method for the measurement of energy efficiency of commercial heat pump water heaters. [Reserved] 431.107 Section 431.107 Energy DEPARTMENT OF....107 Uniform test method for the measurement of energy efficiency of commercial heat pump water heaters...

10 CFR 431.107 - Uniform test method for the measurement of energy efficiency of commercial heat pump water...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... 10 Energy 3 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Uniform test method for the measurement of energy efficiency of commercial heat pump water heaters. [Reserved] 431.107 Section 431.107 Energy DEPARTMENT OF....107 Uniform test method for the measurement of energy efficiency of commercial heat pump water heaters...

10 CFR 431.107 - Uniform test method for the measurement of energy efficiency of commercial heat pump water...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... 10 Energy 3 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Uniform test method for the measurement of energy efficiency of commercial heat pump water heaters. [Reserved] 431.107 Section 431.107 Energy DEPARTMENT OF....107 Uniform test method for the measurement of energy efficiency of commercial heat pump water heaters...

40 CFR 63.9323 - How do I determine the add-on control device emission destruction or removal efficiency?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... device emission destruction or removal efficiency? 63.9323 Section 63.9323 Protection of Environment... determine the add-on control device emission destruction or removal efficiency? You must use the procedures... removal efficiency as part of the performance test required by § 63.9310. You must conduct three test runs...

40 CFR 63.9323 - How do I determine the add-on control device emission destruction or removal efficiency?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... device emission destruction or removal efficiency? 63.9323 Section 63.9323 Protection of Environment... determine the add-on control device emission destruction or removal efficiency? You must use the procedures... removal efficiency as part of the performance test required by § 63.9310. You must conduct three test runs...

40 CFR 63.4566 - How do I determine the add-on control device emission destruction or removal efficiency?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... device emission destruction or removal efficiency? 63.4566 Section 63.4566 Protection of Environment... efficiency? You must use the procedures and test methods in this section to determine the add-on control device emission destruction or removal efficiency as part of the performance test required by § 63.4560...

40 CFR 63.3966 - How do I determine the add-on control device emission destruction or removal efficiency?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... device emission destruction or removal efficiency? 63.3966 Section 63.3966 Protection of Environment... or removal efficiency? You must use the procedures and test methods in this section to determine the add-on control device emission destruction or removal efficiency as part of the performance test...

40 CFR 63.4566 - How do I determine the add-on control device emission destruction or removal efficiency?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... device emission destruction or removal efficiency? 63.4566 Section 63.4566 Protection of Environment... efficiency? You must use the procedures and test methods in this section to determine the add-on control device emission destruction or removal efficiency as part of the performance test required by § 63.4560...

40 CFR 63.3966 - How do I determine the add-on control device emission destruction or removal efficiency?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... device emission destruction or removal efficiency? 63.3966 Section 63.3966 Protection of Environment... or removal efficiency? You must use the procedures and test methods in this section to determine the add-on control device emission destruction or removal efficiency as part of the performance test...

Measurements of charge state breeding efficiency at BNL test EBIS

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

Kondrashev, S.; Alessi, J.; Beebe, E.N.

Charge breeding of singly charged ions is required to efficiently accelerate rare isotope ion beams for nuclear and astrophysics experiments, and to enhance the accuracy of low-energy Penning trap-assisted spectroscopy. An efficient charge breeder for the Californium Rare Isotope Breeder Upgrade (CARIBU) to the ANL Tandem Linear Accelerator System (ATLAS) facility is being developed using the BNL Test Electron Beam Ion Source (Test EBIS) as a prototype. Parameters of the CARIBU EBIS charge breeder are similar to those of the BNL Test EBIS except the electron beam current will be adjustable in the range from 1 to 2 {angstrom}. Themore » electron beam current density in the CARIBU EBIS trap will be significantly higher than in existing operational charge state breeders based on the EBIS concept. The charge state breeding efficiency is expected to be about 25% for the isotope ions extracted from the CARIBU. For the success of our EBIS project, it is essential to demonstrate high breeding efficiency at the BNL Test EBIS tuned to the regime close to the parameters of the CARIBU EBIS at ANL. The breeding efficiency optimization and measurements have been successfully carried out using a Cs{sup +} surface ionization ion source for externally pulsed injection into the BNL Test EBIS. A Cs{sup +} ion beam with a total number of ions of 5 x 10{sup 8} and optimized pulse length of 70 {mu}s has been injected into the Test EBIS and charge-bred for 5.3 ms for two different electron beam currents 1 and 1.5 {angstrom}. In these experiments we have achieved 70% injection/extraction efficiency and breeding efficiency into the most abundant charge state 17%.« less

Estimating and testing interactions when explanatory variables are subject to non-classical measurement error.

PubMed

Murad, Havi; Kipnis, Victor; Freedman, Laurence S

2016-10-01

Assessing interactions in linear regression models when covariates have measurement error (ME) is complex.We previously described regression calibration (RC) methods that yield consistent estimators and standard errors for interaction coefficients of normally distributed covariates having classical ME. Here we extend normal based RC (NBRC) and linear RC (LRC) methods to a non-classical ME model, and describe more efficient versions that combine estimates from the main study and internal sub-study. We apply these methods to data from the Observing Protein and Energy Nutrition (OPEN) study. Using simulations we show that (i) for normally distributed covariates efficient NBRC and LRC were nearly unbiased and performed well with sub-study size ≥200; (ii) efficient NBRC had lower MSE than efficient LRC; (iii) the naïve test for a single interaction had type I error probability close to the nominal significance level, whereas efficient NBRC and LRC were slightly anti-conservative but more powerful; (iv) for markedly non-normal covariates, efficient LRC yielded less biased estimators with smaller variance than efficient NBRC. Our simulations suggest that it is preferable to use: (i) efficient NBRC for estimating and testing interaction effects of normally distributed covariates and (ii) efficient LRC for estimating and testing interactions for markedly non-normal covariates. © The Author(s) 2013.

A new condition for assessing the clinical efficiency of a diagnostic test.

PubMed

Bokhari, Ehsan; Hubert, Lawrence

2015-09-01

When prediction using a diagnostic test outperforms simple prediction using base rates, the test is said to be "clinically efficient," a term first introduced into the literature by Meehl and Rosen (1955) in Psychological Bulletin. This article provides three equivalent conditions for determining the clinical efficiency of a diagnostic test: (a) Meehl-Rosen (Meehl & Rosen, 1955); (b) Dawes (Dawes, 1962); and (c) the Bokhari-Hubert condition, introduced here for the first time. Clinical efficiency is then generalized to situations where misclassification costs are considered unequal (for example, false negatives are more costly than false positives). As an illustration, the clinical efficiency of an actuarial device for predicting violent and dangerous behavior is examined that was developed as part of the MacArthur Violence Risk Assessment Study. (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved.

78 FR 49607 - Energy Conservation Program: Test Procedures for Residential Clothes Dryers

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-14

... reasonably designed to produce test results which measure energy efficiency, energy use or estimated annual... Energy Conservation Program: Test Procedures for Residential Clothes Dryers; Final Rule #0;#0;Federal... Conservation Program: Test Procedures for Residential Clothes Dryers AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and...

Testing Air-Filtering Systems

PubMed Central

Songer, Joseph R.; Sullivan, James F.; Hurd, James W.

1963-01-01

A procedure was developed for evaluating high-efficiency filters mounted in exhaust ducts at the National Animal Disease Laboratory. An aerosol of the test organism, Escherichia coli B T3 bacteriophage, was generated in a chamber attached to a ceiling exhaust register in concentrations of at least 1000 viable organisms per ft3 of air. Samples were collected from both the pre- and postfilter areas, and the number of organisms per ft3 of air was determined. The efficiency of the filter was calculated from these figures. A total of 269 high-efficiency filters were tested. Of these, 249 had efficiencies of 98% or greater. The remaining 20, with efficiencies of less than 98%, were repaired and retested. No filter was accepted with an efficiency of less than 98%. Images Fig. 2 PMID:14063779

Energy-efficiency program for clothes washers, clothes dryers, and dishwashers

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

Not Available

1977-11-01

The objectives of this study of dishwashers, clothes washers, and clothes dryers are: to evaluate existing energy efficiency test procedures and recommend the use of specific test procedures for each appliance group and to establish the maximum economically and technologically feasible energy-efficiency improvement goals for each appliance group. Specifically, the program requirements were to determine the energy efficiency of the 1972 models, to evaluate the feasibility improvements that could be implemented by 1980 to maximize energy efficiency, and to calculate the percentage efficiency improvement based on the 1972 baseline and the recommended 1980 targets. The test program was conducted usingmore » 5 dishwashers, 4 top-loading clothes washers, one front-loading clothes washer, 4 electric clothes dryers, and 4 gas clothes dryers. (MCW)« less

Motor efficiency: compare apples to apples

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

Keinz, J.R.

1982-08-01

The efficiency differences between electric motors are now a significant cost consideration for many companies, but evaluating motor efficiency is not as straightforward as it should be. The buyer must look beyond the manufacturer's designated efficiency, which is too generalized, and the results of independent tests, which vary because of the difficulty in establishing standard conditions. Manufacturers may be following established testing procedures, but not labeling in accordance with the standards. Manufacturers should also supply efficiency versus load-curve data. (DCK)

High pressure compressor component performance report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cline, S. J.; Fesler, W.; Liu, H. S.; Lovell, R. C.; Shaffer, S. J.

1983-01-01

A compressor optimization study defined a 10 stage configuration with a 22.6:1 pressure ratio, an adiabatic efficiency goal of 86.1%, and a polytropic efficiency of 90.6%; the corrected airflow is 53.5 kg/s. Subsequent component testing included three full scale tests: a six stage rig test, a 10 stage rig test, and another 10 stage rig test completed in the second quarter of 1982. Information from these tests is used to select the configuration for a core engine test and an integrated core/low spool test. The test results will also provide data base for the flight propulsion system. The results of the test series with both aerodynamic and mechanical performance of each compressor build are presented. The second 10 stage compressor adiabatic efficiency was 0.848 at a cruise operating point versus a test goal of 0.846.

Domestic Banks in Bangladesh Could Ensure Efficiency by Improving Human Resource Management Practices

PubMed Central

Muhammad Masum, Abdul Kadar; Azad, Md. Abul Kalam; Hoque, Kazi Enamul; Beh, Loo-See

2015-01-01

The paper aims to examine the influence of human resource management (HRM) practices on bank efficiency using Malmquist index of total factor productivity. The model comprises HRM index that represents the quality of HRM practices. The results are decomposed into three efficiency scores, namely, technical efficiency, pure efficiency, and scale efficiency. In this study, panel data for 44 banks in Bangladesh are used for the period 2008-2013. This paper reveals that foreign banks are ahead in converting the influence of HRM practices into efficiency scores (0.946>0.833). On the other hand, domestic banks performed better than foreign banks in terms of pure efficiency and scale efficiency. But, in terms of technical efficiency, the domestic banks are regressed by 6.7% annually whereas foreign banks are progressed with a yearly value of 5.8%. The results are robust, because the Mann-Whitney test and Kruskall-Wallis test (non-parametric tests) also confirm the same results. This study emphasizes HRM practices in the banking industry to ensure efficiency in the long-term scenario. Domestic banks are suggested to ensure continuous development in HRM practices in order to compete with foreign banks. PMID:26221727

Domestic Banks in Bangladesh Could Ensure Efficiency by Improving Human Resource Management Practices.

PubMed

Masum, Abdul Kadar Muhammad; Azad, Md Abul Kalam; Hoque, Kazi Enamul; Beh, Loo-See

2015-01-01

The paper aims to examine the influence of human resource management (HRM) practices on bank efficiency using Malmquist index of total factor productivity. The model comprises HRM index that represents the quality of HRM practices. The results are decomposed into three efficiency scores, namely, technical efficiency, pure efficiency, and scale efficiency. In this study, panel data for 44 banks in Bangladesh are used for the period 2008-2013. This paper reveals that foreign banks are ahead in converting the influence of HRM practices into efficiency scores (0.946>0.833). On the other hand, domestic banks performed better than foreign banks in terms of pure efficiency and scale efficiency. But, in terms of technical efficiency, the domestic banks are regressed by 6.7% annually whereas foreign banks are progressed with a yearly value of 5.8%. The results are robust, because the Mann-Whitney test and Kruskall-Wallis test (non-parametric tests) also confirm the same results. This study emphasizes HRM practices in the banking industry to ensure efficiency in the long-term scenario. Domestic banks are suggested to ensure continuous development in HRM practices in order to compete with foreign banks.

Lubricant Effects on Efficiency of a Helicopter Transmission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mitchell, A. M.; Coy, J. J.

1982-01-01

Eleven different lubricants were used in efficiency tests conducted on the OH-58A helicopter main transmission using the NASA Lewis Research Center's 500 hp torque regenerative helicopter transmission test stand. Tests were run at oil-in temperatures of 355 K and 372 K. The efficiency was calculated from a heat balance on the water running through an oil to water heat exchanger which the transmission was heavily insulated. Results show an efficiency range from 98.3% to 98.8% which is a 50% variation relative to the losses associated with the maximum efficiency measured. For a given lubricant, the efficiency increased as temperature increased and viscosity decreased. There were two exceptions which could not be explained. Between lubricants, efficiency was not correlated with viscosity. There were relatively large variations in efficiency with the different lubricants whose viscosity generally fell in the 5 to 7 centistoke range. The lubricants had no significant effect on the vibration signature of the transmission.

10 CFR 430.3 - Materials incorporated by reference.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building Technologies Program, 6th Floor, 950 L'Enfant Plaza, SW... B. (8) ASHRAE 103-1993, Methods of Testing for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency of Residential...) ASHRAE 116-1995 (RA 2005), Methods of Testing for Rating Seasonal Efficiency of Unitary Air Conditioners...

FRACTIONAL AEROSOL FILTRATION EFFICIENCY OF IN-DUCT VENTILATION AIR CLEANERS

EPA Science Inventory

The filtration efficiency of ventilation air cleaners is highly particle-size dependent over the 0.01 to 3 μm diameter size range. Current standardized test methods, which determine only overall efficiencies for ambient aerosol or other test aerosols, provide data of limited util...

Small passenger car transmission test-Chevrolet 200 transmission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bujold, M. P.

1980-01-01

The small passenger car transmission was tested to supply electric vehicle manufacturers with technical information regarding the performance of commerically available transmissions which would enable them to design a more energy efficient vehicle. With this information the manufacturers could estimate vehicle driving range as well as speed and torque requirements for specific road load performance characteristics. A 1979 Chevrolet Model 200 automatic transmission was tested per a passenger car automatic transmission test code (SAE J651b) which required drive performance, coast performance, and no load test conditions. The transmission attained maximum efficiencies in the mid-eighty percent range for both drive performance tests and coast performance tests. Torque, speed and efficiency curves map the complete performance characteristics for Chevrolet Model 200 transmission.

10 CFR 430.3 - Materials incorporated by reference.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... is available for inspection at U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable... appendix M to subpart B. (9) ASHRAE 103-1993, Methods of Testing for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency of... subpart B. (10) ASHRAE 116-1995 (RA 2005), Methods of Testing for Rating Seasonal Efficiency of Unitary...

10 CFR 430.3 - Materials incorporated by reference.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

.... Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building Technologies Program, 6th... appendix M to subpart B. (9) ASHRAE 103-1993, Methods of Testing for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency of... subpart B. (10) ASHRAE 116-1995 (RA 2005), Methods of Testing for Rating Seasonal Efficiency of Unitary...

Energy efficient engine high-pressure turbine component rig performance test report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Leach, K. P.

1983-01-01

A rig test of the cooled high-pressure turbine component for the Energy Efficient Engine was successfully completed. The principal objective of this test was to substantiate the turbine design point performance as well as determine off-design performance with the interaction of the secondary flow system. The measured efficiency of the cooled turbine component was 88.5 percent, which surpassed the rig design goal of 86.5 percent. The secondary flow system in the turbine performed according to the design intent. Characterization studies showed that secondary flow system performance is insensitive to flow and pressure variations. Overall, this test has demonstrated that a highly-loaded, transonic, single-stage turbine can achieve a high level of operating efficiency.

Robust Approach to Verifying the Weak Form of the Efficient Market Hypothesis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Střelec, Luboš

2011-09-01

The weak form of the efficient markets hypothesis states that prices incorporate only past information about the asset. An implication of this form of the efficient markets hypothesis is that one cannot detect mispriced assets and consistently outperform the market through technical analysis of past prices. One of possible formulations of the efficient market hypothesis used for weak form tests is that share prices follow a random walk. It means that returns are realizations of IID sequence of random variables. Consequently, for verifying the weak form of the efficient market hypothesis, we can use distribution tests, among others, i.e. some tests of normality and/or some graphical methods. Many procedures for testing the normality of univariate samples have been proposed in the literature [7]. Today the most popular omnibus test of normality for a general use is the Shapiro-Wilk test. The Jarque-Bera test is the most widely adopted omnibus test of normality in econometrics and related fields. In particular, the Jarque-Bera test (i.e. test based on the classical measures of skewness and kurtosis) is frequently used when one is more concerned about heavy-tailed alternatives. As these measures are based on moments of the data, this test has a zero breakdown value [2]. In other words, a single outlier can make the test worthless. The reason so many classical procedures are nonrobust to outliers is that the parameters of the model are expressed in terms of moments, and their classical estimators are expressed in terms of sample moments, which are very sensitive to outliers. Another approach to robustness is to concentrate on the parameters of interest suggested by the problem under this study. Consequently, novel robust testing procedures of testing normality are presented in this paper to overcome shortcomings of classical normality tests in the field of financial data, which are typical with occurrence of remote data points and additional types of deviations from normality. This study also discusses some results of simulation power studies of these tests for normality against selected alternatives. Based on outcome of the power simulation study, selected normality tests were consequently used to verify weak form of efficiency in Central Europe stock markets.

78 FR 17925 - Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Decision and Order Granting a Waiver to BSH...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-03-25

... test procedures that are reasonably designed to produce results that measure energy efficiency, energy... contains one or more design characteristics that prevent testing according to the prescribed test procedure... Department of Energy Residential Dishwasher Test Procedure AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable...

78 FR 17927 - Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Decision and Order Granting a Waiver to BSH...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-03-25

... test procedures that are reasonably designed to produce results that measure energy efficiency, energy... contains one or more design characteristics that prevent testing according to the prescribed test procedure... Department of Energy Residential Dishwasher Test Procedure AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable...

10 CFR 431.76 - Uniform test method for the measurement of energy efficiency of commercial warm air furnaces.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... Arrangements), 2.3 (Test Ducts and Plenums), 2.4 (Test Gases), 2.5 (Test Pressures and Burner Adjustments), 2.6 (Static Pressure and Air Flow Adjustments), 2.39 (Thermal Efficiency) (note, this is 2.38 in ANSI Z21.47... test must be conducted only at the normal inlet test pressure, as specified in section 2.5.1 of ANSI...

10 CFR 431.76 - Uniform test method for the measurement of energy efficiency of commercial warm air furnaces.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... Arrangements), 2.3 (Test Ducts and Plenums), 2.4 (Test Gases), 2.5 (Test Pressures and Burner Adjustments), 2.6 (Static Pressure and Air Flow Adjustments), 2.39 (Thermal Efficiency) (note, this is 2.38 in ANSI Z21.47... test must be conducted only at the normal inlet test pressure, as specified in section 2.5.1 of ANSI...

Strategies for implementing genomic selection for feed efficiency in dairy cattle breeding schemes.

PubMed

Wallén, S E; Lillehammer, M; Meuwissen, T H E

2017-08-01

Alternative genomic selection and traditional BLUP breeding schemes were compared for the genetic improvement of feed efficiency in simulated Norwegian Red dairy cattle populations. The change in genetic gain over time and achievable selection accuracy were studied for milk yield and residual feed intake, as a measure of feed efficiency. When including feed efficiency in genomic BLUP schemes, it was possible to achieve high selection accuracies for genomic selection, and all genomic BLUP schemes gave better genetic gain for feed efficiency than BLUP using a pedigree relationship matrix. However, introducing a second trait in the breeding goal caused a reduction in the genetic gain for milk yield. When using contracted test herds with genotyped and feed efficiency recorded cows as a reference population, adding an additional 4,000 new heifers per year to the reference population gave accuracies that were comparable to a male reference population that used progeny testing with 250 daughters per sire. When the test herd consisted of 500 or 1,000 cows, lower genetic gain was found than using progeny test records to update the reference population. It was concluded that to improve difficult to record traits, the use of contracted test herds that had additional recording (e.g., measurements required to calculate feed efficiency) is a viable option, possibly through international collaborations. Copyright © 2017 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

SPDE/SPRE final summary report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dochat, George

1993-01-01

Mechanical Technology Incorporated (MTI) performed acceptance testing on the Space Power Research Engine (SPRE), which demonstrated satisfactory operation and sufficient reliability for delivery to NASA Lewis Research Center. The unit produced 13.5 kW PV power with an efficiency of 22 percent versus design goals of 28.8 kW PV power and efficiency of 28 percent. Maximum electric power was only 8 kWe due to lower alternator efficiency. One of the major shortcomings of the SPRE was linear alternator efficiency, which was only 70 percent compared to a design value of 90 percent. It was determined from static tests that the major cause for the efficiency shortfall was the location of the magnetic structure surrounding the linear alternator. Testing of an alternator configuration without a surrounding magnetic structure on a linear dynamometer confirmed earlier static test results. Linear alternator efficiency improved from 70 percent to over 90 percent. Testing of the MTI SPRE was also performed with hydrodynamic bearings and achieved full-stroke, stable operation. This testing indicated that hydrodynamic bearings may be useful in free piston Stirling engines. An important factor in achieving stable operation at design stroke was isolating a portion of the bearing length from the engine pressure variations. In addition, the heat pipe heater head design indicates that integration of a Stirling engine with a heat source can be performed via heat pipes. This design provides a baseline against which alternative designs can be measured.

Small passenger car transmission test; Chevrolet LUV transmission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bujold, M. P.

1980-01-01

A 1978 Chevrolet LUV manual transmission tested per the applicable portions of a passenger car automatic transmission test code (SAE J65lb) which required drive performance, coast performance, and no load test conditions. Under these test conditions, the transmission attained maximum efficiencies in the upper ninety percent range for both drive performance tests and coast performance tests. The major results of this test (torque, speed, and efficiency curves) are presented. Graphs map the complete performance characteristics for the Chevrolet LUV transmission.

Small passenger car transmission test; Ford C4 transmission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bujold, M. P.

1980-01-01

A 1979 Ford C4 automatic transmission was tested per a passenger car automatic transmission test code (SAE J651b) which required drive performance, coast performance, and no load test conditions. Under these test conditions, the transmission attained maximum efficiencies in the mid-eighty percent range for both drive performance tests and coast performance tests. The major results of this test (torque, speed, and efficiency curves) are presented. Graphs map the complete performance characteristics for the Ford C4 transmission.

10 CFR 431.86 - Uniform test method for the measurement of energy efficiency of commercial packaged boilers.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... 10 Energy 3 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Uniform test method for the measurement of energy efficiency of commercial packaged boilers. 431.86 Section 431.86 Energy DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ENERGY CONSERVATION ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT Commercial Packaged...

10 CFR 431.86 - Uniform test method for the measurement of energy efficiency of commercial packaged boilers.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 10 Energy 3 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Uniform test method for the measurement of energy efficiency of commercial packaged boilers. 431.86 Section 431.86 Energy DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ENERGY CONSERVATION ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT Commercial Packaged...

10 CFR 431.86 - Uniform test method for the measurement of energy efficiency of commercial packaged boilers.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... 10 Energy 3 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Uniform test method for the measurement of energy efficiency of commercial packaged boilers. 431.86 Section 431.86 Energy DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ENERGY CONSERVATION ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT Commercial Packaged...

10 CFR 431.86 - Uniform test method for the measurement of energy efficiency of commercial packaged boilers.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... 10 Energy 3 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Uniform test method for the measurement of energy efficiency of commercial packaged boilers. 431.86 Section 431.86 Energy DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ENERGY CONSERVATION ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT Commercial Packaged...

Benchmark Lisp And Ada Programs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Davis, Gloria; Galant, David; Lim, Raymond; Stutz, John; Gibson, J.; Raghavan, B.; Cheesema, P.; Taylor, W.

1992-01-01

Suite of nonparallel benchmark programs, ELAPSE, designed for three tests: comparing efficiency of computer processing via Lisp vs. Ada; comparing efficiencies of several computers processing via Lisp; or comparing several computers processing via Ada. Tests efficiency which computer executes routines in each language. Available for computer equipped with validated Ada compiler and/or Common Lisp system.

10 CFR 430.24 - Units to be tested.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... efficiency ratio or other measure of energy consumption of a basic model for which consumers would favor..., and (ii) Any represented value of the annual fuel utilization efficiency or other measure of energy... tested basic models by only the design of oven doors the use of which leads to improved efficiency and...

A Comparison of Visual and Auditory Processing Tests on the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Cognitive Ability, Revised and the Learning Efficiency Test-II.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bolen, L. M.; Kimball, D. J.; Hall, C. W.; Webster, R. E.

1997-01-01

Compares the visual and auditory processing factors of the Woodcock Johnson Tests of Cognitive Ability, Revised (WJR COG) and the visual and auditory memory factors of the Learning Efficiency Test, II (LET-II) among 120 college students. Results indicate two significant performance differences between the WJR COG and LET-II. (RJM)

10 CFR 431.86 - Uniform test method for the measurement of energy efficiency of commercial packaged boilers.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... Boiler That is Capable of Supplying Either Steam or Hot Water—(A) Testing. For purposes of EPCA, before... supplying either steam or hot water either by testing the boiler in the steam mode or by testing it in both... supplying either steam or hot water either by testing the boiler for both efficiencies in steam mode, or by...

40 CFR 52.320 - Identification of plan.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... of Group II VOC sources were submitted on January 6, 1981, and the supplemental information received... at Bulk Plants-Vapor Balance System), and D (Test Procedures for Annual Pressure/Vacuum Testing of... recent EPA capture efficiency protocols, and the commitment to adopt federal capture efficiency test...

40 CFR 52.320 - Identification of plan.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... of Group II VOC sources were submitted on January 6, 1981, and the supplemental information received... at Bulk Plants-Vapor Balance System), and D (Test Procedures for Annual Pressure/Vacuum Testing of... recent EPA capture efficiency protocols, and the commitment to adopt federal capture efficiency test...

Efficient logistic regression designs under an imperfect population identifier.

PubMed

Albert, Paul S; Liu, Aiyi; Nansel, Tonja

2014-03-01

Motivated by actual study designs, this article considers efficient logistic regression designs where the population is identified with a binary test that is subject to diagnostic error. We consider the case where the imperfect test is obtained on all participants, while the gold standard test is measured on a small chosen subsample. Under maximum-likelihood estimation, we evaluate the optimal design in terms of sample selection as well as verification. We show that there may be substantial efficiency gains by choosing a small percentage of individuals who test negative on the imperfect test for inclusion in the sample (e.g., verifying 90% test-positive cases). We also show that a two-stage design may be a good practical alternative to a fixed design in some situations. Under optimal and nearly optimal designs, we compare maximum-likelihood and semi-parametric efficient estimators under correct and misspecified models with simulations. The methodology is illustrated with an analysis from a diabetes behavioral intervention trial. © 2013, The International Biometric Society.

Development of an Itemwise Efficiency Scoring Method: Concurrent, Convergent, Discriminant, and Neuroimaging-Based Predictive Validity Assessed in a Large Community Sample

PubMed Central

Moore, Tyler M.; Reise, Steven P.; Roalf, David R.; Satterthwaite, Theodore D.; Davatzikos, Christos; Bilker, Warren B.; Port, Allison M.; Jackson, Chad T.; Ruparel, Kosha; Savitt, Adam P.; Baron, Robert B.; Gur, Raquel E.; Gur, Ruben C.

2016-01-01

Traditional “paper-and-pencil” testing is imprecise in measuring speed and hence limited in assessing performance efficiency, but computerized testing permits precision in measuring itemwise response time. We present a method of scoring performance efficiency (combining information from accuracy and speed) at the item level. Using a community sample of 9,498 youths age 8-21, we calculated item-level efficiency scores on four neurocognitive tests, and compared the concurrent, convergent, discriminant, and predictive validity of these scores to simple averaging of standardized speed and accuracy-summed scores. Concurrent validity was measured by the scores' abilities to distinguish men from women and their correlations with age; convergent and discriminant validity were measured by correlations with other scores inside and outside of their neurocognitive domains; predictive validity was measured by correlations with brain volume in regions associated with the specific neurocognitive abilities. Results provide support for the ability of itemwise efficiency scoring to detect signals as strong as those detected by standard efficiency scoring methods. We find no evidence of superior validity of the itemwise scores over traditional scores, but point out several advantages of the former. The itemwise efficiency scoring method shows promise as an alternative to standard efficiency scoring methods, with overall moderate support from tests of four different types of validity. This method allows the use of existing item analysis methods and provides the convenient ability to adjust the overall emphasis of accuracy versus speed in the efficiency score, thus adjusting the scoring to the real-world demands the test is aiming to fulfill. PMID:26866796

Towards Loophole-Free Optical Bell Test of CHSH Inequality

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tan, Yong-gang; Li, Hong-wei

2016-09-01

Bell test had been suggested to end the long-standing debate on the EPR paradox, while the imperfections of experimental devices induce some loopholes in Bell test experiments and hence the assumption of local reality by EPR cannot be excluded with current experimental results. In optical Bell test experiments, the locality loophole can be closed easily, while the attempt of closing detection loophole requires very high efficiency of single photon detectors. Previous studies showed that the violation of Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt (CHSH) inequality with maximally entangled states requires the detection efficiency to be higher than 82.8 %. In this paper, we raise a modified CHSH inequality that covers all measurement events including the efficient and inefficient detections in the Bell test and prove that all local hidden models can be excluded when the inequality is violated. We find that, when non-maximally entangled states are applied to the Bell test, the lowest detection efficiency for violation of the present inequality is 66.7 %. This makes it feasible to close the detection loophole and the locality loophole simultaneously in optical Bell test of CHSH inequality.

Screws, Propellers and Fans Based on a Mobius Strip

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Seiner, John M.; Backley, Floyd D.; Gilinsky, Mikhail

1998-01-01

A Mobius strip concept is intended for improving the working efficiency of propellers and screws. Applications involve cooling, boat propellers, mixing in appliance, blenders, and helicopters. Several Mobius shaped screws for the average size kitchen mixers have been made and tested. The tests have shown that the mixer with the Mobius shaped screw pair is most efficient, and saves more than 30% of the electric power by comparison with the standard. The created video film about these tests illustrates efficiency of Mobius shaped screws.

Impact of computerized pre-authorization of broad spectrum antibiotics in Pseudomonas aeruginosa at a children's hospital in Japan.

PubMed

Horikoshi, Yuho; Higuchi, Hiroshi; Suwa, Junichi; Isogai, Mihoko; Shoji, Takayo; Ito, Kenta

2016-08-01

The spread of antimicrobial-resistant organisms is a global concern. To stem this tide, an antimicrobial stewardship program at hospitals is essential to optimize the prescription of broad spectrum antibiotics. In this study we examined the impact of computerized pre-authorization for broad spectrum antibiotics for Pseudomonas aeruginosa at a children's hospital. An antimicrobial stewardship program at Tokyo Metropolitan Children's Medical Center was assessed between March 2010 and March 2015. A paper-based post-prescription audit was switched to computerized pre-authorization for broad antipseudomonal agents in October 2011. The prescriber was required to obtain approval from physicians in the pediatric infectious diseases division before prescribing restricted antimicrobial agents. Approved prescriptions were processed and logged electronically. We evaluated days of therapy per 1000 patient-days, the cost of antibiotics, and the susceptibility of P. aeruginosa to piperacillin, ceftazidime, cefepime, piperacillin/tazobactam, carbapenems, and ciprofloxacin. Also, the average length of admission and infection-related mortality at 30 days were compared pre- and post-intervention. Administration of carbapenems, piperacillin/tazobactam, and ceftazidime decreased significantly after the introduction of computerized pre-authorization. Antibiotic costs were reduced by JPY2.86 million (USD 26,000) annually. None of the antipseudomonal agents showed decreased sensitivity. The average length of admission was shorter in post-intervention. Infection-related mortality at 30 days showed no difference between the pre- and post-intervention periods. An antimicrobial stewardship program using computerized pre-authorization decreased the use and cost of broad spectrum antibiotics without significant difference in infection-related mortality at 30 days, although our study did not improve susceptibilities of P. aeruginosa. Copyright © 2016 Japanese Society of Chemotherapy and The Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Investigation of Nuclear Structure and Quasi-Discrete Features in 150,152Sm via the (p,t) Reaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Humby, Peter James Charnall

The (p,t) reaction was used to identify new levels and gamma-ray transitions in 150,152Sm utilising the particle-gamma and particle-gamma-gamma coincidence techniques. The experiment was performed using the STARLiTeR array located at the Cyclotron Institute of Texas A&M University. The relative partial cross sections for the observed levels, angle averaged between 34 and 58 degrees, were measured. A narrow peak-like structure was observed between 2.3-3.0 MeV excitation energy, in between the region of strongly populated discrete states at low energy and the high energy continuum region. In 150Sm, 39(4)% of the strength of the peak-like structure could be accounted for by the observed discrete states, which compares to a value of 93(15)% for 152Sm. The orbital angular-momentum transfer was probed by comparison of the experimental angular distributions to those calculated using the DWBA theory. The experimental angular distributions for the population of the peak-like structures are very similar in the two reactions, and significantly different to both the angular distribution of the background under the structures, and to the distribution obtained from the nearby continuum region at higher excitation energy. Post irradiation, the half-lives of isomeric states in 152Eu, populated in the 154Sm(p,3n) reaction, were obtained by measuring the decrease in intensity of the gamma rays emitted in the decay of these long lived levels. The half-life of the Jpi = 8- isomer 152m2Eu was measured to be 95.8(4) min, which is a factor of 2.5 reduction in uncertainty compared to the previous literature value of 96(1) min.

Greater loss of productivity among Japanese workers with gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms that persist vs resolve on medical therapy.

PubMed

Suzuki, H; Matsuzaki, J; Masaoka, T; Inadomi, J M

2014-06-01

Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) impairs quality of life; however, the association between GERD and work productivity has not been well investigated in Japan. This study was designed to compare the impact of GERD on productivity between Japanese workers with GERD symptoms that persisted vs resolved on medical therapy. A cross-sectional Web-based survey was conducted in workers. The impact of GERD on work and daily productivity was evaluated using a Web-reported Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire for patients with GERD and a GERD symptom severity Questionnaire. Demographic information, clinical history, and satisfaction with GERD medication were also ascertained. A total of 20 000 subjects were invited to the survey. After the exclusion of patients with a history of gastrointestinal (GI) malignancy, peptic ulcer, upper GI surgery, and unemployment, 650 participants were included in the analysis. Participants with persistent GERD symptoms reported a significantly greater losses of work productivity (11.4 ± 13.4 h/week), absenteeism (0.7 ± 3.1 h/week), presenteeism (10.7 ± 12.6 h/week), costs (20 100 ± 26 800 JPY/week), and lower daily productivity (71.3% [95% confidence interval, 69.0-73.7]) than those whose symptoms were alleviated with medications. The level of dissatisfaction with GERD medications among participants with persistent GERD symptoms was significantly correlated with loss of work and daily productivity (p < 0.001). GERD places a significant burden on work and daily productivity despite medical therapy. Ineffective GERD therapy is associated with greater productivity loss. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Evaluation of the DayCent model to predict carbon fluxes in French crop sites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fujisaki, Kenji; Martin, Manuel P.; Zhang, Yao; Bernoux, Martial; Chapuis-Lardy, Lydie

2017-04-01

Croplands in temperate regions are an important component of the carbon balance and can act as a sink or a source of carbon, depending on pedoclimatic conditions and management practices. Therefore the evaluation of carbon fluxes in croplands by modelling approach is relevant in the context of global change. This study was part of the Comete-Global project funded by the multi-Partner call FACCE JPI. Carbon fluxes, net ecosystem exchange (NEE), leaf area index (LAI), biomass, and grain production were simulated at the site level in three French crop experiments from the CarboEurope project. Several crops were studied, like winter wheat, rapeseed, barley, maize, and sunflower. Daily NEE was measured with eddy covariance and could be partitioned between gross primary production (GPP) and total ecosystem respiration (TER). Measurements were compared to DayCent simulations, a process-based model predicting plant production and soil organic matter turnover at daily time step. We compared two versions of the model: the original one with a simplified plant module and a newer version that simulates LAI. Input data for modelling were soil properties, climate, and management practices. Simulations of grain yields and biomass production were acceptable when using optimized crop parameters. Simulation of NEE was also acceptable. GPP predictions were improved with the newer version of the model, eliminating temporal shifts that could be observed with the original model. TER was underestimated by the model. Predicted NEE was more sensitive to soil tillage and nitrogen applications than measured NEE. DayCent was therefore a relevant tool to predict carbon fluxes in French crops at the site level. The introduction of LAI in the model improved its performance.

Challenges and opportunities of multi-disciplinary, multi-national and multi-sectoral projects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reitz, Anja; Hamann, Kristin

2017-04-01

Collaborative research projects e.g. funded or supported by the European Commission are by nature multi-national. Often EU calls bring together different scientific communities to jointly tackle challenges that can only be addressed through the convergence of previously separated disciplines in one research consortium. Some work programmes even necessitate to team up as different disciplines as natural sciences, social science, legal science and economic science. Examples for such multi- national, -disciplinary and - sectoral projects are the EU projects ECO2 (FP7, concluded), AtlantOS (H2020) and MiningImpact (JPI Oceans). Project managers of such projects need to develop skills beyond the common technical and management skills namely go into the domain of partners and stakeholders psychology and be able to maintain different perspectives on communication and interaction needs regarding cultural-, discipline- and sectoral background. Accordingly, the project manager has besides his or her technical role as manager at least three further roles: that of a communicator, that of a mediator and that of a person convincing partners of the necessary and selling the project products to the stakeholders. As the typical project manager has not too much power and authority by his or her position he or she has to use the power of smart communication and persuasion to overcome potential dissension between disciplines, national reservation or potential conflicts regarding different sectoral views. Accordingly, the project manager of such complex projects would try to arrange the ideal working environment by considering cultural feel, the cooperation of disciplines, information and the control of resources. The way he or she develops such ideal working environment is by reflection of past, present and future experiences/needs.

Cost effectiveness of the occupation-based approach for subacute stroke patients: result of a randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Nagayama, Hirofumi; Tomori, Kounosuke; Ohno, Kanta; Takahashi, Kayoko; Nagatani, Ryutaro; Izumi, Ryota; Moriwaki, Kensuke; Yamauchi, Keita

2017-07-01

The cost effectiveness of occupational therapy for subacute stroke patients is unclear in the extant literature. Consequently, this study determined the cost effectiveness of the occupation-based approach using Aid for Decision-Making in Occupation Choice (ADOC) for subacute stroke patients compared with an impairment-based approach. We conducted an economic evaluation from a societal perspective alongside a pilot randomized controlled trial, with a single blind assessor for participants in 10 subacute rehabilitation units in Japan. The intervention group received occupation-based goal setting using ADOC, with interventions focused on meaningful occupations. The control group received an impairment-based approach focused on restoring capacities. For both groups, occupational-therapy intervention was administered more than five times per week, for over 40 min each time, and they received physical and speech therapy prior to discharge. The main outcomes were quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and total costs. Further, sensitivity analyses were performed to examine the influence of parameter uncertainty on the base case results. The final number of participants was 24 in each of the two groups. In terms of QALYs, the intervention group is significantly higher than the control group (p = 0.001, difference 95% CI: 0.002-0.008) and total costs are not statistically significant. Applying a willingness-to-pay threshold of JPY 5 million/QALY, the probability of the occupation-based approach using ADOC being cost effective was estimated to be 65.3%. The results show that the occupation-based approach is associated with significantly improved QALYs and has potential cost effectiveness, compared with the impairment-based approach.

Small passenger car transmission test: Mercury Lynx ATX transmission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bujold, M. P.

1981-01-01

The testing of a Mercury Lynx automatic transmission is reported. The transmission was tested in accordance with a passenger car automatic transmission test code (SAE J65lb) which required drive performance, coast performance, and no load test conditions. Under these conditions, the transmission attained maximum efficiencies in the mid-ninety percent range both for drive performance test and coast performance tests. The torque, speed, and efficiency curves are presented, which provide the complete performance characteristics for the Mercury Lynx automatic transmission.

Validity Evidence for the Test of Silent Reading Efficiency and Comprehension (TOSREC)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnson, Evelyn S.; Pool, Juli L.; Carter, Deborah R.

2011-01-01

An essential component of a response to intervention (RTI) framework is a screening process that is both accurate and efficient. The purpose of this study was to analyze the validity evidence for the "Test of Silent Reading Efficiency and Comprehension" (TOSREC) to determine its potential for use within a screening process. Participants included…

Pollutant Emissions and Energy Efficiency under Controlled Conditions for Household Biomass Cookstoves and Implications for Metrics Useful in Setting International Test Standards

EPA Science Inventory

Realistic metrics and methods for testing household biomass cookstoves are required to develop standards needed by international policy makers, donors, and investors. Application of consistent test practices allows emissions and energy efficiency performance to be benchmarked and...

