42 CFR 408.202 - Conditions for participation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... MEDICARE PROGRAM PREMIUMS FOR SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL INSURANCE Supplementary Medical Insurance Premium... apply to CMS to enter into an SMI premium surcharge agreement if the following conditions are met: (1) Each individual designated for coverage under the premium surcharge agreement must be enrolled in...

STREET SURFACE STORAGE FOR CONTROL OF COMBINED SEWER SURCHARGE

EPA Science Inventory

One type of Best Management Practices (BMPs) available is the use of street storage systems to prevent combined sewer surcharging and to mitigate basement flooding. A case study approach, based primarily on two largely implemented street storage systems, will be used to explain ...

Smoking-related changes or brand switching? Smokers' anticipated responses to a large increase in Taiwan's Tobacco Health and Welfare Surcharge.

PubMed

Yeh, C-Y; Schafferer, C; Lee, J-M; Hsieh, C-J

2016-07-01

This study examines the impact on smokers' behaviour of a planned increase in the Health and Welfare Surcharge of Tobacco Products in Taiwan. This study used a structured questionnaire to perform telephone interviews. Stratified random sampling was applied to interview current smokers aged 18-65 years in Taiwan. Based on nationwide survey data of smokers' responses to future increases in cigarette prices, this study used multinomial logistic regression to perform its analyses. After the proposed increase in the Health and Welfare Surcharge of Tobacco Products, subsequent cigarette price increases would motivate nearly 30% of the smokers to adopt smoking-related changes and 10% to change to lower-priced brands. The study suggests that a large increase in the Health and Welfare Surcharge of Tobacco Products would lead to considerable changes in smoking behaviour, which in turn would increase cessation rate at the population level. Copyright © 2016 The Royal Society for Public Health. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

18 CFR 1304.412 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 18 Conservation of Power and Water Resources 2 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Definitions. 1304.412 Section 1304.412 Conservation of Power and Water Resources TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY APPROVAL OF... surcharge at the dam. Surcharge is the ability to raise the water level behind the dam above the top-of...

18 CFR 1304.412 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 18 Conservation of Power and Water Resources 2 2013-04-01 2012-04-01 true Definitions. 1304.412 Section 1304.412 Conservation of Power and Water Resources TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY APPROVAL OF... surcharge at the dam. Surcharge is the ability to raise the water level behind the dam above the top-of...

24 CFR 965.506 - Surcharges for excess consumption of PHA-furnished utilities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Surcharges for excess consumption of PHA-furnished utilities. 965.506 Section 965.506 Housing and Urban Development Regulations Relating to Housing and Urban Development (Continued) OFFICE OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC AND INDIAN...

10 CFR 1800.13 - Conditions for becoming an eligible party state.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

..., including all surcharges (except new surcharges imposed pursuant to Article V.f.3. of the Compact), shall... institutional control period as a result of the radioactive waste and waste management operations of any... from generators within the borders of the existing states. In the event of such unavailability, the new...

49 CFR 1243.3 - Report of fuel cost, consumption, and surcharge revenue.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 49 Transportation 9 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Report of fuel cost, consumption, and surcharge revenue. 1243.3 Section 1243.3 Transportation Other Regulations Relating to Transportation (Continued) SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (CONTINUED) ACCOUNTS, RECORDS AND REPORTS QUARTERLY OPERATING REPORTS-RAILROADS § 1243.3...

To provide clarity on the use of National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center Commemorative Coin surcharges, the use of Abraham Lincoln Commemorative Coin surcharges, and for other purposes.

THOMAS, 112th Congress

Rep. Westmoreland, Lynn A. [R-GA-3

2012-07-17

House - 07/31/2012 Referred to the Subcommittee on Domestic Monetary Policy and Technology. (All Actions) Notes: For further action, see S.3363, which became Public Law 112-169 on 8/10/2012. Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

The use of deconvolution techniques to identify the fundamental mixing characteristics of urban drainage structures.

PubMed

Stovin, V R; Guymer, I; Chappell, M J; Hattersley, J G

2010-01-01

Mixing and dispersion processes affect the timing and concentration of contaminants transported within urban drainage systems. Hence, methods of characterising the mixing effects of specific hydraulic structures are of interest to drainage network modellers. Previous research, focusing on surcharged manholes, utilised the first-order Advection-Dispersion Equation (ADE) and Aggregated Dead Zone (ADZ) models to characterise dispersion. However, although systematic variations in travel time as a function of discharge and surcharge depth have been identified, the first order ADE and ADZ models do not provide particularly good fits to observed manhole data, which means that the derived parameter values are not independent of the upstream temporal concentration profile. An alternative, more robust, approach utilises the system's Cumulative Residence Time Distribution (CRTD), and the solute transport characteristics of a surcharged manhole have been shown to be characterised by just two dimensionless CRTDs, one for pre- and the other for post-threshold surcharge depths. Although CRTDs corresponding to instantaneous upstream injections can easily be generated using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models, the identification of CRTD characteristics from non-instantaneous and noisy laboratory data sets has been hampered by practical difficulties. This paper shows how a deconvolution approach derived from systems theory may be applied to identify the CRTDs associated with urban drainage structures.

The possible impact of an alcohol welfare surcharge on consumption of alcoholic beverages in Taiwan

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background The abuse of alcoholic beverages leads to numerous negative consequences in Taiwan, as around the world. Alcohol abuse not only contributes to cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes and cancer, but it is also an underlying cause of many other serious problems, such as traffic accidents, lost productivity, and domestic violence. International leaders in health policy are increasingly using taxation as an effective tool with which to lower alcohol consumption. In this study, we assessed how consumption patterns in Taiwan would be affected by levying a welfare surcharge on alcoholic beverages of 20%, 40% or 60% in accordance with the current excise tax. We also assessed the medical savings Taiwan would experience if consumption of alcoholic beverages were to decrease and how much additional revenue a welfare surcharge would generate. Methods We estimated the elasticity of four types of alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, whisky and brandy) using the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) Demand Model. Specifically, we estimated alcohol’s price elasticity by analyzing the sales prices and time statistics of these products from 1974 to 2009. Results Alcoholic beverages in Taiwan have the following price elasticities: beer (−0.820), wine (−0.955), whisky (−0.587), brandy (−0.958). A welfare surcharge tax of 40% in accordance with the excise tax would decrease overall consumption of beer, wine, whisky and brandy between 16.24% and 16.42%. It would also generate New Taiwan Dollar (NT$) revenues of 5.782 billion to 5.993 billion. Savings in medical costs would range from NT$871.07 million to NT$897.46 million annually. Conclusions A social and welfare surcharge of 40% on alcoholic beverages in Taiwan would successfully lower consumption rates, decrease medical costs, and generate revenue that could be used to educate consumers and further decrease consumption rates. Consequently, we strongly recommend that such a tax be imposed in Taiwan. PMID:24010885

The possible impact of an alcohol welfare surcharge on consumption of alcoholic beverages in Taiwan.

PubMed

Yeh, Chun-Yuan; Ho, Li-Ming; Lee, Jie-Min; Hwang, Jhe-Yo

2013-09-08

The abuse of alcoholic beverages leads to numerous negative consequences in Taiwan, as around the world. Alcohol abuse not only contributes to cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes and cancer, but it is also an underlying cause of many other serious problems, such as traffic accidents, lost productivity, and domestic violence. International leaders in health policy are increasingly using taxation as an effective tool with which to lower alcohol consumption. In this study, we assessed how consumption patterns in Taiwan would be affected by levying a welfare surcharge on alcoholic beverages of 20%, 40% or 60% in accordance with the current excise tax. We also assessed the medical savings Taiwan would experience if consumption of alcoholic beverages were to decrease and how much additional revenue a welfare surcharge would generate. We estimated the elasticity of four types of alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, whisky and brandy) using the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) Demand Model. Specifically, we estimated alcohol's price elasticity by analyzing the sales prices and time statistics of these products from 1974 to 2009. Alcoholic beverages in Taiwan have the following price elasticities: beer (-0.820), wine (-0.955), whisky (-0.587), brandy (-0.958). A welfare surcharge tax of 40% in accordance with the excise tax would decrease overall consumption of beer, wine, whisky and brandy between 16.24% and 16.42%. It would also generate New Taiwan Dollar (NT$) revenues of 5.782 billion to 5.993 billion. Savings in medical costs would range from NT$871.07 million to NT$897.46 million annually. A social and welfare surcharge of 40% on alcoholic beverages in Taiwan would successfully lower consumption rates, decrease medical costs, and generate revenue that could be used to educate consumers and further decrease consumption rates. Consequently, we strongly recommend that such a tax be imposed in Taiwan.

Report on Fiscal Year 1991 financial statement audit of the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Surcharge Escrow Account (CR-FC-92-1)

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

Not Available

1992-06-26

The attached audit report on the subject account presents the opinion of the independent certified public accounts on financial statements as of September 30, 1991. In their opinion, the Surcharge Account statements are fairly presented in all material respects in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Also attached are reports on the internal control structure and compliance with laws and regulations, ass well as management`s letter on addressing needed improvements.

Report on Fiscal Year 1991 financial statement audit of the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Surcharge Escrow Account (CR-FC-92-1)

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

Not Available

1992-06-26

The attached audit report on the subject account presents the opinion of the independent certified public accounts on financial statements as of September 30, 1991. In their opinion, the Surcharge Account statements are fairly presented in all material respects in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Also attached are reports on the internal control structure and compliance with laws and regulations, ass well as management's letter on addressing needed improvements.

The Likely Effects of Price Increases on Commissary Patronage: A Review of the Literature

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-01-01

uniformed services and to eligible members of their families at cost plus a 5-percent surcharge, saving customers an average of more than 30 percent when...47 ix Summary The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) operates 245 commissaries worldwide, sell- ing groceries at cost plus a fixed...supermarkets by selling them at cost from the supplier plus a 5-percent surcharge. In FY 2013, DeCA sales were approximately $5.9 billion, with total

Potential incremental seepage losses in an alluvial channel in the Rio Grande Basin, New Mexico

USGS Publications Warehouse

Gold, R.L.

1985-01-01

A two-dimensional, digital, cross-sectional model was used to simulate seepage of water from an alluvial channel, which had the general characteristic of the Rio Grande channel, into the underlying alluvium within the reach from Cochiti Dam to Elephant Butte Reservoir. Seepage rates were determined for losing and gaining reaches, and reaches affected by pumping of ground water. The seepage rates were computed for stream surcharges (height of additional water applied on top of base flow) ranging from 0.5 foot to 3 feet and for application periods ranging from 1 to 100 days. The net seepage rates, which were nearly identical for each type of reach, ranged from 0.0 cubic foot per second per mile of channel length for a 0.5 foot surcharge applied for 1 day to 0.37 cubic foot per second per mile of channel length for a 3 feet surcharge applied for 100 days, followed by a 180 day seepage return flow from the aquifer. (USGS)

Effect of Doppler flow meter position on discharge measurement in surcharged manholes.

PubMed

Yang, Haoming; Zhu, David Z; Liu, Yanchen

2018-02-01

Determining the proper installation location of flow meters is important for accurate measurement of discharge in sewer systems. In this study, flow field and flow regimes in two types of manholes under surcharged flow were investigated using a commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code. The error in measuring the flow discharge using a Doppler flow meter (based on the velocity in a Doppler beam) was then estimated. The values of the corrective coefficient were obtained for the Doppler flow meter at different locations under various conditions. Suggestions for selecting installation positions are provided.

Analysis of influence of different pressure and different depth of pvd on soft foundation treatment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Bin; Wang, XueKui

2018-02-01

According to the depth of plastic vertical drainage (pvd), the arrangement mode and the loading mode to analyze the influence of Vacuum preloading near the existing road. An arrangement mode of vacuum preloading to reduce the impact was put forward. The combination of different depth of pvd and loading modes are used to analyze the effect of vacuum preloading treatment and its influence range. The calculations show that the deformation and the influence distance are smaller by using the 40kPa vacuum loading and 41kPa surcharge load preloading. Reducing the depth of the pvd and vacuum combined surcharge preloading can weaken the influence to the existing highway.

A new methodology for surcharge risk management in urban areas (case study: Gonbad-e-Kavus city).

PubMed

Hooshyaripor, Farhad; Yazdi, Jafar

2017-02-01

This research presents a simulation-optimization model for urban flood mitigation integrating Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm (NSGA-II) with Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) hydraulic model under a curve number-based hydrologic model of low impact development technologies in Gonbad-e-Kavus, a small city in the north of Iran. In the developed model, the best performance of the system relies on the optimal layout and capacity of retention ponds over the study area in order to reduce surcharge from the manholes underlying a set of storm event loads, while the available investment plays a restricting role. Thus, there is a multi-objective optimization problem with two conflicting objectives solved successfully by NSGA-II to find a set of optimal solutions known as the Pareto front. In order to analyze the results, a new factor, investment priority index (IPI), is defined which shows the risk of surcharging over the network and priority of the mitigation actions. The IPI is calculated using the probability of pond selection for candidate locations and average depth of the ponds in all Pareto front solutions. The IPI can help the decision makers to arrange a long-term progressive plan with the priority of high-risk areas when an optimal solution has been selected.

42 CFR 408.207 - Billing and payment procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... MEDICARE PROGRAM PREMIUMS FOR SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL INSURANCE Supplementary Medical Insurance Premium... premium surcharge for each eligible enrollee who is included in the agreement for the time period...

42 CFR 408.207 - Billing and payment procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... MEDICARE PROGRAM PREMIUMS FOR SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL INSURANCE Supplementary Medical Insurance Premium... premium surcharge for each eligible enrollee who is included in the agreement for the time period...

Systemic risk and heterogeneous leverage in banking networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuzubaş, Tolga Umut; Saltoğlu, Burak; Sever, Can

2016-11-01

This study probes systemic risk implications of leverage heterogeneity in banking networks. We show that the presence of heterogeneous leverages drastically changes the systemic effects of defaults and the nature of the contagion in interbank markets. Using financial leverage data from the US banking system, through simulations, we analyze the systemic significance of different types of borrowers, the evolution of the network, the consequences of interbank market size and the impact of market segmentation. Our study is related to the recent Basel III regulations on systemic risk and the treatment of the Global Systemically Important Banks (GSIBs). We also assess the extent to which the recent capital surcharges on GSIBs may curb financial fragility. We show the effectiveness of surcharge policy for the most-levered banks vis-a-vis uniform capital injection.

40 CFR 52.472 - Approval status.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... April 19, July 9, and July 16, 1973, the Administrator approves the measures for parking surcharge, car... of the Act, the exemption of certain fuel burning (nitrogen oxide emitting) sources, incorrect...

40 CFR 52.472 - Approval status.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... April 19, July 9, and July 16, 1973, the Administrator approves the measures for parking surcharge, car... of the Act, the exemption of certain fuel burning (nitrogen oxide emitting) sources, incorrect...

76 FR 55375 - Combined Notice of Filings

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-09-07

..., September 12, 2011. Docket Numbers: RP11-2454-000. Applicants: Venice Gathering System, LLC. Description: Venice Gathering System, LLC submits tariff filing per 154.402: 2011 ACA Surcharge Filing to be effective...

U.S. program assessing nuclear waste disposal in space - A status report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rice, E. E.; Priest, C. C.; Friedlander, A. L.

1980-01-01

Various concepts for the space disposal of nuclear waste are discussed, with attention given to the destinations now being considered (high earth orbit, lunar orbit, lunar surface, solar orbit, solar system escape, sun). Waste mixes are considered in the context of the 'Purex' (Plutonium and Uranium extraction) process and the potential forms for nuclear waste disposal (ORNL cermet, Boro-silicate glass, Metal matrix, Hot-pressed supercalcine) are described. Preliminary estimates of the energy required and the cost surcharge needed to support the space disposal of nuclear waste are presented (8 metric tons/year, requiring three Shuttle launches). When Purex is employed, the generated electrical energy needed to support the Shuttle launches is shown to be less than 1%, and the projected surcharge to electrical users is shown to be slightly more than two mills/kW-hour.

Pressurized storm sewer simulation : model enhancement.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1991-01-01

A modified Pressurized Flow Simulation Model, PFSM, was developed and attached to the Federal Highway Administration, FHWA, Pool Funded PFP-HYDRA Package. Four hydrograph options are available for simulating inflow to a sewer system under surcharge o...

Madison Peak-Period Parking Pricing Demonstration Project

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1984-05-01

This report describes the impacts of instituting a peak-period parking surcharge along with introducing a park-ride shuttle bus system in Madison, Wisconsin. the objective of the demonstration, which was funded through the UMTA Service & Methods Demo...

77 FR 60695 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Announcement of Board Approval Under Delegated...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-10-04

... (CRM) surcharge data item to the annual schedule, and revise the quarterly schedule to include the... reflect the Market Risk rule's CRM, (6) revising the Credit RWA associated with Credit Valuation...

49 CFR 1243.3 - Report of fuel cost, consumption, and surcharge revenue.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

..., Environmental Analysis, and Administration, Surface Transportation Board, Washington, DC 20423-0001, within 30... published on the Board's website and is maintained by the agency for at least 2 years. The display of a...

49 CFR 1243.3 - Report of fuel cost, consumption, and surcharge revenue.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

..., Environmental Analysis, and Administration, Surface Transportation Board, Washington, DC 20423-0001, within 30... published on the Board's website and is maintained by the agency for at least 2 years. The display of a...

Assessing the impact of preload on pyrite-rich sediment and groundwater quality.

PubMed

Karikari-Yeboah, Ohene; Addai-Mensah, Jonas

2017-02-01

Pyrite-rich sediments would, invariably, undergo redox reactions which would lead to acidic aqueous environment containing solubilized toxic metal species. When such sediments are subjected to preload, a technique employed by geotechnical engineers to improve the load-bearing capacity of highly compressible formation, transient flow of pore water, accompanied by acidity transfer, would occur as a response. Despite the concomitant environmental and socio-economic significance, to date, there has been limited interdisciplinary research on the underpinning geotechnical engineering and geo-environmental science issues for pyrite-rich sediments under preload. In this study, we investigate the effect of pyrite-rich sediment pore water transfer under preload surcharge on the receiving environment and the impact on the groundwater speciation and quality. Sediment samples were obtained at close depth intervals from boreholes established within pristine areas and those subjected to the preload application. Soil and pore water samples were subjected to solid/solution speciation, moisture contents, soil pH and the Atterberg Limits' analyses using standard analytical techniques and methods. Standpipes were also installed in the boreholes for groundwater sampling and in situ monitoring of water quality parameters. It is shown that the imposition of preload surcharge over pyritic sediment created a reducing environment rich in SO 4 2- , iron oxide minerals and organic matter. This reducing environment fostered organic carbon catabolism to generate excess pyrite and bicarbonate alkalinity, which would invariably impact adversely on soil quality and plant growth. These were accompanied by increase in pH, dissolved Al, Ca, Mg and K species beneath the surcharge.

32 CFR 383a.5 - Responsibilities and functions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... Defense (Production and Logistics) (ASD(P&L)) shall: (1) Recommend to the Secretary and the Deputy... following areas: (i) Funding. (ii) Commissary establishment/disestablishment. (iii) Pricing and surcharges... security, logistics, and administrative support as required for effective operation of the military...

32 CFR 383a.5 - Responsibilities and functions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... Defense (Production and Logistics) (ASD(P&L)) shall: (1) Recommend to the Secretary and the Deputy... following areas: (i) Funding. (ii) Commissary establishment/disestablishment. (iii) Pricing and surcharges... security, logistics, and administrative support as required for effective operation of the military...

32 CFR 383a.5 - Responsibilities and functions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... Defense (Production and Logistics) (ASD(P&L)) shall: (1) Recommend to the Secretary and the Deputy... following areas: (i) Funding. (ii) Commissary establishment/disestablishment. (iii) Pricing and surcharges... security, logistics, and administrative support as required for effective operation of the military...

32 CFR 383a.5 - Responsibilities and functions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... Defense (Production and Logistics) (ASD(P&L)) shall: (1) Recommend to the Secretary and the Deputy... following areas: (i) Funding. (ii) Commissary establishment/disestablishment. (iii) Pricing and surcharges... security, logistics, and administrative support as required for effective operation of the military...

32 CFR 383a.5 - Responsibilities and functions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... Defense (Production and Logistics) (ASD(P&L)) shall: (1) Recommend to the Secretary and the Deputy... following areas: (i) Funding. (ii) Commissary establishment/disestablishment. (iii) Pricing and surcharges... security, logistics, and administrative support as required for effective operation of the military...

42 CFR 408.205 - Application procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 42 Public Health 2 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Application procedures. 408.205 Section 408.205 Public Health CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES MEDICARE PROGRAM PREMIUMS FOR SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL INSURANCE Supplementary Medical Insurance Premium Surcharge...

42 CFR 408.205 - Application procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 42 Public Health 2 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Application procedures. 408.205 Section 408.205 Public Health CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES MEDICARE PROGRAM PREMIUMS FOR SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL INSURANCE Supplementary Medical Insurance Premium Surcharge...

47 CFR 61.3 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... trunk ports, Information Surcharge, and signalling transfer point (STP) port) by the base period LS...) Dominant carrier. A carrier found by the Commission to have market power (i.e., power to control prices... billing or collection of access charges from interexchange carriers or wireless carriers. When determining...

47 CFR 61.3 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... trunk ports, Information Surcharge, and signalling transfer point (STP) port) by the base period LS...) Dominant carrier. A carrier found by the Commission to have market power (i.e., power to control prices... billing or collection of access charges from interexchange carriers or wireless carriers. When determining...

22 CFR 51.53 - Refunds.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... DEPARTMENT OF STATE NATIONALITY AND PASSPORTS PASSPORTS Fees § 51.53 Refunds. (a) The Department will refund the passport application fee and the security surcharge to any person exempt from payment of passport... expedited passport processing fee if the Department fails to provide expedited passport processing as...

22 CFR 51.53 - Refunds.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... DEPARTMENT OF STATE NATIONALITY AND PASSPORTS PASSPORTS Fees § 51.53 Refunds. (a) The Department will refund the passport application fee and the security surcharge to any person exempt from payment of passport... expedited passport processing fee if the Department fails to provide expedited passport processing as...

22 CFR 51.53 - Refunds.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... DEPARTMENT OF STATE NATIONALITY AND PASSPORTS PASSPORTS Fees § 51.53 Refunds. (a) The Department will refund the passport application fee and the security surcharge to any person exempt from payment of passport... expedited passport processing fee if the Department fails to provide expedited passport processing as...

22 CFR 51.53 - Refunds.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... DEPARTMENT OF STATE NATIONALITY AND PASSPORTS PASSPORTS Fees § 51.53 Refunds. (a) The Department will refund the passport application fee and the security surcharge to any person exempt from payment of passport... expedited passport processing fee if the Department fails to provide expedited passport processing as...

22 CFR 51.53 - Refunds.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... DEPARTMENT OF STATE NATIONALITY AND PASSPORTS PASSPORTS Fees § 51.53 Refunds. (a) The Department will refund the passport application fee and the security surcharge to any person exempt from payment of passport... expedited passport processing fee if the Department fails to provide expedited passport processing as...

A microcomputer model for simulating pressurized flow in a storm sewer system : interim report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1988-01-01

A study is being conducted on the development of a microcomputer model for simulating storm sewer flow under surcharged or pressurized conditions. Several existing models, including the EPA Storm Water Management Hodel (SYMM) and the Illinois Urban D...

75 FR 70201 - Certain Coated Paper Suitable for High-Quality Print Graphics Using Sheet-Fed Presses From the...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-11-17

... Construction Taxes and Education Surcharges for FIEs;'' and (5) 3.51 percent under the ``Value Added-Tax and... Paper Industry;'' (2) 1.11 percent under ``Two Free, Three Half;'' (3) 1.38 percent under ``Income Tax...

A microcomputer model for simulating pressurized flow in a storm sewer system : final report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1989-01-01

A review was made of several computer programs capable of simulating sewer flows under surcharge or pressurized flow conditions. A modified version of the EXTRAN module of the SYMM model, called PFSM, was developed and attached to the FHYA Pooled Fun...

Cost Accounting: Production and Equipment Services.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schmid, William T.

Cost accounting for audiovisual productions should include direct costs, and, in some cases, the media administrator may have to calculate a per-hour surcharge for general operating overhead as well. Such procedures enable the administrator to determine cost effectiveness, to control cost overruns, and to generate more staff efficiency. Cost…

The effect of chicken blood and its components on wastewater characteristics and sewage surcharges

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Local wastewater treatment authorities charge non-residential customers, in part, based on measurements which indicate the pollutant load in the customer’s wastewater. Blood has long been recognized as the most potent contributor to pollutant loads in chicken processing plant wastewater. Quantificat...

26 CFR 1.55-1 - Alternative minimum taxable income.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 1 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 true Alternative minimum taxable income. 1.55-1... TAXES Tax Surcharge § 1.55-1 Alternative minimum taxable income. (a) General rule for computing alternative minimum taxable income. Except as otherwise provided by statute, regulations, or other published...

United States Department of Defense Agency Financial Report for Fiscal Year 2013. Financial Section

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-01-01

capacity for operating landfills and life expectancy in years for all other assets. The Department expenses the full cost to clean up contamination for...construction, and rehabilitation projects on inland waterways. The BFS manages and invests for the Trust Fund. Defense Commissary Agency Surcharge Trust

75 FR 16161 - Notice of Proposed Information Collection for Public Comment; Energy Conservation for PHA-Owned...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-03-31

... Information Collection for Public Comment; Energy Conservation for PHA-Owned or Leased Projects--Audits... or Leased Projects--Audits, Utility Allowances. OMB Control Number: 2577-0062. Description of the... surcharges (and revisions thereof) are established. PHAs complete energy audits, benefit/cost analyses for...

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

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-06

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

18 CFR 1304.412 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 18 Conservation of Power and Water Resources 2 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Definitions. 1304.412 Section 1304.412 Conservation of Power and Water Resources TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY APPROVAL OF... at the dam. Surcharge is the ability to raise the water level behind the dam above the top-of-gates...

STREET STORAGE SYSTEM FOR CONTROL OF COMBINED SEWER SURCHARGE

EPA Science Inventory

This manual presents a discussion of the use of on-street storage as an effective means to control stormwater runoff. It focuses on the success achieved by using street storage, in 2 communities in IL and includes a description and evaluation of how this technology solved surchar...

49 CFR 1243.3 - Report of fuel cost, consumption, and surcharge revenue.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... published on the Board's website and is maintained by the agency for at least 2 years. The display of a currently valid OMB control number for this collection is required by law. Under 5 CFR 1320.5(b), persons... control number. [72 FR 45386, Aug. 14, 2007] ...

49 CFR 1243.3 - Report of fuel cost, consumption, and surcharge revenue.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... published on the Board's website and is maintained by the agency for at least 2 years. The display of a currently valid OMB control number for this collection is required by law. Under 5 CFR 1320.5(b), persons... control number. [72 FR 45386, Aug. 14, 2007] ...

