Mental illness and principal physical diagnoses among Asian American and Pacific Islander users of emergency services.

PubMed

Chen, Huey Jen

2005-12-01

The stigma of mental illness is one of the factors that prevents Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders (APIs) from seeking formal mental health services. A somatic complaint is more acceptable in expressing psychiatric/emotional distress. Admission diagnoses in API emergency service users with secondary psychiatric diagnoses were identified from the 2001 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP). The sample consisted of 10,623 adult APIs. The study examined the differences in the six leading principal physical admission diagnoses between API emergency service users with psychiatric diagnoses and those without psychiatric diagnoses. Several of the study findings create concern (e.g., the higher percentage of APIs with psychiatric diagnosis who were discharged against medical advice, the high percentage admitted with medication intoxication). Further study is needed to provide guidance for clinical practice.

Healthcare Data Analytics for Parkinson's Disease Patients: A Study of Hospital Cost and Utilization in the United States.

PubMed

Mukherjee, Sunanda; Wu, Huanmei; Jones, Josette

2016-01-01

Parkinson's Disease (PD), a prevalent problem, especially for the aged populations, is a progressive but non-fatal nervous system disorder. PD patients have special motor as well as non-motor symptoms over time. There are several limitations in the study of PD such as unavailability of data, proper diagnosis and treatment methods. These limitations significantly reduce the quality of PD patient life quality, either directly or indirectly. PD also imposes great financial burdens to PD patients and their family. This project aims to analyze the most common reasons for PD patient hospitalization, review complications that occur during inpatient stays, and measure the costs associated with PD patient characteristics. Using the HCUP NIS data, comprehensive data analysis has been performed. The results are customized visualized using Tableau and other software systems. The preliminary findings sheds light into how to improve the life quality of PD patients.

Synthesis of copper particles covered with cobalt-catalyzed carbon nanofibers and their application to air-curable conductive paste

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ohnishi, Shigekatsu; Nakasuga, Akira; Nakagawa, Kiyoharu

2017-07-01

Sea urchin-shaped hybrid copper powder (HCuP), which is characterized by copper alloy powder particles covered with vertically aligned Co-catalyzed carbon nanofibers (CNFs), was successfully synthesized to improve the oxidation resistance of copper paste. Fine spherical CuCo alloy particles with nominal composition of Cu/Co = 99/1 w/w were fabricated by atomization. Cobalt nanoprecipitates (CoNPs) used as the catalyst for carbon fiber growth were arranged on the surface of an alloy particle by heat treatment. CNFs were grown from the CoNPs on the alloy particle via thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The conductive paste was prepared by milling using HCuP with resin and oleic acid. HCuP paste was screen-printed on a glass or plastic substrate and showed a resistivity as low as 1.2 × 10-4 Ω·cm after curing at 150 °C for 30 min in air (21% oxygen). These results indicate that the use of HCuP is a promising technology for printable electronics in a sustainable society.

Aviation-related injury morbidity and mortality: data from U.S. health information systems.

PubMed

Baker, Susan P; Brady, Joanne E; Shanahan, Dennis F; Li, Guohua

2009-12-01

Information about injuries sustained by survivors of airplane crashes is scant, although some information is available on fatal aviation-related injuries. Objectives of this study were to explore the patterns of aviation-related injuries admitted to U.S. hospitals and relate them to aviation deaths in the same period. The Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) contains information for approximately 20% of all hospital admissions in the United States each year. We identified patients in the HCUP NIS who were hospitalized during 2000-2005 for aviation-related injuries based on the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, codes E840-E844. Injury patterns were also examined in relation to information from multiple-cause-of-death public-use data files 2000-2005. Nationally, an estimated 6080 patients in 6 yr, or 1013 admissions annually (95% confidence interval 894-1133), were hospitalized for aviation-related injuries, based on 1246 patients in the sample. The average hospital stay was 6.3 d and 2% died in hospital. Occupants of non-commercial aircraft accounted for 32% of patients, parachutists for 29%; occupants of commercial aircraft and of unpowered aircraft each constituted 11%. Lower-limb fracture was the most common injury in each category, constituting 27% of the total, followed by head injury (11%), open wound (10%), upper extremity fracture, and internal injury (9%). Among fatalities, head injury (38%) was most prominent. An average of 753 deaths occurred annually; for each death there were 1.3 hospitalizations. Aviation-related injuries result in approximately 1000 hospitalizations each year in the United States, with an in-hospital mortality rate of 2%. The most common injury sustained by aviation crash survivors is lower-limb fracture.

Aviation-Related Injury Morbidity and Mortality: Data from U.S. Health Information Systems

PubMed Central

Baker, Susan P.; Brady, Joanne E.; Shanahan, Dennis F.; Li, Guohua

2010-01-01

Introduction Information about injuries sustained by survivors of airplane crashes is scant, although some information is available on fatal aviation-related injuries. Objectives of this study were to explore the patterns of aviation-related injuries admitted to U.S. hospitals and relate them to aviation deaths in the same period. Methods The Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) contains information for approximately 20% of all hospital admissions in the United States each year. We identified patients in the HCUP NIS who were hospitalized during 2000–2005 for aviation-related injuries based on the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, codes E840–E844. Injury patterns were also examined in relation to information from multiple-cause-of-death public-use data files 2000–2005. Results Nationally, an estimated 6080 patients in 6 yr, or 1013 admissions annually (95% confidence interval 894–1133), were hospitalized for aviation-related injuries, based on 1246 patients in the sample. The average hospital stay was 6.3 d and 2% died in hospital. Occupants of noncommercial aircraft accounted for 32% of patients, parachutists for 29%; occupants of commercial aircraft and of unpowered aircraft each constituted 11%. Lower-limb fracture was the most common injury in each category, constituting 27% of the total, followed by head injury (11%), open wound (10%), upper extremity fracture, and internal injury (9%). Among fatalities, head injury (38%) was most prominent. An average of 753 deaths occurred annually; for each death there were 1.3 hospitalizations. Conclusions Aviation-related injuries result in approximately 1000 hospitalizations each year in the United States, with an in-hospital mortality rate of 2%. The most common injury sustained by aviation crash survivors is lower-limb fracture. PMID:20027845

The Economic Burden of Musculoskeletal Disease in Children and Adolescents in the United States.

PubMed

Rosenfeld, Scott B; Schroeder, Katherine; Watkins-Castillo, Sylvia I

2018-04-01

Musculoskeletal conditions are among the most common and costly conditions suffered by Americans. In 2011, there was an estimated $213 billion in annual cost of direct treatment for and lost wages due to musculoskeletal disease in the United States. Data on economic burden, however, comes mostly from the adult population, with significantly less information regarding the burden of these conditions in young patients available. The purpose of this report is to provide data on the economic burden of musculoskeletal diseases in children and adolescents in the United States. Eleven diagnosis categories were identified, with health care visits and hospitalization data derived from ICD-9-CM codes for each of the conditions searched. The largest database utilized was the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Kids' Inpatient Database (KID). Total visits came from the KID, HCUP NEDS (emergency department), NCHS NHAMCS OP (outpatient), and NCHS NAMCS (physician office) databases. The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) child sample was additionally searched to obtain patient/parent-reported data. In 2012, more than 19 million children and adolescents received treatment in medical centers, physicians' offices, and hospitals for a musculoskeletal-related condition. The most common reason for treatment (68%) was traumatic injury, followed by a pain syndrome (13%) and deformity (9%). Total hospital charges in 2012 for children and adolescents with a primary musculoskeletal-related diagnosis totaled $7.6 billion. Trauma (43%) and deformity (38%) were the major contributors to total hospital charges. Although we found that hospital-related charges for musculoskeletal diseases for children and adolescents in 2012 totaled $7.6 billion, this number underestimates the total cost for all pediatric musculoskeletal conditions. Musculoskeletal conditions accounted for 5.4% of hospital charges in the pediatric population. However, only 1.4% of pediatric research funding is designated to musculoskeletal research. Going forward, the data in this report may be used to further research and to stimulate development of better methods with which to measure the direct and indirect costs of musculoskeletal conditions in children. Level IV-economic and decision analysis.

A flexible data-driven comorbidity feature extraction framework.

PubMed

Sideris, Costas; Pourhomayoun, Mohammad; Kalantarian, Haik; Sarrafzadeh, Majid

2016-06-01

Disease and symptom diagnostic codes are a valuable resource for classifying and predicting patient outcomes. In this paper, we propose a novel methodology for utilizing disease diagnostic information in a predictive machine learning framework. Our methodology relies on a novel, clustering-based feature extraction framework using disease diagnostic information. To reduce the data dimensionality, we identify disease clusters using co-occurrence statistics. We optimize the number of generated clusters in the training set and then utilize these clusters as features to predict patient severity of condition and patient readmission risk. We build our clustering and feature extraction algorithm using the 2012 National Inpatient Sample (NIS), Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) which contains 7 million hospital discharge records and ICD-9-CM codes. The proposed framework is tested on Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center Electronic Health Records (EHR) from 3041 Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) patients and the UCI 130-US diabetes dataset that includes admissions from 69,980 diabetic patients. We compare our cluster-based feature set with the commonly used comorbidity frameworks including Charlson's index, Elixhauser's comorbidities and their variations. The proposed approach was shown to have significant gains between 10.7-22.1% in predictive accuracy for CHF severity of condition prediction and 4.65-5.75% in diabetes readmission prediction. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

ICD Social Codes: An Underutilized Resource for Tracking Social Needs.

PubMed

Torres, Jacqueline M; Lawlor, John; Colvin, Jeffrey D; Sills, Marion R; Bettenhausen, Jessica L; Davidson, Amber; Cutler, Gretchen J; Hall, Matt; Gottlieb, Laura M

2017-09-01

Social determinants of health (SDH) data collected in health care settings could have important applications for clinical decision-making, population health strategies, and the design of performance-based incentives and penalties. One source for cataloging SDH data is the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD). To explore how SDH are captured with ICD Ninth revision SDH V codes in a national inpatient discharge database. Data come from the 2013 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) National Inpatient Sample, a national stratified sample of discharges from 4363 hospitals from 44 US states. We estimate the rate of ICD-9 SDH V code utilization overall and by patient demographics and payer categories. We additionally estimate the rate of SDH V code utilization for: (a) the 5 most common reasons for hospitalization; and (b) the 5 conditions with the highest rates of SDH V code utilization. Fewer than 2% of overall discharges in the National Inpatient Sample were assigned an SDH V code. There were statistically significant differences in the rate of overall SDH V code utilization by age categories, race/ethnicity, sex, and payer (all P<0.001). Nevertheless, SDH V codes were assigned to <7% of discharges in any demographic or payer subgroup. SDH V code utilization was highest for major diagnostic categories related to mental health and alcohol/substance use-related discharges. SDH V codes are infrequently utilized in inpatient settings for discharges other than those related to mental health and alcohol/substance use. Utilization incentives will likely need to be developed to realize the potential benefits of cataloging SDH information.

Greater healthcare utilization and costs among Black persons compared to White persons with aphasia in the North Carolina stroke belt.

PubMed

Ellis, Charles; Hardy, Rose Y; Lindrooth, Richard C

2017-05-15

To examine racial differences in healthcare utilization and costs for persons with aphasia (PWA) being treated in acute care hospitals in North Carolina (NC). NC Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Database (HCUP-SID) data from 2011-2012 were analyzed to examine healthcare utilization and costs of care for stroke patients with aphasia. Analyses emphasized length of stay, charges and cost of general hospital services. Generalized linear models (GLM) were constructed to determine the impact of demographic characteristics, stroke/illness severity, and observed hospital characteristics on utilization and costs. Hospital fixed effects were included to yield within-hospital estimates of disparities. GLM models demonstrated that Blacks with aphasia experienced 1.9days longer lengths of stay compared to Whites with aphasia after controlling for demographic characteristics, 1.4days controlling for stroke/illness severity, 1.2days controlling for observed hospital characteristics, and ~1 extra day controlling for unobserved hospital characteristics. Similarly, Blacks accrued ~$2047 greater total costs compared to Whites after controlling for demographic characteristics, $1659 controlling for stroke/illness severity, $1338 controlling for observed hospital characteristics, and ~$1311 greater total costs after controlling for unobserved hospital characteristics. In the acute hospital setting, Blacks with aphasia utilize greater hospital services during longer hospitalizations and at substantially higher costs in the state of NC. A substantial portion of the adjusted difference was related to the hospital treating the patient. However, even after controlling for the hospital, the differences remained clinically and statistically significant. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Conducting research on the Medicare market: the need for better data and methods.

PubMed

Wong, H S; Hellinger, F J

2001-04-01

To highlight data limitations, the need to improve data collection, the need to develop better analytic methods, and the need to use alternative data sources to conduct research related to the Medicare program. Objectives were achieved by reviewing existing studies on risk selection in Medicare HMOs, examining their data limitations, and introducing a new approach that circumvents many of these shortcomings. Data for years 1995-97 for five states (Arizona, Florida, Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania) from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) State Inpatient Databases (SIDs), maintained by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; and the Health Care Financing Administration's Medicare Managed Care Market Penetration Data Files and Medicare Provider Analysis and Review Files. Analysis of hospital utilization rates for Medicare beneficiaries in the traditional fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare and Medicare HMO sectors and examination of the relationship between these rates and the Medicare HMO penetration rates. Medicare HMOs have lower hospital utilization rates than their FFS counterparts, differences in utilization rates vary across states, and HMO penetration rates are inversely related to our rough measure of favorable selection. Substantial growth in Medicare HMO enrollment and the implementation of a new risk-adjusted payment system have led to an increasing need for research on the Medicare program. Improved data collection, better methods, new creative approaches, and alternative data sources are needed to address these issues in a timely and suitable manner.

Inpatient cancer treatment: an analysis of financial and nonfinancial performance measures by hospital-ownership type.

PubMed

Newton, Ashley N; Ewer, Sid R

2010-01-01

This study uses longitudinal data of inpatient treatment from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's (AHRQ's) Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) to examine the differences in historical trends and build future projections of charges, costs, and lengths of stay (LOS) for inpatient treatment of four of the most prevalent cancer types: breast, colon, lung, and prostate. We stratify our data by hospital ownership type and for the aforementioned four major cancer types. We use the Kruskal Wallis (nonparametric ANOVA) Test and time series models to analyze variance and build projections, respectively, for mean charges per discharge, mean costs per discharge, mean LOS per discharge, mean charges per day, and mean costs per day. We find that significant differences exist in both the mean charges per discharge and mean charges per day for breast, colon, lung, and prostate cancers and in the mean LOS per discharge for breast cancer. Additionally, we find that both mean charges and mean costs are forecast to continue increasing while mean LOS are forecast to continue decreasing over the forecast period 2008 to 2012. The methodologies we employ may be used by individual hospital systems, and by health care policy-makers, for various financial planning purposes. Future studies could examine additional financial and nonfinancial variables for these and other cancer types, test for geographic disparities, or focus on procedural-level hospital measures.

Multiple Chronic Conditions and Disparities in 30-Day Hospital Readmissions Among Nonelderly Adults.

PubMed

Basu, Jayasree; Hanchate, Amresh; Koroukian, Siran

2018-05-15

This study examines the patterns of 30-day hospital readmissions by race/ethnicity and multiple chronic conditions (MCC) burden among nonelderly adult patients. We used hospital discharge data of patients in the 18- to 64-year age group in 5 US states, California, Florida, Missouri, New York, and Tennessee, for 2009 from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Database (HCUP-SID) of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, linked to contextual and provider data from the Health Resources and Services Administration. A multilevel logistic regression model was used for data pooled over 5 states, adjusting for patient, hospital, and community characteristics. Controlling for other covariates, the study found that a higher MCC burden was associated with a higher all-cause 30-day readmission risk. We found considerable heterogeneity in levels of readmission risk among racial/ethnic subgroups stratified by chronic conditions. Among patients with a lowest MCC burden, African Americans had the highest risk of readmission, but with a higher MCC burden, the risk of readmission increased most for Hispanics.

Trends in epidemiology and hospitalization utilization for myelomeningocele repair from 2000 to 2009.

PubMed

Harris, Dominic A; Cherian, Jacob; LoPresti, Melissa; Jea, Andrew; Lam, Sandi

2016-07-01

Although the incidence of myelomeningocele (MMC) has declined over the past decades with folic acid supplementation and prenatal screening, neural tube defects remain the most common birth defect in the USA. A majority of affected neonates require surgical repair. To characterize US trends in the epidemiology and hospital utilization of MMC repair over the past decade, we analyzed a nationally representative database. We queried the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Kid's Inpatient Database (KID) for all discharges with procedure code for MMC repair for the years 2000, 2003, 2006, and 2009. The cohorts from these time points were compared for their demographic and in-hospital variables. Results are reported as estimated frequencies and means with 95 % confidence intervals (CI). Sex, race, insurance status, family income level, and mortality of affected infants have not changed significantly over the decade. A majority of neonatal MMC repairs occur in larger hospital bed size and more specialized children's hospital centers. Of patients, 52.3 to 60 % receive VPS placement during the same admission as the primary MMC repair. Total hospital costs for the MMC hospitalizations have remained relatively stable from 42,843 dollars in 2003 to 46,749 dollars in 2009 (adjusted to 2009 dollars). Demographics of children having MMC repair have not changed significantly over the past decade, while these surgeries have become more concentrated in pediatric-specialized centers. There appears to be a plateau in public health and access advances with relatively stable cost of MMC hospital care.

The Effects of HMO Penetration on Preventable Hospitalizations

PubMed Central

Zhan, Chunliu; Miller, Marlene R; Wong, Herbert; Meyer, Gregg S

2004-01-01

Objective To examine the effects of health maintenance organization (HMO) penetration on preventable hospitalizations. Data Source Hospital inpatient discharge abstracts for 932 urban counties in 22 states from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) State Inpatient Databases (SID), hospital data from American Hospital Association (AHA) annual survey, and population characteristics and health care capacity data from Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Area Resource File (ARF) for 1998. Methods Preventable hospitalizations due to 14 ambulatory care sensitive conditions were identified using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Prevention Quality Indicators. Multiple regressions were used to determine the association between preventable hospitalizations and HMO penetration while controlling for demographic and socioeconomic characteristics and health care capacity of the counties. Principal Findings A 10 percent increase in HMO penetration was associated with a 3.8 percent decrease in preventable hospitalizations (95 percent confidence interval, 2.0 percent–5.6 percent). Advanced age, female gender, poor health, poverty, more hospital beds, and fewer primary care physicians per capita were significantly associated with more preventable hospitalizations. Conclusions Our study suggests that HMO penetration has significant effects in reducing preventable hospitalizations due to some ambulatory care sensitive conditions. PMID:15032958

State Variation in Medicaid Reimbursements for Orthopaedic Surgery.

PubMed

Lalezari, Ramin M; Pozen, Alexis; Dy, Christopher J

2018-02-07

Medicaid reimbursements are determined by each state and are subject to variability. We sought to quantify this variation for commonly performed inpatient orthopaedic procedures. The 10 most commonly performed inpatient orthopaedic procedures, as ranked by the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) National Inpatient Sample, were identified for study. Medicaid reimbursement amounts for those procedures were benchmarked to state Medicare reimbursement amounts in 3 ways: (1) ratio, (2) dollar difference, and (3) dollar difference divided by the relative value unit (RVU) amount. Variability was quantified by determining the range and coefficient of variation for those reimbursement amounts. The range of variability of Medicaid reimbursements among states exceeded $1,500 for all 10 procedures. The coefficients of variation ranged from 0.32 (hip hemiarthroplasty) to 0.57 (posterior or posterolateral lumbar interbody arthrodesis) (a higher coefficient indicates greater variability), compared with 0.07 for Medicare reimbursements for all 10 procedures. Adjusted as a dollar difference between Medicaid and Medicare per RVU, the median values ranged from -$8/RVU (total knee arthroplasty) to -$17/RVU (open reduction and internal fixation of the femur). Variability of Medicaid reimbursement for inpatient orthopaedic procedures among states is substantial. This variation becomes especially remarkable given recent policy shifts toward focusing reimbursements on value.

Safety outcomes in the United States: trends and challenges in measurement.

PubMed

Greenberg, Michael D; Haviland, Amelia M; Yu, Hao; Farley, Donna O

2009-04-01

To prepare Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) for monitoring the impact of its own patient safety initiative, by exploring available outcomes data, assessing usability of measures, and estimating national trends in patient outcomes. Annual summary data on incidence of Joint Commission Sentinel Events, MEDMARX medication error events, and MDS measures of falls and pressure ulcers in nursing home residents. HCUP National Inpatient Sample (NIS) administrative claims data. Description and assessment of published summary data on selected safety measures. Analysis of selected Patient Safety Indicators (PSIs) and Utah–Missouri adverse event measures using HCUP NIS claims data (1994–2003). Interpretation of safety outcome trends requires close attention to the characteristics of underlying data sources and measures. Encounter-based measures have been affected by changes in definitions and ICD-9 coding, as well as by changes in the structure of administrative datasets like HCUP NIS. Historical trends are mixed for the safety outcome measures reviewed, with some measures showing improvement, others deterioration, and still others remaining fairly stable. Constructing national trends of safety outcomes is difficult because of limitations in available data sources and measures. Tracking growth in the adoption of safe practices could offer an important strategy for complementing existing safety measurement capabilities.

Operative Fixation for Clavicle Fractures-Socioeconomic Differences Persist Despite Overall Population Increases in Utilization.

PubMed

Schairer, William W; Nwachukwu, Benedict U; Warren, Russell F; Dines, David M; Gulotta, Lawrence V

2017-06-01

Clavicle fractures were traditionally treated conservatively, but recent evidence has shown improved outcomes with surgical management. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the recent trends in operative treatment of clavicle fractures, and to analyze for patient related factors that may affect treatment strategy. The Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) California and Florida inpatient, outpatient, and the Emergency Department databases were used to identify all patients with clavicle fractures between 2005 and 2010. We evaluated the overall number of procedures over the study period and calculated the rates of operative and nonoperative treatment by tracking a large cohort of emergency department patients with clavicle fractures. Poisson and multivariable regression were used to identify trends and patient factors associated with treatment. There was a 290% increase in the annual number clavicle fracture procedures over the study period. The rate of fixation increased from 3.7% to 11.1% (P < 0.001). Significant increases were seen in all patient age groups less than 65 years. Comparatively, higher rates of fixation were found in patients who were white, privately insured, and of high-income status. Lower income status was also associated with delayed surgery. The rates of clavicle fracture fixation have increased. However, there are differences associated with socioeconomic factors including race, insurance type, and income level. In part, this likely representing both underutilization and overutilization but may also show differential access to care. This differential utilization suggests both that further work is needed to more clearly define indications for operative versus nonoperative management and to further evaluate referral systems and access to care to ensure equal and quality treatment is available for all patients. Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Are Asian American women at higher risk of severe perineal lacerations?

PubMed

Quist-Nelson, Johanna; Hua Parker, Meiling; Berghella, Vincenzo; Biba Nijjar, J

2017-03-01

To evaluate whether Asian race is an independent risk factor for severe perineal lacerations. We performed a nationwide population-based retrospective cohort study examining the relationship between Asian race and severe perineal lacerations (third and fourth degree). The data were collected from the 2012 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project National Inpatient Sample (HCUP-NIS). Characteristics of Asian American women were compared with those of non-Asian women. The primary outcome of interest was severe perineal lacerations. Multivariable logistic regression was used to refine the associations between Asian race and severe perineal lacerations while adjusting for confounding effects. Results were compared with previously published data using a pooled odds ratio. 2,270,044 Women with singleton vaginal deliveries were identified, and 120,452 (5.3%) were Asian. After adjusting for confounders, Asian women were more likely to experience severe perineal lacerations than any other racial group (3.5% versus 6.3%, adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.50, 99% CI 1.29-1.74, p < 0.0001). Analysis of literature indicated that Asian American women are 74% more likely to experience severe perineal lacerations (aOR 1.74, 99% CI 1.72-1.76, p < 0.0001) than non-Asians. Asian race is an independent risk factor for severe perineal lacerations in the United States.

The Era of the Large Databases: Outcomes After Gastroesophageal Surgery According to NSQIP, NIS, and NCDB Databases. Systematic Literature Review.

PubMed

Batista Rodríguez, Gabriela; Balla, Andrea; Fernández-Ananín, Sonia; Balagué, Carmen; Targarona, Eduard M

2018-05-01

The term big data refers to databases that include large amounts of information used in various areas of knowledge. Currently, there are large databases that allow the evaluation of postoperative evolution, such as the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP), the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) National Inpatient Sample (NIS), and the National Cancer Database (NCDB). The aim of this review was to evaluate the clinical impact of information obtained from these registries regarding gastroesophageal surgery. A systematic review using the Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines was performed. The research was carried out using the PubMed database identifying 251 articles. All outcomes related to gastroesophageal surgery were analyzed. A total of 34 articles published between January 2007 and July 2017 were included, for a total of 345 697 patients. Studies were analyzed and divided according to the type of surgery and main theme in (1) esophageal surgery and (2) gastric surgery. The information provided by these databases is an effective way to obtain levels of evidence not obtainable by conventional methods. Furthermore, this information is useful for the external validation of previous studies, to establish benchmarks that allow comparisons between centers and have a positive impact on the quality of care.

Annual report on health care for children and youth in the United States: national estimates of cost, utilization and expenditures for children with mental health conditions.

PubMed

Torio, Celeste Marie; Encinosa, William; Berdahl, Terceira; McCormick, Marie C; Simpson, Lisa A

2015-01-01

To examine national trends in hospital utilization, costs, and expenditures for children with mental health conditions. The analyses of children aged 1 to 17 are based on AHRQ's 2006 and 2011 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) and Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) databases, and on AHRQ's pooled 2006 to 2011 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). All estimates are nationally representative, and standard errors account for the complex survey designs. Although overall all-cause children's hospitalizations did not increase between 2006 and 2011, hospitalizations for all listed mental health conditions increased by nearly 50% among children aged 10 to 14 years, and by 21% for emergency department (ED) visits. Behavioral disorders experienced a shift in underlying patterns between 2006 and 2011: inpatient stays for alcohol-related disorders declined by 44%, but ED visits increased by 34% for substance-related disorders and by 71% for impulse control disorders. Inpatient visits for suicide, suicidal ideation, and self-injury increased by 104% for children ages 1 to 17 years, and by 151% for children ages 10 to 14 years during this period. A total of $11.6 billion was spent on hospital visits for mental health during this period. Medicaid covered half of the inpatient visits, but with 50% to 30% longer length of stays in 2006 and 2011, respectively, than private payers. Medicaid's overall share of the ED visits increased from 45% in 2006 to 53% in 2011. These alarming trends highlight the renewed need for research on mental health care for children. This study also provides a baseline for evaluating the impact of the Affordable Care Act and the mental health parity legislation on mental health utilization and expenditures for children. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Risk factors for length of stay and charge per day differ between older and younger hospitalized patients with AML.

PubMed

Kumar, Anita J; Henzer, Tobi; Rodday, Angie Mae; Parsons, Susan K

2018-04-16

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is associated with frequent hospitalizations. We evaluated factors associated with length of stay (LOS) and charge per day (CPD) for admissions in older (≥60 years) and younger patients (<60 years). We identified patients with ICD-9-CM codes for AML or myeloid sarcoma in the 2012 HCUP-NIS. In separate models based on age, we examined patient (sex, race, income, insurance payer, chronic conditions, chemotherapy administration, death) and hospital (type, geography) characteristics. Multivariable negative binomial regression estimated factor effects on LOS and CPD using rate ratios, with HCUP-NIS weights. In 43,820 discharges, LOS was longer in patients <60 than ≥60 (6.8 vs. 5.4 days). For patients <60, longer LOS was seen with more chronic conditions (RR = 1.10), Black race (RR = 1.16), chemotherapy (RR = 2.27), and geography; shorter LOS was associated with older age (RR = 0.93), Medicare (RR = 0.83), and hospital type. For patients ≥60, longer LOS associated with chronic conditions (RR = 1.07) and Asian race (RR = 1.33). Shorter LOS associated with older age (RR = 0.86), higher income (RR = 0.93), and hospital type. For patients <60, higher CPD associated with chronic conditions (RR = 1.05), death (RR = 1.93), and geography; lower CPD associated with increasing age (RR = 0.96), Medicaid (RR = 0.93), and rural hospitals (RR = 0.65). For patients ≥60, higher CPD associated with Medicare (RR = 1.05), more chronic conditions (RR = 1.02), younger age (RR = 1.1), west geography (RR = 1.37), death (RR = 1.45), and Hispanic race (RR = 1.15). We identify predictors for increased healthcare utilization in hospitalized patients with AML, which differ within age groups. Future efforts are needed to link utilization outcomes with clinical treatments and response. © 2018 The Authors. Cancer Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Incidence of iatrogenic pneumothorax in the United States in teaching vs. non-teaching hospitals from 2000 to 2012.

PubMed

John, Jason; Seifi, Ali

2016-08-01

Iatrogenic pneumothorax is a patient safety indicator (PSI) representing a complication of procedures such as transthoracic needle aspiration, subclavicular needle stick, thoracentesis, transbronchial biopsy, pleural biopsy, and positive pressure ventilation. This study examined whether there was a significant difference in rate of iatrogenic pneumothorax in teaching hospitals compared to non-teaching hospitals from 2000 to 2012. We performed a retrospective cohort study on iatrogenic pneumothorax incidence from 2000 to 2012 using the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) database. Pairwise t tests were performed. Odds ratios and P values were calculated, using a Bonferroni-adjusted α threshold, to examine differences in iatrogenic pneumothorax incidence in teaching vs. non-teaching hospitals. Our study revealed that after the year 2000, teaching hospitals had significantly greater iatrogenic pneumothorax incidence compared to non-teaching hospitals in every year of the study period (P<.001). Iatrogenic pneumothorax occurred with significantly greater incidence in teaching hospitals compared to non-teaching hospitals from 2000 to 2012. This trend may have been enhanced by the residency duty-hour regulations implemented in 2003 in teaching institutions, or due to higher rates of procedures in teaching institutions due to the nature of a tertiary center. Iatrogenic pneumothorax was more prevalent in teaching hospitals compared to non-teaching hospitals after the year 2000. Further randomized control studies are warranted to evaluate the etiology of this finding. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Pneumonia after Major Cancer Surgery: Temporal Trends and Patterns of Care.

PubMed

Trinh, Vincent Q; Ravi, Praful; Abd-El-Barr, Abd-El-Rahman M; Jhaveri, Jay K; Gervais, Mai-Kim; Meyer, Christian P; Hanske, Julian; Sammon, Jesse D; Trinh, Quoc-Dien

2016-01-01

Rationale. Pneumonia is a leading cause of postoperative complication. Objective. To examine trends, factors, and mortality of postoperative pneumonia following major cancer surgery (MCS). Methods. From 1999 to 2009, patients undergoing major forms of MCS were identified using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), a Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) subset, resulting in weighted 2,508,916 patients. Measurements. Determinants were examined using logistic regression analysis adjusted for clustering using generalized estimating equations. Results. From 1999 to 2009, 87,867 patients experienced pneumonia following MCS and prevalence increased by 29.7%. The estimated annual percent change (EAPC) of mortality after MCS was -2.4% (95% CI: -2.9 to -2.0, P < 0.001); the EAPC of mortality associated with pneumonia after MCS was -2.2% (95% CI: -3.6 to 0.9, P = 0.01). Characteristics associated with higher odds of pneumonia included older age, male, comorbidities, nonprivate insurance, lower income, hospital volume, urban, Northeast region, and nonteaching status. Pneumonia conferred a 6.3-fold higher odd of mortality. Conclusions. Increasing prevalence of pneumonia after MCS, associated with stable mortality rates, may result from either increased diagnosis or more stringent coding. We identified characteristics associated with pneumonia after MCS which could help identify at-risk patients in order to reduce pneumonia after MCS, as it greatly increases the odds of mortality.

Health information technology adoption in U.S. acute care hospitals.

PubMed

Zhang, Ning Jackie; Seblega, Binyam; Wan, Thomas; Unruh, Lynn; Agiro, Abiy; Miao, Li

2013-04-01

Previous studies show that the healthcare industry lags behind many other economic sectors in the adoption of information technology. The purpose of this study is to understand differences in structural characteristics between providers that do and that do not adopt Health Information Technology (HIT) applications. Publicly available secondary data were used from three sources: American Hospital Association (AHA) annual survey, Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) analytics annual survey, and Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) databases. Fifty-two information technologies were grouped into three clusters: clinical, administrative, and strategic decision making ITs. Negative binomial regression was applied with adoption of technology as the dependent variables and eight organizational and contextual factors as the independent variables. Hospitals adopt a relatively larger proportion of administrative information technology as compared to clinical and strategic IT. Large size, urban location and HMO penetration were found to be the most influential hospital characteristics that positively affect information technology adoption. There are still considerable variations in the adoption of information technology across hospitals and in the type of technology adopted. Organizational factors appear to be more influential than market factors when it comes to information technology adoption. The future research may examine whether the Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program in 2011 would increase the information technology uses in hospitals as it provides financial incentives for HER adoptions and uses among providers.

Child and adolescent injury as a result of falls from buildings and structures

PubMed Central

Pressley, J; Barlow, B

2005-01-01

Design and setting: The Health Care Cost and Utilization Project (KID-HCUP) was used to produce national estimates of hospital admissions due to falls from buildings in the US. Areas of New York with and without window guard legislation were identified through the New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS). Subjects: Children and adolescents aged 0–18 years. Interventions: Legislation based window fall prevention programme with enforcement. Main outcome measures: Hospitalization for injury as a result of falls from buildings and structures in areas with and without enforced mandatory window guard legislation. Results: New York City has a higher proportion of the population residing in multifamily dwellings with 10 or more units compared with the nation (53.8% v 12.6%, p<0.0001), but the incidence of injury resulting from falls from buildings is nearly half that observed in the US. For young children, warm weather risks begin earlier and extend later than previously reported. Incidence in very young minority children is nearly twice that of whites. Nearly 90% of children aged 0–4 years fall at home, but the proportion decreases linearly with age. Conclusions: Window guards are associated with reduced injury resulting from falls from buildings and should be mandated in multifamily dwellings where small children reside. Prevention programmes for young children should be initiated in early spring and continued through fall. PMID:16203834

Specialization and the Current Practices of General Surgeons

PubMed Central

Decker, Marquita R; Dodgion, Christopher M; Kwok, Alvin C; Hu, Yue-Yung; Havlena, Jeff A; Jiang, Wei; Lipsitz, Stuart R; Kent, K Craig; Greenberg, Caprice C

2014-01-01

Background The impact of specialization on the practice of general surgery has not been characterized. Our goal was to assess general surgeons’ operative practices to inform surgical education and workforce planning. Study Design We examined the practices of general surgeons identified in the 2008 State Inpatient and Ambulatory Surgery Databases of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) for three US states. Operations were identified using ICD-9 and CPT codes linked to encrypted physician identifiers. For each surgeon, total operative volume and the percentage of practice comprised of their most common operation were calculated. Correlation was measured between general surgeons’ case volume and the number of other specialists in a health service area. Results There were 1,075 general surgeons who performed 240,510 operations in 2008. The mean operative volume for each surgeon was 224 annual procedures. General surgeons performed an average of 23 different types of operations. For the majority of general surgeons, their most common procedure comprised no more than 30% of total practice. The most common operations, ranked by the frequency that they appeared as general surgeons’ top procedure, included: cholecystectomy, colonoscopy, endoscopy, and skin excision. The proportion of general surgery practice comprised of endoscopic procedures inversely correlated with the number of gastroenterologists in the health service area (Rho = - 0.50, p = 0.005). Conclusions Despite trends toward specialization, the current practices of general surgeons remain heterogeneous. This indicates a continued demand for broad-based surgical education to allow future surgeons to tailor their practices to their environment. PMID:24210145

Outcomes associated with Clostridium difficile infection in patients with chronic liver disease.

PubMed

Dotson, Kierra M; Aitken, Samuel L; Sofjan, Amelia K; Shah, Dhara N; Aparasu, Rajender R; Garey, Kevin W

2018-05-09

Patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) have frequent exposure to Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) risk factors but the incidence and aetiology of CDI on this population is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence, disease presentation and outcomes of CDI in patients with underlying CLD. The Health Care and Utilization Project National Inpatient Sample (HCUP-NIS) 2009 dataset was used to identify patients with CLD who developed CDI along with matched non-CLD patients with CDI. Using the NIS dataset, the incidence rate of CDI was 189.4/10 000 discharges in CLD patients vs. 83.7/10 000 discharges in the non-CLD matched cohort (P < 0.001). Compared with non-CLD, comorbidity-matched controls with CDI, CLD patients with CDI had higher likelihood of in-hospital mortality (8.8% vs. 18.6%, P < 0.001), increased length of stay by 1.19 days (P < 0.001) and increased total costs by $8632 (P < 0.001). In separate analyses using a tertiary case database of hospitalised patients in Houston, Texas (2006-2016) with CLD and CDI (n = 41) compared with patients with CDI but not CLD (n = 111), CLD patients had significantly higher Charlson comorbidity index (P < 0.0001) but similar risk factors for CDI and CDI-related disease presentation compared with non-CLD patients. In conclusion, CDI-related risk factors were almost universally present in the CLD population. CDI resulted in worse outcomes in this population.

Child and adolescent injury as a result of falls from buildings and structures.

PubMed

Pressley, J C; Barlow, B

2005-10-01

To examine incidence, demographic risk factors, and patterns of injury resulting from falls from buildings and structures in areas with and without a legislation based prevention programme. The Health Care Cost and Utilization Project (KID-HCUP) was used to produce national estimates of hospital admissions due to falls from buildings in the US. Areas of New York with and without window guard legislation were identified through the New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS). Children and adolescents aged 0-18 years. Legislation based window fall prevention programme with enforcement. Hospitalization for injury as a result of falls from buildings and structures in areas with and without enforced mandatory window guard legislation. New York City has a higher proportion of the population residing in multi-family dwellings with 10 or more units compared with the nation (53.8% v 12.6%, p<0.0001), but the incidence of injury resulting from falls from buildings is nearly half that observed in the US. For young children, warm weather risks begin earlier and extend later than previously reported. Incidence in very young minority children is nearly twice that of whites. Nearly 90% of children aged 0--4 years fall at home, but the proportion decreases linearly with age. Window guards are associated with reduced injury resulting from falls from buildings and should be mandated in multi-family dwellings where small children reside. Prevention programmes for young children should be initiated in early spring and continued through fall.

Baby-friendly hospital practices and birth costs.

PubMed

Allen, Jessica A; Longenecker, Holly B; Perrine, Cria G; Scanlon, Kelley S

2013-12-01

Hospital practices supportive of breastfeeding can improve breastfeeding rates. There are limited data available on how improved hospital practices are associated with hospital costs. We describe the association between the number of breastfeeding supportive practices a hospital has in place and the cost of an uncomplicated birth. Data from hospitals in 20 states that participated in the 2007 Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care (mPINC) survey and Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's (HCUP) State Inpatient Databases (SID) were merged to calculate the average median hospital cost of uncomplicated vaginal and cesarean section births by number of ideal practices from the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding. Linear regression analyses were conducted to estimate change in birth cost for each additional ideal practice in place. Sixty-one percent of hospitals had ideal practice on 3-5 of the 10 steps, whereas 29 percent of hospitals had ideal practice on 6-8. Adjusted analyses of uncomplicated births revealed a higher but nonsignificant increase in any of the birth categories (all births, $19; vaginal, $15; cesarean section, $39) with each additional breastfeeding supportive maternity care practice in place. Our results revealed that the number of breastfeeding supportive practices a hospital has in place is not significantly associated with higher birth costs. Concern for higher birth costs should not be a barrier for improving maternity care practices that support women who choose to breastfeed. © 2013, Copyright the Authors Journal compilation © 2013, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

77 FR 38292 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-27

... purchase from the HCUP Central Distributor for data years beginning in 1988. (2) The Kids' Inpatient Database (KID) is the only all-payer inpatient care database for children in the United States. The KID was... child health issues. The KID contains a sample of over 3 million discharges for children age 20 and...

Incidence of pediatric acute mastoiditis: 1997-2006.

PubMed

Pritchett, Cedric V; Thorne, Marc C

2012-05-01

To evaluate the incidence of acute mastoiditis in children in the United States over the years 1997 through 2006 and to explore possible explanations for the conflicting conclusions of recent studies of this topic. Comparison of periodic incidence over a decade. Academic and community, general, and pediatric specialty hospitals in the United States. Children younger than 18 years in the United States treated and discharged with a diagnosis of acute mastoiditis during the years 1997 through 2006. To compare true incidence of acute mastoiditis in the pediatric population of the United States, data from Healthcare Costs and Utilization Project-Kids' Inpatient Database (HCUP-KID) was examined for nationally weighted estimates of hospital discharges, demographics (age and sex), hospital characteristics, and insurance characteristics. No significant change was found in the incidence of acute mastoiditis over the study period (from 1.88 to 1.62 per 100,000 person-years) (regression coefficient -0.024 [95% CI, -0.110 to 0.024]) (P = .37). Children admitted with acute mastoiditis had an increased odds of presenting to a teaching hospital (odds ratio [OR], 1.38 [95% CI, 1.31-1.45]) (P < .001), a children's hospital (OR, 1.08 [95% CI, 1.03-1.14]) (P = .001), and to a metropolitan location (OR, 1.10 [95% CI, 1.02-1.18]) (P = .016) over calendar time. The incidence of acute mastoiditis in the United States is not increasing. The changes in hospital factors identified over the course of this study may explain the perception of increased incidence identified in studies that have not used population-level data.

The aging of America: a comprehensive look at over 25,000 geriatric trauma admissions to United States hospitals.

PubMed

Maxwell, Cathy A; Miller, Richard S; Dietrich, Mary S; Mion, Lorraine C; Minnick, Ann

2015-06-01

A 2001 study on geriatric trauma by trauma center (TC) status was based on 1989 Medicare data. The purpose of this study was to compare 1989 findings with a 2009 sample, and to examine patient characteristics and outcomes by TC status. From 2009 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Inpatient Sample (HCUP NIS) data, we examined a geographically representative sample (n = 25,512) of injured older adults (>/= age 65) admitted to 127 TCs and non-TCs in 24 states. Data analysis included descriptive statistics for eight patient characteristics and four outcome variables (mortality, discharge disposition, length of stay, and total charges). χ(2) tests were conducted to examine differences between 1989 and 2009 for age groups, gender, and mortality. Higher percentages of patients were in older age groups in 2009, however mortality declined overall (4.8% vs 3.4%, P < .001). Consistent incremental patterns of differences were observed among TC levels for all patient characteristics and outcomes. Level I TCs admitted highest percentages of: lower age groups, males, nonwhite race, motor-vehicle related trauma, and intracranial injuries. Non-TCs admitted highest percentages of oldest age groups, comorbidities, falls, femur neck fractures, and patients requiring OR procedures. Although Level I TCs had higher lengths of stay and total charges, a higher percentage of patients were discharged home. Despite a growing number of patients in older age groups, inpatient mortality declined over two decades. Level I TCs are managing patients at highest risk for decompensation and mortality; a significant percentage of patients are going to non-TCs.

Trends in complicated newborn hospital stays & costs, 2002-2009: implications for the future.

PubMed

Trudnak Fowler, Tara; Fairbrother, Gerry; Owens, Pamela; Garro, Nicole; Pellegrini, Cynthia; Simpson, Lisa

2014-01-01

With the steady growth in Medicaid enrollment since the recent recession, concerns have been raised about care for newborns with complications. This paper uses all-payer administrative data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), to examine trends from 2002 through 2009 in complicated newborn hospital stays, and explores the relationship between expected sources of payment and reasons for hospitalizations. Trends in complicated newborn stays, expected sources of payment, costs, and length of stay were examined. A logistic regression was conducted to explore likely payer source for the most prevalent diagnoses in 2009. Complicated births and hospital discharges within 30 days of birth remained relatively constant between 2002 and 2009, but average costs per discharge increased substantially (p<.001 for trend). Most strikingly, over time, the proportion of complicated births billed to Medicaid increased, while the proportion paid by private payers decreased. Among complicated births, the most prevalent diagnoses were preterm birth/low birth weight (23%), respiratory distress (18%), and jaundice (10%). The top two diagnoses (41% of newborns) accounted for 61% of the aggregate cost. For infants with complications, those with Medicaid were more likely to be complicated due to preterm birth/low birth weight and respiratory distress, while those with private insurance were more likely to be complicated due to jaundice. State Medicaid programs are paying for an increasing proportion of births and costly complicated births. Policies to prevent common birth complications have the potential to reduce costs for public programs and improve birth outcomes.