10 CFR 431.76 - Uniform test method for the measurement of energy efficiency of commercial warm air furnaces.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... Gases), 2.5 (Test Pressures and Burner Adjustments), 2.6 (Static Pressure and Air Flow Adjustments), 2... pressure, as specified in Section 2.5.1 of ANSI Standard Z21.47-1998, (Incorporated by reference, see § 431... thermal efficiency test), 41 (Initial Test Conditions), 42 (Combustion Test—Burner and Furnace), 43.2...

10 CFR 431.76 - Uniform test method for the measurement of energy efficiency of commercial warm air furnaces.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... Gases), 2.5 (Test Pressures and Burner Adjustments), 2.6 (Static Pressure and Air Flow Adjustments), 2... pressure, as specified in Section 2.5.1 of ANSI Standard Z21.47-1998, (Incorporated by reference, see § 431... thermal efficiency test), 41 (Initial Test Conditions), 42 (Combustion Test—Burner and Furnace), 43.2...

Practical Sequential Design Procedures for Submarine ASW Search Operational Testing: A Simulation Study

DTIC Science & Technology

1998-10-01

The efficient design of a free play , 24 hour per day, operational test (OT) of an ASW search system remains a challenge to the OT community. It will...efficient, realistic, free play , 24 hour per day OT. The basic test control premise described here is to stop the test event if the time without a

Improving laboratory efficiencies to scale-up HIV viral load testing.

PubMed

Alemnji, George; Onyebujoh, Philip; Nkengasong, John N

2017-03-01

Viral load measurement is a key indicator that determines patients' response to treatment and risk for disease progression. Efforts are ongoing in different countries to scale-up access to viral load testing to meet the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS target of achieving 90% viral suppression among HIV-infected patients receiving antiretroviral therapy. However, the impact of these initiatives may be challenged by increased inefficiencies along the viral load testing spectrum. This will translate to increased costs and ineffectiveness of scale-up approaches. This review describes different parameters that could be addressed across the viral load testing spectrum aimed at improving efficiencies and utilizing test results for patient management. Though progress is being made in some countries to scale-up viral load, many others still face numerous challenges that may affect scale-up efficiencies: weak demand creation, ineffective supply chain management systems; poor specimen referral systems; inadequate data and quality management systems; and weak laboratory-clinical interface leading to diminished uptake of test results. In scaling up access to viral load testing, there should be a renewed focus to address efficiencies across the entire spectrum, including factors related to access, uptake, and impact of test results.

Energy Efficient Engine: High-pressure compressor test hardware detailed design report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Howe, David C.; Marchant, R. D.

1988-01-01

The objective of the NASA Energy Efficient Engine program is to identify and verify the technology required to achieve significant reductions in fuel consumption and operating cost for future commercial gas turbine engines. The design and analysis is documented of the high pressure compressor which was tested as part of the Pratt and Whitney effort under the Energy Efficient Engine program. This compressor was designed to produce a 14:1 pressure ratio in ten stages with an adiabatic efficiency of 88.2 percent in the flight propulsion system. The corresponding expected efficiency for the compressor component test rig is 86.5 percent. Other performance goals are a surge margin of 20 percent, a corrected flow rate of 35.2 kg/sec (77.5 lb/sec), and a life of 20,000 missions and 30,000 hours. Low loss, highly loaded airfoils are used to increase efficiency while reducing the parts count. Active clearance control and case trenches in abradable strips over the blade tips are included in the compressor component design to further increase the efficiency potential. The test rig incorporates variable geometry stator vanes in all stages to permit maximum flexibility in developing stage-to-stage matching. This provision precluded active clearance control on the rear case of the test rig. Both the component and rig designs meet or exceed design requirements with the exception of life goals, which will be achievable with planned advances in materials technology.

A standard for test reliability in group research.

PubMed

Ellis, Jules L

2013-03-01

Many authors adhere to the rule that test reliabilities should be at least .70 or .80 in group research. This article introduces a new standard according to which reliabilities can be evaluated. This standard is based on the costs or time of the experiment and of administering the test. For example, if test administration costs are 7 % of the total experimental costs, the efficient value of the reliability is .93. If the actual reliability of a test is equal to this efficient reliability, the test size maximizes the statistical power of the experiment, given the costs. As a standard in experimental research, it is proposed that the reliability of the dependent variable be close to the efficient reliability. Adhering to this standard will enhance the statistical power and reduce the costs of experiments.

Efficient Blockwise Permutation Tests Preserving Exchangeability

PubMed Central

Zhou, Chunxiao; Zwilling, Chris E.; Calhoun, Vince D.; Wang, Michelle Y.

2014-01-01

In this paper, we present a new blockwise permutation test approach based on the moments of the test statistic. The method is of importance to neuroimaging studies. In order to preserve the exchangeability condition required in permutation tests, we divide the entire set of data into certain exchangeability blocks. In addition, computationally efficient moments-based permutation tests are performed by approximating the permutation distribution of the test statistic with the Pearson distribution series. This involves the calculation of the first four moments of the permutation distribution within each block and then over the entire set of data. The accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method are demonstrated through simulated experiment on the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain data, specifically the multi-site voxel-based morphometry analysis from structural MRI (sMRI). PMID:25289113

10 CFR 431.107 - Uniform test method for the measurement of energy efficiency of commercial heat pump water...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 10 Energy 3 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Uniform test method for the measurement of energy efficiency of commercial heat pump water heaters. [Reserved] 431.107 Section 431.107 Energy DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ENERGY CONSERVATION ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT Commercial Water Heaters, Hot Water Supply Boilers...

10 CFR 431.107 - Uniform test method for the measurement of energy efficiency of commercial heat pump water...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... 10 Energy 3 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Uniform test method for the measurement of energy efficiency of commercial heat pump water heaters. [Reserved] 431.107 Section 431.107 Energy DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ENERGY CONSERVATION ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT Commercial Water Heaters, Hot Water Supply Boilers...

An evaluation of the urban stormwater pollutant removal efficiency of catch basin inserts.

PubMed

Morgan, Robert A; Edwards, Findlay G; Brye, Kristofor R; Burian, Stephen J

2005-01-01

In a storm sewer system, the catch basin is the interface between surface runoff and the sewer. Responding to the need to improve the quality of stormwater from urban areas and transportation facilities, and spurred by Phase I and II Stormwater Rules from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, several companies market catch basin inserts as best management practices for urban water quality management. However, little data have been collected under controlled tests that indicate the pollutant removal efficiency of these inserts when the inflow is near what can be expected to occur in the field. A stormwater simulator was constructed to test inserts under controlled and replicable conditions. The inserts were tested for removal efficiency of total suspended solids (TSS) and total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) at an inflow rate of 757 to 814 L/min, with influent pollutant concentrations of 225 mg/L TSS and 30 mg/L TPH. These conditions are similar to stormwater runoff from small commercial sites in the southeastern United States. Results from the tests indicate that at the test flowrate and pollutant concentration, average TSS removal efficiencies ranged from 11 to 42% and, for TPH, the removal efficiency ranged from 10 to 19%.

Determination of Thermoelectric Module Efficiency A Survey

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

Wang, Hsin; McCarty, Robin; Salvador, James R.

2014-01-01

The development of thermoelectrics (TE) for energy conversion is in the transition phase from laboratory research to device development. There is an increasing demand to accurately determine the module efficiency, especially for the power generation mode. For many thermoelectrics, the figure of merit, ZT, of the material sometimes cannot be fully realized at the device level. Reliable efficiency testing of thermoelectric modules is important to assess the device ZT and provide the end-users with realistic values on how much power can be generated under specific conditions. We conducted a general survey of efficiency testing devices and their performance. The resultsmore » indicated the lack of industry standards and test procedures. This study included a commercial test system and several laboratory systems. Most systems are based on the heat flow meter method and some are based on the Harman method. They are usually reproducible in evaluating thermoelectric modules. However, cross-checking among different systems often showed large errors that are likely caused by unaccounted heat loss and thermal resistance. Efficiency testing is an important area for the thermoelectric community to focus on. A follow-up international standardization effort is planned.« less

HAZARD IDENTIFICATION: EFFICIENCY OF SHORT-TERM TESTS IN IDENTIFYING GERM CELL MUTAGENS AND PUTATIVE NONGENOTOXIC CARCINOGENS

EPA Science Inventory

For more than a decade, mutagenicity tests have had a clearly defined role in the identification of potential human mutagens and an ancillary role in the identification of potential human carcinogens. he efficiency of short-term tests in identifying germ cell mutagens has been ex...

Forward Swept Compressor Testing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miller, David P.

1997-01-01

A new forward-swept rotor designed by Allison Engine Company was tested in NASA Lewis Research Center's CE-18 facility. This testing was a follow-on project sponsored by NASA Lewis to study range enhancements in small turbomachinery. The test was conducted against a baseline rotor design that was also tested in CE-18. The design point for the rotor was a rotor pressure ratio of 2.69, a mass flow of 10.52 lbm/sec, and an adiabatic efficiency of 89.1 percent. Test data indicate that the rotor met the pressure ratio of 2.69 with a 10.77 lbm/sec flow rate, a 87.5-percent adiabatic efficiency, and a 19.5-percent stall margin. The baseline rotor achieved a pressure ratio of 2.69 at a 10.77 lbm/sec flow rate with a stall margin of only 9.2 percent and an adiabatic efficiency of 87.0 percent. The major differences are the significant stall margin increase and the substantially higher off-design peak efficiencies of the forward-swept rotor. The substantially higher performance over the baseline rotor design makes the new design a viable technology candidate for future products.

Preselection test of jury for improvement of olfactometric certification efficiency.

PubMed

Godke, Mariana Mota; Stuetz, Richard; Wang, Xinguang; Hoinaski, Leonardo; Guillot, Jean-Michel; de Melo Lisboa, Henrique

2017-06-01

To certificate an olfactometric jury, laboratories usually follow up the panelist screening methodology described in the European Standard EN 13725/2003. The procedure takes a lot of time, labour and money. In laboratory routine of LCQAr - Laboratory of Air Quality Control, of Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil, it was found that the efficiency of jury approvals used to be as low as around 30%. In order to improve the efficiency, a quick preselection test was proposed and tried for late certification recommended by EN 13725. The methodology to create the preselection test was based on the conceptions of the standards EN 13725 (CEN, 2003), ASTM 679 (2011) and ASTM 544 (2010). In the trial test, 31 volunteers participated and then screened according to the EN13725 standard. It was verified that the efficiency increased to 46% from about 30% after the introduction of the preselection test. The experiments were conducted at LCQAr, with the contribution of Water Research Centre of University of New South Wales, Australia.

Technology’s present situation and the development prospects of energy efficiency monitoring as well as performance testing & analysis for process flow compressors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, L.; Zhao, Y.; Wang, L.; Yang, Q.; Liu, G.; Tang, B.; Xiao, J.

2017-08-01

In this paper, the background of performance testing of in-service process flow compressors set in user field are introduced, the main technique barriers faced in the field test are summarized, and the factors that result in real efficiencies of most process flow compressors being lower than the guaranteed by manufacturer are analysed. The authors investigated the present operational situation of process flow compressors in China and found that low efficiency operation of flow compressors is because the compressed gas is generally forced to flow back into the inlet pipe for adapting to the process parameters variety. For example, the anti-surge valve is always opened for centrifugal compressor. To improve the operation efficiency of process compressors the energy efficiency monitoring technology was overviewed and some suggestions are proposed in the paper, which is the basis of research on energy efficiency evaluation and/or labelling of process compressors.

International Experience in Standards and Labeling Programs for Rice Cookers

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

Zhou, Nan; Zheng, Nina

China has had an active program on energy efficiency standards for household appliances since the mid-1990s. Rice cooker is among the first to be subject to such mandatory regulation, since it is one of the most prevalent electric appliances in Chinese households. Since first introduced in 1989, the minimum energy efficiency standard for rice cookers has not been revised. Therefore, the potential for energy saving is considerable. Initial analysis from CNIS indicates that potential carbon savings is likely to reach 7.6 million tons of CO2 by the 10th year of the standard implementation. Since September 2007, CNIS has been workingmore » with various groups to develop the new standard for rice cookers. With The Energy Foundation's support, LBNL has assisted CNIS in the revision of the minimum energy efficiency standard for rice cookers that is expected to be effective in 2009. Specifically, work has been in the following areas: assistance in developing consumer survey on usage pattern of rice cookers, review of international standards, review of international test procedures, comparison of the international standards and test procedures, and assessment of technical options of reducing energy use. This report particularly summarizes the findings of reviewing international standards and technical options of reducing energy consumption. The report consists of an overview of rice cooker standards and labeling programs and testing procedures in Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan and Thailand, and Japan's case study in developing energy efficiency rice cooker technologies and rice cooker efficiency programs. The results from the analysis can be summarized as the follows: Hong Kong has a Voluntary Energy Efficiency Labeling scheme for electric rice cookers initiated in 2001, with revision implemented in 2007; South Korea has both MEPS and Mandatory Energy Efficiency Label targeting the same category of rice cookers as Hong Kong; Thailand's voluntary endorsement labeling program is similar to Hong Kong in program design but has 5 efficiency grades; Japan's program is distinct in its adoption of the 'Top Runner' approach, in which, the future efficiency standards is set based on the efficiency levels of the most efficient product in the current domestic market. Although the standards are voluntary, penalties can still be evoked if the average efficiency target is not met. Both Hong Kong and South Korea's tests involve pouring water into the inner pot equal to 80% of its rated volume; however, white rice is used as a load for its tests in Hong Kong whereas no rice is used for tests in South Korea. In Japan's case, water level specified by the manufactures is used and milled rice is used as a load only partially in the tests. Moreover, Japan does not conduct heat efficiency test but its energy consumption measurements tests are much more complex, with 4 different tests are conducted to determine the annual average energy consumption. Hong Kong and Thailand both set Minimum Allowable Heat Efficiency for different rated wattages. The energy efficiency requirements are identical except that the minimum heat efficiency in Thailand is 1 percentage point higher for all rated power categories. In South Korea, MEPS and label's energy efficiency grades are determined by the rice cooker's Rated Energy Efficiency for induction, non-induction, pressure, nonpressure rice cookers. Japan's target standard values are set for electromagnetic induction heating products and non-electromagnetic induction heating products by different size of rice cookers. Specific formulas are used by type and size depending on the mass of water evaporation of the rice cookers. Japan has been the leading country in technology development of various types of rice cookers, and developed concrete energy efficiency standards for rice cookers. However, as consumers in Japan emphasize the deliciousness of cooked rice over other factors, many types of models were developed to improve the taste of cooked rice. Nonetheless, the efficiency of electromagnetic induction heating (IH) rice cookers in warm mode has improved approximately 12 percent from 1993 to 2004 due to the 'low temperature warming method' developed by manufacturers. The Energy Conservation Center of Japan (IEEJ) releases energy saving products database on the web regularly, on which the energy saving performance of each product is listed and ranked. Energy saving in rice cookers mostly rest with insulation of the pot. Technology developed to improve the energy efficiency of the rice cookers includes providing vacuum layers on both side of the pot, using copper-plated materials, and double stainless layer lid that can be heated and steam can run in between the two layers to speed the heating process.« less

Ffuzz: Towards full system high coverage fuzz testing on binary executables.

PubMed

Zhang, Bin; Ye, Jiaxi; Bi, Xing; Feng, Chao; Tang, Chaojing

2018-01-01

Bugs and vulnerabilities in binary executables threaten cyber security. Current discovery methods, like fuzz testing, symbolic execution and manual analysis, both have advantages and disadvantages when exercising the deeper code area in binary executables to find more bugs. In this paper, we designed and implemented a hybrid automatic bug finding tool-Ffuzz-on top of fuzz testing and selective symbolic execution. It targets full system software stack testing including both the user space and kernel space. Combining these two mainstream techniques enables us to achieve higher coverage and avoid getting stuck both in fuzz testing and symbolic execution. We also proposed two key optimizations to improve the efficiency of full system testing. We evaluated the efficiency and effectiveness of our method on real-world binary software and 844 memory corruption vulnerable programs in the Juliet test suite. The results show that Ffuzz can discover software bugs in the full system software stack effectively and efficiently.

Research and development of energy-efficient appliance motor-compressors. Volume IV. Production demonstration and field test

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

Middleton, M.G.; Sauber, R.S.

Two models of a high-efficiency compressor were manufactured in a pilot production run. These compressors were for low back-pressure applications. While based on a production compressor, there were many changes that required production process changes. Some changes were performed within our company and others were made by outside vendors. The compressors were used in top mount refrigerator-freezers and sold in normal distribution channels. Forty units were placed in residences for a one-year field test. Additional compressors were built so that a life test program could be performed. The results of the field test reveal a 27.0% improvement in energy consumptionmore » for the 18 ft/sup 3/ high-efficiency model and a 15.6% improvement in the 21 ft/sup 3/ improvement in the 21 ft/sup 3/ high-efficiency model as compared to the standard production unit.« less

10 CFR 431.106 - Uniform test method for the measurement of energy efficiency of commercial water heaters and hot...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... 10 Energy 3 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Uniform test method for the measurement of energy efficiency of commercial water heaters and hot water supply boilers (other than commercial heat pump water heaters). 431.106 Section 431.106 Energy DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ENERGY CONSERVATION ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL...

10 CFR 431.106 - Uniform test method for the measurement of energy efficiency of commercial water heaters and hot...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... 10 Energy 3 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Uniform test method for the measurement of energy efficiency of commercial water heaters and hot water supply boilers (other than commercial heat pump water heaters). 431.106 Section 431.106 Energy DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ENERGY CONSERVATION ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL...

10 CFR 431.106 - Uniform test method for the measurement of energy efficiency of commercial water heaters and hot...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... 10 Energy 3 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Uniform test method for the measurement of energy efficiency of commercial water heaters and hot water supply boilers (other than commercial heat pump water heaters). 431.106 Section 431.106 Energy DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ENERGY CONSERVATION ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL...

10 CFR 431.106 - Uniform test method for the measurement of energy efficiency of commercial water heaters and hot...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 10 Energy 3 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Uniform test method for the measurement of energy efficiency of commercial water heaters and hot water supply boilers (other than commercial heat pump water heaters). 431.106 Section 431.106 Energy DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ENERGY CONSERVATION ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL...

The Test of Basic Mechanics Conceptual Understanding (bMCU): Using Rasch Analysis to Develop and Evaluate an Efficient Multiple Choice Test on Newton's Mechanics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hofer, Sarah I.; Schumacher, Ralph; Rubin, Herbert

2017-01-01

Background: Valid assessment of the understanding of Newton's mechanics is highly relevant to both physics classrooms and research. Several tests have been developed. What remains missing, however, is an efficient and fair test of conceptual understanding that is adapted to the content taught to secondary school students and that can be validly…

Screening for Dyslexia in French-Speaking University Students: An Evaluation of the Detection Accuracy of the Alouette Test.

PubMed

Cavalli, Eddy; Colé, Pascale; Leloup, Gilles; Poracchia-George, Florence; Sprenger-Charolles, Liliane; El Ahmadi, Abdessadek

Developmental dyslexia is a lifelong impairment affecting 5% to 10% of the population. In French-speaking countries, although a number of standardized tests for dyslexia in children are available, tools suitable to screen for dyslexia in adults are lacking. In this study, we administered the Alouette reading test to a normative sample of 164 French university students without dyslexia and a validation sample of 83 students with dyslexia. The Alouette reading test is designed to screen for dyslexia in children, since it taps skills that are typically deficient in dyslexia (i.e., phonological skills). However, the test's psychometric properties have not previously been available, and it is not standardized for adults. The results showed that, on the Alouette test, dyslexic readers were impaired on measures of accuracy, speed, and efficiency (accuracy/reading time). We also found significant correlations between the Alouette reading efficiency and phonological efficiency scores. Finally, in terms of the Alouette test, speed-accuracy trade-offs were found in both groups, and optimal cutoff scores were determined with receiver operator characteristic curves analysis, yielding excellent discriminatory power, with 83.1% sensitivity and 100% specificity for reading efficiency. Thus, this study supports the Alouette test as a sensitive and specific screening tool for adults with dyslexia.

78 FR 51463 - Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Metal Halide Lamp Fixtures

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-20

... Efficiency at all Possible Voltages b. Posting the Highest and Lowest Efficiencies c. Test at Single Manufacturer-Declared Voltage d. Test at Highest-Rated Voltage e. Test on Input Voltage Based on Wattage and... at the highest voltage for which the ballast is designed to operate. [Dagger] P is defined as the...

Aerosol collection of the (Bladewerx Corporation) breathing zone monitor and portable workplace monitor.

PubMed

Moore, Murray E; Kennedy, Trevor J; Dimmerling, Paul J

2007-11-01

The Radiation Protection Group at the Los Alamos National Laboratory has a wind tunnel capable of measuring the aerosol collection efficiencies of air sampling devices. In the fall of 2005, the group received an internal Los Alamos request to perform aerosol collection efficiency tests on two air samplers manufactured by the Bladewerx Corporation (Rio Rancho, NM). This paper presents the results from tests performed in the wind tunnel facility at a test velocity of 0.5 m s. The SabreAlert (Portable Workplace Monitor) and the SabreBZM (Breathing Zone Monitor) are both designed to detect and measure the presence of alpha emitting isotopes in atmospheres. The SabreAlert was operated at two test air flow rates of 6 and 45 liters per minute (LPM), and the SabreBZM was operated at two test air flow rates of 3 and 19 LPM. The aerosol collection efficiencies of both samplers were evaluated with oleic acid (monodisperse) liquid droplet aerosols tagged with sodium fluorescein tracer. These test aerosols varied in size from about 2.3 to 17.2 microns (aerodynamic equivalent diameter). The SabreAlert was roughly 100% efficient in aerosol collection at a flow rate of 6 LPM, and had an aerodynamic cutpoint diameter of 11.3 microns at the 45 LPM flow rate. The SabreBZM had an aerodynamic cutpoint diameter of 6.7 microns at the 3 LPM flow rate, but the SabreBZM aerosol collection efficiency never exceeded 13.6% at the 19 LPM test flow rate condition.

Performance gains by using heated natural-gas fuel in an annular turbojet combustor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Marchionna, N. R.

1973-01-01

A full-scale annular turbojet combustor was tested with natural gas fuel heated from ambient temperature to 800 K (980 F). In all tests, heating the fuel improved combustion efficiency. Two sets of gaseous fuel nozzles were tested. Combustion instabilities occurred with one set of nozzles at two conditions: one where the efficiency approached 100 percent with the heated fuel; the other where the efficiency was very poor with the unheated fuel. The second set of nozzles exhibited no combustion instability. Altitude relight tests with the second set showed that relight was improved and was achievable at essentially the same condition as blowout when the fuel temperature was 800 K (980 F).

NASA to Test In-Flight Folding Spanwise Adaptive Wing to Enhance Aircraft Efficiency

NASA Image and Video Library

2014-10-21

The objectives of testing on PTERA include the development of tools and vetting of system integration, evaluation of vehicle control law, and analysis of SAW airworthiness to examine benefits to in-flight efficiency.

Design of Ablation Test Device for Brick Coating of Gun

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

shirui, YAO; yongcai, CHEN; fei, WANG; jianxin, ZHAO

2018-03-01

As a result of the live ammunition test conditions, the barrel resistance of the barrel coating has high cost, time consuming, low efficiency and high test site requirements. This article designed a simple, convenient and efficient test device. Through the internal trajectory calculation by Matlab, the ablation environment produced by the ablation test device has achieved the expected effect, which is consistent with the working condition of the tube in the launching state, which can better reflect the ablation of the coating.

Efficiency tests of samplers for microbiological aerosols, a review

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Henningson, E.; Faengmark, I.

1984-01-01

To obtain comparable results from studies using a variety of samplers of microbiological aerosols with different collection performances for various particle sizes, methods reported in the literature were surveyed, evaluated, and tabulated for testing the efficiency of the samplers. It is concluded that these samplers were not thoroughly tested, using reliable methods. Tests were conducted in static air chambers and in various outdoor and work environments. Results are not reliable as it is difficult to achieve stable and reproducible conditions in these test systems. Testing in a wind tunnel is recommended.

Ultra-Efficient and Power Dense Electric Motors for U. S. Industry

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

Melfi, Michael J.; Schiferl, Richard F.; Umans, Stephen D.

2013-03-12

The primary purpose of this project was to combine the ease-of-installation and ease-of-use attributes of industrial induction motors with the low-loss and small size and weight advantages of PM motors to create an ultra-efficient, high power density industrial motor that can be started across-the-line or operated from a standard, Volts/Hertz drive without the need for a rotor position feedback device. PM motor products that are currently available are largely variable speed motors that require a special adjustable speed drive with rotor position feedback. The reduced size and weight helps to offset the magnet cost in order make these motors commerciallymore » viable. The scope of this project covers horsepower ratings from 20 ? 500. Prototypes were built and tested at ratings ranging from 30 to 250 HP. Since fans, pumps and compressors make up a large portion of industrial motor applications, the motor characteristics are tailored to those applications. Also, since there is extensive use of adjustable frequency inverters in these applications, there is the opportunity to design for an optimal pole number and operate at other than 60 Hz frequency when inverters are utilized. Designs with four and eight pole configurations were prototyped as part of this work. Four pole motors are the most commonly used configuration in induction motors today. The results of the prototype design, fabrication, and testing were quite successful. The 50 HP rating met all of the design goals including efficiency and power density. Tested values of motor losses at 50 HP were 30% lower than energy efficient induction motors and the motor weight is 35% lower than the energy efficient induction motor of the same rating. Further, when tested at the 30 HP rating that is normally built in this 286T frame size, the efficiency far exceeds the project design goals with 30 HP efficiency levels indicating a 55% reduction in loss compared to energy efficient motors with a motor weight that is a few percentage points lower than the energy efficient motor. This 30 HP rating full load efficiency corresponds to a 46% reduction in loss compared to a 30 HP NEMA Premium? efficient motor. The cost goals were to provide a two year or shorter efficiency-based payback of a price premium associated with the magnet cost in these motors. That goal is based on 24/7 operation with a cost of electricity of 10 cents per kW-hr. Similarly, the 250 HP prototype efficiency testing was quite successful. In this case, the efficiency was maximized with a slightly less aggressive reduction in active material. The measured full load efficiency of 97.6% represents in excess of a 50% loss reduction compared to the equivalent NEMA Premium Efficiency induction motor. The active material weight reduction was a respectable 14.5% figure. This larger rating demonstrated both the scalability of this technology and also the ability to flexibly trade off power density and efficiency. In terms of starting performance, the 30 ? 50 HP prototypes were very extensively tested. The demonstrated capability included the ability to successfully start a load with an inertia of 25 times the motor?s own inertia while accelerating against a load torque following a fan profile at the motor?s full nameplate power rating. This capability will provide very wide applicability of this motor technology. The 250 HP prototype was also tested for starting characteristics, though without a coupled inertia and load torque. As a result it was not definitively proven that the same 25 times the motor?s own inertia could be started and synchronized successfully at 250 HP. Finite element modeling implies that this load could be successfully started, but it has not yet been confirmed by a test.« less

Collaborative testing for key-term definitions under representative conditions: Efficiency costs and no learning benefits.

PubMed

Wissman, Kathryn T; Rawson, Katherine A

2018-01-01

Students are expected to learn key-term definitions across many different grade levels and academic disciplines. Thus, investigating ways to promote understanding of key-term definitions is of critical importance for applied purposes. A recent survey showed that learners report engaging in collaborative practice testing when learning key-term definitions, with outcomes also shedding light on the way in which learners report engaging in collaborative testing in real-world contexts (Wissman & Rawson, 2016, Memory, 24, 223-239). However, no research has directly explored the effectiveness of engaging in collaborative testing under representative conditions. Accordingly, the current research evaluates the costs (with respect to efficiency) and the benefits (with respect to learning) of collaborative testing for key-term definitions under representative conditions. In three experiments (ns = 94, 74, 95), learners individually studied key-term definitions and then completed retrieval practice, which occurred either individually or collaboratively (in dyads). Two days later, all learners completed a final individual test. Results from Experiments 1-2 showed a cost (with respect to efficiency) and no benefit (with respect to learning) of engaging in collaborative testing for key-term definitions. Experiment 3 evaluated a theoretical explanation for why collaborative benefits do not emerge under representative conditions. Collectively, outcomes indicate that collaborative testing versus individual testing is less effective and less efficient when learning key-term definitions under representative conditions.

[Efficiency and specificity of the KAT-test for rapid diagnosis of falciparum malaria].

PubMed

Cong, Le Dinh; Sergiev, V P; Rabinovich, S A; Nhah, Doan Hanh; Huong, Nguyen Van; Morozov, E N; Kukina, I V; Thinh, Ta Thi; Maksakovskaia, E V; Dao, Le Minh; Chalyĭ, V F; To, Dang Thi; Fandeev, V A; Hoa, Ngo Viet; Due, Nguyen Thi

2002-01-01

A new rapid KAT Quick Malaria test for the diagnosis of falciparum malaria, which is based on the detection of a monoclonal antibody-antigen complex of malaria parasites, has been worked out by the KAT Medical CC in South Africa. The efficiency and specificity of the KAT test were compared with those of the microscopic method and with the ICT test for rapid diagnosis of P. falciparum and P. vivax. The polymerase chain reaction was used as a control test. Testing for malaria was performed on 98 blood samples from feverish patients in Vietnam and Tadjikistan and among the persons who had returned to Moscow from endemic regions. The efficiency of the KAT test for falciparum-malaria was found to be 100% versus 90.5% with ICT. The absence of cross-reactions with P. vivax and the presence of pseudopositive results of the KAT test for fever cases of non-malaria origin indicate its high specificity. There was no correlation between the rate of test line colouring and the level of parasitemia. The KAT test yielded positive results only when gametocytes were found in blood specimens.

Filtration Efficiency of Functionalized Ceramic Foam Filters for Aluminum Melt Filtration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Voigt, Claudia; Jäckel, Eva; Taina, Fabio; Zienert, Tilo; Salomon, Anton; Wolf, Gotthard; Aneziris, Christos G.; Le Brun, Pierre

2017-02-01

The influence of filter surface chemistry on the filtration efficiency of cast aluminum alloys was evaluated for four different filter coating compositions (Al2O3—alumina, MgAl2O4—spinel, 3Al2O3·2SiO2—mullite, and TiO2—rutile). The tests were conducted on a laboratory scale with a filtration pilot plant, which facilitates long-term filtration tests (40 to 76 minutes). This test set-up allows the simultaneous use of two LiMCAs (before and after the filter) for the determination of the efficiency of inclusion removal. The four tested filter surface chemistries exhibited good thermal stability and mechanical robustness after 750 kg of molten aluminum had been cast. All four filter types exhibited a mean filtration efficiency of at least 80 pct. However, differences were also observed. The highest filtration efficiencies were obtained with alumina- and spinel-coated filter surfaces (>90 pct), and the complete removal of the largest inclusions (>90 µm) was observed. The efficiency was slightly lower with mullite- and rutile-coated filter surfaces, in particular for large inclusions. These observations are discussed in relation to the properties of the filters, in particular in terms of, for example, the surface roughness.

Recovery Efficiency Test Project: Phase 1, Activity report

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

Overbey, W.K. Jr.; Wilkins, D.W.; Keltch, B.

1988-04-01

This report is the second volume of the Recovery Efficiency Test Phase I Report of Activities. Volume 1 covered selection, well planning, drilling, coring, logging and completion operations. This volume reports on well testing activities, reclamation activities on the drilling site and access roads, and the results of physical and mechanical properties tests on the oriented core material obtained from a horizontal section of the well. 3 refs., 21 figs., 10 tabs.

Increase in Testing Efficiency through the Development of an IT-Based Adaptive Testing Tool for Competency Measurement Applied to a Health Worker Training Test Case

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kleinhans, Janne; Schumann, Matthias

2015-01-01

In the context of education and training, competency measurement (CM) is a central challenge in competency management. For complex CMs, a compromise must be addressed between the time available and the number of dimensions to be measured or the quality of the measurements. Increasing the efficiency of existing tests for CMs therefore poses a key…

IMPROVED TEST METHODS FOR ELECTRONIC AIR CLEANERS

EPA Science Inventory

The objective of this project was to develop a fractional filtration efficiency test protocol for residential electrostatic precipitators (ESPs) that avoids the limitations of the ASHRAE 52.2 method. Specifically, the objectives were to a) determine the change in efficiency that ...

Understanding Cost-Effectiveness of Energy Efficiency Programs: Best Practices, Technical Methods, and Emerging Issues for Policy-Makers

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Reviews the issues and approaches involved in considering and adopting cost-effectiveness tests for energy efficiency, including discussing each perspective represented by the five standard cost-effectiveness tests and clarifying key terms.

Filter Media Tests Under Simulated Martian Atmospheric Conditions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Agui, Juan H.

2016-01-01

Human exploration of Mars will require the optimal utilization of planetary resources. One of its abundant resources is the Martian atmosphere that can be harvested through filtration and chemical processes that purify and separate it into its gaseous and elemental constituents. Effective filtration needs to be part of the suite of resource utilization technologies. A unique testing platform is being used which provides the relevant operational and instrumental capabilities to test articles under the proper simulated Martian conditions. A series of tests were conducted to assess the performance of filter media. Light sheet imaging of the particle flow provided a means of detecting and quantifying particle concentrations to determine capturing efficiencies. The media's efficiency was also evaluated by gravimetric means through a by-layer filter media configuration. These tests will help to establish techniques and methods for measuring capturing efficiency and arrestance of conventional fibrous filter media. This paper will describe initial test results on different filter media.

Energy efficient engine sector combustor rig test program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dubiel, D. J.; Greene, W.; Sundt, C. V.; Tanrikut, S.; Zeisser, M. H.

1981-01-01

Under the NASA-sponsored Energy Efficient Engine program, Pratt & Whitney Aircraft has successfully completed a comprehensive combustor rig test using a 90-degree sector of an advanced two-stage combustor with a segmented liner. Initial testing utilized a combustor with a conventional louvered liner and demonstrated that the Energy Efficient Engine two-stage combustor configuration is a viable system for controlling exhaust emissions, with the capability to meet all aerothermal performance goals. Goals for both carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbons were surpassed and the goal for oxides of nitrogen was closely approached. In another series of tests, an advanced segmented liner configuration with a unique counter-parallel FINWALL cooling system was evaluated at engine sea level takeoff pressure and temperature levels. These tests verified the structural integrity of this liner design. Overall, the results from the program have provided a high level of confidence to proceed with the scheduled Combustor Component Rig Test Program.

Summer performance results obtained from simultaneously testing ten solar collectors outdoors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miller, D. R.

1977-01-01

Ten solar collectors were simultaneously tested outdoors. Efficiency data were correlated using a method that separates solar variables (flux, incident angle) from the desired performance parameters (heat loss, absorbtance, transmittance) which are unique to a given collector design. Tests were conducted on both clear and moderately cloudy days. Correlating data in the above manner, a 2-glass, black paint collector exhibited a decrease in efficiency of 5 percentage points relative to the baseline data for an exposure time of 2 years, 4 months. Condensation on the collector glazing was thought to be a contributing factor in this efficiency change.

Assessment of inlet efficiency through a 3D simulation: numerical and experimental comparison.

PubMed

Gómez, Manuel; Recasens, Joan; Russo, Beniamino; Martínez-Gomariz, Eduardo

2016-10-01

Inlet efficiency is a requirement for characterizing the flow transfers between surface and sewer flow during rain events. The dual drainage approach is based on the joint analysis of both upper and lower drainage levels, and the flow transfer is one of the relevant elements to define properly this joint behaviour. This paper presents the results of an experimental and numerical investigation about the inlet efficiency definition. A full scale (1:1) test platform located in the Technical University of Catalonia (UPC) reproduces both the runoff process in streets and the water entering the inlet. Data from tests performed on this platform allow the inlet efficiency to be estimated as a function of significant hydraulic and geometrical parameters. A reproduction of these tests through a numerical three-dimensional code (Flow-3D) has been carried out simulating this type of flow by solving the RANS equations. The aim of the work was to reproduce the hydraulic performance of a previously tested grated inlet under several flow and geometric conditions using Flow-3D as a virtual laboratory. This will allow inlet efficiencies to be obtained without previous experimental tests. Moreover, the 3D model allows a better understanding of the hydraulics of the flow interception and the flow patterns approaching the inlet.

Measurement system for diffraction efficiency of convex gratings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Peng; Chen, Xin-hua; Zhou, Jian-kang; Zhao, Zhi-cheng; Liu, Quan; Luo, Chao; Wang, Xiao-feng; Tang, Min-xue; Shen, Wei-min

2017-08-01

A measurement system for diffraction efficiency of convex gratings is designed. The measurement system mainly includes four components as a light source, a front system, a dispersing system that contains a convex grating, and a detector. Based on the definition and measuring principle of diffraction efficiency, the optical scheme of the measurement system is analyzed and the design result is given. Then, in order to validate the feasibility of the designed system, the measurement system is set up and the diffraction efficiency of a convex grating with the aperture of 35 mm, the curvature-radius of 72mm, the blazed angle of 6.4°, the grating period of 2.5μm and the working waveband of 400nm-900nm is tested. Based on GUM (Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement), the uncertainties in the measuring results are evaluated. The measured diffraction efficiency data are compared to the theoretical ones, which are calculated based on the grating groove parameters got by an atomic force microscope and Rigorous Couple Wave Analysis, and the reliability of the measurement system is illustrated. Finally, the measurement performance of the system is analyzed and tested. The results show that, the testing accuracy, the testing stability and the testing repeatability are 2.5%, 0.085% and 3.5% , respectively.

A testing-coverage software reliability model considering fault removal efficiency and error generation.

PubMed

Li, Qiuying; Pham, Hoang

2017-01-01

In this paper, we propose a software reliability model that considers not only error generation but also fault removal efficiency combined with testing coverage information based on a nonhomogeneous Poisson process (NHPP). During the past four decades, many software reliability growth models (SRGMs) based on NHPP have been proposed to estimate the software reliability measures, most of which have the same following agreements: 1) it is a common phenomenon that during the testing phase, the fault detection rate always changes; 2) as a result of imperfect debugging, fault removal has been related to a fault re-introduction rate. But there are few SRGMs in the literature that differentiate between fault detection and fault removal, i.e. they seldom consider the imperfect fault removal efficiency. But in practical software developing process, fault removal efficiency cannot always be perfect, i.e. the failures detected might not be removed completely and the original faults might still exist and new faults might be introduced meanwhile, which is referred to as imperfect debugging phenomenon. In this study, a model aiming to incorporate fault introduction rate, fault removal efficiency and testing coverage into software reliability evaluation is developed, using testing coverage to express the fault detection rate and using fault removal efficiency to consider the fault repair. We compare the performance of the proposed model with several existing NHPP SRGMs using three sets of real failure data based on five criteria. The results exhibit that the model can give a better fitting and predictive performance.

Flight Test Maneuvers for Efficient Aerodynamic Modeling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Morelli, Eugene A.

2011-01-01

Novel flight test maneuvers for efficient aerodynamic modeling were developed and demonstrated in flight. Orthogonal optimized multi-sine inputs were applied to aircraft control surfaces to excite aircraft dynamic response in all six degrees of freedom simultaneously while keeping the aircraft close to chosen reference flight conditions. Each maneuver was designed for a specific modeling task that cannot be adequately or efficiently accomplished using conventional flight test maneuvers. All of the new maneuvers were first described and explained, then demonstrated on a subscale jet transport aircraft in flight. Real-time and post-flight modeling results obtained using equation-error parameter estimation in the frequency domain were used to show the effectiveness and efficiency of the new maneuvers, as well as the quality of the aerodynamic models that can be identified from the resultant flight data.

Heat rejection efficiency research of new energy automobile radiators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, W. S.; Shen, W. X.; Zhang, L. W.

2018-03-01

The driving system of new energy vehicle has larger heat load than conventional engine. How to ensure the heat dissipation performance of the cooling system is the focus of the design of new energy vehicle thermal management system. In this paper, the heat dissipation efficiency of the radiator of the hybrid electric vehicle is taken as the research object, the heat dissipation efficiency of the radiator of the new energy vehicle is studied through the multi-working-condition enthalpy difference test. In this paper, the test method in the current standard QC/T 468-2010 “automobile radiator” is taken, but not limited to the test conditions specified in the standard, 5 types of automobile radiator are chosen, each of them is tested 20 times in simulated condition of different wind speed and engine inlet temperature. Finally, regression analysis is carried out for the test results, and regression equation describing the relationship of radiator heat dissipation heat dissipation efficiency air side flow rate cooling medium velocity and inlet air temperature is obtained, and the influence rule is systematically discussed.

Environmental tests of metallization systems for terrestrial photovoltaic cells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Alexander, P., Jr.

1985-01-01

Seven different solar cell metallization systems were subjected to temperature cycling tests and humidity tests. Temperature cycling excursions were -50 deg C to 150 deg C per cycle. Humidity conditions were 70 deg C at 98% relative humidity. The seven metallization systems were: Ti/Ag, Ti/Pd/Ag, Ti/Pd/Cu, Ni/Cu, Pd/Ni/Solder, Cr/Pd/Ag, and thick film Ag. All metallization systems showed a slight to moderate decrease in cell efficiencies after subjection to 1000 temperature cycles. Six of the seven metallization systems also evidenced slight increases in cell efficiencies after moderate numbers of cycles, generally less than 100 cycles. The copper based systems showed the largest decrease in cell efficiencies after temperature cycling. All metallization systems showed moderate to large decreases in cell efficiencies after 123 days of humidity exposure. The copper based systems again showed the largest decrease in cell efficiencies after humidity exposure. Graphs of the environmental exposures versus cell efficiencies are presented for each metallization system, as well as environmental exposures versus fill factors or series resistance.

