Sample records for optimal unit commitment

  1. Smart house-based optimal operation of thermal unit commitment for a smart grid considering transmission constraints

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Howlader, Harun Or Rashid; Matayoshi, Hidehito; Noorzad, Ahmad Samim; Muarapaz, Cirio Celestino; Senjyu, Tomonobu

    2018-05-01

    This paper presents a smart house-based power system for thermal unit commitment programme. The proposed power system consists of smart houses, renewable energy plants and conventional thermal units. The transmission constraints are considered for the proposed system. The generated power of the large capacity renewable energy plant leads to the violated transmission constraints in the thermal unit commitment programme, therefore, the transmission constraint should be considered. This paper focuses on the optimal operation of the thermal units incorporated with controllable loads such as Electrical Vehicle and Heat Pump water heater of the smart houses. The proposed method is compared with the power flow in thermal units operation without controllable loads and the optimal operation without the transmission constraints. Simulation results show the validation of the proposed method.

  2. A genetic algorithm solution to the unit commitment problem

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

    Kazarlis, S.A.; Bakirtzis, A.G.; Petridis, V.

    1996-02-01

    This paper presents a Genetic Algorithm (GA) solution to the Unit Commitment problem. GAs are general purpose optimization techniques based on principles inspired from the biological evolution using metaphors of mechanisms such as natural selection, genetic recombination and survival of the fittest. A simple Ga algorithm implementation using the standard crossover and mutation operators could locate near optimal solutions but in most cases failed to converge to the optimal solution. However, using the Varying Quality Function technique and adding problem specific operators, satisfactory solutions to the Unit Commitment problem were obtained. Test results for systems of up to 100 unitsmore » and comparisons with results obtained using Lagrangian Relaxation and Dynamic Programming are also reported.« less

  3. Robust Unit Commitment Considering Uncertain Demand Response

    DOE PAGES

    Liu, Guodong; Tomsovic, Kevin

    2014-09-28

    Although price responsive demand response has been widely accepted as playing an important role in the reliable and economic operation of power system, the real response from demand side can be highly uncertain due to limited understanding of consumers' response to pricing signals. To model the behavior of consumers, the price elasticity of demand has been explored and utilized in both research and real practice. However, the price elasticity of demand is not precisely known and may vary greatly with operating conditions and types of customers. To accommodate the uncertainty of demand response, alternative unit commitment methods robust to themore » uncertainty of the demand response require investigation. In this paper, a robust unit commitment model to minimize the generalized social cost is proposed for the optimal unit commitment decision taking into account uncertainty of the price elasticity of demand. By optimizing the worst case under proper robust level, the unit commitment solution of the proposed model is robust against all possible realizations of the modeled uncertain demand response. Numerical simulations on the IEEE Reliability Test System show the e ectiveness of the method. Finally, compared to unit commitment with deterministic price elasticity of demand, the proposed robust model can reduce the average Locational Marginal Prices (LMPs) as well as the price volatility.« less

  4. Stochastic Optimization for Unit Commitment-A Review

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

    Zheng, Qipeng P.; Wang, Jianhui; Liu, Andrew L.

    2015-07-01

    Optimization models have been widely used in the power industry to aid the decision-making process of scheduling and dispatching electric power generation resources, a process known as unit commitment (UC). Since UC's birth, there have been two major waves of revolution on UC research and real life practice. The first wave has made mixed integer programming stand out from the early solution and modeling approaches for deterministic UC, such as priority list, dynamic programming, and Lagrangian relaxation. With the high penetration of renewable energy, increasing deregulation of the electricity industry, and growing demands on system reliability, the next wave ismore » focused on transitioning from traditional deterministic approaches to stochastic optimization for unit commitment. Since the literature has grown rapidly in the past several years, this paper is to review the works that have contributed to the modeling and computational aspects of stochastic optimization (SO) based UC. Relevant lines of future research are also discussed to help transform research advances into real-world applications.« less

  5. Strengthened MILP formulation for certain gas turbine unit commitment problems

    DOE PAGES

    Pan, Kai; Guan, Yongpei; Watson, Jean -Paul; ...

    2015-05-22

    In this study, we derive a strengthened MILP formulation for certain gas turbine unit commitment problems, in which the ramping rates are no smaller than the minimum generation amounts. This type of gas turbines can usually start-up faster and have a larger ramping rate, as compared to the traditional coal-fired power plants. Recently, the number of this type of gas turbines increases significantly due to affordable gas prices and their scheduling flexibilities to accommodate intermittent renewable energy generation. In this study, several new families of strong valid inequalities are developed to help reduce the computational time to solve these typesmore » of problems. Meanwhile, the validity and facet-defining proofs are provided for certain inequalities. Finally, numerical experiments on a modified IEEE 118-bus system and the power system data based on recent studies verify the effectiveness of applying our formulation to model and solve this type of gas turbine unit commitment problems, including reducing the computational time to obtain an optimal solution or obtaining a much smaller optimality gap, as compared to the default CPLEX, when the time limit is reached with no optimal solutions obtained.« less

  6. Stochastic Robust Mathematical Programming Model for Power System Optimization

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

    Liu, Cong; Changhyeok, Lee; Haoyong, Chen

    2016-01-01

    This paper presents a stochastic robust framework for two-stage power system optimization problems with uncertainty. The model optimizes the probabilistic expectation of different worst-case scenarios with ifferent uncertainty sets. A case study of unit commitment shows the effectiveness of the proposed model and algorithms.

  7. Two tradeoffs between economy and reliability in loss of load probability constrained unit commitment

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, Yuan; Wang, Mingqiang; Ning, Xingyao

    2018-02-01

    Spinning reserve (SR) should be scheduled considering the balance between economy and reliability. To address the computational intractability cursed by the computation of loss of load probability (LOLP), many probabilistic methods use simplified formulations of LOLP to improve the computational efficiency. Two tradeoffs embedded in the SR optimization model are not explicitly analyzed in these methods. In this paper, two tradeoffs including primary tradeoff and secondary tradeoff between economy and reliability in the maximum LOLP constrained unit commitment (UC) model are explored and analyzed in a small system and in IEEE-RTS System. The analysis on the two tradeoffs can help in establishing new efficient simplified LOLP formulations and new SR optimization models.

  8. Fuzzy multiobjective models for optimal operation of a hydropower system

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Teegavarapu, Ramesh S. V.; Ferreira, André R.; Simonovic, Slobodan P.

    2013-06-01

    Optimal operation models for a hydropower system using new fuzzy multiobjective mathematical programming models are developed and evaluated in this study. The models use (i) mixed integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) with binary variables and (ii) integrate a new turbine unit commitment formulation along with water quality constraints used for evaluation of reservoir downstream impairment. Reardon method used in solution of genetic algorithm optimization problems forms the basis for development of a new fuzzy multiobjective hydropower system optimization model with creation of Reardon type fuzzy membership functions. The models are applied to a real-life hydropower reservoir system in Brazil. Genetic Algorithms (GAs) are used to (i) solve the optimization formulations to avoid computational intractability and combinatorial problems associated with binary variables in unit commitment, (ii) efficiently address Reardon method formulations, and (iii) deal with local optimal solutions obtained from the use of traditional gradient-based solvers. Decision maker's preferences are incorporated within fuzzy mathematical programming formulations to obtain compromise operating rules for a multiobjective reservoir operation problem dominated by conflicting goals of energy production, water quality and conservation releases. Results provide insight into compromise operation rules obtained using the new Reardon fuzzy multiobjective optimization framework and confirm its applicability to a variety of multiobjective water resources problems.

  9. Can Civility Norms Boost Positive Effects of Management Commitment to Safety?

    PubMed

    McGonagle, Alyssa K; Childress, Niambi M; Walsh, Benjamin M; Bauerle, Timothy J

    2016-07-03

    We proposed that civility norms would strengthen relationships between management commitment to safety and workers' safety motivation, safety behaviors, and injuries. Survey data were obtained from working adults in hazardous jobs-those for which physical labor is required and/or a realistic possibility of physical injury is present (N = 290). Results showed that management commitment positively related to workers' safety motivation, safety participation, and safety compliance, and negatively related to minor injuries. Furthermore, management commitment to safety displayed a stronger positive relationship with safety motivation and safety participation, and a stronger negative relationship with minor worker injuries when civility norms were high (versus low). The results confirm existing known relationships between management commitment to safety and worker safety motivation and behavior; furthermore, civility norms facilitate the relationships between management commitment to safety and various outcomes important to worker safety. In order to promote an optimally safe working environment, managers should demonstrate a commitment to worker safety and promote positive norms for interpersonal treatment between workers in their units.

  10. Exploiting Identical Generators in Unit Commitment

    DOE PAGES

    Knueven, Ben; Ostrowski, Jim; Watson, Jean -Paul

    2017-12-14

    Here, we present sufficient conditions under which thermal generators can be aggregated in mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) formulations of the unit commitment (UC) problem, while maintaining feasibility and optimality for the original disaggregated problem. Aggregating thermal generators with identical characteristics (e.g., minimum/maximum power output, minimum up/down-time, and cost curves) into a single unit reduces redundancy in the search space induced by both exact symmetry (permutations of generator schedules) and certain classes of mutually non-dominated solutions. We study the impact of aggregation on two large-scale UC instances, one from the academic literature and another based on real-world operator data. Our computationalmore » tests demonstrate that when present, identical generators can negatively affect the performance of modern MILP solvers on UC formulations. Further, we show that our reformation of the UC MILP through aggregation is an effective method for mitigating this source of computational difficulty.« less

  11. Exploiting Identical Generators in Unit Commitment

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

    Knueven, Ben; Ostrowski, Jim; Watson, Jean -Paul

    Here, we present sufficient conditions under which thermal generators can be aggregated in mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) formulations of the unit commitment (UC) problem, while maintaining feasibility and optimality for the original disaggregated problem. Aggregating thermal generators with identical characteristics (e.g., minimum/maximum power output, minimum up/down-time, and cost curves) into a single unit reduces redundancy in the search space induced by both exact symmetry (permutations of generator schedules) and certain classes of mutually non-dominated solutions. We study the impact of aggregation on two large-scale UC instances, one from the academic literature and another based on real-world operator data. Our computationalmore » tests demonstrate that when present, identical generators can negatively affect the performance of modern MILP solvers on UC formulations. Further, we show that our reformation of the UC MILP through aggregation is an effective method for mitigating this source of computational difficulty.« less

  12. Design and analysis of electricity markets

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sioshansi, Ramteen Mehr

    Restructured competitive electricity markets rely on designing market-based mechanisms which can efficiently coordinate the power system and minimize the exercise of market power. This dissertation is a series of essays which develop and analyze models of restructured electricity markets. Chapter 2 studies the incentive properties of a co-optimized market for energy and reserves that pays reserved generators their implied opportunity cost---which is the difference between their stated energy cost and the market-clearing price for energy. By analyzing the market as a competitive direct revelation mechanism we examine the properties of efficient equilibria and demonstrate that generators have incentives to shade their stated costs below actual costs. We further demonstrate that the expected energy payments of our mechanism is less than that in a disjoint market for energy only. Chapter 3 is an empirical validation of a supply function equilibrium (SFE) model. By comparing theoretically optimal supply functions and actual generation offers into the Texas spot balancing market, we show the SFE to fit the actual behavior of the largest generators in market. This not only serves to validate the model, but also demonstrates the extent to which firms exercise market power. Chapters 4 and 5 examine equity, incentive, and efficiency issues in the design of non-convex commitment auctions. We demonstrate that different near-optimal solutions to a central unit commitment problem which have similar-sized optimality gaps will generally yield vastly different energy prices and payoffs to individual generators. Although solving the mixed integer program to optimality will overcome such issues, we show that this relies on achieving optimality of the commitment---which may not be tractable for large-scale problems within the allotted timeframe. We then simulate and compare a competitive benchmark for a market with centralized and self commitment in order to bound the efficiency losses stemming from coordination losses (cost of anarchy) in a decentralized market.

  13. Short-term bulk energy storage system scheduling for load leveling in unit commitment: modeling, optimization, and sensitivity analysis

    PubMed Central

    Hemmati, Reza; Saboori, Hedayat

    2016-01-01

    Energy storage systems (ESSs) have experienced a very rapid growth in recent years and are expected to be a promising tool in order to improving power system reliability and being economically efficient. The ESSs possess many potential benefits in various areas in the electric power systems. One of the main benefits of an ESS, especially a bulk unit, relies on smoothing the load pattern by decreasing on-peak and increasing off-peak loads, known as load leveling. These devices require new methods and tools in order to model and optimize their effects in the power system studies. In this respect, this paper will model bulk ESSs based on the several technical characteristics, introduce the proposed model in the thermal unit commitment (UC) problem, and analyze it with respect to the various sensitive parameters. The technical limitations of the thermal units and transmission network constraints are also considered in the model. The proposed model is a Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) which can be easily solved by strong commercial solvers (for instance CPLEX) and it is appropriate to be used in the practical large scale networks. The results of implementing the proposed model on a test system reveal that proper load leveling through optimum storage scheduling leads to considerable operation cost reduction with respect to the storage system characteristics. PMID:27222741

  14. Short-term bulk energy storage system scheduling for load leveling in unit commitment: modeling, optimization, and sensitivity analysis.

    PubMed

    Hemmati, Reza; Saboori, Hedayat

    2016-05-01

    Energy storage systems (ESSs) have experienced a very rapid growth in recent years and are expected to be a promising tool in order to improving power system reliability and being economically efficient. The ESSs possess many potential benefits in various areas in the electric power systems. One of the main benefits of an ESS, especially a bulk unit, relies on smoothing the load pattern by decreasing on-peak and increasing off-peak loads, known as load leveling. These devices require new methods and tools in order to model and optimize their effects in the power system studies. In this respect, this paper will model bulk ESSs based on the several technical characteristics, introduce the proposed model in the thermal unit commitment (UC) problem, and analyze it with respect to the various sensitive parameters. The technical limitations of the thermal units and transmission network constraints are also considered in the model. The proposed model is a Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) which can be easily solved by strong commercial solvers (for instance CPLEX) and it is appropriate to be used in the practical large scale networks. The results of implementing the proposed model on a test system reveal that proper load leveling through optimum storage scheduling leads to considerable operation cost reduction with respect to the storage system characteristics.

  15. Capacity Adequacy and Revenue Sufficiency in Electricity Markets With Wind Power

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

    Levin, Todd; Botterud, Audun

    2015-05-01

    We present a computationally efficient mixed-integer program (MIP) that determines optimal generator expansion decisions, as well as periodic unit commitment and dispatch. The model is applied to analyze the impact of increasing wind power capacity on the optimal generation mix and the profitability of thermal generators. In a case study, we find that increasing wind penetration reduces energy prices while the prices for operating reserves increase. Moreover, scarcity pricing for operating reserves through reserve shortfall penalties significantly impacts the prices and profitability of thermal generators. Without scarcity pricing, no thermal units are profitable, however scarcity pricing can ensure profitability formore » peaking units at high wind penetration levels. Capacity payments can also ensure profitability, but the payments required for baseload units to break even increase with the amount of wind power. The results indicate that baseload units are most likely to experience revenue sufficiency problems when wind penetration increases and new baseload units are only developed when natural gas prices are high and wind penetration is low.« less

  16. Staff nurse commitment, work relationships, and turnover intentions: a latent profile analysis.

    PubMed

    Gellatly, Ian R; Cowden, Tracy L; Cummings, Greta G

    2014-01-01

    The three-component model of organization commitment has typically been studied using a variable-centered rather than a person-centered approach, preventing a more complete understanding of how these forms of commitment are felt and expressed as a whole. Latent profile analysis was used to identify qualitatively distinct categories or profiles of staff nurses' commitment. Then, associations of the profiles with perceived work unit relations and turnover intentions were examined. Three hundred thirty-six registered nurses provided data on affective, normative, and continuance commitment, perceived work unit relations, and turnover intentions. Latent profile analysis of the nurses' commitment scores revealed six distinct profile groups. Work unit relations and turnover intentions were compared in the six profile-defined groups. Staff nurses with profiles characterized by high affective commitment and/or high normative commitment in relation to other components experienced stronger work unit relations and reported lower turnover intentions. Profiles characterized by high continuance commitment relative to other components or by low overall commitment experienced poorer work unit relations, and the turnover risk was higher. High continuance commitment in combination with high affective and normative commitment was experienced differently than high continuance commitment in combination with low affective and normative commitment. Healthcare organizations often foster commitment by using continuance commitment-enhancing strategies (e.g., offer high salaries and attractive benefits) that may inadvertently introduce behavioral risk. This work suggests the importance of changing the context in which continuance commitment occurs by strengthening the other two components.

  17. [Organizational commitment and job satisfaction: an exploratory study in family health units in Portugal].

    PubMed

    Pereira, Isabel; Veloso, Ana; Silva, Isabel Soares; Costa, Patricio

    2017-05-18

    This study explored the relationship between organizational commitment and job satisfaction among workers in family health units. Six family health units in the North of Portugal participated, including 105 health professionals (physicians, nurses, and clinical secretaries). The study used the Portuguese adaptations of the Organizational Commitment Scale by Meyer & Allen (1997) and the Job Satisfaction Survey (Spector, 1985). The results suggest a positive association between organizational commitment and job satisfaction. The professionals are moderately satisfied and committed to the family health units; the most satisfactory aspects are the nature of the work, relationship to coworkers, and communication, while pay is the most unsatisfactory. The affective component of the commitment appears, highlighting the professionals' involvement in (and identification with) the family health units project. The linear regression model proved significant, and organizational commitment explains 22.7% of the variance in job satisfaction. For this sample, organizational commitment predicts job satisfaction.

  18. Context matters: the impact of unit leadership and empowerment on nurses' organizational commitment.

    PubMed

    Laschinger, Heather K Spence; Finegan, Joan; Wilk, Piotr

    2009-05-01

    The aim of this study was to test a multilevel model linking unit-level leader-member exchange quality and structural empowerment to nurses' psychological empowerment and organizational commitment at the individual level of analysis. Few studies have examined the contextual effects of unit leadership on individual nurse outcomes. Workplace empowerment has been related to retention outcomes such as organizational commitment in several studies, but few have studied the impact of specific unit characteristics within which nurses work on these outcomes. We surveyed 3,156 nurses in 217 hospital units to test the multilevel model. A multilevel path analysis revealed significant individual and contextual effects on nurses' organizational commitment. Both unit-level leader-member exchange quality and structural empowerment had significant direct effects on individual-level psychological empowerment and organizational commitment. Psychological empowerment mediated the relationship between core self-evaluations and organizational commitment at the individual level of analysis. The contextual effects of positive supervisor relationships and their influence on empowering working conditions at the unit level and, subsequently, nurses' organizational commitment highlight the importance of leadership for creating conditions that result in a committed nursing workforce.

  19. A modified priority list-based MILP method for solving large-scale unit commitment problems

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

    Ke, Xinda; Lu, Ning; Wu, Di

    This paper studies the typical pattern of unit commitment (UC) results in terms of generator’s cost and capacity. A method is then proposed to combine a modified priority list technique with mixed integer linear programming (MILP) for UC problem. The proposed method consists of two steps. At the first step, a portion of generators are predetermined to be online or offline within a look-ahead period (e.g., a week), based on the demand curve and generator priority order. For the generators whose on/off status is predetermined, at the second step, the corresponding binary variables are removed from the UC MILP problemmore » over the operational planning horizon (e.g., 24 hours). With a number of binary variables removed, the resulted problem can be solved much faster using the off-the-shelf MILP solvers, based on the branch-and-bound algorithm. In the modified priority list method, scale factors are designed to adjust the tradeoff between solution speed and level of optimality. It is found that the proposed method can significantly speed up the UC problem with minor compromise in optimality by selecting appropriate scale factors.« less

  20. Males are overrepresented among life science researchers committing scientific misconduct.

    PubMed

    Fang, Ferric C; Bennett, Joan W; Casadevall, Arturo

    2013-01-22

    A review of the United States Office of Research Integrity annual reports identified 228 individuals who have committed misconduct, of which 94% involved fraud. Analysis of the data by career stage and gender revealed that misconduct occurred across the entire career spectrum from trainee to senior scientist and that two-thirds of the individuals found to have committed misconduct were male. This exceeds the overall proportion of males among life science trainees and faculty. These observations underscore the need for additional efforts to understand scientific misconduct and to ensure the responsible conduct of research. As many of humanity's greatest problems require scientific solutions, it is critical for the scientific enterprise to function optimally. Misconduct threatens the scientific enterprise by undermining trust in the validity of scientific findings. We have examined specific demographic characteristics of individuals found to have committed research misconduct in the life sciences. Our finding that misconduct occurs across all stages of career development suggests that attention to ethical aspects of the conduct of science should not be limited to those in training. The observation that males are overrepresented among those who commit misconduct implies a gender difference that needs to be better understood in any effort to promote research integrity.

  1. Nature and Utilization of Civil Commitment for Substance Abuse in the United States.

    PubMed

    Christopher, Paul P; Pinals, Debra A; Stayton, Taylor; Sanders, Kellie; Blumberg, Lester

    2015-09-01

    Substance abuse is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Although civil commitment has been used to address substance abuse for more than a century, little is known today about the nature and use of substance-related commitment laws in the United States. We examined statutes between July 2010 and October 2012 from all 50 states and the District of Columbia for provisions authorizing civil commitment of adults for substance abuse and recorded the criteria and evidentiary standard for commitment and the location and the maximum duration of commitment orders. High-level state representatives evaluated these data and provided information on the use of commitment. Thirty-three states have statutory provisions for the civil commitment of persons because of substance abuse. The application of these statutes ranged from a few commitment cases to thousands annually. Although dangerousness was the most common basis for commitment, many states permitted it in other contexts. The maximum duration of treatment ranged from less than 1 month to more than 1 year for both initial and subsequent civil commitment orders. These findings show wide variability in the nature and application of civil commitment statutes for substance abuse in the United States. Such diversity reflects a lack of consensus on the role that civil commitment should play in managing substance abuse and the problems associated with it. © 2015 American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law.

  2. Multi-time scale energy management of wind farms based on comprehensive evaluation technology

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Xu, Y. P.; Huang, Y. H.; Liu, Z. J.; Wang, Y. F.; Li, Z. Y.; Guo, L.

    2017-11-01

    A novel energy management of wind farms is proposed in this paper. Firstly, a novel comprehensive evaluation system is proposed to quantify economic properties of each wind farm to make the energy management more economical and reasonable. Then, a combination of multi time-scale schedule method is proposed to develop a novel energy management. The day-ahead schedule optimizes unit commitment of thermal power generators. The intraday schedule is established to optimize power generation plan for all thermal power generating units, hydroelectric generating sets and wind power plants. At last, the power generation plan can be timely revised in the process of on-line schedule. The paper concludes with simulations conducted on a real provincial integrated energy system in northeast China. Simulation results have validated the proposed model and corresponding solving algorithms.

  3. The application of civil commitment law and practices to a case of delusional disorder: a cross-national comparison of legal approaches in the United States and the United Kingdom.

    PubMed

    Fennell, Philip; Goldstein, Robert Lloyd

    2006-01-01

    Legal approaches to civil commitment in the United States and the United Kingdom are compared. A concise overview of the historical evolution of civil commitment in both countries precedes a discussion of the present scheme of commitment standards in each system. These current standards in U.S. and U.K. jurisdictions are then applied to a hypothetical case of delusional disorder. A discussion of the constructive use of civil commitment in patients with delusional disorder who may be dangerous focuses on its value as a preventive measure against potential harm to self or others, as well as the pros and cons of coercive assessment and treatment. Despite the many differences in approach to commitment, the authors concur that in both countries the patient with delusional disorder was committable before the commission of a serious criminal offense.

  4. Options for pricing ancillary services in a deregulated power system

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yamin, Hatim Yahya

    2001-07-01

    GENCOs in restructured systems are compensated for selling energy in the market. In a restructured market, a mechanism is required to entice participants in the market to provide ancillary services and to ensure adequate compensation that would guarantee its economic viability. The ISO controls the dispatch of generation, manages the reliability of the transmission grid, provides open access to the transmission, buys and provides ancillary services as required, coordinates day-ahead, hour-ahead schedules and performs real time balancing of load and generation, settles real time imbalances and ancillary services sales and purchases. The ISO, also, administers congestion management protocols for the transmission grid. Since the ISO does not own any generating units it must ensure that there is enough reserves for maintaining reliability according to FERC regulations, and sufficient unloaded generating capacity for balancing services in a real-time market. The ISO could meet these requirements by creating a competitive market for ancillary services, which are metered and remain unbundled to provide an accurate compensation for each supplier and cost to each consumer, In this study, we give an overview for restructuring and ancillary services in a restructured power marketplace. Also, we discuss the effect of GENCOs' actions in the competitive energy and ancillary service markets. In addition, we propose an auction market design for hedging ancillary service costs in California market. Furthermore, we show how to include the n-1 and voltage contingencies in security constrained unit commitment. Finally, we present two approaches for GENCOs' unit commitment in a restructured power market; one is based on game theory and the other is based on market price forecasting. In each of the two GENCOs' unit commitment approaches, we discuss the GENCOs' optimal bidding strategies in energy and ancillary service markets to maximize the GENCOs' profit.

  5. The impact of middle manager affective commitment on perceived improvement program implementation success.

    PubMed

    Fryer, Ashley-Kay; Tucker, Anita L; Singer, Sara J

    Recent literature suggests that middle manager affective commitment (emotional attachment, identification, and involvement) to an improvement program may influence implementation success. However, less is known about the interplay between middle manager affective commitment and frontline worker commitment, another important driver of implementation success. We contribute to this research by surveying middle managers who directly manage frontline workers on nursing units. We assess how middle manager affective commitment is related to their perceptions of implementation success and whether their perceptions of frontline worker support mediate this relationship. We also test whether a set of organizational support factors foster middle manager affective commitment. We adapt survey measures of manager affective commitment to our research context of hospitals. We surveyed 67 nurse managers from 19 U.S. hospitals. We use hierarchical linear regression to assess relationships among middle manager affective commitment to their units' falls reduction program and their perceptions of three constructs related to the program: frontline worker support, organizational support, and implementation success. Middle manager affective commitment to their unit's falls reduction program is positively associated with their perception of implementation success. This relationship is mediated by their perception of frontline worker support for the falls program. Moreover, middle managers' affective commitment to their unit's falls program mediates the relationship between perceived organizational support for the program and perceived implementation success. We, through this research, offer an important contribution by providing empirical support of factors that may influence successful implementation of an improvement program: middle manager affective commitment, frontline worker support, and organizational support for an improvement program. Increasing levels of middle manager affective commitment to an improvement program could strengthen program implementation success by facilitating frontline worker support for the program. Furthermore, providing the organizational support items in our survey construct may bolster middle manager affective commitment.

  6. HIPPO Unit Commitment Version 1

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

    2017-01-17

    Developed for the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc. (MISO), HIPPO-Unit Commitment Version 1 is for solving security constrained unit commitment problem. The model was developed to solve MISO's cases. This version of codes includes I/O module to read in MISO's csv files, modules to create a state-based mixed integer programming formulation for solving MIP, and modules to test basic procedures to solve MIP via HPC.

  7. Relative Importance of Human Resource Practices on Affective Commitment and Turnover Intention in South Korea and United States

    PubMed Central

    Lee, Jaeyoon; Sohn, Young Woo; Kim, Minhee; Kwon, Seungwoo; Park, In-Jo

    2018-01-01

    The main purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of perceived HR practices on affective commitment and turnover intention. This study explored which HR practices were relatively more important in predicting affective commitment and turnover intention. A total of 302 employees from the United States and 317 from South Korea completed the same questionnaires for assessing the aforementioned relationships. The results illustrated that among perceived HR practices, internal mobility had the most significant association with turnover intention in both the United States and South Korea. While internal mobility was a stronger predictor of affective commitment for the United States sample, training was the most important variable for predicting affective commitment in South Korea. The second purpose of the study was to examine whether individuals’ positive affect influences the relationship between perceived HR practices and affective commitment and turnover intention. In the United States, positive affect moderated the relationship between perceived HR practices and affective commitment and turnover intention such that the relationships were stronger for individuals reporting high positive affect relative to those reporting low positive affect. However, these relationships were not significant in South Korea. We discuss the implications of these results, study limitations, and practical suggestions for future research. PMID:29867647

  8. Is organizational justice climate at the workplace associated with individual-level quality of care and organizational affective commitment? A multi-level, cross-sectional study on dentistry in Sweden.

    PubMed

    Berthelsen, Hanne; Conway, Paul Maurice; Clausen, Thomas

    2018-02-01

    The aim of this study is to investigate whether organizational justice climate at the workplace level is associated with individual staff members' perceptions of care quality and affective commitment to the workplace. The study adopts a cross-sectional multi-level design. Data were collected using an electronic survey and a response rate of 75% was obtained. Organizational justice climate and affective commitment to the workplace were measured by items from Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire and quality of care by three self-developed items. Non-managerial staff working at dental clinics with at least five respondents (n = 900 from 68 units) was included in analyses. A set of Level-2 random intercept models were built to predict individual-level organizational affective commitment and perceived quality of care from unit-level organizational justice climate, controlling for potential confounding by group size, gender, age, and occupation. The results of the empty model showed substantial between-unit variation for both affective commitment (ICC-1 = 0.17) and quality of care (ICC-1 = 0.12). The overall results showed that the shared perception of organizational justice climate at the clinical unit level was significantly associated with perceived quality of care and affective commitment to the organization (p < 0.001). Organizational justice climate at work unit level explained all variation in affective commitment among dental clinics and was associated with both the individual staff members' affective commitment and perceived quality of care. These findings suggest a potential for that addressing organizational justice climate may be a way to promote quality of care and enhancing affective commitment. However, longitudinal studies are needed to support causality in the examined relationships. Intervention research is also recommended to probe the effectiveness of actions increasing unit-level organizational justice climate and test their impact on quality of care and affective commitment.

  9. Optimizing and Validating a Brief Assessment for Identifying Children of Service Members at Risk for Psychological Health Problems Following Parent Deployment

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2017-09-01

    these groups . In the 2014/2015 year, efforts focused on securing a commitment from the United States Marine Corps to host the study. In Winter 2014...we can reach an adjusted sample size target in the 2017/2018 project year by expanding our recruitment to incorporate deploying infantry groups ...Vocabulary Test Revised. Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Service. George, C. & Solomon , J. (2008). The caregving system: A behavioral systems approach

  10. Incorporating operational flexibility into electric generation planning Impacts and methods for system design and policy analysis

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Palmintier, Bryan S.

    This dissertation demonstrates how flexibility in hourly electricity operations can impact long-term planning and analysis for future power systems, particularly those with substantial variable renewables (e.g., wind) or strict carbon policies. Operational flexibility describes a power system's ability to respond to predictable and unexpected changes in generation or demand. Planning and policy models have traditionally not directly captured the technical operating constraints that determine operational flexibility. However, as demonstrated in this dissertation, this capability becomes increasingly important with the greater flexibility required by significant renewables (>= 20%) and the decreased flexibility inherent in some low-carbon generation technologies. Incorporating flexibility can significantly change optimal generation and energy mixes, lower system costs, improve policy impact estimates, and enable system designs capable of meeting strict regulatory targets. Methodologically, this work presents a new clustered formulation that tractably combines a range of normally distinct power system models, from hourly unit-commitment operations to long-term generation planning. This formulation groups similar generators into clusters to reduce problem size, while still retaining the individual unit constraints required to accurately capture operating reserves and other flexibility drivers. In comparisons against traditional unit commitment formulations, errors were generally less than 1% while run times decreased by several orders of magnitude (e.g., 5000x). Extensive numerical simulations, using a realistic Texas-based power system show that ignoring flexibility can underestimate carbon emissions by 50% or result in significant load and wind shedding to meet environmental regulations. Contributions of this dissertation include: 1. Demonstrating that operational flexibility can have an important impact on power system planning, and describing when and how these impacts occur; 2. Demonstrating that a failure to account for operational flexibility can result in undesirable outcomes for both utility planners and policy analysts; and 3. Extending the state of the art for electric power system models by introducing a tractable method for incorporating unit commitment based operational flexibility at full 876o hourly resolution directly into planning optimization. Together these results encourage and offer a new flexibility-aware approach for capacity planning and accompanying policy design that can enable cleaner, less expensive electric power systems for the future. (Copies available exclusively from MIT Libraries, libraries.mit.edu/docs - docs mit.edu)

  11. Wind Power Forecasting Error Frequency Analyses for Operational Power System Studies: Preprint

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

    Florita, A.; Hodge, B. M.; Milligan, M.

    2012-08-01

    The examination of wind power forecasting errors is crucial for optimal unit commitment and economic dispatch of power systems with significant wind power penetrations. This scheduling process includes both renewable and nonrenewable generators, and the incorporation of wind power forecasts will become increasingly important as wind fleets constitute a larger portion of generation portfolios. This research considers the Western Wind and Solar Integration Study database of wind power forecasts and numerical actualizations. This database comprises more than 30,000 locations spread over the western United States, with a total wind power capacity of 960 GW. Error analyses for individual sites andmore » for specific balancing areas are performed using the database, quantifying the fit to theoretical distributions through goodness-of-fit metrics. Insights into wind-power forecasting error distributions are established for various levels of temporal and spatial resolution, contrasts made among the frequency distribution alternatives, and recommendations put forth for harnessing the results. Empirical data are used to produce more realistic site-level forecasts than previously employed, such that higher resolution operational studies are possible. This research feeds into a larger work of renewable integration through the links wind power forecasting has with various operational issues, such as stochastic unit commitment and flexible reserve level determination.« less

  12. Selection of Hidden Layer Neurons and Best Training Method for FFNN in Application of Long Term Load Forecasting

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Singh, Navneet K.; Singh, Asheesh K.; Tripathy, Manoj

    2012-05-01

    For power industries electricity load forecast plays an important role for real-time control, security, optimal unit commitment, economic scheduling, maintenance, energy management, and plant structure planning etc. A new technique for long term load forecasting (LTLF) using optimized feed forward artificial neural network (FFNN) architecture is presented in this paper, which selects optimal number of neurons in the hidden layer as well as the best training method for the case study. The prediction performance of proposed technique is evaluated using mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of Thailand private electricity consumption and forecasted data. The results obtained are compared with the results of classical auto-regressive (AR) and moving average (MA) methods. It is, in general, observed that the proposed method is prediction wise more accurate.

  13. 75 FR 57159 - Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-09-20

    ... Commit, or Support Terrorism On September 23, 2001, by Executive Order 13224, the President declared a national emergency with respect to persons who commit, threaten to commit, or support terrorism, pursuant... economy of the United States constituted by the grave acts of terrorism and threats of terrorism committed...

  14. 78 FR 49787 - Request for Comments and Notice of Public Hearing Concerning China's Compliance With WTO Commitments

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-08-15

    ... OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE Request for Comments and Notice of Public Hearing Concerning China's Compliance With WTO Commitments AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative... public hearing and seek public comment to assist the Office of the United States Trade Representative...

  15. Testing of Strategies for the Acceleration of the Cost Optimization

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

    Ponciroli, Roberto; Vilim, Richard B.

    The general problem addressed in the Nuclear-Renewable Hybrid Energy System (N-R HES) project is finding the optimum economical dispatch (ED) and capacity planning solutions for the hybrid energy systems. In the present test-problem configuration, the N-R HES unit is composed of three electrical power-generating components, i.e. the Balance of Plant (BOP), the Secondary Energy Source (SES), and the Energy Storage (ES). In addition, there is an Industrial Process (IP), which is devoted to hydrogen generation. At this preliminary stage, the goal is to find the power outputs of each one of the N-R HES unit components (BOP, SES, ES) andmore » the IP hydrogen production level that maximizes the unit profit by simultaneously satisfying individual component operational constraints. The optimization problem is meant to be solved in the Risk Analysis Virtual Environment (RAVEN) framework. The dynamic response of the N-R HES unit components is simulated by using dedicated object-oriented models written in the Modelica modeling language. Though this code coupling provides for very accurate predictions, the ensuing optimization problem is characterized by a very large number of solution variables. To ease the computational burden and to improve the path to a converged solution, a method to better estimate the initial guess for the optimization problem solution was developed. The proposed approach led to the definition of a suitable Monte Carlo-based optimization algorithm (called the preconditioner), which provides an initial guess for the optimal N-R HES power dispatch and the optimal installed capacity for each one of the unit components. The preconditioner samples a set of stochastic power scenarios for each one of the N-R HES unit components, and then for each of them the corresponding value of a suitably defined cost function is evaluated. After having simulated a sufficient number of power histories, the configuration which ensures the highest profit is selected as the optimal one. The component physical dynamics are represented through suitable ramp constraints, which considerably simplify the numerical solving. In order to test the capabilities of the proposed approach, in the present report, the dispatch problem only is tackled, i.e. a reference unit configuration is assumed, and each one of the N-R HES unit components is assumed to have a fixed installed capacity. As for the next steps, the main improvement will concern the operation strategy of the ES facility. In particular, in order to describe a more realistic battery commitment strategy, the ES operation will be regulated according to the electricity price forecasts.« less

  16. An Examination of Factors Affecting Organizational Commitment of Developmental Math Faculty at Florida Community Colleges

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Austin-Hickey, Rachel

    2013-01-01

    Community colleges play an important role in the accessibility of higher education to the American population and developmental coursework is of vital importance to college degree attainment. The large demand for student remediation in math requires optimal commitment of developmental math faculty members. Increased organizational commitment has…

  17. Relationship between organizational culture and commitment of employees in health care centers in west of Iran

    PubMed Central

    Hamidi, Yadollah; Mohammadibakhsh, Roghayeh; Soltanian, Alireza; Behzadifar, Masoud

    2017-01-01

    Introduction Presence of committed personnel in each organization not only reduces their absenteeism, delays, and displacements but also leads to a dramatic increase in performance and efficiency of an organization, mental freshness of employees, better manifestation of noble objectives, and organizational mission as well as fulfillment of personal goals. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between organizational culture and organizational commitment of employees in administrative units of health care centers in the cities of Hamedan Province based on the Denison model in 2015. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 177 employees in administrative units of health care centers in the cities of Hamedan Province were selected by a multistage stratified sampling method. The data collection instruments included the standardized Denison organizational culture survey and organizational commitment questionnaire by Meyer and Allen. Data were analyzed by IBM-SPSS version 21 using descriptive statistics and Pearson product-moment coefficient. Results Among the 12 indicators of organizational culture, the highest mean scores were assigned to empowerment (16.74), organizational learning (16.41), vision (16.4), and strategic direction (16.35); respectively. Furthermore, the indicators of capability development (14.2), core values (15.31), team orientation (15.45), and goals (15.46) received the lowest mean scores in this respect. Among the four dimensions of organizational culture, the highest mean score was related to “mission” in organizational culture and the lowest score was associated with “involvement.” Meyer and Allen’s organizational commitment model also had three components in which affective commitment in this study obtained the highest score (26.63) and continuance commitment received the lowest score (24.73). In this study, there was a significant correlation between all the components of organizational culture and organizational commitment of employees in administrative units of health care centers (p < 0.05). Conclusion Reflecting on all the dimensions and indicators of organizational culture can lead to an escalation of organizational commitment among employees. Furthermore, focus on factors affecting the improvement of continuance commitment can promote organizational commitment of employees in administrative units of health care centers. PMID:28243419

  18. Relationship between organizational culture and commitment of employees in health care centers in west of Iran.

    PubMed

    Hamidi, Yadollah; Mohammadibakhsh, Roghayeh; Soltanian, Alireza; Behzadifar, Masoud

    2017-01-01

    Presence of committed personnel in each organization not only reduces their absenteeism, delays, and displacements but also leads to a dramatic increase in performance and efficiency of an organization, mental freshness of employees, better manifestation of noble objectives, and organizational mission as well as fulfillment of personal goals. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between organizational culture and organizational commitment of employees in administrative units of health care centers in the cities of Hamedan Province based on the Denison model in 2015. In this cross-sectional study, 177 employees in administrative units of health care centers in the cities of Hamedan Province were selected by a multistage stratified sampling method. The data collection instruments included the standardized Denison organizational culture survey and organizational commitment questionnaire by Meyer and Allen. Data were analyzed by IBM-SPSS version 21 using descriptive statistics and Pearson product-moment coefficient. Among the 12 indicators of organizational culture, the highest mean scores were assigned to empowerment (16.74), organizational learning (16.41), vision (16.4), and strategic direction (16.35); respectively. Furthermore, the indicators of capability development (14.2), core values (15.31), team orientation (15.45), and goals (15.46) received the lowest mean scores in this respect. Among the four dimensions of organizational culture, the highest mean score was related to "mission" in organizational culture and the lowest score was associated with "involvement." Meyer and Allen's organizational commitment model also had three components in which affective commitment in this study obtained the highest score (26.63) and continuance commitment received the lowest score (24.73). In this study, there was a significant correlation between all the components of organizational culture and organizational commitment of employees in administrative units of health care centers (p < 0.05). Reflecting on all the dimensions and indicators of organizational culture can lead to an escalation of organizational commitment among employees. Furthermore, focus on factors affecting the improvement of continuance commitment can promote organizational commitment of employees in administrative units of health care centers.

  19. Systematic Evaluation of Stochastic Methods in Power System Scheduling and Dispatch with Renewable Energy

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

    Wang, Yishen; Zhou, Zhi; Liu, Cong

    2016-08-01

    As more wind power and other renewable resources are being integrated into the electric power grid, the forecast uncertainty brings operational challenges for the power system operators. In this report, different operational strategies for uncertainty management are presented and evaluated. A comprehensive and consistent simulation framework is developed to analyze the performance of different reserve policies and scheduling techniques under uncertainty in wind power. Numerical simulations are conducted on a modified version of the IEEE 118-bus system with a 20% wind penetration level, comparing deterministic, interval, and stochastic unit commitment strategies. The results show that stochastic unit commitment provides amore » reliable schedule without large increases in operational costs. Moreover, decomposition techniques, such as load shift factor and Benders decomposition, can help in overcoming the computational obstacles to stochastic unit commitment and enable the use of a larger scenario set to represent forecast uncertainty. In contrast, deterministic and interval unit commitment tend to give higher system costs as more reserves are being scheduled to address forecast uncertainty. However, these approaches require a much lower computational effort Choosing a proper lower bound for the forecast uncertainty is important for balancing reliability and system operational cost in deterministic and interval unit commitment. Finally, we find that the introduction of zonal reserve requirements improves reliability, but at the expense of higher operational costs.« less

  20. 78 FR 1211 - Application for Final Commitment for a Long-Term Loan or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-01-08

    ... EXPORT-IMPORT BANK OF THE UNITED STATES [Public Notice 2012-0558] Application for Final Commitment...-Import Bank of the United States. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: This Notice is to inform the public, in accordance with Section 3(c)(10) of the Charter of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (``Ex-Im Bank...

  1. Dimensionality of Organizational Commitment in Volunteer Workers: Chamber of Commerce Board Members and Role Fulfillment

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Dawley, David D.; Stephens, Robert D.; Stephens, David B.