Risk of acute stroke after hospitalization for sepsis: A case-crossover study

PubMed Central

Boehme, Amelia K.; Ranawat, Purnima; Luna, Jorge; Kamel, Hooman; Elkind, Mitchell S. V.

2017-01-01

Background and Purpose Infections have been found to increase the risk of stroke over the short-term. We hypothesized that stroke risk would be highest shortly after a sepsis hospitalization, but that the risk would decrease, yet remain up to 1-year after sepsis. Methods This case-crossover analysis utilized data obtained from the California State Inpatient Database of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP). All stroke admissions were included. Exposure was defined as hospitalization for sepsis or septicemia 180, 90, 30 or 15 days before stroke (risk period) or similar time intervals exactly 1 or 2 years before stroke (control period). Conditional logistic regression was used to calculate the odds ratio and 95% confidence interval (OR, 95% CI) for the association between sepsis/septicemia and ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke. Results Ischemic (n=37,377) and hemorrhagic (n=12,817) strokes that occurred in 2009 were extracted where 3188 (8.5%) ischemic and 1101 (8.6%) hemorrhagic stroke patients had sepsis. Sepsis within 15 days prior to the stroke placed patients at the highest risk of ischemic (OR 28.36, 95% CI 20.02 –40.10) and hemorrhagic stroke (OR 12.10, 95% CI 7.54–19.42); however while the risk decreased, it remained elevated 181- 365 days after sepsis for ischemic (OR 2.59, 95%CI 2.20–3.06) and hemorrhagic (O 3.92, 95%CI 3.29–4.69) strokes. There was an interaction with age (p=0.0006); risk of developing an ischemic stroke within 180 days of hospitalization for sepsis increased 18% with each 10-year decrease in age. Conclusion Risk of stroke is high after sepsis, and this risk persists for up to a year. Younger sepsis patients have a particularly increased risk of stroke after sepsis. PMID:28196938

The effects of multiple chronic conditions on hospitalization costs and utilization for ambulatory care sensitive conditions in the United States: a nationally representative cross-sectional study.

PubMed

Skinner, Halcyon G; Coffey, Rosanna; Jones, Jenna; Heslin, Kevin C; Moy, Ernest

2016-03-01

The presence of multiple chronic conditions (MCCs) complicates inpatient hospital care, leading to higher costs and utilization. Multimorbidity also complicates primary care, increasing the likelihood of hospitalization for ambulatory care sensitive conditions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate how MCCs relate to inpatient hospitalization costs and utilization for ambulatory care sensitive conditions. The 2012 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) State Inpatient Databases (SID) provided data to carry out a cross-sectional analysis of 1.43 million claims related to potentially preventable hospitalizations classified by the AHRQ Prevention Quality Indicator (PQI) composites. Categories of MCCs (0-1, 2-3, 4-5, and 6+) were examined in sets of acute, chronic, and overall PQIs. Multivariate models determined associations between categories of MCCs and 1) inpatient costs per stay, 2) inpatient costs per day, and 3) length of inpatient hospitalization. Negative binomial was used to model costs per stay and costs per day. The most common category observed was 2 or 3 chronic conditions (37.8 % of patients), followed by 4 or 5 chronic conditions (30.1 % of patients) and by 6+ chronic conditions (10.1 %). Compared with costs for patients with 0 or 1 chronic condition, hospitalization costs per stay for overall ambulatory care sensitive conditions were 19 % higher for those with 2 or 3 (95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.19-1.20), 32 % higher for those with 4 or 5 (95 % CI 1.31-1.32), and 31 % higher (95 % CI 1.30-3.32) for those with 6+ conditions. Acute condition stays were 11 % longer when 2 or 3 chronic conditions were present (95 % CI 1.11-1.12), 21 % longer when 4 or 5 were present (95 % CI 1.20-1.22), and 27 % longer when 6+ were present (95 % CI 1.26-1.28) compared with those with 0 or 1 chronic condition. Similar results were seen within chronic conditions. Associations between MCCs and total costs were driven by longer stays among those with more chronic conditions rather than by higher costs per day. The presence of MCCs increased inpatient costs for ambulatory care sensitive conditions via longer hospital stays.

Prevalence of malignant hyperthermia diagnosis in hospital discharge records in California, Florida, New York, and Wisconsin.

PubMed

Lu, Zhen; Rosenberg, Henry; Li, Guohua

2017-06-01

Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a rare yet potentially fatal pharmacogenetic disorder triggered by exposure to inhalational anesthetics and the depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent succinylcholine. Epidemiologic data on the geographic variation in MH prevalence is scant. The objective of this study is to examine the prevalence of recorded MH diagnosis in patients discharged from hospitals in four states in the United States. Observational study. Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) State Inpatient Database (SID) for California (2011), Florida (2011), New York (2012) and Wisconsin (2012). A total of 164 hospital discharges that had a recorded diagnosis of MH using the International Classification of Disease, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification code 995.86. MH prevalence was assessed by patient demographic and clinical characteristics. The prevalence of MH per 100,000 hospital discharges ranged from 1.23 (95% Confidence Interval [CI], 0.80-1.66) in New York to 1.91 (95% CI, 1.48-2.34) in California, and the prevalence of MH per 100,000 surgical discharges ranged from 1.47 (95% CI, 0.93-2.02) in New York to 2.86 (95% CI, 2.00-3.71) in Florida. The prevalence of MH in male patients was more than twice the prevalence in female patients. Of the 164 patients with MH diagnosis, 11% were dead on discharge. There exists a modest variation in the prevalence of recorded MH diagnosis in hospital discharges in California, Florida, New York and Wisconsin. Epidemiologic patterns of MH diagnosis in hospital discharges appear to be similar across the four states. Further research is needed to better understand the geographic variation and contributing factors of MH in different populations. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Medicare managed care plan performance: a comparison across hospitalization types.

PubMed

Basu, Jayasree; Mobley, Lee Rivers

2012-01-01

The study evaluates the performance of Medicare managed care (Medicare Advantage [MA]) Plans in comparison to Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) Plans in three states with historically high Medicare managed care penetration (New York, California, Florida), in terms of lowering the risks of preventable or ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSC) hospital admissions and providing increased referrals for admissions for specialty procedures. Using 2004 hospital discharge files from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP-SID) of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, ACSC admissions are compared with 'marker' admissions and 'referral-sensitive' admissions, using a multinomial logistic regression approach. The year 2004 represents a strategic time to test the impact of MA on preventable hospitalizations, because the HMOs dominated the market composition in that time period. MA enrollees in California experienced 22% lower relative risk (RRR= 0.78, p<0.01), those in Florida experienced 16% lower relative risk (RRR= 0.84, p<0.01), while those in New York experienced 9% lower relative risk (RRR=0.91, p<0.01) of preventable (versus marker) admissions compared to their FFS counterparts. MA enrollees in New York experienced 37% higher relative risk (RRR=1.37, p<0.01) and those in Florida had 41% higher relative risk (RRR=1.41, p<0.01)-while MA enrollees in California had 13% lower relative risk (RRR=0.87, p<0.01)-of referral-sensitive (versus marker) admissions compared to their FFS counterparts. While MA plans were associated with reductions in preventable hospitalizations in all three states, the effects on referral-sensitive admissions varied, with California experiencing lower relative risk of referral-sensitive admissions for MA plan enrollees. The lower relative risk of preventable admissions for MA plan enrollees in New York and Florida became more pronounced after accounting for selection bias.

Racial/ethnic disparities in maternal morbidities: a statewide study of labor and delivery hospitalizations in Wisconsin.

PubMed

Cabacungan, Erwin T; Ngui, Emmanuel M; McGinley, Emily L

2012-10-01

We examined racial/ethnic disparities in maternal morbidities (MM) and the number of MM during labor and delivery among hospital discharges in Wisconsin. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of hospital discharge data for 206,428 pregnant women aged 13-53 years using 2005-2007 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Dataset (HCUP-SID) for Wisconsin. After adjustments for covariates, MM (preterm labor, antepartum and postpartum hemorrhage, hypertension in pregnancy, gestational diabetes, membrane-related disorders, infections and 3rd and 4th perineal lacerations) were examined using logistic regression models, and number of MM (0, 1, 2, >2 MM) were examined using multivariable ordered logistic regressions with partial proportional odds models. African-Americans had significantly higher likelihood of infections (OR = 1.74; 95% CI 1.60-1.89), preterm labor (OR = 1.42; 1.33-1.50), antepartum hemorrhage (OR = 1.63; 1.44-1.83), and hypertension complicating pregnancy (OR = 1.39; 1.31-1.48) compared to Whites. Hispanics, Asian/Pacific Islanders, and Native Americans had significantly higher likelihood of infections, postpartum hemorrhage, and gestational diabetes than Whites. Major perineal lacerations were significantly higher among Asian/Pacific Islanders (OR = 1.53; 1.34-1.75). All minority racial/ethnic groups, except Asians, had significantly higher likelihood of having 0 versus 1, 2 or >2 MM, 0 or 1 versus 2 or >2 MM, and 0, 1 or 2 versus >2 MM than white women. Findings show significant racial/ethnic disparities in MM, and suggest the need for better screening, management, and timely referral of these conditions, particularly among racial/ethnic women. Disparities in MM may be contributing to the high infant mortality and adverse birth outcomes among different racial/ethnic groups in Wisconsin.

What are the trends and demographics in sports-related pediatric spinal cord injuries?

PubMed

Nadarajah, Vidushan; Jauregui, Julio J; Perfetti, Dean; Shasti, Mark; Koh, Eugene Y; Henn, Ralph Frank

2018-02-01

Pediatric spinal cord injury (PSCI) is a devastating injury that can cause significant long-term consequences. The purpose of this study is to calculate and report the prevalence of PSCI, identify risk factors for sports-related PSCI, and evaluate associated factors. The data sets of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Kids' Inpatient Database (KID) from 2000-2012 were analyzed using ICD-9-CM external cause of injury codes to identify the mechanism of injury contributing to PSCI hospitalization. We then extracted demographic data on each admission including age, gender, race, and year of admission. We further stratified the data by sports-related cases of injury. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify independent risk factors. Of our study population, 0.8% had a documented diagnosis of spinal cord injury (SCI). The most common documented external cause of injury code was motor vehicle accidents, representing roughly half of all cases in patients 0-9 years-old (p = 0.001). PSCI due to sports as an external cause of injury was more prevalent in patients 10-17 years old, and was especially prevalent in the 10-13 year-old age category in which sports-related PSCI reached a high of 25.6%. Risk factors for traumatic PSCI after a sports-related external cause included being of older age, male, and white. The prevalence of SCI increased with age. Given the popularity of youth sports in the United States, parents and sports officials should be aware of the increased risk of sports-related PSCI among patients 10-17 years old. Level III, retrospective cohort study.

Vital Signs: Health Burden and Medical Costs of Nonfatal Injuries to Motor Vehicle Occupants — United States, 2012

PubMed Central

Bergen, Gwen; Peterson, Cora; Ederer, David; Florence, Curtis; Haileyesus, Tadesse; Kresnow, Marcie-jo; Xu, Likang

2014-01-01

Background Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death and injury in the United States. The purpose of this study was to describe the current health burden and medical and work loss costs of nonfatal crash injuries among vehicle occupants in the United States. Methods CDC analyzed data on emergency department (ED) visits resulting from nonfatal crash injuries among vehicle occupants in 2012 using the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System – All Injury Program (NEISS-AIP) and the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project National Inpatient Sample (HCUP-NIS). The number and rate of all ED visits for the treatment of crash injuries that resulted in the patient being released and the number and rate of hospitalizations for the treatment of crash injuries were estimated, as were the associated number of hospital days and lifetime medical and work loss costs. Results In 2012, an estimated 2,519,471 ED visits resulted from nonfatal crash injuries, with an estimated lifetime medical cost of $18.4 billion (2012 U.S. dollars). Approximately 7.5% of these visits resulted in hospitalizations that required an estimated 1,057,465 hospital days in 2012. Conclusions Nonfatal crash injuries occur frequently and result in substantial costs to individuals, employers, and society. For each motor vehicle crash death in 2012, eight persons were hospitalized, and 100 were treated and released from the ED. Implications for Public Health Public health practices and laws, such as primary seat belt laws, child passenger restraint laws, ignition interlocks to prevent alcohol impaired driving, sobriety checkpoints, and graduated driver licensing systems have demonstrated effectiveness for reducing motor vehicle crashes and injuries. They might also substantially reduce associated ED visits, hospitalizations, and medical costs. PMID:25299606

Prevalence of Total Hip and Knee Replacement in the United States.

PubMed

Maradit Kremers, Hilal; Larson, Dirk R; Crowson, Cynthia S; Kremers, Walter K; Washington, Raynard E; Steiner, Claudia A; Jiranek, William A; Berry, Daniel J

2015-09-02

Descriptive epidemiology of total joint replacement procedures is limited to annual procedure volumes (incidence). The prevalence of the growing number of individuals living with a total hip or total knee replacement is currently unknown. Our objective was to estimate the prevalence of total hip and total knee replacement in the United States. Prevalence was estimated using the counting method by combining historical incidence data from the National Hospital Discharge Survey and the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) State Inpatient Databases from 1969 to 2010 with general population census and mortality counts. We accounted for relative differences in mortality rates between those who have had total hip or knee replacement and the general population. The 2010 prevalence of total hip and total knee replacement in the total U.S. population was 0.83% and 1.52%, respectively. Prevalence was higher among women than among men and increased with age, reaching 5.26% for total hip replacement and 10.38% for total knee replacement at eighty years. These estimates corresponded to 2.5 million individuals (1.4 million women and 1.1 million men) with total hip replacement and 4.7 million individuals (3.0 million women and 1.7 million men) with total knee replacement in 2010. Secular trends indicated a substantial rise in prevalence over time and a shift to younger ages. Around 7 million Americans are living with a hip or knee replacement, and consequently, in most cases, are mobile, despite advanced arthritis. These numbers underscore the substantial public health impact of total hip and knee arthroplasties. Copyright © 2015 by The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Incorporated.

Cannabis use is associated with reduced prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A cross-sectional study.

PubMed

Adejumo, Adeyinka Charles; Alliu, Samson; Ajayi, Tokunbo Opeyemi; Adejumo, Kelechi Lauretta; Adegbala, Oluwole Muyiwa; Onyeakusi, Nnaemeka Egbuna; Akinjero, Akintunde Micheal; Durojaiye, Modupeoluwa; Bukong, Terence Ndonyi

2017-01-01

Cannabis use is associated with reduced prevalence of obesity and diabetes mellitus (DM) in humans and mouse disease models. Obesity and DM are a well-established independent risk factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the most prevalent liver disease globally. The effects of cannabis use on NAFLD prevalence in humans remains ill-defined. Our objective is to determine the relationship between cannabis use and the prevalence of NAFLD in humans. We conducted a population-based case-control study of 5,950,391 patients using the 2014 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Nationwide Inpatient Survey (NIS) discharge records of patients 18 years and older. After identifying patients with NAFLD (1% of all patients), we next identified three exposure groups: non-cannabis users (98.04%), non-dependent cannabis users (1.74%), and dependent cannabis users (0.22%). We adjusted for potential demographics and patient related confounders and used multivariate logistic regression (SAS 9.4) to determine the odds of developing NAFLD with respects to cannabis use. Our findings revealed that cannabis users (dependent and non-dependent) showed significantly lower NAFLD prevalence compared to non-users (AOR: 0.82[0.76-0.88]; p<0.0001). The prevalence of NAFLD was 15% lower in non-dependent users (AOR: 0.85[0.79-0.92]; p<0.0001) and 52% lower in dependent users (AOR: 0.49[0.36-0.65]; p<0.0001). Among cannabis users, dependent patients had 43% significantly lower prevalence of NAFLD compared to non-dependent patients (AOR: 0.57[0.42-0.77]; p<0.0001). Our observations suggest that cannabis use is associated with lower prevalence of NAFLD in patients. These novel findings suggest additional molecular mechanistic studies to explore the potential role of cannabis use in NAFLD development.

Sequential matched analysis of racial disparities in breast cancer hospitalization outcomes among African American and White patients.

PubMed

Ogunsina, Kemi; Naik, Gurudatta; Vin-Raviv, Neomi; Akinyemiju, Tomi F

2017-08-01

The purpose of this study is to determine if racial disparities in inpatient outcomes persist among hospitalized patients comparing African American and White breast cancer patients matched on demographics, presentation and treatment. A total of 136,211 African American and White breast cancer patients from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project - Nationwide Inpatient Sample (HCUP-NIS) database, matched on demographics alone, demographics and presentation or demographics, presentation and treatment were studied. Conditional logistic regression was conducted to evaluate post-surgical complications, length of stay and in-hospital mortality outcomes. Analysis was further stratified by age (≤65 years and >65years) to evaluate whether disparities were larger in younger or older patients. All analysis was conducted using SAS 9.3. White women had significantly shorter hospital length of stay when matched on demographics (β=-0.87, p-value=<0.0001), demographics and presentation (β=-0.63, p-value=<0.0001), and demographics, presentation and treatment (β=-0.51, p-value=<0.0001) compared with African Americans. White women also had lower odds of mortality compared with African American women when matched on demographics (OR: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.65-0.79), demographics and presentation (OR: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.71-0.85), or matched on demographics, presentation and treatment (OR: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.73-0.88). The racial difference observed in length of stay and mortality was larger in the age group ≤65 years compared with >65years CONCLUSION: African American women experienced higher odds of inpatient mortality and longer length of stay compared with White women even after accounting for differences in demographics, presentation and treatment characteristics. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Pedestrian injuries due to collisions with bicycles in New York and California.

PubMed

Tuckel, Peter; Milczarski, William; Maisel, Richard

2014-12-01

Scant attention has been given to pedestrians injured in accidents resulting from collisions with cyclists. This scholarly neglect is surprising given the growing popularity of cycling. This study examines the incidence of pedestrians injured by cyclists in New York between 2004 to 2011 and in California from 2005 to 2011. The study also profiles the pedestrians injured in these two states during these two time frames. The data for this study are based upon patient-level hospital records from New York and California. The data for New York comes from the Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS) under the auspices of New York State's Department of Health. The data for California come from two sources: the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) and the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development. The rate of pedestrians injured in collisions with cyclists has decreased over time. This decline has occurred despite the increase in the number of cyclists in these states during this same time period. Two possible explanations for this decline are: (a) less exposure of children to cyclists, and (b) improvements in the cycling infrastructure. Although the rate of injuries to pedestrians from collisions with cyclists has been decreasing, improvements to the cycling infrastructure will need to continue. Bike lanes, particularly protected bike lanes, have been shown to be an effective way of reducing cycling-pedestrian accidents. The results of the current study are consistent with this research. Educational campaigns aimed at cyclists that emphasize the safety of all road users--including pedestrians--will also need to continue to assure that this downward trend in the number of accidents is not reversed. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of Age on Cost-Effectiveness of Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty Compared with Total Knee Arthroplasty in the U.S.

PubMed Central

Ghomrawi, Hassan M.; Eggman, Ashley A.; Pearle, Andrew D.

2015-01-01

Background: Trade-offs between upfront benefits and later risk of revision of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty compared with those of total knee arthroplasty are poorly understood. The purpose of our study was to compare the cost-effectiveness of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty with that of total knee arthroplasty across the age spectrum of patients undergoing knee replacement. Methods: Using a Markov decision analytic model, we compared unicompartmental knee arthroplasty with total knee arthroplasty with regard to lifetime costs, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) from a societal perspective for patients undergoing surgery at forty-five, fifty-five, sixty-five, seventy-five, or eighty-five years of age. Transition probabilities were estimated from the literature; survival, from the Swedish Knee Arthroplasty Register; and costs, from the literature and the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) database. Costs and QALYs were discounted at 3.0% annually. We conducted sensitivity analyses to test the robustness of model estimates and threshold analyses. Results: For patients sixty-five years of age and older, unicompartmental knee arthroplasty dominated total knee arthroplasty, with lower lifetime costs and higher QALYs. Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty was no longer cost-effective at a $100,000/QALY threshold when total knee arthroplasty rehabilitation costs were reduced by two-thirds or more for these older patients. Lifetime societal savings from utilizing unicompartmental knee arthroplasty in all older patients (sixty-five or older) in 2015 and 2020 were $56 to $336 million and $84 to $544 million, respectively. In the forty-five and fifty-five-year-old age cohorts, total knee arthroplasty had an ICER of $30,300/QALY and $63,000/QALY, respectively. Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty became cost-effective when its twenty-year revision rate dropped from 27.8% to 25.7% for the forty-five-year age group and from 27.9% to 26.7% for the fifty-five-year age group. Conclusions: Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty is an economically attractive alternative in patients sixty-five years of age or older, and modest improvements in implant survivorship could make it a cost-effective alternative in younger patients. PMID:25740030

Current Epidemiology of Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty in the United States.

PubMed

Delanois, Ronald E; Mistry, Jaydev B; Gwam, Chukwuweike U; Mohamed, Nequesha S; Choksi, Ujval S; Mont, Michael A

2017-09-01

Revision surgery for failed total knee arthroplasty (TKA) continues to pose a substantial burden for the United States healthcare system. The predominant etiology of TKA failure has changed over time and may vary between studies. This report aims to update the current literature on this topic by using a large national database. Specifically, we analyzed: (1) etiologies for revision TKA; (2) frequencies of revision TKA procedures; (3) various demographics including payer type and region; and (4) the length of stay (LOS) and total charges based on type of revision TKA procedure. The Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database was used to identify all revision TKA procedures performed between 2009 and 2013. Clinical, economic, and demographic data were collected and analyzed for 337,597 procedures. Patients were stratified according to etiology of failure, age, sex, race, US census region, and primary payor class. The mean LOS and total charges were also calculated. Infection was the most common etiology for revision TKA (20.4%), closely followed by mechanical loosening (20.3%). The most common revision TKA procedure performed was all component revision (31.3%). Medicare was the primary payor for the greatest proportion of revisions (57.7%). The South census region performed the most revision TKAs (33.2%). The overall mean LOS was 4.5 days, with arthrotomy for removal of prosthesis without replacement procedures accounting for the longest stays (7.8 days). The mean total charge for revision TKAs was $75,028.07. Without appropriate measures in place, the burden of revision TKAs may become overwhelming and pose a strain on providers and institutions. Continued insight into the etiology and epidemiology of revision TKAs may be the principle step towards improving outcomes and mitigating the need for future revisions. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Trauma systems and the costs of trauma care.

PubMed Central

Goldfarb, M G; Bazzoli, G J; Coffey, R M

1996-01-01

OBJECTIVE. This study examines the cost of providing trauma services in trauma centers organized by publicly administered trauma systems, compared to hospitals not part of a formal trauma system. DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SETTING. Secondary administrative discharge abstracts for a national sample of severely injured trauma patients in 44 trauma centers and 60 matched control hospitals for the year 1987 were used. STUDY DESIGN. Retrospective univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to examine the impact of formal trauma systems and trauma center designation on the costs of treating trauma patients. Key dependent variables included length of stay, charge per day per patient, and charge per hospital stay. Key impact variables were type of trauma system and level of trauma designation. Control variables included patient, hospital, and community characteristics. DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION METHODS. Data were selected for hospitals based on (1) a large national hospital discharge database, the Hospital Cost and Utilization Project, 1980-1987 (HCUP-2) and (2) a special survey of trauma systems and trauma designation undertaken by the Hospital Research and Educational Trust of the American Hospital Association. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS. The results show that publicly designated Level I trauma centers, which are the focal point of most trauma systems, have the highest charge per case, the highest average charge per day, and similar or longer average lengths of stay than other hospitals. These findings persist after controlling for patient injury and health status, and for demographic characteristics and hospital and community characteristics. CONCLUSIONS. Prior research shows that severely injured trauma patients have greater chances of survival when treated in specialized trauma centers. However, findings here should be of concern to the many states developing trauma systems since the high costs of Level I centers support limiting the number of centers designated at this level and/or reconsidering the requirements placed on these centers. PMID:8617611

Cost of bariatric surgery and factors associated with increased cost: an analysis of national inpatient sample.

PubMed

Khorgami, Zhamak; Aminian, Ali; Shoar, Saeed; Andalib, Amin; Saber, Alan A; Schauer, Philip R; Brethauer, Stacy A; Sclabas, Guido M

2017-08-01

In the current healthcare environment, bariatric surgery centers need to be cost-effective while maintaining quality. The aim of this study was to evaluate national cost of bariatric surgery to identify the factors associated with a higher cost. A retrospective analysis of 2012-2013 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project - Nationwide Inpatient Sample (HCUP-NIS). We included all patients with a diagnosis of morbid obesity (ICD9 278.01) and a Diagnosis Related Group code related to procedures for obesity, who underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), sleeve gastrectomy (SG), or adjustable gastric banding (AGB) as their primary procedure. We converted "hospital charges" to "cost," using hospital specific cost-to-charge ratio. Inflation was adjusted using the annual consumer price index. Increased cost was defined as the top 20th percentile of the expenditure and its associated factors were analyzed using the logistic regression multivariate analysis. A total of 45,219 patients (20,966 RYGBs, 22,380 SGs, and 1,873 AGBs) were included. The median (interquartile range) calculated costs for RYGB, SG, and AGB were $12,543 ($9,970-$15,857), $10,531 ($8,248-$13,527), and $9,219 ($7,545-$12,106), respectively (P<.001). Robotic-assisted procedures had the highest impact on the cost (odds ratio 3.6, 95% confidence interval 3.2-4). Hospital cost of RYGB and SG increased linearly with the length of hospital stay and almost doubled after 7 days. Furthermore, multivariate analysis showed that certain co-morbidities and concurrent procedures were associated with an increased cost. Factors contributing to the cost variation of bariatric procedures include co-morbidities, robotic platform, complexity of surgery, and hospital length of stay. Copyright © 2017 American Society for Bariatric Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Risk Factors for Mortality in Lower Intestinal Bleeding

PubMed Central

Strate, Lisa L.; Ayanian, John Z.; Kotler, Gregory; Syngal, Sapna

2009-01-01

Background and Aims Previous studies of Lower Intestinal Bleeding (LIB) have limited power to study mortality. We sought to identify characteristics associated with in-hospital mortality in a large cohort of patients with LIB. Methods We used the 2002 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) to study a cross-sectional cohort of 227,022 hospitalized patients with discharge diagnoses indicating LIB. Predictors of mortality were identified using multiple logistic regression. Results In 2002, an estimated 8,737 patients with LIB (3.9%) died while hospitalized. Independent predictors of in-hospital mortality were age (age >70 vs. <50, odds ratio (OR) 4.91; 95% CI 2.45–9.87), intestinal ischemia (OR 3.47; 95% CI 2.57–4.68), comorbid illness (≥ 2 vs. 0 comorbidities, OR 3.00; 95% CI 2.25–3.98), bleeding while hospitalized for a separate process (OR 2.35; 95% CI 1.81–3.04), coagulation defects (OR 2.34; 95% CI 1.50–3.65), hypovolemia (OR 2.22; 95% CI 1.69–2.90), transfusion of packed red blood cells (OR 1.60; 95% CI 1.23–2.08), and male gender (OR 1.52; 95% CI 1.21–1.92). Colorectal polyps (OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.15–0.45), and hemorrhoids (OR 0.42; 95% CI 0.28–0.64) were associated with a lower risk of mortality, as was diagnostic testing for LIB when added to the multivariate model (OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.28–0.48; p<0.001). Hospital characteristics were not significantly related to mortality. Predictors of mortality were similar in an analysis restricted to patients with diverticular bleeding. Conclusions The all-cause in-hospital mortality rate in LIB is low (3.9%). Advanced age, intestinal ischemia and comorbid illness were the strongest predictors of mortality. PMID:18558513

National disparities in laparoscopic colorectal procedures for colon cancer.

PubMed

Alnasser, Monirah; Schneider, Eric B; Gearhart, Susan L; Wick, Elizabeth C; Fang, Sandy H; Haider, Adil H; Efron, Jonathan E

2014-01-01

Racial disparity in the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) has been cited as a potential cause for differences in mortality. This study compares the rates of laparoscopy according to race, insurance status, geographic location, and hospital size. The 2009 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project: Nationwide Inpatient Sample (HCUP-NIS) database was queried to identify patients with the diagnosis of CRC by the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to look at age, gender, insurance coverage, academic versus nonacademic affiliated institutions, rural versus urban settings, location, and proportional differences in laparoscopic procedures according to race. A total of 14,502 patients were identified; 4,691 (32.35 %) underwent laparoscopic colorectal procedures and 9,811 (67.65 %) underwent open procedures. The proportion of laparoscopic procedures did not differ significantly by race: Caucasian 32.4 %, African-American 30.04 %, Hispanic 33.99 %, and Asian-Pacific Islander 35.12 (P = 0.08). Among Caucasian and African-American patients, those covered by private insurers were more likely to undergo laparoscopic procedures compared to other insurance types (P ≤ 0.001). The odds of receiving laparoscopic procedure at teaching hospitals was 1.39 times greater than in nonteaching hospitals (95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.29-1.48) and did not differ across race groups. Patients in urban hospitals demonstrated higher odds of laparoscopic surgery (2.24, 95 % CI 1.96-2.56) than in rural hospitals; this relationship was consistent within races. The odds of undergoing laparoscopic surgeries was lowest in the Midwest region (0.89, 95 % CI 0.81-0.97) but higher in the Southern region (1.14, 95 % CI 1.06-1.22) compared with the other regions. Nearly one-third of all CRC surgeries are laparoscopic. Race does not appear to play a significant role in the selection of a laparoscopic CRC operation. However, there are significant differences in the selection of laparoscopy for CRC patients based on insurance status, geographic location, and hospital type.

Medicaid payer status is associated with in-hospital morbidity and resource utilization following primary total joint arthroplasty.

PubMed

Browne, James A; Novicoff, Wendy M; D'Apuzzo, Michele R

2014-11-05

Previous reports suggest that there are major disparities in outcomes following total joint arthroplasty among patients with different payer statuses. The explanation for these differences is largely unknown and may result from confounding variables. The Affordable Care Act expansion of Medicaid coverage in 2014 makes the examination of these disparities particularly relevant. The Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database was used to identify patients who had undergone primary hip or knee arthroplasty from 2002 through 2011. Complications, costs, and length of hospital stay for patients with Medicaid were compared with those for non-Medicaid patients. Each Medicaid patient was matched to a non-Medicaid patient according to age, sex, race, type of total joint arthroplasty, procedure year, hospital characteristics, smoking status, and all twenty-nine comorbidities defined in the NIS-modified Elixhauser comorbidity measure. It was determined that 191,911 patients who underwent total joint arthroplasty had Medicaid payer status (2.8% of the entire total joint arthroplasty population), and 107,335 (56%) of these Medicaid patients were matched one to one to a non-Medicaid patient for all variables for the adjusted analysis. After matching, Medicaid patients were found to have a higher prevalence of postoperative in-hospital infection (odds ratio [OR], 1.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3 to 2.1), wound dehiscence (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.4 to 3.4), and hematoma or seroma (OR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.2 to 1.4) but a lower risk of cardiac complications (OR, 0.7; CI, 0.6 to 0.9). The length of the hospital stay was longer, total cost was higher, and discharge to an inpatient facility was more frequent for patients with Medicaid status (p < 0.01). Compared with non-Medicaid patients, Medicaid patients have a significantly higher risk for certain postoperative in-hospital complications and consume more resources following total joint arthroplasty even when the two groups have been matched for patient-related factors and comorbid conditions commonly associated with low socioeconomic status. Additional work is needed to understand the complex interplay between socioeconomic status and outcomes, to ensure appropriate resources are allocated to maintain access for this patient population, and to develop appropriate risk stratification. Copyright © 2014 by The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Incorporated.

Predicting 30-day Hospital Readmission with Publicly Available Administrative Database. A Conditional Logistic Regression Modeling Approach.

PubMed

Zhu, K; Lou, Z; Zhou, J; Ballester, N; Kong, N; Parikh, P

2015-01-01

This article is part of the Focus Theme of Methods of Information in Medicine on "Big Data and Analytics in Healthcare". Hospital readmissions raise healthcare costs and cause significant distress to providers and patients. It is, therefore, of great interest to healthcare organizations to predict what patients are at risk to be readmitted to their hospitals. However, current logistic regression based risk prediction models have limited prediction power when applied to hospital administrative data. Meanwhile, although decision trees and random forests have been applied, they tend to be too complex to understand among the hospital practitioners. Explore the use of conditional logistic regression to increase the prediction accuracy. We analyzed an HCUP statewide inpatient discharge record dataset, which includes patient demographics, clinical and care utilization data from California. We extracted records of heart failure Medicare beneficiaries who had inpatient experience during an 11-month period. We corrected the data imbalance issue with under-sampling. In our study, we first applied standard logistic regression and decision tree to obtain influential variables and derive practically meaning decision rules. We then stratified the original data set accordingly and applied logistic regression on each data stratum. We further explored the effect of interacting variables in the logistic regression modeling. We conducted cross validation to assess the overall prediction performance of conditional logistic regression (CLR) and compared it with standard classification models. The developed CLR models outperformed several standard classification models (e.g., straightforward logistic regression, stepwise logistic regression, random forest, support vector machine). For example, the best CLR model improved the classification accuracy by nearly 20% over the straightforward logistic regression model. Furthermore, the developed CLR models tend to achieve better sensitivity of more than 10% over the standard classification models, which can be translated to correct labeling of additional 400 - 500 readmissions for heart failure patients in the state of California over a year. Lastly, several key predictor identified from the HCUP data include the disposition location from discharge, the number of chronic conditions, and the number of acute procedures. It would be beneficial to apply simple decision rules obtained from the decision tree in an ad-hoc manner to guide the cohort stratification. It could be potentially beneficial to explore the effect of pairwise interactions between influential predictors when building the logistic regression models for different data strata. Judicious use of the ad-hoc CLR models developed offers insights into future development of prediction models for hospital readmissions, which can lead to better intuition in identifying high-risk patients and developing effective post-discharge care strategies. Lastly, this paper is expected to raise the awareness of collecting data on additional markers and developing necessary database infrastructure for larger-scale exploratory studies on readmission risk prediction.

Hospitalizations in pediatric patients with immune thrombocytopenia in the United States

PubMed Central

Tarantino, Michael D.; Danese, Mark; Klaassen, Robert J.; Duryea, Jennifer; Eisen, Melissa; Bussel, James

2016-01-01

Abstract To examine utilization and outcomes in pediatric immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) hospitalizations, we used ICD-9 code 287.31 to identify hospitalizations in patients with ITP in the 2009 HCUP KID, an all-payer sample of pediatric hospitalizations from US community hospitals. Diagnosis and procedure codes were used to estimate rates of ITP-related procedures, comorbidity prevalence, costs, length of stay (LOS), and mortality. In 2009, there were an estimated 4499 hospitalizations in children aged 6 months–17 years with ITP; 43% in children aged 1–5 years; and 47% with emergency department encounters. The mean hospitalization cost was $5398, mean LOS 2.0 days, with 0.3% mortality (n = 13). With any bleeding (15.2%, including gastrointestinal 2.0%, hematuria 1.3%, intracranial hemorrhage [ICH] 0.6%), mean hospitalization cost was $7215, LOS 2.5 days, with 1.5% mortality. For ICH (0.6%, n = 27), mean cost was $40 209, LOS 8.5 days, with 21% mortality. With infections (14%, including upper respiratory 5.2%, viral 4.9%, bacterial 1.9%), the mean cost was $6928, LOS 2.9 days, with 0.9% mortality. Septic shock was reported in 0.3% of discharges. Utilization included immunoglobulin administration (37%) and splenectomies (2.3%). Factors associated with higher costs included age >6 years, ICH, hematuria, transfusion, splenectomy, and bone marrow diagnostics (p < 0.05). In conclusion, of the 4499 hospitalizations with ITP, mortality rates of 1.5%, 21%, and 0.9% were seen with any bleeding, ICH, and infection, respectively. Higher costs were associated with clinically significant bleeding and procedures. Future analyses may reveal effects of the implementation of more recent ITP guidelines and use of additional treatments. PMID:26941022

Is Cannabis Use Associated With the Worst Inpatient Outcomes in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Adolescents?

PubMed Central

Patel, Priya; Shah, Kaushal; Kaur, Mandeep; Mansuri, Zeeshan; Makani, Ramkrishna

2018-01-01

Objective To determine the impact of cannabis use disorder (CUD) on the inpatient outcomes of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adolescents Background Previous studies have evaluated the impact of CUD on the health-related quality of life in ADHD patients. Methods We used the nationwide inpatient sample (NIS) from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) from years 2010­–2014. We identified ADHD and cannabis use (CU) as the primary and the other diagnosis, respectively, using validated International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, and Clinical Modification (ICD­9–­CM) codes. We used the binomial logistic regression model to generate adjusted odds ratios (aOR). Results We analyzed a total of 11,232 ADHD adolescent hospital admissions from years 2010–2014; of these, 1.79% had CUD. The mean age of adolescents was 14.1 years (SD = 1.79). The prevalence of CUD was highest in ADHD adolescents of 15-18 years (73%) and common in the white race (71%). A higher proportion of ADHD with CUD was transferred to acute care hospitals and skilled/other nursing facilities (5.4% and 7.4% vs. 1.1% and 2.6%, respectively, p-value < 0.001). CUD increases the risk of inpatient charges > $12,247 (median) by 0.6 times (aOR = 1.835; p-value = 0.002) and increases the risk of inpatient stay > 5 days (median) by 0.7 times (aOR = 2.099; p-value < 0.001). The utilization of psychotropic medications was reduced by 0.8 times in ADHD with CUD adolescents by 0.8 times (aOR = 0.448; p-value = 0.017), and the implication of behavioral therapy in the management of ADHD with CUD adolescents was reduced by 0.9 times (aOR = 0.412; p-value = 0.048). Also, there is a 2.8 times higher risk of comorbid alcohol abuse in ADHD with CUD adolescents (aOR = 17.141; p-value < 0.001). Conclusion The increased risk of substance use is a long-term implication of ADHD in adolescents. It has been determined that comorbid CUD in patients with ADHD not only increases the risk of acute inpatient care but also prolongs the inpatient stay, thus increasing the healthcare cost. Surprisingly, comorbid CUD decreases the utilization of psychotropic medications and behavioral therapy in ADHD. Another major issue is the higher risk of comorbid alcohol abuse in ADHD with CUD adolescents. Further exploration with randomized controlled studies would be required to support and highlight the growing issue of cannabis use among adolescents with ADHD. PMID:29535906

Is Cannabis Use Associated With the Worst Inpatient Outcomes in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Adolescents?

PubMed

Patel, Rikinkumar S; Patel, Priya; Shah, Kaushal; Kaur, Mandeep; Mansuri, Zeeshan; Makani, Ramkrishna

2018-01-07

Objective To determine the impact of cannabis use disorder (CUD) on the inpatient outcomes of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adolescents Background Previous studies have evaluated the impact of CUD on the health-related quality of life in ADHD patients. Methods We used the nationwide inpatient sample (NIS) from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) from years 2010--2014. We identified ADHD and cannabis use (CU) as the primary and the other diagnosis, respectively, using validated International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, and Clinical Modification (ICD-9--CM) codes. We used the binomial logistic regression model to generate adjusted odds ratios (aOR). Results We analyzed a total of 11,232 ADHD adolescent hospital admissions from years 2010-2014; of these, 1.79% had CUD. The mean age of adolescents was 14.1 years (SD = 1.79). The prevalence of CUD was highest in ADHD adolescents of 15-18 years (73%) and common in the white race (71%). A higher proportion of ADHD with CUD was transferred to acute care hospitals and skilled/other nursing facilities (5.4% and 7.4% vs. 1.1% and 2.6%, respectively, p-value < 0.001). CUD increases the risk of inpatient charges > $12,247 (median) by 0.6 times (aOR = 1.835; p-value = 0.002) and increases the risk of inpatient stay > 5 days (median) by 0.7 times (aOR = 2.099; p-value < 0.001). The utilization of psychotropic medications was reduced by 0.8 times in ADHD with CUD adolescents by 0.8 times (aOR = 0.448; p-value = 0.017), and the implication of behavioral therapy in the management of ADHD with CUD adolescents was reduced by 0.9 times (aOR = 0.412; p-value = 0.048). Also, there is a 2.8 times higher risk of comorbid alcohol abuse in ADHD with CUD adolescents (aOR = 17.141; p-value < 0.001). Conclusion The increased risk of substance use is a long-term implication of ADHD in adolescents. It has been determined that comorbid CUD in patients with ADHD not only increases the risk of acute inpatient care but also prolongs the inpatient stay, thus increasing the healthcare cost. Surprisingly, comorbid CUD decreases the utilization of psychotropic medications and behavioral therapy in ADHD. Another major issue is the higher risk of comorbid alcohol abuse in ADHD with CUD adolescents. Further exploration with randomized controlled studies would be required to support and highlight the growing issue of cannabis use among adolescents with ADHD.

Is Hospital Teaching Status a Key Factor in Hospital Charge for Children with Hip Fractures?

PubMed Central

Gao, Yubo; Pugely, Andrew; Karam, Matthew; Phisitkul, Phinit; Mendoza, Sergio; Johnston, Richard C.

2013-01-01

OBJECTIVE Proximal femur fractures cause significant pain and economic cost among pediatric patients. The purposes of this study were (a) to evaluate the distribution by hospital type (teaching hospital vs non-teaching hospital) of U.S. pediatric patients aged 1-20 years who were hospitalized with a closed hip fracture and (b) to discern the mean hospital charge and hospital length of stay after employing propensity score to reduce selec-tion bias. METHODS The 2006 Healthcare Cost and Uti-lization Project (HCUP) Kids’ Inpatient Database (KID) was queried for children aged up to 20 years that had principle diagnosis of hip fracture injury. Hip fractures were defined by International Classifi-cation of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modifica-tion codes 820.0, 820.2 and 820.8 under Section “Injury and Poisoning (800-999)” with principle internal fixation procedure codes 78.55, 79.15 and 79.35. Patient demographics and hospital status were presented and analyzed. Differences in mean hospital charge and hospital length of stay by hospital teaching status were assessed via two propensity score based methods. RESULTS In total, 1,827 patients were nation-ally included for analysis: 1,392 (76.2%) were treated at a teaching hospital and 435 (23.8%) were treated at a non-teaching hospital. The average age of the patients was 12.88 years old in teaching hospitals vs 14.33 years old in nonteaching hospitals. The propensity score based ad-justment method showed mean hospital charge was $34,779 in teaching hospitals and $32,891 in the non-teaching hospitals, but these differences were not significant (p=0.2940). Likewise, mean length of hospital stay was 4.1 days in teaching hospitals and 3.89 days in non-teaching hospitals, but these differences were also not significant (p=0.4220). Conclusions Hospital teaching status did not affect length of stay or total hospital costs in children treated surgically for proximal femur fractures. Future research should be directed at identifying factors associated with variations in hospital charge and length of stay. PMID:24027472

Hospital Care for Mental Health and Substance Abuse in Children with Epilepsy

PubMed Central

Thibault, Dylan P.; Mendizabal, Adys; Abend, Nicholas S.; Davis, Kathryn A.; Crispo, James; Willis, Allison. W.