LOW EMISSION AND HIGH EFFICIENCY RESIDENTIAL PELLET-FIRED HEATERS

EPA Science Inventory

The paper gives results of air emissions testing and efficiency testing on new commercially available under-feed and top-feed residential heaters burning hardwood- and softwood-based pellets. The results were compared with data from earlier models. Reductions in air emissions w...

Measurement of Energy Performances for General-Structured Servers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Ren; Chen, Lili; Li, Pengcheng; Liu, Meng; Chen, Haihong

2017-11-01

Energy consumption of servers in data centers increases rapidly along with the wide application of Internet and connected devices. To improve the energy efficiency of servers, voluntary or mandatory energy efficiency programs for servers, including voluntary label program or mandatory energy performance standards have been adopted or being prepared in the US, EU and China. However, the energy performance of servers and testing methods of servers are not well defined. This paper presents matrices to measure the energy performances of general-structured servers. The impacts of various components of servers on their energy performances are also analyzed. Based on a set of normalized workload, the author proposes a standard method for testing energy efficiency of servers. Pilot tests are conducted to assess the energy performance testing methods of servers. The findings of the tests are discussed in the paper.

Ffuzz: Towards full system high coverage fuzz testing on binary executables

PubMed Central

2018-01-01

Bugs and vulnerabilities in binary executables threaten cyber security. Current discovery methods, like fuzz testing, symbolic execution and manual analysis, both have advantages and disadvantages when exercising the deeper code area in binary executables to find more bugs. In this paper, we designed and implemented a hybrid automatic bug finding tool—Ffuzz—on top of fuzz testing and selective symbolic execution. It targets full system software stack testing including both the user space and kernel space. Combining these two mainstream techniques enables us to achieve higher coverage and avoid getting stuck both in fuzz testing and symbolic execution. We also proposed two key optimizations to improve the efficiency of full system testing. We evaluated the efficiency and effectiveness of our method on real-world binary software and 844 memory corruption vulnerable programs in the Juliet test suite. The results show that Ffuzz can discover software bugs in the full system software stack effectively and efficiently. PMID:29791469

Does user-centred design affect the efficiency, usability and safety of CPOE order sets?

PubMed

Chan, Julie; Shojania, Kaveh G; Easty, Anthony C; Etchells, Edward E

2011-05-01

Application of user-centred design principles to Computerized provider order entry (CPOE) systems may improve task efficiency, usability or safety, but there is limited evaluative research of its impact on CPOE systems. We evaluated the task efficiency, usability, and safety of three order set formats: our hospital's planned CPOE order sets (CPOE Test), computer order sets based on user-centred design principles (User Centred Design), and existing pre-printed paper order sets (Paper). 27 staff physicians, residents and medical students. Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, an academic hospital in Toronto, Canada. Methods Participants completed four simulated order set tasks with three order set formats (two CPOE Test tasks, one User Centred Design, and one Paper). Order of presentation of order set formats and tasks was randomized. Users received individual training for the CPOE Test format only. Completion time (efficiency), requests for assistance (usability), and errors in the submitted orders (safety). 27 study participants completed 108 order sets. Mean task times were: User Centred Design format 273 s, Paper format 293 s (p=0.73 compared to UCD format), and CPOE Test format 637 s (p<0.0001 compared to UCD format). Users requested assistance in 31% of the CPOE Test format tasks, whereas no assistance was needed for the other formats (p<0.01). There were no significant differences in number of errors between formats. The User Centred Design format was more efficient and usable than the CPOE Test format even though training was provided for the latter. We conclude that application of user-centred design principles can enhance task efficiency and usability, increasing the likelihood of successful implementation.

Does user-centred design affect the efficiency, usability and safety of CPOE order sets?

PubMed Central

Chan, Julie; Shojania, Kaveh G; Easty, Anthony C

2011-01-01

Background Application of user-centred design principles to Computerized provider order entry (CPOE) systems may improve task efficiency, usability or safety, but there is limited evaluative research of its impact on CPOE systems. Objective We evaluated the task efficiency, usability, and safety of three order set formats: our hospital's planned CPOE order sets (CPOE Test), computer order sets based on user-centred design principles (User Centred Design), and existing pre-printed paper order sets (Paper). Participants 27staff physicians, residents and medical students. Setting Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, an academic hospital in Toronto, Canada. Methods Participants completed four simulated order set tasks with three order set formats (two CPOE Test tasks, one User Centred Design, and one Paper). Order of presentation of order set formats and tasks was randomized. Users received individual training for the CPOE Test format only. Main Measures Completion time (efficiency), requests for assistance (usability), and errors in the submitted orders (safety). Results 27 study participants completed 108 order sets. Mean task times were: User Centred Design format 273 s, Paper format 293 s (p=0.73 compared to UCD format), and CPOE Test format 637 s (p<0.0001 compared to UCD format). Users requested assistance in 31% of the CPOE Test format tasks, whereas no assistance was needed for the other formats (p<0.01). There were no significant differences in number of errors between formats. Conclusions The User Centred Design format was more efficient and usable than the CPOE Test format even though training was provided for the latter. We conclude that application of user-centred design principles can enhance task efficiency and usability, increasing the likelihood of successful implementation. PMID:21486886

Do Generous Welfare States Generate Efficiency Gains Which Counterbalance Short Run Losses? Testing Downside Risk Theory with Economic Panel Data for the U.S., Germany and the Netherlands

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Headey, Bruce; Muffels, Ruud

2008-01-01

The purpose of the paper is to assess the theory that the downside risk insurance provided by more generous welfare states generates long run efficiency gains, which counterbalance the short run efficiency losses caused by work disincentives in these states (Feldstein 1974, 1976; Sinn 1995, 1996). Testing downside risk theory requires long term…

10 CFR 431.17 - Determination of efficiency.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... state-registered professional engineer, who is qualified to perform an evaluation of electric motor... EQUIPMENT Electric Motors Test Procedures, Materials Incorporated and Methods of Determining Efficiency § 431.17 Determination of efficiency. When a party determines the energy efficiency of an electric motor...

Development of an economic solar heating system with cost efficient flat plate collectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eder-Milchgeisser, W.; Burkart, R.

1980-10-01

Mass produced flat plate solar collectors were worked into the design of a system for heating a swimming pool and/or providing domestic hot water. The collector characteristics, including physical and mechanical data as well as theoretical energy conversion efficiency, are presented. The collector was tested and service life efficiency was determined. The mounting of the collector, depending on roof type, is explained. Both in service and laboratory test results demonstrate the cost effectiveness of the system. Further improvement of efficiency is envisaged with automatic flow control in the solar collector and hot water circuits.

Genetic variation in efficiency to deposit fat and lean meat in Norwegian Landrace and Duroc pigs.

PubMed

Martinsen, K H; Ødegård, J; Olsen, D; Meuwissen, T H E

2015-08-01

Feed costs amount to approximately 70% of the total costs in pork production, and feed efficiency is, therefore, an important trait for improving pork production efficiency. Production efficiency is generally improved by selection for high lean growth rate, reduced backfat, and low feed intake. These traits have given an effective slaughter pig but may cause problems in piglet production due to sows with limited body reserves. The aim of the present study was to develop a measure for feed efficiency that expressed the feed requirements per 1 kg deposited lean meat and fat, which is not improved by depositing less fat. Norwegian Landrace ( = 8,161) and Duroc ( = 7,202) boars from Topigs Norsvin's testing station were computed tomography scanned to determine their deposition of lean meat and fat. The trait was analyzed in a univariate animal model, where total feed intake in the test period was the dependent variable and fat and lean meat were included as random regression cofactors. These cofactors were measures for fat and lean meat efficiencies of individual boars. Estimation of fraction of total genetic variance due to lean meat or fat efficiency was calculated by the ratio between the genetic variance of the random regression cofactor and the total genetic variance in total feed intake during the test period. Genetic variance components suggested there was significant genetic variance among Norwegian Landrace and Duroc boars in efficiency for deposition of lean meat (0.23 ± 0.04 and 0.38 ± 0.06) and fat (0.26 ± 0.03 and 0.17 ± 0.03) during the test period. The fraction of the total genetic variance in feed intake explained by lean meat deposition was 12% for Norwegian Landrace and 15% for Duroc. Genetic fractions explained by fat deposition were 20% for Norwegian Landrace and 10% for Duroc. The results suggested a significant part of the total genetic variance in feed intake in the test period was explained by fat and lean meat efficiency. These new efficiency measures may give the breeders opportunities to select for animals with a genetic potential to deposit lean meat efficiently and at low feed costs in slaughter pigs rather than selecting for reduced the feed intake and backfat.

Greater power and computational efficiency for kernel-based association testing of sets of genetic variants.

PubMed

Lippert, Christoph; Xiang, Jing; Horta, Danilo; Widmer, Christian; Kadie, Carl; Heckerman, David; Listgarten, Jennifer

2014-11-15

Set-based variance component tests have been identified as a way to increase power in association studies by aggregating weak individual effects. However, the choice of test statistic has been largely ignored even though it may play an important role in obtaining optimal power. We compared a standard statistical test-a score test-with a recently developed likelihood ratio (LR) test. Further, when correction for hidden structure is needed, or gene-gene interactions are sought, state-of-the art algorithms for both the score and LR tests can be computationally impractical. Thus we develop new computationally efficient methods. After reviewing theoretical differences in performance between the score and LR tests, we find empirically on real data that the LR test generally has more power. In particular, on 15 of 17 real datasets, the LR test yielded at least as many associations as the score test-up to 23 more associations-whereas the score test yielded at most one more association than the LR test in the two remaining datasets. On synthetic data, we find that the LR test yielded up to 12% more associations, consistent with our results on real data, but also observe a regime of extremely small signal where the score test yielded up to 25% more associations than the LR test, consistent with theory. Finally, our computational speedups now enable (i) efficient LR testing when the background kernel is full rank, and (ii) efficient score testing when the background kernel changes with each test, as for gene-gene interaction tests. The latter yielded a factor of 2000 speedup on a cohort of size 13 500. Software available at http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/redmond/projects/MSCompBio/Fastlmm/. heckerma@microsoft.com Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press.

Nursing research on a first aid model of double personnel for major burn patients.

PubMed

Wu, Weiwei; Shi, Kai; Jin, Zhenghua; Liu, Shuang; Cai, Duo; Zhao, Jingchun; Chi, Cheng; Yu, Jiaao

2015-03-01

This study explored the effect of a first aid model employing two nurses on the efficient rescue operation time and the efficient resuscitation time for major burn patients. A two-nurse model of first aid was designed for major burn patients. The model includes a division of labor between the first aid nurses and the re-organization of emergency carts. The clinical effectiveness of the process was examined in a retrospective chart review of 156 cases of major burn patients, experiencing shock and low blood volume, who were admitted to the intensive care unit of the department of burn surgery between November 2009 and June 2013. Of the 156 major burn cases, 87 patients who received first aid using the double personnel model were assigned to the test group and the 69 patients who received first aid using the standard first aid model were assigned to the control group. The efficient rescue operation time and the efficient resuscitation time for the patients were compared between the two groups. Student's t tests were used to the compare the mean difference between the groups. Statistically significant differences between the two groups were found on both measures (P's < 0.05), with the test group having lower times than the control group. The efficient rescue operation time was 14.90 ± 3.31 min in the test group and 30.42 ± 5.65 min in the control group. The efficient resuscitation time was 7.4 ± 3.2 h in the test group and 9.5 ± 2.7 h in the control group. A two-nurse first aid model based on scientifically validated procedures and a reasonable division of labor can shorten the efficient rescue operation time and the efficient resuscitation time for major burn patients. Given these findings, the model appears to be worthy of clinical application.

40 CFR 52.320 - Identification of plan.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... of Group II VOC sources were submitted on January 6, 1981, and the supplemental information received... Gasoline Transfer at Bulk Plants-Vapor Balance System), and D (Test Procedures for Annual Pressure/Vacuum... recent EPA capture efficiency protocols, and the commitment to adopt federal capture efficiency test...

A note on calculation of efficiency and emissions from wood and wood pellet stoves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Petrocelli, D.; Lezzi, A. M.

2015-11-01

In recent years, national laws and international regulations have introduced strict limits on efficiency and emissions from woody biomass appliances to promote the diffusion of models characterized by low emissions and high efficiency. The evaluation of efficiency and emissions is made during the certification process which consists in standardized tests. Standards prescribe the procedures to be followed during tests and the relations to be used to determine the mean value of efficiency and emissions. As a matter of fact these values are calculated using flue gas temperature and composition averaged over the whole test period, lasting from 1 to 6 hours. Typically, in wood appliances the fuel burning rate is not constant and this leads to a considerable variation in time of composition and flow rate of the flue gas. In this paper we show that this fact may cause significant differences between emission values calculated according to standards and those obtained integrating over the test period the instantaneous mass and energy balances. In addition, we propose some approximated relations and a method for wood stoves which supply more accurate results than those calculated according to standards. These relations can be easily implemented in a computer controlled data acquisition systems.

Deployment Efficiency and Barrier Effectiveness Testing of a Temporary Anti-Personnel (TAP) Barrier System.

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

Allen, David James; Hedrick, Charles D.; Martinez, Ruben

This report documents tests conducted by Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) on behalf of the U.S. Department of State to evaluate a temporary anti-personnel (TAP) barrier system developed by Mitigation Technologies. For this, the SNL Denial and Structural Assessment department developed a test protocol for the evaluation of the TAP barrier system on the basis of deployment efficiency and barrier effectiveness against a riotous/mob attack threat. The test protocol was then executed by SNL personnel and the results of the testing are documented.

Collection of biological and non-biological particles by new and used filters made from glass and electrostatically charged synthetic fibers.

PubMed

Raynor, P C; Kim, B G; Ramachandran, G; Strommen, M R; Horns, J H; Streifel, A J

2008-02-01

Synthetic filters made from fibers carrying electrostatic charges and fiberglass filters that do not carry electrostatic charges are both utilized commonly in heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems. The pressure drop and efficiency of a bank of fiberglass filters and a bank of electrostatically charged synthetic filters were measured repeatedly for 13 weeks in operating HVAC systems at a hospital. Additionally, the efficiency with which new and used fiberglass and synthetic filters collected culturable biological particles was measured in a test apparatus. Pressure drop measurements adjusted to equivalent flows indicated that the synthetic filters operated with a pressure drop less than half that of the fiberglass filters throughout the test. When measured using total ambient particles, synthetic filter efficiency decreased during the test period for all particle diameters. For particles 0.7-1.0 mum in diameter, efficiency decreased from 92% to 44%. It is hypothesized that this reduction in collection efficiency may be due to charge shielding. Efficiency did not change significantly for the fiberglass filters during the test period. However, when measured using culturable biological particles in the ambient air, efficiency was essentially the same for new filters and filters used for 13 weeks in the hospital for both the synthetic and fiberglass filters. It is hypothesized that the lack of efficiency reduction for culturable particles may be due to their having higher charge than non-biological particles, allowing them to overcome the effects of charge shielding. The type of particles requiring capture may be an important consideration when comparing the relative performance of electrostatically charged synthetic and fiberglass filters. Electrostatically charged synthetic filters with high initial efficiency can frequently replace traditional fiberglass filters with lower efficiency in HVAC systems because properly designed synthetic filters offer less resistance to air flow. Although the efficiency of charged synthetic filters at collecting non-biological particles declined substantially with use, the efficiency of these filters at collecting biological particles remained steady. These findings suggest that the merits of electrostatically charged synthetic HVAC filters relative to fiberglass filters may be more pronounced if collection of biological particles is of primary concern.

Set of Criteria for Efficiency of the Process Forming the Answers to Multiple-Choice Test Items

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rybanov, Alexander Aleksandrovich

2013-01-01

Is offered the set of criteria for assessing efficiency of the process forming the answers to multiple-choice test items. To increase accuracy of computer-assisted testing results, it is suggested to assess dynamics of the process of forming the final answer using the following factors: loss of time factor and correct choice factor. The model…

Gas dynamic design of the pipe line compressor with 90% efficiency. Model test approval

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Galerkin, Y.; Rekstin, A.; Soldatova, K.

2015-08-01

Gas dynamic design of the pipe line compressor 32 MW was made for PAO SMPO (Sumy, Ukraine). The technical specification requires compressor efficiency of 90%. The customer offered favorable scheme - single-stage design with console impeller and axial inlet. The authors used the standard optimization methodology of 2D impellers. The original methodology of internal scroll profiling was used to minimize efficiency losses. Radically improved 5th version of the Universal modeling method computer programs was used for precise calculation of expected performances. The customer fulfilled model tests in a 1:2 scale. Tests confirmed the calculated parameters at the design point (maximum efficiency of 90%) and in the whole range of flow rates. As far as the authors know none of compressors have achieved such efficiency. The principles and methods of gas-dynamic design are presented below. The data of the 32 MW compressor presented by the customer in their report at the 16th International Compressor conference (September 2014, Saint- Petersburg) and later transferred to the authors.

Elaidate-Intercalated hydrotalcite as a sorbent material for metalaxyl immobilitzation in soil

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

López-Cabeza, Rocío; Cornejo, Juan; Hermosín, María C.; Cox, Lucía; Celis, Rafael

2015-04-01

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs), also known as hydrotalcite-like compounds (HTs), comprise a special group of layered materials. Their structure consists of positively charged layers of mixed divalent (MII) and trivalent (MIII) metal hydroxide [MII1-xMIIIx(OH)2]x+, with the positive charge being balanced by inorganic hydrated anions (An-x/n·mH2O), which occupy the interlayer space. LDHs have anion exchange properties and, therefore, are good sorbents for anionic pollutants. In addition, the anionic exchange properties of LDHs allow the intercalation of organic anions in the interlayer space to render the LDH surface hydrophobic. This increases its affinity to hydrophobic organic compounds. Pesticides with chiral centers are an emerging class of organic pollutants and it has become clear that addressing the different efficacy, toxicity, and environmental behavior of chiral pesticide enantiomers is necessary to avoid the incorrect assumption that enantiomers have identical environmental behavior. Appropriate soil remediation strategies accounting for the enantioselective behavior of chiral pesticide enantiomers are also needed. In this work, we evaluated the performance of elaidate-modified hydrotalcite (HT-ELA) as a sorbent to remove the chiral fungicide metalaxyl from aqueous solution and as an amendment for metalaxyl immobilization in soil. Analysis of metalaxyl by chiral high-performance liquid chromatography allowed us to monitor the sorption and mobility of the two enantiomers of metalaxyl, S-(+)-metalaxyl and R-(-)-metalaxyl, independently. Batch sorption experiments showed that HT-ELA [Mg3Al(OH)8ELA] displayed an excellent performance as an sorbent of the two enantiomers of metalaxyl from aqueous solution and that its addition to a sandy loam agricultural soil at a rate of 1% greatly enhanced the sorption of metalaxyl enantiomers by the soil. Column leaching experiments demonstrated that amending the soil top layer (0-2.5 cm) with HT-ELA at a rate of 1% reduced the leaching of S- and R-metalaxyl. The R-enantiomer of metalaxyl leached less than the S-enantiomer due to its faster degradation in the soil. Our results illustrate the ability of elaidate-modified hydrotalcite to enhance the retention of the two enantiomers of the fungicide metalaxyl in the tested soil, which may be useful in the design of immobilization strategies, particularly of the more persistent S-metalaxyl enantiomer, which may represent increased risk of ground water contamination. Acknowledgments: MINECO Project AGL2011-23779, FACCE-JPI Project Designchar4food, JA Research Group AGR-264 and FEDER-FSE (OP 2007-2013).

10 CFR 431.383 - Enforcement process for electric motors.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 431.383 Energy DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ENERGY CONSERVATION ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN... not be in compliance with the applicable energy efficiency standard, or upon undertaking to ascertain... its labeled efficiency, or the applicable energy efficiency standard, shall be based on the testing...

Energy efficient engine low-pressure compressor component test hardware detailed design report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Michael, C. J.; Halle, J. E.

1981-01-01

The aerodynamic and mechanical design description of the low pressure compressor component of the Energy Efficient Engine were used. The component was designed to meet the requirements of the Flight Propulsion System while maintaining a low cost approach in providing a low pressure compressor design for the Integrated Core/Low Spool test required in the Energy Efficient Engine Program. The resulting low pressure compressor component design meets or exceeds all design goals with the exception of surge margin. In addition, the expense of hardware fabrication for the Integrated Core/Low Spool test has been minimized through the use of existing minor part hardware.

Energy-efficient ovens for unpolluted balady bread

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

Gadalla, M.A.; Mansour, M.S.; Mahdy, E.

A new bread oven has been developed, tested and presented in this work for local balady bread. The design has the advantage of being efficient and producing unpolluted bread. An extensive study of the conventional and available designs has been carried out in order to help developing the new design. Evaluation of the conventional design is based on numerous tests and measurements. A computer code utilizing the indirect method has been developed to evaluate the thermal performance of the tested ovens. The present design achieves higher thermal efficiency of about 50% than the conventional ones. In addition, its capital costmore » is much cheaper than other imported designs. Thus, the present design achieves higher efficiency, pollutant free products and less cost. Moreover, it may be modified for different types of bread baking systems.« less

Test Review: Torgesen, J. K., Wagner, R. K., and Rashotte, C. A. (2012), "Test of Word Reading Efficiency-Second Edition" (TOWRE-2). Austin, TX: Pro-Ed

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tarar, Jessica M.; Meisinger, Elizabeth B.; Dickens, Rachel H.

2015-01-01

The TOWRE-2 was developed to provide an efficient measure of two essential wordlevel reading skills, sight word reading and phonetic decoding skills. The Sight Word Efficiency (SWE) subtest assesses the number of real words that an individual can read from a vertical list within 45 s. This subtest is designed to measure the size of an individual's…

Evidence of long range dependence in Asian equity markets: the role of liquidity and market restrictions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cajueiro, Daniel O.; Tabak, Benjamin M.

2004-11-01

In this paper, the efficient market hypothesis is tested for China, Hong Kong and Singapore by means of the long memory dependence approach. We find evidence suggesting that Hong Kong is the most efficient market followed by Chinese A type shares and Singapore and finally by Chinese B type shares, which suggests that liquidity and capital restrictions may play a role in explaining results of market efficiency tests.

Test results of an organic Rankine-cycle power module for a small community solar thermal power experiment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Clark, T. B.

1985-01-01

The organic Rankine-cycle (ORC) power conversion assembly was tested. Qualification testing of the electrical transport subsystem was also completed. Test objectives were to verify compatibility of all system elements with emphasis on control of the power conversion assembly, to evaluate the performance and efficiency of the components, and to validate operating procedures. After 34 hours of power generation under a wide range of conditions, the net module efficiency exceeded 18% after accounting for all parasitic losses.

Baseline performance of solar collectors for NASA Langley solar building test facility

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Knoll, R. H.; Johnson, S. M.

1977-01-01

The solar collector field contains seven collector designs. Before operation in the field, the experimental performances (thermal efficiencies) of the seven collector designs were measured in an indoor solar simulator. The resulting data provided a baseline for later comparison with actual field test data. The simulator test results are presented for the collectors as received, and after several weeks of outdoor exposure with no coolant (dry operation). Six of the seven collector designs tested showed substantial reductions in thermal efficiency after dry operation.

Development of a microwave clothes dryer

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

Kesselring, J.P.; Smith, R.D.

1996-01-01

A laboratory test model of a microwave clothes dryer was constructed and tested over a wide range of test variables, including number of magnetrons and use of auxiliary heat. The tests identified three distinct operating modes: cool drying, which uses only microwave energy and drying occurs at less than 105 F; fast drying, where microwave drying is superimposed on conventional drying; and efficient drying, where the use of microwave energy with waste heat recovery from the power supply results in significant efficiency improvements compared to conventional dryers.

A testing-coverage software reliability model considering fault removal efficiency and error generation

PubMed Central

Li, Qiuying; Pham, Hoang

2017-01-01

In this paper, we propose a software reliability model that considers not only error generation but also fault removal efficiency combined with testing coverage information based on a nonhomogeneous Poisson process (NHPP). During the past four decades, many software reliability growth models (SRGMs) based on NHPP have been proposed to estimate the software reliability measures, most of which have the same following agreements: 1) it is a common phenomenon that during the testing phase, the fault detection rate always changes; 2) as a result of imperfect debugging, fault removal has been related to a fault re-introduction rate. But there are few SRGMs in the literature that differentiate between fault detection and fault removal, i.e. they seldom consider the imperfect fault removal efficiency. But in practical software developing process, fault removal efficiency cannot always be perfect, i.e. the failures detected might not be removed completely and the original faults might still exist and new faults might be introduced meanwhile, which is referred to as imperfect debugging phenomenon. In this study, a model aiming to incorporate fault introduction rate, fault removal efficiency and testing coverage into software reliability evaluation is developed, using testing coverage to express the fault detection rate and using fault removal efficiency to consider the fault repair. We compare the performance of the proposed model with several existing NHPP SRGMs using three sets of real failure data based on five criteria. The results exhibit that the model can give a better fitting and predictive performance. PMID:28750091

Multi-criteria analysis for the detection of the most critical European UNESCO Heritage sites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Valagussa, Andrea; Frattini, Paolo; Berta, Nadia; Spizzichino, Daniele; Leoni, Gabriele; Margottini, Claudio; Battista Crosta, Giovanni

2017-04-01

A GIS-based multi-criteria analysis has been implemented to identify and to rank the most critical UNESCO Heritage sites at the European scale in the context of PROTHEGO JPI-Project. Two multi-criteria methods have been tested and applied to more than 300 European UNESCO Sites. First, the Analytic Hierarchy Procedure (AHP) was applied to the data of the UNESCO Periodic Report, in relation to 13 natural hazards that have affected or can potentially affect the Heritage sites. According to these reports, 22% of sites are without any documented hazard and 70% of the sites have at least one hazard affecting the site. The most important hazards on the European country are: fire (wildfire), storm, flooding, earthquake and erosion. For each UNESCO site, the potential risk was calculated as a weighed sum of the hazards that affect the site. The weighs of the 13 hazards were obtained by AHP procedure, which is a technique for multi-attribute decision making that enables the decomposition of a problem into hierarchy, based on the opinion of different experts about the dominance of risks. The weights are obtained by rescaling between 0 and 1 the eigenvectors relative to the maximum eigenvalue for the matrix of the coefficients. The internal coherence of the expert's attributions is defined through the calculation of the consistency ratio (Saaty, 1990). The result of the AHP method consists in a map of the UNESCO sites ranked according to the potential risk, where the site most at risk results to be the Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord in Norway. However, the quality of these results lies in the reliability of the Period Reports, which are produced by different experts with unknown level of scientific background. To test the reliability of these results, a comparison of the information of the periodic reports with available high-quality datasets (earthquake, volcano and landslide) at the Italian scale has been performed. Sites properly classified by the Period Reports range from 65% (earthquake hazard) to 98% (volcano hazard), with a high underestimation of landslide hazard. Due to this high value of uncertainty, we developed a new methodology to identify and to rank the most critical UNESCO Heritage sites on the basis of three natural hazards (landslide, earthquake, and volcano) for which reliable European-scale hazard maps are available. For each UNESCO site, a potential risk was calculated as the product of hazard (from the available maps) and potential vulnerability. The latter is obtained considering the typology of site (e.g. monument, cultural landscape, and cultural road), the presence or absence of resident and/or tourist, the position of the site (underground/over-ground). Through this methodology, a new ranking of the European UNESCO Sites has been obtained. In this ranking, the historic center of Naples results to be the most-at-danger site of the European continent.

Evaluation of a novel personal nanoparticle sampler.

PubMed

Zhou, Yue; Irshad, Hammad; Tsai, Chuen-Jinn; Hung, Shao-Ming; Cheng, Yung-Sung

2014-02-01

This work investigated the performance in terms of collection efficiency and aspiration efficiency of a personal sampler capable of collecting ultrafine particles (nanoparticles) in the occupational environment. This sampler consists of a cyclone for respirable particle classification, micro-orifice impactor stages with an acceleration nozzle to achieve nanoparticle classification and a backup filter to collect nanoparticles. Collection efficiencies of the cyclone and impactor stages were determined using monodisperse polystyrene latex and silver particles, respectively. Calibration of the cyclone and impactor stages showed 50% cut-off diameters of 3.95 μm and 94.7 nm meeting the design requirements. Aspiration efficiencies of the sampler were tested in a wind tunnel with wind speeds of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 m s(-1). The test samplers were mounted on a full size mannequin with three orientations toward the wind direction (0°, 90°, and 180°). Monodisperse oleic acid aerosols tagged with sodium fluorescein in the size range of 2 to 10 μm were used in the test. For particles smaller than 2 μm, the fluorescent polystyrene latex particles were generated by using nebulizers. For comparison of the aspiration efficiency, a NIOSH two-stage personal bioaerosol sampler was also tested. Results showed that the orientation-averaged aspiration efficiency for both samplers was close to the inhalable fraction curve. However, the direction of wind strongly affected the aspiration efficiency. The results also showed that the aspiration efficiency was not affected by the ratio of free-stream velocity to the velocity through the sampler orifice. Our evaluation showed that the current design of the personal sampler met the designed criteria for collecting nanoparticles ≤100 nm in occupational environments.

Tests of Five Full-Scale Propellers in the Presence of a Radial and a Liquid-Cooled Engine Nacelle, Including Tests of Two Spinners

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Biermann, David; Hartman, Edwin P

1938-01-01

Wind-tunnel tests are reported of five 3-blade 10-foot propellers operating in front of a radial and a liquid-cooled engine nacelle. The range of blade angles investigated extended from 15 degrees to 45 degrees. Two spinners were tested in conjunction with the liquid-cooled engine nacelle. Comparisons are made between propellers having different blade-shank shapes, blades of different thickness, and different airfoil sections. The results show that propellers operating in front of the liquid-cooled engine nacelle had higher take-off efficiencies than when operating in front of the radial engine nacelle; the peak efficiency was higher only when spinners were employed. One spinner increased the propulsive efficiency of the liquid-cooled unit 6 percent for the highest blade-angle setting investigated and less for lower blade angles. The propeller having airfoil sections extending into the hub was superior to one having round blade shanks. The thick propeller having a Clark y section had a higher take-off efficiency than the thinner one, but its maximum efficiency was possibly lower. Of the three blade sections tested, Clark y, R.A.F. 6, and NACA 2400-34, the Clark y was superior for the high-speed condition, but the R.A.F. 6 excelled for the take-off condition.

Update on results of SPRE testing at NASA Lewis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cairelli, James E.; Swec, Diane M.; Wong, Wayne A.; Doeberling, Thomas J.; Madi, Frank J.

1991-01-01

The Space Power Research Engine (SPRE), a free-piston Stirling engine with a linear alternator, is being tested at NASA Lewis Research Center as part of the Civilian Space Technology Initiative (CSTI) as a candidate for high capacity space power. Results are presented from recent SPRE tests designed to investigated the effects of variation in the displacer seal clearance and piston centering port area on engine performance and dynamics. The impact of these variations on PV power and efficiency are presented. Comparisons of the displacer seal clearance tests results with HFAST code predictions show good agreement for PV power, but show poor agreement for PV efficiency. Correlations are presented relating the piston midstroke position to the dynamic Delta P across the piston and the centering port area. Test results indicate that a modest improvement in PV power and efficiency may be realized with a reduction in piston centering port area.

Update on results of SPRE testing at NASA Lewis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cairelli, James E.; Swec, Diane M.; Wong, Wayne A.; Doeberling, Thomas J.; Madi, Frank J.

1991-01-01

The Space Power Research Engine (SPRE), a free-piston Stirling engine with a linear alternator, is being tested at NASA Lewis Research Center as part of the Civilian Space Technology Initiative (CSTI) as a candidate for high capacity space power. Results are presented from recent SPRE tests designed to investigate the effects of variation in the displacer seal clearance and piston centering port area on engine performance and dynamics. The effects of these variations on PV power and efficiency are presented. Comparisons of the displacer seal clearance test results with HFAST code predictions show good agreement for PV power but poor agreement for PV efficiency. Correlations are presented relating the piston mid-stroke position to the dynamic Delta P across the piston and the centering port area. Test results indicate that a modest improvement in PV power and efficiency may be realized with a reduction in piston centering port area.

Experimental method for testing diffraction properties of reflection waveguide holograms.

PubMed

Xie, Yi; Kang, Ming-Wu; Wang, Bao-Ping

2014-07-01

Waveguide holograms' diffraction properties include peak wavelength and diffraction efficiency, which play an important role in determining their display performance. Based on the record and reconstruction theory of reflection waveguide holograms, a novel experimental method for testing diffraction properties is introduced and analyzed in this paper, which uses a plano-convex lens optically contacted to the surface of the substrate plate of the waveguide hologram, so that the diffracted light beam can be easily detected. Then an experiment is implemented. The designed reconstruction wavelength of the test sample is 530 nm, and its diffraction efficiency is 100%. The experimental results are a peak wavelength of 527.7 nm and a diffraction efficiency of 94.1%. It is shown that the tested value corresponds well with the designed value.

Greater power and computational efficiency for kernel-based association testing of sets of genetic variants

PubMed Central

Lippert, Christoph; Xiang, Jing; Horta, Danilo; Widmer, Christian; Kadie, Carl; Heckerman, David; Listgarten, Jennifer

2014-01-01

Motivation: Set-based variance component tests have been identified as a way to increase power in association studies by aggregating weak individual effects. However, the choice of test statistic has been largely ignored even though it may play an important role in obtaining optimal power. We compared a standard statistical test—a score test—with a recently developed likelihood ratio (LR) test. Further, when correction for hidden structure is needed, or gene–gene interactions are sought, state-of-the art algorithms for both the score and LR tests can be computationally impractical. Thus we develop new computationally efficient methods. Results: After reviewing theoretical differences in performance between the score and LR tests, we find empirically on real data that the LR test generally has more power. In particular, on 15 of 17 real datasets, the LR test yielded at least as many associations as the score test—up to 23 more associations—whereas the score test yielded at most one more association than the LR test in the two remaining datasets. On synthetic data, we find that the LR test yielded up to 12% more associations, consistent with our results on real data, but also observe a regime of extremely small signal where the score test yielded up to 25% more associations than the LR test, consistent with theory. Finally, our computational speedups now enable (i) efficient LR testing when the background kernel is full rank, and (ii) efficient score testing when the background kernel changes with each test, as for gene–gene interaction tests. The latter yielded a factor of 2000 speedup on a cohort of size 13 500. Availability: Software available at http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/redmond/projects/MSCompBio/Fastlmm/. Contact: heckerma@microsoft.com Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online. PMID:25075117

40 CFR Appendix A to Subpart Dddd... - Alternative Procedure To Determine Capture Efficiency From Enclosures Around Hot Presses in the...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

....2Response Time Test. Conduct this test once prior to each test series. Introduce zero gas into the... analysis. 3.0Definitions 3.1Capture efficiency (CE). The weight per unit time of SF6 entering the control device divided by the weight per unit time of SF6 released through manifolds at multiple locations within...

40 CFR Appendix A to Subpart Dddd... - Alternative Procedure To Determine Capture Efficiency From Enclosures Around Hot Presses in the...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

....2Response Time Test. Conduct this test once prior to each test series. Introduce zero gas into the... analysis. 3.0Definitions 3.1Capture efficiency (CE). The weight per unit time of SF6 entering the control device divided by the weight per unit time of SF6 released through manifolds at multiple locations within...

40 CFR Appendix A to Subpart Dddd... - Alternative Procedure To Determine Capture Efficiency From Enclosures Around Hot Presses in the...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

....2Response Time Test. Conduct this test once prior to each test series. Introduce zero gas into the... analysis. 3.0Definitions 3.1Capture efficiency (CE). The weight per unit time of SF6 entering the control device divided by the weight per unit time of SF6 released through manifolds at multiple locations within...

40 CFR Appendix A to Subpart Dddd... - Alternative Procedure To Determine Capture Efficiency From Enclosures Around Hot Presses in the...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

....2Response Time Test. Conduct this test once prior to each test series. Introduce zero gas into the... analysis. 3.0Definitions 3.1Capture efficiency (CE). The weight per unit time of SF6 entering the control device divided by the weight per unit time of SF6 released through manifolds at multiple locations within...

10 CFR Appendix B to Subpart B of... - Uniform Test Method for Measuring Nominal Full Load Efficiency of Electric Motors

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... Efficiency of Electric Motors B Appendix B to Subpart B of Part 431 Energy DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ENERGY..., Subpt. B, App. B Appendix B to Subpart B of Part 431—Uniform Test Method for Measuring Nominal Full Load... Std 112-2004 Test Method B, Input-Output With Loss Segregation, (incorporated by reference, see § 431...

Advanced gearbox technology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Anderson, N. E.; Cedoz, R. W.; Salama, E. E.; Wagner, D. A.

1987-01-01

An advanced 13,000 HP, counterrotating (CR) gearbox was designed and successfully tested to provide a technology base for future designs of geared propfan propulsion systems for both commercial and military aircraft. The advanced technology CR gearbox was designed for high efficiency, low weight, long life, and improved maintainability. The differential planetary CR gearbox features double helical gears, double row cylindrical roller bearings integral with planet gears, tapered roller prop support bearings, and a flexible ring gear and diaphragm to provide load sharing. A new Allison propfan back-to-back gearbox test facility was constructed. Extensive rotating and stationary instrumentation was used to measure temperature, strain, vibration, deflection and efficiency under representative flight operating conditions. The tests verified smooth, efficient gearbox operation. The highly-instrumented advanced CR gearbox was successfully tested to design speed and power (13,000 HP), and to a 115 percent overspeed condition. Measured CR gearbox efficiency was 99.3 percent at the design point based on heat loss to the oil. Tests demonstrated low vibration characteristics of double helical gearing, proper gear tooth load sharing, low stress levels, and the high load capacity of the prop tapered roller bearings. Applied external prop loads did not significantly affect gearbox temperature, vibration, or stress levels. Gearbox hardware was in excellent condition after the tests with no indication of distress.

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

Iseki, Tadahiro; Inaba, Makoto; Takahashi, Naoki

During the second and third steps of Active Test at Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant (RRP), the performances of the Separation Facility have been checked; (A) diluent washing efficiency, (B) plutonium stripping efficiency, (C) decontamination factor of fission products and (D) plutonium and uranium leakage into raffinate and spent solvent. Test results were equivalent to or better than expected. (authors)

EFFECT OF IMPACTION, BOUNCE AND REAEROSOLIZATION ON THE COLLECTION EFFICIENCY OF IMPINGERS

EPA Science Inventory

The collection efficiency of liquid impingers was studied experimentally as a function of the sampling flow rate with test particles in the bacterial size range. Three impingers were tested: two All-Glass Impingers(AGI-4 and AGI-30),widely used for bioaerosol sampling, and a newl...

Effect of repeated simulated clinical use and sterilization on the cutting efficiency and flexibility of Hyflex CM nickel-titanium rotary files.

PubMed

Seago, Scott T; Bergeron, Brian E; Kirkpatrick, Timothy C; Roberts, Mark D; Roberts, Howard W; Himel, Van T; Sabey, Kent A

2015-05-01

Recent nickel-titanium manufacturing processes have resulted in an alloy that remains in a twinned martensitic phase at operating temperature. This alloy has been shown to have increased flexibility with added tolerance to cyclic and torsional fatigue. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of repeated simulated clinical use and sterilization on cutting efficiency and flexibility of Hyflex CM rotary files. Cutting efficiency was determined by measuring the load required to maintain a constant feed rate while instrumenting simulated canals. Flexibility was determined by using a 3-point bending test. Files were autoclaved after each use according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Files were tested through 10 simulated clinical uses. For cutting efficiency, mean data were analyzed by using multiple factor analysis of variance and the Dunnett post hoc test (P < .05). For flexibility, mean data were analyzed by using Levene's Test of Equality of Error and a general linear model (P < .05). No statistically significant decrease in cutting efficiency was noted in groups 2, 5, 6, and 7. A statistically significant decrease in cutting efficiency was noted in groups 3, 4, 8, 9, and 10. No statistically significant decrease in flexibility was noted in groups 2, 3, and 7. A statistically significant decrease in flexibility was noted in groups 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, and 11. Repeated simulated clinical use and sterilization showed no effect on cutting efficiency through 1 use and no effect on flexibility through 2 uses. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Experimental Evaluation of Stagnation Point Collection Efficiency of the NACA 0012 Swept Wing Tip

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tsao, Jen-Ching; Kreeger, Richard E.

2010-01-01

This paper presents the experimental work of a number of icing tests conducted in the Icing Research Tunnel at NASA Glenn Research Center to develop a test method for measuring the local collection efficiency of an impinging cloud at the leading edge of a NACA 0012 swept wing and with the data obtained to further calibrate a proposed correlation for such impingement efficiency calculation as a function of the modified inertia parameter and the sweep angle. The preliminary results showed that there could be some limitation of the test method due to the ice erosion problem when encountered, and also found that, for conditions free of such problem, the stagnation point collection efficiency measurement for sweep angles up to 45 could be well approximated by the proposed correlation. Further evaluation of this correlation is recommended in order to assess its applicability for swept-wing icing scaling analysis.

Correlations for Saturation Efficiency of Evaporative Cooling Pads

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jain, J. K.; Hindoliya, D. A.