77 FR 20090 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-04-03

... Change Relating to the Equity Options Fees and Singly Listed Option Fee March 28, 2012. Pursuant to... entitled ``Equity Options Fees'' to assess Professionals an Options Surcharge in certain Multiply Listed Options; (ii) amend Section III \\4\\ of the Fee Schedule entitled ``Singly Listed Options'' to specify...

Revenue sources for financing transportation safety activities in Virginia : phase three, feasibility of a surcharge on traffic fines.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1981-01-01

Senate Bill 85, an action of the 1978 General Assembly, amended the Code of Virginia to provide, in part, that the Division of Highway Safety be succeeded by the newly created Department of Transportation Safety effective July 1, 1978. In its Declara...

26 CFR 1.56-1 - Adjustment for the book income of corporations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

....56-1 Section 1.56-1 Internal Revenue INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY INCOME TAX INCOME TAXES Tax Surcharge § 1.56-1 Adjustment for the book income of corporations. (a) Computation of... regard to the book income adjustment or the alternative tax net operating loss determined under section...

31 CFR 50.12 - Clear and conspicuous disclosure.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

....12 Section 50.12 Money and Finance: Treasury Office of the Secretary of the Treasury TERRORISM RISK... a “surcharge.” (2) Premium to reflect definition of act of terrorism. If an insurer makes an initial..., consistent with the definition of an act of terrorism as amended by the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program...

31 CFR 50.12 - Clear and conspicuous disclosure.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

....12 Section 50.12 Money and Finance: Treasury Office of the Secretary of the Treasury TERRORISM RISK... a “surcharge.” (2) Premium to reflect definition of act of terrorism. If an insurer makes an initial..., consistent with the definition of an act of terrorism as amended by the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program...

31 CFR 50.12 - Clear and conspicuous disclosure.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

....12 Section 50.12 Money and Finance: Treasury Office of the Secretary of the Treasury TERRORISM RISK... a “surcharge.” (2) Premium to reflect definition of act of terrorism. If an insurer makes an initial..., consistent with the definition of an act of terrorism as amended by the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program...

31 CFR 50.12 - Clear and conspicuous disclosure.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

....12 Section 50.12 Money and Finance: Treasury Office of the Secretary of the Treasury TERRORISM RISK... a “surcharge.” (2) Premium to reflect definition of act of terrorism. If an insurer makes an initial..., consistent with the definition of an act of terrorism as amended by the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program...

77 FR 73456 - Update to the TR-12 Fuel Related Rate Adjustment Policy (SDDC Fuel Surcharge Policy)

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-12-10

... Time Only (OTO) personal property movements, regardless of mode. SDDC will not pay a FRA for any type... less-than-truckload (LTL) and Personal Property (PP) shipments. The percentage of line-haul increment... property movements within the United States. This policy provides the transportation industry, including...

78 FR 52694 - Price Cap Rules for Certain Postal Rate Adjustments

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-26

... Sec. 3010.12(c) relating to the filing of information concerning new discounts and surcharges are... and IV.C. Section 3010.23(b) reflects revisions that require the percentage change in rates for a... authority may only be applied after applying the annual limitation. Section 3010.26(c)(2) reflects revisions...

78 FR 27372 - Combined Notice of Filings

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-05-10

... Number: 20130501-5062. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 5/13/13. Docket Numbers: RP13-863-000. Applicants: Big...: Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company. Description: Mid-South Expansion Project Phase 2 Rates to be effective 6/1... Numbers: RP13-872-000. Applicants: TC Offshore LLC. Description: Cashout Surcharge 2013 to be effective 6...

14 CFR 250.9 - Written explanation of denied boarding compensation and boarding priorities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... of air carrier), you are probably entitled to monetary compensation. This notice explains the airline... of (name of air carrier): (In this space the carrier inserts its boarding priority rules or a summary... compensation is based shall include any surcharge and air transportation tax. “Alternate transportation” is air...

77 FR 46535 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-03

... business models. For example, vendors such as Bloomberg and Thomson Reuters that assess a surcharge on data... generates sufficient commission revenue. Although the business models may differ, these vendors' pricing... these varying business models and pricing disciplines in order to market proprietary data products...

75 FR 57314 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-09-20

... business models. For example, vendors such as Bloomberg and Reuters that assess a surcharge on data they... sufficient commission revenue. Although the business models may differ, these vendors' pricing discipline is... these varying business models and pricing disciplines in order to market proprietary data products...

75 FR 41916 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing of a Proposed Rule...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-07-19

... their business models. For example, vendors such as Bloomberg and Reuters that assess a surcharge on... promotes trading and generates sufficient commission revenue. Although the business models may differ... must understand and respond to these varying business models and pricing disciplines in order to...

75 FR 57321 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-09-20

... business models. For example, vendors such as Bloomberg and Reuters that assess a surcharge on data they... sufficient commission revenue. Although the business models may differ, these vendors' pricing discipline is... these varying business models and pricing disciplines in order to market proprietary data products...

22 CFR 202.7 - Documentation required for reimbursement.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... Voucher for Purchases and Services Other than Personal”—Voucher SF 1034 in original and three copies to be... relevant weights, cubic measurements, rates, and any applicable tariff surcharges. (2) To points of entry. (i) Where the shipment is made to a point of entry and through bills of lading to designated point of...

31 CFR 50.12 - Clear and conspicuous disclosure.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

....12 Section 50.12 Money and Finance: Treasury Office of the Secretary of the Treasury TERRORISM RISK... a “surcharge.” (2) Premium to reflect definition of act of terrorism. If an insurer makes an initial..., consistent with the definition of an act of terrorism as amended by the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program...

Water transfer and major environmental provisions of the Central Valley Project Improvement Act: A preliminary economic evaluation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Loomis, John B.

1994-06-01

Increasing block water pricing, water transfer, and wildlife refuge water supply provisions of the Central Valley Project (CVP) Improvement Act are analyzed in terms of likely farmer response and economic efficiency of these provisions. Based on a simplified partial equilibrium analysis, we estimate small, but significant water conservation savings due to pricing reform, the potential for substantial water transfers to non-CVP customers in severe drought years when the water price exceeds 110 per acre foot (1 acre foot equals 1.234 × 103 m3) and positive net benefits for implementation of the wildlife refuge water supply provisions. The high threshold water price is partly a result of requiring farmers to pay full cost on transferred water plus a surcharge of 25 per acre foot if the water is transferred to a non-CVP user. The act also sets an important precedent for water pricing reform, water transfer provisions, and environmental surcharges on water users that may find their way to other Bureau of Reclamation projects.

76 FR 21078 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-04-14

... because that index is no longer Multiply Listed and the license fee costs would be absorbed in the fees... index option, because the license costs, which are recouped by the Options Surcharge Fee, are absorbed... Change The Exchange proposes to amend the Exchange's Fee Schedule to discontinue assessing an Options...

32 CFR Appendix B to Part 172 - Disposition of Amounts Collected From Successful Bidders

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... DEFENSE CONTRACTING DISPOSITION OF PROCEEDS FROM DOD SALES OF SURPLUS PERSONAL PROPERTY Pt. 172, App. B...) activities IF IF. 2. Usable personal property purchased by and turned in by IF activities IF IF. 3. Property purchased with funds from trust fund _ X8420, “Surcharge Collections, Sales of Commissary Stores” _ X8420...

32 CFR Appendix B to Part 172 - Disposition of Amounts Collected From Successful Bidders

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... DEFENSE CONTRACTING DISPOSITION OF PROCEEDS FROM DOD SALES OF SURPLUS PERSONAL PROPERTY Pt. 172, App. B...) activities IF IF. 2. Usable personal property purchased by and turned in by IF activities IF IF. 3. Property purchased with funds from trust fund _ X8420, “Surcharge Collections, Sales of Commissary Stores” _ X8420...

75 FR 47329 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated; Notice of Filing and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-08-05

... contract for professional transactions; $0.18 per contract for customer transactions; and $0.10 per contract CFLEX surcharge fee. The Exchange is also proposing to amend Section 2, Marketing Fee, to the Fees Schedule to codify the marketing fee ($0.25) that will be assessed to any ETN options classes that...

77 FR 56638 - Combined Notice of Filings

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-09-13

...: WTGH Address Change Filing to be effective 10/1/2012. Filed Date: 9/4/12. Accession Number: 20120904-5000. Comments Due: 5 p.m. e.t. 9/17/12. Docket Numbers: RP12-1016-000. Applicants: Gulf Crossing...: Southern LNG Company, L.L.C. Description: ACA Surcharge--SLNG 3 Service to be effective 10/1/ 2012. Filed...

77 FR 38692 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.; Notice of Filing...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-28

..., television and radio advertisements, and electronic communications, including Web sites and social media...' communications are based on principles of fair dealing and good faith, are fair and balanced, and provide a sound... the review of printed material and video or audio media from $100 to $125. The surcharge for lengthy...

77 FR 28331 - CPI Adjustment of Patent Fees for Fiscal Year 2013

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-05-14

.... 2809 (2004)) and the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (Pub. L. 112-29). The fee increase helps the USPTO.... 2642 (2006); and Public Law 109-289, 120 Stat. 1257 (2006). The Leahy-Smith America Invents Act... Consolidated Appropriations Act. Section 11 of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act provides for a surcharge of...

77 FR 54360 - CPI Adjustment of Patent Fees for Fiscal Year 2013

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-09-05

.... 2809 (2004)) and the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (Pub. L. 112-29). The fee increase helps the USPTO.... 2642 (2006); and Public Law 109-289, 120 Stat. 1257 (2006). The Leahy-Smith America Invents Act... Consolidated Appropriations Act. Section 11 of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act provides for a surcharge of...

26 CFR 1.56-1 - Adjustment for the book income of corporations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 1 2011-04-01 2009-04-01 true Adjustment for the book income of corporations. 1... INCOME TAXES Tax Surcharge § 1.56-1 Adjustment for the book income of corporations. (a) Computation of the book income adjustment—(1) In general. For taxable years beginning in 1987, 1988, and 1989, the...

26 CFR 1.56-1 - Adjustment for the book income of corporations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 1 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Adjustment for the book income of corporations... TAX INCOME TAXES Tax Surcharge § 1.56-1 Adjustment for the book income of corporations. (a) Computation of the book income adjustment—(1) In general. For taxable years beginning in 1987, 1988, and 1989...

26 CFR 1.56-1 - Adjustment for the book income of corporations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 1 2014-04-01 2013-04-01 true Adjustment for the book income of corporations. 1... INCOME TAXES Tax Surcharge § 1.56-1 Adjustment for the book income of corporations. (a) Computation of the book income adjustment—(1) In general. For taxable years beginning in 1987, 1988, and 1989, the...

26 CFR 1.56-1 - Adjustment for the book income of corporations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 1 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Adjustment for the book income of corporations... TAX INCOME TAXES Tax Surcharge § 1.56-1 Adjustment for the book income of corporations. (a) Computation of the book income adjustment—(1) In general. For taxable years beginning in 1987, 1988, and 1989...

75 FR 16543 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-04-01

... transaction fees for the execution of orders routed to away exchanges. The Exchange will not assess a Routing Surcharge on Customer orders that do not incur a transaction charge at the away exchange. The Exchange... executable on NYSE Amex, immediately upon receipt, to the away market(s) at the NBBO. For any order executed...

29 CFR Appendix C to Subpart P of... - Timber Shoring for Trenches

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

.... Stable rock is exempt from shoring requirements and therefore, no data are presented for this condition... § 1926.652. (A) When loads imposed by structures or by stored material adjacent to the trench weigh in excess of the load imposed by a two-foot soil surcharge. The term “adjacent” as used here means the area...

29 CFR Appendix C to Subpart P of... - Timber Shoring for Trenches

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

.... Stable rock is exempt from shoring requirements and therefore, no data are presented for this condition... § 1926.652. (A) When loads imposed by structures or by stored material adjacent to the trench weigh in excess of the load imposed by a two-foot soil surcharge. The term “adjacent” as used here means the area...

29 CFR Appendix C to Subpart P of... - Timber Shoring for Trenches

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

.... Stable rock is exempt from shoring requirements and therefore, no data are presented for this condition... § 1926.652. (A) When loads imposed by structures or by stored material adjacent to the trench weigh in excess of the load imposed by a two-foot soil surcharge. The term “adjacent” as used here means the area...

29 CFR Appendix C to Subpart P of... - Timber Shoring for Trenches

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

.... Stable rock is exempt from shoring requirements and therefore, no data are presented for this condition... § 1926.652. (A) When loads imposed by structures or by stored material adjacent to the trench weigh in excess of the load imposed by a two-foot soil surcharge. The term “adjacent” as used here means the area...

29 CFR Appendix C to Subpart P of... - Timber Shoring for Trenches

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

.... Stable rock is exempt from shoring requirements and therefore, no data are presented for this condition... § 1926.652. (A) When loads imposed by structures or by stored material adjacent to the trench weigh in excess of the load imposed by a two-foot soil surcharge. The term “adjacent” as used here means the area...

78 FR 54942 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Topaz Exchange, LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-09-06

... trades in NDX options. See Amex Fee Schedule, Royalty Fees; Arca Fees and Charges, Royalty Fees; BOX Fee... Change To Amend the Schedule of Fees August 30, 2013. Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities... the Proposed Rule Change Topaz is proposing to amend its Schedule of Fees to establish a surcharge fee...

Egypt: Background and U.S. Relations

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-12-12

additional contributions from Germany , Japan, and Switzerland. For more information on the MFO, see [http://www.mfo.org/Default.asp?bhcp=1]. On the...and deregulation between 2006 and 2007 ranked first worldwide. In recent years, the state has reinvigorated its privatization program by divesting...shares in the state-dominated banking and insurance sectors. Additionally, the government removed import service fees and surcharges and reduced the

I'll Tell You What You Think: An Exercise in Pseudoscience Debunking in an Introductory Astronomy Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Caton, Dan

2013-01-01

At Appalachian State University students have to take just two semesters of a physical or biological science to satisfy the general education requirements. Most non-science major students have little time in their crowded schedules to take additional science courses, whether they want to or not, and in fact face a surcharge when taking more…

26 CFR 1.56-0 - Table of contents to § 1.56-1, adjustment for book income of corporations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

..., DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY INCOME TAX INCOME TAXES Tax Surcharge § 1.56-0 Table of contents to § 1.56-1.... (iii) Tax-free transactions and tax-free income. (iv) Treatment of dividends and other amounts. (3... of financial statement for a substantial non-tax purpose. (5) Special rules. (i) Applicable financial...

26 CFR 1.53-3 - Separate rule for pass-through of jobs credit.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 1 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Separate rule for pass-through of jobs credit. 1... INCOME TAXES Tax Surcharge § 1.53-3 Separate rule for pass-through of jobs credit. (a) In general. Under section 53(b), in the case of a new jobs credit or targeted jobs credit earned under section 44B by a...

26 CFR 1.53-3 - Separate rule for pass-through of jobs credit.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... a partner in P, a calendar year partnership. A's pro rata portion of the credit earned by P in 1978... INCOME TAXES Tax Surcharge § 1.53-3 Separate rule for pass-through of jobs credit. (a) In general. Under section 53(b), in the case of a new jobs credit or targeted jobs credit earned under section 44B by a...

Efforts to Minimize Improper Payments for the Shipment of Household Goods Were Generally Effective But Needed Improvement

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-05-15

Abbreviations CWT Hundredweight DFAS Defense Finance and Accounting Service DPS Defense Personal Property System FSC Fuel Surcharge GSA...caused $9,222 in overcharges. The TSP incorrectly used the actual weight, instead of the hundredweight ( CWT ), 6 to calculate the linehaul charge...invoice. 6 A hundredweight, or CWT , is equal to 100 pounds. 29 38. Shipment No. HAFC0013361

37 CFR 2.161 - Requirements for a complete affidavit or declaration of continued use or excusable nonuse.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... the registration number; (d)(1) Include the fee required by § 2.6 for each class of goods or services... period under section 8(a)(3) of the Act, include the grace period surcharge per class required by § 2.6; (3) If at least one fee is submitted for a multi-class registration, but the class(es) to which the...

Laboratory and 3-D distinct element analysis of the failure mechanism of a slope under external surcharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, N.; Cheng, Y. M.

2015-01-01

Landslide is a major disaster resulting in considerable loss of human lives and property damages in hilly terrain in Hong Kong, China and many other countries. The factor of safety and the critical slip surface for slope stabilization are the main considerations for slope stability analysis in the past, while the detailed post-failure conditions of the slopes have not been considered in sufficient detail. There is however increasing interest in the consequences after the initiation of failure that includes the development and propagation of the failure surfaces, the amount of failed mass and runoff and the affected region. To assess the development of slope failure in more detail and to consider the potential danger of slopes after failure has initiated, the slope stability problem under external surcharge is analyzed by the distinct element method (DEM) and a laboratory model test in the present research. A more refined study about the development of failure, microcosmic failure mechanisms and the post-failure mechanisms of slopes will be carried out. The numerical modeling method and the various findings from the present work can provide an alternate method of analysis of slope failure, which can give additional information not available from the classical methods of analysis.

Laboratory and 3-D-distinct element analysis of failure mechanism of slope under external surcharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, N.; Cheng, Y. M.

2014-09-01

Landslide is a major disaster resulting in considerable loss of human lives and property damages in hilly terrain in Hong Kong, China and many other countries. The factor of safety and the critical slip surface for slope stabilization are the main considerations for slope stability analysis in the past, while the detailed post-failure conditions of the slopes have not been considered in sufficient details. There are however increasing interest on the consequences after the initiation of failure which includes the development and propagation of the failure surfaces, the amount of failed mass and runoff and the affected region. To assess the development of slope failure in more details and to consider the potential danger of slopes after failure has initiated, the slope stability problem under external surcharge is analyzed by the distinct element method (DEM) and laboratory model test in the present research. A more refined study about the development of failure, microcosmic failure mechanism and the post-failure mechanism of slope will be carried out. The numerical modeling method and the various findings from the present work can provide an alternate method of analysis of slope failure which can give additional information not available from the classical methods of analysis.

USSR Report Agriculture.

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-02-13

types of food, including fruit and vegetable products. As is known, potatoes, fruit and vegetables are of great significance in man’s daily diet ; they are...sugar, nitrogen- free extractive substances and carotene decreases in a grass stand. Another fact was also established: the use of nitrogen containing...with gluten content in the amount of 28-31 percent of first quality group is paid with a surcharge to the price for soft wheat in the amount of 30

A bill to extend the period during which Iraqis who were employed by the United States Government in Iraq may be granted special immigrant status and to temporarily increase the fee or surcharge for processing machine-readable nonimmigrant visas.

THOMAS, 113th Congress

Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH

2013-09-30

House - 10/01/2013 Held at the desk. (All Actions) Notes: For further action, see H.R.3233, which became Public Law 113-42 on 10/4/2013. Tracker: This bill has the status Passed SenateHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

The Seismic Design of Waterfront Retaining Structures

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-11-01

h*ho Hf a. Surcharge 81’ ’ S2- I • 040. K A[ Vih . V,., H - H, ) • • - V,,.H,] , b. Effective horizontal earth pressure - B= 0 degrees Figure...distance between the anchor and the sheet pile. Tuo anchored bulkheads were in place in the harbor of San Antnnio, Chile , during the very large earthquake...Engineering, Santiago, Chile . Provost, J. 1981 (Jan). "DYNAFLOW - A Nonlinear Transient Finite Element Analysis Program, Report No. 81-SM-l, Princeton

JPRS Report, East Europe

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-09-28

depending on the kind of goods imported. As a result of the bilateral agreement a huge market has opened up for Hungary, a market , which at the same time...customs duty surcharge. There is a good chance that a very large, new market may be found as a result of the trade agreement, for example, for Hungarian... market ; the market does not exert its effects . But a constraint to make decisions has evolved, notably the fact that based on an earlier law enterprise

Probabilistic modelling of overflow, surcharge and flooding in urban drainage using the first-order reliability method and parameterization of local rain series.

PubMed

Thorndahl, S; Willems, P

2008-01-01

Failure of urban drainage systems may occur due to surcharge or flooding at specific manholes in the system, or due to overflows from combined sewer systems to receiving waters. To quantify the probability or return period of failure, standard approaches make use of the simulation of design storms or long historical rainfall series in a hydrodynamic model of the urban drainage system. In this paper, an alternative probabilistic method is investigated: the first-order reliability method (FORM). To apply this method, a long rainfall time series was divided in rainstorms (rain events), and each rainstorm conceptualized to a synthetic rainfall hyetograph by a Gaussian shape with the parameters rainstorm depth, duration and peak intensity. Probability distributions were calibrated for these three parameters and used on the basis of the failure probability estimation, together with a hydrodynamic simulation model to determine the failure conditions for each set of parameters. The method takes into account the uncertainties involved in the rainstorm parameterization. Comparison is made between the failure probability results of the FORM method, the standard method using long-term simulations and alternative methods based on random sampling (Monte Carlo direct sampling and importance sampling). It is concluded that without crucial influence on the modelling accuracy, the FORM is very applicable as an alternative to traditional long-term simulations of urban drainage systems.

Using Derivative Contracts to Mitigate Water Utility Financial Risks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Characklis, G. W.; Zeff, H.

2012-12-01

As developing new supply capacity has become increasingly expensive and difficult to permit, utilities have become more reliant on temporary demand management programs, such as outdoor water use restrictions, for ensuring reliability during drought. However, a significant fraction of water utility income is often derived from the volumetric sale of water, and such restrictions can lead to substantial revenue losses. Given that many utilities set prices at levels commensurate with recovering costs, these revenue losses can leave them financially vulnerable to budgetary shortfalls during drought. This work explores approaches for mitigating drought-related revenue losses through the use of third-party financial insurance contracts based on weather derivatives. Two different types of contracts are developed, and their efficacy is compared against two more traditional forms of financial hedging used by water utilities: drought surcharges and contingency funds (i.e. self insurance). Strategies involving each of these approaches, as well as their use in combination, are applied under conditions facing the water utility serving Durham, North Carolina. A multi-reservoir model provides information on the scale and timing of droughts, with the financial effects of these events simulated using detailed data derived from utility billing records. Results suggest that third-party derivative contracts, either independently or in combination with more traditional hedging tools (i.e. surcharges, contingency funds), can provide an effective means of reducing a utility's financial vulnerability to drought.

Urban residents' response to and evaluation of low-carbon travel policies: Evidence from a survey of five eastern cities in China.

PubMed

Geng, Jichao; Long, Ruyin; Chen, Hong; Li, Qianwen

2018-07-01

To address the problems of excessive energy consumption and global climate change, the Chinese government has issued numerous policies to guide urban residents' low-carbon travel behavior. To evaluate the validity of these policies from the perspective of public opinion, this study summarizes 22 policies from the four vantage points of economics, administration, technology, and public information and then measures residents' response to and evaluation of policies based on survey data on 1977 urban residents using stratified random sampling in five cities in eastern China. The results indicate that from the viewpoint of policy response, administrative policies for promoting public transport show the highest degree of response, followed by public information, technological, and economic policies. Specifically, the responses to parking and congestion fee policies are relatively stronger than those to vehicle purchase tax, vehicle and vessel tax, and fuel surcharge policies. Moreover, the responses to fuel surcharge policy are even weaker than car-restriction policies, including license-plate number restriction, license-plate lottery, and license-plate auction policies. From the viewpoint of policy evaluation, administrative policies for promoting public transport obtain the highest evaluations, followed by economic and technological policies. Residents' evaluations of car-restriction and public information policies are the lowest. In addition, a four-paradigm model is introduced to illustrate residents' reactions to each policy in terms of response and evaluation. Finally, several implementation strategies, including the anterior, concurrent, optional, core, supporting, and assisting policy options are proposed to guide urban residents' low-carbon travel behavior. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Flood profiles in the Calapooya Creek basin, Oregon

USGS Publications Warehouse

Friday, John

1982-01-01

Water-surface profiles were computed for a 19.4-mile reach of Calapooya Creek in Douglas County, Oregon. The data will enable the county to evaluate flood hazards in the floodprone areas in the reach. Profiles for floods having recurrence intervals of 2, 10, 50, 100, and 500 years are shown in graphic and tabular form. A floodway, allowing encroachment of the 100-year floods, was designed with a maximum 1.0-foot surcharge limitation. A profile for a flood that occurred in November 1961 is also presented. All data were derived from a digital computer model developed for the study.

Comparison of different synthetic 5-min rainfall time series on the results of rainfall runoff simulations in urban drainage modelling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krämer, Stefan; Rohde, Sophia; Schröder, Kai; Belli, Aslan; Maßmann, Stefanie; Schönfeld, Martin; Henkel, Erik; Fuchs, Lothar

2015-04-01

The design of urban drainage systems with numerical simulation models requires long, continuous rainfall time series with high temporal resolution. However, suitable observed time series are rare. As a result, usual design concepts often use uncertain or unsuitable rainfall data, which renders them uneconomic or unsustainable. An expedient alternative to observed data is the use of long, synthetic rainfall time series as input for the simulation models. Within the project SYNOPSE, several different methods to generate synthetic rainfall data as input for urban drainage modelling are advanced, tested, and compared. Synthetic rainfall time series of three different precipitation model approaches, - one parametric stochastic model (alternating renewal approach), one non-parametric stochastic model (resampling approach), one downscaling approach from a regional climate model-, are provided for three catchments with different sewer system characteristics in different climate regions in Germany: - Hamburg (northern Germany): maritime climate, mean annual rainfall: 770 mm; combined sewer system length: 1.729 km (City center of Hamburg), storm water sewer system length (Hamburg Harburg): 168 km - Brunswick (Lower Saxony, northern Germany): transitional climate from maritime to continental, mean annual rainfall: 618 mm; sewer system length: 278 km, connected impervious area: 379 ha, height difference: 27 m - Friburg in Brisgau (southern Germany): Central European transitional climate, mean annual rainfall: 908 mm; sewer system length: 794 km, connected impervious area: 1 546 ha, height difference 284 m Hydrodynamic models are set up for each catchment to simulate rainfall runoff processes in the sewer systems. Long term event time series are extracted from the - three different synthetic rainfall time series (comprising up to 600 years continuous rainfall) provided for each catchment and - observed gauge rainfall (reference rainfall) according national hydraulic design standards. The synthetic and reference long term event time series are used as rainfall input for the hydrodynamic sewer models. For comparison of the synthetic rainfall time series against the reference rainfall and against each other the number of - surcharged manholes, - surcharges per manhole, - and the average surcharge volume per manhole are applied as hydraulic performance criteria. The results are discussed and assessed to answer the following questions: - Are the synthetic rainfall approaches suitable to generate high resolution rainfall series and do they produce, - in combination with numerical rainfall runoff models - valid results for design of urban drainage systems? - What are the bounds of uncertainty in the runoff results depending on the synthetic rainfall model and on the climate region? The work is carried out within the SYNOPSE project, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

Biochemical, hydrological and mechanical behaviors of high food waste content MSW landfill: Preliminary findings from a large-scale experiment.