    2005-01-01

    This study explores the multi-dimensionality of organizational commitment of volunteer chamber of commerce board members using the Meyer and Allen (1997) scale. The effect of organizational commitment on desirable board member roles is also tested. Theory is developed by uniting past research in both organizational commitment and employee…

  2. Operating health analysis of electric power systems

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fotuhi-Firuzabad, Mahmud

    The required level of operating reserve to be maintained by an electric power system can be determined using both deterministic and probabilistic techniques. Despite the obvious disadvantages of deterministic approaches there is still considerable reluctance to apply probabilistic techniques due to the difficulty of interpreting a single numerical risk index and the lack of sufficient information provided by a single index. A practical way to overcome difficulties is to embed deterministic considerations in the probabilistic indices in order to monitor the system well-being. The system well-being can be designated as healthy, marginal and at risk. The concept of system well-being is examined and extended in this thesis to cover the overall area of operating reserve assessment. Operating reserve evaluation involves the two distinctly different aspects of unit commitment and the dispatch of the committed units. Unit commitment health analysis involves the determination of which unit should be committed to satisfy the operating criteria. The concepts developed for unit commitment health, margin and risk are extended in this thesis to evaluate the response well-being of a generating system. A procedure is presented to determine the optimum dispatch of the committed units to satisfy the response criteria. The impact on the response wellbeing being of variations in the margin time, required regulating margin and load forecast uncertainty are illustrated. The effects on the response well-being of rapid start units, interruptible loads and postponable outages are also illustrated. System well-being is, in general, greatly improved by interconnection with other power systems. The well-being concepts are extended to evaluate the spinning reserve requirements in interconnected systems. The interconnected system unit commitment problem is decomposed into two subproblems in which unit scheduling is performed in each isolated system followed by interconnected system evaluation. A procedure is illustrated to determine the well-being indices of the overall interconnected system. Under normal operating conditions, the system may also be able to carry a limited amount of interruptible load on top of its firm load without violating the operating criterion. An energy based approach is presented to determine the optimum interruptible load carrying capability in both the isolated and interconnected systems. Composite system spinning reserve assessment and composite system well-being are also examined in this research work. The impacts on the composite well-being of operating reserve considerations such as stand-by units, interruptible loads and the physical locations of these resources are illustrated. It is expected that the well-being framework and the concepts developed in this research work will prove extremely useful in the new competitive utility environment.

  3. Optimization-based sale transactions and hydrothermal scheduling

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

    Prasannan, B.; Luh, P.B.; Yan, H.

    1995-12-31

    Selling and purchasing power are important activities for utilities because of potential savings. When a selling utility presents an offer including prices, power levels and durations, a purchasing utility selects power levels and durations within the offered range subject to relevant constraints. The decisionmaking process is complicated because transactions are coupled with system demand and reserve, therefore decisions have to be made in conjunction with the commitment and dispatching of units. Furthermore, transaction decisions have to be made in almost real time in view of the competitiveness of the power market caused by deregulation. In this paper, transactions are analyzedmore » from a selling utility`s viewpoint for a system consisting of thermal, hydro and pumped-storage units. To effectively solve the problem, linear sale revenues are approximated by nonlinear functions, and non-profitable options are identified and eliminated from consideration. The multipliers are then updated at the high level by using a modified subgradient method to obtain near optimal solutions quickly. Testing results show that the algorithm produces good sale offers efficiently.« less

  4. Optimization-based sale transactions and hydrothermal scheduling

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

    Prasannan, B.; Luh, P.B.; Yan, H.

    1996-05-01

    Selling and purchasing power are important activities for utilities because of potential savings. When a selling utility presents an offer including prices, power levels and durations, a purchasing utility selects power levels and durations within the offered range subject to relevant constraints. The decisionmaking process is complicated because transactions are coupled with system demand and reserve, therefore decisions have to be made in conjunction with the commitment and dispatching of units. Furthermore, transaction decisions have to be made in almost real time in view of the competitiveness of the power market caused by deregulation. In this paper, transactions are analyzedmore » from a selling utility`s viewpoint for a system consisting of thermal, hydro and pumped-storage units. To effectively solve the problem, linear sale revenues are approximated by nonlinear functions, and non-profitable options are identified and eliminated from consideration. The multipliers are then updated at the high level by using a modified subgradient method to obtain near optimal solutions quickly. Testing results show that the algorithm produces good sale offers efficiently.« less

  5. Effect of accuracy of wind power prediction on power system operator

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Schlueter, R. A.; Sigari, G.; Costi, T.

    1985-01-01

    This research project proposed a modified unit commitment that schedules connection and disconnection of generating units in response to load. A modified generation control is also proposed that controls steam units under automatic generation control, fast responding diesels, gas turbines and hydro units under a feedforward control, and wind turbine array output under a closed loop array control. This modified generation control and unit commitment require prediction of trend wind power variation one hour ahead and the prediction of error in this trend wind power prediction one half hour ahead. An improved meter for predicting trend wind speed variation is developed. Methods for accurately simulating the wind array power from a limited number of wind speed prediction records was developed. Finally, two methods for predicting the error in the trend wind power prediction were developed. This research provides a foundation for testing and evaluating the modified unit commitment and generation control that was developed to maintain operating reliability at a greatly reduced overall production cost for utilities with wind generation capacity.

  6. Electricity market design for generator revenue sufficiency with increased variable generation

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

    Levin, Todd; Botterud, Audun

    Here, we present a computationally efficient mixed-integer program (MIP) that determines optimal generator expansion decisions, and hourly unit commitment and dispatch in a power system. The impact of increasing wind power capacity on the optimal generation mix and generator profitability is analyzed for a test case that approximates the electricity market in Texas (ERCOT). We analyze three market policies that may support resource adequacy: Operating Reserve Demand Curves (ORDC), Fixed Reserve Scarcity Prices (FRSP) and fixed capacity payments (CP). Optimal expansion plans are comparable between the ORDC and FRSP implementations, while capacity payments may result in additional new capacity. Themore » FRSP policy leads to frequent reserves scarcity events and corresponding price spikes, while the ORDC implementation results in more continuous energy prices. Average energy prices decrease with increasing wind penetration under all policies, as do revenues for baseload and wind generators. Intermediate and peak load plants benefit from higher reserve prices and are less exposed to reduced energy prices. All else equal, an ORDC approach may be preferred to FRSP as it results in similar expansion and revenues with less extreme energy prices. A fixed CP leads to additional new flexible NGCT units, but lower profits for other technologies.« less

  7. Electricity market design for generator revenue sufficiency with increased variable generation

    DOE PAGES

    Levin, Todd; Botterud, Audun

    2015-10-01

    Here, we present a computationally efficient mixed-integer program (MIP) that determines optimal generator expansion decisions, and hourly unit commitment and dispatch in a power system. The impact of increasing wind power capacity on the optimal generation mix and generator profitability is analyzed for a test case that approximates the electricity market in Texas (ERCOT). We analyze three market policies that may support resource adequacy: Operating Reserve Demand Curves (ORDC), Fixed Reserve Scarcity Prices (FRSP) and fixed capacity payments (CP). Optimal expansion plans are comparable between the ORDC and FRSP implementations, while capacity payments may result in additional new capacity. Themore » FRSP policy leads to frequent reserves scarcity events and corresponding price spikes, while the ORDC implementation results in more continuous energy prices. Average energy prices decrease with increasing wind penetration under all policies, as do revenues for baseload and wind generators. Intermediate and peak load plants benefit from higher reserve prices and are less exposed to reduced energy prices. All else equal, an ORDC approach may be preferred to FRSP as it results in similar expansion and revenues with less extreme energy prices. A fixed CP leads to additional new flexible NGCT units, but lower profits for other technologies.« less

  8. Teacher Team Commitment, Teamwork and Trust: Exploring Associations

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Park, Sungmin; Henkin, Alan B.; Egley, Robert

    2005-01-01

    Purpose: To investigate relationships between teamwork, trust and teacher team commitment. Design/methodology/approach: Research has confirmed the value-added effects of organizational commitment in terms of job performance, organizational effectiveness, and employee retention. This study focused on teacher teams as the unit of analysis, and…

  9. Management Commitment to Safety, Teamwork, and Hospital Worker Injuries.

    PubMed

    McGonagle, Alyssa K; Essenmacher, Lynnette; Hamblin, Lydia; Luborsky, Mark; Upfal, Mark; Arnetz, Judith

    2016-01-01

    Although many studies link teamwork in health care settings to patient safety, evidence linking teamwork to hospital worker safety is lacking. This study addresses this gap by providing evidence linking teamwork perceptions in hospital workers to worker injuries, and further, finds a linkage between manager commitment to safety and teamwork. Organizational records of worker injuries and survey responses regarding management commitment to safety and teamwork from 446 hospital workers within 42 work units in a multi-site hospital system were examined. Results underscored the particular importance of teamwork on worker injuries as well as the importance of management commitment to safety as relating to teamwork. To improve worker safety, organizational leaders and unit managers should work to maintain environments wherein teamwork can thrive.

  10. Management Commitment to Safety, Teamwork, and Hospital Worker Injuries

    PubMed Central

    McGonagle, Alyssa K.; Essenmacher, Lynnette; Hamblin, Lydia; Luborsky, Mark; Upfal, Mark; Arnetz, Judith

    2016-01-01

    Although many studies link teamwork in health care settings to patient safety, evidence linking teamwork to hospital worker safety is lacking. This study addresses this gap by providing evidence linking teamwork perceptions in hospital workers to worker injuries, and further, finds a linkage between manager commitment to safety and teamwork. Organizational records of worker injuries and survey responses regarding management commitment to safety and teamwork from 446 hospital workers within 42 work units in a multi-site hospital system were examined. Results underscored the particular importance of teamwork on worker injuries as well as the importance of management commitment to safety as relating to teamwork. To improve worker safety, organizational leaders and unit managers should work to maintain environments wherein teamwork can thrive. PMID:27867448

  11. Quality and strength of patient safety climate on medical-surgical units.

    PubMed

    Hughes, Linda C; Chang, Yunkyung; Mark, Barbara A

    2009-01-01

    Describing the safety climate in hospitals is an important first step in creating work environments where safety is a priority. Yet, little is known about the patient safety climate on medical-surgical units. Study purposes were to describe quality and strength of the patient safety climate on medical-surgical units and explore hospital and unit characteristics associated with this climate. Data came from a larger organizational study to investigate hospital and unit characteristics associated with organizational, nurse, and patient outcomes. The sample for this study was 3,689 RNs on 286 medical-surgical units in 146 hospitals. Nursing workgroup and managerial commitment to safety were the two most strongly positive attributes of the patient safety climate. However, issues surrounding the balance between job duties and safety compliance and nurses' reluctance to reveal errors continue to be problematic. Nurses in Magnet hospitals were more likely to communicate about errors and participate in error-related problem solving. Nurses on smaller units and units with lower work complexity reported greater safety compliance and were more likely to communicate about and reveal errors. Nurses on smaller units also reported greater commitment to patient safety and participation in error-related problem solving. Nursing workgroup commitment to safety is a valuable resource that can be leveraged to promote a sense of personal responsibility for and shared ownership of patient safety. Managers can capitalize on this commitment by promoting a work environment in which control over nursing practice and active participation in unit decisions are encouraged and by developing channels of communication that increase staff nurse involvement in identifying patient safety issues, prioritizing unit-level safety goals, and resolving day-to-day operational problems the have the potential to jeopardize patient safety.

  12. Assessing Civic Knowledge and Engagement

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hatcher, Julie A.

    2011-01-01

    Preparing graduates to be active citizens is a core value of colleges and universities in the United States. Historically, higher education has had a commitment to developing the civic commitment of its graduates; yet the degree to which this commitment is endorsed and actualized varies with time and across institutions. In "College Learning for…

  13. 75 FR 30010 - Improving Market and Planning Efficiency Through Improved Software; Notice of Agenda and...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-05-28

    ... Market and Planning Efficiency Through Improved Software; Notice of Agenda and Procedures for Staff... conference to be held on June 2, 2010 and June 3, 2010, to discuss issues related to unit commitment software... Unit Commitment Software Federal Energy Regulatory Commission June 2, 2010 8 a.m Richard O'Neill, FERC...

  14. Constructing probabilistic scenarios for wide-area solar power generation

    DOE PAGES

    Woodruff, David L.; Deride, Julio; Staid, Andrea; ...

    2017-12-22

    Optimizing thermal generation commitments and dispatch in the presence of high penetrations of renewable resources such as solar energy requires a characterization of their stochastic properties. In this study, we describe novel methods designed to create day-ahead, wide-area probabilistic solar power scenarios based only on historical forecasts and associated observations of solar power production. Each scenario represents a possible trajectory for solar power in next-day operations with an associated probability computed by algorithms that use historical forecast errors. Scenarios are created by segmentation of historic data, fitting non-parametric error distributions using epi-splines, and then computing specific quantiles from these distributions.more » Additionally, we address the challenge of establishing an upper bound on solar power output. Our specific application driver is for use in stochastic variants of core power systems operations optimization problems, e.g., unit commitment and economic dispatch. These problems require as input a range of possible future realizations of renewables production. However, the utility of such probabilistic scenarios extends to other contexts, e.g., operator and trader situational awareness. Finally, we compare the performance of our approach to a recently proposed method based on quantile regression, and demonstrate that our method performs comparably to this approach in terms of two widely used methods for assessing the quality of probabilistic scenarios: the Energy score and the Variogram score.« less

  15. Constructing probabilistic scenarios for wide-area solar power generation

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

    Woodruff, David L.; Deride, Julio; Staid, Andrea

    Optimizing thermal generation commitments and dispatch in the presence of high penetrations of renewable resources such as solar energy requires a characterization of their stochastic properties. In this study, we describe novel methods designed to create day-ahead, wide-area probabilistic solar power scenarios based only on historical forecasts and associated observations of solar power production. Each scenario represents a possible trajectory for solar power in next-day operations with an associated probability computed by algorithms that use historical forecast errors. Scenarios are created by segmentation of historic data, fitting non-parametric error distributions using epi-splines, and then computing specific quantiles from these distributions.more » Additionally, we address the challenge of establishing an upper bound on solar power output. Our specific application driver is for use in stochastic variants of core power systems operations optimization problems, e.g., unit commitment and economic dispatch. These problems require as input a range of possible future realizations of renewables production. However, the utility of such probabilistic scenarios extends to other contexts, e.g., operator and trader situational awareness. Finally, we compare the performance of our approach to a recently proposed method based on quantile regression, and demonstrate that our method performs comparably to this approach in terms of two widely used methods for assessing the quality of probabilistic scenarios: the Energy score and the Variogram score.« less

  16. Organisational commitment in nurses: is it dependent on age or education?

    PubMed

    Jones, April

    2015-02-01

    In hospitals in the United States, the ratio of nurses to patients is declining, resulting in an increase in workloads for the remaining nurses. Consequently, the level of commitment that these nurses have to their jobs is important. Outside health care, employees from different generations working for a variety of organisations differ in their levels of organisational commitment, but this information has not been available for nurses. This study, carried out in the state of Alabama, looks at whether nurses from different generations differ in their levels of organisational commitment, and also whether there are any differences in organisational commitment between licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and registered nurses (RNs). A questionnaire designed to measure levels of organisational commitment was answered by 145 nurses. The results were analysed for any differences in organisational commitment in nurses from different generations and with different nursing degrees. Nurses from different generations showed the same levels of organisational commitment, but LPNs showed significantly less affective commitment, that is, lower feelings of loyalty to their workplace, than RNs. This information may be useful for hospital administrators and human resource managers in the United States to highlight the value of flexible incentive packages to address the needs of a diverse workforce. For healthcare employers in the UK, the concept that there is an association between nursing qualifications and levels of organisational commitment is critical for building organisational stability and effectiveness, and for nurse recruitment and retention.

  17. Safety climate and safety behaviors in the construction industry: The importance of co-workers commitment to safety.

    PubMed

    Schwatka, Natalie V; Rosecrance, John C

    2016-06-16

    There is growing empirical evidence that as safety climate improves work site safety practice improve. Safety climate is often measured by asking workers about their perceptions of management commitment to safety. However, it is less common to include perceptions of their co-workers commitment to safety. While the involvement of management in safety is essential, working with co-workers who value and prioritize safety may be just as important. To evaluate a concept of safety climate that focuses on top management, supervisors and co-workers commitment to safety, which is relatively new and untested in the United States construction industry. Survey data was collected from a cohort of 300 unionized construction workers in the United States. The significance of direct and indirect (mediation) effects among safety climate and safety behavior factors were evaluated via structural equation modeling. Results indicated that safety climate was associated with safety behaviors on the job. More specifically, perceptions of co-workers commitment to safety was a mediator between both management commitment to safety climate factors and safety behaviors. These results support workplace health and safety interventions that build and sustain safety climate and a commitment to safety amongst work teams.

  18. Stochastic optimal generation bid to electricity markets with emissions risk constraints.

    PubMed

    Heredia, F-Javier; Cifuentes-Rubiano, Julián; Corchero, Cristina

    2018-02-01

    There are many factors that influence the day-ahead market bidding strategies of a generation company (GenCo) within the framework of the current energy market. Environmental policy issues are giving rise to emission limitation that are becoming more and more important for fossil-fueled power plants, and these must be considered in their management. This work investigates the influence of the emissions reduction plan and the incorporation of the medium-term derivative commitments in the optimal generation bidding strategy for the day-ahead electricity market. Two different technologies have been considered: the high-emission technology of thermal coal units and the low-emission technology of combined cycle gas turbine units. The Iberian Electricity Market (MIBEL) and the Spanish National Emissions Reduction Plan (NERP) defines the environmental framework for dealing with the day-ahead market bidding strategies. To address emission limitations, we have extended some of the standard risk management methodologies developed for financial markets, such as Value-at-Risk (VaR) and Conditional Value-at-Risk (CVaR), thus leading to the new concept of Conditional Emission at Risk (CEaR). This study offers electricity generation utilities a mathematical model for determining the unit's optimal generation bid to the wholesale electricity market such that it maximizes the long-term profits of the utility while allowing it to abide by the Iberian Electricity Market rules as well as the environmental restrictions set by the Spanish National Emissions Reduction Plan. We analyze the economic implications for a GenCo that includes the environmental restrictions of this National Plan as well as the NERP's effects on the expected profits and the optimal generation bid. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  19. Antecedent and Consequence of School Academic Optimism and Teachers' Academic Optimism Model

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hong, Fu-Yuan

    2017-01-01

    The main purpose of this research was to examine the relationships among school principals' transformational leadership, school academic optimism, teachers' academic optimism and teachers' professional commitment. This study conducted a questionnaire survey on 367 teachers from 20 high schools in Taiwan by random sampling, using principals'…

  20. 76 FR 35244 - Bureau of International Labor Affairs; Office of Trade and Labor Affairs; Bahrain-United States...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-06-16

    ... failing to fulfill its obligations and commitments under the International Labour Organization Declaration... were inconsistent with its commitments under the Labor Chapter. The objectives of the review of the... commitments or obligations arising under a labor chapter * * *.'' The Procedural Guidelines specify that OTLA...

  1. Wind Energy Forecasting: A Collaboration of the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and Xcel Energy

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

    Parks, K.; Wan, Y. H.; Wiener, G.

    2011-10-01

    The focus of this report is the wind forecasting system developed during this contract period with results of performance through the end of 2010. The report is intentionally high-level, with technical details disseminated at various conferences and academic papers. At the end of 2010, Xcel Energy managed the output of 3372 megawatts of installed wind energy. The wind plants span three operating companies1, serving customers in eight states2, and three market structures3. The great majority of the wind energy is contracted through power purchase agreements (PPAs). The remainder is utility owned, Qualifying Facilities (QF), distributed resources (i.e., 'behind the meter'),more » or merchant entities within Xcel Energy's Balancing Authority footprints. Regardless of the contractual or ownership arrangements, the output of the wind energy is balanced by Xcel Energy's generation resources that include fossil, nuclear, and hydro based facilities that are owned or contracted via PPAs. These facilities are committed and dispatched or bid into day-ahead and real-time markets by Xcel Energy's Commercial Operations department. Wind energy complicates the short and long-term planning goals of least-cost, reliable operations. Due to the uncertainty of wind energy production, inherent suboptimal commitment and dispatch associated with imperfect wind forecasts drives up costs. For example, a gas combined cycle unit may be turned on, or committed, in anticipation of low winds. The reality is winds stayed high, forcing this unit and others to run, or be dispatched, to sub-optimal loading positions. In addition, commitment decisions are frequently irreversible due to minimum up and down time constraints. That is, a dispatcher lives with inefficient decisions made in prior periods. In general, uncertainty contributes to conservative operations - committing more units and keeping them on longer than may have been necessary for purposes of maintaining reliability. The downside is costs are higher. In organized electricity markets, units that are committed for reliability reasons are paid their offer price even when prevailing market prices are lower. Often, these uplift charges are allocated to market participants that caused the inefficient dispatch in the first place. Thus, wind energy facilities are burdened with their share of costs proportional to their forecast errors. For Xcel Energy, wind energy uncertainty costs manifest depending on specific market structures. In the Public Service of Colorado (PSCo), inefficient commitment and dispatch caused by wind uncertainty increases fuel costs. Wind resources participating in the Midwest Independent System Operator (MISO) footprint make substantial payments in the real-time markets to true-up their day-ahead positions and are additionally burdened with deviation charges called a Revenue Sufficiency Guarantee (RSG) to cover out of market costs associated with operations. Southwest Public Service (SPS) wind plants cause both commitment inefficiencies and are charged Southwest Power Pool (SPP) imbalance payments due to wind uncertainty and variability. Wind energy forecasting helps mitigate these costs. Wind integration studies for the PSCo and Northern States Power (NSP) operating companies have projected increasing costs as more wind is installed on the system due to forecast error. It follows that reducing forecast error would reduce these costs. This is echoed by large scale studies in neighboring regions and states that have recommended adoption of state-of-the-art wind forecasting tools in day-ahead and real-time planning and operations. Further, Xcel Energy concluded reduction of the normalized mean absolute error by one percent would have reduced costs in 2008 by over $1 million annually in PSCo alone. The value of reducing forecast error prompted Xcel Energy to make substantial investments in wind energy forecasting research and development.« less

  2. The Six Principles of Facilities Stewardship

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Kaiser, Harvey H.; Klein, Eva

    2010-01-01

    Facilities stewardship means high-level and pervasive commitment to optimize capital investments, in order to achieve a high-functioning and attractive campus. It includes a major commitment to capital asset preservation and quality. Stewardship is about the long view of an institution's past and future. It ultimately forms the backdrop for…

  3. A Quantitative Study on Organisational Commitment and Communication Satisfaction of Professional Staff at a Master's Institution in the United States

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Bray, Nathaniel J.; Williams, Laine

    2017-01-01

    This study examined communication satisfaction and organisational commitment for professional staff at an American Master's institution using two quantitative surveys: Downs and Hazen's Communication Satisfaction Questionnaire and Meyer and Allen's TCM Employee Commitment Survey. One hundred and sixty-eight full-time and part-time staff…

  4. Transformational Leadership, Organizational Commitment, and Job Satisfaction: A Comparative Study of Kenyan and U.S. Financial Firms

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Walumbwa, Fred O.; Orwa, Bani; Wang, Peng; Lawler, John J.

    2005-01-01

    This study explores the nature of the relationship between transformational leadership and two work-related attitudes, organizational commitment and job satisfaction, by comparing Kenya and the United States. The results show that transformational leadership has a strong and positive effect on organizational commitment and job satisfaction in both…

  5. 77 FR 47382 - Application for Final Commitment for a Long-Term Loan or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-08-08

    ... EXPORT-IMPORT BANK OF THE UNITED STATES [Public Notice 2012-0345] Application for Final Commitment...: Export-Import Bank of the U.S. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: This Notice is to inform the public, in accordance with Section 3(c)(10) of the Charter of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (``Ex-Im Bank...

  6. EPA Form 5770-3: United States Environmental Protection Agency Fellowship Facilities and Commitment Statement

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    Requires information about the institution that will sponsor the fellowship applicant, the sponsor's summarized plans for the applicant's training, and the institution's commitment to provide that training.

  7. Optimal Operation of Energy Storage in Power Transmission and Distribution

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Akhavan Hejazi, Seyed Hossein

    In this thesis, we investigate optimal operation of energy storage units in power transmission and distribution grids. At transmission level, we investigate the problem where an investor-owned independently-operated energy storage system seeks to offer energy and ancillary services in the day-ahead and real-time markets. We specifically consider the case where a significant portion of the power generated in the grid is from renewable energy resources and there exists significant uncertainty in system operation. In this regard, we formulate a stochastic programming framework to choose optimal energy and reserve bids for the storage units that takes into account the fluctuating nature of the market prices due to the randomness in the renewable power generation availability. At distribution level, we develop a comprehensive data set to model various stochastic factors on power distribution networks, with focus on networks that have high penetration of electric vehicle charging load and distributed renewable generation. Furthermore, we develop a data-driven stochastic model for energy storage operation at distribution level, where the distribution of nodal voltage and line power flow are modelled as stochastic functions of the energy storage unit's charge and discharge schedules. In particular, we develop new closed-form stochastic models for such key operational parameters in the system. Our approach is analytical and allows formulating tractable optimization problems. Yet, it does not involve any restricting assumption on the distribution of random parameters, hence, it results in accurate modeling of uncertainties. By considering the specific characteristics of random variables, such as their statistical dependencies and often irregularly-shaped probability distributions, we propose a non-parametric chance-constrained optimization approach to operate and plan energy storage units in power distribution girds. In the proposed stochastic optimization, we consider uncertainty from various elements, such as solar photovoltaic , electric vehicle chargers, and residential baseloads, in the form of discrete probability functions. In the last part of this thesis we address some other resources and concepts for enhancing the operation of power distribution and transmission systems. In particular, we proposed a new framework to determine the best sites, sizes, and optimal payment incentives under special contracts for committed-type DG projects to offset distribution network investment costs. In this framework, the aim is to allocate DGs such that the profit gained by the distribution company is maximized while each DG unit's individual profit is also taken into account to assure that private DG investment remains economical.

  8. ERIC First Analysis: National Defense Commitments; 1982-83 National High School Debate Resolutions.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Wagner, David L.

    The purpose of this booklet is to provide a brief overview of some of the issues involved in the 1982-83 high school debate resolutions, which focus on the defense commitments of the United States. The first of the booklet's four chapters provides a review of information sources for use in researching the topic of defense commitments. The…

  9. Positivity in healthcare: relation of optimism to performance.

    PubMed

    Luthans, Kyle W; Lebsack, Sandra A; Lebsack, Richard R

    2008-01-01

    The purpose of this paper is to explore the linkage between nurses' levels of optimism and performance outcomes. The study sample consisted of 78 nurses in all areas of a large healthcare facility (hospital) in the Midwestern United States. The participants completed surveys to determine their current state of optimism. Supervisory performance appraisal data were gathered in order to measure performance outcomes. Spearman correlations and a one-way ANOVA were used to analyze the data. The results indicated a highly significant positive relationship between the nurses' measured state of optimism and their supervisors' ratings of their commitment to the mission of the hospital, a measure of contribution to increasing customer satisfaction, and an overall measure of work performance. This was an exploratory study. Larger sample sizes and longitudinal data would be beneficial because it is probable that state optimism levels will vary and that it might be more accurate to measure state optimism at several points over time in order to better predict performance outcomes. Finally, the study design does not imply causation. Suggestions for effectively developing and managing nurses' optimism to positively impact their performance are provided. To date, there has been very little empirical evidence assessing the impact that positive psychological capacities such as optimism of key healthcare professionals may have on performance. This paper was designed to help begin to fill this void by examining the relationship between nurses' self-reported optimism and their supervisors' evaluations of their performance.

  10. Cutting planes for the multistage stochastic unit commitment problem

    DOE PAGES

    Jiang, Ruiwei; Guan, Yongpei; Watson, Jean -Paul

    2016-04-20

    As renewable energy penetration rates continue to increase in power systems worldwide, new challenges arise for system operators in both regulated and deregulated electricity markets to solve the security-constrained coal-fired unit commitment problem with intermittent generation (due to renewables) and uncertain load, in order to ensure system reliability and maintain cost effectiveness. In this paper, we study a security-constrained coal-fired stochastic unit commitment model, which we use to enhance the reliability unit commitment process for day-ahead power system operations. In our approach, we first develop a deterministic equivalent formulation for the problem, which leads to a large-scale mixed-integer linear program.more » Then, we verify that the turn on/off inequalities provide a convex hull representation of the minimum-up/down time polytope under the stochastic setting. Next, we develop several families of strong valid inequalities mainly through lifting schemes. In particular, by exploring sequence independent lifting and subadditive approximation lifting properties for the lifting schemes, we obtain strong valid inequalities for the ramping and general load balance polytopes. Lastly, branch-and-cut algorithms are developed to employ these valid inequalities as cutting planes to solve the problem. Our computational results verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach.« less

  11. Cutting planes for the multistage stochastic unit commitment problem

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

    Jiang, Ruiwei; Guan, Yongpei; Watson, Jean -Paul

    As renewable energy penetration rates continue to increase in power systems worldwide, new challenges arise for system operators in both regulated and deregulated electricity markets to solve the security-constrained coal-fired unit commitment problem with intermittent generation (due to renewables) and uncertain load, in order to ensure system reliability and maintain cost effectiveness. In this paper, we study a security-constrained coal-fired stochastic unit commitment model, which we use to enhance the reliability unit commitment process for day-ahead power system operations. In our approach, we first develop a deterministic equivalent formulation for the problem, which leads to a large-scale mixed-integer linear program.more » Then, we verify that the turn on/off inequalities provide a convex hull representation of the minimum-up/down time polytope under the stochastic setting. Next, we develop several families of strong valid inequalities mainly through lifting schemes. In particular, by exploring sequence independent lifting and subadditive approximation lifting properties for the lifting schemes, we obtain strong valid inequalities for the ramping and general load balance polytopes. Lastly, branch-and-cut algorithms are developed to employ these valid inequalities as cutting planes to solve the problem. Our computational results verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach.« less

  12. Synergy between intention recognition and commitments in cooperation dilemmas

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Han, The Anh; Santos, Francisco C.; Lenaerts, Tom; Pereira, Luís Moniz

    2015-03-01

    Commitments have been shown to promote cooperation if, on the one hand, they can be sufficiently enforced, and on the other hand, the cost of arranging them is justified with respect to the benefits of cooperation. When either of these constraints is not met it leads to the prevalence of commitment free-riders, such as those who commit only when someone else pays to arrange the commitments. Here, we show how intention recognition may circumvent such weakness of costly commitments. We describe an evolutionary model, in the context of the one-shot Prisoner's Dilemma, showing that if players first predict the intentions of their co-player and propose a commitment only when they are not confident enough about their prediction, the chances of reaching mutual cooperation are largely enhanced. We find that an advantageous synergy between intention recognition and costly commitments depends strongly on the confidence and accuracy of intention recognition. In general, we observe an intermediate level of confidence threshold leading to the highest evolutionary advantage, showing that neither unconditional use of commitment nor intention recognition can perform optimally. Rather, our results show that arranging commitments is not always desirable, but that they may be also unavoidable depending on the strength of the dilemma.

  13. Improving Deterministic Reserve Requirements for Security Constrained Unit Commitment and Scheduling Problems in Power Systems

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Fengyu

    Traditional deterministic reserve requirements rely on ad-hoc, rule of thumb methods to determine adequate reserve in order to ensure a reliable unit commitment. Since congestion and uncertainties exist in the system, both the quantity and the location of reserves are essential to ensure system reliability and market efficiency. The modeling of operating reserves in the existing deterministic reserve requirements acquire the operating reserves on a zonal basis and do not fully capture the impact of congestion. The purpose of a reserve zone is to ensure that operating reserves are spread across the network. Operating reserves are shared inside each reserve zone, but intra-zonal congestion may block the deliverability of operating reserves within a zone. Thus, improving reserve policies such as reserve zones may improve the location and deliverability of reserve. As more non-dispatchable renewable resources are integrated into the grid, it will become increasingly difficult to predict the transfer capabilities and the network congestion. At the same time, renewable resources require operators to acquire more operating reserves. With existing deterministic reserve requirements unable to ensure optimal reserve locations, the importance of reserve location and reserve deliverability will increase. While stochastic programming can be used to determine reserve by explicitly modelling uncertainties, there are still scalability as well as pricing issues. Therefore, new methods to improve existing deterministic reserve requirements are desired. One key barrier of improving existing deterministic reserve requirements is its potential market impacts. A metric, quality of service, is proposed in this thesis to evaluate the price signal and market impacts of proposed hourly reserve zones. Three main goals of this thesis are: 1) to develop a theoretical and mathematical model to better locate reserve while maintaining the deterministic unit commitment and economic dispatch structure, especially with the consideration of renewables, 2) to develop a market settlement scheme of proposed dynamic reserve policies such that the market efficiency is improved, 3) to evaluate the market impacts and price signal of the proposed dynamic reserve policies.

  14. Employee commitment and motivation: a conceptual analysis and integrative model.

    PubMed

    Myer, John P; Becker, Thomas E; Vandenberghe, Christian

    2004-12-01

    Theorists and researchers interested in employee commitment and motivation have not made optimal use of each other's work. Commitment researchers seldom address the motivational processes through which commitment affects behavior, and motivation researchers have not recognized important distinctions in the forms, foci, and bases of commitment. To encourage greater cross-fertilization, the authors present an integrative framework in which commitment is presented as one of several energizing forces for motivated behavior. E. A. Locke's (1997) model of the work motivation process and J. P. Meyer and L. Herscovitch's (2001) model of workplace commitments serve as the foundation for the development of this new framework. To facilitate the merger, a new concept, goal regulation, is derived from self-determination theory (E. L. Deci & R. M. Ryan, 1985) and regulatory focus theory (E. I. Higgins, 1997). By including goal regulation, it is acknowledged that motivated behavior can be accompanied by different mindsets that have particularly important implications for the explanation and prediction of discretionary work behavior. 2004 APA, all rights reserved

  15. The roles of unit leadership and nurse-physician collaboration on nursing turnover intention.

    PubMed

    Galletta, Maura; Portoghese, Igor; Battistelli, Adalgisa; Leiter, Michael P

    2013-08-01

    To report a study of the relationship between variables at the group and individual level with nurses' intention to leave their unit. Workplaces are collective environments where workers constantly interact with each other. The quality of working relationship employees develop at the unit-level influences both employee outcomes and unit performance by shaping employee attitudes. The study was a cross-sectional design with self-administered questionnaires. A questionnaire including measures of leader-member exchange and nurse-physician collaboration analysed at group-level and affective commitment and turnover intention analysed at individual level, was administered individually to 1018 nurses in five Italian hospitals. Data were collected in 2009. A total of 832 nurses (81·7% response rate) completed questionnaires. The results showed that affective commitment at individual level completely mediated the relationship between leader-member exchange at group-level and nursing turnover intention. Furthermore, the cross-level interaction was significant: at individual level, the nurses with high levels of individual affective commitment towards their unit showed low levels of turnover intention and this relationship was stronger when the nurse-physician collaboration at group-level was high. This study showed the importance for organizations to implement management practices that promote both high-quality nurse-supervisor and nurse-physician relationships, because they increase nurses' identification with their units. Individual affective commitment is an important quality for retaining a workforce and good nurses' relationship at group-level relationships with both supervisors and physicians are instrumental in developing identification with the work unit. Thus, the quality of relationship among staff members is an important factor in nurses' decision to leave. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

  16. Assessment of Commitment to Equal Opportunity Goals in the Military

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1988-09-30

    N ASSESSMENT OF COMMITMENT TO EQUAL OPPORTUNITY GOALS IN THE MILITARX by Carl A. Bartling, Ph.D. Department of Psychology Arkansas Coll*" Batesville...Arkansas for The Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute Patrick Air Force Base, Florida United States Navy-ASEE 1988 Summer Faculty Research...Commitment to Equal Opportunity Goals in the Military (UNCLASSIFIED) 12. PERSONAL AUTHORM Carl A. Bartling 13. TYPE OF REPORT 113b. TIME COV ERED

  17. Effects of Sexual Harassment on Job Satisfaction, Retention, Cohesion, Commitment and Unit Effectiveness: The Case of the Air Force

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2010-07-01

    quid pro quo ). Examples of questions that were used in previous studies to measure crude/offensive behavior, as well as, other forms of sexual ...includes, but is not limited to, harassment in which submission is made a condition of employment (or quid pro quo ). Global or organizational...Effects of Sexual Harassment on Job Satisfaction, Retention, Cohesion, Commitment and Unit Effectiveness: The Case of the Air Force Dr. Brenda

  18. The relationship between employees' perceptions of safety and organizational culture.

    PubMed

    O'Toole, Michael

    2002-01-01

    With limited resources to help reduce occupational injuries, companies struggle with how to best focus these resources to achieve the greatest reduction in injuries for the optimal cost. Safety culture has been identified as a critical factor that sets the tone for importance of safety within an organization. An employee safety perception survey was conducted, and injury data were collected over a 45-month period from a large ready-mix concrete producer located in the southwest region of the United States. The results of this preliminary study suggest that the reductions in injuries experienced at the company locations was strongly impacted by the positive employee perceptions on several key factors. Management's commitment to safety was the factor with the greatest positive perception by employees taking the survey. This study was set up as a pilot project and did not unitize an experimental design. That weakness reduces the strength of these findings but adds to the importance of expanding the pilot project with an appropriate experimental design. Management leadership has been identified, along with several other factors, to influence employee perceptions of the safety management system. Those perceptions, in turn, appear to influence employee decisions that relate to at-risk behaviors and decisions on the job. The results suggest that employee perceptions of the safety system are related to management's commitment to safety, which, in turn, appear to be related to injury rates. Management should focus on how to best leverage these key factors to more positively impact injury rates within their companies.

  19. Affective Commitment among Student Affairs Professionals

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Boehman, Joseph

    2007-01-01

    Student affairs professionals in the United States were surveyed to determine the predictive value of overall job satisfaction, organizational support, organizational politics, and work/nonwork interaction on affective organizational commitment. Results indicate that a supportive work environment leads to increased affective attachment to the…

  20. Strategic effects of future environmental policy commitments: climate change, solar radiation management and correlated air pollutants.

    PubMed

    Qu, Jingwen; Silva, Emilson Caputo Delfino

    2015-03-15

    We study the effects of environmental policy commitments in a futuristic world in which solar radiation management (SRM) can be utilized to reduce climate change damages. Carbon and sulfur dioxide emissions (correlated pollutants) can be reduced through tradable permits. We show that if nations simultaneously commit to carbon permit policies, national SRM levels rise with carbon quotas. Alternatively, if they simultaneously commit to SRM policies, the global temperature falls with each unit increase in the global SRM level. A nation always wishes to be a leader in policymaking, but prefers carbon to SRM policymaking. The globe prefers SRM policy commitments. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  1. A Model Midshipman: Factors Related to Academic and Military Success of Prior Enlisted Midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2005-06-01

    Perceived Career Success , Commitment and Turnover Intentions. The Journal of American Academy of Business, Cambridge, 164-170. 22 undergone an...organizational commitment and career success and longevity, which was described earlier.40 One key to all of the opportunities for development presented...2004, September) The Effects of Mentoring on Perceived Career Success , Commitment and Turnover Intentions. The Journal of American Academy of

  2. 28 CFR 2.7 - Committed fines and restitution orders.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... 28 Judicial Administration 1 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Committed fines and restitution orders. 2.7 Section 2.7 Judicial Administration DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE PAROLE, RELEASE, SUPERVISION AND RECOMMITMENT OF PRISONERS, YOUTH OFFENDERS, AND JUVENILE DELINQUENTS United States Code Prisoners and Parolees...

  3. 28 CFR 2.7 - Committed fines and restitution orders.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... 28 Judicial Administration 1 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Committed fines and restitution orders. 2.7 Section 2.7 Judicial Administration DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE PAROLE, RELEASE, SUPERVISION AND RECOMMITMENT OF PRISONERS, YOUTH OFFENDERS, AND JUVENILE DELINQUENTS United States Code Prisoners and Parolees...

  4. 19 CFR 206.16 - Industry adjustment plan and commitments.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... 19 Customs Duties 3 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Industry adjustment plan and commitments. 206.16 Section 206.16 Customs Duties UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION NONADJUDICATIVE INVESTIGATIONS INVESTIGATIONS RELATING TO GLOBAL AND BILATERAL SAFEGUARD ACTIONS, MARKET DISRUPTION, TRADE DIVERSION, AND REVIEW...

  5. Recovery at Work: The Relationship Between Social Identity and Commitment Among Substance Abuse Counselors

    PubMed Central

    Curtis, Sara L.; Eby, Lillian T.

    2010-01-01

    The complex makeup of the substance abuse treatment workforce poses unique challenges to the field. One interesting dynamic is the high rate of counselors who are personally recovering from addictions. Based on social identity theory, it was expected that counselors working in the field of substance abuse treatment who are in recovery themselves will identify more with their profession and report higher professional and organizational commitment. Data from a study of substance abuse counselors from across the United States supports the proposed relationship between personal recovery status and professional commitment but not organizational commitment. PMID:20674241

  6. Exploring the differential impact of individual and organizational factors on organizational commitment of physicians and nurses.

    PubMed

    Miedaner, Felix; Kuntz, Ludwig; Enke, Christian; Roth, Bernhard; Nitzsche, Anika

    2018-03-15

    Physician and nursing shortages in acute and critical care settings require research on factors which might drive their commitment, an important predictor of absenteeism and turnover. However, the degree to which the commitment of a physician or a nurse is driven by individual or organizational characteristics in hospitals remains unclear. In addition, there is a need for a greater understanding of how antecedent-commitment relationships differ between both occupational groups. Based on recent findings in the literature and the results of a pilot study, we investigate the degree to which selected individual and organizational characteristics might enhance an employee's affective commitment working in the field of neonatal intensive care. Moreover, our aim is to examine the different antecedent-commitment relationships across the occupational groups of nurses and physicians. Information about individual factors affecting organizational commitment was derived from self-administered staff questionnaires, while additional information about organizational structures was taken from hospital quality reports and a self-administered survey completed by hospital department heads. Overall, 1486 nurses and 540 physicians from 66 Neonatal Intensive Care Units participated in the study. We used multilevel modeling to account for different levels of analysis. Although organizational characteristics can explain differences in an employee's commitment, the differences can be largely explained by his or her individual characteristics and work experiences. Regarding occupational differences, individual support by leaders and colleagues was shown to influence organizational commitment more strongly in the physicians' group. In contrast, the degree of autonomy in the units and perceived quality of care had a larger impact on the nurses' organizational commitment. With the growing number of hospitals facing an acute shortage of highly-skilled labor, effective strategies on the individual and organizational levels have to be considered to enhance an employee's commitment to his or her organization. Regarding occupational differences in antecedent-commitment relationships, more specific management actions should be undertaken to correspond to different needs and aspirations of nurses and physicians. German Clinical Trials Register ( DRKS00004589 , date of trial registration: 15.05.2013).

  7. Nurses well-being in intensive care units: study of factors promoting team commitment.

    PubMed

    Galletta, Maura; Portoghese, Igor; Coppola, Rosa C; Finco, Gabriele; Campagna, Marcello

    2016-05-01

    Intensive care units (ICUs) are challenging work environments because of the critical condition of patients, and ICU nurses frequently lament low job satisfaction and high staff turnover. Nevertheless, organizational and work characteristics, and the quality of relationships with staff can help to maintain nurses' enthusiasm and increase job satisfaction. The aim of this study was to analyse how nursing work environment factors affect identification and commitment among ICU nurses. A cross-sectional study was carried out in 12 ICUs from four Italian urban hospitals. A total of 222 nurses participated and completed a self-reported questionnaire. Results show that nursing work characteristics are directly related to team commitment, and that the nursing work characteristics and team commitment relationship was mediated by both perceived supervisor support and job satisfaction. Our findings may concretely contribute to literature and offer additional suggestions to improve nurses' work conditions and patient health in ICUs. © 2014 British Association of Critical Care Nurses.

  8. Novel methods for Solving Economic Dispatch of Security-Constrained Unit Commitment Based on Linear Programming

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Guo, Sangang

    2017-09-01

    There are two stages in solving security-constrained unit commitment problems (SCUC) within Lagrangian framework: one is to obtain feasible units’ states (UC), the other is power economic dispatch (ED) for each unit. The accurate solution of ED is more important for enhancing the efficiency of the solution to SCUC for the fixed feasible units’ statues. Two novel methods named after Convex Combinatorial Coefficient Method and Power Increment Method respectively based on linear programming problem for solving ED are proposed by the piecewise linear approximation to the nonlinear convex fuel cost functions. Numerical testing results show that the methods are effective and efficient.

  9. Why managers should care about fairness: the effects of aggregate justice perceptions on organizational outcomes.

    PubMed

    Simons, Tony; Roberson, Quinetta

    2003-06-01

    This work examines the aggregation of justice perceptions to the departmental level and the business-unit level, the impact of these aggregate perceptions on business-unit-level outcomes, and the usefulness of the distinction between procedural and interpersonal justice at different levels of analysis. Latent variables analyses of individual-level and department-level data from 4,539 employees in 783 departments at 97 hotel properties showed that the 2 justice types exercise unique paths of impact on employees' organizational commitment and thus on turnover intentions and discretionary service behavior. Business-unit-level analyses further demonstrate paths of association between aggregate justice perceptions, aggregate commitment levels, and the business-unit-level outcomes of employee turnover rates and customer satisfaction ratings.