2014-01-01

This paper presents some experimental investigations to obtain correlations for saturation efficiency of evaporative cooling pads. Two commonly used materials namely aspen and khus fibers along with new materials namely coconut fibers and palash fibers were tested in a laboratory using suitably fabricated test setup. Simple mathematical correlations have been developed for calculating saturation efficiency of evaporating cooling pads which can be used to predict their performance at any desired mass flow rate. Performances of four different pad materials were also compared using developed correlations. An attempt was made to test two new materials (i.e. fibers of palash wood and coconut) to check their suitability as wetted media for evaporative cooling pads. It was found that Palash wood fibers offered highest saturation efficiency compared to that of other existing materials such as aspen and khus fibers at different mass flow rate of air.

Tests of an alternating current propulsion subsystem for electric vehicles on a road load simulator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stenger, F. J.

1982-12-01

The test results of a breadboard version of an ac electric-vehicle propulsion subsystem are presented. The breadboard was installed in the NASA Lewis Research Center Road Load Simulator facility and tested under steady-state and transient conditions. Steady-state tests were run to characterize the system and component efficiencies over the complete speed-torque range within the capability of the propulsion subsystem in the motoring mode of operation. Transient tests were performed to determine the energy consumption of the breadboard over the acceleration and cruise portions of SAE J227 and driving schedules B, C, and D. Tests in the regenerative mode were limited to the low-gear-speed range of the two speed transaxle used in the subsystem. The maximum steady-state subsystem efficiency observed for the breadboard was 81.5 percent in the high-gear-speed range in the motoring mode, and 76 percent in the regenerative braking mode (low gear). The subsystem energy efficiency during the transient tests ranged from 49.2 percent for schedule B to 68.4 percent for Schedule D.

Tests of an alternating current propulsion subsystem for electric vehicles on a road load simulator

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stenger, F. J.

1982-01-01

The test results of a breadboard version of an ac electric-vehicle propulsion subsystem are presented. The breadboard was installed in the NASA Lewis Research Center Road Load Simulator facility and tested under steady-state and transient conditions. Steady-state tests were run to characterize the system and component efficiencies over the complete speed-torque range within the capability of the propulsion subsystem in the motoring mode of operation. Transient tests were performed to determine the energy consumption of the breadboard over the acceleration and cruise portions of SAE J227 and driving schedules B, C, and D. Tests in the regenerative mode were limited to the low-gear-speed range of the two speed transaxle used in the subsystem. The maximum steady-state subsystem efficiency observed for the breadboard was 81.5 percent in the high-gear-speed range in the motoring mode, and 76 percent in the regenerative braking mode (low gear). The subsystem energy efficiency during the transient tests ranged from 49.2 percent for schedule B to 68.4 percent for Schedule D.

A conjugate gradient method with descent properties under strong Wolfe line search

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zull, N.; ‘Aini, N.; Shoid, S.; Ghani, N. H. A.; Mohamed, N. S.; Rivaie, M.; Mamat, M.

2017-09-01

The conjugate gradient (CG) method is one of the optimization methods that are often used in practical applications. The continuous and numerous studies conducted on the CG method have led to vast improvements in its convergence properties and efficiency. In this paper, a new CG method possessing the sufficient descent and global convergence properties is proposed. The efficiency of the new CG algorithm relative to the existing CG methods is evaluated by testing them all on a set of test functions using MATLAB. The tests are measured in terms of iteration numbers and CPU time under strong Wolfe line search. Overall, this new method performs efficiently and comparable to the other famous methods.

Virus removal efficiency of Cambodian ceramic pot water purifiers.

PubMed

Salsali, Hamidreza; McBean, Edward; Brunsting, Joseph

2011-06-01

Virus removal efficiency is described for three types of silver-impregnated, ceramic water filters (CWFs) produced in Cambodia. The tests were completed using freshly scrubbed filters and de-ionized (DI) water as an evaluation of the removal efficiency of the virus in isolation with no other interacting water quality variables. Removal efficiencies between 0.21 and 0.45 log are evidenced, which is significantly lower than results obtained in testing of similar filters by other investigators utilizing surface or rain water and a less frequent cleaning regime. Other experiments generally found virus removal efficiencies greater than 1.0 log. This difference may be because of the association of viruses with suspended solids, and subsequent removal of these solids during filtration. Variability in virus removal efficiencies between pots of the same manufacturer, and observed flow rates outside the manufacturer's specifications, suggest tighter quality control and consistency may be needed during production.

30% CPV Module Milestone

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gordon, Robert; Kinsey, Geoff; Nayaak, Adi; Garboushian, Vahan

2010-10-01

Concentrating Photovoltaics has held out the promise of low cost solar electricity for now several decades. Steady progress towards this goal in the 80's and 90's gradually produced more efficient and reliable systems. System efficiency is regarded as the largest factor in lowering the electricity cost and the relatively recent advent of the terrestrial multi-junction solar cell has pressed this race forward dramatically. CPV systems are now exhibiting impressive AC field efficiencies of 25% and more, approximately twice that of the best flat plate systems available today. Amonix inc. has just tested their latest generation multi-junction module design, achieving over 31% DC efficiency at near PVUSA test conditions. Inculcating this design into their next MegaModule is forthcoming, but the expected AC system field efficiency should be significantly higher than current 25% levels.

Status, technology and development of silicon solar cells at INER

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jao, S. S.; Tseng, H. H.; Cheng, C.; Tzeng, Y. C.; Chang, H. H.; Hwang, H. L.

Test runs using 200 5-cm-diameter silicon wafers are carried out, yielding 87% with an AM1 conversion efficiency greater than 11.5%. The highest efficiency is 12.7%. Concentrator solar cells of 2 x 2 sq cm are made with an AM1 efficiency of 14%. Solar cells with a diameter of 7.5 cm have attained AM1 efficiencies of more than 11.3%, and texturized solar cells of the same diameter fabricated from rejected wafers show AM1 efficiencies of 9.5-10.5%. It is noted that solar panels comprising 68 cells with a maximum output power of 13.5 W have been manufactured. The results of a 6-month test of a photovoltaic charge station for electric motorcycles are reported.

Effect of water quality on residential water heater life-cycle efficiency. Annual report, 3 September 1984-August 1985

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

Talbert, S.G.; Newman, D.C.; Stickford, G.H.

During this long-term field test program, conventional gas and electric water heaters were operated at four different U.S. cities under accelerated test conditions to quantify the effect of scale buildup on performance, and to assess the benefits and limitations of common water-treatment methods. The four test sites were located in Columbus, Ohio; Lisle, Illinois; Roswell, New Mexico, and Marshall, Minnesota. The heaters recovery efficiencies were remeasured at approximately 6-month intervals to determine any changes in recovery efficiency. In addition, corrosion coupons made of steel, galvanized steel, copper, and brass were exposed to the four types of water at each sitemore » for periods of up to 9 months. Four gas water heaters will remain on test in Columbus, Ohio for another year.« less

Efficient concepts for large erectable space structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Card, M. F.; Bush, H. G.; Heard, W. L., Jr.; Mikulas, M. M., Jr.

1978-01-01

The status of Langley Research Center development of the nestable column concept is reviewed including results of member and truss component tests, and planned assembly studies. In addition, more recent studies of alternative member concepts are presented. Preliminary results on relative efficiency of several types of truss-type columns are compared and future test plans discussed.

Energy efficient engine component development and integration program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1981-01-01

Accomplishments in the Energy Efficient Engine Component Development and Integration program during the period of April 1, 1981 through September 30, 1981 are discussed. The major topics considered are: (1) propulsion system analysis, design, and integration; (2) engine component analysis, design, and development; (3) core engine tests; and (4) integrated core/low spool testing.

‘GREENER’ SURFACTANTS FROM BIO-BASED WASTE AS EFFICIENT ALTERNATIVES TO NONYLPHENOL ETHOXYLATES

EPA Science Inventory

All bio-based surfactants synthesized over the course of the project will be tested for their ability to lower the surface tension at the air-water interface using a Du Nüoy ring tensiometer. The cleaning efficiency of the surfactants will be tested at the Toxics Use Reduc...

10 CFR 429.70 - Alternative methods for determining energy efficiency or energy use.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... of commercial HVAC and WH equipment, distribution transformers, and central air conditioners and heat... overrate the efficiency of a basic model. For each basic model of distribution transformer that has a... voltage at which the transformer is rated to operate. (b) Testing. Testing for each covered product or...

The Theory about CD-CAT Based on FCA and Its Application

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shuqun, Yang; Shuliang, Ding; Zhiqiang, Yao

2009-01-01

Cognitive diagnosis (CD) plays an important role in intelligent tutoring system. Computerized adaptive testing (CAT) is adaptive, fair, and efficient, which is suitable to large-scale examination. Traditional cognitive diagnostic test needs quite large number of items, the efficient and tailored CAT could be a remedy for it, so the CAT with…

Open angle glaucoma effects on preattentive visual search efficiency for flicker, motion displacement and orientation pop-out tasks.

PubMed

Loughman, James; Davison, Peter; Flitcroft, Ian

2007-11-01

Preattentive visual search (PAVS) describes rapid and efficient retinal and neural processing capable of immediate target detection in the visual field. Damage to the nerve fibre layer or visual pathway might reduce the efficiency with which the visual system performs such analysis. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that patients with glaucoma are impaired on parallel search tasks, and that this would serve to distinguish glaucoma in early cases. Three groups of observers (glaucoma patients, suspect and normal individuals) were examined, using computer-generated flicker, orientation, and vertical motion displacement targets to assess PAVS efficiency. The task required rapid and accurate localisation of a singularity embedded in a field of 119 homogeneous distractors on either the left or right-hand side of a computer monitor. All subjects also completed a choice reaction time (CRT) task. Independent sample T tests revealed PAVS efficiency to be significantly impaired in the glaucoma group compared with both normal and suspect individuals. Performance was impaired in all types of glaucoma tested. Analysis between normal and suspect individuals revealed a significant difference only for motion displacement response times. Similar analysis using a PAVS/CRT index confirmed the glaucoma findings but also showed statistically significant differences between suspect and normal individuals across all target types. A test of PAVS efficiency appears capable of differentiating early glaucoma from both normal and suspect cases. Analysis incorporating a PAVS/CRT index enhances the diagnostic capacity to differentiate normal from suspect cases.

77 FR 4999 - Decision and Order Granting a Waiver to LG From the Department of Energy Clothes Washer Test...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-02-01

... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy [Case No. CW-022] Decision...: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy. ACTION: Decision and Order.... Hogan, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy...

77 FR 75428 - Decision and Order Granting a Waiver to Samsung From the Department of Energy Residential...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-12-20

... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy [Case No. RF-021] Decision... Refrigerator-Freezer Test Procedures AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of... Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Decision and Order In the...

78 FR 53374 - Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Test Procedures for Refrigerators...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-29

... Freezers AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy. ACTION: Extension... INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Lucas Adin, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable... Energy Efficiency, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. [FR Doc. 2013-21115 Filed 8-28-13; 8:45 am...

A method of evaluating efficiency during space-suited work in a neutral buoyancy environment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Greenisen, Michael C.; West, Phillip; Newton, Frederick K.; Gilbert, John H.; Squires, William G.

1991-01-01

The purpose was to investigate efficiency as related to the work transmission and the metabolic cost of various extravehicular activity (EVA) tasks during simulated microgravity (whole body water immersion) using three space suits. Two new prototype space station suits, AX-5 and MKIII, are pressurized at 57.2 kPa and were tested concurrently with the operationally used 29.6 kPa shuttle suit. Four male astronauts were asked to perform a fatigue trial on four upper extremity exercises during which metabolic rate and work output were measured and efficiency was calculated in each suit. The activities were selected to simulate actual EVA tasks. The test article was an underwater dynamometry system to which the astronauts were secured by foot restraints. All metabolic data was acquired, calculated, and stored using a computerized indirect calorimetry system connected to the suit ventilation/gas supply control console. During the efficiency testing, steady state metabolic rate could be evaluated as well as work transmitted to the dynamometer. Mechanical efficiency could then be calculated for each astronaut in each suit performing each movement.

The influence of seine capture efficiency on fish abundance estimates in the upper Mississippi River

USGS Publications Warehouse

Holland Bartels, L. E.; Dewey, M.R.

1997-01-01

The effects of season, presence of vegetation, and time of day on seine capture efficiency for fish were evaluated using test enclosures in the upper Mississippi River. Overall capture efficiency of the seine haul was 49% (53% during the day and 43% at night). During daytime tests, the efficiency ranged from 39% to 74% but did not differ statistically between sites or among dates. At night, the efficiency was higher at the vegetated than at the nonvegetated site (55% vs 32%) and declined through time from 56% in May to 28% in October. Although susceptibility to capture differed among taxa, we could not predict either total catch efficiency or efficiency within a given taxon for a given sample. Adjustment of catch data with various estimates of efficiency reduced the mean absolute error for all sampling dates from 51% to 24%, but the error of the adjusted data still ranged from -58% to +54% on any given sampling date. These results indicate that it is difficult to make accurate adjustment of catch data to compensate for gear bias in studies of seasonal habitat use.

Design of multi-energy Helds coupling testing system of vertical axis wind power system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Q.; Yang, Z. X.; Li, G. S.; Song, L.; Ma, C.

2016-08-01

The conversion efficiency of wind energy is the focus of researches and concerns as one of the renewable energy. The present methods of enhancing the conversion efficiency are mostly improving the wind rotor structure, optimizing the generator parameters and energy storage controller and so on. Because the conversion process involves in energy conversion of multi-energy fields such as wind energy, mechanical energy and electrical energy, the coupling effect between them will influence the overall conversion efficiency. In this paper, using system integration analysis technology, a testing system based on multi-energy field coupling (MEFC) of vertical axis wind power system is proposed. When the maximum efficiency of wind rotor is satisfied, it can match to the generator function parameters according to the output performance of wind rotor. The voltage controller can transform the unstable electric power to the battery on the basis of optimizing the parameters such as charging times, charging voltage. Through the communication connection and regulation of the upper computer system (UCS), it can make the coupling parameters configure to an optimal state, and it improves the overall conversion efficiency. This method can test the whole wind turbine (WT) performance systematically and evaluate the design parameters effectively. It not only provides a testing method for system structure design and parameter optimization of wind rotor, generator and voltage controller, but also provides a new testing method for the whole performance optimization of vertical axis wind energy conversion system (WECS).

Status of the Local Enforcement of Energy Efficiency Standards and Labeling Program in China

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

Zhou, Nan; Zheng, Nina; Fino-Chen, Cecilia

2011-09-26

As part of its commitment to promoting and improving the local enforcement of appliance energy efficiency standards and labeling, the China National Institute of Standardization (CNIS) launched the National and Local Enforcement of Energy Efficiency Standards and Labeling project on August 14, 2009. The project’s short-term goal is to expand the effort to improve enforcement of standards and labeling requirements to the entire country within three years, with a long-term goal of perfecting overall enforcement. For this project, Jiangsu, Shandong, Sichuan and Shanghai were selected as pilot locations. This report provides information on the local enforcement project’s recent background, activitiesmore » and results as well as comparison to previous rounds of check-testing in 2006 and 2007. In addition, the report also offers evaluation on the achievement and weaknesses in the local enforcement scheme and recommendations. The results demonstrate both improvement and some backsliding. Enforcement schemes are in place in all target cities and applicable national standards and regulations were followed as the basis for local check testing. Check testing results show in general high labeling compliance across regions with 100% compliance for five products, including full compliance for all three products tested in Jiangsu province and two out of three products tested in Shandong province. Program results also identified key weaknesses in labeling compliance in Sichuan as well as in the efficiency standards compliance levels for small and medium three-phase asynchronous motors and self-ballasted fluorescent lamps. For example, compliance for the same product ranged from as low as 40% to 100% with mixed results for products that had been tested in previous rounds. For refrigerators, in particular, the efficiency standards compliance rate exhibited a wider range of 50% to 100%, and the average rate across all tested models also dropped from 96% in 2007 to 63%, possibly due to the implementation of newly strengthened efficiency standards in 2009. Areas for improvement include: Greater awareness at the local level to ensure that all manufacturers register their products with the label certification project and to minimize their resistance to inspections; improvement of the product sampling methodology to include representative testing of both large and small manufacturers and greater standardization of testing tools and procedures; and continued improvement in local enforcement efforts.« less

Non-Destructive Current Sensing for Energy Efficiency Monitoring in Buildings with Environmental Certification

PubMed Central

Mota, Lia Toledo Moreira; Mota, Alexandre de Assis; Coiado, Lorenzo Campos

2015-01-01

Nowadays, buildings environmental certifications encourage the implementation of initiatives aiming to increase energy efficiency in buildings. In these certification systems, increased energy efficiency arising from such initiatives must be demonstrated. Thus, a challenge to be faced is how to check the increase in energy efficiency related to each of the employed initiatives without a considerable building retrofit. In this context, this work presents a non-destructive method for electric current sensing to assess implemented initiatives to increase energy efficiency in buildings with environmental certification. This method proposes the use of a sensor that can be installed directly in the low voltage electrical circuit conductors that are powering the initiative under evaluation, without the need for reforms that result in significant costs, repair, and maintenance. The proposed sensor consists of three elements: an air-core transformer current sensor, an amplifying/filtering stage, and a microprocessor. A prototype of the proposed sensor was developed and tests were performed to validate this sensor. Based on laboratory tests, it was possible to characterize the proposed current sensor with respect to the number of turns and cross-sectional area of the primary and secondary coils. Furthermore, using the Least Squares Method, it was possible to determine the efficiency of the air core transformer current sensor (the best efficiency found, considering different test conditions, was 2%), which leads to a linear output response. PMID:26184208

Non-Destructive Current Sensing for Energy Efficiency Monitoring in Buildings with Environmental Certification.

PubMed

Mota, Lia Toledo Moreira; Mota, Alexandre de Assis; Coiado, Lorenzo Campos

2015-07-10

Nowadays, buildings environmental certifications encourage the implementation of initiatives aiming to increase energy efficiency in buildings. In these certification systems, increased energy efficiency arising from such initiatives must be demonstrated. Thus, a challenge to be faced is how to check the increase in energy efficiency related to each of the employed initiatives without a considerable building retrofit. In this context, this work presents a non-destructive method for electric current sensing to assess implemented initiatives to increase energy efficiency in buildings with environmental certification. This method proposes the use of a sensor that can be installed directly in the low voltage electrical circuit conductors that are powering the initiative under evaluation, without the need for reforms that result in significant costs, repair, and maintenance. The proposed sensor consists of three elements: an air-core transformer current sensor, an amplifying/filtering stage, and a microprocessor. A prototype of the proposed sensor was developed and tests were performed to validate this sensor. Based on laboratory tests, it was possible to characterize the proposed current sensor with respect to the number of turns and cross-sectional area of the primary and secondary coils. Furthermore, using the Least Squares Method, it was possible to determine the efficiency of the air core transformer current sensor (the best efficiency found, considering different test conditions, was 2%), which leads to a linear output response.

Analysis of simulated angiographic procedures. Part 2: extracting efficiency data from audio and video recordings.

PubMed

Duncan, James R; Kline, Benjamin; Glaiberman, Craig B

2007-04-01

To create and test methods of extracting efficiency data from recordings of simulated renal stent procedures. Task analysis was performed and used to design a standardized testing protocol. Five experienced angiographers then performed 16 renal stent simulations using the Simbionix AngioMentor angiographic simulator. Audio and video recordings of these simulations were captured from multiple vantage points. The recordings were synchronized and compiled. A series of efficiency metrics (procedure time, contrast volume, and tool use) were then extracted from the recordings. The intraobserver and interobserver variability of these individual metrics was also assessed. The metrics were converted to costs and aggregated to determine the fixed and variable costs of a procedure segment or the entire procedure. Task analysis and pilot testing led to a standardized testing protocol suitable for performance assessment. Task analysis also identified seven checkpoints that divided the renal stent simulations into six segments. Efficiency metrics for these different segments were extracted from the recordings and showed excellent intra- and interobserver correlations. Analysis of the individual and aggregated efficiency metrics demonstrated large differences between segments as well as between different angiographers. These differences persisted when efficiency was expressed as either total or variable costs. Task analysis facilitated both protocol development and data analysis. Efficiency metrics were readily extracted from recordings of simulated procedures. Aggregating the metrics and dividing the procedure into segments revealed potential insights that could be easily overlooked because the simulator currently does not attempt to aggregate the metrics and only provides data derived from the entire procedure. The data indicate that analysis of simulated angiographic procedures will be a powerful method of assessing performance in interventional radiology.

Full-Scale Tests of Several Propellers Equipped with Spinners, Cuffs, Airfoil and Round Shanks, and NACA 16-Series Sections, Special Report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Biermann, David; Hartman, Edwin P.; Pepper, Edward

1940-01-01

Wind-tunnel tests of several propeller, cuff, and spinner combinations were conducted in the 20 foot propeller-research tunnel. Three propellers, which ranged in diameter from 8.4 to 11.25 feet, were tested at the front end of a streamline body incorporating spinners of two diameters. The tests covered a blade angle range from 20 deg to 65 deg. The effect of spinner diameter and propeller cuffs on the characteristics of one propeller was determined. Test were also conducted using a propeller which incorporated aerodynamically good shank sections and using one which incorporated the NACA 16 series sections for the outer 20 percent of the blades. Compressibility effects were not measured, owing to the low testing speeds. The results indicated that a conventional propeller was slightly more efficient when tested in conjunction with a 28 inch diameter spinner than with a 23 inch spinner, and that cuffs increased the efficiency as well as the power absorption characteristics. A propeller having good aerodynamic shanks was found to be definitely superior from the efficiency standpoint to a conventional round-shank propeller with or without cuffs; this propeller would probably be considered structurally impracticable, however. The propeller incorporating the NACA 16 series sections at the tims were found to have a slightly higher efficiency than a conventional propeller; the take-off characteristics appeared to be equally good. The effects noted above probably would be accentuated at helical speeds at which compressibility effects would enter.

In vitro evaluation of dill seed essential oil antifungal activities to control Zymoseptoria tritici.

PubMed

Deweer, C; Yaguiyan, A; Muchembled, J; Sahmer, K; Dermont, C; Halama, P

2013-01-01

Zymoseptoria tritici (teleomorph: Mycosphaerella graminicola) is the causal agent of Septoria Leaf Blotch of wheat (up to 40% yield loss). The study aims to evaluate the antifungal activities of dill seed Essential Oil (EO) on this pathogen to investigate an alternative solution to decrease the use of synthetic fungicides in the context of sustainable agriculture. Thus, two strains of Zymoseptoria tritici in relation to their sensitivity to DOMIs were tested in microplates (S6, sensitive strain; R1187, resistant strain). The essays were repeatedly carried out with dill seed EO crude, with Tween 80 (5% v/v) or with DMSO (1% v/v). A range of nine EO dilutions were tried out in comparison to two fungicides: a DMI (metconazole) and a SDHI (Boscalid). A Gas Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis reveals that dill seed EO is mostly composed of Carvone (45%) and Limonene (25%). Consequently, D-Carvone/L-Carvone and D-Limonene/L-Limonene were tested as well to determine the origins of the EO effectiveness observed. The IC50 (half maximal inhibitory concentration) are calculated and then statistically analysed to find significant differences between each product tested. The comparison of the IC50 shows that S6 is more sensitive to metconazole than R1187 but they both have the same sensitivity to Boscalid. Dill seed EO, D-Carvone/L-Carvone have the same effectiveness on S6 whatever the preparation tested. D-Limonene/L-Limonene are less efficient unless they are supplemented with Tween 80. On R1187, Dill seed EO is more efficient when it is prepared with Tween 80. This efficiency is also observed for D-Carvone/L-Carvone whatever the preparation tested. D-Limonene/L-Limonene are generally less efficient than Carvone even if L-limonene is as efficient as L-Carvone when these products are prepared with Tween 80. Dill seed EO used crude or with DMSO is more efficient on S6 (350 mg/L) than on R1187 (1000 mg/L) but with Tween 80, the EO effectiveness is the same on both strains (300 mg/L). So DMSO doesn't have any effects on both strains while Tween 80 seemsto improve the EO efficiency on the resistant strain. Carvone appears to be more efficient than Limonene, which indicates that the major compound is largely responsible for the observed EO efficiencies. In Addition, the EO preparation seems to play a role in the antifungal activities, especially on the resistant strain than the sensitive strain. The two fungicides tested are still the most efficient molecules in the control of Zymoseptoria tritici.

Estimating Skin Cancer Risk: Evaluating Mobile Computer-Adaptive Testing.

PubMed

Djaja, Ngadiman; Janda, Monika; Olsen, Catherine M; Whiteman, David C; Chien, Tsair-Wei

2016-01-22

Response burden is a major detriment to questionnaire completion rates. Computer adaptive testing may offer advantages over non-adaptive testing, including reduction of numbers of items required for precise measurement. Our aim was to compare the efficiency of non-adaptive (NAT) and computer adaptive testing (CAT) facilitated by Partial Credit Model (PCM)-derived calibration to estimate skin cancer risk. We used a random sample from a population-based Australian cohort study of skin cancer risk (N=43,794). All 30 items of the skin cancer risk scale were calibrated with the Rasch PCM. A total of 1000 cases generated following a normal distribution (mean [SD] 0 [1]) were simulated using three Rasch models with three fixed-item (dichotomous, rating scale, and partial credit) scenarios, respectively. We calculated the comparative efficiency and precision of CAT and NAT (shortening of questionnaire length and the count difference number ratio less than 5% using independent t tests). We found that use of CAT led to smaller person standard error of the estimated measure than NAT, with substantially higher efficiency but no loss of precision, reducing response burden by 48%, 66%, and 66% for dichotomous, Rating Scale Model, and PCM models, respectively. CAT-based administrations of the skin cancer risk scale could substantially reduce participant burden without compromising measurement precision. A mobile computer adaptive test was developed to help people efficiently assess their skin cancer risk.

Key results of the mini-dome Fresnel lens concentrator array development program under recently completed NASA and SDIO SBIR projects

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Oneill, Mark J.; Piszczor, Michael F.; Fraas, Lewis M.

1991-01-01

Since 1986, ENTECH and the NASA Lewis Research Center have been developing a new photovoltaic concentrator system for space power applications. The unique refractive system uses small, dome shaped Fresnel lenses to focus sunlight onto high efficiency photovoltaic concentrator cells which use prismatic cell covers to further increase their performance. Highlights of the five-year development include near Air Mass Zero (AM0) Lear Jet flight testing of mini-dome lenses (90 pct. net optical efficiency achieved); tests verifying sun-pointing error tolerance with negligible power loss; simulator testing of prism-covered GaAs concentrator cells (24 pct. AM0 efficiency); testing of prism-covered Boeing GaAs/GaSb tandem cells (31 pct. AM0 efficiency); and fabrication and outdoor testing of a 36-lens/cell element panel. These test results have confirmed previous analytical predictions which indicate substantial performance improvements for this technology over current array systems. Based on program results to date, it appears than an array power density of 300 watts/sq m and a specific power of 100 watts/kg can be achieved in the near term. All components of the array appear to be readily manufacturable from space-durable materials at reasonable cost. A concise review is presented of the key results leading to the current array, and further development plans for the future are briefly discussed.

Effect of area ratio on the performance of a 5.5:1 pressure ratio centrifugal impeller

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schumann, L. F.; Clark, D. A.; Wood, J. R.

1986-01-01

A centrifugal impeller which was initially designed for a pressure ratio of approximately 5.5 and a mass flow rate of 0.959 kg/sec was tested with a vaneless diffuser for a range of design point impeller area ratios from 2.322 to 2.945. The impeller area ratio was changed by successively cutting back the impeller exit axial width from an initial value of 7.57 mm to a final value of 5.97 mm. In all, four separate area ratios were tested. For each area ratio a series of impeller exit axial clearances was also tested. Test results are based on impeller exit surveys of total pressure, total temperature, and flow angle at a radius 1.115 times the impeller exit radius. Results of the tests at design speed, peak efficiency, and an exit tip clearance of 8 percent of exit blade height show that the impeller equivalent pressure recovery coefficient peaked at a design point area ratio of approximately 2.748 while the impeller aerodynamic efficiency peaked at a lower value of area ratio of approximately 2.55. The variation of impeller efficiency with clearance showed expected trends with a loss of approximately 0.4 points in impeller efficiency for each percent increase in exit axial tip clearance for all impellers tested.

78 FR 1570 - Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-01-08

... Transformers (energy efficiency standards) Residential clothes washers (energy efficiency standards... Distribution Transformers (Reg Plan Seq No. 32). 263 Test Procedures for 1904-AC76 Residential Refrigerators... Efficiency Standards for Distribution Transformers Regulatory Plan: This entry is Seq. No. 32 in part II of...

Towards a theory of tiered testing.

PubMed

Hansson, Sven Ove; Rudén, Christina

2007-06-01

Tiered testing is an essential part of any resource-efficient strategy for the toxicity testing of a large number of chemicals, which is required for instance in the risk management of general (industrial) chemicals, In spite of this, no general theory seems to be available for the combination of single tests into efficient tiered testing systems. A first outline of such a theory is developed. It is argued that chemical, toxicological, and decision-theoretical knowledge should be combined in the construction of such a theory. A decision-theoretical approach for the optimization of test systems is introduced. It is based on expected utility maximization with simplified assumptions covering factual and value-related information that is usually missing in the development of test systems.

Effect of water quality on residential water heater life-cycle efficiency. Annual report, September 1983-August 1984

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

Stickford, G.H.; Talbert, S.G.; Newman, D.C.

A 3-year field test program is under way for the Gas Research Institute to quantify the effect of scale buildup on the performance of residential water heaters, and to determine the benefits and limitations of common water-treatment methods. In this program, the performance of gas and electric heaters is being monitored in test laboratories set up in selected U.S. cities. The efficiency of heaters operating on hard water is measured and compared with the performance of heaters operating on treated water. Corrosion tests are also being conducted on each type of water tested to determine the effect of water treatmentmore » on the corrosion of the water heating system. During this reporting period Battelle has established operating hard water test facilities at four test sites: (1) Battelle, (2) the Roswell Test Facility in Roswell, New Mexico, (3) the Water Quality Association in Lisle, Illinois, and (4) the Marshall Municipal Utilities in Marshall, Minnesota. At each of these sites 12 water heaters have been installed and are operating on accelerated draw cycles. The recovery efficiency of each heater has been carefully measured, and the heaters have been operating from 4 months at one site to 7 months at another. At two of the test sites, the recovery efficiency of each heater has been remeasured after 6 months of operation. No significant degradation in heater performance due to scale buildup was observed in these heaters for the equivalent of 2 to 3 years of typical residential use.« less

Application of semi-active RFID power meter in automatic verification pipeline and intelligent storage system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Xiangqun; Huang, Rui; Shen, Liman; chen, Hao; Xiong, Dezhi; Xiao, Xiangqi; Liu, Mouhai; Xu, Renheng

2018-03-01

In this paper, the semi-active RFID watt-hour meter is applied to automatic test lines and intelligent warehouse management, from the transmission system, test system and auxiliary system, monitoring system, realize the scheduling of watt-hour meter, binding, control and data exchange, and other functions, make its more accurate positioning, high efficiency of management, update the data quickly, all the information at a glance. Effectively improve the quality, efficiency and automation of verification, and realize more efficient data management and warehouse management.

Decision-making conflict and the neural efficiency hypothesis of intelligence: a functional near-infrared spectroscopy investigation.

PubMed

Di Domenico, Stefano I; Rodrigo, Achala H; Ayaz, Hasan; Fournier, Marc A; Ruocco, Anthony C

2015-04-01

Research on the neural efficiency hypothesis of intelligence (NEH) has revealed that the brains of more intelligent individuals consume less energy when performing easy cognitive tasks but more energy when engaged in difficult mental operations. However, previous studies testing the NEH have relied on cognitive tasks that closely resemble psychometric tests of intelligence, potentially confounding efficiency during intelligence-test performance with neural efficiency per se. The present study sought to provide a novel test of the NEH by examining patterns of prefrontal activity while participants completed an experimental paradigm that is qualitatively distinct from the contents of psychometric tests of intelligence. Specifically, participants completed a personal decision-making task (e.g., which occupation would you prefer, dancer or chemist?) in which they made a series of forced choices according to their subjective preferences. The degree of decisional conflict (i.e., choice difficulty) between the available response options was manipulated on the basis of participants' unique preference ratings for the target stimuli, which were obtained prior to scanning. Evoked oxygenation of the prefrontal cortex was measured using 16-channel continuous-wave functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Consistent with the NEH, intelligence predicted decreased activation of the right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) during low-conflict situations and increased activation of the right-IFG during high-conflict situations. This pattern of right-IFG activity among more intelligent individuals was complemented by faster reaction times in high-conflict situations. These results provide new support for the NEH and suggest that the neural efficiency of more intelligent individuals generalizes to the performance of cognitive tasks that are distinct from intelligence tests. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Investigation of Primary Dew-Point Saturator Efficiency in Two Different Thermal Environments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zvizdic, D.; Heinonen, M.; Sestan, D.

2015-08-01

The aim of this paper is to describe the evaluation process of the performance of the low-range saturator (LRS), when exposed to two different thermal environments. The examined saturator was designed, built, and tested at MIKES (Centre for Metrology and Accreditation, Finland), and then transported to the Laboratory for Process Measurement (LPM) in Croatia, where it was implemented in a new dew-point calibration system. The saturator works on a single-pressure-single-pass generation principle in the dew/frost-point temperature range between and . The purpose of the various tests performed at MIKES was to examine the efficiency and non-ideality of the saturator. As a test bath facility in Croatia differs from the one used in Finland, the same tests were repeated at LPM, and the effects of different thermal conditions on saturator performance were examined. Thermometers, pressure gauges, an air preparation system, and water for filling the saturator at LPM were also different than those used at MIKES. Results obtained by both laboratories indicate that the efficiency of the examined saturator was not affected either by the thermal conditions under which it was tested or by equipment used for the tests. Both laboratories concluded that LRS is efficient enough for a primary realization of the dew/frost-point temperature scale in the range from to , with flow rates between and . It is also shown that a considerable difference of the pre-saturator efficiency, indicated by two laboratories, did not have influence to the overall performance of the saturator. The results of the research are presented in graphical and tabular forms. This paper also gives a brief description of the design and operation principle of the investigated low-range saturator.

Improving the Efficiency and Effectiveness of Grading through the Use of Computer-Assisted Grading Rubrics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Anglin, Linda; Anglin, Kenneth; Schumann, Paul L.; Kaliski, John A.

2008-01-01

This study tests the use of computer-assisted grading rubrics compared to other grading methods with respect to the efficiency and effectiveness of different grading processes for subjective assignments. The test was performed on a large Introduction to Business course. The students in this course were randomly assigned to four treatment groups…

Energy Efficient Engine core design and performance report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stearns, E. Marshall

1982-01-01

The Energy Efficient Engine (E3) is a NASA program to develop fuel saving technology for future large transport aircraft engines. Testing of the General Electric E3 core showed that the core component performance and core system performance necessary to meet the program goals can be achieved. The E3 core design and test results are described.

Efficiency of Social Studies Integrated Character Education Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Katilmis, Ahmet; Eksi, Halil; Ozturk, Cemil

2011-01-01

In this research, it is aimed to find out (i) the efficiency of a character education program based on overt values of Turkish 7th grade social studies lesson, and (ii) its hidden effects on the academic success. This research employed a semi-experimental design with pre-test, post-test and control group For this research primarily character…

Genetic variance and covariance components for feed intake, average daily gain, and postweaning gain in growing beef cattle

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Feed is the single most expensive cost related to a beef cattle production enterprise. Data collection to determine feed efficient animals is also costly. Currently a 70 d performance test is recommended for accurate calculation of efficiency. Previous research has suggested intake tests can be l...

Energy efficient engine. Core engine bearings, drives and configuration: Detailed design report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Broman, C. L.

1981-01-01

The detailed design of the forward and aft sumps, the accessory drive system, the lubrication system, and the piping/manifold configuration to be employed in the core engine test of the Energy Efficient Engine is addressed. The design goals for the above components were established based on the requirements of the test cell engine.

Lextale-Esp: A Test to Rapidly and Efficiently Assess the Spanish Vocabulary Size

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Izura, Cristina; Cuetos, Fernando; Brysbaert, Marc

2014-01-01

The methods to measure vocabulary size vary across disciplines. This heterogeneity hinders direct comparisons between studies and slows down the understanding of research findings. A quick, free and efficient test of English language proficiency, LexTALE, was recently developed to remedy this problem. LexTALE has been validated and shown to be an…

Bell experiments with random destination sources

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

Sciarrino, Fabio; Mataloni, Paolo; Istituto Nazionale di Ottica, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche

2011-03-15

It is generally assumed that sources randomly sending two particles to one or two different observers, random destination sources (RDSs), cannot be used for genuine quantum nonlocality tests because of the postselection loophole. We demonstrate that Bell experiments not affected by the postselection loophole may be performed with (i) an RDS and local postselection using perfect detectors, (ii) an RDS, local postselection, and fair sampling assumption with any detection efficiency, and (iii) an RDS and a threshold detection efficiency required to avoid the detection loophole. These results allow the adoption of RDS setups which are simpler and more efficient formore » long-distance free-space Bell tests, and extend the range of physical systems which can be used for loophole-free Bell tests.« less

Energy Efficient Engine acoustic supporting technology report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lavin, S. P.; Ho, P. Y.

1985-01-01

The acoustic development of the Energy Efficient Engine combined testing and analysis using scale model rigs and an integrated Core/Low Spool demonstration engine. The scale model tests show that a cut-on blade/vane ratio fan with a large spacing (S/C = 2.3) is as quiet as a cut-off blade/vane ratio with a tighter spacing (S/C = 1.27). Scale model mixer tests show that separate flow nozzles are the noisiest, conic nozzles the quietest, with forced mixers in between. Based on projections of ICLS data the Energy Efficient Engine (E3) has FAR 36 margins of 3.7 EPNdB at approach, 4.5 EPNdB at full power takeoff, and 7.2 EPNdB at sideline conditions.

Brain Anatomical Network and Intelligence

PubMed Central

Li, Jun; Qin, Wen; Li, Kuncheng; Yu, Chunshui; Jiang, Tianzi

2009-01-01

Intuitively, higher intelligence might be assumed to correspond to more efficient information transfer in the brain, but no direct evidence has been reported from the perspective of brain networks. In this study, we performed extensive analyses to test the hypothesis that individual differences in intelligence are associated with brain structural organization, and in particular that higher scores on intelligence tests are related to greater global efficiency of the brain anatomical network. We constructed binary and weighted brain anatomical networks in each of 79 healthy young adults utilizing diffusion tensor tractography and calculated topological properties of the networks using a graph theoretical method. Based on their IQ test scores, all subjects were divided into general and high intelligence groups and significantly higher global efficiencies were found in the networks of the latter group. Moreover, we showed significant correlations between IQ scores and network properties across all subjects while controlling for age and gender. Specifically, higher intelligence scores corresponded to a shorter characteristic path length and a higher global efficiency of the networks, indicating a more efficient parallel information transfer in the brain. The results were consistently observed not only in the binary but also in the weighted networks, which together provide convergent evidence for our hypothesis. Our findings suggest that the efficiency of brain structural organization may be an important biological basis for intelligence. PMID:19492086

40 CFR 63.4965 - How do I determine the add-on control device emission destruction or removal efficiency?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... device emission destruction or removal efficiency? 63.4965 Section 63.4965 Protection of Environment....4965 How do I determine the add-on control device emission destruction or removal efficiency? You must... destruction or removal efficiency as part of the performance test required by § 63.4960. You must conduct...

77 FR 5001 - Publication of the Petition for Waiver From Empire Comfort Systems From the Department of Energy...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-02-01

... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy [Case No. VHE-001... Heating Equipment Test Procedure AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of... Energy Efficiency, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. [FR Doc. 2012-2181 Filed 1-31-12; 8:45 am...

Mass Transfer Testing of a 12.5-cm Rotor Centrifugal Contactor

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

D. H. Meikrantz; T. G. Garn; J. D. Law

2008-09-01

TRUEX mass transfer tests were performed using a single stage commercially available 12.5 cm centrifugal contactor and stable cerium (Ce) and europium (Eu). Test conditions included throughputs ranging from 2.5 to 15 Lpm and rotor speeds of 1750 and 2250 rpm. Ce and Eu extraction forward distribution coefficients ranged from 13 to 19. The first and second stage strip back distributions were 0.5 to 1.4 and .002 to .004, respectively, throughout the dynamic test conditions studied. Visual carryover of aqueous entrainment in all organic phase samples was estimated at < 0.1 % and organic carryover into all aqueous phase samplesmore » was about ten times less. Mass transfer efficiencies of = 98 % for both Ce and Eu in the extraction section were obtained over the entire range of test conditions. The first strip stage mass transfer efficiencies ranged from 75 to 93% trending higher with increasing throughput. Second stage mass transfer was greater than 99% in all cases. Increasing the rotor speed from 1750 to 2250 rpm had no significant effect on efficiency for all throughputs tested.« less

How phonological awareness mediates the relation between working memory and word reading efficiency in children with dyslexia.

PubMed

Knoop-van Campen, Carolien A N; Segers, Eliane; Verhoeven, Ludo

2018-05-01

This study examined the relation between working memory, phonological awareness, and word reading efficiency in fourth-grade children with dyslexia. To test whether the relation between phonological awareness and word reading efficiency differed for children with dyslexia versus typically developing children, we assessed phonological awareness and word reading efficiency in 50 children with dyslexia (aged 9;10, 35 boys) and 613 typically developing children (aged 9;5, 279 boys). Phonological awareness was found to be associated with word reading efficiency, similar for children with dyslexia and typically developing children. To find out whether the relation between working memory and word reading efficiency in the group with dyslexia could be explained by phonological awareness, the children with dyslexia were also tested on working memory. Results of a mediation analysis showed a significant indirect effect of working memory on word reading efficiency via phonological awareness. Working memory predicted reading efficiency, via its relation with phonological awareness in children with dyslexia. This indicates that working memory is necessary for word reading efficiency via its impact on phonological awareness and that phonological awareness continues to be important for word reading efficiency in older children with dyslexia. © 2018 The Authors Dyslexia Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Generalized functional linear models for gene-based case-control association studies.