PubMed

Zhan, Liang-Tong; Xu, Hui; Chen, Yun-Min; Lü, Fan; Lan, Ji-Wu; Shao, Li-Min; Lin, Wei-An; He, Pin-Jing

2017-05-01

A large-scale bioreactor experiment lasting for 2years was presented in this paper to investigate the biochemical, hydrological and mechanical behaviors of high food waste content (HFWC) MSW. The experimental cell was 5m in length, 5m in width and 7.5m in depth, filled with unprocessed HFWC-MSWs of 91.3 tons. In the experiment, a surcharge loading of 33.4kPa was applied on waste surface, mature leachate refilling and warm leachate recirculation were performed to improve the degradation process. In this paper, the measurements of leachate quantity, leachate level, leachate biochemistry, gas composition, waste temperature, earth pressure and waste settlement were presented, and the following observations were made: (1) 26.8m 3 leachate collected from the 91.3 tons HFWC-MSW within the first two months, being 96% of the total amount collected in one year. (2) The leachate level was 88% of the waste thickness after waste filling in a close system, and reached to over 100% after a surcharge loading of 33.4kPa. (3) The self-weight effective stress of waste was observed to be close to zero under the condition of high leachate mound. Leachate drawdown led to a gain of self-weight effective stress. (4) A rapid development of waste settlement took place within the first two months, with compression strains of 0.38-0.47, being over 95% of the strain recorded in one year. The compression strain tended to increase linearly with an increase of leachate draining rate during that two months. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Urban flood simulation and prioritization of critical urban sub-catchments using SWMM model and PROMETHEE II approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Babaei, Sahar; Ghazavi, Reza; Erfanian, Mahdi

2018-06-01

Urban runoff increased due to augment of impervious surfaces. In order to flood mitigation during rainy season, determination of critical urban sub-catchments is very important for urban planners. Due to lack of information, adopting a simulation approach is one of the practical ways to identify the surcharged junctions and critical sub-catchments. Occurrence of destructive floods in the rainy seasons indicates the inappropriateness of the urban drainage system in Urmia. The main aims of this study were to estimate the surface runoff of urban sub-catchments using SWMM, to evaluate the accuracy of the drainage system of the study urban area and to prioritize sub-catchments using PROMETHEE II approach and SWMM. In the present study, the occurrence of rainfall event of the Urmia city (West Azerbaijan province, Iran) used for estimation of runoff depth. The study area was divided into 22 sub-catchments. For calibration and validation of model parameters, 3 rainfall events and their related runoff were measured. According to sensitivity analysis CN was the most sensitive parameter for model calibration. Amount of surcharged conduits and junctions indicates that the drainage system of the study area has not enough capacity for converting of the runoff and. For 10 year return period, depth of channels should increase by 20% for prevention of flooding in these sub-catchments. Sub-catchments were prioritized using PROMETHEE II approach and its results were compared with SWMM simulation outcomes. Based on SWMM simulation, S11, S7, S18, S16 and S1 sub-catchments are more critical sub-catchments respectively, while according to PROMETHEE method, S1, S11, S16, S14 and S18 are determined as the critical areas.

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

Not Available

The Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Amendments Act of 1985 amends the current act to provide regional facilities established through compacts between two or more states. The Act defines the responsibilities of the federal government and the participating states, and provides for inspection by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and review by Congress. It also establishes procedures for siting and allocation of facilities during the transition period and the requirements for access to regional facilities, which will have a three-year licensing and construction period. There is a graduated ceiling on surcharges until 1992, when the limit is $40 per cubic foot. Themore » Act lists six compacts which are subject to consent.« less

Capitalism at the crossroads: incentives for resource conservation

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

Wilson, D.G.

1975-03-01

A modified free market (MFM) plan as opposed to both a controlled economy (fuel allocation, etc.) or a free market of unbridled capitalism is advocated as a means of stimulating energy conservation and of more closely meeting U.S. energy demands with domestic energy supplies. The MFM would have the federal government determine rates for various energy commodities and resources based on essentially political assessments of the effects of shortages in supplies. Surcharges for using energy from scarce energy sources in producing goods or services would be collected and then redistributed to the citizens. The benefits expected from the MFM planmore » are enumerated. (LCL)« less

Portable wastewater flow meter

DOEpatents

Hunter, Robert M.

1999-02-02

A portable wastewater flow meter particularly adapted for temporary use at a single location in measuring the rate of liquid flow in a circular entrance conduit of a sewer manhole both under free flow and submerged, open channel conditions and under fill pipe, surcharged conditions, comprising an apparatus having a cylindrical external surface and an inner surface that constricts the flow through the apparatus in such a manner that a relationship exists between (1) the difference between the static pressure head of liquid flowing through the entrance of the apparatus and the static pressure head of liquid flowing through the constriction, and (2) the rate of liquid flow through the apparatus.

Portable wastewater flow meter

DOEpatents

Hunter, Robert M.

1990-01-01

A portable wastewater flow meter particularly adapted for temporary use at a single location in measuring the rate of liquid flow in a circular entrance conduit of a sewer manhole both under free flow and submerged, open channel conditions and under full pipe, surcharged conditions, comprising an apparatus having a cylindrical external surface and an inner surface that constricts the flow through the apparatus in such a manner that a relationship exists between (1) the difference between the static pressure head of liquid flowing through the entrance of the apparatus and the static pressure head of liquid flowing through the constriction, and (2) the rate of liquid flow through the apparatus.

I'll Tell You What You Think: An Exercise in Pseudoscience Debunking in an Introductory Astronomy Course

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Caton, Dan

2013-11-01

At Appalachian State University students have to take just two semesters of a physical or biological science to satisfy the general education requirements. Most non-science major students have little time in their crowded schedules to take additional science courses, whether they want to or not, and in fact face a surcharge when taking more courses than needed to graduate. Given this environment, it is essential that we cover more than just the basics of one particular discipline, like astronomy in my case. We should teach something about the overall philosophy of science, the scientific method, and the importance of science in our lives.

Allocating risk capital for a brownfields redevelopment project under hydrogeological and financial uncertainty.

PubMed

Yu, Soonyoung; Unger, Andre J A; Parker, Beth; Kim, Taehee

2012-06-15

In this study, we defined risk capital as the contingency fee or insurance premium that a brownfields redeveloper needs to set aside from the sale of each house in case they need to repurchase it at a later date because the indoor air has been detrimentally affected by subsurface contamination. The likelihood that indoor air concentrations will exceed a regulatory level subject to subsurface heterogeneity and source zone location uncertainty is simulated by a physics-based hydrogeological model using Monte Carlo realizations, yielding the probability of failure. The cost of failure is the future value of the house indexed to the stochastic US National Housing index. The risk capital is essentially the probability of failure times the cost of failure with a surcharge to compensate the developer against hydrogeological and financial uncertainty, with the surcharge acting as safety loading reflecting the developers' level of risk aversion. We review five methodologies taken from the actuarial and financial literature to price the risk capital for a highly stylized brownfield redevelopment project, with each method specifically adapted to accommodate our notion of the probability of failure. The objective of this paper is to develop an actuarially consistent approach for combining the hydrogeological and financial uncertainty into a contingency fee that the brownfields developer should reserve (i.e. the risk capital) in order to hedge their risk exposure during the project. Results indicate that the price of the risk capital is much more sensitive to hydrogeological rather than financial uncertainty. We use the Capital Asset Pricing Model to estimate the risk-adjusted discount rate to depreciate all costs to present value for the brownfield redevelopment project. A key outcome of this work is that the presentation of our risk capital valuation methodology is sufficiently generalized for application to a wide variety of engineering projects. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Energy conservation for housing: A workbook

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

1982-05-01

Multifamily housing project managers can reduce their energy costs from 30 to 60 percent by capitalizing on a variety of energy conservation opportunities (ECO's) identified in HUD research on the physical condition of public housing stock. This workbook prepares managers for this planning and for making individualized energy audits. It provides all the materials they need to proceed, including analysis sheets for calculating costs - benefit and payback periods for each of the 50 ECO's described. The ECO's listed all into four general categories: architectural improvements to the energy design of the building envelope; heating system ECO's to increase energy efficiency; secondary ECO's related to the domestic water supply, air conditioning systems, and central laundry equipment; and electric system ECO's reducing utility surcharges and increasing light bulb efficiency.

A dirty word or a dirty world?: Attribute framing, political affiliation, and query theory.

PubMed

Hardisty, David J; Johnson, Eric J; Weber, Elke U

2010-01-01

We explored the effect of attribute framing on choice, labeling charges for environmental costs as either an earmarked tax or an offset. Eight hundred ninety-eight Americans chose between otherwise identical products or services, where one option included a surcharge for emitted carbon dioxide. The cost framing changed preferences for self-identified Republicans and Independents, but did not affect Democrats' preferences. We explain this interaction by means of query theory and show that attribute framing can change the order in which internal queries supporting one or another option are posed. The effect of attribute labeling on query order is shown to depend on the representations of either taxes or offsets held by people with different political affiliations.

Genetic discrimination in health insurance: current legal protections and industry practices.

PubMed

Pollitz, Karen; Peshkin, Beth N; Bangit, Eliza; Lucia, Kevin

2007-01-01

Most states have enacted genetic nondiscrimination laws in health insurance, and federal legislation is pending in Congress. Scientists worry fear of discrimination discourages some patients from participating in clinical trials and hampers important medical research. This paper describes a study of medical underwriting practices in the individual health insurance market related to genetic information. Underwriters from 23 companies participated in a survey that asked them to underwrite four pairs of hypothetical applicants for health insurance. One person in each pair had received a positive genetic test result indicating increased risk of a future health condition--breast cancer, hemochromatosis, or heart disease--for a total of 92 underwriting decisions on applications involving genetic information. In seven of these 92 applications, underwriters said they would deny coverage, place a surcharge on premiums,or limit covered benefits based on an applicant's genetic information.

Technology-neutral green procurement in practice - an example from Swedish waste management.

PubMed

Arvidsson, Anders; Stage, Jesper

2012-05-01

Green public procurement has been criticized for its excessive reliance on detailed technology specifications, which can distort incentives in the short term and discourage innovation in the longer term. Economists therefore tend to prefer technology-neutral procurement, which rewards outcomes rather than technologies. However, technology-neutral procurement can also be problematic in practice. The present study investigated green public procurement of waste management, a rapidly growing field. In one of the most sophisticated models for technology-neutral procurement applied in Sweden in recent years, different environmental impacts were assigned weights, but no weight was given to the particular technology employed. Even here, however, potential inefficiencies were found where the scoring rule could have led to arbitrary, and presumably unwanted, outcomes. Explicitly assigning monetary surcharges to desirable and undesirable environmental effects may be a better way to reach environmental targets.

The Role of Metal Halide Perovskites in Next-Generation Lighting Devices.

PubMed

Lozano, Gabriel

2018-06-28

The development of smart illumination sources represents a central challenge of the current technology. In this context, the quest for novel materials that enable efficient light generation is essential. Metal halide compounds with perovskite crystalline structure (ABX3) have gained tremendous interest in the last five years since they come as easy-to-prepare high performance semiconductors. Perovskite absorbers are driving the power-conversion-efficiencies of thin film photovoltaics to unprecedented values. Nowadays, mixed-cation mixed-halide lead perovskite solar cells reach efficiencies consistently over 20% and promise to get close to 30% in multi-junction devices when combined with silicon cells at no surcharge. Nonetheless, perovskites' fame extends further since extensive research on these novel semiconductors has also revealed their brightest side. Soon after their irruption in the photovoltaic scenario, demonstration of efficient color tunable -with high color purity- perovskite emitters has opened new avenues for light generation applications that are timely to discuss herein.

Potential Water Reuse for High Strength Fruit and Vegetable Processor Wastewater with an MBR.

PubMed

Moore, Adam W; Zytner, Richard G; Chang, Sheng

  High strength food processing wastewater from two processing plants was studied to determine the effectiveness of an aerobic membrane bioreactor (MBR) to reduce BOD, TSS and nutrients below municipal sewer discharge limits. The MBR comprised a 20 L lab-scale reactor combined with a flat sheet, ultrafiltration membrane module. The parameters studied included the operational flux, solids and hydraulic retention times and recirculation ratio with regards to nitrification/denitrification. The MBR system provided excellent removal efficiency at 97% COD, 99% BOD, 99.9% TSS, 90% TKN, and 60% TP for both processing plants, which eliminated the surcharges, allowing the firms to stay competitive. Effluent reuse tests showed that activated carbon proved effective in removing color from the MBR permeate, while UV treatment was able to achieve a 5 log reduction in bacteriophage. Overall, these treatment successes show the potential for water reuse in the agrifood sector.

Measuring the willingness to pay for drinking water quality improvements: results of a contingent valuation survey in Songzi, China.

PubMed

Jianjun, Jin; Wenyu, Wang; Ying, Fan; Xiaomin, Wang

2016-06-01

The aim of this study is to elicit local residents' willingness to pay (WTP), by applying the contingent valuation method as a surcharge on their water bill, for a given improvement in the drinking water quality and the supply reliability. The mean WTP for the drinking water quality improvement program was estimated to be 16.71 yuan (0.3% of total household income). The results note that more educated respondents and households with higher income and with fewer household members are, on average, willing to pay more. This study also demonstrates that respondents' concerns regarding drinking water quality and perceptions of the health risk of drinking water quality can have significant positive impacts on people's WTP. The research results can help decision-makers understand the local population's demand for improved drinking water quality and undertake an environmental cost-benefit analysis.

A comparative study of manhole hydraulics using stereoscopic PIV and different RANS models.

PubMed

Beg, Md Nazmul Azim; Carvalho, Rita F; Tait, Simon; Brevis, Wernher; Rubinato, Matteo; Schellart, Alma; Leandro, Jorge

2017-04-01

Flows in manholes are complex and may include swirling and recirculation flow with significant turbulence and vorticity. However, how these complex 3D flow patterns could generate different energy losses and so affect flow quantity in the wider sewer network is unknown. In this work, 2D3C stereo Particle Image Velocimetry measurements are made in a surcharged scaled circular manhole. A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model in OpenFOAM ® with four different Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) turbulence model is constructed using a volume of fluid model, to represent flows in this manhole. Velocity profiles and pressure distributions from the models are compared with the experimental data in view of finding the best modelling approach. It was found among four different RANS models that the re-normalization group (RNG) k-ɛ and k-ω shear stress transport (SST) gave a better approximation for velocity and pressure.

A novel approach to model dynamic flow interactions between storm sewer system and overland surface for different land covers in urban areas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chang, Tsang-Jung; Wang, Chia-Ho; Chen, Albert S.

2015-05-01

In this study, we developed a novel approach to simulate dynamic flow interactions between storm sewers and overland surface for different land covers in urban areas. The proposed approach couples the one-dimensional (1D) sewer flow model (SFM) and the two-dimensional (2D) overland flow model (OFM) with different techniques depending on the land cover type of the study areas. For roads, pavements, plazas, and so forth where rainfall becomes surface runoff before entering the sewer system, the rainfall-runoff process is simulated directly in the 2D OFM, and the runoff is drained to the sewer network via inlets, which is regarded as the input to 1D SFM. For green areas on which rainfall falls into the permeable ground surface and the generated direct runoff traverses terrain, the deduction rate is applied to the rainfall for reflecting the soil infiltration in the 2D OFM. For flat building roofs with drainage facilities allowing rainfall to drain directly from the roof to sewer networks, the rainfall-runoff process is simulated using the hydrological module in the 1D SFM where no rainfall is applied to these areas in the 2D OFM. The 1D SFM is used for hydraulic simulations in the sewer network. Where the flow in the drainage network exceeds its capacity, a surcharge occurs and water may spill onto the ground surface if the pressure head in a manhole exceeds the ground elevation. The overflow discharge from the sewer system is calculated by the 1D SFM and considered a point source in the 2D OFM. The overland flow will return into the sewer network when it reaches an inlet that connects to an un-surcharged manhole. In this case, the inlet is considered as a point sink in the 2D OFM and an inflow to a manhole in the 1D SFM. The proposed approach was compared to other five urban flood modelling techniques with four rainfall events that had previously recorded inundation areas. The merits and drawbacks of each modelling technique were compared and discussed. Based on the simulated results, the proposed approach was found to simulate floodings closer to the survey records than other approaches because the physical rainfall-runoff phenomena in urban environment were better reflected.

Is there willingness to buy and pay a surcharge for agro-ecological products? Case study of the production of vegetables in Xochimilco, Mexico.

PubMed

Revollo-Fernández, Daniel

2016-04-01

Around the world there are approximately 2.5 trillion small-scale farmers, most of them subsistence farmers. In the 1970s the green revolution unfolded, which brought benefits to some producers, but it also brought costs, especially for small producers. Agro-ecology is presented as an alternative, but it is necessary to examine whether it is accepted in the markets, especially in developing countries. This study proves that there is a potential market, in this case in Mexico, but that it will depend on some socio-economic variables such as age, income, gender, product information, among others. Similarly, it is evident that buyers are willing to make an additional payment as compensation. Agro-ecology should not be considered as subsistence farming incompatible with the markets. It offers good prospects for increasing production and improving the sustainability of agriculture in marginal areas with few economic resources. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.

The incidence of health financing in South Africa: findings from a recent data set.

PubMed

Ataguba, John E; McIntyre, Di

2018-01-01

There is an international call for countries to ensure universal health coverage. This call has been embraced in South Africa (SA) in the form of a National Health Insurance (NHI). This is expected to be financed through general tax revenue with the possibility of additional earmarked taxes including a surcharge on personal income and/or a payroll tax for employers. Currently, health services are financed in SA through allocations from general tax revenue, direct out-of-pocket payments, and contributions to medical scheme. This paper uses the most recent data set to assess the progressivity of each health financing mechanism and overall financing system in SA. Applying standard and innovative methodologies for assessing progressivity, the study finds that general taxes and medical scheme contributions remain progressive, and direct out-of-pocket payments and indirect taxes are regressive. However, private health insurance contributions, across only the insured, are regressive. The policy implications of these findings are discussed in the context of the NHI.

Coordinated management of combined sewer overflows by means of environmental decision support systems.

PubMed

Murla, Damian; Gutierrez, Oriol; Martinez, Montse; Suñer, David; Malgrat, Pere; Poch, Manel

2016-04-15

During heavy rainfall, the capacity of sewer systems and wastewater treatment plants may be surcharged producing uncontrolled wastewater discharges and a depletion of the environmental quality. Therefore there is a need of advanced management tools to tackle with these complex problems. In this paper an environmental decision support system (EDSS), based on the integration of mathematical modeling and knowledge-based systems, has been developed for the coordinated management of urban wastewater systems (UWS) to control and minimize uncontrolled wastewater spills. Effectiveness of the EDSS has been tested in a specially designed virtual UWS, including two sewers systems, two WWTP and one river subjected to typical Mediterranean rain conditions. Results show that sewer systems, retention tanks and wastewater treatment plants improve their performance under wet weather conditions and that EDSS can be very effective tools to improve the management and prevent the system from possible uncontrolled wastewater discharges. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Surface models for coupled modelling of runoff and sewer flow in urban areas.

PubMed

Ettrich, N; Steiner, K; Thomas, M; Rothe, R

2005-01-01

Traditional methods fail for the purpose of simulating the complete flow process in urban areas as a consequence of heavy rainfall and as required by the European Standard EN-752 since the bi-directional coupling between sewer and surface is not properly handled. The new methodology, developed in the EUREKA-project RisUrSim, solves this problem by carrying out the runoff on the basis of shallow water equations solved on high-resolution surface grids. Exchange nodes between the sewer and the surface, like inlets and manholes, are located in the computational grid and water leaving the sewer in case of surcharge is further distributed on the surface. Dense topographical information is needed to build a model suitable for hydrodynamic runoff calculations; in urban areas, in addition, many line-shaped elements like houses, curbs, etc. guide the runoff of water and require polygonal input. Airborne data collection methods offer a great chance to economically gather densely sampled input data.

Low-Level Waste Forum notes and summary reports for 1994. Volume 9, Number 3, May-June 1994

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

NONE

1994-06-01

This issue includes the following articles: Vermont ratifies Texas compact; Pennsylvania study on rates of decay for classes of low-level radioactive waste; South Carolina legislature adjourns without extending access to Barnwell for out-of-region generators; Southeast Compact Commission authorizes payments for facility development, also votes on petitions, access contracts; storage of low-level radioactive waste at Rancho Seco removed from consideration; plutonium estimates for Ward Valley, California; judgment issued in Ward Valley lawsuits; Central Midwest Commission questions court`s jurisdiction over surcharge rebates litigation; Supreme Court decides commerce clause case involving solid waste; parties voluntarily dismiss Envirocare case; appellate court affirms dismissal ofmore » suit against Central Commission; LLW Forum mixed waste working group meets; US EPA Office of Radiation and Indoor Air rulemakings; EPA issues draft radiation site cleanup regulation; EPA extends mixed waste enforcement moratorium; and NRC denies petition to amend low-level radioactive waste classification regulations.« less

Development of Real-Time System for Urban Flooding by Surcharge of Storm Drainge and River Inundation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shim, J. B.; Won, C. Y.; Park, J.; Lee, K.

2017-12-01

Korea experiences frequent flood disasters, which cause considerable economic losses and damages to towns and farms. Especially, a regional torrential storm is about 98.5mm/hr on September 21, 2010 in Seoul. The storm exceeds the capacity of urban drainage system of 75mm/hr, and 9,419 houses. How to monitor and control the urban flood disasters is an important issue in Korea. To mitigate the flood damage, a customizing system was developed to estimate urban floods and inundation using by integrating drainage system data and river information database which are managed by local governments and national agencies. In the case of Korean urban city, there are a lot of detention ponds and drainage pumping stations on end of drainage system and flow is going into river. The drainage pumping station, it is very important hydraulic facility for flood control between river and drainage system. So, it is possible to occur different patterns of flood inundation according to operation rule of drainage pumping station. A flood disaster is different damage as how to operate drainage pumping station and plan operation rule.

The Spillover Effect of a Flood on Pets and Their People: Implications for Rental Housing.

PubMed

Graham, Taryn M; Rock, Melanie J

2018-06-04

When disasters strike, companion animals (pets) matter. Emergency planning for them is a key aspect of disaster preparedness, especially considering that people may delay evacuation out of concern for their pets. Temporary boarding options for pets are important; however, caregivers (owners) must ultimately return to permanent housing. Surprisingly little attention has been paid to housing recovery in the disaster literature on pet ownership, and no studies have examined the potential for increased vulnerability among tenants with pets. This study analyzed online rental listings in a city that was severely flooded in 2013. In the following year, demand for pet-friendly rental housing outweighed supply. Landlords frequently stipulated restrictions on the allowable sizes, species, or breeds of pets. Dogs were often banned outright. To keep their pets, prospective tenants needed to exercise flexibility in location and pay higher surcharges. The implications of housing insecurity for tenants with pets have broad relevance, not just in disaster circumstances. Giving up a companion animal to secure housing can negatively impact resilience, whereas living in unsafe environments to avoid pet relinquishment may increase vulnerability.

Reference pricing of pharmaceuticals for Medicare: evidence from Germany, The Netherlands, and New Zealand.

PubMed

Danzon, Patricia M; Ketcham, Jonathan D

2004-01-01

This paper describes three prototypical systems of therapeutic reference pricing (RP) for pharmaceuticals--Germany, the Netherlands, and New Zealand--and examines their effects on the availability of new drugs, reimbursement levels, manufacturer prices, and out-of-pocket surcharges to patients. RP for pharmaceuticals is not simply analogous to a defined contribution approach to subsidizing insurance coverage. Although a major purpose of RP is to stimulate competition, theory suggests that the achievement of this goal is unlikely, and this is confirmed by the empirical evidence. Other effects of RP differ across countries in predictable ways, reflecting each country's system design and other cost-control policies. New Zealand's RP system has reduced reimbursement and limited the availability of new drugs, particularly more expensive drugs. Compared to these three countries, if RP were applied in the United States, it would likely have a more negative effect on prices of onpatent products because of the more competitive U.S. generic market, and on research and development (R&D) and the future supply of new drugs, because of the much larger U.S. share of global pharmaceutical sales.

Mitigating Settlement of Structures founded on Peat

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wijeyesekera, D. C.; Numbikannu, L.; Ismail, T. N. H. T.; Bakar, I.

2016-07-01

Observations made of two common failures of structures founded on peat/organic soil in Johor, Malaysia is presented. Critical evaluation of current lightweight fill technology to mitigate such settlement is also discussed. Lightweight technology, such as Expanded Polystyrene (EPS), has been used in construction on soft yielding ground for decades. Regrettably, some published information of EPS failures to perform on construction sites are also cited in this paper. This paper outlines some concepts leading to the development of an alternative innovative lightweight fill is that the idealised cellular structure of the GCM permit free flow of water and complemented by the mat structure which evens out any differential settlement A further highlight of this paper is the monitoring of the field performance of this lightweight fill (GCM) as a feasible alternative to fill weight reduction on yielding ground.. Hence, a prime research objective was to compare the fill settlements observed with 1m high fill of surcharge loading on peat ground (comparison of the case of using a partial 0.6m high GCM and that of a total of 1m of conventional sand backfill).

Flood forecasting within urban drainage systems using NARX neural network.

PubMed

Abou Rjeily, Yves; Abbas, Oras; Sadek, Marwan; Shahrour, Isam; Hage Chehade, Fadi

2017-11-01

Urbanization activity and climate change increase the runoff volumes, and consequently the surcharge of the urban drainage systems (UDS). In addition, age and structural failures of these utilities limit their capacities, and thus generate hydraulic operation shortages, leading to flooding events. The large increase in floods within urban areas requires rapid actions from the UDS operators. The proactivity in taking the appropriate actions is a key element in applying efficient management and flood mitigation. Therefore, this work focuses on developing a flooding forecast system (FFS), able to alert in advance the UDS managers for possible flooding. For a forecasted storm event, a quick estimation of the water depth variation within critical manholes allows a reliable evaluation of the flood risk. The Nonlinear Auto Regressive with eXogenous inputs (NARX) neural network was chosen to develop the FFS as due to its calculation nature it is capable of relating water depth variation in manholes to rainfall intensities. The campus of the University of Lille is used as an experimental site to test and evaluate the FFS proposed in this paper.

Survey finds public support for legal interventions directed at health behavior to fight noncommunicable disease.

PubMed

Morain, Stephanie; Mello, Michelle M

2013-03-01

The high prevalence of chronic diseases in the United States with lifestyle-related risk factors, such as obesity and tobacco use, has sparked interest in legal strategies to influence health behavior. However, little is known about the public's willingness to accept these policies as legitimate, which in turn may affect compliance. We present results from a national survey of 1,817 US adults concerning the acceptability of different public health legal interventions that address noncommunicable, or chronic, diseases. We found that support for these new interventions is high overall; substantially greater among African Americans and Hispanics than among whites; and tied to perceptions of democratic representation in policy making. There was much support for strategies that enable people to exercise healthful choices--for example, menu labeling and improving access to nicotine patches--but considerably less for more coercive measures, such as insurance premium surcharges. These findings suggest that the least coercive path will be the smoothest and that support for interventions may be widespread among different social groups. In addition, the findings underscore the need for policy makers to involve the public in decision making, understand the public's values, and communicate how policy decisions reflect this understanding.

Wheeling and stranded investment-is there a better way

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

Ferrar, T.