2017-01-01

Background Reducing the burden of pediatric mental illness requires greater knowledge of Mental Health and Substance Abuse (MHSA) outcomes in children who are at an increased risk of primary psychiatric illness. National data on hospital care for psychiatric illness in children with epilepsy are limited. Methods We used the Kids’ Inpatient Database (KID), Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, from 2003-2009 to examine MHSA hospitalization patterns in children with comorbid epilepsy. Non-parametric and regression analyses determined the association of comorbid epilepsy with specific MHSA diagnoses and examined the impact of epilepsy on length of stay (LOS) for such MHSA diagnoses while controlling for demographic, payer and hospital characteristics. Results We observed 353,319 weighted MHSA hospitalizations of children ages 6 - 20; 3,280 of these involved a child with epilepsy. Depression was the most common MHSA diagnosis in the general population (39.5%) whereas bipolar disorder was the most common MHSA diagnosis among children with epilepsy (36.2%). Multivariate logistic regression models revealed that children with comorbid epilepsy had greater adjusted odds of bipolar disorder (AOR 1.17, 1.04-1.30), psychosis (AOR 1.78, 1.51-2.09), sleep disorder (AOR 5.90, 1.90-18.34), and suicide attempt/ ideation (AOR 3.20, 1.46-6.99) compared to the general MHSA inpatient population. Epilepsy was associated with a greater LOS and a higher adjusted incidence rate ratio (IRR) for prolonged LOS (IRR 1.12, 1.09-1.17), particularly for suicide attempt/ideation (IRR 3.74, 1.68-8.34). Conclusions Children with epilepsy have distinct patterns of hospital care for mental illness and substance abuse, and experience prolonged hospitalization for MHSA conditions. Strategies to reduce psychiatric hospitalizations in this population may require disease specific approaches and should measure disease relevant outcomes. Hospitals caring for large numbers of children with neurological disease (such as academic centers) may have inaccurate measurements of mental health care quality unless the impact of key comorbid conditions such as epilepsy is considered. PMID:26963820

Geographic variation in cesarean delivery in the United States by payer.

PubMed

Henke, Rachel Mosher; Wier, Lauren M; Marder, William D; Friedman, Bernard S; Wong, Herbert S

2014-11-19

The rate of cesarean delivery in the United States is variable across geographic areas. The aims of this study are two-fold: (1) to determine whether the geographic variation in cesarean delivery rate is consistent for private insurance and Medicaid (2) to identify the patient, population, and market factors associated with cesarean rate and determine if these factors vary by payer. We used the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) State Inpatient Databases (SID) to measure the cesarean rate at the Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA) level. We linked the hospitalization data to data from other national sources to measure population and market characteristics. We calculated unadjusted and risk-adjusted CBSA cesarean rates by payer. For the second aim, we estimated a hierarchical logistical model with the hospitalization as the unit of analysis to determine the factors associated with cesarean delivery. The average CBSA cesarean rate for women with private insurance was higher (18.9 percent) than for women with Medicaid (16.4 percent). The factors predicting cesarean rate were largely consistent across payers, with the following exceptions: women under age 18 had a greater likelihood of cesarean section if they had Medicaid but had a greater likelihood of vaginal birth if they had private insurance; Asian and Native American women with private insurance had a greater likelihood of cesarean section but Asian and Native American women with Medicaid had a greater likelihood of vaginal birth. The percent African American in the population predicted increased cesarean rates for private insurance only; the number of acute care beds per capita predicted increased cesarean rate for women with Medicaid but not women with private insurance. Further we found the number of obstetricians/gynecologists per capita predicted increased cesarean rate for women with private insurance only, and the number of midwives per capita predicted increased vaginal birth rate for women with private insurance only. Factors associated with geographic variation in cesarean delivery, a frequent and high-resource inpatient procedure, vary somewhat by payer. Using this information to identify areas for intervention is key to improving quality of care and reducing healthcare costs.

Is hospital teaching status a key factor in hospital charge for children with hip fractures?: preliminary findings from KID database.

PubMed

Gao, Yubo; Pugely, Andrew; Karam, Matthew; Phisitkul, Phinit; Mendoza, Sergio; Johnston, Richard C

2013-01-01

Proximal femur fractures cause significant pain and economic cost among pediatric patients. The purposes of this study were (a) to evaluate the distribution by hospital type (teaching hospital vs non-teaching hospital) of U.S. pediatric patients aged 1-20 years who were hospitalized with a closed hip fracture and (b) to discern the mean hospital charge and hospital length of stay after employing propensity score to reduce selection bias. The 2006 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Kids' Inpatient Database (KID) was queried for children aged up to 20 years that had principle diagnosis of hip fracture injury. Hip fractures were defined by International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification codes 820.0, 820.2 and 820.8 under Section "Injury and Poisoning (800-999)" with principle internal fixation procedure codes 78.55, 79.15 and 79.35. Patient demographics and hospital status were presented and analyzed. Differences in mean hospital charge and hospital length of stay by hospital teaching status were assessed via two propensity score based methods. In total, 1,827 patients were nation-ally included for analysis: 1,392 (76.2%) were treated at a teaching hospital and 435 (23.8%) were treated at a non-teaching hospital. The average age of the patients was 12.88 years old in teaching hospitals vs 14.33 years old in nonteaching hospitals. The propensity score based adjustment method showed mean hospital charge was $34,779 in teaching hospitals and $32,891 in the non-teaching hospitals, but these differences were not significant (p=0.2940). Likewise, mean length of hospital stay was 4.1 days in teaching hospitals and 3.89 days in non-teaching hospitals, but these differences were also not significant (p=0.4220). Hospital teaching status did not affect length of stay or total hospital costs in children treated surgically for proximal femur fractures. Future research should be directed at identifying factors associated with variations in hospital charge and length of stay.

Hospital days, hospitalization costs, and inpatient mortality among patients with mucormycosis: a retrospective analysis of US hospital discharge data

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Mucormycosis is a rare and potentially fatal fungal infection occurring primarily in severely immunosuppressed patients. Because it is so rare, reports in the literature are mainly limited to case reports or small case series. The aim of this study was to evaluate inpatient mortality, length of stay (LOS), and costs among a matched sample of high-risk patients with and without mucormycosis in a large nationally representative database. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis using the 2003–2010 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project – Nationwide Inpatient Sample (HCUP-NIS). The NIS is a nationally representative 20% sample of hospitalizations from acute care United States (US) hospitals, with survey weights available to compute national estimates. We classified hospitalizations into four mutually exclusive risk categories for mucormycosis: A- severely immunocompromised, B- critically ill, C- mildly/moderately immunocompromised, D- major surgery or pneumonia. Mucormycosis hospitalizations (“cases”) were identified by ICD-9-CM code 117.7. Non-mucormycosis hospitalizations (“non-cases”) were propensity-score matched to cases 3:1. We examined demographics, clinical characteristics, and hospital outcomes (mortality, LOS, costs). Weighted results were reported. Results From 319,366,817 total hospitalizations, 5,346 cases were matched to 15,999 non-cases. Cases and non-cases did not differ significantly in age (49.6 vs. 49.7 years), female sex (40.5% vs. 41.0%), White race (53.3% vs. 55.9%) or high-risk group (A-49.1% vs. 49.0%, B-20.0% vs. 21.8%, C-25.5% vs. 23.8%, D-5.5% vs. 5.4%). Cases experienced significantly higher mortality (22.1% vs. 4.4%, P < 0.001), with mean LOS and total costs more than 3-fold higher (24.5 vs. 8.0 days and $90,272 vs. $25,746; both P < 0.001). Conclusions In a national hospital database, hospitalizations with mucormycosis had significantly higher inpatient mortality, LOS, and hospital costs than matched hospitalizations without mucormycosis. Findings suggest that interventions to prevent or more effectively treat mucormycosis are needed. PMID:24903188

Frequency, trends, and antecedents of severe maternal depression after three million U.S. births.

PubMed

França, Urbano L; McManus, Michael L

2018-01-01

Postpartum depression carries adverse consequences for mothers and children, so widespread screening during primary care visits is recommended. However, the rates, timing, and factors associated with significant depressive episodes are incompletely understood. We examined the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) State Inpatient, Emergency Department, and Ambulatory Surgery and Services Databases from California (2005-2011) and Florida (2005-2012). Within 203 million records, we identified 3,213,111 births and all mothers who had hospital encounters for severe depression within 40 weeks following delivery. We identified 15,806 episodes of postpartum depression after 11,103 deliveries among 10,883 unique women, and calculated an overall rate of 36.7 depression- associated hospital visits per 10,000 deliveries. Upward trends were observed in both states, with combined five-year increases of 34%. First depressive events were most common within 30 days of delivery, but continued for the entire observation period. About half (1,661/3,325) of PPD first episodes occurred within 34 days of delivery, 70% (2,329/3,325) by the end of the second month, and 87% (2,893/3,325) before four-months of the delivery. Women with private insurance were less likely to have hospital encounters for depression than women with public insurance and women with depression were much more likely to have had some kind of hospital encounter at some time during their pregnancies. Rates of depression increased with the number of prenatal hospital encounters in a "dose-dependent" fashion: the rate of depression was 17.2/10,000 for women with no prenatal hospital visits, doubling for women with at least one encounter (34.9/10,000), and increasing 7-fold to 126/10,000 for women with three or more encounters during their pregnancies. Our findings suggest that (1) hospital encounters for post-partum depression are increasing, (2) screening should begin very early and continue for the first year after delivery, and (3) added attention should be given to women who had hospital encounters during their pregnancies.

Hospital care for mental health and substance abuse in children with epilepsy.

PubMed

Thibault, Dylan P; Mendizabal, Adys; Abend, Nicholas S; Davis, Kathryn A; Crispo, James; Willis, Allison W

2016-04-01

Reducing the burden of pediatric mental illness requires greater knowledge of mental health and substance abuse (MHSA) outcomes in children who are at an increased risk of primary psychiatric illness. National data on hospital care for psychiatric illness in children with epilepsy are limited. We used the Kids' Inpatient Database (KID), the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality from 2003 to 2009 to examine MHSA hospitalization patterns in children with comorbid epilepsy. Nonparametric and regression analyses determined the association of comorbid epilepsy with specific MHSA diagnoses and examined the impact of epilepsy on length of stay (LOS) for such MHSA diagnoses while controlling for demographic, payer, and hospital characteristics. We observed 353,319 weighted MHSA hospitalizations of children ages 6-20; 3280 of these involved a child with epilepsy. Depression was the most common MHSA diagnosis in the general population (39.5%) whereas bipolar disorder was the most common MHSA diagnosis among children with epilepsy (36.2%). Multivariate logistic regression models revealed that children with comorbid epilepsy had greater adjusted odds of bipolar disorder (AOR: 1.17, 1.04-1.30), psychosis (AOR: 1.78, 1.51-2.09), sleep disorder (AOR: 5.90, 1.90-18.34), and suicide attempt/ideation (AOR: 3.20, 1.46-6.99) compared to the general MHSA inpatient population. Epilepsy was associated with a greater LOS and a higher adjusted incidence rate ratio (IRR) for prolonged LOS (IRR: 1.12, 1.09-1.17), particularly for suicide attempt/ideation (IRR: 3.74, 1.68-8.34). Children with epilepsy have distinct patterns of hospital care for mental illness and substance abuse and experience prolonged hospitalization for MHSA conditions. Strategies to reduce psychiatric hospitalizations in this population may require disease-specific approaches and should measure disease-relevant outcomes. Hospitals caring for large numbers of children with neurological disease (such as academic centers) may have inaccurate measurements of mental health-care quality unless the impact of key comorbid conditions such as epilepsy is considered. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Epidemiology of bacterial meningitis in the USA from 1997 to 2010: a population-based observational study.

PubMed

Castelblanco, Rodrigo Lopez; Lee, MinJae; Hasbun, Rodrigo

2014-09-01

Bacterial meningitis continues to be a substantial cause of morbidity and mortality, but the epidemiological trends after adjunctive dexamethasone recommendations are unknown in the USA. We aimed to describe the changing patterns among the most common bacterial causes in the USA after conjugate vaccination and to assess the association between adjunctive dexamethasone and mortality. For this population-based observational study, we searched information available from hospital discharges about incidence and inpatient mortality for the most important causes of community and nosocomial bacterial meningitis based on International Classification of Diseases coding across all hospitals in the USA between 1997 and 2010 with the HealthCare Cost Utilization Project (HCUP) network database. We calculated incidences according to US Census Bureau data and used a negative binomial regression model to evaluate the significance of changes over time. We assessed mortality from pneumococcus for three periods 1997-2001 (baseline), 2002-04 (transition years), and 2005-08 (after corticosteroid recommendations were available). Streptococcus pneumoniae incidence fell from 0·8 per 100 000 people in 1997, to 0·3 per 100 000 people by the end of 2010 (RR 0·3737, 95% CI 0·1825-0·7656). Mortality from pneumococcal meningitis decreased between 2005 (0·049 per 100 000 people) and 2008 (0·024 per 100 000 people) compared with between 2002 (0·073 per 100 000 people) and 2004 (0·063 per 100 000 people; RR 0·5720, 95% CI 0·4303-0·7582). The incidence of Neisseria meningitidis infection decreased from 0·721 per 100 000 people in 1997, to 0·123 per 100 000 people in 2010 (RR 0·1386, 95% CI 0·048-0·4284), which has placed this pathogen close to common bacterial causes of nosocomial meningitis such as staphylococcus and Gram-negative bacteria and to Haemophilus influenzae. S pneumoniae continues to be the leading identifiable cause of bacterial meningitis in the USA, but with a significant decrease in incidence and mortality associated with the introduction of conjugated vaccines and a mortality decrease that is associated with the introduction of recommendations for use of adjunctive dexamethasone for pneumococcal meningitis. National Center for Research Resources. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

NNP-LANL Utilities - Condition Assessment and Project Approach

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

Stewart, Grant Lorenz

2017-11-21

This report is a presentation on LANL Utilities & Transportation Asset Management; Utility Assets Overview; Condition Assessment; Utilities Project Nominations & Ranking; and Utilities Project Execution.

24 CFR 245.416 - Initial submission of materials to HUD: Conversion from project-paid utilities to tenant-paid...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... HUD: Conversion from project-paid utilities to tenant-paid utilities or a reduction in tenant utility... Covered Action § 245.416 Initial submission of materials to HUD: Conversion from project-paid utilities to tenant-paid utilities or a reduction in tenant utility allowances. In the case of a conversion from...

The changing demographics of total joint arthroplasty recipients in the United States and Ontario from 2001 to 2007.

PubMed

Ravi, Bheeshma; Croxford, Ruth; Reichmann, William M; Losina, Elena; Katz, Jeffrey N; Hawker, Gillian A

2012-10-01

The rates of total joint arthroplasty (TJA) of the hip and knee have increased in North America over the last decade. While initially designed for elderly patients (>70 years of age), several reports suggest that an increasing number of younger patients are undergoing joint replacements. This suggests that more people are meeting the indication for TJA earlier in their lives. Alternatively, it might indicate a broadening of the indications for TJA. We used the administrative databases available at the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) and the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) to determine the rates of TJA of the hip and knee in the United States, and Ontario, Canada, respectively. We determined the crude rates of THA and TKA in both areas for four calendar years (2001, 2003, 2005 and 2007). We also calculated the age- and sex-standardised rates of THA and TKA in both areas for each time period. We compared the age distribution of TJA recipients between the US and Ontario, and within each area over time. The crude and standardised rates of THA and TKA increased over time in both the US and Ontario. The crude rates of THA were higher in the US in 2001 and 2003, but were not significantly different from the rate in Ontario in 2005 and 2007. The crude rates of TKA were consistently higher in the US for all time periods. In addition, the US consistently had more THA and TKA recipients in 'younger' age categories (<60 years of age). While the age- and sex-standardised rates of TKA were greater in the US in all time periods, the relative increase in rates from 2001 to 2007 was greater in Ontario (US - 59%, Ontario - 73%). For both the US and Ontario, there was a significant shift in the demographic of THA and TKA recipients to younger patients (p < 0.0001). The utilisation of primary hip and knee arthroplasty has increased substantially in both the US and Ontario in the period from 2001 to 2007. This increase has been predominantly in knee replacements. The demographics of joint replacement recipients has become younger, with substantial increases in the prevalence of patients <60 years old amongst TJA recipients, and significant increases in the incidence of TJA in these age groups in the general population, in both the US and Ontario. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Towards a privacy preserving cohort discovery framework for clinical research networks.

PubMed

Yuan, Jiawei; Malin, Bradley; Modave, François; Guo, Yi; Hogan, William R; Shenkman, Elizabeth; Bian, Jiang

2017-02-01

The last few years have witnessed an increasing number of clinical research networks (CRNs) focused on building large collections of data from electronic health records (EHRs), claims, and patient-reported outcomes (PROs). Many of these CRNs provide a service for the discovery of research cohorts with various health conditions, which is especially useful for rare diseases. Supporting patient privacy can enhance the scalability and efficiency of such processes; however, current practice mainly relies on policy, such as guidelines defined in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which are insufficient for CRNs (e.g., HIPAA does not require encryption of data - which can mitigate insider threats). By combining policy with privacy enhancing technologies we can enhance the trustworthiness of CRNs. The goal of this research is to determine if searchable encryption can instill privacy in CRNs without sacrificing their usability. We developed a technique, implemented in working software to enable privacy-preserving cohort discovery (PPCD) services in large distributed CRNs based on elliptic curve cryptography (ECC). This technique also incorporates a block indexing strategy to improve the performance (in terms of computational running time) of PPCD. We evaluated the PPCD service with three real cohort definitions: (1) elderly cervical cancer patients who underwent radical hysterectomy, (2) oropharyngeal and tongue cancer patients who underwent robotic transoral surgery, and (3) female breast cancer patients who underwent mastectomy) with varied query complexity. These definitions were tested in an encrypted database of 7.1 million records derived from the publically available Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS). We assessed the performance of the PPCD service in terms of (1) accuracy in cohort discovery, (2) computational running time, and (3) privacy afforded to the underlying records during PPCD. The empirical results indicate that the proposed PPCD can execute cohort discovery queries in a reasonable amount of time, with query runtime in the range of 165-262s for the 3 use cases, with zero compromise in accuracy. We further show that the search performance is practical because it supports a highly parallelized design for secure evaluation over encrypted records. Additionally, our security analysis shows that the proposed construction is resilient to standard adversaries. PPCD services can be designed for clinical research networks. The security construction presented in this work specifically achieves high privacy guarantees by preventing both threats originating from within and beyond the network. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

40 CFR 262.90 - Project XL for Public Utilities in New York State.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 25 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Project XL for Public Utilities in New... Utilities § 262.90 Project XL for Public Utilities in New York State. (a) The following definitions apply to..., or any company that provides electric power or telephone service and is regulated by New York State's...

Projection screen having reduced ambient light scattering

DOEpatents

Sweatt, William C [Albuquerque, NM

2010-05-11

An apparatus and method for improving the contrast between incident projected light and ambient light reflected from a projection screen are described. The efficiency of the projection screen for reflection of the projected light remains high, while permitting the projection screen to be utilized in a brightly lighted room. Light power requirements from the projection system utilized may be reduced.

Low-Income Community Solar: Utility Return Considerations for Electric Cooperatives

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

Aznar, Alexandra Y; Gagne, Douglas A

The objective of this short report is to identify project structures that make low-income community solar projects more cost-effective, replicable, and scalable, for electric cooperative and municipal utilities. This report explores the tradeoffs between providing energy bill savings for low-income subscribers and utility project returns, as well as some of the key lessons learned from existing successful low-income community solar pilot projects.

24 CFR 891.440 - Adjustment of utility allowances.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... Project Management § 891.440 Adjustment of utility allowances. This section shall apply to projects funded... projects financed with loans under subpart E of this part. The Owner (or Borrower, as applicable) must... applicable) and the amount of the project rental assistance payment (or housing or project assistance payment...

24 CFR 891.440 - Adjustment of utility allowances.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... Project Management § 891.440 Adjustment of utility allowances. This section shall apply to projects funded... projects financed with loans under subpart E of this part. The Owner (or Borrower, as applicable) must... applicable) and the amount of the project rental assistance payment (or housing or project assistance payment...

24 CFR 891.440 - Adjustment of utility allowances.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... Project Management § 891.440 Adjustment of utility allowances. This section shall apply to projects funded... projects financed with loans under subpart E of this part. The Owner (or Borrower, as applicable) must... applicable) and the amount of the project rental assistance payment (or housing or project assistance payment...

24 CFR 891.440 - Adjustment of utility allowances.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... Project Management § 891.440 Adjustment of utility allowances. This section shall apply to projects funded... projects financed with loans under subpart E of this part. The Owner (or Borrower, as applicable) must... applicable) and the amount of the project rental assistance payment (or housing or project assistance payment...

24 CFR 891.440 - Adjustment of utility allowances.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... Project Management § 891.440 Adjustment of utility allowances. This section shall apply to projects funded... projects financed with loans under subpart E of this part. The Owner (or Borrower, as applicable) must... applicable) and the amount of the project rental assistance payment (or housing or project assistance payment...

A Guide to Community Shared Solar: Utility, Private, and Non-Profit Project Development (Book)

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

Coughlin, J.; Grove, J.; Irvine, L.

2012-05-01

This guide is organized around three sponsorship models: utility-sponsored projects, projects sponsored by special purpose entities - businesses formed for the purpose of producing community solar power, and non-profit sponsored projects. The guide addresses issues common to all project models, as well as issues unique to each model.

Utility accommodation and conflict tracker (UACT) : user manual

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-02-01

Project 0-5475 performed a comprehensive analysis of utility conflict data/information flows between utility : accommodation stakeholders in the Texas Department of Transportation project development process, : developed data models to accommodate wo...

An analysis of the direct and indirect costs of utility and right-of-way conflicts on construction roadway projects.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2006-08-01

Utility conflicts are unfortunately a common occurrence on many roadway projects. This report examines the frequency and severity of utility conflicts both within and outside of Kentucky. Understanding which type of utility conflicts most likely occu...

Cost Avoidance vs. Utility Bill Accounting - Explaining theDiscrepancy Between Guaranteed Savings in ESPC Projects and UtilityBills

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

Kumar, S.; Sartor, D.

2005-08-15

Federal agencies often ask if Energy Savings PerformanceContracts (ESPCs) result in the energy and cost savings projected duringthe project development phase. After investing in ESPCs, federal agenciesexpect a reduction in the total energy use and energy cost at the agencylevel. Such questions about the program are common when implementing anESPC project. But is this a fair or accurate perception? Moreimportantly, should the federal agencies evaluate the success or failureof ESPCs by comparing the utility costs before and after projectimplementation?In fact, ESPC contracts employ measurement andverification (M&V) protocols to measure and ensure kilowatt-hour orBTU savings at the project level. In mostmore » cases, the translation toenergy cost savings is not based on actual utility rate structure, but acontracted utility rate that takes the existing utility rate at the timethe contract is signed with a clause to escalate the utility rate by afixed percentage for the duration of the contract. Reporting mechanisms,which advertise these savings in dollars, may imply an impact to budgetsat a much higher level depending on actual utility rate structure. FEMPhas prepared the following analysis to explain why the utility billreduction may not materialize, demonstrate its larger implication onagency s energy reduction goals, and advocate setting the rightexpectations at the outset to preempt the often asked question why I amnot seeing the savings in my utility bill?« less

Utility accommodation and conflict tracker (UACT) installation and configuration manual.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-02-01

Project 0-5475 performed a comprehensive analysis of utility conflict data/information flows between utility : accommodation stakeholders in the Texas Department of Transportation project development process, : developed data models to accommodate wo...

Is $50/MWh solar for real? Falling project prices and rising capacity factors drive utility-scale PV toward economic competitiveness

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

Bolinger, Mark; Weaver, Samantha; Zuboy, Jarett

Recently announced low-priced power purchase agreements (PPAs) for US utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) projects suggest $50/MWh solar might be viable under certain conditions. To explore this possibility, this paper draws on an increasing wealth of empirical data to analyze trends in three of the most important PPA price drivers: upfront installed project prices, operations, and maintenance (O&M) costs, and capacity factors. Average installed prices among a sample of utility-scale PV projects declined by more than one third (from 5.8/W AC to 3.7/WAC) from the 2007–2009 period through 2013, even as costlier systems with crystalline-silicon modules, sun tracking, and higher inverter loadingmore » ratios (ILRs) have constituted an increasing proportion of total utility-scale PV capacity (all values shown here are in 2013 dollars). Actual and projected O&M costs from a very small sample of projects appear to range from $20–$40/kW AC-year. Furthermore, the average net capacity factor is 30% for projects installed in 2012, up from 24% for projects installed in 2010, owing to better solar resources, higher ILRs, and greater use of tracking among the more recent projects. Based on these trends, a pro-forma financial model suggests that $50/MWh utility-scale PV is achievable using a combination of aggressive-but-achievable technical and financial input parameters (including receipt of the 30% federal investment tax credit). Although the US utility-scale PV market is still young, the rapid progress in the key metrics documented in this paper has made PV a viable competitor against other utility-scale renewable generators, and even conventional peaking generators, in certain regions of the country.« less

Is $50/MWh solar for real? Falling project prices and rising capacity factors drive utility-scale PV toward economic competitiveness

DOE PAGES

Bolinger, Mark; Weaver, Samantha; Zuboy, Jarett

2015-05-22

Recently announced low-priced power purchase agreements (PPAs) for US utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) projects suggest $50/MWh solar might be viable under certain conditions. To explore this possibility, this paper draws on an increasing wealth of empirical data to analyze trends in three of the most important PPA price drivers: upfront installed project prices, operations, and maintenance (O&M) costs, and capacity factors. Average installed prices among a sample of utility-scale PV projects declined by more than one third (from 5.8/W AC to 3.7/WAC) from the 2007–2009 period through 2013, even as costlier systems with crystalline-silicon modules, sun tracking, and higher inverter loadingmore » ratios (ILRs) have constituted an increasing proportion of total utility-scale PV capacity (all values shown here are in 2013 dollars). Actual and projected O&M costs from a very small sample of projects appear to range from $20–$40/kW AC-year. Furthermore, the average net capacity factor is 30% for projects installed in 2012, up from 24% for projects installed in 2010, owing to better solar resources, higher ILRs, and greater use of tracking among the more recent projects. Based on these trends, a pro-forma financial model suggests that $50/MWh utility-scale PV is achievable using a combination of aggressive-but-achievable technical and financial input parameters (including receipt of the 30% federal investment tax credit). Although the US utility-scale PV market is still young, the rapid progress in the key metrics documented in this paper has made PV a viable competitor against other utility-scale renewable generators, and even conventional peaking generators, in certain regions of the country.« less

The Linked System Project : a network interconnection project between three major bibliographic utilities and LC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kurihara, Shin'ichi

The Linked Systems Project (LSP) is the first network project based on the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) in the world. The purpose of the project is to interconnect between three major bibliographic utilities and LC, and to perform as one system on the whole. The first application developed for the LSP is the sharing of name authority data based on the Name Authority Cooperative (NACO) Project. In 1985, LC began to send name authority records to RLG/RLIN. Since 1987, RLG/RLIN and OCLC send name authority records to LC. Bibliographic records will be sent mutually between three major bibliographic utilities and LC near future.

Alternative Fuels Data Center

Science.gov Websites

Utility Company Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Load Projection Requirement The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority requires electric distribution companies to integrate EV charging load projections into the EV charging load projections for the company's distribution planning. (Reference Connecticut

Utility-Scale Solar 2014. An Empirical Analysis of Project Cost, Performance, and Pricing Trends in the United States

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

Bolinger, Mark; Seel, Joachim

2015-09-01

Other than the nine Solar Energy Generation Systems (“SEGS”) parabolic trough projects built in the 1980s, virtually no large-scale or “utility-scale” solar projects – defined here to include any groundmounted photovoltaic (“PV”), concentrating photovoltaic (“CPV”), or concentrating solar thermal power (“CSP”) project larger than 5 MW AC – existed in the United States prior to 2007. By 2012 – just five years later – utility-scale had become the largest sector of the overall PV market in the United States, a distinction that was repeated in both 2013 and 2014 and that is expected to continue for at least the nextmore » few years. Over this same short period, CSP also experienced a bit of a renaissance in the United States, with a number of large new parabolic trough and power tower systems – some including thermal storage – achieving commercial operation. With this critical mass of new utility-scale projects now online and in some cases having operated for a number of years (generating not only electricity, but also empirical data that can be mined), the rapidly growing utility-scale sector is ripe for analysis. This report, the third edition in an ongoing annual series, meets this need through in-depth, annually updated, data-driven analysis of not just installed project costs or prices – i.e., the traditional realm of solar economics analyses – but also operating costs, capacity factors, and power purchase agreement (“PPA”) prices from a large sample of utility-scale solar projects in the United States. Given its current dominance in the market, utility-scale PV also dominates much of this report, though data from CPV and CSP projects are presented where appropriate.« less

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

Seal, Brian; Huque, Aminul; Rogers, Lindsey

In 2011, EPRI began a four-year effort under the Department of Energy (DOE) SunShot Initiative Solar Energy Grid Integration Systems - Advanced Concepts (SEGIS-AC) to demonstrate smart grid ready inverters with utility communication. The objective of the project was to successfully implement and demonstrate effective utilization of inverters with grid support functionality to capture the full value of distributed photovoltaic (PV). The project leveraged ongoing investments and expanded PV inverter capabilities, to enable grid operators to better utilize these grid assets. Developing and implementing key elements of PV inverter grid support capabilities will increase the distribution system’s capacity for highermore » penetration levels of PV, while reducing the cost. The project team included EPRI, Yaskawa-Solectria Solar, Spirae, BPL Global, DTE Energy, National Grid, Pepco, EDD, NPPT and NREL. The project was divided into three phases: development, deployment, and demonstration. Within each phase, the key areas included: head-end communications for Distributed Energy Resources (DER) at the utility operations center; methods for coordinating DER with existing distribution equipment; back-end PV plant master controller; and inverters with smart-grid functionality. Four demonstration sites were chosen in three regions of the United States with different types of utility operating systems and implementations of utility-scale PV inverters. This report summarizes the project and findings from field demonstration at three utility sites.« less

75 FR 46918 - Gresham Municipal Utilities; Notice of Application for Amendment of License and Soliciting...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-08-04

... Utilities. e. Name of Project: Upper Red Lake Dam Hydroelectric Project. f. Location: On the Red River, in.... Description of Request: The licensee proposes to amend the license for the Upper Red Lake Dam Hydroelectric... Project No. 2464), which is located immediately downstream from the Upper Red Lake Dam Project; (2) the...

77 FR 34033 - Public Utility District No. 1 of Douglas County; Notice of Authorization for Continued Project...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-08

... District No. 1 of Douglas County; Notice of Authorization for Continued Project Operation On May 27, 2010, the Public Utility District No. 1 of Douglas County, licensee for the Wells Hydroelectric Project... regulations thereunder. The Wells Hydroelectric Project is located on the Columbia River in Douglas, Okanogan...

Evaluation of Embedded System Component Utilized in Delivery Integrated Design Project Course

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Junid, Syed Abdul Mutalib Al; Hussaini, Yusnira; Nazmie Osman, Fairul; Razak, Abdul Hadi Abdul; Idros, Mohd Faizul Md; Karimi Halim, Abdul

2018-03-01

This paper reports the evaluation of the embedded system component utilized in delivering the integrated electronic engineering design project course. The evaluation is conducted based on the report project submitted as to fulfil the assessment criteria for the integrated electronic engineering design project course named; engineering system design. Six projects were assessed in this evaluation. The evaluation covers the type of controller, programming language and the number of embedded component utilization as well. From the evaluation, the C-programming based language is the best solution preferred by the students which provide them flexibility in the programming. Moreover, the Analog to Digital converter is intensively used in the projects which include sensors in their proposed design. As a conclusion, in delivering the integrated design project course, the knowledge over the embedded system solution is very important since the high density of the knowledge acquired in accomplishing the project assigned.

Hualapai Tribal Utility Development Project

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

Hualapai Tribal Nation

The first phase of the Hualapai Tribal Utility Development Project (Project) studied the feasibility of establishing a tribally operated utility to provide electric service to tribal customers at Grand Canyon West (see objective 1 below). The project was successful in completing the analysis of the energy production from the solar power systems at Grand Canyon West and developing a financial model, based on rates to be charged to Grand Canyon West customers connected to the solar systems, that would provide sufficient revenue for a Tribal Utility Authority to operate and maintain those systems. The objective to establish a central powermore » grid over which the TUA would have authority and responsibility had to be modified because the construction schedule of GCW facilities, specifically the new air terminal, did not match up with the construction schedule for the solar power system. Therefore, two distributed systems were constructed instead of one central system with a high voltage distribution network. The Hualapai Tribal Council has not taken the action necessary to establish the Tribal Utility Authority that could be responsible for the electric service at GCW. The creation of a Tribal Utility Authority (TUA) was the subject of the second objective of the project. The second phase of the project examined the feasibility and strategy for establishing a tribal utility to serve the remainder of the Hualapai Reservation and the feasibility of including wind energy from a tribal wind generator in the energy resource portfolio of the tribal utility (see objective 2 below). It is currently unknown when the Tribal Council will consider the implementation of the results of the study. Objective 1 - Develop the basic organizational structure and operational strategy for a tribally controlled utility to operate at the Tribe’s tourism enterprise district, Grand Canyon West. Coordinate the development of the Tribal Utility structure with the development of the Grand Canyon West Power Project construction of the power infrastructure at Grand Canyon West. Develop the maintenance and operations capacity necessary to support utility operations. Develop rates for customers on the Grand Canyon West “mini-grid” sufficient for the tribal utility to be self-sustaining. Establish an implementation strategy for tribal utility service at Grand Canyon West Objective 2 - Develop a strategy for tribal utility takeover of electric service on the Reservation. Perform a cost analysis of Reservation electrical service. Develop an implementation strategy for tribal takeover of Reservation electrical service. Examine options and costs associated with integration of the Tribe’s wind resources.« less

The Council of Industrial Boiler Owners special project on non-utility fossil fuel ash classification

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

Svendsen, R.L.

1996-12-31

Information is outlined on the Council of Industrial Boiler Owners (CIBO) special project on non-utility fossil fuel ash classification. Data are presented on; current (1996) regulatory status of fossil-fuel combustion wastes; FBC technology identified for further study; CIBO special project methods; Bevill amendment study factors; data collection; and CIBO special project status.

Evaluation of utility relocation costs and best management practices : final report : SCDOT research project 684.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2014-05-21

In recent years, the SCDOT has experienced a significant variation in estimated costs for the relocation of : utilities on many projects. This has led to cost overruns and caused headaches for the district engineers : responsible for the projects. Th...

75 FR 32494 - Energy Conservation for PHA-Owned or Leased Project-Audits, Utility Allowances

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-06-08

...-Owned or Leased Project-Audits, Utility Allowances AGENCY: Office of the Chief Information Officer, HUD... complete energy audits, benefit/cost analyses for individual vs. master metering. PHAs review tenant...-Audits, Utility Allowances. OMB Approval Number: 2577-0062. Form Numbers: HUD-50078. Description of the...

Project Solo; Newsletter Number Four.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pittsburgh Univ., PA. Project Solo.

A paper titled "Myopia, Cornucopia and Utopia" makes up the major portion of this Project Solo Newsletter. It emphasizes the danger involved in the belief that the larger the system the better, and points out that although the computer utilizes technology, the human with judgment utilizes the computer. Some details of the Project Solo…

18 CFR 4.33 - Limitations on submitting applications.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

..., EXEMPTIONS, AND DETERMINATION OF PROJECT COSTS Application for Preliminary Permit, License or Exemption... preliminary permit for project works that: (1) Would develop, conserve, and utilize, in whole or in part, the same water resources that would be developed, conserved, and utilized by a project for which there is...

18 CFR 4.33 - Limitations on submitting applications.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

..., EXEMPTIONS, AND DETERMINATION OF PROJECT COSTS Application for Preliminary Permit, License or Exemption... preliminary permit for project works that: (1) Would develop, conserve, and utilize, in whole or in part, the same water resources that would be developed, conserved, and utilized by a project for which there is...

18 CFR 4.33 - Limitations on submitting applications.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

..., EXEMPTIONS, AND DETERMINATION OF PROJECT COSTS Application for Preliminary Permit, License or Exemption... preliminary permit for project works that: (1) Would develop, conserve, and utilize, in whole or in part, the same water resources that would be developed, conserved, and utilized by a project for which there is...

18 CFR 4.33 - Limitations on submitting applications.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

..., EXEMPTIONS, AND DETERMINATION OF PROJECT COSTS Application for Preliminary Permit, License or Exemption... preliminary permit for project works that: (1) Would develop, conserve, and utilize, in whole or in part, the same water resources that would be developed, conserved, and utilized by a project for which there is...

18 CFR 4.33 - Limitations on submitting applications.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

..., EXEMPTIONS, AND DETERMINATION OF PROJECT COSTS Application for Preliminary Permit, License or Exemption... preliminary permit for project works that: (1) Would develop, conserve, and utilize, in whole or in part, the same water resources that would be developed, conserved, and utilized by a project for which there is...

7 CFR 4279.2 - Definitions and abbreviations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... projects utilizing technology that has a proven operating history, and for which there is an established... available energy projects that utilize technology that has a proven operating history, and for which there...

Project demonstration of wind-turbine electricity: Interconnecting a northern Michigan fruit farm with a major utility

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Amon, D. M.

Progress is reviewed in a project to test the economic feasibility of wind turbine technology for generating electricity. The use of wind generating electricity on a commercial fruit farm interconnecting a commercial fruit farm with a major utility to sell power are the find project goals.

Effective utilization of disadvantaged business enterprises (DBE) in alternative delivery projects: strategies and resources to support the achievement of DBE goals : Georgia DOT research project 14-42 : final report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2016-04-01

This synthesis is a comprehensive review of the best knowledge and practices for stimulating effective : utilization of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) in the procurement and execution of : transportation projects, using design-build and oth...

Project Wild and the Dominant Western Paradigm: A Content Analysis Utilizing Deep Ecology.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ingraham, Blake

Environmental educators utilize activity guides as a primary method of diffusing environmental education material into educational settings. The most popular environmental education activity guide in use today is Project WILD. Project WILD has come under fire by various groups, especially animal rights groups. Accordingly, a content analysis study…

76 FR 26284 - FirstLight Hydro Generating Company, City of Norwich Dept. of Public Utilities; Notice of Meeting

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-05-06

... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Project No. 2662-012-CT; Project No. 12968-001-CT] FirstLight Hydro Generating Company, City of Norwich Dept. of Public Utilities; Notice of...Light Hydro Generating Company and the City of Norwich Dept. of Public Utilities to discuss the...

Analysis of Actual Versus Projected Medical Claims Under the First Year of ACA-Mandated Coverage

PubMed Central

McCue, Michael J.; Palazzolo, Jennifer R.

2016-01-01

For the individual market, 2014 was the first year Affordable Care Act medical claims experience data were available to set 2016 rates. Accessing Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services rate data for 175 state insurers, this study compares projected medical claims with actual medical claims of 2014, as well as the cost and utilization of benefit categories for inpatient, outpatient, professional, and prescription drug spending. Actual costs per member per month (pmpm) were greater than projected in 2014 for inpatient, outpatient, and prescription spending but not for professional care. Overall, actual median medical cost was $443 pmpm, which was significantly higher by $41 than projected cost. Greater utilization of health care was primarily responsible for higher realized medical claims. In terms of the specific benefit categories—inpatient, outpatient, and prescription—actual costs pmpm were significantly higher than projected values. In terms of the drivers of inpatient costs, on an admission basis, higher costs and greater utilization of admissions resulted in higher inpatient costs. For outpatient costs pmpm, higher utilization rather than unit cost per visit drove increased costs. Higher than expected prescription drug costs were driven by both greater utilization and cost per prescription. PMID:27856783

GPP Webinar: Solar Utilization in Higher Education Networking & Information Sharing Group: Financing Issues Discussion

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This presentation from a Solar Utilization in Higher Education Networking and Information webinar covers financing and project economics issues related to solar project development in the higher education sector.

Project Based Learning (PjBL) Practices at Politeknik Kota Bharu, Malaysia

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rahman, Md. Baharuddin Haji Abdul; Daud, Khairul Azhar Mat; Jusoff, Kamaruzaman; Ghani, Nik Azida Abd

2009-01-01

This study explores the utilization of Project-based Learning module in the subject of project development for the Mechanical Engineering students at Politeknik Kota Bharu. This study focuses on the development of the PjBL module based on socio-constructivist approach. The objective of this study is to explore the influence of the utilization of…

78 FR 38307 - Gresham Municipal Utilities; Notice of Application Tendered for Filing With the Commission and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-06-26

.... Date filed: June 10, 2013. d. Applicant: Gresham Municipal Utilities. e. Name of Project: Upper Red Lake Dam Hydroelectric Project. f. Location: On Red River in Shawano County, Wisconsin. No federal... analysis at this time. n. The Upper Red Lake Dam Hydroelectric Project would consist of the following...

75 FR 26220 - Public Utility District No. 1 of Snohomish County, WA; Notice of Availability of Draft...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-05-11

... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Project No. 2157-188] Public Utility District No. 1 of Snohomish County, WA; Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Assessment May 4... Hydroelectric Project (FERC Project No. 2157-188), located on the Sultan River 20 miles east of the city of...

75 FR 69433 - Public Utility District No. 1 of Snohomish County, WA; Notice of Availability of Final...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-11-12

... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Project No. 2157-188] Public Utility District No. 1 of Snohomish County, WA; Notice of Availability of Final Environmental Assessment November 4... Hydroelectric Project (FERC Project No. 2157-188), located on the Sultan River 20 miles east of the city of...

Evaluation of the Parent-Implemented Communication Strategies (PiCS) Project Using the Multiattribute Utility (MAU) Approach

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stoner, Julia B.; Meadan, Hedda; Angell, Maureen E.; Daczewitz, Marcus

2012-01-01

We conducted a multiattribute utility (MAU) evaluation to assess the Parent-Implemented Communication Strategies (PiCS) project which was funded by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES). In the PiCS project parents of young children with developmental disabilities are trained and coached in their homes on naturalistic and visual teaching…

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Resources and Strategies for the Use of Writing Projects in Mathematics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Latulippe, Joe; Latulippe, Christine

2014-01-01

As an often recommended but under-utilized pedagogical strategy, writing in mathematics has many benefits for students. However, creating and grading worthwhile writing projects can be more time-consuming than utilizing more traditional forms of assessment. This paper provides a concrete example of a writing project prompt, questions, directions,…

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

Bolinger, Mark; Seel, Joachim

The utility-scale solar sector—defined here to include any ground-mounted photovoltaic (“PV”), concentrating photovoltaic (“CPV”), or concentrating solar power (“CSP”) project that is larger than 5 MWAC in capacity—has led the overall U.S. solar market in terms of installed capacity since 2012. It is expected to maintain its market-leading position for at least another five years, driven in part by December 2015’s three-year extension of the 30% federal investment tax credit (“ITC”) through 2019 (coupled with a favorable switch to a “start construction” rather than a “placed in service” eligibility requirement, and a gradual phase down of the credit to 10%more » by 2022). In fact, in 2016 alone, the utility-scale sector is projected to install more than twice as much new capacity as it ever has previously in a single year. This unprecedented boom makes it difficult, yet more important than ever, to stay abreast of the latest utility-scale market developments and trends. This report—the fourth edition in an ongoing annual series—is intended to help meet this need, by providing in-depth, annually updated, data-driven analysis of the utility-scale solar project fleet in the United States. Drawing on empirical project-level data from a wide range of sources, this report analyzes not just installed project costs or prices—i.e., the traditional realm of most solar economic analyses—but also operating costs, capacity factors, and power purchase agreement (“PPA”) prices from a large sample of utility-scale solar projects throughout the United States. Given its current dominance in the market, utility-scale PV also dominates much of this report, though data from CPV and CSP projects are also presented where appropriate.« less

Optimizing utility owner participation in the project development and delivery process.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-04-01

Coordination with utility owners during the project development and delivery process involves multiple : activities, such as requesting and collecting data about the location and characteristics of existing facilities to : identifying and analyzing u...