  10. Evaluation of load flow and grid expansion in a unit-commitment and expansion optimization model SciGRID International Conference on Power Grid Modelling

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Senkpiel, Charlotte; Biener, Wolfgang; Shammugam, Shivenes; Längle, Sven

    2018-02-01

    Energy system models serve as a basis for long term system planning. Joint optimization of electricity generating technologies, storage systems and the electricity grid leads to lower total system cost compared to an approach in which the grid expansion follows a given technology portfolio and their distribution. Modelers often face the problem of finding a good tradeoff between computational time and the level of detail that can be modeled. This paper analyses the differences between a transport model and a DC load flow model to evaluate the validity of using a simple but faster transport model within the system optimization model in terms of system reliability. The main findings in this paper are that a higher regional resolution of a system leads to better results compared to an approach in which regions are clustered as more overloads can be detected. An aggregation of lines between two model regions compared to a line sharp representation has little influence on grid expansion within a system optimizer. In a DC load flow model overloads can be detected in a line sharp case, which is therefore preferred. Overall the regions that need to reinforce the grid are identified within the system optimizer. Finally the paper recommends the usage of a load-flow model to test the validity of the model results.

  11. Considerations in civil commitment of individuals with substance use disorders.

    PubMed

    Cavaiola, Alan A; Dolan, David

    2016-01-01

    Several states currently have enacted laws that allow for civil commitment for individuals diagnosed with severe substance use disorders. Civil commitment or involuntary commitment refers to the legal process by which individuals with mental illness are court-ordered into inpatient and/or outpatient treatment programs. Although initially civil commitment laws were intended for individuals with severe mental illness, these statutes have been extended to cover individuals with severe substance use disorders. Much of the recent legislation allowing for civil commitment of individuals with substance use disorders has come about in response to the heroin epidemic and is designed to provide an alternative to the unrelenting progression of opioid use disorders. Civil commitment also provides an opportunity for individuals with opioid use disorders to make informed decisions regarding ongoing or continued treatment. However, civil commitment also raises concerns regarding the potential violation of 14th Amendment rights, specifically pertaining to abuses of deprivation of liberty or freedom, which are guaranteed under the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution. This commentary examines these issues while supporting the need for effective brief civil commitment legislation in all states.

  12. Efficacy beliefs predict collaborative practice among intensive care unit nurses.

    PubMed

    Le Blanc, Pascale M; Schaufeli, Wilmar B; Salanova, Marisa; Llorens, Susana; Nap, Raoul E

    2010-03-01

    This paper is a report of an investigation of whether intensive care nurses' efficacy beliefs predict future collaborative practice, and to test the potential mediating role of team commitment in this relationship. Recent empirical studies in the field of work and organizational psychology have demonstrated that (professional) efficacy beliefs are reciprocally related to workers' resources and well-being over time, resulting in a positive gain spiral. Moreover, there is ample evidence that workers' affective commitment to their organization or work-team is related to desirable work behaviours such as citizenship behaviour. A longitudinal design was applied to questionnaire data from the EURICUS-project. Structural Equation Modelling was used to analyse the data. The sample consisted of 372 nurses working in 29 different European intensive care units. Data were collected in 1997 and 1998. However, our research model deals with fundamental psychosocial processes that are not time-dependent. Moreover, recent empirical literature shows that there is still room for improvement in ICU collaborative practice. The hypotheses that (i) the relationship between efficacy beliefs and collaborative practice is mediated by team commitment and (ii) efficacy beliefs, team commitment and collaborative practice are reciprocally related were supported, suggesting a potential positive gain spiral of efficacy beliefs. Healthcare organizations should create working environments that provide intensive care unit nurses with sufficient resources to perform their job well. Further research is needed to design and evaluate interventions for the enhancement of collaborative practice in intensive care units.

  13. 75 FR 65615 - Conditional Commitment for a Federal Loan Guarantee for Project Financing for Southwest Intertie...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-10-26

    ... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Conditional Commitment for a Federal Loan Guarantee for Project Financing for... based on the analysis in the Final Environmental Impact Statement for Project Financing for Southwest... support of debt financing for transmission infrastructure investment projects located in the United States...

  14. The Relationship of Parenting Styles to Commitment to the Church among Young Adults.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Dudley, Roger L.; Wisbey, Randall L.

    2000-01-01

    Investigates the effects of parenting style experiences during childhood has on the religious commitment of young adults. Surveyed Seventh-day Adventist young adults (n=653) in United States and Canada. Reveals that the affectionate constraint parenting style produced the largest percentage of members. Includes references. (CMK)

  15. 78 FR 69414 - Application for Final Commitment for a Long-Term Loan or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-11-19

    ... EXPORT-IMPORT BANK [Public Notice: 2013-0053] Application for Final Commitment for a Long-Term Loan or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100 Million: AP088217XX AGENCY: Export-Import Bank of the United States. [[Page 69415

  16. 75 FR 45693 - Request for Comments and Notice of Public Hearing Concerning China's Compliance With WTO Commitments

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-08-03

    ... Concerning China's Compliance With WTO Commitments AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative. ACTION: Request for comments and notice of public hearing concerning China's compliance with its WTO.... FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For procedural questions concerning written comments or participation...

  17. Organizational Socialization, Person-Environment Fit and Commitment of Recent College Graduates

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Wachtfogel, Marc

    2009-01-01

    To determine whether person-environment fit and organizational commitment are impacted by socialization content, a survey was administered to 500 recent college graduates across the United States. The variables examined for the study were: socialization content (performance proficiency, people, politics, language, organization goals/values, and,…

  18. Integrating Solar PV in Utility System Operations

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

    Mills, A.; Botterud, A.; Wu, J.

    2013-10-31

    This study develops a systematic framework for estimating the increase in operating costs due to uncertainty and variability in renewable resources, uses the framework to quantify the integration costs associated with sub-hourly solar power variability and uncertainty, and shows how changes in system operations may affect these costs. Toward this end, we present a statistical method for estimating the required balancing reserves to maintain system reliability along with a model for commitment and dispatch of the portfolio of thermal and renewable resources at different stages of system operations. We estimate the costs of sub-hourly solar variability, short-term forecast errors, andmore » day-ahead (DA) forecast errors as the difference in production costs between a case with “realistic” PV (i.e., subhourly solar variability and uncertainty are fully included in the modeling) and a case with “well behaved” PV (i.e., PV is assumed to have no sub-hourly variability and can be perfectly forecasted). In addition, we highlight current practices that allow utilities to compensate for the issues encountered at the sub-hourly time frame with increased levels of PV penetration. In this analysis we use the analytical framework to simulate utility operations with increasing deployment of PV in a case study of Arizona Public Service Company (APS), a utility in the southwestern United States. In our analysis, we focus on three processes that are important in understanding the management of PV variability and uncertainty in power system operations. First, we represent the decisions made the day before the operating day through a DA commitment model that relies on imperfect DA forecasts of load and wind as well as PV generation. Second, we represent the decisions made by schedulers in the operating day through hour-ahead (HA) scheduling. Peaking units can be committed or decommitted in the HA schedules and online units can be redispatched using forecasts that are improved relative to DA forecasts, but still imperfect. Finally, we represent decisions within the operating hour by schedulers and transmission system operators as real-time (RT) balancing. We simulate the DA and HA scheduling processes with a detailed unit-commitment (UC) and economic dispatch (ED) optimization model. This model creates a least-cost dispatch and commitment plan for the conventional generating units using forecasts and reserve requirements as inputs. We consider only the generation units and load of the utility in this analysis; we do not consider opportunities to trade power with neighboring utilities. We also do not consider provision of reserves from renewables or from demand-side options. We estimate dynamic reserve requirements in order to meet reliability requirements in the RT operations, considering the uncertainty and variability in load, solar PV, and wind resources. Balancing reserve requirements are based on the 2.5th and 97.5th percentile of 1-min deviations from the HA schedule in a previous year. We then simulate RT deployment of balancing reserves using a separate minute-by-minute simulation of deviations from the HA schedules in the operating year. In the simulations we assume that balancing reserves can be fully deployed in 10 min. The minute-by-minute deviations account for HA forecasting errors and the actual variability of the load, wind, and solar generation. Using these minute-by-minute deviations and deployment of balancing reserves, we evaluate the impact of PV on system reliability through the calculation of the standard reliability metric called Control Performance Standard 2 (CPS2). Broadly speaking, the CPS2 score measures the percentage of 10-min periods in which a balancing area is able to balance supply and demand within a specific threshold. Compliance with the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) reliability standards requires that the CPS2 score must exceed 90% (i.e., the balancing area must maintain adequate balance for 90% of the 10-min periods). The combination of representing DA forecast errors in the DA commitments, using 1-min PV data to simulate RT balancing, and estimates of reliability performance through the CPS2 metric, all factors that are important to operating systems with increasing amounts of PV, makes this study unique in its scope.« less

  19. Indicators of commitment to the church: a longitudinal study of church-affiliated youth.

    PubMed

    Dudley, R L

    1993-01-01

    In an attempt to discover the factors that determine which late adolescents drop out of the church and which remain committed to it, a broad sample of Seventh-day Adventist youth was surveyed. These youth were part of a ten-year study which originally involved over 1,500 subjects distributed throughout the United States and Canada. Commitment was found to be related to cognitive, experiential, and activity dimensions of religion. Ethical considerations, a perception of one's importance to the local congregation, and peer influence also played a part in the stepwise regression package, which accounted for half of the variance in commitment scores.

  20. Security bound of cheat sensitive quantum bit commitment.

    PubMed

    He, Guang Ping

    2015-03-23

    Cheat sensitive quantum bit commitment (CSQBC) loosens the security requirement of quantum bit commitment (QBC), so that the existing impossibility proofs of unconditionally secure QBC can be evaded. But here we analyze the common features in all existing CSQBC protocols, and show that in any CSQBC having these features, the receiver can always learn a non-trivial amount of information on the sender's committed bit before it is unveiled, while his cheating can pass the security check with a probability not less than 50%. The sender's cheating is also studied. The optimal CSQBC protocols that can minimize the sum of the cheating probabilities of both parties are found to be trivial, as they are practically useless. We also discuss the possibility of building a fair protocol in which both parties can cheat with equal probabilities.

  1. Keep Your Friends Close and Your Enemies Closer: Saudi Arabia, America’s Key Strategic Partner in the Middle East

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2017-03-31

    the United States’ vital interests in the Middle East have grown. The U.S. remains committed to ensuring the unimpeded flow of oil to global markets ...interests in the Middle East have grown. The U.S. remains committed to ensuring the unimpeded flow of oil to global markets and the security of...unimpeded flow of oil to the global market , the security of Israel, and the containment of Iran.1 The United States’ relationship with Saudi Arabia

  2. An examination of the role of perceived support and employee commitment in employee-customer encounters.

    PubMed

    Vandenberghe, Christian; Bentein, Kathleen; Michon, Richard; Chebat, Jean-Charles; Tremblay, Michel; Fils, Jean-François

    2007-07-01

    The authors examined the relationships between perceived organizational support, organizational commitment, commitment to customers, and service quality in a fast-food firm. The research design matched customer responses with individual employees' attitudes, making this study a true test of the service provider-customer encounter. On the basis of a sample of matched employee-customer data (N = 133), hierarchical linear modeling analyses revealed that perceived organizational support had both a unit-level and an employee-level effect on 1 dimension of service quality: helping behavior. Contrary to affective organizational commitment, affective commitment to customers enhanced service quality. The 2 sub-dimensions of continuance commitment to the organization--perceived high sacrifice and perceived lack of alternatives--exerted effects opposite in sign: The former fostered service quality, whereas the latter reduced it. The implications of these findings are discussed within the context of research on employee-customer encounters.

  3. What drives political commitment for nutrition? A review and framework synthesis to inform the United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition.

    PubMed

    Baker, Phillip; Hawkes, Corinna; Wingrove, Kate; Demaio, Alessandro Rhyl; Parkhurst, Justin; Thow, Anne Marie; Walls, Helen

    2018-01-01

    Generating country-level political commitment will be critical to driving forward action throughout the United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition (2016-2025). In this review of the empirical nutrition policy literature, we ask: what factors generate, sustain and constrain political commitment for nutrition, how and under what circumstances? Our aim is to inform strategic 'commitment-building' actions. We adopted a framework synthesis method and realist review protocol. An initial framework was derived from relevant theory and then populated with empirical evidence to test and modify it. Five steps were undertaken: initial theoretical framework development; search for relevant empirical literature; study selection and quality appraisal; data extraction, analysis and synthesis and framework modification. 75 studies were included. We identified 18 factors that drive commitment, organised into five categories: actors; institutions; political and societal contexts; knowledge, evidence and framing; and, capacities and resources. Irrespective of country-context, effective nutrition actor networks, strong leadership, civil society mobilisation, supportive political administrations, societal change and focusing events, cohesive and resonant framing, and robust data systems and available evidence were commitment drivers. Low-income and middle-income country studies also frequently reported international actors, empowered institutions, vertical coordination and capacities and resources. In upper-middle-income and high-income country studies, private sector interference frequently undermined commitment. Political commitment is not something that simply exists or emerges accidentally; it can be created and strengthened over time through strategic action. Successfully generating commitment will likely require a core set of actions with some context-dependent adaptations. Ultimately, it will necessitate strategic actions by cohesive, resourced and strongly led nutrition actor networks that are responsive to the multifactorial, multilevel and dynamic political systems in which they operate and attempt to influence. Accelerating the formation and effectiveness of such networks over the Nutrition Decade should be a core task for all actors involved.

  4. What drives political commitment for nutrition? A review and framework synthesis to inform the United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition

    PubMed Central

    Baker, Phillip; Hawkes, Corinna; Wingrove, Kate; Parkhurst, Justin; Thow, Anne Marie; Walls, Helen

    2018-01-01

    Introduction Generating country-level political commitment will be critical to driving forward action throughout the United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition (2016–2025). In this review of the empirical nutrition policy literature, we ask: what factors generate, sustain and constrain political commitment for nutrition, how and under what circumstances? Our aim is to inform strategic ‘commitment-building’ actions. Method We adopted a framework synthesis method and realist review protocol. An initial framework was derived from relevant theory and then populated with empirical evidence to test and modify it. Five steps were undertaken: initial theoretical framework development; search for relevant empirical literature; study selection and quality appraisal; data extraction, analysis and synthesis and framework modification. Results 75 studies were included. We identified 18 factors that drive commitment, organised into five categories: actors; institutions; political and societal contexts; knowledge, evidence and framing; and, capacities and resources. Irrespective of country-context, effective nutrition actor networks, strong leadership, civil society mobilisation, supportive political administrations, societal change and focusing events, cohesive and resonant framing, and robust data systems and available evidence were commitment drivers. Low-income and middle-income country studies also frequently reported international actors, empowered institutions, vertical coordination and capacities and resources. In upper-middle-income and high-income country studies, private sector interference frequently undermined commitment. Conclusion Political commitment is not something that simply exists or emerges accidentally; it can be created and strengthened over time through strategic action. Successfully generating commitment will likely require a core set of actions with some context-dependent adaptations. Ultimately, it will necessitate strategic actions by cohesive, resourced and strongly led nutrition actor networks that are responsive to the multifactorial, multilevel and dynamic political systems in which they operate and attempt to influence. Accelerating the formation and effectiveness of such networks over the Nutrition Decade should be a core task for all actors involved. PMID:29527338

  5. Promoter-Based Theranostics for Prostate Cancer

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2015-10-01

    PD/PI(s) or senior/key personnel since the last reporting period?  Marty Pomper Ended Title: PSMA -Based Cancer Imaging Agents Time Commitments...for PSMA . Aim #2: Synthetic optimization of the best compounds of Aim 1 en route to GMP and/or facilitated use. Aim #3: Synthesis and evaluation of a...series of homo- and heterodimeric imaging agents for PSMA . Title: BETR Therapy of Herpesvirus-associated Tumors Time Commitments

  6. Dual or dueling culture and commitment: The impact of a tri-hospital merger.

    PubMed

    Jones, Janice M

    2003-04-01

    This article addresses differences in RNs' commitment to their employing hospital versus the umbrella corporate organization, and the role of organizational culture during a tri-hospital merger. This study is the first to investigate the construct of dual commitment in healthcare organizations. Fiscal restraints, decreasing reimbursement, and increasing competition have made organizational mergers and acquisitions prevalent. As corporate culture changes, organizational variables previously related to organizational commitment may no longer apply. RNs employed on general nursing units at 3 hospitals involved in a merger process completed 2 versions of Mowday's Organizational Commitment Questionnaire. Commitment to hospital and corporate system were examined. Semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and analysis of company documents assessed the organizational culture changes that have occurred. Thirty-one percent of the nurses returned completed questionnaires; 9 were interviewed. RNs from the acquiring hospital demonstrated a significantly stronger commitment to the corporate system than the nurses from the acquired hospitals. The RNs at all 3 hospitals showed significantly greater commitment to their own particular hospital than to the umbrella corporate system. Moderate level of commitment reflected uncertainty of job status, work overload, and feelings of unappreciation. These attitudes prevent nurses from exerting efforts on behalf of the organization.

  7. Relationships between Organizational Commitment, Core Job Characteristics, and Organizational Citizenship Behaviors in United States Air Force Organizations

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2006-06-01

    characteristics designated by Hackman and Oldham (1974) used in current research is the JCI developed by Sims, Szilagyi , and Keller (1976). Unlike the JDS...commitment to the organization. Administrative Science Quarterly, 16, 143-150. Sims, H. P., Jr., Szilagyi , A. D., & Keller, R. T. (1976). The

  8. 77 FR 24950 - Midwest Independent Transmission, System Operator, Inc.; Supplemental Notice of Technical Conference

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-04-26

    ... Conference. The Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator, Inc. (MISO) and/or Potomac Economics, Inc... MWs? 4. MISO states that ``[i]n principle, voltage issues would be modeled using thermal constraints... committed? Please explain. b. Can units committed based on economics in the SCUC and SCED processes be...

  9. 75 FR 41685 - Implementation of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-07-16

    .... The actions we take now will build upon a legacy of global leadership, national commitment, and... our national response to HIV/AIDS. Today I am releasing a National HIV/AIDS Strategy for the United..., moreover, is not enough. Success will require the commitment of all parts of society, including businesses...

  10. 12 CFR 347.204 - Commitment to be examined and provide information.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... STATEMENTS OF GENERAL POLICY INTERNATIONAL BANKING Foreign Banks § 347.204 Commitment to be examined and... located outside of the United States that the FDIC requests to determine: (i) The relationship between the... relationship on such U.S. branch or depository institution subsidiary; (2) The FDIC will be allowed to examine...

  11. Working Commitment among Trainee Teachers: A Meta Evaluation Approach

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hamzah, Mohd Sahandri Gani B.; Mohamed, Hapidah Bt.; Abdullah, Saifuddin Kumar B.; Baki, Roselan B.

    2008-01-01

    The main aim of the study was to evaluate trainee teachers working commitment in their teaching practicum. There were seven component teaching practices and eleven demographic factors. The instrument of the study was extracted from various sources to suit the research design based on Units, Treatments, Observing, and Surveying (UTOS) model…

  12. 78 FR 13931 - Designation of Commander Nazir Group, Also Known as Mullah Nazir Group, as a Specially Designated...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-03-01

    ... DEPARTMENT OF STATE [Public Notice 8209] Designation of Commander Nazir Group, Also Known as... known as Mullah Nazir Group, committed, or poses a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism... the United States. Consistent with the determination in section 10 of Executive Order 13224 that...

  13. 76 FR 28299 - The Designation of Badruddin Haqqani Also Known as Atiqullah as a Specially Designated Global...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-05-16

    ... DEPARTMENT OF STATE [Public Notice: 7457] The Designation of Badruddin Haqqani Also Known as... Atiqullah, committed, or poses a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism that threaten the security of U.S. nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States...

  14. Feasibility randomized-controlled trial of online Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for patients with complex chronic pain in the United Kingdom.

    PubMed

    Scott, W; Chilcot, J; Guildford, B; Daly-Eichenhardt, A; McCracken, L M

    2018-04-28

    Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has growing support for chronic pain. However, more accessible treatment delivery is needed. This study evaluated the feasibility of online ACT for patients with complex chronic pain in the United Kingdom to determine whether a larger trial is justified. Participants with chronic pain and clinically meaningful disability and distress were randomly assigned to ACT online plus specialty medical pain management, or specialty medical management alone. Participants completed questionnaires at baseline, and 3- and 9-month post-randomization. Primary feasibility outcomes included recruitment, retention and treatment completion rates. Secondary outcomes were between-groups effects on treatment outcomes and psychological flexibility. Of 139 potential participants, 63 were eligible and randomized (45% recruitment rate). Retention rates were 76-78% for follow-up assessments. Sixty-one per cent of ACT online participants completed treatment. ACT online was less often completed by employed (44%) compared to unemployed (80%) participants. Fifty-six per cent of ACT online participants rated themselves as 'much improved' or better on a global impression of change rating, compared to only 20 per cent of control participants. Three-month effects favouring ACT online were small for functioning, medication and healthcare use, committed action and decentring, medium for mood, and large for acceptance. Small-to-medium effects were maintained for functioning, healthcare use and committed action at 9 months. Online ACT for patients with chronic pain in the United Kingdom appears feasible to study in a larger efficacy trial. Some adjustments to treatment and trial procedures are warranted, particularly to enhance engagement among employed participants. This study supports the feasibility of online Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for chronic pain in the United Kingdom and a larger efficacy trial. Refinements to treatment delivery, particularly to better engage employed patients, may improve treatment completion and outcomes. © 2018 European Pain Federation - EFIC®.

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

    Silverman, L.

    This paper outlines the following: United Nations` framework convention on climatic change; the United States` climate change action plan; current issues to be resolved (targets/timetables, policies, advancing commitments of all parties, and compliance); and implications for clean coal technologies.

  16. 78 FR 13068 - Richard Stowell: Debarment Order

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-02-26

    ... three felony counts under Federal law for conduct relating to the importation into the United States of... to commit an offense against the United States. Specifically, Mr. Stowell's company United purchased... of Malaysia,'' and ``Shrimp, Product of Indonesia.'' Mr. Stowell then sent the shrimp to another...

  17. On-Campus Programs to Support College Students in Recovery

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Misch, Donald A.

    2009-01-01

    The author argues that referral of alcohol-abusing college students to off-campus treatment services, although necessary for some, is not optimal for many. He advocates the implementation of comprehensive on-campus services for students committed to recovery in order to optimize their treatment while allowing them to remain in school and work…

  18. Authentic Leadership for Teacher's Academic Optimism: Moderating Effect of Training Comprehensiveness

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Srivastava, Anugamini Priya; Dhar, Rajib Lochan

    2016-01-01

    Purpose: This study aims to analyse the impact of authentic leadership (AL) on academic optimism (AO) through the mediating role of affective commitment (AC). As this study also examines the moderating role of training comprehensiveness (TC) in strengthening the relation between AC and AO. Design/methodology/approach: Data were collected from…

  19. Freud's free clinics: a tale of two continents.

    PubMed

    Richards, Arnold

    2013-12-01

    Two important schools of thought began in the nineteenth century in Central Europe: Marxism and psychoanalysis. They had much common but there were significant differences. The Marxist influence on early psychoanalysts played out in one way in Europe and another way in the United States. Freud and his Austro-Marxist colleagues were committed to human welfare and social justice. They established a network of clinics that offered psychoanalysis to patients of limited means. The free clinics movement did not cross the Atlantic. There was a cohort of Marxists in the United States who belonged to the United States Communist Party. They were not publicly socially committed, but this paper will try to show that their Marxism influenced their psychoanalytic theory, practice, and politics.

  20. Outcomes of patients who commit suicide by burning.

    PubMed

    Castana, O; Kourakos, P; Moutafidis, M; Stampolidis, N; Triantafyllou, V; Pallantzas, Ath; Filippa, E; Alexandropoulos, C

    2013-03-31

    Cases in which people use fire when attempting or committing suicide are not common but nevertheless constitute a cause of admission to burns units worldwide. Usually these people are suffering from stress and have been diagnosed as mentally ill. Schizophrenia, depression, and personality disorders are the most frequently diagnosed conditions. The psychological problems appear to have been overlooked by the family or not to have been presented to them. The aim of this study is to present the clinical features, characteristics, and outcomes of patients burned during a suicide attempt. The role of the psychiatrist is important, starting in the emergency room. The incidence of patients committing self-injury by burning appears to be higher in women burn patients. Deceased patients usually have a larger extent of burns and a higher incidence of other injuries and require more surgical procedures and longer hospitalization times. The problems for burn unit staff and qualified psychiatric care are discussed.

  1. Outcomes of patients who commit suicide by burning

    PubMed Central

    Castana, O.; Kourakos, P.; Moutafidis, M.; Stampolidis, N.; Triantafyllou, V.; Pallantzas, Ath.; Filippa, E.; Alexandropoulos, C.

    2013-01-01

    Summary Cases in which people use fire when attempting or committing suicide are not common but nevertheless constitute a cause of admission to burns units worldwide. Usually these people are suffering from stress and have been diagnosed as mentally ill. Schizophrenia, depression, and personality disorders are the most frequently diagnosed conditions. The psychological problems appear to have been overlooked by the family or not to have been presented to them. The aim of this study is to present the clinical features, characteristics, and outcomes of patients burned during a suicide attempt. The role of the psychiatrist is important, starting in the emergency room. The incidence of patients committing self-injury by burning appears to be higher in women burn patients. Deceased patients usually have a larger extent of burns and a higher incidence of other injuries and require more surgical procedures and longer hospitalization times. The problems for burn unit staff and qualified psychiatric care are discussed. PMID:23966897

  2. The Relationship between the Catholic Teacher's Faith and Commitment in the Catholic High School

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Cho, Young Kwan

    2012-01-01

    This study investigates the relationship between Catholic teachers' faith and their school commitment in Catholic high schools. A national sample of 751 teachers from 39 Catholic high schools in 15 archdioceses in the United States participated in a self-administered website survey. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Pearson…

  3. Identity Exploration, Commitment, and Distress: A Cross National Investigation in China, Taiwan, Japan, and the United States

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Berman, Steven L.; You, Yu-Fang; Schwartz, Seth; Teo, Grace; Mochizuki, Kohei

    2011-01-01

    This study tested cross cultural measurement equivalence of three identity constructs by testing the factor invariance among participants from four nations. Data from measures of identity exploration, commitment, and distress were collected from university students in Mainland China (n = 85), Taiwan (n = 117), Japan (n = 117), and the United…

  4. Rankings & Estimates: Rankings of the States 2010 and Estimates of School Statistics 2011

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    National Education Association Research Department, 2010

    2010-01-01

    The data presented in this combined report--"Rankings & Estimates"--provide facts about the extent to which local, state, and national governments commit resources to public education. As one might expect in a nation as diverse as the United States--with respect to economics, geography, and politics--the level of commitment to…

  5. Rankings & Estimates: Rankings of the States 2015 and Estimates of School Statistics 2016

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    National Education Association, 2016

    2016-01-01

    The data presented in this combined report--"Rankings & Estimates"--provide facts about the extent to which local, state, and national governments commit resources to public education. As one might expect in a nation as diverse as the United States--with respect to economics, geography, and politics--the level of commitment to…

  6. How Providing Mentoring Relates to Career Success and Organizational Commitment: A Study in the General Managerial Population

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Bozionelos, Nikos; Bozionelos, Giorgos; Kostopoulos, Konstantinos; Polychroniou, Panagiotis

    2011-01-01

    Purpose: This study aims to investigate the relationship of mentoring provided with career success and organizational commitment in the general managerial population. Design/methodology/approach: Participants were 194 native British who were employed in a variety of jobs, professions and industries in the United Kingdom. Findings: Mentoring…

  7. Competing for School Improvement Dollars: State Grant-Making Strategies

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Lazarin, Melissa

    2012-01-01

    In 2009 the Obama administration announced a focused commitment to turn around 5,000 of the United States' chronically lowest-performing public schools as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). This commitment came with $3 billion in funding for the School Improvement Grant program, or SIG, along with new guidelines to ensure…

  8. 75 FR 80113 - Unblocking of One Specially Designated National Pursuant to Executive Order 13224

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-12-21

    ... International Emergency Economic Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. 1701-1706, and the United Nations Participation Act of 1945, 22 U.S.C. 287c, imposing economic sanctions on persons who commit, threaten to commit, or support... as subject to the economic sanctions. The Order authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury, in...

  9. 77 FR 42546 - In the Matter of the Designation of Ahmed Abdulrahman Sihab Ahmed Sihab as a Specially Designated...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-07-19

    ... DEPARTMENT OF STATE [Public Notice 7957] In the Matter of the Designation of Ahmed Abdulrahman... Sihab, committed, or poses a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism that threaten the security of U.S. nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States...

  10. Multiple role occupancy and social participation among midlife wives and husbands in the United Kingdom.

    PubMed

    Glaser, Karen; Evandrou, Maria; Tomassini, Cecilia

    2006-01-01

    We investigated the relationship between intensive multiple role occupancy and one key dimension of well-being, social participation (i.e., frequency of participation in social and leisure activities and meeting friends or relatives). Moreover, we examined gender differences in the association between individual, spousal and couple intensive multiple role commitments and individual social participation. Our research is based on a sample of mid-life wives (45-59) and their husbands from the 2000 British Household Panel Study (BHPS). Our findings show that, among wives whose husbands were providing care to a dependent for 20 or more hours a week, there was a negative association with social and leisure activity participation, whereas husbands' level of participation in social and leisure activities was higher if their wives were in full-time paid work. We also found lower odds of meeting friends or relatives among wives and husbands in full-time employment, and higher odds of meeting friends and relatives among wives providing care for 20 or more hours a week. Our results will aid policy thinking in addressing how people can be best supported to balance work and family commitments in order to optimize different dimensions of well-being in later life and help alleviate the pressures associated with multiple-role occupancy in mid-life.

  11. Factors that impact clinical laboratory scientists' commitment to their work organizations.

    PubMed

    Bamberg, Richard; Akroyd, Duane; Moore, Ti'eshia M

    2008-01-01

    To assess the predictive ability of various aspects of the work environment for organizational commitment. A questionnaire measuring three dimensions of organizational commitment along with five aspects of work environment and 10 demographic and work setting characteristics was sent to a national, convenience sample of clinical laboratory professionals. All persons obtaining the CLS certification by NCA from January 1, 1997 to December 31, 2006. Only respondents who worked full-time in a clinical laboratory setting were included in the database. Levels of affective, normative, and continuance organizational commitment, organizational support, role clarity, role conflict, transformational leadership behavior of supervisor, and organizational type, total years work experience in clinical laboratories, and educational level of respondents. Questionnaire items used either a 7-point or 5-point Likert response scale. Based on multiple regression analysis for the 427 respondents, organizational support and transformational leadership behavior were found to be significant positive predictors of affective and normative organizational commitment. Work setting (non-hospital laboratory) and total years of work experience in clinical laboratories were found to be significant positive predictors of continuance organizational commitment. Overall the organizational commitment levels for all three dimensions were at the neutral rating or below in the slightly disagree range. The results indicate a less than optimal level of organizational commitment to employers, which were predominantly hospitals, by CLS practitioners. This may result in continuing retention problems for hospital laboratories. The results offer strategies for improving organizational commitment via the significant predictors.

  12. INTERNET PROTOCOL SUITE.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1997-09-04

    In 1993, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) committed the United States, Canada and Mexico to facilitate movements of people and goods among the three member countries. In a subsequent agreement in February, 1995, Canada and the United S...

  13. What Would I Know About Mercy? Faith and Optimistic Expectancies Among African Americans

    PubMed Central

    Mattis, Jacqueline S.; Powell, Wizdom; Grayman, Nyasha A.; Murray, Yohance; Cole-Lewis, Yasmin C.; Goodwill, Janelle R.

    2017-01-01

    A small body of research has begun to explore the association between faith and optimism among African Americans. However, missing from the extant work is an examination of the extent to which traditional indices of religious commitment work together with beliefs about God to shape optimism. The present study examines the utility of indices of social location, religious commitment (i.e., early and current religious service attendance, subjective religiosity), belief about the quality of one’s relationship with God (i.e., a belief that one is connected to a loving God), and beliefs about being the recipient of divine forgiveness for predicting dispositional optimism among a sample of community residing African American adults (N = 241). Age, subjective religiosity, and organizational religiosity were positively related to optimism in bivariate analyses. Hierarchical regression analyses demonstrated a significant association between age, subjective religiosity, and optimism; however, those associations were eliminated once relationship with God and belief in one’s forgiveness by God were entered into the model. Only belief in God’s love predicted optimism in multivariate analyses. Serial mediation analyses revealed that beliefs about the quality of one’s relationship with God and belief in divine forgiveness fully mediated the relationship between subjective religiosity and optimism, but that the relationship is driven largely by relationship with God. Implications of these findings are discussed. PMID:29057016

  14. Workplace wellness recognition for optimizing workplace health: a presidential advisory from the American Heart Association.

    PubMed

    Fonarow, Gregg C; Calitz, Chris; Arena, Ross; Baase, Catherine; Isaac, Fikry W; Lloyd-Jones, Donald; Peterson, Eric D; Pronk, Nico; Sanchez, Eduardo; Terry, Paul E; Volpp, Kevin G; Antman, Elliott M

    2015-05-19

    The workplace is an important setting for promoting cardiovascular health and cardiovascular disease and stroke prevention in the United States. Well-designed, comprehensive workplace wellness programs have the potential to improve cardiovascular health and to reduce mortality, morbidity, and disability resulting from cardiovascular disease and stroke. Nevertheless, widespread implementation of comprehensive workplace wellness programs is lacking, and program composition and quality vary. Several organizations provide worksite wellness recognition programs; however, there is variation in recognition criteria, and they do not specifically focus on cardiovascular disease and stroke prevention. Although there is limited evidence to suggest that company performance on employer health management scorecards is associated with favorable healthcare cost trends, these data are not currently robust, and further evaluation is needed. As a recognized national leader in evidence-based guidelines, care systems, and quality programs, the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association is uniquely positioned and committed to promoting the adoption of comprehensive workplace wellness programs, as well as improving program quality and workforce health outcomes. As part of its commitment to improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans, the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association will promote science-based best practices for comprehensive workplace wellness programs and establish benchmarks for a national workplace wellness recognition program to assist employers in applying the best systems and strategies for optimal programming. The recognition program will integrate identification of a workplace culture of health and achievement of rigorous standards for cardiovascular health based on Life's Simple 7 metrics. In addition, the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association will develop resources that assist employers in meeting these rigorous standards, facilitating access to high-quality comprehensive workplace wellness programs for both employees and dependents, and fostering innovation and additional research. © 2015 American Heart Association, Inc.

  15. Illumina Production Sequencing at the DOE Joint Genome Institute - Workflow and Optimizations

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

    Tarver, Angela; Fern, Alison; Diego, Matthew San

    2010-06-18

    The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Joint Genome Institute?s (JGI) Production Sequencing group is committed to the generation of high-quality genomic DNA sequence to support the DOE mission areas of renewable energy generation, global carbon management, and environmental characterization and clean-up. Within the JGI?s Production Sequencing group, the Illumina Genome Analyzer pipeline has been established as one of three sequencing platforms, along with Roche/454 and ABI/Sanger. Optimization of the Illumina pipeline has been ongoing with the aim of continual process improvement of the laboratory workflow. These process improvement projects are being led by the JGI?s Process Optimization, Sequencing Technologies, Instrumentation&more » Engineering, and the New Technology Production groups. Primary focus has been on improving the procedural ergonomics and the technicians? operating environment, reducing manually intensive technician operations with different tools, reducing associated production costs, and improving the overall process and generated sequence quality. The U.S. DOE JGI was established in 1997 in Walnut Creek, CA, to unite the expertise and resources of five national laboratories? Lawrence Berkeley, Lawrence Livermore, Los Alamos, Oak Ridge, and Pacific Northwest ? along with HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology. JGI is operated by the University of California for the U.S. DOE.« less

  16. Inspecting the Dangers of Feeling like a Fake: An Empirical Investigation of the Impostor Phenomenon in the World of Work

    PubMed Central

    Neureiter, Mirjam; Traut-Mattausch, Eva

    2016-01-01

    To investigate the link between the impostor phenomenon (IP), career self-management (CSM) factors, and work-relevant outcomes, we looked at the IP's impact on career optimism, career adaptability, and knowledge of the job market, as well as on employee- and organizationally-relevant outcomes. We analyzed data from 238 working professionals (57% female) using parallel multiple mediation analyses. The results revealed that the IP was negatively related to all work-relevant outcomes through decreased CSM factors, which were subsequently associated with the outcomes. As hypothesized, employee-relevant subjective outcomes were mediated by optimism and employee-relevant objective (i.e., economic) outcomes by adaptability and knowledge. Additional mediating effects occurred. Regarding organizationally relevant outcomes, adaptability mediated the IP's impact on organizational citizenship behavior. The IP was only indirectly related to continuance commitment through adaptability and to affective commitment through optimism. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications and offer ideas for future research. PMID:27729882

  17. 78 FR 13875 - Application for Final Commitment for a Long-Term Loan or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-03-01

    ... EXPORT-IMPORT BANK [Public Notice: 2013-0116] Application for Final Commitment for a Long-Term... the Purpose of the Transaction To support the export of U.S. manufactured helicopters to Brazil... passengers and equipment to oil platforms off the coast of Brazil, Norway, the United Kingdom, and/or other...

  18. 77 FR 61750 - Application for Final Commitment for a Long-term Loan or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-10-11

    ... export of a U.S.-manufactured satellite and associated services to China (Hong Kong). Brief non-proprietary description of the anticipated use of the items being exported: The U.S. exports will be used to... EXPORT-IMPORT BANK OF THE UNITED STATES [Public Notice 2012-0528] Application for Final Commitment...

  19. 78 FR 33090 - Application for Final Commitment for a Long-Term Loan or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-06-03

    ... for long-haul passenger service from Australia to other countries. To the extent that Ex-Im Bank is... EXPORT-IMPORT BANK [Public Notice 2013-0030] Application for Final Commitment for a Long-Term Loan or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100 Million: AP087980XX AGENCY: Export-Import Bank of the United...

  20. 78 FR 33090 - Application for Final Commitment for a Long-Term Loan or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-06-03

    ... EXPORT-IMPORT BANK [Public Notice 2013-0030] Application for Final Commitment for a Long-Term Loan or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100 Million: AP087980XX AGENCY: Export-Import Bank of the United States. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: This Notice is to inform the public, in accordance with Section 3(c)(10...

  1. 78 FR 67144 - Application for Final Commitment for a Long-Term Loan or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-11-08

    ... EXPORT-IMPORT BANK [Public Notice 2013-0050] Application for Final Commitment for a Long-Term Loan or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100 Million: AP086418XX AGENCY: Export-Import Bank of the United States. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: This Notice is to inform the public, in accordance with Section 3(c)(10...

  2. 78 FR 16501 - Application for Final Commitment for a Long-Term Loan or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-03-15

    ... EXPORT-IMPORT BANK [Public Notice 2013-0022] Application for Final Commitment for a Long-Term Loan or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100 million: AP086115XX AGENCY: Export-Import Bank of the United States. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: This Notice is to inform the public, in accordance with Section 3(c)(10...

  3. 78 FR 54465 - Application for Final Commitment for a Long-Term Loan or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-09-04

    ... EXPORT-IMPORT BANK [Public Notice: 2013-0041] Application for Final Commitment for a Long-Term Loan or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100 Million: AP086031XX AGENCY: Export-Import Bank of the United States. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: This Notice is to inform the public, in accordance with Section 3...

  4. 78 FR 75344 - Application for Final Commitment for a Long-Term Loan or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-12-11

    ... EXPORT-IMPORT BANK [Public Notice: 2013-0057] Application for Final Commitment for a Long-Term Loan or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100 Million: AP088400XX AGENCY: Export-Import Bank of the United States. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: This Notice is to inform the public, in accordance with Section 3...

  5. 78 FR 69850 - Application for Final Commitment for a Long-Term Loan or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-11-21

    ... EXPORT-IMPORT BANK [Public Notice: 2013-0054] Application for Final Commitment for a Long-Term Loan or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100 Million: AP086750XX AGENCY: Export-Import Bank of the United States. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: This Notice is to inform the public, in accordance with Section 3...

  6. 78 FR 27236 - Application for Final Commitment for a Long-Term Loan or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-05-09

    ... EXPORT-IMPORT BANK [Public Notice 2013-0029] Application for Final Commitment for a Long-Term Loan or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100 Million: AP087013XX AGENCY: Export-Import Bank of the United States. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: This Notice is to inform the public, in accordance with Section 3(c)(10...

  7. Doctoral Students in Music Education: Occupational Identity, Career Intent and Commitment, and Confidence for Teaching in Higher Education

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Martin, Lisa D.

    2016-01-01

    The purpose of this study was to examine music education doctoral students' shifting occupational identity beliefs, career intent and commitment, and overall confidence for teaching in higher education. A total of 124 music education doctoral students, enrolled at 29 institutions of higher education in the United States, completed a onetime,…

  8. Education for Committed Leadership: The Correlation between Bible College Institutional Culture and Student Commitment to the Religious Organization

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Bland, Mary J.

    2013-01-01

    The purpose of this study is to confirm the belief that differences in the institutional culture of United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI)-endorsed Bible colleges correlate with changes in the level of identification with the UPCI experienced by students who complete a program of study at these institutions. Because adherents of the UPCI…

  9. 75 FR 52453 - Entry Requirements for Certain Softwood Lumber Products Exported From Any Country Into the United...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-08-26

    ...)(3)(iii)(B)(3), which states that ``the exporter has paid, or committed to pay, all export charges..., to his best knowledge and belief, that the exporter has paid or committed to pay ``all export charges... discrepancies between the export permit date and the entry summary data. The commenter suggests using the...

  10. The Relationship between Transformational Leadership and Organizational Commitment in Nonprofit Long Term Care Organizations: The Direct Care Worker Perspective

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Porter, Jeanette A.

    2015-01-01

    The United States population is rapidly aging, and retaining direct care workers (DCWs) will continue to be a workforce concern for the industry in addressing the demand for long term care services. To date, scant literature exists that addresses the DCW perspective of leadership behaviors and their influence on organizational commitment. To…

  11. 78 FR 13931 - Designation of Iyad ag Ghali, Also Known as Iyad ag Ghaly, as a Specially Designated Global...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-03-01

    ... DEPARTMENT OF STATE [Public Notice 8211] Designation of Iyad ag Ghali, Also Known as Iyad ag Ghaly... Ghaly, committed, or poses a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism that threaten the security of U.S. nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States...

  12. 76 FR 69318 - In the Matter of the Designation of Mali Khan also known as Madi Khan as a Specially Designated...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-11-08

    ... DEPARTMENT OF STATE [Public Notice 7681] In the Matter of the Designation of Mali Khan also known... Khan, committed, or poses a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism that threaten the security of U.S. nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States...

  13. 77 FR 58205 - In the Matter of the Designation of the Haqqani Network Also Known as HQN as a Specially...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-09-19

    ... DEPARTMENT OF STATE [Public Notice 8033] In the Matter of the Designation of the Haqqani Network..., committed, or poses a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism that threaten the security of U.S. nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States. Consistent with the...

  14. 77 FR 68882 - The Designation of Qari Zakir, Also Known as Abdul Rauf, as a Specially Designated Global...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-11-16

    ... DEPARTMENT OF STATE [Public Notice 8088] The Designation of Qari Zakir, Also Known as Abdul Rauf..., committed, or poses a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism that threaten the security of U.S. nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States. Consistent with the...