Under current franchise law, retail wheeling must be addressed on a state-by-state basis, and (therefore) it will not sweep the electric power industry as deregulation has been visited upon the telecommunications, airline, natural gas and other industries. Nevertheless, many industry observers remain concerned that retail competition will create a significant stranded investment problem. That is, broadened competition among power generators for customers will result in the market value of some existing (previously market-protected) generation assets falling below book value. The significance of such asset revaluations, and the time required for adjustment, increases with the capital intensity of the industry; thismore » is the reason for the heightened concern regarding the introduction of retail wheeling into the electric power industry. One policy direction that may be worthy of further debate and losses during the power market's transition to a more competitive equilibrium - i.e., until regulation-induced differentials between market and book values are mitigated. A two-part policy proposal is offered for consideration. First, the use of intra-pool transfer payments; second, if stranded investment continues to exist, a temporary uniform pool-wide wheeling surcharge.« less

SB 1082 -- Unified hazardous materials/waste program: Local implementation

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

Jones, W.

California Senate Bill 1082 was signed into law in the fall of 1993 because business and industry believed there were too many hazardous materials inspectors asking the same questions, looking at the same items and requiring similar information on several variations of the same form. Industry was not happy with the large diversity of programs, each with its own inspectors, permits and fees, essentially doing what industry believed was the same inspection. SB 1082 will allow local city and county agencies to apply to the California Environmental Protection Agency to become a Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA) or work withmore » a CUPA as a Participating Agency (PA) to manage specific program elements. The CUPA will unify six regulatory programs including hazardous waste/tiered permitting, aboveground storage tanks, underground storage tanks, business and area plans/inventory or disclosure, acutely hazardous materials/risk management prevention and Uniform Fire Code programs related to hazardous materials inventory/plan requirements. The bill requires the CUPA to (1) implement a permit consolidation program; (2) implement a single fee system with a state surcharge; (3) consolidate, coordinate and make consistent any local or regional requirements or guidance documents; and (4) implement a single unified inspection and enforcement program.« less

Evaluation of mix ingredients on the performance of rubber-modified asphalt mixtures

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

Takallou, H.B.

1987-01-01

In rubber-modified asphalt pavements ground recycled tire particles are added to a gap-graded aggregate and then mixed with hot asphalt cement. In view of the significant reductions in wintertime stopping distances under icy or frosty road surface conditions, the use of coarse rubber in asphalt pavements should be seriously considered. This research project consisted of a laboratory study of mix properties as a function of variables such as rubber gradation and content, void content, aggregate graduation, mix process, temperature, and asphalt content. Twenty different mix combinations were evaluated for diametral modulus and fatigue at two different temperatures. Also, five differentmore » mix combinations were evaluated for static creep and permanent deformation. The findings of the laboratory study indicate that the rubber gradation and content, aggregate gradation, and use of surcharge during sample preparation have considerable effect on modulus and fatigue life of the mix. The results of static creep and permanent deformation tests indicate that the rubber asphalt mixes had low stability and high elasticity. Also, due to greater allowable tensile strain in rubber-modified mixtures, the thickness of the modified mixture can be reduced, using a layer equivalency of 1.4 to 1.0« less

The Influence of SAND’s Gradation and Clay Content of Direct Sheart Test on Clayey Sand

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wibisono, Gunawan; Agus Nugroho, Soewignjo; Umam, Khairul

2018-03-01

The shear strength of clayey-sand can be affected by several factors, e.g. gradation, density, moisture content, and the percentage of clay and sand fraction. The same percentage of clay and sand fraction in clayey-sand mixtures may have different shear strengths due to those factors. This research aims to study the effect of clay content on sand that cause the change of its shear strength. Samples consisted of different clay and sand fractions were reconstituted at a certain moisture content. Sand fractions varied from well-graded to poorly-graded sand. Shear strength was measured in terms of the direct shear test. Prior to the test, surcharge loads were applied to represent overburden pressures. Shear strength results and their components (i.e. Cohesion and internal angle of friction) were correlated with physical properties of samples (i.e. grading coefficient of curvature, coefficient of uniformity, and density). Results showed that samples classified as well-graded and dense sand had higher shear strength. In the other hand, the shear strengths decreased when the mixtures became poorly-graded and less dense. The inclusion of the clay fraction increased cohesion component and decreased internal angle of friction.

Tax incentives and the demand for private health insurance.

PubMed

Stavrunova, Olena; Yerokhin, Oleg

2014-03-01

We analyze the effect of an individual insurance mandate (Medicare Levy Surcharge) on the demand for private health insurance (PHI) in Australia. With administrative income tax return data, we show that the mandate has several distinct effects on taxpayers' behavior. First, despite the large tax penalty for not having PHI coverage relative to the cost of the cheapest eligible insurance policy, compliance with mandate is relatively low: the proportion of the population with PHI coverage increases by 6.5 percentage points (15.6%) at the income threshold where the tax penalty starts to apply. This effect is most pronounced for young taxpayers, while the middle aged seem to be least responsive to this specific tax incentive. Second, the discontinuous increase in the average tax rate at the income threshold created by the policy generates a strong incentive for tax avoidance which manifests itself through bunching in the taxable income distribution below the threshold. Finally, after imposing some plausible assumptions, we extrapolate the effect of the policy to other income levels and show that this policy has not had a significant impact on the overall demand for private health insurance in Australia. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Micromechanical die attachment surcharge

DOEpatents

Filter, William F.; Hohimer, John P.

2002-01-01

An attachment structure is disclosed for attaching a die to a supporting substrate without the use of adhesives or solder. The attachment structure, which can be formed by micromachining, functions purely mechanically in utilizing a plurality of shaped pillars (e.g. round, square or polygonal and solid, hollow or slotted) that are formed on one of the die or supporting substrate and which can be urged into contact with various types of mating structures including other pillars, a deformable layer or a plurality of receptacles that are formed on the other of the die or supporting substrate, thereby forming a friction bond that holds the die to the supporting substrate. The attachment structure can further include an alignment structure for precise positioning of the die and supporting substrate to facilitate mounting the die to the supporting substrate. The attachment structure has applications for mounting semiconductor die containing a microelectromechanical (MEM) device, a microsensor or an integrated circuit (IC), and can be used to form a multichip module. The attachment structure is particularly useful for mounting die containing released MEM devices since these devices are fragile and can otherwise be damaged or degraded by adhesive or solder mounting.

Medicaid expansion in opt-out states would produce consumer savings and less financial burden than exchange coverage.

PubMed

Hill, Steven C

2015-02-01

In the twenty-three states that have decided against expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, uninsured adults who would have been eligible for Medicaid and have incomes at or above the federal poverty guidelines are generally eligible for Marketplace (insurance exchange) premium tax credits and plans with generous benefits. This study compared estimated out-of-pocket spending for care and premiums, as well as the financial burdens they impose, for the families of these adults under two simulation scenarios: obtaining coverage through a silver plan with subsidized cost sharing and enrolling in expanded Medicaid. Compared with Marketplace coverage, Medicaid would more than halve average annual out-of-pocket spending ($938 versus $1,948), while dramatically reducing the percentage of adults in families with out-of-pocket expenses exceeding 10 percent or 20 percent of income (6.0 percent versus 17.1 percent and 0.9 percent versus 3.7 percent, respectively). Larger reductions would be seen for families with smokers, who under Medicaid would no longer be subject to Marketplace tobacco user surcharges. Medicaid expansion may offer a greater opportunity than access to Marketplace insurance to promote the financial well-being of previously uninsured low-income adults. Project HOPE—The People-to-People Health Foundation, Inc.

Rainfall-Runoff Simulations to Assess the Potential of SuDS for Mitigating Flooding in Highly Urbanized Catchments.

PubMed

Jato-Espino, Daniel; Charlesworth, Susanne M; Bayon, Joseba R; Warwick, Frank

2016-01-21

Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) constitute an alternative to conventional drainage when managing stormwater in cities, reducing the impact of urbanization by decreasing the amount of runoff generated by a rainfall event. This paper shows the potential benefits of installing different types of SuDS in preventing flooding in comparison with the common urban drainage strategies consisting of sewer networks of manholes and pipes. The impact of these systems on urban water was studied using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), which are useful tools when both delineating catchments and parameterizing the elements that define a stormwater drainage system. Taking these GIS-based data as inputs, a series of rainfall-runoff simulations were run in a real catchment located in the city of Donostia (Northern Spain) using stormwater computer models, in order to compare the flow rates and depths produced by a design storm before and after installing SuDS. The proposed methodology overcomes the lack of precision found in former GIS-based stormwater approaches when dealing with the modeling of highly urbanized catchments, while the results demonstrated the usefulness of these systems in reducing the volume of water generated after a rainfall event and their ability to prevent localized flooding and surcharges along the sewer network.

Rainfall–Runoff Simulations to Assess the Potential of SuDS for Mitigating Flooding in Highly Urbanized Catchments

PubMed Central

Jato-Espino, Daniel; Charlesworth, Susanne M.; Bayon, Joseba R.; Warwick, Frank

2016-01-01

Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) constitute an alternative to conventional drainage when managing stormwater in cities, reducing the impact of urbanization by decreasing the amount of runoff generated by a rainfall event. This paper shows the potential benefits of installing different types of SuDS in preventing flooding in comparison with the common urban drainage strategies consisting of sewer networks of manholes and pipes. The impact of these systems on urban water was studied using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), which are useful tools when both delineating catchments and parameterizing the elements that define a stormwater drainage system. Taking these GIS-based data as inputs, a series of rainfall–runoff simulations were run in a real catchment located in the city of Donostia (Northern Spain) using stormwater computer models, in order to compare the flow rates and depths produced by a design storm before and after installing SuDS. The proposed methodology overcomes the lack of precision found in former GIS-based stormwater approaches when dealing with the modeling of highly urbanized catchments, while the results demonstrated the usefulness of these systems in reducing the volume of water generated after a rainfall event and their ability to prevent localized flooding and surcharges along the sewer network. PMID:26805864

Electric sales and revenue 1992, April 1994

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

Not Available

The Electric Sales and Revenue is prepared by the Survey Management Division, Office of Coal, Nuclear, Electric and Alternate Fuels; Energy Information Administration (EIA); US Department of Energy. This publication provides information about sales of electricity, its associated revenue, and the average revenue per kilowatthour sold to residential, commercial, industrial, and other consumers throughout the United States. The sales, revenue, and average revenue per kilowatthour provided in the Electric Sales and Revenue are based on annual data reported by electric utilities for the calendar year ending December 31, 1992. The electric revenue reported by each electric utility includes the applicablemore » revenue from kilowatthours sold; revenue from income; unemployment and other State and local taxes; energy, demand, and consumer service charges; environmental surcharges; franchise fees; fuel adjustments; and other miscellaneous charges. The revenue does not include taxes, such as sales and excise taxes, that are assessed on the consumer and collected through the utility. Average revenue per kilowatthour is defined as the cost per unit of electricity sold and is calculated by dividing retail sales into the associated electric revenue. The sales of electricity, associated revenue, and average revenue per kilowatthour provided in this report are presented at the national, Census division, State, and electric utility levels.« less

Pit bearing capacity effect on status of soil plug during pile driving in ocean engineering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yan, Shu-Wang; Zhou, Qun-Hua; Liu, Run; Dong, Wei

2011-06-01

Foundation piles of the offshore oil platforms in the Bohai Bay are usually longer than 100 m with a diameter larger than 2 m. Driving such long and large-sized piles into the ground is a difficult task. It needs a comprehensive consider ation of the pile dimensions, soil properties and the hammer energy. Thoughtful drivability analysis has to be performed in the design stage. It has been shown that judging whether the soil column inside the pile is fully plugged, which makes the pile behave as close-ended, strongly influences the accuracy of drivability analysis. Engineering practice repeatedly indicates that the current methods widely used for soil plug judgment often give incorrect results, leading the designers to make a wrong decision. It has been found that this problem is caused by the ignorance of the bearing capacity provided by the soil surrounding the pile. Based on the Terzaghi's bearing capacity calculation method for deep foundation, a new approach for judging soil plug status is put forward, in which the surcharge effect has been considered and the dynamic effect coefficient is included. This approach has been applied to some practical engineering projects successfully, which may give more reasonable results than the currently used method does.

On the weight of indels in genomic distances

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background Classical approaches to compute the genomic distance are usually limited to genomes with the same content, without duplicated markers. However, differences in the gene content are frequently observed and can reflect important evolutionary aspects. A few polynomial time algorithms that include genome rearrangements, insertions and deletions (or substitutions) were already proposed. These methods often allow a block of contiguous markers to be inserted, deleted or substituted at once but result in distance functions that do not respect the triangular inequality and hence do not constitute metrics. Results In the present study we discuss the disruption of the triangular inequality in some of the available methods and give a framework to establish an efficient correction for two models recently proposed, one that includes insertions, deletions and double cut and join (DCJ) operations, and one that includes substitutions and DCJ operations. Conclusions We show that the proposed framework establishes the triangular inequality in both distances, by summing a surcharge on indel operations and on substitutions that depends only on the number of markers affected by these operations. This correction can be applied a posteriori, without interfering with the already available formulas to compute these distances. We claim that this correction leads to distances that are biologically more plausible. PMID:22151784

Modelling the impact of retention-detention units on sewer surcharge and peak and annual runoff reduction.

PubMed

Locatelli, Luca; Gabriel, Søren; Mark, Ole; Mikkelsen, Peter Steen; Arnbjerg-Nielsen, Karsten; Taylor, Heidi; Bockhorn, Britta; Larsen, Hauge; Kjølby, Morten Just; Blicher, Anne Steensen; Binning, Philip John

2015-01-01

Stormwater management using water sensitive urban design is expected to be part of future drainage systems. This paper aims to model the combination of local retention units, such as soakaways, with subsurface detention units. Soakaways are employed to reduce (by storage and infiltration) peak and volume stormwater runoff; however, large retention volumes are required for a significant peak reduction. Peak runoff can therefore be handled by combining detention units with soakaways. This paper models the impact of retrofitting retention-detention units for an existing urbanized catchment in Denmark. The impact of retrofitting a retention-detention unit of 3.3 m³/100 m² (volume/impervious area) was simulated for a small catchment in Copenhagen using MIKE URBAN. The retention-detention unit was shown to prevent flooding from the sewer for a 10-year rainfall event. Statistical analysis of continuous simulations covering 22 years showed that annual stormwater runoff was reduced by 68-87%, and that the retention volume was on average 53% full at the beginning of rain events. The effect of different retention-detention volume combinations was simulated, and results showed that allocating 20-40% of a soakaway volume to detention would significantly increase peak runoff reduction with a small reduction in the annual runoff.

Capturing strain localization behind a geosynthetic-reinforced soil wall

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lai, Timothy Y.; Borja, Ronaldo I.; Duvernay, Blaise G.; Meehan, Richard L.

2003-04-01

This paper presents the results of finite element (FE) analyses of shear strain localization that occurred in cohesionless soils supported by a geosynthetic-reinforced retaining wall. The innovative aspects of the analyses include capturing of the localized deformation and the accompanying collapse mechanism using a recently developed embedded strong discontinuity model. The case study analysed, reported in previous publications, consists of a 3.5-m tall, full-scale reinforced wall model deforming in plane strain and loaded by surcharge at the surface to failure. Results of the analysis suggest strain localization developing from the toe of the wall and propagating upward to the ground surface, forming a curved failure surface. This is in agreement with a well-documented failure mechanism experienced by the physical wall model showing internal failure surfaces developing behind the wall as a result of the surface loading. Important features of the analyses include mesh sensitivity studies and a comparison of the localization properties predicted by different pre-localization constitutive models, including a family of three-invariant elastoplastic constitutive models appropriate for frictional/dilatant materials. Results of the analysis demonstrate the potential of the enhanced FE method for capturing a collapse mechanism characterized by the presence of a failure, or slip, surface through earthen materials.

Preliminary assessment of factors influencing riverine fish communities in Massachusetts.

USGS Publications Warehouse

Armstrong, David S.; Richards, Todd A.; Brandt, Sara L.

2010-01-01

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (MDCR), Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MDEP), and the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game (MDFG), conducted a preliminary investigation of fish communities in small- to medium-sized Massachusetts streams. The objective of this investigation was to determine relations between fish-community characteristics and anthropogenic alteration, including flow alteration and impervious cover, relative to the effect of physical basin and land-cover (environmental) characteristics. Fish data were obtained for 756 fish-sampling sites from the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife fish-community database. A review of the literature was used to select a set of fish metrics responsive to flow alteration. Fish metrics tested include two fish-community metrics (fluvial-fish relative abundance and fluvial-fish species richness), and five indicator species metrics (relative abundance of brook trout, blacknose dace, fallfish, white sucker, and redfin pickerel). Streamflows were simulated for each fish-sampling site using the Sustainable Yield Estimator application (SYE). Daily streamflows and the SYE water-use database were used to determine a set of indicators of flow alteration, including percent alteration of August median flow, water-use intensity, and withdrawal and return-flow fraction. The contributing areas to the fish-sampling sites were delineated and used with a Geographic Information System (GIS) to determine a set of environmental characteristics, including elevation, basin slope, percent sand and gravel, percent wetland, and percent open water, and a set of anthropogenic-alteration variables, including impervious cover and dam density. Two analytical techniques, quantile regression and generalized linear modeling, were applied to determine the association between fish-response variables and the selected environmental and anthropogenic explanatory variables. Quantile regression indicated that flow alteration and impervious cover were negatively associated with both fluvial-fish relative abundance and fluvial-fish species richness. Three generalized linear models (GLMs) were developed to quantify the response of fish communities to multiple environmental and anthropogenic variables. Flow-alteration variables are statistically significant for the fluvial-fish relative-abundance model. Impervious cover is statistically significant for the fluvial-fish relative-abundance, fluvial-fish species richness, and brook trout relative-abundance models. The variables in the equations were demonstrated to be significant, and the variability explained by the models, as measured by the correlation between observed and predicted values, ranges from 39 to 65 percent. The GLM models indicated that, keeping all other variables the same, a one-unit (1 percent) increase in the percent depletion or percent surcharging of August median flow would result in a 0.4-percent decrease in the relative abundance (in counts per hour) of fluvial fish and that the relative abundance of fluvial fish was expected to be about 55 percent lower in net-depleted streams than in net-surcharged streams. The GLM models also indicated that a unit increase in impervious cover resulted in a 5.5-percent decrease in the relative abundance of fluvial fish and a 2.5-percent decrease in fluvial-fish species richness.

Connecticut's Value-Based Insurance Plan Increased The Use Of Targeted Services And Medication Adherence.

PubMed

Hirth, Richard A; Cliff, Elizabeth Q; Gibson, Teresa B; McKellar, M Richard; Fendrick, A Mark

2016-04-01

In 2011 Connecticut implemented the Health Enhancement Program for state employees. This voluntary program followed the principles of value-based insurance design (VBID) by lowering patient costs for certain high-value primary and chronic disease preventive services, coupled with requirements that enrollees receive these services. Nonparticipants in the program, including those removed for noncompliance with its requirements, were assessed a premium surcharge. The program was intended to curb cost growth and improve health through adherence to evidence-based preventive care. To evaluate its efficacy in doing so, we compared changes in service use and spending after implementation of the program to trends among employees of six other states. Compared to employees of other states, Connecticut employees were similar in age and sex but had a slightly higher percentage of enrollees with chronic conditions and substantially higher spending at baseline. During the program's first two years, the use of targeted services and adherence to medications for chronic conditions increased, while emergency department use decreased, relative to the situation in the comparison states. The program's impact on costs was inconclusive and requires a longer follow-up period. This novel combination of VBID principles and participation requirements may be a tool that can help plan sponsors increase the use of evidence-based preventive services. Project HOPE—The People-to-People Health Foundation, Inc.

Societal cost-benefit analysis for soil remediation in The Netherlands.

PubMed

van Wezel, Annemarie P; Franken, Ron O G; Drissen, Eric; Versluijs, Kees C W; van den Berg, Reinier

2008-01-01

There is a political demand on the efficiency of environmental policy. Cost-benefit analyses (CBAs) can play a role in answering that demand. This societal CBA for nationwide soil remediation operations in The Netherlands distinguishes 4 alternatives for future investments. In the zero alternative government funding will be terminated. Besides this, 3 policy alternatives are distinguished that are government financed. Soil remediation benefits human health, the drinking water supply, housing, perceptions, and the ecosystem. Soil remediation also answers the concerns of the Dutch population. The benefits to health (exposure to cadmium, lead, and carcinogens), drinking water supply, and housing are expressed in monetary terms. The extent that benefits equal the money spent depends partly on the value-loaded choice for the discount rate. Use of the current discount rate of 4% will mean a slightly negative balance whichever policy alternative is chosen. Focusing on nonmoneterized benefits, such as ecology, can cause the scales to tip in another direction. Using a lower discount rate will make future benefits, such as health and drinking water supply, more important. If the discount rate drops to 2% or less, all policy alternatives lead to a positive balance. Predominantly, the health benefits that are veiled in uncertainty can become a reason for applying a surcharge and, in turn, a higher discount rate. In that case, each of the alternatives will result in a net negative balance.

Movement of unlined landfill under preloading surcharge.

PubMed

Al-Yaqout, Anwar F; Hamoda, Mohamed F

2007-01-01

As organic solid waste is decomposed in a landfill and mass is lost due to gas and leachate formation, the landfill settles. Settlement of a landfill interferes with the rehabilitation and subsequent use of the landfill site after closure. This study examined the soil/solid waste movement at the Al-Qurain landfill in Kuwait after 15 years of closure as plans are underway for redevelopment of the landfill site that occupies about a km(2) with an average depth of 8-15m. Field experiments were conducted for 6 mo to measure soil/solid waste movement and water behavior within the landfill using two settlement plates with a level survey access, Casagrande-type piezometers, pneumatic piezometers, and magnetic probe extensometers. Previous results obtained indicated that biological decomposition of refuse continued after closure of the landfill site. The subsurface water rise enhanced the biological activities, which resulted in the production of increasing quantities of landfill gas. The refuse fill materials recorded a high movement rate under the imposed preloading as a result of an increase in the stress state. Up to 55% of the total movement was observed during the first 2 weeks of fill placement and increased to 80% within the first month of the 6-mo preloading test. Pneumatic piezometers showed an increase in water head, which is attributed to the developed pressure of gases escaping during the preloading period.

Process for the recycling of alkaline and zinc-carbon spent batteries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ferella, Francesco; De Michelis, Ida; Vegliò, Francesco

In this paper a recycling process for the recovery of zinc and manganese from spent alkaline and zinc-carbon batteries is proposed. Laboratory tests are performed to obtain a purified pregnant solution from which metallic zinc (purity 99.6%) can be recovered by electrolysis; manganese is recovered as a mixture of oxides by roasting of solid residue coming from the leaching stage. Nearly 99% of zinc and 20% of manganese are extracted after 3 h, at 80 °C with 10% w/v pulp density and 1.5 M sulphuric acid concentration. The leach liquor is purified by a selective precipitation of iron, whereas metallic impurities, such as copper, nickel and cadmium are removed by cementation with zinc powder. The solid residue of leaching is roasted for 30 min at 900 °C, removing graphite completely and obtaining a mixture of Mn 3O 4 and Mn 2O 3 with 70% grade of Mn. After that a technical-economic assessment is carried out for a recycling plant with a feed capacity of 5000 t y -1 of only alkaline and zinc-carbon batteries. This analysis shows the economic feasibility of that plant, supposing a battery price surcharge of 0.5 € kg -1, with a return on investment of 34.5%, gross margin of 35.8% and around 3 years payback time.

Assessing trends in insured losses from floods in Spain 1971-2008

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barredo, J. I.; Saurí, D.; Llasat, M. C.

2012-05-01

Economic impacts from floods have been increasing over recent decades, a fact often attributed to a changing climate. On the other hand, there is now a significant body of scientific scholarship all pointing towards increasing concentrations and values of assets as the principle cause of the increasing cost of natural disasters. This holds true for a variety of perils and across different jurisdictions. With this in mind, this paper examines the time history of insured losses from floods in Spain between 1971 and 2008. It assesses whether any discernible residual signal remains after adjusting the data for the increase in the number and value of insured assets over this period of time. Data on insured losses from floods were sourced from Consorcio de Compensación de Seguros (CCS). Although a public institution, CCS compensates homeowners for the damage produced by floods, and thus plays a role similar to that of a private insurance company. Insured losses were adjusted using two proxy measures: first, changes in the total amount of annual surcharges (premiums) paid by customers to CCS, and secondly, changes in the total value of dwellings per year. The adjusted data reveals no significant trend over the period 1971-2008 and serves again to confirm that at this juncture, societal influences remain the prime factors driving insured and economic losses from natural disasters.

Shortening the length of stay and mechanical ventilation time by using positive suggestions via MP3 players for ventilated patients.

PubMed

K Szilágyi, Adrienn; Diószeghy, Csaba; Fritúz, Gábor; Gál, János; Varga, Katalin

2014-03-01

Long stay in intensive care unit (ICU) and prolonged ventilation are deleterious for subsequent quality of life and surcharge financial capacity. We have already demonstrated the beneficial effects of using suggestive communication on recovery time during intensive care. The aim of our present study was to prove the same effects with standardized positive suggestive message delivered by an MP3 player. Patients ventilated in ICU were randomized into a control group receiving standard ICU treatment and two groups with a standardized pre-recorded material delivered via headphones: a suggestive message about safety, self-control, and recovery for the study group and a relaxing music for the music group. Groups were similar in terms of age, gender, and mortality, but the SAPS II scores were higher in the study group than that in the controls (57.8 ± 23.6 vs. 30.1 ± 15.5 and 33.7 ± 17.4). Our post-hoc analysis results showed that the length of ICU stay (134.2 ± 73.3 vs. 314.2 ± 178.4 h) and the time spent on ventilator (85.2 ± 34.9 vs. 232.0 ± 165.6 h) were significantly shorter in the study group compared to the unified control. The advantage of the structured positive suggestive message was proven against both music and control groups.

Shortening the length of stay and mechanical ventilation time by using positive suggestions via MP3 players for ventilated patients

PubMed Central

Diószeghy, Csaba; Fritúz, Gábor; Gál, János; Varga, Katalin

2014-01-01

Long stay in intensive care unit (ICU) and prolonged ventilation are deleterious for subsequent quality of life and surcharge financial capacity. We have already demonstrated the beneficial effects of using suggestive communication on recovery time during intensive care. The aim of our present study was to prove the same effects with standardized positive suggestive message delivered by an MP3 player. Patients ventilated in ICU were randomized into a control group receiving standard ICU treatment and two groups with a standardized pre-recorded material delivered via headphones: a suggestive message about safety, self-control, and recovery for the study group and a relaxing music for the music group. Groups were similar in terms of age, gender, and mortality, but the SAPS II scores were higher in the study group than that in the controls (57.8 ± 23.6 vs. 30.1 ± 15.5 and 33.7 ± 17.4). Our post-hoc analysis results showed that the length of ICU stay (134.2 ± 73.3 vs. 314.2 ± 178.4 h) and the time spent on ventilator (85.2 ± 34.9 vs. 232.0 ± 165.6 h) were significantly shorter in the study group compared to the unified control. The advantage of the structured positive suggestive message was proven against both music and control groups. PMID:24672669

To what extent does variability of historical rainfall series influence extreme event statistics of sewer system surcharge and overflows?