Distribution automation and control support; Analysis and interpretation of DAC working group results for use in project planning

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Klock, P.; Evans, D.

1979-01-01

The Executive Summary and Proceedings of the Working Group Meeting was analyzed to identify specific projects appropriate for Distribution Automation and Control DAC RD&D. Specific projects that should be undertaken in the DAC RD&D program were recommended. The projects are presented under broad categories of work selected based on ESC's interpretation of the results of the Working Group Meeting. Some of the projects are noted as utility industry projects. The ESC recommendations regarding program management are presented. Utility versus Government management responsibilities are noted.

Arsenic Removal from Drinking Water by Adsorptive Media. U.S. EPA Demonstration Project at Oak Manor Municipal Utility District at Alvin, TX. Final Performance Evaluation Report

EPA Science Inventory

This report documents the activities performed and the results obtained for the EPA arsenic removal technology demonstration project at the Oak Manor Municipal Utility District (MUD) facility in Alvin, TX. The objectives of the project were to evaluate 1) the effectiveness of a ...

Integration of utility and environmental activities in the project development process.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-01-01

Two sources of delay during the project development process are utility adjustments and the environmental : review and clearance process. There are several efforts underway at the Texas Department of Transportation : (TxDOT) to optimize these process...

Operational Simulation Tools and Long Term Strategic Planning for High Penetrations of PV in the Southeastern United States

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

Tuohy, Aidan; Smith, Jeff; Rylander, Matt

2016-07-11

Increasing levels of distributed and utility scale Solar Photovoltaics (PV) will have an impact on many utility functions, including distribution system operations, bulk system performance, business models and scheduling of generation. In this project, EPRI worked with Southern Company Services and its affiliates and the Tennessee Valley Authority to assist these utilities in their strategic planning efforts for integrating PV, based on modeling, simulation and analysis using a set of innovative tools. Advanced production simulation models were used to investigate operating reserve requirements. To leverage existing work and datasets, this last task was carried out on the California system. Overall,more » the project resulted in providing useful information to both of the utilities involved and through the final reports and interactions during the project. The results from this project can be used to inform the industry about new and improved methodologies for understanding solar PV penetration, and will influence ongoing and future research. This report summarizes each of the topics investigated over the 2.5-year project period.« less

Utilization of design data on conventional system to building information modeling (BIM)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akbar, Boyke M.; Z. R., Dewi Larasati

2017-11-01

Nowadays infrastructure development becomes one of the main priorities in the developed country such as Indonesia. The use of conventional design system is considered no longer effectively support the infrastructure projects, especially for the high complexity building design, due to its fragmented system issues. BIM comes as one of the solutions in managing projects in an integrated manner. Despite of the all known BIM benefits, there are some obstacles on the migration process to BIM. The two main of the obstacles are; the BIM implementation unpreparedness of some project parties and a concerns to leave behind the existing database and create a new one on the BIM system. This paper discusses the utilization probabilities of the existing CAD data from the conventional design system for BIM system. The existing conventional CAD data's and BIM design system output was studied to examine compatibility issues between two subject and followed by an utilization scheme-strategy probabilities. The goal of this study is to add project parties' eagerness in migrating to BIM by maximizing the existing data utilization and hopefully could also increase BIM based project workflow quality.

Methods to expedite and streamline utility relocations for road projects.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2014-12-01

This report describes best practices and tools to streamline and expedite utility relocations when they : are required as part of road construction projects. As part of this effort, a research team from the : Kentucky Transportation Center (KTC) cond...

77 FR 36996 - South Mississippi Electric Cooperative: Plant Ratcliff, Kemper County Integrated Gasification...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-20

... DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Rural Utilities Service South Mississippi Electric Cooperative: Plant Ratcliff, Kemper County Integrated Gasification Combined-Cycle (IGCC) Project AGENCY: Rural Utilities... Combined-Cycle (IGCC) Project currently under construction in Kemper County, Mississippi (hereinafter ``the...

Development and Field Test of the Trial Battery for Project A. Improving the Selection, Classification and Utilization of Army Enlisted Personnel. Project A: Improving the Selection, Classification and Utilization of Army Enlisted Personnel. ARI Technical Report 739.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Peterson, Norman G., Ed.

As part of the United States Army's Project A, research has been conducted to develop and field test a battery of experimental tests to complement the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery in predicting soldiers' job performance. Project A is the United States Army's large-scale manpower effort to improve selection, classification, and…

Reading Research Utilization Project: An RIC Project for Teachers and Other Field Personnel.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

District of Columbia Public Schools, Washington, DC. Dept. of Research and Evaluation.

This is the final report of the Reading Research Utilization Project (RUP) which was funded by the U.S. Office of Education from July, 1971 to June, 1973. The purpose of the RUP was to encourage the translation of research, particularly reading research, into practice in 16 target elementary schools in Washington, D.C. RUP was a school information…

Project demonstration of wind turbine electricity: Interconnecting a northern Michigan fruit farm with a major utility

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Amon, D. M.

1982-10-01

A project to interconnect a farm wind turbine with a utility is reported. Included are a summary of accomplishments and daily major events, correspondence relevant to the project (letters explaining the delay of installation, extending the period of performance, tax credits, net energy sellback legislation, etc.), publicity, legal aspects, maintenance and repair, analysis of test data, and accounting.

7 CFR 1709.111 - Limitations on use of grant funds.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... are unrelated to the grant project. (b) Unproven technology. Only projects that utilize technology with a proven operating history, and for which there is an established industry for the design... utilizing experimental, developmental, or prototype technologies or technology demonstrations are not...

Colorado Public Utility Commission's Xcel Wind Decision

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

Lehr, R. L.; Nielsen, J.; Andrews, S.

2001-09-20

In early 2001 the Colorado Public Utility Commission ordered Xcel Energy to undertake good faith negotiations for a wind plant as part of the utility's integrated resource plan. This paper summarizes the key points of the PUC decision, which addressed the wind plant's projected impact on generation cost and ancillary services. The PUC concluded that the wind plant would cost less than new gas-fired generation under reasonable gas cost projections.

Utility investigation best practices and effects on TxDOT highway improvement projects.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-04-01

The lack of adequate information about the location and characteristics of utility facilities can result in a number of problems, including damages to utilities, disruptions to utility services and traffic, lost utility facilities as constructi...

Cost and time benefits for using subsurface utility engineering in Louisiana : research project capsule.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2016-04-01

The objectives of this research are: to establish a record of all major projects : where DOTD has used SUE services in the past (SUE quality levels depicted : in Figure 1), including : interviews with various : DOTD personnel, : utility companies, an...

Using EPA Tools and Data Services to Inform Changes to Design Storm Definitions for Wastewater Utilities based on Climate Model Projections

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tryby, M.; Fries, J. S.; Baranowski, C.

2014-12-01

Extreme precipitation events can cause significant impacts to drinking water and wastewater utilities, including facility damage, water quality impacts, service interruptions and potential risks to human health and the environment due to localized flooding and combined sewer overflows (CSOs). These impacts will become more pronounced with the projected increases in frequency and intensity of extreme precipitation events due to climate change. To model the impacts of extreme precipitation events, wastewater utilities often develop Intensity, Duration, and Frequency (IDF) rainfall curves and "design storms" for use in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Storm Water Management Model (SWMM). Wastewater utilities use SWMM for planning, analysis, and facility design related to stormwater runoff, combined and sanitary sewers, and other drainage systems in urban and non-urban areas. SWMM tracks (1) the quantity and quality of runoff made within each sub-catchment; and (2) the flow rate, flow depth, and quality of water in each pipe and channel during a simulation period made up of multiple time steps. In its current format, EPA SWMM does not consider climate change projection data. Climate change may affect the relationship between intensity, duration, and frequency described by past rainfall events. Therefore, EPA is integrating climate projection data available in the Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool (CREAT) into SWMM. CREAT is a climate risk assessment tool for utilities that provides downscaled climate change projection data for changes in the amount of rainfall in a 24-hour period for various extreme precipitation events (e.g., from 5-year to 100-year storm events). Incorporating climate change projections into SWMM will provide wastewater utilities with more comprehensive data they can use in planning for future storm events, thereby reducing the impacts to the utility and customers served from flooding and stormwater issues.

24 CFR 945.103 - General policies.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... will not be housed in a designated project, PHAs shall utilize housing resources that they own, control... utilize, to the extent practicable, any housing facilities that they own or control in which supportive... housing, group homes, and congregate housing. (3) Exemption of mixed population projects. A PHA with a...

24 CFR 945.103 - General policies.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... will not be housed in a designated project, PHAs shall utilize housing resources that they own, control... utilize, to the extent practicable, any housing facilities that they own or control in which supportive... housing, group homes, and congregate housing. (3) Exemption of mixed population projects. A PHA with a...

24 CFR 945.103 - General policies.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... will not be housed in a designated project, PHAs shall utilize housing resources that they own, control... utilize, to the extent practicable, any housing facilities that they own or control in which supportive... housing, group homes, and congregate housing. (3) Exemption of mixed population projects. A PHA with a...

24 CFR 945.103 - General policies.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... will not be housed in a designated project, PHAs shall utilize housing resources that they own, control... utilize, to the extent practicable, any housing facilities that they own or control in which supportive... housing, group homes, and congregate housing. (3) Exemption of mixed population projects. A PHA with a...

24 CFR 945.103 - General policies.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... will not be housed in a designated project, PHAs shall utilize housing resources that they own, control... utilize, to the extent practicable, any housing facilities that they own or control in which supportive... housing, group homes, and congregate housing. (3) Exemption of mixed population projects. A PHA with a...

What’s Needed from Climate Modeling to Advance Actionable Science for Water Utilities?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barsugli, J. J.; Anderson, C. J.; Smith, J. B.; Vogel, J. M.

2009-12-01

“…perfect information on climate change is neither available today nor likely to be available in the future, but … over time, as the threats climate change poses to our systems grow more real, predicting those effects with greater certainty is non-discretionary. We’re not yet at a level at which climate change projections can drive climate change adaptation.” (Testimony of WUCA Staff Chair David Behar to the House Committee on Science and Technology, May 5, 2009) To respond to this challenge, the Water Utility Climate Alliance (WUCA) has sponsored a white paper titled “Options for Improving Climate Modeling to Assist Water Utility Planning for Climate Change. ” This report concerns how investments in the science of climate change, and in particular climate modeling and downscaling, can best be directed to help make climate projections more actionable. The meaning of “model improvement” can be very different depending on whether one is talking to a climate model developer or to a water manager trying to incorporate climate projections in to planning. We first surveyed the WUCA members on present and potential uses of climate model projections and on climate inputs to their various system models. Based on those surveys and on subsequent discussions, we identified four dimensions along which improvement in modeling would make the science more “actionable”: improved model agreement on change in key parameters; narrowing the range of model projections; providing projections at spatial and temporal scales that match water utilities system models; providing projections that water utility planning horizons. With these goals in mind we developed four options for improving global-scale climate modeling and three options for improving downscaling that will be discussed. However, there does not seem to be a single investment - the proverbial “magic bullet” -- which will substantially reduce the range of model projections at the scales at which utility planning is conducted. In the near term we feel strongly that water utilities and climate scientists should work together to leverage the upcoming Coupled Model Intercomparison Project, Phase 5 (CMIP5; a coordinated set climate model experiments that will be used to support the upcoming IPCC Fifth Assessment) to better benefit water utilities. In the longer term, even with model and downscaling improvements, it is very likely that substantial uncertainty about future climate change at the desired spatial and temporal scales will remain. Nonetheless, there is no doubt the climate is changing, and the challenge is to work with what we have, or what we can reasonably expect to have in the coming years to make the best decisions we can.

THE PEACE CORPS EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION (ETV) PROJECT IN COLOMBIA--TWO YEARS OF RESEARCH. RESEARCH REPORT NO. 2, THE PROJECT'S FIRST SEMESTER--PUPIL ACHIEVEMENT, TEACHER ATTITUDES, AND THE WORK OF THE UTILIZATION VOLUNTEER.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

COMSTOCK, GEORGE; MACCOBY, NATHAN

THE PEACE CORPS (ETV) PROJECT IN COLOMBIA ENCOUNTERED PROBLEMS IN TV PRODUCTION, INSTALLATION, MAINTENANCE, UTILIZATION OF TELEVISED INSTRUCTION, AND LEADERSHIP. BY JUNE OF THE FIRST SEMESTER TELEVISED ELEMENTARY INSTRUCTION INCLUDED ABOUT 390 SCHOOLS, 2,000 TEACHERS, AND 60,000 PUIPLS. EXTENSIVE RESEARCH INTENDED TO PROVIDE A BASIS FOR CORRECTIVE…

Estimating the Energy, Demand and Cost Savings from a Geothermal Heat Pump ESPC Project at Fort Polk, LA Through Utility Bill Analysis.

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

Shonder, John A; Hughes, Patrick

2006-01-01

Energy savings performance contracts (ESPCs) are a method of financing energy conservation projects using the energy cost savings generated by the conservation measures themselves. Ideally, reduced energy costs are visible as reduced utility bills, but in fact this is not always the case. On large military bases, for example, a single electric meter typically covers hundreds of individual buildings. Savings from an ESPC involving only a small number of these buildings will have little effect on the overall utility bill. In fact, changes in mission, occupancy, and energy prices could cause substantial increases in utility bills. For this reason, other,more » more practical, methods have been developed to measure and verify savings in ESPC projects. Nevertheless, increasing utility bills--when ESPCs are expected to be reducing them--are problematic and can lead some observers to question whether savings are actually being achieved. In this paper, the authors use utility bill analysis to determine energy, demand, and cost savings from an ESPC project that installed geothermal heat pumps in the family housing areas of the military base at Fort Polk, Louisiana. The savings estimates for the first year after the retrofits were found to be in substantial agreement with previous estimates that were based on submetered data. However, the utility bills also show that electrical use tended to increase as time went on. Since other data show that the energy use in family housing has remained about the same over the period, the authors conclude that the savings from the ESPC have persisted, and increases in electrical use must be due to loads unassociated with family housing. This shows that under certain circumstances, and with the proper analysis, utility bills can be used to estimate savings from ESPC projects. However, these circumstances are rare and over time the comparison may be invalidated by increases in energy use in areas unaffected by the ESPC.« less

Electronic Mentoring of LIS Research Utilizing BITNET: An ACRL Pilot Project.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gregory, Vicki L.

1992-01-01

Describes an ACRL (American College and Research Libraries) project that utilized the electronic conferencing facility of BITNET to provide a system of mentoring for academic librarians conducting research. Results of an electronic mail survey of participants that examined experience levels, attitudes, problems, and communication patterns are…

77 FR 41369 - Dairyland Power Cooperative: CapX 2020 Hampton-Rochester-La Crosse Transmission Line Project

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-07-13

... DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Rural Utilities Service Dairyland Power Cooperative: CapX 2020 Hampton-Rochester-La Crosse Transmission Line Project AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of Availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement. SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Rural...

76 FR 78235 - Dairyland Power Cooperative: CapX 2020 Hampton-Rochester-La Crosse Transmission Line Project

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-12-16

... DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Rural Utilities Service Dairyland Power Cooperative: CapX 2020 Hampton-Rochester-La Crosse Transmission Line Project AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Notice of Public Hearings. SUMMARY: Notice is hereby...

77 FR 2268 - Dairyland Power Cooperative: CapX 2020 Hampton-Rochester-La Crosse Transmission Line Project

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-01-17

... DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Rural Utilities Service Dairyland Power Cooperative: CapX 2020 Hampton-Rochester-La Crosse Transmission Line Project AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of intent to extend public comment period for a Draft Environmental Impact Statement. SUMMARY: Notice is...

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

Wissemann, Chris; White, Stanley M

The primary objective of the project was to develop a innovative Gravity Base Foundation (GBF) concepts, including fabrication yards, launching systems and installation equipment, for a 500MW utility scale project in the Great Lakes (Lake Erie). The goal was to lower the LCOE by 25%. The project was the first to investigate an offshore wind project in the Great Lakes and it has furthered the body of knowledge for foundations and installation methods within Lake Erie. The project collected historical geotechnical information for Lake Erie and also used recently obtained data from the LEEDCo Icebreaker Project (FOA DE-EE0005989) geotechnical programmore » to develop the conceptual designs. Using these data-sets, the project developed design wind and wave conditions from actual buoy data in order to develop a concept that would de-risk a project using a GBF. These wind and wave conditions were then utilized to create reference designs for various foundations specific to installation in Lake Erie. A project partner on the project (Weeks Marine) provided input for construction and costing the GBF fabrication and installation. By having a marine contractor with experience with large marine projects as part of the team provides credibility to the LCOE developed by NREL. NREL then utilized the design and construction costing information as part of the LCOE model. The report summarizes the findings of the project; Developed a cost model and “baseline” LCOE; Documented Site Conditions within Lake Erie; Developed Fabrication, Installation and Foundations Innovative Concept Designs; Evaluated LCOE Impact of Innovations; Developed Assembly line “Rail System” for GBF Construction and Staging; Developed Transit-Inspired Foundation Designs which incorporated: Semi-Floating Transit with Supplemental Pontoons Barge mounted Winch System; Developed GBF with “Penetration Skirt”; Developed Integrated GBF with Turbine Tower; Developed Turbine, Plant Layout and O&M Strategies. The report details lowering LCOE by 22.3% and identified additional strategies that could further lower LCOE when building an utility scale wind farm in the Great Lakes.« less

Projections in donor organs available for liver transplantation in the United States: 2014-2025.

PubMed

Parikh, Neehar D; Hutton, David; Marrero, Wesley; Sanghani, Kunal; Xu, Yongcai; Lavieri, Mariel

2015-06-01

With the aging US population, demographic shifts, and obesity epidemic, there is potential for further exacerbation of the current liver donor shortage. We aimed to project the availability of liver grafts in the United States. We performed a secondary analysis of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network database of all adult donors from 2000 to 2012 and calculated the total number of donors available and transplanted donor livers stratified by age, race, and body mass index (BMI) group per year. We used National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention historical data to stratify the general population by age, sex, race, and BMI. We then used US population age and race projections provided by the US Census Bureau and the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service and made national and regional projections of available donors and donor liver utilization from 2014 to 2025. We performed sensitivity analyses and varied the rate of the rise in obesity, proportion of Hispanics, population growth, liver utilization rate, and donation after cardiac death (DCD) utilization. The projected adult population growth in the United States from 2014 to 2025 will be 7.1%. However, we project that there will be a 6.1% increase in the number of used liver grafts. There is marked regional heterogeneity in liver donor growth. Projections were significantly affected by changes in BMI, DCD utilization, and liver utilization rates but not by changes in the Hispanic proportion of the US population or changes in the overall population growth. Overall population growth will outpace the growth of available donor organs and thus potentially exacerbate the existing liver graft shortage. The projected growth in organs is highly heterogeneous across different United Network for Organ Sharing regions. Focused strategies to increase the liver donor pool are warranted. © 2015 American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.

Strategies to encourage and facilitate utility owner participation in transportation projects : guidebook.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-11-01

Utility accommodation policies around the country provide minimum requirements for the accommodation, adjustment, and maintenance of utility facilities within the highway right of way. Many state rules and guidelines are based on utility accommodatio...

Utility-Scale Solar 2016: An Empirical Analysis of Project Cost, Performance, and Pricing Trends in the United States

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

Bolinger, Mark; Seel, Joachim; LaCommare, Kristina Hamachi

The utility-scale solar sector has led the overall U.S. solar market in terms of installed capacity since 2012. In 2016, the utility-scale sector installed more than 2.5 times as much new capacity as did the residential and commercial sectors combined, and is expected to maintain its dominant position for at least another five years. This report—the fifth edition in an ongoing annual series—provides data-driven analysis of the utility-scale solar project fleet in the United States. We analyze not just installed project prices, but also operating costs, capacity factors, and power purchase agreement ("PPA") prices from a large sample of utility-scalemore » PV and CSP projects throughout the United States. Highlights from this year's edition include the following: Installation Trends: The use of solar tracking devices dominated 2016 installations, at nearly 80% of all new capacity. In a reflection of the ongoing geographic expansion of the market beyond California and the Southwest, the median long-term average insolation level at newly built project sites declined again in 2016. While new fixed-tilt projects are now seen predominantly in less-sunny regions, tracking projects are increasingly pushing into these same regions. The median inverter loading ratio has stabilized in 2016 at 1.3 for both tracking and fixed-tilt projects. Installed Prices: Median installed PV project prices within a sizable sample have fallen by two-thirds since the 2007-2009 period, to $2.2/WAC (or $1.7/WDC) for projects completed in 2016. The lowest 20th percentile of projects within our 2016 sample were priced at or below $2.0/WAC, with the lowest-priced projects around $1.5/WAC. Overall price dispersion across the entire sample and across geographic regions decreased significantly in 2016. Operation and Maintenance (“O&M”) Costs: What limited empirical O&M cost data are publicly available suggest that PV O&M costs were in the neighborhood of $18/kWAC-year, or $8/MWh, in 2016. These numbers include only those costs incurred to directly operate and maintain the generating plant. Capacity Factors: The cumulative net AC capacity factors of individual PV projects range widely, from 15.4% to 35.5%, with a sample median of 26.3%. This project-level variation is based on a number of factors, including the strength of the solar resource at the project site, whether the array is mounted at a fixed-tilt or on a tracking mechanism, the inverter loading ratio, degradation, and curtailment. Changes in at least the first three of these factors drove mean capacity factors higher from 2010- to 2013-vintage projects, where they’ve remained fairly steady among both 2014- and 2015-vintage projects as an ongoing increase in the prevalence of tracking has been offset by a build-out of lower resource sites. Meanwhile, several of the newer CSP projects in the United States are struggling to match long-term performance expectations. PPA Prices: Driven by lower installed project prices and improving capacity factors, levelized PPA prices for utility-scale PV have fallen dramatically over time. Most recent PPAs in our sample are priced at or below $50/MWh levelized, with a few priced as aggressively as ~$30/MWh. Though impressive in pace and scale, these falling PPA prices have been offset to some degree by declining wholesale market value within high penetration markets like California, where in 2016 a MWh of solar generation was worth just 83% of a MWh of flat, round-the-clock generation. At the end of 2016, there were at least 121.4 GW of utility-scale solar power capacity within the interconnection queues across the nation. The growth within these queues is widely distributed across all regions of the country: California and the Southeast each account for 23% of the 83.3 GW of solar that first entered the queues in 2016, followed by the Northeast (17%), the Southwest (16%), the Central region (12%), Texas (6%) and the Northwest (3%). The widening geographic distribution of solar projects is a clear sign that the utility-scale market is maturing and expanding outside of its traditional high-insolation comfort zones.« less

Marketing Wood Products: Unit L#4 Grade 6. Project COULD: Career Orientation Utilizing Language Development.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Coos County Intermediate Education District, North Bend, OR.

Project COULD (Career Orientation Utilizing Language Development) was developed as a means of building skills, knowledges, and attitudes on elementary children's previously acquired backgrounds. Children learn to speak the grammar and vocabulary characteristic of the language heard most frequently at home and in the immediate environment. Each…

75 FR 26749 - Public Utility District No.1 of Snohomish County, WA; Notice of Technical Conference for the...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-05-12

... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Project No. 2157-188] Public Utility District No.1 of Snohomish County, WA; Notice of Technical Conference for the Jackson Hydroelectric Project.... Commission staff will hold a technical conference to discuss the proposed license articles submitted by the...

Marketing Fish: Unit F#4 Grade 6. Project COULD: Career Orientation Utilizing Language Development.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Coos County Intermediate Education District, North Bend, OR.

Project COULD (Career Orientation Utilizing Language Development) was developed as a means of building skills, knowledges, and attitudes on elementary children's previously acquired backgrounds. Children learn to speak the grammar and vocabulary characteristic of the language heard most frequently at home and in the immediate environment. A series…

Projections of Science and Engineering Doctorate Supply and Utilization 1982 and 1987.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Science Foundation, Washington, DC. Div. of Science Resources Studies.

This report represents the National Science Foundation's fourth projection analysis of science and engineering doctorate supply and utilization through 1987. The 1979 study incorporates the effect of the domestic market for highly trained science and engineering (S/E) personnel upon the numbers of S/E doctorates awarded by American universities.…

Careers Resource Project Utilizing a Mobile Unit Design. Final Report. Report No. 5-76T-D.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Indiana Vocational Technical Coll., Evansville, IN.

A project was conducted to implement seven objectives: (1) through provision of career information, consultations, and inservice training, offer a systematic, articulated, and comprehensive (K-12) career education program to schools requesting assistance; (2) increase utilization and availability of vocational/career education resources in the…

Harvesting Fish: Unit F#1 Grade 3. Project COULD: Career Orientation Utilizing Language Development.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Coos County Intermediate Education District, North Bend, OR.

Project COULD (Career Orientation Utilizing Language Development) was developed as a means of building skills, knowledges, and attitudes on elementary children's previously acquired backgrounds. Children learn to speak the grammar and vocabulary characteristic of the language heard most frequently at home and in the immediate environment. A series…

AN OPTICAL CHARACTER RECOGNITION RESEARCH AND DEMONSTRATION PROJECT.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

1968

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF PROTOTYPE LIBRARY SYSTEMS WHICH UTILIZE OPTICAL CHARACTER RECOGNITION INPUT HAS CENTERED AROUND OPTICAL PAGE READERS AND DOCUMENT READERS. THE STATE-OF-THE-ART OF BOTH THESE OPTICAL SCANNERS IS SUCH THAT BOTH ARE ACCEPTABLE FOR LIBRARY INPUT PREPARATION. A DEMONSTRATION PROJECT UTILIZING THE TWO TYPES OF READERS, SINCE…

48 CFR 241.102 - Applicability.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... exceed 30 years; (B) 10 U.S.C. 2394a for renewable energy for periods not to exceed 25 years; (C) 10 U.S... regulated utility suppliers. (b)(7) This part does not apply to third party financed projects. However, it may be used for any purchased utility services directly resulting from such projects, including those...

48 CFR 241.102 - Applicability.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... exceed 30 years; (B) 10 U.S.C. 2394a for renewable energy for periods not to exceed 25 years; (C) 10 U.S... regulated utility suppliers. (b)(7) This part does not apply to third party financed projects. However, it may be used for any purchased utility services directly resulting from such projects, including those...

48 CFR 241.102 - Applicability.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... exceed 30 years; (B) 10 U.S.C. 2394a for renewable energy for periods not to exceed 25 years; (C) 10 U.S... regulated utility suppliers. (b)(7) This part does not apply to third party financed projects. However, it may be used for any purchased utility services directly resulting from such projects, including those...

Forecasts for NOAA Marine Sanctuaries

Science.gov Websites

/Forecast The Gray's Reef Sea Turtle Satellite Tagging Project utilizes satellite transmitter tags to Synopsis/Forecast(0-20nm) Synopsis/Forecast(20-60nm) The Gray's Reef Sea Turtle Satellite Tagging Project utilizes satellite transmitter tags to monitor adult and juvenile loggerhead sea click image for more

Feasibility Study of Coal Gasification/Fuel Cell/Cogeneration Project. Fort Greely, Alaska Site. Project Description,

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-11-01

Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act ( PURPA ) criteria for classification as a "Qualifying Facility" (QF). 11. Visual effect of intermittent...the public utility of electric power produced by the cogenerator. The operating standard of PURPA requires that a new QF must produce at least 5% of

Harvesting Shellfish: Unit F#2 Grade 4. Project COULD: Career Orientation Utilizing Language Development.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Coos County Intermediate Education District, North Bend, OR.

Project COULD (Career Orientation Utilizing Language Development) was developed as a means of building skills, knowledges, and attitudes on elementary children's previously acquired backgrounds. Children begin to speak the grammar and vocabulary characteristic of the language heard most frequently at home and in the immediate environment. A series…

Seafood Processing: Unit F#3 Grade 5. Project COULD: Career Orientation Utilizing Language Development.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Coos County Intermediate Education District, North Bend, OR.

Project COULD (Career Orientation Utilizing Language Development) was developed as a means of building skills, knowledges, and attitudes on elementary children's previously acquired backgrounds. Children learn to speak the grammar and vocabulary characteristic of the language heard most frequently at home and in the immediate environment. A series…

NASA In-Situ Resource Utilization Project-and Seals Challenges

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sacksteder, Kurt; Linne, Diane

2006-01-01

A viewgraph presentation on NASA's In-Situ Resource Utilization Project and Seals Challenges is shown. The topics include: 1) What Are Space Resources?; 2) Space Resource Utilization for Exploration; 3) ISRU Enables Affordable, Sustainable & Flexible Exploration; 4) Propellant from the Moon Could Revolutionize Space Transportation; 5) NASA ISRU Capability Roadmap Study, 2005; 6) Timeline for ISRU Capability Implementation; 7) Lunar ISRU Implementation Approach; 8) ISRU Technical-to-Mission Capability Roadmap; 9) ISRU Resources & Products of Interest; and 10) Challenging Seals Requirements for ISRU.

Liquefaction chemistry and kinetics: Hydrogen utilization studies

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

Rothenberger, K.S.; Warzinski, R.P.; Cugini, A.V.

1995-12-31

The objectives of this project are to investigate the chemistry and kinetics that occur in the initial stages of coal liquefaction and to determine the effects of hydrogen pressure, catalyst activity, and solvent type on the quantity and quality of the products produced. The project comprises three tasks: (1) preconversion chemistry and kinetics, (2) hydrogen utilization studies, and (3) assessment of kinetic models for liquefaction. The hydrogen utilization studies work will be the main topic of this report. However, the other tasks are briefly described.

Hazard Mitigation Assistance Programs Available to Water and Wastewater Utilities

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

You can prevent damage to your utility before it occurs. Utilities can implement mitigation projects to better withstand a natural disaster, minimize damage and rapidly recover from disruptions to service.

Development and Application of Intelligence Tests for the Blind: A Research Utilization Conference. Final Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Curtis, W. Scott

The purpose of this project was to inquire into the current status of development, past use, availability, and future planning of intelligence tests for the visually handicapped in relation to the fields of psychological, educational, and vocational counseling. The project procedure was that of a research utilization conference involving the…

7 CFR 906.137 - Handlers use of identifying marks utilized by the committee in promotional and advertising projects.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 8 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Handlers use of identifying marks utilized by the committee in promotional and advertising projects. 906.137 Section 906.137 Agriculture Regulations of the Department of Agriculture (Continued) AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE (Marketing Agreements and Orders; Fruits, Vegetables, Nuts), DEPARTMENT OF...

El Portal Latino Alzheimer's Project: Model Program for Latino Caregivers of Alzheimer's Disease-Affected People.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Aranda, Maria P.; Villa, Valentine M.; Trejo, Laura; Ramirez, Rosa; Ranney, Martha

2003-01-01

Describes the El Portal Latino Alzheimer's Project--a dementia-specific outreach and services program targeting Latino caregivers in the Los Angeles area. Results of an evaluation of service utilization indicate a reduction in barriers to care and an increase in services utilization. Implications for social work practice are discussed. (Contains…

Analysis of debt leveraging in private power projects. Revision

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

Kahn, E.P.; Meal, M.; Doerrer, S.

1992-08-01

As private power (non-utility generation) has grown to become a significant part of the electricity system, increasing concern about its financial implications has arisen. In many cases, the source of this concern has been the substantial reliance of these projects on debt financing. This study examines debt leveraging in private power projects. The policy debate on these issues has typically been conducted at a high level of generality. Critics of the private power industry assert that high debt leveraging confers an unfair competitive advantage by lowering the cost of capital, and that this leveraging is only possible because risks aremore » shifted to the utility. Further, debt leveraging is claimed to be a threat to reliability. On the opposite side, it is argued that debt leveraging imposes costs and obligations not home by utilities, and so there is no financial advantage. The private producers also argue that on balance more risk is shifted away from utilities than to them, and that incentives for reliability are strong. In this study we examine the project finance mechanisms used in private power lending in detail, relying on a sample of actual loan documents. This review and its findings should be relevant to the further evolution of this debate. State regulatory commissions are likely to be interested in it, and Federal legislation to amend the Public Utility Holding Company Act (PUHCA) could require states to consider the implications of debt leveraging in relation to their oversight of utility power purchase programs.« less

Analysis of debt leveraging in private power projects

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

Kahn, E.P.; Meal, M.; Doerrer, S.

1992-08-01

As private power (non-utility generation) has grown to become a significant part of the electricity system, increasing concern about its financial implications has arisen. In many cases, the source of this concern has been the substantial reliance of these projects on debt financing. This study examines debt leveraging in private power projects. The policy debate on these issues has typically been conducted at a high level of generality. Critics of the private power industry assert that high debt leveraging confers an unfair competitive advantage by lowering the cost of capital, and that this leveraging is only possible because risks aremore » shifted to the utility. Further, debt leveraging is claimed to be a threat to reliability. On the opposite side, it is argued that debt leveraging imposes costs and obligations not home by utilities, and so there is no financial advantage. The private producers also argue that on balance more risk is shifted away from utilities than to them, and that incentives for reliability are strong. In this study we examine the project finance mechanisms used in private power lending in detail, relying on a sample of actual loan documents. This review and its findings should be relevant to the further evolution of this debate. State regulatory commissions are likely to be interested in it, and Federal legislation to amend the Public Utility Holding Company Act (PUHCA) could require states to consider the implications of debt leveraging in relation to their oversight of utility power purchase programs.« less

24 CFR 990.185 - Utilities expense level: Incentives for energy conservation/rate reduction.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

...) Utility benchmarking. HUD will pursue benchmarking utility consumption at the project level as part of the... convene a meeting with representation of appropriate stakeholders to review utility benchmarking options so that HUD may determine whether or how to implement utility benchmarking to be effective in FY 2011...

24 CFR 990.185 - Utilities expense level: Incentives for energy conservation/rate reduction.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

...) Utility benchmarking. HUD will pursue benchmarking utility consumption at the project level as part of the... convene a meeting with representation of appropriate stakeholders to review utility benchmarking options so that HUD may determine whether or how to implement utility benchmarking to be effective in FY 2011...

Final Technical Report for Contract No. DE-EE0006332, "Integrated Simulation Development and Decision Support Tool-Set for Utility Market and Distributed Solar Power Generation"

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

Cormier, Dallas; Edra, Sherwin; Espinoza, Michael

This project will enable utilities to develop long-term strategic plans that integrate high levels of renewable energy generation, and to better plan power system operations under high renewable penetration. The program developed forecast data streams for decision support and effective integration of centralized and distributed solar power generation in utility operations. This toolset focused on real time simulation of distributed power generation within utility grids with the emphasis on potential applications in day ahead (market) and real time (reliability) utility operations. The project team developed and demonstrated methodologies for quantifying the impact of distributed solar generation on core utility operations,more » identified protocols for internal data communication requirements, and worked with utility personnel to adapt the new distributed generation (DG) forecasts seamlessly within existing Load and Generation procedures through a sophisticated DMS. This project supported the objectives of the SunShot Initiative and SUNRISE by enabling core utility operations to enhance their simulation capability to analyze and prepare for the impacts of high penetrations of solar on the power grid. The impact of high penetration solar PV on utility operations is not only limited to control centers, but across many core operations. Benefits of an enhanced DMS using state-of-the-art solar forecast data were demonstrated within this project and have had an immediate direct operational cost savings for Energy Marketing for Day Ahead generation commitments, Real Time Operations, Load Forecasting (at an aggregate system level for Day Ahead), Demand Response, Long term Planning (asset management), Distribution Operations, and core ancillary services as required for balancing and reliability. This provided power system operators with the necessary tools and processes to operate the grid in a reliable manner under high renewable penetration.« less

Economic and Technical Feasibility Study of Utility-Scale Wind Generation for the New York Buffalo River and South Buffalo Brownfield Opportunity Areas

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

Roberts, J. O.; Mosey, G.

2014-04-01

Through the RE-Powering America's Land initiative, the economic and technical feasibility of utilizing contaminated lands in the Buffalo, New York, area for utility-scale wind development is explored. The study found that there is available land, electrical infrastructure, wind resource, and local interest to support a commercial wind project; however, economies of scale and local electrical markets may need further investigation before significant investment is made into developing a wind project at the Buffalo Reuse Authority site.

76 FR 59713 - Notice of Submission of Proposed Information Collection to OMB Annual Adjustment Factors (AAF...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-09-27

... subject proposal. Owners of project-based section 8 contracts that utilize the AAF as the method of rent.... Description of the Need for the Information and its Proposed Use: Owners of project-based section 8 contracts that utilize the AAF as the method of rent adjustment provide this information which is necessary to...

The Impact of Head Start on Children, Families and Communities. Final Report of the Head Start Evaluation, Synthesis and Utilization Project.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McKey, Ruth Hubbell; And Others

Including all Head Start research (both published and unpublished) and using, when possible, the statistical technique of meta-analysis, this final report of the Head Start Evaluation, Synthesis, and Utilization Project presents findings on the impact of Head Start on children's cognitive and socioemotional development, on child health and health…

Traditional Project Management and the Visual Workplace Environment to Improve Project Success

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fichera, Christopher E.

2016-01-01

A majority of large IT projects fail to meet scheduled deadlines, are over budget and do not satisfy the end user. Many projects fail in spite of utilizing traditional project management techniques. Research of project management has not identified the use of a visual workspace as a feature affecting or influencing the success of a project during…

Implementing PURPA : Renewable Resource Development in the Pacific Northwest : Executive Summary.

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

Washington State Energy Office.

The Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) of 1979 requires that electrical utilities interconnect with qualifying facilities (QFs) and purchase electricity at a rate based upon their full avoided cost of providing both capacity and energy. Facilities that qualify for PURPA benefits include solar or geothermal electric units, hydropower, municipal solid waste or biomass-fired power plants, and cogeneration projects that satisfy maximum size, fuel use, ownership, location, and/or efficiency criteria. The mandate of PURPA, coupled with the electrical energy deficits projected to occur in the Pacific Northwest by the mid 1980s, led to resurgence of interest in the development ofmore » small, decentralized, non-utility owned and operated generating stations. A variety of would-be developers conducted feasibility studies and initiated environmental permitting and power marketing discussions with appropriate authorities. While many proposed PURPA projects fill by the wayside, others were successfully brought on-line. A variety of public and private sector developers, including cities, counties, irrigation districts, utilities, ranchers, timber companies, and food processing plants, successfully negotiated PURPA-based, or share-the-savings'' power purchase contracts. Other developers run their meter backwards'' or provide energy to their local utilities at the same rate that would otherwise be paid to Bonneville. This document provides a summary resource development of these renewable projects in the Pacific Northwest.« less

The Use of Social Media and Mobile applications in content delivery for the MY NASA DATA and SCOOL Projects in support of Education and Outreach Initiatives

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lewis, P. M.; Oostra, D.; Moore, S. W.; Crecelius, S. A.

2011-12-01

So you have a social media site for the project you are working on. Now what? How do you know if you are reaching your target audience? What are the demographics of those that you are reaching? These are just a few of the questions to ask when venturing into the social media world as a way to further your outreach opportunities. With this important information you will have the ability to make small changes "on the fly", or to switch focus to other Web 2.0 tools for the project. An important aspect to social media tools as an outreach strategy is the ease of development and implementation for use in reaching your targeted audience. They are also equally easy to remove from use. This allows a project to shift to a new method of communication should your metrics point you in that direction. The MY NASA DATA (MND) project enables K-12 teachers, students and citizen scientists to explore the large volumes of satellite data that NASA collects from space. With the large number of interactions that surround conference and outreach meetings, social media plays several important roles in the project. The main function of social media is to be an open channel for communication and discovery of the project. The other important role is as a vehicle to share new information, media and other useful educational tools. With a target age of middle school and older, the MY NASA DATA project is able to effectively utilize a wide variety of social media tools through proper monitoring of metrics and usage. Some of the social media tools utilized by the MY NASA DATA project include, Facebook, YouTube and the Observe Your World blog. Students' Clouds Observations On-Line (S'COOL) is a hands-on project, which supports NASA research on the Earth's climate. Students are engaged in identifying cloud-types and levels and sending that information to NASA. Since the topic of clouds is a popular one in many elementary curricula, the target age for the S'COOL project is younger than that of the MND project. This brings in the need for the proper selection of a social media tool that is age-appropriate for the students, should they choose to participate. As with the MND project, there has been proper utilization of social media through careful selection and monitoring of the associated metrics. The NASA CERES S'COOL project utilizes YouTube, Flickr, and is also included in the Observe Your World blog to reach out to current and perspective participants. Through the utilization of social media tools, the MY NASA DATA and S'COOL projects are able to keep the participating audiences involved and informed. In general, the use of Web 2.0 and mobile applications has allowed the projects to keep participants engaged in and up-to-date with current information. With the planned implementation of mobile applications to assist in content delivery and data submission, participants will have a mobile, easy to utilize source of scientific data and information. By monitoring current media tools metrics, we are able to monitor use and ingestion of information. The use of such tools and metrics allows us to better serve our target audience and shift focus, if needed, to the most up-to-date and popular social media tools.

Correlational Study of Risk Management and Information Technology Project Success

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gillespie, Seth J.

2014-01-01

Many IT projects fail despite the best efforts to keep these projects within budget, schedule, and scope. Few studies have looked at the effect of project risk management tools and techniques on project success. The primary focus of this study was to examine the extent to which utilization of project risk management processes influence project…

Austin Energy: Pumping System Improvement Project Saves Energy and Improves Performance at a Power Plant

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

Not Available

2005-06-01

This two-page performance spotlight describes how, in 2004, Austin Energy (the electric utility for the city of Austin, Texas) began saving about $1.2 million in energy and maintenance costs annually as a direct result of a pumping system efficiency project. The project was designed to improve the efficiency of the circulating water pumping system serving the utility's 405-MW steam turbine. A U.S. Department of Energy Qualified Pumping System Assessment Tool Specialist at Flowserve Corporation assisted in the initial assessment of the system.

48 CFR 1452.237-71 - Utilization of Woody Biomass.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... Biomass. 1452.237-71 Section 1452.237-71 Federal Acquisition Regulations System DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR... Utilization of Woody Biomass. As prescribed in § 1437.7202, insert the following clause: Utilization of Woody Biomass (MAY 2005) (a) The contractor may remove and utilize woody biomass, if: (1) Project work is...

Capital Improvement Program Environmental Assessment, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-09-01

utility extension structures would be designed to avoid crossing wetlands to the extent feasible. If a project necessitates a wetlands utility... crossing , horizontal boring techniques would be used to route the utility under the wetlands. Because horizontal boring effectively avoids disturbance...utilized if the utility extension would involve crossing a roadway. • All new utility equipment would be polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) free

NASA's In-Situ Resource Utilization Project: Current Accomplishments and Exciting Future Plans

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Larson, William E.; Sanders, Gerald B.; Sacksteder, Kurt R.

2010-01-01

The utilization of Space resources has been identified in publications for over 40 years for its potential as a "game changing" technology for the human exploration of Space. It is called "game changing" because of the mass leverage possible when local resources at the exploration destination arc used to reduce or even eliminate resources that are brought from the Earth. NASA, under the Exploration Technology Development Program has made significant investments in the development of Space resource utilization technologies as a part of the In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) project. Over the last four years, the ISRU project has taken what was essentially an academic topic with lots of experimentation but little engineering and produced near-full-scale systems that have been demonstrated. In 2008 & again in early 2010, systems that could produce oxygen from lunar soils (or their terrestrial analogs) were tested at a lunar analog site on a volcano in Hawaii. These demonstrations included collaborations with International Partners that made significant contributions to the tests. The proposed federal budget for Fiscal Year 2011 encourages the continued development and demonstration of ISRU. However it goes beyond what the project is currently doing and directs that the scope of the project be expanded to cover destinations throughout the inner solar system with the potential for night demonstrations. This paper will briefly cover the past accomplishments of the ISRU project then move to a di scussion of the plans for the project's future as NASA moves to explore a new paradigm for Space Exploration that includes orbital fuel depots and even refueling on other planetary bodies in the solar system.