PubMed

Fan, Ruzong; Wang, Yifan; Mills, James L; Carter, Tonia C; Lobach, Iryna; Wilson, Alexander F; Bailey-Wilson, Joan E; Weeks, Daniel E; Xiong, Momiao

2014-11-01

By using functional data analysis techniques, we developed generalized functional linear models for testing association between a dichotomous trait and multiple genetic variants in a genetic region while adjusting for covariates. Both fixed and mixed effect models are developed and compared. Extensive simulations show that Rao's efficient score tests of the fixed effect models are very conservative since they generate lower type I errors than nominal levels, and global tests of the mixed effect models generate accurate type I errors. Furthermore, we found that the Rao's efficient score test statistics of the fixed effect models have higher power than the sequence kernel association test (SKAT) and its optimal unified version (SKAT-O) in most cases when the causal variants are both rare and common. When the causal variants are all rare (i.e., minor allele frequencies less than 0.03), the Rao's efficient score test statistics and the global tests have similar or slightly lower power than SKAT and SKAT-O. In practice, it is not known whether rare variants or common variants in a gene region are disease related. All we can assume is that a combination of rare and common variants influences disease susceptibility. Thus, the improved performance of our models when the causal variants are both rare and common shows that the proposed models can be very useful in dissecting complex traits. We compare the performance of our methods with SKAT and SKAT-O on real neural tube defects and Hirschsprung's disease datasets. The Rao's efficient score test statistics and the global tests are more sensitive than SKAT and SKAT-O in the real data analysis. Our methods can be used in either gene-disease genome-wide/exome-wide association studies or candidate gene analyses. © 2014 WILEY PERIODICALS, INC.

Generalized Functional Linear Models for Gene-based Case-Control Association Studies

PubMed Central

Mills, James L.; Carter, Tonia C.; Lobach, Iryna; Wilson, Alexander F.; Bailey-Wilson, Joan E.; Weeks, Daniel E.; Xiong, Momiao

2014-01-01

By using functional data analysis techniques, we developed generalized functional linear models for testing association between a dichotomous trait and multiple genetic variants in a genetic region while adjusting for covariates. Both fixed and mixed effect models are developed and compared. Extensive simulations show that Rao's efficient score tests of the fixed effect models are very conservative since they generate lower type I errors than nominal levels, and global tests of the mixed effect models generate accurate type I errors. Furthermore, we found that the Rao's efficient score test statistics of the fixed effect models have higher power than the sequence kernel association test (SKAT) and its optimal unified version (SKAT-O) in most cases when the causal variants are both rare and common. When the causal variants are all rare (i.e., minor allele frequencies less than 0.03), the Rao's efficient score test statistics and the global tests have similar or slightly lower power than SKAT and SKAT-O. In practice, it is not known whether rare variants or common variants in a gene are disease-related. All we can assume is that a combination of rare and common variants influences disease susceptibility. Thus, the improved performance of our models when the causal variants are both rare and common shows that the proposed models can be very useful in dissecting complex traits. We compare the performance of our methods with SKAT and SKAT-O on real neural tube defects and Hirschsprung's disease data sets. The Rao's efficient score test statistics and the global tests are more sensitive than SKAT and SKAT-O in the real data analysis. Our methods can be used in either gene-disease genome-wide/exome-wide association studies or candidate gene analyses. PMID:25203683

E-Learning Development Process for Operating System Course in Vocational School

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tuna, J. R.; Manoppo, C. T. M.; Kaparang, D. R.; Mewengkang, A.

2018-02-01

This development research aims to produce learning media in the form of E- Learning media using Edmodo which is interesting, efficient and effective on the subjects of operating system for students of class X TKJ in SMKN 3 Manado. The development model used was developed by S. Thiagarajan et al., Often known as the Four-D model, but this research only uses (define, design, and develop). Trial of the product is done twice (limited and wide). The experimental design used was the before-after experimental design. Data collection techniques used are interview techniques, questionnaires, and tests. The analytical technique used in this development research is descriptive qualitative. These include analysis of attractiveness test, efficiency and effectiveness of E-Learning media using Edmodo. The media attractiveness test was measured using a student response questionnaire. Media efficiency test was obtained through interviews of researchers with operating system subjects teachers and students of class X TKJ 1 at SMKN 3 Manado. While the media effectiveness test obtained from student learning outcomes before and after applying E-Learning media using Edomodo. Then tested by paired sample t test formula. After the media was piloted on the subject of trials (limited and broad), and the results show that E-Learning media using Edmodo is interesting, efficient and effective. It is shown on average student response score of 88.15% with very interesting interpretation. While the average value of student learning outcomes increased from 76.33 to 82.93. The results of differential test (paired sample t-test) the value of t = 11 217 ≥ ttable = 2,045 with significant value = 0.000 <α = 0.050 showing the media E -Learning using Edmodo is effective.

An efficient genome-wide association test for mixed binary and continuous phenotypes with applications to substance abuse research.

PubMed

Buu, Anne; Williams, L Keoki; Yang, James J

2018-03-01

We propose a new genome-wide association test for mixed binary and continuous phenotypes that uses an efficient numerical method to estimate the empirical distribution of the Fisher's combination statistic under the null hypothesis. Our simulation study shows that the proposed method controls the type I error rate and also maintains its power at the level of the permutation method. More importantly, the computational efficiency of the proposed method is much higher than the one of the permutation method. The simulation results also indicate that the power of the test increases when the genetic effect increases, the minor allele frequency increases, and the correlation between responses decreases. The statistical analysis on the database of the Study of Addiction: Genetics and Environment demonstrates that the proposed method combining multiple phenotypes can increase the power of identifying markers that may not be, otherwise, chosen using marginal tests.

Experimental Performance Evaluation of a Supersonic Turbine for Rocket Engine Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Snellgrove, Lauren M.; Griffin, Lisa W.; Sieja, James P.; Huber, Frank W.

2003-01-01

In order to mitigate the risk of rocket propulsion development, efficient, accurate, detailed fluid dynamics analysis and testing of the turbomachinery is necessary. To support this requirement, a task was developed at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) to improve turbine aerodynamic performance through the application of advanced design and analysis tools. These tools were applied to optimize a supersonic turbine design suitable for a reusable launch vehicle (RLV). The hot gas path and blading were redesigned-to obtain an increased efficiency. The goal of the demonstration was to increase the total-to- static efficiency of the turbine by eight points over the baseline design. A sub-scale, cold flow test article modeling the final optimized turbine was designed, manufactured, and tested in air at MSFC s Turbine Airflow Facility. Extensive on- and off- design point performance data, steady-state data, and unsteady blade loading data were collected during testing.

The Effect of Lateral Inclination of the Thrust Axis and of Sweepback of the Leading Edge of the Wing on Propulsive and Net Efficiencies of a Wing-Nacelle-Propeller Combination

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wood, Donald H.; Windler, Ray

1935-01-01

This report describes and gives the results of tests made to determine the effect of lateral inclination of the propeller thrust axis to the direction of flight. A wing-nacelle-propeller combination with the nacelle axis located successively parallel to and at 15 degrees to the perpendicular to the leading edge of a wing was tested with the combination at several angles of yaw. Tests of the wing alone at the same angles of yaw were also made. The data are presented in the usual graphic form. An increase in propulsive efficiency with increase in angle of the thrust axis was found. The change in net efficiency, found by charging the whole nacelle drag to the power unit, was negligible, however, within the range of the tests.

PCDD/F adsorption and destruction in the flue gas streams of MWI and MSP via Cu and Fe catalysts supported on carbon.

PubMed

Chang, Shu Hao; Yeh, Jhy Wei; Chein, Hung Min; Hsu, Li Yeh; Chi, Kai Hsien; Chang, Moo Been

2008-08-01

Catalytic destruction has been applied to control polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and dibenzofuran (PCDD/Fs) emissions from different facilities. The cost of carbon-based catalysts is considerably lower than that of the metal oxide or zeolite-based catalysts used in the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system. In this study, destruction and adsorption efficiencies of PCDD/Fs achieved with Cu/C and Fe/C catalysts from flue gas streams of a metal smelting plant (MSP) and a large-scale municipal waste incinerator (MWI), respectively, are evaluated via the pilot-scale catalytic reactor system (PCRS). The results indicate that Cu and Fe catalysts supported on carbon surface are capable of decomposing and adsorbing PCDD/ Fs from gas streams. In the testing sources of MSP and MWI, the PCDD/F removal efficiencies achieved with Cu/C catalyst at 250 degrees C reach 96%, however, the destruction efficiencies are negative (-1,390% and -112%, respectively) due to significant PCDD/F formation on catalyst promoted by copper. In addition, Fe/C catalyst is of higher removal and destruction efficiencies compared with Cu/C catalyst in both testing sources. The removal efficiencies of PCDD/Fs achieved with Fe/C catalyst are 97 and 94% for MSP and MWI, respectively, whereas the destruction efficiencies are both higher than 70%. Decrease of PCDD/F destruction efficiency and increase of adsorption efficiency with increasing chlorination of dioxin congeners is also observed in the test via three-layer Fe/C catalyst. Furthermore, the mass of 2,3,7,8-PCDD/Fs retained on catalyst decreases on the order of first to third layer of catalyst. Each gram Fe/C catalyst in first layer adsorbs 10.9, 6.91, and 3.04 ng 2,3,7,8-PCDD/Fs in 100 min testing duration as the operating temperature is controlled at 150, 200, and 250 degrees C, respectively.

Inter-relationships among alternative definitions of feed efficiency in grazing lactating dairy cows.

PubMed

Hurley, A M; López-Villalobos, N; McParland, S; Kennedy, E; Lewis, E; O'Donovan, M; Burke, J L; Berry, D P

2016-01-01

International interest in feed efficiency, and in particular energy intake and residual energy intake (REI), is intensifying due to a greater global demand for animal-derived protein and energy sources. Feed efficiency is a trait of economic importance, and yet is overlooked in national dairy cow breeding goals. This is due primarily to a lack of accurate data on commercial animals, but also a lack of clarity on the most appropriate definition of the feed intake and utilization complex. The objective of the present study was to derive alternative definitions of energetic efficiency in grazing lactating dairy cows and to quantify the inter-relationships among these alternative definitions. Net energy intake (NEI) from pasture and concentrate intake was estimated up to 8 times per lactation for 2,693 lactations from 1,412 Holstein-Friesian cows. Energy values of feed were based on the French Net Energy system where 1 UFL is the net energy requirements for lactation equivalent of 1kg of air-dry barley. A total of 8,183 individual feed intake measurements were available. Energy balance was defined as the difference between NEI and energy expenditure. Efficiency traits were either ratio-based or residual-based; the latter were derived from least squares regression models. Residual energy intake was defined as NEI minus predicted energy to fulfill the requirements for the various energy sinks. The energy sinks (e.g., NEL, metabolic live weight) and additional contributors to energy kinetics (e.g., live weight loss) combined, explained 59% of the variation in NEI, implying that REI represented 41% of the variance in total NEI. The most efficient 10% of test-day records, as defined by REI (n=709), on average were associated with a 7.59 UFL/d less NEI (average NEI of the entire population was 16.23 UFL/d) than the least efficient 10% of test-day records based on REI (n=709). Additionally, the most efficient 10% of test-day records, as defined by REI, were associated with superior energy conversion efficiency (ECE, i.e., NEL divided by NEI; ECE=0.55) compared with the least efficient 10% of test-day records (ECE=0.33). Moreover, REI was positively correlated with energy balance, implying that more negative REI animals (i.e., deemed more efficient) are expected to be, on average, in greater negative energy balance. Many of the correlations among the 14 defined efficiency traits differed from unity, implying that each trait is measuring a different aspect of efficiency. Copyright © 2016 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Test results and description of a 1-kW free-piston Stirling engine with a dashpot load

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schreiber, J.

1983-01-01

A 1 kW (1.33 hp) single cylinder free piston Stirling engine was installed in the test facilities at the Lewis laboratory. The engine was designed specifically for research of the dynamics of its operation. A more complete description of the engine and its instrumentation is provided in a prior NASA paper TM-82999 by J. G. Schreiber. Initial tests at Lewis showed the power level and efficiency of the engine to be below design level. Tests were performed to help determine the specific problems in the engine causing the below design level performance. Modifications to engine hardware and to the facility where performed in an effort to bring the power output and efficiency to their design values. As finally configured the engine generated more than 1250 watts of output power at an engine efficiency greater than 32 percent. This report presents the tests performed to help determine the specific problems, the results if the problem was eliminated, the fix performed to the hardware, and the test results after the engine was tested. In cases where the fix did not cause the anticipated effects, a possible explanation is given.

Wind-tunnel investigation of aerodynamic efficiency of three planar elliptical wings with curvature of quarter-chord line

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mineck, Raymond E.; Vijgen, Paul M. H. W.

1993-01-01

Three planar, untwisted wings with the same elliptical chord distribution but with different curvatures of the quarter-chord line were tested in the Langley 8-Foot Transonic Pressure Tunnel (8-ft TPT) and the Langley 7- by 10-Foot High-Speed Tunnel (7 x 10 HST). A fourth wing with a rectangular planform and the same projected area and span was also tested. Force and moment measurements from the 8-ft TPT tests are presented for Mach numbers from 0.3 to 0.5 and angles of attack from -4 degrees to 7 degrees. Sketches of the oil-flow patterns on the upper surfaces of the wings and some force and moment measurements from the 7 x 10 HST tests are presented at a Mach number of 0.5. Increasing the curvature of the quarter-chord line makes the angle of zero lift more negative but has little effect on the drag coefficient at zero lift. The changes in lift-curve slope and in the Oswald efficiency factor with the change in curvature of the quarter-chord line (wingtip location) indicate that the elliptical wing with the unswept quarter-chord line has the lowest lifting efficiency and the elliptical wing with the unswept trailing edge has the highest lifting efficiency; the crescent-shaped planform wing has an efficiency in between.

Efficient analytical implementation of the DOT Riemann solver for the de Saint Venant-Exner morphodynamic model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carraro, F.; Valiani, A.; Caleffi, V.

2018-03-01

Within the framework of the de Saint Venant equations coupled with the Exner equation for morphodynamic evolution, this work presents a new efficient implementation of the Dumbser-Osher-Toro (DOT) scheme for non-conservative problems. The DOT path-conservative scheme is a robust upwind method based on a complete Riemann solver, but it has the drawback of requiring expensive numerical computations. Indeed, to compute the non-linear time evolution in each time step, the DOT scheme requires numerical computation of the flux matrix eigenstructure (the totality of eigenvalues and eigenvectors) several times at each cell edge. In this work, an analytical and compact formulation of the eigenstructure for the de Saint Venant-Exner (dSVE) model is introduced and tested in terms of numerical efficiency and stability. Using the original DOT and PRICE-C (a very efficient FORCE-type method) as reference methods, we present a convergence analysis (error against CPU time) to study the performance of the DOT method with our new analytical implementation of eigenstructure calculations (A-DOT). In particular, the numerical performance of the three methods is tested in three test cases: a movable bed Riemann problem with analytical solution; a problem with smooth analytical solution; a test in which the water flow is characterised by subcritical and supercritical regions. For a given target error, the A-DOT method is always the most efficient choice. Finally, two experimental data sets and different transport formulae are considered to test the A-DOT model in more practical case studies.

Preliminary test results from a free-piston Stirling engine technology demonstration program to support advanced radioisotope space power applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

White, Maurice A.; Qiu, Songgang; Augenblick, Jack E.

2000-01-01

Free-piston Stirling engines offer a relatively mature, proven, long-life technology that is well-suited for advanced, high-efficiency radioisotope space power systems. Contracts from DOE and NASA are being conducted by Stirling Technology Company (STC) for the purpose of demonstrating the Stirling technology in a configuration and power level that is representative of an eventual space power system. The long-term objective is to develop a power system with an efficiency exceeding 20% that can function with a high degree of reliability for up to 15 years on deep space missions. The current technology demonstration convertors (TDC's) are completing shakedown testing and have recently demonstrated performance levels that are virtually identical to projections made during the preliminary design phase. This paper describes preliminary test results for power output, efficiency, and vibration levels. These early results demonstrate the ability of the free-piston Stirling technology to exceed objectives by approximately quadrupling the efficiency of conventional radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTG's). .

Eco Assist Techniques through Real-time Monitoring of BEV Energy Usage Efficiency

PubMed Central

Kim, Younsun; Lee, Ingeol; Kang, Sungho

2015-01-01

Energy efficiency enhancement has become an increasingly important issue for battery electric vehicles. Even if it can be improved in many ways, the driver’s driving pattern strongly influences the battery energy consumption of a vehicle. In this paper, eco assist techniques to simply implement an energy-efficient driving assistant system are introduced, including eco guide, eco control and eco monitoring methods. The eco guide is provided to control the vehicle speed and accelerator pedal stroke, and eco control is suggested to limit the output power of the battery. For eco monitoring, the eco indicator and eco report are suggested to teach eco-friendly driving habits. The vehicle test, which is done in four ways, consists of federal test procedure (FTP)-75, new european driving cycle (NEDC), city and highway cycles, and visual feedback with audible warnings is provided to attract the driver’s voluntary participation. The vehicle test result shows that the energy usage efficiency can be increased up to 19.41%. PMID:26121611

Test Generation Algorithm for Fault Detection of Analog Circuits Based on Extreme Learning Machine

PubMed Central

Zhou, Jingyu; Tian, Shulin; Yang, Chenglin; Ren, Xuelong

2014-01-01

This paper proposes a novel test generation algorithm based on extreme learning machine (ELM), and such algorithm is cost-effective and low-risk for analog device under test (DUT). This method uses test patterns derived from the test generation algorithm to stimulate DUT, and then samples output responses of the DUT for fault classification and detection. The novel ELM-based test generation algorithm proposed in this paper contains mainly three aspects of innovation. Firstly, this algorithm saves time efficiently by classifying response space with ELM. Secondly, this algorithm can avoid reduced test precision efficiently in case of reduction of the number of impulse-response samples. Thirdly, a new process of test signal generator and a test structure in test generation algorithm are presented, and both of them are very simple. Finally, the abovementioned improvement and functioning are confirmed in experiments. PMID:25610458

Helical screw expander evaluation project

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mckay, R.

1982-01-01

A one MW helical rotary screw expander power system for electric power generation from geothermal brine was evaluated. The technology explored in the testing is simple, potentially very efficient, and ideally suited to wellhead installations in moderate to high enthalpy, liquid dominated field. A functional one MW geothermal electric power plant that featured a helical screw expander was produced and then tested with a demonstrated average performance of approximately 45% machine efficiency over a wide range of test conditions in noncondensing, operation on two-phase geothermal fluids. The Project also produced a computer equipped data system, an instrumentation and control van, and a 1000 kW variable load bank, all integrated into a test array designed for operation at a variety of remote test sites. Data are presented for the Utah testing and for the noncondensing phases of the testing in Mexico. Test time logged was 437 hours during the Utah tests and 1101 hours during the Mexico tests.

49 CFR 239.301 - Operational (efficiency) tests.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PASSENGER TRAIN EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS Operational (Efficiency...-board and control center employees to determine the extent of compliance with its emergency preparedness...

The influence of Atmospheric Rivers over the South Atlantic on rainfall in South Africa

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramos, A. M.; Trigo, R. M.; Blamey, R. C.; Tome, R.; Reason, C. J. C.

2017-12-01

An automated atmospheric river (AR) detection algorithm is used for the South Atlantic Ocean basin, allowing the identification of the major ARs impinging on the west coast of South Africa during the austral winter months (April-September) for the period 1979-2014, using two reanalysis products (NCEP-NCAR and ERA-Interim). The two products show relatively good agreement, with 10-15 persistent ARs (lasting 18h or longer) occurring on average per winter and nearly two thirds of these systems occurring poleward of 35°S. The relationship between persistent AR activity and winter rainfall is demonstrated using South African Weather Service rainfall data. Most stations positioned in areas of high topography contained the highest percentage of rainfall contributed by persistent ARs, whereas stations downwind, to the east of the major topographic barriers, had the lowest contributions. Extreme rainfall days in the region are also ranked by their magnitude and spatial extent. It is found that around 70% of the top 50 daily winter rainfall extremes in South Africa were in some way linked to ARs (both persistent and non-persistent). Results suggest that although persistent ARs are important contributors to heavy rainfall events, they are not necessarily a prerequisite. Overall, the findings of this study support akin assessments in the last decade on ARs in the northern hemisphere bound for the western coasts of USA and Europe. AcknowledgementsThe financial support for attending this workshop was possible through FCT project UID/GEO/50019/2013 - Instituto Dom Luiz. The author wishes also to acknowledge the contribution of project IMDROFLOOD - Improving Drought and Flood Early Warning, Forecasting and Mitigation using real-time hydroclimatic indicators (WaterJPI/0004/2014, Funded by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal (FCT)), with the data provided to achieve this work. A. M. Ramos was also supported by a FCT postdoctoral grant (FCT/DFRH/ SFRH/BPD/84328/2012).

Electric Monopole Transition Strengths in the Stable Nickel Isotopes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Evitts, Lee John

A series of measurements of stable nickel isotopes were performed at the Australian National University in Canberra. Excited states in 58,60,62Ni were populated via inelastic scattering of proton beams delivered by the 14UD Pelletron accelerator. Multiple setups were used in order to determine the structure of low-lying states. The CAESAR array of Compton-suppressed HPGe detectors was used to measure the (E2/M1) mixing ratio of transitions from angular distributions of gamma rays. The Super-e spectrometer was used to measure conversion coefficients for a number of J to J transitions. The data obtained from both devices was combined with previously measured parent lifetimes and branching ratios to determine E0 transition strengths between J-pi transitions. The E0 transition strength for the second 0+ to first 0+ transitions in 60,62Ni have been measured for the first time through internal conversion electron detection. The experimental value of 132(+59,-70) for 62Ni agrees within 2 sigma of the previous result obtained from internal pair formation. However it is likely that the previous experimental results used an outdated theoretical model for internal pair formation emission. This work also represents the first measurements of E0 transition strengths between 2+ states in Ni isotopes. There is generally large E0 strength between the 2+ states, particularly in the second 2+ to first 2+ transition, however there is also a large uncertainty in the measurements owing to the difficulties involved in measuring conversion coefficients. In 62Ni, the E0 transition strength of 172(+62,-77) for the second 2+ to first 2+ transition gives further weight to the argument against the spherical vibrator model, as an E0 transition is forbidden if there is a change of only one phonon. The large measurement also indicates the presence of shape coexistence, complementing the recent experimental work carried out in the neutron-rich Ni isotopes.

Medical cost, incidence rate, and treatment status of gastroesophageal reflux disease in Japan: analysis of claims data.

PubMed

Miwa, Hiroto; Takeshima, Tomomi; Iwasaki, Kosuke; Hiroi, Shinzo

2016-11-01

Published reports have shown the prevalence and incidence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is increasing in Japan. The objective of this study is to examine change in GERD incidence, and to understand current patient demographics, medical costs, treatment status, and the suitability of current treatment based on analysis of an insurance claims database. An insurance claims database with data on ∼1.9 million company employees from January 2005 to May 2015 was used. Prevalence, demographics, and medical costs were analyzed by cross-sectional analysis, and incidence and treatment status were analyzed by longitudinal analysis among newly-diagnosed GERD patients. GERD prevalence in 2014 was 3.3% among 20-59 year-olds, accounting for 40,134 people in the database, and GERD incidence increased from 0.63% in 2009 to 0.98% in 2014. In 2014, mean medical cost per patient per month for GERD patients aged 20-59 was JPY 31,900 (USD 266 as of January 2016), which was ∼2.4-times the mean national healthcare cost. The most frequently prescribed drugs for newly-diagnosed GERD patients were proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). Although PPIs were prescribed more often in patients with more doctor visit months, over 20% of patients that made frequent doctor visits (19 or more visits during a 24 calendar months period) were prescribed PPIs during only 1 calendar month or not at all. The database included only reimbursable claims data and, therefore, did not cover over-the-counter drugs. The database also consisted of employee-based claims data, so included little data on people aged 60 years and older. Given the increasing incidence of GERD in Japan there is a need for up-to-date information on GERD incidence. This study suggests that some GERD patients may not be receiving appropriate treatment according to Japanese guidelines, which is needed to improve symptom control.

Cost-utility analysis of ledipasvir/sofosbuvir for the treatment of genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C in Japan.

PubMed

Igarashi, Ataru; Tang, Wentao; Guerra, Ines; Marié, Lucile; Cure, Sandrine; Lopresti, Michael

2017-01-01

Hepatitis C is the result of a ribonucleic acid (RNA) virus (hepatitis C virus; HCV). The Japan Society of Hepatology (JSH) estimated that 1.5-2 million people in Japan carry HCV. Six major HCV genotypes (GT) and a large number of subtypes have been described in the literature. In Japan, around 70% to 80% of people are infected with HCV genotype 1b. The progress of the disease primarily affects the liver and may lead to liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and death. Sofosbuvir (SOF) is a nucleotide analogue NS5B inhibitor and ledipasvir (LDV) is an inhibitor of the HCV NS5A protein. They are combined in a single tablet regimen for the treatment of GT1 patients and resulted in sustained virological response (SVR) above 94% in large phase III trials. This analysis assesses the cost-utility of LDV/SOF in GT1 patients in Japan. A cohort of 10,000 patients was followed through a Markov model until they reached 100 years of age. GT1 treatment-naïve and experienced, non-cirrhotic and cirrhotic patients were studied separately. LDV/SOF was compared to several treatment regimens containing pegylated interferon (PEGIFN), telaprevir (TVR), simeprevir (SMV), daclatasvir (DCV), asunaprevir (ASV) and ribavirin (RBV). Discount rates of 2% were applied to costs and outcomes according to the Japanese guidelines. LDV/SOF was cost-effective against most comparators with incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) below JPY 5,000,000. By applying a societal perspective, LDV/SOF was the dominant treatment strategy in all cases. Moreover, LDV/SOF reduced the number of cases of advanced liver disease. These results were robust to sensitivity analyses. LDV/SOF was cost-effective compared to most of the currently recommended treatments. Furthermore, LDV/SOF extends treatments to HCV-infected patients who are ineligible for interferon and RBV-based regimens. LDV/SOF thus has the potential to help reduce the burden of HCV in Japan.

The foreign exchange market: return distributions, multifractality, anomalous multifractality and the Epps effect

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Drożdż, Stanisław; Kwapień, Jarosław; Oświȩcimka, Paweł; Rak, Rafał

2010-10-01

We present a systematic study of various statistical characteristics of high-frequency returns from the foreign exchange market. This study is based on six exchange rates forming two triangles: EUR-GBP-USD and GBP-CHF-JPY. It is shown that the exchange rate return fluctuations for all of the pairs considered are well described by the non-extensive statistics in terms of q-Gaussians. There exist some small quantitative variations in the non-extensivity q-parameter values for different exchange rates (which depend also on the time scales studied), and this can be related to the importance of a given exchange rate in the world's currency trade. Temporal correlations organize the series of returns such that they develop the multifractal characteristics for all of the exchange rates, with a varying degree of symmetry of the singularity spectrum f(α), however. The most symmetric spectrum is identified for the GBP/USD. We also form time series of triangular residual returns and find that the distributions of their fluctuations develop disproportionately heavier tails as compared to small fluctuations, which excludes description in terms of q-Gaussians. The multifractal characteristics of these residual returns reveal such anomalous properties as negative singularity exponents and even negative singularity spectra. Such anomalous multifractal measures have so far been considered in the literature in connection with diffusion-limited aggregation and with turbulence. Studying the cross-correlations among different exchange rates, we found that market inefficiency on short time scales leads to the occurrence of the Epps effect on much longer time scales, but comparable to the ones for the stock market. Although the currency market is much more liquid than the stock markets and has a much greater transaction frequency, the building up of correlations takes up to several hours—a duration that does not differ much from what is observed in the stock markets. This may suggest that non-synchronicity of transactions is not the unique source of the observed effect.

Burkholderia humisilvae sp. nov., Burkholderia solisilvae sp. nov. and Burkholderia rhizosphaerae sp. nov., isolated from forest soil and rhizosphere soil.

PubMed

Lee, Jae-Chan; Whang, Kyung-Sook

2015-09-01

Strains Y-12(T) and Y-47(T) were isolated from mountain forest soil and strain WR43(T) was isolated from rhizosphere soil, at Daejeon, Korea. The three strains grew at 10-55 °C (optimal growth at 28-30 °C), at pH 3.0-8.0 (optimal growth at pH 6.0) and in the presence of 0-4.0% (w/v) NaCl, growing optimally in the absence of added NaCl. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the three strains were found to belong to the genus Burkholderia, showing the closest phylogenetic similarity to Burkholderia diazotrophica JPY461(T) (97.2-97.7%); the similarity between the three sequences ranged from 98.3 to 98.7%. Additionally, the three strains formed a distinct group in phylogenetic trees based on the housekeeping genes recA and gyrB. The predominant ubiquinone was Q-8, the major fatty acids were C16 : 0 and C17  : 0 cyclo and the DNA G+C content of the novel isolates was 61.6-64.4 mol%. DNA-DNA relatedness among the three strains and the type strains of the closest species of the genus Burkholderia was less than 50%. On the basis of 16S rRNA, recA and gyrB gene sequence similarities, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic data, the three strains represent three novel species within the genus Burkholderia, for which the names Burkholderia humisilvae sp. nov. (type strain Y-12(T)= KACC 17601(T) = NBRC 109933(T) = NCAIM B 02543(T)), Burkholderia solisilvae sp. nov. (type strain Y-47(T) = KACC 17602(T)= NBRC 109934(T) = NCAIM B 02539(T)) and Burkholderia rhizosphaerae sp. nov. (type strain WR43(T) = KACC 17603(T) = NBRC 109935(T) = NCAIM B 02541(T)) are proposed.

Megabenthic Community Structure Within and Surrounding the DISCOL Experimental Area 26 Years After Simulated Manganese Nodule Mining Disturbance.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Purser, A.; Marcon, Y.; Boetius, A.

2016-02-01

The current supplies of many high technology elements from land-based sources are at capacity, such as copper, nickel and yttrium. Potential future sources of some of these elements include the deep sea manganese nodule fields of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans. Large swathes of deep-sea seafloor are covered with high densities of 5 - 25 cm diameter nodules - agglomerations of manganese, iron and trace metals. In the 1980's these manganese fields were first seriously considered as mining targets, and the ''DISturbance and reCOLonization (DISCOL) experiment was started in the South Pacific, to simulate the likely environmental impacts of mining. In September 1989, 'RV Sonne', deploying a custom-built plough device, removed manganese nodules from the seafloor surface by ploughing them down into the sediment. This removal of nodules (and therefore hard substrate) was considered to likely be the most significant environmental impact of any future mining efforts. 78 plough tracks of 8 - 16m width were made across a 10.8 km diameter circular area centered on 7°04.4´S 88°27.6´W. Megafauna abundances were assessed prior and post ploughing, both within the disturbed area and at reference stations 6 km from the disturbed area. Research cruises in the 1990s investigated the short-term temporal impact ploughing had on the faunal community in the DISCOL area. Cruises conducted 3 and 7 years after disturbance showed that megafaunal communities within ploughed areas remained quite distinct from those observed pre-disturbance or in the reference areas. In 2016 the 'RV Sonne' revisited the DISCOL site with two research cruises, as part of the 'JPI-Oceans' programme. Here we report the current megafaunal community structures observed by SO242-2 within the DISCOL area, and the slow recovery rates of many taxa 26 years after the initial experimental disturbance, and provide images of the long term impact of experimental disturbances at the seafloor.

Estimating insured residential losses from large flood scenarios on the Tone River, Japan - a data integration approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Okada, T.; McAneney, K. J.; Chen, K.

2011-12-01

Flooding on the Tone River, which drains the largest catchment area in Japan and is now home to 12 million people, poses significant risk to the Greater Tokyo Area. In April 2010, an expert panel in Japan, the Central Disaster Prevention Council, examined the potential for large-scale flooding and outlined possible mitigation measures in the Greater Tokyo Area. One of the scenarios considered closely mimics the pattern of flooding that occurred with the passage of Typhoon Kathleen in 1947 and would potentially flood some 680 000 households above floor level. Building upon that report, this study presents a Geographical Information System (GIS)-based data integration approach to estimate the insurance losses for residential buildings and contents as just one component of the potential financial cost. Using a range of publicly available data - census information, location reference data, insurance market information and flood water elevation data - this analysis finds that insurance losses for residential property alone could reach approximately 1 trillion JPY (US 12.5 billion). Total insurance losses, including commercial and industrial lines of business, are likely to be at least double this figure with total economic costs being much greater again. The results are sensitive to the flood scenario assumed, position of levee failures, local flood depths and extents, population and building heights. The Average Recurrence Interval (ARI) of the rainfall following Typhoon Kathleen has been estimated to be on the order of 200 yr; however, at this juncture it is not possible to put an ARI on the modelled loss since we cannot know the relative or joint probability of the different flooding scenarios. It is possible that more than one of these scenarios could occur simultaneously or that levee failure at one point might lower water levels downstream and avoid a failure at all other points. In addition to insurance applications, spatial analyses like that presented here have implications for emergency management, the cost-benefit of mitigation efforts and land-use planning.

40 CFR 63.3166 - How do I determine the add-on control device emission destruction or removal efficiency?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... device emission destruction or removal efficiency? 63.3166 Section 63.3166 Protection of Environment... Limitations § 63.3166 How do I determine the add-on control device emission destruction or removal efficiency... emission destruction or removal efficiency as part of the performance test required by § 63.3160. You must...

40 CFR 63.3166 - How do I determine the add-on control device emission destruction or removal efficiency?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... device emission destruction or removal efficiency? 63.3166 Section 63.3166 Protection of Environment... Limitations § 63.3166 How do I determine the add-on control device emission destruction or removal efficiency... emission destruction or removal efficiency as part of the performance test required by § 63.3160. You must...

40 CFR 63.4766 - How do I determine the add-on control device emission destruction or removal efficiency?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... device emission destruction or removal efficiency? 63.4766 Section 63.4766 Protection of Environment... Option § 63.4766 How do I determine the add-on control device emission destruction or removal efficiency... emission destruction or removal efficiency as part of the performance test required by § 63.4760. You must...

Three state-of-the-art individual electric and hybrid vehicle test reports, volume 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1978-01-01

Procedures used in determining the energy efficiency and economy of a gasoline-electric hybrid taxi, an electric passenger car, and an electric van are described. Tabular and graphic data show results of driving cycle and constant speed tests, energy distribution to various components, efficiency of the components, and, for the hybrid vehicle, the emissions.

Using Neural Net Technology To Enhance the Efficiency of a Computer Adaptive Testing Application.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Van Nelson, C.; Henriksen, Larry W.

The potential for computer adaptive testing (CAT) has been well documented. In order to improve the efficiency of this process, it may be possible to utilize a neural network, or more specifically, a back propagation neural network. The paper asserts that in order to accomplish this end, it must be shown that grouping examinees by ability as…

[Testing method research for key performance indicator of imaging acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF)].

PubMed

Hu, Shan-Zhou; Chen, Fen-Fei; Zeng, Li-Bo; Wu, Qiong-Shui

2013-01-01

Imaging AOTF is an important optical filter component for new spectral imaging instruments developed in recent years. The principle of imaging AOTF component was demonstrated, and a set of testing methods for some key performances were studied, such as diffraction efficiency, wavelength shift with temperature, homogeneity in space for diffraction efficiency, imaging shift, etc.

Taylor-Made Education: The Influence of the Efficiency Movement on the Testing of Reading Skills.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Allen, JoBeth

Much of what has developed in the testing of reading harkens back to the days of the "Cult of Efficiency" movement in education that can be largely attributed to Frederick Winslow Taylor. Taylor spent most of his productive years studying time and motion in an attempt to streamline industrial production so that people could work as…

10 CFR Appendix C1 to Subpart B of... - Uniform Test Method for Measuring the Energy Consumption of Dishwashers

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

...), disregarding the provisions regarding batteries and the determination, classification, and testing of relevant... per degree Fahrenheit = 8.2, and e = nominal gas or oil water heater recovery efficiency = 0.75, 5.6.1... heater recovery efficiency = 0.75. 5.6.2 Dishwashers that operate with a nominal 120 °F inlet water...

Formal methods for test case generation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rushby, John (Inventor); De Moura, Leonardo Mendonga (Inventor); Hamon, Gregoire (Inventor)

2011-01-01

The invention relates to the use of model checkers to generate efficient test sets for hardware and software systems. The method provides for extending existing tests to reach new coverage targets; searching *to* some or all of the uncovered targets in parallel; searching in parallel *from* some or all of the states reached in previous tests; and slicing the model relative to the current set of coverage targets. The invention provides efficient test case generation and test set formation. Deep regions of the state space can be reached within allotted time and memory. The approach has been applied to use of the model checkers of SRI's SAL system and to model-based designs developed in Stateflow. Stateflow models achieving complete state and transition coverage in a single test case are reported.

Developmental change of visuo-spatial working memory in children: quantitative evaluation through an Advanced Trail Making Test.

PubMed

Kokubo, Naomi; Inagaki, Masumi; Gunji, Atsuko; Kobayashi, Tomoka; Ohta, Hidenobu; Kajimoto, Osami; Kaga, Makiko

2012-11-01

The present study aimed to investigate the developmental change in Visuo-Spatial Working Memory (VSWM) in typically developed children using a specially designed Advanced Trail Making Test for children (ATMT-C). We developed a new method for evaluating VSWM efficiency in children using a modified version ATMT to suit their shorter sustained attention. The ATMT-C consists of two parts; a number-based ATMT and a hiragana (Japanese phonogram)-based ATMT, both employing symbols familiar to young children. A total of 94 healthy participants (6-28 years of age) were enrolled in this study. A non-linear developmental change of VSWM efficiency was observed in the results from the ATMT-C. In the number-based ATMT, children under 8 years of age showed a relatively rapid increase in VSWM efficiency while older children (9-12 years) had a more gradual increase in VSWM efficiency. Results from the hiragana-based ATMT-C showed a slightly delayed increase pattern in VSWM efficiency compared to the pattern from the number-based ATMT. There were no significant differences in VSWM efficiency for gender, handedness and test order. VSWM in children gradually matures in a non steady-state manner and there is an important stage for VSWM maturation before reaching 12 years of age. VSWM efficiency may also vary depending on developmental condition of its cognitive subsystems. Copyright © 2012 The Japanese Society of Child Neurology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A novel pendulum test for measuring roller chain efficiency

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wragge-Morley, R.; Yon, J.; Lock, R.; Alexander, B.; Burgess, S.

2018-07-01

This paper describes a novel pendulum decay test for determining the transmission efficiency of chain drives. The test involves releasing a pendulum with an initial potential energy and measuring its decaying oscillations: under controlled conditions the decay reveals the losses in the transmission to a high degree of accuracy. The main advantage over motorised rigs is that there are significantly fewer sources of friction and inertia and hence measurement error. The pendulum rigs have an accuracy around 0.6% for the measurement of the coefficient of friction, giving an accuracy of transmission efficiency measurement around 0.012%. A theoretical model of chain friction combined with the equations of motion enables the coefficient of friction to be determined from the decay rate of pendulum velocity. The pendulum rigs operate at relatively low speeds. However, they allow an accurate determination of the coefficient of friction to estimate transmission efficiency at higher speeds. The pendulum rig revealed a previously undetected rocking behaviour in the chain links at very small articulation angles. In this regime, the link interfaces were observed to roll against one another rather than slide. This observation indicates that a very high-efficiency transmission can be achieved if the articulation angle is very low.

LFC leading edge glove flight: Aircraft modification design, test article development and systems integration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Etchberger, F. R.

1983-01-01

Reduction of skin friction drag by suction of boundary layer air to maintain laminar flow has been known since Prandtl's published work in 1904. The dramatic increases in fuel costs and the potential for periods of limited fuel availability provided the impetus to explore technologies to reduce transport aircraft fuel consumption. NASA sponsored the Aircraft Energy Efficiency (ACEE) program in 1976 to develop technologies to improve fuel efficiency. This report documents the Lockheed-Georgia Company accomplishments in designing and fabricating a leading-edge flight test article incorporating boundary layer suction slots to be flown by NASA on their modified JetStar aircraft. Lockheed-Georgia Company performed as the integration contractor to design the JetStar aircraft modification to accept both a Lockheed and a McDonnell Douglas flight test article. McDonnell Douglas uses a porous skin concept. The report describes aerodynamic analyses, fabrication techniques, JetStar modifications, instrumentation requirements, and structural analyses and testing for the Lockheed test article. NASA will flight test the two LFC leading-edge test articles in a simulated commercial environment over a 6 to 8 month period in 1984. The objective of the flight test program is to evaluate the effectiveness of LFC leading-edge systems in reducing skin friction drag and consequently improving fuel efficiency.

Neuropsychological sequelae of exposure to welding fumes in a group of occupationally exposed men.