PubMed

Schaarup-Jensen, K; Rasmussen, M R; Thorndahl, S

2009-01-01

In urban drainage modelling long-term extreme statistics has become an important basis for decision-making e.g. in connection with renovation projects. Therefore it is of great importance to minimize the uncertainties with regards to long-term prediction of maximum water levels and combined sewer overflow (CSO) in drainage systems. These uncertainties originate from large uncertainties regarding rainfall inputs, parameters, and assessment of return periods. This paper investigates how the choice of rainfall time series influences the extreme events statistics of max water levels in manholes and CSO volumes. Traditionally, long-term rainfall series, from a local rain gauge, are unavailable. In the present case study, however, long and local rain series are available. 2 rainfall gauges have recorded events for approximately 9 years at 2 locations within the catchment. Beside these 2 gauges another 7 gauges are located at a distance of max 20 kilometers from the catchment. All gauges are included in the Danish national rain gauge system which was launched in 1976. The paper describes to what extent the extreme events statistics based on these 9 series diverge from each other and how this diversity can be handled, e.g. by introducing an "averaging procedure" based on the variability within the set of statistics. All simulations are performed by means of the MOUSE LTS model.

Water use regimes: Characterizing direct human interaction with hydrologic systems

USGS Publications Warehouse

Weiskel, Peter K.; Vogel, Richard M.; Steeves, Peter A.; Zarriello, Philip J.; Desimone, Leslie A.; Ries, Kernell G.

2007-01-01

The sustainability of human water use practices is a rapidly growing concern in the United States and around the world. To better characterize direct human interaction with hydrologic systems (stream basins and aquifers), we introduce the concept of the water use regime. Unlike scalar indicators of anthropogenic hydrologic stress in the literature, the water use regime is a two‐dimensional, vector indicator that can be depicted on simple x‐y plots of normalized human withdrawals (hout) versus normalized human return flows (hin). Four end‐member regimes, natural‐flow‐dominated (undeveloped), human‐flow‐dominated (churned), withdrawal‐dominated (depleted), and return‐flow‐dominated (surcharged), are defined in relation to limiting values of hout and hin. For illustration, the water use regimes of 19 diverse hydrologic systems are plotted and interpreted. Several of these systems, including the Yellow River Basin, China, and the California Central Valley Aquifer, are shown to approach particular end‐member regimes. Spatial and temporal regime variations, both seasonal and long‐term, are depicted. Practical issues of data availability and regime uncertainty are addressed in relation to the statistical properties of the ratio estimators hout and hin. The water use regime is shown to be a useful tool for comparative water resources assessment and for describing both historic and alternative future pathways of water resource development at a range of scales.

The catastrophic landfill flowslide at Hongao dumpsite on 20 December 2015 in Shenzhen, China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Qiang; Peng, Dalei; Li, Weile; Dong, Xiujun; Hu, Wei; Tang, Minggao; Liu, Fangzhou

2017-02-01

A catastrophic flowslide occurred at the Hongao dumpsite on 20 December 2015 in the Guangming New District of Shenzhen, China. The flowslide caused 77 causalities and damaged 33 buildings. In the absence of extreme weather conditions and seismic activity, the causes of the failure were analyzed on the basis of multi-temporal remote-sensing images, site investigation, in situ tests, laboratory tests, and numerical analyses. Site investigations showed that the volume of the displaced material was 2.32 × 106 m3 and the volume of the pre-failure waste filling was 6.27 × 106 m3. The flowslide was characterized by high travel velocity and long runout distance. The displaced material was primarily a mixture of silty soil and construction and demolition waste with water content of 17.3-42.4 %. The primary causes of the failure were concluded to be the following: (1) groundwater flow had stagnated in the dumpsite due to drainage system failure and the underlying impermeable granite stratum; (2) the accumulation rate and total volume of the waste filling was in exceedance of the design capacity. The flowslide may be ascribed to the development of excess pore-water pressure as evidence of liquefaction was observed at several locations, and it is postulated that such phenomena were related to the surcharge loads imposed by the unregulated disposal activities.

Managing water utility financial risks through third-party index insurance contracts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zeff, Harrison B.; Characklis, Gregory W.

2013-08-01

As developing new supply capacity has become increasingly expensive and difficult to permit (i.e., regulatory approval), utilities have become more reliant on temporary demand management programs, such as outdoor water use restrictions, for ensuring reliability during drought. However, a significant fraction of water utility income is often derived from the volumetric sale of water, and such restrictions can lead to substantial revenue losses. Given that many utilities set prices at levels commensurate with recovering costs, these revenue losses can leave them financially vulnerable to budgetary shortfalls. This work explores approaches for mitigating drought-related revenue losses through the use of third-party financial insurance contracts based on streamflow indices. Two different types of contracts are developed, and their efficacy is compared against two more traditional forms of financial hedging used by water utilities: Drought surcharges and contingency funds (i.e., self-insurance). Strategies involving each of these approaches, as well as their use in combination, are applied under conditions facing the water utility serving Durham, North Carolina. A multireservoir model provides information on the scale and timing of droughts, and the financial effects of these events are simulated using detailed data derived from utility billing records. Results suggest that third-party index insurance contracts, either independently or in combination with more traditional hedging tools, can provide an effective means of reducing a utility's financial vulnerability to drought.

A new method of fully three dimensional analysis of stress field in the soil layer of a soil-mantled hillslope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Y. H.; Nakakita, E.

2017-12-01

Hillslope stability is highly related to stress equilibrium near the top surface of soil-mantled hillslopes. Stress field in a hillslope can also be significantly altered by variable groundwater motion under the rainfall influence as well as by different vegetation above and below the slope. The topographic irregularity, biological effects from vegetation and variable rainfall patterns couple with others to make the prediction of shallow landslide complicated and difficult. In an increasing tendency of extreme rainfall, the mountainous area in Japan has suffered more and more shallow landslides. To better assess shallow landslide hazards, we would like to develop a new mechanically-based method to estimate the fully three-dimensional stress field in hillslopes. The surface soil-layer of hillslope is modelled as a poroelastic medium, and the tree surcharge on the slope surface is considered as a boundary input of stress forcing. The modelling of groundwater motion is involved to alter effective stress state in the soil layer, and the tree root-reinforcement estimated by allometric equations is taken into account for influencing the soil strength. The Mohr-Coulomb failure theory is then used for locating possible yielding surfaces, or says for identifying failure zones. This model is implemented by using the finite element method. Finally, we performed a case study of the real event of massive shallow landslides occurred in Hiroshima in August, 2014. The result shows good agreement with the field condition.

Carbon emissions tax policy of urban road traffic and its application in Panjin, China

PubMed Central

Yang, Longhai; Fang, Lin

2018-01-01

How to effectively solve traffic congestion and transportation pollution in urban development is a main research emphasis for transportation management agencies. A carbon emissions tax can affect travelers’ generalized costs and will lead to changes in passenger demand, mode choice and traffic flow equilibrium in road networks, which are of significance in green travel and low-carbon transportation management. This paper first established a mesoscopic model to calculate the carbon emissions tax and determined the value of this charge in China, which was based on road traffic flow, vehicle speed, and carbon emissions. Referring to existing research results to calibrate the value of time, this paper modified the traveler’s generalized cost function, including the carbon emissions tax, fuel surcharge and travel time cost, which can be used in the travel impedance model with the consideration of the carbon emissions tax. Then, a method for analyzing urban road network traffic flow distribution was put forward, and a joint traffic distribution model was established, which considered the relationship between private cars and taxis. Finally, this paper took the city of Panjin as an example to analyze the road traffic carbon emissions tax’s impact. The results illustrated that the carbon emissions tax has a positive effect on road network flow equilibrium and carbon emission reduction. This paper will have good reference value and practical significance for the calculation and implementation of urban traffic carbon emissions taxes in China. PMID:29738580

Carbon emissions tax policy of urban road traffic and its application in Panjin, China.

PubMed

Yang, Longhai; Hu, Xiaowei; Fang, Lin

2018-01-01

How to effectively solve traffic congestion and transportation pollution in urban development is a main research emphasis for transportation management agencies. A carbon emissions tax can affect travelers' generalized costs and will lead to changes in passenger demand, mode choice and traffic flow equilibrium in road networks, which are of significance in green travel and low-carbon transportation management. This paper first established a mesoscopic model to calculate the carbon emissions tax and determined the value of this charge in China, which was based on road traffic flow, vehicle speed, and carbon emissions. Referring to existing research results to calibrate the value of time, this paper modified the traveler's generalized cost function, including the carbon emissions tax, fuel surcharge and travel time cost, which can be used in the travel impedance model with the consideration of the carbon emissions tax. Then, a method for analyzing urban road network traffic flow distribution was put forward, and a joint traffic distribution model was established, which considered the relationship between private cars and taxis. Finally, this paper took the city of Panjin as an example to analyze the road traffic carbon emissions tax's impact. The results illustrated that the carbon emissions tax has a positive effect on road network flow equilibrium and carbon emission reduction. This paper will have good reference value and practical significance for the calculation and implementation of urban traffic carbon emissions taxes in China.

Modeling a network of turloughs in lowland karst

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gill, L. W.; Naughton, O.; Johnston, P. M.

2013-06-01

In lowland karst areas of Ireland topographic depressions which get intermittently flooded on an annual cycle via groundwater sources are termed turloughs. These are sites of high ecological interest as they have communities and substrate characteristic of wetlands. The flooding in many turlough basins is due to insufficient capacity of the underground karst system to take increased flows following excessive precipitation events, causing the conduit-type network to surcharge. Continuous water level measurements have been taken in five linked turloughs in the lowland karst area of south Galway over a 3 year period. These water level fluctuations, in conjunction with river inputs and precipitation, were then used to elucidate the hydrogeological controls forming the hydraulic system beneath the ground. A model of the karst network has been developed using a pipe network model with the turloughs represented as ponds. The contribution to the karst network from diffuse flow through the epikarst via the matrix and fracture flow has also been modeled using a combination of an infiltration module and network of permeable pipes. The final model was calibrated against two separate hydrological years and in general provided a good simulation for all of the turloughs water levels particularly for the year with one main filling event. The model also accurately picked up the tidal response observed in these turloughs at shallow depths. The model has been used to predict the groundwater discharge to the coast via the main spring which had not heretofore been possible to measure, being below the sea level.

Maximum Entropy Principle for Transportation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bilich, F.; DaSilva, R.

2008-11-01

In this work we deal with modeling of the transportation phenomenon for use in the transportation planning process and policy-impact studies. The model developed is based on the dependence concept, i.e., the notion that the probability of a trip starting at origin i is dependent on the probability of a trip ending at destination j given that the factors (such as travel time, cost, etc.) which affect travel between origin i and destination j assume some specific values. The derivation of the solution of the model employs the maximum entropy principle combining a priori multinomial distribution with a trip utility concept. This model is utilized to forecast trip distributions under a variety of policy changes and scenarios. The dependence coefficients are obtained from a regression equation where the functional form is derived based on conditional probability and perception of factors from experimental psychology. The dependence coefficients encode all the information that was previously encoded in the form of constraints. In addition, the dependence coefficients encode information that cannot be expressed in the form of constraints for practical reasons, namely, computational tractability. The equivalence between the standard formulation (i.e., objective function with constraints) and the dependence formulation (i.e., without constraints) is demonstrated. The parameters of the dependence-based trip-distribution model are estimated, and the model is also validated using commercial air travel data in the U.S. In addition, policy impact analyses (such as allowance of supersonic flights inside the U.S. and user surcharge at noise-impacted airports) on air travel are performed.

The Impact of Specialized Telephonic Guides on Employee Engagement in Corporate Well-Being Programs

PubMed Central

Barleen, Nathan A.; Marzec, Mary L.; Moloney, Daniel P.; Dobro, Jeff

2018-01-01

Abstract Employer-sponsored well-being programs have been growing in popularity as a means to control rising health care costs and increase workplace productivity. Engagement by employees is necessary for these programs to achieve their desired effects. Extrinsic motivators in the form of incentives and surcharges are commonly introduced by employer program sponsors to promote meaningful engagement. Although these may be successful in achieving a degree of engagement, individuals benefit by being intrinsically motivated as they modify behaviors and improve short- and long-term well-being. Telephonic guides equipped with motivational interviewing and other behavioral strategies to improve engagement may bridge the gap between extrinsic and intrinsic motivation. The objectives of this study are to determine characteristics associated with employee utilization of these guides when offered and to compare subsequent program engagement rates between utilizers to a propensity score matched group of employees who were not offered the service. The data were retrieved from a well-being program provider's database. The study examined 166,258 employees across 35 employers. It found utilizers were older, proportionally more female, in the manufacturing industry, incented to use the guide service, offered a larger incentive for program participation, had healthier self-reported behaviors, and had a higher perception of their employer's focus on well-being. The study found that guide utilizers were significantly more likely to engage in telephonic coaching, digital coaching, and activity tracking up to 6 months. The study's findings suggest telephonic guides using a range of behavioral techniques are an effective strategy to drive well-being program engagement. PMID:28586257

Maximum entropy principal for transportation

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

Bilich, F.; Da Silva, R.

In this work we deal with modeling of the transportation phenomenon for use in the transportation planning process and policy-impact studies. The model developed is based on the dependence concept, i.e., the notion that the probability of a trip starting at origin i is dependent on the probability of a trip ending at destination j given that the factors (such as travel time, cost, etc.) which affect travel between origin i and destination j assume some specific values. The derivation of the solution of the model employs the maximum entropy principle combining a priori multinomial distribution with a trip utilitymore » concept. This model is utilized to forecast trip distributions under a variety of policy changes and scenarios. The dependence coefficients are obtained from a regression equation where the functional form is derived based on conditional probability and perception of factors from experimental psychology. The dependence coefficients encode all the information that was previously encoded in the form of constraints. In addition, the dependence coefficients encode information that cannot be expressed in the form of constraints for practical reasons, namely, computational tractability. The equivalence between the standard formulation (i.e., objective function with constraints) and the dependence formulation (i.e., without constraints) is demonstrated. The parameters of the dependence-based trip-distribution model are estimated, and the model is also validated using commercial air travel data in the U.S. In addition, policy impact analyses (such as allowance of supersonic flights inside the U.S. and user surcharge at noise-impacted airports) on air travel are performed.« less

Funding Intensive Care - Approaches in Systems Using Diagnosis-Related Groups.

PubMed

Ettelt, Stefanie; Nolte, Ellen

2012-01-01

This article summarizes a review of approaches to funding intensive care in health systems that use activity-based payment mechanisms based on diagnosis-related groups (DRGs) to reimburse hospital care in Australia (Victoria), Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the United States (Medicare). The study aims to inform the current debate about options for funding intensive care services for adults, children and newborns in England. Mechanisms of funding intensive care services tend to fall into three broad categories: (1) those that fund intensive care through DRGs as part of one episode of hospital care only (US Medicare, Germany, selected regions in Sweden and Italy; (2) those that use DRGs in combination with co-payments (Victoria, France); and (3) those that exclude intensive care from DRG funding and use an alternative form of payment, for example global budgets (Spain) or per diems (South Australia). The review suggests that there is no obvious example of "best practice" or dominant approach used by a majority of systems. Each approach has advantages and disadvantages, particularly in relation to the financial risk involved in providing intensive care. While the risk of underfunding intensive care may be highest in systems that apply DRGs to the entire episode of hospital care, including intensive care, concerns about potential underfunding were voiced in all systems reviewed here. Arrangements for additional funding in the form of co-payments or surcharges may reduce the risk of underfunding. However, these approaches also face the difficulty of determining the appropriate level of (additional) payment and balancing the incentive effect arising from higher payment.

The Impact of Specialized Telephonic Guides on Employee Engagement in Corporate Well-Being Programs.

PubMed

Boerger, Nicholas L; Barleen, Nathan A; Marzec, Mary L; Moloney, Daniel P; Dobro, Jeff

2018-02-01

Employer-sponsored well-being programs have been growing in popularity as a means to control rising health care costs and increase workplace productivity. Engagement by employees is necessary for these programs to achieve their desired effects. Extrinsic motivators in the form of incentives and surcharges are commonly introduced by employer program sponsors to promote meaningful engagement. Although these may be successful in achieving a degree of engagement, individuals benefit by being intrinsically motivated as they modify behaviors and improve short- and long-term well-being. Telephonic guides equipped with motivational interviewing and other behavioral strategies to improve engagement may bridge the gap between extrinsic and intrinsic motivation. The objectives of this study are to determine characteristics associated with employee utilization of these guides when offered and to compare subsequent program engagement rates between utilizers to a propensity score matched group of employees who were not offered the service. The data were retrieved from a well-being program provider's database. The study examined 166,258 employees across 35 employers. It found utilizers were older, proportionally more female, in the manufacturing industry, incented to use the guide service, offered a larger incentive for program participation, had healthier self-reported behaviors, and had a higher perception of their employer's focus on well-being. The study found that guide utilizers were significantly more likely to engage in telephonic coaching, digital coaching, and activity tracking up to 6 months. The study's findings suggest telephonic guides using a range of behavioral techniques are an effective strategy to drive well-being program engagement.

Automatic Classification of Aerial Imagery for Urban Hydrological Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paul, A.; Yang, C.; Breitkopf, U.; Liu, Y.; Wang, Z.; Rottensteiner, F.; Wallner, M.; Verworn, A.; Heipke, C.

2018-04-01

In this paper we investigate the potential of automatic supervised classification for urban hydrological applications. In particular, we contribute to runoff simulations using hydrodynamic urban drainage models. In order to assess whether the capacity of the sewers is sufficient to avoid surcharge within certain return periods, precipitation is transformed into runoff. The transformation of precipitation into runoff requires knowledge about the proportion of drainage-effective areas and their spatial distribution in the catchment area. Common simulation methods use the coefficient of imperviousness as an important parameter to estimate the overland flow, which subsequently contributes to the pipe flow. The coefficient of imperviousness is the percentage of area covered by impervious surfaces such as roofs or road surfaces. It is still common practice to assign the coefficient of imperviousness for each particular land parcel manually by visual interpretation of aerial images. Based on classification results of these imagery we contribute to an objective automatic determination of the coefficient of imperviousness. In this context we compare two classification techniques: Random Forests (RF) and Conditional Random Fields (CRF). Experimental results performed on an urban test area show good results and confirm that the automated derivation of the coefficient of imperviousness, apart from being more objective and, thus, reproducible, delivers more accurate results than the interactive estimation. We achieve an overall accuracy of about 85 % for both classifiers. The root mean square error of the differences of the coefficient of imperviousness compared to the reference is 4.4 % for the CRF-based classification, and 3.8 % for the RF-based classification.

Social marketing: making condoms available to communities. An interview with Duncan Earle.

PubMed

1994-05-01

This document presents an interview in which AIDSCAP private-sector officer Duncan Earle discusses how condom social marketing contributes to AIDS prevention efforts. Condom social marketing uses commercial marketing techniques to promote condom use by making them more accessible and affordable. Thus, condoms are sold where people can purchase them without embarrassment (often by street hawkers) or where they may be needed in impulsive situations (in bars, hotels, and nightclubs). Social marketing relies on such marketing techniques as identifying wholesalers, assisting wholesalers with sales, creating point-of-purchase advertising, and developing attractive packaging. Prices are based on rough formulas derived from per capita gross national product and the prices people are willing to pay for such products as matches, cigarettes, candy, and aspirin. Quality is assured if the condoms are obtained through the US Agency for International Development's procurement system. Samples of condoms obtained from other sources are submitted for quality testing. The success of social marketing programs can be determined by examining sales and resupply. Cost effectiveness is determined by the cost of delivering 100 condoms (1 couple-year of protection). While social marketing would be more cost effective without expenditures on advertising, it would be less effective overall. Some barriers that must be overcome to market condoms include laws outlawing the sale or advertising of condoms, duties and customs' surcharges on imported condoms (which, in some cases, increase the cost 33%), and religious objections to contraception. As well as selling condoms, social marketing programs educate people about AIDS using any kind of media available.

Indicators of streamflow alteration, habitat fragmentation, impervious cover, and water quality for Massachusetts stream basins

USGS Publications Warehouse

Weiskel, Peter K.; Brandt, Sara L.; DeSimone, Leslie A.; Ostiguy, Lance J.; Archfield, Stacey A.

2010-01-01

Massachusetts streams and stream basins have been subjected to a wide variety of human alterations since colonial times. These alterations include water withdrawals, treated wastewater discharges, construction of onsite septic systems and dams, forest clearing, and urbanization—all of which have the potential to affect streamflow regimes, water quality, and habitat integrity for fish and other aquatic biota. Indicators were developed to characterize these types of potential alteration for subbasins and groundwater contributing areas in Massachusetts. The potential alteration of streamflow by the combined effects of withdrawals and discharges was assessed under two water-use scenarios. Water-use scenario 1 incorporated publicly reported groundwater withdrawals and discharges, direct withdrawals from and discharges to streams, and estimated domestic-well withdrawals and septic-system discharges. Surface-water-reservoir withdrawals were excluded from this scenario. Water-use scenario 2 incorporated all the types of withdrawal and discharge included in scenario 1 as well as withdrawals from surface-water reservoirs—all on a long-term, mean annual basis. All withdrawal and discharge data were previously reported to the State for the 2000–2004 period, except domestic-well withdrawals and septic-system discharges, which were estimated for this study. The majority of the state’s subbasins and groundwater contributing areas were estimated to have relatively minor (less than 10 percent) alteration of streamflow under water-use scenario 1 (seasonally varying water use; no surface-water-reservoir withdrawals). However, about 12 percent of subbasins and groundwater contributing areas were estimated to have extensive alteration of streamflows (greater than 40 percent) in August; most of these basins were concentrated in the outer metropolitan Boston region. Potential surcharging of streamflow in August was most commonly indicated for main-stem river subbasins, although surcharging was also indicated for some smaller tributary subbasins. In the high-flow month of April, only 4.8 percent of subbasins and groundwater contributing areas had more than 10 percent potential flow alteration. A majority of the state’s subbasins and groundwater contributing areas were also indicated to have relatively minor alteration of streamflow under water-use scenario 2 (long-term average water use, including surface-water-reservoir withdrawals). Extensive alteration of mean annual flows was estimated for about 6 percent of the state’s subbasins and groundwater contributing areas. The majority of subbasins estimated to have extensive long-term flow alteration contained reservoirs that were specifically designed, constructed, and managed to supply drinking water to cities. Only a small number of subbasins and groundwater contributing areas (1 percent) were extensively surcharged on a long-term, mean annual basis. Because site-specific data concerning surface-water-reservoir storage dynamics and management practices are not available statewide, the seasonal effects of surface-water-reservoir withdrawals on downstream flows could not be assessed in this study. The impounded storage ratio (volume of impounded subbasin or groundwater-contributing-area storage divided by mean annual predevelopment outflow from the subbasin or contributing area, in units of days) indicates the potential for alteration of streamflow, sediment-transport, and temperature regimes by dams, independent of water use. Storage ratios were less than 1 day for 33 percent of the subbasins and groundwater contributing areas, greater than 1 month for about 40 percent of the cases, and greater than 1 year for 3.2 percent of the cases statewide. Dam density, an indicator of stream-habitat fragmentation by dams, averaged 1 dam for every 6.7 stream miles statewide. Many of these dams are not presently (2009) being managed. The highest dam densities were in portions of Worcester County and in the Plymouth-Carver region, respectively, reflecting the historical reliance of Massachusetts industry upon water power and agricultural water-management practices in southeastern Massachusetts. Impervious cover is a frequently used indicator of urban land use. About 33 percent of the state’s 1,429 subbasins and groundwater contributing areas are relatively undeveloped at the local scale, with a local impervious cover of less than 4 percent. About 18 percent of Massachusetts subbasins and contributing areas are highly developed, with a local impervious cover greater than 16 percent. The remaining 49 percent of subbasins and contributing areas have levels of urban development between these extremes (4 to 16 percent local impervious cover). Cumulative impervious cover, defined for the entire upstream area encompassed by each subbasin, shows a smaller range (0 to 55 percent) than local impervious cover. Both local and cumulative impervious cover were highest in metropolitan Boston and other urban centers. High elevated impervious-cover values were also found along major transportation corridors. The water-quality status of Massachusetts streams is assessed periodically by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection pursuant to the requirements of the Federal Clean Water Act. Streams selected for assessment are commonly located in larger subbasins where some degree of impairment is expected. In the 72 percent of the state’s subbasins and groundwater contributing areas with assessed streams in 2002, more than 50 percent of the assessed stream miles were considered impaired. All of the assessed stream miles were considered impaired in 66 percent of the subbasins and groundwater contributing areas with assessed streams. Large streams, such as the main stems of rivers that make up most of the assessed stream miles, also are in many cases the receiving waters for treated wastewater discharges and for this reason may be more susceptible to water-quality impairments than smaller streams. Subbasins and contributing areas with large fractions of assessed stream miles that are listed as impaired are distributed across the state, but are more prevalent in eastern Massachusetts.

[TWELVE WEEKS OF PHYSICAL EXERCISE INTERVAL WITH SURCHARGE IMPROVES THE ANTHROPOMETRIC VARIABLES OF OBESE MORBID AND OBESE WITH COMORBIDITIES CANDIDATES TO BARIATRIC SURGERY].

PubMed

Delgado Floody, Pedro; Jerez Mayorga, Daniel; Caamaño Navarrete, Felipe; Osorio Poblete, Aldo; Thuillier Lepeley, Nicole; Alarcón Hormazábal, Manuel

2015-11-01

for the morbid obesity the bariatric surgery is effective, but to major preoperative weight it might increase morbidity and mortality, for such a motive it is necessary to implement programs that improve this condition. to determine the effects of a program of physical exercise interval on the anthropometric profile of the morbidly obese and obese with comorbidities candidates to bariatric surgery. three men and twenty-five women between 18 and 60 years old candidates to bariatric surgery, with morbid obesity (n = 16) or obese and comorbidities (type-II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance) (n = 12), they were subjected to a program of physical exercise with interval overload of three months duration (36 sessions). Before and 72 hours after the last intervention session was evaluated on fasting (≥ 12 hours): body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist contour (WC) and contour hip. the average age corresponds to 36.96 years, prior to intervention the weight had an average of 102.66 ± 15.96 kg, BMI of 40.84 ± 4.94, the WC 114.22 ± 10.35 cm and the contour hip 126.84 ± 10.65 cm. After twelve weeks of intervention showed significant decreases in weight variables (p = 0.000), BMI (p = 0.001), WC (p = 0.000) and hip contour (0.000). twelve weeks of interval exercise improved preoperative anthropometric conditions, without presenting risks in health and with high adherence to the program, which is why it may be recommended for this type of treatment. Copyright AULA MEDICA EDICIONES 2014. Published by AULA MEDICA. All rights reserved.

Ankle Fractures and Modality of Hospital Transport at a Single Level 1 Trauma Center: Does Transport by Helicopter or Ground Ambulance Influence the Incidence of Complications?