Commercialization of PV-powered pumping systems for use in utility PV service programs. Final report

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

NONE

1997-03-01

The project described in this report was a commercialization effort focused on cost-effective remote water pumping systems for use in utility-based photovoltaic (PV) service programs. The project combined a commercialization strategy tailored specifically for electric utilities with the development of a PV-powered pumping system that operates conventional ac pumps rather than relying on the more expensive and less reliable PV pumps on the market. By combining these two attributes, a project goal was established of creating sustained utility purchases of 250 PV-powered water pumping systems per year. The results of each of these tasks are presented in two parts containedmore » in this Final Summary Report. The first part summarizes the results of the Photovoltaic Services Network (PSN) as a new business venture, while the second part summarizes the results of the Golden Photon system installations. Specifically, results and photographs from each of the system installations are presented in this latter part.« less

The LiveWire Project final report

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

Brown, C.D.; Nelson, T.T.; Kelly, J.C.

Utilities across the US have begun pilot testing a variety of hardware and software products to develop a two-way communications system between themselves and their customers. Their purpose is to reduce utility operating costs and to provide new and improved services for customers in light of pending changes in the electric industry being brought about by deregulation. A consortium including utilities, national labs, consultants, and contractors, with the support of the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), initiated a project that utilized a hybrid fiber-coax (HFC) wide-area network integrated with a CEBus based local areamore » network within the customers home. The system combined energy consumption data taken within the home, and home automation features to provide a suite of energy management services for residential customers. The information was transferred via the Internet through the HFC network, and presented to the customer on their personal computer. This final project report discusses the design, prototype testing, and system deployment planning of the energy management system.« less

24 CFR 241.555 - Security instrument and lien.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... AUTHORITIES SUPPLEMENTARY FINANCING FOR INSURED PROJECT MORTGAGES Eligibility Requirements-Supplemental Loans... Individual Utility Meters in Multifamily Projects Without a HUD-Insured or HUD-Held Mortgage Eligible... entire property included in the project, shall be a lien on the real property of the project under the...

Projects in eastern Canada encounter strong opposition. [Hydroelectric power plants planned

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

Carr, F.H.

1993-09-13

At the end of August, Quebec's provincial utility submitted a long-awaited environmental impact statement on its proposed Great Whale project near Hudson Bay. It faces opposition, as does a big project planned in Labrador. Hydro-Quebec's EIS says its $10-billion, 3,210-Mw project [open quotes]would have impacts that are generally moderate and localized, and that can be mitigated,[close quotes] according to a utility spokeswoman. But environmental and Native American groups opposed to the project say its three powerhouses on the Great Whale River and 600 sq miles of new impoundments would destroy hunting and fishing areas and mar the environment. Five federalmore » and provincial review panels will determine over the next several weeks if the EIS meets their requirements.« less

NASA technology utilization applications. [transfer of medical sciences

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1973-01-01

The work is reported from September 1972 through August 1973 by the Technology Applications Group of the Science Communication Division (SCD), formerly the Biological Sciences Communication Project (BSCP) in the Department of Medical and Public Affairs of the George Washington University. The work was supportive of many aspects of the NASA Technology Utilization program but in particular those dealing with Biomedical and Technology Application Teams, Applications Engineering projects, new technology reporting and documentation and transfer activities. Of particular interest are detailed reports on the progress of various hardware projects, and suggestions and criteria for the evaluation of candidate hardware projects. Finally some observations about the future expansion of the TU program are offered.

THE COMPUTER AS A MANAGEMENT TOOL--PHYSICAL FACILITIES INVENTORIES, UTILIZATION, AND PROJECTIONS. 11TH ANNUAL MACHINE RECORDS CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS (UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE, KNOXVILLE, APRIL 25-27, 1966).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

WITMER, DAVID R.

WISCONSIN STATE UNIVERSITIES HAVE BEEN USING THE COMPUTER AS A MANAGEMENT TOOL TO STUDY PHYSICAL FACILITIES INVENTORIES, SPACE UTILIZATION, AND ENROLLMENT AND PLANT PROJECTIONS. EXAMPLES ARE SHOWN GRAPHICALLY AND DESCRIBED FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF ANALYSIS, SHOWING THE CARD FORMAT, CODING SYSTEMS, AND PRINTOUT. EQUATIONS ARE PROVIDED FOR DETERMINING…

The Remle Project: A Study Utilizing the iPad with Families of Individuals Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vasquez-Terry, Teresa LaDoan

2013-01-01

The purpose of The REMLE Project was to develop a best practices model for using the iPad as an assistive technology device with families of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Implementation of a double-blind, randomized control trial during a six-week intervention utilizing the iPad was measured for effectiveness in empowerment, social…

Computer Aided Management for Information Processing Projects.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Akman, Ibrahim; Kocamustafaogullari, Kemal

1995-01-01

Outlines the nature of information processing projects and discusses some project management programming packages. Describes an in-house interface program developed to utilize a selected project management package (TIMELINE) by using Oracle Data Base Management System tools and Pascal programming language for the management of information system…

Op-Amps as Building Blocks in an Undergraduate Project-Type Electronics Lab

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Babcock, L. E.; Vignos, J. H.

1973-01-01

Describes a project-type undergraduate laboratory in electronics which utilizes integrated circuit operational amplifiers. Includes a brief account of ideal and nonideal operational amplifiers and a detailed description of the projects. (DF)

Hydrological Modeling in the Bull Run Watershed in Support of a Piloting Utility Modeling Applications (PUMA) Project

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nijssen, B.; Chiao, T. H.; Lettenmaier, D. P.; Vano, J. A.

2016-12-01

Hydrologic models with varying complexities and structures are commonly used to evaluate the impact of climate change on future hydrology. While the uncertainties in future climate projections are well documented, uncertainties in streamflow projections associated with hydrologic model structure and parameter estimation have received less attention. In this study, we implemented and calibrated three hydrologic models (the Distributed Hydrology Soil Vegetation Model (DHSVM), the Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System (PRMS), and the Variable Infiltration Capacity model (VIC)) for the Bull Run watershed in northern Oregon using consistent data sources and best practice calibration protocols. The project was part of a Piloting Utility Modeling Applications (PUMA) project with the Portland Water Bureau (PWB) under the umbrella of the Water Utility Climate Alliance (WUCA). Ultimately PWB would use the model evaluation to select a model to perform in-house climate change analysis for Bull Run Watershed. This presentation focuses on the experimental design of the comparison project, project findings and the collaboration between the team at the University of Washington and at PWB. After calibration, the three models showed similar capability to reproduce seasonal and inter-annual variations in streamflow, but differed in their ability to capture extreme events. Furthermore, the annual and seasonal hydrologic sensitivities to changes in climate forcings differed among models, potentially attributable to different model representations of snow and vegetation processes.

Wabash River coal gasification repowering project -- first year operation experience

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

Troxclair, E.J.; Stultz, J.

1997-12-31

The Wabash River Coal Gasification Repowering Project (WRCGRP), a joint venture between Destec Energy, Inc. and PSI Energy, Inc., began commercial operation in November of 1995. The Project, selected by the United States Department of Energy (DOE) under the Clean Coal Program (Round IV) represents the largest operating coal gasification combined cycle plant in the world. This Demonstration Project has allowed PSI Energy to repower a 1950`s vintage steam turbine and install a new syngas fired combustion turbine to provide 262 MW (net) of electricity in a clean, efficient manner in a commercial utility setting while utilizing locally mined highmore » sulfur Indiana bituminous coal. In doing so, the Project is also demonstrating some novel technology while advancing the commercialization of integrated coal gasification combined cycle technology. This paper discusses the first year operation experience of the Wabash Project, focusing on the progress towards achievement of the demonstration objectives.« less

Combined Utility/Transportation Tunnel Systems - Economic, Technical and Institutional Feasibility

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1976-07-01

Although utility tunnels are common in Europe and Asia, United States use is largely confined to institutions where all utilities are under single ownership. Cut-and-cover transportation projects appear to display nearly ideal conditions for the use ...

Advanced Grid-Friendly Controls Demonstration Project for Utility-Scale PV Power Plants

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

Gevorgian, Vahan; O'Neill, Barbara

A typical photovoltaic (PV) power plant consists of multiple power electronic inverters and can contribute to grid stability and reliability through sophisticated 'grid-friendly' controls. The availability and dissemination of actual test data showing the viability of advanced utility-scale PV controls among all industry stakeholders can leverage PV's value from being simply an energy resource to providing additional ancillary services that range from variability smoothing and frequency regulation to power quality. Strategically partnering with a selected utility and/or PV power plant operator is a key condition for a successful demonstration project. The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Solar Energy Technologies Officemore » selected the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to be a principal investigator in a two-year project with goals to (1) identify a potential partner(s), (2) develop a detailed scope of work and test plan for a field project to demonstrate the gird-friendly capabilities of utility-scale PV power plants, (3) facilitate conducting actual demonstration tests, and (4) disseminate test results among industry stakeholders via a joint NREL/DOE publication and participation in relevant technical conferences. The project implementation took place in FY 2014 and FY 2015. In FY14, NREL established collaborations with AES and First Solar Electric, LLC, to conduct demonstration testing on their utility-scale PV power plants in Puerto Rico and Texas, respectively, and developed test plans for each partner. Both Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas expressed interest in this project because of the importance of such advanced controls for the reliable operation of their power systems under high penetration levels of variable renewable generation. During FY15, testing was completed on both plants, and a large amount of test data was produced and analyzed that demonstrates the ability of PV power plants to provide various types of new grid-friendly controls.« less

International Cooperation of Space Science and Application in Chinese Manned Space Program

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Ming; Guo, Jiong; Yang, Yang

Early in China Manned Space Program, lots of space science and application projects have been carried out by utilizing the SZ series manned spaceships and the TG-1 spacelab, and remarkable achievements have been attained with the efforts of international partners. Around 2020, China is going to build its space station and carry out space science and application research of larger scale. Along with the scientific utilization plan for Chinese space station, experiment facilities are considered especially for international scientific cooperation, and preparations on international cooperation projects management are made as well. This paper briefs the international scientific cooperation history and achievement in the previous missions of China Manned Space Program. The general resources and facilities that will support potential cooperation projects are then presented. Finally, the international cooperation modes and approaches for utilizing Chinese Space Station are discussed.

A Comprehensive Careers Cluster Curriculum Model. Health Occupations Cluster Curriculum Project and Health-Care Aide Curriculum Project.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bortz, Richard F.

To prepare learning materials for health careers programs at the secondary level, the developmental phase of two curriculum projects--the Health Occupations Cluster Curriculum Project and Health-Care Aide Curriculum Project--utilized a model which incorporated a key factor analysis technique. Entitled "A Comprehensive Careers Cluster Curriculum…

7 CFR 4280.42 - Application evaluation and selection.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... Project plans, its management, and, if applicable, its products and operating plans. (The business plan...) Nature of the Project. Rural Development will award up to 60 points based on whether the Project: (i) Is... connection project (such as streets or utilities)—20 points; (ii) Provides Technical Assistance to rural...

75 FR 61414 - Basin Electric Power Cooperative: South Dakota PrairieWinds Project

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-10-05

... that would feature 101 wind turbine generators; 6,000-square-foot operations and maintenance building... PrairieWinds Project AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of Availability of Record of... Dakota PrairieWind Project (Project) in Aurora, Bule and Jerauld Counties, South Dakota. The...

Projective Drawings of Individuals Grieving the Loss of a Pet

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Packman, Wendy; Kelley, Elizabeth; Rudolph, Brittany; Long, Janet; Wallace, Jo; Hsu, Melanie; Carmack, Betty J.; Field, Nigel

2017-01-01

This study examined the relationship among projective drawings and mental health symptomatology to determine if projective drawings provide clinical utility in pet bereavement. Projective drawings, standardized questionnaires, and clinical interview results were collected from 33 adults grieving the loss of a pet. Drawings were coded into a…

75 FR 36467 - Livability Initiative Under Special Experimental Project No. 14

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-06-25

...] Livability Initiative Under Special Experimental Project No. 14 AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA...). Under this initiative, the FHWA will utilize Special Experimental Project No. 14 (SEP-14) to permit, on... in order to use Federal-aid highway funds. DATES: This new experimental project is being initiated on...

75 FR 36378 - JD Products, LLC; Notice of Preliminary Permit Application Accepted for Filing and Soliciting...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-06-25

... to study the feasibility of the proposed San Onofre OWEG Electricity Farm Project (project). The proposed project would utilize 11,443 Ocean Wave Electricity Generation (OWEG) units, an experimental... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Project No. 13679-000] JD Products, LLC...

Analysis of debt leveraging in private power projects

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

Kahn, E.P.; Meal, M.; Doerrer, S.

1992-08-01

As private power has grown to become a significant part of the electricity system, increasing concern about its financial implications has arisen. In many cases, the source of this concern has been the substantial reliance of these projects on debt financing. This study examines debt leveraging in private power projects. The policy debate on these issues has typically been conducted at a high level of generality. Critics of the private power industry assert that high debt leveraging confers an unfair competitive advantage by lowering the cost of capital. This leveraging is only possible because risks are shifted to the utility.more » Further, debt leveraging is claimed to be a threat to reliability. On the opposite side, it is argued that debt leveraging imposes costs and obligations not borne by utilities, and so there is no financial advantage. The private producers also argue that on balance more risk is shifted away from utilities than to them, and that incentives for reliability are strong. In this study we examine the project finance mechanisms used in private power lending in detail, relying on a sample of actual loan documents. This review and its findings should be relevant to the further evolution of this debate. State regulatory commissions are likely to be interested in it, and Federal legislation to amend the Public Utility Holding Company Act (PUHCA) could require states to consider the implications of debt leveraging in relation to their oversight of utility power purchase programs.« less

Large wind-turbine projects in the United States wind energy program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thomas, R. L.; Robbins, W. H.

1980-01-01

The technological development of large, horizontal-axis wind turbines (100 kW-2500 kW) is surveyed with attention to prototype projects managed by NASA. Technical feasibility has been demonstrated in utility service for systems with a rated power of up to 200 kW and a rotor diameter of 125 ft (Mod-OA). Current designs of large wind turbines such as the 2500 kW Mod-2 are projected to be cost competitive for utility applications when produced in quantity, with capital costs of 600 to 700 dollars per kW (in 1977 dollars).

Advanced Nuclear Technology: Advanced Light Water Reactors Utility Requirements Document Small Modular Reactors Inclusion Summary

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

Loflin, Leonard; McRimmon, Beth

2014-12-18

This report summarizes a project by EPRI to include requirements for small modular light water reactors (smLWR) into the EPRI Utility Requirements Document (URD) for Advanced Light Water Reactors. The project was jointly funded by EPRI and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The report covers the scope and content of the URD, the process used to revise the URD to include smLWR requirements, a summary of the major changes to the URD to include smLWR, and how to use the URD as revised to achieve value on new plant projects.

Wind Technology Modeling Within the System Advisor Model (SAM) (Poster)

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

Blair, N.; Dobos, A.; Ferguson, T.

This poster provides detail for implementation and the underlying methodology for modeling wind power generation performance in the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's (NREL's) System Advisor Model (SAM). SAM's wind power model allows users to assess projects involving one or more large or small wind turbines with any of the detailed options for residential, commercial, or utility financing. The model requires information about the wind resource, wind turbine specifications, wind farm layout (if applicable), and costs, and provides analysis to compare the absolute or relative impact of these inputs. SAM is a system performance and economic model designed to facilitate analysismore » and decision-making for project developers, financers, policymakers, and energy researchers. The user pairs a generation technology with a financing option (residential, commercial, or utility) to calculate the cost of energy over the multi-year project period. Specifically, SAM calculates the value of projects which buy and sell power at retail rates for residential and commercial systems, and also for larger-scale projects which operate through a power purchase agreement (PPA) with a utility. The financial model captures complex financing and rate structures, taxes, and incentives.« less

Optimizing the Prioritization of Natural Disaster Recovery Projects

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-03-01

collection, and basic utility and infrastructure restoration. The restoration of utilities can include temporary bridges, temporary water and sewage lines...interrupted such as in the case of the 9/11 disaster. Perhaps next time our enemies may target our power grid or water systems. It is the duty of...Transportation The amount and type of transportation infrastructure damage a repair project addresses Water The amount and type of water

Utility-Scale Lithium-Ion Storage Cost Projections for Use in Capacity Expansion Models

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

Cole, Wesley J.; Marcy, Cara; Krishnan, Venkat K.

2016-11-21

This work presents U.S. utility-scale battery storage cost projections for use in capacity expansion models. We create battery cost projections based on a survey of literature cost projections of battery packs and balance of system costs, with a focus on lithium-ion batteries. Low, mid, and high cost trajectories are created for the overnight capital costs and the operating and maintenance costs. We then demonstrate the impact of these cost projections in the Regional Energy Deployment System (ReEDS) capacity expansion model. We find that under reference scenario conditions, lower battery costs can lead to increased penetration of variable renewable energy, withmore » solar photovoltaics (PV) seeing the largest increase. We also find that additional storage can reduce renewable energy curtailment, although that comes at the expense of additional storage losses.« less

A Novel Nipple Reconstruction Technique for Maintaining Nipple Projection: The Boomerang Flap

PubMed Central

Kim, Young-Eun; Hong, Ki Yong; Minn, Kyung Won

2016-01-01

Nipple-areolar complex (NAC) reconstruction is the final step in the long journey of breast reconstruction for mastectomy patients. Successful NAC reconstruction depends on the use of appropriate surgical techniques that are simple and reliable. To date, numerous techniques have been used for nipple reconstruction, including contralateral nipple sharing and various local flaps. Recently, it has been common to utilize local flaps. However, the most common nipple reconstruction problem encountered with local flaps is the loss of nipple projection; there can be approximately 50% projection loss in reconstructed nipples over long-term follow-up. Several factors might contribute to nipple projection loss, and we tried to overcome these factors by performing nipple reconstructions using a boomerang flap technique, which is a modified C–V flap that utilizes the previous mastectomy scar to maintain long-term nipple projection. PMID:27689057

A Novel Nipple Reconstruction Technique for Maintaining Nipple Projection: The Boomerang Flap.

PubMed

Kim, Young-Eun; Hong, Ki Yong; Minn, Kyung Won; Jin, Ung Sik

2016-09-01

Nipple-areolar complex (NAC) reconstruction is the final step in the long journey of breast reconstruction for mastectomy patients. Successful NAC reconstruction depends on the use of appropriate surgical techniques that are simple and reliable. To date, numerous techniques have been used for nipple reconstruction, including contralateral nipple sharing and various local flaps. Recently, it has been common to utilize local flaps. However, the most common nipple reconstruction problem encountered with local flaps is the loss of nipple projection; there can be approximately 50% projection loss in reconstructed nipples over long-term follow-up. Several factors might contribute to nipple projection loss, and we tried to overcome these factors by performing nipple reconstructions using a boomerang flap technique, which is a modified C-V flap that utilizes the previous mastectomy scar to maintain long-term nipple projection.

Would-Be Solar Electric Homeowners Sought For Project

Science.gov Websites

photovoltaic power systems connected to local utility grids. A grid-tied rooftop photovoltaic system consists . Excess electricity may be sold back to the utility. At night, or when additional power is needed, the utilities, will assess the market potential and practicality of home photovoltaic systems. The utilities

NREL/SCE High Penetration PV Integration Project: FY13 Annual Report

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

Mather, B. A.; Shah, S.; Norris, B. L.

2014-06-01

In 2010, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Southern California Edison (SCE), Quanta Technology, Satcon Technology Corporation, Electrical Distribution Design (EDD), and Clean Power Research (CPR) teamed to analyze the impacts of high penetration levels of photovoltaic (PV) systems interconnected onto the SCE distribution system. This project was designed specifically to benefit from the experience that SCE and the project team would gain during the installation of 500 megawatts (MW) of utility-scale PV systems (with 1-5 MW typical ratings) starting in 2010 and completing in 2015 within SCE's service territory through a program approved by the California Public Utility Commissionmore » (CPUC). This report provides the findings of the research completed under the project to date.« less

24 CFR 241.640 - Employment discrimination prohibited.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... AUTHORITIES SUPPLEMENTARY FINANCING FOR INSURED PROJECT MORTGAGES Eligibility Requirements-Supplemental Loans... Individual Utility Meters in Multifamily Projects Without a HUD-Insured or HUD-Held Mortgage Special... performance of constructing the improvements to the project shall provide that there shall be no...

The Utilization of Project Management in the Pharmaceutical Industry.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Krusko, Diane; Cangemi, Robert R.

1987-01-01

A survey of 99 pharmaceutical companies concerning their organization and use of project management techniques for research and development found that the industry is using project management increasingly in a variety of ways for better business planning and operations. (MSE)

CAMP LEJEUNE ENERGY FROM WOOD (CLEW) PROJECT

EPA Science Inventory

The paper discusses EPA's Camp Lejeune Energy from Wood (CLEW) project, a demonstration project that converts wood energy to electric power, and provides waste utilization and pollution alleviation. The 1-MWe plant operates a reciprocating engine-generator set on synthetic gas f...

Holistic assessment of a landfill mining pilot project in Austria: Methodology and application.

PubMed

Hermann, Robert; Baumgartner, Rupert J; Vorbach, Stefan; Wolfsberger, Tanja; Ragossnig, Arne; Pomberger, Roland

2016-07-01

Basic technical and economic examinations of Austrian mass waste landfills, concerning the recovery of secondary raw materials, have been carried out by the 'LAMIS - Landfill Mining Austria' pilot project for the first time in Austria. A main focus of the research - the subject of this article - was the first devotion of a pilot landfill to an integrated ecological and economic assessment so that its feasibility could be verified before a landfill mining project commenced. A Styrian mass waste landfill had been chosen for this purpose that had been put into operation in 1979 and received mechanically-biologically pre-treated municipal waste till 2012. The whole assessment procedure was divided into preliminary and main assessment phases to evaluate the general suitability of a landfill mining project with little financial and human resource expense. A portfolio chart, based on a questionnaire, was created for the preliminary assessment that, as a result, has provided a recommendation for subsequent investigation - the main assessment phase. In this case, specific economic criteria were assessed by net present value calculation, while ecological or socio-economic criteria were rated by utility analysis, transferring the result into a utility-net present value chart. In the case of the examined pilot landfill, assessing the landfill mining project produced a higher utility but a lower net present value than a landfill leaving-in for aftercare. Since no clearly preferable scenario could be identified this way, a cost-revenue analysis was carried out in addition that determined a dimensionless ratio: the 'utility - net present value quotient' of both scenarios. Comparing this quotient showed unmistakably that in the overall assessment, 'leaving the landfill in aftercare' was preferable to a 'landfill mining project' in that specific case. © The Author(s) 2016.

24 CFR 965.406 - Benefit/cost analysis for similar projects.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Benefit/cost analysis for similar... Existing PHA-Owned Projects § 965.406 Benefit/cost analysis for similar projects. PHAs with more than one project of similar design and utilities service may prepare a benefit/cost analysis for a representative...

76 FR 63920 - Amnor Hydro West, Inc.; Notice of Preliminary Permit Application Accepted for Filing and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-10-14

... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Project No. 14065-000] Amnor Hydro West... Act (FPA), proposing to study the feasibility of the Clear Creek Dam Hydropower Project (project) to...' express permission. The proposed project would utilize the existing outlet works of the U.S. Bureau of...

Field Trial Results of a 14-channel GPR Integrated with a U.S. Program for 3-D Utility Mapping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anspach, James H.

2013-04-01

Existing underground utilities continue to be a leading cause of highway construction delay claims in the United States. Although 80-90% of existing utilities can typically be discovered and mapped using a wide range of geophysical tools, there is a recognizable need to improve the process. Existing shortcomings to the utility mapping process include a lack of viable depth attributes, long field occupation times, low experience level of the field technicians, and separate survey / geophysics functions. The U.S. National Academies and its Transportation Research Board recently concluded a project on alleviating the existing utility mapping shortcomings through the development of enhanced GPR. An existing commercial 400MHz 14-channel towed array was enhanced with positioning and interpretation hardware and software over a 3-year US 2M program. Field trials for effectiveness were conducted in a city suburb commercialized environment where the relative permittivity values averaged 9.4. The effectiveness of enhanced GPR was compared to traditional utility mapping techniques (Single Channel GPR, FDEM, Acoustic, Sondes, Gradiometric Magnetometers) during the project. The project area utilities included natural gas, water, electric, telephone, cable, storm, sanitary, traffic control, and several unknown function lines. Depths for these utilities were mostly unknown. 81% of known (from records and field appurtenance visual observation) utilities were detected via traditional geophysical means. These traditional geophysical means also detected 14% additional and previously "unknown" utilities. The enhanced GPR detected approximately 40% of the known and unknown utilities, and found an additional 6% of utilities that were previously undetected. These additional utilities were subsequently determined to be small diameter abandoned water and gas systems in very poor and broken condition. Although it did well with metallic water and gas lines, communication and electric utilities were mostly undetectable. Through a ground-truthing program of test holes to expose utilities, the depth values derived from the enhanced GPR were fairly consistent and within 15 cm of actual depth. The incomplete underground picture determined by the enhanced GPR reinforces previous studies that show that the mapping of existing underground utilities is a multi-tool effort that takes highly trained and skilled field technicians and data interpreters. The addition of a new GPR tool is valuable in determining continuous depth profiles of imaged utilities. A second and significant benefit is the interpretation of other geotechnical data that benefit project designers. This might include showing geometry, location, intensity, and depths of either areas of anomalies, or of known structures, such as paving thickness, substrate thickness, voids, water table, soil lenses, boulders, bedrock, and so forth. The Florida Department of Transportation has decided to take advantage of this new technology and has entered into an experimental contract with Cardno TBE to incorporate several enhanced GPR arrays with traditional utility detection tools. The goal of this contract will be to provide a 3-D model of existing underground utilities for use in automated construction. The GPR 3-D data model will be melded with conventional subsurface utility engineering and mapping practices and will be required to follow the ASCE 38 standard for utility data reliability.

Fossil energy program

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McNeese, L. E.

1981-12-01

The progress made during the period from July 1 through September 30 for the Oak Ridge National Laboratory research and development projects in support of the increased utilization of coal and other fossil fuels as sources of clean energy is reported. The following topics are discussed: coal conversion development, chemical research and development, materials technology, fossil energy materials program, liquefaction projects, component development, process analysis, environmental control technology, atmospheric fluidized bed combustion, underground coal gasification, coal preparation and waste utilization.

Emergency Preparedness Education for Nurses: Core Competency Familiarity Measured Utilizing an Adapted Emergency Preparedness Information Questionnaire.

PubMed

Georgino, Madeline M; Kress, Terri; Alexander, Sheila; Beach, Michael

2015-01-01

The purpose of this project was to measure trauma nurse improvement in familiarity with emergency preparedness and disaster response core competencies as originally defined by the Emergency Preparedness Information Questionnaire after a focused educational program. An adapted version of the Emergency Preparedness Information Questionnaire was utilized to measure familiarity of nurses with core competencies pertinent to first responder capabilities. This project utilized a pre- and postsurvey descriptive design and integrated education sessions into the preexisting, mandatory "Trauma Nurse Course" at large, level I trauma center. A total of 63 nurses completed the intervention during May and September 2014 sessions. Overall, all 8 competencies demonstrated significant (P < .001; 98% confidence interval) improvements in familiarity. In conclusion, this pilot quality improvement project demonstrated a unique approach to educating nurses to be more ready and comfortable when treating victims of a disaster.

Utilizing Remote Sensing Data to Ascertain Soil Moisture Applications and Air Quality Conditions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Leptoukh, Gregory; Kempler, Steve; Teng, William; Friedl, Lawrence; Lynnes, Chris

2009-01-01

Recognizing the significance of NASA remote sensing Earth science data in monitoring and better understanding our planet's natural environment, NASA Earth Applied Sciences has implemented the 'Decision Support Through Earth Science Research Results' program. Several applications support systems through collaborations with benefiting organizations have been implemented. The Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (GES DISC) has participated in this program on two projects (one complete, one ongoing), and has had opportune ad hoc collaborations utilizing NASA Earth science data. GES DISC's understanding of Earth science missions and resulting data and information enables the GES DISC to identify challenges that come with bringing science data to research applications. In this presentation we describe applications research projects utilizing NASA Earth science data and a variety of resulting GES DISC applications support system project experiences. In addition, defining metrics that really evaluate success will be exemplified.

41 CFR 109-28.5006 - Utilization.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... AND DISTRIBUTION 28.50-Management of Equipment Held for Future Projects § 109-28.5006 Utilization. It... 41 Public Contracts and Property Management 3 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Utilization. 109-28.5006 Section 109-28.5006 Public Contracts and Property Management Federal Property Management Regulations...

24 CFR 241.630 - Maximum insurance against loss.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... AUTHORITIES SUPPLEMENTARY FINANCING FOR INSURED PROJECT MORTGAGES Eligibility Requirements-Supplemental Loans... Individual Utility Meters in Multifamily Projects Without a HUD-Insured or HUD-Held Mortgage Special...

24 CFR 241.550 - Accumulation of next premium.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... AUTHORITIES SUPPLEMENTARY FINANCING FOR INSURED PROJECT MORTGAGES Eligibility Requirements-Supplemental Loans... Individual Utility Meters in Multifamily Projects Without a HUD-Insured or HUD-Held Mortgage Eligible...

24 CFR 241.586 - Minimum principal loan amount.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... AUTHORITIES SUPPLEMENTARY FINANCING FOR INSURED PROJECT MORTGAGES Eligibility Requirements-Supplemental Loans... Individual Utility Meters in Multifamily Projects Without a HUD-Insured or HUD-Held Mortgage Eligible...

24 CFR 241.535 - Loan multiples-minimum principal.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... AUTHORITIES SUPPLEMENTARY FINANCING FOR INSURED PROJECT MORTGAGES Eligibility Requirements-Supplemental Loans... Individual Utility Meters in Multifamily Projects Without a HUD-Insured or HUD-Held Mortgage Eligible...

Hydrogen tomorrow: Demands and technology requirements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1975-01-01

National needs for hydrogen are projected and the technologies of production, handling, and utilization are evaluated. Research and technology activities required to meet the projected needs are determined.

Project management plan : Dallas Integrated Corridor Management (ICM) demonstration project.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-12-01

The Dallas Integrated Corridor Management System Demonstration Project is a multi-agency, de-centralized operation which will utilize a set of regional systems to integrate the operations of the corridor. The purpose of the Dallas ICM System is to im...

SMUD Community Renewable Energy Deployment Final Report

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

Sison-Lebrilla, Elaine; Tiangco, Valentino; Lemes, Marco

2015-06-08

This report summarizes the completion of four renewable energy installations supported by California Energy Commission (CEC) grant number CEC Grant PIR-11-005, the US Department of Energy (DOE) Assistance Agreement, DE-EE0003070, and the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) Community Renewable Energy Deployment (CRED) program. The funding from the DOE, combined with funding from the CEC, supported the construction of a solar power system, biogas generation from waste systems, and anaerobic digestion systems at dairy facilities, all for electricity generation and delivery to SMUD’s distribution system. The deployment of CRED projects shows that solar projects and anaerobic digesters can be successfully implementedmore » under favorable economic conditions and business models and through collaborative partnerships. This work helps other communities learn how to assess, overcome barriers, utilize, and benefit from renewable resources for electricity generation in their region. In addition to reducing GHG emissions, the projects also demonstrate that solar projects and anaerobic digesters can be readily implemented through collaborative partnerships. This work helps other communities learn how to assess, overcome barriers, utilize, and benefit from renewable resources for electricity generation in their region.« less

Logging utilization research in the Pacific Northwest: residue prediction and unique research challenges

Treesearch

Erik C. Berg; Todd A. Morgan; Eric A. Simmons; Stanley J. Zarnoch

2015-01-01

Logging utilization research results have informed land managers of changes in utilization of forest growing stock for more than 40 years. The logging utilization residue ratio- growing stock residue volume/mill delivered volume- can be applied to historic or projected timber harvest volumes to predict woody residue volumes at varied spatial scales. Researchers at the...

24 CFR 241.585 - Prepayment privileges and prepayment charge.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... AND OTHER AUTHORITIES SUPPLEMENTARY FINANCING FOR INSURED PROJECT MORTGAGES Eligibility Requirements..., and Individual Utility Meters in Multifamily Projects Without a HUD-Insured or HUD-Held Mortgage...

The In-Situ Resource Utilization Project Under the New Exploration Enterprise

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Larson, William E.; Sanders, Gerald B.

2010-01-01

The In Situ Resource Utilization Project under the Exploration Technology Development Program has been investing in technologies to produce Oxygen from the regolith of the moon for the last few years. Much of this work was demonstrated in a lunar analog field demonstration in February of 2010. This paper will provide an overview of the key technologies demonstrated at the field demonstration will be discussed a long with the changes expected in the ISRU project as a result of the new vision for Space Exploration proposed by the President and enacted by the Congress in the NASA Authorization Act of2010.

Computer-assisted map projection research

USGS Publications Warehouse

Snyder, John Parr

1985-01-01

Computers have opened up areas of map projection research which were previously too complicated to utilize, for example, using a least-squares fit to a very large number of points. One application has been in the efficient transfer of data between maps on different projections. While the transfer of moderate amounts of data is satisfactorily accomplished using the analytical map projection formulas, polynomials are more efficient for massive transfers. Suitable coefficients for the polynomials may be determined more easily for general cases using least squares instead of Taylor series. A second area of research is in the determination of a map projection fitting an unlabeled map, so that accurate data transfer can take place. The computer can test one projection after another, and include iteration where required. A third area is in the use of least squares to fit a map projection with optimum parameters to the region being mapped, so that distortion is minimized. This can be accomplished for standard conformal, equalarea, or other types of projections. Even less distortion can result if complex transformations of conformal projections are utilized. This bulletin describes several recent applications of these principles, as well as historical usage and background.

24 CFR 241.645 - Labor standards and prevailing wage requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... AUTHORITIES SUPPLEMENTARY FINANCING FOR INSURED PROJECT MORTGAGES Eligibility Requirements-Supplemental Loans... Individual Utility Meters in Multifamily Projects Without a HUD-Insured or HUD-Held Mortgage Special... building loan agreement executed for the performance of construction of the project shall comply with all...

49 CFR 633.25 - Contents of a project management plan.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

...; (e) A change order procedure which includes a documented, systematic approach to the handling of... covering the project management organization, appropriate consultants, property acquisition, utility... 49 Transportation 7 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Contents of a project management plan. 633.25...

7 CFR 4280.193 - Combined funding.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... RURAL UTILITIES SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE LOANS AND GRANTS Renewable Energy Systems and Energy... a project for which an applicant is seeking a combined grant and guaranteed loan are defined as....107 and the borrower eligibility requirements specified in § 4280.121. Projects must meet the project...

7 CFR 4280.193 - Combined funding.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... RURAL UTILITIES SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE LOANS AND GRANTS Renewable Energy Systems and Energy... a project for which an applicant is seeking a combined grant and guaranteed loan are defined as....107 and the borrower eligibility requirements specified in § 4280.121. Projects must meet the project...

7 CFR 4280.108 - Project eligibility.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... RURAL UTILITIES SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE LOANS AND GRANTS Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program § 4280.108 Project eligibility. For a renewable energy system or energy...) The project must be for the purchase of a renewable energy system or to make energy efficiency...

CONTROL TECHNOLOGIES: PILOT- & FULL-SCALE TESTS

EPA Science Inventory

Two different project are to be supported in FY03. The first project is being conducted by the North Dakota Energy and Environmental Research Center (ND-EERC). This project consists of tests on coal-fired utility boilers to determine the effects of SCR catalysts and ammonia in...

7 CFR 955.50 - Research and development.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... development and marketing promotion projects, including paid advertising, designed to assist, improve, or... project for the promotion and advertising of Vidalia onions may utilize an identifying mark which shall be... projects; and (3) Its recommendations as to promotion activity and paid advertising. (d) Upon conclusion of...

Usage of Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Along the Corridors between the EV Project Major Cities

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

Mindy Kirkpatrick

The report explains how the EVSE are being used along the corridors between the EV Project cities. The EV Project consists of a nationwide collaboration between Idaho National Laboratory (INL), ECOtality North America, Nissan, General Motors, and more than 40 other city, regional and state governments, and electric utilities. The purpose of the EV Project is to demonstrate the deployment and use of approximately 14,000 Level II (208-240V) electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) and 300 fast chargers in 16 major cities. This research investigates the usage of all currently installed EV Project commercial EVSE along major interstate corridors. ESRI ArcMapmore » software products are utilized to create geographic EVSE data layers for analysis and visualization of commercial EVSE usage. This research locates the crucial interstate corridors lacking sufficient commercial EVSE and targets locations for future commercial EVSE placement. The results and methods introduced in this research will be used by INL for the duration of the EV Project.« less

The Gene Ontology (GO) project: structured vocabularies for molecular biology and their application to genome and expression analysis.

PubMed

Blake, Judith A; Harris, Midori A

2008-09-01

Scientists wishing to utilize genomic data have quickly come to realize the benefit of standardizing descriptions of experimental procedures and results for computer-driven information retrieval systems. The focus of the Gene Ontology project is three-fold. First, the project goal is to compile the Gene Ontologies: structured vocabularies describing domains of molecular biology. Second, the project supports the use of these structured vocabularies in the annotation of gene products. Third, the gene product-to-GO annotation sets are provided by participating groups to the public through open access to the GO database and Web resource. This unit describes the current ontologies and what is beyond the scope of the Gene Ontology project. It addresses the issue of how GO vocabularies are constructed and related to genes and gene products. It concludes with a discussion of how researchers can access, browse, and utilize the GO project in the course of their own research. Copyright 2008 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Understanding Electricity Market Frameworks & Policies

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

The Toolbox for Renewable Energy Project Development's Understanding Electricity Market Frameworks and Policies page provides an overview of regulated and deregulated electric utility market structures and how they impact project development.

15 CFR 917.22 - National Projects funding.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

...-effective manner; and (4) the utilization of existing capability and coordination with other relevant projects. Innovation and uniqueness will be significant factors in determining whether to fund a proposed...

15 CFR 917.22 - National Projects funding.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

...-effective manner; and (4) the utilization of existing capability and coordination with other relevant projects. Innovation and uniqueness will be significant factors in determining whether to fund a proposed...

15 CFR 917.22 - National Projects funding.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

...-effective manner; and (4) the utilization of existing capability and coordination with other relevant projects. Innovation and uniqueness will be significant factors in determining whether to fund a proposed...

15 CFR 917.22 - National Projects funding.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

...-effective manner; and (4) the utilization of existing capability and coordination with other relevant projects. Innovation and uniqueness will be significant factors in determining whether to fund a proposed...

15 CFR 917.22 - National Projects funding.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

...-effective manner; and (4) the utilization of existing capability and coordination with other relevant projects. Innovation and uniqueness will be significant factors in determining whether to fund a proposed...

Success Rates by Software Development Methodology in Information Technology Project Management: A Quantitative Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wright, Gerald P.

2013-01-01

Despite over half a century of Project Management research, project success rates are still too low. Organizations spend a tremendous amount of valuable resources on Information Technology projects and seek to maximize the utility gained from their efforts. The author investigated the impact of software development methodology choice on ten…

75 FR 75170 - Minnkota Power Cooperative, Inc.: Bemidji to Grand Rapids 230 kV Transmission Line Project

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-12-02

... Grand Rapids 230 kV Transmission Line Project AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of... proposed Bemidji to Grand Rapids 230 kV Transmission Line Project (Project) in Beltrami, Hubbard, Itasca... financing to construct the 230 kilovolt (kV) transmission line between the Wilton Substation near Bemidji...

The Lunar Phases Project: A Mental Model-Based Observational Project for Undergraduate Nonscience Majors

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Meyer, Angela Osterman; Mon, Manuel J.; Hibbard, Susan T.

2011-01-01

We present our Lunar Phases Project, an ongoing effort utilizing students' actual observations within a mental model building framework to improve student understanding of the causes and process of the lunar phases. We implement this project with a sample of undergraduate, nonscience major students enrolled in a midsized public university located…

Public Interest Waiver of American Iron and Steel Requirements to the Winston-Salem and Forsyth County City/County Utilities Commission for 30 Inch TR Flex Pipe Fittings

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Product specific project waivers apply only to the specified product and proposed project referenced in the waiver. Any other project that wishes to use a similar product must apply for a separate waiver based on specific project circumstances.

Hospital admissions by the oldest old: Past trends in one of the most ageing countries in the world.

PubMed

Brandão, Daniela; Ribeiro, Oscar; Freitas, Alberto; Paúl, Constança

2017-11-01

To examine discharges of octogenarians, nonagenarians and centenarians from Portuguese public hospitals, namely admission type, principal diagnoses, comorbidities and length of stay. The present study used administrative data from public acute care hospitals in the Portuguese National Health Service. All discharges of persons aged ≥80 years between 2000 and 2014 were analyzed. HCUP Clinical Classifications Software was considered to aggregate principal diagnosis, and comorbidities were assessed using the Charlson Comorbidity Index computed using International Classification of Diseases 9th Revision Clinical Modification codes. A total of 2 494 924 discharges of persons aged 80 years or older were registered. Most (73.7%) referred to inpatient episodes, of which 73% were unplanned and medical (non-surgical). Pneumonia (12.2%), acute cerebrovascular disease (7.1%) and non-hypertensive cardiac heart failure (5.3%) were the most common principal diagnoses among inpatient episodes. Congestive heart failure and diabetes without chronic complications were the two most frequent comorbidities (16.6%), and discharge diagnoses with higher median length of stay were tuberculosis, burns, and infective arthritis and osteomyelitis. The number of hospitalizations of the oldest old has suffered a significant increase in the past few years, reinforcing the need for healthcare services being prepared to the specificities of the oldest old population. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 2255-2265. © 2017 Japan Geriatrics Society.

Feasibility Study of Coal Gasification/Fuel Cell/Cogeneration Project. Scranton, Pennsylvania Site. Project Description,

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-11-01

arranged to maximize thermal output; - Plant will meet PURPA criteria for recognition as a "Qualifying Facility" (QF). 7587A 2 - GFC emissions will be...10. Plant must meet Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act ( PURPA ) criteria for classification as a "Qualifying Facility" (QF). 11. Visual effect...assessments. 3 The Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act ( PURPA ) which is administered by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), governs how a

An Analysis of the Impact of the Research Utilization Project on Principals' Attitudes and on the Use of Information Services By Teachers and Other Field Personnel in 16 Target Elementary Schools of the District of Columbia.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Robinson, Erika L.

Bridging the gap between the research resources and field personnel becomes an increasingly important problem. This study investigated the impact of the Research Utilization Project (RUP) on public elementary schools in the District of Columbia. In the 16 schools selected by a multistage stratified sampling method, the total number of information…

Notification: Evaluation of Laboratory Equipment Utilization

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Project #OPE-FY14-0024, April 08, 2014. The Office of Inspector General plans to begin preliminary research on equipment utilization within the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development.

Georgia concrete pavement performance and longevity.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-02-01

The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) has effectively utilized its pavement management system (PMS) to make informed, data-driven pavement maintenance decisions, including project selection, project prioritization, and funding allocation. C...

75 FR 51748 - GMUG Resource Advisory Committee

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-08-23

... II Project funding within Garfield, Mesa, Delta, Gunnison and Montrose Counties, Colorado. DATES: The... funding/ approval of those projects to utilize Title II funds within Garfield, Mesa, Delta, Gunnison and...

Recovery Act: Develop a Modular Curriculum for Training University Students in Industry Standard CO{sub 2} Sequestration and Enhanced Oil Recovery Methodologies

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

Trentham, R. C.; Stoudt, E. L.