  15. Optimizing the Environmental Attitudes Inventory: Establishing a Baseline of Change in Students' Attitudes

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Sutton, Stephen G.; Gyuris, Emma

    2015-01-01

    Purpose: The purpose of this study was twofold: first, to optimize the Environmental Attitudes Inventory (EAI) and second, to establish a baseline of the difference in environmental attitudes between first and final year students, taken at the start of a university's declaration of commitment to EfS. Design/methodology/approach: The…

  16. Males Are Overrepresented among Life Science Researchers Committing Scientific Misconduct

    PubMed Central

    Fang, Ferric C.; Bennett, Joan W.; Casadevall, Arturo

    2013-01-01

    ABSTRACT A review of the United States Office of Research Integrity annual reports identified 228 individuals who have committed misconduct, of which 94% involved fraud. Analysis of the data by career stage and gender revealed that misconduct occurred across the entire career spectrum from trainee to senior scientist and that two-thirds of the individuals found to have committed misconduct were male. This exceeds the overall proportion of males among life science trainees and faculty. These observations underscore the need for additional efforts to understand scientific misconduct and to ensure the responsible conduct of research. PMID:23341553

  17. United States Food Loss and Waste 2030 Champions

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    U.S. Food Loss and Waste 2030 Champions are businesses and organizations that have made a public commitment to reduce food loss and waste in their own operations in the United States by 50 percent by the year 2030.

  18. United States Coast Guard recycling guide

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1996-07-01

    In accordance with the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990, the United States Coast Guard (CG) is committed to a pollution prevention program that will improve the quality of the environment. A key element of this program is the minimization of municipa...

  19. 78 FR 76282 - Secretarial Infrastructure Business Development Mission to the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-12-17

    ... new communities. The government is committed to continue to spend heavily in the education, health... relationship is going through a massive transformation. The United States posted a trade surplus with Qatar of...

  20. 78 FR 76818 - Secretarial Infrastructure Business Development Mission to the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-12-19

    ... new communities. The government is committed to continue to spend heavily in the education, health... going through a massive transformation. The United States posted a trade surplus with Qatar of $2.6...

  1. A resolution reaffirming the commitment of the United States to a negotiated settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, reaffirming opposition to the inclusion of Hamas in a unity government unless it is willing to accept peace with Israel and renounce violence, and declaring that Palestinian efforts to gain recognition of a state outside direct negotiations demonstrates absence of a good faith commitment to peace negotiations, and will have implications for continued United States aid.

    THOMAS, 112th Congress

    Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD

    2011-05-16

    Senate - 06/28/2011 Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status Agreed to in SenateHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

  2. Repurposing Mass-produced Internal Combustion Engines Quantifying the Value and Use of Low-cost Internal Combustion Piston Engines for Modular Applications in Energy and Chemical Engineering Industries

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    L'Heureux, Zara E.

    This thesis proposes that internal combustion piston engines can help clear the way for a transformation in the energy, chemical, and refining industries that is akin to the transition computer technology experienced with the shift from large mainframes to small personal computers and large farms of individually small, modular processing units. This thesis provides a mathematical foundation, multi-dimensional optimizations, experimental results, an engine model, and a techno-economic assessment, all working towards quantifying the value of repurposing internal combustion piston engines for new applications in modular, small-scale technologies, particularly for energy and chemical engineering systems. Many chemical engineering and power generation industries have focused on increasing individual unit sizes and centralizing production. This "bigger is better" concept makes it difficult to evolve and incorporate change. Large systems are often designed with long lifetimes, incorporate innovation slowly, and necessitate high upfront investment costs. Breaking away from this cycle is essential for promoting change, especially change happening quickly in the energy and chemical engineering industries. The ability to evolve during a system's lifetime provides a competitive advantage in a field dominated by large and often very old equipment that cannot respond to technology change. This thesis specifically highlights the value of small, mass-manufactured internal combustion piston engines retrofitted to participate in non-automotive system designs. The applications are unconventional and stem first from the observation that, when normalized by power output, internal combustion engines are one hundred times less expensive than conventional, large power plants. This cost disparity motivated a look at scaling laws to determine if scaling across both individual unit size and number of units produced would predict the two order of magnitude difference seen here. For the first time, this thesis provides a mathematical analysis of scaling with a combination of both changing individual unit size and varying the total number of units produced. Different paths to meet a particular cumulative capacity are analyzed and show that total costs are path dependent and vary as a function of the unit size and number of units produced. The path dependence identified is fairly weak, however, and for all practical applications, the underlying scaling laws seem unaffected. This analysis continues to support the interest in pursuing designs built around small, modular infrastructure. Building on the observation that internal combustion engines are an inexpensive power-producing unit, the first optimization in this thesis focuses on quantifying the value of engine capacity committing to deliver power in the day-ahead electricity and reserve markets, specifically based on pricing from the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO). An optimization was written in Python to determine, based on engine cost, fuel cost, engine wear, engine lifetime, and electricity prices, when and how much of an engine's power should be committed to a particular energy market. The optimization aimed to maximize profit for the engine and generator (engine genset) system acting as a price-taker. The result is an annual profit on the order of \\$30 per kilowatt. The most value in the engine genset is in its commitments to the spinning reserve market, where power is often committed but not always called on to deliver. This analysis highlights the benefits of modularity in energy generation and provides one example where the system is so inexpensive and short-lived, that the optimization views the engine replacement cost as a consumable operating expense rather than a capital cost. Having the opportunity to incorporate incremental technological improvements in a system's infrastructure throughout its lifetime allows introduction of new technology with higher efficiencies and better designs. An alternative to traditionally large infrastructure that locks in a design and today's state-of-the-art technology for the next 50 - 70 years, is a system designed to incorporate new technology in a modular fashion. The modular engine genset system used for power generation is one example of how this works in practice. The largest single component of this thesis is modeling, designing, retrofitting, and testing a reciprocating piston engine used as a compressor. Motivated again by the low cost of an internal combustion engine, this work looks at how an engine (which is, in its conventional form, essentially a reciprocating compressor) can be cost-effectively retrofitted to perform as a small-scale gas compressor. In the laboratory, an engine compressor was built by retrofitting a one-cylinder, 79 cc engine. Various retrofitting techniques were incorporated into the system design, and the engine compressor performance was quantified in each iteration. Because the retrofitted engine is now a power consumer rather than a power-producing unit, the engine compressor is driven in the laboratory with an electric motor. Experimentally, compressed air engine exhaust (starting at elevated inlet pressures) surpassed 650 psia (about 45 bar), which makes this system very attractive for many applications in chemical engineering and refining industries. A model of the engine compressor system was written in Python and incorporates experimentally-derived parameters to quantify gas leakage, engine friction, and flow (including backflow) through valves. The model as a whole was calibrated and verified with experimental data and is used to explore engine retrofits beyond what was tested in the laboratory. Along with the experimental and modeling work, a techno-economic assessment is included to compare the engine compressor system with state-of-the-art, commercially-available compressors. Included in the financial analysis is a case study where an engine compressor system is modeled to achieve specific compression needs. The result of the assessment is that, indeed, the low engine cost, even with the necessary retrofits, provides a cost advantage over incumbent compression technologies. Lastly, this thesis provides an algorithm and case study for another application of small-scale units in energy infrastructure, specifically in energy storage. This study focuses on quantifying the value of small-scale, onsite energy storage in shaving peak power demands. This case study focuses on university-level power demands. The analysis finds that, because peak power is so costly, even small amounts of energy storage, when dispatched optimally, can provide significant cost reductions. This provides another example of the value of small-scale implementations, particularly in energy infrastructure. While the study focuses on flywheels and batteries as the energy storage medium, engine gensets could also be used to deliver power and shave peak power demands. The overarching goal of this thesis is to introduce small-scale, modular infrastructure, with a particular focus on the opportunity to retrofit and repurpose inexpensive, mass-manufactured internal combustion engines in new and unconventional applications. The modeling and experimental work presented in this dissertation show very compelling results for engines incorporated into both energy generation infrastructure and chemical engineering industries via compression technologies. The low engine cost provides an opportunity to add retrofits whilst remaining cost competitive with the incumbent technology. This work supports the claim that modular infrastructure, built on the indivisible unit of an internal combustion engine, can revolutionize many industries by providing a low-cost mechanism for rapid change and promoting small-scale designs.

  3. Management commitments and primary care: another lesson from Costa Rica for the world?

    PubMed

    Soors, Werner; De Paepe, Pierre; Unger, Jean-Pierre

    2014-01-01

    Maintained dedication to primary care has fostered a public health delivery system with exceptional outcomes in Costa Rica. For more than a decade, management commitments have been part of Costa Rican health reform. We assessed the effect of the Costa Rican management commitments on access and quality of care and on compliance with their intended objectives. We constructed seven hypotheses on opinions of primary care providers. Through a mixed qualitative and quantitative approach, we tested these hypotheses and interpreted the research findings. Management commitments consume an excessive proportion of consultation time, inflate recordkeeping, reduce comprehensiveness in primary care consultations, and induce a disproportionate consumption of hospital emergency services. Their formulation relies on norms in need of optimization, their control on unreliable sources. They also affect professionalism. In Costa Rica, management commitments negatively affect access and quality of care and pose a threat to the public service delivery system. The failures of this pay-for-performance-like initiative in an otherwise well-performing health system cast doubts on the appropriateness of pay-for-performance for health systems strengthening in less advanced environments.

  4. The Oregon Court of Appeals and the State Civil Commitment Statute.

    PubMed

    Bloom, Joseph D; Britton, Juliet; Berry, Wil

    2017-03-01

    In 1973 the Oregon Legislature passed a major revision of its civil commitment law adopting changes that mirrored those taking place across the United States. The new sections offered significant protections of the rights of individuals who are alleged to have mental illness, a limitation on the length of commitment, the adoption of both dangerousness and gravely disabled type commitment criteria and the adoption of "beyond a reasonable doubt" as the standard of proof for commitment hearings. From 1973 to the present time, the Oregon Court of Appeals adjudicated a large number of appeals emanating from civil commitment courts. This article is based on a review of 98 written Oregon Court of Appeals commitment decisions from the years 1998 through 2015 and is accompanied by a review of legislative intent in 1973. It appears that the court of appeals has significantly altered the 1973 legislative changes by moving the dangerousness criteria to imminence and the gravely disabled criteria to a focus on survival. Empirically, civil commitment has dramatically decreased in Oregon over a 40-year period and the case law, as developed by Oregon Court of Appeals, has had a significant contributing role in this reduction. © 2017 American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law.

  5. Career Commitment of Nurse Faculty.

    PubMed

    Jones, Malena

    2017-11-01

    A nurse faculty shortage exists, and it is predicted to continue in the United States (American Association of Colleges of Nursing [AACN], 2016). Several factors that have been identified as contributing to this shortage include aging faculty, lack of doctoral-prepared faculty, and the economic cost of pursuing an academic career (AACN, 2016). However, there is a need to explore subtle factors. This study was conducted to examine the interaction of career commitment to education, faculty satisfaction, and teacher efficacy on developing qualified and retaining committed faculty. The purpose of this study was to investigate relationships among education, teacher self-efficacy, and career satisfaction of nurse faculty to career commitment. A cross-sectional design was used to survey a convenience sample of nurse faculty (N = 470). An online survey contained three scales (Career Satisfaction, Teacher Self-Efficacy Beliefs, and Career Commitment) to obtain data. Descriptive data, Pearson's correlations, and path analysis were used to analyze data. Teacher self-efficacy and career satisfaction predicted career commitment. Education measured by credit hours significantly predicted teacher self-efficacy. The relationship between career satisfaction and career commitment was significant and statistically positive. Model fit indices confirm the career commitment for nurse faculty model fits the data. The study highlights the importance of teacher self-efficacy, career satisfaction, and career commitment among nurse faculty. The results provide valuable insight to the factors that may influence attraction or retention of nurse faculty.

  6. 40 CFR 63.1563 - When do I have to comply with this subpart?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Petroleum Refineries: Catalytic Cracking Units... for an existing catalytic cracking unit allowing additional time to meet the emission limitations and work practice standards for catalytic cracking units in §§ 63.1564 and 63.1565 if you commit to...

  7. 40 CFR 63.1563 - When do I have to comply with this subpart?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Petroleum Refineries: Catalytic Cracking Units... for an existing catalytic cracking unit allowing additional time to meet the emission limitations and work practice standards for catalytic cracking units in §§ 63.1564 and 63.1565 if you commit to...

  8. United States Counter-narcotics Policies towards Burma, and How the Illegal Myanmar Regime is Manipulating Those Policies to Commit Ethnic Genocide

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2006-06-01

    minority, insurgent, Southeast Asia, ASEAN, UN, United Nations, United Nations Security Council, Shan, Karen, Wa, yaa baa, methamphetamine , illicit... Methamphetamines ............................................................................63 B. ILLICT NARCOTIC TRANSPORTATION...129 x THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK xi LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. British Conquests

  9. The Mediating Effects of Basic Psychological Needs at Work on the Relationship between the Dimensions of the Learning Organization and Organizational Commitment in Registered Nurses

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Baird, Bonni Lynn

    2012-01-01

    The purpose of this study was to determine the mediating effects of the Basic Psychological Needs at Work, comprised of competence, autonomy and relatedness, on the relationship between the Dimensions of the Learning Organization and affective and normative organizational commitment in the United States nursing population. The study incorporated…

  10. The Unintended Consequences of Killing Civilians

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2012-05-17

    of the Geneva Conventions, the media invites domestic and international responses, publicizing the debate. Political leaders of America have always...the debate. Political leaders of America have always declared their commitment to protecting human rights in the many nations where the U.S. military...messaging and some activities of military units in the theater of operations. Political leaders of America have always declared their commitment to

  11. Electronic Commerce: A National Performance Review Initiative.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1995-09-01

    This study of the National Information Infrastructure (NII) was conducted as part of IDA’s Central Research Program. Electronic commerce is one of... commerce is nothing more than conducting business via electronic means. An outgrowth of the NPR, the electronic commerce initiative, commits the...private, and public sectors are committed to implementing electronic commerce throughout the United States. The objective ol this paper is to enhance

  12. Syria: Overview of the Humanitarian Response

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2013-09-04

    more than two- year civil war in Syria. The humanitarian situation, for one, has garnered significant bipartisan attention. Members have proposed and...the prospect that atrocities reaching the level of crimes against humanity and war crimes by armed groups may have been committed. Outside Syria...the United Nations. Funding commitments made during the first half of 2013 have been incorporated into the revised appeals. As of September 3, 2013

  13. Security of two-state and four-state practical quantum bit-commitment protocols

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Loura, Ricardo; Arsenović, Dušan; Paunković, Nikola; Popović, Duška B.; Prvanović, Slobodan

    2016-12-01

    We study cheating strategies against a practical four-state quantum bit-commitment protocol [A. Danan and L. Vaidman, Quant. Info. Proc. 11, 769 (2012)], 10.1007/s11128-011-0284-4 and its two-state variant [R. Loura et al., Phys. Rev. A 89, 052336 (2014)], 10.1103/PhysRevA.89.052336 when the underlying quantum channels are noisy and the cheating party is constrained to using single-qubit measurements only. We show that simply inferring the transmitted photons' states by using the Breidbart basis, optimal for ambiguous (minimum-error) state discrimination, does not directly produce an optimal cheating strategy for this bit-commitment protocol. We introduce a strategy, based on certain postmeasurement processes and show it to have better chances at cheating than the direct approach. We also study to what extent sending forged geographical coordinates helps a dishonest party in breaking the binding security requirement. Finally, we investigate the impact of imperfect single-photon sources in the protocols. Our study shows that, in terms of the resources used, the four-state protocol is advantageous over the two-state version. The analysis performed can be straightforwardly generalized to any finite-qubit measurement, with the same qualitative results.

  14. Zoophilia and the law: legal responses to a rare paraphilia.

    PubMed

    Holoyda, Brian; Newman, William

    2014-01-01

    Although societies' responses to bestiality have varied internationally, the response in the United States has typically involved condemnation and prosecution. Currently, there are 31 states with statutes prohibiting human-animal sexual contact. Despite the prevalence of antibestiality legislation, there is limited case law in the United States. Most commonly, bestiality arises in legal cases involving sexually violent predator (SVP) civil commitments. Identifying offenders who commit acts of bestiality is important, since these individuals may be at increased risk of committing a variety of other sexually and nonsexually violent acts against humans. Because of the different laws among the states, however, commonly used forensic risk assessment tools for sexual recidivism can yield different scores for individuals charged with or convicted of bestiality offenses. Forensic evaluators should consider this factor when conducting risk assessments. State legislatures should also consider modernizing their bestiality statutes to accord with current terminology and objectives for such laws. © 2014 American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law.

  15. [Influence of organizational commitment and professional nurses in conflict resolution strategies].

    PubMed

    Pinho, Paula; Albuquerque, Carlos

    2013-01-01

    INTRODUCE: The changes in the health area and the set of structural changes in the nursing profession and career interfere in the dynamics and stability of the future of the nurses. To study the influence of organizational and professional commitment of the nurses in the strategies of conflict resolution. This is a quantitative, transversal and non-experimental research, following a descriptive-correlational way. Non-probabilistic sample of 102 nurses to perform duties in Health Units, mostly female (82.4%) with a mean age of 39.33 years and standard deviation 9.226. The measuring instrument consists of three scales calibrated and validated for the portuguese population: Organizational Commitment Questionnaire, Professional Commitment Scale and Inventory Strategies for Conflict Resolution, which assesses how individuals deal with conflict situations before higher (Form A), subordinate (Form B) and colleagues (Form C). Nurses demonstrate a moderate organizational commitment and higher affective commitment and normative commitment to the instrumental. Nurses demonstrate a moderate professional commitment and the results show that nurses have higher values on the dimensions of that interest and challenge the relevance dimension of nursing as a profession. The organizational commitment influences the adoption of strategies of conflict resolution as a conflict situation arises with the boss, subordinates or colleagues. The higher the level of organizational commitment higher the level of professional commitment. Nurses more engaged professionally demonstrate strategies that use more integrative and compromise in conflict resolution whether against the boss, subordinates or colleagues. The results ensure the need to promote and stimulate the affective commitment by the positive consequences it entails the organization and the profession. The organizational performance benefits from the stimulation of the conflict under certain conditions and that the constructive management of conflict is essential to organizational effectiveness.

  16. Factors Influencing Team Behaviors in Surgery: A Qualitative Study to Inform Teamwork Interventions.

    PubMed

    Aveling, Emma-Louise; Stone, Juliana; Sundt, Thoralf; Wright, Cameron; Gino, Francesca; Singer, Sara

    2018-07-01

    Surgical excellence demands teamwork. Poor team behaviors negatively affect team performance and are associated with adverse events and worse outcomes. Interventions to improve surgical teamwork focusing on frontline team members' nontechnical skills have proliferated but shown mixed results. Literature on teamwork in organizations suggests that team behaviors are also contingent on psychosocial, cultural, and organizational factors. This study examined factors influencing surgical team behaviors to inform more contextually sensitive and effective approaches to optimizing surgical teamwork. This qualitative study of cardiac surgical teams in a large United States teaching hospital included 34 semistructured interviews. Thematic network analysis was used to examine perceptions of ideal teamwork and factors influencing team behaviors in the operating room. Perceptions of ideal teamwork were largely shared, but team members held discrepant views of which team and leadership behaviors enhanced or undermined teamwork. Other factors affecting team behaviors were related to the local organizational culture, including management of staff behavior, variable case demands, and team members' technical competence, and fitness of organizational structures and processes to support teamwork. These factors affected perceptions of what constituted optimal interpersonal and team behaviors in the operating room. Team behaviors are contextually contingent and organizationally determined, and beliefs about optimal behaviors are not necessarily shared. Interventions to optimize surgical teamwork require establishing consensus regarding best practice, ability to adapt as circumstances require, and organizational commitment to addressing contextual factors that affect teams. Copyright © 2018 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  17. 77 FR 58139 - Application for Final Commitment for a Long-Term Loan or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-09-19

    ... the United Arab Emirates. Brief non-proprietary description of the anticipated use of the items being exported: To provide airline service between the United Arab Emirates and other countries. To the extent...

  18. 77 FR 69452 - Application for Final Commitment for a Long-Term Loan or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-11-19

    ... United Arab Emirates. Brief non-proprietary description of the anticipated use of the items being exported: To be used for long-haul passenger air service between the United Arab Emirates and destinations...

  19. Leadership behaviours: effects on job satisfaction, productivity and organizational commitment.

    PubMed

    Chiok Foong Loke, J

    2001-07-01

    Research in the west has shown that job satisfaction, productivity and organizational commitment are affected by leadership behaviours. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of leadership behaviours on employee outcomes in Singapore. Very little research related to this subject has been done in health care settings in this country. The comparison of the results of the different types of settings and samples will allow a better understanding of the relationship between leadership behaviours and employee outcomes and thus help to determine if leadership is worth the extra effort. The study explored the relationships between five leadership behaviours identified by Kouzes and Posner and the employee outcomes of registered nurses practising in the general wards, intensive care units and the coronary care unit in an acute hospital. Survey questionnaires were used to elicit responses from 100 registered nurses and 20 managers belonging to the organization. Data collected included demographic characteristics and the degree to which the five types of leadership behaviours were used as perceived by the nurse managers and the registered nurses. In addition, the level of nurse job satisfaction, the degree of productivity and the extent of organizational commitment are described. The findings show a similar trend to the original studies in the United States of America. Use of leadership behaviours and employee outcomes were significantly correlated. The regression results indicate that 29% of job satisfaction, 22% of organizational commitment and 9% of productivity were explained by the use of leadership behaviours. Recommendations are made in the light of these findings.

  20. 77 FR 29531 - 150th Anniversary of the United States Department of Agriculture

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-05-18

    ... Anniversary of the United States Department of Agriculture By the President of the United States of America A... Department of Agriculture (USDA) and codified a commitment to the health of our people and our land. One... policy and science to an evolving food and agriculture system. The USDA has stood shoulder-to-shoulder...

  1. 3 CFR 8886 - Proclamation 8886 of October 9, 2012. 50th Anniversary of the Office of the United States Trade...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... the United States Trade RepresentativeBy the President of the United States of America A Proclamation... jobs right here at home. Throughout its history, USTR has worked to level the playing field for... has supported America's commitment to market-based competition and innovation, helping draw good jobs...

  2. Well-Being of Children of the World: How Are Children Doing Today?

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Neugebauer, Roger

    2010-01-01

    In September 2000, building upon a decade of major United Nations conferences and summits, world leaders came together at United Nations Headquarters in New York to adopt the United Nations Millennium Declaration, committing their nations to a new global partnership to reduce extreme poverty and setting out a series of time-bound targets--with a…

  3. 3 CFR 8818 - Proclamation 8818 of May 14, 2012. To Implement the United States-Colombia Trade Promotion...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ..., 2009, modified certain rules of origin under the North American Free Trade Agreement and incorporated... Schedule of the United States to Adjust Rules of Origin Under the North American Free Trade Agreement... commitments under the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement and incorporated by reference Publication 4308...

  4. Criminal Parental Responsibility: Blaming Parents on the Basis of Their Duty to Control versus Their Duty to Morally Educate Their Children

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    le Sage, Leonie; de Ruyter, Doret

    2008-01-01

    Several states in the United States of America and countries in Europe punish parents when their minor child commits a crime. When parents are being punished for the crimes committed by their children, it should be presumed that parents might be held responsible for the deeds of their children. This article addresses the question whether or not…

  5. A World Fit for Children: Millennium Development Goals; Special Session on Children Documents; The Convention on the Rights of the Child.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    United Nations Children's Fund, New York, NY.

    In May 2002, participants at the United Nations General Assembly's Special Session on Children committed to a set of specific goals for children and youth and a basic framework for meeting these goals. This report compiles the commitments that were part of the Special Session: (1) the Millennium Development Goals, earlier pledged to by all 189…

  6. Ensuring the Reliable Operation of the Power Grid: State-Based and Distributed Approaches to Scheduling Energy and Contingency Reserves

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Prada, Jose Fernando

    Keeping a contingency reserve in power systems is necessary to preserve the security of real-time operations. This work studies two different approaches to the optimal allocation of energy and reserves in the day-ahead generation scheduling process. Part I presents a stochastic security-constrained unit commitment model to co-optimize energy and the locational reserves required to respond to a set of uncertain generation contingencies, using a novel state-based formulation. The model is applied in an offer-based electricity market to allocate contingency reserves throughout the power grid, in order to comply with the N-1 security criterion under transmission congestion. The objective is to minimize expected dispatch and reserve costs, together with post contingency corrective redispatch costs, modeling the probability of generation failure and associated post contingency states. The characteristics of the scheduling problem are exploited to formulate a computationally efficient method, consistent with established operational practices. We simulated the distribution of locational contingency reserves on the IEEE RTS96 system and compared the results with the conventional deterministic method. We found that assigning locational spinning reserves can guarantee an N-1 secure dispatch accounting for transmission congestion at a reasonable extra cost. The simulations also showed little value of allocating downward reserves but sizable operating savings from co-optimizing locational nonspinning reserves. Overall, the results indicate the computational tractability of the proposed method. Part II presents a distributed generation scheduling model to optimally allocate energy and spinning reserves among competing generators in a day-ahead market. The model is based on the coordination between individual generators and a market entity. The proposed method uses forecasting, augmented pricing and locational signals to induce efficient commitment of generators based on firm posted prices. It is price-based but does not rely on multiple iterations, minimizes information exchange and simplifies the market clearing process. Simulations of the distributed method performed on a six-bus test system showed that, using an appropriate set of prices, it is possible to emulate the results of a conventional centralized solution, without need of providing make-whole payments to generators. Likewise, they showed that the distributed method can accommodate transactions with different products and complex security constraints.

  7. Global reorganisation of cis-regulatory units upon lineage commitment of human embryonic stem cells

    PubMed Central

    Freire-Pritchett, Paula; Schoenfelder, Stefan; Várnai, Csilla; Wingett, Steven W; Cairns, Jonathan; Collier, Amanda J; García-Vílchez, Raquel; Furlan-Magaril, Mayra; Osborne, Cameron S; Fraser, Peter; Rugg-Gunn, Peter J; Spivakov, Mikhail

    2017-01-01

    Long-range cis-regulatory elements such as enhancers coordinate cell-specific transcriptional programmes by engaging in DNA looping interactions with target promoters. Deciphering the interplay between the promoter connectivity and activity of cis-regulatory elements during lineage commitment is crucial for understanding developmental transcriptional control. Here, we use Promoter Capture Hi-C to generate a high-resolution atlas of chromosomal interactions involving ~22,000 gene promoters in human pluripotent and lineage-committed cells, identifying putative target genes for known and predicted enhancer elements. We reveal extensive dynamics of cis-regulatory contacts upon lineage commitment, including the acquisition and loss of promoter interactions. This spatial rewiring occurs preferentially with predicted changes in the activity of cis-regulatory elements and is associated with changes in target gene expression. Our results provide a global and integrated view of promoter interactome dynamics during lineage commitment of human pluripotent cells. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.21926.001 PMID:28332981

  8. A New Lagrangian Relaxation Method Considering Previous Hour Scheduling for Unit Commitment Problem

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Khorasani, H.; Rashidinejad, M.; Purakbari-Kasmaie, M.; Abdollahi, A.

    2009-08-01

    Generation scheduling is a crucial challenge in power systems especially under new environment of liberalization of electricity industry. A new Lagrangian relaxation method for unit commitment (UC) has been presented for solving generation scheduling problem. This paper focuses on the economical aspect of UC problem, while the previous hour scheduling as a very important issue is studied. In this paper generation scheduling of present hour has been conducted by considering the previous hour scheduling. The impacts of hot/cold start-up cost have been taken in to account in this paper. Case studies and numerical analysis presents significant outcomes while it demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed method.

  9. Research on unit commitment with large-scale wind power connected power system

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jiao, Ran; Zhang, Baoqun; Chi, Zhongjun; Gong, Cheng; Ma, Longfei; Yang, Bing

    2017-01-01

    Large-scale integration of wind power generators into power grid brings severe challenges to power system economic dispatch due to its stochastic volatility. Unit commitment including wind farm is analyzed from the two parts of modeling and solving methods. The structures and characteristics can be summarized after classification has been done according to different objective function and constraints. Finally, the issues to be solved and possible directions of research and development in the future are discussed, which can adapt to the requirements of the electricity market, energy-saving power generation dispatching and smart grid, even providing reference for research and practice of researchers and workers in this field.

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

    Krishnamurthy, Dheepak

    This paper is an overview of Power System Simulation Toolbox (psst). psst is an open-source Python application for the simulation and analysis of power system models. psst simulates the wholesale market operation by solving a DC Optimal Power Flow (DCOPF), Security Constrained Unit Commitment (SCUC) and a Security Constrained Economic Dispatch (SCED). psst also includes models for the various entities in a power system such as Generator Companies (GenCos), Load Serving Entities (LSEs) and an Independent System Operator (ISO). psst features an open modular object oriented architecture that will make it useful for researchers to customize, expand, experiment beyond solvingmore » traditional problems. psst also includes a web based Graphical User Interface (GUI) that allows for user friendly interaction and for implementation on remote High Performance Computing (HPCs) clusters for parallelized operations. This paper also provides an illustrative application of psst and benchmarks with standard IEEE test cases to show the advanced features and the performance of toolbox.« less

  11. Recent advances in multidisciplinary critical care.

    PubMed

    Blot, Stijn; Afonso, Elsa; Labeau, Sonia

    2015-01-01

    The intensive care unit is a work environment where superior dedication is crucial for optimizing patients' outcomes. As this demanding commitment is multidisciplinary in nature, it requires special qualities of health care workers and organizations. Thus research in the field covers a broad spectrum of activities necessary to deliver cutting-edge care. However, given the numerous research articles and education activities available, it is difficult for modern critical care clinicians to keep up with the latest progress and innovation in the field. This article broadly summarizes new developments in multidisciplinary intensive care. It provides elementary information about advanced insights in the field via brief descriptions of selected articles grouped by specific topics. Issues considered include care for heart patients, mechanical ventilation, delirium, nutrition, pressure ulcers, early mobility, infection prevention, transplantation and organ donation, care for caregivers, and family matters. ©2015 American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.

  12. Assessment of the Electrification of the Road Transport Sector on Net System Emissions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Miller, James

    As worldwide environmental consciousness grows, electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming more common and despite the incredible potential for emissions reduction, the net emissions of the power system supply side plus the transportation system are dependent on the generation matrix. Current EV charging patterns tend to correspond directly with the peak consumption hours and have the potential to increase demand sharply allowing for only a small penetration of Electric Vehicles. Using the National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) data a model is created for vehicle travel patterns using trip chaining. Charging schemes are modeled to include uncontrolled residential, uncontrolled residential/industrial charging, optimized charging and optimized charging with vehicle to grid discharging. A charging profile is then determined based upon the assumption that electric vehicles would directly replace a percentage of standard petroleum-fueled vehicles in a known system. Using the generation profile for the specified region, a unit commitment model is created to establish not only the generation dispatch, but also the net CO2 profile for variable EV penetrations and charging profiles. This model is then used to assess the impact of the electrification of the road transport sector on the system net emissions.

  13. Committing to coal and gas: Long-term contracts, regulation, and fuel switching in power generation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rice, Michael

    Fuel switching in the electricity sector has important economic and environmental consequences. In the United States, the increased supply of gas during the last decade has led to substantial switching in the short term. Fuel switching is constrained, however, by the existing infrastructure. The power generation infrastructure, in turn, represents commitments to specific sources of energy over the long term. This dissertation explores fuel contracts as the link between short-term price response and long-term plant investments. Contracting choices enable power plant investments that are relationship-specific, often regulated, and face uncertainty. Many power plants are subject to both hold-up in investment and cost-of-service regulation. I find that capital bias is robust when considering either irreversibility or hold-up due to the uncertain arrival of an outside option. For sunk capital, the rental rate is inappropriate for determining capital bias. Instead, capital bias depends on the regulated rate of return, discount rate, and depreciation schedule. If policies such as emissions regulations increase fuel-switching flexibility, this can lead to capital bias. Cost-of-service regulation can shorten the duration of a long-term contract. From the firm's perspective, the existing literature provides limited guidance when bargaining and writing contracts for fuel procurement. I develop a stochastic programming framework to optimize long-term contracting decisions under both endogenous and exogenous sources of hold-up risk. These typically include policy changes, price shocks, availability of fuel, and volatility in derived demand. For price risks, the optimal contract duration is the moment when the expected benefits of the contract are just outweighed by the expected opportunity costs of remaining in the contract. I prove that imposing early renegotiation costs decreases contract duration. Finally, I provide an empirical approach to show how coal contracts can limit short-term fuel switching in power production. During the era prior to shale gas and electricity market deregulation, I do not find evidence that gas generation substituted for coal in response to fuel price changes. However, I do find evidence that coal plant operations are constrained by fuel contracts. As the min-take commitment to coal increases, changes to annual coal plant output decrease. My conclusions are robust in spite of bias due to the selective reporting of proprietary coal delivery contracts by utilities.

  14. Incorporating Wind Power Forecast Uncertainties Into Stochastic Unit Commitment Using Neural Network-Based Prediction Intervals.

    PubMed

    Quan, Hao; Srinivasan, Dipti; Khosravi, Abbas

    2015-09-01

    Penetration of renewable energy resources, such as wind and solar power, into power systems significantly increases the uncertainties on system operation, stability, and reliability in smart grids. In this paper, the nonparametric neural network-based prediction intervals (PIs) are implemented for forecast uncertainty quantification. Instead of a single level PI, wind power forecast uncertainties are represented in a list of PIs. These PIs are then decomposed into quantiles of wind power. A new scenario generation method is proposed to handle wind power forecast uncertainties. For each hour, an empirical cumulative distribution function (ECDF) is fitted to these quantile points. The Monte Carlo simulation method is used to generate scenarios from the ECDF. Then the wind power scenarios are incorporated into a stochastic security-constrained unit commitment (SCUC) model. The heuristic genetic algorithm is utilized to solve the stochastic SCUC problem. Five deterministic and four stochastic case studies incorporated with interval forecasts of wind power are implemented. The results of these cases are presented and discussed together. Generation costs, and the scheduled and real-time economic dispatch reserves of different unit commitment strategies are compared. The experimental results show that the stochastic model is more robust than deterministic ones and, thus, decreases the risk in system operations of smart grids.

  15. Microgrid optimal scheduling considering impact of high penetration wind generation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Alanazi, Abdulaziz

    The objective of this thesis is to study the impact of high penetration wind energy in economic and reliable operation of microgrids. Wind power is variable, i.e., constantly changing, and nondispatchable, i.e., cannot be controlled by the microgrid controller. Thus an accurate forecasting of wind power is an essential task in order to study its impacts in microgrid operation. Two commonly used forecasting methods including Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) have been used in this thesis to improve the wind power forecasting. The forecasting error is calculated using a Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) and is improved using the ANN. The wind forecast is further used in the microgrid optimal scheduling problem. The microgrid optimal scheduling is performed by developing a viable model for security-constrained unit commitment (SCUC) based on mixed-integer linear programing (MILP) method. The proposed SCUC is solved for various wind penetration levels and the relationship between the total cost and the wind power penetration is found. In order to reduce microgrid power transfer fluctuations, an additional constraint is proposed and added to the SCUC formulation. The new constraint would control the time-based fluctuations. The impact of the constraint on microgrid SCUC results is tested and validated with numerical analysis. Finally, the applicability of proposed models is demonstrated through numerical simulations.

  16. Racial Inequality in Education.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Troyna, Barry, Ed.

    Contributors to this book are united in their commitment to combating racial inequality in education and in outlining the extent and manner in which racism and its associated practices have become embedded in the institutional and sociopolitical structures of the United Kingdom. The following chapters are included: (1) "A Conceptual Overview…

  17. Convention on the Rights of the Child

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Whitehead, Diane

    2009-01-01

    The Association for Childhood Education International and the United States National Committee of the World Organization for Early Childhood Education have actively pursued long-standing commitments to ensure the rights of children in the United States. Both organizations are respected for their knowledge of child development, children's…

  18. 76 FR 26239 - Bovine Tuberculosis and Brucellosis; Public Meetings

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-05-06

    ... Inspection Service [Docket No. APHIS-2011-0044] Bovine Tuberculosis and Brucellosis; Public Meetings AGENCY... bovine tuberculosis and brucellosis programs in the United States. The meetings are being organized by... tuberculosis (TB) and bovine brucellosis in the United States. In keeping with its commitment to partnering...

  19. Cost Effectiveness of Research and Development Related to Railroad Electrification in the United States

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1977-12-01

    The object of this report is to determine the impact of research and development on railroad electrification in the United States. It is presumed that electrification is economically viable and that a prior commitment has been made to electrifying th...

  20. 20 CFR 668.120 - How must INA programs be administered?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... Federal commitment to support the growth and development of Native American people and communities as... administer INA programs through a single organizational unit and consistent with the requirements in section...) within the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) as this single organizational unit required by...

  1. WTO Dispute Settlement: Status of U.S. Compliance in Pending Cases

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2010-01-29

    meat , poultry meat , and rice, for 2008 and 2009.183 Brazil’s request was based on language in the Arbitrator’s report directing the United States to...subsidy commitments regarding various unscheduled products (e.g., cotton, oilseeds, protein meals) as well as three scheduled products (rice, poultry ... meat , and rice).148 By providing export subsidies both to unscheduled products and to scheduled products in excess of its reduction commitments, the

  2. Inconsistent Investment and Consumption Problems

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

    Kronborg, Morten Tolver, E-mail: mtk@atp.dk; Steffensen, Mogens, E-mail: mogens@math.ku.dk

    In a traditional Black–Scholes market we develop a verification theorem for a general class of investment and consumption problems where the standard dynamic programming principle does not hold. The theorem is an extension of the standard Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman equation in the form of a system of non-linear differential equations. We derive the optimal investment and consumption strategy for a mean-variance investor without pre-commitment endowed with labor income. In the case of constant risk aversion it turns out that the optimal amount of money to invest in stocks is independent of wealth. The optimal consumption strategy is given as a deterministic bang-bangmore » strategy. In order to have a more realistic model we allow the risk aversion to be time and state dependent. Of special interest is the case were the risk aversion is inversely proportional to present wealth plus the financial value of future labor income net of consumption. Using the verification theorem we give a detailed analysis of this problem. It turns out that the optimal amount of money to invest in stocks is given by a linear function of wealth plus the financial value of future labor income net of consumption. The optimal consumption strategy is again given as a deterministic bang-bang strategy. We also calculate, for a general time and state dependent risk aversion function, the optimal investment and consumption strategy for a mean-standard deviation investor without pre-commitment. In that case, it turns out that it is optimal to take no risk at all.« less

  3. A Short Guide to U.S. Arms Control Policy.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Howard, Norman, Ed.; Sussman, Colleen, Ed.

    Steps the United States is taking to lessen the danger of war while building international confidence and security are described. The commitment of the United States to arms control is based on the conviction that the United States and the Soviet Union have a common interest in the avoidance of nuclear war and the survival of the human race. A…

  4. 78 FR 76614 - Application for Final Commitment for a Long-Term Loan or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-12-18

    ... EXPORT-IMPORT BANK OF THE UNITED STATES [Public Notice: 2013-0059] Application for Final...-Import Bank of the United States. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: This Notice is to inform the public, in accordance with Section 3(c)(10) of the Charter of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (``Ex-Im Bank...

  5. 78 FR 16675 - Application for Final Commitment for a Long-Term Loan or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-03-18

    ... EXPORT-IMPORT BANK OF THE UNITED STATES [Public Notice: 2013-0023] Application for Final...-Import Bank of the United States. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: This Notice is to inform the public, in accordance with Section 3(c)(10) of the Charter of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (``Ex-Im Bank...

  6. 78 FR 21948 - Application for Final Commitment for a Long-Term Loan or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-04-12

    ... EXPORT-IMPORT BANK OF THE UNITED STATES [Public Notice: 2013-0027] Application for Final...-Import Bank of the United States. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: This Notice is to inform the public, in accordance with Section 3(c)(10) of the Charter of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (``Ex-Im Bank...

  7. 77 FR 74010 - Application for Final Commitment for a Long-Term Loan or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-12-12

    ... EXPORT-IMPORT BANK OF THE UNITED STATES [Public Notice: 2012-0546] Application for Final...-Import Bank of the United States. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: This Notice is to inform the public, in accordance with Section 3(c)(10) of the Charter of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (``Ex-Im Bank...

  8. 78 FR 23763 - Application for Final Commitment for a Long-Term Loan or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-04-22

    ... EXPORT-IMPORT BANK OF THE UNITED STATES [Public Notice: 2013-0028] Application for Final...-Import Bank of the United States. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: This Notice is to inform the public, in accordance with Section 3(c)(10) of the Charter of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (``Ex-Im Bank...

  9. 78 FR 16852 - Application for Final Commitment for a Long-Term Loan or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-03-19

    ... EXPORT-IMPORT BANK OF THE UNITED STATES [Public Notice: 2013-0024] Application for Final...-Import Bank of the United States. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: This Notice is to inform the public, in accordance with Section 3(c)(10) of the Charter of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (``Ex-Im Bank...

  10. 78 FR 56227 - Application for Final Commitment for a Long-Term Loan or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-09-12

    ... EXPORT-IMPORT BANK OF THE UNITED STATES [Public Notice: 2013-0045] Application for Final...-Import Bank of the United States. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: This Notice is to inform the public, in accordance with Section 3(c)(10) of the Charter of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (``Ex-Im Bank...

  11. 78 FR 59688 - Application for Final Commitment for a Long-Term Loan or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-09-27

    ... EXPORT-IMPORT BANK OF THE UNITED STATES [Public Notice: 2013-0049] Application for Final... AGENCY: Export-Import Bank of the United States. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: This Notice is to inform the public, in accordance with Section 3(c)(10) of the Charter of the Export-Import Bank of the United States...

  12. 77 FR 29519 - To Implement the United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement and for Other Purposes

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-05-18

    ... Proclamation 8332 of December 29, 2008, implemented U.S. tariff commitments under the United States-Oman Free... States Implementing the United States-Oman Free Trade Agreement.'' Annex II to that publication included... to certain goods of Oman under the terms of general note 31 to the HTS, subchapter XVI of chapter 99...

  13. Heterogeneity in preferences for woody biomass energy in the US Mountain West

    Treesearch

    Robert M. Campbell; Tyron J. Venn; Nathaniel M. Anderson

    2018-01-01

    The United States has passed legislation aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions (United States Congress, 2005; United States Congress, 2007; EPA, 2015). In order to achieve the goals set by these commitments, significant amounts of fossil fuel energy will need to be replaced with renewable energy. There are multiple renewable technologies from which to choose, and...

  14. 78 FR 68838 - Application for Final Commitment for a Long-Term Loan or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-11-15

    ...) of the Charter of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (``Ex-Im Bank''), that Ex-Im Bank has... services in competition with the exportation of goods or provision of services by a United States industry... information which would jeopardize jobs in the United States by supplying information that competitors could...

  15. The n-by-T Target Discharge Strategy for Inpatient Units.

    PubMed

    Parikh, Pratik J; Ballester, Nicholas; Ramsey, Kylie; Kong, Nan; Pook, Nancy

    2017-07-01

    Ineffective inpatient discharge planning often causes discharge delays and upstream boarding. While an optimal discharge strategy that works across all units at a hospital is likely difficult to identify and implement, a strategy that provides a reasonable target to the discharge team appears feasible. We used observational and retrospective data from an inpatient trauma unit at a Level 2 trauma center in the Midwest US. Our proposed novel n-by-T strategy-discharge n patients by the Tth hour-was evaluated using a validated simulation model. Outcome measures included 2 measures: time-based (mean discharge completion and upstream boarding times) and capacity-based (increase in annual inpatient and upstream bed hours). Data from the pilot implementation of a 2-by-12 strategy at the unit was obtained and analyzed. The model suggested that the 1-by-T and 2-by-T strategies could advance the mean completion times by over 1.38 and 2.72 h, respectively (for 10 AM ≤ T ≤ noon, occupancy rate = 85%); the corresponding mean boarding time reductions were nearly 11% and 15%. These strategies could increase the availability of annual inpatient and upstream bed hours by at least 2,469 and 500, respectively. At 100% occupancy rate, the hospital-favored 2-by-12 strategy reduced the mean boarding time by 26.1%. A pilot implementation of the 2-by-12 strategy at the unit corroborated with the model findings: a 1.98-h advancement in completion times (P<0.0001) and a 14.5% reduction in boarding times (P = 0.027). Target discharge strategies, such as the n-by-T, can help substantially reduce discharge lateness and upstream boarding, especially during high unit occupancy. To sustain implementation, necessary commitment from the unit staff and physicians is vital, and may require some training.