PubMed

Greenberg, Sarah E; Ihejirika, Rivka C; Sathiyakumar, Vasanth; Lang, Maximilian F; Estevez-Ordonez, Dagoberto; Prablek, Marc A; Chern, Alexander Y; Thakore, Rachel V; Obremskey, William T; Joyce, David; Sethi, Manish K

2015-01-01

In an era of concern over the rising cost of health care, cost-effectiveness of auxiliary services merits careful evaluation. We compared costs and benefits of Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) with Ground Emergency Medical Service (GEMS) in patients with an isolated ankle fracture. A medical record review was conducted for patients with an isolated ankle fracture who had been transported to a level 1 trauma center by either HEMS or GEMS from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2010. We abstracted demographic data, fracture grade, complications, and transportation mode. Transportation costs were obtained by examining medical center financial records. A total of 303 patients was included in the analysis. Of 87 (28.71%) HEMS patients, 53 (60.92%) had sustained closed injuries and 34 (39.08%) had open injuries. Of the 216 (71.29%) GEMS patients, 156 (72.22%) had closed injuries and 60 (27.78%) had open injuries. No significant difference was seen between the groups regarding the percentage of patients with open fractures or the grade of the open fracture (p = .07). No significant difference in the rate of complications was found between the 2 groups (p = 18). The mean baseline cost to transport a patient via HEMS was $10,220 + a $108/mile surcharge, whereas the mean transport cost using GEMS was $976 per patient + $16/mile. Because the HEMS mode of emergency transport did not significantly improve patient outcomes, health systems should reconsider the use of HEMS for patients with isolated ankle fractures. Copyright © 2015 American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Technologies and policies for "hard to scrub" emissions sources

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Friedmann, J.

2016-12-01

The science of climate change yields harsh math regarding atmospheric accumulations of GHGs. The world is far from target trajectories for 2C or 1.5C, and the global carbon budget is severe. To achieve those targets requires two things. First, we must field technologies that reduce emissions from the "hard to scrub" parts of the US and global economies, such as heavy industry (cement and steel), aviation, ocean shipping, and household cooking and heating. Second, we will likely need negative emissions pathways for those sources that prove extremely difficult to remove or reduce - the climate equivalent of adding revenue to one's budget. Such pathways may well need to convert GHG emissions (especially CO2 and methane) into useful products with minimal infrastructure builds. Dramatic advances in advanced manufacturing, 3D printing, simulation, modeling, and data analytics have made possible solutions which were previously unthinkable or impossible. This include "bespoke reactors", which can simultaneously perform separations and conversions; low-cost modular chemical systems of any scale; biologically inspired or biologically mediated energy services; direct air carbon-capture systems; and electrochemical pathways for emissions reduction and conversion. However, these approaches are unlikely to be fielded without policy actions or reforms that support such systems in competitive global energy markets. Such policy measures do NOT require a carbon price. Rather, they could include individual or combined measures such as emission or performance standards, financial incentives (like tax credits or low-cost access to capital), border adjustable tariffs, creation of CO2 utilities, ands public good surcharges. Innovation in both technical and policy arenas are needed to achieve the goals of the Paris agreement signatories, and these innovations can be simultaneously configured to deliver substantive greenhouse gas mitigation.

Evaluation Criteria and Results of Full Scale Testing of Bridge Abutment Made from Reinforced Soil

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hildebrand, Maciej; Rybak, Jarosław

2017-10-01

Structures made of reinforced soil can be evaluated for their safety based on a load testing. Measurement results are essentially evaluated by displacements of surcharge (mainly in vertical direction) and facing elements (mainly in horizontal direction). Displacements are within several tenths to several millimetres and they can be taken by common geodetic equipment. Due to slow soil consolidation (progress of displacements) under constant load, observations should be made over several days or even weeks or months. A standard procedure of heating of geotextiles, used in laboratory conditions to simulate long term behaviour cannot be used in a natural scale. When the load is removed, the soil unloading occurs. Both the progress of displacements and soil unloading after unloading of the structure are the key presumptions for evaluating its safety (stability). Assessment of measuring results must be preceded by assuming even the simplest model of the structure, so as it could be possible to estimate the expected displacements under controlled load. In view of clearly random nature of soil parameters of retaining structure composed of reinforced soil and due to specific erection technology of reinforced soil structure, the assessment of its condition is largely based on expert’s judgment. It is an essential and difficult task to interpret very small displacements which are often enough disturbed by numerous factors like temperature, insolation, precipitation, vehicles, etc. In the presented paper, the authors tried to establish and juxtapose some criteria for a load test of a bridge abutment and evaluate their suitability for decision making. Final remarks are based on authors experience from a real full scale load test.

Methodology to improve process understanding of surface runoff causing damages to buildings by analyzing insurance data records

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bernet, Daniel; Prasuhn, Volker; Weingartner, Rolf

2015-04-01

Several case studies in Switzerland highlight that many buildings which are damaged by floods are not located within the inundation zones of rivers, but outside the river network. In urban areas, such flooding can be caused by drainage system surcharge, low infiltration capacity of the urbanized landscape etc. However, in rural and peri-urban areas inundations are more likely caused by surface runoff formed on natural and arable land. Such flash floods have very short response time, occur rather diffusely and, thus, are very difficult to observe directly. In our approach, we use data records from private, but mostly from public insurance companies. The latter, present in 19 out of the total 26 Cantons of Switzerland, insure (almost) every building within the respective administrative zones and, in addition, hold a monopoly position. Damage claims, including flood damages, are usually recorded and, thus, data records from such public insurance companies are a very profitable data source to better understand surface runoff leading to damages. Although practitioners agree that this process is relevant, there seems to be a knowledge gap concerning spatial and temporal distributions as well as triggers and influencing factors of such damage events. Within the framework of a research project, we want to address this research gap and improve the understanding of the process chain from surface runoff formation up to possible damages to buildings. This poster introduces the methodology, which will be applied to a dataset including data from the majority of all 19 public insurance companies for buildings in Switzerland, counting over 50'000 damage claims, in order to better understand surface runoff. The goal is to infer spatial and temporal patterns as well as drivers and influencing factors of surface runoff possibly causing damages. In particular, the workflow of data acquisition, harmonization and treatment is outlined. Furthermore associated problems and challenges are discussed. Ultimately, the improved process understanding will be used to develop a new modeling approach.

PubMed Central

Formago, Margaret; Schrauder, Michael G.; Rauh, Claudia; Hack, Carolin C.; Jud, Sebastian M.; Hildebrandt, Thomas; Schulz-Wendtland, Rüdiger; Frentz, S.; Graubert, S.; Beckmann, Matthias W.; Lux, Michael P.

2017-01-01

Introduction The care of patients with breast cancer is extremely complex and requires interdisciplinary care in certified facilities. These specialized facilities provide numerous services without being correspondingly remunerated. The question whether breast cancer surgery should be performed in an outpatient setting to reduce costs is increasingly being debated. This study compares inpatient surgical treatment with a model of the same surgery performed on an outpatient basis to examine the potential financial impact. Material and Methods A theoretical model was developed and the DRG fees for surgical interventions to treat primary breast cancer were calculated. A theoretical 1-day DRG was then calculated to permit comparisons with outpatient procedures. The costs of outpatient surgery were calculated based on the remuneration rates of the AOP (Outpatient Surgery) Contract and the EBM (Uniform Assessment Scale) and compared to the costs of the 1-day DRG. Results The DRG fee for both breast-conserving surgery and mastectomy is higher than the fee paid in the context of the EBM system, although the same procedures were carried out in both systems. If a hospital were to carry out breast-conserving surgery as an outpatient procedure, the fee would be € 1313.81; depending on the type of surgery, the hospital would therefore only receive between 39.20% and 52.82% of the DRG fee. This was the case even for a 1-day treatment. Compared to the real DRG fees the difference would be even more striking. Conclusion Carrying out breast cancer surgery as an outpatient procedure would result in a significant shortfall of revenues. Additional services from certified centers, such as the interdisciplinary planning of treatment, psycho-oncological and social-medical care with the involvement of relatives, detailed documentation, etc., which are currently provided without surcharge or adequate remuneration, could no longer be maintained. The quality of processes and excellent results which have been achieved and ultimately the care given by certified facilities would be significantly at risk. PMID:28845052

Behavior of urban residents toward the discarding of waste electrical and electronic equipment: a case study in Baoding, China.

PubMed

Li, Jinhui; Liu, Lili; Ren, Junshu; Duan, Huabo; Zheng, Lixia

2012-11-01

The volume of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is growing rapidly worldwide, making its management difficult; therefore, this should be improved as a matter of urgency. WEEE includes both essential household appliances [including televisions, refrigerators, and washing machines; but not air conditioners, where the consumption mode is more like information, communication and technology (ICT)] ICT equipment (also called high-tech household appliances). In the present study, Baoding, a medium-sized, prefecture-level city in north central China with a population of 11 million, including 1.1 million urban residents, was selected as a representative city for an investigation of recycling behaviors. A valid sample size of 346 households in Baoding was investigated, and categorized into various income and educational levels. The results showed that the major reason for discarding WEEE was malfunction of the appliance, accounting for 52% of disposals. Surveyed households with either high income or good education were more likely to consume high-tech household appliances, attracted by advanced technology, versatile functions or flexibility of use. Personal computer ownership rates were highest in households with a high income and good education-1.2 and 0.9 per home respectively. WEEE was most often sold to peddlers or hawkers from where the WEEE flowed into the second-hand market to be refurbished or repaired, and then re-sold. However, 56.3% of residents in the college community were in support of charging consumers for disposal and 61.7% were in support of including a disposal surcharge in the purchase price of new products-a percentage approximately three times that for high-income residents. Thus, high educational level appears to be currently the most important factor in raising the potential of a household's willingness to pay for WEEE treatment cost. The findings of this study can be used to develop sound recycling systems for WEEE in mainland China.

The way forward: experiences of health promotion development in Thailand.

PubMed

Buasai, Supakorn; Kanchanachitra, Churnrurtai; Siwaraksa, Parichart

2007-01-01

A landmark in health promotion in Thailand came in 2001 with the launching of the Universal Health Coverage Scheme at the cost of approximately USD 2 billion a year. Another important event was the establishment of the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) as a health promotion funding mechanism that draws upon a 2 percent surcharge levied on alcohol and tobacco excise tax, approximately USD 50-60 million a year. The most significant institutional development is the promulgation of the National Health Act in 2007. The Act embraces the principle of human rights and key principles of the Ottawa Charter in 2005. It is a result of five years of extensive public dialogues on important health issues that enhanced public awareness and nation wide networking on health promotion. ThaiHealth regards itself as a catalyst for health promotion. The organisation collaborates with all sectors of the society, from the national to the grassroots level, and is the most notable organisation for health promotion in Thailand. ThaiHealth funds programs on health risks/issues such as alcohol, tobacco, accidents, exercise, as well as area or setting based programs, for example, school, work place, community, and programs that target specific population groups such as the youth, the elderly, Muslim community. The open grants program invites proposals from all kinds of organizations/groups interested in launching health promotion initiatives. The endeavour has started to bear fruit. Smoking and alcohol consumption rates have dropped and more people have become health conscious and do more exercise. However, much remains to be done as some population groups especially the youth have become susceptible to various kinds of health risks. This remarkable start must be sustained and reinforced by the continuation and expansion of knowledge generation and dissemination, relentless policy advocacy and creative public campaign, with a strong health promotion network as the most critical success factor.

Modelling the affordability and distributional implications of future health care financing options in South Africa.

PubMed

McIntyre, Di; Ataguba, John E

2012-03-01

South Africa is considering introducing a universal health care system. A key concern for policy-makers and the general public is whether or not this reform is affordable. Modelling the resource and revenue generation requirements of alternative reform options is critical to inform decision-making. This paper considers three reform scenarios: universal coverage funded by increased allocations to health from general tax and additional dedicated taxes; an alternative reform option of extending private health insurance coverage to all formal sector workers and their dependents with the remainder using tax-funded services; and maintaining the status quo. Each scenario was modelled over a 15-year period using a spreadsheet model. Statistical analyses were also undertaken to evaluate the impact of options on the distribution of health care financing burden and benefits from using health services across socio-economic groups. Universal coverage would result in total health care spending levels equivalent to 8.6% of gross domestic product (GDP), which is comparable to current spending levels. It is lower than the status quo option (9.5% of GDP) and far lower than the option of expanding private insurance cover (over 13% of GDP). However, public funding of health services would have to increase substantially. Despite this, universal coverage would result in the most progressive financing system if the additional public funding requirements are generated through a surcharge on taxable income (but not if VAT is increased). The extended private insurance scheme option would be the least progressive and would impose a very high payment burden; total health care payments on average would be 10.7% of household consumption expenditure compared with the universal coverage (6.7%) and status quo (7.5%) options. The least pro-rich distribution of service benefits would be achieved under universal coverage. Universal coverage is affordable and would promote health system equity, but needs careful design to ensure its long-term sustainability.

A comparative analysis of hazard models for predicting debris flows in Madison County, VA

USGS Publications Warehouse

Morrissey, Meghan M.; Wieczorek, Gerald F.; Morgan, Benjamin A.

2001-01-01

During the rainstorm of June 27, 1995, roughly 330-750 mm of rain fell within a sixteen-hour period, initiating floods and over 600 debris flows in a small area (130 km2) of Madison County, Virginia. Field studies showed that the majority (70%) of these debris flows initiated with a thickness of 0.5 to 3.0 m in colluvium on slopes from 17 o to 41 o (Wieczorek et al., 2000). This paper evaluated and compared the approaches of SINMAP, LISA, and Iverson's (2000) transient response model for slope stability analysis by applying each model to the landslide data from Madison County. Of these three stability models, only Iverson's transient response model evaluated stability conditions as a function of time and depth. Iverson?s model would be the preferred method of the three models to evaluate landslide hazards on a regional scale in areas prone to rain-induced landslides as it considers both the transient and spatial response of pore pressure in its calculation of slope stability. The stability calculation used in SINMAP and LISA is similar and utilizes probability distribution functions for certain parameters. Unlike SINMAP that only considers soil cohesion, internal friction angle and rainfall-rate distributions, LISA allows the use of distributed data for all parameters, so it is the preferred model to evaluate slope stability over SINMAP. Results from all three models suggested similar soil and hydrologic properties for triggering the landslides that occurred during the 1995 storm in Madison County, Virginia. The colluvium probably had cohesion of less than 2KPa. The root-soil system is above the failure plane and consequently root strength and tree surcharge had negligible effect on slope stability. The result that the final location of the water table was near the ground surface is supported by the water budget analysis of the rainstorm conducted by Smith et al. (1996).

The World Health Organization's mechanisms for increasing the health sector budget: The South African context.

PubMed

Venter, Fouche Hendrik Johannes; Wolfaardt, Jaqueline Elizabeth

2016-07-04

South Africa (SA) has limited scope for raising income taxes, and the proposed National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme will necessitate growth in the health sector budget. The NHI White Paper suggests five funding scenarios to meet the expected shortfall. These scenarios are a mixture of a surcharge on taxable income, an increase in value-added tax and a payroll tax. Five alternative options, suggested by the World Health Organization, are interrogated as ways to decrease the general taxation proposed in the White Paper. The five mechanisms (corporate tax, financial transaction levy, and taxes on tobacco, alcohol and unhealthy foods) were chosen based on their fund-raising potential and their mandatory element. A literature review provides the information for a discussion of the potential costs of each mechanism. Within specific assumptions, potential budgetary contribution is compared with the requirement. First, raising corporate tax rates could raise enough funds, but the losses due to capital flight might be too much for the local economy to bear. Second, a levy on currency transactions is unlikely to raise the required resources, even without a probable decrease in the number of transactions. Third, the increase in the tax on tobacco and alcohol would need to be very large, even assuming that consumption patterns would remain unchanged. Lastly, a tax on unhealthy food products is a new idea and could be explored as an option - especially as the SA Treasury has announced its future implementation. Implementing only one of the mechanisms is unlikely to increase available funding sufficiently, but if they are implemented together the welfare-maximising tax rate for each mechanism may be high enough to fulfil the NHI scheme's budgetary requirement, moderating the increases in the tax burden of the SA population.

Biochemical, hydrological and mechanical behaviors of high food waste content MSW landfill: Liquid-gas interactions observed from a large-scale experiment.

PubMed

Zhan, Liang-Tong; Xu, Hui; Chen, Yun-Min; Lan, Ji-Wu; Lin, Wei-An; Xu, Xiao-Bing; He, Pin-Jing

2017-10-01

The high food waste content (HFWC) MSW at a landfill has the characteristics of rapid hydrolysis process, large leachate production rate and fast gas generation. The liquid-gas interactions at HFWC-MSW landfills are prominent and complex, and still remain significant challenges. This paper focuses on the liquid-gas interactions of HFWC-MSW observed from a large-scale bioreactor landfill experiment (5m×5m×7.5m). Based on the connected and quantitative analyses on the experimental observations, the following findings were obtained: (1) The high leachate level observed at Chinese landfills was attributed to the combined contribution from the great quantity of self-released leachate, waste compression and gas entrapped underwater. The contribution from gas entrapped underwater was estimated to be 21-28% of the total leachate level. (2) The gas entrapped underwater resulted in a reduction of hydraulic conductivity, decreasing by one order with an increase in gas content from 13% to 21%. (3) The "breakthrough value" in the gas accumulation zone was up to 11kPa greater than the pore liquid pressure. The increase of the breakthrough value was associated with the decrease of void porosity induced by surcharge loading. (4) The self-released leachate from HFWC-MSW was estimated to contribute to over 30% of the leachate production at landfills in Southern China. The drainage of leachate with a high organic loading in the rapid hydrolysis stage would lead to a loss of landfill gas (LFG) potential of 13%. Based on the above findings, an improved method considering the quantity of self-released leachate was proposed for the prediction of leachate production at HFWC-MSW landfills. In addition, a three-dimensional drainage system was proposed to drawdown the high leachate level and hence to improve the slope stability of a landfill, reduce the hydraulic head on a bottom liner and increase the collection efficiency for LFG. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Should Breast Cancer Surgery Be Done in an Outpatient Setting?: Health Economics From the Perspective of Service Providers.

PubMed

Formago, Margaret; Schrauder, Michael G; Rauh, Claudia; Hack, Carolin C; Jud, Sebastian M; Hildebrandt, Thomas; Schulz-Wendtland, Rüdiger; Frentz, S; Graubert, S; Beckmann, Matthias W; Lux, Michael P

2017-08-01

The care of patients with breast cancer is extremely complex and requires interdisciplinary care in certified facilities. These specialized facilities provide numerous services without being correspondingly remunerated. The question whether breast cancer surgery should be performed in an outpatient setting to reduce costs is increasingly being debated. This study compares inpatient surgical treatment with a model of the same surgery performed on an outpatient basis to examine the potential financial impact. A theoretical model was developed and the DRG fees for surgical interventions to treat primary breast cancer were calculated. A theoretical 1-day DRG was then calculated to permit comparisons with outpatient procedures. The costs of outpatient surgery were calculated based on the remuneration rates of the AOP (Outpatient Surgery) Contract and the EBM (Uniform Assessment Scale) and compared to the costs of the 1-day DRG. The DRG fee for both breast-conserving surgery and mastectomy is higher than the fee paid in the context of the EBM system, although the same procedures were carried out in both systems. If a hospital were to carry out breast-conserving surgery as an outpatient procedure, the fee would be € 1313.81; depending on the type of surgery, the hospital would therefore only receive between 39.20% and 52.82% of the DRG fee. This was the case even for a 1-day treatment. Compared to the real DRG fees the difference would be even more striking. Carrying out breast cancer surgery as an outpatient procedure would result in a significant shortfall of revenues. Additional services from certified centers, such as the interdisciplinary planning of treatment, psycho-oncological and social-medical care with the involvement of relatives, detailed documentation, etc., which are currently provided without surcharge or adequate remuneration, could no longer be maintained. The quality of processes and excellent results which have been achieved and ultimately the care given by certified facilities would be significantly at risk.

Experimental calibration and validation of sewer/surface flow exchange equations in steady and unsteady flow conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rubinato, Matteo; Martins, Ricardo; Kesserwani, Georges; Leandro, Jorge; Djordjević, Slobodan; Shucksmith, James

2017-09-01

The linkage between sewer pipe flow and floodplain flow is recognised to induce an important source of uncertainty within two-dimensional (2D) urban flood models. This uncertainty is often attributed to the use of empirical hydraulic formulae (the one-dimensional (1D) weir and orifice steady flow equations) to achieve data-connectivity at the linking interface, which require the determination of discharge coefficients. Because of the paucity of high resolution localised data for this type of flows, the current understanding and quantification of a suitable range for those discharge coefficients is somewhat lacking. To fulfil this gap, this work presents the results acquired from an instrumented physical model designed to study the interaction between a pipe network flow and a floodplain flow. The full range of sewer-to-surface and surface-to-sewer flow conditions at the exchange zone are experimentally analysed in both steady and unsteady flow regimes. Steady state measured discharges are first analysed considering the relationship between the energy heads from the sewer flow and the floodplain flow; these results show that existing weir and orifice formulae are valid for describing the flow exchange for the present physical model, and yield new calibrated discharge coefficients for each of the flow conditions. The measured exchange discharges are also integrated (as a source term) within a 2D numerical flood model (a finite volume solver to the 2D Shallow Water Equations (SWE)), which is shown to reproduce the observed coefficients. This calibrated numerical model is then used to simulate a series of unsteady flow tests reproduced within the experimental facility. Results show that the numerical model overestimated the values of mean surcharge flow rate. This suggests the occurrence of additional head losses in unsteady conditions which are not currently accounted for within flood models calibrated in steady flow conditions.

Three essays on access pricing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sydee, Ahmed Nasim

In the first essay, a theoretical model is developed to determine the time path of optimal access price in the telecommunications industry. Determining the optimal access price is an important issue in the economics of telecommunications. Setting a high access price discourages potential entrants; a low access price, on the other hand, amounts to confiscation of private property because the infrastructure already built by the incumbent is sunk. Furthermore, a low access price does not give the incumbent incentives to maintain the current network and to invest in new infrastructures. Much of the existing literature on access pricing suffers either from the limitations of a static framework or from the assumption that all costs are avoidable. The telecommunications industry is subject to high stranded costs and, therefore, to address this issue a dynamic model is imperative. This essay presents a dynamic model of one-way access pricing in which the compensation involved in deregulatory taking is formalized and then analyzed. The short run adjustment after deregulatory taking has occurred is carried out and discussed. The long run equilibrium is also analyzed. A time path for the Ramsey price is shown as the correct dynamic price of access. In the second essay, a theoretical model is developed to determine the time path of optimal access price for an infrastructure that is characterized by congestion and lumpy investment. Much of the theoretical literature on access pricing of infrastructure prescribes that the access price be set at the marginal cost of the infrastructure. In proposing this rule of access pricing, the conventional analysis assumes that infrastructure investments are infinitely divisible so that it makes sense to talk about the marginal cost of investment. Often it is the case that investments in infrastructure are lumpy and can only be made in large chunks, and this renders the marginal cost concept meaningless. In this essay, we formalize a model of access pricing with congestion and in which investments in infrastructure are lumpy. To fix ideas, the model is formulated in the context of airport infrastructure investments, which captures both the element of congestion and the lumpiness involved in infrastructure investments. The optimal investment program suggests how many units of capacity should be installed and at which times. Because time is continuous in the model, the discounted cost -- despite the lumpiness of capacity additions -- can be made to vary continuously by varying the time a capacity addition is made. The main results that emerge from the analysis can be described as follows: First, the global demand for air travel rises with time and experiences an upward jump whenever a capacity addition is made. Second, the access price is constant and stays at the basic level when the system is not congested. When the system is congested, a congestion surcharge is imposed on top of the basic level, and the congestion surcharge rises with the level of congestion until the next capacity addition is made at which time the access price takes a downward jump. Third, the individual demand for air travel is constant before congestion sets in and after the last capacity addition takes place. During a time interval in which congestion rises, the individual demand for travel is below the level that prevails when there is no congestion and declines as congestion worsens. The third essay contains a model of access pricing for natural gas transmission pipelines, both when pipeline operators are regulated and when they behave strategically. The high sunk costs involved in building a pipeline network constitute a serious barrier of entry, and competitive behaviour in the transmission pipeline sector cannot be expected. Most of the economic analyses of access pricing for natural gas transmission pipelines are carried out from the regulatory perspective, and the access price paid by shippers are cost-based. The model formalized is intended to capture some essential characteristics of networks in which components interact with one another when combined into an integrated system. The model shows how the topology of the network determines the access prices in different components of the network. The general results that emerge from the analysis can be summarized as follows. First, the monopoly power of a pipeline operator is reduced by the entry of a new pipeline supply connected in parallel to the same demand node. When the pipelines are connected in series, the one upstream enjoys a first-move advantage over the one downstream, and the toll set by the upstream pipeline operator after entry by the downstream pipeline operator will rise above the original monopoly level. The equilibrium prices of natural gas at the various nodes of the network are also discussed. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Cost-Sharing Rates Increase During Deep Recession: Preliminary Data From Greece.

PubMed

Gouvalas, Athanasios; Igoumenidis, Michael; Theodorou, Mamas; Athanasakis, Kostas

2016-05-28

Measures taken over the past four years in Greece to reduce pharmaceutical expenditure have led to significant price reductions for medicines, but have also changed patient cost-sharing rates for prescription drugs. This study attempts to capture the resulting increase in patients' out-of-pocket (OOP) expenses for prescription drugs during the 2011-2014 period. The authors conducted a retrospective review of financial data derived from 39 883 prescriptions, dispensed at three randomly chosen pharmacies located in Lamia, central Greece. The study recorded an average contribution rate per prescription as follows: 11.28% for 2011 (95% CI: 10.76-11.80), 14.10% for 2012, 19.97% for 2013, and 29.08% for 2014. Correspondingly, the mean patient charge per prescription for 2011 was €6.58 (95% CI: 6.22-6.94), €8.28 for 2012, €8.35 for 2013, and €10.87 for 2014. During the 2011-2014 period, mean percentage rate of patient contribution increased by 157.75%, while average patient charge per prescription in current prices increased by 65.22%. The use of a newly introduced internal reference price (IRP) system increased the level of prescription charge at a rate of 2.41% for 2012 (100% surcharge on patients), 26.24% for 2013 (49.95% on patients and 50.04% on the appropriate health insurance funds), and 47.72% for 2014 (85.06% on patients and 14.94% on funds). Increased cost-sharing rates for prescription drugs can reduce public pharmaceutical expenditure, but international experience shows that rising OOP expenses can compromise patients' ability to pay, particularly when it comes to chronic diseases and vulnerable populations. Various suggestions could be effective in refining the cost-sharing approach by giving greater consideration to chronic patients, and to the poor and elderly. © 2016 The Author(s); Published by Kerman University of Medical Sciences. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Using insurance data to learn more about damages to buildings caused by surface runoff

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bernet, Daniel; Roethlisberger, Veronika; Prasuhn, Volker; Weingartner, Rolf

2015-04-01

In Switzerland, almost forty percent of total insurance loss due to natural hazards in the last two decades was caused by flooding. Those flood damages occurred not only within known inundation zones of water courses. Practitioners expect that roughly half of all flood damages lie outside of known inundation zones. In urban areas such damages may simply be caused by drainage system overload for instance. However, as several case studies show, natural and agricultural land play a major role in surface runoff formation leading to damages in rural and peri-urban areas. Although many damages are caused by surface runoff, the whole process chain including surface runoff formation, propagation through the landscape and damages to buildings is not well understood. Therefore, within the framework of a project, we focus our research on this relevant process. As such flash flood events have a very short response time and occur rather diffusely in the landscape, this process is very difficult to observe directly. Therefore indirect data sources with the potential to indicate spatial and temporal distributions of the process have to be used. For that matter, post-flood damage data may be a profitable source. Namely, insurance companies' damage claim records could provide a good picture about the spatial and temporal distributions of damages caused by surface runoff and, thus, about the process itself. In our research we analyze insurance data records of flood damage claims systematically to infer main drivers and influencing factors of surface runoff causing damages to buildings. To demonstrate the potential and drawbacks of using data from insurance companies in relation to damages caused by surface runoff, a case study is presented. A well-documented event with data from a public as well as a private insurance company is selected. The case study focuses on the differences of the datasets as well as the associated problems and advantages respectively. Furthermore, the analysis of the data, especially the crucial identification of damages caused by surface runoff opposed to damages caused by other processes such as riverine flooding, drainage system surcharges etc. are discussed.