CO{sub 2} Enhanced Oil Recovery, Sequestration, & Monitoring Measuring & Verification are topics that are not typically covered in Geoscience, Land Management, and Petroleum Engineering curriculum. Students are not typically exposed to the level of training that would prepare them for CO{sub 2} reservoir and aquifer sequestration related projects when they begin assignments in industry. As a result, industry training, schools & conferences are essential training venues for new & experienced personnel working on CO{sub 2} projects for the first time. This project collected and/or generated industry level CO{sub 2} training to create modules which faculties can utilize as presentations,more » projects, field trips and site visits for undergrad and grad students and prepare them to "hit the ground running" & be contributing participants in CO{sub 2} projects with minimal additional training. In order to create the modules, UTPB/CEED utilized a variety of sources. Data & presentations from industry CO{sub 2} Flooding Schools & Conferences, Carbon Management Workshops, UTPB Classes, and other venues was tailored to provide introductory reservoir & aquifer training, state-of-the-art methodologies, field seminars and road logs, site visits, and case studies for students. After discussions with faculty at UTPB, Sul Ross, Midland College, other universities, and petroleum industry professionals, it was decided to base the module sets on a series of road logs from Midland to, and through, a number of Permian Basin CO{sub 2} Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) projects, CO{sub 2} Carbon Capture and Storage (CCUS) projects and outcrop equivalents of the formations where CO{sub 2} is being utilized or will be utilized, in EOR projects in the Permian Basin. Although road logs to and through these projects exist, none of them included CO{sub 2} specific information. Over 1400 miles of road logs were created, or revised specifically to highlight CO{sub 2} EOR projects. After testing a number of different entry points into the data set with students and faculty form a number of different universities, it was clear that a standard website presentation with a list of available power point presentations, excel spreadsheets, word documents and pdf's would not entice faculty, staff, and students at universities to delve deeper into the website http://www.utpb.edu/ceed/student modules.« less

Selecting Health Care Improvement Projects: A Methodology Integrating Cause-and-Effect Diagram and Analytical Hierarchy Process.

PubMed

Testik, Özlem Müge; Shaygan, Amir; Dasdemir, Erdi; Soydan, Guray

It is often vital to identify, prioritize, and select quality improvement projects in a hospital. Yet, a methodology, which utilizes experts' opinions with different points of view, is needed for better decision making. The proposed methodology utilizes the cause-and-effect diagram to identify improvement projects and construct a project hierarchy for a problem. The right improvement projects are then prioritized and selected using a weighting scheme of analytical hierarchy process by aggregating experts' opinions. An approach for collecting data from experts and a graphical display for summarizing the obtained information are also provided. The methodology is implemented for improving a hospital appointment system. The top-ranked 2 major project categories for improvements were identified to be system- and accessibility-related causes (45%) and capacity-related causes (28%), respectively. For each of the major project category, subprojects were then ranked for selecting the improvement needs. The methodology is useful in cases where an aggregate decision based on experts' opinions is expected. Some suggestions for practical implementations are provided.

Final Technical Report: Commercial Advanced Lighting Control (ALC) Demonstration and Deployment

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

Arnold, Gabe

This three-year demonstration and deployment project sought to address market barriers to accelerating the adoption of Advanced Lighting Controls (ALCs), an underutilized technology with low market penetration. ALCs are defined as networked, addressable lighting control systems that utilize software or intelligent controllers to combine multiple energy-saving lighting control strategies in a single space (e.g., smart-time scheduling, daylight harvesting, task tuning, occupancy control, personal control, variable load-shedding, and plug-load control). The networked intelligent aspect of these systems allows applicable lighting control strategies to be combined in a single space, layered over one another, maximizing overall energy-savings. The project included five realmore » building demonstrations of ALCs across the Northeast US region. The demonstrations provided valuable data and experience to support deployment tasks that are necessary to overcome market barriers. These deployment tasks included development of training resources for building designers, installers, and trades, as well as development of new energy efficiency rebates for the technology from Efficiency Forward’s utility partners. Educating designers, installers, and trades on ALCs is a critical task for reducing the cost of the technology that is currently inflated due to perceived complexity and unfamiliarity with how to design and install the systems. Further, utility and non-utility energy efficiency programs continue to relegate the technology to custom or ill-suited prescriptive program designs that do not effectively deploy the technology at scale. This project developed new, scalable rebate approaches for the technology. Efficiency Forward utilized their DesignLights Consortium® (DLC) brand and network of 81 DLC member utilities to develop and deploy the results of the project. The outputs of the project have included five published case studies, a six-hour ALC technology training curriculum that has already been deployed in five US states, and new rebates offered for the technology that have been deployed by a dozen utilities across the US. Widespread adoption of ALC technology in commercial buildings would provide tremendous benefits. The current market penetration of ALC systems is estimated at <0.1% in commercial buildings. If ALC systems were installed in all commercial buildings, approximately 1,051 TBtu of energy could be saved. This would translate into customer cost savings of approximately $10.7 billion annually.« less

40 CFR 1518.3 - Policy.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... projects, including: (1) Leasing office space and providing utilities; (2) Leasing or purchasing equipment... costs for task force employees. (d) In carrying out the purposes of the OEQ Management Fund, the... studies or projects. (e) Task forces and projects funded by the OEQ Management Fund are permitted to make...

40 CFR 1518.3 - Policy.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... projects, including: (1) Leasing office space and providing utilities; (2) Leasing or purchasing equipment... costs for task force employees. (d) In carrying out the purposes of the OEQ Management Fund, the... studies or projects. (e) Task forces and projects funded by the OEQ Management Fund are permitted to make...

75 FR 15767 - Livability Initiative under Special Experimental Project No. 14

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-03-30

...] Livability Initiative under Special Experimental Project No. 14 AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA... initiative to harmonize and coordinate the Federal-aid Highway Program with grant-in- aid programs... (EPA). Under this initiative, the FHWA intends to utilize Special Experimental Project No. 14 (SEP-14...

An in-house manual for building APEX projects using ArcAPEX

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The Agricultural Policy Environmental eXtender (APEX) provides the foundation for water quality and natural resource analysis across a wide array of USDA initiatives, projects and programs. The model has been utilized in both the national Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) analysis and ...

75 FR 43915 - Basin Electric Power Cooperative: Deer Creek Station

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-07-27

... factors that could be affected by the proposed Project were evaluated in detail in the EIS. These issues... DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Rural Utilities Service Basin Electric Power Cooperative: Deer Creek... Energy Facility project (Project) in Brookings and Deuel Counties, South Dakota. The Administrator of RUS...

Pneumatic Planetary Regolith Feed System for In-Situ Resource Utilization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mantovani, James G.; Mueller, Robert P.; Townsend, Ivan I.; Craft, Jack; Zacny, Kris

2010-01-01

The NASA In-situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) project requires a regolith feed system that can transfer lunar regolith several meters vertically into a chemical reactor for oxygen production on the moon.

Effective utility accommodation : final report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-12-08

The report presents research regarding methods to improve project delivery times and minimize construction delays due to utility coordination by conducting a study of the current best practices used by six (6) similar state transportation departments...

24 CFR 241.530 - Maximum fees and charges by lender.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... AUTHORITIES SUPPLEMENTARY FINANCING FOR INSURED PROJECT MORTGAGES Eligibility Requirements-Supplemental Loans... Individual Utility Meters in Multifamily Projects Without a HUD-Insured or HUD-Held Mortgage Fees and Charges...

Applying DER-CAM for IIT Microgrid Explansion Planning

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

Shahidehpour, Mohammad; Li, Zuyi; Wang, Jianhui

The Distributed Energy Resources Customer Adoption Model (DER-CAM) is an economic and environmental model of customer DER adoption. This model has been in development at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory since 2000. The objective of the model is to find optimal DER investments while minimizing total energy costs or carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, or achieving a weighted objective that simultaneously considers both criteria. The Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) Microgrid project started in August 2008, and the majority of the project was completed in May 2013. IIT Microgrid, funded mostly by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy asmore » well as State and philanthropic contributions, empowers the campus consumers with the objective of establishing a smart microgrid that is highly reliable, economically viable, environmentally friendly, fuel-efficient, and resilient in extreme circumstances with a self-healing capability. In this project, we apply DER-CAM to study the expansion planning of the IIT Microgrid. First, the load data, environmental data, utility data, and technology data for the IIT Microgrid are gathered and organized to follow the DER-CAM input requirements. Then, DERCAM is applied to study the expansion planning of the IIT Microgrid for different cases, where different objectives in DER-CAM and different utility conditions are tested. Case 1 considers the objective of minimizing energy costs with fixed utility rates and 100% electric utility availability. Case 2 considers the objective of minimizing energy costs with real-time utility rates and 4 emergency weeks when the IIT Microgrid does not have access to the electric utility grid and has to operate in island mode. In Case 3, the utility rates are restored to fixed values and 100% electric utility availability is assumed, but a weighted multi-objective (Obj: a × costs + b × CO2 emissions, where a and b are weights for cost minimization and CO2 emissions minimization) is utilized to consider both energy costs and CO2 emissions. On the basis of the test results, the IIT Microgrid has the potential to benefit from investments in more DER technologies. The current annual energy costs and CO2 emissions for the IIT Microgrid are 6,495.1 k$ and 39,838.5 metric tons, respectively. This represents the baseline for this project.« less

The RAPID Toolkit: Facilitating Utility-Scale Renewable Energy Development

Science.gov Websites

energy and bulk transmission projects. The RAPID Toolkit, developed by the National Renewable Energy Renewable Energy Development The RAPID Toolkit: Facilitating Utility-Scale Renewable Energy Development information about federal, state, and local permitting and regulations for utility-scale renewable energy and

Context Matters: Real-World and Utilization-Focused Evaluation Strategies to Support Change and Improvement in Child Welfare

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ward, Kristin J.; Maher, Erin J.; Marcynyszyn, Lyscha A.; Ellis, Mei Ling K.; Pecora, Peter J.

2011-01-01

This article examines the importance of context in evaluative inquiry. Following guidelines from real-world and utilization-focused evaluation frameworks, four projects are described to illustrate one foundation's pragmatic approach to evaluation that values collaboration, methodological appropriateness, and utilization. The authors contend that…

A project-based geoscience curriculum: select examples

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brown, L. M.; Kelso, P. R.; White, R. J.; Rexroad, C. B.

2007-12-01

Principles of constructivist educational philosophy serve as a foundation for the recently completed National Science Foundation sponsored undergraduate curricular revision undertaken by the Geology Department of Lake Superior State University. We integrate lecture and laboratory sessions utilizing active learning strategies that focus on real-world geoscience experiences and problems. In this presentation, we discuss details of three research-like projects that require students to access original data, process and model the data using appropriate geological software, interpret and defend results, and disseminate results in reports, posters, and class presentations. The projects are from three upper division courses, Carbonate Systems, Sequence Stratigraphy, and Geophysical Systems, where teams of two to four students are presented with defined problems of durations ranging from a few weeks to an entire semester. Project goals and location, some background information, and specified dates and expectations for interim and final written and oral reports are provided to students. Some projects require the entire class to work on one data set, some require each team to be initially responsible for a portion of the project with teams ultimately merging data for interpretation and to arrive at final conclusions. Some projects require students to utilize data from appropriate geological web sites such as state geological surveys. Others require students to design surveys and utilize appropriate instruments of their choice for field data collection. Students learn usage and applications of appropriate geological software in compiling, processing, modeling, and interpreting data and preparing formal reports and presentations. Students uniformly report heightened interest and motivation when engaged in these projects. Our new curriculum has resulted in an increase in students" quantitative and interpretive skills along with dramatic improvement in communication and interpersonal skills related to group dynamics.

Environment and health: Probes and sensors for environment digital control

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schettini, Chiara

2014-05-01

The idea of studying the environment using New Technologies (NT) came from a MIUR (Ministry of Education of the Italian Government) notice that allocated funds for the realization of innovative school science projects. The "Environment and Health" project uses probes and sensors for digital control of environment (water, air and soil). The working group was composed of 4 Science teachers from 'Liceo Statale G. Mazzini ', under the coordination of teacher Chiara Schettini. The Didactic Section of Naples City of Sciences helped the teachers in developing the project and it organized a refresher course for them on the utilization of digital control sensors. The project connects Environment and Technology because the study of the natural aspects and the analysis of the chemical-physical parameters give students and teachers skills for studying the environment based on the utilization of NT in computing data elaboration. During the practical project, samples of air, water and soil are gathered in different contexts. Sample analysis was done in the school's scientific laboratory with digitally controlled sensors. The data are elaborated with specific software and the results have been written in a booklet and in a computing database. During the first year, the project involved 6 school classes (age of the students 14—15 years), under the coordination of Science teachers. The project aims are: 1) making students more aware about environmental matters 2) achieving basic skills for evaluating air, water and soil quality. 3) achieving strong skills for the utilization of digitally controlled sensors. 4) achieving computing skills for elaborating and presenting data. The project aims to develop a large environmental conscience and the need of a ' good ' environment for defending our health. Moreover it would increase the importance of NT as an instrument of knowledge.

77 FR 52352 - Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Rio Mesa Gen-Tie Project...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-29

... this area as a utility corridor. Additionally two pathways for 33-kV lines providing electrical service to the Project and two pathways for roads providing access to the Project are proposed on BLM-administered lands. If approved, project construction would begin in 2013 and would take approximately 24...

Funding Solar Projects at Federal Agencies: Mechanisms and Selection Criteria (Brochure)

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

Not Available

Implementing solar energy projects at federal facilities is a process. The project planning phase of the process includes determining goals, building a team, determining site feasibility and selecting the appropriate project funding tool. This fact sheet gives practical guidance to assist decision-makers with understanding and selecting the funding tool that would best address their site goals. Because project funding tools are complex, federal agencies should seek project assistance before making final decisions. High capital requirements combined with limits on federal agency energy contracts create challenges for funding solar projects. Solar developers typically require long-term contracts (15-20) years to spread outmore » the initial investment and to enable payments similar to conventional utility bill payments. In the private sector, 20-year contracts have been developed, vetted, and accepted, but the General Services Administration (GSA) contract authority (federal acquisition regulation [FAR] part 41) typically limits contract terms to 10 years. Payments on shorter-term contracts make solar economically unattractive compared with conventional generation. However, in several instances, the federal sector has utilized innovative funding tools that allow long-term contracts or has created a project package that is economically attractive within a shorter contract term.« less

EPOXI and Stardust NExT: The Management Challenges of Two Comet Flybys in Three Months

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Larson, Timothy W.

2012-01-01

The EPOXI and Stardust NExT missions were missions of opportunity utilizing the Deep Impact and Stardust spacecraft, respectively. These new missions took advantage of the cost savings of utilizing spacecraft that were already flying for new science investigations. Both were retargeted to fly by an additional comet. EPOXI visited Hartley 2, significantly smaller than the other Jupiter family comets visited previously. Stardust NExT flew by Tempel 1, providing a second look at the comet previously studied by Deep Impact in 2005. Both projects were part of NASA's Discovery Program. In order to further save costs, the projects were combined into a single project office at JPL. This provided some efficiencies due to the similarity of the missions, but having the flybys space only three months apart posed challenges for the project management team to ensure each project was ready for its critical event and ensuring each received the proper support from the management team. The project office relied on an integrated calendar for tracking and scheduling meetings, reviews, and other key events. The project management team also coordinated their availability for both projects to maintain involvement with each team to ensure effective risk identification and management.

Kentucky Allied Health Project Final Report: A State System for Allied Health Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kentucky State Council on Higher Education, Frankfort.

The accomplishments of the Kentucky Allied Health Project, which implemented a model articulated system of allied health education, are described. The system included plans to promote transition from one education level to another and articulation in educational planning and resource utilization. The project has greatly increased…

18 CFR 4.37 - Rules of preference among competing applications.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

..., EXEMPTIONS, AND DETERMINATION OF PROJECT COSTS Application for Preliminary Permit, License or Exemption... application for a preliminary permit and an accepted application for a license propose project works that... for project works that would develop, conserve, and utilize, in whole or in part, the same water...

18 CFR 4.37 - Rules of preference among competing applications.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

..., EXEMPTIONS, AND DETERMINATION OF PROJECT COSTS Application for Preliminary Permit, License or Exemption... application for a preliminary permit and an accepted application for a license propose project works that... for project works that would develop, conserve, and utilize, in whole or in part, the same water...

18 CFR 4.37 - Rules of preference among competing applications.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

..., EXEMPTIONS, AND DETERMINATION OF PROJECT COSTS Application for Preliminary Permit, License or Exemption... application for a preliminary permit and an accepted application for a license propose project works that... for project works that would develop, conserve, and utilize, in whole or in part, the same water...

18 CFR 4.37 - Rules of preference among competing applications.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

..., EXEMPTIONS, AND DETERMINATION OF PROJECT COSTS Application for Preliminary Permit, License or Exemption... application for a preliminary permit and an accepted application for a license propose project works that... for project works that would develop, conserve, and utilize, in whole or in part, the same water...

18 CFR 4.37 - Rules of preference among competing applications.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

..., EXEMPTIONS, AND DETERMINATION OF PROJECT COSTS Application for Preliminary Permit, License or Exemption... application for a preliminary permit and an accepted application for a license propose project works that... for project works that would develop, conserve, and utilize, in whole or in part, the same water...

Strategies for Meeting Correctional Training and Manpower Needs, Four Developmental Projects.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Law Enforcement Assistance Administration (Dept. of Justice), Washington, DC.

The Law Enforcement Education Act of 1965 has placed special emphasis on projects involving training and utilization of correctional manpower. The four representative projects reported here give a comprehensive view of the problems of upgrading correctional staff and possible solutions to those problems: (1) "The Developmental Laboratory for…

Perseus Project: Interactive Teaching and Research Tools for Ancient Greek Civilization.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Crane, Gregory; Harward, V. Judson

1987-01-01

Describes the Perseus Project, an educational program utilizing computer technology to study ancient Greek civilization. Including approximately 10 percent of all ancient literature and visual information on architecture, sculpture, ceramics, topography, and archaeology, the project spans a range of disciplines. States that Perseus fuels student…

Fostering Autonomy in EFL Cross-Cultural Distance Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Hikyoung

2008-01-01

The Korea Waseda Cross Cultural Distance Learning Project (KWCCDLP) is an endeavor to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural differences of speakers from different backgrounds through the medium of English. The project fully utilizes a student centered approach to learning where learners are the agents. This project aimed at university level…

Utilization of Information Provided by the Wisconsin Management System.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rossmiller, Richard A.

The management system developed by the Wisconsin Center for Cognitive Learning (CCL) is useful to principal investigators of individual projects for proposal development, project management, and project reporting, as well as to the CCL management for program planning, program management, and reporting to funding agencies. The system aids proposal…

Project Circuits in a Basic Electric Circuits Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Becker, James P.; Plumb, Carolyn; Revia, Richard A.

2014-01-01

The use of project circuits (a photoplethysmograph circuit and a simple audio amplifier), introduced in a sophomore-level electric circuits course utilizing active learning and inquiry-based methods, is described. The development of the project circuits was initiated to promote enhanced engagement and deeper understanding of course content among…

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

Tweedie, A.; Doris, E.

Establishing interconnection to the grid is a recognized barrier to the deployment of distributed energy generation. This report compares interconnection processes for photovoltaic projects in California and Germany. This report summarizes the steps of the interconnection process for developers and utilities, the average length of time utilities take to process applications, and paperwork required of project developers. Based on a review of the available literature, this report finds that while the interconnection procedures and timelines are similar in California and Germany, differences in the legal and regulatory frameworks are substantial.

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

NONE

This report summarizes geothermal technical assistance, R&D, and technology transfer activities of the Geo-Heat Center. It describes 95 contacts with parties during this period related to technical assistance with goethermal direct heat projects. Areas dealt with include geothermal heat pumps, space heating, greenhouses, aquaculture, equipment, economics, and resources. Research activities are summarized on geothermal district heating system cost evaluation and silica waste utilization project. Outreach activities include publication of a geothermal direct use Bulletin, dissemination of information, goethermal library, technical papers and seminars, and progress monitor reports on geothermal resources and utilization.

NASA's Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Project

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Houts, Mike; Mitchell, Sonny; Kim, Tony; Borowski, Stan; Power, Kevin; Scott, John; Belvin, Anthony; Clement, Steve

2015-01-01

HEOMD's (Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate) AES (Advanced Exploration Systems) Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) project is making significant progress. First of four FY 2015 milestones achieved this month. Safety is the highest priority for NTP (as with other space systems). After safety comes affordability. No centralized capability for developing, qualifying, and utilizing an NTP system. Will require a strong, closely integrated team. Tremendous potential benefits from NTP and other space fission systems. No fundamental reason these systems cannot be developed and utilized in a safe, affordable fashion.

The effect of cost construction based on either DRG or ICD-9 codes or risk group stratification on the resulting cost-effectiveness ratios.

PubMed

Chumney, Elinor C G; Biddle, Andrea K; Simpson, Kit N; Weinberger, Morris; Magruder, Kathryn M; Zelman, William N

2004-01-01

As cost-effectiveness analyses (CEAs) are increasingly used to inform policy decisions, there is a need for more information on how different cost determination methods affect cost estimates and the degree to which the resulting cost-effectiveness ratios (CERs) may be affected. The lack of specificity of diagnosis-related groups (DRGs) could mean that they are ill-suited for costing applications in CEAs. Yet, the implications of using International Classification of Diseases-9th edition (ICD-9) codes or a form of disease-specific risk group stratification instead of DRGs has yet to be clearly documented. To demonstrate the implications of different disease coding mechanisms on costs and the magnitude of error that could be introduced in head-to-head comparisons of resulting CERs. We based our analyses on a previously published Markov model for HIV/AIDS therapies. We used the Healthcare Cost and Utilisation Project Nationwide Inpatient Sample (HCUP-NIS) data release 6, which contains all-payer data on hospital inpatient stays from selected states. We added costs for the mean number of hospitalisations, derived from analyses based on either DRG or ICD-9 codes or risk group stratification cost weights, to the standard outpatient and prescription drug costs to yield an estimate of total charges for each AIDS-defining illness (ADI). Finally, we estimated the Markov model three times with the appropriate ADI cost weights to obtain CERs specific to the use of either DRG or ICD-9 codes or risk group. Contrary to expectations, we found that the choice of coding/grouping assumptions that are disease-specific by either DRG codes, ICD-9 codes or risk group resulted in very similar CER estimates for highly active antiretroviral therapy. The large variations in the specific ADI cost weights across the three different coding approaches was especially interesting. However, because no one approach produced consistently higher estimates than the others, the Markov model's weighted cost per event and resulting CERs were remarkably close in value to one another. Although DRG codes are based on broader categories and contain less information than ICD-9 codes, in practice the choice of whether to use DRGs or ICD-9 codes may have little effect on the CEA results in heterogeneous conditions such as HIV/AIDS.

Natural gas projects in the developing world: An empirical evaluation of merits, obstacles, and risks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mor, Amit

Significant amounts of natural gas have been discovered in developing countries throughout the years during the course of oil exploration. The vast majority of these resources have not been utilized. Some developing countries may benefit from a carefully planned utilization of their indigenous resources, which can either be exported or used domestically to substitute imported or exportable fuels or feedstock. Governments, potential private sector investors, and financiers have been searching for strategies to promote natural gas schemes, some of which have been in the pipeline for more than two decades. The purpose of this thesis is to identify the crucial factors determining the success or failure of launching natural gas projects in the developing world. The methodology used to evaluate these questions included: (1) establishing a representative sample of natural gas projects in developing countries that were either implemented or failed to materialize during the 1980-1995 period, (2) utilizing a Probit limited dependent variable econometric model in which the explained variable is project success or failure, and (3) choosing representing indicators to reflect the assumed factors affecting project success. The study identified two conditions for project success: (1) the economic viability of the project and (2) securing financing for the investment. The factors that explain the ability or inability of the sponsors to secure financing were: (1) the volume of investment that represented the large capital costs of gas transportation, distribution, and storage, (2) the level of foreign exchange constraint in the host country, and (3) the level of development of the country. The conditions for private sector participation in natural gas projects in developing countries were identified in the study by a Probit model in which the explained variable was private sector participation. The results showed that a critical condition for private sector participation is the financial profitability of a project. Other factors that explained private sector participation and the ability of the private-sector sponsor to secure financing for a project were: (1) the political risk associated with the project, (2) the foreign exchange constraint associated with the project, and (3) whether the project was domestic or export-oriented.

75 FR 60093 - Record of Decision for the United States Marine Corps Basewide Utilities Infrastructure Project...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-09-29

... construction, operation, and maintenance of utility infrastructure upgrades, expansions, and improvements... and wastewater facilities and road improvements to Range 130. All practical means to avoid or minimize...

Development of a utility conflict management system.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-02-01

A critical process for the timely development and delivery of highway construction projects is the early : identification and depiction of utility interests that may interfere with proposed highway facilities. The : effective management of such utili...

Chile rural electrification cooperation

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

Flowers, L.

1997-12-01

The author describes a joint program to use renewables for rural electrification projects in Chile. The initial focus was in a limited part of the country, involving wind mapping, pilot project planning, training, and development of methodologies for comparative evaluations of resources. To this point three wind hybrid systems have been installed in one region, as a part of the regional private utility, and three additional projects are being designed. Additional resource assessment and training is ongoing. The author points out the difficulties in working with utilities, the importance of signed documentation, and the need to look at these programsmore » as long term because of the time involved in introducing such new technologies.« less

Fleet management performance monitoring.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-05-01

The principle goal of this project was to enhance and expand the analytical modeling methodology previously developed as part of the Fleet Management Criteria: Disposal Points and Utilization Rates project completed in 2010. The enhanced and ex...

45 CFR 154.215 - Submission of rate filing justification.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

...) Historical and projected claims experience. (2) Trend projections related to utilization, and service or unit... increases reported in the rate increase summary. (2) Brief description of the overall experience of the...

45 CFR 154.215 - Submission of rate filing justification.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

...) Historical and projected claims experience. (2) Trend projections related to utilization, and service or unit... increases reported in the rate increase summary. (2) Brief description of the overall experience of the...

7 CFR 1775.11 - Priority.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... Regulations of the Department of Agriculture (Continued) RURAL UTILITIES SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE... program. (a) Projects proposing to give priority for available services to rural communities having a... demonstrate sustainability of project without Federal financial support. ...

7 CFR 1775.11 - Priority.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... Regulations of the Department of Agriculture (Continued) RURAL UTILITIES SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE... program. (a) Projects proposing to give priority for available services to rural communities having a... demonstrate sustainability of project without Federal financial support. ...

7 CFR 1775.11 - Priority.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... Regulations of the Department of Agriculture (Continued) RURAL UTILITIES SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE... program. (a) Projects proposing to give priority for available services to rural communities having a... demonstrate sustainability of project without Federal financial support. ...

7 CFR 1775.11 - Priority.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... Regulations of the Department of Agriculture (Continued) RURAL UTILITIES SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE... program. (a) Projects proposing to give priority for available services to rural communities having a... demonstrate sustainability of project without Federal financial support. ...

Present-value analysis: A systems approach to public decisionmaking for cost effectiveness

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Herbert, T. T.

1971-01-01

Decision makers within Governmental agencies and Congress must evaluate competing (and sometimes conflicting) proposals which seek funding and implementation. Present value analysis can be an effective decision making tool by enabling the formal evaluation of the effects of competing proposals on efficient national resource utilization. A project's costs are not only its direct disbursements, but its social costs as well. How much does it cost to have those funds diverted from their use and economic benefit by the private sector to the public project? Comparisons of competing projects' social costs allow decision makers to expand their decision bases by quantifying the projects' impacts upon the economy and the efficient utilization of the country's limited national resources. A conceptual model is established for the choosing of the appropriate discount rate to be used in evaluation decisions through the technique.

Advanced system demonstration for utilization of biomass as an energy source. Environmental report

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

McCollom, M.

1979-01-01

The conclusions and findings of extensive analyses undertaken to assess the environmental impacts and effects of the proposal to assist in an Advanced System Demonstration for Utilization of Biomass as an Energy Source by means of a wood-fueled power plant. Included are a description of the proposed project, a discussion of the existing environment that the project would affect, a summary of the project's impacts on the natural and human environments, a discussion of the project's relationships to other government policies and plans, and an extensive review of the alternatives which were considered in evaluating the proposed action. All findingsmore » of the research undertaken are discussed. More extensive presentations of the methods of analysis used to arrive at the various conclusions are available in ten topical technical appendices.« less

Kansas State University DOE/KEURP Site Operator Program. Year 3, Third quarter report, January 1, 1994--March 31, 1994

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

Hague, J.R.

Formed on July 15, 1981, the goal of this program is to undertake applied research and development projects that may enhance reliability and minimize the cost of electric service in Kansas. The Kansas Electric Utilities Research Program (KEURP) is a contractual joint venture between six major electric utilities that serve the residents of the State of Kansas. The establishment of KEURP was made possible by the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC). The KCC allowed Kansas electric utilities to include research and development (R & D) costs in their operating expenses, including dues to the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). Kansas universitiesmore » play a unique role in KEURP with representation on the executive, technical and advisory committees of the program. The universities receive significant direct and indirect support from KEURP through direct funded projects as well as KEURP/EPRI co-funded projects. KEURP is working with EPRI researchers on projects to develop or expand Kansans knowledge and expertise in the fields of high technology and economic development. KEURP is a major source of funding in the electric/hybrid vehicle demonstration program.« less

NASDA'S activities and roles in promoting satellite utilization experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shigeta, Tsutomu; Miyoshi, Takashi

2004-02-01

While NASDA has been engaged in the development of new satellite missions and the bus technologies, NASDA explores new and attractive applications by promoting the utilization of satellite missions and strengthening the relationships with external parties. Offering opportunities to external parties for conducting application experiments will bring great chances for them in challenging and experimenting new space-based applications. Consequently, it is expected that the outcomes of the space development are returned to general public, research institutes, industries, and that ideas or requirements for new satellite mission could emerge and be materialized. With these objectives in mind, NASDA is presently planning a new space project that is named "i-Space". The i-Space project aims to contribute to the progressing "IT Revolution" by providing new space communication capabilities and to develop practical applications by collaborating with external parties. This paper introduces the activities and roles of NASDA in promoting satellite utilization experiments, particularly focusing on the i-Space project.

Integrating NASA Earth Observations into the Global Indicator Framework for Monitoring the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Crepps, G.; Gotschalk, E.; Childs-Gleason, L. M.; Favors, J.; Ruiz, M. L.; Allsbrook, K. N.; Rogers, L.; Ross, K. W.

2016-12-01

The NASA DEVELOP National Program conducts rapid 10-week feasibility projects that build decision makers' capacity to utilize NASA Earth observations in their decision making. Teams, in collaboration with partner organizations, conduct projects that create end products such as maps, analyses, and automated tools tailored for their partners' specific decision making needs. These projects illustrate the varied applications about which Earth observations can assist in making better informed decisions, such topics as land use changes, ecological forecasting, public health, and species habitats. As a capacity building program, DEVELOP is interested in understanding how these end products are utilized once the project is over and if Earth observations become a regular tool in the partner's decision making toolkit. While DEVELOP's niche is short-term projects, to assess the impacts of these projects, a longer-term scale is needed. As a result, DEVELOP has created a project strength metrics, and partner assessments, pre- and post-project, as well as a follow up form. This presentation explores the challenges in both quantitative and qualitative assessments of valuing the contributions of these Earth observation tools. This proposal lays out the assessment framework created within the program, and illustrates case studies in which projects have been assessed and long-term partner use of tools examined and quantified.

Environmental impact assessment using a utility-based recursive evidential reasoning approach for structural flood mitigation measures in Metro Manila, Philippines.

PubMed

Gilbuena, Romeo; Kawamura, Akira; Medina, Reynaldo; Nakagawa, Naoko; Amaguchi, Hideo

2013-12-15

In recent years, the practice of environmental impact assessment (EIA) has created significant awareness on the role of environmentally sound projects in sustainable development. In view of the recent studies on the effects of climate change, the Philippine government has given high priority to the construction of flood control structures to alleviate the destructive effects of unmitigated floods, especially in highly urbanized areas like Metro Manila. EIA thus, should be carefully and effectively carried out to maximize or optimize the potential benefits that can be derived from structural flood mitigation measures (SFMMs). A utility-based environmental assessment approach may significantly aid flood managers and decision-makers in planning for effective and environmentally sound SFMM projects. This study proposes a utility-based assessment approach using the rapid impact assessment matrix (RIAM) technique, coupled with the evidential reasoning approach, to rationally and systematically evaluate the ecological and socio-economic impacts of 4 planned SFMM projects (i.e. 2 river channel improvements and 2 new open channels) in Metro Manila. Results show that the overall environmental effects of each of the planned SFMM projects are positive, which indicate that the utility of the positive impacts would generally outweigh the negative impacts. The results also imply that the planned river channel improvements will yield higher environmental benefits over the planned open channels. This study was able to present a clear and rational approach in the examination of overall environmental effects of SFMMs, which provides valuable insights that can be used by decision-makers and policy makers to improve the EIA practice and evaluation of projects in the Philippines. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Volatile Extractor (PVEx) for Planetary In Situ Resource Utilization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zacny, K.; Morrison, P.; Vendiola, V.; Paz, A.

2017-02-01

Here we present a trade study and final approach for efficient extraction of volatiles from planetary regolith for the purpose of In Situ Resource Utilization. The project is SBIR funded and hardware is being fabricated.

Neutron probes for the Construction and Resource Utilization eXplorer (CRUX)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Elphic, R. C.; Hahn, S.; Lawrence, D. J.; Feldman, W. C.; Johnson, J. B.; Haldemann, A. F. C.

2006-01-01

The Construction and Resource Utilization eXplorer (CRUX) project is developing a flexible integrated suite of instruments with data fusion software and an executive controller for in situ regolith resource assessment and characterization.

New Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Low-Cost Evaluation of Energy Savings at the Community Scale - Fresno, California

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

None

2014-10-01

In this project, IBACOS partnered with builder Wathen-Castanos Hybrid Homes to develop a simple and low-cost methodology by which community-scale energy savings can be evaluated based on results at the occupied test house level.Research focused on the builder and trade implementation of a whole-house systems integrated measures package and the actual utility usage in the houses at the community scale of production. Five occupants participated in this community-scale research by providing utility bills and information on occupancy and miscellaneous gas and electric appliance use for their houses. IBACOS used these utility data and background information to analyze the actual energymore » performance of the houses. Verification with measured data is an important component in predictive energy modeling. The actual utility bill readings were compared to projected energy consumption using BEopt with actual weather and thermostat set points for normalization.« less

Community Solar Value Project

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

Powers, John T.; Cliburn, Jill

The Community Solar Value Project (CSVP) is designed to assist electric utilities in designing better community solar programs. Better programs seek new sources of value to promote “win-win” solutions between utilities and their customers. The CSVP focused on five “challenge areas” in identifying new sources of value: - Strategic solar design for community solar projects (including technology choices, siting, orientation, and related issues) - Market research and targeted marketing approaches (for program design and for customer recruitment) - Procurement and financing (for establishing best practices that can bring economies of scale and economies of expertise) - Integration of “companion measures”more » (such as storage and demand-response options that can benefit customer and utility net load shapes) - Pricing in program design (including best practices for integration of identified value in program prices or credits) The CSVP directly engaged the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), the Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM), and more than a dozen other utilities to develop improved community solar program designs. The outcomes include a plan at SMUD for over 100 MW or more of community and shared solar and support for new or expanded programs at 15 other utilities so far. Resulting best-practice solutions have not only informed program applications, but also have generated discussion among experts and industry associations about the new opportunities and challenges CSVP has brought forth. In these ways, the CSVP has impacted community solar programs and DER plans, competitive innovations and policies nationwide. The CSVP team has been led by Extensible Energy under John Powers, President and CEO. Jill Cliburn, of Santa Fe, NM-based Cliburn and Associates, has served as Principal Investigator. The team also benefitted from expertise from Navigant, Olivine Inc. and Millennium Energy, LLC, in addition to the collaborative and cost-sharing contributions of its utility partners. The CSVP team participated fully in the Solar Market Pathways Program, which was initiated under the U.S. Department of Energy SunShot program and reports to the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office. This report summarizes a multi-disciplinary project that took place over 33 months from January, 2015 through September, 2017.« less

75 FR 81264 - Public Utility District No. 1 of Douglas County; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-12-27

... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Project No. 2149-152] Public Utility District No. 1 of Douglas County; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement December 16, 2010. On May 27, 2010, Public Utility District No. 1 of Douglas County filed an application for the...

Utilizing Lab Tests to Predict Asphalt Concrete Overlay Performance

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2017-12-01

A series of five experimental projects and three demonstration projects were constructed to better understand the performance of pavement overlays using various levels of asphalt binder replacement (ABR) from reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP), recycle...

Evaluation of stainless steel reinforcement construction project

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2003-02-01

Stainless steel reinforcement has greater corrosion resistance than that of the conventional reinforcement. In this project, bridge A6059, the first in Missouri utilizing stainless steel reinforcement in the deck, was constructed, along with bridge A...

Modeling support for Alabama MPOs

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-07-29

The Fort Collins Advance Traffic Management System (ATMS) was a FY01 earmarked project. The objective of the overall project was to rebuild the City's entire traffic management system to utilize and provide Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) cap...

Project ADAPT: A Program to Assess Depression and Provide Proactive Treatment in Rural Areas

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Luptak, Marilyn; Kaas, Merrie J.; Artz, Margaret; McCarthy, Teresa

2008-01-01

Purpose: We describe and evaluate a project designed to pilot test an evidence-based clinical intervention for assessing and treating depression in older adults in rural primary care clinics. Project ADAPT--Assuring Depression Assessment and Proactive Treatment--utilized existing primary care resources to overcome barriers to sustainability…

Utilizing the Project Method for Teaching Culture and Intercultural Competence

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Euler, Sasha S.

2017-01-01

This article presents a detailed methodological outline for teaching culture through project work. It is argued that because project work makes it possible to gain transferrable and applicable knowledge and insight, it is the ideal tool for teaching culture with the aim of achieving real intercultural communicative competence (ICC). Preceding the…

Alabama 622 Project Services to Deaf-Blind Children. Final Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Graham, Terry; Bosarge, Zackie

This report describes activities and accomplishments of a 3-year federally supported project to improve services to children (ages 0-21) with deaf-blindness in Alabama. The project utilized a service delivery model based on provision of state, regional, local, and individual technical assistance to service providers and families through three…

Algae, Electronics and Ginger Beer: Explorations in Biotechnology at the Governor's School.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wells, John; And Others

1992-01-01

Describes a variety of projects that were used in a summer program for gifted high school students to help teach biotechnical concepts and applications. Presents six projects utilizing algae as tool for solving problems. Also presents five production-oriented projects with hydroponics and fermentation as research and development themes. (PR)

Understanding Project-Based Learning in Second Life with a Pedagogy, Training, and Assessment Trio

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jarmon, Leslie; Traphagan, Tomoko; Mayrath, Michael

2008-01-01

This paper presents an empirical study of how Second Life (SL) was utilized for a highly successful project-based graduate interdisciplinary communication course. Researchers found that an integrated threefold approach emphasizing project-based pedagogy, technical training and support, and assessment/research was effective in cultivating and…

HOMOGENEOUS CLASSROOM GROUPING BASED ON CONCEPTUAL SYSTEMS THEORY IN AN EDUCATION ENRICHMENT PROJECT -- AN EXPLORATORY STUDY.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

HUNT, DAVID E.

EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENTS, HIGHLY STRUCTURED OR UNSTRUCTURED, WERE DIFFERENTIALLY EFFECTIVE WITH STUDENTS OF VARYING PERSONALITIES. THE REPORT CONSIDERED THE UTILITY AND RELEVANCE OF THE CONCEPTUAL SYSTEMS MODEL BY DESCRIBING A SPECIFIC PROJECT IN WHICH THE MODEL SERVED AS THE BASIS FOR FORMING HOMOGENEOUS CLASSROOM GROUPS. THE PROJECT WAS…

Analyzing the Impact of the 2012 Ford Focus Target Hunt: Can Student Managed Projects Accomplish Both Academic and Corporate Objectives?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Aurand, Timothy W.; St. Clair, Jordan; Sullivan, Ursula

2012-01-01

Student-managed business projects offer students the opportunity to garner valuable real world experience while businesses can fulfill corporate responsibilities utilizing relatively inexpensive manpower. This paper describes an event marketing/social media marketing project completed in conjunction with Jackson-Dawson Communications, representing…

Fostering Experiential Learning and Service through Client Projects in Graduate Business Courses Offered Online

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hagan, Linda M.

2012-01-01

Undergraduate marketing and public relations capstone courses utilize client projects to allow students to apply their knowledge and encourage collaboration. Yet, at the graduate level, especially with courses offered in an online modality, experiential service learning in the form of client project assignments presents unique challenges. However,…

Pascal: Solutions to Projects. Dissemination Packet--Summer 1989: Booklet #5.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Greenwell, Raymond N.

This booklet is the fifth in a series of nine from the Teacher Training Institute at Hofstra University (New York) and contains the instructor's and several participants' course project solutions for both Pascal programing courses within the institute. Included in this booklet are Pascal programs utilized with the following project topics: (1)…

Mat-Rix-Toe: Improving Writing through a Game-Based Project in Linear Algebra

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Graham-Squire, Adam; Farnell, Elin; Stockton, Julianna Connelly

2014-01-01

The Mat-Rix-Toe project utilizes a matrix-based game to deepen students' understanding of linear algebra concepts and strengthen students' ability to express themselves mathematically. The project was administered in three classes using slightly different approaches, each of which included some editing component to encourage the…

The Non-Institutionalization of the Use of Self-Instructional Materials in Primary Schools in Jamaica: The Case of Project PRIMER.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jennings, Zellynne

1993-01-01

Asserts that many educational innovations introduced into developing nations from developed nations fail. Describes a project utilizing community involvement and individualized instruction that was introduced into Jamaica after successful development and implementation in the Philippines. Concludes that the project failed. (CFR)

Management and integration of engineering and construction activities: Lessons learned from the AP1000{sup R} nuclear power plant China project

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

McCullough, M. C.; Ebeling-Koning, D.; Evans, M. C.

2012-07-01

The lessons learned during the early phase of design engineering and construction activities for the AP1000 China Project can be applied to any project involving multiple disciplines and multiple organizations. Implementation of a first-of-a-kind design to directly support construction activities utilizing resources assigned to design development and design delivery creates challenges with prioritization of activities, successful closure of issues, and communication between site organizations and the home office. To ensure successful implementation, teams were assigned and developed to directly support construction activities including prioritization of activities, site communication and ensuring closure of site emergent issues. By developing these teams, themore » organization is better suited to meet the demands of the construction schedule while continuing with design evolution of a standard plant and engineering delivery for multiple projects. For a successful project, proper resource utilization and prioritization are key for overcoming obstacles and ensuring success of the engineering organization. (authors)« less

Exploring the outer planets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Parks, R. J.

1979-01-01

Initial, current and planned United States projects for the spacecraft exploration of the outer planets of the solar system are presented. Initial plans were developed in the mid-1960's for the exploration of the outer planets by utilizing the gravity-assist technique during a fortuitous alignment of the outer planets in the Grand Tour Project, however although state-of-the-art space technology could have supported the project, it was considered too expensive, therefore politically infeasible. Subsequently, the Pioneer Project was undertaken to explore the asteroid belt and the environment around Jupiter and the Voyager Project was undertaken to send two spacecraft to fly by Jupiter and utilize its gravity assist to reach Saturn. The successful Pioneer 10 and 11 missions have provided important information on the effects of the asteroid belt and the severe radiation environment around Jupiter, and Voyager 1 has collected information about Jupiter, its magnetic fields and radiation zones, and its satellites. Project Galileo is intended to be launched in January 1982 to conduct an intensive investigation of Jupiter, its satellites and immediate environment and a Saturn Orbiter dual probe mission and a Uranus orbiter are also under consideration.