  16. Clara Harrison Town and the origins of the first institutional commitment law for the "feebleminded": psychologists as expert diagnosticians.

    PubMed

    Farreras, Ingrid G

    2014-11-01

    The first law providing for the commitment of "feeble-minded" individuals in the United States was passed in 1915, in the state of Illinois. House Bill 655 not only allowed for the permanent, involuntary institutionalization of feeble-minded individuals, but it shifted the commitment and discharge authority from the institution superintendents to the courts. Clara Harrison Town, a student of Lightner Witmer, and the state psychologist at the second largest institution for feeble-minded individuals in the country, was instrumental in this law passing and in ensuring that psychologists, for the first time, be viewed as court "experts" when testifying as to the feeble mindedness of individuals.

  17. HPV Vaccination Practices Among Juvenile Justice Facilities in the United States

    PubMed Central

    Henderson, Courtney E.; Rich, Josiah D.; Lally, Michelle A.

    2010-01-01

    The juvenile justice setting provides a unique opportunity to administer the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to a high-risk, medically underserved population. We examined current HPV vaccination practices in the United States. Most states (39) offer the HPV vaccine to females committed to juvenile justice facilities. PMID:20413087

  18. 76 FR 68615 - National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month, 2011

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-11-04

    ... National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month, 2011 By the President of the United States of America A... disease is a pain they know all too well. Alzheimer's disease burdens an increasing number of our Nation's... health. During National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month, we stand united in our commitment to improve...

  19. 78 FR 60248 - Order Denying Export Privileges

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-10-01

    ... DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Bureau of Industry and Security Order Denying Export Privileges In the... commit an offense against the United States, that is, to willfully export from the United States to Belarus export-controlled items, including but not limited to L-3 x200xp Handheld Thermal Imaging Cameras...

  20. 75 FR 17839 - National Cancer Control Month, 2010

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-04-07

    ... Cancer Control Month, 2010 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Cancer is.... During National Cancer Control Month, let us renew our commitment to combat this disease by raising... as ``Cancer Control Month.'' NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of...

  1. Commitment to Liberal Education at the United States Air Force Academy

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Enger, Rolf C.; Jones, Steven K.; Born, Dana H.

    2010-01-01

    Located just north of Colorado Springs, Colorado, the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) is one of the nation's federally funded military service academies. With an enrollment of approximately 4,400 undergraduates, the academy offers an integrated four-year curriculum of academics, athletics, leadership and character development, military…

  2. Praise matters: the influence of nurse unit managers' praise on nurses' practice, work environment and job satisfaction: a questionnaire study.

    PubMed

    Sveinsdóttir, Herdís; Ragnarsdóttir, Erla Dögg; Blöndal, Katrín

    2016-03-01

    The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between praise from nurse unit managers and job satisfaction, professional practice, workload, work climate and organizational commitment of nurses caring for surgical patients. Praise influences experiences of employees. Web-based, cross-sectional explorative survey design. A structured questionnaire was used to measure praise given by nurse unit managers as perceived by nurses (n = 383; 49% response rate) working with surgical patients. Data were collected between December 2009-January 2010. Several variables assessed the major concepts under study. Binary logistic regression analysis was employed to compare nurses who receive praise very rarely/rarely as compared with very often/rather often. Praise was received often/very often by 31·6% of participants. Compared with nurses receiving praise rarely/very rarely those who received it often/rather showed more job satisfaction, stated they had more opportunities to practice professionally, described a more positive work climate and were more committed to the organization such as being proud to work at and willing to make effort for the unit and hospital. There was no difference between the groups regarding workload. Main findings of the regression analysis were that nurses display their organizational commitment by not thinking about leaving the current workplace and those who value professional recognition are likelier to receive praise than their counterparts. Nurse unit managers should praise their staff in a realistic fashion. Such praise is cost-effective, takes short time, produces positive influences on members of their staff and may improve patient safety. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  3. Online Optimization Method for Operation of Generators in a Micro Grid

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hayashi, Yasuhiro; Miyamoto, Hideki; Matsuki, Junya; Iizuka, Toshio; Azuma, Hitoshi

    Recently a lot of studies and developments about distributed generator such as photovoltaic generation system, wind turbine generation system and fuel cell have been performed under the background of the global environment issues and deregulation of the electricity market, and the technique of these distributed generators have progressed. Especially, micro grid which consists of several distributed generators, loads and storage battery is expected as one of the new operation system of distributed generator. However, since precipitous load fluctuation occurs in micro grid for the reason of its smaller capacity compared with conventional power system, high-accuracy load forecasting and control scheme to balance of supply and demand are needed. Namely, it is necessary to improve the precision of operation in micro grid by observing load fluctuation and correcting start-stop schedule and output of generators online. But it is not easy to determine the operation schedule of each generator in short time, because the problem to determine start-up, shut-down and output of each generator in micro grid is a mixed integer programming problem. In this paper, the authors propose an online optimization method for the optimal operation schedule of generators in micro grid. The proposed method is based on enumeration method and particle swarm optimization (PSO). In the proposed method, after picking up all unit commitment patterns of each generators satisfied with minimum up time and minimum down time constraint by using enumeration method, optimal schedule and output of generators are determined under the other operational constraints by using PSO. Numerical simulation is carried out for a micro grid model with five generators and photovoltaic generation system in order to examine the validity of the proposed method.

  4. 78 FR 2672 - Application for Final Commitment for a Long-Term Loan or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-01-14

    ... EXPORT-IMPORT BANK OF THE UNITED STATES [Public Notice: 2013-0101] Application for Final..., AP078595XB AGENCY: Export-Import Bank of the United States. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: This Notice is to inform the public, in accordance with Section 3(c)(10) of the Charter of the Export-Import Bank of the United...

  5. 78 FR 78955 - Application for Final Commitment for a Long-Term Loan or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-12-27

    ... EXPORT-IMPORT BANK OF THE UNITED STATES [Public Notice: 2013-0060] Application for Final... AP088412XB AGENCY: Export-Import Bank of the United States. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: This Notice is to inform the public, in accordance with Section 3(c)(10) of the Charter of the Export-Import Bank of the United...

  6. 78 FR 8130 - Application for Final Commitment for a Long-Term Loan or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-02-05

    ... the transaction: To support the export of U.S.-manufactured cargo aircraft to Dubai, the United Arab... or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100 Million: AP087679XX AGENCY: Export-Import Bank of the United...) of the Charter of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (``Ex-Im Bank''), that Ex-Im Bank has...

  7. Mission (IM) possible? Nurse civility in the NICU.

    PubMed

    Simons, Sherri Lee

    2008-01-01

    Nurses will work in a unit and choose to stay because they feel pride in their work and are respected. Eliminating horizontal hostility at the unit level begins with a commitment from the NICU's leadership. Establishing and maintaining an environment of civility is essential if the unit is to successfully recruit and maintain the best staff to care for the patients entrusted to it.

  8. Modeling human decision making behavior in supervisory control

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Tulga, M. K.; Sheridan, T. B.

    1977-01-01

    An optimal decision control model was developed, which is based primarily on a dynamic programming algorithm which looks at all the available task possibilities, charts an optimal trajectory, and commits itself to do the first step (i.e., follow the optimal trajectory during the next time period), and then iterates the calculation. A Bayesian estimator was included which estimates the tasks which might occur in the immediate future and provides this information to the dynamic programming routine. Preliminary trials comparing the human subject's performance to that of the optimal model show a great similarity, but indicate that the human skips certain movements which require quick change in strategy.

  9. Hard Hearts and Open Minds? Governance, Identity, and Counterinsurgency Strategy

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2008-05-01

    by a foreign power. The cases considered will be the United Kingdom in Malaya (1948-1960); France in Algeria (1954-1962); and the United States in...cases presented here are those of the United Kingdom in Malaya from 1948- 1960, France in Algeria from 1954-1962, and the United States in South Vietnam...supported counterinsurgencies in history in terms of resources and manpower committed. (Though France was not technically a “foreign” power in Algeria

  10. Criteria for successful multiprofessional cooperation in palliative care teams.

    PubMed

    Jünger, S; Pestinger, M; Elsner, F; Krumm, N; Radbruch, L

    2007-06-01

    Team work is considered a central component of palliative care. Within this comparatively young field of medicine, the emergence of new institutions (eg, palliative care units) highlights the challenge of establishing a completely new team. This study focuses on the factors, which enhance both the success and outcome criteria of good team work from the perception of team members in a palliative care unit. The palliative care team at the University Hospital of Aachen (n = 19) was interviewed 1 year after the unit's startup by the means of semistructured interviews. Interview texts were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Factors crucial to cooperation in the team members' views were close communication, team philosophy, good interpersonal relationships, high team commitment, autonomy and the ability to deal with death and dying. Moreover, close communication was by far the most frequently mentioned criteria for cooperation. Team performance, good coordination of workflow and mutual trust underpin the evaluation of efficient team work. Inefficient team work is associated with the absence of clear goals, tasks and role delegation, as well as a lack of team commitment. In a new team, close communication is particularly important for staff as they reorientate themselves to the dynamics of a new peer group. The results confirm the overwhelming importance of clarity, commitment and close, positive exchange among team members for successful team work.

  11. Suicide Mortality among Kentucky Farmers, 1979-1985.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Stallones, Lorann

    1990-01-01

    Compared age-specific suicide rates for Kentucky White farmers, Kentucky White males, and United States White males. Found suicide rates highest for farmers, followed by Kentucky males, and the United States males. All males were most likely to use firearms to commit suicide, but farmers and other Kentucky males used firearms significantly more…

  12. Tuning the Discipline of History in the United States: Harmony (and Dissonance) in Teaching and Learning

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    McInerney, Daniel J.

    2017-01-01

    Tuning's progress in the discipline of history in the United States since 2009 illustrates the project's continuing capacity to develop "educational structures and programmes on the basis of diversity and autonomy", maintaining the initiative's original European Union commitment in a markedly different academic environment across the…

  13. [Evaluation of budget design and execution, an instrument of performance-based budgeting: some experiences applied to health].

    PubMed

    Peñaloza-Vassallo, K; Gutiérrez-Aguado, A; Prado-Fernández, M

    2017-01-01

    Since 2008, the evaluation of budget design and execution (EDEP for its acronym in Spanish) - one of the evaluations tools developed by the Peruvian Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) as part of the implementation of Performance Budgeting- seek to provide reliable information about design coherence and progress in the implementation of public interventions, in order to improve their management and make informed budget decisions. The EDEP methodology includes preparing an evaluation report and defining a matrix of commitments to improve performance. Commitments are defined based on the recommendation of the EDEP. The EDEP seeks to correct exiting problems in public programs and optimize their results. MEF tracks the fulfillment of these commitments and links together the analysis of public budget requests and the progress of these commitments. Now, almost 10 years after its implementation, 57 EDEP have been carried out in different sectors and 07 of them are related to health interventions such as: the comprehensive health system, vaccination service, normal births, acute respiratory infections and acute diarrheal diseases, among others. Beyond the discrepancies in the application of this tool, the EDEP and its matrix of commitments have allowed the use of the results of the evaluations and have become a mechanism to generate useful information to improve the public services.

  14. The Negative Impact of Organizational Cynicism on Physicians and Nurses

    PubMed Central

    Volpe, Rebecca L.; Mohammed, Susan; Hopkins, Margaret; Shapiro, Daniel; Dellasega, Cheryl

    2015-01-01

    Despite the potentially severe consequences that could result, there is a paucity of research on organizational cynicism within US healthcare providers. In response, this study investigated the effect of cynicism on organizational commitment, job satisfaction, and interest in leaving the hospital for another job in a sample of 205 physicians and 842 nurses. Three types of cynicism were investigated: trait (dispositional), global (directed toward the hospital), and local (directed toward a specific unit or department). Findings indicate that all three types of cynicism were negatively related to affective organizational commitment and job satisfaction, but positively related to interest in leaving. In both nurse and physician samples, cynicism explained about half of the variance in job satisfaction and affective commitment, which is the type of commitment managers are most eager to promote. Cynicism accounted for about a quarter and a third of the variance in interest in leaving the hospital for nurses and physicians, respectively. Trait, global and local cynicism each accounted for unique variance in affective commitment, satisfaction, and interest in leaving, with global cynicism exerting the largest influence on each outcome. The implications for managers are that activities aimed at decreasing organizational cynicism are likely to increase affective organizational commitment, job satisfaction, and organizational tenure. PMID:25350015

  15. Empowering workplace and wellbeing among healthcare professionals: the buffering role of job control.

    PubMed

    Galletta, Maura; Portoghese, Igor; Fabbri, Daniele; Pilia, Ilaria; Campagna, Marcello

    2016-05-26

    Health care workers are exposed to several job stressors that can adversely affect their wellbeing. Workplace incivility is a growing organizational concern with the potential to create workplaces harmful to individuals' wellbeing and increase occupational health risks. Based on the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the role of two resources (organizational empowerment and job control) on individuals' well-being (emotional exhaustion) and attitude at work (unit affective commitment). A total of 210 hospital workers completed a self-administered questionnaire that was used to measure organizational empowerment, workplace incivility, job control, exhaustion, and affective commitment. Data were collected in 2014. Data were examined via linear regression analyses. The results showed that workplace incivility was positively related to emotional exhaustion and negatively related to affective commitment. Workplace empowerment was positively related to affective commitment and negatively related to emotional exhaustion. Furthermore, the positive relationship between workplace empowerment and affective commitment was significantly moderated by job control. Our results found support for the JD-R model. Specifically, results showed the buffering effect of job control in the relationship between empowerment and affective commitment. Our findings may concretely contribute to the stress literature and offer additional suggestions to promote healthy workplaces.

  16. Business Leadership in Global Climate Change Responses

    PubMed Central

    Esty, Daniel C.

    2018-01-01

    In the 2015 Paris Climate Change Agreement, 195 countries committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in recognition of the scientific consensus on the consequences of climate change, including substantial public health burdens. In June 2017, however, US president Donald Trump announced that the United States would not implement the Paris Agreement. We highlight the business community’s backing for climate change action in the United States. Just as the US federal government is backing away from its Paris commitments, many corporate executives are recognizing the need to address the greenhouse gas emissions of their companies and the business logic of strong environmental, social, and governance practices more generally. We conclude that climate change could emerge as an issue on which the business and public health communities might align and provide leadership. PMID:29698101

  17. Business Leadership in Global Climate Change Responses.

    PubMed

    Esty, Daniel C; Bell, Michelle L

    2018-04-01

    In the 2015 Paris Climate Change Agreement, 195 countries committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in recognition of the scientific consensus on the consequences of climate change, including substantial public health burdens. In June 2017, however, US president Donald Trump announced that the United States would not implement the Paris Agreement. We highlight the business community's backing for climate change action in the United States. Just as the US federal government is backing away from its Paris commitments, many corporate executives are recognizing the need to address the greenhouse gas emissions of their companies and the business logic of strong environmental, social, and governance practices more generally. We conclude that climate change could emerge as an issue on which the business and public health communities might align and provide leadership.

  18. Analysis of Relationships between the Level of Errors in Leg and Monofin Movement and Stroke Parameters in Monofin Swimming

    PubMed Central

    Rejman, Marek

    2013-01-01

    The aim of this study was to analyze the error structure in propulsive movements with regard to its influence on monofin swimming speed. The random cycles performed by six swimmers were filmed during a progressive test (900m). An objective method to estimate errors committed in the area of angular displacement of the feet and monofin segments was employed. The parameters were compared with a previously described model. Mutual dependences between the level of errors, stroke frequency, stroke length and amplitude in relation to swimming velocity were analyzed. The results showed that proper foot movements and the avoidance of errors, arising at the distal part of the fin, ensure the progression of swimming speed. The individual stroke parameters distribution which consists of optimally increasing stroke frequency to the maximal possible level that enables the stabilization of stroke length leads to the minimization of errors. Identification of key elements in the stroke structure based on the analysis of errors committed should aid in improving monofin swimming technique. Key points The monofin swimming technique was evaluated through the prism of objectively defined errors committed by the swimmers. The dependences between the level of errors, stroke rate, stroke length and amplitude in relation to swimming velocity were analyzed. Optimally increasing stroke rate to the maximal possible level that enables the stabilization of stroke length leads to the minimization of errors. Propriety foot movement and the avoidance of errors arising at the distal part of fin, provide for the progression of swimming speed. The key elements improving monofin swimming technique, based on the analysis of errors committed, were designated. PMID:24149742

  19. Missile defense and strategic stability: Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) in South Korea

    DOE PAGES

    Sankaran, Jaganath; Fearey, Bryan L.

    2017-02-06

    South Korea is threatened by its troubled relationship with North Korea. North Korea possesses a large cache of missiles as well as chemical and biological weapons, and the future potential to mount nuclear weapons on its missiles. The United States is also challenged because of its defense commitments to Seoul. As a countermeasure, the United States and South Korea decided to deploy Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defenses in South Korea. However, China has objected. Chinese scholars believe the THAAD radar would be able to track Chinese inter-continental ballistic missiles, thereby weakening their deterrent. A technical analysis doesmore » not support this assertion. But, it is vital for South Korea, given its proximity and economic interdependence, to reassure China. The United States Forces Korea will deploy THAD and that is not a commitment by Seoul to become part of U.S.-led missile defenses in the Asia-Pacific.« less

  20. Missile defense and strategic stability: Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) in South Korea

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

    Sankaran, Jaganath; Fearey, Bryan L.

    South Korea is threatened by its troubled relationship with North Korea. North Korea possesses a large cache of missiles as well as chemical and biological weapons, and the future potential to mount nuclear weapons on its missiles. The United States is also challenged because of its defense commitments to Seoul. As a countermeasure, the United States and South Korea decided to deploy Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defenses in South Korea. However, China has objected. Chinese scholars believe the THAAD radar would be able to track Chinese inter-continental ballistic missiles, thereby weakening their deterrent. A technical analysis doesmore » not support this assertion. But, it is vital for South Korea, given its proximity and economic interdependence, to reassure China. The United States Forces Korea will deploy THAD and that is not a commitment by Seoul to become part of U.S.-led missile defenses in the Asia-Pacific.« less

  1. Sexual Trafficking in the United States: A Domestic Problem with Transnational Dimensions

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hodge, David R.

    2008-01-01

    The trafficking of young women and children for prostitution and other forms of sexual exploitation is one of the most significant human rights abuses in contemporary society. In keeping with the social work profession's commitment to social justice, this article examines the issue of sexual trafficking in the United States. The transnational…

  2. A Case Study of Resources Management Planning with Multiple Objectives and Projects

    Treesearch

    David L. Peterson; David G. Silsbee; Daniel L. Schmoldt

    1995-01-01

    Each National Park Service unit in the United States produces a resources management plan (RMP) every four years or less. The plans commit budgets and personnel to specific projects for four years, but they are prepared with little quantitative and analytical rigor and without formal decisionmaking tools. We have previously described a multiple objective planning...

  3. Strategic and tactiocal planning for managing national park resources

    Treesearch

    Daniel L. Schmoldt; David L. Peterson

    2001-01-01

    Each National Park Service unit in the United States produces a resource management plan (RMP) every four years or less. These plans constitute a strategic agenda for a park. Later, tactical plans commit budgets and personnel to specific projects over the planning horizon. Yet, neither planning stage incorporates much quantitative and analytical rigor and is devoid of...

  4. A Case Study of College Students' Perspectives of Prejudice Based on Holocaust and Genocide Education

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Fiedler, Marcia Stein

    2012-01-01

    Violence committed against individuals because of their race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation remains a serious problem in the United States of America. The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reported school and college settings as the third most frequent location for hate…

  5. A resolution honoring Admiral Thad Allen of the United States Coast Guard (Ret.) for his lifetime of selfless commitment and exemplary service to the United States.

    THOMAS, 112th Congress

    Sen. Cochran, Thad [R-MS

    2011-05-05

    Senate - 06/30/2011 Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status Agreed to in SenateHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

  6. "Long, Boring, and Tedious": Youths' Experiences with Complex, Religious Texts

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Rackley, Eric D.; Kwok, Michelle

    2016-01-01

    Growing out of the renewed attention to text complexity in the United States and the large population of youth who are deeply committed to reading scripture, this study explores 16 Latter-day Saint and Methodist youths' experiences with complex, religious texts. The study took place in the Midwestern United States. Data consisted of an academic…

  7. Care delivery and compensation system changes: a case study of organizational readiness within a large dental care practice organization in the United States.

    PubMed

    Cunha-Cruz, Joana; Milgrom, Peter; Huebner, Colleen E; Scott, JoAnna; Ludwig, Sharity; Dysert, Jeanne; Mitchell, Melissa; Allen, Gary; Shirtcliff, R Mike

    2017-12-20

    Dental care delivery systems in the United States are consolidating and large practice organizations are becoming more common. At the same time, greater accountability for addressing disparities in access to care is being demanded when public funds are used to pay for care. As change occurs within these new practice structures, attempts to implement change in the delivery system may be hampered by failure to understand the organizational climate or fail to prepare employees to accommodate new goals or processes. Studies of organizational behavior within oral health care are sparse and have not addressed consolidation of current delivery systems. The objective of this case study was to assess organizational readiness for implementing change in a large dental care organization consisting of staff model clinics and affiliated dental practices and test associations of readiness with workforce characteristics and work environment. A dental care organization implemented a multifaceted quality improvement program, called PREDICT, in which community-based mobile and clinic-based dental services were integrated and the team compensated based in part on meeting performance targets. Dental care providers and supporting staff members (N = 181) were surveyed before program implementation and organizational readiness for implementing change (ORIC) was assessed by two 5-point scales: change commitment and efficacy. Providers and staff demonstrated high organizational readiness for change. Median change commitment was 3.8 (Interquartile range [IQR]: 3.3-4.3) and change efficacy was 3.8 (IQR: 3.0-4.2). In the adjusted regression model, change commitment was associated with organizational climate, support for methods to arrest tooth decay and was inversely related to office chaos. Change efficacy was associated with organizational climate, support for the company's mission and was inversely related to burnout. Each unit increase in the organizational climate scale predicted 0.45 and 0.8-unit increases in change commitment and change efficacy. The survey identified positive readiness for change and highlighted weaknesses that are important cautions for this organization and others initiating change. Future studies will examine how organizational readiness to change, workforce characteristics and work environment influenced successful implementation within this organization.

  8. Iran: Politics, Human Rights, and U.S. Policy

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2017-02-17

    Revolution in Iran in 1979, the United States and Iran have been at odds politically and diplomatically, and U.S. policy has been intended to reduce the...the potential for Iran to develop a nuclear weapon increased. Beginning in 2010, the United States orchestrated broad international economic pressure...characterized Iran as an adversary of the United States and stated a commitment to countering Iran’s regional influence – although without taking steps that

  9. Looking back at the future: why Hillarycare failed.

    PubMed

    Navarro, Vicente

    2008-01-01

    The current Democratic Party candidates for U.S. president, including Hillary Rodham Clinton, have committed themselves to establishing universal health care that will guarantee access to care in time of need, a basic human right still denied in the United States. This commitment is partly a response to the U.S. population's high levels of dissatisfaction (now at unprecedented levels) with the way health care is funded and organized. The article analyzes why a similar commitment by President Bill Clinton in 1992 failed, and challenges some of the main explanations for that failure put forward by protagonists of the White House health care reform task force (chaired by Hillary Clinton). The author emphasizes that the primary reason for the failure was the lack of political will to confront major players in medical care funding, especially the insurance companies and large employers. He postulates that unless such political will exists and unless the system of funding electoral campaigns undergoes major reform-reducing or eliminating the power of financial and economic lobbies in the political process-the United States will not have universal health care. It is a worrisome sign that these lobbies are financing the campaigns of many of today's presidential candidates.

  10. NEEDS v.5.15 User Guide

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    View a user guide for the the updated National Electric Energy Data System (NEEDS), the database used to construct the model plants that represent existing and planned/committed units in EPA modeling applications.

  11. 28 CFR 2.11 - Application for parole; notice of hearing.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... pursuant to § 2.12. Prisoners committed under the Federal Juvenile Delinquency Act shall be considered for... RECOMMITMENT OF PRISONERS, YOUTH OFFENDERS, AND JUVENILE DELINQUENTS United States Code Prisoners and Parolees...

  12. 28 CFR 2.11 - Application for parole; notice of hearing.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... pursuant to § 2.12. Prisoners committed under the Federal Juvenile Delinquency Act shall be considered for... RECOMMITMENT OF PRISONERS, YOUTH OFFENDERS, AND JUVENILE DELINQUENTS United States Code Prisoners and Parolees...

  13. 28 CFR 2.11 - Application for parole; notice of hearing.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... pursuant to § 2.12. Prisoners committed under the Federal Juvenile Delinquency Act shall be considered for... RECOMMITMENT OF PRISONERS, YOUTH OFFENDERS, AND JUVENILE DELINQUENTS United States Code Prisoners and Parolees...

  14. 28 CFR 2.11 - Application for parole; notice of hearing.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... pursuant to § 2.12. Prisoners committed under the Federal Juvenile Delinquency Act shall be considered for... RECOMMITMENT OF PRISONERS, YOUTH OFFENDERS, AND JUVENILE DELINQUENTS United States Code Prisoners and Parolees...

  15. 28 CFR 2.11 - Application for parole; notice of hearing.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... pursuant to § 2.12. Prisoners committed under the Federal Juvenile Delinquency Act shall be considered for... RECOMMITMENT OF PRISONERS, YOUTH OFFENDERS, AND JUVENILE DELINQUENTS United States Code Prisoners and Parolees...

  16. Satellite Power System (SPS) societal assessment

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1980-01-01

    Construction and operation of a 60-unit (300 GW) domestic SPS over the period 2000 to 2030 would stress many segments of U.S. society. A significant commitment of resources (land, energy, materials) would be required, and a substantial proportion of them would have to be committed prior to the production of any SPS electricity. Forty-four concerns about the SPS were identified via a public outreach experiment involving 9000 individuals from three special interest organizations. The concerns focused on environmental impacts (particularly the effects of microwave radiation) and the centralizing tendency of the SPS on society.

  17. A History of the Lightning Launch Commit Criteria and the Lightning Advisory Panel for America's Space Program

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Merceret, Francis J. (Editor); Willett, John C.; Christian, Hugh J.; Dye, James E.; Krider, E. Phillip; Madura, John T.; OBrien, T. Paul; Rust, W. David; Walterscheid, Richard L.

    2010-01-01

    The history of the Lightning Launch Commit Criteria (LLCC) used at all spaceports under the jurisdiction of the United States is provided. The formation and history of the Lightning Advisory Panel (LAP) that now advises NASA, the Air Force and the Federal Aviation Administration on LLCC development and improvement is emphasized. The period covered extends from the early days of space flight through 2010. Extensive appendices provide significant detail about important aspects that are only summarized in the main text.

  18. Echocardiographic Classification and Surgical Approaches to Double-Outlet Right Ventricle for Great Arteries Arising Almost Exclusively from the Right Ventricle.

    PubMed

    Pang, Kun-Jing; Meng, Hong; Hu, Sheng-Shou; Wang, Hao; Hsi, David; Hua, Zhong-Dong; Pan, Xiang-Bin; Li, Shou-Jun

    2017-08-01

    Selecting an appropriate surgical approach for double-outlet right ventricle (DORV), a complex congenital cardiac malformation with many anatomic variations, is difficult. Therefore, we determined the feasibility of using an echocardiographic classification system, which describes the anatomic variations in more precise terms than the current system does, to determine whether it could help direct surgical plans. Our system includes 8 DORV subtypes, categorized according to 3 factors: the relative positions of the great arteries (normal or abnormal), the relationship between the great arteries and the ventricular septal defect (committed or noncommitted), and the presence or absence of right ventricular outflow tract obstruction (RVOTO). Surgical approaches in 407 patients were based on their DORV subtype, as determined by echocardiography. We found that the optimal surgical management of patients classified as normal/committed/no RVOTO, normal/committed/RVOTO, and abnormal/committed/no RVOTO was, respectively, like that for patients with large ventricular septal defects, tetralogy of Fallot, and transposition of the great arteries without RVOTO. Patients with abnormal/committed/RVOTO anatomy and those with abnormal/noncommitted/RVOTO anatomy underwent intraventricular repair and double-root translocation. For patients with other types of DORV, choosing the appropriate surgical approach and biventricular repair techniques was more complex. We think that our classification system accurately groups DORV patients and enables surgeons to select the best approach for each patient's cardiac anatomy.

  19. Interprofessional rhetoric and operational realities: an ethnographic study of rounds in four intensive care units.

    PubMed

    Paradis, Elise; Leslie, Myles; Gropper, Michael A

    2016-10-01

    Morning interprofessional rounds (MIRs) are used in critical care medicine to improve team-based care and patient outcomes. Given existing evidence of conflict between and dissatisfaction among rounds participants, this study sought to better understand how the operational realities of care delivery in the intensive care unit (ICU) impact the success of MIRs. We conducted a year-long comparative ethnographic study of interprofessional collaboration and patient and family involvement in four ICUs in tertiary academic hospitals in two American cities. The study included 576 h of observation of team interactions, 47 shadowing sessions and 40 clinician interviews. In line with best practices in ethnographic research, data collection and analysis were done iteratively using the constant comparative method. Member check was conducted regularly throughout the project. MIRs were implemented on all units with the explicit goals of improving team-based and patient-centered care. Operational conditions on the units, despite interprofessional commitment and engagement, appeared to thwart ICU teams from achieving these goals. Specifically, time constraints, struggles over space, and conflicts between MIRs' educational and care-plan-development functions all prevented teams from achieving collaboration and patient-involvement. Moreover, physicians' de facto control of rounds often meant that they resembled medical rounds (their historical predecessors), and sidelined other providers' contributions. This study suggests that the MIRs model, as presently practiced, might not be well suited to the provision of team-based, patient-centered care. In the interest of interprofessional collaboration, of the optimization of clinicians' time, of high-quality medical education and of patient-centered care, further research on interprofessional rounds models is needed.

  20. 78 FR 39285 - Application for Final Commitment for a Long-Term Loan or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-07-01

    ... EXPORT-IMPORT BANK OF THE UNITED STATES [Public Notice: 2013-0033] Application for Final... operating lease for long-haul service from Brazil and Chile to other countries. To the extent that Ex-Im... in the United States. DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 26, 2013 to be assured of...

  1. Affordable and Sustainable Energy in the Borough of Woking in the United Kingdom

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Thorp, John P.; Curran, Lara

    2009-01-01

    Woking Borough Council in the United Kingdom has long been committed to protecting the environment, a goal explicitly stated as one of the borough's top three priorities. Woking is also known for its pioneering approach in operating an extensive networked electricity and district heating system based on co- and trigeneration, as well as what is…

  2. Equal Opportunity Climate and Total Quality Management: A Preliminary Study.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1994-09-01

    The purpose of the present study is to show the relationship between military Equal Opportunity (EO) and Total Quality Management (TQM). Three...military units were identified that had a recognized TQM program and had completed the Military Equal Opportunity Climate Survey (MEOCS). These three units...commitment, satisfaction, positive EO behaviors (minorities asked to make suggestions, socializing ), fair treatment, and supervision. Discussion

  3. Indicators of Higher Education Equity in the United States: 45 Year Trend Report

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Cahalan, Margaret; Perna, Laura

    2015-01-01

    The U.S. has a core constitutional and founding commitment to equality of opportunity for all citizens. Whether viewed as an end in itself or a means to fostering increased national achievement and competitiveness, the 21st century United States conversation about equity reflects a national consensus about the many benefits of and necessity for…

  4. "Attraction, Attention, and Desire": Consumer Culture as Pedagogical Paradigm in Museums in the United States, 1900-1930

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Cain, Victoria

    2012-01-01

    Urged on by a young generation of reform-minded professionals, museums in the United States adopted the premises and practices of consumer culture in the early twentieth century. This article argues that this turn towards consumer culture resulted from a new institutional commitment to public education and a radical re-conception of visual…

  5. Making God Known, Loved, and Served: The Future of Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in the United States

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Catholic Education: A Journal of Inquiry and Practice, 2008

    2008-01-01

    In June 2005, shortly before Rev. John I. Jenkins, CSC, became president of the University of Notre Dame, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops released a pastoral statement, "Renewing Our Commitment to Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools in the Third Millennium." This document, building upon the rich experience of two…

  6. Optimizing Hydropower Day-Ahead Scheduling for the Oroville-Thermalito Project

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Veselka, T. D.; Mahalik, M.

    2012-12-01

    Under an award from the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Water Power Program, a team of national laboratories is developing and demonstrating a suite of advanced, integrated analytical tools to assist managers and planners increase hydropower resources while enhancing the environment. As part of the project, Argonne National Laboratory is developing the Conventional Hydropower Energy and Environmental Systems (CHEERS) model to optimize day-ahead scheduling and real-time operations. We will present the application of CHEERS to the Oroville-Thermalito Project located in Northern California. CHEERS will aid California Department of Water Resources (CDWR) schedulers in making decisions about unit commitments and turbine-level operating points using a system-wide approach to increase hydropower efficiency and the value of power generation and ancillary services. The model determines schedules and operations that are constrained by physical limitations, characteristics of plant components, operational preferences, reliability, and environmental considerations. The optimization considers forebay and afterbay implications, interactions between cascaded power plants, turbine efficiency curves and rough zones, and operator preferences. CHEERS simultaneously considers over time the interactions among all CDWR power and water resources, hydropower economics, reservoir storage limitations, and a set of complex environmental constraints for the Thermalito Afterbay and Feather River habitats. Power marketers, day-ahead schedulers, and plant operators provide system configuration and detailed operational data, along with feedback on model design and performance. CHEERS is integrated with CDWR data systems to obtain historic and initial conditions of the system as the basis from which future operations are then optimized. Model results suggest alternative operational regimes that improve the value of CDWR resources to the grid while enhancing the environment and complying with water delivery obligations for non-power uses.

  7. A three-stage birandom program for unit commitment with wind power uncertainty.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Na; Li, Weidong; Liu, Rao; Lv, Quan; Sun, Liang

    2014-01-01

    The integration of large-scale wind power adds a significant uncertainty to power system planning and operating. The wind forecast error is decreased with the forecast horizon, particularly when it is from one day to several hours ahead. Integrating intraday unit commitment (UC) adjustment process based on updated ultra-short term wind forecast information is one way to improve the dispatching results. A novel three-stage UC decision method, in which the day-ahead UC decisions are determined in the first stage, the intraday UC adjustment decisions of subfast start units are determined in the second stage, and the UC decisions of fast-start units and dispatching decisions are determined in the third stage is presented. Accordingly, a three-stage birandom UC model is presented, in which the intraday hours-ahead forecasted wind power is formulated as a birandom variable, and the intraday UC adjustment event is formulated as a birandom event. The equilibrium chance constraint is employed to ensure the reliability requirement. A birandom simulation based hybrid genetic algorithm is designed to solve the proposed model. Some computational results indicate that the proposed model provides UC decisions with lower expected total costs.

  8. The association of leadership styles and empowerment with nurses' organizational commitment in an acute health care setting: a cross-sectional study.

    PubMed

    Asiri, Samirah A; Rohrer, Wesley W; Al-Surimi, Khaled; Da'ar, Omar O; Ahmed, Anwar

    2016-01-01

    The current challenges facing healthcare systems, in relation to the shortage of health professionals, necessitates mangers and leaders to learn from different leadership styles and staff empowerment strategies, so as to create a work environment that encourages nursing staff commitment to patients and their organization. This study intends to measure the effects of nurses' overall perception of the leadership style of their managers, and psychological empowerment on their organizational commitment in acute care units, in National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia. This was a cross-sectional survey, where the data was obtained from nurses at King Abdulaziz Medical City. Hard copy questionnaires were distributed to 350 randomly selected nurses. Three hundred and thirty two (332) were completed, representing a response rate of 95 %. Three validated survey instruments were used to obtain the data: (1) The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ), formulated by Bass and Avolio (1997), (2) The Psychological Empowerment Scale developed by Spreitzer (1995) and (3) The Three-Component Model of Employee Commitment developed by Meyer and Allen (1997). A theoretical model that conceptually links leadership, empowerment, and organizational commitment was used. The SPSS program version 19 was employed to perform descriptive and inferential statistics including correlation and stepwise multiple regression analysis. Overall most nurses perceived their immediate nursing managers as not displaying the ideal level of transformational leadership (TFL) behaviors. Nurses' commitment appeared to be negatively correlated with TFL style and perceived psychological empowerment. However, commitment was positively correlated with the Transactional Leadership (TAL) style. Analysis, also, showed that commitment is significantly associated with the nurse's nationality by region: North American (P = 0.001) and Arab (p = 0.027). The other important predictors of commitment include TAL (P = 0.027), Laissez-faire Leadership (LFL (P = 0.012), and autonomy (P = 0.016). The linear combination of these predictors explained 20 % of the variability of the nurses' commitment. The study findings suggest that leadership styles and employee empowerment could play an instrumental role in promoting organizational commitment of nurses working in acute health care settings, at least in the Saudi Arabian context.

  9. An Educational Development Services in a Community College.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Johnston, E. F.; And Others

    The document describes an educational development service designed to replace the more traditional student counseling service of a community college. It is committed to the principles of service, education and research and the implementation of both preventive and remedial programs which optimize all educational and personal growth opportunities.…

  10. A Mindfulness-Acceptance-Commitment-Based Approach to Athletic Performance Enhancement: Theoretical Considerations

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Gardner, Frank L.; Moore, Zella E.

    2004-01-01

    While traditional cognitive-behavioral skills-training-based approaches to athletic performance enhancement posit that negative thoughts and emotions must be controlled, eliminated, or replaced for athlete-clients to perform optimally, recent evidence suggests that efforts to control, eliminate, or suppress these internal states may actually have…

  11. Resiliency Scales for Children and Adolescents: Profiles of Juvenile Offenders

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Mowder, Melissa H.; Cummings, Jack A.; McKinney, Robert

    2010-01-01

    An exploratory study of resiliency profiles of male and female juvenile offenders committed to a juvenile correctional facility was conducted. The goal of the present study was to examine juvenile offenders' positive characteristics (e.g., adaptability, optimism, self-efficacy, tolerance of differences). To assess positive characteristics and…

  12. Implementation Of The Materials Certification Process

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2000-05-26

    The South Dakota Department of Transportation has committed resources to investigate certification practices across the United States, and to develop and implement an improved material certification process. The research team reviewed Study SD96-06 a...

  13. President Kennedy's Speech at Rice University

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1988-01-01

    This video tape presents unedited film footage of President John F. Kennedy's speech at Rice University, Houston, Texas, September 12, 1962. The speech expresses the commitment of the United States to landing an astronaut on the Moon.

  14. 22 CFR 40.22 - Multiple criminal convictions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... years, and who has also been convicted of at least one other such offense or any other offense committed... by the United States Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany acting pursuant to Executive Order...

  15. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics—past, present and future

    PubMed Central

    Reid, John L.

    1997-01-01

    Aims To obtain information about the speciality of clinical pharmacology and therapeutics in the United Kingdom. Methods A survey of the views of 26 individuals in academic posts in clinical pharmacology and therapeutics was carried out by postal questionnaire. Response rate was 100%. Results Of 25 assessable responses of 25 centres, there were 35 academic staff of professorial status (median 2, range 0–5) and 61 staff of reader/senior lecturer status (median 2, range 0–5) but only 20 clinical staff in training grades in 19 institutions. All had extensive clinical commitments. Two-thirds of respondents considered that the speciality was stable locally and nationally. However, recruitment of trainees was poor with only 8% of responders having several good applicants for each post and 90% reported that recruitment had deteriorated in the last 5–10 years. Likely good future careers for clinical pharmacologists in training were considered by 75–80% of respondents to likely lie in the pharmaceutical industry or regulatory authorities. Greater flexibility is required to facilitate training in clinical pharmacology and therapeutics. Conclusions Clincal pharmacology and therapeutics in the United Kingdom has a strong academic base but a sub-optimal age structure. Recent experience in recruitment into training posts was disappointing. This may reflect wider problems of recruitment into academic medicine in this country. PMID:9241105

  16. Driving external chemistry optimization via operations management principles.

    PubMed

    Bi, F Christopher; Frost, Heather N; Ling, Xiaolan; Perry, David A; Sakata, Sylvie K; Bailey, Simon; Fobian, Yvette M; Sloan, Leslie; Wood, Anthony

    2014-03-01

    Confronted with the need to significantly raise the productivity of remotely located chemistry CROs Pfizer embraced a commitment to continuous improvement which leveraged the tools from both Lean Six Sigma and queue management theory to deliver positive measurable outcomes. During 2012 cycle times were reduced by 48% by optimization of the work in progress and conducting a detailed workflow analysis to identify and address pinch points. Compound flow was increased by 29% by optimizing the request process and de-risking the chemistry. Underpinning both achievements was the development of close working relationships and productive communications between Pfizer and CRO chemists. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  17. Power systems locational marginal pricing in deregulated markets

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Hui-Fung Francis

    Since the beginning of the 1990s, the electricity business is transforming from a vertical integrating business to a competitive market operations. The generation, transmission, distribution subsystem of an electricity utility are operated independently as Genco (generation subsystem), Transco (transmission subsystem), and Distco (distribution subsystem). This trend promotes more economical inter- and intra regional transactions to be made by the participating companies and the users of electricity to achieve the intended objectives of deregulation. There are various types of electricity markets that are implemented in the North America in the past few years. However, transmission congestion management becomes a key issue in the electricity market design as more bilateral transactions are traded across long distances competing for scarce transmission resources. It directly alters the traditional concept of energy pricing and impacts the bottom line, revenue and cost of electricity, of both suppliers and buyers. In this research, transmission congestion problem in a deregulated market environment is elucidated by implementing by the Locational Marginal Pricing (LMP) method. With a comprehensive understanding of the LMP method, new mathematical tools will aid electric utilities in exploring new business opportunities are developed and presented in this dissertation. The dissertation focuses on the development of concept of (LMP) forecasting and its implication to the market participants in deregulated market. Specifically, we explore methods of developing fast LMP calculation techniques that are differ from existing LMPs. We also explore and document the usefulness of the proposed LMP in determining electricity pricing of a large scale power system. The developed mathematical tools use of well-known optimization techniques such as linear programming that are support by several flow charts. The fast and practical security constrained unit commitment methods are the integral parts of the LMP algorithms. Different components of optimization techniques, unit commitment, power flow analysis, and matrix manipulations for large scale power systems are integrated and represented by several new flow charts. The LMP concept and processes, mathematical models, and their corresponding algorithms has been implemented to study a small six bus test power system/market and also the real size New York power system/market where the transmission congestion is high and electricity market is deregulated. The simulated results documented in the dissertation are satisfactory and produce very encouraging result when compared to the actual Located Based Marginal Price (LMP) results posted by the New York Independent System Operator (ISO). The further research opportunities inspired by this dissertation are also elaborated.

  18. Enhanced Androgen Signaling with Androgen Receptor Overexpression in the Osteoblast Lineage Controls Skeletal Turnover, Matrix Quality and Bone Architecture

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2009-12-01

    calculatedbyconverting thegrayscale output of bone voxels in Hounsfield units (HU) to mineral values (mg/cc of HA) through the use of a calibration phantom...NUMBER Kristine M. Wiren, Ph.D. 5e. TASK NUMBER E-Mail: wirenk@ohsu.edu 5f. WORK UNIT NUMBER 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES...and d) characterization of effects of androgen on MSC colony forming units and lineage commitment in vitro. In this final report, we have included

  19. The regulation of health care providers' payments when horizontal and vertical differentiation matter.

    PubMed

    Bardey, David; Canta, Chiara; Lozachmeur, Jean-Marie

    2012-09-01

    This paper analyzes the regulation of payment schemes for health care providers competing in both quality and product differentiation of their services. The regulator uses two instruments: a prospective payment per patient and a cost reimbursement rate. When the regulator can only use a prospective payment, the optimal price involves a trade-off between the level of quality provision and the level of horizontal differentiation. If this pure prospective payment leads to underprovision of quality and overdifferentiation, a mixed reimbursement scheme allows the regulator to improve the allocation efficiency. This is true for a relatively low level of patients' transportation costs. We also show that if the regulator cannot commit to the level of the cost reimbursement rate, the resulting allocation can dominate the one with full commitment. This occurs when the transportation cost is low or high enough, and the full commitment solution either implies full or zero cost reimbursement. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  20. System-wide emissions implications of increased wind power penetration.