Integration of contributed data with HEC-RAS hydrodynamic model for flood inundation and damage assessment: 2015 Dallas Texas Case Study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sava, E.; Thornton, J. C.; Kalyanapu, A. J.; Cervone, G.

2016-12-01

Transportation infrastructure networks in urban areas are highly sensitive to natural disasters, yet are a very critical source for the success of rescue, recovery, and renovation operations. Therefore, prompt restoration of such networks is of high importance for disaster relief services. Satellite and aerial images provide data with high spatial and temporal resolution and are a powerful tool for monitoring the environment and mapping the spatio-temporal variability of the Earth's surface. They provide a synoptic overview and give useful environmental information for a wide range of scales, from entire continents to urban areas, with spatial pixel resolutions ranging from kilometers to centimeters. However, sensor limitations are often a serious drawback since no single sensor offers the optimal spectral, spatial, and temporal resolution at the same time. Specific data may not be collected in the time and space most urgently required and/or may it contain gaps as a result of the satellite revisit time, atmospheric opacity, or other obstructions. In this study, the feasibility of integrating multiple sources of contributed data including remotely sensed datasets and open-source geospatial datasets, into hydrodynamic models for flood inundation simulations is assessed. The 2015 Dallas floods that caused up to $61 million dollars in damage was selected for this study. A Hydraulic Engineering Center - River Analysis System (HEC-RAS) model was developed for the study area, using reservoir surcharge releases and geometry provided by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Fort Worth District. The simulated flood inundation is compared with the "contributed data" for the location (such as Civil Air Patrol data and WorldView 3 dataset) which indicated the model's lack of representing lateral inflows near the upstream section. An Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model is developed that used local precipitation and discharge values in the vicinity to estimate the lateral flows. This addition of estimated lateral inflows is expected to improve the model performance to match with the observed flows. Future work will focus on extending this preliminary work to assess the model performance after integrating these additional data sources.

The provision of out-of-hours care and associated costs in an urban area of Switzerland: a cost description study

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Background In Switzerland, General Practitioners (GPs) play an important role for out-of-hours emergency care as one service option beside freely accessible and costly emergency departments of hospitals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the services provided and the economic consequences of a Swiss GP out-of-hours service. Methods GPs participating in the out-of-hours service in the city of Zurich collected data on medical problems (ICPC coding), mode of contact, mode of resource use and services provided (time units; diagnostics; treatments). From a health care insurance perspective, we assessed the association between total costs and its two components (basic costs: charges for time units and emergency surcharge; individual costs: charges for clinical examination, diagnostics and treatment in the discretion of the GP). Results 125 GPs collected data on 685 patient contacts. The most prevalent health problems were of respiratory (24%), musculoskeletal (13%) and digestive origin (12%). Home visits (61%) were the most common contact mode, followed by practice (25%) and telephone contacts (14%). 82% of patients could be treated by ambulatory care. In 20% of patients additional technical diagnostics, most often laboratory tests, were used. The mean total costs for one emergency patient contact were €144 (95%-CI: 137-151). The mode of contact was an important determinant of total costs (mean total costs for home visits: €176 [95%-CI: 168-184]; practice contact: €90 [95%-CI: 84-98]; telephone contact: €48 [95%-CI: 40-55]). Basic costs contributed 83% of total costs for home visits and 70% of total costs for practice contacts. Individual mean costs were similarly low for home visits (€30) and practice contacts (€27). Medical problems had no relevant influence on this cost pattern. Conclusions GPs managed most emergency demand in their out-of-hours service by ambulatory care. They applied little diagnostic testing and basic care. Our findings are of relevance for policy makers even from other countries with different pricing policies. Policy makers should be interested in a reimbursement system promoting out-of-hours care run by GPs as one valuable service option. PMID:21171989

Precipitation-runoff, suspended-sediment, and flood-frequency characteristics for urbanized areas of Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska

USGS Publications Warehouse

Brabets, Timothy P.

1999-01-01

The developed part of Elmendorf Air Force Base near Anchorage, Alaska, consists of two basins with drainage areas of 4.0 and 0.64 square miles, respectively. Runoff and suspended-sediment data were collected from August 1996 to March 1998 to gain a basic understanding of the surface-water hydrology of these areas and to estimate flood-frequency characteristics. Runoff from the larger basin averaged 6 percent of rainfall, whereas runoff from the smaller basin averaged 13 percent of rainfall. During rainfall periods, the suspended-sediment load transported from the larger watershed ranged from 179 to 21,000 pounds and that from the smaller watershed ranged from 23 to 18,200 pounds. On a yield basis, suspended sediment from the larger watershed was 78 pounds per inch of runoff and from the smaller basin was 100 pounds per inch of runoff. Suspended-sediment loads and yields were generally lower during snowmelt periods than during rainfall periods. At each outfall of the two watersheds, water flows into steep natural channels. Suspended-sediment loads measured approximately 1,000 feet downstream from the outfalls during rainfall periods ranged from 8,450 to 530,000 pounds. On a yield basis, suspended sediment averaged 705 pounds per inch of runoff, more than three times as much as the combined sediment yield from the two watersheds. The increase in suspended sediment is most likely due to natural erosion of the streambanks. Streamflow data, collected in 1996 and 1997, were used to calibrate and verify a U.S. Geological Survey computer model?the Distributed Routing Rainfall Runoff Model-Version II (DR3M-II). The model was then used to simulate annual peak discharges and runoff volumes for 1981 to 1995 using historical rainfall records. Because the model indicated that surcharging (or ponding) would occur, no flood-frequency analysis was done for peak discharges. A flood-frequency analysis of flood volumes indicated that a 10-year flood would result in 0.39 inch of runoff (averaged over the entire drainage basin) from the larger watershed and 1.1 inches of runoff from the smaller watershed.

Coupled 1-D sewer and street networks and 2-D flooding model to rapidly evaluate surface inundation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kao, Hong-Ming; Hsu, Hao-Ming

2017-04-01

Flash floods have occurred frequently in the urban areas around the world and cause the infrastructure and people living to expose continuously in the high risk level of pluvial flooding. According to historical surveys, the major reasons of severe surface inundations in the urban areas can be attributed to heavy rainfall in the short time and/or drainage system failure. In order to obtain real-time flood forecasting with high accuracy and less uncertainty, an appropriate system for predicting floods is necessary. For the reason, this study coupled 1-D sewer and street networks and 2-D flooding model as an operational modelling system for rapidly evaluating surface inundation. The proposed system is constructed by three significant components: (1) all the rainfall-runoff of a sub-catchment collected via gullies is simulated by the RUNOFF module of the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM); (2) and directly drained to the 1-D sewer and street networks via manholes as inflow discharges to conduct flow routing by using the EXTRAN module of SWMM; (3) after the 1-D simulations, the surcharges from manholes are considered as point sources in 2-D overland flow simulations that are executed by the WASH123D model. It can thus be used for urban flood modelling that reflects the rainfall-runoff processes, and the dynamic flow interactions between the storm sewer system and the ground surface in urban areas. In the present study, we adopted the Huwei Science and Technology Park, located in the south-western part of Taiwan, as the demonstration area because of its high industrial values. The region has an area about 1 km2 with approximately 1 km in both length and width. It is as isolated urban drainage area in which there is a complete sewer system that collects the runoff and drains to the detention pond. Based on the simulated results, the proposed modelling system was found that the simulated floods fit to the survey records because the physical rainfall-runoff phenomena in urban environment were better reflected. Keywords: SWMM, WASH123D, surface inundation, real-time.

Prefabricated Vertical Drain (PVD) and Deep Cement Mixing (DCM)/Stiffened DCM (SDCM) techniques for soft ground improvement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bergado, D. T.; Long, P. V.; Chaiyaput, S.; Balasubramaniam, A. S.

2018-04-01

Soft ground improvement techniques have become most practical and popular methods to increase soil strength, soil stiffness and reduce soil compressibility including the soft Bangkok clay. This paper focuses on comparative performances of prefabricated vertical drain (PVD) using surcharge, vacuum and heat preloading as well as the cement-admixed clay of Deep Cement Mixing (DCM) and Stiffened DCM (SDCM) methods. The Vacuum-PVD can increase the horizontal coefficient of consolidation, Ch, resulting in faster rate of settlement at the same magnitudes of settlement compared to Conventional PVD. Several field methods of applying vacuum preloading are also compared. Moreover, the Thermal PVD and Thermal Vacuum PVD can increase further the coefficient of horizontal consolidation, Ch, with the associated reduction of kh/ks values by reducing the drainage retardation effects in the smear zone around the PVD which resulted in faster rates of consolidation and higher magnitudes of settlements. Furthermore, the equivalent smear effect due to non-uniform consolidation is also discussed in addition to the smear due to the mechanical installation of PVDs. In addition, a new kind of reinforced deep mixing method, namely Stiffened Deep Cement Mixing (SDCM) pile is introduced to improve the flexural resistance, improve the field quality control, and prevent unexpected failures of the Deep Cement Mixing (DCM) pile. The SDCM pile consists of DCM pile reinforced with the insertion of precast reinforced concrete (RC) core. The full scale test embankment on soft clay improved by SDCM and DCM piles was also analysed. Numerical simulations using the 3D PLAXIS Foundation finite element software have been done to understand the behavior of SDCM and DCM piles. The simulation results indicated that the surface settlements decreased with increasing lengths of the RC cores, and, at lesser extent, increasing sectional areas of the RC cores in the SDCM piles. In addition, the lateral movements decreased by increasing the lengths (longer than 4 m) and, the sectional areas of the RC cores in the SDCM piles. The results of the numerical simulations closely agreed with the observed data and successfully verified the parameters affecting the performances and behavior of both SDCM and DCM piles.

[Examination of the opportunity costs and turnover situation in patients with deep sternal infections].

PubMed

Ennker, I C; Kojcici, B; Ennker, J; Vogt, P; Melichercik, J

2012-06-01

Each and every hospital of any kind is forced, due to increased cost pressure, to work as economically and as efficiently as possible. This even applies when the operational orientations of the hospitals institutions are different. In the present article an analysis of the repercussions of the treatment of postoperative complications in terms of entrepreneurial practice is given. Our focus is on the opportunity cost. A theoretical calculation of opportunity costs is made based on the example of postoperative infections following cardiac surgery and the resulting treatment. The bases of the examinations are the results collected at the hospital Mediclin Herzentrum Lahr / Baden in 2008. The wound healing disorders were recorded from November 2004 until November 2007 and include 3675 patients who were operated on using a median sternotomy. Out of the 3675 patients 45 (1.2 %) were affected. Various treatment options are at hand. The used therapy algorithm in our practice is dependent on the stage and the development of the infection. If the high trim point, the medial trim point and the low trim point of the mediastinitis patients, as well as the average revenue and the surcharge omission on exceeding the high trim point (these data can be found in the annual accounts) and knowledge of the actual length of stay of the mediastinitis patient are known, the opportunity cost, respectively potential turnover increases, can be calculated. Reducing the medial trim point from 48.43 to, for example, 36.37 days could potentially produce a turnover increase of as much as 10 633.41 €. Keeping patient safety in mind, significant turnover increases can be achieved with adequate planning. The considered sales situation, however, can only be achieved under the same terms: these being free operating room and bed capacities, available personnel, equal cost of materials as well as enough patients. The consideration of opportunity costs could be important for entrepreneurs if staff shortage continues and, in economical terms, non-expendable capacities are created. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Better trauma care. How Maryland does it.

PubMed

Wish, John R; Long, William B; Edlich, Richard F

2005-01-01

In March, 1970, the Maryland State Police, in cooperation with the University of Maryland, started the first statewide airborne transportation system. It was modeled after the army's success in Korea and Vietnam, where battlefield injuries were flown to front-line MASH units. The world's premier statewide medical aviation division was made possible through a cooperative effort between the Maryland State Police Aviation Division and Dr. R Adams Cowley at the University of Maryland Hospital as a public service to the citizens of the state. The Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) has five components: (1) aircraft, (2) state troopers, (3) system communications (SYSCOM) center, (4) ambulance and fire emergency rescue, and (5) Level I adult and pediatric trauma centers and a regional burn center. The Maryland State Police Aviation Division now has 12 Aerospace Dauphin AS365N helicopters that operate out of eight fixed points throughout the state. Each helicopter has a two-person crew that consists of a pilot and a paramedic. Since 1993, the overall coordination of emergency medical services (EMS) has been under the purview of MIEMSS, an independent executive-level state agency that is governed by an appointed board and advisory council. To ensure stable funding for Maryland's world renowned emergency medical services (EMS) system, including med-evac helicopters, ambulances, fire equipment, rescue squads, and trauma units, a "surcharge" of $13.50 per year is collected with the automobile registration fee where applicable. The SYSCOM center in Baltimore coordinates the helicopter transport to the scene of the accident as well as referral to the specialty care facility: Adult Level I Trauma Center, Pediatric Level I Trauma Center, and Regional Burn Center. An on-the-scene evaluation of this exemplary emergency medical system in Maryland provides further convincing evidence of the performance of the Maryland State Police Aviation Division as they transported an injured child to the Johns Hopkins Pediatric Level I Trauma Center. It is our belief that the model emergency medical system in Maryland, if replicated throughout our nation, would save the lives of the critically injured.

Assessing the effects of Climate Change on Urban Pluvial Flooding to provide a Risk Management Framework

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rianna, G.; Mercogliano, P.

2017-12-01

Urbanization increases the flood risk because of heightened vulnerability, stemming from population concentration and hazard due to soil sealing affecting the largest part of urban settlements and reducing the concentration time of interested basins. Furthermore, current and future hazards are exacerbated by expected increases in extreme rainfall events due to Climate Changes (CC) making inadequate urban drainage infrastructures designed under the assumption of steady conditions. In this work, we present a modeling chain/algorithm to assess potential increase in pluvial flood hazard able to take into account CC forcing. The adopted simulation chain reckon on three main elements: Regional Climate Model, COSMO_CLM, dynamically downscaling GCM CMCC_CM (Scoccimarro et al., 2011) and optimized, at high resolution (about 8km), by Bucchignani et al. (2015) on Italy provide projections about precipitation up to 2100 under two concentration scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5). Such projections are used in Equidistance Quantile Mapping (EQM) approach, developed by Srivastav et al. (2014) to estimate expected variations in IDF (Intensity-Duration-Frequency) curves calculated through Generalized Extreme Value (GEV) approach on the basis of available rainfall data. To this aim, 1971-2000 observations are used as reference. Finally, a 1-D/2-D coupled urban drainage/flooding model forced by IDF (current and projected) is used to simulate storm-sewer surcharge and surface inundation to establish the variations in urban flooding risk. As test case is considered the city center of Naples (Southern Italy). In this respective, the sewage and urban drainage network is highly complex due to the historical and subsequent transformations of the city. Under such constraints, the reliability of the results maybe deeply conditioned by uncertainties not undermining the illustrative purposes of the work. Briefly, EQM returns a remarkable increase in extreme precipitations; such increase is driven by concentration scenarios (higher for RCP8.5) and investigated time horizon (more significant for 2071-2100 time span). Furthermore, results provided by hydraulic models clearly highlight the inadequacy of the actual drainage system especially under a RCP8.5-driven scenario showing large portions of the city center flooded.

Monitoring and analysis of combined sewer overflows, Riverside and Evanston, Illinois, 1997-99

USGS Publications Warehouse

Waite, Andrew M.; Hornewer, Nancy J.; Johnson, Gary P.

2002-01-01

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, collected and analyzed flow data in combined sewer systems in Riverside and Evanston, northeastern Illinois, from March 1997 to December 1999. Continuous 2- and 5-minute stage and velocity data were collected during surcharged and nonsurcharged conditions at 12 locations. Mass balances were calculated to determine the volume of water flowing through the tide-gate openings to the Des Plaines River and the North Shore Channel and to determine the volume of water flowing past the sluice gate to the deep tunnel. The sewer systems consist of circular pipes ranging in diameter from 0.83 feet to 10.0 feet, elliptical siphon pipes, ledges, and tide and sluice gates. Pipes were constructed of either brick and mortar or concrete, and ranged from having smooth surfaces to rough, pitted and crumbling surfaces. One pipe was noticeably affected by water infiltration from saturated ground. During data analysis, many assumptions were necessary because of the complexity of the flow data and sewer-system configurations. These assumptions included estimating the volume of water entering an interceptor sewer at the ''Gage Street pipe'' at Riverside, the effect of infiltration on the ''brick pipe'' at Riverside, and the minimum velocity required for the meter to make an accurate velocity determination. Other factors affecting the analysis of flow data included possible non-instrumented sources of inflow, and backwater conditions in some pipes, which could have caused error in the data analysis. Variations of these assumptions potentially could cause appreciable changes to the final massbalance calculations. Mass-balance analysis at Riverside indicated a total inflow volume into chamber 3 of approximately 721,000 cubic feet (ft3) during April 22-26, 1999. Outflow volume to the Des Plaines River at Riverside through the tide gate was approximately 132,000 ft3; outflow volume to the deep tunnel through the sluice gate was approximately 267,000 ft3. The mass-balance analysis at Evanston indicated a total inflow volume into chamber 3 of approximately 5,970,000 ft3 during April 21-26, 1999. The outflow volume to the North Shore Channel through the tide gates at Evanston was approximately 2,920,000 ft3; outflow volume to the deep tunnel through the sluice gates was approximately 3,050,000 ft3.

Climate change impacts on rainfall extremes and urban drainage: state-of-the-art review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Willems, Patrick; Olsson, Jonas; Arnbjerg-Nielsen, Karsten; Beecham, Simon; Pathirana, Assela; Bülow Gregersen, Ida; Madsen, Henrik; Nguyen, Van-Thanh-Van

2013-04-01

Under the umbrella of the IWA/IAHR Joint Committee on Urban Drainage, the International Working Group on Urban Rainfall (IGUR) has reviewed existing methodologies for the analysis of long-term historical and future trends in urban rainfall extremes and their effects on urban drainage systems, due to anthropogenic climate change. Current practises have several limitations and pitfalls, which are important to be considered by trend or climate change impact modellers and users of trend/impact results. The review considers the following aspects: Analysis of long-term historical trends due to anthropogenic climate change: influence of data limitation, instrumental or environmental changes, interannual variations and longer term climate oscillations on trend testing results. Analysis of long-term future trends due to anthropogenic climate change: by complementing empirical historical data with the results from physically-based climate models, dynamic downscaling to the urban scale by means of Limited Area Models (LAMs) including explicitly small-scale cloud processes; validation of RCM/GCM results for local conditions accounting for natural variability, limited length of the available time series, difference in spatial scales, and influence of climate oscillations; statistical downscaling methods combined with bias correction; uncertainties associated with the climate forcing scenarios, the climate models, the initial states and the statistical downscaling step; uncertainties in the impact models (e.g. runoff peak flows, flood or surcharge frequencies, and CSO frequencies and volumes), including the impacts of more extreme conditions than considered during impact model calibration and validation. Implications for urban drainage infrastructure design and management: upgrading of the urban drainage system as part of a program of routine and scheduled replacement and renewal of aging infrastructure; how to account for the uncertainties; flexible and sustainable solutions; adaptive approach that provides inherent flexibility and reversibility and avoids closing off options; importance of active learning. References: Willems, P., Olsson, J., Arnbjerg-Nielsen, K., Beecham, S., Pathirana, A., Bülow Gregersen, I., Madsen, H., Nguyen, V-T-V. (2012). Impacts of climate change on rainfall extremes and urban drainage. IWA Publishing, 252 p., Paperback Print ISBN 9781780401256; Ebook ISBN 9781780401263 Willems, P., Arnbjerg-Nielsen, K., Olsson, J., Nguyen, V.T.V. (2012), 'Climate change impact assessment on urban rainfall extremes and urban drainage: methods and shortcomings', Atmospheric Research, 103, 106-118

L'ostéotomie fémorale de varisation par ouverture externe pour les gonarthroses fémoro-tibiales latérales sur genuvalgum idiopathique: étude rétrospective de 10 cas

PubMed Central

Cheikh, Asma Ben; Maitigue, Mahmoud Ben; Masmoudi, Karim; Mouelhi, Thabet; Naouar, Nader; Grissa, Yamen; Bouattour, Karim; Osman, Walid; Ben Ayeche, Mohamed Laziz

2017-01-01

L'ostéotomie fémorale de varisation est un traitement conservateur des gonarthroses uni-compartimentales externes qui reste de pratique peu courante et dont les résultats sont peu étudiés. L'objectif de ce travail était d'évaluer les résultats cliniques et radiologiques de l'ostéotomie fémorale de varisation chez les sujets présentant une gonarthrose fémoro-tibiale externe sur genou valgum idiopathique répertoriés sur une période de 21 ans(de 1992 à 2013) au service d'Orthopédie du CHU Sahloul à Sousse. L'évaluation clinique des patients a été faite à partir du score IKS (International Knee Society). L'évaluation radiologique a été basée sur un bilan pré opératoire et un bilan au dernier recul. L'étude portait sur une série de 9 patients (et 10 genoux) dont l'âge moyen était de 45,2 ans avec un sex ratio de 0,5. Le recul moyen était de 99 mois. Le score genou moyen est passé de 48,4 points en préopératoire à 73,5 points au dernier recul avec une amélioration statistiquement significative (p<10-3). Le score fonctionnel moyen s'est amélioré d'une façon significative avec une valeur préopératoire de 49,5 points et une valeur 72 pointsau dernier recul. La correction finale a permis de réduire le valgus à une moyenne de 3,7° pour une valeur pré-opératoire de 14°. Cette étude, ainsi que l'analyse de la littérature, nous ont permis de déduire que l'ostéotomie fémorale de varisation est l'indication de choix dans les genuvalgum invalidant d'origine fémorale, en l'absence d'arthrite rhumatismale, de surcharge pondérale, d'arthrose fémoro-tibiale interne ou fémoro-patellaire sévère. PMID:29138658

Bilateral comparison of 1 V and 10 V standards between the NMISA (South Africa) and the BIPM April to June 2017 (part of the ongoing BIPM key comparison BIPM.EM-K11.a and b)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Solve, S.; Chayramy, R.; Matlejoane, A. M.; Magagula, L.; Stock, M.

2018-01-01

As part of the ongoing BIPM key comparison BIPM.EM-K11.a and b, a comparison of the 1.018 V and 10 V voltage reference standards of the BIPM and the National Metrology Institute of South Africa, NMISA (South Africa), was carried out from April to June 2017. Two BIPM Zener diode-based travelling standards (Fluke 732B), BIPMA (ZA) and BIPMB (ZB), were transported by freight to NMISA and back to BIPM. In order to keep the Zeners powered during their transportation phase, a voltage stabilizer developed by BIPM was connected in parallel to the internal battery. It consists of a set of two batteries, electrically protected from surcharge-discharge, easy to recharge and is designed to power two transfer standards for ten consecutive days. At NMISA, the reference standard for DC voltage is a Josephson Voltage Standard. The output EMF (Electromotive Force) of each travelling standard was measured by direct comparison with the primary standard. At the BIPM, the travelling standards were calibrated, before and after the measurements at NMISA, with the Josephson Voltage Standard. Results of all measurements were corrected for the dependence of the output voltages of the Zener standards on internal temperature and atmospheric pressure. The final result of the comparison is presented as the difference between the values assigned to DC voltage standards by NMISA, at the level of 1.018 V and 10 V, at NMISA, UNMISA, and those assigned by the BIPM, at the BIPM, UBIPM, at the reference dates of the 19th and 18th of May 2017, respectively. UNMISA - UBIPM = + 0.07 μV uc = 0.02 μV, at 1.018 V UNMISA - UBIPM = + 0.001 μV uc = 0.34 μV, at 10 V where uc is the combined standard uncertainty associated with the measured difference, including the uncertainty of the representation of the volt at the BIPM and at NMISA, based on KJ-90, and the uncertainty related to the comparison. Main text To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database kcdb.bipm.org/. The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCEM, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).

Hypertension artérielle pulmonaire au cours de la sclérodermie: à propos de 12 cas

PubMed Central

Diao, Maboury; Ndiaye, Mouhamadou Bamba; Kane, Adama; Bodian, Malick; Tchintchui, Nadége Christelle; Mbaye, Alassane; Mounir Dia, Mouhamadoul; Sarr, Moustapha; Kane, Assane; Abdou Ba, Serigne

2012-01-01

Introduction La survenue de l’hypertension artérielle pulmonaire (HTAP) est un tournant dans l’évolution de la sclérodermie. L’objectif de cette étude est de décrire les aspects épidémiologiques et évolutifs de l’HTAP au cours de la sclérodermie systémique. Méthodes Nous avons réalisé une étude descriptive concernant des patients suivis pour sclérodermie systémique, au service de Dermatologie de l’hôpital Aristide Le Dantec entre Janvier 2000 et Août 2009. Ces patients étaient inclus dans l’étude après exploration cardio-vasculaire (ECG, échocardiographie-Doppler). Nous avons étudié les paramètres épidémiologiques, cliniques, paracliniques et évolutifs des patients. Résultats Nous avons enregistré 12 cas d’hypertension artérielle pulmonaire parmi les 83 patients atteints de sclérodermie systémique soit une prévalence de 14,45%. L’âge moyen des patients était de 43,58 ans±12,5 ans et le sex-ratio (H/F) de 0,33. Sur le plan clinique, la dyspnée était quasi constante (75%) et la douleur thoracique présente dans 25% des cas. Le syndrome de Raynaud était observé chez 8 patients soit 66,67% de nos patients. L’électrocardiogramme montrait des signes de surcharge droite chez 4 malades (33,33%) et la radiographie thoracique en faveur d’une fibrose pulmonaire chez 4 patients. L’échocardiographie-Doppler notait une insuffisance tricuspide importante dans 58, 33% des cas (7 patients), une pression artérielle pulmonaire systolique (PAPs) en moyenne de 66,25±29,3 mmHg, une dilatation des cavités cardiaques droites dans 5 cas et un mouvement paradoxal du septum interventriculaire chez 3 malades (33,33%). Il était également noté 3 cas (25%) d’épanchement péricardique. Nous avons déploré 4 décès (33,33%). Conclusion L’hypertension artérielle pulmonaire est une complication fréquente et grave de la sclérodermie. Son dépistage, grâce à l’échocardiographie-Doppler systématique, constitue une étape fondamentale de la prise en charge. PMID:22368752

Bilateral comparison of 1 V and 10 V standards between the DEFNAT (Tunisia) and the BIPM February to March 2016 (part of the ongoing BIPM key comparison BIPM.EM-K11.a and b)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Solve, S.; Chayramy, R.; Ben Salah, B.; Mallat, A.; Abene, L.; Stock, M.