ToHajiilee Economic Development, Inc.(TEDI) Feasibility Study for Utility-Scale Solar

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

Burpo, Rob

2012-02-29

To Hajiilee Economic Development, Inc. (TEDI) is the economic development entity representing the ToHajiilee Chapter of the Navajo Nation, also known as the Caoncito Band of Navajo (CBN). Using DOE funding, TEDI assembled a team of qualified advisors to conduct a feasibility study for a utility-scale 30 MW Photovoltaic (PV) solar power generation facility on TEDI trust lands. The goal for this project has been to gather information and practical business commitments to successfully complete the feasibility analysis. The TEDI approach was to successively make informed decisions to select an appropriate technology best suited to the site, determine environmental viabilitymore » of the site, secure options for the sale of generated power, determine practicality of transmission and interconnection of power to the local grid, and secure preliminary commitments on project financing. The feasibility study has been completed and provides TEDI with a practical understanding of its business options in moving forward with developing a solar project on CBN tribal lands. Funding from DOE has allowed TEDI and its team of professional advisors to carefully select technology and business partners and build a business model to develop this utility-scale solar project. As a result of the positive feasibility findings, TEDI is moving forward with finalizing all pre-construction activities for its major renewable energy project.« less

Large wind turbines: A utility option for the generation of electricity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Robbins, W. H.; Thomas, R. L.; Baldwin, D. H.

1980-01-01

The wind resource is such that wind energy generation has the potential to save 6-7 quads of energy nationally. Thus, the Federal Government is sponsoring and encouraging the development of cost effective and reliable wind turbines. One element of the Federal Wind Energy Programs, Large Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine Development, is managed by the NASA Lewis Research Center for the Department of Energy. There are several ongoing wind system development projects oriented primarily toward utility application within this program element. In addition, a comprehensive technology program supporting the wind turbine development projects is being conducted. An overview is presented of the NASA activities with emphasis on application of large wind turbines for generation of electricity by utility systems.

The 200-kilowatt wind turbine project

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1978-01-01

The three 200 kilowatt wind turbines described, compose the first of three separate systems. Proposed wind turbines of the two other systems, although similar in design, are larger in both physical size and rated power generation. The overall objective of the project is to obtain early operation and performance data while gaining initial experience in the operation of large, horizontal-axis wind turbines in typical utility environments. Several of the key issues addressed include the following: (1) impact of the variable power output (due to varying wind speeds) on the utility grid (2) compatibility with utility requirements (voltage and frequency control of generated power) (3) demonstration of unattended, fail-safe operation (4) reliability of the wind turbine system (5) required maintenance and (6) initial public reaction and acceptance.

Coal conversion products Industrial applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Warren, D.; Dunkin, J.

1980-01-01

The synfuels economic evaluation model was utilized to analyze cost and product economics of the TVA coal conversion facilities. It is concluded that; (1) moderate yearly future escalations ( 6%) in current natural gas prices will result in medium-Btu gas becoming competitive with natural gas at the plant boundary; (2) utilizing DRI price projections, the alternate synfuel products, except for electricity, will be competitive with their counterparts; (3) central site fuel cell generation of electricity, utilizing MBG, is economically less attractive than the other synthetic fuels, given projected price rises in electricity produced by other means; and (4) because of estimated northern Alabama synfuels market demands, existing conventional fuels, infrastructure and industrial synfuels retrofit problems, a diversity of transportable synfuels products should be produced by the conversion facility.

Resource utilization after introduction of a standardized clinical assessment and management plan.

PubMed

Friedman, Kevin G; Rathod, Rahul H; Farias, Michael; Graham, Dionne; Powell, Andrew J; Fulton, David R; Newburger, Jane W; Colan, Steven D; Jenkins, Kathy J; Lock, James E

2010-01-01

A Standardized Clinical Assessment and Management Plan (SCAMP) is a novel quality improvement initiative that standardizes the assessment and management of all patients who carry a predefined diagnosis. Based on periodic review of systemically collected data the SCAMP is designed to be modified to improve its own algorithm. One of the objectives of a SCAMP is to identify and reduce resource utilization and patient care costs. We retrospectively reviewed resource utilization in the first 93 arterial switch operation (ASO) SCAMP patients and 186 age-matched control ASO patients. We compared diagnostic and laboratory testing obtained at the initial SCAMP clinic visit and control patient visits. To evaluate the effect of the SCAMP over time, the number of clinic visits per patient year and echocardiograms per patient year in historical control ASO patients were compared to the projected rates for ASO SCAMP participants. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), stress echocardiogram, and lipid profile utilization were higher in the initial SCAMP clinic visit group than in age-matched control patients. Total echocardiogram and lung scan usage were similar. Chest X-ray and exercise stress testing were obtained less in SCAMP patients. ASO SCAMP patients are projected to have 0.5 clinic visits and 0.5 echocardiograms per year. Historical control patients had more clinic visits (1.2 vs. 0.5 visits/patient year, P<.01) and a higher echocardiogram rate (0.92 vs. 0.5 echocardiograms/patient year, P<.01) Implementation of a SCAMP may initially lead to increased resource utilization, but over time resource utilization is projected to decrease.

Aircrew Training Devices: Utility and Utilization of Advanced Instructional Features (Phase II-Air Training Command, Military Airlift Command, and Strategic Air Command [and] Phase III-Electronic Warfare Trainers).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Polzella, Donald J.; Hubbard, David C.

This document consists of an interim report and a final report which describe the second and third phases of a project designed to determine the utility and utilization of sophisticated hardware and software capabilities known as advanced instructional features (AIFs). Used with an aircrew training device (ATD), AIFs permit a simulator instructor…

Advanced fuel system technology for utilizing broadened property aircraft fuels

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Reck, G. M.

1980-01-01

Possible changes in fuel properties are identified based on current trends and projections. The effect of those changes with respect to the aircraft fuel system are examined and some technological approaches to utilizing those fuels are described.

24 CFR 941.103 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... maximum project cost, as described in § 941.306: (1) Demolition of, or remediation of environmental... utility systems, and replacement of off-site underground utility systems, extensive rock and/or soil... preparation), administration, site acquisition, relocation, demolition of, and site remediation of...

Life Sciences MIS

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dittman, R. A.; Marks, V.

1983-01-01

Management Information System, MIS, provides Life Sciences Projects Division at Johnson Space Center with automated system for project managment. MIS utilizes Tektronix 4027 color graphics display terminal and form-fillout capability. User interface with MIS data base is through series of forms.

Honey Lake Project

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

Boren, K.L.; Johnson, K.R.

1978-11-01

Thirty units of a planned 205 geothermally heated hydroponic greenhouses are producing European cucumbers and tropic tomatoes near Wendel, California. The planned utilization of the geothermal resource in this project, hydroponics, in general, and the Honey Lake system is described. (MHR)

Lane Transit District "Curb Your Car" project : final report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2001-03-01

Lane Transit District has been active in utilizing transportation demand management techniques to encourage use of alternatives to the single occupant vehicle. In 1993, a Curb Your Car project indicated that participating employees use of al...

Lane Transit District "Curb Your Car" Project : final report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2001-03-01

Lane Transit District has been active in utilizing transportation demand management techniques to encourage use of alternatives to the single occupant vehicle. In 1993, a Curb Your Car project indicated that participating employees' use of alternativ...

Statewide Transportation Improvement Program 1997-2001

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1996-07-01

The Utah Department of Transportation's Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP) is a five-year program of highway and transit projects for the State of Utah. It is a compilation of projects utilizing various federal and state funding program...

Human Factors in Aerospace: Examples from Projects at NASA Ames

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Edwards, Tamsyn

2017-01-01

Human factors is a critical consideration in system performance and system safety. This presentation provides examples of how human factors can be utilized in a variety of applied research projects to create system wide benefits

Field Monitoring of Experimental Hot Mix Asphalt Projects Placed in Massachusetts

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2017-06-30

Since 2000, Massachusetts has been involved with numerous field trials of experimental hot mix asphalt mixtures. These experimental mixtures included several pilot projects using the Superpave mixture design methodology, utilization of warm mix aspha...

Early Warning Look Ahead Metrics: The Percent Milestone Backlog Metric

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shinn, Stephen A.; Anderson, Timothy P.

2017-01-01

All complex development projects experience delays and corresponding backlogs of their project control milestones during their acquisition lifecycles. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) Flight Projects Directorate (FPD) teamed with The Aerospace Corporation (Aerospace) to develop a collection of Early Warning Look Ahead metrics that would provide GSFC leadership with some independent indication of the programmatic health of GSFC flight projects. As part of the collection of Early Warning Look Ahead metrics, the Percent Milestone Backlog metric is particularly revealing, and has utility as a stand-alone execution performance monitoring tool. This paper describes the purpose, development methodology, and utility of the Percent Milestone Backlog metric. The other four Early Warning Look Ahead metrics are also briefly discussed. Finally, an example of the use of the Percent Milestone Backlog metric in providing actionable insight is described, along with examples of its potential use in other commodities.

Transdisciplinary Research and Evaluation for Community Health Initiatives

PubMed Central

Harper, Gary W.; Neubauer, Leah C.; Bangi, Audrey K.; Francisco, Vincent T.

2010-01-01

Transdisciplinary research and evaluation projects provide valuable opportunities to collaborate on interventions to improve the health and well-being of individuals and communities. Given team members’ diverse backgrounds and roles or responsibilities in such projects, members’ perspectives are significant in strengthening a project’s infrastructure and improving its organizational functioning. This article presents an evaluation mechanism that allows team members to express the successes and challenges incurred throughout their involvement in a multisite transdisciplinary research project. Furthermore, their feedback is used to promote future sustainability and growth. Guided by a framework known as organizational development, the evaluative process was conducted by a neutral entity, the Quality Assurance Team. A mixed-methods approach was utilized to garner feedback and clarify how the research project goals could be achieved more effectively and efficiently. The multiple benefits gained by those involved in this evaluation and implications for utilizing transdisciplinary research and evaluation teams for health initiatives are detailed. PMID:18936267

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

Lindberg, James

The America Saves! Energizing Main Street Small Businesses project engaged the 1,200-member National Main Street Center (NMSC) network of downtown organizations and other local, regional, and national partners to test a methodology for sharing customized energy efficiency information with owners of commercial buildings smaller than 50,000 square feet. Led by the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Preservation Green Lab, the project marshalled local staff and volunteers to gather voluntarily-disclosed energy use information from participating businesses. This information was analyzed using a remote auditing tool (validated by the National Renewable Energy Lab) to assess energy savings opportunities and design retrofit strategiesmore » targeting seven building types (food service and sales, attached mixed-use, strip mall, retail, office, lodging, and schools). The original project design contemplated extensive leveraging of the Green Button protocol for sharing annualized utility data at a district scale. Due the lack of adoption of Green Button, the project partners developed customized approaches to data collection in each of twelve pilot communities. The project team encountered considerable challenges in gathering standardized annual utility data from local partners. After overcoming these issues, the data was uploaded to a data storehouse. Over 450 properties were benchmarked and the remote auditing tool was tested using full building profiles and utility records for more than 100 commercial properties in three of the pilot communities. The audit tool demonstrated potential for quickly capturing, analyzing, and communicating energy efficiency opportunities in small commercial buildings. However, the project team found that the unique physical characteristics and use patterns (partial vacancy, periodic intensive uses) of small commercial buildings required more trouble-shooting and data correction than was anticipated. In addition, the project revealed that remote technology alone (such as audits) is not sufficient to convince most owners of commercial buildings or businesses to invest in energy efficiency. Additional, one-on-one personal communication is critical. A combination of technology and well-planned direct contact is likely to produce the highest rate of energy efficiency implementation in the small commercial building market sector. Note that only two of the three planned phases of this project were completed. As a result, research and testing were not fully implemented and thus all results and conclusions from the America Saves! Energizing Main Street Small Businesses project should be considered preliminary. In addition to the National Main Street Center, local organizations, and regional utilities, the America Saves! project partners included the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Energy Center of Wisconsin (Seventh Wave), Lend Lease, Building Energy, and Energy RM.« less

Swamp Works- Multiple Projects

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Carelli, Jonathan M.; Schuler, Jason M.; Chandler, Meredith L.

2013-01-01

My Surface Systems internship over the summer 2013 session covered a broad range of projects that utilized multiple fields of engineering and technology. This internship included a project to create a command center for a 120 ton regolith bin, for the design and assembly of a blast shield to add further protection for the Surface Systems engineers, for the design and assembly of a portable four monitor hyper wall strip that could extend as large as needed, research and programming a nano drill that could be utilized on a next generation robot or rover, and social media tasks including the making of videos, posting to social networking websites and creation of a new outreach program to help spread the word about the Swamp Works laboratory.

Learning curve approach to projecting cost and performance for photovoltaic technologies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cody, George D.; Tiedje, Thomas

1997-10-01

The current cost of electricity generated by PV power is still extremely high with respect to power supplied by the utility grid, and there remain questions as to whether PV power can ever be competitive with electricity generated by fossil fuels. An objective approach to this important question was given in a previous paper by the authors which introduced analytical tools to define and project the technical/economic status of PV power from 1988 through the year 2010. In this paper, we apply these same tools to update the conclusions of our earlier study in the context of recent announcements by Amoco/Enron-Solar of projected sales of PV power at rates significantly less than the U.S. utility average.

A learning curve approach to projecting cost and performance for photovoltaic technologies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cody, George D.; Tiedje, Thomas

1997-04-01

The current cost of electricity generated by PV power is still extremely high with respect to power supplied by the utility grid, and there remain questions as to whether PV power can ever be competitive with electricity generated by fossil fuels. An objective approach to this important question was given in a previous paper by the authors which introduced analytical tools to define and project the technical/economic status of PV power from 1988 through the year 2010. In this paper, we apply these same tools to update the conclusions of our earlier study in the context of recent announcements by Amoco/Enron-Solarex of projected sales of PV power at rates significantly less than the US utility average.

Comprehensive review of the evidence regarding the effectiveness of community-based primary health care in improving maternal, neonatal and child health: 5. equity effects for neonates and children.

PubMed

Schleiff, Meike; Kumapley, Richard; Freeman, Paul A; Gupta, Sundeep; Rassekh, Bahie M; Perry, Henry B

2017-06-01

The degree to which investments in health programs improve the health of the most disadvantaged segments of the population-where utilization of health services and health status is often the worst-is a growing concern throughout the world. Therefore, questions about the degree to which community-based primary health care (CBPHC) can or actually does improve utilization of health services and the health status of the most disadvantaged children in a population is an important one. Using a database containing information about the assessment of 548 interventions, projects or programs (referred to collectively as projects) that used CBPHC to improve child health, we extracted evidence related to equity from a sub-set of 42 projects, identified through a multi-step process, that included an equity analysis. We organized our findings conceptually around a logical framework matrix. Our analysis indicates that these CBPHC projects, all of which implemented child health interventions, achieved equitable effects. The vast majority (87%) of the 82 equity measurements carried out and reported for these 42 projects demonstrated "pro-equitable" or "equitable" effects, meaning that the project's equity indicator(s) improved to the same degree or more in the disadvantaged segments of the project population as in the more advantaged segments. Most (78%) of the all the measured equity effects were "pro-equitable," meaning that the equity criterion improved more in the most disadvantaged segment of the project population than in the other segments of the population. Based on the observation that CBPHC projects commonly provide services that are readily accessible to the entire project population and that even often reach down to all households, such projects are inherently likely to be more equitable than projects that strengthen services only at facilities, where utilization diminishes greatly with one's distance away. The decentralization of services and attention to and tracking of metrics across all phases of project implementation with attention to the underserved, as can be done in CBPHC projects, are important for reducing inequities in countries with a high burden of child mortality. Strengthening CBPHC is a necessary strategy for reducing inequities in child health and for achieving universal coverage of essential services for children.

JPL - Small Power Systems Applications Project. [for solar thermal power plant development and commercialization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ferber, R. R.; Marriott, A. T.; Truscello, V.

1978-01-01

The Small Power Systems Applications (SPSA) Project has been established to develop and commercialize small solar thermal power plants. The technologies of interest include all distributed and central receiver technologies which are potentially economically viable in power plant sizes of one to 10 MWe. The paper presents an overview of the SPSA Project and briefly discusses electric utility involvement in the Project.

Special Education Teacher Computer Literacy Training. Project STEEL. A Special Project To Develop and Implement a Computer-Based Special Teacher Education and Evaluation Laboratory. Volume II. Final Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Frick, Theodore W.; And Others

The document is part of the final report on Project STEEL (Special Teacher Education and Evaluation Laboratory) intended to extend the utilization of technology in the training of preservice special education teachers. This volume focuses on the second of four project objectives, the development of a special education teacher computer literacy…

Legal, regulatory & institutional issues facing distributed resources development

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

NONE

This report describes legal, regulatory, and institutional considerations likely to shape the development and deployment of distributed resources. It is based on research co-sponsored by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and four investor-owned utilities (Central & South West Services, Cinergy Corp., Florida Power Corporation, and San Diego Gas & Electric Company). The research was performed between August 1995 and March 1996 by a team of four consulting firms experienced in energy and utility law, regulation, and economics. It is the survey phase of a project known as the Distributed Resources Institutional Analysis Project.

Virginia Solar Pathways Project: Economic Study of Utility-Administered Solar Programs: Soft Costs, Community Solar, and Tax Normalization Considerations

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

Reiter, Emerson; Lowder, Travis; Mathur, Shivani

This report presents economic considerations for solar development in support of the Virginia Solar Pathways Project (VSPP), an effort funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) SunShot Initiative that seeks to develop a collaborative utility-administered solar strategy for the Commonwealth of Virginia. The results presented are intended to be considered alongside the results of other studies conducted under the VSPP that evaluate the impacts of solar energy on the electric distribution, transmission, and generation systems in Virginia.

Proceedings of the 1999 U.S. DOE Hydrogen Program Review

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

NREL

2000-08-28

The Proceedings of the 1999 US Department of Energy (DOE) Hydrogen Program Review serve as an important technology reference for the DOE Hydrogen Program. This document contains technical progress reports on 60 research and technology validation projects funded by the DOE Hydrogen Program in Fiscal Year 1999, in support of its mission to make hydrogen a cost-effective energy carrier for utility, building, and transportation applications. Each year, the Program conducts a rigorous review of its portfolio of projects, utilizing teams of experts to provide vital feedback on the progress of research.

Electrostatically actuatable light modulating device

DOEpatents

Koehler, Dale R.

1991-01-01

The electrostatically actuatable light modulator utilizes an opaque substrate plate patterned with an array of aperture cells, the cells comprised of physically positionable dielectric shutters and electrostatic actuators. With incorporation of a light source and a viewing screen, a projection display system is effected. Inclusion of a color filter array aligned with the aperture cells accomplishes a color display. The system is realized in terms of a silicon based manufacturing technology allowing fabrication of a high resolution capability in a physically small device which with the utilization of included magnification optics allows both large and small projection displays.

Commercialization of Medium Voltage HTS Triax TM Cable Systems

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

Knoll, David

2012-12-31

The original project scope that was established in 2007 aimed to install a 1,700 meter (1.1 mile) medium voltage HTS Triax{TM} cable system into the utility grid in New Orleans, LA. In 2010, however, the utility partner withdrew from the project, so the 1,700 meter cable installation was cancelled and the scope of work was reduced. The work then concentrated on the specific barriers to commercialization of HTS cable technology. The modified scope included long-length HTS cable design and testing, high voltage factory test development, optimized cooling system development, and HTS cable life-cycle analysis. In 2012, Southwire again analyzed themore » market for HTS cables and deemed the near term market acceptance to be low. The scope of work was further reduced to the completion of tasks already started and to testing of the existing HTS cable system in Columbus, OH. The work completed under the project included: • Long-length cable modeling and analysis • HTS wire evaluation and testing • Cable testing for AC losses • Optimized cooling system design • Life cycle testing of the HTS cable in Columbus, OH • Project management. The 200 meter long HTS Triax{TM} cable in Columbus, OH was incorporated into the project under the initial scope changes as a test bed for life cycle testing as well as the site for an optimized HTS cable cooling system. The Columbus cable utilizes the HTS TriaxTM design, so it provided an economical tool for these of the project tasks.« less

Deb Vasquez | NREL

Science.gov Websites

, training, and resource development for Federal government energy projects that leverage utility industry The design of technical training plans for sustained performance of energy conservation measures Advanced Utility Energy Services Contract Training, 2012, accredited by the International Association for

GPP Webinar: Solar Utilization in Higher Education Networking & Information Sharing Group: RFP, Contract, and Administrative Issues Discussion

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This presentation from a Solar Utilization in Higher Education Networking and Information webinar covers contracts, Request for Proposals (RFPs), and administrative issues related to solar project development in the higher education sector.

The Effects of Team Personality Awareness Exercises on Team Satisfaction and Performance: The Context of Marketing Course Projects

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lancellotti, Matthew P.; Boyd, Thomas

2008-01-01

Marketing courses heavily utilize team projects that can enhance student learning and make students more desirable to recruiters seeking greater teamwork skills and experience from students. Unfortunately team projects that provide opportunities to learn and improve such skills can also be great sources of frustration and dissatisfaction for…

Complementary Spectroscopic Assays for Investigating Protein-Ligand Binding Activity: A Project for the Advanced Chemistry Laboratory

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mascotti, David P.; Waner, Mark J.

2010-01-01

A protein-ligand binding, guided-inquiry laboratory project with potential application across the advanced undergraduate curriculum is described. At the heart of the project are fluorescence and spectrophotometric assays utilizing biotin-4-fluorescein and streptavidin. The use of the same stock solutions for an assay that may be examined by two…

Power and Energy Systems Technology Program. Research Series No. 43.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Haakenson, Harvey

The overall objective of this project was to develop a training program and materials for power plant training in North Dakota. The project utilized four separate instructional units and four separate enrollment times with eight students enrolling in each phase to a maximum of thirty-two students. The course that resulted from the project is…

Rural Critical Care Nurse Training Project--Four Corners Area, November 14, 1975.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

New Mexico Regional Medical Program, Albuquerque.

Project objectives were to train 10 nurses from hospitals in the Four Corners Area in rural critical care nursing, to have a training director organize and coordinate the project, and to utilize the replacement nurse concept. The course curriculum was determined through a needs assessment survey conducted by a team of health professionals from…

75 FR 1408 - Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the Lincoln County Land Act Groundwater...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-01-11

... County Land Act Groundwater Development and Utility Right-of-Way Project, Nevada AGENCY: Bureau of Land... the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Lincoln County Land Act Groundwater... appeal should also be filed with: Project Manager, Nevada Groundwater Projects Office, Bureau of Land...

Project Organization and Management; Analysis of a Model. Satellite Technology Demonstration, Technical Report No. 0127.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lokey, Kenneth R.

The Satellite Technology Demonstration (STD), a project of the Federation of Rocky Mountain States, Inc. (FRMS), employed a project management model for its organizational structure. The organization and management system utilized by the STD was designed to accomplish a predetermined set of objectives with the highest quality possible within a…

Composite Technology for Exploration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fikes, John

2017-01-01

The CTE (Composite Technology for Exploration) Project will develop and demonstrate critical composites technologies with a focus on joints that utilize NASA expertise and capabilities. The project will advance composite technologies providing lightweight structures to support future NASA exploration missions. The CTE project will demonstrate weight-saving, performance-enhancing bonded joint technology for Space Launch System (SLS)-scale composite hardware.

Some Effects of Schooling: A Three Year Follow-Up of a Title III Project.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barclay, James R.; And Others

This paper presents an evaluation of a 3-year Title III project carried out in the Vigo County School Cooperation, Terre Haute, Indiana. The project involved the evaluation of three differing instructional methodologies utilized in three elementary schools which also differed in the socioeconomic background of the students. The Dixie Bee school,…

Construction Management for Educational Facilities: Professional Services' Procurement and Competitive Bid Statutes.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Goldblatt, Steven M.; Wood, R. Craig

Construction management is utilized when a school district engages a firm to coordinate a total project. The construction management seeks to save an owner time and cost primarily through better contractor coordination and project management. These services may include the planning and design phases of the project as well as the actual…

Using Community Health Workers in Community-Based Growth Promotion: What Stakeholders Think

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Afulani, Patience A.; Awoonor-Williams, John K.; Opoku, Ernest C.; Asunka, Joseph

2012-01-01

The Nutrition and Malaria Control for Child Survival Project is a community-based growth promotion project that utilizes Community Health Workers (CHWs), referred to as Community Child Growth Promoters (CCGPs), as the principal change agents. The purpose of this study was to identify perceptions of key stakeholders about the project and the role…

Arsenic Removal from Drinking Water by Adsorptive Media U.S. EPA Demonstration Project at Alvin, TX, Six-Month Evaluation Report

EPA Science Inventory

This report documents the activities performed and the results obtained from the first six months of the EPA arsenic removal technology demonstration project at the Oak Manor Municipal Utility District (MUD) facility at Alvin, TX. The main objective of the project is to evaluate...

75 FR 62516 - Northern Illinois Hydropower, LLC; Notice of Application Ready for Environmental Analysis and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-10-12

...: Northern Illinois Hydropower, LLC. e. Name of Project: Dresden Island Project. f. Location: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Dresden Island Lock and Dam on the Illinois River, in the Town of Morris, Grundy County... Description: The Dresden Island Project would utilize the Corps of Engineers' existing Dresden Island Lock and...

Promoting the Utilization of Science in Healthcare (PUSH) Project: A Description of the Perceived Barriers and Facilitators to Research Utilization Among Pediatric Nurses.

PubMed

Cline, Genieveve J; Burger, Kristina J; Amankwah, Ernest K; Goldenberg, Neil A; Ghazarian, Sharon R

The purpose of this descriptive study was to identify the perceived barriers and facilitators to research utilization and evidence-based practice among nurses employed in a tertiary care children's hospital. Results revealed seven facilitator and six barrier themes that contribute to the understanding of the problem. The themes can be utilized by nursing professional development specialists to customize organizational infrastructure and educational programs.

Electric vehicle charging technologies analysis and standards : final research project report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2017-02-01

This project has evaluated the technologies and standards associated with Electric : Vehicle Service Equipment (EVSE) and the related infrastructure, and the major cost : issue related to electric vehicle (EV) charging -- the cost of utility power. T...

7 CFR 4280.161 - Direct Loan Process.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... RURAL UTILITIES SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE LOANS AND GRANTS Renewable Energy Systems and Energy... available for direct loans; (2) Applicant and project eligibility criteria; (3) Minimum and maximum loan...; (11) Construction planning and performing development; (12) Requirements after project construction...

7 CFR 4280.122 - Project eligibility.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... RURAL UTILITIES SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE LOANS AND GRANTS Renewable Energy Systems and Energy... necessary capital improvements to an existing renewable energy system. ... 7 Agriculture 15 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Project eligibility. 4280.122 Section 4280.122...

Asset Management of Roadway Signs Through Advanced Technology

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2003-06-01

This research project aims to ease the process of Roadway Sign asset management. The project utilized handheld computer and global positioning system (GPS) technology to capture sign location data along with a timestamp. This data collection effort w...

Space satellite to aid arctic oil development

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1975-01-01

A project which utilizes the Nimbus-6 weather satellite and air-dropable data collection platforms for observation of Arctic ice movement is described. The information gained from the project could be valuable for planning oil recovery operations in the area.

Methods for structuring scientific knowledge from many areas related to aging research.

PubMed

Zhavoronkov, Alex; Cantor, Charles R

2011-01-01

Aging and age-related disease represents a substantial quantity of current natural, social and behavioral science research efforts. Presently, no centralized system exists for tracking aging research projects across numerous research disciplines. The multidisciplinary nature of this research complicates the understanding of underlying project categories, the establishment of project relations, and the development of a unified project classification scheme. We have developed a highly visual database, the International Aging Research Portfolio (IARP), available at AgingPortfolio.org to address this issue. The database integrates information on research grants, peer-reviewed publications, and issued patent applications from multiple sources. Additionally, the database uses flexible project classification mechanisms and tools for analyzing project associations and trends. This system enables scientists to search the centralized project database, to classify and categorize aging projects, and to analyze the funding aspects across multiple research disciplines. The IARP is designed to provide improved allocation and prioritization of scarce research funding, to reduce project overlap and improve scientific collaboration thereby accelerating scientific and medical progress in a rapidly growing area of research. Grant applications often precede publications and some grants do not result in publications, thus, this system provides utility to investigate an earlier and broader view on research activity in many research disciplines. This project is a first attempt to provide a centralized database system for research grants and to categorize aging research projects into multiple subcategories utilizing both advanced machine algorithms and a hierarchical environment for scientific collaboration.

Utility of Social Modeling for Proliferation Assessment - Preliminary Assessment

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

Coles, Garill A.; Gastelum, Zoe N.; Brothers, Alan J.

2009-06-01

This Preliminary Assessment draft report will present the results of a literature search and preliminary assessment of the body of research, analysis methods, models and data deemed to be relevant to the Utility of Social Modeling for Proliferation Assessment research. This report will provide: 1) a description of the problem space and the kinds of information pertinent to the problem space, 2) a discussion of key relevant or representative literature, 3) a discussion of models and modeling approaches judged to be potentially useful to the research, and 4) the next steps of this research that will be pursued based onmore » this preliminary assessment. This draft report represents a technical deliverable for the NA-22 Simulations, Algorithms, and Modeling (SAM) program. Specifically this draft report is the Task 1 deliverable for project PL09-UtilSocial-PD06, Utility of Social Modeling for Proliferation Assessment. This project investigates non-traditional use of social and cultural information to improve nuclear proliferation assessment, including nonproliferation assessment, proliferation resistance assessments, safeguards assessments and other related studies. These assessments often use and create technical information about the State’s posture towards proliferation, the vulnerability of a nuclear energy system to an undesired event, and the effectiveness of safeguards. This project will find and fuse social and technical information by explicitly considering the role of cultural, social and behavioral factors relevant to proliferation. The aim of this research is to describe and demonstrate if and how social science modeling has utility in proliferation assessment.« less

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

Folkedahl, Bruce

Much attention has been focused on renewable energy use in large-scale utilities and very small scale distributed energy systems. However, there is little information available regarding renewable energy options for midscale municipal utilities. The Willmar Municipal Utilities Corn Cob-Coal Co-Combustion Project was initiated to investigate opportunities available for small to midscale municipal utilities to "go green". The overall goal of the Project was to understand the current renewable energy research and energy efficiency projects that are or have been implemented at both larger and smaller scale and determine the applicability to midscale municipal utilities. More specific objectives for Task 2.0more » of this project were to determine the technical feasibility of co-combusting com cobs with coal in the existing WMU boiler, and to identify any regulatory issues that might need to be addressed if WMU were to obtain a significant portion of its heat from such co-combustion. This report addresses the issues as laid out in the study proposal. The study investigated the feasibility of and demonstrated the technical effectiveness of co-combusting corn cobs with coal in the Willmar Municipal Utilities stoker boiler steam generation power plant. The results of the WMU Co-Combustion Project will serve as a model for other midscale utilities who wish to use corn cobs to generate renewable electrical energy. As a result of the Co-Combustion Project, the WMU plans to upgrade their stoker boiler to accept whole corn cobs as well as other types of biomass, while still allowing the fuel delivery system to use 100% coal as needed. Benefits of co-combustion will include: energy security, reduced Hg and CO 2 air emissions, improved ash chemistry, potential future carbon credit sales, an immediate positive effect on the local economy, and positive attention focused on the WMU and the City of Willmar. The first step in the study was to complete a feasibility analysis. The feasibility analysis anticipated only positive results from the combustion of corn cobs with coal in the WMU power plant boiler, and therefore recommended that the project proceed. The study proceeded with a review of the existing WMU Power Plant configuration; cob fuel analyses; an application for an Air Quality Permit from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to conduct the co-combustion test burns; identification of and a site visit to a similar facility in Iowa; an evaluation of cob grinding machines; and agreements with a corn grower, a cob harvester, and the City of Willmar to procure, harvest, and store cobs. The WMU power plant staff constructed a temporary cob feed system whereby the cobs could be injected into the #3 Boiler firebox, at rates up to 40% of the boiler total heat input. Test burns were conducted, during which air emissions were monitored and fuel and ash samples analyzed. The results of the test burns indicated that the monitored flue gas quality improved slightly during the test burns. The WMU was able to determine that modifications to the #3 Boiler fuel feed system to accept com cobs on a permanent basis would be technically feasible and would enable the WMU to generate electricity from renewable fuels on a dispatchable basis.« less

A Review of Wind Project Financing Structures in the USA

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

Bolinger, Mark A; Harper, John; Karcher, Matthew

2008-09-24

The rapid pace of wind power development in the U.S. over the last decade has outstripped the ability of most project developers to provide adequate equity capital and make efficient use of project-related tax benefits. In response, the sector has created novel project financing structures that feature varying combinations of equity capital from project developers and third-party tax-oriented investors, and in some cases commercial debt. While their origins stem from variations in the financial capacity and business objectives of wind project developers, as well as the risk tolerances and objectives of equity and debt providers, each structure is, at itsmore » core, designed to manage project risk and allocate federal tax incentives to those entities that can use them most efficiently. This article surveys the six principal financing structures through which most new utility-scale wind projects (excluding utility-owned projects) in the U.S. have been financed from 1999 to the present. These structures include simple balance-sheet finance, several varieties of all-equity special allocation partnership 'flip' structures, and two leveraged structures. In addition to describing each structure's mechanics, the article also discusses its rationale for use, the types of investors that find it appealing and why, and its relative frequency of use in the market. The article concludes with a generalized summary of how a developer might choose one structure over another.« less

Comprehensive review of the evidence regarding the effectiveness of community–based primary health care in improving maternal, neonatal and child health: 5. equity effects for neonates and children

PubMed Central

Schleiff, Meike; Kumapley, Richard; Freeman, Paul A; Gupta, Sundeep; Rassekh, Bahie M; Perry, Henry B

2017-01-01

Background The degree to which investments in health programs improve the health of the most disadvantaged segments of the population—where utilization of health services and health status is often the worst—is a growing concern throughout the world. Therefore, questions about the degree to which community–based primary health care (CBPHC) can or actually does improve utilization of health services and the health status of the most disadvantaged children in a population is an important one. Methods Using a database containing information about the assessment of 548 interventions, projects or programs (referred to collectively as projects) that used CBPHC to improve child health, we extracted evidence related to equity from a sub–set of 42 projects, identified through a multi–step process, that included an equity analysis. We organized our findings conceptually around a logical framework matrix. Results Our analysis indicates that these CBPHC projects, all of which implemented child health interventions, achieved equitable effects. The vast majority (87%) of the 82 equity measurements carried out and reported for these 42 projects demonstrated “pro–equitable” or “equitable” effects, meaning that the project’s equity indicator(s) improved to the same degree or more in the disadvantaged segments of the project population as in the more advantaged segments. Most (78%) of the all the measured equity effects were “pro–equitable,” meaning that the equity criterion improved more in the most disadvantaged segment of the project population than in the other segments of the population. Conclusions Based on the observation that CBPHC projects commonly provide services that are readily accessible to the entire project population and that even often reach down to all households, such projects are inherently likely to be more equitable than projects that strengthen services only at facilities, where utilization diminishes greatly with one’s distance away. The decentralization of services and attention to and tracking of metrics across all phases of project implementation with attention to the underserved, as can be done in CBPHC projects, are important for reducing inequities in countries with a high burden of child mortality. Strengthening CBPHC is a necessary strategy for reducing inequities in child health and for achieving universal coverage of essential services for children. PMID:28685043

77 FR 35245 - Substantially Underserved Trust Areas (SUTA)

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-13

... projects with the greatest need, financial analysis and underwriting will continue to be used to determine... Utilities Service (RUS) is issuing regulations related to loans and grants to finance the construction... INFORMATION CONTACT: Michele Brooks, Director, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities...

Streamlining and integrating right-of-way and utility processes with planning, environmental, and design processes in Australia and Canada.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-06-01

Many transportation projects require acquisition of land and accommodation of utility facilities in the : right-of-way. The Federal Highway Administration, American Association of State Highway and : Transportation Officials, and National Cooperative...

Repair of impact damaged utility poles with fiber reinforced polymers (FRP), phase II.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2015-06-01

Vehicle collisions with steel or aluminum utility poles are common occurrences that yield substantial but often repairable : damage. This project investigates the use of a fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite system for in situ repair that : mini...

7 CFR 4280.131 - Lender's functions and responsibilities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

...-COOPERATIVE SERVICE AND RURAL UTILITIES SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE LOANS AND GRANTS Rural Energy for America Program General Renewable Energy System and Energy Efficiency Improvement Guaranteed Loans § 4280... chapter, the lender must also ensure that all project facilities are designed utilizing accepted...

7 CFR 4280.131 - Lender's functions and responsibilities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

...-COOPERATIVE SERVICE AND RURAL UTILITIES SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE LOANS AND GRANTS Rural Energy for America Program General Renewable Energy System and Energy Efficiency Improvement Guaranteed Loans § 4280... chapter, the lender must also ensure that all project facilities are designed utilizing accepted...

7 CFR 4280.131 - Lender's functions and responsibilities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

...-COOPERATIVE SERVICE AND RURAL UTILITIES SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE LOANS AND GRANTS Rural Energy for America Program General Renewable Energy System and Energy Efficiency Improvement Guaranteed Loans § 4280... chapter, the lender must also ensure that all project facilities are designed utilizing accepted...

7 CFR 4280.131 - Lender's functions and responsibilities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

...-COOPERATIVE SERVICE AND RURAL UTILITIES SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE LOANS AND GRANTS Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program Section B. Guaranteed Loans § 4280.131 Lender's...) of this chapter, the lender must also ensure that all project facilities are designed utilizing...

7 CFR 4280.131 - Lender's functions and responsibilities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

...-COOPERATIVE SERVICE AND RURAL UTILITIES SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE LOANS AND GRANTS Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program Section B. Guaranteed Loans § 4280.131 Lender's...) of this chapter, the lender must also ensure that all project facilities are designed utilizing...

Utilization of Light Detection and Ranging for Quality Control and Quality Assurance of Pavement Grades

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2018-02-01

Light Detection and Ranging (Lidar) technology is a useful tool that can assist transportation agencies during the design, construction, and maintenance phases of transportation projects. To demonstrate the utility of Lidar, this report discusses how...

Procedures for prioritizing road improvements under the statewide highway plan : final report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1990-01-01

The road improvement prioritizing system currently utilized by the Virginia Department of Transportation is similar to the method utilized by many states: it is a sufficiency rating system that evaluates proposed projects on the basis of points assig...

UTILITY EXPERIENCE WITH INNOVATIVE WATER MAIN REHAB TECHNIQUES

EPA Science Inventory

All utilities are motivated to renew their aging infrastructure in the most efficient manner with respect to cost and minimal disruption to the community. American Water was given an opportunity to participate in an EPA funded project to demonstrate innovative water (and wastewa...

38 CFR 59.50 - Priority list.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... priority group does not include applications for the addition or replacement of building utility systems, such as heating and air conditioning systems or building features, such as roof replacements. Projects... Americans with Disabilities Act; building systems and utilities (e.g., electrical; heating, ventilation, and...

Project management in the Apollo program: An interdisciplinary study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Drucker, E. E.; Pooler, W. S.; Wilemon, D. L.; Wood, B. D.

1972-01-01

Findings concerning project management in the NASA Apollo program are presented. The Apollo program in the context of the total NASA organization is examined along with the nature of project management and the manner in which project managers functioned in the Apollo program. The utilization of the in-house technical competence in the support of the Apollo program, and the formal and informal relationships between Apollo managers and the contractors are discussed.

ECUT: Energy Conversion and Utilization Technologies program. Biocatalysis project

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1990-01-01

The Biocatalysis Project is a mission-oriented, applied research and exploratory development activity directed toward resolution of the major generic technical barriers that impede the development of biologically catalyzed commercial chemical production. The approach toward achieving project objectives involves an integrated participation of Universities, Industrial Companies and Government Research Laboratories. The Project's technical activities were organized into three work elements: molecular modeling and applied genetics; bioprocess engineering; and bioprocess design and assessment.

33 CFR 279.5 - Policy.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... utilize an interdisciplinary team with leadership by planning, and participation from engineering, design.... Subsequent aspects of planning, development, and management for the specific project will be directed to... management plans for each specific water resource project, including at least one public meeting. The...

Model driver screening and evaluation program. Volume 1, Project summary and model program recommendations

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2003-05-01

This research project studied the feasibility as well as the scientific validity and utility of performing functional capacity screening with older drivers. A Model Program was described encompassing procedures to detect functionally impaired drivers...

Woodburn port-of-entry automation project, 1986 - 1993 : final report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1994-07-01

In 1986, the Oregon State Highway Division (OSHD), in conjunction with the Public Utility Commission (PUC), and with the cooperation of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), under took an experimental project at the Woodburn southbound Port-of-E...

Evaluating Bicycle, Pedestrian, Transit and Economic Data Collection Needs and Measures of Effectiveness in Pennsylvania

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2018-02-06

The purpose of this research project was to evaluate the current data collection procedures for bicycle and pedestrian projects utilized by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and Pennsylvania's Metropolitan Planning Organizations...

7 CFR 4280.118 - Insurance requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... RURAL UTILITIES SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE LOANS AND GRANTS Rural Energy for America Program General Renewable Energy System and Energy Efficiency Improvement Grants § 4280.118 Insurance requirements... is required except for projects with total eligible project costs of $200,000 or less. ...

24 CFR 241.590 - Eligibility of property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... SUPPLEMENTARY FINANCING FOR INSURED PROJECT MORTGAGES Eligibility Requirements-Supplemental Loans To Finance Purchase and Installation of Energy Conserving Improvements, Solar Energy Systems, and Individual Utility Meters in Multifamily Projects Without a HUD-Insured or HUD-Held Mortgage Property Requirements § 241.590...

7 CFR 4280.118 - Insurance requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... RURAL UTILITIES SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE LOANS AND GRANTS Rural Energy for America Program General Renewable Energy System and Energy Efficiency Improvement Grants § 4280.118 Insurance requirements... is required except for projects with total eligible project costs of $200,000 or less. ...

24 CFR 241.590 - Eligibility of property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... SUPPLEMENTARY FINANCING FOR INSURED PROJECT MORTGAGES Eligibility Requirements-Supplemental Loans To Finance Purchase and Installation of Energy Conserving Improvements, Solar Energy Systems, and Individual Utility Meters in Multifamily Projects Without a HUD-Insured or HUD-Held Mortgage Property Requirements § 241.590...

24 CFR 241.590 - Eligibility of property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... SUPPLEMENTARY FINANCING FOR INSURED PROJECT MORTGAGES Eligibility Requirements-Supplemental Loans To Finance Purchase and Installation of Energy Conserving Improvements, Solar Energy Systems, and Individual Utility Meters in Multifamily Projects Without a HUD-Insured or HUD-Held Mortgage Property Requirements § 241.590...

24 CFR 241.590 - Eligibility of property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... SUPPLEMENTARY FINANCING FOR INSURED PROJECT MORTGAGES Eligibility Requirements-Supplemental Loans To Finance Purchase and Installation of Energy Conserving Improvements, Solar Energy Systems, and Individual Utility Meters in Multifamily Projects Without a HUD-Insured or HUD-Held Mortgage Property Requirements § 241.590...

7 CFR 4280.118 - Insurance requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... RURAL UTILITIES SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE LOANS AND GRANTS Rural Energy for America Program General Renewable Energy System and Energy Efficiency Improvement Grants § 4280.118 Insurance requirements... is required except for projects with total eligible project costs of $200,000 or less. ...

Procedures and models for estimating preconstruction costs of highway projects.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-07-01

This study presents data driven and component based PE cost prediction models by utilizing critical factors retrieved from ten years of historical project data obtained from ODOT roadway division. The study used factor analysis of covariance and corr...

Wireless data collection system for travel time estimation and traffic performance evaluation.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-05-01

This report presents the results of the third and final research and development project of an implementable wireless : travel time data collection system. Utilizing Bluetooth wireless technology as a platform, the prior projects focused on : data co...

Bulk specific gravity round-robin using the Corelok vacuum sealing device

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2002-11-01

This project conducted an evaluation of the Corelok device for the determination of the bulk specific gravity of compacted hot mix asphalt samples. The project consisted of the bulk specific gravity determination for compacted HMA mixes utilizing the...