    PubMed

    Valentino, Lauren; Valenzuela, Viviana; Botterud, Audun; Zhou, Zhi; Conzelmann, Guenter

    2012-04-03

    This paper discusses the environmental effects of incorporating wind energy into the electric power system. We present a detailed emissions analysis based on comprehensive modeling of power system operations with unit commitment and economic dispatch for different wind penetration levels. First, by minimizing cost, the unit commitment model decides which thermal power plants will be utilized based on a wind power forecast, and then, the economic dispatch model dictates the level of production for each unit as a function of the realized wind power generation. Finally, knowing the power production from each power plant, the emissions are calculated. The emissions model incorporates the effects of both cycling and start-ups of thermal power plants in analyzing emissions from an electric power system with increasing levels of wind power. Our results for the power system in the state of Illinois show significant emissions effects from increased cycling and particularly start-ups of thermal power plants. However, we conclude that as the wind power penetration increases, pollutant emissions decrease overall due to the replacement of fossil fuels.

  1. 36 CFR 1206.4 - What is the purpose of the Commission?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... preserve, publish, and encourage the use of primary documentary sources. Through our grant programs... Native American tribes or groups, and individuals committed to the preservation, publication, or use of United States documentary resources. ...

  2. Supporting Our Nation's Nuclear Industry

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

    Lyons, Peter

    2011-12-16

    On the 60th anniversary of the world's first nuclear power plant to produce electricity, Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy Peter Lyons discusses the Energy Department's and the Administration's commitment to promoting a nuclear renaissance in the United States.

  3. Supporting Our Nation's Nuclear Industry

    ScienceCinema

    Lyons, Peter

    2018-02-07

    On the 60th anniversary of the world's first nuclear power plant to produce electricity, Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy Peter Lyons discusses the Energy Department's and the Administration's commitment to promoting a nuclear renaissance in the United States.

  4. 2015 Key Water Power Program and National Laboratory Accomplishments

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

    Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

    The U.S. Department of Energy Water Power Program is committed to developing and deploying a portfolio of innovative technologies and market solutions for clean, domestic power generation from water resources across the United States.

  5. Flexible operation of batteries in power system scheduling with renewable energy

    DOE PAGES

    Li, Nan; Uckun, Canan; Constantinescu, Emil M.; ...

    2015-12-17

    The fast growing expansion of renewable energy increases the complexities in balancing generation and demand in the power system. The energy-shifting and fast-ramping capability of energy storage has led to increasing interests in batteries to facilitate the integration of renewable resources. In this paper, we present a two-step framework to evaluate the potential value of energy storage in power systems with renewable generation. First, we formulate a stochastic unit commitment approach with wind power forecast uncertainty and energy storage. Second, the solution from the stochastic unit commitment is used to derive a flexible schedule for energy storage in economic dispatchmore » where the look-ahead horizon is limited. Here, analysis is conducted on the IEEE 24-bus system to demonstrate the benefits of battery storage in systems with renewable resources and the effectiveness of the proposed battery operation strategy.« less

  6. Does culture impact on notions of criminal responsibility and action? The case of spirit possession.

    PubMed

    Ahmad, Ayesha; Dein, Simon

    2016-10-01

    Multicultural societies such as the United Kingdom are host to people with diverse belief systems and behavioral norms. Whilst a country requires that all members of society conform to standardized legal requirements, cases arise that involve certain complexities related to the cultural or religious context in which a certain action was committed. This paper addresses the impact of culture on notions of criminal responsibility and action. Through a case study of a recent event in the United Kingdom, we explore whether a cultural defense is relevant for contextualizing incidents in which an individual commits a criminal action during an alleged period of spirit possession From this analysis, we suggest that using a cultural defense can aid understanding of an individual's relationship to the society that he or she identifies with and facilitate the practice of justice in a multicultural society. © The Author(s) 2016.

  7. Projects for increasing job satisfaction and creating a healthy work environment.

    PubMed

    Brunges, Michele; Foley-Brinza, Christine

    2014-12-01

    Workplace culture is one of the biggest factors driving employee commitment and engagement. Multiple studies have shown that hospitals will perform better over time if employees are committed to their jobs and engaged in what they do. By creating and implementing multiple projects during a three-year period, a team at the University of Florida Health Shands Hospital, Gainesville, increased job satisfaction. Projects included ensuring meal breaks were offered, creating a serenity area, developing the patient ambassador role, actively addressing bullying and unprofessional behavior, assigning a student mentee to work with staff members on culture change, offering regular fun activities, redesigning the unit, reorganizing schedules to reduce stress, implementing education and training initiatives, establishing a Unit Practice Council, and implementing reward and recognition programs. Survey results and anecdotal evidence suggest that these projects combined to increase employee satisfaction and employee retention rates. Copyright © 2014 AORN, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  8. Evaluating the Veterans Health Administration's Staffing Methodology Model: A Reliable Approach.

    PubMed

    Taylor, Beth; Yankey, Nicholas; Robinson, Claire; Annis, Ann; Haddock, Kathleen S; Alt-White, Anna; Krein, Sarah L; Sales, Anne

    2015-01-01

    All Veterans Health Administration facilities have been mandated to use a standardized method of determining appropriate direct-care staffing by nursing personnel. A multi-step process was designed to lead to projection of full-time equivalent employees required for safe and effective care across all inpatient units. These projections were intended to develop appropriate budgets for each facility. While staffing levels can be increased, even in facilities subject to budget and personnel caps, doing so requires considerable commitment at all levels of the facility. This commitment must come from front-line nursing personnel to senior leadership, not only in nursing and patient care services, but throughout the hospital. Learning to interpret and rely on data requires a considerable shift in thinking for many facilities, which have relied on historical levels to budget for staffing, but which does not take into account the dynamic character of nursing units and patient need.

  9. Global Climate Change: Three Policy Perspectives

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2008-11-26

    example, the EPA spent approximately $2 billion supporting development of a feasible flue gas desulfurization (FGD) device for electric utility use to...Framework Convention on Climate Change, the United States committed to the objective of achieving “stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in...the United States would convene a meeting of the world’s “major economies” that are responsible for most greenhouse gas emissions. Held in September

  10. After the Cold War: The U.S. Role in Europe's Transition. Revised. [and] Teacher's Resource Book.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Lhowe, Mary, Ed.

    These materials explore the decisions that face the United States as a result of the changes in the past decade in the countries of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. The background readings allow students to examine such questions of values and foreign policy as: (1) Should the United States remain committed to its Western European…

  11. Blackness and Whiteness as Historical Forces in the 20th Century United States

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Greason, Walter

    2009-01-01

    At the core of the epistemology of black identity in the 20th century United States is the assertion that freedom is a human right, not a privilege to be earned. By the late 19th century, an ideology of racial uplift had emerged that revolved around four concepts--compassion, service, education, and a commitment to social and economic justice for…

  12. From Alliance to Acquaintance: The Australian-American Security Relationship

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1991-12-01

    THE DROVER’S DOG: HAWKE, 1983-1991 ................ 266 "Concerned to do Nothing" ...................... 269 "Brave Little New Zealand ...1951, Australia and New Zealand concluded a tripartite security pact with the United States. ANZUS did not commit the United States to help defend...discussions highlighted their extensive mutual interests and shared strategic perceptions as allies under the ANZUS (Australia, New Zealand and the

  13. A Cross-Cultural Examination of University Students' Motivation toward Band and Academics in Singapore and the United States

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Tan, Leonard; Miksza, Peter

    2018-01-01

    The purpose of the study was to investigate how university band students' (non--music majors) motivational goal orientations toward band and academics differ across participants from Singapore (n = 200) and the United States (n = 227) and examine how they relate to a suite of adaptive dispositions (i.e., flow, grit, and commitment) relevant for…

  14. 21st Century Girls' Schools: For What Reasons Are New Independent Girls' Schools Opening in the United States?

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Palmieri, James R.

    2014-01-01

    For a multitude of reasons, the founding of an independent school in the modern-day United States is an extremely challenging undertaking. The list of essentials necessary to envision, prepare, open, and operate a functioning school are endless, yet school founders are driven to do so out of a commitment to and passion for a particular school…

  15. Interpersonal Conflict and Organizational Commitment Among Licensed Practical Nurses.

    PubMed

    Loes, Chad N; Tobin, Mary B

    The shortage of nursing professionals in the United States is unquestionable. This shortage, which is predicted to continue into the foreseeable future, is a particularly salient problem within the nursing profession. This is especially true for long-term care facility administrators who not only are faced with the challenge of increasing numbers of aging residents but also regularly struggle with turnover among more cost-effective nursing staff, such as licensed practical nurses (LPNs). The primary purpose of this study was to examine whether perceived interpersonal conflict influences organizational commitment among LPNs. To accomplish this, we analyzed responses from 1165 LPNs throughout a Midwestern state who were queried on their perceptions of interpersonal conflict and organizational commitment in their work settings. Considering a wide range of potential confounding influences such as age and years working as an LPN, for example, we found that higher perceived interpersonal conflict was associated with significantly lower levels of organizational commitment. The implications of these findings, along with recommendations for nurse administrators to reduce LPN turnover, are discussed in the article.

  16. Structural Performance’s Optimally Analysing and Implementing Based on ANSYS Technology

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Han, Na; Wang, Xuquan; Yue, Haifang; Sun, Jiandong; Wu, Yongchun

    2017-06-01

    Computer-aided Engineering (CAE) is a hotspot both in academic field and in modern engineering practice. Analysis System(ANSYS) simulation software for its excellent performance become outstanding one in CAE family, it is committed to the innovation of engineering simulation to help users to shorten the design process, improve product innovation and performance. Aimed to explore a structural performance’s optimally analyzing model for engineering enterprises, this paper introduced CAE and its development, analyzed the necessity for structural optimal analysis as well as the framework of structural optimal analysis on ANSYS Technology, used ANSYS to implement a reinforced concrete slab structural performance’s optimal analysis, which was display the chart of displacement vector and the chart of stress intensity. Finally, this paper compared ANSYS software simulation results with the measured results,expounded that ANSYS is indispensable engineering calculation tools.

  17. Circulating Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells in Aging Atomic Bomb Survivors.

    PubMed

    Kyoizumi, Seishi; Kubo, Yoshiko; Misumi, Munechika; Kajimura, Junko; Yoshida, Kengo; Hayashi, Tomonori; Imai, Kazue; Ohishi, Waka; Nakachi, Kei; Young, Lauren F; Shieh, Jae-Hung; Moore, Malcolm A; van den Brink, Marcel R M; Kusunoki, Yoichiro

    2016-01-01

    It is not yet known whether hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) are compromised in the aging population of atomic bomb (A-bomb) survivors after their exposure nearly 70 years ago. To address this, we evaluated age- and radiation-related changes in different subtypes of circulating HSPCs among the CD34-positive/lineage marker-negative (CD34(+)Lin(-)) cell population in 231 Hiroshima A-bomb survivors. We enumerated functional HSPC subtypes, including: cobblestone area-forming cells; long-term culture-initiating cells; erythroid burst-forming units; granulocyte and macrophage colony-forming units; and T-cell and natural killer cell progenitors using cell culture. We obtained the count of each HSPC subtype per unit volume of blood and the proportion of each HSPC subtype in CD34(+)Lin(-) cells to represent the lineage commitment trend. Multivariate analyses, using sex, age and radiation dose as variables, showed significantly decreased counts with age in the total CD34(+)Lin(-) cell population and all HSPC subtypes. As for the proportion, only T-cell progenitors decreased significantly with age, suggesting that the commitment to the T-cell lineage in HSPCs continuously declines with age throughout the lifetime. However, neither the CD34(+)Lin(-) cell population, nor HSPC subtypes showed significant radiation-induced dose-dependent changes in counts or proportions. Moreover, the correlations of the proportions among HSPC subtypes in the survivors properly revealed the hierarchy of lineage commitments. Taken together, our findings suggest that many years after exposure to radiation and with advancing age, the number and function of HSPCs in living survivors as a whole may have recovered to normal levels.

  18. Circulating Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells in Aging Atomic Bomb Survivors

    PubMed Central

    Kyoizumi, Seishi; Kubo, Yoshiko; Misumi, Munechika; Kajimura, Junko; Yoshida, Kengo; Hayashi, Tomonori; Imai, Kazue; Ohishi, Waka; Nakachi, Kei; Young, Lauren F.; Shieh, Jae-Hung; Moore, Malcolm A.; van den Brink, Marcel R. M.; Kusunoki, Yoichiro

    2016-01-01

    It is not yet known whether hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) are compromised in the aging population of atomic bomb (A-bomb) survivors after their exposure nearly 70 years ago. To address this, we evaluated age- and radiation-related changes in different subtypes of circulating HSPCs among the CD34-positive/lineage marker-negative (CD34+Lin− ) cell population in 231 Hiroshima A-bomb survivors. We enumerated functional HSPC subtypes, including: cobblestone area-forming cells; long-term culture-initiating cells; erythroid burst-forming units; granulocyte and macrophage colony-forming units; and T-cell and natural killer cell progenitors using cell culture. We obtained the count of each HSPC subtype per unit volume of blood and the proportion of each HSPC subtype in CD34+Lin− cells to represent the lineage commitment trend. Multivariate analyses, using sex, age and radiation dose as variables, showed significantly decreased counts with age in the total CD34+Lin− cell population and all HSPC subtypes. As for the proportion, only T-cell progenitors decreased significantly with age, suggesting that the commitment to the T-cell lineage in HSPCs continuously declines with age throughout the lifetime. However, neither the CD34+Lin− cell population, nor HSPC subtypes showed significant radiation-induced dose-dependent changes in counts or proportions. Moreover, the correlations of the proportions among HSPC subtypes in the survivors properly revealed the hierarchy of lineage commitments. Taken together, our findings suggest that many years after exposure to radiation and with advancing age, the number and function of HSPCs in living survivors as a whole may have recovered to normal levels. PMID:26720799

  19. Passionate Leadership

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Davies, Brent; Brighouse, Tim

    2010-01-01

    Passionate leadership is about energy, commitment, a belief that every child can learn and will learn, a concern with social justice and the optimism that people can make a difference. The authors argue that passion survives and prospers and is a moral driving force in ensuring children becoming all they can become. That brings them to the other…

  20. World Trends and Issues in Adult Literacy: Interregional and International Comparisons.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Bhola, H. S.

    Available world statistics, however limited, indicate a trend toward the universalization of literacy, reason for cautious optimism. Deep commitments and bold action are necessary to eradicate illiteracy by the year 2000. Some important facts do not appear in statistical data, for example: (1) most literacy gains result from expansion of schooling…

  1. PTSD, Optimism, Religious Commitment, and Growth as Post-Trauma Trajectories: A Structural Equation Modeling of Former Refugees

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Acquaye, Hannah E.

    2017-01-01

    Refugees report several mental health challenges associated with pre-, peri-, and post-flight conditions. Some of these challenges include fear, anxiety, hypervigilance, hyperarousal, and nightmares--symptoms that could meet the diagnostic criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Despite these challenges, some refugees also report…

  2. Building a Lasting Foundation for Promoting Protective Factors across Children's Bureau Programs

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Brodowski, Melissa Lim; Fischman, Lauren

    2014-01-01

    Over the years, various federal and non-federal organizations have disseminated and promoted a number of protective factor frameworks to reduce risk and optimize family functioning and child development. There is a growing interest in and commitment to examining factors that transcend the traditional deficit-based approach to addressing social and…

  3. The climate change convention and human health.

    PubMed

    Rowbotham, E J

    1995-01-01

    The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, signed at Rio in June 1992, is intended to minimize climate change and its impact. Much of its text is ambiguous and it is not specifically directed to health considerations. It is, however, recognized that adverse effects of climate change on health are a concern of humankind, and health is an integral part of the Convention. The Convention includes commitments by the developed countries to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and to increase public awareness of these commitments. The significance of the Convention in these respects is discussed critically and future developments considered.

  4. Improving urban environment through public commitment toward the implementation of clean and healthy living behaviors.

    PubMed

    Hartini, Nurul; Ariana, Atika Dian; Dewi, Triana Kesuma; Kurniawan, Afif

    2017-01-01

    Some parts of northern Surabaya are slum areas with dense populations, and the majority of the inhabitants are from low-income families. The condition of these areas is seemingly different from the fact that Surabaya city has won awards for its cleanliness, healthy environment preservation, and maintenance. This study aimed at turning the researched site into a clean and healthy environment. The research was conducted using a quasi-experiment technique with a non-randomized design and pretest-posttest procedures. The research subjects were 121 inhabitants who actively participated in the public commitment and psychoeducation program initiated by the researchers to learn and practice clean and healthy living behaviors. The statistical data showed that there was a substantial increase in the aspects of public commitment ( t -value = 4.008, p = 0.001) and psychoeducation ( t -value = 4.038, p = 0.001) to begin and maintain a clean and healthy living behaviors. A public commitment in the form of a collective declaration to keep learning and practicing a clean and healthy living behaviors were achieved. This commitment followed by psychoeducation aimed at introducing and exercising such behaviors was found to have effectively increased the research subjects' awareness to actively participate in preserving environmental hygiene. Developing communal behaviors toward clean and healthy living in inhabitants residing in an unhealthy slum area was a difficult task. Therefore, public commitment and psychoeducation must be aligned with the formulation of continuous habits demonstrating a clean and healthy living behaviors. These habits include the cessation of littering while putting trash in its place, optimizing the usage of public toilets, planting and maintaining vegetation around the area, joining and contributing to the "garbage bank" program, and participating in the Green and Clean Surabaya competition.

  5. Adverse outcome pathways

    EPA Science Inventory

    The Systems Toxicology Unit of the European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC) is strongly committed to development and uptake of AOPs. In coordination with the OECD, the JRC and EPA have collaborated closely in the development of training and outreach materials related to th...

  6. Affirmative Action: Essential to Achieving Justice and Good Health Care for All in America.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Sinkford, Jeanne C.; Valachovic, Richard W.

    2003-01-01

    Explains the position of the American Dental Education Association regarding affirmative action, namely, that affirmative action represents the United States' longstanding principled and constitutional commitment to equal opportunity for all citizens. (EV)

  7. Sustainable water management practices and remote sensing.

    EPA Science Inventory

    The United States Environmental Protection Agency’s charge to protect human health and the environment requires a long-term commitment to creating sustainable solutions to environmental problems. The most direct way to ensure that management practices are achieving sustainability...

  8. Relationship between ethical work climate and nurses' perception of organizational support, commitment, job satisfaction and turnover intent.

    PubMed

    Abou Hashish, Ebtsam Aly

    2017-03-01

    Healthcare organizations are now challenged to retain nurses' generation and understand why they are leaving their nursing career prematurely. Acquiring knowledge about the effect of ethical work climate and level of perceived organizational support can help organizational leaders to deal effectively with dysfunctional behaviors and make a difference in enhancing nurses' dedication, commitment, satisfaction, and loyalty to their organization. This study aims to determine the relationship between ethical work climate, and perceived organizational support and nurses' organizational commitment, job satisfaction, and turnover intention. A descriptive correlational research design was conducted in all inpatient care units at three major hospitals affiliated to different health sectors at Alexandria governorate. All nurses working in these previous hospitals were included in the study (N = 500). Ethical Climate Questionnaire, Survey of Perceived Organizational Support, Organizational Commitment Questionnaire, Index of Job Satisfaction, and Intention to Turnover scale were used to measure study variables. Ethical considerations: Approval was obtained from Ethics Committee at Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University. Privacy and confidentiality of data were maintained and assured by obtaining subjects' informed consent to participate in the research before data collection. The result revealed positive significant correlations between nurses' perception of overall ethical work climate and each of perceived organizational support, commitment, as well as their job satisfaction. However, negative significant correlations were found between nurses' turnover intention and each of these variables. Also, approximately 33% of the explained variance of turnover intention is accounted by ethical work climate, organizational support, organizational commitment, and job satisfaction, and these variables independently contributed significantly in the prediction of turnover intention. Strategies to foster and enhance ethical and supportive work climates as well as job-related benefits are considered significant factors in increasing nurses' commitment and satisfaction and decreasing their turnover intention.

  9. Using simulated historical time series to prioritize fuel treatments on landscapes across the United States: The LANDFIRE prototype project

    Treesearch

    Robert E. Keane; Matthew Rollins; Zhi-Liang Zhu

    2007-01-01

    Canopy and surface fuels in many fire-prone forests of the United States have increased over the last 70 years as a result of modern fire exclusion policies, grazing, and other land management activities. The Healthy Forest Restoration Act and National Fire Plan establish a national commitment to reduce fire hazard and restore fire-adapted ecosystems across the USA....

  10. [Factors related to nurses' patient identification behavior and the moderating effect of person-organization value congruence climate within nursing units].

    PubMed

    Kim, Young Mee; Kang, Seung Wan; Kim, Se Young

    2014-04-01

    This research was an empirical study designed to identify precursors and interaction effects related to nurses' patient identification behavior. A multilevel analysis methodology was used. A self-report survey was administered to registered nurses (RNs) of a university hospital in South Korea. Of the questionnaires, 1114 were analyzed. The individual-level factors that had a significantly positive association with patient identification behavior were person-organization value congruence, organizational commitment, occupational commitment, tenure at the hospital, and tenure at the unit. Significantly negative group-level precursors of patient identification behavior were burnout climate and the number of RNs. Two interaction effects of the person-organization value congruence climate were identified. The first was a group-level moderating effect in which the negative relationship between the number of RNs and patient identification behavior was weaker when the nursing unit's value congruence climate was high. The second was a cross-level moderating effect in which the positive relationship between tenure at the unit and patient identification behavior was weaker when value congruence climate was high. This study simultaneously tested both individual-level and group-level factors that potentially influence patient identification behavior and identified the moderating role of person-organization value congruence climate. Implications of these results are discussed.

  11. Short-term benefits from central unit commitment and dispatch: Application to the Southern African Power Pool

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bowen, Brian Hugh

    1998-12-01

    Electricity utilities in the Southern African region are conscious that gains could be made from more economically efficient trading but have had no tools with which to analyze the effects of a change in policy. This research is the first to provide transparent quantitative techniques to quantify the impacts of new trading arrangements in this region. The study poses a model of the recently formed Southern African Power Pool, built with the collaboration of the region's national utilities to represent each country's demand and generation/transmission system. The multi-region model includes commitment and dispatch from diverse hydrothermal sources over a vast area. Economic gains are determined by comparing the total costs under free-trade conditions with those from the existing fixed-trade bilateral arrangements. The objective function minimizes production costs needed to meet total demand, subject to each utility's constraints for thermal and hydro generation, transmission, load balance and losses. Linearized thermal cost functions are used along with linearized input output hydropower plant curves and hydrothermal on/off status variables to formulate a mixed-integer programming problem. Results from the modeling show that moving to optimal trading patterns could save between 70 million and 130 million per year. With free-trade policies the quantity of power flow between utilities is doubled and maximum usage is made of the hydropower stations thus reducing costs and fuel use. In electricity exporting countries such as Zambia and Mozambique gains from increased trade are achieved which equal 16% and 18% respectively of the value of their total manufactured exports. A sensitivity analysis is conducted on the possible effects of derating generation, derating transmission and reducing water inflows but gains remain large. Maximum economic gains from optimal trading patterns can be achieved by each country allowing centralized control through the newly founded SAPP coordination center. Using standard mixed integer programming solvers makes the cost of such modeling activity easily affordable to each utility in the Southern African pool. This research provides the utilities with the modeling tools to quantify the gains from increased trade and thereby furthers a move towards greater efficiency, faster economic growth and reduced use of fossil fuels.

  12. Project-Based Management Development: "The Volvo Story."

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Branch, John; Smith, Bryan

    1992-01-01

    A modular group project-based approach to management development was implemented by Volvo Concessionaires (United Kingdom) in partnership with training consultants. Ingredients of its success included top-level commitment, investment in diagnosis and tailoring, and use of company-specific case studies. (SK)

  13. The Official Web Site of The United States Navy Judge Advocate General's

    Science.gov Websites

    with the very best in legal services: Legal Services Tax Information Claims » Admiralty Claims VWAP to Service, Committed to Excellence framework Home | About Us | News | Careers | Legal Services

  14. Microbiology of Shell Egg Production in the United States

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    A significant proportion of human illnesses caused by Salmonella are linked to the consumption of contaminated eggs. Substantial government and industry resources have been committed to comprehensive Salmonella testing and risk reduction programs for commercial egg-laying flocks. The implementation ...

  15. 77 FR 68775 - Application for Final Commitment for a Long-Term Loan or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-11-16

    ... monitoring equipment. Information on Decision: Information on the final decision for this transaction will be... information which would jeopardize jobs in the United States by supplying information that competitors could...

  16. Two countries, one forest: Working beyond political boundaries in the Northern Appalachian/Acadian Forest

    Treesearch

    James Sullivan

    2007-01-01

    Two Countries, One Forest (2C1Forest) is a collaboration of conservation organizations and researchers committed to the long-term ecological health of the Northern Appalachian/ Acadian ecoregion of the United States and Canada.

  17. Agents, assemblers, and ANTS: scheduling assembly with market and biological software mechanisms

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Toth-Fejel, Tihamer T.

    2000-06-01

    Nanoscale assemblers will need robust, scalable, flexible, and well-understood mechanisms such as software agents to control them. This paper discusses assemblers and agents, and proposes a taxonomy of their possible interaction. Molecular assembly is seen as a special case of general assembly, subject to many of the same issues, such as the advantages of convergent assembly, and the problem of scheduling. This paper discusses the contract net architecture of ANTS, an agent-based scheduling application under development. It also describes an algorithm for least commitment scheduling, which uses probabilistic committed capacity profiles of resources over time, along with realistic costs, to provide an abstract search space over which the agents can wander to quickly find optimal solutions.

  18. Partial differential equation methods for stochastic dynamic optimization: an application to wind power generation with energy storage.

    PubMed

    Johnson, Paul; Howell, Sydney; Duck, Peter

    2017-08-13

    A mixed financial/physical partial differential equation (PDE) can optimize the joint earnings of a single wind power generator (WPG) and a generic energy storage device (ESD). Physically, the PDE includes constraints on the ESD's capacity, efficiency and maximum speeds of charge and discharge. There is a mean-reverting daily stochastic cycle for WPG power output. Physically, energy can only be produced or delivered at finite rates. All suppliers must commit hourly to a finite rate of delivery C , which is a continuous control variable that is changed hourly. Financially, we assume heavy 'system balancing' penalties in continuous time, for deviations of output rate from the commitment C Also, the electricity spot price follows a mean-reverting stochastic cycle with a strong evening peak, when system balancing penalties also peak. Hence the economic goal of the WPG plus ESD, at each decision point, is to maximize expected net present value (NPV) of all earnings (arbitrage) minus the NPV of all expected system balancing penalties, along all financially/physically feasible future paths through state space. Given the capital costs for the various combinations of the physical parameters, the design and operating rules for a WPG plus ESD in a finite market may be jointly optimizable.This article is part of the themed issue 'Energy management: flexibility, risk and optimization'. © 2017 The Author(s).

  19. A Model of Emotion Management for U.S. Army Leaders

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2010-12-01

    study . The Leadership Quarterly, 13, 601-614. Ochsner, K. N., Bunge, S. A., Gross, J. J., & Gabrieli, J. D. E. (2002). Rethinking feelings: An fMRI ...adaptability, innovation) 3) Motivation (achievement drive, commitment to group/organization, initiative, optimism) 4) Empathy (understanding...regard, emotional self-awareness, assertiveness, independence, self-actualization) 2) Interpersonal ( empathy , social responsibility, establishing

  20. Determining a Student's Optimal Learning Zone in Light of the Swiss Cheese Model

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Morley, Patricia; Zmood, Simone

    2015-01-01

    Participation in society is increasingly dependent on educational achievement. Accordingly, society as a whole is committing more resources to education to prevent the adverse outcome of students moving through the school system only to emerge without the knowledge and skills that they might be expected to attain. In this paper, we explore the…

  1. Transitioning to Performance-Based State Funding: Concerns, Commitment, and Cautious Optimism

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Wayt, Lindsay K.; LaCost, Barbara Y.

    2016-01-01

    The introduction of performance-based state funding of higher education can be traced to the late 1970s which eliminated bonuses, and replaced regular state funding in part or completely, with funding tied to achievement of state-defined performance goals, which often include student outcomes, like graduation and retention rates. In this article,…

  2. Effectiveness of Selected Teaching Strategies in Relation to the Learning Styles of Secondary School Students in India

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Kamboj, Pooja; Singh, Sushil Kumar

    2015-01-01

    Effective teaching in schools requires flexibility, energy and commitment. Successful teaching also requires that teachers are able to address learner's needs and understand the variations in learner's styles and approaches. Teachers can accomplish these requirements while creating an optimal teaching-learning environment by utilizing a variety of…

  3. 12 CFR 1.2 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... political subdivision of a State, including any municipal corporate instrumentality of 1 or more States, or... of the United States Government, if the obligation, insurance, or guarantee commits the full faith..., and sell for the bank's own account, including qualified Canadian government obligations; and (6...

  4. CRREL, 30 Years Retrospective 1986-1991

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1990-01-01

    development. During World War n, organizations were created which, in 1961, were brought together to form the Cold Re- gions Research and Engineering...and the Cold War has thawed. In early 1991, the United States and a coalition of 33 nations fought one of the most successful military campaigns in...the history of warfare in the desert of the Middle East-a war that may reshape military doctrine for years to come. The United States is committed

  5. Memorial Day Message from NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine

    NASA Image and Video Library

    2018-05-25

    As we all go our separate ways this Memorial Day weekend, I urge everyone to remember the heroic sacrifice of the men and women who died in defense of our country while serving in the United States military. It is the dedication and commitment of these men and women, those who were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for the principles of our nation, that have made the United States the greatest country on Earth.

  6. United States Air Force Security Forces in an Era of Terrorist Threats

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1999-06-01

    their primary duties. The third alternative is to eliminate the Palace Tenure deployments of security personnel and replace them with dedicated units...The Phoenix Raven program, the 820th Security Forces Group, and Palace Tenure commitments. The specified mission varies by organization, but the...820th Security Forces Group. January 1999, slide 4. 166 Statement of LT. Col. Larry A. Buckingham , 820th Security Forces Group Commander, “820th Security

  7. The birth of a collaborative model: obstetricians, midwives, and family physicians.

    PubMed

    Pecci, Christine Chang; Mottl-Santiago, Julie; Culpepper, Larry; Heffner, Linda; McMahan, Therese; Lee-Parritz, Aviva

    2012-09-01

    In the United States, the challenges of maternity care include provider workforce, cost containment, and equal access to quality care. This article describes a collaborative model of care involving midwives, family physicians, and obstetricians at the Boston Medical Center, which serves a low-income multicultural population. Leadership investment in a collaborative model of care from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Section of Midwifery, and the Department of Family Medicine created a culture of safety and commitment to patient-centered care. Essential elements of the authors' successful model include a commitment to excellence in patient care, communication, and interdisciplinary education. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  8. The trust-commitment challenge in service quality-loyalty relationships.

    PubMed

    Moreira, Antonio Carrizo; Silva, Pedro Miguel

    2015-01-01

    The purpose of this paper is to develop and empirically test a model to examine service quality, satisfaction, trust and commitment as loyalty antecedents in a private healthcare service. The approach was tested using structural equation modelling, involving 175 patients from a private Portuguese healthcare unit, using a revised Service Quality Assessment Scale (SQAS) scale for service quality evaluation. The scale used to evaluate service quality is valid and meaningful. Service quality proved to be a multidimensional construct and relevant to build satisfaction. The path satisfaction→trust→loyalty was validated, whereas the path satisfaction→commitment→loyalty was not statistically supported. The revised SQAS scale showed good internal consistency in healthcare context. Further trust-commitment antecedents must be examined in a private healthcare landscape to generalise the findings. Healthcare quality managers must explore the service quality dimensions to generate satisfaction among their patients. Developing trust generates positive patient attitudes and loyalty. This study explores using the SQAS scale in a private healthcare context. The authors provide further evidence that service quality is an antecedent and different from satisfaction. All the measures used proved to be valid and reliable. Trust and commitment play different roles in their relationship with loyalty.

  9. Age-specific radiation dose commitment factors for a one-year chronic intake

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

    Hoenes, G.R.; Soldat, J.K.

    1977-11-01

    During the licensing process for nuclear facilities, radiation doses and dose commitments must be calculated for people in the environs of a nuclear facility. These radiation doses are determined by examining characteristics of population groups, pathways to people, and radionuclides found in those pathways. The pertinent characteristics, which are important in the sense of contributing a significant portion of the total dose, must then be analyzed in depth. Dose factors are generally available for adults, see Reference 1 for example, however numerous improvements in data on decay schemes and half-lives have been made in recent years. In addition, it ismore » advisable to define parameters for calculation of the radiation dose for ages other than adults since the population surrounding nuclear facilities will be composed of various age groups. Further, since infants, children, and teens may have higher rates of intake per unit body mass, it is conceivable that the maximally exposed individual may not be an adult. Thus, it was necessary to develop new radiation-dose commitment factors for various age groups. Dose commitment factors presented in this report have been calculated for a 50-year time period for four age groups.« less

  10. Iron balance in the red blood cell donor.

    PubMed

    Brittenham, G M

    2005-01-01

    Phlebotomy of a unit of blood produces a loss of 200 to 250 mg of iron in haemoglobin. Because of physiological differences in iron balance between women of childbearing age and men, the loss of similar amounts of iron at donation has divergent consequences for committed donors. Women of childbearing age have an increased risk of iron deficiency if they donate more than one unit per year while men are usually able to maintain iron balance while donating four or more units of blood per year. Lack of iron is the most important medical reason for deferral from repeat donation and primarily affects women of childbearing age. Deferral of these women discourages them from further donation and may lead to their loss as donors. Provisions for blood donation should protect those who give blood from adverse consequences of their altruism. Safe and effective approaches to iron replacement after donation have been developed that can prevent iron deficiency in women who give blood repeatedly. Blood centres should consider incorporating programmes of iron replacement for women of childbearing age who give blood repeatedly to protect these donors against iron deficiency and to enhance their retention and commitment as dedicated donors.

  11. Institutional Readiness for Interprofessional Education Among Nutrition and Dietetics and Athletic Training Education Programs.

    PubMed

    Eliot, Kathrin; Breitbach, Anthony; Wilson, Mardell; Chushak, Maria

    2017-01-01

    Organizations recommend interprofessional education (IPE) as a means of promoting collaborative patient-centered care. In turn, various external accreditors in the health professions have integrated IPE competencies into their standards. However, little is known about how athletic training (AT) and nutrition and dietetics (ND) have incorporated IPE into their educational programs. This study examined institutional factors that affect the level of IPE participation within ND and AT programs in the United States. The Interprofessional Education Assessment and Planning Instrument for Academic Institutions was distributed electronically to directors of accredited programs in ND and AT. In addition to gathering demographic information, survey questions addressed the institutions' level of involvement and commitment to IPE. Differences emerged between ND and AT programs for several items in the instrument. Factors that affected the differences included program level and academic unit in which the program resides. Results also suggest that ND and AT programs have similar levels of IPE participation, but there are great opportunities for growth. Institutional factors such resource commitment, academic unit type, and level of program may affect implementation and contribute to the development and success of IPE initiatives.

  12. Housing First for Homeless Persons with Active Addiction: Are We Overreaching?

    PubMed Central

    Kertesz, Stefan G; Crouch, Kimberly; Milby, Jesse B; Cusimano, Robert E; Schumacher, Joseph E

    2009-01-01

    Context More than 350 communities in the United States have committed to ending chronic homelessness. One nationally prominent approach, Housing First, offers early access to permanent housing without requiring completion of treatment or, for clients with addiction, proof of sobriety. Methods This article reviews studies of Housing First and more traditional rehabilitative (e.g., “linear”) recovery interventions, focusing on the outcomes obtained by both approaches for homeless individuals with addictive disorders. Findings According to reviews of comparative trials and case series reports, Housing First reports document excellent housing retention, despite the limited amount of data pertaining to homeless clients with active and severe addiction. Several linear programs cite reductions in addiction severity but have shortcomings in long-term housing success and retention. Conclusions This article suggests that the current research data are not sufficient to identify an optimal housing and rehabilitation approach for an important homeless subgroup. The research regarding Housing First and linear approaches can be strengthened in several ways, and policymakers should be cautious about generalizing the results of available Housing First studies to persons with active addiction when they enter housing programs. PMID:19523126

  13. Housing first for homeless persons with active addiction: are we overreaching?

    PubMed

    Kertesz, Stefan G; Crouch, Kimberly; Milby, Jesse B; Cusimano, Robert E; Schumacher, Joseph E

    2009-06-01

    More than 350 communities in the United States have committed to ending chronic homelessness. One nationally prominent approach, Housing First, offers early access to permanent housing without requiring completion of treatment or, for clients with addiction, proof of sobriety. This article reviews studies of Housing First and more traditional rehabilitative (e.g., "linear") recovery interventions, focusing on the outcomes obtained by both approaches for homeless individuals with addictive disorders. According to reviews of comparative trials and case series reports, Housing First reports document excellent housing retention, despite the limited amount of data pertaining to homeless clients with active and severe addiction. Several linear programs cite reductions in addiction severity but have shortcomings in long-term housing success and retention. This article suggests that the current research data are not sufficient to identify an optimal housing and rehabilitation approach for an important homeless subgroup. The research regarding Housing First and linear approaches can be strengthened in several ways, and policymakers should be cautious about generalizing the results of available Housing First studies to persons with active addiction when they enter housing programs.

  14. An examination of women's representation and participation in bicycle advisory committees in California.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2012-04-01

    In the United States, women bicycle at significantly lower rates than men. One method of remedying this disparity is to ensure that women are engaged in bicycle planning and policy making through, for example, participation in bicycle advisory commit...

  15. 75 FR 70999 - National Entrepreneurship Week, 2010

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-11-19

    ... President of the United States of America A Proclamation Entrepreneurs embody the promise that lies at the... reach. During National Entrepreneurship Week, we renew our commitment to supporting the entrepreneurs... decisive action to accelerate growth and remove barriers for entrepreneurs and small business owners to...

  16. Detailed Life Cycle Assessment of Bounty Paper Towel Operations in the United States

    EPA Science Inventory

    Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a well-established and informative method of understanding the environmental impacts of consumer products across the entire value chain. However, companies committed to sustainability are interested in more methods that examine their products and ac...

  17. American Osteopathic Association Commitment to Quality and Lifelong Learning

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Tunanidas, Amelia G.; Burkhart, Diane N.

    2005-01-01

    The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) initiated programs to enhance quality for 54, 000 doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs) practicing in the United States. Seven core competencies are required in undergraduate and graduate medical education standards. They include osteopathic philosophy and osteopathic manipulative medicine, medical…

  18. 37 CFR 11.803 - Reporting professional misconduct.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... 37 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights 1 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Reporting professional misconduct. 11.803 Section 11.803 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK... professional misconduct. (a) A practitioner who knows that another practitioner has committed a violation of...

  19. 37 CFR 11.803 - Reporting professional misconduct.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... 37 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights 1 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Reporting professional misconduct. 11.803 Section 11.803 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK... professional misconduct. (a) A practitioner who knows that another practitioner has committed a violation of...

  20. Acting on Priorities: A Commitment to Excellence. Dimension: Languages '90.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Terry, Robert M., Ed.

    Selected papers from the conference address four priorities in second language teaching: teacher education; instruction; curriculum; and testing. Papers include: "Listening Processes and Authentic Texts" (Donna Reseigh Long); "Directory of Foreign Language Teacher Preparation Programs in the United States: A Preliminary Report"…

  1. 78 FR 44562 - Application for Final Commitment for a Long-Term Loan or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-07-24

    ... long-haul air service between Norway/Sweden and destinations in Asia, United States and other countries... Air Shuttle ASA. Guarantor(s): N/A. Description of Items Being Exported: The items being exported are...

  2. U.S. Decision Making and Post-Cold War NATO Enlargement

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2015-03-01

    believed that President Yeltsin was truly committed to democratic reform in Russia and attributed Yeltsin’s public conflagrations to Russian...recommending any concrete steps toward enlargement.46 The position of America’s Allies began to change once the United States demonstrated its firm

  3. A Seat at the Table: Affective Formation and United Methodist Higher Education

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Benac, Dustin D.

    2015-01-01

    The increasingly pronounced distinction between educational institutions that retain their ecclesial identity and those that jettison religious commitments reflects a bifurcated educational landscape in which institutions are characterized either as a "church-related" or a "Christian college and university." This development…

  4. Stochastic Multi-Timescale Power System Operations With Variable Wind Generation

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

    Wu, Hongyu; Krad, Ibrahim; Florita, Anthony

    This paper describes a novel set of stochastic unit commitment and economic dispatch models that consider stochastic loads and variable generation at multiple operational timescales. The stochastic model includes four distinct stages: stochastic day-ahead security-constrained unit commitment (SCUC), stochastic real-time SCUC, stochastic real-time security-constrained economic dispatch (SCED), and deterministic automatic generation control (AGC). These sub-models are integrated together such that they are continually updated with decisions passed from one to another. The progressive hedging algorithm (PHA) is applied to solve the stochastic models to maintain the computational tractability of the proposed models. Comparative case studies with deterministic approaches are conductedmore » in low wind and high wind penetration scenarios to highlight the advantages of the proposed methodology, one with perfect forecasts and the other with current state-of-the-art but imperfect deterministic forecasts. The effectiveness of the proposed method is evaluated with sensitivity tests using both economic and reliability metrics to provide a broader view of its impact.« less

  5. "Fiefdoms" and co-management: the paradox of autonomy in an experience of democratization of hospital management.

    PubMed

    da Silva, Atila Mendes; Sá, Marilene de Castilho; Miranda, Lilian

    2015-10-01

    This study aimed to analyze the implementation of Management Committees and Production Units in a hospital in Rio de Janeiro based on the views of the actors responsible for this process, focusing on the issue of autonomy of the subjects involved in care delivery. This case study adopted a qualitative clinical psychosociological research approach using mainly semi-structured interviews. The management arrangements were valued by the interviewees principally as a way of increasing worker commitment, since the inclusion of workers in the Management Committees is likely to widen decision-making capacity and, at the same time, make staff more committed to care delivery. On the other hand, workers mentioned resistance arising from a struggle to maintain the concentration of power within the professional categories, and the challenge of dealing with differing conflicts of interests. The study suggests that the Management Committees and Production Units should include possibilities of addressing conflicts and intersubjective processes to avoid becoming excessively idealized and ineffective spaces.

  6. Differences in Hospital Managers’, Unit Managers’, and Health Care Workers’ Perceptions of the Safety Climate for Respiratory Protection

    PubMed Central

    Peterson, Kristina; Rogers, Bonnie M. E.; Brosseau, Lisa M.; Payne, Julianne; Cooney, Jennifer; Joe, Lauren; Novak, Debra

    2017-01-01

    This article compares hospital managers’ (HM), unit managers’ (UM), and health care workers’ (HCW) perceptions of respiratory protection safety climate in acute care hospitals. The article is based on survey responses from 215 HMs, 245 UMs, and 1,105 HCWs employed by 98 acute care hospitals in six states. Ten survey questions assessed five of the key dimensions of safety climate commonly identified in the literature: managerial commitment to safety, management feedback on safety procedures, coworkers’ safety norms, worker involvement, and worker safety training. Clinically and statistically significant differences were found across the three respondent types. HCWs had less positive perceptions of management commitment, worker involvement, and safety training aspects of safety climate than HMs and UMs. UMs had more positive perceptions of management’s supervision of HCWs’ respiratory protection practices. Implications for practice improvements indicate the need for frontline HCWs’ inclusion in efforts to reduce safety climate barriers and better support effective respiratory protection programs and daily health protection practices. PMID:27056750

  7. Differences in Hospital Managers', Unit Managers', and Health Care Workers' Perceptions of the Safety Climate for Respiratory Protection.