2016-01-01

As part of the ongoing BIPM key comparison BIPM.EM-K11.a and b, a comparison of the 1 V and 10 V voltage reference standards of the BIPM and the Laboratoire de Métrologie Electrique, DEFNAT (Tunisia), was carried out from February to March 2016. Two BIPM Zener diode-based travelling standards (Fluke 732B), BIPMC (ZC) and BIPM6 (Z6), were transported by freight to DEFNAT and back to BIPM. In order to keep the Zeners powered during their transportation phase, a BIPM in-house voltage stabiliser was connected in parallel to the internal battery. The voltage stabiliser consists of a set of two batteries, electrically protected from surcharge-discharge, easy to recharge and is designed to power two transfer standards for 10 consecutive days. At DEFNAT, the reference standard for DC voltage is a Josephson Voltage Standard. The output EMF (Electromotive Force) of each travelling standard was measured by direct comparison with the primary standard. At the BIPM, the travelling standards were calibrated, before and after the measurements at DEFNAT, with the Josephson Voltage Standard. Results of all measurements were corrected for the dependence of the output voltages of the Zener standards on internal temperature and ambient atmospheric pressure. The final result of the comparison is presented as the difference between the values assigned to DC voltage standards by DEFNAT, at the level of 1.018 V and 10 V, at DEFNAT, UDEFNAT, and those assigned by the BIPM, at the BIPM, UBIPM, at the reference date of the 26th of February 2016. UDEFNAT - UBIPM = + 0.07 μV uc = 0.04 μV, at 1.018 V UDEFNAT - UBIPM = + 0.38 μV uc = 0.10 μV, at 10 V where uc is the combined standard uncertainty associated with the measured difference, including the uncertainty of the representation of the volt at the BIPM and at NSAI-NML, based on KJ-90, and the uncertainty related to the comparison. Main text To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database kcdb.bipm.org/. The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCEM, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).

L'obésité en consultation cardiologique à Lomé: prévalence et facteurs de risque cardio-vasculaire associés - étude chez 1200 patients

PubMed Central

Pessinaba, Soulemane; Yayehd, Komlavi; Pio, Machiude; Baragou, Réné; Afassinou, Yaovi; Tchérou, Tchaa; Damorou, Findibé

2012-01-01

Introduction Introduction: Les objectifs de ce travail étaient de déterminer la fréquence de l'obésité et celle des autres facteurs de risque cardio-vasculaire chez ces patients obèses à Lomé (Togo). Méthodes Il s'est agi d'une étude multicentrique transversale de prévalence. Elle s'est déroulée du 05 septembre 2005 au 04 mars 2006 et a porté sur les malades vus en consultation externe dans 3 services de cardiologie de la commune de Lomé. Ont été inclus dans cette étude les malades ayant un surpoids selon les normes de l'OMS. Résultats Parmi 1200 patients vus en consultations, 779 (64,92%) avaient une surcharge pondérale. L’âge moyen était de 49,53 ± 17,24 ans. L'obésité était plus fréquente chez les femmes (79,49%) que chez les hommes (20,51%). Un antécédent d'obésité familiale (61,8%) était le principal facteur favorisant. Les autres facteurs de risque cardio-vasculaire retrouvés étaient: sédentarité (82% vs50% chez les non obèses), hypertension artérielle (54,8% vs 39,2%), alcool (50,9% vs 43,9%), dyslipidémie (34,5% vs 20%), diabète (30,9% vs 10,7%) et tabac (14,1% vs 20,3%). La différence était statistiquement significative entre les deux groupes. Les principales complications cardiovasculaires observées chez les obèses étaient: l'ischémie myocardique (26,7%), l'hypertrophie ventriculaire gauche (46,4%), la dilatation cavitaire cardiaque (30,1%) et les accidents vasculaires cérébraux (7,1%). Conclusion L'obésité est un problème de santé publique au Togo. Sa prévalence est très élevée et elle est le plus souvent associée aux autres facteurs de risque cardio-vasculaire. Des mesures préventives doivent être mises en jeu pour lutter contre ce facteur de risque. Mots clés: Obésité, prévalence, facteurs de risque. PMID:23133699

Efficient dynamic scarcity pricing in urban water supply

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lopez-Nicolas, Antonio; Pulido-Velazquez, Manuel; Rougé, Charles; Harou, Julien J.; Escriva-Bou, Alvar

2017-04-01

Water pricing is a key instrument for water demand management. Despite the variety of existing strategies for urban water pricing, urban water rates are often far from reflecting the real value of the resource, which increases with water scarcity. Current water rates do not bring any incentive to reduce water use in water scarcity periods, since they do not send any signal to the users of water scarcity. In California, the recent drought has spurred the implementation of drought surcharges and penalties to reduce residential water use, although it is not a common practice yet. In Europe, the EU Water Framework Directive calls for the implementation of new pricing policies that assure the contribution of water users to the recovery of the cost of water services (financial instrument) while providing adequate incentives for an efficient use of water (economic instrument). Not only financial costs should be recovered but also environmental and resource (opportunity) costs. A dynamic pricing policy is efficient if the prices charged correspond to the marginal economic value of water, which increases with water scarcity and is determined by the value of water for all alternative uses in the basin. Therefore, in the absence of efficient water markets, measuring the opportunity costs of scarce water can only be achieved through an integrated basin-wide hydroeconomic simulation approach. The objective of this work is to design a dynamic water rate for urban water supply accounting for the seasonal marginal value of water in the basin, related to water scarcity. The dynamic pricing policy would send to the users a signal of the economic value of the resource when water is scarce, therefore promoting more efficient water use. The water rate is also designed to simultaneously meet the expected basic requirements for water tariffs: revenue sufficiency (cost recovery) and neutrality, equity and affordability, simplicity and efficiency. A dynamic increasing block rate (IBR) tariff is designed, including a variable charge related to the scarcity value of water in the basin. The new tariff would encourage water conservation, providing more incentives with great water scarcity. The approach is applied to the supply to the city of Valencia with water resources from the Jucar river basin, a drought-prone Mediterranean basin in Eastern Spain that constitutes a good case for testing this policy. Our results demonstrate the potential of integrating the marginal value of water in the urban water tariffs, with water savings reaching up to 30% during scarcity conditions with respect to the baseline urban water tariffs.

Developing and testing a positive theory of instrument choice: Renewable energy policy in the fifty American states

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ciocirlan, Cristina E.

The environmental economics literature consistently suggests that properly designed and implemented economic incentives are superior to command-and-control regulation in reducing pollution. Economic incentives, such as green taxes, cap-and-trade programs, tax incentives, are able to reduce pollution in a cost-effective manner, provide flexibility to industry and stimulate innovation in cleaner technologies. In the past few decades, both federal and state governments have shown increased use of economic incentives in environmental policy. Some states have embraced them in an active manner, while others have failed to do so. This research uses a three-step analysis. First, it asks why some states employ more economic incentives than others to stimulate consumption of renewable energy by the residential, commercial and industrial sectors. Second, it asks why some states employ stronger incentives than others. And third, it asks why certain states employ certain instruments, such as electricity surcharges, cap-and-trade programs, tax incentives or grants, while others do not. The first two analyses were conducted using factor analysis and multiple regression analysis, while the third analysis employed logistic regression models to analyze the data. Data for all three analyses were obtained from a combination of primary and secondary sources. To address these questions, a theory of instrument choice at the state level, which includes both internal and external determinants of policy-making, was developed and tested. The state level of analysis was chosen. States have proven to be pioneers in designing policies to address greenhouse gases (see, for instance, the recent cap-and-trade legislation passed in California). The theory was operationalized with the help of four models: needs/responsiveness, interest group influence, professionalism/capacity and innovation-and-diffusion. The needs/responsiveness model suggests that states tend to choose more and stronger economic incentives when they are more dependent on conventional sources of energy, such as coal, oil and gas or when they have the potential to produce renewable energy. The interest group influence model suggests that instrument choice is ultimately a political decision, most likely to benefit some groups more than others. The professionalism/capacity model posits that states with more professional legislatures, with legislators who make more use of policy analysis, with more capacity to generate nonpartisan policy research and with larger agencies tend to employ more and stronger instruments to stimulate renewable energy consumption and production. And last, the innovation-and-diffusion model suggests that states with a proven innovation record in climate change tend to employ more and stronger economic incentives than states without such record. Also, this model explains states' instrument choice decisions as a function of the choices made by their neighbors.

State of the art on forest and shallow landslide interactions illustrated by two studies in the French Alps

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berger, F.; Dorren, L.; Lopez, J.; Allegra, C.

2009-04-01

The importance of mountain forests in the protection from natural hazards such as landslides was perceived already in ancient cultures. Allusions of these interactions can be found in ancient Greek, Hebrew, Roman and Chinese literature. In modern times, quantitative studies on the role of vegetation on slope stability started flourishing during the 1960's, with particular contributions from the USA, USSR and Japan, followed by Brazil, New Zealand, Canada, Sweden and Taiwan in the 1970's and 1980's. Forests influence slope stability though mechanical and hydrological effects. Empirical and scientific knowledge agree on the fact that the main effects of forests stands are considered to be: • Mechanical stabilisation due to the presence of roots • Soil moisture depletion as a result of transpiration and water interception by the canopy • Surcharge from the weight of trees The first two factors are beneficial to slope stability whilst the latter may be beneficial or harmful depending on the slope steepness and the potential failure mode. Roots type and morphology influence the capacity of a tree to stabilise slopes, although the failure surface has to be effectively penetrated by the roots in order to be stabilised. Generally, however, forests are considered beneficial for slope stabilization within the soil depth prospected by the tree's root system. So forest stands, depending on the slope value, the hydrological condition and the soil substrata, could have a positive effect on shallow landslide mitigation. Much of the research in the European Alps, however, focuses on the protection awarded by forests against avalanches and rockfalls, whilst little has been done to quantify their protection against landslides. This is in contrast with other mountain regions in the world (Oregon, Himalaya, Japan, British Columbia), where the relations between forests and landslides has been and continues to be studied throughoutly. In order to develop an efficient shallow landslide prevention and mitigation and due to the lack of scientific knowledge on the interaction between forest stands and landslide activities, there is a real need of research axis specifically devoted to the tree main effects cited before. The main objective of these thematically research axis should be an efficient integration of the effect of the forest vegetation in the modelling of shallow landslide dynamic. This presentation deals with the state of the art on forest and landslide interaction illustrated by two studies conducted in the French Alps. The first one attempts to reduce a gap in the scientific knowledge by quantifying the hazard of landslide occurrence considering vegetation effects, in the Combeloup forest on the French Alps, using a physically based spatial modelling approach. The second one present the added value of dendrogeomorphological analyse to evaluate the past activities of landslide terrain in relationship with the evolution of the forest cover.

[Air pollution and its health effects on residents in Taiwanese communities].

PubMed

Ko, Y C

1996-12-01

The are a number of particular features of air pollution in Taiwan, as described below: (1) In Taiwan area, the air load of pollutants is more serious than previously reported. (2) There exists severe air pollution throughout the island. (3) Industry is the major source of pollution. (4) No demarcation exists between plants and residential quarters. (5) There is a high concentration of pollutants indoors/outdoors. The influence of air pollution spreads over all aspects of physical health, primarily on the respiratory tract, causing lung cancer and exaggerating cardiovascular diseases. A few Taiwanese studies are reviewed below which deserve more elaboration. (1) Use PM10 for indexing health effect. The annual average value of PM10 in Taiwan has been around 70 micrograms/m3 in 1994. Dr. Schwarz indicated that no safety margin could be derived; for each additional 10 micrograms/ m3 of PM10, the death number could be increased by 1% on the basis of Western studies. (2) Research with reference to lung cancer cases in the Kaohsiung Medical College Hospital. Living within 3 km of industrial district counted for 9% of cases and caused a 6-fold increase in the risk of disease for people living more than 20 years in the case control study for lung cancer. (3) Death due to cancer of inhabitants close to petroleum and petrochemical industries. For youths and children below 20 years, cancers related to brain tumors were 2-4 fold of what was expected deaths. Analysis of another petrochemical complex in Chienchen, Kaohsiung, revealed the inhabitants within 1 km showed a higher standardized mortality ratio for cancers of the lung, kidney, urinary bladder, and leukemia than was to be expected. (4) Lower lung function and higher incidence of respiratory diseases among residents near a coal-fired power plant (within 3 Km) compared to residents who lived further away from the plant (3-11 Km). (5) Lead contamination around a kindergarten near a battery recycling plant. There was increased lead absorption among children of the exposed kindergarten and its this was associated with the extent of air and soil pollution in the surrounding area. In considering above limited epidemiologic evidence, the following recommendations are presented: (1) to conduct investigation promptly for the correlation of air pollution to disease morbidity and death of inhabitants of Taiwan. (2) to reevaluate ambient air quality standards on the basis of Taiwanese health studies. (3) to assess the analytical data of past records on the concentrations of air pollutants. (4) collection of surcharge fee for air pollution. (5) Regulation for compensation of pollution victims among industry. (6) development of environmental health related industries. (7) Participation of various parties who are concerned the environmental health. One thing is certain, everyong would be able to breath air which, as far as possible, is clean.

Parameterization experiments performed via synthetic mass movements prototypes generated by 3D slope stability simulator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Colangelo, Antonio C.

2010-05-01

The central purpose of this work is to perform a reverse procedure in the mass movement conventional parameterization approach. The idea is to generate a number of synthetic mass movements by means of the "slope stability simulator" (Colangelo, 2007), and compeer their morphological and physical properties with "real" conditions of effective mass movements. This device is an integrated part of "relief unity emulator" (rue), that permits generate synthetic mass movements in a synthetic slope environment. The "rue" was build upon fundamental geomorphological concepts. These devices operate with an integrated set of mechanical, geomorphic and hydrological models. The "slope stability simulator" device (sss) permits to perform a detailed slope stability analysis in a theoretical three dimensional space, by means of evaluation the spatial behavior of critical depths, gradients and saturation levels in the "potential rupture surfaces" inferred along a set of slope profiles, that compounds a synthetic slope unity. It's a meta-stable 4-dimensional object generated by means of "rue", that represents a sequence evolution of a generator profile applied here, was adapted the infinite slope model for slope. Any slope profiles were sliced by means of finite element solution like in Bishop method. For the synthetic slope systems generated, we assume that the potential rupture surface occurs at soil-regolith or soil-rock boundary in slope material. Sixteen variables were included in the "rue-sss" device that operates in an integrated manner. For each cell, the factor of safety was calculated considering the value of shear strength (cohesion and friction) of material, soil-regolith boundary depth, soil moisture level content, potential rupture surface gradient, slope surface gradient, top of subsurface flow gradient, apparent soil bulk density and vegetation surcharge. The slope soil was considered as cohesive material. The 16 variables incorporated in the models were analyzed for each cell in synthetic slope systems performed by relief unity emulator. The central methodological strategy is to locate the potential rupture surfaces (prs), main material discontinuities, like soil-regolith or regolith-rock transitions. Inner these "prs", we would to outline the effective potential rupture surfaces (eprs). This surface is a sub-set of the "prs" that presents safety factor less than unity (f<1), the sub-region in the "prs" equal or deeper than critical depths. When the effective potential rupture surface acquires significant extension with respect the thickness of critical depth and retaining walls, the "slope stability simulator" generates a synthetic mass movement. The overlay material will slide until that a new equilibrium be attained at residual shear strength. These devices generate graphic 3D cinematic sequences of experiments in synthetic slope systems and numerical results about physical and morphological data about scars and deposits. Thus, we have a detailed geotechnical, morphological, topographic and morphometric description of these mass movements prototypes, for deal with effective mass movements found in the real environments.

Assessing temporal uncertainties in integrated groundwater management: an opportunity for change?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anglade, J. A.; Billen, G.; Garnier, J.

2013-12-01

Since the early 1990's, high levels of nitrates concentration (occasionally exceeding the European drinking standard of 50 mgNO3-/l) have been recorded in the borewells supplying Auxerres's 60.000 inhabitants water requirements. The water catchment area (86 km2) is located in a rural area dedicated to field crops production in intensive cereal farming systems based on massive inputs of synthetic fertilizers. In 1998, a co-management committee comprising Auxerre City, rural municipalities located in the water catchment area, consumers and farmers, was created as a forward-looking associative structure to achieve integrated, adaptive and sustainable management of the resource. In 2002, 18 years after the first signs of water quality degradation, multiparty negotiation led to a cooperative agreement, a contribution to assist farmers toward new practices (optimized application of fertilizers, catch crops, and buffer strips) in a form of a surcharge on consumers' water bills. The management strategy initially integrated and operating on a voluntary basis, did not rapidly deliver its promises (there was no significant decrease in the nitrates concentration). It evolved into a combination of short term palliative solutions, contractual and regulatory instruments with higher requirements. The establishment of a regulatory framework caused major tensions between stakeholders that brought about a feeling of discouragement and a lack of understanding as to the absence of results on water quality after 20 years of joint actions. At this point, the urban-rural solidarity was in danger in being undermined, so the time issue, i.e the delay between agricultural pressure changes and visible effects on water quality, was scientifically addressed and communicated to all the parties involved. First, water age dating analysis through CFC and SF6 (anthropic gas) coupled with a statistical long term analysis of agricultural evolutions revealed a residence time in the Sequanian limestones aquifer of about 25 years. Uncertainties about the time delay for positive results created a shock among the involved actors that motivated them to re-launch the dialogue, and enter into a new phase of the iterative decision making process to determine up to date long term strategies. Secondly, a diagnostic of recommended solutions in the existing agreements based on the soil surface balance method has raised alert about the inefficiency of agricultural best practices set up to deliver sub-root water concentration meeting the European drinking standard. According to the scientific committee, only a shift to organic farming could reconcile water and food production, with the pre-condition that this agricultural transition takes place in a territorial project which goes beyond the catchment borders. This proposal offers possibilities for re-structuring the issue for the different sides. This example underlines that integrated groundwater management could impose a time delay of several decades to cope with complex biophysical processes, construct coordination and modify individual practices. This time needed to build collaborative agreement is all the more difficult to control as part of an evolving regulatory framework.

The Manti, Utah, landslide

USGS Publications Warehouse

Fleming, R.W.; Johnson, R.B.; Schuster, R.L.; Williams, G.P.

1988-01-01

PART A: The Manti landslide is in Manti Canyon on the west side of the Wasatch Plateau in central Utah. In early June 1974, coincident with the melting of a snowpack, a rock slump/debris flow occurred on the south rim of Manti Canyon. Part of the slumped material mixed with meltwater and mobilized into a series of debris flows that traveled down the slope a distance of as much as 1.2 km. Most of the flows were deposited either at the base of the steep rocks of the canyon rim or at the site of an old, silted reservoir. A small part of the debris flow deposit stopped on the head of the very large, relatively inactive Manti landslide. The upper part of the landslide began moving as cracks propagated downslope. A little more than a year later, August 1975, movement extended the full length of the old landslide, and about 19 million m 3 of debris about 3 km long and as much as 800 m wide threatened to block the canyon. The upper part of the landslide apparently had moved small amounts between 1939 and 1974. This part of the landslide, identifiable on pre-1974 aerial photographs, consisted of well-defined linears on the landslide flanks and two large internal toe bulges about 2 km downslope from the head. The abrupt reactivation in 1974 proceeded quickly after the debris flows had provided a surcharge in the head and crown area. Movement propagated downslope at 4-5 m/h for the first few days following reactivation. During 1974, the reactivation probably encompassed all the parts of the landslide that had moved small amounts between 1939 and 1974. Movement nearly or completely stopped during the winter of 1974-75, but began again in the spring of 1975. The landslide enlarged from the flanks of the internal toe bulges to Manti Creek at a rate of 2-3 m/h. Movement stopped again during the winter of 1975-76 and began again in the spring of 1976. Thereafter, the displacements have been small compared to earlier. The displacement rates for the landslide were variable depending on where and when they were measured. At the waterline crossing, about 500 m downslope from the head, the maximum rate was about 1 mid, and the peak rate occurred within the first 30 days following reactivation. Almost a year later, during the spring of 1975, the rates there were 0.1-0.3 mid. By the time movement had propagated 2.5 km downslope to Manti Creek, more than 40 m of displacement had occurred at the waterline. Cracks were first noted at Manti Creek on June 21,1975, but movement was initially very slow there. The maximum rate of sliding of about 3.1 mid occurred during the period September 1-19,1975, and the movement decreased and stopped during the winter of 1975-76. At the time the lower part of the landslide was moving rapidly, the rate farther upslope was small. The result was that the landslide changed from being in compression, which was caused by loading from above, to being in extension, which was caused by the lower part moving faster than the upper part. One of the results of the extension was that the landslide pulled apart on a steeper segment of the slope and exposed the failure surface. Since the fall of 1975, the landslide has been separated into two independent parts. There has been no movement in the lower part, whereas movements in the upper part have continued at a rate of a few meters per year. Although the landslide is 6.5 km from the nearest permanent dwelling, it cost nearly $2 million in actual damages and in preparation for a major disaster that did not occur. The waterline for the city of Manti was replaced and a well was drilled to provide an emergency water supply. PART B: The Manti landslide abuts, at its toe, another large landslide called the North slide. In 1975, public officials were concerned that continued movement of the Manti landslide would trigger reactivation of the North slide. In response to this threat, four borings were placed in the North slide to obtain samples for testing and information

VersiCharge-SG - Smart Grid Capable Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) for Residential Applications

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

Wei, Dong; Haas, Harry; Terricciano, Paul

In his 2011 State of the Union address, President Obama called for one million electric vehicles on the road by 2015 [1]. With large-scale Electric Vehicle (EV) or Plug-in Electric Vehicle (PEV or EV for short) or Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) penetration into the US market, there will be drastic reduction in fossil fuel consumption, thus significantly reducing our dependency on foreign oil [2-6]. There will also be significant reduction on Green House Gas (GHG) emissions and smog in the major US cities [3, 7, 8]. Similar studies have also been done other industrial counties [9]. For the fuelmore » cost, with the home electricity rate around $0.13 per kWh, it would cost about $0.05 per mile for DC operation and $0.03 cents per mile for AC operation. But, assuming 25 miles per gallon for a typical vehicle and $4 per gallon, fossil fuel will cost $0.16 per mile [10]. The overall lifecycle cost of PEVs will be several folds lower than the existing fossil fueled vehicles. Despite the above advantages of the EVs, the current cost of EVSE is not affordable for the average consumer. Presently, the cost of installing state-of-the-art residential EVSE ranges from $1500 to $2500 [11]. Low priced EVSE technology, which is easy to install, and affordable to operate and maintain by an average consumer, is essential for the large-scale market penetration of EVs. In addition, the long-term success of this technology is contingent on the PEVs having minimal excessive load and shift impact on the grid, especially at peak times. In a report [2] published by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), the exiting electric power generation infrastructure, if used at its full capacity 24 hours a day, would support up to 84% of the nation’s cars, pickup trucks and SUVs for an average daily drive of 33 miles. This mileage estimate is certainly much below what an average driver would drive his/her vehicle per day. Another report [3] by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) shows that an increased PEV penetration would significantly increase pressure on the peak generation, if no controlled charging strategy was put in place. Investigations from Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) show that in many regions, additional power generation facilities must be put in place and operate in evening times to recharge the EVs [12]. By all accounts, large PEV penetration will bring to the power grid enormous challenges due to the excessive and stochastic demand, and can entirely change the peak time distribution and behavior, perhaps, into a bi-modal distribution capable of exhausting primary, secondary and even reserves (spinning or non-spinning). To minimize the infrastructure upgrade costs and risks to the grid, and to ensure that power quality and reliability remain within the set standards, the demand for EV plug-ins must then be controlled and coordinated locally and at regional levels. Novel control techniques must be devised to allow for close collaboration between neighboring plug-in requestors, between neighboring communities, and between these and more central power authorities. The concept of electric drive vehicle is not new. The development of electric vehicle has been around since 19th century [13]. But due to a number of reasons and practical limitations at the time, including lower cost of gasoline compared to electricity, excessive refueling times, and abundance of gasoline, the automobile industry embraced gasoline-powered vehicles worldwide [13]. With the global warming, ever reducing reservoirs of fossil oil around the world and increasing political pressure to reduce the national dependency on foreign oil, the last decade of the 20th century witnessed major technological breakthroughs in Alternative Fueled Vehicle (AFV) technologies, including electric vehicles. With GHG emissions and carbon footprint in the minds of many more consumers and politicians, the first decade of the 21stCentury witnessed more breakthroughs with some real life experimentation and sporadic deployment of these technologies [14]. By many accounts, the second decade of the 21st Century is expected to be the time when mass volume production and popular usage of these AFV technologies, especially EV, will materialize. The current DOE request for proposals recognizes the need for major technological changes to ensure that the above national goal is realizable. Two major challenges have been identified: (1) major reduction in the cost of ownership of EVSEs, and (2) managing additional EV loads in the power grid while maintaining power quality, reliability, and affordability. We note that the two challenges are closely linked – A holistic approach to true lifecycle cost of EVSE ownership will certainly include any taxes and surcharges that can be put in place for major potential investments in the grid, and higher electricity charges in case of more frequent and longer peak periods. From a societal perspective, this cost could also include the lost GDP (computed on a local basis) and revenue for businesses at local and regional levels when the grid is no longer capable of meeting the demand and unexpected outages occur. A typical end-point electrical distribution system delivers power to a residential EVSE from the neighborhood distribution pole, as shown in Fig.1. This pole has a transformer (neighboring step-down transformer) that steps down the utility medium voltage to dual 120VAC single phase (also called 240VAC split phase). This voltage is fed through a meter into the residential load control center. The load control center consists of branch circuit breakers and distributes the power supply within various areas of the residential unit. One of the branch circuits from the load control center feeds EV charging station for the unit. An electric vehicle charger is plugged into the socket of the EV charging station and other end of this charger is connected to the vehicle during charging. Figure 1 illustrates a typical configuration of the power grid. The left side of the figure shows the power grid from the power generation to the neighboring step-down transformer, while the right side of the figure shows multiple EVs with the respective charging stations. The typical step-down transformer has an upper limit representing the maximum load that can be requested from these neighboring houses altogether (typically 24 kW). In case the total load increases beyond the supported limit, the protection system (e.g. a circuit breaker) attached to the step-down transformer gets activated automatically.« less