36 CFR 222.1 - Authority and definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... Grasslands, Land Utilization Projects, and other Federal lands for which the Forest Service has...-ground expenditure means payment of direct project costs of implementing an improvement or development...: (i) Non-structural which are practices and treatments undertaken to improve range not involving...

Synthesis of the project leadership staffing needs for successful development of alternative delivery programs.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2017-08-01

This research provides a synthesis of practices in organizational structuring and professional staffing of the innovative delivery units in several state DOTs across the nation that are actively utilizing alternative project delivery. Several major c...

47 CFR 5.51 - Eligibility of license.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... Radio Service will be issued only to persons qualified to conduct experimentation utilizing radio waves... rules; or for communications in connection with research projects when existing communications... service shall file applications and conduct such projects under the developmental rules of the established...

City of Fort Collins advanced traffic management system : final report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-01-01

The Fort Collins Advance Traffic Management System (ATMS) was a FY01 earmarked project. The objective of the overall project was to rebuild the Citys entire traffic management system to utilize and provide Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) c...

Analysis of Unit-Level Changes in Operations with Increased SPP Wind from EPRI/LCG Balancing Study

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

Hadley, Stanton W

2012-01-01

Wind power development in the United States is outpacing previous estimates for many regions, particularly those with good wind resources. The pace of wind power deployment may soon outstrip regional capabilities to provide transmission and integration services to achieve the most economic power system operation. Conversely, regions such as the Southeastern United States do not have good wind resources and will have difficulty meeting proposed federal Renewable Portfolio Standards with local supply. There is a growing need to explore innovative solutions for collaborating between regions to achieve the least cost solution for meeting such a renewable energy mandate. The Departmentmore » of Energy funded the project 'Integrating Midwest Wind Energy into Southeast Electricity Markets' to be led by EPRI in coordination with the main authorities for the regions: SPP, Entergy, TVA, Southern Company and OPC. EPRI utilized several subcontractors for the project including LCG, the developers of the model UPLAN. The study aims to evaluate the operating cost benefits of coordination of scheduling and balancing for Southwest Power Pool (SPP) wind transfers to Southeastern Electric Reliability Council (SERC) Balancing Authorities (BAs). The primary objective of this project is to analyze the benefits of regional cooperation for integrating mid-western wind energy into southeast electricity markets. Scenarios were defined, modeled and investigated to address production variability and uncertainty and the associated balancing of large quantities of wind power in SPP and delivery to energy markets in the southern regions of the SERC. DOE funded Oak Ridge National Laboratory to provide additional support to the project, including a review of results and any side analysis that may provide additional insight. This report is a unit-by-unit analysis of changes in operations due to the different scenarios used in the overall study. It focuses on the change in capacity factors and the number of start-ups required for each unit since those criteria summarize key aspects of plant operations, how often are they called upon and how much do they operate. The primary analysis of the overall project is based on security-constrained unit commitment (SCUC) and economic dispatch (SCED) simulations of the SPP-SERC regions as modeled for the year 2022. The SCUC/SCED models utilized for the project were developed through extensive consultation with the project utility partners, to ensure the various regions and operational practices are represented as best as possible in the model. SPP, Entergy, Oglethorpe Power Company (OPC), Southern Company, and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) actively participated in the project providing input data for the models and review of simulation results and conclusions. While other SERC utility systems are modeled, the listed SERC utilities were explicitly included as active participants in the project due to the size of their load and relative proximity to SPP for importing wind energy.« less

Advanced in-duct sorbent injection for SO{sub 2} control. Final technical report

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

Stouffer, M.R.; Withium, J.A.; Rosenhoover, W.A.

1994-12-01

The objective of this research project was to develop a second generation duct sorbent injection technology as a cost-effective compliance option for the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments. Research and development work was focused on the Advanced Coolside process, which showed the potential for exceeding the original performance targets of 90% SO{sub 2} removal and 60% sorbent utilization. Process development was conducted in a 1000 acfm pilot plant. The pilot plant testing showed that the Advanced Coolside process can achieve 90% SO{sub 2} removal at sorbent utilizations up to 75%. The testing also showed that the process has the potentialmore » to achieve very high removal efficiency (90 to >99%). By conducting conceptual process design and economic evaluations periodically during the project, development work was focused on process design improvements which substantially lowered process capital and operating costs, A final process economic study projects capital costs less than one half of those for limestone forced oxidation wet FGD. Projected total SO{sub 2} control cost is about 25% lower than wet FGD for a 260 MWe plant burning a 2.5% sulfur coal. A waste management study showed the acceptability of landfill disposal; it also identified a potential avenue for by-product utilization which should be further investigated. Based on the pilot plant performance and on the above economic projections, future work to scale up the Advanced Coolside process is recommended.« less

Progress Made in Lunar In-Situ Resource Utilization Under NASA's Exploration Technology and Development Program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sanders, Gerald B.; Larson, William E.

2012-01-01

Incorporation of In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) and the production of mission critical consumables for 9 propulsion, power, and life support into mission architectures can greatly reduce the mass, cost, and risk of missions 10 leading to a sustainable and affordable approach to human exploration beyond Earth. ISRU and its products can 11 also greatly affect how other exploration systems are developed, including determining which technologies are 12 important or enabling. While the concept of lunar ISRU has existed for over 40 years, the technologies and systems 13 had not progressed much past simple laboratory proof-of-concept tests. With the release of the Vision for Space 14 Exploration in 2004 with the goal of harnessing the Moon.s resources, NASA initiated the ISRU Project in the 15 Exploration Technology Development Program (ETDP) to develop the technologies and systems needed to meet 16 this goal. In the five years of work in the ISRU Project, significant advancements and accomplishments occurred in 17 several important areas of lunar ISRU. Also, two analog field tests held in Hawaii in 2008 and 2010 demonstrated 18 all the steps in ISRU capabilities required along with the integration of ISRU products and hardware with 19 propulsion, power, and cryogenic storage systems. This paper will review the scope of the ISRU Project in the 20 ETDP, ISRU incorporation and development strategies utilized by the ISRU Project, and ISRU development and 21 test accomplishments over the five years of funded project activity.

Utility of two modified-live virus canine distemper vaccines in wild-caught fishers (Martes pennanti).

PubMed

Peper, Steven T; Peper, Randall L; Mitcheltree, Denise H; Kollias, George V; Brooks, Robert P; Stevens, Sadie S; Serfass, Thomas L

2016-12-01

Canine distemper virus (CDV) infects families in the order Carnivora. As a preventive measure, vaccinations against CDV are frequently given to mustelids in captive environments. Our objectives were to compare the utility between two modified-live virus canine distemper vaccines (MLV CDV's), Fervac-D® (no longer manufactured) and Galaxy-D® (now manufactured by MSD Animal Health as part of a multivalent vaccine), in developing an immune response in wild-caught fishers. The Pennsylvania Fisher Reintroduction Project (PFRP) used 14 wild-caught fishers during one year of the project to evaluate the utility of vaccinations against CDV as part of any reintroduction project. Fishers were injected subcutaneously in the nape of the neck with their designated vaccine. Fervac-D® did not effectively stimulate development of a serologic antibody response, whereas Galaxy-D® had adequate seroconversion or rise of titer levels to suggest that the general use of MLV CDV may be suitable in fishers pending further studies. We recommend that future studies be conducted, evaluating the use of currently produced vaccines in fishers. Future research should also focus on the length of days required between administration of primary and booster vaccines to achieve sufficient immune response. If only primary doses are required, then hard-release reintroduction projects for fishers could be recommended. If primary and booster vaccines are required then soft-release reintroduction projects should be recommended that include captive management periods, allowing for appropriate vaccination intervals needed to maximize the probability of protection against CDV.

Factors Impacting Student Service Utilization at Ontario Colleges: Key Performance Indicators as a Measure of Success: A Niagara College View

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Veres, David

2015-01-01

Student success in Ontario College is significantly influenced by the utilization of student services. At Niagara College there has been a significant investment in student services as a strategy to support student success. Utilizing existing KPI data, this quantitative research project is aimed at measuring factors that influence both the use of…

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

Nakafuji, Dora; Gouveia, Lauren

This project supports development of the next generation, integrated energy management infrastructure (EMS) able to incorporate advance visualization of behind-the-meter distributed resource information and probabilistic renewable energy generation forecasts to inform real-time operational decisions. The project involves end-users and active feedback from an Utility Advisory Team (UAT) to help inform how information can be used to enhance operational functions (e.g. unit commitment, load forecasting, Automatic Generation Control (AGC) reserve monitoring, ramp alerts) within two major EMS platforms. Objectives include: Engaging utility operations personnel to develop user input on displays, set expectations, test and review; Developing ease of use and timelinessmore » metrics for measuring enhancements; Developing prototype integrated capabilities within two operational EMS environments; Demonstrating an integrated decision analysis platform with real-time wind and solar forecasting information and timely distributed resource information; Seamlessly integrating new 4-dimensional information into operations without increasing workload and complexities; Developing sufficient analytics to inform and confidently transform and adopt new operating practices and procedures; Disseminating project lessons learned through industry sponsored workshops and conferences;Building on collaborative utility-vendor partnership and industry capabilities« less

A Proposal for the use of the Consortium Method in the Design-build system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miyatake, Ichiro; Kudo, Masataka; Kawamata, Hiroyuki; Fueta, Toshiharu

In view of the necessity for efficient implementation of public works projects, it is expected to utilize advanced technical skills of private firms, for the purpose of reducing project costs, improving performance and functions of construction objects, and reducing work periods, etc. The design-build system is a method to order design and construction as a single contract, including design of structural forms and main specifications of the construction object. This is a system in which high techniques of private firms can be utilized, as a means to ensure qualities of design and construction, rational design, and efficiency of the project. The objective of this study is to examine the use of a method to form a consortium of civil engineering consultants and construction companies, as it is an issue related to the implementation of the design-build method. Furthermore, by studying various forms of consortiums to be introduced in future, it proposes procedural items required to utilize this method, during the bid and after signing a contract, such as the estimate submission from the civil engineering consultants etc.

Lessons learned: the switch from VMS to UNIX operations for the STScI's Science and Mission Scheduling Branch

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adler, David S.; Workman, William M., III; Chance, Don

2004-09-01

The Science and Mission Scheduling Branch (SMSB) of the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) historically operated exclusively under VMS. Due to diminished support for VMS-based platforms at STScI, SMSB recently transitioned to Unix operations. No additional resources were available to the group; the project was SMSB's to design, develop, and implement. Early decisions included the choice of Python as the primary scripting language; adoption of Object-Oriented Design in the development of base utilities; and the development of a Python utility to interact directly with the Sybase database. The project was completed in January 2004 with the implementation of a GUI to generate the Command Loads that are uplinked to HST. The current tool suite consists of 31 utilities and 271 tools comprising over 60,000 lines of code. In this paper, we summarize the decision-making process used to determine the primary scripting language, database interface, and code management library. We also describe the finished product and summarize lessons learned along the way to completing the project.

Asteroid and Lava Tube In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) Prospecting Free Flyer Project

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Falker, John; Zeitlin, Nancy; Mueller, Robert; Dupuis, Michael

2015-01-01

This project seeks to develop a small free flyer that can be used to safely and effectively prospect on an Asteroid while being controlled by the crew. This will enable the characterization of the Asteroid for the In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU). Lava tubes can be explored remotely from the outside Asteroids can contain vast amounts of resources such as water for propellants and metals for feed stocks. Lava Tubes on Mars and the Moon may contain frozen volatile resources. Before the resources can be used, they must be found with a prospecting method. The NASA Agency Asteroid Grand Challenge seeks new ideas for Asteroid retrieval mission technologies for exploration and utilization of asteroids in a Distant Retrograde Orbit (DRO). This project will develop a small free flying platform that can be used to safely and effectively prospect on an Asteroid with limited autonomy while being controlled by the crew. This will enable the characterization of the Asteroid for ISRU. Lava tubes can be explored remotely from the outside as well using this same technology.

TANK OPERATIONS CONTRACT CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT METHODOLOGY UTILIZING THE AGENCY METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

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

LESKO KF; BERRIOCHOA MV

2010-02-26

Washington River Protection Solutions, LLC (WRPS) has faced significant project management challenges in managing Davis-Bacon construction work that meets contractually required small business goals. The unique challenge is to provide contracting opportunities to multiple small business constructioin subcontractors while performing high hazard work in a safe and productive manner. Previous to the WRPS contract, construction work at the Hanford Tank Farms was contracted to large companies, while current Department of Energy (DOE) Contracts typically emphasize small business awards. As an integral part of Nuclear Project Management at Hanford Tank Farms, construction involves removal of old equipment and structures and installationmore » of new infrastructure to support waste retrieval and waste feed delivery to the Waste Treatment Plant. Utilizing the optimum construction approach ensures that the contractors responsible for this work are successful in meeting safety, quality, cost and schedule objectives while working in a very hazardous environment. This paper descirbes the successful transition from a traditional project delivery method that utilized a large business general contractor and subcontractors to a new project construction management model that is more oriented to small businesses. Construction has selected the Agency Construction Management Method (John E Schaufelberger, Len Holm, "Management of Construction Projects, A Constructor's Perspective", University of Washington, Prentice Hall 2002). This method was implemented in the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2009 (FY2009), where Construction Management is performed by substantially home office resources from the URS Northwest Office in Richland, Washington. The Agency Method has allowed WRPS to provide proven Construction Managers and Field Leads to mentor and direct small business contractors, thus providing expertise and assurance of a successful project. Construction execution contracts are subcontracted directly by WRPS to small or disadvantaged contractors that are mentored and supported by URS personnel. Each small contractor is mentored and supported utilizing the principles of the Construction Industry Institute (CII) Partnering process. Some of the key mentoring and partnering areas that are explored in this paper are, internal and external safety professional support, subcontractor safety teams and the interface with project and site safety teams, quality assurance program support to facilitate compliance with NQA-1, construction, team roles and responsibilities, work definition for successful fixed price contracts, scheduling and interface with project schedules and cost projection/accruals. The practical application of the CII Partnering principles, with the Construction Management expertise of URS, has led to a highly successful construction model that also meets small business contracting goals.« less

Yeager Airport Hydrogen Vehicle Test Project

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

Davis, Williams

The scope of this project was changed during the course of the project. Phase I of the project was designed to have the National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium (NAFTC), together with its partners, manage the Hydrogen Vehicle Test Project at the Yeager Airport in conjunction with the Central West Virginia Regional Airport Authority (CWVRAA) in coordination with the United States Department of Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory (U.S. DOE NETL). This program would allow testing and evaluation of the use of hydrogen vehicles in the state of West Virginia utilizing the hydrogen fueling station at Yeager Airport. The NAFTC andmore » CWVRAA to raise awareness and foster a greater understanding of hydrogen fuel and hydrogen-powered vehicles through a targeted utilization and outreach and education effort. After initial implementation of the project, the project added, determine the source(s) of supply for hydrogen powered vehicles that could be used for the testing. After completion of this, testing was begun at Yeager Airport. During the course of the project, the station at Yeager Airport was closed and moved to Morgantown and the West Virginia University Research Corporation. The vehicles were then moved to Morgantown and a vehicle owned by the CWVRAA was purchased to complete the project at the new location. Because of a number of issues detailed in the report for DE-FE0002994 and in this report, this project did not get to evaluate the effectiveness of the vehicles as planned.« less

Technology transfer to a developing nation, Korea

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stone, C. A.; Uccetta, S. J.

1973-01-01

An experimental project is reported which was undertaken. to determine if selected types of technology developed for the aerospace program during the past decade are relevant to specific industrial problems of a developing nation and to test whether a structured program could facilitate the transfer of relevant technologies. The Korea Institute of Science and Technology and the IIT Research Institute were selected as the active transfer agents to participate in the program. The pilot project was based upon the approach to the transfer of domestic technology developed by the NASA Technology Utilization Division and utilized the extensive data and technical resources available through the Space Agency and its contractors. This pilot project has helped to clarify some aspects of the international technology transfer process and to upgrade Korean technological capabilities.

Evaluation of the Guided Occupational Orientation-Training and Job Placement Project Syracuse City School District.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Holder, Harold D.; And Others

The report provides a summary of the independent, third party evaluation of the 1972-73 funding year of the Guided Occupational Orientation Project of the Syracuse City School District. A systems approach to evaluation was utilized in this effort. The funded project involved all three grade populations--elementary, junior high school, and senior…

THE MEMPHIS STORY-MOBILIZING A LARGE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND A COMMUNITY FOR THE SUPERIOR AND TALENTED STUDENT PROJECT.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

COUNCE, D. SHELBY

THE STORY OF THE SUPERIOR AND TALENTED STUDENT PROJECT AS IT WAS UTILIZED IN THE MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, SCHOOL SYSTEM IS RELATED. THE STS PROJECT IS DESIGNED TO ASSIST SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN IDENTIFYING SUPERIOR AND TALENTED STUDENTS, IN PROVIDING GUIDANCE SERVICES FOR THEM, IN ENCOURAGING THEM TO MAKE APPROPRIATE EDUCATIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL CHOICES,…

Design Skills and Prototyping for Defense Systems

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-04-30

however, the utility of prototyping has had a demonstrably mixed record in defense acquisition. Some programs, such as the Manhattan Project , were...almost completely undefined. The first production reactors for the Manhattan Project suffered a near- catastrophic engineering design flaw stemming...architecture, as was seen in the F-117 and Manhattan Project development efforts. Architectural Prototyping Simply maintaining design teams or developing

76 FR 75539 - Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Central Everglades Planning Project...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-12-02

... the Federal government, in partnership with the State of Florida, to embark upon a multi-decade, multi... Spreader Canal Western Project. All of these CERP projects utilize lands that were acquired by the State... flows to the interior of the system will not cause adverse effects. The next step for implementation of...

The SIMRAND methodology: Theory and application for the simulation of research and development projects

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miles, R. F., Jr.

1986-01-01

A research and development (R&D) project often involves a number of decisions that must be made concerning which subset of systems or tasks are to be undertaken to achieve the goal of the R&D project. To help in this decision making, SIMRAND (SIMulation of Research ANd Development Projects) is a methodology for the selection of the optimal subset of systems or tasks to be undertaken on an R&D project. Using alternative networks, the SIMRAND methodology models the alternative subsets of systems or tasks under consideration. Each path through an alternative network represents one way of satisfying the project goals. Equations are developed that relate the system or task variables to the measure of reference. Uncertainty is incorporated by treating the variables of the equations probabilistically as random variables, with cumulative distribution functions assessed by technical experts. Analytical techniques of probability theory are used to reduce the complexity of the alternative networks. Cardinal utility functions over the measure of preference are assessed for the decision makers. A run of the SIMRAND Computer I Program combines, in a Monte Carlo simulation model, the network structure, the equations, the cumulative distribution functions, and the utility functions.

Extreme ultraviolet lithography machine

DOEpatents

Tichenor, Daniel A.; Kubiak, Glenn D.; Haney, Steven J.; Sweeney, Donald W.

2000-01-01

An extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL) machine or system for producing integrated circuit (IC) components, such as transistors, formed on a substrate. The EUVL machine utilizes a laser plasma point source directed via an optical arrangement onto a mask or reticle which is reflected by a multiple mirror system onto the substrate or target. The EUVL machine operates in the 10-14 nm wavelength soft x-ray photon. Basically the EUV machine includes an evacuated source chamber, an evacuated main or project chamber interconnected by a transport tube arrangement, wherein a laser beam is directed into a plasma generator which produces an illumination beam which is directed by optics from the source chamber through the connecting tube, into the projection chamber, and onto the reticle or mask, from which a patterned beam is reflected by optics in a projection optics (PO) box mounted in the main or projection chamber onto the substrate. In one embodiment of a EUVL machine, nine optical components are utilized, with four of the optical components located in the PO box. The main or projection chamber includes vibration isolators for the PO box and a vibration isolator mounting for the substrate, with the main or projection chamber being mounted on a support structure and being isolated.

Program Evaluation Grant. Final Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Quadco Rehabilitation Center, Inc., Stryker, OH.

The purpose of the project was to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of those rehabilitation facilities which were utilized by the Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission (RSC) through the development, installation, and utilization of a program evaluation system and a management information system. The two systems were developed and…

Creative Energy Management Can Save Money.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rose, Patricia

1984-01-01

Schools can launch energy conservation programs with simple money-saving measures like improving boiler maintenance, recalibrating utility meters, and obtaining preferred utility rates. Becoming more assertive in the marketplace and using "creative financing" when needed, they can then reinvest their savings in more extensive projects. (MCG)

Increasing Health Portal Utilization in Cardiac Ambulatory Patients: A Pilot Project.

PubMed

Shaw, Carmen L; Casterline, Gayle L; Taylor, Dennis; Fogle, Maureen; Granger, Bradi

2017-10-01

Increasing health portal participation actively engages patients in their care and improves outcomes. The primary aim for this project was to increase patient health portal utilization. Nurses used a tablet-based demo to teach patients how to navigate the health portal. Assigning health videos to the portal was a tactic used to increase utilization. Each patient participant was surveyed about health portal utilization at initial nurse navigator appointment, day of procedure, and 30 days after discharge. Seventy-three percent (n = 14) of the 19 selected patients received the intervention; 36% (n = 4) of patients reported using a health portal feature; meaningful use metric preintervention increased from 12% to 16% after the intervention; 16% and 18% of patients viewed assigned videos in their health portal prior to procedure and after hospital discharge. Patients need a reason to access their health portal. Education alone is not enough to motivate patient portal use. Further research is needed to specify what tactics are required to motivate patients to use their health portals.

Concurrent planning and execution for a walking robot

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Simmons, Reid

1990-07-01

The Planetary Rover project is developing the Ambler, a novel legged robot, and an autonomous software system for walking the Ambler over rough terrain. As part of the project, we have developed a system that integrates perception, planning, and real-time control to navigate a single leg of the robot through complex obstacle courses. The system is integrated using the Task Control Architecture (TCA), a general-purpose set of utilities for building and controlling distributed mobile robot systems. The walking system, as originally implemented, utilized a sequential sense-plan-act control cycle. This report describes efforts to improve the performance of the system by concurrently planning and executing steps. Concurrency was achieved by modifying the existing sequential system to utilize TCA features such as resource management, monitors, temporal constraints, and hierarchical task trees. Performance was increased in excess of 30 percent with only a relatively modest effort to convert and test the system. The results lend support to the utility of using TCA to develop complex mobile robot systems.

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

Agalgaonkar, Yashodhan P.; Hammerstrom, Donald J.

The Pacific Northwest Smart Grid Demonstration (PNWSGD) was a smart grid technology performance evaluation project that included multiple U.S. states and cooperation from multiple electric utilities in the northwest region. One of the local objectives for the project was to achieve improved distribution system reliability. Toward this end, some PNWSGD utilities automated their distribution systems, including the application of fault detection, isolation, and restoration and advanced metering infrastructure. In light of this investment, a major challenge was to establish a correlation between implementation of these smart grid technologies and actual improvements of distribution system reliability. This paper proposes using Welch’smore » t-test to objectively determine and quantify whether distribution system reliability is improving over time. The proposed methodology is generic, and it can be implemented by any utility after calculation of the standard reliability indices. The effectiveness of the proposed hypothesis testing approach is demonstrated through comprehensive practical results. It is believed that wider adoption of the proposed approach can help utilities to evaluate a realistic long-term performance of smart grid technologies.« less

Study on the measures to promote the use of photovoltaic power generating system overseas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

1989-03-01

In order to understand the state of the utilizing photovoltaic power generating system, the present situation to promote its development, the actual status of the assistance for developing countries by each country or by each international organization, research was done for USA, principal western countries, UN and EC. First, development conditions of the solar cell utilizing technique were classified by each country at the standpoint of developing and promoting systems. Second, the projects and policies in each country or international organization were arranged to promote research, development and introduction. Next, the present situation of the photovoltaic power generation projects by civilian parties and the problems to assist the projects by each country were arranged. While, the present sutuation of the photovoltaic power generation projects assisted by the governments and international organizations were classified by each country and each international organizations. Finally, in view of importance in the photovoltaic power generation project, it was concluded that not only developed country governments and international organizations but also private enterprises in developed countries were required to expand the understanding about the photovoltaic power generation system.

Building an outpatient imaging center: A case study at genesis healthcare system, part 2.

PubMed

Yanci, Jim

2006-01-01

In the second of 2 parts, this article will focus on process improvement projects utilizing a case study at Genesis HealthCare System located in Zanesville, OH. Operational efficiency is a key step in developing a freestanding diagnostic imaging center. The process improvement projects began with an Expert Improvement Session (EIS) on the scheduling process. An EIS session is a facilitated meeting that can last anywhere from 3 hours to 2 days. Its intention is to take a group of people involved with the problem or operational process and work to understand current failures or breakdowns in the process. Recommendations are jointly developed to overcome any current deficiencies, and a work plan is structured to create ownership over the changes. A total of 11 EIS sessions occurred over the course of this project, covering 5 sections: Scheduling/telephone call process, Pre-registration, Verification/pre-certification, MRI throughput, CT throughput. Following is a single example of a project focused on the process improvement efforts. All of the process improvement projects utilized a quasi methodology of "DMAIC" (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control).

Scenarios of land use and land cover change in the conterminous United States: Utilizing the special report on emission scenarios at ecoregional scales

USGS Publications Warehouse

Sleeter, Benjamin M.; Sohl, Terry L.; Bouchard, Michelle A.; Reker, Ryan R.; Soulard, Christopher E.; Acevedo, William; Griffith, Glenn E.; Sleeter, Rachel R.; Auch, Roger F.; Sayler, Kristi L.; Prisley, Stephen; Zhu, Zhi-Liang

2012-01-01

Global environmental change scenarios have typically provided projections of land use and land cover for a relatively small number of regions or using a relatively coarse resolution spatial grid, and for only a few major sectors. The coarseness of global projections, in both spatial and thematic dimensions, often limits their direct utility at scales useful for environmental management. This paper describes methods to downscale projections of land-use and land-cover change from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Special Report on Emission Scenarios to ecological regions of the conterminous United States, using an integrated assessment model, land-use histories, and expert knowledge. Downscaled projections span a wide range of future potential conditions across sixteen land use/land cover sectors and 84 ecological regions, and are logically consistent with both historical measurements and SRES characteristics. Results appear to provide a credible solution for connecting regionalized projections of land use and land cover with existing downscaled climate scenarios, under a common set of scenario-based socioeconomic assumptions.

40 CFR 60.14 - Modification.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... physical change, or change in the method of operation, at an existing electric utility steam generating... projects that are awarded funding from the Department of Energy as permanent clean coal technology... installation, operation, cessation, or removal of a temporary clean coal technology demonstration project is...

Aerosol Microphysics and Radiation Integration

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-09-30

www.nrlmry.navy.mil/ flambe / LONG-TERM GOALS This long-term goals of this project is the development of systems that support real time global... FLAMBE ) project is currently being utilized by Internet Community, Air quality/human health research (University of Kansas Medical Center), Environment

PROJECTIONS OF REGIONAL FUEL OIL AND NATURAL GAS PRICES

EPA Science Inventory

The report presents delivered regional oil and natural gas price forecasts for the industrial and electric utility sectors. Delivered energy price projections by Federal region through the year 2045 are provided for distillate fuel oil, residual fuel oil, and natural gas. Methodo...

Striping truck utilization at Crawfordsville and Greenfield.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-12-01

At the time this project was launched, INDOT was operating two paint trucks per district (one edge line truck and one center line truck). : This project was launched to determine the feasibility of painting all the lane miles in each district with a ...

Alternate bidding strategies for asphalt and concrete pavement projects utilizing life cycle cost analysis (LCCA).

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-07-01

Recent changes in pavement materials costs have impacted the competitive environment relative to the : determination of the most cost effective pavement structure for a specific highway project. In response, State : highway agencies have renewed thei...

APPLICATION OF DATA QUALITY OBJECTIVES AND MEASUREMENT QUALITY OBJECTIVES TO RESEARCH PROJECTS

EPA Science Inventory

The paper assists systematic planning for research projects. It presents planning concepts in terms that have some utility for researchers. For example, measurement quality objectives are more familiar to researchers than data quality objectives because these quality criteria are...

Utilization of remote traffic monitoring devices for urban freeway work zone assessment.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-01-01

The objective of this project was to promote and facilitate analysis and evaluation of the impacts of road construction activities in Smart : Work Zone Deployment Initiative (SWZDI) states. : The two primary objectives of this project were to assess ...

Fossil Energy Program

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McNeese, L. E.

1981-01-01

Increased utilization of coal and other fossil fuel alternatives as sources of clean energy is reported. The following topics are discussed: coal conversion development, chemical research and development, materials technology, component development and process evaluation studies, technical support to major liquefaction projects, process analysis and engineering evaluations, fossil energy environmental analysis, flue gas desulfurization, solid waste disposal, coal preparation waste utilization, plant control development, atmospheric fluidized bed coal combustor for cogeneration, TVA FBC demonstration plant program technical support, PFBC systems analysis, fossil fuel applications assessments, performance assurance system support for fossil energy projects, international energy technology assessment, and general equilibrium models of liquid and gaseous fuel supplies.

Axiomatic foundations for cost-effectiveness analysis.

PubMed

Canning, David

2013-12-01

We show that individual utilities can be measured in units of healthy life years. Social preferences over these life metric utilities are assumed to satisfy the Pareto principle, anonymity, and invariance to a change in origin. These axioms generate a utilitarian social welfare function implying the use of cost-effectiveness analysis in ordering health projects, based on maximizing the healthy years equivalents gained from a fixed health budget. For projects outside the health sector, our cost-effectiveness axioms imply a form of cost-benefit analysis where both costs and benefits are measured in equivalent healthy life years. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A framework for evaluating and utilizing medical terminology mappings.

PubMed

Hussain, Sajjad; Sun, Hong; Sinaci, Anil; Erturkmen, Gokce Banu Laleci; Mead, Charles; Gray, Alasdair J G; McGuinness, Deborah L; Prud'Hommeaux, Eric; Daniel, Christel; Forsberg, Kerstin

2014-01-01

Use of medical terminologies and mappings across them are considered to be crucial pre-requisites for achieving interoperable eHealth applications. Built upon the outcomes of several research projects, we introduce a framework for evaluating and utilizing terminology mappings that offers a platform for i) performing various mappings strategies, ii) representing terminology mappings together with their provenance information, and iii) enabling terminology reasoning for inferring both new and erroneous mappings. We present the results of the introduced framework from SALUS project where we evaluated the quality of both existing and inferred terminology mappings among standard terminologies.

The impact of photovoltaic (PV) installations on downwind particulate matter concentrations: Results from field observations at a 550-MWAC utility-scale PV plant.

PubMed

Ravikumar, Dwarakanath; Sinha, Parikhit

2017-10-01

With utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) projects increasingly developed in dry and dust-prone geographies with high solar insolation, there is a critical need to analyze the impacts of PV installations on the resulting particulate matter (PM) concentrations, which have environmental and health impacts. This study is the first to quantify the impact of a utility-scale PV plant on PM concentrations downwind of the project site. Background, construction, and post-construction PM 2.5 and PM 10 (PM with aerodynamic diameters <2.5 and <10 μm, respectively) concentration data were collected from four beta attenuation monitor (BAM) stations over 3 yr. Based on these data, the authors evaluate the hypothesis that PM emissions from land occupied by a utility-scale PV installation are reduced after project construction through a wind-shielding effect. The results show that the (1) confidence intervals of the mean PM concentrations during construction overlap with or are lower than background concentrations for three of the four BAM stations; and (2) post-construction PM 2.5 and PM 10 concentrations downwind of the PV installation are significantly lower than the background concentrations at three of the four BAM stations. At the fourth BAM station, downwind post-construction PM 2.5 and PM 10 concentrations increased marginally by 5.7% and 2.6% of the 24-hr ambient air quality standards defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, respectively, when compared with background concentrations, with the PM 2.5 increase being statistically insignificant. This increase may be due to vehicular emissions from an access road near the southwest corner of the site or a drainage berm near the south station. The findings demonstrate the overall environmental benefit of downwind PM emission abatement from a utility-scale PV installation in desert conditions due to wind shielding. With PM emission reductions observed within 10 months of completion of construction, post-construction monitoring of downwind PM levels may be reduced to a 1-yr period for other projects with similar soil and weather conditions. This study is the first to analyze impact of a utility photovoltaic (PV) project on downwind particulate matter (PM) concentration in desert conditions. The PM data were collected at four beta attenuation monitor stations over a 3-yr period. The post-construction PM concentrations are lower than background concentrations at three of four stations, therefore supporting the hypothesis of post-construction wind shielding from PV installations. With PM emission reductions observed within 10 months of completion of construction, postconstruction monitoring of downwind PM levels may be reduced to a 1-yr period for other PV projects with similar soil and weather conditions.

A Manual of Mosquito Control Projects and Committee Assignments for 4-H and Scouts Biology Class Projects, Organized Community Service Programs, and Individuals Interested in Environmental Management.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hart, Richard A.

The mosquito control projects presented in this manual were prepared from an educational viewpoint and are intended for use by students in 4-H and Scouts and as a supplement to high school and college biology course work. The major emphasis of the projects is on integrated pest management, an approach utilizing cost-effective control methods which…

Let your fingers do the walking: The projects most invaluable tool

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zirk, Deborah A.

1993-01-01

The barrage of information pertaining to the software being developed for a project can be overwhelming. Current status information, as well as the statistics and history of software releases, should be 'at the fingertips' of project management and key technical personnel. This paper discusses the development, configuration, capabilities, and operation of a relational database, the System Engineering Database (SEDB) which was designed to assist management in monitoring of the tasks performed by the Network Control Center (NCC) Project. This database has proven to be an invaluable project tool and is utilized daily to support all project personnel.

Utilization of Screw Piles in High Seismicity Areas of Cold and Warm Permafrost

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-07-01

This work was performed in support of the AUTC project Utilization of Screw Piles in : High Seismicity Areas of Cold and Warm Permafrost under the direction of PI Dr. Kenan : Hazirbaba. Surface wave testing was performed at 30 sites in the City...

Bibliographic Utilities and the Use of Microcomputers in Libraries: Current and Projected Practices.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McAninch, Glen

1986-01-01

Bibliographic utilities are marketing specially designed hardware and software that permit libraries to patch together automated cataloging, acquisitions, serials control, reference, online public catalogs, circulation, interlibrary loan, and administrative functions. The increasing complexity of the technology is making it more difficult to…

Surface and borehole neutron probes for the Construction and Resource Utilization eXplorer (CRUX)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Elphic, Richard C.; Hahn, Sangkoo; Lawrence, David J.; Feldman, William C.; Johnson, Jerome B.; Haldemann, Albert F. C.

2006-01-01

The Construction and Resource Utilization eXplorer (CRUX) project aims to develop an integrated, flexible suite of instruments with data fusion software and an executive controller for the purpose of in situ resource assessment and characterization for future space exploration.

Impact of alternative energy forms on public utilities

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Keith, F. W., Jr.

1977-01-01

The investigation of alternative energy sources by the electric utility industry is discussed. Research projects are reviewed in each of the following areas; solar energy, wind energy conversion, photosynthesis of biomass, ocean thermal energy conversion, geothermal energy, fusion, and the environmental impact of alternative energy sources.

14 CFR 151.93 - Buildings; utilities; sidewalks; parking areas; and landscaping.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 14 Aeronautics and Space 3 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Buildings; utilities; sidewalks; parking areas; and landscaping. 151.93 Section 151.93 Aeronautics and Space FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (CONTINUED) AIRPORTS FEDERAL AID TO AIRPORTS Project Programming Standards § 151...

Evaluation of a natural speech based informational inquiry system as a potential means to increase transit utilization.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-05-01

This project proposed to explore the potential of a user friendly, natural speech based : information inquiry application as one means of increasing public transit utilization. It suggested : that a key challenge to expanding transit ridership isto e...

Radiology utilizing a gas multiwire detector with resolution enhancement

DOEpatents

Majewski, Stanislaw; Majewski, Lucasz A.

1999-09-28

This invention relates to a process and apparatus for obtaining filmless, radiological, digital images utilizing a gas multiwire detector. Resolution is enhanced through projection geometry. This invention further relates to imaging systems for X-ray examination of patients or objects, and is particularly suited for mammography.

14 CFR 151.93 - Buildings; utilities; sidewalks; parking areas; and landscaping.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 14 Aeronautics and Space 3 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Buildings; utilities; sidewalks; parking areas; and landscaping. 151.93 Section 151.93 Aeronautics and Space FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (CONTINUED) AIRPORTS FEDERAL AID TO AIRPORTS Project Programming Standards § 151...

Enhancing data utilization through adoption of cloud-based data architectures (Invited Paper 211869)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kearns, E. J.

2017-12-01

A traditional approach to data distribution and utilization of open government data involves continuously moving those data from a central government location to each potential user, who would then utilize them on their local computer systems. An alternate approach would be to bring those users to the open government data, where users would also have access to computing and analytics capabilities that would support data utilization. NOAA's Big Data Project is exploring such an alternate approach through an experimental collaboration with Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform, IBM, Microsoft Azure, and the Open Commons Consortium. As part of this ongoing experiment, NOAA is providing open data of interest which are freely hosted by the Big Data Project Collaborators, who provide a variety of cloud-based services and capabilities to enable utilization by data users. By the terms of the agreement, the Collaborators may charge for those value-added services and processing capacities to recover their costs to freely host the data and to generate profits if so desired. Initial results have shown sustained increases in data utilization from 2 to over 100 times previously-observed access patterns from traditional approaches. Significantly increased utilization speed as compared to the traditional approach has also been observed by NOAA data users who have volunteered their experiences on these cloud-based systems. The potential for implementing and sustaining the alternate cloud-based approach as part of a change in operational data utilization strategies will be discussed.

Nigeria`s Escravos gas project starts up

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

Nwokoma, M.

Nigeria`s Escravos gas project, Delta state, officially began late last year. The project -- 6,650 b/d of LPG and 1,740 b/d of condensate from 165 MMscfd of gas -- is the first attempt to rid Nigeria of incessant flares that have lit the Delta skies. Operator Chevron Nigeria Ltd. believes that the Escravos project will enable the joint venture to utilize a significant portion of the gas reserves, thus reducing gas flaring. The paper describes the background of the project, the gas fields, transport pipeline, process design, construction, and start-up.

2014 QuickCompaof TRICARE Child Beneficiaries: Utilization of Medicaid Waivered Services

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-02-12

Utilization of Medicaid Waivered Services 5b. GRANT NUMBER 5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER 6. AUTHORISI Sd. PROJECT NUMBER Tinney, R., Dr. Se. TASK...from the 2014 QuickCompass ofTRlCARE Child Beneficiaries: Utilization of Medicaid Waivered Services (2014 QTCB). The 2014 QTCB survey was...Family Member Program (EFMP), TRICARE Extended Care Health Option (ECHO), Medicaid , and Medicaid Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waivers. 16

Water Utility Lime Sludge Reuse – An Environmental Sorbent ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Lime sludge can be used as an environmental sorbent to remove sulfur dioxide (SO2) and acid gases, by the ultra-fine CaCO3 particles, and to sequester mercury and other heavy metals, by the Natural Organic Matter and residual activated carbon. The laboratory experimental set up included a simulated flue gas preparation unit, a lab-scale wet scrubber, and a mercury analyzer system. The influent mercury concentration was based on a range from 22 surveyed power plants. The reactivity of the lime sludge sample for acid neutralization was determined using a method similar to method ASTM C1318-95. Similar experiments were conducted using reagent calcium carbonate and calcium sulfate to obtain baseline data for comparing with the lime sludge test results. The project also evaluated the techno-economic feasibility and sustainable benefits of reusing lime softening sludge. If implemented on a large scale, this transformative approach for recycling waste materials from water treatment utilities at power generation utilities for environmental cleanup can save both water and power utilities millions of dollars. Huge amounts of lime sludge waste, generated from hundreds of water treatment utilities across the U.S., is currently disposed in landfills. This project evaluated a sustainable and economically-attractive approach to the use of lime sludge waste as a valuable resource for power generation utilities.

36 CFR 9.84 - Application requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... environmentally sound manner utilizing the least impacting technology suitable for the purposes of the project... MINERALS MANAGEMENT Alaska Mineral Resource Assessment Program § 9.84 Application requirements. (a) By... Director an application pursuant to § 9.84(b) for proposed AMRAP projects and activities discussed and...

36 CFR 9.84 - Application requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... environmentally sound manner utilizing the least impacting technology suitable for the purposes of the project... MINERALS MANAGEMENT Alaska Mineral Resource Assessment Program § 9.84 Application requirements. (a) By... Director an application pursuant to § 9.84(b) for proposed AMRAP projects and activities discussed and...

36 CFR 9.84 - Application requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... environmentally sound manner utilizing the least impacting technology suitable for the purposes of the project... MINERALS MANAGEMENT Alaska Mineral Resource Assessment Program § 9.84 Application requirements. (a) By... Director an application pursuant to § 9.84(b) for proposed AMRAP projects and activities discussed and...

36 CFR 9.84 - Application requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... environmentally sound manner utilizing the least impacting technology suitable for the purposes of the project... MINERALS MANAGEMENT Alaska Mineral Resource Assessment Program § 9.84 Application requirements. (a) By... Director an application pursuant to § 9.84(b) for proposed AMRAP projects and activities discussed and...

36 CFR 9.84 - Application requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... environmentally sound manner utilizing the least impacting technology suitable for the purposes of the project... MINERALS MANAGEMENT Alaska Mineral Resource Assessment Program § 9.84 Application requirements. (a) By... Director an application pursuant to § 9.84(b) for proposed AMRAP projects and activities discussed and...

Development of teaching material to integrate GT-POWER into combustion courses for IC engine simulations.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-02-01

The main objective of this project was to develop instructional engineering projects that utilize the newly-offered PACE software GT-POWER for engine simulations in combustion-related courses at the Missouri University of Science and Technology. Stud...

Use of the AAVSO's International Variable Star Index (VSX) in an Undergraduate Astronomy Course Capstone Project

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Larsen, Kristine

2017-06-01

The author discusses a capstone project that utilizes the AAVSO's International Variable Star Index (VSX), ASAS light curves and phase plots, and the SIMBAD astronomical data repository in a laboratory-based undergraduate Stellar and Galactic Astronomy course.

Montana Faxnet Project. Final Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brander, Linda L.

This report summarizes the activities and accomplishments of the Montana Faxnet Project, which was created to design and demonstrate a statewide document delivery network utilizing telefacsimile equipment that would create equitable access for all Montanans accessing and retrieving information, and reduce the waiting time for requested materials…

Nothing Goes to Waste in Arcata's Teeming Marshes.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stewart, Doug

1990-01-01

Describes a waste water management system in Arcata, California, that utilizes a series of human-made marshes to filter and clean the city's sewage water. Discusses the development of this project, adaptations of the idea for other cities, key constraints, and related projects. (MCO)

Solar Grants Spot Training and Jobs.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Owen, Walter

1979-01-01

Employment and training in solar installation work is provided by fifteen Solar Utilization/Economic Development and Employment (SUEDE) demonstration projects funded by the United States Departments of Labor and Energy and the Community Services Administration. The article describes the projects and the types of work. (MF)

7 CFR 4280.129 - Evaluation of guaranteed loan applications.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

...-COOPERATIVE SERVICE AND RURAL UTILITIES SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE LOANS AND GRANTS Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program Section B. Guaranteed Loans § 4280.129 Evaluation of... both the borrower and project are eligible, the project has technical merit, there is reasonable...

7 CFR 4280.102 - General.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... UTILITIES SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE LOANS AND GRANTS Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency... subpart. (b) Eligibility is discussed in terms of both applicants and projects. Section 4280.107 contains... projects. (c) Section A, §§ 4280.109 through 4280.117, discusses grants. Section 4280.109 discusses the...

7 CFR 4280.129 - Evaluation of guaranteed loan applications.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

...-COOPERATIVE SERVICE AND RURAL UTILITIES SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE LOANS AND GRANTS Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program Section B. Guaranteed Loans § 4280.129 Evaluation of... both the borrower and project are eligible, the project has technical merit, there is reasonable...