PubMed

Bowler, Rosemarie M; Gysens, Sabine; Diamond, Emily; Booty, Andrew; Hartney, Christopher; Roels, Harry A

2003-10-01

This study compares the neuropsychological function, emotional status, visual function, and illness prevalence of 76 former and current chemical industry welders primarily involved in steel welding, and exposed to welding fumes for an average of 24.9 years with that of 42 unexposed, non-welder controls. Health and occupational history questionnaires were administered, as were the neuropsychological tests included in the World Health Organization Neurobehavioral Core Test Battery, Luria Motor Test, and selected tests from the WAIS-III, and WMS-III. Emotional status tests included the BSI, POMS, BAI, and BDI, and vision tests included the Snellen near visual acuity, Lanthony d-15 color vision, Vistech Contrast Sensitivity, and Schirmer strips. While welders and controls performed similarly on tests of verbal skills, verbal retention, and auditory span, welders performed worse than controls on tests of verbal learning, working memory, cognitive flexibility, visuomotor processing speed, and motor efficiency. Welders had poorer color vision and emotional status, and increased prevalence of illnesses and psychiatric symptoms. The increased symptoms in welders were related to decreased scores on tasks measuring verbal learning, visuomotor abilities, visuospatial abilities, and information processing, and motor efficiency. Within the group of welders, the number of hours welding was negatively related to scores on verbal learning, auditory span, working memory, cognitive flexibility, and motor efficiency.

Full scale evaluation of diffuser ageing with clean water oxygen transfer tests.

PubMed

Krampe, J

2011-01-01

Aeration is a crucial part of the biological wastewater treatment in activated sludge systems and the main energy user of WWTPs. Approximately 50 to 60% of the total energy consumption of a WWTP can be attributed to the aeration system. The performance of the aeration system, and in the case of fine bubble diffused aeration the diffuser performance, has a significant impact on the overall plant efficiency. This paper seeks to isolate the changes of the diffuser performance over time by eliminating all other influencing parameters like sludge retention time, surfactants and reactor layout. To achieve this, different diffusers have been installed and tested in parallel treatment trains in two WWTPs. The diffusers have been performance tested in clean water tests under new conditions and after one year of operation. A set of material property tests describing the diffuser membrane quality was also performed. The results showed a significant drop in the performance of the EPDM diffuser in the first year which resulted in similar oxygen transfer efficiency around 16 g/m3/m for all tested systems. Even though the tested silicone diffusers did not show a drop in performance they had a low efficiency in the initial tests. The material properties indicate that the EPDM performance loss is partly due to the washout of additives.

Alternative Fuels DISI Engine Research ? Autoignition Metrics.

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

Sjoberg, Carl Magnus Goran; Vuilleumier, David

Improved engine efficiency is required to comply with future fuel economy standards. Alternative fuels have the potential to enable more efficient engines while addressing concerns about energy security. This project contributes to the science base needed by industry to develop highly efficient direct injection spark igniton (DISI) engines that also beneficially exploit the different properties of alternative fuels. Here, the emphasis is on quantifying autoignition behavior for a range of spark-ignited engine conditions, including directly injected boosted conditions. The efficiency of stoichiometrically operated spark ignition engines is often limited by fuel-oxidizer end-gas autoignition, which can result in engine knock. Amore » fuel’s knock resistance is assessed empirically by the Research Octane Number (RON) and Motor Octane Number (MON) tests. By clarifying how these two tests relate to the autoignition behavior of conventional and alternative fuel formulations, fuel design guidelines for enhanced engine efficiency can be developed.« less

Thermal Protection Materials and Systems: Past, Present, and Future

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnson, Sylvia M.

2013-01-01

Thermal protection materials and systems (TPS) protect vehicles from the heat generated when entering a planetary atmosphere. NASA has developed many TPS systems over the years for vehicle ranging from planetary probes to crewed vehicles. The goal for all TPS is efficient and reliable performance. Efficient means using the right material for the environment and minimizing the mass of the heat shield without compromising safety. Efficiency is critical if the payload such as science experiments is to be maximized on a particular vehicle. Reliable means that we understand and can predict performance of the material. Although much characterization and testing of materials is performed to qualify and certify them for flight, it is not possible to completely recreate the reentry conditions in test facilities, and flight-testing

Research and development of energy-efficient high back-pressure compressor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

1983-09-01

Improved-efficiency compressors were developed in four capacity sizes. Changes to the baseline compressor were made to the motors, valve plates, and mufflers. The adoption of a slower running speed compressor required larger displacements to maintain the desired capacity. This involved both bore and stroke modifications. All changes that were made to the compressor are readily adaptable to manufacture. Prototype compressors were built and tested. The largest capacity size (4000 Btu/h) was selected for testing in a vending machine. Additional testing was performed on the prototype compressors in order to rate them on an alternate refrigerant. A market analysis was performed to determine the potential acceptance of the improved-efficiency machines by a vending machine manufacturer, who supplies a retail sales system of a major soft drink company.

An algorithm for testing the efficient market hypothesis.

PubMed

Boboc, Ioana-Andreea; Dinică, Mihai-Cristian

2013-01-01

The objective of this research is to examine the efficiency of EUR/USD market through the application of a trading system. The system uses a genetic algorithm based on technical analysis indicators such as Exponential Moving Average (EMA), Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD), Relative Strength Index (RSI) and Filter that gives buying and selling recommendations to investors. The algorithm optimizes the strategies by dynamically searching for parameters that improve profitability in the training period. The best sets of rules are then applied on the testing period. The results show inconsistency in finding a set of trading rules that performs well in both periods. Strategies that achieve very good returns in the training period show difficulty in returning positive results in the testing period, this being consistent with the efficient market hypothesis (EMH).

An Algorithm for Testing the Efficient Market Hypothesis

PubMed Central

Boboc, Ioana-Andreea; Dinică, Mihai-Cristian

2013-01-01

The objective of this research is to examine the efficiency of EUR/USD market through the application of a trading system. The system uses a genetic algorithm based on technical analysis indicators such as Exponential Moving Average (EMA), Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD), Relative Strength Index (RSI) and Filter that gives buying and selling recommendations to investors. The algorithm optimizes the strategies by dynamically searching for parameters that improve profitability in the training period. The best sets of rules are then applied on the testing period. The results show inconsistency in finding a set of trading rules that performs well in both periods. Strategies that achieve very good returns in the training period show difficulty in returning positive results in the testing period, this being consistent with the efficient market hypothesis (EMH). PMID:24205148

Highly loaded multi-stage fan drive turbine - performance of initial seven configurations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wolfmeyer, G. W.; Thomas, M. W.

1974-01-01

Experimental results of a three-stage highly loaded fan drive turbine test program are presented. A plain blade turbine, a tandem blade turbine, and a tangentially leaned stator turbine were designed for the same velocity diagram and flowpath. Seven combinations of bladerows were tested to evaluate stage performances and effects of the tandem blading and leaned stator. The plain blade turbine design point total-to-total efficiency was 0.886. The turbine with the stage three leaned stator had the same efficiency with an improved exit swirl profile and increased hub reaction. Two-stage group tests showed that the two-stage turbine with tandem stage two stator had an efficiency of 0.880 compared to 0.868 for the plain blade two-stage turbine.

Efficiency of a Malaria Reactive Test-and-Treat Program in Southern Zambia: A Prospective, Observational Study.

PubMed

Deutsch-Feldman, Molly; Hamapumbu, Harry; Lubinda, Jailos; Musonda, Michael; Katowa, Ben; Searle, Kelly M; Kobayashi, Tamaki; Shields, Timothy M; Stevenson, Jennifer C; Thuma, Philip E; Moss, William J; For The Southern Africa International Centers Of Excellence For Malaria Research

2018-05-01

To improve malaria surveillance and achieve elimination, the Zambian National Malaria Elimination Program implemented a reactive test-and-treat program in Southern Province in 2013 in which individuals with rapid diagnostic test (RDT)-confirmed malaria are followed-up at their home within 1 week of diagnosis. Individuals present at the index case household and those residing within 140 m of the index case are tested with an RDT and treated with artemether-lumefantrine if positive. This study evaluated the efficiency of this reactive test-and-treat strategy by characterizing infected individuals missed by the RDT and the current screening radius. The radius was expanded to 250 m, and a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) test was performed on dried blood spot specimens. From January 2015 through March 2016, 145 index cases were identified at health centers and health posts. A total of 3,333 individuals residing in 525 households were screened. Excluding index cases, the parasite prevalence was 1.1% by RDT (33 positives of 3,016 participants) and 2.4% by qPCR (73 positives of 3,016 participants). Of the qPCR-positive cases, 62% of 73 individuals tested negative by RDT. Approximately half of the infected individuals resided within the index case household (58% of RDT-positive individuals and 48% of qPCR-positive individuals). The low sensitivity of the RDT and the high proportion of secondary cases within the index case household decreased the efficiency of this reactive test-and-treat strategy. Reactive focal drug administration in index case households would be a more efficient approach to treating infected individuals associated with a symptomatic case.

Doubling immunochemistry laboratory testing efficiency with the cobas e 801 module while maintaining consistency in analytical performance.

PubMed

Findeisen, P; Zahn, I; Fiedler, G M; Leichtle, A B; Wang, S; Soria, G; Johnson, P; Henzell, J; Hegel, J K; Bendavid, C; Collet, N; McGovern, M; Klopprogge, K

2018-06-04

The new immunochemistry cobas e 801 module (Roche Diagnostics) was developed to meet increasing demands on routine laboratories to further improve testing efficiency, while maintaining high quality and reliable data. During a non-interventional multicenter evaluation study, the overall performance, functionality and reliability of the new module was investigated under routine-like conditions. It was tested as a dedicated immunochemistry system at four sites and as a consolidator combined with clinical chemistry at three sites. We report on testing efficiency and analytical performance of the new module. Evaluation of sample workloads with site-specific routine request patterns demonstrated increased speed and almost doubled throughput (maximal 300 tests per h), thus revealing that one cobas e 801 module can replace two cobas e 602 modules while saving up to 44% floor space. Result stability was demonstrated by QC analysis per assay throughout the study. Precision testing over 21 days yielded excellent results within and between labs, and, method comparison performed versus the cobas e 602 module routine results showed high consistency of results for all assays under study. In a practicability assessment related to performance and handling, 99% of graded features met (44%) or even exceeded (55%) laboratory expectations, with enhanced reagent management and loading during operation being highlighted. By nearly doubling immunochemistry testing efficiency on the same footprint as a cobas e 602 module, the new module has a great potential to further consolidate and enhance laboratory testing while maintaining high quality analytical performance with Roche platforms. Copyright © 2018 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Quantum efficiency test set up performances for NIR detector characterization at ESTEC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Crouzet, P.-E.; Duvet, L.; De Wit, F.; Beaufort, T.; Blommaert, S.; Butler, B.; Van Duinkerken, G.; ter Haar, J.; Heijnen, J.; van der Luijt, K.; Smit, H.; Viale, T.

2014-07-01

The Payload Technology Validation Section (Future mission preparation Office) at ESTEC is in charge of specific mission oriented validation activities, for science and robotic exploration missions, aiming at reducing development risks in the implementation phase. These activities take place during the early mission phases or during the implementation itself. In this framework, a test set up to characterize the quantum efficiency of near infrared detectors has been developed. The first detector to be tested will an HAWAII-2RG detector with a 2.5μm cut off, it will be used as commissioning device in preparation to the tests of prototypes European detectors developed under ESA funding. The capability to compare on the same setup detectors from different manufacturers will be a unique asset for the future mission preparation office. This publication presents the performances of the quantum efficiency test bench to prepare measurements on the HAWAII-2RG detector. A SOFRADIR Saturn detector has been used as a preliminary test vehicle for the bench. A test set up with a lamp, chopper, monochromator, pinhole and off axis mirrors allows to create a spot of 1mm diameter between 700nm and 2.5μm.The shape of the beam has been measured to match the rms voltage read by the Merlin Lock -in amplifier and the amplitude of the incoming signal. The reference detectors have been inter-calibrated with an uncertainty up to 3 %. For the measurement with HAWAII-2RG detector, the existing cryostat [1] has been modified to adapt cold black baffling, a cold filter wheel and a sapphire window. An statistic uncertainty of +/-2.6% on the quantum efficiency on the detector under test measurement is expected.

10 CFR 431.21 - Procedures for recognition and withdrawal of recognition of accreditation bodies and...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... ENERGY CONSERVATION ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT Electric Motors Test Procedures, Materials Incorporated and Methods of Determining Efficiency § 431.21 Procedures... Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy, Forrestal...

10 CFR 431.95 - Materials incorporated by reference.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Hearings and Dockets, “Test Procedures and Efficiency Standards... 10 Energy 3 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Materials incorporated by reference. 431.95 Section 431.95 Energy DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ENERGY CONSERVATION ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL AND...

A new device to test cutting efficiency of mechanical endodontic instruments.

PubMed

Giansiracusa Rubini, Alessio; Plotino, Gianluca; Al-Sudani, Dina; Grande, Nicola M; Sonnino, Gianpaolo; Putorti, Ermanno; Cotti, Elisabetta; Testarelli, Luca; Gambarini, Gianluca

2014-03-06

The purpose of the present study was to introduce a new device specifically designed to evaluate the cutting efficiency of mechanically driven endodontic instruments. Twenty new Reciproc R25 (VDW, Munich, Germany) files were used to be investigated in the new device developed to test the cutting ability of endodontic instruments. The device consists of a main frame to which a mobile plastic support for the hand-piece is connected and a stainless-steel block containing a Plexiglas block against which the cutting efficiency of the instruments was tested. The length of the block cut in 1 minute was measured in a computerized program with a precision of 0.1mm. The instruments were activated by using a torque-controlled motor (Silver Reciproc; VDW, Munich, Germany) in a reciprocating movement by the "Reciproc ALL" program (Group 1) and in counter-clockwise rotation at 300 rpm (Group 2). Mean and standard deviations of each group were calculated and data were statistically analyzed with a one-way ANOVA test (P<0.05). Reciproc in reciprocation (Group 1) mean cut in the Plexiglas block was 8.6 mm (SD=0.6 mm), while Reciproc in rotation mean cut was 8.9 mm (SD=0.7 mm). There was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups investigated (P>0.05). The cutting testing device evaluated in the present study was reliable and easy to use and may be effectively used to test cutting efficiency of both rotary and reciprocating mechanical endodontic instruments.

[A new procedure for the estimation of physical fitness of patients during clinical rehabilitation using the 6-minutes walk test].

PubMed

Marek, W; Marek, E; Friz, Y; Vogel, P; Mückenhoff, K; Kotschy-Lang, N

2010-03-01

AIMS OF THE INVESTIGATION: The repetition of the 6-minutes walk test (6 MWT) in older patients is frequently performed in order to document the maximal walking distance, although it is not recommended in any guidelines on exercise tests and although there is common consent to save clinical resources in terms of time and staff. Therefore, we have examined whether and to what extent the repetition of the walk tests helps patients to get more familiar with this kind of exercise test. Thus the acquired physiological data should reliably describe the physical fitness of the patients at the beginning and at the end of their clinical rehabilitation. 35 patients performed their walk tests before and after 3 - 4 weeks of clinical rehabilitation. Each test has been repeated after one hour of recovery. The patients were instructed to walk during 6 minutes as fast as possible. They were equipped with a mobile pulse oximeter for recording oxygen saturation and heart rate. The distance, S, and the heart rate, fc, were measured. Measurements were performed every 30 seconds and recorded. The efficiency, E (E = S/6/fc), was calculated as the ratio of distance per minute and the mean heart rate during the test. In the first test the patients walked 416 +/- 63 m at a heart rate of 104.7 +/- 15.7 beats/min, in the first repeated test 454 +/- 71 m at a heart of 106.3 +/- 17.4 beats/min. In the second test, after clinical therapy, they walked 438 +/- 58 m at a heart rate of 106.3 +/- 17.4 beats/min, in the second repeated test 473 +/- 56 m at 108.6 +/- 13.2/min. The difference of the walking distances of the tests at the entrance were found to be 38.4 +/- 26.2 m (+ 9.3 +/- 6.2%), at the end of clinical rehabilitation 35 +/- 26 m (+ 8.4 +/- 6.4%). Both differences are found to be independent from the distance of the first test. They are not significantly different. The efficiency was not significantly different in the initial and final test (0.673 +/- 0.129 and 0.689 +/- 0.085 m/beat, respectively). The difference in efficiency, when repeating the tests at the beginning, was: 0.053 +/- 0.062 m/beat; at the end of the rehabilitation: 0.042 +/- 0.047 m/beat. They are found to be similar. The distances the patients walked in the repeated tests at the entrance and at the end of their clinical rehabilitation were, besides the calculated efficiency, E, significantly increased. However, the increases in distance and efficiency are identical on both occasions, therefore the repetition delivers no further information. The test should be performed without repetitions in clinical routine investigations. The patient's performance in the second walk test with an unchanged distance at a lower heart rate reveals an improved physical fitness. This is solely described by an increase of efficiency, E. Therefore the introduction of E is a suitable measure of the quantified effect of exercise training, even if the patient is not cooperative during the tests. E is proved to be a suitable estimation for the assessment of physical fitness as a benefit of clinical rehabilitation. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart, New York.

Energy Efficient Engine: Control system component performance report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Beitler, R. S.; Bennett, G. W.

1984-01-01

An Energy Efficient Engine (E3) program was established to develop technology for improving the energy efficiency of future commercial transport aircraft engines. As part of this program, General Electric designed and tested a new engine. The design, fabrication, bench and engine testing of the Full Authority Digital Electronic Control (FADEC) system used for controlling the E3 Demonstrator Engine is described. The system design was based on many of the proven concepts and component designs used on the General Electric family of engines. One significant difference is the use of the FADEC in place of hydromechanical computation currently used.

The time-efficiency principle: time as the key diagnostic strategy in primary care.

PubMed

Irving, Greg; Holden, John

2013-08-01

The test and retest opportunity afforded by reviewing a patient over time substantially increases the total gain in certainty when making a diagnosis in low-prevalence settings (the time-efficiency principle). This approach safely and efficiently reduces the number of patients who need to be formally tested in order to make a correct diagnosis for a person. Time, in terms of observed disease trajectory, provides a vital mechanism for achieving this task. It remains the best strategy for delivering near-optimal diagnoses in low-prevalence settings and should be used to its full advantage.

Connected Lighting Systems Efficiency Study$-$ PoE Cable Energy Losses, Part 1

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

Tuenge, Jason; Kelly, Karsten; Poplawski, Michael

First report in a study of the efficiency of connected lighting systems. The report summarizes the results of an exploratory study investigating power losses in Ethernet cables used between PoE switches and luminaires in PoE connected lighting systems. Testing was conducted at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) Connected Lighting Test Bed in September 2017. The results were analyzed to explore the impact of cable selection on PoE lighting system energy efficiency, as well as the effectiveness of guidelines recently introduced by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) C137 Lighting Systems Committee.

Prognostic value of the oxygen uptake efficiency slope and other exercise variables in patients with coronary artery disease.

PubMed

Coeckelberghs, Ellen; Buys, Roselien; Goetschalckx, Kaatje; Cornelissen, Véronique A; Vanhees, Luc

2016-02-01

Peak exercise capacity is an independent predictor for mortality in patients with coronary artery disease. However, sometimes cardiopulmonary exercise tests are stopped prematurely. Therefore, submaximal exercise measures such as the oxygen uptake efficiency slope have been introduced. The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic value of the oxygen uptake efficiency slope and other exercise parameters, in patients with coronary artery disease. Between 2000 and 2011, 1409 patients with coronary artery disease (age 60.7 ± 9.9 years; 1205 males) underwent cardiopulmonary exercise tests. A maximal effort was not reached in 161 (11.5%) patients. The oxygen uptake efficiency slope was calculated and information on mortality was obtained. Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were used to assess the relation of oxygen uptake efficiency slope and other gas exchange variables with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses was performed to define optimal cut-off values. During an average follow-up of 7.45 ± 3.20 years (range 0.16-13.95 years), 158 patients died, among which 68 patients for cardiovascular reasons. The oxygen uptake efficiency slope was related to all-cause (hazard ratio: 0.568, p < 0.001) and cardiovascular (hazard ratio: 0.461, p < 0.001) mortality. When significant covariates were entered in the analysis, oxygen uptake efficiency slope remained related to mortality (p < 0.05). When other submaximal exercise parameters were added to the model, oxygen uptake efficiency slope and minute ventilation/carbon dioxide production slope also remained significantly related to mortality. The oxygen uptake efficiency slope is an independent predictor for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with coronary artery disease, irrespective of a truly maximal effort during cardiopulmonary exercise tests. Furthermore, the oxygen uptake efficiency slope provides prognostic information, complementary to the minute ventilation/carbon dioxide production slope and peak exercise capacity. © The European Society of Cardiology 2015.

A benchmarking method to measure dietary absorption efficiency of chemicals by fish.

PubMed

Xiao, Ruiyang; Adolfsson-Erici, Margaretha; Åkerman, Gun; McLachlan, Michael S; MacLeod, Matthew

2013-12-01

Understanding the dietary absorption efficiency of chemicals in the gastrointestinal tract of fish is important from both a scientific and a regulatory point of view. However, reported fish absorption efficiencies for well-studied chemicals are highly variable. In the present study, the authors developed and exploited an internal chemical benchmarking method that has the potential to reduce uncertainty and variability and, thus, to improve the precision of measurements of fish absorption efficiency. The authors applied the benchmarking method to measure the gross absorption efficiency for 15 chemicals with a wide range of physicochemical properties and structures. They selected 2,2',5,6'-tetrachlorobiphenyl (PCB53) and decabromodiphenyl ethane as absorbable and nonabsorbable benchmarks, respectively. Quantities of chemicals determined in fish were benchmarked to the fraction of PCB53 recovered in fish, and quantities of chemicals determined in feces were benchmarked to the fraction of decabromodiphenyl ethane recovered in feces. The performance of the benchmarking procedure was evaluated based on the recovery of the test chemicals and precision of absorption efficiency from repeated tests. Benchmarking did not improve the precision of the measurements; after benchmarking, however, the median recovery for 15 chemicals was 106%, and variability of recoveries was reduced compared with before benchmarking, suggesting that benchmarking could account for incomplete extraction of chemical in fish and incomplete collection of feces from different tests. © 2013 SETAC.

Efficiency, dispersion and straylight performance tests of immersed gratings for high resolution spectroscopy in the near infrared

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fernandez-Saldivar, J.; Culfaz, F.; Angli, N.; Bhatti, I.; Lobb, D.; Baister, G.; Touzet, B.; Desserouer, F.; Guldimann, B.

2017-11-01

New immersed grating technology is needed particularly for use in imaging spectrometers that will be used in sensing the atmosphere O2A spectral band (750nm - 775 nm) at spectral resolution in the order of 0.1 nm whilst ensuring a high efficiency and maintaining low stray light. In this work, the efficiency, dispersion and stray light performance of an immersed grating are tested and compared to analytical models. The grating consists of an ion-beam etched grating in a fused-silica substrate of 120 mm x 120mm immersed on to a prism of the same material. It is designed to obtain dispersions > 0.30°/nm-1 in air and >70% efficiency. The optical performance of the immersed grating is modelled and methods to measure its wavefront, efficiency, dispersion and scattered radiance are described. The optical setup allows the measurement of an 80mm beam diameter to derive the bidirectional scatter distribution function (BSDF) from the immersed grating from a minimum angle of 0.1° from the diffracted beam with angular resolution of 0.05°. Different configurations of the setup allow the efficiency and dispersion measurements using a tuneable laser in the 750nm-775nm range. The results from the tests are discussed with the suitability of the immersed gratings in mind for future space based instruments for atmospheric monitoring.

Metallized Gelled Propellants: Oxygen/RP-1/aluminum Rocket Combustion Experiments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Palaszewski, Bryan; Zakany, James S.

1995-01-01

A series of combustion experiments were conducted to measure the specific impulse, Cstar-, and specific-impulse efficiencies of a rocket engine using metallized gelled liquid propellants. These experiments used a small 20- to 40-1bf (89- to 178-N) thrust, modular engine consisting of an injector, igniter, chamber and nozzle. The fuels used were traditional liquid RP-1 and gelled RP-1 with 0-, 5-, and 55-wt% loadings of aluminum and gaseous oxygen was the oxidizer. Ten different injectors were used during the testing: 6 for the baseline 02/RP-1 tests and 4 for the gelled fuel tests which covered a wide range of mixture ratios. At the peak of the Isp versus oxidizer-to-fuel ratio (O/F) data, a range of 93 to 99% Cstar efficiency was reached with ungelled 02/RP-1. A Cstar efficiency range of 75 to 99% was obtained with gelled RP-l (0-wt% RP-1/Al) while the metallized 5-wt% RP-1/Al delivered a Cstar efficiency of 94 to 99% at the peak Isp in the O/F range tested. An 88 to 99% Cstar efficiency was obtained at the peak Isp of the gelled RP1/Al with 55-wt% Al. Specific impulse efficiencies for the 55-wt% RP-1/Al of 67%-83% were obtained at a 2.4:1 expansion ratio. Injector erosion was evident with the 55-wt% testing, while there was little or no erosion seen with the gelled RP-1 with 0- and 5-wt% Al. A protective layer of gelled fuel formed in the firings that minimized the damage to the rocket injector face. This effect may provide a useful technique for engine cooling. These experiments represent a first step in characterizing the performance of and operational issues with gelled RP-1 fuels.

Conditioned Pain Modulation in Women with Irritable Bowel Syndrome

PubMed Central

Jarrett, Monica E.; Shulman, Robert J.; Cain, Kevin C.; Deechakawan, Wimon; Smith, Lynne T.; Richebé, Philippe; Eugenio, Margaret; Heitkemper, Margaret M.

2013-01-01

Evidence suggests that patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are more vigilant to pain-associated stimuli. The aims of this study were to compare women with IBS (n = 20) to healthy control (HC, n = 20) women on pain sensitivity, conditioned pain modulation (CPM) efficiency and salivary cortisol levels before and after the CPM test; and examine the relationship of CPM efficiency with gastrointestinal, somatic pain, and psychological distress symptoms in each group. Women, ages 20–42, gave consent, completed questionnaires and kept a symptom diary for 2 weeks. CPM efficiency was tested with a heat test stimulus and cold water condition stimulus in a laboratory between 8 and 10 a.m. on a follicular phase day. Salivary cortisol samples were collected just before and after the experimental testing. Compared to the HC group, women with IBS reported more days with gastrointestinal and somatic pain/discomfort, psychological distress, fatigue, and feeling stressed. During the CPM baseline testing women with IBS reported greater pain sensitivity compared to the HC group. In the IBS group, CPM efficiency was associated with the pain impact (PROMIS) measure, daily abdominal pain/discomfort, psychological distress, in particular anxiety. There was no group difference in salivary cortisol levels. Overall, women with IBS exhibit an increased sensitivity to thermal stimuli. Impaired CPM was present in a subset of women with IBS. PMID:24463504

40 CFR 63.752 - Recordkeeping requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... efficiency of the control system (as determined using the procedures specified in § 63.750(h)) and all test... adsorber: (i) The overall control efficiency of the control system (as determined using the procedures... overall control efficiency of the control system (as determined using the procedures specified in § 63.750...

40 CFR 63.752 - Recordkeeping requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... efficiency of the control system (as determined using the procedures specified in § 63.750(h)) and all test... adsorber: (i) The overall control efficiency of the control system (as determined using the procedures... overall control efficiency of the control system (as determined using the procedures specified in § 63.750...

40 CFR 63.752 - Recordkeeping requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... efficiency of the control system (as determined using the procedures specified in § 63.750(h)) and all test... adsorber: (i) The overall control efficiency of the control system (as determined using the procedures... overall control efficiency of the control system (as determined using the procedures specified in § 63.750...

40 CFR 63.752 - Recordkeeping requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... efficiency of the control system (as determined using the procedures specified in § 63.750(h)) and all test... adsorber: (i) The overall control efficiency of the control system (as determined using the procedures... overall control efficiency of the control system (as determined using the procedures specified in § 63.750...

Screening of Wheat Genotypes for Boron Efficiency in Bangladesh

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

A number of Bangladeshi wheat genotypes (varieties and advanced lines) have been tested for boron efficiency through sand culture experiments over two years (2007-08 & 2008-09) against two Thai check varieties ‘Fang 60’ (boron efficient) and ‘SW41’ (boron inefficient). Performances of the genotypes ...

40 CFR 63.4361 - How do I determine the emission capture system efficiency?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... from the web coating/printing operation surfaces they are applied to occurs within the capture system... system efficiency? 63.4361 Section 63.4361 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY... emission capture system efficiency? You must use the procedures and test methods in this section to...

42 CFR 84.181 - Non-powered air-purifying particulate filter efficiency level determination.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 42 Public Health 1 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Non-powered air-purifying particulate filter...-purifying particulate filter efficiency level determination. (a) Twenty filters of each non-powered air-purifying particulate respirator model shall be tested for filter efficiency against: (1) A solid sodium...

42 CFR 84.181 - Non-powered air-purifying particulate filter efficiency level determination.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 42 Public Health 1 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Non-powered air-purifying particulate filter...-purifying particulate filter efficiency level determination. (a) Twenty filters of each non-powered air-purifying particulate respirator model shall be tested for filter efficiency against: (1) A solid sodium...

40 CFR 63.752 - Recordkeeping requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... efficiency of the control system (as determined using the procedures specified in § 63.750(h)) and all test... adsorber: (i) The overall control efficiency of the control system (as determined using the procedures... overall control efficiency of the control system (as determined using the procedures specified in § 63.750...

42 CFR 84.181 - Non-powered air-purifying particulate filter efficiency level determination.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... 42 Public Health 1 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Non-powered air-purifying particulate filter...-purifying particulate filter efficiency level determination. (a) Twenty filters of each non-powered air-purifying particulate respirator model shall be tested for filter efficiency against: (1) A solid sodium...

42 CFR 84.181 - Non-powered air-purifying particulate filter efficiency level determination.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 42 Public Health 1 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Non-powered air-purifying particulate filter...-purifying particulate filter efficiency level determination. (a) Twenty filters of each non-powered air-purifying particulate respirator model shall be tested for filter efficiency against: (1) A solid sodium...

42 CFR 84.181 - Non-powered air-purifying particulate filter efficiency level determination.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 42 Public Health 1 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Non-powered air-purifying particulate filter...-purifying particulate filter efficiency level determination. (a) Twenty filters of each non-powered air-purifying particulate respirator model shall be tested for filter efficiency against: (1) A solid sodium...

Pump/Control System Minimum Operating Cost Testing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1977-01-01

A preliminary evaluation of pump performance was initiated to determine the efficiencies of an arbitrary group of small pumps. Trends in factors affecting energy usage in typical prime movers which might be used in liquid transport solar systems were assessed. Comparisons of centrifugal pump efficiencies were made from one manufacturer to another. Tests were also made on two positive-displacement pumps and comparisons with centrifugal pumps were observed.

Integrated photovoltaic-thermal solar energy conversion systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Samara, G. A.

1975-01-01

A combined photovoltaic/thermal collector has been built and is now being tested. Initial tests have concentrated on evaluating the thermal efficiency of the collector before and after the silicon cells are mounted. With likely improvements in bonding between cells and receiver and in the absorptivity of the cells, thermal efficiencies greater than 50% can be expected for the combined receiver operating at 100 C.

Effect of Different Phases of Menstrual Cycle on Cardio-respiratory Efficiency in Normal, Overweight and Obese Female Undergraduate Students.

PubMed

Samsudeen, Nazrin; Rajagopalan, Archana

2016-12-01

The influence of obesity on cardio-respiratory efficiency in the various phases of menstrual cycle is not well understood until now. As majority of Indian women have a favourable attitude towards participation in sports it is significant to understand the variation in exercise performance during different phases of menstrual cycle to have an optimum performance. To evaluate the endurance capacity and cardio-respiratory responses in normal, obese and overweight female undergraduate students during different phases of menstrual cycle. Twenty normal weight, 20 obese and 20 over weight, unmarried, undergraduate female volunteers between the age group of 18-22 years, were recruited by convenient sampling. Cardio-respiratory efficiency was assessed by cardiac efficiency test, respiratory endurance test and respiratory blast test. Overall, exercise efficiency varied significantly during the different phases of the menstrual cycle with the highest during luteal phase and lowest during menstrual phase. Similar trend was observed in all the three weight sub-categories, but it was statistically significant in the normal and overweight category only. There was no significant difference in blast test during menstrual phase, follicular phase and luteal phase of menstrual cycle among three groups of individuals. Overall the obese and overweight females had a decreased value for blast test compared to the normal individuals. Significant difference was observed in endurance test among follicular and luteal phase of normal females but there is no change in overweight and obese. Significant difference was observed in Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) among luteal phase in normal and overweight individuals but there is no change in obese females. Overall obese individuals have a significant low PEFR compared to normal and overweight individuals. Significant increase in cardiac and respiratory efficiency was observed in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle in normal weight where as in overweight and obese females, there is an overall decrease in fitness capacity with increase in the Body Mass Index (BMI). Therefore, practice of regular exercise and intake of healthy diet which help in reducing the weight and in turn the BMI will help in enhancing the physical fitness of the individuals.

Improvement of energy efficiency: the use of thermography and air-tightness test in verification of thermal performance of school buildings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kauppinen, Timo; Siikanen, Sami

2011-05-01

The improvement of energy efficiency is the key issue after the energy performance of buildings directive came into the force in European Union countries. The city of Kuopio participate a project, in which different tools will be used, generated and tested to improve the energy efficiency of public buildings. In this project there are 2 schools, the other consuming much more heating energy than the other same type of school. In this paper the results of the thermography in normal conditions and under 50 Pa pressure drop will be presented; as well as the results of remote controlled air tightness test of the buildings. Thermography combined with air tightness test showed clearly the reasons of specific consumption differences of heating energy - also in the other hand, the measurements showed the problems in the performance of ventilation system. Thermography, air tightness test and other supporting measurements can be used together to solve energy loss problems - if these measurements will be carried out by proper way.

Efficient field testing for load rating railroad bridges

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schulz, Jeffrey L.; Brett C., Commander

1995-06-01

As the condition of our infrastructure continues to deteriorate, and the loads carried by our bridges continue to increase, an ever growing number of railroad and highway bridges require load limits. With safety and transportation costs at both ends of the spectrum. the need for accurate load rating is paramount. This paper describes a method that has been developed for efficient load testing and evaluation of short- and medium-span bridges. Through the use of a specially-designed structural testing system and efficient load test procedures, a typical bridge can be instrumented and tested at 64 points in less than one working day and with minimum impact on rail traffic. Various techniques are available to evaluate structural properties and obtain a realistic model. With field data, a simple finite element model is 'calibrated' and its accuracy is verified. Appropriate design and rating loads are applied to the resulting model and stress predictions are made. This technique has been performed on numerous structures to address specific problems and to provide accurate load ratings. The merits and limitations of this approach are discussed in the context of actual examples of both rail and highway bridges that were tested and evaluated.

Analysis, development and testing of a fixed tilt solar collector employing reversible Vee-Trough reflectors and vacuum tube receivers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Selcuk, M. K.

1979-01-01

The Vee-Trough/Vacuum Tube Collector (VTVTC) aimed to improve the efficiency and reduce the cost of collectors assembled from evacuated tube receivers. The VTVTC was analyzed rigorously and a mathematical model was developed to calculate the optical performance of the vee-trough concentrator and the thermal performance of the evacuated tube receiver. A test bed was constructed to verify the mathematical analyses and compare reflectors made out of glass, Alzak and aluminized GEB Teflon. Tests were run at temperatures ranging from 95 to 180 C during the months of April, May, June, July and August 1977. Vee-trough collector efficiencies of 35-40 per cent were observed at an operating temperature of about 175 C. Test results compared well with the calculated values. Test data covering a complete day are presented for selected dates throughout the test season. Predicted daily useful heat collection and efficiency values are presented for a year's duration at operation temperatures ranging from 65 to 230 C. Estimated collector costs and resulting thermal energy costs are presented. Analytical and experimental results are discussed along with an economic evaluation.

Experimental Study of Unshrouded Impeller Pump Stage Sensitivity to Tip Clearance

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Williams, Robert W.; Zoladz, Thomas; Storey, Anne K.; Skelley, Stephen E.

2002-01-01

This viewgraph presentation provides information on an experiment. Its objective is to experimentally determine unshrouded impeller performance sensitivity to tip clearance. The experiment included: Determining impeller efficiency at scaled operating conditions in water at MSFC's Pump Test Equipment (PTE) Facility; Testing unshrouded impeller at three different tip clearances; Testing each tip clearance configuration at on- and off-design conditions, and collecting unsteady- and steady-state data in each configuration; Determining impeller efficiency directly using drive line torquemeter and pump inlet and exit total pressure measurements.

Results of the ETV-1 breadboard tests under steady-state and transient conditions. [conducted in the NASA-LeRC Road Load Simulator

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sargent, N. B.; Dustin, M. O.

1981-01-01

Steady state tests were run to characterize the system and component efficiencies over the complete speed-torque capabilities of the propulsion system in both motoring and regenerative modes of operation. The steady state data were obtained using a battery simulator to separate the effects on efficiency caused by changing battery state-of-charge and component temperature. Transient tests were performed to determine the energy profiles of the propulsion system operating over the SAE J227a driving schedules.

Use of adaptive walls in 2D tests

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Archambaud, J. P.; Chevallier, J. P.

1984-01-01

A new method for computing the wall effects gives precise answers to some questions arising in adaptive wall concept applications: length of adapted regions, fairings with up and downstream regions, residual misadjustments effects, reference conditions. The acceleration of the iterative process convergence and the development of an efficient technology used in CERT T2 wind tunnels give in a single run the required test conditions. Samples taken from CAST 7 tests demonstrate the efficiency of the whole process to obtain significant results with considerations of tridimensional case extension.

Energy efficient engine

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Burrus, D.; Sabla, P. E.; Bahr, D. W.

1980-01-01

The feasibility of meeting or closely approaching the emissions goals established for the Energy Efficient Engine (E3) Project with an advanced design, single annular combustor was determined. A total of nine sector combustor configurations and one full-annular-combustor configuration were evaluated. Acceptable levels of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions were obtained with several of the sector combustor configurations tested, and several of the configurations tested demonstrated reduced levels of nitrogen oxides compared to conventional, single annular designs. None of the configurations tested demonstrated nitrogen oxide emission levels that meet the goal of the E3 Project.

The antifungal efficiency of carbide lime slurry compared with the commercial lime efficiency

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Strigac, J.; Mikusinec, J.; Strigacova, J.; Stevulova, N.

2017-10-01

The article deals with studying the antifungal efficiency of carbide lime slurry compared to industrially manufactured commercial lime. Antifungal efficiency expressed as mould proofness properties was tested on the fungi using the procedure given in standard CSN 72 4310. A mixture of fungi Aspergillus niger, Chaetomium globosum, Penicillium funiculosum, Paecilomyces variotii and Gliocladium virens was utilized for testing. The scale for evaluating mould proofness properties according to CSN 72 4310 is from 0 to 5 in degree of fungi growth, where 0 means that no fungi growth occurs and the building products and materials possess fungistatic properties. The study confirms the fungistatic propeties of carbide lime slurry as well as industrially manufactured commercial lime. However, carbide lime slurry and industrially manufactured commercial lime possess no fungicidal effect.

Carbon fiber internal pressure vessels

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Simon, R. A.

1973-01-01

Internal pressure vessels were designed; the filament was wound of carbon fibers and epoxy resin and tested to burst. The fibers used were Thornel 400, Thornel 75, and Hercules HTS. Additional vessels with type A fiber were made. Polymeric linears were used, and all burst testing was done at room temperature. The objective was to produce vessels with the highest attainable PbV/W efficiencies. The type A vessels showed the highest average efficiency: 2.56 x 10 to the 6th power cm. Next highest efficiency was with Thornel 400 vessels: 2.21 x 10 to the 6th power cm. These values compare favorably with efficiency values from good quality S-glass vessels, but strains averaged 0.97% or less, which is less than 1/3 the strain of S-glass vessels.

Fractal-Like Materials Design with Optimized Radiative Properties for High-Efficiency Solar Energy Conversion

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

Ho, Clifford K.; Ortega, Jesus D.; Christian, Joshua Mark

Novel designs to increase light trapping and thermal efficiency of concentrating solar receivers at multiple length scales have been conceived, designed, and tested. The fractal-like geometries and features are introduced at both macro (meters) and meso (millimeters to centimeters) scales. Advantages include increased solar absorptance, reduced thermal emittance, and increased thermal efficiency. Radial and linear structures at the meso (tube shape and geometry) and macro (total receiver geometry and configuration) scales redirect reflected solar radiation toward the interior of the receiver for increased absorptance. Hotter regions within the interior of the receiver can reduce thermal emittance due to reduced localmore » view factors to the environment, and higher concentration ratios can be employed with similar surface irradiances to reduce the effective optical aperture, footprint, and thermal losses. Coupled optical/fluid/thermal models have been developed to evaluate the performance of these designs relative to conventional designs. Modeling results showed that fractal-like structures and geometries can increase the effective solar absorptance by 5 – 20% and the thermal efficiency by several percentage points at both the meso and macro scales, depending on factors such as intrinsic absorptance. Meso-scale prototypes were fabricated using additive manufacturing techniques, and a macro-scale bladed receiver design was fabricated using Inconel 625 tubes. On-sun tests were performed using the solar furnace and solar tower at the National Solar Thermal Test facility. The test results demonstrated enhanced solar absorptance and thermal efficiency of the fractal-like designs.« less

Interlaboratory study for the validation of an ecotoxicological procedure to monitor the quality of septic sludge received at a wastewater treatment plant.