    PubMed

    Peterson, Kristina; Rogers, Bonnie M E; Brosseau, Lisa M; Payne, Julianne; Cooney, Jennifer; Joe, Lauren; Novak, Debra

    2016-07-01

    This article compares hospital managers' (HM), unit managers' (UM), and health care workers' (HCW) perceptions of respiratory protection safety climate in acute care hospitals. The article is based on survey responses from 215 HMs, 245 UMs, and 1,105 HCWs employed by 98 acute care hospitals in six states. Ten survey questions assessed five of the key dimensions of safety climate commonly identified in the literature: managerial commitment to safety, management feedback on safety procedures, coworkers' safety norms, worker involvement, and worker safety training. Clinically and statistically significant differences were found across the three respondent types. HCWs had less positive perceptions of management commitment, worker involvement, and safety training aspects of safety climate than HMs and UMs. UMs had more positive perceptions of management's supervision of HCWs' respiratory protection practices. Implications for practice improvements indicate the need for frontline HCWs' inclusion in efforts to reduce safety climate barriers and better support effective respiratory protection programs and daily health protection practices. © 2016 The Author(s).

  8. Essays on restructured electricity markets

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nicholson, Emma Leah

    This dissertation focuses on the performance of restructured electricity markets in the United States. In chapter 1, I study bidder-specific offer caps ("BSOCs") which are used to mitigate market power in three wholesale electricity markets. The price of electricity is determined through multi-unit uniform price auctions and BSOCs impose an upper limit, which is increasing in marginal cost, on each generator's bid. I apply BSOCs in both the uniform and discriminatory price auctions and characterize the equilibria in a two firm model with stochastic demand. BSOCs unambiguously increase expected production efficiency in the uniform price auction and they can increase the expected profit of the generator with the lower cap. Chapter 2, coauthored with Ramteen Sioshansi, Ph.D., compares two types of uniform price auction formats used in wholesale electricity markets, centrally committed markets and self committed markets. In centrally committed markets, generators submit two-part bids consisting of a fixed startup cost and a variable (per MWh) energy cost, and the auctioneer ensures that no generator operates at a loss. Generators in self committed markets must incorporate their startup costs into their one part energy bids. We derive Nash equilibria for both the centrally and self committed electricity markets in a model with two symmetric generators with nonconvex costs and deterministic demand. Using a numerical example, we demonstrate that if the caps on the bid elements are chosen appropriately, the two market designs are equivalent in terms of generator revenues and settlement costs. Regulators and prominent academic experts believe that electric restructuring polices have stifled investment in new generation capacity. In chapter 3 I seek to determine whether these fears are supported by empirical evidence. I examine both total investment in megawatts and the number of new investments across regions that adopted different electric restructuring policies to determine whether electric restructuring is associated with lower levels of investment in new generation capacity. The estimation results do not prove that total investment levels are lower in regions with restructured electric systems, but I cannot rule the possibility out.

  9. A deterministic method for estimating free energy genetic network landscapes with applications to cell commitment and reprogramming paths.

    PubMed

    Olariu, Victor; Manesso, Erica; Peterson, Carsten

    2017-06-01

    Depicting developmental processes as movements in free energy genetic landscapes is an illustrative tool. However, exploring such landscapes to obtain quantitative or even qualitative predictions is hampered by the lack of free energy functions corresponding to the biochemical Michaelis-Menten or Hill rate equations for the dynamics. Being armed with energy landscapes defined by a network and its interactions would open up the possibility of swiftly identifying cell states and computing optimal paths, including those of cell reprogramming, thereby avoiding exhaustive trial-and-error simulations with rate equations for different parameter sets. It turns out that sigmoidal rate equations do have approximate free energy associations. With this replacement of rate equations, we develop a deterministic method for estimating the free energy surfaces of systems of interacting genes at different noise levels or temperatures. Once such free energy landscape estimates have been established, we adapt a shortest path algorithm to determine optimal routes in the landscapes. We explore the method on three circuits for haematopoiesis and embryonic stem cell development for commitment and reprogramming scenarios and illustrate how the method can be used to determine sequential steps for onsets of external factors, essential for efficient reprogramming.

  10. A deterministic method for estimating free energy genetic network landscapes with applications to cell commitment and reprogramming paths

    PubMed Central

    Olariu, Victor; Manesso, Erica

    2017-01-01

    Depicting developmental processes as movements in free energy genetic landscapes is an illustrative tool. However, exploring such landscapes to obtain quantitative or even qualitative predictions is hampered by the lack of free energy functions corresponding to the biochemical Michaelis–Menten or Hill rate equations for the dynamics. Being armed with energy landscapes defined by a network and its interactions would open up the possibility of swiftly identifying cell states and computing optimal paths, including those of cell reprogramming, thereby avoiding exhaustive trial-and-error simulations with rate equations for different parameter sets. It turns out that sigmoidal rate equations do have approximate free energy associations. With this replacement of rate equations, we develop a deterministic method for estimating the free energy surfaces of systems of interacting genes at different noise levels or temperatures. Once such free energy landscape estimates have been established, we adapt a shortest path algorithm to determine optimal routes in the landscapes. We explore the method on three circuits for haematopoiesis and embryonic stem cell development for commitment and reprogramming scenarios and illustrate how the method can be used to determine sequential steps for onsets of external factors, essential for efficient reprogramming. PMID:28680655

  11. Learning to perform ear reconstruction.

    PubMed

    Wilkes, Gordon H

    2009-08-01

    Learning how to perform ear reconstruction is very difficult. There are no standardized teaching methods. This has resulted in many ear reconstructions being suboptimal. Learning requires a major commitment by the surgeon. Factors to be seriously considered by those considering performing this surgery are (1) commitment, (2) aptitude, (3) training methods available, (4) surgical skills and experience, and (5) additional equipment needs. Unless all these factors are addressed in a surgeon's decision to perform this form of reconstruction, the end result will be compromised, and patient care will not be optimized. It is hoped that considering these factors and following this approach will result in a higher quality of aesthetic result. The future of ear reconstruction lies in the use of advanced digital technologies and tissue engineering. Copyright Thieme Medical Publishers.

  12. Test and treat DC: forecasting the impact of a comprehensive HIV strategy in Washington DC.

    PubMed

    Walensky, Rochelle P; Paltiel, A David; Losina, Elena; Morris, Bethany L; Scott, Callie A; Rhode, Erin R; Seage, George R; Freedberg, Kenneth A

    2010-08-15

    The United States and international agencies have signaled their commitment to containing the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic via early case identification and linkage to antiretroviral therapy (ART) immediately at diagnosis. We forecast outcomes of this approach if implemented in Washington DC. Using a mathematical model of HIV case detection and treatment, we evaluated combinations of HIV screening and ART initiation strategies. We define current practice as no regular screening program and ART at CD4 counts < or = 350 cells/microL, and we define test and treat as annual screening and administration of ART at diagnosis. Outcomes include life expectancy of HIV-infected persons and changes in the population time with transmissible HIV RNA levels. Data, largely from Washington DC, include undiagnosed HIV prevalence of 0.6%, annual incidence of 0.13%, 31% rate of test offer, 60% rate of acceptance, and 50% linkage to care. Input parameters, including optimized ART efficacy, are varied in sensitivity analyses. Projected life expectancies, from an initial mean age of 41 years, are 23.9, 25.0, and 25.6 years for current practice, test and treat, and test and treat with optimized ART, respectively. Compared with current practice, test and treat leads to a 14.7% reduction in time spent with transmissible HIV RNA level in the next 5 years; test and treat with optimized ART results in a 27.3% reduction. An expanded HIV test and treat program in Washington DC will increase life expectancy of HIV-infected patients but will have a modest impact on HIV transmission over the next 5 years and is unlikely to halt the HIV epidemic.

  13. Promoting the well-being of children whose parents are gay or lesbian.

    PubMed

    2013-04-01

    To promote optimal health and well-being of all children, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) supports access for all children to (1) civil marriage rights for their parents and (2) willing and capable foster and adoptive parents, regardless of the parents' sexual orientation. The AAP has always been an advocate for, and has developed policies to support, the optimal physical, mental, and social health and well-being of all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. In so doing, the AAP has supported families in all their diversity, because the family has always been the basic social unit in which children develop the supporting and nurturing relationships with adults that they need to thrive. Children may be born to, adopted by, or cared for temporarily by married couples, nonmarried couples, single parents, grandparents, or legal guardians, and any of these may be heterosexual, gay or lesbian, or of another orientation. Children need secure and enduring relationships with committed and nurturing adults to enhance their life experiences for optimal social-emotional and cognitive development. Scientific evidence affirms that children have similar developmental and emotional needs and receive similar parenting whether they are raised by parents of the same or different genders. If a child has 2 living and capable parents who choose to create a permanent bond by way of civil marriage, it is in the best interests of their child(ren) that legal and social institutions allow and support them to do so, irrespective of their sexual orientation. If 2 parents are not available to the child, adoption or foster parenting remain acceptable options to provide a loving home for a child and should be available without regard to the sexual orientation of the parent(s).

  14. The United States Army Medical Department Journal. The United States Army Dental Corps: A Century of Commitment, Service, and Care

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2011-03-01

    Nerve in US Army 70 Dental Assistants Before and After Training as Preventive Dental Specialists David G. Greathouse, PhD; et al Palatal Fracture in...Command’s Corporate Dental Application (CDA). Originally conceived and developed as a standard solution to replace an array of locally implemented... palatal fracture and displacement of the bone up into the nasal vestibule. Their article carefully describes the unusual circumstances surrounding

  15. What Happens to Children Whose Parents Commit Suicide?

    PubMed

    Romanowicz, Magdalena; McKean, Alastair J; Vande Voort, Jennifer L

    2018-05-01

    Suicide remains one of the leading causes of death among 25- to 49-year-olds in the United States, and each year roughly 30,000 children are victims of parental suicide in the United States (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2005). 1 We report a case of a young child who lost both of his parents to suicide. Copyright © 2018 American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  16. Children's Rights and School Psychology: An Introduction to the Multiple Journal Series Honoring the 25th Anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Mcloughlin, Caven S.; Hart, Stuart N.

    2014-01-01

    This year, 2014, is the 25th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child--the world's "positive ideology" and its clearest statement of commitments to and respect and aspirations for the dignity of the child. To commemorate this landmark, a program of articles by respected experts has been organized to advance…

  17. Element level bridge inspection : benefits and use of data for bridge management.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2016-02-01

    In 2012, Congress passed the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) and committed to the development of a datadriven, : risk based approach to asset management in the United States. This law requires the collection and submission ...

  18. Plastic pollution of the world's seas and oceans as a contemporary challenge in ocean governance.

    PubMed

    Haward, Marcus

    2018-02-14

    The pervasive nature of marine plastic pollution was highlighted at the recent United Nations Environment Assembly. This meeting saw strong commitments for action, but at the same time reinforced the challenges for contemporary ocean governance in addressing marine plastic pollution.

  19. The Literacy Educator's Role in Suicide Prevention

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Fisher, Douglas

    2005-01-01

    Suicide, the second leading cause of death for adolescents in the United States, is preventable. Nearly 80% of individuals who commit suicide have demonstrated signs well in advance. Adolescent suicide prevention efforts require collaboration with teachers--individuals who know students well. Literacy educators have a role in suicide…

  20. A National Climate for Creativity and Invention.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Torrance, E. Paul

    1992-01-01

    This article offers guidelines for developing a national climate for creativity and invention. It recalls the post-Sputnik climate in the United States and notes evidence of Japan's increasing commitment to creativity. It recommends encouraging students to imagine themselves as inventors, providing early training in inventing skills, and…

  1. 77 FR 55097 - National Preparedness Month, 2012

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-09-06

    ... National Preparedness Month, 2012 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation As... of our country. During National Preparedness Month, we renew our commitment to promoting emergency... people and as one American family. This month, let us honor that spirit by standing with all those...

  2. 75 FR 72845 - New Postal Product

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-11-26

    ... contract for future functional equivalence analyses of the GEPS 3 product. \\1\\ Notice of United States... analysis of the formulas, and certification of the Governors' vote; and Attachment 4--an application for... costing information and volume commitments, do not alter the contracts' functional equivalency. Id. at 3-4...

  3. 75 FR 69715 - New Postal Product

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-11-15

    ... contract for future functional equivalence analyses of the GEPS 3 product. \\1\\ Notice of United States... GEPS contracts, a description of applicable GEPS contracts, formulas for prices, an analysis of the... information and volume commitments, do not alter the contracts' functional equivalency. Id. at 3-4. The Postal...

  4. Putting Customers First: Standards for Serving the American People.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Clinton, Bill; Gore, Al

    This document, part of the Clinton Administration's "Reinventing Government" initiative involving a long-term, significant revamping of the federal bureaucracy, presents a comprehensive set of published customer service standards for the United States Government. It presents more than 1,500 standards representing commitments from more…

  5. Companion piece: Convention on the Rights of the Child special protection measures: overview of implications and value for children in the United States.

    PubMed

    Svevo-Cianci, Kimberly; Velazquez, Sonia C

    2010-01-01

    The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is an international treaty that commits ratifying states parties to uphold the rights of all children under the age of 18. This article discusses the issues of highest relevance to the United States and reviews the pros and cons of ratifying, from the perspective of the convention's intent and potential, sovereignty of states, and national public policies, and regarding the special protection recommended for particularly vulnerable children. Specific implementation issues discussed include training, accountability, and monitoring.

  6. Unprecedented climate events: Historical changes, aspirational targets, and national commitments

    PubMed Central

    Diffenbaugh, Noah S.; Singh, Deepti; Mankin, Justin S.

    2018-01-01

    The United Nations Paris Agreement creates a specific need to compare consequences of cumulative emissions for pledged national commitments and aspirational targets of 1.5° to 2°C global warming. We find that humans have already increased the probability of historically unprecedented hot, warm, wet, and dry extremes, including over 50 to 90% of North America, Europe, and East Asia. Emissions consistent with national commitments are likely to cause substantial and widespread additional increases, including more than fivefold for warmest night over ~50% of Europe and >25% of East Asia and more than threefold for wettest days over >35% of North America, Europe, and East Asia. In contrast, meeting aspirational targets to keep global warming below 2°C reduces the area experiencing more than threefold increases to <10% of most regions studied. However, large areas—including >90% of North America, Europe, East Asia, and much of the tropics—still exhibit sizable increases in the probability of record-setting hot, wet, and/or dry events. PMID:29457133

  7. Unprecedented climate events: Historical changes, aspirational targets, and national commitments.

    PubMed

    Diffenbaugh, Noah S; Singh, Deepti; Mankin, Justin S

    2018-02-01

    The United Nations Paris Agreement creates a specific need to compare consequences of cumulative emissions for pledged national commitments and aspirational targets of 1.5° to 2°C global warming. We find that humans have already increased the probability of historically unprecedented hot, warm, wet, and dry extremes, including over 50 to 90% of North America, Europe, and East Asia. Emissions consistent with national commitments are likely to cause substantial and widespread additional increases, including more than fivefold for warmest night over ~50% of Europe and >25% of East Asia and more than threefold for wettest days over >35% of North America, Europe, and East Asia. In contrast, meeting aspirational targets to keep global warming below 2°C reduces the area experiencing more than threefold increases to <10% of most regions studied. However, large areas-including >90% of North America, Europe, East Asia, and much of the tropics-still exhibit sizable increases in the probability of record-setting hot, wet, and/or dry events.

  8. Army Combat Medic Resilience: The Process of Forging Loyalty.

    PubMed

    Abraham, Preetha A; Russell, Dale W; Huffman, Sarah; Deuster, Patricia; Gibbons, Susanne W

    2018-03-01

    This study presents a grounded theory analysis of in-depth interviews of United States Army Combat Medics (CMs) who had served in Iraq and/or Afghanistan. The study explores how 17 CMs nominated by their peers as resilient cope with military stressors in order to identify the factors that enable them to thrive amidst harsh conditions. Four distinct categories of characteristics unique to this group emerged: (1) social bonding, (2) readiness, (3) dual loyalty as performance, and (4) leader by example. Forging loyalty underpins these characteristics and represents the main process used by resilient CMs and comprised three behavior patterns: (1) commitment to the family, (2) commitment to the military mission, and (3) commitment to their guiding religious and spiritual beliefs. Prominent behavioral tendencies of forging loyalty likely developed during childhood and re-enforced by families, friends, and other role models. Based on the findings, new training and education efforts should focus on developing positive emotional, environmental, and social resources to enhance the health and well-being of service members and their families.

  9. Empowerment and organizational commitment of chiropractic faculty.

    PubMed

    Henkin, Alan B; Marchiori, Dennis M

    2003-06-01

    Professionals in chiropractic education retain much of the authority over their work. Their work is impacted, negatively or positively, by their perceptions of their organization's value for their skills and knowledge. Specifically, empowerment and organizational commitment are 2 psychological constructs that may mediate work circumstances and therefore are the focus of this study. The purpose of this study is to explore associations between empowerment and organizational commitment among chiropractic faculty. Study design Full faculty survey utilizing descriptive statistics and multivariable analysis. Surveys were distributed to full- and part-time faculty working in the United States and Canada. The survey included Spreitzer's multidimensional measure of psychological empowerment, Meyer and Allen's multidimensional measure of organizational commitment, and additional survey items focusing on faculty demographics and workplace variables including sex, age, academic rank, employment status, and primary area of work assignment. More than 54% of the study population (N = 609) completed and returned the instrument. A general profile of a chiropractic faculty member emerges as a middle-aged male employed full-time as a teacher in the academic program. Regression analyses suggest that the observed faculty characteristics and the workplace variables are not associated with fit between the faculty member's work role and his/her own beliefs, norms, and behaviors regarding the value of the work-related tasks. The level of institutional commitment experienced by the faculty member was associated with the fit between the task, goal or purpose of the job, and the internal standards held by the individual.

  10. The effects of ownership, staffing level and organisational justice on nurse commitment, involvement, and satisfaction: a questionnaire study.

    PubMed

    Heponiemi, Tarja; Elovainio, Marko; Kouvonen, Anne; Kuusio, Hannamaria; Noro, Anja; Finne-Soveri, Harriet; Sinervo, Timo

    2011-12-01

    Elderly care systems have undergone a lot of changes in many European countries, including Finland. Most notably, the number of private for-profit firms has increased. Previous studies suggest that employee well-being and the quality of care might differ according to the ownership type. The present study examined whether the ownership type and the staffing level were associated with organisational commitment, job involvement, and job satisfaction. In addition, we examined the potential moderating effect of organisational justice on these associations. Cross-sectional questionnaire study. 1047 Finnish female staff members aged 18-69 years working in sheltered housing or nursing homes (units n=179). The relationships were studied with analyses of covariance (ANCOVA), adjusting for the effects of age and case-mix. Organisational commitment and job satisfaction levels were low in for-profit sheltered homes when justice levels were low, but when justice levels were high, for-profit sheltered homes did not differ from other ownership types. Similarly, organisational justice acted as a buffer against low commitment resulting from low staffing levels. Staffing levels were lowest in public sheltered homes and highest in not-for-profit sheltered homes. The results show that organisational justice can act as a buffer against low organisational commitment that results from low staffing levels and working in for-profit sheltered homes. Increasing justice in regard to the management, outcomes, and procedures in the organisation would thus be important. 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  11. Electrospun Collagen/Silk Tissue Engineering Scaffolds: Fiber Fabrication, Post-Treatment Optimization, and Application in Neural Differentiation of Stem Cells

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhu, Bofan

    Biocompatible scaffolds mimicking the locally aligned fibrous structure of native extracellular matrix (ECM) are in high demand in tissue engineering. In this thesis research, unidirectionally aligned fibers were generated via a home-built electrospinning system. Collagen type I, as a major ECM component, was chosen in this study due to its support of cell proliferation and promotion of neuroectodermal commitment in stem cell differentiation. Synthetic dragline silk proteins, as biopolymers with remarkable tensile strength and superior elasticity, were also used as a model material. Good alignment, controllable fiber size and morphology, as well as a desirable deposition density of fibers were achieved via the optimization of solution and electrospinning parameters. The incorporation of silk proteins into collagen was found to significantly enhance mechanical properties and stability of electrospun fibers. Glutaraldehyde (GA) vapor post-treatment was demonstrated as a simple and effective way to tune the properties of collagen/silk fibers without changing their chemical composition. With 6-12 hours GA treatment, electrospun collagen/silk fibers were not only biocompatible, but could also effectively induce the polarization and neural commitment of stem cells, which were optimized on collagen rich fibers due to the unique combination of biochemical and biophysical cues imposed to cells. Taken together, electrospun collagen rich composite fibers are mechanically strong, stable and provide excellent cell adhesion. The unidirectionally aligned fibers can accelerate neural differentiation of stem cells, representing a promising therapy for neural tissue degenerative diseases and nerve injuries.

  12. Committed CO2 Emissions of China's Coal-fired Power Plants

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Suqin, J.

    2016-12-01

    The extent of global warming is determined by the cumulative effects of CO2 in the atmosphere. Coal-fired power plants, the largest anthropogenic source of CO2 emissions, produce large amount of CO2 emissions during their lifetimes of operation (committed emissions), which thus influence the future carbon emission space under specific targets on mitigating climate change (e.g., the 2 degree warming limit relative to pre-industrial levels). Comprehensive understanding of committed CO2 emissions for coal-fired power generators is urgently needed in mitigating global climate change, especially in China, the largest global CO2emitter. We calculated China's committed CO2 emissions from coal-fired power generators installed during 1993-2013 and evaluated their impact on future emission spaces at the provincial level, by using local specific data on the newly installed capacities. The committed CO2 emissions are calculated as the product of the annual coal consumption from newly installed capacities, emission factors (CO2emissions per unit crude coal consumption) and expected lifetimes. The sensitivities about generators lifetimes and the drivers on provincial committed emissions are also analyzed. Our results show that these relatively recently installed coal-fired power generators will lead to 106 Gt of CO2 emissions over the course of their lifetimes, which is more than three times the global CO2 emissions from fossil fuels in 2010. More than 80% (85 Gt) of their total committed CO2 will be emitted after 2013, which are referred to as the remaining emissions. Due to the uncertainties of generators lifetime, these remaining emissions would increase by 45 Gt if the lifetimes of China's coal-fired power generators were prolonged by 15 years. Furthermore, the remaining emissions are very different among various provinces owing to local developments and policy disparities. Provinces with large amounts of secondary industry and abundant coal reserves have higher committed emissions. The national and provincial CO2 emission mitigation objectives might be greatly restricted by existing and planned power plants in China. The policy implications of our results have also been discussed.

  13. Community-level firearm injury surveillance: local data for local action.

    PubMed

    Kellermann, A L; Bartolomeos, K; Fuqua-Whitley, D; Sampson, T R; Parramore, C S

    2001-10-01

    In the United States, firearms are used to commit homicide more frequently than all other methods combined. According to the US Department of Justice, firearms are used to commit more than 1 million crimes each year. Despite the magnitude of this problem, little is known about the epidemiology of firearm crimes and assaults. Many states require medical personnel to report all nonfatal shootings to law enforcement, but the rate of compliance with this requirement is unknown. To enhance cooperation between community emergency departments and law enforcement agencies, we created a unified firearm injury notification system for the City of Atlanta, Georgia, and 5 surrounding counties: Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, Gwinnett, and Clayton. Our findings are reported here.

  14. Nontraditional Student Engagement: Increasing Adult Student Success and Retention

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Wyatt, Linda G.

    2011-01-01

    Today, more than any other time in history, student demographics of college and university students in the United States are experiencing rapid and profound changes. Along with these increases in nontraditional student enrollment comes an increasing percentage of working nontraditional college students with a multitude of commitments that serve to…

  15. Data Literacy: Real-World Learning through Problem-Solving with Data Sets

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Erwin, Robin W., Jr.

    2015-01-01

    The achievement of deep learning by secondary students requires teaching approaches that draw students into task commitment, integrated curricula, and analytical thinking. By using real-world data sets in project based instructional units, teachers can guide students in analyzing, interpreting, and reporting quantitative data. Working with…

  16. Preserving Canadian Exceptionalism: An Educator's Context

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Shaker, Paul

    2009-01-01

    In this article, the author discusses the educational and societal differences between Canada and the United States. He claims that an egocentric culture, committed to immediate gratification, stands in the way of a healthy response to change. People are always seeking accommodation to the changes around them. When people choose familiar behaviour…

  17. The War Crimes Act: Current Issues

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2006-09-25

    entrapment by estoppel , available when a defendant is informed by a government official that certain conduct is legal, and thereafter commits what...United States v. Baptista-Rodriguez, 17 F.3d 1354, 1368 n. 18 (11th Cir. 1994). Unlike the other defenses, the defense of entrapment by estoppel stems

  18. The Ecology of Student Retention: Undergraduate Students and the Great Recession

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Mendoza, Pilar; Malcolm, Zaria; Parish, Nancy

    2015-01-01

    This study investigated qualitatively how undergraduate students experienced the Great Recession at a flagship university in the South Eastern of United States and how this experience relates to their retention. Results indicate that the Great Recession has significantly impacted students' engagement and commitments. We argue that student…

  19. Satellite water quality monitoring in coastal and estuarine waters: a look at SeaWiFS, MODIS, MERIS, and HICO

    EPA Science Inventory

    The United States Environmental Protection Agency’s charge to protect human health and the environment requires a long-term commitment to creating sustainable solutions to environmental problems. The most direct way to ensure that management practices are achieving sustainability...

  20. 78 FR 20217 - National Donate Life Month, 2013

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-04-04

    ... Donate Life Month, 2013 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Today, more than... not only profound generosity, but also our commitment to one another. During National Donate Life... respond to the donor shortage that keeps thousands of patients from getting life-saving care. Let us mark...

  1. Reintroduction of Fire into Fire-Dependent Ecosystems: Some Southern Examples

    Treesearch

    Dale Wade; George Custer; Jim Thorsen; Paul Kaskey; John Kush; Bill Twomey; Doug Voltolina

    1997-01-01

    Natural resource problems associated with, or resulting from, attempted fire exclusion are challenging managers across the United States. Critical issues range from epidemic insect and disease conditions to species extirpations. Southern burners continue to demonstrate that seemingly insurmountable constraints can be overcome through commitment and cooperation, and...

  2. 28 CFR 2.52 - Revocation decisions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ..., except as provided in § 2.10 (b) and (c). (2) The commitment of a juvenile offender under the Federal Juvenile Delinquency Act may not be extended past the offender's twenty-first birthday unless the juvenile..., YOUTH OFFENDERS, AND JUVENILE DELINQUENTS United States Code Prisoners and Parolees § 2.52 Revocation...

  3. 28 CFR 2.52 - Revocation decisions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ..., except as provided in § 2.10 (b) and (c). (2) The commitment of a juvenile offender under the Federal Juvenile Delinquency Act may not be extended past the offender's twenty-first birthday unless the juvenile..., YOUTH OFFENDERS, AND JUVENILE DELINQUENTS United States Code Prisoners and Parolees § 2.52 Revocation...

  4. Washington State's Corrections Clearinghouse: A Comprehensive Approach to Offender Employment.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Finn, Peter

    Since 1976, the Correctional Clearinghouse (CCH), which is a unit of the Washington State Employment Security Department, has been committed to preparing offenders for the workplace and finding employment. The CCH's principal service delivery strategies are as follows: (1) providing direct services (teaching job readiness courses in prisons and…

  5. 36 CFR § 1206.4 - What is the purpose of the Commission?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ...), supports a wide range of activities to preserve, publish, and encourage the use of primary documentary... and institutions, and Federally-acknowledged or state-recognized Native American tribes or groups committed to the preservation, publication, or use of United States documentary resources. [75 FR 66317, Oct...

  6. 36 CFR 1206.4 - What is the purpose of the Commission?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ...), supports a wide range of activities to preserve, publish, and encourage the use of primary documentary... and institutions, and Federally-acknowledged or state-recognized Native American tribes or groups committed to the preservation, publication, or use of United States documentary resources. [75 FR 66317, Oct...

  7. 36 CFR 1206.4 - What is the purpose of the Commission?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ...), supports a wide range of activities to preserve, publish, and encourage the use of primary documentary... and institutions, and Federally-acknowledged or state-recognized Native American tribes or groups committed to the preservation, publication, or use of United States documentary resources. [75 FR 66317, Oct...

  8. 36 CFR 1206.4 - What is the purpose of the Commission?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ...), supports a wide range of activities to preserve, publish, and encourage the use of primary documentary... and institutions, and Federally-acknowledged or state-recognized Native American tribes or groups committed to the preservation, publication, or use of United States documentary resources. [75 FR 66317, Oct...

  9. Toward an Engagement Model of Institutional Advancement at Public Colleges and Universities

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Weerts, David J.

    2007-01-01

    Enrollment pressures, unstable state appropriations, and increased public scrutiny about higher education's commitment to serving societal needs have created significant challenges for university advancement professionals at public colleges and universities in the United States. In this paper, I describe how current responses to these challenges…

  10. JPRS Report, Soviet Union, Military Affairs.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1990-05-17

    arms) between the USSR and the United States. To me, it appears as unthinkable as a skirmish between an ele- phant and a whale . However, our military...have described them as racketeers, drug addicts , and have represented them as people who will potentially commit suicide. In fact it has always

  11. 75 FR 60563 - Family Day, 2010

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-09-30

    ... Part III The President Proclamation 8570--Family Day, 2010 #0; #0; #0; Presidential Documents #0... Family Day, 2010 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Committed families shape... likelihood their loved ones will use alcohol and illicit drugs. On Family Day, we honor the devotion of...

  12. What's a Parent to Do?: Phonics and Other Stuff

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Gerard, Maureen

    2004-01-01

    No Child Left Behind, Reading First, Early Reading First, Good Start, Grow Smart ... the current whirlwind of education initiatives in the United States commits millions of dollars of federal money to "scientifically based" reading and early literacy development. In 2003, President Bush directed Head Start programs across the country to…

  13. 77 FR 72909 - International Day of Persons With Disabilities, 2012

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-12-06

    ... they travel, conduct business, study, or reside overseas. Ratifying the Convention in the Senate would reaffirm America's position as the global leader on disability rights and better position us to encourage... disabilities is guaranteed. Today, let us renew our commitment to meeting that challenge here in the United...

  14. Fuel-cycle greenhouse gas emissions impacts of alternative transportation fuels and advanced vehicle technologies.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1998-11-15

    At an international conference on global warming, held in Kyoto, Japan, in December 1997, the United States committed to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 7% over its 1990 level by the year 2012. To help achieve that goal, transportation G...

  15. World Literature in the Age of Globalization: Reflections on an Anthology.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hassan, Wail S.

    2000-01-01

    Addresses the evolution of the most authoritative and widely used textbook in world literature courses in the United States, "The Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces." Questions if the "Norton Anthology" has provided educators who are committed to the teaching of world literature from non-Eurocentric perspectives with a…

  16. 78 FR 42776 - Application for Final Commitment for a Long-Term Loan or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-07-17

    ...) being exported are not expected to be used to produce exports or provide services in competition with the exportation of goods or provision of services by a United States industry. Parties: Principal Supplier: The Boeing Company. [[Page 42777

  17. 78 FR 12315 - Application for Final Commitment for a Long-Term Loan or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-02-22

    ... airline service in Mexico and between Mexico and other countries in North, Central and South America. To... exports or provide services in competition with the exportation of goods or provision of services by a United States industry. [[Page 12316

  18. 28 CFR 2.52 - Revocation decisions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ..., except as provided in § 2.10 (b) and (c). (2) The commitment of a juvenile offender under the Federal Juvenile Delinquency Act may not be extended past the offender's twenty-first birthday unless the juvenile..., YOUTH OFFENDERS, AND JUVENILE DELINQUENTS United States Code Prisoners and Parolees § 2.52 Revocation...

  19. 28 CFR 2.52 - Revocation decisions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ..., except as provided in § 2.10 (b) and (c). (2) The commitment of a juvenile offender under the Federal Juvenile Delinquency Act may not be extended past the offender's twenty-first birthday unless the juvenile..., YOUTH OFFENDERS, AND JUVENILE DELINQUENTS United States Code Prisoners and Parolees § 2.52 Revocation...

  20. 28 CFR 2.52 - Revocation decisions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ..., except as provided in § 2.10 (b) and (c). (2) The commitment of a juvenile offender under the Federal Juvenile Delinquency Act may not be extended past the offender's twenty-first birthday unless the juvenile..., YOUTH OFFENDERS, AND JUVENILE DELINQUENTS United States Code Prisoners and Parolees § 2.52 Revocation...

  1. A Study of the Relationship between Pro-Environmental Product Use and Environmental Concern

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2010-03-01

    1987). That was followed by the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro (United Nations, 1992) which reaffirmed the commitment to environmental, social......changes in operations as well as the beliefs of individuals using the facilities. On federal installations, the burden to create these changes falls

  2. 77 FR 68045 - American Education Week, 2012

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-11-15

    ... American Education Week, 2012 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation All children deserve access to a world-class education and the chance to pursue their dreams. Our schools are a gateway... country on earth. My Administration is committed to enhancing American education by raising standards...

  3. Education & Justice: A View from the Back of the Bus.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Gordon, Edmund W.

    This collection of essays reflects a lifetime commitment to education and democracy, bringing together views on race, justice, and equity for all students. The essays are: (1) "Educating the Poor in the United States"; (2) "Human Social Divisions and Human Intelligence: Putting Them in Their Place"; (3) "Cultural…

  4. Reclaiming Teacher Intellectualism through and for Inclusive Education

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Schlessinger, Sarah L.

    2018-01-01

    Inclusive education, understood as a pedagogical commitment to schooling experiences that value diversity and promote equitable participation for all students, has not been broadly taken up in practice in the United States. Much of the research in this field suggests that teachers' attitudes towards inclusive education are the primary barrier to…

  5. 75 FR 17841 - National Child Abuse Prevention Month, 2010

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-04-07

    ... Child Abuse Prevention Month, 2010 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Our children are our most valuable resource, and they need our support to thrive and grow into healthy, productive adults. During National Child Abuse Prevention Month, we renew our unwavering commitment to...

  6. Professional Standards for Visual Arts Educators

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    National Art Education Association, 2009

    2009-01-01

    The National Art Education Association (NAEA) is committed to ensuring that all students have access to a high quality, certified visual arts educator in every K-12 public school across the United States, recognizing that effective arts instruction is a core component of 21st-century education. "Professional Standards for Visual Arts…

  7. Problems of Equity in the Reconstituted Family: A Social Exchange Analysis.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Nelson, Margaret; Nelson, Gordon K.

    1982-01-01

    Applies social exchange principles to the difficulties of setting up a stepfamily. Discusses obstacles to role adjustment and maintenance of equity among members. Concludes that if the reconstituting family can establish a basis of trust, the stepfamily can merge as a developmental unit toward expansion and commitment. (Author)

  8. A Proposal for Internationalizing Counseling Psychology in the United States: Rationale, Recommendations, and Challenges

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Leong, Frederick T. L.; Ponterotto, Joseph G.

    2003-01-01

    This article, written by the coeditors of "The Counseling Psychologist's" ("TCP") International Forum section, reviews the status of counseling psychology from an international perspective and presents a rational and modest proposal for promoting counseling psychology's commitment to global perspectives. The brief history of…

  9. 32 CFR Appendix A to Part 153 - Guidelines

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... 32 National Defense 1 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Guidelines A Appendix A to Part 153 National Defense Department of Defense OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO MILITARY...—Guidelines (a) Civilians employed by the Armed Forces outside the United States who commit felony offenses...

  10. Recycling America's Workers: Public and Private Approaches to Midcareer Retraining.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Bendick, Marc, Jr.; Egan, Mary Lou

    This working paper, part of a project on the applicability of the French training system in the United States, argues that a systematic national commitment to midcareer worker retraining is necessary for American prosperity and international economic competitiveness. Although findings of the early human capital theorists demonstrated that an…

  11. Preparing Culturally Responsive Literacy Teachers: Investigations of Whiteness in a Literacy Methods Course

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Royster, Kelly Berghoff

    2013-01-01

    Teacher education programs across the United States must prepare teachers who have the content area knowledge, pedagogical expertise, and cultural competence needed to teach an increasingly diverse student population. One consistent suggestion for programs committed to preparing culturally responsive teachers is to incorporate investigations of…

  12. Reaffirming the commitment of the House of Representatives to safeguard and uphold the 10th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

    THOMAS, 111th Congress

    Rep. Rooney, Thomas J. [R-FL-16

    2010-01-12

    House - 06/15/2010 Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

  13. Examining Human Rights in a Global Context.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Francis, Greg; Inoue, Keiko; Orrick, Stefanie

    The United Nations' founding in 1945 and the 1948 adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights reflected the international community's growing commitment to the protection and recognition of what is now referred to as human rights. Despite increased international attention, human rights violations continue to occur at the local, regional,…

  14. Three Communication Responsibilities concerning Sexual Harassment.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Buzza, Bonnie Wilson

    Sexual harassment is widespread on college campuses across the United States and is a subject that merits sensitive and sensible discussion. Once they acknowledge the problem, speech communication professionals can become better informed about sexual harassment and ways of dealing with it, and commit themselves to responsible communicative action.…

  15. 21 CFR 299.4 - Established names for drugs.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... organization sponsored by the American Medical Association, the United States Pharmacopeia, and the American... proposed in the application that meets the above-cited guidelines. Prior use of a name in the medical literature or otherwise will not commit the Food and Drug Administration to adopting such terminology as...

  16. 77 FR 65878 - Application for Final Commitment for a Long-term Loan or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-10-31

    ... export of semiconductor manufacturing equipment to Germany. Brief non-proprietary description of the anticipated use of the items being exported: Equipment supports the manufacture of logic semiconductors. To... United States industry. Parties: Principal Suppliers: Applied Materials, Inc., KLA-Tencor Corporation...

  17. A Guide to Developing a Sustainable Food Purchasing Policy

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Buck, Matthew

    2007-01-01

    Universities, colleges, hospitals and other institutions throughout the United States are starting to think seriously about the impact of purchasing on the environment, human health, labor, animal welfare and other concerns. It is increasingly clear that, as mission-driven organizations committed to the public good, these institutions can be…

  18. Applied Meteorology Unit (AMU)

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Bauman, William H., Jr.; Crawford, Winifred; Short, David; Barrett, Joe; Watson, Leela

    2008-01-01

    This report summarizes the Applied Meteorology Unit (AMU) activities for the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2008 (January - March 2008). Projects described are: (1) Peak Wind Tool for User Launch Commit Criteria (LCC), (2) Peak Wind Tool for General Forecasting, (3) Situational Lightning Climatologies for Central Florida. Phase III, (4) Volume Averaged Height Integrated Radar Reflectivity (VAHIRR), (5) Impact of Local Sensors, (6) Radar Scan Strategies for the PAFB WSR-74C Replacement and (7) WRF Wind Sensitivity Study at Edwards Air Force Base.

  19. Treatment, Education, and Prevention: Adding to the Arsenal in the War on Drugs. Hearing before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Seventh Congress, First Session.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Congress of the U.S., Washington, DC. Senate Committee on the Judiciary.

    A hearing was held on the role of prevention in the comprehensive drug control policy of the United States. The hearing demonstrated a strengthening of the commitment to reduce the demand for drugs. It also showed bi-partisan support to remain vigilant in defense of the borders and in punishing those who sell or manufacture drugs. It states that…

  20. Armored Cavalry and Reconnaissance: A Doctrinal Shortfall in Force Structure

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1988-04-15

    LTC CHARLES S. ROUSEK ŝ. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS 10. PROGRAM ELEMENT. PROJECT, TASK AREA & WORK UNIT NUMBERS US ARMY WAR COLLEGE...paradox the Israeli% sufered when they commited the basicerosith Ym Kippur War which evolved from their victory in the Six 08V War -the structuring and...the readiness, standards, training, and esprit of the affected units. This pav’t of the "One Army Concept" works and should be exploited on a one for

  1. Posture Statement of General Douglas M. Fraser, United States Air Force Commander, United States Southern Command, Before the 112th Congress House Armed Services Committee

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2012-03-06

    1 Aravena, F. Confianza: base para la gobernabilidad y la convivencia democrática en América...Latinoamericano de Ciencias Sociales (FLACSO). 3 Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF South), our key component in detection and monitoring of illicit...Central America’s north, the government of Mexico has fully committed to reducing the power and impunity of transnational organized crime and drug

  2. [Gender, human rights and socioeconomic impact of AIDS in Brazil].

    PubMed

    de Oliveira, Rosa Maria Rodrigues

    2006-04-01

    The paper critically analyzes, from the gender standpoint, official results presented in the Brazilian government report to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). Specifically, the fulfillment of 2003 targets set forth in the United Nations Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, under the category of Human Rights and Reduction of the Economic and Social Impact of AIDS, are evaluated. Key concepts are highlighted, including indicators and strategies that may help civilian society better monitor these targets until 2010.

  3. New approach for optimal electricity planning and dispatching with hourly time-scale air quality and health considerations.

    PubMed

    Kerl, Paul Y; Zhang, Wenxian; Moreno-Cruz, Juan B; Nenes, Athanasios; Realff, Matthew J; Russell, Armistead G; Sokol, Joel; Thomas, Valerie M

    2015-09-01

    Integrating accurate air quality modeling with decision making is hampered by complex atmospheric physics and chemistry and its coupling with atmospheric transport. Existing approaches to model the physics and chemistry accurately lead to significant computational burdens in computing the response of atmospheric concentrations to changes in emissions profiles. By integrating a reduced form of a fully coupled atmospheric model within a unit commitment optimization model, we allow, for the first time to our knowledge, a fully dynamical approach toward electricity planning that accurately and rapidly minimizes both cost and health impacts. The reduced-form model captures the response of spatially resolved air pollutant concentrations to changes in electricity-generating plant emissions on an hourly basis with accuracy comparable to a comprehensive air quality model. The integrated model allows for the inclusion of human health impacts into cost-based decisions for power plant operation. We use the new capability in a case study of the state of Georgia over the years of 2004-2011, and show that a shift in utilization among existing power plants during selected hourly periods could have provided a health cost savings of $175.9 million dollars for an additional electricity generation cost of $83.6 million in 2007 US dollars (USD2007). The case study illustrates how air pollutant health impacts can be cost-effectively minimized by intelligently modulating power plant operations over multihour periods, without implementing additional emissions control technologies.

  4. New approach for optimal electricity planning and dispatching with hourly time-scale air quality and health considerations

    PubMed Central

    Kerl, Paul Y.; Zhang, Wenxian; Moreno-Cruz, Juan B.; Nenes, Athanasios; Realff, Matthew J.; Russell, Armistead G.; Sokol, Joel; Thomas, Valerie M.