PubMed

Robidoux, P Y; Choucri, A; Bastien, C; Sunahara, G I; López-Gastey, J

2001-01-01

Septic tank sludge is regularly hauled to the Montreal Urban Community (MUC) wastewater treatment plant. It is then discharged and mixed with the wastewater inflow before entering the primary chemical treatment process. An ecotoxicological procedure integrating chemical and toxicological analyses has been recently developed and applied to screen for the illicit discharge of toxic substances in septic sludge. The toxicity tests used were the Microtox, the bacterial-respiration, and the lettuce (Lactuca sativa) root elongation tests. In order to validate the applicability of the proposed procedure, a two-year interlaboratory study was carried out. In general, the results obtained by two independent laboratories (MUC and the Centre d'expertise en analyse environnementale du Quebec) were comparable and reproducible. Some differences were found using the Microtox test. Organic (e.g., phenol and formaldehyde) and inorganic (e.g., nickel and cyanide) spiked septic sludge were detected with good reliability and high efficiency. The relative efficiency to detect spiked substances was > 70% and confirms the results of previous studies. In addition, the respiration test was the most efficient toxicological tool to detect spiked substances, whereas the Microtox was the least efficient (< 15%). Efficiencies to detect spiked contaminants were also similar for both laboratories. These results support previous data presented earlier and contribute to the validation of the ecotoxicological procedure used by the MUC to screen toxicity in septic sludge.

Development of FEB Test Platform for ATLAS New Small Wheel Upgrade

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Houbing; Hu, Kun; Wang, Xu; Li, Feng; Han, Liang; Jin, Ge

2016-10-01

This concept of test platform is based on the test requirements of the front-end board (FEB) which is developed for the phase I upgrade of the small Thin Gap Chamber(sTGC) detector on New Small Wheel(NSW) of ATLAS. The front-end electronics system of sTGC consists of 1,536 FEBs with about 322,000 readout of strips, wires and pads in total. A test platform for FEB with up to 256 channels has been designed to keep the testing efficiency at a controllable level. We present the circuit model architecture of the platform, and its functions and implementation as well. The firmware based on Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) and the software based on PC have been developed, and basic test methods have been established. FEB readout measurements have been performed in analog injection from the test platform, which will provide a fast and efficient test method for the production of FEB.

Efficiency test of filtering methods for the removal of transcranial magnetic stimulation artifacts on human electroencephalography with artificially transcranial magnetic stimulation-corrupted signals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zilber, Nicolas A.; Katayama, Yoshinori; Iramina, Keiji; Erich, Wintermantel

2010-05-01

A new approach is proposed to test the efficiency of methods, such as the Kalman filter and the independent component analysis (ICA), when applied to remove the artifacts induced by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) from electroencephalography (EEG). By using EEG recordings corrupted by TMS induction, the shape of the artifacts is approximately described with a model based on an equivalent circuit simulation. These modeled artifacts are subsequently added to other EEG signals—this time not influenced by TMS. The resulting signals prove of interest since we also know their form without the pseudo-TMS artifacts. Therefore, they enable us to use a fit test to compare the signals we obtain after removing the artifacts with the original signals. This efficiency test turned out very useful in comparing the methods between them, as well as in determining the parameters of the filtering that give satisfactory results with the automatic ICA.

Testing of an Amine-Based Pressure-Swing System for Carbon Dioxide and Humidity Control

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lin, Amy; Smith, Frederick; Sweterlitsch, Jeffrey; Graf, John; Nalette, Tim; Papale, William; Campbell, Melissa; Lu, Sao-Dung

2007-01-01

In a crewed spacecraft environment, atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and moisture control is crucial. Hamilton Sundstrand has developed a stable and efficient amine-based CO2 and water vapor sorbent, SA9T, that is well-suited for use in a spacecraft environment. The sorbent is efficiently packaged in pressure-swing regenerable beds that are thermally linked to improve removal efficiency and minimize vehicle thermal loads. Flows are all controlled with a single spool valve. This technology has been baselined for the new Orion spacecraft. However, more data was needed on the operational characteristics of the package in a simulated spacecraft environment. A unit was therefore tested with simulated metabolic loads in a closed chamber at Johnson Space Center during the last third of 2006. Tests were run at a variety of cabin temperatures and with a range of operating conditions varying cycle time, vacuum pressure, air flow rate, and crew activity levels. Results of this testing are presented and potential flight operational strategies discussed.

Improved Ant Algorithms for Software Testing Cases Generation

PubMed Central

Yang, Shunkun; Xu, Jiaqi

2014-01-01

Existing ant colony optimization (ACO) for software testing cases generation is a very popular domain in software testing engineering. However, the traditional ACO has flaws, as early search pheromone is relatively scarce, search efficiency is low, search model is too simple, positive feedback mechanism is easy to porduce the phenomenon of stagnation and precocity. This paper introduces improved ACO for software testing cases generation: improved local pheromone update strategy for ant colony optimization, improved pheromone volatilization coefficient for ant colony optimization (IPVACO), and improved the global path pheromone update strategy for ant colony optimization (IGPACO). At last, we put forward a comprehensive improved ant colony optimization (ACIACO), which is based on all the above three methods. The proposed technique will be compared with random algorithm (RND) and genetic algorithm (GA) in terms of both efficiency and coverage. The results indicate that the improved method can effectively improve the search efficiency, restrain precocity, promote case coverage, and reduce the number of iterations. PMID:24883391

Structural tests and development of a laminar flow control wing surface composite chordwise joint

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lineberger, L. B.

1984-01-01

The dramatic increases in fuel costs and the potential for periods of limited fuel availability provided the impetus to explore technologies to reduce transport aircraft fuel consumption. NASA sponsored the Aircraft Energy Efficiency (ACEE) program beginning in 1976 to develop technologies to improve fuel efficiency. The Lockheed-Georgia Company accomplished under NAS1-16235 Laminar-Flow-Control (LFC) Wing Panel Structural Design and Development (WSSD); design, manufacturing, and testing activities. An in-depth preliminary design of the baseline 1993 LFC wing was accomplished. A surface panel using the Lockheed graphite/epoxy integrated LFC wing box structural concept was designed. The concept was shown by analysis to be structurally efficient and cost effective. Critical details of the surface and surface joint was demonstrated by fabricating and testing complex, concept selection specimens. The Lockheed-Georgia Company accomplishments, Development of LFC Wind Surface Composite Structures (WSCS), are documented. Tests were conducted on two CV2 panels to verify the static tension and fatigue strength of LFC wing surface chordwise joints.

Testing market informational efficiency of Constanta port operators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roşca, E.; Popa, M.; Ruscă, F.; Burciu, Ş.

2015-11-01

The Romanian capital market is still an emergent one. Following the mass- privatization process and the private investments, three of the most important handling and storage companies acting in Constantza Port (OIL Terminal, Comvex and SOCEP) are listed on Romanian Stock Exchange. The paper investigates their evolution on the market, identifying the expected rate of return and the components of the shares risk (specific and systematic). Also, the price evolution could be analyzed through the informational efficiency which instantly reflects the price relevance. The Jarque-Bera normality test regarding the shares return rate distribution and the Fama test for the informational efficiency are completed for each company. The market price model is taken into consideration for price forecasting, computing the return rate auto-correlations. The results are subject of interpretation considering additional managerial and financial information of the companies’ activity.

The sensitivity, specificity and efficiency values of some serological tests used in the diagnosis of paracoccidioidomycosis.

PubMed

Del Negro, G M; Garcia, N M; Rodrigues, E G; Cano, M I; de Aguiar, M S; Lírio, V de S; Lacaz, C da S

1991-01-01

This work reports on the results of double immunodiffusion (ID), counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE), complement fixation (CF) and indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) techniques in the serodiagnosis of paracoccidioidomycosis. The study was undertaken on four groups of individuals: 46 patients with untreated paracoccidioidomycosis, 22 patients with other deep mycoses, 30 with other infectious diseases (tuberculosis and cutaneous leishmaniasis) and 47 blood donors as negative controls. Data were obtained using Paracoccidioides brasiliensis antigens, i.e., a yeast culture filtrate for ID, CIE and CF, and a yeast cell suspension for IIF. The sensitivity, specificity and efficiency values were measured according to GALEN & GAMBINO. The gel precipitation tests (ID and CIE) showed the greatest sensitivity (91.3 and 95.6%, respectively), maximum specificity (100%) and the highest efficiency values when compared to the CF and IIF tests.

Efficiency of filtering materials used in respiratory protective devices against nanoparticles.

PubMed

Brochocka, Agnieszka; Makowski, Krzysztof; Majchrzycka, Katarzyna; Grzybowski, Piotr

2013-01-01

The basic aim of this research was to establish the efficiency of filtering materials widely used in respiratory protection devices with particular interest in their porosity, degree of electric and changeable process parameters, such as the flow rate of the test nanoaerosol and the size range of nanoparticles. Tests were carried out with an NaCl solid aerosol of 3.2 × 105 particles/cm3 for the range of particle size of 7-270 nm, at aerosol flow rate of 1800, 2700, 3600, 4500 and 5400 L/h. The tests showed that electrospun nonwovens were the most effective filtering materials for nanoparticles over 20 nm. Melt-blown electret nonwovens with lower porosity than electrospun nonwovens had higher values of penetration of 1%-4%. Those materials provided very efficient protection against nanoparticles of certain sizes only.

Test methods and results of the 10-cell bipolar Ni-H2 battery

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cataldo, R.

1983-01-01

Characterization tests were carried out at three charge levels and four discharge levels. The "c' or capacity of the battery is designated at 6.5 ampere-hours. The recharge ampere-hours was the same for all test conditions, 6.5 A-H, regardless of the discharge capacity removed for any particular discharge rate. Less capacity can be removed at higher discharge rates to the same termination voltage, which was 0.50 volts for the weakest (lowest voltage) cell. The general trend of efficiencies increases as the charge rate increases as noted in results of the table included in the handout package. The data also indicate the efficiency increases as the discharge rate decreases. This is true; however, efficiencies at the discharge rates of c and 2c are penalized because these cycles received more overcharge than necessary.

Skiing economy and efficiency in recreational and elite cross-country skiers.

PubMed

Ainegren, Mats; Carlsson, Peter; Tinnsten, Mats; Laaksonen, Marko S

2013-05-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare skiing economy and gross efficiency in cross-country skiers of different performance levels, ages and genders; male recreational skiers and elite senior and junior cross-country skiers of both genders. The skiers performed tests involving roller skiing on a treadmill using the gear 3 and diagonal stride techniques. The elite cross-country skiers were found to have better skiing economy and higher gross efficiency (5-18%) compared with the recreational skiers (p < 0.05) and the senior elite had better economy and higher efficiency (4-5%) than their junior counterparts (p < 0.05), whereas no differences could be found between the genders. Also, large ranges in economy and gross efficiency were found in all groups. It was concluded that, in addition to V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak, skiing economy and gross efficiency have a great influence on the differences in performance times between recreational and junior and senior elite cross-country skiers, as well as between individual skiers within the different categories. Thus, we recommend cross-country skiers at all performance levels to test not only V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak, but also skiing economy and efficiency.

Optimized guide RNA structure for genome editing via Cas9

PubMed Central

Xu, Jianyong; Lian, Wei; Jia, Yuning; Li, Lingyun; Huang, Zhong

2017-01-01

The genome editing tool Cas9-gRNA (guide RNA) has been successfully applied in different cell types and organisms with high efficiency. However, more efforts need to be made to enhance both efficiency and specificity. In the current study, we optimized the guide RNA structure of Streptococcus pyogenes CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats)/Cas (CRISPR-associated) system to improve its genome editing efficiency. Comparing with the original functional structure of guide RNA, which is composed of crRNA and tracrRNA, the widely used chimeric gRNA has shorter crRNA and tracrRNA sequence. The deleted RNA sequence could form extra loop structure, which might enhance the stability of the guide RNA structure and subsequently the genome editing efficiency. Thus the genome editing efficiency of different forms of guide RNA was tested. And we found that the chimeric structure of gRNA with original full length of crRNA and tracrRNA showed higher genome editing efficiency than the conventional chimeric structure or other types of gRNA we tested. Therefore our data here uncovered the new type of gRNA structure with higher genome editing efficiency. PMID:29212218

Masticatory efficiency contributing to the improved dynamic postural balance: A cross-sectional study.

PubMed

Hwang, Hae-Yun; Choi, Jun-Seon; Kim, Hee-Eun

2018-05-28

To evaluate whether masticatory efficiency is associated with dynamic postural balance. Masticatory dysfunction can cause deterioration of general health due to nutritional imbalances, thereby negatively affecting postural balance. However, few studies have investigated the association between masticatory efficiency and postural balance. The masticatory efficiency of 74 participants was evaluated by calculating mixing ability index (MAI) using a wax cube. The timed up and go test (TUGT) was used to measure dynamic balance. Participants with an MAI above or below the median value of 1.05 were defined as having high or low masticatory efficiency, respectively. An independent samples t-test was used to identify significant differences in TUGT, according to masticatory efficiency. Analysis of covariance was performed to adjust for confounding factors. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the correlation between masticatory efficiency and postural balance. The high masticatory efficiency group could complete the TUGT exercise approximately 1.67 seconds faster while maintaining the postural balance, compared to the low masticatory efficiency group (P = .005). Furthermore, the postural imbalance odds of the group with high mastication efficiency decreased by 0.14-fold, relative to the group with low mastication efficiency (95% confidence interval: 0.04-0.46). With some reservations about statistical power, the association found between masticatory efficiency and postural balance justifies further investigations to confirm the strength of the associations, and possibly to identify causal relationships between mastication and posture in old age. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons A/S and The Gerodontology Association. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

University Efficiency: Complementariness versus Trade-Off between Teaching, Research and Administrative Activities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sellers-Rubio, Ricardo; Mas-Ruiz, Francisco J.; Casado-Diaz, Ana B.

2010-01-01

University managers should be aware of the importance that efficiency has for their own universities, orientating their actions towards research and teaching excellence. This study estimates teaching and research efficiency of the different departments of a university and tests the complementariness versus trade-off between them. The results…

78 FR 41387 - Petition for Waiver and Notice of Granting the Application for Interim Waiver of ASKO Appliances...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-07-10

... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy [Case No. CD-008] Petition... DOE Residential Clothes Dryer Test Procedure AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy... Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (the Assistant Secretary) if it is determined...

76 FR 11233 - Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Decision and Order Granting a Waiver to LG...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-03-01

... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy [Case No. CW-016] Energy... Energy Residential Clothes Washer Test Procedure AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy... 23, 2011. Cathy Zoi, Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Decision and Order...

77 FR 49443 - Decision and Order Granting a Waiver to Sanyo From the Department of Energy Residential...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-16

... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy [Case No. RF-022] Decision... Refrigerator-Freezer Test Procedures AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of... characteristics. The Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (the Assistant Secretary) may...

40 CFR Table 3 to Subpart Lllll of... - Requirements for Performance Tests a,b

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

..., THC destruction efficiency, THC outlet concentration, or combustion efficiency standards, the sampling... combustion efficiency or THC standards a. Measure the concentration of carbon dioxideb. Measure the... method 25A in appendix A to part 60 of this chapter 10. Each control device used to comply with the THC...

40 CFR Table 3 to Subpart Lllll of... - Requirements for Performance Tests a,b

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

..., THC destruction efficiency, THC outlet concentration, or combustion efficiency standards, the sampling... combustion efficiency or THC standards a. Measure the concentration of carbon dioxideb. Measure the... method 25A in appendix A to part 60 of this chapter 10. Each control device used to comply with the THC...

40 CFR Table 3 to Subpart Lllll of... - Requirements for Performance Tests a,b

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

..., THC destruction efficiency, THC outlet concentration, or combustion efficiency standards, the sampling... combustion efficiency or THC standards a. Measure the concentration of carbon dioxideb. Measure the... method 25A in appendix A to part 60 of this chapter 10. Each control device used to comply with the THC...

40 CFR Table 3 to Subpart Lllll of... - Requirements for Performance Tests a b

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

..., THC destruction efficiency, THC outlet concentration, or combustion efficiency standards, the sampling... combustion efficiency or THC standards a. Measure the concentration of carbon dioxideb. Measure the... method 25A in appendix A to part 60 of this chapter 10. Each control device used to comply with the THC...

40 CFR Table 3 to Subpart Lllll of... - Requirements for Performance Tests a,b

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

..., THC destruction efficiency, THC outlet concentration, or combustion efficiency standards, the sampling... combustion efficiency or THC standards a. Measure the concentration of carbon dioxideb. Measure the... method 25A in appendix A to part 60 of this chapter 10. Each control device used to comply with the THC...

10 CFR 430.23 - Test procedures for the measurement of energy and water consumption.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... nearest dollar per year. (2) The energy efficiency ratio for room air conditioners, expressed in Btu's per... one-quarter of a dollar per year. (2) The cooking efficiency for conventional cooking tops... appendix I to this subpart. The final cooking efficiency values shall be rounded off to three significant...

Predicting Efficiency of Travel in Young, Visually Impaired Children from Their Other Spatial Skills.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hill, Anita; And Others

1985-01-01

To test ways of predicting how efficiently visually impaired children learn travel skills, a criteria checklist of spatial skills was developed for close-body space, local space, and geographical/travel space. Comparison was made between predictors of efficient learning including subjective ratings of teachers, personal qualities and factors of…

Efficiency in the Community College Sector: Stochastic Frontier Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Agasisti, Tommaso; Belfield, Clive

2017-01-01

This paper estimates technical efficiency scores across the community college sector in the United States. Using stochastic frontier analysis and data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System for 2003-2010, we estimate efficiency scores for 950 community colleges and perform a series of sensitivity tests to check for robustness. We…

Quaternized adamantane-containing poly(aryl ether ketone) anion exchange membranes for vanadium redox flow battery applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Bengui; Zhang, Shouhai; Weng, Zhihuan; Wang, Guosheng; Zhang, Enlei; Yu, Ping; Chen, Xiaomeng; Wang, Xinwei

2016-09-01

Quaternized adamantane-containing poly(aryl ether ketone) anion exchange membranes (QADMPEK) are prepared and investigated for vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFB) application. The bulky, rigid and highly hydrophobic adamantane segment incorporated into the backbone of membrane material makes QADMPEK membranes have low water uptake and swelling ratio, and the as-prepared membranes display significantly lower permeability of vanadium ions than that of Nafion117 membrane. As a consequence, the VRFB cell with QADMPEK-3 membrane shows higher coulombic efficiency (99.4%) and energy efficiency (84.0%) than those for Nafion117 membrane (95.2% and 80.5%, respectively) at the current density of 80 mA cm-2. Furthermore, at a much higher current density of 140 mA cm-2, QADMPEK membrane still exhibits better coulombic efficiency and energy efficiency than Nafion117 membrane (coulombic efficiency 99.2% vs 96.5% and energy efficiency 76.0% vs 74.0%). Moreover, QADMPEK membranes show high stability in in-situ VRFB cycle test and ex-situ oxidation stability test. These results indicate that QADMPEK membranes are good candidates for VRFB applications.

Langley Ground Facilities and Testing in the 21st Century

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ambur, Damodar R.; Kegelman, Jerome T.; Kilgore, William A.

2010-01-01

A strategic approach for retaining and more efficiently operating the essential Langley Ground Testing Facilities in the 21st Century is presented. This effort takes advantage of the previously completed and ongoing studies at the Agency and National levels. This integrated approach takes into consideration the overall decline in test business base within the nation and reduced utilization in each of the Langley facilities with capabilities to test in the subsonic, transonic, supersonic, and hypersonic speed regimes. The strategy accounts for capability needs to meet the Agency programmatic requirements and strategic goals and to execute test activities in the most efficient and flexible facility operating structure. The structure currently being implemented at Langley offers agility to right-size our capability and capacity from a national perspective, to accommodate the dynamic nature of the testing needs, and will address the influence of existing and emerging analytical tools for design. The paradigm for testing in the retained facilities is to efficiently and reliably provide more accurate and high-quality test results at an affordable cost to support design information needs for flight regimes where the computational capability is not adequate and to verify and validate the existing and emerging computational tools. Each of the above goals are planned to be achieved, keeping in mind the increasing small industry customer base engaged in developing unpiloted aerial vehicles and commercial space transportation systems.

Tracer-Test Planning Using the Efficient Hydrologic Tracer-Test Design (Ehtd) Program (2005)

EPA Science Inventory

Hydrological tracer testing is the most reliable diagnostic technique available for establishing flow trajectories and hydrologic connections and for determining basic hydraulic and geometric parameters necessary for establishing operative solute-transport processes. Tracer-test ...

Tracer-Test Planning Using the Efficient Hydrologic Tracer-Test Design (Ehtd) Program (2003)

EPA Science Inventory

Hydrological tracer testing is the most reliable diagnostic technique available for establishing flow trajectories and hydrologic connections and for determining basic hydraulic and geometric parameters necessary for establishing operative solute-transport processes. Tracer-test ...

A Comparison of the One-and Three-Parameter Logistic Models on Measures of Test Efficiency.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Benson, Jeri

Two methods of item selection were used to select sets of 40 items from a 50-item verbal analogies test, and the resulting item sets were compared for relative efficiency. The BICAL program was used to select the 40 items having the best mean square fit to the one parameter logistic (Rasch) model. The LOGIST program was used to select the 40 items…

Energy Efficient Engine integrated core/low spool design and performance report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stearns, E. Marshall

1985-01-01

The Energy Efficient Engine (E3) is a NASA program to create fuel saving technology for future transport aircraft engines. The E3 technology advancements were demonstrated to operate reliably and achieve goal performance in tests of the Integrated Core/Low Spool vehicle. The first build of this undeveloped technology research engine set a record for low fuel consumption. Its design and detailed test results are herein presented.

Cardiorespiratory endurance evaluation using heart rate analysis during ski simulator exercise and the Harvard step test in elementary school students.

PubMed

Lee, Hyo Taek; Roh, Hyo Lyun; Kim, Yoon Sang

2016-01-01

[Purpose] Efficient management using exercise programs with various benefits should be provided by educational institutions for children in their growth phase. We analyzed the heart rates of children during ski simulator exercise and the Harvard step test to evaluate the cardiopulmonary endurance by calculating their post-exercise recovery rate. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects (n = 77) were categorized into a normal weight and an overweight/obesity group by body mass index. They performed each exercise for 3 minutes. The cardiorespiratory endurance was calculated using the Physical Efficiency Index formula. [Results] The ski simulator and Harvard step test showed that there was a significant difference in the heart rates of the 2 body mass index-based groups at each minute. The normal weight and the ski-simulator group had higher Physical Efficiency Index levels. [Conclusion] This study showed that a simulator exercise can produce a cumulative load even when performed at low intensity, and can be effectively utilized as exercise equipment since it resulted in higher Physical Efficiency Index levels than the Harvard step test. If schools can increase sport durability by stimulating students' interests, the ski simulator exercise can be used in programs designed to improve and strengthen students' physical fitness.

A new device to test cutting efficiency of mechanical endodontic instruments

PubMed Central

Rubini, Alessio Giansiracusa; Plotino, Gianluca; Al-Sudani, Dina; Grande, Nicola M.; Putorti, Ermanno; Sonnino, GianPaolo; Cotti, Elisabetta; Testarelli, Luca; Gambarini, Gianluca

2014-01-01

Background The purpose of the present study was to introduce a new device specifically designed to evaluate the cutting efficiency of mechanically driven endodontic instruments. Material/Methods Twenty new Reciproc R25 (VDW, Munich, Germany) files were used to be investigated in the new device developed to test the cutting ability of endodontic instruments. The device consists of a main frame to which a mobile plastic support for the hand-piece is connected and a stainless-steel block containing a Plexiglas block against which the cutting efficiency of the instruments was tested. The length of the block cut in 1 minute was measured in a computerized program with a precision of 0.1mm. The instruments were activated by using a torque-controlled motor (Silver Reciproc; VDW, Munich, Germany) in a reciprocating movement by the “Reciproc ALL” program (Group 1) and in counter-clockwise rotation at 300 rpm (Group 2). Mean and standard deviations of each group were calculated and data were statistically analyzed with a one-way ANOVA test (P<0.05). Results Reciproc in reciprocation (Group 1) mean cut in the Plexiglas block was 8.6 mm (SD=0.6 mm), while Reciproc in rotation mean cut was 8.9 mm (SD=0.7 mm). There was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups investigated (P>0.05). Conclusions The cutting testing device evaluated in the present study was reliable and easy to use and may be effectively used to test cutting efficiency of both rotary and reciprocating mechanical endodontic instruments. PMID:24603777

Development of a method for bacteria and virus recovery from heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) filters.

PubMed

Farnsworth, James E; Goyal, Sagar M; Kim, Seung Won; Kuehn, Thomas H; Raynor, Peter C; Ramakrishnan, M A; Anantharaman, Senthilvelan; Tang, Weihua

2006-10-01

The aim of the work presented here is to study the effectiveness of building air handling units (AHUs) in serving as high volume sampling devices for airborne bacteria and viruses. An HVAC test facility constructed according to ASHRAE Standard 52.2-1999 was used for the controlled loading of HVAC filter media with aerosolized bacteria and virus. Nonpathogenic Bacillus subtilis var. niger was chosen as a surrogate for Bacillus anthracis. Three animal viruses; transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV), avian pneumovirus (APV), and fowlpox virus were chosen as surrogates for three human viruses; SARS coronavirus, respiratory syncytial virus, and smallpox virus; respectively. These bacteria and viruses were nebulized in separate tests and injected into the test duct of the test facility upstream of a MERV 14 filter. SKC Biosamplers upstream and downstream of the test filter served as reference samplers. The collection efficiency of the filter media was calculated to be 96.5 +/- 1.5% for B. subtilis, however no collection efficiency was measured for the viruses as no live virus was ever recovered from the downstream samplers. Filter samples were cut from the test filter and eluted by hand-shaking. An extraction efficiency of 105 +/- 19% was calculated for B. subtilis. The viruses were extracted at much lower efficiencies (0.7-20%). Our results indicate that the airborne concentration of spore-forming bacteria in building AHUs may be determined by analyzing the material collected on HVAC filter media, however culture-based analytical techniques are impractical for virus recovery. Molecular-based identification techniques such as PCR could be used.

High-tip-speed, low-loading transonic fan stage. Part 3: Final report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ware, T. C.; Kobayashi, R. J.; Jackson, R. J.

1974-01-01

Tests were conducted on a high-tip-speed, low-loading transonic fan stage to determine the performance and inlet flow distortion tolerance of the design. The fan was designed for high efficiency at a moderate pressure ratio by designing the hub section to operate at minimum loss when the tip operates with an oblique shock. The design objective was an efficiency of 86 percent at a pressure ratio of 1.5, a specific flow (flow per unit annulus area) of 42 lb/sec-sq. ft (205.1 kgm/sec-m sq), and a tip speed of 1600 ft/sec (488.6 m/sec). During testing, a peak efficiency of 84 percent was achieved at design speed and design specific flow. At the design speed and pressure ratio, the flow was 4 percent greater than design, efficiency was 81 percent, and a stall margin of 24 percent was obtained. The stall line was improved with hub radial distortion but was reduced when the stage was tested with tip radial and circumferential flow distortions. Blade-to-blade values of static pressures were measured over the rotor blade tips.

Solving groundwater flow problems by conjugate-gradient methods and the strongly implicit procedure

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hill, Mary C.

1990-01-01

The performance of the preconditioned conjugate-gradient method with three preconditioners is compared with the strongly implicit procedure (SIP) using a scalar computer. The preconditioners considered are the incomplete Cholesky (ICCG) and the modified incomplete Cholesky (MICCG), which require the same computer storage as SIP as programmed for a problem with a symmetric matrix, and a polynomial preconditioner (POLCG), which requires less computer storage than SIP. Although POLCG is usually used on vector computers, it is included here because of its small storage requirements. In this paper, published comparisons of the solvers are evaluated, all four solvers are compared for the first time, and new test cases are presented to provide a more complete basis by which the solvers can be judged for typical groundwater flow problems. Based on nine test cases, the following conclusions are reached: (1) SIP is actually as efficient as ICCG for some of the published, linear, two-dimensional test cases that were reportedly solved much more efficiently by ICCG; (2) SIP is more efficient than other published comparisons would indicate when common convergence criteria are used; and (3) for problems that are three-dimensional, nonlinear, or both, and for which common convergence criteria are used, SIP is often more efficient than ICCG, and is sometimes more efficient than MICCG.

Modified clay minerals efficiency against chemical and biological warfare agents for civil human protection.

PubMed

Plachá, Daniela; Rosenbergová, Kateřina; Slabotínský, Jiří; Kutláková, Kateřina Mamulová; Studentová, Soňa; Martynková, Gražyna Simha

2014-04-30

Sorption efficiencies of modified montmorillonite and vermiculite of their mono ionic Na and organic HDTMA and HDP forms were studied against chemical and biological warfare agents such as yperite and selected bacterial strains. Yperite interactions with modified clay minerals were observed through its capture in low-density polyethylene foil-modified clay composites by measuring yperite gas permeation with using chemical indication and gas chromatography methods. The antibacterial activities of synthetized organoclays were tested against selected Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial species in minimum inhibitory concentration tests. The obtained results showed a positive influence of modified clay minerals on the significant yperite breakthrough-time increase. The most effective material was the polyethylene-Na form montmorillonite, while the polyethylene-Na form vermiculite showed the lowest efficiency. With increasing organic cations loading in the interlayer space the montmorillonite efficiency decreased, and in the case of vermiculite an opposite effect was observed. Generally the modified montmorillonites were more effective than modified vermiculites. The HDP cations seem to be more effective compare to the HDTMA. The antibacterial activity tests confirmed efficiency of all organically modified clay minerals against Gram-positive bacteria. The confirmation of antibacterial activity against Y. pestis, plague bacteria, is the most interesting result of this part of the study. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Hydrogeology and Aquifer Storage and Recovery Performance in the Upper Floridan Aquifer, Southern Florida

USGS Publications Warehouse

Reese, Ronald S.; Alvarez-Zarikian, Carlos A.

2007-01-01

Well construction, hydraulic well test, ambient water-quality, and cycle test data were inventoried and compiled for 30 aquifer storage and recovery facilities constructed in the Floridan aquifer system in southern Florida. Most of the facilities are operated by local municipalities or counties in coastal areas, but five sites are currently being evaluated as part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. The relative performance of all sites with adequate cycle test data was determined, and compared with four hydrogeologic and design factors that may affect recovery efficiency. Testing or operational cycles include recharge, storage, and recovery periods that each last days or months. Cycle test data calculations were made including the potable water (chloride concentration of less than 250 milligrams per liter) recovery efficiency per cycle, total recovery efficiency per cycle, and cumulative potable water recovery efficiencies for all of the cycles at each site. The potable water recovery efficiency is the percentage of the total amount of potable water recharged for each cycle that is recovered; potable water recovery efficiency calculations (per cycle and cumulative) were the primary measures used to evaluate site performance in this study. Total recovery efficiency, which is the percent recovery at the end of each cycle, however, can be substantially higher and is the performance measure normally used in the operation of water-treatment plants. The Upper Floridan aquifer of the Floridan aquifer system currently is being used, or planned for use, at 29 of the aquifer storage and recovery sites. The Upper Floridan aquifer is continuous throughout southern Florida, and its overlying confinement is generally good; however, the aquifer contains brackish to saline ground water that can greatly affect freshwater storage and recovery due to dispersive mixing within the aquifer. The hydrogeology of the Upper Floridan varies in southern Florida; confinement between flow zones is better in southwestern Florida than in southeastern Florida. Vertical hydraulic conductivity in the upper part of the aquifer also may be higher in southeastern Florida because of unconformities present at formation contacts within the aquifer that may be better developed in this area. Recovery efficiencies per cycle varied widely. Eight sites had recovery efficiencies of less than about 10 percent for the first cycle, and three of these sites had not yet achieved recoveries exceeding 10 percent, even after three to five cycles. The highest recovery efficiency achieved per cycle was 94 percent. Three southeastern coastal sites and two southwestern coastal sites have achieved potable water recoveries per cycle exceeding 60 percent. One of the southeastern coastal sites and both of the southwestern coastal sites achieved good recoveries, even with long storage periods (from 174 to 191 days). The high recovery efficiencies for some cycles apparently resulted from water banking?an operational approach whereby an initial cycle with a large recharge volume of water is followed by cycles with much smaller recharge volume. This practice flushes out the aquifer around the well and builds up a buffer zone that can maintain high recovery efficiency in the subsequent cycles. The relative performance of all sites with adequate cycle test data was determined. Performance was arbitrarily grouped into ?high? (greater than 40 percent), ?medium? (between 20 and 40 percent), and ?low? (less than 20 percent) categories based primarily on their cumulative recovery efficiency for the first seven cycles, or projected to seven cycles if fewer cycles were conducted. The ratings of three sites, considered to be borderline, were modified using the overall recharge rate derived from the cumulative recharge volumes. A higher overall recharge rate (greater than 300 million gallons per year) can improve recovery efficiency because of the water-bankin

Energy Efficient Cryogenics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Meneghelli, Barry J.; Notardonato, William; Fesmire, James E.

2016-01-01

The Cryogenics Test Laboratory, NASA Kennedy Space Center, works to provide practical solutions to low-temperature problems while focusing on long-term technology targets for the energy-efficient use of cryogenics on Earth and in space.

Quantitative assessment of the efficacy of spiral-wound membrane cleaning procedures to remove biofilms.

PubMed

Hijnen, W A M; Castillo, C; Brouwer-Hanzens, A H; Harmsen, D J H; Cornelissen, E R; van der Kooij, D

2012-12-01

Cleaning of high pressure RO/NF membranes is an important operational tool to control biofouling. Quantitative information on the efficacy of cleaning agents and protocols to remove biomass is scarce. Therefore, a laboratory cleaning test to assess the efficiency of cleaning procedures to remove attached biomass was developed. The major components of the test are (i) production of uniform biofilm samples, (ii) the quantification of the biomass concentrations with robust parameters and (iii) a simple test procedure with optimal exposure of the biofilm samples to the chemicals. The results showed that PVC-P is a suitable substratum for the production of uniform biofilm samples. ATP and carbohydrates (CH) as major components of the biofilm matrix for nucleotides (living bacterial cells) and extracellular polymeric substances EPS, respectively, were selected as robust biomass parameters. The removal of ATP and CH with the NaOH/Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS) mixture, selected as a standard treatment at pH 12.0, was reproducible. The resistance of the EPS matrix against chemical cleaning was demonstrated by a low CH removal (32.8 ± 6.0%) compared to the ATP removal (70.5 ± 15.1%). The inverse relationship of biomass removal with the CH to ATP ratio (μg/ng) of the biofilms demonstrated the influence of the biomass characteristics on cleaning. None of the 27 chemicals tested (analytical-grade and commercial brands) in single step or in double-step treatments were significantly more effective than NaOH/SDS. Oxidizing agents NaOCl and H(2)O(2), the latter in combination with SDS, both tested as common agents in biofilm control, showed a significantly higher efficiency (70%) to remove biofilms. In the test, simultaneously, the efficiency of agents to remove precipitated minerals such as Fe can be assessed. Validation tests with Cleaning in Place (CIP) in 8 and 2.5-inch RO membrane pilot plant experiments showed similar ranking of the cleaning efficiency of cleaning protocols as determined in the laboratory tests. Further studies with the laboratory test are required to study the effect of cleaning conditions such as duration, temperature, shear forces as well as chemical conditions (concentrations, alternative agents or mixtures and sequence of application) on the efficiency to remove attached biomass. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Improving the Efficiency and Quality of the Value Assessment Process for Companion Diagnostic Tests: The Companion test Assessment Tool (CAT).

PubMed

Canestaro, William J; Pritchard, Daryl E; Garrison, Louis P; Dubois, Robert; Veenstra, David L

2015-08-01

Companion diagnostic tests (CDTs) have emerged as a vital technology in the effective use of an increasing number of targeted drug therapies. Although CDTs can offer a multitude of potential benefits, assessing their value within a health technology appraisal process can be challenging because of a complex array of factors that influence clinical and economic outcomes. To develop a user-friendly tool to assist managed care and other health care decision makers in screening companion tests and determining whether an intensive technology review is necessary and, if so, where the review should be focused to improve efficiency. First, we conducted a systematic literature review of CDT cost-effectiveness studies to identify value drivers. Second, we conducted key informant interviews with a diverse group of stakeholders to elicit feedback and solicit any additional value drivers and identify desirable attributes for an evidence review tool. A draft tool was developed based on this information that captured value drivers, usability features, and had a particular focus on practical use by nonexperts. Finally, the tool was pilot tested with test developers and managed care evidence evaluators to assess face-validity and usability. The tool was also evaluated using several diverse examples of existing companion diagnostics and refined accordingly. We identified 65 cost-effectiveness studies of companion diagnostic technologies. The following factors were most commonly identified as value drivers from our literature review: clinical validity of testing; efficacy, safety, and cost of baseline and alternative treatments; cost and mortality of health states; and biomarker prevalence and testing cost. Stakeholders identified the following additional factors that they believed influenced the overall value of a companion test: regulatory status, actionability, utility, and market penetration. These factors were used to maximize the efficiency of the evidence review process. Stakeholders also stated that a tool should be easy to use and time efficient. Cognitive interviews with stakeholders led to minor changes in the draft tool to improve usability and relevance. The final tool consisted of 4 sections: (1) eligibility for review (2 questions), (2) prioritization of review (3 questions), (3) clinical review (3 questions), and (4) economic review (5 questions). Although the evaluation of CDTs can be challenging because of limited evidence and the added complexity of incorporating a diagnostic test into drug treatment decisions, using a pragmatic tool to identify tests that do not need extensive evaluation may improve the efficiency and effectiveness of CDT value assessments.

Energy Efficient Cryogenics on Earth and in Space

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fesmire, James E.

2012-01-01

The Cryogenics Test Laboratory, NASA Kennedy Space Center, works to provide practical solutions to low-temperature problems while focusing on long-term technology targets for energy-efficient cryogenics on Earth and in space.

Crank case scavenging of two-stroke-cycle engines

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

List, Hans

1929-01-01

This report presents the results of tests on two-stroke-cycle Diesel engines to determine the efficiency of the crank case scavenging pump. It was determined that efficiencies were between 95 and 100%.

Solar photovoltaic charging of lithium-ion batteries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gibson, Thomas L.; Kelly, Nelson A.

Solar photovoltaic (PV) charging of batteries was tested by using high efficiency crystalline and amorphous silicon PV modules to recharge lithium-ion battery modules. This testing was performed as a proof of concept for solar PV charging of batteries for electrically powered vehicles. The iron phosphate type lithium-ion batteries were safely charged to their maximum capacity and the thermal hazards associated with overcharging were avoided by the self-regulating design of the solar charging system. The solar energy to battery charge conversion efficiency reached 14.5%, including a PV system efficiency of nearly 15%, and a battery charging efficiency of approximately 100%. This high system efficiency was achieved by directly charging the battery from the PV system with no intervening electronics, and matching the PV maximum power point voltage to the battery charging voltage at the desired maximum state of charge for the battery. It is envisioned that individual homeowners could charge electric and extended-range electric vehicles from residential, roof-mounted solar arrays, and thus power their daily commuting with clean, renewable solar energy.

Facile and high-efficient immobilization of histidine-tagged multimeric protein G on magnetic nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Jiho; Chang, Jeong Ho

2014-12-01

This work reports the high-efficient and one-step immobilization of multimeric protein G on magnetic nanoparticles. The histidine-tagged (His-tag) recombinant multimeric protein G was overexpressed in Escherichia coli BL21 by the repeated linking of protein G monomers with a flexible linker. High-efficient immobilization on magnetic nanoparticles was demonstrated by two different preparation methods through the amino-silane and chloro-silane functionalization on silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles. Three kinds of multimeric protein G such as His-tag monomer, dimer, and trimer were tested for immobilization efficiency. For these tests, bicinchoninic acid (BCA) assay was employed to determine the amount of immobilized His-tag multimeric protein G. The result showed that the immobilization efficiency of the His-tag multimeric protein G of the monomer, dimer, and trimer was increased with the use of chloro-silane-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles in the range of 98% to 99%, rather than the use of amino-silane-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles in the range of 55% to 77%, respectively.

Comparison of three systems of solar water heating by thermosiphon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hernández, E.; Guzmán, R. E.

2016-02-01

The main purpose of this project was to elaborate a comparison between three water heating systems; using two plane water heating solar collector and another using a vacuum tube heater, all of them are on top of the cafeteria's roof on building of the “Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana” in Bucaramanga, Colombia. Through testing was determined each type of water heating systems' performance, where the Stainless Steel tube collector reached a maximum efficiency of 71.58%, the Copper Tubing Collector a maximum value of 76.31% and for the Vacuum Tube Heater Collector a maximum efficiency of 72.33%. The collector with copper coil was the system more efficient. So, taking into account the Performance and Temperature Curves, along with the weather conditions at the time of the testing we determined that the most efficient Solar Heating System is the one using a Vacuum Tube Heater Collector. Reaching a maximum efficiency of 72.33% and a maximum temperature of 62.6°C.

ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY VERIFICATION TEST PROTOCOL, GENERAL VENTILATION FILTERS

EPA Science Inventory

The Environmental Technology Verification Test Protocol, General Ventilation Filters provides guidance for verification tests.

Reference is made in the protocol to the ASHRAE 52.2P "Method of Testing General Ventilation Air-cleaning Devices for Removal Efficiency by P...