    2015-01-01

    Integrating accurate air quality modeling with decision making is hampered by complex atmospheric physics and chemistry and its coupling with atmospheric transport. Existing approaches to model the physics and chemistry accurately lead to significant computational burdens in computing the response of atmospheric concentrations to changes in emissions profiles. By integrating a reduced form of a fully coupled atmospheric model within a unit commitment optimization model, we allow, for the first time to our knowledge, a fully dynamical approach toward electricity planning that accurately and rapidly minimizes both cost and health impacts. The reduced-form model captures the response of spatially resolved air pollutant concentrations to changes in electricity-generating plant emissions on an hourly basis with accuracy comparable to a comprehensive air quality model. The integrated model allows for the inclusion of human health impacts into cost-based decisions for power plant operation. We use the new capability in a case study of the state of Georgia over the years of 2004–2011, and show that a shift in utilization among existing power plants during selected hourly periods could have provided a health cost savings of $175.9 million dollars for an additional electricity generation cost of $83.6 million in 2007 US dollars (USD2007). The case study illustrates how air pollutant health impacts can be cost-effectively minimized by intelligently modulating power plant operations over multihour periods, without implementing additional emissions control technologies. PMID:26283358

  5. Making it stick: chasing the optimal stem cells for cardiac regeneration

    PubMed Central

    Quijada, Pearl; Sussman, Mark A

    2014-01-01

    Despite the increasing use of stem cells for regenerative-based cardiac therapy, the optimal stem cell population(s) remains in a cloud of uncertainty. In the past decade, the field has witnessed a surge of researchers discovering stem cell populations reported to directly and/or indirectly contribute to cardiac regeneration through processes of cardiomyogenic commitment and/or release of cardioprotective paracrine factors. This review centers upon defining basic biological characteristics of stem cells used for sustaining cardiac integrity during disease and maintenance of communication between the cardiac environment and stem cells. Given the limited successes achieved so far in regenerative therapy, the future requires development of unprecedented concepts involving combinatorial approaches to create and deliver the optimal stem cell(s) that will enhance myocardial healing. PMID:25340282

  6. The Relationship Between Work Commitment, Dynamic, and Medication Error.

    PubMed

    Rezaiamin, Abdoolkarim; Pazokian, Marzieh; Zagheri Tafreshi, Mansoureh; Nasiri, Malihe

    2017-05-01

    Incidence of medication errors in intensive care unit (ICU) can cause irreparable damage for ICU patients. Therefore, it seems necessary to find the causes of medication errors in this section. Work commitment and dynamic might affect the incidence of medication errors in ICU. To assess the mentioned hypothesis, we performed a descriptive-analytical study which was carried out on 117 nurses working in ICU of educational hospitals in Tehran. Minick et al., Salyer et al., and Wakefield et al. scales were used for data gathering on work commitment, dynamic, and medication errors, respectively. Findings of the current study revealed that high work commitment in ICU nurses caused low number of medication errors, including intravenous and nonintravenous. We controlled the effects of confounding variables in detection of this relationship. In contrast, no significant association was found between work dynamic and different types of medication errors. Although the study did not observe any relationship between the dynamics and rate of medication errors, the training of nurses or nursing students to create a dynamic environment in hospitals can increase their interest in the profession and increase job satisfaction in them. Also they must have enough ability in work dynamic so that they don't confused and distracted result in frequent changes of orders, care plans, and procedures.

  7. The development of scientific identification theory to conduct operation research in education management

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hardhienata, S.

    2017-01-01

    Operations research is a general method used in the study and optimization of a system through modeling of the system. In the field of education, especially in education management, operations research has not been widely used. This paper gives an exposition of ideas about how operations research can be used to conduct research and optimization in the field of education management by developing SITOREM (Scientific Identification Theory for Operation Research in Education Management). To clarify the intent of the idea, an example of applying SITOREM to enhance the professional commitment of lecturers associated with achieving the vision of university will be described.

  8. Characteristics of health care organizations associated with learning and development: lessons from a pilot study.

    PubMed

    Nyström, Monica

    2009-01-01

    Characteristics of health care organizations associated with an ability to learn from experiences and to develop and manage change were explored in this study. Understanding of these characteristics is necessary to identify factors influencing success in learning from the past and achieving future health care quality objectives. A literature review of the quality improvement, strategic organizational development and change management, organizational learning, and microsystems fields identified 20 organizational characteristics, grouped under (a) organizational systems, (b) key actors, and (c) change management processes. Qualitative methods, using interviews, focus group reports, and archival records, were applied to find associations between identified characteristics and 6 Swedish health care units externally evaluated as delivering high-quality care. Strong support for a characteristic was defined as units having more than 4 sources describing the characteristic as an important success factor. Eighteen characteristics had strong support from at least 2 units. The strongest evidence was found for the following: (i) key actors have long-term commitment, provide support, and make sense of ambiguous situations; (ii) organizational systems encourage employee commitment, participation, and involvement; and (iii) change management processes are employed systematically. Based on the results, a new model of "characteristics associated with learning and development in health care organizations" is proposed.

  9. Euthanasia.

    PubMed

    Brock, D W

    1992-01-01

    The principles of self-determination and individual well-being support the use of voluntary euthanasia by those who do not have moral or professional objections to it. Opponents of this posture cite the ethical wrongness of the act itself and the folly of any public or legal policy permitting euthanasia. Positive consequences of making euthanasia legally permissible respect the autonomy of competent patients desiring it, expand the population of patients who can choose the option, and release the dying patient from otherwise prolonged suffering and agony. Potentially bad consequences of permitting euthanasia include the undermining of the "moral center" of medicine by allowing physicians to kill, the weakening of society's commitment to provide optimal care for dying patients, and, of greatest concern, the "slippery slope" argument. The evaluation of the arguments leads to support for euthanasia, with its performance not incompatible with a physician's professional commitment.

  10. Euthanasia.

    PubMed Central

    Brock, D. W.

    1992-01-01

    The principles of self-determination and individual well-being support the use of voluntary euthanasia by those who do not have moral or professional objections to it. Opponents of this posture cite the ethical wrongness of the act itself and the folly of any public or legal policy permitting euthanasia. Positive consequences of making euthanasia legally permissible respect the autonomy of competent patients desiring it, expand the population of patients who can choose the option, and release the dying patient from otherwise prolonged suffering and agony. Potentially bad consequences of permitting euthanasia include the undermining of the "moral center" of medicine by allowing physicians to kill, the weakening of society's commitment to provide optimal care for dying patients, and, of greatest concern, the "slippery slope" argument. The evaluation of the arguments leads to support for euthanasia, with its performance not incompatible with a physician's professional commitment. PMID:1519375

  11. Impacts of Stress, Self-Efficacy, and Optimism on Suicide Ideation among Rehabilitation Patients with Acute Pesticide Poisoning

    PubMed Central

    Feng, Jun; Li, Shusheng; Chen, Huawen

    2015-01-01

    Background The high incidence of pesticide ingestion as a means to commit suicide is a critical public health problem. An important predictor of suicidal behavior is suicide ideation, which is related to stress. However, studies on how to defend against stress-induced suicidal thoughts are limited. Objective This study explores the impact of stress on suicidal ideation by investigating the mediating effect of self-efficacy and dispositional optimism. Methods Direct and indirect (via self-efficacy and dispositional optimism) effects of stress on suicidal ideation were investigated among 296 patients with acute pesticide poisoning from four general hospitals. For this purpose, structural equation modeling (SEM) and bootstrap method were used. Results Results obtained using SEM and bootstrap method show that stress has a direct effect on suicide ideation. Furthermore, self-efficacy and dispositional optimism partially weakened the relationship between stress and suicidal ideation. Conclusion The final model shows a significant relationship between stress and suicidal ideation through self-efficacy or dispositional optimism. The findings extended prior studies and provide enlightenment on how self-efficacy and optimism prevents stress-induced suicidal thoughts. PMID:25679994

  12. Impacts of stress, self-efficacy, and optimism on suicide ideation among rehabilitation patients with acute pesticide poisoning.

    PubMed

    Feng, Jun; Li, Shusheng; Chen, Huawen

    2015-01-01

    The high incidence of pesticide ingestion as a means to commit suicide is a critical public health problem. An important predictor of suicidal behavior is suicide ideation, which is related to stress. However, studies on how to defend against stress-induced suicidal thoughts are limited. This study explores the impact of stress on suicidal ideation by investigating the mediating effect of self-efficacy and dispositional optimism. Direct and indirect (via self-efficacy and dispositional optimism) effects of stress on suicidal ideation were investigated among 296 patients with acute pesticide poisoning from four general hospitals. For this purpose, structural equation modeling (SEM) and bootstrap method were used. Results obtained using SEM and bootstrap method show that stress has a direct effect on suicide ideation. Furthermore, self-efficacy and dispositional optimism partially weakened the relationship between stress and suicidal ideation. The final model shows a significant relationship between stress and suicidal ideation through self-efficacy or dispositional optimism. The findings extended prior studies and provide enlightenment on how self-efficacy and optimism prevents stress-induced suicidal thoughts.

  13. Phenotypic Dimensions of Spirituality: Implications for Mental Health in China, India, and the United States

    PubMed Central

    McClintock, Clayton H.; Lau, Elsa; Miller, Lisa

    2016-01-01

    While the field of empirical study on religion and spirituality in relation to mental health has rapidly expanded over the past decade, little is known about underlying dimensions of spirituality cross-culturally conceived. We aimed to bridge this gap by inductively deriving potential universal dimensions of spirituality through a large-scale, multi-national data collection, and examining the relationships of these dimensions with common psychiatric conditions. Five-thousand five-hundred and twelve participants from China, India, and the United States completed a two-hour online survey consisting of wide-ranging measures of the lived experience of spirituality, as well as clinical assessments. A series of inductive Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and cross-validating Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling (ESEM) were conducted to derive common underlying dimensions of spirituality. Logistic regression analyses were then conducted with each dimension to predict depression, suicidal ideation, generalized anxiety, and substance-related disorders. Preliminary EFA results were consistently supported by ESEM findings. Analyses of 40 spirituality measures revealed five invariant factors across countries which were interpreted as five dimensions of universal spiritual experience, specifically: love, in the fabric of relationships and as a sacred reality; unifying interconnectedness, as a sense of energetic oneness with other beings in the universe; altruism, as a commitment beyond the self with care and service; contemplative practice, such as meditation, prayer, yoga, or qigong; and religious and spiritual reflection and commitment, as a life well-examined. Love, interconnectedness, and altruism were associated with less risk of psychopathology for all countries. Religious and spiritual reflection and commitment and contemplative practice were associated with less risk in India and the United States but associated with greater risk in China. Education was directly associated with dimensions of spiritual awareness in India and China but inversely associated with dimensions in the United States. Findings support the notion that spirituality is a universal phenomenon with potentially universal dimensions. These aspects of spirituality may each offer protective effects against psychiatric symptoms and disorders and suggest new directions for treatment. PMID:27833570

  14. Phenotypic Dimensions of Spirituality: Implications for Mental Health in China, India, and the United States.

    PubMed

    McClintock, Clayton H; Lau, Elsa; Miller, Lisa

    2016-01-01

    While the field of empirical study on religion and spirituality in relation to mental health has rapidly expanded over the past decade, little is known about underlying dimensions of spirituality cross-culturally conceived. We aimed to bridge this gap by inductively deriving potential universal dimensions of spirituality through a large-scale, multi-national data collection, and examining the relationships of these dimensions with common psychiatric conditions. Five-thousand five-hundred and twelve participants from China, India, and the United States completed a two-hour online survey consisting of wide-ranging measures of the lived experience of spirituality, as well as clinical assessments. A series of inductive Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and cross-validating Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling (ESEM) were conducted to derive common underlying dimensions of spirituality. Logistic regression analyses were then conducted with each dimension to predict depression, suicidal ideation, generalized anxiety, and substance-related disorders. Preliminary EFA results were consistently supported by ESEM findings. Analyses of 40 spirituality measures revealed five invariant factors across countries which were interpreted as five dimensions of universal spiritual experience, specifically: love, in the fabric of relationships and as a sacred reality; unifying interconnectedness, as a sense of energetic oneness with other beings in the universe; altruism, as a commitment beyond the self with care and service; contemplative practice, such as meditation, prayer, yoga, or qigong; and religious and spiritual reflection and commitment, as a life well-examined. Love, interconnectedness, and altruism were associated with less risk of psychopathology for all countries. Religious and spiritual reflection and commitment and contemplative practice were associated with less risk in India and the United States but associated with greater risk in China. Education was directly associated with dimensions of spiritual awareness in India and China but inversely associated with dimensions in the United States. Findings support the notion that spirituality is a universal phenomenon with potentially universal dimensions. These aspects of spirituality may each offer protective effects against psychiatric symptoms and disorders and suggest new directions for treatment.

  15. Quantifying the Impacts of Large Scale Integration of Renewables in Indian Power Sector

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kumar, P.; Mishra, T.; Banerjee, R.

    2017-12-01

    India's power sector is responsible for nearly 37 percent of India's greenhouse gas emissions. For a fast emerging economy like India whose population and energy consumption are poised to rise rapidly in the coming decades, renewable energy can play a vital role in decarbonizing power sector. In this context, India has targeted 33-35 percent emission intensity reduction (with respect to 2005 levels) along with large scale renewable energy targets (100GW solar, 60GW wind, and 10GW biomass energy by 2022) in INDCs submitted at Paris agreement. But large scale integration of renewable energy is a complex process which faces a number of problems like capital intensiveness, matching intermittent loads with least storage capacity and reliability. In this context, this study attempts to assess the technical feasibility of integrating renewables into Indian electricity mix by 2022 and analyze its implications on power sector operations. This study uses TIMES, a bottom up energy optimization model with unit commitment and dispatch features. We model coal and gas fired units discretely with region-wise representation of wind and solar resources. The dispatch features are used for operational analysis of power plant units under ramp rate and minimum generation constraints. The study analyzes India's electricity sector transition for the year 2022 with three scenarios. The base case scenario (no RE addition) along with INDC scenario (with 100GW solar, 60GW wind, 10GW biomass) and low RE scenario (50GW solar, 30GW wind) have been created to analyze the implications of large scale integration of variable renewable energy. The results provide us insights on trade-offs involved in achieving mitigation targets and investment decisions involved. The study also examines operational reliability and flexibility requirements of the system for integrating renewables.

  16. Juvenile justice. A role for health professionals.

    PubMed

    Brookman, Monica

    2003-01-01

    The United States is the only nation in the world that continues to execute its youth. The use of the death penalty against those who committed crimes as children is an act contrary to American standards of decency and fairness, as well as international law. The adolescent brain has not fully developed before the age of 18 years of age. Thus children do not have the same emotional and mental capacity as adults. Although juveniles should be held accountable for their crimes, the United States must not impose this most extreme punishment. The medical profession must take a stand to stop the execution of juvenile offenders in the United States.

  17. Characteristics of People with Intellectual Disabilities in a Secure U.S. Forensic Hospital

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Stinson, Jill Diane; Robbins, Sharon Bradford

    2014-01-01

    Prior research examining persons with intellectual disabilities who have committed criminal offenses has focused primarily on correctional populations, or those who reside in secure forensic settings in the United Kingdom and Australia. This study describes 235 persons with intellectual, developmental, and cognitive disabilities who reside in a…

  18. The Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development: Commitment to Action

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Journal of Social Work Education, 2012

    2012-01-01

    This Global Agenda is the product of a three-year collaborative initiative undertaken by three international organisations representing social work practice, social work education, and social development. All three of these international bodies were founded in 1928 and have held formal consultative status for many decades with the United Nations…

  19. Numbers and Policy in Care for People with Intellectual Disability in the United Kingdom

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Glover, Gyles

    2015-01-01

    Background: Statements or commitments making use of numbers have an important place in government policy. They appear at all stages of the policy process: campaigning, formulation, monitoring and evaluation. Many types of sources are involved including research studies, national survey information, routine operational data collections and special…

  20. Gangbusters: Strategies for Prevention and Intervention.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Jackson, Lonnie

    African American males in the United States have been killing each other at alarming rates. Gang members commit violent crimes at a rate three times that of nongang delinquents, and gang-involved youths are more frequently victimized by violent crime than the rest of the general population. This volume offers insight into the reasons youths are…

  1. 24 CFR 941.610 - Evidentiary materials and other documents.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... record, that will assure to HUD's satisfaction that the public housing units will be available for use by...) for use in carrying out the proposal, and that such commitment is in the amount required under the... HUD (together with all financing documents) to ensure that they do not provide equity investors...

  2. The University, Democracy and the Public Sphere

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Holmwood, John

    2017-01-01

    This article takes a historical approach to the rise and fall of the public university, relating its fate to specific developments in public policy. Particular attention will be paid to the United Kingdom since it has developed an explicit drive towards the marketization of higher education in the context of an earlier commitment to public higher…

  3. 76 FR 53494 - In the Matter of United States Enrichment Corporation; Paducah Gaseous Enrichment Plant...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-08-26

    ... removable contamination, unless otherwise authorized by Health Physics. USEC- Paducah is required by... Section V are acceptable and necessary and conclude that with these commitments the public health and safety are reasonably assured. In view of the foregoing, I have determined that public health and safety...

  4. The Emerging Minority Majority.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Baccus, R. Eileen

    The United States is experiencing a major demographic transformation. Some studies have projected that by the year 2020, whites will be in the minority as their number is surpassed by those of Indian, Asian, African, and Spanish descent, to name a few. Educators must make a major commitment to see that all students have the opportunity to perform…

  5. Environmental Education Activity Guide: Pre K-8.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Iozzi, Lou; Halsey, Brent, Jr.

    Project Learning Tree uses the forest as a window on the world to increase students' understanding of the complex environment in the United States; to stimulate critical and creative thinking; to develop the ability to make informed decisions on environmental issues; and to instill the confidence and commitment to take responsible action on behalf…

  6. America's Country Schools. Second Edition.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Gulliford, Andrew

    At the turn of the century, over 200,000 one-room schools existed in the United States. These simple, vernacular buildings represented the nation's commitment to education and were also the center of community life. The country school continues to be a powerful cultural symbol. This book consists of three parts. The first section describes country…

  7. 75 FR 32079 - Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month, 2010

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-06-07

    ..., Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month, 2010 By the President of the United States of America A... equality on behalf of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. This month, as we.... That is why we must give committed gay couples the same rights and responsibilities afforded to any...

  8. 24 CFR 970.13 - Environmental review requirements.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... indicate that the future site reuse can reasonably be considered to be known include the following: (1) Private, Federal, state, or local funding for the site reuse has been committed; (2) A grant application involving the site has been filed with the Federal government or a state or local unit of government; (3...

  9. Activities for Studying Heavenly Bodies. Outdoor Education Series. Bulletin No. 247-M.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Montgomery County Public Schools, Rockville, MD.

    This teacher guide for the astronomy unit of an outdoor education program consists of a series of performance objectives, intended to provide interesting, hands-on activities, involving interdisciplinary skills, that augment commitments of the mathematics, sciences, and social studies program of the Montgomery County (Maryland) Public Schools.…

  10. Sudan Genocide Declaration Stirs the World

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Social Education, 2004

    2004-01-01

    One week after Secretary of State Colin Powell declared that the killings, rapes and other atrocities committed in Darfur amount to "genocide," in mid-September the United Nations' World Health Organization issued new figures saying 6,000 to 10,000 people are dying per month there in one of Africa's worst humanitarian crises. Powell had…

  11. 3 CFR 9043 - Proclamation 9043 of October 18, 2013. National Character Counts Week, 2013

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... ground, and the lessons we teach our children about what citizenship means in the United States of... for their children. The children we raise today are surrounded by proud examples of integrity, and... commitment to helping our children turn away from bullying, harassment, and discrimination, and to giving...

  12. The Educational Journey of a Latina Feminist Community Psychologist

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Guzman, Bianca

    2012-01-01

    This narrative describes how my educational journey led me to become a Latina feminist community psychologist. My experiences as a Central American woman living in the United States has made me deeply committed to feminist community values and the importance of social justice. Throughout the journey, I connect how immigration status, culture, and…

  13. 3 CFR 8462 - Proclamation 8462 of December 2, 2009. International Day of Persons With Disabilities, 2009

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... Day of Persons With Disabilities, 2009 8462 Proclamation 8462 Presidential Documents Proclamations Proclamation 8462 of December 2, 2009 Proc. 8462 International Day of Persons With Disabilities, 2009By the... commitment to human rights and fundamental freedoms for persons with disabilities, the United States became a...

  14. Fiery Passion and Relentless Commitment: The Lived Experiences of African American Women Principals in Turnaround Model Schools

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Aldaco, Adrienne L. Gratten

    2016-01-01

    Chronically low performing schools in the United States have required targeted support and interventions to increase student achievement. In recent years, the school turnaround model has emerged as a swift, dramatic, comprehensive approach to implementing interventions in the lowest performing schools (Calkins, Guenther, Belfiore, & Lash,…

  15. Policy, Procedures and Required Practices Regarding Teacher Evaluations in (Arch)dioceses across the United States

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Connor, Ann Catherine

    2016-01-01

    The universal foundation of all Catholic Schools is passing on the faith and ensuring high quality academic instruction is provided by qualified Catholic educators. This directive was affirmed in a document entitled, "Renewing our Commitment to Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools in the Third Millennium," writing, "All…

  16. 77 FR 31147 - National Safe Boating Week, 2012

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-05-24

    ... Safe Boating Week, 2012 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation For generations... friends and family a well- loved tradition. During National Safe Boating Week, we renew our commitment to... mark National Safe Boating Week, let us reflect on that important mission and resolve to do our part to...

  17. Suicide and Drug Abuse in the Medical Community

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Bressler, Bernard

    1976-01-01

    In the United States each year the equivalent of an average-size medical school graduating class commits suicide, with the highest incidence occurring in the decade following the completion of training. Of these suicides, 20 percent to 30 percent are associated with drug abuse and 40 percent with alcoholism. Various problem areas are considered.…

  18. Thinking through Art at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Longhenry, Susan

    2005-01-01

    Can going to an art museum make elementary school students better learners? It can if they are participating in Thinking Through Art, an innovative partnership uniting the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), Boston Public Schools (BPS), and Visual Understanding in Education (VUE), a nonprofit educational research group committed to improving…

  19. Employers and Family Day Care.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Ward, Pat

    This paper provides employers with critical information about family day care, the most widely used type of out-of-home care for infants and toddlers in the United States. Employers who are concerned about honoring parents' choice of child care, committed to high quality child care, and dedicated to using resources efficiently, will be pleasantly…

  20. Preventing Inclusion? Inclusive Early Childhood Education and the Option to Exclude

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Cologon, Kathy

    2014-01-01

    While there is increasing international commitment to inclusive education, as outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), many children remain excluded at school. One marginalised and frequently excluded group of people are people who experience disability. In the recently released first report on…

  1. 78 FR 13666 - Application for Final Commitment for a Long-Term Loan or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-02-28

    ... the exportation of goods or provision of services by a United States industry. Parties: Principal Supplier(s): Space Systems/Loral Inc. Space Exploration Technologies Corporation. Obligor: Asia Satellite... services, U.S. launch services and launch insurance. Information On Decision: Information on the final...

  2. Faculty Support for Internationalization: The Case Study of a United States Based Private University

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Almeyda, Marta; George, Babu

    2018-01-01

    Universities around the world are internationalizing themselves at a higher pace than even seen before. Faculty support is recognized as critical for the success of the internationalization mission. However, faculty motivation and commitment are often taken for granted; administrators direct most of their attention to tackling partnership issues…

  3. 76 FR 61227 - Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act of 2002; Biennial Review and Republication of the Select...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-10-03

    ... adjudicated as a mental defective, alien, committed to any mental institution, controlled substance, crime..., mental institution, restricted person, and unlawful user of any controlled substance. We believe that... aware of the Supreme Court's decision in Small v. United States, 544 US 385 (2005) in which the court...

  4. Organized Labor's Participation in State Workplace Literacy Initiatives.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Sarmiento, Anthony R.

    The literature shows that state federations of labor should be, and many are, actively involved in current state literacy initiatives. The United States must develop a coherent and comprehensive system of lifetime education. This will require a greater commitment of public and private resources to education and training. Too many employers are…

  5. 2016 Strategic Sustainability Performance Plan: Smithsonian Facilities

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Smithsonian Institution, 2016

    2016-01-01

    As a trust instrumentality of the United States, the Smithsonian is committed to the goals which Executive Order 13693 set for federal agencies, and is focused on making improvements in environmental, energy, and economic performance. As stated in the current Smithsonian Strategic Plan, one of the four grand challenges we have undertaken is…

  6. Responding to the UNDP Evaluations Unit

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Lempert, David H.

    2012-01-01

    The author of an indicator that tests evaluation system compliance with good governance principles addresses the UNDP's response to his article by offering an empirical test of the UNDP's commitment to reform. While the UNDP Evaluations Office claims to be working on reforms, the test exposes the unwillingness of the UNDP Evaluations Office to…

  7. Distance Education, Efficiency and Scientific Management: Some Doubts. ESTR Occasional Paper Number 12.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Campion, Mick

    The theme of the 1983 Australian and South Pacific External Studies Association concerned developing efficient teaching-learning systems and efficient management systems. Such an emphasis on efficiency was symptomatic in the United States' educational arena to a commitment to the practices of scientific management. The central role accorded to…

  8. Guiding Principles for Providing High-Quality Education in Juvenile Justice Secure Care Settings

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    US Department of Education, 2014

    2014-01-01

    Providing high-quality education in juvenile justice secure care settings presents unique challenges for the administrators, teachers, and staff who are responsible for the education, rehabilitation, and welfare of youths committed to their care. The United States departments of Education (ED) and Justice (DOJ) recognize that while these…

  9. Alternating Currents: Sacramental and Prophetic Imagining and Church Education

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Scott, Kieran

    2016-01-01

    This article advocates that education ought to be movement toward a unity of conflicting but complementary forces in the life of the congregation/parish. This paradox is captured best in the two divergent forms of imagination, namely, the sacramental and prophetic, both of which are grounded and united in their commitment to seeing ultimate…

  10. United States Navy Ethos 2008

    Science.gov Websites

    US Navy Ethos Additional Posters Strength Service Patriots Integrity Guardians Committed Additional Information U.S. Navy Ethos Poster CNO Podcast on Navy Ethos and CNOG 2009 U.S. Navy Ethos Card (front) U.S. Navy Ethos Card (back) CNO Releases 2009 Guidance Frequently Asked Questions CNO Releases

  11. Engaged Institutions: A Commitment to Service. Profiles and Data. Third Working Paper.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Kellogg Commission on the Future of State and Land Grant Universities, Washington, DC.

    This document profiles ten higher education institutions across the United States, documenting their roles as "engaged institutions," that is, institutions whose goal it is to produce graduates ready to move along a path of self-directed learning and growth. They are "interactive institutions" that have developed partnerships with civic, business,…

  12. 78 FR 42072 - Application for Final Commitment for a Long-Term Loan or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-07-15

    ... by a United States industry. Parties Principal Supplier: Space Exploration Technologies Corp. of Hawthorne, California. Marsh Space Projects, New York, New York. ATK Space Systems Inc., Goleta, California. Obligor: Space-Communication Limited. Guarantor(s): None. Description of Items Being Exported To finance...

  13. 76 FR 25519 - National Foster Care Month, 2011

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-05-05

    ... Foster Care Month, 2011 By the President of the United States A Proclamation Progress in America can be... where they can feel secure and thrive. During National Foster Care Month, we renew our commitment to... possible for children when they cannot remain in their own homes. During National Foster Care Month, we...

  14. 3 CFR 8515 - Proclamation 8515 of May 6, 2010. Military Spouse Appreciation Day, 2010

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... uniform and their families. They are America’s greatest military asset, and my Administration is committed..., 2010 Proc. 8515 Military Spouse Appreciation Day, 2010By the President of the United States of America... Nation’s servicemembers. At the heart of our Armed Forces, servicemembers' spouses keep our military...

  15. 3 CFR 8669 - Proclamation 8669 of May 5, 2011. Military Spouse Appreciation Day, 2011

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ..., Strengthening our Military Families: Meeting America’s Commitment, which marshaled resources from across our..., 2011 Proc. 8669 Military Spouse Appreciation Day, 2011By the President of the United States of America... protect and defend our great Nation every day. Across America and around the world, military spouses serve...

  16. 76 FR 14647 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; 2012 Economic Census Covering the Mining Sector

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-03-17

    ... Economic Census Covering the Mining Sector AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The... provider of timely, relevant and quality data about the people and economy of the United States. Economic data are the Census Bureau's primary program commitment during non-decennial census years. The economic...

  17. 32 CFR 153.5 - Procedures.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... Punishments. Section 3261(a) of the Act establishes a separate Federal offense under 18 U.S.C. for an act... the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, as defined in section 7 of 18... punishment are the same as the crime committed within the geographical limits of section 7 of 18 U.S.C., but...

  18. 32 CFR 153.5 - Procedures.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... Punishments. Section 3261(a) of the Act establishes a separate Federal offense under 18 U.S.C. for an act... the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, as defined in section 7 of 18... punishment are the same as the crime committed within the geographical limits of section 7 of 18 U.S.C., but...

  19. 32 CFR 153.5 - Procedures.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... Punishments. Section 3261(a) of the Act establishes a separate Federal offense under 18 U.S.C. for an act... the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, as defined in section 7 of 18... punishment are the same as the crime committed within the geographical limits of section 7 of 18 U.S.C., but...

  20. 32 CFR 153.5 - Procedures.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... Punishments. Section 3261(a) of the Act establishes a separate Federal offense under 18 U.S.C. for an act... the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, as defined in section 7 of 18... punishment are the same as the crime committed within the geographical limits of section 7 of 18 U.S.C., but...

  1. 32 CFR 153.5 - Procedures.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... Punishments. Section 3261(a) of the Act establishes a separate Federal offense under 18 U.S.C. for an act... the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, as defined in section 7 of 18... punishment are the same as the crime committed within the geographical limits of section 7 of 18 U.S.C., but...

  2. Teacher Perceptions of Professional Learning Communities Related to Teacher Retention

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Troutt, Amy

    2014-01-01

    Teacher retention continues to be of concern for schools across the United States. High teacher turnover results in a loss of teacher quality, loss of commitment, and a loss of funding to school districts. Research suggests that increased teacher retention is affected by induction, mentoring/coaching, engaging in action research, professional…

  3. Commitment to Building Prosperous Nations: Tribal Colleges Take Aim against Poverty

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Fogarty, Mark

    2007-01-01

    The article reports that Tribal colleges and universities in the United States seek to promote culturally appropriate development and to improve the financial situations not only of their students but the tribal matrix they come from. A study by the American Indian Higher Education Consortium and the Institute for Higher Education Policy…

  4. Guiding Curriculum Development: The Need to Return to Local Control

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Norton, M. Scott

    2016-01-01

    Top-down mandates concerning the curriculum of the school leave no room for program creativity and program commitment. Yet principals and teachers are held accountable for student achievement results. Constitutionally, powers not granted to the United States are reserved to the States or to the people. This book's primary purposes center on the…

  5. 78 FR 55244 - Notice of Availability of Record of Decision for Medical Facilities Development and University...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-09-10

    ... AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The United States Department of the Navy... alternative for the University Expansion will provide adequate education and research space to meet Military Health System commitments to deliver training and post-graduate level education to the military medical...

  6. Leading by Learning, Learning by Leading

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Collinson, Vivienne

    2012-01-01

    Data from a study of 81 exemplary secondary school teachers across the United States provide a portrait of how these teachers have become leaders whose influence and partnerships extend well beyond their classrooms and schools. Propelled by a deep personal desire to learn and a commitment to help students learn, the teachers are learners first,…

  7. 3 CFR 8480 - Proclamation 8480 of March 1, 2010. Read Across America Day, 2010

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... America Day, 2010 8480 Proclamation 8480 Presidential Documents Proclamations Proclamation 8480 of March 1, 2010 Proc. 8480 Read Across America Day, 2010By the President of the United States of America A... require comprehension of the written word. On Read Across America Day, we reaffirm our commitment to...

  8. Educational Trends and U.S. Commitments Since the Brown Decision.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Clark, Kenneth

    The Supreme Court's landmark Brown decision changed the total pattern of race relations in the United States and helped to solidify the foundations of American democracy for the benefit of all Americans. Ironically, although the specific issue which resulted in the Brown decision was concerned with the constitutionality of racially segregated…

  9. Bi- and Multilingualism as a Metaphor for Research

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Pavlenko, Aneta

    2008-01-01

    I would like to begin by thanking the editors of the journal, and in particular Carmen Silva-Corvalan, for inviting such a wonderful group of commentators, united in their commitment to spirited yet courteous academic debate and diverse in their academic allegiances, theories, and methodologies. I also thank the commentators for the kindness and…

  10. Advance price or purchase commitments to create markets for treatments for diseases of poverty: lessons from three policies.

    PubMed Central

    Towse, Adrian; Kettler, Hannah

    2005-01-01

    New drugs and vaccines are needed for tackling diseases of poverty in low- and middle-income countries. The lack of effective demand or market for these products translates into insufficient investment being made in research and development to meet the need for them. Many have advocated cost-reducing (push) and market-enhancing (pull) incentives to tackle this problem. Advance price or purchase commitments (APPCs) funded by international agencies and governments offer one way forward. This paper looks at design issues for APPCs for drugs and vaccines for diseases of poverty drawing on experience and lessons from three case studies: the introduction of the meningitis C vaccine in the United Kingdom; the Orphan Drug Act (ODA) in the United States of America (US); and the newly legislated US Project BioShield for bioterrorist interventions. Our key conclusion is that that APPCs have the potential to be a powerful tool and should be tried. The correct structure and design may only be determined through the process of taking action to set one up. PMID:15868022

  11. Two-stage stochastic unit commitment model including non-generation resources with conditional value-at-risk constraints

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

    Huang, Yuping; Zheng, Qipeng P.; Wang, Jianhui

    2014-11-01

    tThis paper presents a two-stage stochastic unit commitment (UC) model, which integrates non-generation resources such as demand response (DR) and energy storage (ES) while including riskconstraints to balance between cost and system reliability due to the fluctuation of variable genera-tion such as wind and solar power. This paper uses conditional value-at-risk (CVaR) measures to modelrisks associated with the decisions in a stochastic environment. In contrast to chance-constrained modelsrequiring extra binary variables, risk constraints based on CVaR only involve linear constraints and con-tinuous variables, making it more computationally attractive. The proposed models with risk constraintsare able to avoid over-conservative solutions butmore » still ensure system reliability represented by loss ofloads. Then numerical experiments are conducted to study the effects of non-generation resources ongenerator schedules and the difference of total expected generation costs with risk consideration. Sen-sitivity analysis based on reliability parameters is also performed to test the decision preferences ofconfidence levels and load-shedding loss allowances on generation cost reduction.« less

  12. Testing the Birth Unit Design Spatial Evaluation Tool (BUDSET) in Australia: a pilot study.

    PubMed

    Foureur, Maralyn J; Leap, Nicky; Davis, Deborah L; Forbes, Ian F; Homer, Caroline E S

    2011-01-01

    To pilot test the Birth Unit Design Spatial Evaluation Tool (BUDSET) in an Australian maternity care setting to determine whether such an instrument can measure the optimality of different birth settings. Optimally designed spaces to give birth are likely to influence a woman's ability to experience physiologically normal labor and birth. This is important in the current industrialized environment, where increased caesarean section rates are causing concerns. The measurement of an optimal birth space is currently impossible, because there are limited tools available. A quantitative study was undertaken to pilot test the discriminant ability of the BUDSET in eight maternity units in New South Wales, Australia. Five auditors trained in the use of the BUDSET assessed the birth units using the BUDSET, which is based on 18 design principles and is divided into four domains (Fear Cascade, Facility, Aesthetics, and Support) with three to eight assessable items in each. Data were independently collected in eight birth units. Values for each of the domains were aggregated to provide an overall Optimality Score for each birth unit. A range of Optimality Scores was derived for each of the birth units (from 51 to 77 out of a possible 100 points). The BUDSET identified units with low-scoring domains. Essentially these were older units and conventional labor ward settings. The BUDSET provides a way to assess the optimality of birth units and determine which domain areas may need improvement. There is potential for improvements to existing birth spaces, and considerable improvement can be made with simple low-cost modifications. Further research is needed to validate the tool.

  13. Group consensus peer review in radiation oncology: commitment to quality.

    PubMed

    Duggar, W Neil; Bhandari, Rahul; Yang, Chunli Claus; Vijayakumar, Srinivasan

    2018-03-27

    Peer review, especially prospective peer review, has been supported by professional organizations as an important element in optimal Radiation Oncology practice based on its demonstration of efficacy at detecting and preventing errors prior to patient treatment. Implementation of peer review is not without barriers, but solutions do exist to mitigate or eliminate some of those barriers. Peer review practice at our institution involves three key elements: new patient conference, treatment planning conference, and chart rounds. The treatment planning conference is an adaptation of the group consensus peer review model from radiology which utilizes a group of peers reviewing each treatment plan prior to implementation. The peer group in radiation oncology includes Radiation Oncologists, Physician Residents, Medical Physicists, Dosimetrists, and Therapists. Thus, technical and clinical aspects of each plan are evaluated simultaneously. Though peer review is held in high regard in Radiation Oncology, many barriers commonly exist preventing optimal implementation such as time intensiveness, repetition, and distraction from clinic time with patients. Through the use of automated review tools and commitment by individuals and administration in regards to staffing, scheduling, and responsibilities, these barriers have been mitigated to implement this Group Consensus Peer Review model into a Radiation Oncology Clinic. A Group Consensus Peer Review model has been implemented with strategies to address common barriers to effective and efficient peer review.

  14. A Modified Penalty Parameter Approach for Optimal Estimation of UH with Simultaneous Estimation of Infiltration Parameters

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bhattacharjya, Rajib Kumar

    2018-05-01

    The unit hydrograph and the infiltration parameters of a watershed can be obtained from observed rainfall-runoff data by using inverse optimization technique. This is a two-stage optimization problem. In the first stage, the infiltration parameters are obtained and the unit hydrograph ordinates are estimated in the second stage. In order to combine this two-stage method into a single stage one, a modified penalty parameter approach is proposed for converting the constrained optimization problem to an unconstrained one. The proposed approach is designed in such a way that the model initially obtains the infiltration parameters and then searches the optimal unit hydrograph ordinates. The optimization model is solved using Genetic Algorithms. A reduction factor is used in the penalty parameter approach so that the obtained optimal infiltration parameters are not destroyed during subsequent generation of genetic algorithms, required for searching optimal unit hydrograph ordinates. The performance of the proposed methodology is evaluated by using two example problems. The evaluation shows that the model is superior, simple in concept and also has the potential for field application.

  15. Stress and counterproductive work behavior: multiple relationships between demands, control, and soldier indiscipline over time.

    PubMed

    Tucker, Jennifer S; Sinclair, Robert R; Mohr, Cynthia D; Thomas, Jeffrey L; Salvi, Angela D; Adler, Amy B

    2009-07-01

    Cognitive Resource Theory (CRT) suggests that under high levels of stress, employees are more prone to committing indiscipline. As few studies have examined this relationship over time, the authors conducted a six-wave longitudinal study examining the relationship of soldiers' indiscipline with work demands and control. The study included archival data collected quarterly over 2 years from 1,701 soldiers representing 10 units in garrison (Germany and Italy), in training rotations (Grafenwoehr, Germany), and on peacekeeping deployments (Kosovo, Kuwait). No main effects were found for work overload, and the findings for the moderating effects of control were contradictory. Within each time point, as work overload increased, soldiers who felt less control committed more indiscipline, supporting CRT. Over time, however, as work overload increased, soldiers who perceived less control 6 months earlier committed less indiscipline. Additionally, the authors found reverse causal effects for control such that prior perceptions of a lack of control were associated with indiscipline and prior incidents of indiscipline with less control. (c) 2009 APA, all rights reserved.

  16. Effects of Gender on Engineering Career Commitment

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Barker, Anne M.

    Engineering has been one of the most difficult fields for 'women to enter and in which to succeed. Although the percentage of female engineers has Increased, women are still seriously underrcpresented in the workforce. This study examined the effect offender on career commitment, success, satisfaction, and involvement in engineering, and the effect of personality and work environment on these variables. Alumni from an engineering school in the northeastern United States were surveyed. The questionnaire was analyzed using statistical and descriptive methods to determine relationships among these variables. Women's commitment scores were lower than men's when controlled for other variables, including satisfaction and involvement. Men had longer tenure as engineers than women, even when controlled for year of graduation, professional engineering status, and number of children. Women did not leave engineering in different proportions than men, but they did earn significantly less despite controlling for year of graduation and number of hours worked weekly. Some gender differences in workplace experience were also found, including having colleagues act protectively, being mistaken for secretaries, and seeing men progress faster in their careers than equally qualified women.

  17. Committing to Breastfeeding in Social Work.

    PubMed

    Hurst, Carol Grace; Reno, Rebecca; Lefmann, Tess

    2018-04-27

    This article addresses the importance of breastfeeding for the social work profession. Because breastfeeding is a critical component of maternal and child health, persistent racial and socioeconomic breastfeeding inequality is a social justice issue in need of social work commitment. Even while breastfeeding rates have been increasing in the United States there are some groups of mothers who initiate breastfeeding less frequently or have trouble with sustaining breastfeeding for recommended lengths. These mothers and their babies thus miss out on the ample benefits of this nurturing interaction. Using social work's unique disciplinary perspective and commitment to social justice, the authors place essential understanding of breastfeeding health benefits within the core values of the National Association of Social Work ethical code. The practice context for early breastfeeding intervention with mothers and families is discussed with acknowledgment of the maternal-child health focus at the root of the profession. Recognition of the potential of contemporary social work to advance breastfeeding equity through practice, scholarship, and action positions breastfeeding support activities as integral to meeting the grand challenges of the social work profession.

  18. Applied Meteorology Unit (AMU) Quarterly Report - Fourth Quarter FY-09

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Bauman, William; Crawford, Winifred; Barrett, Joe; Watson, Leela; Wheeler, Mark

    2009-01-01

    This report summarizes the Applied Meteorology Unit (AMU) activities for the fourth quarter of Fiscal Year 2009 (July - September 2009). Tasks reports include: (1) Peak Wind Tool for User Launch Commit Criteria (LCC), (2) Objective Lightning Probability Tool. Phase III, (3) Peak Wind Tool for General Forecasting. Phase II, (4) Update and Maintain Advanced Regional Prediction System (ARPS) Data Analysis System (ADAS), (5) Verify MesoNAM Performance (6) develop a Graphical User Interface to update selected parameters for the Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLlT)

  19. Applied Meteorology Unit (AMU) Quarterly Report Third Quarter FY-08

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Bauman, William; Crawford, Winifred; Barrett, Joe; Watson, Leela; Dreher, Joseph

    2008-01-01

    This report summarizes the Applied Meteorology Unit (AMU) activities for the third quarter of Fiscal Year 2008 (April - June 2008). Tasks reported on are: Peak Wind Tool for User Launch Commit Criteria (LCC), Anvil Forecast Tool in AWIPS Phase II, Completion of the Edward Air Force Base (EAFB) Statistical Guidance Wind Tool, Volume Averaged Height Integ rated Radar Reflectivity (VAHIRR), Impact of Local Sensors, Radar Scan Strategies for the PAFB WSR-74C Replacement, VAHIRR Cost Benefit Analysis, and WRF Wind Sensitivity Study at Edwards Air Force Base

  20. The role of work environment in keeping newly licensed RNs in nursing: a questionnaire survey.

    PubMed

    Unruh, Lynn; Zhang, Ning Jackie

    2013-12-01

    In prior studies, newly licensed registered nurses (RNs) describe their job as being stressful. Little is known about how their perceptions of the hospital work environment affect their commitment to nursing. To assess the influence of hospital work environment on newly licensed RN's commitment to nursing and intent to leave nursing. Correlational survey. Newly licensed RNs working in hospitals in Florida, United States. 40% random sample of all RNs newly licensed in 2006. The survey was mailed out in 2008. Dependent variables were indicators of professional commitment and intent to leave nursing. Independent variables were individual, organizational, and work environment characteristics and perceptions (job difficulty, job demands and job control). Statistical analysis used ordinary least squares regressions. Level of significance was set at p<0.05. Job difficulty and job demand were significantly related to a lower commitment to nursing and a greater intent to leave nursing, and vice versa for job control. The strongest ranked of the job difficulties items were: incorrect instructions, organizational rules, lack of supervisor support, and inadequate help from others. Workload and other items were significant, but ranked lower. The strongest ranked of the job pressure items were: "having no time to get things done" and "having to do more than can be done well." The strongest ranked of job control items were "ability to act independent of others." Nurses with positive orientation experiences and those working the day shift and more hours were less likely to intend to leave nursing and more likely to be committed to nursing. Significant demographic characteristics related to professional commitment were race and health. Negative perceptions of the work environment were strong predictors of intent to leave nursing and a lower commitment to nursing among newly licensed RNs. These results indicate that retention of newly licensed RNs in nursing can be improved through changes in the work environment that remove obstacles to care-giving, increase resources and autonomy, and reduce workload and other job pressure factors. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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