Greased Lightning (GL-10) Flight Testing Campaign

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fredericks, William J.; McSwain, Robert G.; Beaton, Brian F.; Klassman, David W.; Theodore, Colin R.

2017-01-01

Greased Lightning (GL-10) is an aircraft configuration that combines the characteristics of a cruise efficient airplane with the ability to perform vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL). This aircraft has been designed, fabricated and flight tested at the small unmanned aerial system (UAS) scale. This technical memorandum will document the procedures and findings of the flight test experiments. The GL-10 design utilized two key technologies to enable this unique aircraft design; namely, distributed electric propulsion (DEP) and inexpensive closed loop controllers. These technologies enabled the flight of this inherently unstable aircraft. Overall it has been determined thru flight test that a design that leverages these new technologies can yield a useful VTOL cruise efficient aircraft.

Two-Dimensional Bifurcated Inlet/Engine Tests Completed in 10- by 10-Foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Saunders, John D.

1999-01-01

A Two-Dimensional Bifurcated (2DB) Inlet was successfully tested in NASA Lewis Research Center s 10- by 10-Foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel. These tests were the culmination of a collaborative effort between the Boeing Company, General Electric, Pratt & Whitney, and Lewis. Extensive support in-house at Lewis contributed significantly to the progress and accomplishment of this test. The results, which met or exceeded many of the High-Speed Research (HSR) Program goals, were used to revise system studies within the HSR Program. The HSR Program is focused on developing low-noise, low-polluting, high-efficiency supersonic commercial aircraft. A supersonic inlet is an important component of an efficient, low-noise vehicle.

[Cost-benefit analysis of the active screening of pulmonary tuberculosis in a recluse population entering prison].

PubMed

Martín, V; Domínguez, A; Alcaide, J

1997-01-01

In spanish prisons, tuberculosis is a serious problem of public health and health authorities don't take it seriously. To prove the efficiency of pulmonary tuberculosis case-finding on arrival at prison in order to get location resources in this activity. Cost-benefit analysis of a case-finding program compared with to wait for diagnostic to illness. The sensitivity of test was fixed in 80% and the specificity in 99.99%. The cost was based on market prices. Sensitivity analysis was done in every variables as well as tridimensional analysis in those one of more influence. The case-finding was efficient on prevalences of tuberculosis over 5 per mil. Its efficiency was hardly affected by discount social rates or the sensitivity of diagnostic tests. The prevalence of illness, the cost of diagnostic activities as well as the success of treatment and the specificity of diagnostic tests used had as influence on the efficiency model. The tridimensional analysis proved that the case-finding of pulmonary tuberculosis has efficiency on low prevalences (1 per thousand), provided the number of people cured is a 5% higher than the alternative one and the costs of case-finding less than 1,000 pesetas per subject. The case-finding pulmonary tuberculosis on arrival at prisons is of high efficiency. In a cost-opportunity situation (location of available resources, penitentiary and extrapenitentiary) the program is very efficacious taking into account the fact of higher prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis in this people.

Optimization of substrate preparation for oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) cultivation by studying different raw materials and substrate preparation conditions (composting: phases I and II).

PubMed

Vieira, Fabrício Rocha; de Andrade, Meire Cristina Nogueira

2016-11-01

In recent years, oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) has become one of the most cultivated mushrooms in the world, mainly in Brazil. Among many factors involved in a mushroom production, substrate preparation is the most critical step, which can be influenced by composting management techniques. Looking forward to optimizing the substrate preparation process, were tested different composting conditions (7 and 14 days of composting with or without conditioning), potential raw materials (decumbens grass, brizantha grass and sugarcane straw) and nitrogen supplementation (with or without wheat bran) on oyster mushroom yield and biological efficiency (BE). The substrate composted for 7 days with conditioning showed higher yield and biological efficiency of mushroom (24.04 and 100.54 %, respectively). Substrates without conditioning (7 and 14 days of composting) showed smaller mushroom yield and biological efficiency. Among the raw materials tested, brizantha grass showed higher mushroom yield followed by decumbens grass, sugarcane straw and wheat straw (28.5, 24.32, 23.5 and 19.27 %, respectively). Brizantha grass also showed higher biological efficiency followed by sugarcane straw, decumbens grass and wheat straw (123.95, 103.70, 96.90 and 86.44 %, respectively). Supplementation with wheat bran improved yield and biological efficiency in all substrate formulations tested; thus, oyster mushroom yield and biological efficiency were influenced by substrate formulation (raw materials), supplementation and composting conditions.

Airside HVAC BESTEST: HVAC Air-Distribution System Model Test Cases for ASHRAE Standard 140

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

Judkoff, Ronald; Neymark, Joel; Kennedy, Mike D.

This paper summarizes recent work to develop new airside HVAC equipment model analytical verification test cases for ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 140, Standard Method of Test for the Evaluation of Building Energy Analysis Computer Programs. The analytical verification test method allows comparison of simulation results from a wide variety of building energy simulation programs with quasi-analytical solutions, further described below. Standard 140 is widely cited for evaluating software for use with performance-path energy efficiency analysis, in conjunction with well-known energy-efficiency standards including ASHRAE Standard 90.1, the International Energy Conservation Code, and other international standards. Airside HVAC Equipment is a common area ofmore » modelling not previously explicitly tested by Standard 140. Integration of the completed test suite into Standard 140 is in progress.« less

Further Testing of an Amine-based Pressure-Swing System for Carbon Dioxide and Humidity Control

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lin, Amy; Smith, Frederick; Sweterlitsch, Jeffrey; Nalette, Tim A.; Papale, William

2008-01-01

In a crewed spacecraft environment, atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and moisture control are crucial. Hamilton Sundstrand has developed a stable and efficient amine-based CO2 and water vapor sorbent, SA9T, that is well suited for use in a spacecraft environment. The sorbent is efficiently packaged in pressure-swing regenerable beds that are thermally linked to improve removal efficiency and minimize vehicle thermal loads. Flows are all controlled with a single spool valve. This technology has been baselined for the new Orion spacecraft. However, more data was needed on the operational characteristics of the package in a simulated spacecraft environment. A unit was therefore tested with simulated metabolic loads in a closed chamber at Johnson Space Center during the last third of 2006. Those test results were reported in a 2007 ICES paper. A second test article was incorporated for a third phase of testing, and that test article was modified to allow pressurized gas purge regeneration on the launch pad in addition to the standard vacuum regeneration in space. Metabolic rates and chamber volumes were also adjusted to reflect current programmatic standards. The third phase of tests was performed during the spring and summer of 2007. Tests were run with a range of operating conditions, varying: cycle time, vacuum pressure (or purge gas flow rate), air flow rate, and crew activity levels. Results of this testing are presented and potential flight operational strategies discussed.

77 FR 24341 - Energy Conservation Program: Test Procedures for Residential Clothes Washers; Correction

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-04-24

... Program: Test Procedures for Residential Clothes Washers; Correction AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency... final rule establishing new and amended test procedures for residential clothes washers, published in... Energy (DOE) erroneously referenced the new test procedure, rather than the currently effective test...

Scaling up HIV viral load - lessons from the large-scale implementation of HIV early infant diagnosis and CD4 testing.

PubMed

Peter, Trevor; Zeh, Clement; Katz, Zachary; Elbireer, Ali; Alemayehu, Bereket; Vojnov, Lara; Costa, Alex; Doi, Naoko; Jani, Ilesh

2017-11-01

The scale-up of effective HIV viral load (VL) testing is an urgent public health priority. Implementation of testing is supported by the availability of accurate, nucleic acid based laboratory and point-of-care (POC) VL technologies and strong WHO guidance recommending routine testing to identify treatment failure. However, test implementation faces challenges related to the developing health systems in many low-resource countries. The purpose of this commentary is to review the challenges and solutions from the large-scale implementation of other diagnostic tests, namely nucleic-acid based early infant HIV diagnosis (EID) and CD4 testing, and identify key lessons to inform the scale-up of VL. Experience with EID and CD4 testing provides many key lessons to inform VL implementation and may enable more effective and rapid scale-up. The primary lessons from earlier implementation efforts are to strengthen linkage to clinical care after testing, and to improve the efficiency of testing. Opportunities to improve linkage include data systems to support the follow-up of patients through the cascade of care and test delivery, rapid sample referral networks, and POC tests. Opportunities to increase testing efficiency include improvements to procurement and supply chain practices, well connected tiered laboratory networks with rational deployment of test capacity across different levels of health services, routine resource mapping and mobilization to ensure adequate resources for testing programs, and improved operational and quality management of testing services. If applied to VL testing programs, these approaches could help improve the impact of VL on ART failure management and patient outcomes, reduce overall costs and help ensure the sustainable access to reduced pricing for test commodities, as well as improve supportive health systems such as efficient, and more rigorous quality assurance. These lessons draw from traditional laboratory practices as well as fields such as logistics, operations management and business. The lessons and innovations from large-scale EID and CD4 programs described here can be adapted to inform more effective scale-up approaches for VL. They demonstrate that an integrated approach to health system strengthening focusing on key levers for test access such as data systems, supply efficiencies and network management. They also highlight the challenges with implementation and the need for more innovative approaches and effective partnerships to achieve equitable and cost-effective test access. © 2017 The Authors. Journal of the International AIDS Society published by John Wiley & sons Ltd on behalf of the International AIDS Society.

Surface Sampling of Spores in Dry-Deposition Aerosols▿

PubMed Central

Edmonds, Jason M.; Collett, Patricia J.; Valdes, Erica R.; Skowronski, Evan W.; Pellar, Gregory J.; Emanuel, Peter A.

2009-01-01

The ability to reliably and reproducibly sample surfaces contaminated with a biological agent is a critical step in measuring the extent of contamination and determining if decontamination steps have been successful. The recovery operations following the 2001 attacks with Bacillus anthracis spores were complicated by the fact that no standard sample collection format or decontamination procedures were established. Recovery efficiencies traditionally have been calculated based upon biological agents which were applied to test surfaces in a liquid format and then allowed to dry prior to sampling tests, which may not be best suited for a real-world event with aerosolized biological agents. In order to ascertain if differences existed between air-dried liquid deposition and biological spores which were allowed to settle on a surface in a dried format, a study was undertaken to determine if differences existed in surface sampling recovery efficiencies for four representative surfaces. Studies were then undertaken to compare sampling efficiencies between liquid spore deposition and aerosolized spores which were allowed to gradually settle under gravity on four different test coupon types. Tests with both types of deposition compared efficiencies of four unique swabbing materials applied to four surfaces with various surface properties. Our studies demonstrate that recovery of liquid-deposited spores differs significantly from recovery of dry aerosol-deposited spores in most instances. Whether the recovery of liquid-deposited spores is overexaggerated or underrepresented with respect to that of aerosol-deposited spores depends upon the surface material being tested. PMID:18997021

Evaluation of the micro-carburetor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Weiss, M. F.; Hall, R. A.; Mazor, S. D.

1981-01-01

A prototype sonic, variable-venturi automotive carburetor was evaluated for its effects on vehicle performance, fuel economy, and exhaust emissions. A 350 CID Chevrolet Impala vehicle was tested on a chassis dynamometer over the 1975 Federal Test Procedure, urban driving cycle. The Micro-carburetor was tested and compared with stock and modified-stock engine configurations. Subsequently, the test vehicle's performance characteristics were examined with the stock carburetor and again with the Micro-carburetor in a series of on-road driveability tests. The test engine was then removed from the vehicle and installed on an engine dynamometer. Engine tests were conducted to compare the fuel economy, thermal efficiency, and cylinder-to-cylinder mixture distribution of the Micro-carburetor to that of the stock configuration. Test results show increases in thermal efficiency and improvements in fuel economy at all test conditions. Improve fuel/air mixture preparation is implied from the information presented. Further improvements in fuel economy and exhaust emissions are possible through a detailed recalibration of the Micro-carburetor.

Effects of fuel nozzle design on performance of an experimental annular combustor using natural gas fuel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wear, J. D.; Schultz, D. F.

1972-01-01

Tests of various fuel nozzles were conducted with natural gas fuel in a full-annulus combustor. The nozzles were designed to provide either axial, angled, or radial fuel injection. Each fuel nozzle was evaluated by measuring combustion efficiency at relatively severe combustor operating conditions. Combustor blowout and altitude ignition tests were also used to evaluate nozzle designs. Results indicate that angled injection gave higher combustion efficiency, less tendency toward combustion instability, and altitude relight characteristics equal to or superior to those of the other fuel nozzles that were tested.

Efficient and optimized identification of generalized Maxwell viscoelastic relaxation spectra

PubMed Central

Babaei, Behzad; Davarian, Ali; Pryse, Kenneth M.; Elson, Elliot L.; Genin, Guy M.

2017-01-01

Viscoelastic relaxation spectra are essential for predicting and interpreting the mechanical responses of materials and structures. For biological tissues, these spectra must usually be estimated from viscoelastic relaxation tests. Interpreting viscoelastic relaxation tests is challenging because the inverse problem is expensive computationally. We present here an efficient algorithm that enables rapid identification of viscoelastic relaxation spectra. The algorithm was tested against trial data to characterize its robustness and identify its limitations and strengths. The algorithm was then applied to identify the viscoelastic response of reconstituted collagen, revealing an extensive distribution of viscoelastic time constants. PMID:26523785

Regeneration efficiency, shuttle heat loss and thermal conductivity in epoxy-composite annualr gap regenerators from 4K to 80K

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Myrtle, K.; Cygax, S.; Plateel, C.; Winter, C.

1983-01-01

A test apparatus designed to simulate a section of a Stirling cycle cryocooler was built. Measurements of regeneration efficiency, shuttle heat loss and thermal conductivity reported for several regenerator test sections. The test composites were epoxy glass, epoxy glass with lead particles, epoxy glass with activated charcoal and epoxy graphite. Losses measured for these materials were approximately the same. Losses are in good agreement with those calculated theoretically for an epoxy glass (C-10) composite. The implications of these results on cryocooler design are discussed.

Beamed Energy Propulsion by Means of Target Ablation

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

Rosenberg, Benjamin A.

2004-03-30

This paper describes hundreds of pendulum tests examining the beamed energy conversion efficiency of different metal targets coated with multiple liquid enhancers. Preliminary testing used a local laser with photographic paper targets, with no liquid, water, canola oil, or methanol additives. Laboratory experimentation was completed at Wright-Patterson AFB using a high-powered laser, and ballistic pendulums of aluminum, titanium, or copper. Dry targets, and those coated with water, methanol and oil were repeatedly tested in laboratory conditions. Results were recorded on several high-speed digital video cameras, and the conversion efficiency was calculated. Paper airplanes successfully launched using BEP were likewise recorded.

A new method for flight test determination of propulsive efficiency and drag coefficient

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bull, G.; Bridges, P. D.

1983-01-01

A flight test method is described from which propulsive efficiency as well as parasite and induced drag coefficients can be directly determined using relatively simple instrumentation and analysis techniques. The method uses information contained in the transient response in airspeed for a small power change in level flight in addition to the usual measurement of power required for level flight. Measurements of pitch angle and longitudinal and normal acceleration are eliminated. The theoretical basis for the method, the analytical techniques used, and the results of application of the method to flight test data are presented.

Energy Efficient Engine: Combustor component performance program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dubiel, D. J.

1986-01-01

The results of the Combustor Component Performance analysis as developed under the Energy Efficient Engine (EEE) program are presented. This study was conducted to demonstrate the aerothermal and environmental goals established for the EEE program and to identify areas where refinements might be made to meet future combustor requirements. In this study, a full annular combustor test rig was used to establish emission levels and combustor performance for comparison with those indicated by the supporting technology program. In addition, a combustor sector test rig was employed to examine differences in emissions and liner temperatures obtained during the full annular performance and supporting technology tests.

Estimated Costs for Delivery of HIV Antiretroviral Therapy to Individuals with CD4+ T-Cell Counts >350 cells/uL in Rural Uganda.

PubMed

Jain, Vivek; Chang, Wei; Byonanebye, Dathan M; Owaraganise, Asiphas; Twinomuhwezi, Ellon; Amanyire, Gideon; Black, Douglas; Marseille, Elliot; Kamya, Moses R; Havlir, Diane V; Kahn, James G

2015-01-01

Evidence favoring earlier HIV ART initiation at high CD4+ T-cell counts (CD4>350/uL) has grown, and guidelines now recommend earlier HIV treatment. However, the cost of providing ART to individuals with CD4>350 in Sub-Saharan Africa has not been well estimated. This remains a major barrier to optimal global cost projections for accelerating the scale-up of ART. Our objective was to compute costs of ART delivery to high CD4+count individuals in a typical rural Ugandan health center-based HIV clinic, and use these data to construct scenarios of efficient ART scale-up. Within a clinical study evaluating streamlined ART delivery to 197 individuals with CD4+ cell counts >350 cells/uL (EARLI Study: NCT01479634) in Mbarara, Uganda, we performed a micro-costing analysis of administrative records, ART prices, and time-and-motion analysis of staff work patterns. We computed observed per-person-per-year (ppy) costs, and constructed models estimating costs under several increasingly efficient ART scale-up scenarios using local salaries, lowest drug prices, optimized patient loads, and inclusion of viral load (VL) testing. Among 197 individuals enrolled in the EARLI Study, median pre-ART CD4+ cell count was 569/uL (IQR 451-716). Observed ART delivery cost was $628 ppy at steady state. Models using local salaries and only core laboratory tests estimated costs of $529/$445 ppy (+/-VL testing, respectively). Models with lower salaries, lowest ART prices, and optimized healthcare worker schedules reduced costs by $100-200 ppy. Costs in a maximally efficient scale-up model were $320/$236 ppy (+/- VL testing). This included $39 for personnel, $106 for ART, $130/$46 for laboratory tests, and $46 for administrative/other costs. A key limitation of this study is its derivation and extrapolation of costs from one large rural treatment program of high CD4+ count individuals. In a Ugandan HIV clinic, ART delivery costs--including VL testing--for individuals with CD4>350 were similar to estimates from high-efficiency programs. In higher efficiency scale-up models, costs were substantially lower. These favorable costs may be achieved because high CD4+ count patients are often asymptomatic, facilitating more efficient streamlined ART delivery. Our work provides a framework for calculating costs of efficient ART scale-up models using accessible data from specific programs and regions.

[Evaluation of the usefulness of laryngeal vocal efficiency tests during noise load for diagnosing occupational diseases of the larynx in teachers].

PubMed

Loś-Spychalska, T

1997-01-01

A growing incidence of the voice organ occupational diseases has recently become one of major health problems. There is a need to objective diagnostic examinations performed in teachers who apply for occupational disease certification. The aim of our study was to assess the feasibility of larynx vocal efficiency test during noise load in diagnosis of the voice organ occupational diseases in teachers.

Crew Survivable Helicopter Undercarriage.

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-01-01

used to refine the high -rate test specimens and were compared to other literature data on a specific load per length and energy per inch of perimeter...marked improvement in energy efficiency was observed with no joint failures. Seven of the eight segments shipped to NASA for high - rate testing were...provides the weight and performance criteria used to evaluate the energy absorbing efficiency of the rotated sine wave concept. Next, the low-rate and high

Analysis And Design Of A Water Purification System For The West African Area Of Operation

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-12-01

harmful metals and in disinfecting the water prior to human consumption . Research conducted proved that the BWS is more cost effective , efficient...and test a feasible and cost- effective prototype of a purification system to the BWS for improved capability. This study uses a design-based and...design. The prototype test results showed that the water purification system performed effectively and efficiently in accordance with the

A high voltage electrical power system for low Earth orbit applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lanier, J. R., Jr.; Bush, J. R., Jr.

1984-01-01

The results of testing a high voltage electrical power system (EPS) breadboard using high voltage power processing equipment developed at Marshall Space Flight Center and Ni-Cd batteries are discussed. These test results are used to extrapolate to an efficient, reliable, high capacity EPS for near term low Earth orbit, high power applications. EPS efficiencies, figures of merit, and battery reliability with a battery protection and reconditioning circuit are presented.

Photovoltaic power system tests on an 8-kilowatt single-phase line-commutated inverter

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stover, J. B.

1978-01-01

Efficiency and power factor were measured as functions of solar array voltage and current. The effects of input shunt capacitance and series inductance were determined. Tests were conducted from 15 to 75 percent of the 8 kW rated inverter input power. Measured efficiencies ranged from 76 percent to 88 percent at about 50 percent of rated inverter input power. Power factor ranged from 36 percent to 72 percent.

Demonstration of an efficient cooling approach for SBIRS-Low

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nieczkoski, S. J.; Myers, E. A.

2002-05-01

The Space Based Infrared System-Low (SBIRS-Low) segment is a near-term Air Force program for developing and deploying a constellation of low-earth orbiting observation satellites with gimbaled optics cooled to cryogenic temperatures. The optical system design and requirements present unique challenges that make conventional cooling approaches both complicated and risky. The Cryocooler Interface System (CIS) provides a remote, efficient, and interference-free means of cooling the SBIRS-Low optics. Technology Applications Inc. (TAI), through a two-phase Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program with Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), has taken the CIS from initial concept feasibility through the design, build, and test of a prototype system. This paper presents the development and demonstration testing of the prototype CIS. Prototype system testing has demonstrated the high efficiency of this cooling approach, making it an attractive option for SBIRS-Low and other sensitive optical and detector systems that require low-impact cryogenic cooling.

Design and Development of a Regenerative Blower for EVA Suit Ventilation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Izenson, Michael G.; Chen, Weibo; Hill, Roger W.; Phillips, Scott D.; Paul, Heather L.

2011-01-01

Ventilation subsystems in future space suits require a dedicated ventilation fan. The unique requirements for the ventilation fan - including stringent safety requirements and the ability to increase output to operate in buddy mode - combine to make a regenerative blower an attractive choice. This paper describes progress in the design, development, and testing of a regenerative blower designed to meet requirements for ventilation subsystems in future space suits. We have developed analysis methods for the blower s complex, internal flows and identified impeller geometries that enable significant improvements in blower efficiency. We verified these predictions by test, measuring aerodynamic efficiencies of 45% at operating conditions that correspond to the ventilation fan s design point. We have developed a compact motor/controller to drive the blower efficiently at low rotating speed (4500 rpm). Finally, we have assembled a low-pressure oxygen test loop to demonstrate the blower s reliability under prototypical conditions.

Limits on efficient human mindreading: convergence across Chinese adults and Semai children.

PubMed

Wang, Bo; Hadi, Nur Shafiqah Abdul; Low, Jason

2015-11-01

We tested Apperly and Butterfill's (2009, Psychological Review, 116, 753) theory that humans have two mindreading systems whereby the efficient-system guiding anticipatory glances displays signature limits that do not apply to the flexible system guiding verbal predictions. Experiments 1 and 2 tested urban Mainland-Chinese adults (n = 64) and Experiment 3 tested Semai children living in the rainforests of Peninsular Malaysia (3- to 4-year-olds, n = 60). Participants - across different ages, groups and methods - anticipated others' false-beliefs about object-location but not object-identity. Convergence in signature limits signalled that the early-developing efficient system involved minimal theory-of-mind. Chinese adults and older Semai children showed flexibility in their direct predictions. The flexible mindreading system in ascribing others' beliefs as such was task-sensitive and implicated maturational and cultural contributions. © 2015 The British Psychological Society.

Selected Performance Measurements of the F-15 Active Axisymmetric Thrust-vectoring Nozzle

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Orme, John S.; Sims, Robert L.

1998-01-01

Flight tests recently completed at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center evaluated performance of a hydromechanically vectored axisymmetric nozzle onboard the F-15 ACTIVE. A flight-test technique whereby strain gages installed onto engine mounts provided for the direct measurement of thrust and vector forces has proven to be extremely valuable. Flow turning and thrust efficiency, as well as nozzle static pressure distributions were measured and analyzed. This report presents results from testing at an altitude of 30,000 ft and a speed of Mach 0.9. Flow turning and thrust efficiency were found to be significantly different than predicted, and moreover, varied substantially with power setting and pitch vector angle. Results of an in-flight comparison of the direct thrust measurement technique and an engine simulation fell within the expected uncertainty bands. Overall nozzle performance at this flight condition demonstrated the F100-PW-229 thrust-vectoring nozzles to be highly capable and efficient.

Axial force and efficiency tests of fixed center variable speed belt drive

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bents, D. J.

1981-01-01

An investigation of how the axial force varies with the centerline force at different speed ratios, speeds, and loads, and how the drive's transmission efficiency is affected by these related forces is described. The tests, intended to provide a preliminary performance and controls characterization for a variable speed belt drive continuously variable transmission (CVT), consisted of the design and construction of an experimental test rig geometrically similar to the CVT, and operation of that rig at selected speed ratios and power levels. Data are presented which show: how axial forces exerted on the driver and driven sheaves vary with the centerline force at constant values of speed ratio, speed, and output power; how the transmission efficiency varies with centerline force and how it is also a function of the V belt coefficient; and the axial forces on both sheaves as normalized functions of the traction coefficient.

Selected Performance Measurements of the F-15 ACTIVE Axisymmetric Thrust-Vectoring Nozzle

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Orme, John S.; Sims, Robert L.

1999-01-01

Flight tests recently completed at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center evaluated performance of a hydromechanically vectored axisymmetric nozzle onboard the F-15 ACTIVE. A flight-test technique whereby strain gages installed onto engine mounts provided for the direct measurement of thrust and vector forces has proven to be extremely valuable. Flow turning and thrust efficiency, as well as nozzle static pressure distributions were measured and analyzed. This report presents results from testing at an altitude of 30,000 ft and a speed of Mach 0.9. Flow turning and thrust efficiency were found to be significantly different than predicted, and moreover, varied substantially with power setting and pitch vector angle. Results of an in-flight comparison of the direct thrust measurement technique and an engine simulation fell within the expected uncertainty bands. Overall nozzle performance at this flight condition demonstrated the F100-PW-229 thrust-vectoring nozzles to be highly capable and efficient.

40 CFR 63.7533 - Can I use efficiency credits earned from implementation of energy conservation measures to comply...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... the implementation plan for efficiency credits to the Administrator for review and approval no later... level adjusted by applying the efficiency credits earned, lb per million Btu steam output (or lb per MWh) for the affected boiler. Em = Emissions measured during the performance test, lb per million Btu steam...

40 CFR 63.7533 - Can I use efficiency credits earned from implementation of energy conservation measures to comply...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... the implementation plan for efficiency credits to the Administrator for review and approval no later... level adjusted by applying the efficiency credits earned, lb per million Btu steam output (or lb per MWh) for the affected boiler. Em = Emissions measured during the performance test, lb per million Btu steam...

10 CFR 431.106 - Uniform test method for the measurement of energy efficiency of commercial water heaters and hot...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... efficiency of commercial water heaters and hot water supply boilers (other than commercial heat pump water... PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT Commercial Water Heaters, Hot Water Supply Boilers... of energy efficiency of commercial water heaters and hot water supply boilers (other than commercial...

77 FR 1474 - Decision and Order Granting a Waiver to Samsung From the Department of Energy Residential...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-01-10

... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy [Case No. RF-018; Case No... Refrigerator and Refrigerator-Freezer Test Procedures AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy... characteristics. 10 CFR 430.27(b)(1)(iii). The Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (the...

40 CFR 86.1869-12 - CO2 credits for off-cycle CO2-reducing technologies.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... average over 5-cycle testing. (ii) High efficiency exterior lights. Credits may be accrued for high efficiency lighting as defined in paragraph (b)(4) of this section based on the lighting locations with such lighting installed. Credits for high efficiency lighting are the sum of the credits for the applicable...

Learning Efficiency versus Low IQ and/or Teachers' Ratings as Predictors of Reading Ability of "Mentally Defective" Children: A Longitudinal Study.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gupta, R. M.

1985-01-01

Low IQ should not be deemed as an index of poor learning ability. Information about middle school children's learning efficiency as measured by the Learning Efficiency Test Battery was found to be more useful for predicting reading ability than conventional types of assessment. (Author/RM)

The Effectiveness and Efficiency of Two Types of Simulation as Functions of Level of Elementary Education Training. Final Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Girod, Gerald R.

An experiment was performed to determine the efficiency of simulation teaching techniques in training elementary education teachers to identify and correct classroom management problems. The two presentation modes compared were film and audiotape. Twelve hypotheses were tested via analysis of variance to determine the relative efficiency of these…

Identification and Validation of a Brief Test Anxiety Screening Tool

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

von der Embse, Nathaniel P.; Kilgus, Stephen P.; Segool, Natasha; Putwain, Dave

2013-01-01

The implementation of test-based accountability policies around the world has increased the pressure placed on students to perform well on state achievement tests. Educational researchers have begun taking a closer look at the reciprocal effects of test anxiety and high-stakes testing. However, existing test anxiety assessments lack efficiency and…

Demystifying the GMAT: Computer-Based Testing Terms

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rudner, Lawrence M.

2012-01-01

Computer-based testing can be a powerful means to make all aspects of test administration not only faster and more efficient, but also more accurate and more secure. While the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) exam is a computer adaptive test, there are other approaches. This installment presents a primer of computer-based testing terms.

Item Pocket Method to Allow Response Review and Change in Computerized Adaptive Testing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Han, Kyung T.

2013-01-01

Most computerized adaptive testing (CAT) programs do not allow test takers to review and change their responses because it could seriously deteriorate the efficiency of measurement and make tests vulnerable to manipulative test-taking strategies. Several modified testing methods have been developed that provide restricted review options while…

Optimization and Improvement of Test Processes on a Production Line

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sujová, Erika; Čierna, Helena

2018-06-01

The paper deals with increasing processes efficiency at a production line of cylinder heads of engines in a production company operating in the automotive industry. The goal is to achieve improvement and optimization of test processes on a production line. It analyzes options for improving capacity, availability and productivity of processes of an output test by using modern technology available on the market. We have focused on analysis of operation times before and after optimization of test processes at specific production sections. By analyzing measured results we have determined differences in time before and after improvement of the process. We have determined a coefficient of efficiency OEE and by comparing outputs we have confirmed real improvement of the process of the output test of cylinder heads.

The performance and efficiency of four motor/controller/battery systems for the simpler electric vehicles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shipps, P. R.

1980-01-01

A test and analysis program performed on four complete propulsion systems for an urban electric vehicle (EV) is described and results given. A dc series motor and a permanent magnet (PM) motor were tested, each powered by an EV battery pack and controlled by (1) a series/parallel voltage-switching (V-switch) system; and (2) a system using a pulse width modulation, 400 Hz transistorized chopper. Dynamometer tests were first performed, followed by eV performance predictions and data correlating road tests. During dynamometer tests using chopper control; current, voltage, and power were measured on both the battery and motor sides of the chopper, using three types of instrumentation. Conventional dc instruments provided adequate accuracy for eV power and energy measurements, when used on the battery side of the controller. When using the chopper controller, the addition of a small choke inductor improved system efficiency in the lower duty cycle range (some 8% increase at 50% duty cycle) with both types of motors. Overall system efficiency rankings during road tests were: (1) series motor with V-switch; (2) PM motor with V-switch; (3) series motor with chopper; and (4) PM motor with chopper. Chopper control of the eV was smoother and required less driver skill than V-switch control.

76 FR 65631 - Energy Conservation Program: Test Procedures for Microwave Ovens

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-10-24

... Conservation Program: Test Procedures for Microwave Ovens AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable... (DOE) has initiated a test procedure rulemaking to develop active mode testing methodologies for... Federal Register a final rule for the microwave oven test procedure rulemaking (July TP repeal final rule...

78 FR 63823 - Energy Conservation Program: Test Procedures for Television Sets

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-10-25

... Conservation Program: Test Procedures for Television Sets AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable... Energy (DOE) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) to establish a new test procedure for... additional testing and proposed amendments to the TV test procedure in its March 12, 2013 supplemental notice...

78 FR 62488 - Energy Conservation Program: Compliance Date for the Dehumidifier Test Procedure

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-10-22

... Conservation Program: Compliance Date for the Dehumidifier Test Procedure AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency.... Department of Energy (DOE) proposes to revise the compliance date for the dehumidifier test procedures... manufacturers to test using only the active mode provisions in the test procedure for dehumidifiers currently...

Learning Potential Tests for Ethnic Minorities.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hamers, J. H. M.; Pennings, A. H.

1995-01-01

This article presents the results of three studies in the learning-potential testing of children from minority groups: (1) Test of Children's Learning Ability; (2) Learning Efficiency Battery; and (3) Learning Potential Test for Ethnic Minorities. It concludes that, although the development of culture-free tests is impossible, it is possible to…

Factors Affecting Item Difficulty in English Listening Comprehension Tests

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sung, Pei-Ju; Lin, Su-Wei; Hung, Pi-Hsia

2015-01-01

Task difficulty is a critical issue affecting test developers. Controlling or balancing the item difficulty of an assessment improves its validity and discrimination. Test developers construct tests from the cognitive perspective, by making the test constructing process more scientific and efficient; thus, the scores obtained more precisely…

On-sun testing of an advanced falling particle receiver system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ho, Clifford K.; Christian, Joshua M.; Yellowhair, Julius; Siegel, Nathan; Jeter, Sheldon; Golob, Matthew; Abdel-Khalik, Said I.; Nguyen, Clayton; Al-Ansary, Hany

2016-05-01

A 1 MWth high-temperature falling particle receiver was constructed and tested at the National Solar Thermal Test Facility at Sandia National Laboratories. The continuously recirculating system included a particle elevator, top and bottom hoppers, and a cavity receiver that comprised a staggered array of porous chevron-shaped mesh structures that slowed the particle flow through the concentrated solar flux. Initial tests were performed with a peak irradiance of ~300 kW/m2 and a particle mass flow rate of 3.3 kg/s. Peak particle temperatures reached over 700 °C near the center of the receiver, but the particle temperature increase near the sides was lower due to a non-uniform irradiance distribution. At a particle inlet temperature of ~440 °C, the particle temperature increase was 27 °C per meter of drop length, and the thermal efficiency was ~60% for an average irradiance of 110 kW/m2. At an average irradiance of 211 kW/m2, the particle temperature increase was 57.1 °C per meter of drop length, and the thermal efficiency was ~65%. Tests with higher irradiances are being performed and are expected to yield greater particle temperature increases and efficiencies.

Dynamics of the inlet system of a four-stroke engine

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Boden, R H; Schecter, Harry

1944-01-01

Tests were run on a single-cylinder and a multicylinder four-stroke engine in order to determine the effect of the dynamics of the inlet system upon indicated mean effective pressure. Tests on the single-cylinder engine were made at various speeds, inlet valve timings, and inlet pipe lengths. These tests indicated that the indicated mean effective pressure could be raised considerably at any one speed by the use of a suitably long inlet pipe. Tests at other speeds with this length of pipe showed higher indicated mean effective pressure than with a very short pipe, although not so high as could be obtained with the pipe length adjusted for each speed. A general relation was discovered between optimum time of inlet valve closing and pipe length; namely, that longer pipes require later inlet valve closing in order to be fully effective. Tests were also made on three cylinders connected to a single pipe. With this arrangement, increased volumetric efficiency at low speed was obtainable by using a long pipe, but only with a sacrifice of volumetric efficiency at high speed. Volumetric efficiency at high speed was progressively lower as the pipe length was increased.

The Efficiency of Noni (Morinda citrifolia L.) Essential Oil on the Control of Leaf Spot Caused by Exserohilum turcicum in Maize Culture.

PubMed

Silva, Janaina Costa E; Mourão, Dalmarcia de Sousa Carlos; Lima, Fabia Silva de Oliveira; Sarmento, Renato de Almeida; Dalcin, Mateus Sunti; Aguiar, Raimundo Wagner de Souza; Santos, Gil Rodrigues Dos

2017-08-14

The objective of this work was to evaluate the efficiency of noni essential oil on the control of Exserohilum turcicum , a causative agent of Exserohilum spot in maize culture. In the sanitary test 400 seeds were incubated using the blotter test method. For the transmissibility test, the fragments of damaged leaves of seedlings were removed and put into a potato, dextrose and agar (PDA) culture environment. To verify the pathogenicity, Koch´s postulates were performed. In the phytotoxicity test different concentrations of noni oil were applied in maize seedlings. E. turcicum conidia were submitted to different concentrations of noni oil. In the preventive and curative tests noni essential oils were applied before and after the conidia inoculation, respectively. The results revealed the presence of fungi of the genres Aspergillus , Penicillium , Rhizopus , Fusarium , and Exserohilum in the maize seeds. The pathogenicity of E. turcicum and also the transmission of this fungus from the seeds to the maize seedlings was confirmed. The inhibition of conidia germination was proportional to the concentration increase. The preventive application of noni essential oil was the most efficient on the control of Exserohilum spot.

The Efficiency of Noni (Morinda citrifolia L.) Essential Oil on the Control of Leaf Spot Caused by Exserohilum turcicum in Maize Culture

PubMed Central

Silva, Janaina Costa E; Mourão, Dalmarcia de Sousa Carlos; Lima, Fabia Silva de Oliveira; Sarmento, Renato de Almeida; Dalcin, Mateus Sunti; Aguiar, Raimundo Wagner de Souza

2017-01-01

The objective of this work was to evaluate the efficiency of noni essential oil on the control of Exserohilum turcicum, a causative agent of Exserohilum spot in maize culture. In the sanitary test 400 seeds were incubated using the blotter test method. For the transmissibility test, the fragments of damaged leaves of seedlings were removed and put into a potato, dextrose and agar (PDA) culture environment. To verify the pathogenicity, Koch´s postulates were performed. In the phytotoxicity test different concentrations of noni oil were applied in maize seedlings. E. turcicum conidia were submitted to different concentrations of noni oil. In the preventive and curative tests noni essential oils were applied before and after the conidia inoculation, respectively. The results revealed the presence of fungi of the genres Aspergillus, Penicillium, Rhizopus, Fusarium, and Exserohilum in the maize seeds. The pathogenicity of E. turcicum and also the transmission of this fungus from the seeds to the maize seedlings was confirmed. The inhibition of conidia germination was proportional to the concentration increase. The preventive application of noni essential oil was the most efficient on the control of Exserohilum spot. PMID:28930274

Post-hoc simulation study to adopt a computerized adaptive testing (CAT) for a Korean Medical License Examination.

PubMed

Seo, Dong Gi; Choi, Jeongwook

2018-05-17

Computerized adaptive testing (CAT) has been adopted in license examinations due to a test efficiency and accuracy. Many research about CAT have been published to prove the efficiency and accuracy of measurement. This simulation study investigated scoring method and item selection methods to implement CAT in Korean medical license examination (KMLE). This study used post-hoc (real data) simulation design. The item bank used in this study was designed with all items in a 2017 KMLE. All CAT algorithms for this study were implemented by a 'catR' package in R program. In terms of accuracy, Rasch and 2parametric logistic (PL) model performed better than 3PL model. Modal a Posteriori (MAP) or Expected a Posterior (EAP) provided more accurate estimates than MLE and WLE. Furthermore Maximum posterior weighted information (MPWI) or Minimum expected posterior variance (MEPV) performed better than other item selection methods. In terms of efficiency, Rasch model was recommended to reduce test length. Simulation study should be performed under varied test conditions before adopting a live CAT. Based on a simulation study, specific scoring and item selection methods should be predetermined before implementing a live CAT.

Appliance Standard Testing

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

Hogan, Kathleen; Tiemann, Gregg

2016-08-03

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Appliance Standards and Equipment Program tests, sets and helps enforce efficiency standards on more than 60 U.S. products. A majority of that testing is performed at the Intertek laboratory in Cortland, NY.

Procedures to evaluate the efficiency of protective clothing worn by operators applying pesticide.

PubMed

Espanhol-Soares, Melina; Nociti, Leticia A S; Machado-Neto, Joaquim Gonçalves

2013-10-01

The evaluation of the efficiency of whole-body protective clothing against pesticides has already been carried out through field tests and procedures defined by international standards, but there is a need to determine the useful life of these garments to ensure worker safety. The aim of this article is to compare the procedures for evaluating efficiency of two whole-body protective garments, both new and previously used by applicators of herbicides, using a laboratory test with a mannequin and in the field with the operator. The evaluation of the efficiency of protective clothing used both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, leading to a proposal for classification according to efficiency, and determination of the useful life of protective clothing for use against pesticides, based on a quantitative assessment. The procedures used were in accordance with the standards of the modified American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) F 1359:2007 and International Organization for Standardization 17491-4. The protocol used in the field was World Health Organization Vector Biology and Control (VBC)/82.1. Clothing tested was personal water repellent and pesticide protective. Two varieties of fabric were tested: Beige (100% cotton) and Camouflaged (31% polyester and 69% cotton). The efficiency in exposure control of the personal protective clothing was measured before use and after 5, 10, 20, and 30 uses and washes under field conditions. Personal protective clothing was worn by workers in the field during the application of the herbicide glyphosate on weed species in mature sugar cane plantations using a knapsack sprayer. The modified ASTM 1359:2007 procedure was chosen as the most appropriate due to its greater repeatability (lower coefficient of variation). This procedure provides quantitative evaluation needed to determine the efficiency and useful life of individual protective clothing, not just at specific points of failure, but according to dermal protection as a whole. The qualitative assessment, which is suitable for verification of garment design and stitching flaws, does not aid in determining useful life, but does complement the quantitative evaluation. The proposed classification is appropriate and accurate for determining the useful life of personal protective clothing against pesticide materials relative to number of uses and washes after each use. For example, the Beige garment had a useful life of 30 uses and washes, while the Camouflaged garment had a useful life of 5 uses and washes. The quantitative evaluation aids in determining the efficiency and useful life of individual protective clothing according to dermal protection as a whole, not just at specific points of failure.